Section I: Philosophy Statement

The Texas Wesleyan University community is committed to fostering a campus environment that is conducive to academic inquiry, a productive campus life, and thoughtful study and discourse.  The student conduct process within the Dean of Students office is committed to an educational and developmental experience which balances the interests of individual students with the interests of the Texas Wesleyan University community. 

A healthy community exists on the foundation of shared values and principles.  At Texas Wesleyan University, student members of the community are expected to uphold and abide by certain standards of behavior that form the basis of the Code of Student Conduct.  These standards are embodied within a set of core values that include integrity, social justice, respect, community, and responsibility.

Each member of Texas Wesleyan University bears responsibility for their conduct and to assume a reasonable level of responsibility for the behaviors of others.  When members of the community fail to exemplify these five core values, due to violating the rules below, student conduct proceedings are used to assert and uphold the Code of Student Conduct.

The student conduct process at Texas Wesleyan University is not intended to punish students; rather, it exists to protect the interests of the community and to challenge those whose behavior is not in accordance with our policies.  Sanctions are intended to challenge students’ moral and ethical decision-making and to help bring their behavior into accord with expectations.  When a student is unable to align their behavior to community expectations, the student conduct process may determine that the student should no longer share in the privilege of participating in the Texas Wesleyan University community.

Students should be aware that the student conduct process is quite different from criminal and civil court proceedings.  Procedures and rights in student conduct procedures are conducted with fairness to all, but do not include the same protections of due process afforded by the courts.  Due process, as defined within these procedures, assures written notice and a hearing before an objective decision-maker.  No student will be found responsible for violating Texas Wesleyan University policy without information showing that it is more likely than not that a policy violation occurred.  Any sanctions will be proportionate to the severity of the violation and to the cumulative conduct history of the student.