Housing & Residence Life Conduct: Student Resources

Housing & Residence Life supports the mission and purpose of the Office of Student Conduct in regards to student behavior. Items on this webpage are to assist our students, family and friends in navigating the conduct process within Housing.

Please visit the Office of Student Conduct for additional information for the overall University process.

I was involved in an incident. What happens now?

Once an incident reports is submitted by a student, faculty, staff, and/or other individual the Residential Conduct Coordinator, or designee, will review the information during University business hours. If the information in the report supports that a violation of the Student Wolf Code may have occurred, then a student will be charged with allegedly violating our University policy(ies), and an appointment will be made for a student to meet with a Hearing Officer (a Housing and Residence Life graduate or full-time staff member). A letter will be sent to your my.westga.edu email address informing you of the types of violations you are being alleged to have violated, the type of meeting you are being assigned, as well as the date, time, and location of your appointment.

Sometimes students may just receive a warning letter to cease continued behavior, or a request to have a meeting in person to address the situation.

I got an email. What do I do?

In your letter there will be an appointment date, time, and location. You are required to attend this meeting. If you are unable to, it is your responsibility to contact the Hearing Officer (the person who sent you the letter) to reschedule.

Why am I not meeting with the Resident Director/Residence Life Coordinator of my building? 

A different Hearing Officer may be assigned to your case based on the schedule of the staff and your class schedule, the severity of the alleged violations, potential of more severe sanctions, or any prior conduct history you may have. We also want to provide you, the student, a meeting with a fair and impartial staff member in an appropriate time period.

What if I don't want to go to the meeting?

The process will continue with or without your involvement, and a decision will be reached based on the information that is available to the Hearing Officer. Keep in mind that should the outcome of your case be removal from Housing, suspension, or expulsion, your lack of participation in the conduct process is not grounds for an appeal.

What happens in the meeting?

If you have been scheduled for an Informal Conduct Hearing or a Pre-Hearing Conference your Hearing Officer will go over the nature of the behavior in the report, discuss the incident with you, and go over the procedures for reviewing and resolving student conduct cases of this nature. He/she will want to understand your perspective on what happened. He/she will ask you questions and try to understand the incident based both on the written report and your perspective.

If you have been scheduled for a Behavior Review or an Information Only meeting, the Hearing Officer will want to understand your role with in the incident so he/she can refer your case in the appropriate manner.

I don't even live on campus. Why am I meeting with someone from Housing & Residence Life?

When incidents occur on or in Housing property, we have the authority to follow up with all students alleged to have been involved in the situation. Some HRL staff members also assist the Office of Student Conduct with incidents that have occurred on-campus, but not in Housing.

I got another email with a letter saying I have Sanctions. What does that mean?

Sanctions are educational activities that may include writing a paper, attending a program, or community service. You are expected to complete these activities by the designated due dates. If you choose not to, you may receive a conduct hold on your account which will restrict your ability to register for classes until completion of your sanctions.

Sanctions may also include a probationary period, campus/privilege restrictions, removal from Housing, suspension, and/or expulsion.

Our sanctions are dependent on: the nature of the violation(s), any prior history you have with the Office of Student Conduct or Housing and Residence Life, the circumstances surrounding the incident, your motivation for the exhibited behavior, sanctions involved in cases involving similar violations (precedent), and the developmental and educational impact (how is it going to affect you).

Will this go on my record?

Your educational record includes any Student Wolf Code violations, and are maintained by the Office of Student Conduct. Release of any student record is governed by applicable laws regarding the privacy of educational records.

If you have specific questions, please contact the Residential Conduct Coordinator or Student Conduct Specialist directly.

I heard about Medical Amnesty. What is that?

The University does not want to discourage students from seeking medical assistance; therefore, students involved in an incident may not be charged with the possession or consumption of drugs or alcohol if one of them called for assistance for themselves or others who have participated or witnessed the event. Medical Amnesty will be decided by the Residential Conduct Coordinator, or designee.

Sanction Paperwork

Below you will find the verification forms for completion of certain sanctions. These documents  will be attached to the outcome letter you receive from your assigned Hearing Officer. Please make sure to fill out all the appropriate information before submitting to your Hearing Officer.

Policies and Regulations

Students can report an incident by filling out an Incident Report.