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- Student Community Ethics
Student Community Ethics
COVID-19 UPDATE: The student conduct process is still happening as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. Conduct meetings are happening by telephone or Microsoft Teams at this time. We can be reached Monday-Friday 8am-5pm by calling 828-227-7234. You may also directly email our staff:
Zarana Adial, Interim Director & Associate Director | zadial@wcu.edu
Collin P. Ashley, Assistant Director | cashley@wcu.edu
Antonio Oakley Jr., Graduate Assistant | oakleya@wcu.edu
The Department of Student Community Ethics (DSCE) works with the Western Carolina University (WCU) community to educate students about their rights and responsibilities as stated in the WCU Community Creed (Creed) and WCU Code of Student Conduct (Code). The DSCE strives to make WCU a positive living and learning environment through outreach and education to the university and surrounding community. The Creed inspires students to live with integrity, embrace responsibilities, respect others, engage themselves, and celebrate WCU. The Code informs students of their rights and responsibilities, WCU rules and regulations, and the process to determine if any violations of the Code have occurred. The DSCE is here to resolve cases of alleged misconduct in a fundamentally fair and timely manner that upholds students’ rights and emphasizes WCU’s core values as expressed in the Creed. Additionally, the DSCE works to ensure compliance with Title IX, the Clery Act, and other local, state, and federal laws. Consistent with the Creed, the DSCE promotes the safety and well-being of all students and supports an environment of respect regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, economic status, or profession.
4-Step Student Conduct Process
The following section explains the student conduct process step-by-step. Each step explains the actions of the Department of Student Community Ethics and what a student should expect when going through the process. Further information can be found in The Code of Student Conduct. You can also view our videos that share more about our office, the Code, and the Creed.
General Information Video
WCU Code and Community Creed Video
The DSCE will notify all students by using the Catamount e-mail system. The e-mail
will be sent from Maxient, the software used by the DSCE to securely communicate with
students. The sender's information will look like this in the e-mail: WCU Employee's
Name (via Maxient), <notifications@maxient.com>. The e-mail will give instructions
about who to contact and how to schedule an initial meeting. This meeting is the opportunity
for the student to participate in the conduct process and present their side of the
situation.
The official form of University communication is the Catamount e-mail system (WCU Code of Student Conduct). Students are expected to check their WCU e-mail on a regular basis (spam and junk folders included), which includes during anybreaks from campus.
In the meeting a staff member (Hearing Officer) will discuss the incident report with the student and educate them about their rights and responsibilities, as outlined in the WCU Code of Student Conduct.
The student can mutually resolve the case at their initial meeting or choose to have a Hearing Body decide the outcome. A student has the right to appeal Hearing Body decisions as outlined in the WCU Code of Student Conduct.
If a student is assigned sanctions, the student should complete all sanctions by the deadlines established to avoid further conduct proceedings. Possible sanctions are listed in the WCU Code of Student Conduct.
Alcohol & Drug Education
All new students are required to complete five online courses prior to the start of each semester: AlcoholEdu, Sexual Assault & Awareness, Run Hide Fight, DiversityEDU and submit a signed Ethics Statement. The information about these course requirements is sent to Catamount email addresses near the conclusion of all orientation sessions.
Campus Safety
If you have an immediate problem and need help now, please call the WCU Police at 828.227.8911. Western Carolina University is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of all forms of violence or abuse.
Adopt-A-Highway Program
The DSCE in partnership with the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
participate in the North Carolina Adopt-A-Highway Program. The adopted section of
highway begins on Highway 107 between Ryan's Steakhouse and Sonic traveling east 1.2
miles to Dunkin' Donuts and the Laundromat/Kel-Save/Bogarts area. Participation is
open to students, faculty and staff. Plan to arrive on your scheduled date sporting
your purple and gold Catamount pride. We do not schedule anything in the summer months
of May - August unless a request is made. Please contact our office with any questions
at 828.227.7234.
Register
Community Creed
Related Information
Contact
Zarana Adial
Interim Director & Associate Director
Department of Student Community Ethics
224 Brown
Map
828.227.7234