Student Code of Conduct Policies & Procedures
As a UW-Madison student you have special rights and responsibilities as a member of this community. While it's not always obvious, you exercise these rights and responsibilities every time you attend class, walk across campus, use your campus e-mail account, or submit a paper or examination. This page and those that can be accessed from links on this page outline your student conduct rights and responsibilities and summarize ways in which the University responds to allegations of student academic misconduct (for example, cheating) and non-academic misconduct (generally, misconduct toward other members of the community or involving campus facilities).
Student Misconduct Annual Reports
What Rules Apply to Student Conduct?
Student conduct rules are found in three chapters of the University of Wisconsin System Administrative Code which apply statewide to all UW campuses and students. These are commonly referred to as UWS 14 (academic conduct), UWS 17 (non-academic conduct), and UWS 18 (conduct on University lands). Each UW campus implements these rules through its own procedures, and on UW-Madison's campus, the Assistant Deans in Student Advocacy & Judicial Affairs (SAJA) are charged with this responsibility.
A SAJA staff member is available to speak with or meet with any individual wishing to learn more or seeking a confidential place to discuss conduct matters. The full text for the rules and campus-specific procedures are available through the Division of Student Life, 75 Bascom Hall, 608-263-5700, or on this web site (see links below).
What Are Student Rights and Responsibilities?
A student's rights and responsibilities begin when s/he enrolls in a UW System school and continue throughout her/his academic career; some of the conduct rules apply even during school vacations and off campus or away from Madison. This means that a student is responsible for her/his conduct under these rules while on semester or summer break, on weekends, or while away from the campus. Misconduct directed toward a person is covered by these rules if the person affected is another UW System student, employee, or guest.
Because these rules apply to all UW-System students and facilities, a Madison student who engages in misconduct (for example, against a UW-Whitewater student or while visiting the UW-LaCrosse campus) is subject to these rules as if s/he engaged in the conduct on the Madison campus or toward a Madison student. Discipline imposed under these rules applies at all UW System campuses.
What Happens If You Are Accused of Misconduct?
If you are accused of misconduct you have the right to participate in the adjudication process by telling your side of the story, presenting evidence in support of your story, and having your story given full consideration by the investigator. Academic misconduct allegations are investigated by the course instructor or by an investigating officer (typically from among the Student Advocacy & Judicial Affairs staff in DoSL). Non-academic misconduct allegations are investigated by specific individuals from the Student Advocacy & Judicial Affairs staff in DoSL or University Housing staff.
The investigator must offer to discuss the matter with the student before deciding that misconduct occurred or imposing sanctions. The purpose of this meeting is to review with the student the evidence for the investigator's belief that the student engaged in misconduct and to allow the student to respond. A student cannot be forced to participate in such a meeting, but the investigator may make a decision based on the available evidence if the student chooses not to discuss the matter. If the investigator concludes that the student did violate University rules, the student always has the right to a further hearing.
Please note that written records of all proceedings are kept in accordance with federal guidelines which guarantee the privacy and confidentiality of these records; these guidelines, known as Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), can be found by visiting the US Department Education Web site or by consulting the Web site for the Office of the Registrar.