Dear Parents and Families,

We value the opportunity to partner with parents and families in helping students make decisions that are in their best interest and that contribute to a safe and healthy college experience.  The college environment offers a level of independence that most students have never experienced.  This affords enormous opportunities for growth and “real life” education in making choices that garner rewards or consequences. The Office of Student Conduct is committed to helping students become accountable, civil, respectful adults that reflect their individual good character and education, especially when choices negatively affect the student or the community.  We want students to learn from experiences in a way that will help them reflect on these decisions and prevent them from recurring.

If your student has already become part of the student conduct process, we hope that you have had an opportunity to discuss the incident with your student.  Research shows that parents have a distinct effect on students’ decision making, even after they have adjusted to college, and even when it may not seem that way.  We believe that when students discuss decision making and repercussions with a conduct administrator and with their parents, it can reinforce common messages of prevention, safety, and student success.  Not all students in the process have violated a policy, and our conduct administrators are aware of this and committed to fairness.  If you haven’t already, please speak with your student regarding the situation to make the most of the learning experience.

You, your student, and each of our 40 conduct administrators have the same goal; to help your student grow personally and academically.  Growth and change are not always comfortable or easy, but are in many cases necessary and positive.  Together, we hope to help your student reach potential that he or she may not yet know is possible.

Sincerely,

Alisa Cooney
Director of Student Conduct