September 28, 2021

Dear Redhawks:

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Seattle University for the 2021-22 academic year. As we begin the new academic year, I write to remind you about your responsibilities related to the Redhawk Commitment and Code of Student Conduct, which is available as a PDF on the Office of the Dean of Students website. The Redhawk Commitment and Code of Student Conduct contain standards that have been established to assist in building an inclusive learning community where we prioritize safety, respect, consideration, dignity, and care for one another. In addition to important policies to which all students are accountable, the Code also outlines the Integrity Formation process, which is the university’s process for resolving alleged violations of the Code. 

Please carefully review the information in the Code of Student Conduct, as it is your responsibility to be familiar with all of the university’s standards of conduct and the Integrity Formation process. 

COVID-19 Disease Prevention Policies

It is important that we all take seriously the ongoing risk and threat of COVID-19. We must do our part as a university community to help effectively manage and contain its spread by closely adhering to public health guidelines, especially wearing face coverings when indoors, completing the Safe Start Health Check daily, and staying home if sick or symptomatic. Caring for one another, attending to the unique needs and risks of individual members of our campus community, and reducing the disparate impacts the virus has on underserved and historically marginalized communities is a shared responsibility that goes to the heart of Seattle University’s values. We have created, adopted, and communicated policies, based on public health guidance, for the Seattle University community. Two of these key policies include:

• Face Covering Policy:All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a face covering that covers the nose and mouth when inside a Seattle University building and while in shared university vehicles. Face coverings can be removed indoors while actively eating and/or drinking, in an assigned on-campus residence hall room with the door closed, and when alone in a personal office, workspace, or university vehicle. Review the complete Face Covering Policy for more information.  
   
• Safe Start Health Check:All Seattle University community members (students, faculty, staff and visitors) who will be physically present on campus are required to complete the Safe Start Health Check prior to arrival each day they plan to be on campus.

Additional information about our current safety measures and disease prevention policies can be found here: https://www.seattleu.edu/coronavirus/.  

Additional University Policies

In addition to the policies found in the Code of Student Conduct, the Office of the Dean of Students website lists several additional policies that apply to all Seattle University students. These policies include the Sexual Misconduct Policy, Sexual Harassment Policy, and other university policies that are important for you to know about. Please take a moment to visit the Office of the Dean of Students website to review these important policies.

Electric Bikes/Scooters

You may have noticed electric bikes and scooters available for rental around Seattle. While these devices may offer a convenient way to travel about the city for some, recent research indicates that they pose several safety risks and have led to several injuries for riders and pedestrians. For this reason, the use of electric bikes and scooters is not permitted on Seattle University’s campus. If you choose to use an electric scooter or bike off-campus, we encourage you to wear a helmet and take a moment to review this short safety video. 

Resident Handbook

Residential students should also read the Resident Handbook, as it contains additional policies, information, and resources specific to living in university-sponsored housing. 

Updates to the Code of Student Conduct for 2021-22

The Code of Student Conduct is updated from time to time to ensure its alignment with best practices as well as legal and regulatory requirements. Minimal updates were made to the Code of Student Conduct for the 2021-22 academic year. This year’s review resulted in a few minor edits, which were published on August 23, 2021, and can be found on the Office of the Dean of Students website on the Recent Code Updates page.

Thank you for your commitment to upholding and role modeling these expectations. If you have any questions about this information, please visit our website at seattleu.edu/deanofstudents, call (206) 296-6060, or email deanofstudents@seattleu.edu.

We look forward to supporting your journey at Seattle University. 

Sincerely,

James Willette, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President & Dean of Students