System modifies conduct rules
Chapter 17 and 18 wording revised, head to Legislature for approval
McLean Bennett
Issue date: 5/7/09 Section: Campus News
The UW System agreed recently to modify changes it had already made to proposed student conduct rules, according to a System press release issued Friday.
The rules had previously been changed to clarify universities' ability to discipline students for certain off-campus violations, but concerns about the changes prompted the System to modify the rules again, according to the release. The rules are contained in chapters 17 and 18 of the State Administrative Code and are now in the second year of a revision process.
Student Senate President Michael Umhoefer announced the news of the recent modifications at Monday's Senate meeting, calling the revisions "really good changes" and applauding the System for working with students on addressing concerns.
According to the press release: The new rules include narrower language regarding discipline for municipal code violations. Where the rules previously stated that students could be punished for "serious or repeated" violations, the modified rules state that students can be disciplined for "serious and repeated" violations.
The new rules state explicitly that students may have a lawyer speak for them at suspension or expulsion hearings and when students are charged with a crime prompting disciplinary proceedings.
The new rules also allow students to choose between being tried by a hearing examiner or a hearing committee; provide expanded language concerning students' constitutional rights; require that universities notify students of pending disciplinary action by both e-mail and paper; and allow students to appeal sanctions to university chancellors.
Senate member Aaron Brewster, who traveled to UW-Milwaukee in March to lobby the System's Board of Regents against adopting the proposed revisions, said he thinks the recent modifications are "a step in the right direction," but added he still has some concerns.
He said he is troubled by what he called vague language regarding universities' ability to go after students for municipal code violations, saying the change in wording - from "serious or repeated" to "serious and repeated" - doesn't alleviate his concerns.
The rules had previously been changed to clarify universities' ability to discipline students for certain off-campus violations, but concerns about the changes prompted the System to modify the rules again, according to the release. The rules are contained in chapters 17 and 18 of the State Administrative Code and are now in the second year of a revision process.
Student Senate President Michael Umhoefer announced the news of the recent modifications at Monday's Senate meeting, calling the revisions "really good changes" and applauding the System for working with students on addressing concerns.
According to the press release: The new rules include narrower language regarding discipline for municipal code violations. Where the rules previously stated that students could be punished for "serious or repeated" violations, the modified rules state that students can be disciplined for "serious and repeated" violations.
The new rules state explicitly that students may have a lawyer speak for them at suspension or expulsion hearings and when students are charged with a crime prompting disciplinary proceedings.
The new rules also allow students to choose between being tried by a hearing examiner or a hearing committee; provide expanded language concerning students' constitutional rights; require that universities notify students of pending disciplinary action by both e-mail and paper; and allow students to appeal sanctions to university chancellors.
Senate member Aaron Brewster, who traveled to UW-Milwaukee in March to lobby the System's Board of Regents against adopting the proposed revisions, said he thinks the recent modifications are "a step in the right direction," but added he still has some concerns.
He said he is troubled by what he called vague language regarding universities' ability to go after students for municipal code violations, saying the change in wording - from "serious or repeated" to "serious and repeated" - doesn't alleviate his concerns.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
EyesOnly
Kristoffer Martin
posted 5/07/09 @ 11:48 AM CST
Even with the changes, the wording is so vague that any student could be subjected to unfair bias for any number of possible violations. Even defending your self in an email could be construed as a violation. (Continued…)
Jon
posted 5/07/09 @ 2:07 PM CST
What about distance ed students, especially the grad students? Is the U going to be monitoring what they are doing in their home towns far away? If not, then the burden is on on-campus students only, which raises the issue of purpose: is public relations and image the main reason behind these rules?
jhhinck
Jon
posted 5/07/09 @ 2:14 PM CST
What about students, especially grad students, who are taking classes via. distance ed? Will UWEC be interested in keeping track of what they are doing in their home towns? If not, then the burden falls solely on on-campus students, which raises an issue regarding the purpose of these new rules: are they meant mainly to protect the U's public image?
WWWW
posted 7/26/09 @ 12:59 AM CST
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