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Community Standards Office

Student Code of Conduct

Keene State College’s Code of Conduct was created to foster an environment where all students can thrive academically and socially. As such our College will treat students as adults and in return expects students to take responsibility for the decisions that they make and to learn from these choices. As a student at KSC, you are expected to follow our Code of Conduct as well as local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Essential to our process is a student’s right to respond to any allegation of a violation made against them. The Office of Community Standards is here to ensure that each person involved has a fair hearing and to support them throughout the entire incident. Going through the community standards process is a learning experience for students whether they are the Reporting Party, Responding Party, witness, or a member of our hearing boards.

Read the Student Code of Conduct

Mission Statement and Guiding Values

Mission Statement of the Office of Community Standards

The Keene State College Office of Community Standards (OCS) promotes a safe and healthy College Community where students are able to think critically, creatively, and engage as an active citizen. The OCS seeks to educate students as to how they behave as a responsible member of the community while ensuring the student’s due process rights are upheld through an educational process. The OSC is committed to treating our students equitably while utilizing ethical decision-making in appropriately holding them accountable for their actions.

Guiding Values

  • Encourage students to be conscientious and accept responsibility for their actions and community impact
  • Teach skills and strategies that will help assist students in positive decision making during their time at KSC and beyond
  • Demonstrate the values of equity and social justice in our community
  • Hold students accountable for behavior that is not consistent with the values of Keene State College
  • Provide departmental and institutional resources to support the students throughout the community standards process
  • Ensure that each student involved has a fair process and hearing regardless of their involvement whether they are the Reporting Party, Responding Party, victim, or witness

Office of Community Standards Second Chance Program

This program is meant for students who have been placed on disciplinary probation and have made efforts to change their behavior. The Community Standards Office is excited to offer the opportunity for select students to have their probation reduced in recognition of their efforts to better follow the College’s Code of Conduct and in learning from their previous behavior.

To apply, you must complete the following:

  • At least 15 consecutive academic weeks of disciplinary probation.
  • Have not been found responsible for any additional policy violations or found in rooms where policy violations have been occurring during these 15 weeks.
  • Be actively involved in their residence hall community and/or the greater KSC community.
  • Have behavior consistent with being a positive member of the Owl Community.
  • Write a paper of at least 500 words addressing how your behavior has changed since you were found responsible for violating policy.
  • Not be on probation following a deferred suspension or suspension or for a violation of the Sexual Misconduct Policy.

Please apply on the Second Chance Application. Applications are reviewed monthly during the academic year and those whose applications meet the criteria above, will have a chance to present to a hearing board on why they should receive a shorter probation sentence.

Become a hearing board volunteer!

The Office of Community Standards is seeking hearing board volunteers. Hearing board members serve a vital role in sitting on hearings where suspension or expulsion are a possible outcome. They review reports, listen to testimony, ask questions, and determine if a student is responsible or not for violating the Code of Conduct. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to apply! To apply to be a hearing board volunteer or to find out more, please contact the Assistant Dean of Students, Kat Dougherty.

Contact the Office of Community Standards

The Office of Community Standards is located at 48 Butler Court

Phone: 603-358-2840
Email: CommunityStandards@keene.edu