Purpose of the Conduct System
As members of the on-campus community, residents have a responsibility to create a positive environment through their actions, one that is conducive to living and learning. To achieve this environment, there are policies they must abide by and when these policies are broken, residents will enter the conduct process. The purpose of the conduct process is to:
- Facilitate an environment conducive to living and learning
- Allow students to learn from each other about how their behavior affects others
- Protect the rights of all students
- Hold students accountable for their actions and the actions of their guest(s)
- Provide students and staff members with a uniform conduct process
Based on students' dual citizenship in the campus community and in the city/county/state communities, disciplinary processes may run simultaneously with sanctions occurring as part of both the city/county/state courts and the University conduct system (either through the Dean of Students office or University Housing).
University Housing Code of Conduct
When a resident violates a policy, an incident report is filed and provided to the Residence Life Coordinator of the building in which the resident lives. Any student, faculty, or staff member can file an incident report. The RLC will review the incident report to determine if there are grounds for a hearing and by whom the case should be heard. Many cases will be heard in the resident's hall by their RLC, however, some cases that qualify under Chapter 17 of the UW-System policy will be heard by the Dean of Students Office. These cases may include:
- Domestic Abuse
- Harassment
- Hazing
- Physical Assault
- Reoccurring conduct incidents
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Harassment
- Stalking
For more information about confidentiality, student rights and responsibilities, and the appeals process, please check out the University Housing Student Handbook.
Dean of Students and UWS Chapter 17
Residents can learn more about their rights in non-academic misconduct cases through participation in the adjudication process. Depending on the type and severity of an incident, the Dean of Students Office or University Housing hearing officers will investigate allegations that violate University of Wisconsin System policy, Chapter 17.
Dean of Students | Student Rights and Responsibilities
UWS Chapter 17 | Student Non-Academic Disciplinary Procedures
