Policies

Learn more about WSU's policies for alcohol and drugs, academic integrity, sexual misconduct, and more. 

Report an Incident

Community Standards Contacts

Academic Integrity

WSU's academic policies are designed to ensure that academic honesty is upheld. Students and faculty have a shared responsibility in upholding the academic integrity policies — students must uphold theprinciples of academic integrity, and faculty must clarify expectations, create a culture of honesty in the classroom, and report suspected violations.

Fabrication

The intentional invention or counterfeiting of information in the course of an academic activity. The most common form is counterfeiting record of internship or practicum experiences.

If an instructor has reason to believe that students are using or posting unauthorized course content to Chegg, they can request that the Center for Community Standards initiate an honor code investigation through Chegg. This investigation can remove content from the website or identify users that have accessed content on the Chegg website. Chegg requires that Center for Community Standards initiate the process.

Submit a Chegg Honor Code Investigation Request

Plagiarism

Presenting the information, ideas, or phrasing of another person as your own work without proper acknowledgment of the source. Our policy makes no distinction between intentional and unintentional plagiarism. 

Unauthorized Assistance

Using unauthorized materials in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations, or giving or receiving unauthorized assistance by any means, including talking, copy information from another student, using electronic devices, or taking an examination for another student.

Artificial Intelligence

Instructors are responsible for communicating academic integrity expectations, which may now include information about using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT in your coursework. You are responsible for understanding your instructors' expectations, including if and when you can use AI resources.

If you aren’t sure what resources are allowed or prohibited, contact your instructors for clarification. You can find more information about AI on the provost's website.

Related WAC Guidelines

Alcohol & Drug Policy

Alcohol and substance use on campus and by WSU students is regulated by a number of university policies. Below is a summary of the university’s expectations regarding alcohol and substance use and possession. 

  • Standards of Conduct for Students (Can apply both on and off campus) 
  • Violation of university policy, rule, or regulation: Violation of any university policy, rule, or regulation published electronically on the university website or in hard copy including, but not limited to, the university's alcohol and drug policy, executive policy 15, and housing and residence life policy. (WAC 504-26-209) 
  • Drugs and drug paraphernalia: Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of cannabis, narcotics, or other controlled substances, or drug paraphernalia except as permitted by federal, state, and local law. (WAC 504-26-211) 
  • Medical marijuana use is also prohibited on campus, including in campus housing. All questions regarding the reasonable accommodation of medical conditions, including conditions treated with medical marijuana, please contact your campus disability support provider.
  • Alcohol: Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of alcoholic beverages to any person under 21 years old or by any person under 21 years old (except as expressly permitted by university regulations, and federal, state, and local laws), or public intoxication at any age. (WAC 504-26-212) 
  • Hazing: Hazing includes any act committed as part of a person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a recognized or registered student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or psychological or emotional harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. (WAC 504-26-206) Hazing activities may include, but are not limited to: 
    • Use of alcohol during activities targeted towards new members;  
    • Striking another person whether by use of any object or one's body;  
    • Creation of excessive fatigue;  
    • Physical and/or psychological shock;  
    • Morally degrading or humiliating games or activities;  
    • Causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance regardless of the person's willingness to participate;  
    • Unreasonable or unnatural physical activity.  
  • Driving under the Influence: Engaging in conduct that creates an unreasonable risk of harm to another person or property. Reckless endangerment includes, but is not limited to, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. (WAC 504-26-224)
  • Good Samaritan Guideline: This guideline ensures that students receive prompt and appropriate attention in the event of alcohol and/or drug intoxication. Students will not receive any formal discipline for alcohol or drug use and possession under the community standards and neither will the intoxicated individual. Learn more about the Good Samaritan Guideline. 
  • Housing and Residence Life Policies
    • Students who are living in aresidence hall or university housing are also required to follow established housing policies. 
  • Fraternity and Sorority Life
    • All chapters are expected to abide by the Washington Administrative Code and the fraternity and sorority relationship agreement. Fraternities and sororities are independently owned and operated organizations. As such, each organization may have additional regulations regarding the use or possession of alcohol or substances that members are expected to follow. Members should consult with their chapter leadership with questions about organization specific expectations. 
  • Registered Student Organization (RSO) Manual 
  • Executive Policy 20 – Alcohol and Drug Policy 

For additional information about alcohol and substance use, please visit: 

Good Samaritan Guideline

The WSU Good Samaritan Guideline ensures that students receive prompt and appropriate attention in the event of alcohol and/or drug intoxication. This guideline is similar to Washington State laws followed by law enforcement. 

Our Guideline Explained

If you see a friend or stranger experiencing symptoms of alcohol or drug intoxication and needing medical help, you can contact local police, WSU police, medical professionals, university staff members, and/or resident advisors for assistance. You will not receive any formal discipline for alcohol or drug use and possession under our community standards and neither will the intoxicated individual. WAC 504-26-510

What Does Not Apply

This guideline does not apply to any disciplinary action for incidents beyond drug and alcohol use. For example, incidents that include hazing, sexual assault, physical abuse, malicious mischief, disorderly conduct, acts of hate or bias, may initiate the community standards process. 

WSU reserves the right to sanction repeat alcohol and drug offenders, including organizations, and to pursue disciplinary action for any violation which the University considers serious enough to require such action. 

Harm to Others

Harm (or Potential Harm) to Others

The WSU community is committed to creating and maintaining a campus where all students, faculty, and staff feel safe. Our community standards prohibit the following behaviors which may harm individuals, groups or the University.

Fighting, Assault, Threats, Intimidation or Abuse

Includes any behavior that threatens, endangers, harms, or undermines the health, safety, or welfare of the university community or any person, including domestic or intimate partner violence. Or behavior that disrupts the university community or prevents other students, employees, or guests of the university from completing their duties. Behavior that interferes with or disrupts the university's mission, operations, or activities is also prohibited.

Hazing 

No student or student organization at may plan to engage or participate in hazing of another. Hazing includes any activity expected of someone joining a group (or maintaining full status in a group) that causes or is likely to cause a risk of mental, emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. Examples of hazing include:

  • Abuse of alcohol during new member activities;
  • Creation of excessive fatigue;
  • Mental harm;
  • Morally degrading or humiliating games or activities that create a risk of bodily, emotional, or 
  • Physical and/or psychological shock;
  • Striking another person whether by use of any object or one's body.

Hazing does not include practice, training, conditioning and eligibility requirements for customary athletic events such as intramural or club sports and NCAA athletics, or other similar contests or competitions. However, gratuitous hazing activities occurring as part of such customary athletic event or contest are prohibited.

Harassment 

Harassment is behavior that is severe, persistent, or pervasive, and would cause a reasonable person in the victim's position substantial emotional distress and undermine their ability to work, study, or participate in their regular life activities or participate in the activities of the University. Sexual and discriminatory harassment are outlined separately.

Reckless Endangerment

Reckless endangerment includes behavior which creates an unreasonable risk of harm to another person or property. 

Retaliation

Retaliation includes any act that would dissuade a reasonable person from making a complaint or participating in an investigation. This includes action or threats that could negatively affect another's employment, education, or reputation.

Stalking

Stalking is engaging in behavior directed at a specific person that would cause them to fear for their safety or property (or that of others) or suffer substantial emotional distress. Stalking includes, behaviors that occur in person, electronically, or through a third party.

Related WAC Guidelines

Sexual Misconduct & Discrimination

The WSU community is committed to creating and maintaining a campus where all students, faculty, and staff feel safe. Discrimination in all its forms, including discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct (including sexual assault and other sexual violence), destroys mutual respect, can bring substantial personal harm to individuals, and violates individual rights. Such behaviors are not tolerated at WSU.

The Center for Community Standards works in conjunction with WSU Compliance and Civil Rights (CCR) on incidents relating to discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct. 

Discrimination

Discriminatory harassment includes harassment on the basis of race; sex/gender; sexual orientation; gender identity/expression; religion; age; color; creed; national or ethnic origin; physical, mental, or sensory disability (including disability requiring the use of a trained service animal); marital status; genetic information; and/or status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the military. 

Discrimination is considered sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive when it creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment; or when it unreasonably interferes with an individual's work, academic performance, living environment, personal security, or participation in any WSU activity.

What does discrimination look like?

  • Denying someone employment, educational opportunity or benefit because of their gender, race, or disability;
  • Treating individuals differently because of their national origin or age (for example, giving them less advantageous working conditions);
  • Following a practice or policy that disproportionately impacts women or members of another protected class; or
  • Severe, persistent, or pervasive name calling, jokes, or other verbal or physical behavior towards a person based on their sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination based on sex and/or gender and encompasses unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Sexual harassment also encompasses “gender-based harassment,” which means harassment of a non-sexual nature that occurs because of a person’s sex and/or gender. It also includes harassment based on a person’s nonconformity with sex and/or gender stereotypes.

Sexual harassment creates a hostile environment when behavior is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough to interfere with an individual’s work or educational performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment. 

What does sexual harassment look like?

In general:
  • Physical assault;
  • Direct or implied threats that submission to sexual advances will be a condition of employment, work status, promotion, grades, work references, or letters of recommendation (quid pro quo);
  • Sexual behavior that is unwelcome. Such behavior may include, but is not limited to, the following:
    • Comments of a sexual nature;
    • Sexually explicit statements, questions, jokes, or anecdotes;
    • Unnecessary or undesirable physical contact;
    • Unwanted, offensive, and/or uninvited comments about another’s physical appearance;
    • Display of pictures with sexual content;
    • Persistent, unwanted attempts to change a professional relationship to an amorous relationship;
    • Subtle propositions for sexual activity or direct propositions of a sexual nature;
    • Uninvited letters, e-mails, telephone calls, or other correspondence referring to or depicting sexual activities; and/or
    • Any of the above carried out via the Internet or social media (“cyber-harassment”).
When based on sex and/or gender:
  • Threatening or causing physical harm, extreme verbal abuse, or other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
  • Intimidation, which is defined as implied threats or acts that cause a reasonable fear of harm in another.
  • Hazing, as defined in WAC 504-26-206.
  • Bullying or workplace violence, as defined in BPPM 50.30.
  • Intimate partner violence, which includes violence or abusive behavior within an intimate partner relationship. Intimate partner violence may also be referred to as domestic violence or dating violence. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, economic, or psychological in nature and can include actions or threats of actions that influence or harm an intimate partner.
  • Stalking, as defined in WAC 504-26-223.

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct is a form of sexual harassment and includes sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence. A number of acts may be regarded as sexual misconduct including, but not limited to, nonconsensual sexual contact (including sexual intercourse) and sexual exploitation. 

Use of alcohol or other drugs is not a valid defense to a violation of this policy.

What does sexual misconduct look like?

  • Force or coercion is threatened or used to gain consent or submission to sexual activity
    • Force is the use of physical violence, physical force, threat, or intimidation to overcome resistance or gain consent to sexual activity.
  • Using blackmail or extortion to overcome resistance or gain consent to sexual activity.
  • Sexual exploitation such as invading another person's sexual privacy, or exposing one's intimate parts in non-consensual circumstances.
  • Knowingly or recklessly exposing another person to a significant risk of sexually transmitted disease or infection.
  • Sexually-based stalking and/or bullying.

WSU Transcript Release Policy

For matters where a student is found responsible for violation WSU’s Executive Policy #15, the policy prohibiting discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct, or the conduct is a form of sex and gender based violence, including, but not limited to sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or stalking, and the final order results in suspension or expulsion, the Center for Community Standards will include a letter along with any transcript the student requests be sent directly to a receiving institution. The letter will state that the student was found responsible for  violating the WSU Standards of Conduct for Students, and was dismissed from the University.

Related WAC Guidelines

Additional Policies

The WSU community has a responsibility to read and be familiar with all community standards. The list below includes additional policies outlined in the Washington Administrative Code for prohibited student behaviors.

Computer Abuse or Theft 

Theft or other abuse of computer facilities and resources, including unauthorized file transfers, unauthorized use of computer hardware, using another individual's identification and/or password, or using computing facilities and resources that interfere with the work of the university community. 

Disorderly Conduct 

Disorderly conduct includes behavior that is lewd or indecent, disturbing the peace, or assisting or encouraging another person to disturb the peace.

Disruptive Protests or Demonstrations 

Participating in an on-campus or off-campus riot or demonstration that disrupts the normal operations of the university and/or infringes on the rights of other members of the university community. 

Providing a Fake ID or False Information 

Providing a fake ID or false information is considered an act of dishonesty. Acts of dishonesty include fabricating or counterfeiting information, knowingly providing false information to any person, and forgery, alteration or misuse of any university document, record or identification.

Failure to Complete Sanctions 

Failure to complete or comply with assigned sanctions is considered abuse of the community standards system. 

Failure to Comply 

Failure to comply with lawful directions of university officials and/or law enforcement officers (acting within their duties) and/or failure to identify oneself when requested to do so.

Firearms & Dangerous Weapons 

No student may carry, possess, or use any firearm, explosive (including fireworks), dangerous chemical, or any dangerous weapon on university property or in university-approved housing. Airsoft guns and other items that shoot projectiles are not permitted in university-approved housing. Students wishing to maintain a firearm on campus for hunting or sporting activities must store the firearm with the WSU Department of Public Safety.

Obstruction 

Obstruction of people or vehicles on university property or at university-sponsored or supervised events.

Theft or Damage to Property 

Theft of and/or the intentional or reckless damage to the property of another. 

Trespassing 

Knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in/on university premises. 

Unauthorized Keys or Entry 

Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys, cards or passcodes to any university premises. Unauthorized entry to or use of university premises.

Unauthorized Recording of Audio, Video or Images 

Recording audio or video or taking pictures of any person while on university premises without their prior knowledge or consent in locations where they would expect privacy such as in a gym, locker room, or restroom. This does not include taking pictures of persons in areas which are considered to be open to public view, such as Martin Stadium or the Glenn Terrell Mall.

Violation of a disciplinary sanction 

Violation of any term or condition of any disciplinary sanction constitutes a new violation and may subject the student to additional sanctions.

Violation of University Policy, Rule, Regulation or Law

Violation of any university policy, rule, or regulation published electronically on the university website or in hard copy.

Related WAC Guidelines