Student Conduct

The Code of Student Conduct (the Code) is a set of community standards and prohibited conduct to promote student learning and accountability.

Appalachian State University is an academic community dedicated to teaching, scholarship, research, service, inclusion, and the holistic development of students. As an academic community, the University has an interest in the safety, welfare, and education of the members of this community and in fostering an environment consistent with the educational mission, purpose, and processes of the University. When students voluntarily enter the University, they assume obligations of performance and behavior relevant to the Universitys mission, processes,and functions. Expectations of students in an academic community are higher than those of other citizens.

You will receive written communication via your official App State email account from the Office of Student Conduct or University Housing to schedule an appointment or with a pre-scheduled appointment time and location. The letter will include the alleged violation(s) and details about next steps in the process.

We encourage you to become informed about the disciplinary process. You can review the process by reviewing the Code . The Code is not comparable to criminal procedures. Formal rules of evidence and procedure do not apply.

No, the Office of Student Conduct only handles off-campus violations that interfere with the mission of the university by impacting the health and safety of students and the surrounding community. The primary types of off-campus violations referred to the Office of Student Conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Felony charges
• Acts of harm charges, including, but not limited to, assault, harassment, or threats
• Hazing
• Behavior that occurs at any college or university may be processed under this Code in the same manner as on-campus behavior
• Activities of a student or group of students that conflict with the Universitys interests and mission, including, but not limited to, patterns of behavior that put the health and safety of others at risk or show disregard for the policies of the University

Please review our Off-Campus Violations page for more information.

Students have several choices in resolving an alleged violation of the Code. Students can accept responsibility through an Informal Resolution, or request that the case be referred to a Board for Formal Resolution. The Conduct Resolution Administrator may also refer a case directly to a Board without an Informal Resolution. A case can also be dismissed or a student held not responsible as additional information is gathered.

The University must establish that the student is responsible for the alleged violation(s) by a preponderance of the evidence (i.e., that it is more likely than not that a violation occurred). This determination must be based solely on the information gathered.

If a student fails to schedule an appointment or misses a scheduled appointment to review their case, the Office of Student Conduct has the right to resolve the case in their absence.

To maintain fairness and consistency, there is a presumption that at least the minimum sanction outlined in the Code will be imposed. A Conduct Revsolution Administrator or Board may impose a sanction less than or greater than the minimum when there is a compelling factor(s) that warrants such action. Please refer to the Code to review the minimum sanctions for all violations.

Under the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended, Appalachian State University is restricted in releasing student information without the consent of the student. It provides the student a right to inspect their records and restrict the disclosure of those records. Further information about FERPA is available on the U.S. Department of Education FERPA website .

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

Detailed information about FERPA at Appalachian State University can be found in the University Policy Statement and the Annual Notification of Rights .

In order for the Office of Student Conduct to discuss details of a student's case or any disciplinary record, the student must give permission to do so, unless elsewhere allowable by law.

It should be understood that, at the post-secondary level, parents do not have automatic access to a students educational record. The first step to providing a parent(s)/guardian(s) access to your information is having open communication with them about what is going on with your grades, classes, etc. Secondly, you can provide access to parent(s)/guardian(s) in AppalNET . To grant parents/guardians access to your records, you must:

1. Log in to AppalNET
2. Select the "Student" tab
3. Select "Parent Access"
4. Fill out the required fields and be sure to check "Conduct Records"
5. Press the "Submit" button

You may also sign a waiver which would allow for more open communication between the University, the student and your parent/guardian. Signing the waiver is only a short term release of your educational record at the University.

Disciplinary records are maintained for a minimum of eight years from the date of resolution. If Suspension or Expulsion is given in resolution of a violation, the disciplinary record will be maintained indefinitely.

Your disciplinary record may impact your ability to gain approval to study abroad, participate in leadership roles on campus or varsity athletics, transfer to another institution, or gain entrance into a graduate program.

If you give an employer or graduate/professional school permission to access your disciplinary record, information about your violation(s) and sanction(s) will be shared.

Most graduate applications ask for information regarding a student's criminal or disciplinary history. Some universities require more information; so be sure to carefully read what information the application is requiring. You should be honest about your disciplinary history. On occasion, universities will contact our office to verify the information you have provided on your application. Most applications include this waiver in the fine print and by signing the application you are typically granting access to your disciplinary records.

Attorneys and non-attorney Advisors are allowed to be present during certain steps in the disciplinary process. Specifically, students who are going through the Formal Resolution process (University Conduct Board or Administrative Hearing Board), and are also subject of pending criminal charges, have the right to be accompanied by an attorney. The attorney may act as the students Advisor and may fully participate only to the extent afforded to the student they represent. Attorney and non-attorney Advisors may participate in hearings with the Student Conduct Board, but may only act as a support individual. For further information regarding the role of attorneys in the disciplinary process please refer to