Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct provides expectations for student behavior to help build the best possible learning and living environment for all members of the community. Idaho State University upholds the values of integrity, community, inclusivity, teamwork, shared responsibility, and learning as the foundation for a healthy and successful academic environment.
The Student Code of Conduct helps promote growth and learning as students interact with their environment and accept responsibility for their decision-making. The conduct process educates students about their responsibilities as members of an academic community and imposes sanctions when student conduct puts the members of the community in jeopardy. Our goal is to resolve conflict through active communication designed to better understand motives, intentions, attitudes, beliefs, and emotions. Through acceptance of responsibility, mediation and peace-building we embrace restorative justice principles with a focus on reconciliation and healing alongside community members who are impacted by other’s actions.
Student learning and developmental outcomes through the conduct process include:
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Sharing creation of a safe, healthy, student-centered and inclusive community
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Understanding of personal responsibility and peer accountability
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Encouraging reflection of how student behavior impacts themselves, peers, and the larger community
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Enabling students to address conflicts in a safe, respectful, and socially conscious manner
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Developing an understanding and appreciation of the principles of restorative justice
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Educating the campus community about student rights and responsibilities
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Promoting collaboration with faculty, staff and students with regard to student conduct
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Challenging students to exercise good judgment and ethical behavior in their academic and personal pursuits.
All students are responsible for reading and understanding the University's expectations, which are documented in the Student Code of Conduct and other University policies. By enrolling, students agree to comply with the standards of behavior that are described in the Student Code of Conduct and other University policies.
Preparing for a Conduct Hearing
When the Dean of Students Office receives notification that a student has potentially violated our Student Code of Conduct, we will send them a conduct hearing notice via their student email requesting they set up an appointment. In the hearing we will discuss: the policies that have allegedly been violated, hear your perspective of the report, discuss levels of responsibility and accountability for the alleged violations, and develop a plan for moving forward productively and successfully as a student here at ISU.
When the Dean of Students Office receives notification that a student has potentially violated our Student Code of Conduct, we will send them a conduct hearing notice via their student email requesting they set up an appointment. In the hearing we will discuss: the policies that have allegedly been violated, hear your perspective of the report, discuss levels of responsibility and accountability for the alleged violations, and develop a plan for moving forward productively and successfully as a student here at ISU.
No, this process is specific to the university and your status as a student with the university. There may be additional legal charges related to the same events but those would be initiated through the court system by one of the parties mentioned in the report, but that would be independent of and outside of our scope.
“Beyond a reasonable doubt” is a court standard for the evidence needed to determine “guilt” or “innocence”. University standard is the “preponderance of evidence” meaning we want to determine if it is more likely than not, that a violation of policy occurred. Students are found “responsible” or “non-responsible”. This process is meant to be conversational and educational rather than the adversarial atmosphere of court cases that include interrogations, fierce cross-examinations, jurors, etc.
Read your conduct hearing notice letter fully, including the charges alleged. Review the Student Code of Conduct to familiarize yourself with the policy and the process of conduct hearings. Pull together any information you have access to that directly relates to the alleged charges. All information shared should be relevant to the specifics of the case. Consider putting your notes in a written statement for your reference during the conduct hearing.
You may select an advisor to be with you during the hearing but it is not required. The advisor is not allowed to speak during the course of the hearing but rather can only confer with you. If you choose to use an advisor, you must notify the Dean of Students Office at least 3 days prior to the hearing of the name of your advisor and you must sign a FERPA Waiver.
Comply with any interim measures before the hearing, such as a No Contact Directive.
When you read through the code of conduct you will notice there are specific timeframes associated with each part such as: setting up the hearing, receiving notification of the decision, the appeal process, etc. This is intentional and important. We give all students due process, we want our conduct process to be fair, to provide you with time so you can adequately gather your thoughts and prepare your comments so you can best represent yourself throughout the process.
Our conduct hearings are meant to be educational and geared toward achieving a resolution that allows all students involved to feel they can move past the incident while feeling comfortable on campus and be successful students.
Title IX
Students who believe they may be a victim of sex and/or gender-based discrimination (including sexual harassment, sexual violence, dating/domestic violence, and stalking) should report their situation to the Title IX Office.