GW Community Feedback on the Code of Student Conduct

All members of the GW community play an integral role in fostering a respectful and safe living-learning environment. One aspect of building and maintaining this environment is through the development of policies and procedures. For students, the Code of Student Conduct (“the Code”) is the primary document governing non-academic student behavior.

The university is conducting a review of the Code of Student Conduct in the coming months. This process will seek perspectives from throughout the university community to inform the review, first on the existing Code of Student Conduct, and later on proposed revisions.

While the Code is reviewed regularly to reflect new or updated laws and university policy, recent community feedback has demonstrated the need to conduct a more robust review of the Code and to engage community members as part of that process. We are also seeking input from external subject matter experts to support our review.

In support of this effort, we invite current members of the GW community to provide feedback and questions about the current version of the Code of Student Conduct. Your feedback is a critical part of our review, and we thank you for contributing to the process.

This public comment period will remain open through Wednesday, May 7, 2025. We anticipate sharing our proposed revisions in the fall semester.

How to Participate

Access the Code of Student Conduct feedback form and sign in with your GW network information.
To view a section of the Code, check the box next to the section title.
Type your comments or questions in the dialogue box that appears below the selected section.
- Note: You may select and comment on more than one section at a time. However, if you add comments under a section and then unselect that section, your comments will be lost. You may find it easiest to submit feedback on one section at a time.
After you have finished providing your comments or questions, select “Submit” at the bottom of the page.
A message will appear confirming your submission was successful. You will also be provided with the option to submit another response or view your previous submissions.

If you have any questions about how to submit your comments, please contact [email protected].

Provide Feedback

Guiding Principles and Feedback Sought

The following principles will guide us as we consider revisions to the Code of Student Conduct. While some of these principles reflect a broader philosophy guiding the development of the Code, some will be directly reflected in it.

We encourage you to consider these principles when you review the current version of the code and formulate your feedback.

The Code of Student Conduct should inform and educate members of the community about non-academic behavioral expectations for students, resolution pathways, review procedures, and sanctions.
The language used in the Code of Student Conduct should be clear and easily understood by all members of the GW community. (Avoiding legalese, incorporating more student-centered and accessible language.)
The Code of Student Conduct should encourage learning and accountability, highlight personal and community responsibility, and ensure that sanctions consider both the student’s learning needs and the impact on individuals and the community.
The Code of Student Conduct should reflect national standards of being learning-centered, procedurally-sound, and community-focused.*

Some portions of the Code (e.g., those pertaining to discriminatory misconduct and hazing) are being reviewed separately through the university’s policy development process and will be reconciled with the final version of the revised Code.

We welcome your questions, requests for clarity, constructive critiques, and suggestions for alternative procedures and language. Please note, any questions you may submit will be interpreted as feedback and will not receive a response.

Next Steps

Perspectives from students, faculty, and staff will be gathered to help inform the review process. Proposed revisions to the Code will undergo a policy review process next academic year that includes engagement with the Student Government Association, Faculty Senate, and Staff Council. The revised Code is expected to take effect no later than the 2026-2027 academic year. More information will be shared about the review process during the Fall 2025 semester.

*The Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) for student conduct programs provides the industry standard for this work in higher education. “College campuses must balance three complex, interconnected goals: community-focused, learning-centered, and procedurally-sound” (CAS Standards and Guidelines, Student Conduct Programs, pp. 2-3.)

Community-focused: Student conduct programs must reflect the unique needs, characteristics, and values of their individual institutions and campus communities. As such, they must set forth clear standards for their particular community and also ensure protection for all students within that community.
Learning-centered: Student conduct programs should, whenever feasible, seek to prioritize educational processes and outcomes for students while also ensuring the safety and integrity of the learning environment for all students. The imperative is to identify and utilize conduct practices and interventions that have a demonstrable effect on students’ knowledge, values, and behavior.
Procedurally-sound: Student conduct programs must ensure that their policies and practices are procedurally sound. Although institutions must comply with legal and judicial authority (including procedural and substantive due process, legislative mandates, and regulatory directives), student conduct programs also have a moral and ethical duty to ensure their processes are inclusive, socially just, and multipartial.