ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL CONDUCT OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
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All members of the Wake Forest community will strive to live in and to promote an environment which recognizes individuality, fosters collegiality, respects the rights and privileges of others, and demonstrates responsibility for individual and group actions. If undergraduate students fail to meet these expectations, the University, through a conduct process, will determine the nature and extent of concerns and impose appropriate outcomes.
According to the charter of the University, the Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the University and for its operation. Each student is responsible for their own conduct and for their role as a member of our Wake Forest community. The Board of Trustees has charged the faculty and the administration to set forth requirements for the orderly behavior of undergraduate students.
Students should be mindful of the University’s expectations regarding their academic and social behaviors. The University will discourage violations by imposition of outcomes, including, but not limited to the loss of on-campus housing, suspension, or expulsion, as defined by applicable policies and procedures.
The University conduct system for undergraduate students is primarily comprised of the Honor Code, the Code of Conduct, and The Sex and Gender Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Title IX Sexual Harassment and Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct Grievance Procedures. The Honor Code is administered by the Office of the Dean of the College and the Office of the Dean of Students, the Code of Conduct is administered by the Office of the Dean of Students, and The Sex and Gender Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Title IX Sexual Harassment and Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct Grievance Procedures is administered by the Title IX Office.
Other University policies, including, but not limited to, the Policy on Ethical Use of Computing Resources and the Guide to Community Living, may set forth expectations regarding conduct of undergraduate students. Concerns regarding possible violations of those policies may be referred to the Office of the Dean of the College, the Office of the Dean of Students, and/or the Title IX Office for processing under the Honor Code, Code of Conduct, and/or The Sex and Gender Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Title IX Sexual Harassment and Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct Grievance Procedures. The information provided in this Handbook may be superseded by information regarding undergraduate student conduct and disciplinary matters reflected in online publications hosted by the appropriate office.
The Wake Forest Undergraduate Honor Code (the “Honor Code”) is grounded in a fundamental commitment from each member of our community to honesty and integrity. Adherence to the Honor Code enables our community to live and to work together with a shared sense of trust and respect. Violations of the Honor Code are treated with the utmost seriousness because they undermine both personal integrity and community standards. Specific offenses under the Honor Code include cheating, plagiarism, stealing, and deception in both academic and non-academic social settings.
Alleged academic violations of the Honor Code will be heard by and in accordance with procedures set by the Honors and Ethics Council.
Alleged non-academic violations of the Honor Code are Code of Conduct Violations and will be heard by and in accordance with procedures set by the Office of the Dean of Students.
In keeping with its historic concern for students, Wake Forest has a legitimate interest in student welfare in and out of class, on campus and off campus. The Wake Forest University Undergraduate Student Code of Conduct (the “Code of Conduct”) is grounded in concern for student actions that are inconsistent with obligations as members of the educational community. The Code of Conduct establishes standards of behavior to support the values of the University and uphold the best interests of students. If a student or Organization has violated these standards of behavior, appropriate outcomes will be imposed. The resulting findings and outcomes may become part of the conduct record for individual students or organizations.
Student Conduct supports the mission of Wake Forest University through the use of learning-focused, procedurally sound accountability processes designed to facilitate the development of responsible global citizens and find the truth, while valuing the individuality of each person and their lived experiences.Alleged violations of the Code of Conduct will be heard by and in accordance with procedures set by the Office of the Dean of Students.
Wake Forest University expects all members of its community to act in respectful and responsible ways toward each other. Wake Forest is committed to providing programs, activities, and an educational environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. For the University’s full non-discrimination policy, see http://diversity.wfu.edu/about/policies.
The Sex and Gender Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Title IX Sexual Harassment and Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct Grievance Procedures describes prohibited conduct, establishes procedures for responding to reports of sexual misconduct as defined in that policy, and outlines resources available to students.
Alleged violations of The Sex and Gender Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Title IX Sexual Harassment and Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct Grievance Procedures, when committed by individual students, will be reviewed and decided in accordance with the procedures set forth in The Sex and Gender Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Title IX Sexual Harassment and Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct Grievance Procedures. Alleged violations of The Sex and Gender Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Title IX Sexual Harassment and Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct Grievance Procedures, when committed by Organizations, will be reviewed and decided in accordance with the procedures set forth in The Sex and Gender Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Title IX Sexual Harassment and Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct Grievance Procedures.
Wake Forest University’s Student Handbook shall apply to undergraduate student conduct on Wake Forest University campus, at University sponsored activities on-campus or off-campus, and to off-campus conduct that adversely impacts the University community and/or the pursuit of the University’s educational objectives. It applies without regard to whether the student’s residence is owned or leased by Wake Forest University. It is an expectation that reason and responsibility characterize student conduct at all events. The Student Handbook also applies to any undergraduate student on a study abroad or away program, whether operated by the University or another entity.
The University is concerned with the behavior of students beyond the physical boundaries of the campus, and undergraduate students and Organizations may be held accountable for behavior occurring off campus as explained above. The University does not seek or support special treatment for its students who may be apprehended for violation of civil or criminal law.
The Student Handbook shall also apply if the student withdraws from Wake Forest while a disciplinary matter is pending. The University does not lose jurisdiction over a pending matter due to a student’s withdrawal, and the University retains the right to withhold transcripts if a student attempts to transfer while a conduct matter is pending. The University also has the right to withhold the degree of a student who has satisfactorily completed the academic requirements but has a conduct matter pending.
Frequently, students attend or participate in events sponsored by or hosted by Organizations at other colleges or universities. Sometimes WFU Organizations co-sponsor events with groups or organizations at other colleges or universities. Wake Forest undergraduate students and Organizations must adhere to Wake Forest University policies and rules on such occasions.
Where officials of another college or university notify Wake Forest of incidents giving rise to a possible violation of the Honor Code, Code of Conduct or The Sex and Gender Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Title IX Sexual Harassment and Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct Grievance Procedures, the case will be processed through the appropriate Wake Forest conduct processes.
If a report alleges behavior which may violate more than one University policy, the offices responsible for administering the applicable policies will work together to determine how and when the processes under each applicable policy will proceed.
Wake Forest University is committed to diversity, inclusion, and the spirit of Pro Humanitate, and it strives to provide an environment conducive to understanding, fostering, and nurturing the values of mutual respect, dignity, responsibility, and open communication. Free speech and peaceable assembly are basic requirements of a university as a center for free inquiry and the search for knowledge and insight.
The University is committed to providing all students the right to openly dissent and to speak, write, listen, challenge, protest, and learn. Though the vibrant exchange of ideas may become contentious, such interactions, as part of the University’s educational mission, can lead to changed perspectives, advanced knowledge, and informed action.
The rights afforded to students in this statement have limitations and involve a concurrent obligation on the part of students to maintain on the campus an atmosphere conducive to scholarly pursuits and to respect the rights of all individuals, including the right to be free of harassment or other behavior that diminishes a person’s or group’s dignity and which is prohibited under the Code of Conduct. Moreover, the exercise of these rights may not disrupt or obstruct the functions of the University or imminently threaten such disruption or obstruction.
“University” or “Wake Forest” refers to Wake Forest University and includes all offices, departments, agencies, schools, colleges, auxiliaries, and affiliates.
“Student” includes all persons taking undergraduate courses at the University, either full-time or part-time. Persons who withdraw after allegedly violating the Code of Conduct, who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the University or who have been notified of their acceptance for admission are considered “Student” as are persons who are living in University residence halls, although not enrolled in this institution. This Student Code does apply at all locations of the University, including all study away and study abroad campuses.
“Faculty” refers to persons who hold an academic appointment, whether tenured, tenure track or non-tenure track, or full or part-time.
“University Official” refers to any person employed (e.g., Resident Advisers) or retained (e.g., food service staff) by the University, performing assigned administrative or professional responsibilities.
“Business day” describes any day of the week, Monday through Friday, excluding University holidays or other official closures.
“Judicial Council” refers to the body established to hear appeals of Honor and Ethics Council hearings and Formal Resolutions.
“Honor and Ethics Council” refers to the body established to hear alleged violations of academic misconduct.
“Conduct Officer”The term “hearing officer” includes any person or persons authorized by the Dean of Students to manage conduct cases and to administer Formal or Informal Resolution processes.
“Conduct Panel” or “Panel“hearing panel” includes the group of individuals who hear cases of alleged student and/or organizational misconduct within the Formal Resolution process. The composition of the conducthearing panel is determined by the Conduct Officer but will usually include one student, one faculty, and one staff member. A “Panel Member” refers to an individual on a conduct panel.
“Investigator” includes any individual(s) authorized by the Dean of Students to conduct investigations of alleged violation(s) of standard(s) of behavior prior to a conduct process.
“Organization” refers to the collective of any number of persons who have complied with the requirements for recognition by the University as a registered Organization. Additionally, “Organization” also refers to the collective of any number of students who act as an organization, even if not officially registered, including those who proclaim themselves as a group, act in the name of a group, or hold themselves out to be an Organization.
“Preponderance of the evidence” indicates information which, when taken as a whole, would lead a reasonable person to conclude it is more likely than not or less likely than not a violation occurred.
“Student Conduct Advisors” or “SCA” are a group of students known as “Student Conduct Advisors” or “SCA(s)” who advise students in academic cases in all phases of an investigation, resolution, and appeal. SCA(s) also advise responding students and/or Organizations in all phases of a, resolution, and appeal, in nonacademic cases.
“Office of the Dean of Students” refers to the named office and includes Student Conduct, Student Engagement and Campus Programs & Services.
“University Premises” includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property in the possession of or owned, used, managed, leased, or controlled by the University and any of its related entities, institutes, businesses, affiliates, schools, or campuses, including adjacent streets and sidewalks.
Please be aware that this is a moderated process and abusive posts will be deleted. When leaving a comment, please state the title of the section you are commenting about, and keep in mind the following questions:
- What objective is this policy/procedure trying to meet? How does it fail?
- Can you suggest an alternative to the language proposed?
- How would the alternative language meet the same objective or be more effective?
I appreciate the mention and acknowledgment of “valuing the individuality of each person and their lived experiences.” I would like to know exactly how does the university plan to do this? What are examples of the “lived experiences” that are being referred?
I appreciate the commitment to “valu[ing] the individuality of each person and their lived experiences,” but how is the university going to do this? There should be examples of what that looks like in practice. Per the university’s own guidance on realizing inclusion, diversity, and equity, explicit commitments are best, so I would love a little more clarity.
Code of Conduct Section: “The resulting findings” is not explicitly clear to me in this section. I think further clarification would be helpful as well as providing an example.
“Conduct Panel” or “Panel“hearing panel” includes the group of individuals who hear cases of alleged student and/or organizational”
From a student’s perspective, I think that the term organizational misconduct is not clearly defined as it pertains to the context of this section of the Student Conduct.
How do you “value the individuality of each person and their lived experiences.” Isn’t it just you did it or not? Or are you going to set up a system where there are different standards for different people?