Student-Athlete Code of Conduct
Philosophy
Your membership on a Winona State University intercollegiate athletics team is considered a privilege, not a right. You are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship, honesty, and integrity.
As a Winona State University student-athlete, you are among the most visible students on campus, as well as in the community. A unique platform exists for you to be a role model, mentor, spokesperson, etc. The University, the athletic program, and you benefit from this exposure. However, this platform brings with it an important set of privileges and responsibilities. Your social interaction and personal deportment on and off campus will become public knowledge. Whenever violations of the Student-AthleteCode of Conduct occur, the Athletic Director will review the misconduct and may apply sanctions as they relate to participation in intercollegiate athletics.
The Winona State University Athletics Department has adopted a standard of ethical conduct and behavioral expectations, which may exceed those of nonstudent-athletes. Every student-athlete is expected to abide by the Winona State University Code of Student Conduct, all other University policies and rules, policies of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the policies of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. In addition, student-athletes are subject to the rules and regulations specified by the head coach of their individual sport.
The following are suggestions set by the Athletic Department. All team policies/codes of conduct are in effect and enforced as established by the head coach. The head coach for each team may impose additional policies and penalties as he/she sees fit and appropriate.
Alcohol/Drug Use
Winona State University expects each of its students to subscribe to the highest moral and ethical standards. In the case of student-athletes, this is particularly important. Your behavior must be exemplary on and off the competitive site. It is the goal of the WSU Athletic Department to actively promote the health and welfare of all our student-athletes. The Athletic Department is committed to providing a drug-free environment in which student-athletes may safely compete. The WSU Athletic Department recognizes that the use of alcohol, tobacco, anabolic steroids, and other drugs can cause significant health problems for student-athletes and may result in negative behavior and/or performance.
Good Sportsmanship
Our student-athletes are ambassadors of Winona State University and enjoy certain privileges of such status. They also bear the responsibility of behaving with dignity and sportsmanship. Student-athletes will conduct themselves with honesty and good sportsmanship during games and competition. Behavior at all times must reflect the high standards of honor and dignity that should characterize participation in competitive intercollegiate sports. Student-athletes will conduct themselves in a manner reflecting positively on the reputation of Winona State University both on and off “the field,” in pre-game and post-game comments to the media, and when traveling and participating at other institutions.
Our objective is for our student-athletes to always maintain an attitude of respect toward our opponents. As models of good sportsmanship, Winona State University student-athletes should look for ways to encourage and appreciate quality play and effort, regardless of whether it is exhibited by a teammate or an opponent. While intense and emotional game action and conduct are certainly a reasonable and expected part on intercollegiate sports contests, the intent of our student-athletes should never be to demean the dignity and personhood of the opponent.
Our student-athletes are expressly prohibited from engaging in the following behavior at any Winona State University sporting event either as a participant in the sporting event or as a fan:
- Fighting opponents, fans, or officials.
- Taunting opponents or officials.
- Celebrating inappropriately with the intent to demean opponents.
- Showing disrespectful attitude toward opponents.
- Inciting crowd hostility toward opponents in an unsportsmanlike manner.
- Using profane and vulgar language.
Medical Responsibilities
Participation in intercollegiate athletics at Winona State University is contingent upon medical approval of the Athletic Training staff. Student-athletes are required to show evidence of proper medical insurance and provide a current medical history to the Athletic Training staff. Student-athletes are also required to submit to the Athletic Training staff evidence of a complete physical every year while participating in intercollegiate athletics.
Student-athletes are required to follow any and all guidelines given to them by the Athletic Training staff regarding prevention of and rehabilitation of injuries. Failure to follow these recommendations could result in your dismissal from your team.
Compliance Responsibilities
Student-athletes are to assist the Athletic Department administration by providing information to assist with certification of eligibility and NCAA compliance issues whenever sought. Student-athletes are obligated to report rules violations that they are aware of and to cooperate fully with any investigation of alleged violations.
Travel Expectations
When traveling as official representatives of Winona State University, student-athletes’ actions should reflect favorably on the University, their team, and themselves. Student-athletes are expected to adhere to their team’s dress code, nutritional needs, and curfew. All student-athletes are expected to depart and return with their team/coach unless they are officially released to their parents through an Athletics Department release agreement.
Alcoholic beverages of any type will not be consumed by any student-athlete while traveling to or from an athletic event, in any lodging while participating in an athletic event, or in the locker rooms of any institution before, during, or after an athletic event.
Prior to departure, you are expected to discuss your travel/competition schedules with your professors. It is your responsibility, not your coaches’ or other athletics personnel, to communicate with your professors.
NCAA and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Responsibilities
All student-athletes are required to adhere to applicable NCAA rules and policies as addressed in the NCAA Student-Athlete Statement that is administered annually prior to certification. Additionally, all Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rules and policies must be followed explicitly.
Tobacco Ban
NCAA regulations prohibit the use of tobacco products during practice or competition by athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, or game personnel. A student-athlete who uses tobacco products during practice or competition shall be disqualified for the remainder of the practice or competition.
Sports Gambling
By NCAA regulations, it is NOT permissible for any student-athlete or athletics department staff member to participate in gambling activities involving intercollegiate or professional athletics.
Violations of the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct/Misconduct
Being a student-athlete is a privilege, not a right. It is a privilege that can be suspended if you do not honor the spirit of your commitment to your team and the University. As long as you are a student-athlete, you are representing the University. Therefore, these rules apply to the academic year, break time, and summer vacation periods.
Examples of Misconduct
The following are examples of misconduct that may result in sanctions against any student-athlete involved. This list is not comprehensive.
- Crimes of violence
- Crimes of hazing
- Crimes of sexual violence, harassment, assault, abuse, rape
- Illegal drug use or possession
- Illegal alcohol use/minor consumption/on-campus alcohol violation
- Damaging or destroying property
- Breaking and entering
- Stealing
- DWI
- Possessing stolen property
- Writing bad checks
- Violations of WSU Student Conduct Code A copy of the WSU Student Conduct Policy can be found at the following website: www.winona.edu/studentaffairs/conduct.htm
- Any other misdemeanors/felonies
- Illegal tobacco use
Enforcement Procedures for Misconduct
The Department of Athletics and/or the University retains the right to take action separate from any off-campus authority, and may pursue enforcement of its own rules whether or not legal proceedings are underway or in process. Action taken by the Department of Athletics is in addition to any disciplinary action taken by the University. Criminal proceedings are separate from the Department of Athletics and student judicial proceedings. If there are instances of misconduct, every attempt is made to resolve the problem through cooperative and informal proceedings.
With any misconduct, you must immediately notify your head coach or assistant coach. You must notify these individuals within 48 hours after your arrest or charges/complaints have been filed against you. Failure to notify may result in additional disciplinary action against you.
Your head/assistant coach will notify the Director of Athletics within 24 hours of receiving the information regarding misconduct. The Director of Athletics and your head coach may determine that a meeting needs to be set with all parties involved to discuss possible sanctions. The Director of Athletics will determine whether the President of the University should be notified.
If your misconduct is severe enough to warrant misdemeanor or felony charges being brought against you or if the alleged crime involves violence or drugs, the Director of Athletics will inform the President of the University.
The head coach, subject to the review and approval of the Athletic Director, may ban a Student-Athlete from participating in team activities for violations of the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct. This sanction may be imposed as soon as the athlete notifies the coach of the violation, the coach gives the Student-Athlete a chance to explain what happened, and determines that a sanction is justified after consideration of the student-athlete’s statement.
Violations resulting in permanent dismissal are reviewed by the Athletic Director. The Athletic Director, at the request of the Student-Athlete, will conduct a hearing to review the nature of the violation and the subsequent dismissal from the team.
In addition to the foregoing procedures, sanctions involving elimination or other changes in athletically-related financial aid during the period of the award shall be imposed pursuant to the relevant NCAA procedures, which are available from the Athletic Department.
Possible Sanctions
One or more of the following sanctions may be imposed when a student is found to have violated any rules:
- Expulsion from the University
- Permanent suspension from team
- Temporary suspension from practice or competitions
- Loss of athletic aid
- Warning
- Probation
- Community service
