Office of Accountability & Student Conduct

The Office of Accountability & Student Conduct (OASC) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana parallels the institution’s mission, to be responsive, student-oriented, and committed to student development through learning and service. Furthermore, OASC is committed to upholding the Northwestern State University Student Code of Conduct.

The Student Code of Conduct is established to help maintain an environment conducive to learning and other educational pursuits. The Code is intended to ensure students’ enjoyment of all proper rights and protect the University’s mission, processes, resources, and constituent community.  Students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus are expected to follow the Student Code of Conduct and federal and state laws.  All members of the Northwestern State University are expected to behave in a manner conducive to the university mission; therefore, civility in the University is expected.

The Conduct Officer or a designated representative administers the disciplinary process governing students and visitors at Northwestern State University. After a series of conferences and hearings, conduct matters may be referred to a student/faculty/staff committee appointed by the President. Specific disciplinary due process procedures and student conduct regulations are followed for all conferences and hearings.

Fostering Academic Integrity and Responding to Violations

Northwestern State University offers many programs to encourage students to behave responsibly and foster respect for academic integrity. Through the Student Handbook, lessons in Orientation, course syllabi, and departmental/college programs, faculty and staff address the issues of plagiarism and cheating to educate students and dissuade them from actively violating the academic and behavioral code of conduct.

Despite these good works, the University must have processes in place to address violations of academic integrity. The violations of academic integrity represent both University’s current two-pronged system by seeking to create a permanent record of violations of academic integrity in a centralized location (Student Affairs/Student Conduct).

Goals:

  1. Create and maintain a permanent record of violations (in Student Affairs) of academic integrity;
  2. Confirm the instructor’s role in determining the academic penalty; and
  3. Clarify that the Student Conduct Process and the Academic Process (Grade Appeal) are separate processes which each individually address issues involved in violations of academic integrity. One process does not supersede the other.

Student Conduct Process:  Student Affairs/Student Conduct

The instructor reports the violation to the Department Head/Director/Dean, who will notify the Office of Accountability and Student Conduct of the violation. The instructor may suggest what the Student Conduct process should be:

  1. Only be a notification (Letter of Record), without action by Student Affairs; or
  2. A Student Affairs process as well.

Academic Process:  Grade Appeal Process

If evidence demonstrates that a student has plagiarized/cheated and the instructor assigns an academic penalty (failing the assignment, failing the class), the student may appeal that grade through the Grade Appeal Process.

The two processes (Student Conduct and Academic) are independent; however, Academic Affairs and Student Affairs recognize the benefit of working together on student conduct issues. The Academic Process operates independently in matters of academic grade appeals as the Student Conduct Process does in issues relating to appeals for sanctions of disciplinary misconduct. Both processes are essential to the University’s mission of preparing students to act as ethical members of society and fostering value in the degrees awarded at Northwestern State University.

Student Conduct Reporting Forms

NSU utilizes Maxient software to manage various aspects of students’ records. Through Maxient, the Office of Accountability Student Conduct is able to utilize its centralized reporting and recordkeeping features to assist our community in linking vital information. This feature is designed to prevent students from falling through the cracks, stemming from issues involving academic or classroom civility, hazing, student conduct, threat assessment, Title IX issues, and general concerns. Maxient is critical to all things relating to a student’s behavior, safety, and well-being.

Please be aware that these forms should not be used during an emergency. If this is an emergency, please call (318) 357-5431 or 911 from a landline.

Additionally, filing a report does not constitute filing an official police report. To file an official police report, contact the Northwestern State University Police Department at (318) 357-5431 or in person at 315 Caspari Street (The NSU Infirmary Building). For incidents occurring off-campus in the City of Natchitoches, call (318) 357-8101, Natchitoches Police Department.

Online referrals may be made through the following links:

Threat Assessment & Reporting

The University has a Threat Assessment & Behavioral Intervention Team with Guidelines for Reporting to minimize harm to students, faculty, and staff.

The Team comprises University employees who, through their positions, maintain close contact with students, faculty/staff, and have training in assessing potentially dangerous situations.

All members of the NSU community are encouraged to participate in Threat Assessment by reporting events and individuals they believe might pose a risk for violence or harm to the Dean of Students Office or University Police.

Form and guidelines for reporting may be found at Threat Assessment Reporting.

Contact

Dr. Traci LaBom Norris
Director | Chief Executive Hearing Officer | Official with Authority

Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Office of Accountability & Student Conduct
Friedman Student Union, Room 309 | NSU Box 5326
Natchitoches, Louisiana 71497
E: labomt@nsula.edu  |  StudentConduct@nsula.edu
O: (318) 357-5286  |  F: (318) 357-6502