Review this list of our most commonly asked questions.

I received a Notice of Complaint from the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards and have to meet with a student conduct administrator. What should I expect? 

Your student conduct administrator will explain the process to you. They will want to understand your perspective on what happened. Your student conduct administrator will ask you questions and try to understand the incident based both on the written report and your perspective.  In most cases, the student conduct administrator will make a decision based on the information they have. Cases involving more serious behavior may be referred to the Student Conduct Board. 

If I am found responsible for violating the Student Conduct Code, what will happen?

You will be assigned sanctions. Sanctions may include activities like writing a reflection paper or meeting with a member of the campus community. In some serious cases, sanctions may include probation. Cases with the potential of suspension or expulsion as a sanction will be decided by the Student Conduct Board. 

I don’t agree with the decision made in my case. What can I do?

You may appeal a decision if you believe your hearing process was unfair or if the sanctions you received were excessive. There is a 14 day time limit to file an appeal. The Code includes specific information on how to appeal.

Will this go on my record? For how long? Can I do anything to erase it?

Your educational record includes any student conduct violations. Conduct records are kept in the Office of Student Conduct and are maintained in accordance with the Record Retention section of the Student Conduct Code. Conduct records will be reported in accordance with the Student Conduct Code Violation Reporting Policy.

Do I need to disclose my conduct record on my professional school, graduate school or other application?

Honesty is the best policy. Any of these programs may request your consent to obtain your student conduct record. Omitting information that is later discovered during a routine check can have harsh consequences. The final decision about how to use that information is up to the program to which you are applying. Conduct records will be reported in accordance with the Student Conduct Code Violation Reporting Policy.

I want to file a complaint against a student. What do I do?

If you would like to report an allegation of misconduct please contact us. You can submit an online report, email us at studentconduct@wustl.edu, or call our office at 314-935-7296. If you’re unsure how to proceed, please call; we can listen to your concern, explain the conduct process, help you review your options and if necessary assist you with filing a formal complaint.

Why do I have a hold on my account?

A hold may be placed on your student account when you have failed to complete sanctions/obligations that have been assigned to you. These holds are also placed when a student’s case is referred to go through the Student Conduct Board (SCB) process. For more information regarding your hold, please contact the OSCCS.

I am an international student. How does a student conduct sanction impact my visa status?

Depending on the type of visa you have, the Office for International Students and Scholars must notify the U.S. government once you have been out of school for a specified number of days.

As a result, you may be deported, you may not be permitted back in the U.S., or you may not be permitted to immediately return to the U.S. These penalties will halt or seriously delay your studies.

Please consult with OISS for more detailed information.

How does the University ensure that students who are temporarily suspended from campus while awaiting a conduct hearing have access to support services such as housing ,food and health care, where appropriate?

In cases where it has been deemed that a student will be temporarily suspended from campus, the suspending authority will go through the following procedures when possible with the student:

  • Refund any remaining unused Bear Bucks on the student’s account, if requested by the student and if applicable.
  • Discuss the student’s plans for alternate housing – this may be done in consultation with the student and their family.
  • In cases where a student who resides in campus housing is temporarily suspended pending the outcome of a formal hearing, and it is determined that the student does not have immediate access to alternate housing, the University may provide the student with local temporary housing options. 
  • The student will be offered counseling and healthcare resources given the seriousness of the circumstances and their change in student status.
If a student is temporarily suspended, are they able to appeal the terms of their temporary suspension?

Yes, according to the Student Conduct Code, “a student wishing to appeal a temporary suspension can submit a written appeal to the suspending authority within five (5) Business Days from the date of the written notice of the temporary suspension.” In cases where the conditions of the temporary suspension are negatively affecting a student’s ability to access vital campus resources, the student can request an expedited appeal to the suspending authority or their designee. That authority will make every effort to hear the appeal and render a decision within 24 hours of the appeal request.