Sanctioning guidelines

Sanctions in Western Washington University’s student conduct process serve many purposes including, but not limited to, educating students about the seriousness of their actions; reinforcing the high standards of scholarship and behavior expected of Western students; promoting student development; and maintaining the safety and well-being of members of the university community. When a student admits responsibility or is found in violation of the code, a conduct officer may impose one or more sanction.

The Office of Student Life developed sanctioning guidelines for some the most common Student Conduct Code violations. These guidelines are not meant to be restrictive but provide a starting framework to determine appropriate sanctions for conduct officers at Western; other sanctions, designed or intended to enhance a student’s development, may be applied. It is important to understand that each conduct case is different, and decisions are based on assessing several factors rather than a strict adherence to guidelines or precedent.  Further, sanctioning at Western is progressive and repeat violations of the Student Conduct Code may lead to additional, more serious sanctions.

Sanctioning Factors

These factors are considered when determining appropriate sanctions:

  • Nature of the violation;
  • Intent and motivation of the misconduct;
  • Effect(s) of the misconduct;
  • Potential effect(s) of the misconduct;
  • Student’s previous student conduct record;
  • Student’s developmental state;
  • Student’s willingness to be held accountable;
  • Desired outcome of the Complainant (if applicable);
  • Safety and well-being of campus community.

Learning Outcomes

Because of the educational nature of the student conduct process, active sanctions are assigned to provide students the following developmental opportunities, based off their assessed developmental needs:

  • Identify support services and resources available to assist in their success at Western; discuss how specific services and resources can assist them;develop a plan for connecting to services and resources; and appraise how those services and resources assisted in their success at Western.
  • Identify behaviors and decision that potentially or did affect themselves and their community; describe the actual or potential impact of themselves and their community; and illustrate how their understanding will modify their behaviors and/or decisions in the future.
  • Identify conflict resolution strategies and concepts to solve interpersonal conflicts; describe the benefits of these strategies and concepts; apply these strategies and concepts; and evaluate the application of the strategies and concepts.
  • Identify alternative behaviors and decisions to prevent future incidents of misconduct; explain how these alternative behaviors and decisions would prevent future incidents of misconduct; demonstrate alternative behaviors and decisions in similar situations; and analyze their effectiveness.
  • Identify their values and actions; describe any incongruence between them; investigate the reason for the incongruence; determine a plan to align their values and actions; and evaluate their effectiveness.

Additionally, students found in violation of Western’s alcohol and/or drugs and paraphernalia policy typically are assigned to Alcohol & Other Drug Consultation and Assessment Services (ADCAS) through Prevention Wellness Services. ADCAS has risk and harm reduction learning outcomes embedded within their program.

Educational Sanctioning Guidelines

Not every sanction will encompass all the learning outcomes listed above. Western will also be using the framework below as a starting point for violations of these sections of the Student Conduct Code:

Alcohol

Alcohol violations are typically assigned ADCAS, through Prevention Wellness services. For repeat violations, or violations with high safety concerns, students will typically be assigned ADCAS-High Risk, be placed on conditional status AND (as appropriate) have an OSL staff member contact a parent/family member.

Drug use or possession

Drug use or possession violations are typically assigned ADCAS, through Prevention Wellness services. For repeat violations, or violations with high safety concerns, students will typically be assigned a Mandated Chemical Dependency Assessment, be placed on conditional status AND (as appropriate) have an OSL staff member contact a parent/family member.

Drug cultivation, manufacturing, packing, or distribution violations, depending on the severity, are typically assigned one of the following sanctions along with a Mandated Chemical Dependency Assessment:

  • Conditional Status 
  • Deferred Suspension 
  • Suspension 

Disruptive Behavior, Conduct that harms or threatens health or safety, and Harassment

Disruptive Behavior, Conduct that harms or threatens health or safety, and Harassment (other than sexual harassment or discriminatory harassment) are behaviors that can occur in a variety of types and levels of severity. The root cause of these behaviors also varies amongst students. As such, the following sanctions may be appropriate depending on the circumstances:

  • Warning 
  • Conditional Status 
  • Mandated Health & Safety Assessment 
  • Ethics Workshop 
  • Conflict Resolution Workshop 
  • Loss of Privileges 
  • Administrative No Contact Order(s)

Repeat violations may lead to temporary or permanent separation from Western.

Conduct that harms or threatens health or safety; Sexual Misconduct; Dating Violence; Domestic Violence; & Stalking

  • Conditional Status 
  • Deferred Suspension 
  • Suspension 
  • Mandated Health & Safety Assessment 
  • Administrative No Contact Order(s) 
  • Loss of Privileges
  • Expulsion

Due to the unique nature of these sorts of violations, particular attention is paid to the Complainant’s desired outcome(s). Code violations involving sexual assault (WAC 516-21-180 sec. 2) will likely result in expulsion or at least suspension for the entirety of the Complainant’s time as a student at Western. Violations that include other violent acts will also likely result in expulsion or at least suspension for the entirety of the Complainant’s time as a student at Western.

Theft or intentional damage of property

Theft or intentional damage of property typically results in one or more of the following sanctions:

  • Restitution 
  • Loss of Privileges 
  • Ethics Workshop 
  • Letter of Apology 
  • Warning 
  • Conditional Status

Misuse of Computers, electronic data or communication systems

Misuse of Computers, electronic data or communication systems violations typically result in a warning or conditional status regarding the student’s future access to technology on campus and an educational essay highlighting the dangers/harm of their behavior.

Repeat violations a may lead to limited or no access to Western’s electronic communication systems.