The Student Handbook provides you with your rights and responsibilities as a student as well as important information to help you make decisions about your academic and personal success. It is recommended that students should review the Handbook each year.
Office of Student Conduct
About the Office of Student Conduct
The Student Conduct Office promotes learning and development for all students through educational conversations, programs, and sanctions to increase an individuals’ understanding of their rights and responsibilities. The Office is available to consult with students, faculty and staff regarding the student conduct process, policies, interpretation of campus policies, student concerns (including classroom behavioral issues) and other relevant areas.
The Office of Student Conduct strives to:
- Build an understanding of the consequences of misconduct
- Foster respect for the rights of others
- Encourage personal growth
- Redirect behavior into acceptable and appropriate patterns
- Protect the rights of all students and community members
- Reduce high-risk unsafe behaviors
The Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy
The Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy (“policy”) prohibits sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and retaliation as defined under Title IX and outlines the procedures for resolution of reports of these behaviors. The University provides educational and prevention programs, services for individuals who have been affected by discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, and accessible, timely and equitable methods of investigation and resolution of complaints.
Have a concern?
Student Rights
Westfield State University students have the right:
- To have access to a statement of the most recent regulations (“Rights and Responsibilities”) published by the University and to receive a copy of those regulations upon request. The University will make reasonable efforts to make its policies known to students, faculty, and staff.
- To be presumed not responsible until decided otherwise.
- To admit responsibility for any or all of the alleged policy violations.
- Participate in a resolution process that is fair, impartial, and provides adequate notice as well as a meaningful opportunity to be heard as outlined in University policies and procedures.
- To request a reasonable delay of a hearing due to academic or extenuating circumstances.
- To be advised in the writing of all alleged policy violations, as initiated in a notification of a University proceedings letter that may be sent via campus email.
- To submit a written account relating to the alleged policy violations.
- To request an administrative agreement option to resolve the matter, when appropriate in the Student Conduct Process.
- To speak on one’s own behalf, including written and oral statements, physical exhibits, and to have material witnesses speak at a hearing.
- To decline to provide information at a hearing.
- To be accompanied by an advisor at all phases of a hearing.
- To receive a timely notification in writing of the outcome via campus email.
- To an appeal of the outcome, as outlined in the appeals process.
- To be assured of confidentiality, whenever possible, in accordance with the terms of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
- Have disclosures of discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, and relationship violence treated seriously by the University.
- Seek support services such as housing changes, academic support, or counseling services as applicable.
- Notify law enforcement of the incident and seek their involvement if applicable. They also have the option to decline to involve law enforcement.
Student Conduct
Student Conduct Process
- Alleged violation(s) occurs, and documentation is submitted.
- Student Rights and Community Standards reviews documentation. If there is enough information to believe a violation of Rights and Responsibilities may have occurred, a hearing officer is assigned.
- Hearing officer sends the Notice of University Proceeding letter and student rights document.
- Student schedules and attends a meeting where the documentation is reviewed. Student may choose one of two options for resolution:
Administrative Agreement
Student must accept responsibility to engage in this option.
- Discussion between the hearing officer and student will occur to discuss what sanctions are appropriate to resolve the violation.
- No appeal available.
Student Conduct Board Hearing
- Hearing will be scheduled within 30 days. See Student Conduct Procedures for procedural information.
- Hearing occurs.
- Decision letter is sent.
- Appeals to the University Appeals Board.
Case Management Resource Library
Mission
The Office of Student Conduct fosters an educational and developmental approach to student conduct, focusing on learning through self-reflection and personal accountability for behavior and decisions. Each student and circumstances are unique. It is important that their office holds students to expectations and fosters a commitment of high behavioral and ethical standards with the intent to provide the student with a learning experience that results in the growth and personal understanding of individual responsibility.