Information on the Conduct Process
Philosophy on Student Conduct
The university’s philosophy on student conduct is educational in nature. Oklahoma State University recognizes that students will make mistakes and, at times, decisions that do not align with personal values and university expectations. Student Support & Conduct is charged with helping students reflect and learn from these decisions by holding them accountable for their behavior.
Through the conduct process, Student Support & Conduct assists students in ethical, personal, and intellectual development as well as developing character and integrity. Student Support & Conduct offers education, challenge and support to students struggling with behavioral issues, and makes appropriate referrals to other resources as necessary.
Preparing for the Conduct ProcessIt is important to think about what you want/need to say ahead of time so that your comments are focused, relevant, and thorough. There are three different conduct processes.
Conduct Meeting:
A conduct meeting addresses issues where suspension and expulsion is not a possible outcome, if found responsible. The following link provides information on how to prepare for a Conduct Meeting.
Conduct Hearing:
Hearing procedures are provided for allegations against an individual where suspension from the university is possible, if found responsible. A Conduct Hearing is between a student an university administrator. The following link provides information on how to prepare for a Conduct Hearing.
Committee Hearing:
Hearing procedures are provided for allegations against a student where suspension or expulsion from the university are possible, if they are found responsible, and for student discrimination grievances. A Conduct Committee Hearing is held with a panel of three trained members of the Student Conduct Committee. The following link provides information on how to prepare for a Conduct Committee Hearing.
Investigation Process
There are various steps within an investigation process. Students should be well informed about the investigation process and ask questions to clarify any information.
Assignment Submission
Before you submit your assignment please take the time to review your work and verify that you did all of the following:
- Your name and Campus Wide ID is at the top of the document.
- Your assignment fully addresses the necessary criteria and content requested.
- If applicable, your assignment meets the minimum word count.
- Your assignment demonstrates the level of writing expected of college students. Meaning that it is cohesive, and grammatically and structurally correct.
- Your assignment is typed.
Appeal Process
An appeal is a review of the record of the original hearing, not a new hearing. It is the responsibility of the person who initiated the appeal to show that one or more of the listed grounds for appeal has merit. A student will not appear before the university Conduct Appeal Panel unless specifically requested to do so by the Appeal Panel.
Any outcome decided in a hearing may be appealed to the Appeal Panel by the respondent or the complainant.
Appeals must be submitted to Student Support and Conduct by 5 p.m. within ten calendar days of the original hearing.
For more information about the appeal process, review section 5 of the Student Code of Conduct.
Student Conduct Learning Outcomes
Students who participate in the student conduct process will...
- Evaluate their personal responsibility for their conduct.
- Evaluate the congruence between their values and their actions.
- Articulate how their behavior affected or could affect others and what is acceptable behavior.
- Evaluate the impact their decisions have on their academic and personal success.
- Recognize skills, strategies, and resources to assist them academic and personal success.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Student Code of Conduct?
Rules and regulations are in place to support the university’s educational mission and to provide a safe living, learning and working environment where all can concentrate on the education process without undue interference. The Student Code of Conduct informs students of the standards of behavior expected, the processes in place for enforcing the rules and the university’s response to violations. The Student Code of Conduct also gives information about the rights of students and procedures to follow should students believe they are being treated in a discriminatory manner by other students. The Student Code of Conduct also contains various policies containing information which universities are required to provide to students.
- Why does OSU have a Student Code of Conduct?
The Student Code of Conduct and related processes serve to educate students about their civic and social responsibilities as members of the OSU academic community and to hold them accountable for their behavior. In summary, the Student Code of Conduct expects students to:
- Follow the policies, rules and regulations of the university.
- Use the Golden Rule as a guide in your relationships and interactions with others ("treat others the way you want to be treated").
- Be honest in academic work and other activities.
- Be law abiding.
Having a Student Code of Conduct is necessary in order to strive for a safe campus community and to make it possible for all community members to successfully pursue their educational interests.
- What are some examples of possible violations?
Alcohol violations (e.g., underage drinking, public intoxication, drinking and driving), computer misuse, damaging other’s property, fighting, harassment, hazing, intimidation, physical abuse, sexual misconduct, stalking, theft, threats and possession of weapons on campus.
- Who can file a complaint?
Any member of the university community (faculty, staff or student) or any person who is unaffiliated with the university who has knowledge of an alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct may file a complaint against a student alleging that a violation of the Student Code of Conduct has occurred. The university itself may initiate a complaint.
- How can a complaint be filed?
A complaint can be completed online.
- Who can I talk to if I'm unsure about filing a complaint or have questions about the
process?
An appointment can be scheduled with Student Support & Conduct staff to discuss the issue and to learn about the process. The phone number is 405-744-5470.
- What happens when I am called in to meet with a University Conduct Officer?
You will be given an explanation of the conduct process, additional information related to the alleged violation will be shared, and you will be given the opportunity to share your version of what happened. Generally, a resolution is reached during this meeting.
- What are some of the ways in which students can be held accountable?
If found responsible, students are given a comprehensive action plan as an accountability measure. Some examples of action plan items include reprimand, requirements to complete an education program, assigned community service, restitution for damages, conduct probation, or suspension or expulsion from the university. The action plan can include one or multiple assignments and is determined on a case-by-case basis, based on the student’s needs, his/her conduct history, and the impact of his/her behavior on the community.
- What will happen if I don't schedule or keep an appointment or complete the action
plan assignments?
In most cases an enrollment hold will be placed on your account, preventing you from enrolling for subsequent terms at OSU. In the case of a missed meeting, in some cases a decision could be made about responsibility for a violation and, if appropriate, an action plan could be developed.
- In what circumstances can a student be held accountable for off-campus behaviors?
Off-campus behaviors which affect the educational mission of the university or which impact other students' ability to continue with their education at OSU may be subject to review and conduct action. Examples of off-campus behaviors include: selling or providing alcohol to underage students; selling or distributing illicit drugs; sexual violence; hazing; actions which result in serious injury or death of another person; and repeat alcohol/drug violations.
- Will my parents be notified when I'm called in by Student Support and Conduct?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that prohibits educational institutions from releasing information about a student’s educational record to third parties, including parents, without the consent of the student. Discipline records are classified as “education records.” Some exceptions in the law do exist. The law does permit educational institutions to notify parents of students under age 21 when a student has been found responsible for an alcohol and/or drug-related violation. Students are generally notified when parents will be contacted. If a student wants university officials to discuss his/her discipline records with a parent or parents, the student can sign an authorization for release of information form granting such permission and submit the signed form to Student Support and Conduct.
There are some other exceptions related to the release of information to other parties from individual student discipline records. Please read the university's policy, under OSU Policy and Procedures Letter No. 2-0701, for a better understanding of the exceptions.
When students do not give the university a local address or keep the local address current, letters can be sent to a student’s permanent address, which is usually a parent’s address. If you do not want such mail sent to a permanent address, keep your local address current on the SIS system.
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I am also going to court for the offense for which I got a letter from Student Conduct.
Isn't this double jeopardy? Can my campus proceedings be delayed until the criminal
process has concluded?
Students may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties in addition to campus sanctions. Student Support and Conduct is obligated to proceed with disciplinary matters as soon as sufficient information to do so has been collected.
The most educational value is derived when discipline occurs relatively contemporaneous to the offense. The university is not required to defer to timelines imposed by the criminal justice system. Campus resolution may proceed before, during or after civil and/or criminal actions are concluded and is not subject to challenge based on the action or inaction of civil authorities. Student Support and Conduct does not attempt to determine whether or not a student committed a crime, but only whether or not it is more likely than not that a violation of the Student Code of Conduct occurred.