The Division of Student Life is announcing the Office of Student Conduct will now be known as the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, a name change designed to better reflect its mission and the breadth of services provided to students.
“The name change reinforces our educational mission, while also making it clear that students have responsibilities to each other and the larger community,” said Carrie Showalter, assistant dean and executive director of Campus and Community Life. “Our office takes the rights of our students seriously and is committed to treating students fairly during all stages in our process.”
With a focus on a restorative, educational approach, those with Student Rights and Responsibilities have worked to expand the scope of the unit’s mission to include the creation of a culture of academic integrity and excellence and respond to reports of sexual harassment as defined by BOG Rule 1.6 and Title IX. The restorative justice approach replaces traditional punitive methods by offering a supportive environment where students can learn the skills needed to acknowledge and accept responsibility for their actions and ultimately change their negative behavior. This approach also underscores the importance of community building by addressing the relationship between offenders, victims and the community.
“We are committed to a supportive, educational process that helps students and student organizations gain a better understanding of the University’s expectations of them as members of the community. COVID-19 allowed us the room to pause and look at how we do things,” Jill Gibson, director of Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, said. “We want to convey to our students that they are not merely subject to our Student Code of Conduct, but they also have rights in place to protect them and help them succeed at West Virginia University.”
The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, which includes the Office of Academic Integrity, recently merged with the CARE Team, Student Legal Services, the Student Advocacy Center, the Off-Campus Housing Office and Commuter Student Programs under the umbrella of Campus and Community Life.
The restructuring will provide students with a streamlined experience when seeking assistance from several Student Life departments.
Find out more about the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.