The community standards process supports students, upholds their rights and responsibilities, and holds them accountable for behaviors that conflict with community standards. Contact the Center for Community Standards (CCS) at 509-335-4532 or community.standards@wsu.edu with specific questions.
After Compliance and Civil Rights (CCR) completes their investigation, CCS will refer the matter to a hearing, which may be a one-to-one conduct officer hearing or a University Conduct Board. The complainant and respondent may determine the extent to which they will participate in this process. Hearings provide a prompt, fair, and impartial review, pursuant to the guidelines in WAC 504-26, which also establish reasonable timelines for the process, which may be extended for good cause with written notice to the parties. Decision makers, including the University Conduct Board, University Appeals Board members, conduct officers, administrative law judges, and individual appeals decision-makers receive annual training on issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as how to provide a hearing process that protects the safety of the parties and promotes accountability. Decision-makers also receive biannual training about:
- Student development;
- Student conduct philosophies, including the educational component of the student conduct process;
- Fair and equitable decision making, including:
- Due process;
- Standards of proof;
- Relevant and admissible evidence;
- Conflict of interest; and
- Identifying bias;
- Sexual assault and gender-based violence;
- Alcohol and drug prevention;
- Sanctioning principles and guidelines; and
- Title IX regulatory definitions, jurisdiction, and grievance processes.
Conduct officers also receive biannual training on alternative dispute resolution and restorative justice.
Students in the process have the right to request recusal of a hearing officer and/or board member for demonstrated good cause, including conflict of interest or bias against either party.
Matters involving sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking will be referred to a full adjudicative hearing. All relevant parties are notified of their rights during the hearing, the issues to be determined during the hearing, and any relevant dates, times, and locations; relevant parties also receive timely and equal access to any information that will be used during the disciplinary or sanctioning process. Finally, all relevant parties have the right to be accompanied by an advisor of their choice. When the presiding officer concludes their review of relevant evidence, parties will be informed of the university’s decision at the same time and their right to appeal to the University Appeals Board. The decision becomes final either at the end of the appeals period on the twenty-first calendar day after the date the decision is sent to the parties or when the University Appeals Board issues their decision. For more information about the University Conduct Board process, please visit WAC 504-26-403.
In some circumstances, CSS, may address the matter through a less formal one-to-one conduct officer hearing (please note, this does not apply to matters involving certain forms of sexual harassment; such matters are always afforded a full adjudicative hearing, unless resolved through an Informal Resolution process). The Conduct Officer will make a decision regarding the responding student’s responsibility within ten calendar days of the hearing and will notify all relevant parties of the decision at the same time and inform them about their right to appeal to the University Appeals Board. The decision becomes final either on the twenty-first calendar day after the date the decision is sent to the parties or when the University Appeals Board issues their decision. Conduct Officers may issue educational sanctions including those listed in WAC 504-26-425, but not suspension of greater than ten instructional days, expulsion, revocation of degree, or loss of recognition (for student organizations). Appeals rights are available to both the complainant and the respondent.
The full adjudication will be presided over by hearing officer employed by WSU who will also serve as the decision-maker; as with other full adjudicative hearings, parties are notified of their hearing rights, receive timely and equal access to evidence, and have the right to be accompanied by an advisor of their choice. When the hearing officer concludes their review of relevant evidence, parties will be informed of their decision at the same time and their right to appeal to the Director of the Center for Community Standard or designee. The decision becomes final either at the end of the appeals period on the twenty-first calendar day after the date the decision is sent to the parties or when the appeals reviewer issues their decision. Appeals rights are available to both the complainant and the respondent. For more information about the student conduct process, please visit WAC 504-26-403.
Students are not asked to sign non-disclosure agreements but are informed of the prohibition on retaliation and interference by or against any individual during these processes.