Student Info

Student Information

 

The University Philosophy on Student Discipline

The university’s philosophy on student discipline is educational in nature. The university recognizes that students will make mistakes and poor choices at times. The Student Conduct Office is charged with helping students learn from their choices and holding them accountable for their behavior. The Student Conduct Office can assist students in ethical, personal, and intellectual development as well as developing character and integrity. The Student Conduct Office is available to offer education, challenge, and support to students struggling with behavioral issues.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Student Rights & Responsibilities?
    
   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 Rights & Responsibilities informs students of the standards of expected behavior, the processes in place for enforcing the rules and the university’s response to violations. It also gives information about the rights of students and procedures to follow should students believe they are being treated in a discriminatory manner by faculty, staff or other students. The Student Rights & Responsibilities also contains various policies containing information that universities are required to provide to students.
    
2. Why does OSU have the Student Rights & Responsibilities?
    
   The Student Rights & Responsibilities and related processes serve to educate students about their civic and social responsibilities as members of the OSU-OKC academic community and to hold them accountable for their behavior. In summary, the Student Rights & Responsibilities expects students to:
    
   • Follow the policies, rules and regulations of the university;
   • Use the Golden Rule as a guide in 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 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.
    
3. What are some examples of possible violations?
    
   Academic integrity 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, possession of weapons on campus.
    
4. Who can file a complaint at OSU-OKC?
    
   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 Rights & Responsibilities may file a complaint against a student alleging a violation of the code has occurred. The university may itself initiate a complaint.
    
5. How can a complaint be filed?
    
   A complaint shall be filed as soon as possible but within 180 calendar days of the alleged violation. A late complaint may be accepted with the approval of the Vice President for Student Services, the Student Conduct Coordinator, or designee. The complaint must include the details of who, what, when, where and how, and include contact information for any witnesses. The Online Complaint/Incident Form is available on this website.
    
6. 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 the Student Conduct Coordinator to discuss the issue and to learn about the process. The phone number is (405) 945-3378.
    
7. What happens when I am called in to meet with the Student Conduct Coordinator?
    
   You will be given an explanation of the discipline 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.
    
8. What are some of the ways students can be held accountable?
    
   Some examples of sanctions include reprimand, required to complete an education program, assigned community service, make restitution for damages, placed on conduct probation, or suspended or expelled from the university. Sanctions can be imposed individually or in combination and are 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.
    
9. What will happen if I don’t schedule or keep an appointment, or complete the assigned sanction?
    
   In most cases, an enrollment hold will be placed on your enrollment preventing you from enrolling for subsequent terms at OSU-OKC. In some cases a decision will be made about responsibility for a violation and, if appropriate, a sanction will be imposed.
    
10. In what circumstances can a student be held accountable for off-campus behaviors?
     
    Off-campus behaviors that affect the educational mission of the university or that impact other students’ ability to continue with their education at OSU-OKC may be subject to review and disciplinary action. Examples of off-campus behaviors include: selling or providing alcohol to underage students, selling or distributing illicit drugs; sexual violence; hazing; and actions that result in serious injury or death of another person.
     
11. Will my parents be notified when I’m called in by Student Conduct Coordinator?
     
    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 Conduct Coordinator.
     
    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 at https://stillwater.sharepoint.okstate.edu/Policies/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx, under OSU Policy and Procedures Letter No. 2-0701.
     
    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.
     
    
12. I am also going to court for the offense. 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. The Office of Student 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 contemporaneously with 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. The Student Conduct Office does not attempt to determine whether or not a student committed a crime, but only whether or not a violation of the Student Rights and Responsibilities occurred.