Student Community Ethics

Are you a student/respondent looking for information about the conduct process? Read the Student FAQ!

Parents/guardians, attorneys/advocates, complainants, and WCU faculty/staff can find more information about the conduct process by reading the General FAQ.

For additional questions, you may email our staff directly:

Alexandra Fields, Director | amfields@wcu.edu
Keri Clark, Associate Director | kclark@wcu.edu
Melissa Day, Assistant Director | mday@wcu.edu
Katie Sorel, Administrative Support Specialist | ksorel@wcu.edu
Christian Beamgaurd, Graduate Assistant | cbeamguard@wcu.edu

DSCE office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. If you need to schedule a meeting with your hearing officer, please contact them via email.

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 Code of Student Conduct (Code). 

DSCE strives to make WCU a positive living and learning environment through outreach and education to the university and surrounding community. 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 Creed inspires students to live with integrity, embrace responsibilities, respect others, engage themselves, and celebrate WCU. 

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.

DSCE promotes the safety and well-being of all students and supports an environment of respect regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, economic status, profession, and other federally-protected classes.

If you need special accommodations, please let us know by emailing DSCE@wcu.edu or the Office of Accessibility Resources.

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. This process is outlined in the WCU Code of Student Conduct in Article VI.

Further information can be found in the WCU Code of Student Conduct.  You can also view our videos that share more about our office, the Code, and the Creed.

Please also see our FAQ for Students to find answers to common questions about the conduct process. Parents, complainants, and attorneys should access our General FAQ page.

General Information Video
WCU Code and Community Creed Video

Alcohol & Drug Education

All new students are required to complete six online courses prior to the start of each semester: Alcohol and Other Drugs, Sexual Violence Prevention, Personal Skills for a Diverse Campus, Email and Messaging Safety, Password Security Basics, and Active Shooter: Run, Hide, Fight. Students will also submit a signed Ethics Statement. The information about these course requirements is sent to Catamount email addresses near the conclusion of all orientation sessions. 

LEARN MORE

What is BASICS?

The BASICS program is an evidence-based program that is designed to help college students assess their alcohol-related decisions. The goal of BASICS is to help reduce risk for the student who chooses to explore BASICS with us.

Any WCU student may choose to participate in BASICS. BASICS is ideal for students who may struggle with the negative impacts of substance use, specifically related to alcohol decisions.

The BASICS program uses a harm-reduction approach designed to:

• Help you explore your alcohol use in a non-judgmental setting
• Reduce risky behavior and harmful consequences of alcohol abuse
• Identify changes that could help you reduce your risk
• Provide important information and skills for risk reduction

If you are interested in connecting with a trained facilitator as part of the BASICS program, please reach out to BASICS@wcu.edu. 

If you would like to receive personalized, confidential feedback about your drinking habits, you can also use eCHECKUP TO GO, a tool that will provide you with a custom BAC chart and more information. eCHECKUP TO GO is completely free and anonymous. You can use the report you receive as a starting point for a conversation with a BASICS facilitator if you choose to.

*This is not therapy or substance use treatment. Professionals facilitating these sessions are not substance-misuse professionals or licensed clinical therapists.

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. 

WCU Police

Reviewed September 19, 2023