As a student, the Office of Community Standards at Worcester State University is your resource for information on your rights and responsibilities as a member of our campus community, understanding the balance between individual and community rights, and support of a safe and inclusive atmosphere conducive to your success. Integrity, scholarship, community, creativity, and excellence are the core values that guide our conduct, performance, and decisions.
Department: Student Affairs
A conduct hearing is the opportunity for students with conduct charges to respond to the written allegations against them and to present evidence in support of their case.
Conduct hearings are scheduled with either a conduct board or hearing officer. Conduct board members are made up of faculty, staff, and students; the board is chaired by the conduct coordinator. Hearing officers are professional staff members at Worcester State University who hear cases on an individual basis.
For more information on conduct hearings and the conduct process, please refer to the Student Code of Conduct.
The Office of Community Standards has received a report alleging that you have been in violation of one or more Worcester State University policies. Therefore, a date for a hearing has been scheduled to hear your side of the alleged violation(s).
When you meet with a conduct board or hearing officer, you will be asked about the alleged violation(s) and given the opportunity to present any relevant information, documents, or witnesses. Honesty is important and will be used as a factor in the decision-making process. Meetings are scheduled based on your academic schedule. Please familiarize yourself with your student rights and responsibilities prior to the hearing.
As a Worcester State University student, you have the right to appeal the decision upon the grounds identified in the Student Code of Conduct on page 37. This needs to be done by filling out and returning the appeal hearing request form no more than 5 business days after the date of the decision letter:
Student Conduct Appeal Request
Title IX Investigation Appeal Request
If you are under 21, and found responsible for a violation of the alcohol or drug policy, your parents/guardians will receive a letter from the Office of Community Standards notifying them of the offense. The letter is generic in nature and does not reveal specific information about the violation, other than that it was a violation of Worcester State University’s alcohol or drug policy. In order for the Office of Community Standards to share specific information with your parents, we require a signed FERPA waiver from you.
Worcester State University maintains student conduct records from the time of enrollment to 7 years after a student graduates or voluntarily withdraws from the University. At that time, the records are destroyed. Title IX records are kept for 15 years.
Students who attend a conduct hearing have the right to bring an advisor with them only to provide moral support. An advisor is typically a member of the Worcester State University community chosen by a student to provide personal support through the conduct process. An advisor must have no other role in the hearing, such as a witness, and may not speak or otherwise represent their advisees. Admission of any person to the hearing shall be at the discretion of the hearing body/hearing officer.
Worcester State University sends written notification to the parents or guardians of students who are under 21 years old at the time of the decision only when they have been found responsible for violating the University’s Alcohol and Other Drug policy listed in our Student Code of Conduct. The letter does not include information from prior incidents or any details about the incident. In order for detailed information about conduct incidents to be shared with any third party, a signed FERPA waiver from the student is required.
Conduct hearings are scheduled with either a conduct board or hearing officer. Conduct board members are faculty, staff, and students; the board is chaired by the conduct coordinator. Hearing officers are professional staff members at Worcester State who hear cases on an individual basis.
Suspension from Worcester State University: Suspension is a separation from Worcester State University for a specified period of time. Such a separation prohibits attendance at any classes, social events or other functions, or visiting Worcester State’s grounds or buildings unless by written permission from the dean of Student Affairs and senior student affairs officer.
Expelled from Worcester State University: Expulsion is a permanent separation from Worcester State University. Such a separation prohibits attendance to any classes, social events or other functions, or visiting Worcester State’s grounds or buildings unless by written permission from the dean of Student Affairs and senior student affairs officer.
Students can benefit from the support of parents as they go through a hearing—remember this is an educational process. Parents should try to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct and the conduct process. This way, as parents, you can direct your student to appropriate campus resources.
