Interaction Expectations with Office of Community Standards
UTEP students tend to think that interactions with the Office of Office of Community Standards are innately bad. However, the Office of Community Standards strives to provide each student with a positive experience. Whether a student has been referred to us by a faculty or staff member or a student is looking for resources to help grow in their collegiate journey; the Office of Community Standards is here to help in any and every way we can.
Below is a table of what people expect when encountering the Office of Community Standards versus the interaction the Office of Community Standards provide:
| Expectations | vs | Reality |
| Office of Community Standards is not seen on campus unless students are in trouble. | vs | Office of Community Standards has fun programming throughout the year with very cool prizes for students to win at least once per month. |
| Office of Community Standards only deals with student conduct. | vs | Office of Community Standards provides resources for student conduct, conflict resolution, reference checking, plagiarism checking, time management, background checks, and campus resource referral. |
| If I have a meeting for student conduct, then I am already proven guilty. | vs | Conduct meetings are set with students under the presumption of innocence. Office of Community Standards staff takes into account all information presented from both the referral source and the accused student before making a decision of responsibility. |
| My entire life will be ruined if I am found responsible for violating policies. | vs | It is the goal of Office of Community Standards to make the adjudication process both consequential and educational. UTEP is an institution of higher learning, therefore, all opportunities are learning opportunities. |
| After a decision is made, there is nothing I will be able to do. | vs | During a conduct meeting where a decision is made, students are made aware of their rights to appeal or have a university hearing (if applicable). |
| If I contact the Office of Community Standards, they will automatically assume that I have a conduct problem. | vs | The Office of Community Standards offers resources beyond conduct referrals, so students will not automatically be deemed as conduct referrals We aim to create a positive environment that is welcoming of any and all students who need or want our services. |
