Who is eligible to use Student Advocate Services?
Undergraduate, graduate, professional, and former students can use our services. Our services are included in your tuition, so there’s no extra charge.
How can I request an Advocate, and what can I expect?
You will receive the most prompt response if you send us an email at [email protected]. We strive to respond within 48 business hours of receipt.
Once we receive your email, we will instruct you to complete an intake form (so we can learn more about your case), a consent form (if applicable), and information on how to schedule a meeting with your Advocate.
During your first meeting, your Advocate will:
- Explain the Advocate role and goals of the meeting
- Listen to your side of the story and gather information
- Provide you with an overview of the conduct process, your student rights, and potential informal/formal resolution options
- Determine next steps (scheduling your conduct meeting, reviewing emails/documents, contacting the instructor, etc.)
If you have already been assigned to a Student Advocate, you can reach out to their personal email directly. If you have not been assigned a Student Advocate, email [email protected].
I’ve received a letter from the Office for Community Standards (OCS). What do I do now?
Contact us at [email protected]. We will schedule an initial meeting with you to discuss the letter and chat about next steps. If desired, an advocate can accompany you to your meeting with OCS and assist you with any subsequent processes.
How does Student Advocate Services ensure my privacy? Will my Advocate share any of the information that I disclose to them with OCS or other outside parties?
Student Advocate Services is not a confidential resource. However, we are a private resource. Everything you disclose stays within the Student Advocate Services office. Your Advocate may speak to other advocates regarding brainstorming issues. External to our office, we will only share information with your permission. Please be advised that we are mandatory reporters for the University.
My instructor told me that they are going to report me for scholastic dishonesty, but I have not received a letter from the Office for Community Standards (OCS). What should I do?
Sometimes there is a gap in time between when the incident occurs, when an instructor files a report, and when a student receives their charge letter from the Office of Community Standards (OCS). And that’s if the instructor does indeed submit a report; sometimes an instructor says that they are going to submit a report and ultimately do not. If you have not heard from OCS after a 2-week period, you have three options:
- You can accept the instructor’s grade penalty (if applicable) and take no further action.
- You can self-report to OCS. There are many reasons why a student may choose to self-report. By reporting to OCS, you will be ensured due process and access to resources like Student Advocate Services.
- You can contact the Student Ombuds Services (SOS) for assistance in resolving the matter outside of the University’s formal conduct process.
I have questions about the conduct process in general. Where can I find more information?
In your first meeting with your Advocate, they will provide you with an overview of the conduct process including possible avenues for resolution. Learn more about the process on the OCS website.
Will having an Advocate make me look guilty?
No. OCS staff members and other conduct officers within different colleges are very familiar with the advocate role. Student Advocate Services is a widely used resource for students with all case types.
Can my Advocate change the outcome of my case?
While an Advocate cannot guarantee a change in the outcomes to your case, they can help negotiate outcomes in the informal process. Additionally, Advocates do their best to help you tell your story, which can impact the outcomes of your case.
What's the difference between dismissals and academic complaints?
Dismissals
When a student is dismissed from a program, SAS can support them through that process completely, including conduct meetings, hearings, committee meetings, appeal hearings, etc., similar to a traditional conduct process.
Academic Complaints
Students who feel the instructors/staff aren’t abiding by standards per policy, procedure, handbooks, etc. SAS can help explain the policy/procedure to students but cannot serve as an advocate or support person through the process or beyond the explanatory meetings (limit two).