Judicial Affairs - Southeast Missouri State University

The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) works with the Dean of Students to administer the Statement of Student Rights and Code of Student Conduct, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of the student body at Southeast. The OSC collaborates with a number of offices within Enrollment Management & Student Success as well as the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Athletics, academic departments, and other campus units to support students in their educational efforts. Along with adjudicating student cases, the OSC provides information related to student conduct and campus civility to students, student groups, athletic teams and faculty/staff through various outreach efforts. Also, the OSC offers students the opportunity to Mediate certain student conflicts and incidents rather than adjudicating the case through the judicial process.

Mission

The mission of the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) is to promote concepts of fairness and due process in judicial settings throughout the University community, while striking a balance between community standards and individual behavior through the educational development of students.

All University Judicial Board

A panel of peer students who hear cases and determine outcomes, including sanctions, of alleged violations of the Statement of Student Rights and Code of Student Conduct, as authorized by the Assistant Dean of Students for Student Conduct. The Board is a branch of Student Government and its members are trained by the OSC. Board members serve an extremely important leadership role for the University and they understand the importance of confidentiality related to all judicial matters.

Tips for Appearing at a Judicial Hearing

Protocol for Conducting a Judicial Hearing

Mediation

Certain incidents and/or disagreements can be resolved through the process of mediation. Merriam-Webster Online defines mediation as an intervention between conflicting parties to promote reconciliation, settlement, or compromise. When deemed appropriate by the Office of Student Conduct, a case may be assigned to the specially trained OSC Assistant for Mediation to attempt to resolve the matter using mediation.* All persons directly impacted by the case must agree to participate in the process. If a mediated agreement is reached by the parties involved, the case is considered to be resolved and the expectation is that all parties will meet their specified responsibilities. If the mediation process fails, the case will be referred back to the Assistant Dean of Students for adjudication.**

*The OSC Assistant has completed the Mediation Training Program through the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA). ASCA teaches a co-mediation model, which allows the OSC to partner with others involved with conflict resolution at the University.
**Information adapted from the Office of Student Conduct Resolution at the University of Michigan..

Office of Student Conduct (OSC) Staff

L. Randy Carter, Assistant Dean of Students
Ashley Gilkey, OSC Assistant for Mediation
Kristine Ruth, OSC Assistant
Cecilia Larson, Administrative Assistant

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is one of the most important qualities influencing the character and vitality of an educational institution. Academic misconduct or dishonesty is inconsistent with membership in an academic community and cannot be accepted. Violations of academic honesty represent a serious breach of discipline and may be considered grounds for disciplinary action, up t and including dismissal from the University. For additional information, please see the links below and the Code of Student Conduct.

Protocol for Adjudicating Alleged Violations of Academic Honesty

Academic Honesty Brochure

Enough is Enough Campaign to Stem Societal Violence

April 5 - 9, 2010

Southeast Missouri State University is participating in a national campaign to prevent all forms of societal violence. Nationally, the campaign is being sponsored by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

The “Enough is Enough” Campaign is a critical collaboration designed to create a new paradigm for peace and safety on the nation’s campuses – elementary through postsecondary – by addressing the societal violence that has contributed to unprecedented violence in some of the very places our students should feel most safe.

At the 2008 NASPA Annual Conference, Dr. Zenobia Lawrence Hikes, vice president of student affairs at Virginia Tech, told those in attendance what happened and what was learned through the tragedy on her campus, as well as what she thought those of us in student affairs needed to do to chart a course for the future. The purpose of this campaign is to prevent these and other types of tragic situations from happening

Key Messages

While schools and campuses are generally safe environments, any act of violence is unacceptable in the very places our nation's students should expect the greatest peace and security in order to be successful in their academic pursuits.

Schools and campuses are not, by nature, violent places. Too often, the violence that erupts in the academy spills over from outside the campus. To this end, it is imperative that any effort to stem societal violence before it reaches our nation's schools and campuses MUST involve parents, students, and community members, in addition to administrators, counselors, and teachers.

Those committed to putting an end to school and campus violence must work with students along a continuum that builds community. Most students recognize that violence is not a desired outcome, but it is service to others and the building of community that offer the best hope of preventing violence and/or putting the support systems in place for an effective recovery, should a violent incident occur.

Because of their rarity, acts of violence are largely unpredictable. While we all want assurances that we -- and those we care about -- will be safe as we go about our daily routines, ultimately, we can only work toward building a shared community in which such acts of violence are not glorified, and in which all members of the community are supported and intimately known.

**Adapted from the from the campaign website at the following link: www.EnoughisEnoughcampaign.org

Campus Partners

Office of Student Conduct

Office of Residence Life & Housing

Learning Assistance Programs & Disability Support Services

Campus Life & Event Services

University Counseling Services

Residence Hall Association (RHA)

All University Judicial Board

VICTORY Program

**We welcome other campus and community partners to join us in this campaign.

Please contact the Office of Student Conduct at the following number: (573) 651-2264.