VIOLATIONS AND POSSIBLE SANCTIONS
We take a developmental approach to community standards and upholding our WSU values. Educational sanctions will be applied if a student has violated our community standards. The goal of assigning sanctions is to help students understand their actions' impact on themselves and our community, prevent future violations, and repair any harm caused to our community. Sanctions are not meant to punish but to provide growth and development so that better choices can be made in the future.
The following guidelines are not absolute but provide an outline for potential sanctions based on the specific violation. This allows for greater consistency across our community standards. Sanctions are assigned to be effective and appropriate based on the circumstances of the individual student and incident, including aggravating or mitigating factors and the student’s previous record within community standards.
Learn more about individual sanctions and factors considered for individual incidents.
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Alcohol and Drugs
Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of alcoholic beverages to any person under 21 years old or by any person under 21 years old (except as expressly permitted by university regulations, and federal, state, and local laws), or public intoxication. WAC 504-26-212,
Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of cannabis, narcotics, or other controlled substances, or drug paraphernalia except as permitted by federal, state, and local law. WAC 504-26-211
Potential Sanctions for Alcohol and Drug Violations
The most commonly assigned sanctions are indicated in bold.
First Violation
- Educational Paper or Project
- Mentor Meetings
- Alcohol and Drug Assessment
- Probation, with probation statement
- Under the Influence
- THC 101
Second Violation
- Educational Paper or Project
- Mentor Meetings
- Alcohol and Drug Assessment
- Probation, with probation statement
- IMPACT One-on-One Educational Meeting (Course fee of $100)
Third Violation and Beyond
- Educational Paper or Project
- Community Engagement Project
- Mentor Meetings
- Alcohol and/or Drug Assessment
- Alcohol & Drug Information School
- Probation, with probation statement
- IMPACT One-on-One Educational Meeting (Course fee of $100)
- Suspension or Expulsion (if referred to the Conduct Board)
Driving Under the Influence
WAC 504-26-210, RCW 46.61.502, WAC 504-26-224 The most commonly assigned sanctions are indicated in bold.
- Educational Paper or Project
- Community Engagement Project(s)
- Mentor Meetings
- Alcohol and Drug Assessment
- Probation, with probation statement
- Under the Influence (Course fee of $35)
- THC 101 (Course fee of $35)
- Suspension or Expulsion (if referred to the Conduct Board)
Violation of WSU Alcohol & Drug Policy only
WSU Alcohol and Drug Policies outline behaviors required for underage students, for students of legal drinking age, restrictions within living groups (residence halls, greek chapters and shared spaces) and on campus, and the responsibilities of students and guests when alcohol or drugs are present. WAC 504-26-209
The most commonly assigned sanctions are indicated in bold.
- Educational Paper or Project
- Community Engagement Project(s)
- Mentor Meetings
- Under the Influence (Course fee of $35)
- THC 101 (Course fee of $35)
- Alcohol and Drug Assessment
- Probation, with probation statement
- Warning
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Harm (or potential harm) to Others
Physical harm or direct threat
Potential Sanctions
- Educational project or paper
- No Contact
- Mentoring Meetings
- Probation, with probation statement
- Suspension or Expulsion (if referred to the Conduct Board)
Reckless Endangerment
Reckless endangerment includes behavior which creates an unreasonable risk of harm to another person or property. Possible sanctions specific to a DUI can be found in the Alcohol and Drug section above. WAC 504-26-224
Potential Sanctions
- Community Engagement Project(s)
- Educational project or paper
- Probation, with probation statement
Harassment (other than Sexual or Discriminatory Harassment)
Harassment is behavior that is severe, persistent, or pervasive, and would cause a reasonable person (in the victim's position) substantial emotional distress and impair their ability to work, study, or participate in their regular life activities or participate in the activities of the university. WAC 504-26-222
Potential Sanctions
- No Contact
- Letter of Apology
- Educational Paper or Project
- Suspension or Expulsion (if referred to the Conduct Board)
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Sex & Gender Based Violence and Harassment
If you are found responsible for violating the standards related to sex or gender-based violence or harassment, you may be dismissed from the University. Please contact our office directly to discuss potential outcomes.
Sexual Harassment or Discriminatory Harassment
Discriminatory harassment includes harassment on the basis of race; sex/gender; sexual orientation; gender identity/expression; religion; age; color; creed; national or ethnic origin; physical, mental, or sensory disability (including disability requiring the use of a trained service animal); marital status; genetic information; and/or status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the military. WAC 504-26-220
Sexual Misconduct
Sexual misconduct is a form of sexual harassment and includes sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence. A number of acts may be regarded as sexual misconduct including, but not limited to, non-consensual sexual contact (including sexual intercourse) and sexual exploitation. WAC 504-26-221
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Academic Integrity (cheating, plagiarism, fraud, etc.)
The Center for Community Standards, in conjunction with the academic department and faculty member(s), oversees the academic integrity process. A violation of academic integrity includes (but is not limited to) cheating, use of unauthorized materials or sources, unauthorized collaboration on projects, plagiarism, and multiple submissions of the same work. More detailed descriptions of cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication can be found in the following codes: Acts of Dishonesty WAC 504-26-202 and Academic Integrity Violation WAC 504-26-010
Potential sanctions to Academic Integrity Violations
The most commonly assigned sanctions are indicated in bold.
First Cheating Violation
- Warning, with warning statement that future violations could result in dismissal
- Probation, with probation statement
- Educational project or paper
- Academic Integrity Seminar (Course Fee of $100)
- Academic Integrity Worksheet and Meeting
First Plagiarism Violation
- Warning, with warning statement that future violations could result in dismissal
- Educational project or paper
- Academic Integrity Worksheet and Meeting
- Plagiarism tutorial
Second Violation and beyond
- Suspension or Expulsion (if referred to the Conduct Board)
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Other Violations (theft, trespassing, hazing, etc.)
Providing a fake ID or false information
Providing a fake ID or false information is considered an act of dishonesty. Acts of dishonesty include knowingly furnishing false information, knowingly omitting relevant information, or knowingly misrepresenting information to any person, including university officials, faculty members, or administrators and forgery, alteration, or misuse of any university document or record, or instrument of identification whether issued by the university or other state or federal agency.. WAC 504-26-202
Potential sanctions
Providing or Possession of a Fake ID
- Educational Paper or Project
- Community Engagement Project(s)
- Under the Influence (Course fee of $35)
- THC 101 (Course fee of $35
Providing False Information
- Educational Paper or Project
- Community Engagement Project(s)
- Mentor Meetings
Failure to complete sanctions
Failure to complete assigned sanctions is considered abuse of the community standards system. WAC 504-26-219
Potential sanctions
Failure to complete any disciplinary sanction(s) on time
- Warning
- Enrollment hold, which may not be released until all sanctions are complete
- Probation, with probation statement
Probation Violation
- Educational project or paper
- Extension of Probation, with probation statement
- Suspension or Expulsion (if referred to the Conduct Board)
Failure to Comply
Failure to comply with lawful directions of university officials and/or law enforcement officers (acting within their duties) and/or failure to identify oneself when requested to do so. WAC 504-26-207
Potential sanctions
- Apology Letter
- Educational Paper or Project
- Community Engagement Project(s)
Firearms & Dangerous Weapons
No student may possess or use any firearm (including airsoft guns), explosive (including fireworks), dangerous chemicals (excluding pepper spray), or other dangerous weapons or instrumentalities (including tasers) on university premises. This prohibition does not apply to possession of such items for authorized university purposes; possession of such items by authorized law enforcement officers; or individuals who have obtained prior written approval from the university chief of police, president, or designee. WAC 504-26-202
Potential sanctions
- Educational Paper or Project
- Community Engagement Project(s)
- Probation, with probation statement
- Suspension or Expulsion (if referred to the Conduct Board)
Hazing
Hazing includes any act committed as part of a person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a recognized or registered student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or psychological or emotional harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. WAC 504-26-206
Potential sanctions
- Loss of recognition (groups)
- Loss of state-funded grants, scholarships or awards for a period of time (individual students)
- Educational Paper or Project
- Probation, with probation statement
Theft or Damage to Property
Theft of and/or the intentional or reckless damage to the property of another. WAC 504-26-205
Potential sanctions
- Educational Paper or Project
- Community Engagement Project(s)
- Probation, with probation statement
- Restitution (compensation or restoration for damage/loss)
Trespassing
Knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in or on university premises. WAC 504-26-225
Potential sanctions
- Educational Paper or Project
- Community Engagement Project(s)
- Probation, with probation statement