Community Standards

Community Standards Mission Statement

Community Standards provide proactive programming and educational interventions in an effort to foster the development of personal and community responsibility.

Community Standards is responsible for overseeing the University wide conduct system and coordinating all related processes and functions. Community Standards is responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of the Western Colorado University Student Conduct Code which govern the rights and responsibilities related to all acts of student conduct. Community Standards is housed in the Office of Student Affairs and is directed by the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Chief Conduct Officer.

Educational Disciplinary Outcomes Philosophy

The Western Colorado University conduct system is educational in nature. Programs, conduct meetings and disciplinary actions are designed to challenge and support students to empower themselves to establish and maintain a positive, responsible and supportive positive community.

Students, staff, and faculty are trained to discuss conduct in a straight forward, positive manner. Respect, honest dialog, fairness and an objective consideration of all information is critical to the process.

The key to effective conduct outcomes is threefold:

1. to assist the student in understanding the decision making process of their actions;
2. to assist the student in understanding the ways in which such actions negatively impact other individuals and/or the campus and Gunnison community;
3. to help the student identify and learn more effective methods of judgment and action in the future

Goals

• To provide educational programs and interventions directed at encouraging responsible, community-minded conduct.
• To establish and enforce reasonable and clear limits designed to protect the campus community and the rights of all its members.
• To develop and support a positive living and learning environment.
• To educate students regarding responsibility and accountability for their actions.
• To encourage and foster self-insight and self-initiated change of conduct.
• To protect the rights of individuals accused of violating University rules and policies.
• To provide a fair, supportive, and timely conduct meeting process to address instances of alleged violations of University rules and policies.
• To offer learning experiences for students, staff, and faculty who participate in the on-going direction and implementation of the student conduct process.

Full Student Handbook can be viewed here.

Definition of a Student

A student is considered any person taking courses at the University, either full time or part time. This includes students pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, Extended Studies or Concurrent Enrollment course, online or as a residential student as well as non-degree seeking students.

This definition also includes persons who confirm their intent to enroll by officially registering for, and attending classes, those attending New Student Orientation and those between academic terms including holiday and summer break.

Students who have or are withdrawn from the University, on academic or conduct suspension, expelled or not currently enrolled in courses will not be considered students at Western Colorado University. Students who do not register and/or attend classes without notifying the University of the absence, will not be considered students and must reapply for admission. Students who notify the University that they will not be attending classes, and do not attend, for a designated period of time, i.e. one semester, will not be considered students and must reapply for admission.

The University reserves the right to rescind offers of admission and or scholarships, including merit, academic and athletic, due to any disciplinary findings at another academic institution, or criminal or civil findings. Misrepresentations contained in the application or any other inappropriate conduct that could infringe on the rights of others or the normal functioning of the University due to conduct inconsistent with the mission of the University or otherwise is not in compliance with legal and ethical responsibilities as outlined in Federal Law, Colorado Revised Statutes, local ordinances or University policies.

Persons who could fall in to any of the forgoing categories have an obligation to inform the University immediately.