University Disciplinary Committee

A University committee for student disciplinary matters has been established by action of the Board of Regents of Western Kentucky University in accordance with the Kentucky Revised Statutes which authorize the Board of Regents to invest the faculty/staff or a committee of the faculty/staff with the power to suspend or expel any student for severe violations of the WKU Student Conduct Code or a gross disregard for the rights of others in the campus community. Therefore, this Committee will consider all cases involving sanctions eight through twelve(suspension, deferred suspension,probated suspension, expulsion). In every case, the person suspended or expelled may appeal through the President if they meet the conditions for appeal.

The Committee is comprised of twelve members,five faculty,three staff,and four students, who are appointed by the President of the University.Faculty terms are three years and are staggered so that the term of one third of the membership expires each year.

At least five members of the Committee will be present before any official action is taken. Any decision will be made by a majority of those Committee members present.The Committee is to be notified of a meeting by the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Development or members of his staff immediately upon determination of the necessity for such a meeting.

Committee hearings are conducted in two parts. In the first part,only the information that bears on whether or not the student has engaged in specified violations or misconduct may be presented.If the Committee finds no violation or misconduct,the finding is recorded and the proceeding is concluded.

If the finding is that the student has, in fact, engaged in a violation or misconduct,the Committee shall, in the second part of the proceeding, hear and consider any information bearing upon circumstances of extenuation or mitigation. After this part is concluded, the Committee shall determine the appropriate sanction. The Committee will function in accordance with its Own procedures