Division of Student Affairs

New Community Standards resources available to assist students

January 22, 2019

Over the next two weeks, Vice President of Student Affairs Mary Jo Gonzales will be visiting campuses across the Washington State University system to share information with students, faculty and staff about the updated community standards process and corresponding resources.

Changes to WSU’s Standards of Conduct were approved November 2018 by the Board of Regents with updates that reflect the community-centric and educational vision for campus conduct going forward.

“These new community standards are the result of rigorous conversations over the past year and a half and involved input and discussion from key stakeholders across the WSU system,” said Nancy Youlden, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment for WSU Vancouver.

“There are a number of new resources and tools to help students effectively navigate these new standards,” she said.

Students now have access to a new student handbook website which provides extensive details about their rights and responsibilities.

The website also provides an overview of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) written in language that is easy to understand as well as information on guidelines for sanctioning in the instance that a student is found responsible for violating community standards.

In addition to the website, students can attend peer‑led informational sessions to learn more about the resources available to them.

“Our goal is to make this process a little less intimidating,” said student peer mentor and WSU Pullman senior Candace Quinn. “This is an opportunity for us to really break down what is going to happen into understandable steps. It’s much more approachable.”

Gonzales and her colleagues will share more details about the informational sessions, how students can access an advisor for support and the improvements made to communication that will help students understand how they can become actively engaged in the community standards process.

Upcoming Community Standards Information Sessions

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23

WSU Vancouver, ECS 105
- Student Session: 12–1 p.m.
- Faculty & Staff Session: 1–2 p.m.
THURSDAY, JAN. 24

WSU Everett, Classroom 358
- Student Session: 9–10 a.m.
- Faculty & Staff Session: 10–11 a.m.
MONDAY, JAN. 28

WSU Tri‑Cities, Floyd 224
- Student Session: 12–1 p.m.
- Faculty & Staff Session: 1–2 p.m.
TUESDAY, JAN. 29

WSU Spokane, SAC 345
- Student Session: 12–1 p.m.
- Faculty & Staff Session: 1–2 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30

WSU Pullman & Global Campus, CUB L60 (Butch’s Den)
- Student Session: 1–2 p.m.
- Faculty & Staff Session: 2–3 p.m.

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Regular updates about the next steps in revising the conduct process will be published on this website.

Recent Standards of Conduct Process

January 14, 2019

New tools and resources become available to assist students in the community standards process including information sessions and a new Student handbook for community standards website

December 17, 2018

Revised WAC chapters are published
- WAC 504-04
- WAC 504-26

November 16, 2018

Standards of Conduct approved by the Board of Regents

November 15, 2018

Presentation to the Board of Regents by Mary Jo Gonzales, Vice President of Student Affairs

November 6, 2018

Public hearing at 4:00 p.m. on campus locations across the state.

Livestreamed at the following WSU Campus locations:
Pullman: Lighty 405
Spokane: SAC 503A
Tri-Cities: East 212
Vancouver: VECS 122
Everett: Seminar Room 461

October 17 - November 6, 2018

Public comment period open on proposed Standards of Conduct. Submit comments.

October 17, 2018

Proposed Standards of Conduct published in the Washington State Register and available for review on https://policies.wsu.edu/prf/index/wac/

September 20, 2018

President Schulz releases Memo to the Student Conduct Process Task Force
Presentation to the Board of Regents by Mary Jo Gonzales, Vice President of Student Affairs