Student Conduct Process FAQs - Parents & Families

The student disciplinary process at Oklahoma City University (OCU) does not provide for the involvement of the parent or guardian of a student. As a member of the OCU community, each student is expected to manage their own disciplinary matters with the University. Parents and family members can provide important moral support to their student and can assist the student in understanding both the disciplinary process and the expectations of the University.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law limiting the type of information that university administrators can provide to parents. In some situations, a Student Conduct Administrator will provide a student with a FERPA privacy waiver which must be signed by the student.

Parents and family members are not permitted to participate in any student conduct proceedings.

Student Conduct proceedings are not legal proceedings. Attorneys may be included in the process when concurrent criminal charges exist; however, the attorney's role is limited. An attorney may attend meetings and hearings, but they may not participate in any fashion, nor is the attorney allowed to represent the student.

When choosing to consult with an attorney, you do so at your own expense.

University discipline proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with conduct that potentially violates both the criminal law and the Student Code of Conduct (that is, if both possible violations result from the same factual situation) without regard to the pendency of civil or criminal litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution. Proceedings under the Student Code of Conduct may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceeding off campus at the discretion of the Dean or Associate Dean of Students.

The Oklahoma City University Student Code of Conduct applies to conduct occurring on University premises and at University-sponsored activities, as well as to off-campus conduct, including any form of electronic transmission and the Internet that may adversely affect the University Community and/or the pursuit of its objectives. Each student shall be responsible for their own conduct from the time of registration or application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree, or while residing in university housing, even though conduct may occur before classes begin or after classes end, as well as during the academic year and during periods between terms of actual enrollment. The Dean or Associate Dean of Students shall decide whether the Student Code of Conduct shall be applied to conduct occurring off-campus, on a case-by-case basis, in their sole discretion.

Any member of the University community may file charges against a student for violations of the Student Code of Conduct. A charge shall be prepared in writing and directed to the Student Code of Conduct Administrator. Any charge should be submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place, preferably within thirty days. The Student Code of Conduct Administrator may conduct an investigation to determine if the charges have merit and/or if they can be disposed of administratively by negotiated settlement of the parties involved on a basis acceptable to the Student Code of Conduct Administrator.

Please feel free to e-mail Lesley G. Black, Associate Dean of Students, for additional information.