Student Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights & Responsibilities Mission
The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR), housed in the Division of Student Success, strives to support safe, inclusive, and educational learning environments aiding in student success. Student Rights and Responsibilities endeavors to support Western Illinois University’s core values by reinforcing standards of academic excellence, promoting educational opportunity both inside and outside the classroom, enhancing personal growth of community members, and highlighting the importance of social responsibility while protecting student rights and addressing behavioral problems.
Vision
Student Rights and Responsibilities will provide Western Illinois University students with an exceptional educational, inclusive, and effective application of the code of student conduct policies and procedures.
Conduct Process
Western Illinois University’s philosophy on student conduct is educational in nature. Student Rights and Responsibilities offers sanctioning designed to guide student behavior and to balance the rights of individuals with that of the health and safety of the community. The student conduct process is not a legal process and is separate from local, state, and federal court proceedings. Instead, the standard of responsibility is based on a preponderance of the evidence.
You can find more details about the entire conduct process, what to expect, and how to prepare here.
The student conduct process is expected to:
- Be respectful of all parties involved throughout the process
- Determine consequences for behaviors that violate University rules, policies, and local, state, and federal laws
- Offer outcomes to assist students in learning about the impact of their actions on themselves and others within their respective communities
- Protect the integrity of students, faculty, staff, the institution, and the University community
Staff
Director of Student Rights & Responsibilities
Kelly Severs
Memorial Hall 143
The Director of the Student Rights and Responsibilities office serves as a University Conduct Officer and directs operations of the University conduct system, including University Conduct Hearing boards. This role is responsible for overseeing, designating and training campus conduct officers and conduct board members. This role is responsible for conducting background checks and maintaining all student conduct records. The Director conducts an annual review of the Code of Student Conduct adjusting regulations and sanctions.
Student Retention Specialist and Conduct Officer
Téa Gibson
Memorial Hall 143
The Student Retention Specialist works to support the university's retention efforts & identify retention trends through a combination of student support, outreach, and data analysis. This role also serves as a Conduct Officer. Conduct Officers manage one-on-one disciplinary conferences, reviewing student disciplinary cases, prior incidents and adjudicating cases through the disciplinary conference process. This role also serves as a University Conduct Hearing board member and/or University Conduct Hearing board chair.
Graduate Assistant and Conduct Officer
Laura Romence
Memorial Hall 143
Conduct Officers manage one-on-one disciplinary conferences, reviewing student disciplinary cases, prior incidents and adjudicating cases through the disciplinary conference process. This role also completes benchmarking projects, reviewing peer institutions to ensure Western Illinois University is maintaining the highest procedures and practices.
Assistant Vice President of Student Success and Auxiliary Services
Joseph Roselieb
Sherman Hall 321
Assistant Vice President for Student Success and Wellness
Samantha Klingler
Sherman Hall 321
The Assistant Vice Presidents review and act on recommended findings from conduct hearings. These roles are responsible for determining final outcomes from all cases adjudicated through a University Conduct Hearing, as well as authoring all University Conduct Hearing decision letters.
Vice President for Student Success
Dr. Justin Schuch
Sherman Hall 321
The Vice President for Student Success retains ultimate authority for administration of the Code of Student Conduct. This role reviews appeals of all cases originating with a University Conduct Hearing and affirms all final University decisions pertaining to conduct.
University Conduct Hearing board members
Hearing board members are trained Western Illinois University students, faculty and staff members. All board members must complete a University Conduct Hearing board member training and maintain the highest standards of ethical and confidentiality practices. If you are interested in becoming a hearing board member, please contact our office at 309-298-2436 to set up a training.
Contact
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Memorial Hall 143
Email: SRR@wiu.edu
Phone: (309) 298-2436
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