Supporting Your Student: A Guide for Families & Supporters

If a Washington State University (WSU) student has asked you to help them navigate an incident with the Center for Community Standards, you might be wondering how best to support them.

Our process is educational and student-centered. We encourage students to speak for themselves, reflect on their choices, and grow from the experience. Through this, we hope they gain lifelong skills in self-advocacy, professionalism, and personal accountability.

Whether you are a parent, family member, mentor, friend, or chosen support person, your encouragement and understanding can make a meaningful difference. Some students may welcome your active guidance, while others may prefer to navigate this process independently.

What happens next?

If your student has received a notification from the Center for Community Standards, it contains information about the alleged incident, invites them to schedule a hearing with a Conduct Officer, and provides resources available during the conduct process. 

Because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), WSU cannot share details about the situation with you without the student’s explicit written consent. A student may submit this FERPA Waiver form listing you as a person the Center for Community Standards can share information with. 

How can I help my student?

The most valuable thing you can do is help them help themselves.

  • Let your student make their own decisions and navigate the consequences. Encourage them to advocate for themselves rather than stepping in to speak on their behalf.

  • Students do not have to go through this alone. Remind them of the following supportive campus resources:

    • Conduct Liaisons: A Conduct Liaison (CL) is a trained, neutral resource separate from the Conduct Officer. They help students understand their rights, clarify timelines, discuss potential paths forward, and keep them organized. They can even attend meetings alongside the student. 

    • Support Person: Students have the right to bring a support person of their choice to any meeting or hearing. An advisor can be a friend, family member, mentor, WSU faculty/staff, or an attorney.

    • Language Interpreter: To ensure students understand their rights, responsibilities, and the community standards process, WSU will cover all costs for your student to have a language interpreter. The interpreter can attend your students' meetings and hearings. 

    • Accommodations: To ensure students are supported through the process accommodations can be made in alignment with any previously approved accommodations through the WSU accommodations office. 

Can I attend the meetings or hearings with my student?

Yes. If your student designates you as their Advisor and completes the required Registration form, you may attend meetings and hearings to provide support. 

What rights do students have in this process?

The Center for Community Standards wants students to be informed of your rights at every step of the process. Student rights are summarized below.

  • Students may choose to answer all, some, or none of the questions asked during a hearing without negative assumptions.
  • Students may prepare a written statement and/or provide supporting documentation. 
  • Students may review their conduct file(s) before, during, and/or after the hearing​.
  • Students may have a Conduct Liaison or support person present.
  • Students' may have a language interpreter for all meetings and/or hearings
  • Students may use WSU approved accommodations during all meetings and/or hearings. 
  • Students may appeal any initial decision. 
What is a Code of Conduct?

The Student Code of Conduct at Washington State University applies to all students from the time of application to the time of graduation. Students are expected to follow the Code of Conduct both on and off campus. A summary of the Code of Conduct can be found here.