Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards

Our Mission

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) facilitates student development and learning through processes that uphold the values, integrity, and expectations of the MIT community. OSCCS fosters accountability and reflection by providing various resolution pathways in partnership with the Committee on Discipline (COD).

To fulfill this mission, OSCCS:

• Addresses and resolves alleged violations of the Mind and Hand Book by students and student organizations through appropriate resolution methods;
• Facilitates the Institute’s faculty-led Committee on Discipline process;
• Provides administrative support and professional expertise to the COD;
• Educates the MIT community on Institute policies, procedures, and practices related to student conduct, academic integrity, and community standards;
• And collaborates with campus partners to support students and those affected by student behaviors.

Our Vision

To be a trusted campus resource and expert partner that helps maintain a safe, inclusive, and supportive campus community, through empowering students to reflect on their impact, learn from their experiences, and thrive as responsible community members who uphold the integrity of MIT.

Our Values

• INTEGRITY – We maintain high ethical standards in our work and hold ourselves accountable to strengthen the integrity of MIT’s academic mission and maintain the expectations of the MIT community by consistently applying our policies and processes. We model honesty and authenticity, helping students understand the student conduct process and allowing them to reflect and align their actions with their own values.
• FAIRNESS – We are committed to fair processes in which decisions are based on facts and evidence, not external pressure or assumptions. Our resolution processes are consistent yet consider each individual’s context and circumstances. We work to ensure student policies are applied evenhandedly while balancing the needs of an individual with those of the broader community.
• ACCOUNTABILITY – We encourage students to take responsibility for their actions and understand their effects on others. We recognize that students are whole people navigating complex lives and that mistakes do not define them. We consider personal circumstances, connect students with resources, and balance individual needs with those of the MIT community.
• LEARNING – Education is central to our purpose. We design outcomes and interventions that help students reflect, learn, and develop rather than relying on solely punitive sanctions. We continuously improve our professional expertise, staying current with practices in our field and adapting our processes to better serve students.
• COMMUNITY – Our work serves and strengthens the broader MIT community. We build meaningful connections with students, faculty, and staff, viewing each person holistically beyond their interactions with our office. Our processes are community-informed, drawing on diverse perspectives through the Committee on Discipline and partnerships across the Institute.
• EXCELLENCE – We bring dedication, professionalism, and competence to our work. Our team maintains deep knowledge across multiple domains to guide and support students, faculty, and staff. We are dependable colleagues who follow through on commitments and strive for continuous improvement in ourselves and others.

Incident Procedures

The COD receives and acts on three types of complaints related to students and student organizations: academic misconduct, personal/general misconduct, and sexual misconduct. You can learn more about the COD’s process on the Incident Procedures page.

We provide support and resources for students who need to make an incident report or who are identified as a “respondent” in an incident report. We also work with faculty and staff throughout the COD process for both filing reports and providing ongoing support for students.

Advisor and Mentor Programs

OCSSC provides advisors and mentors to assist students in the COD process. These individuals receive training in order to provide personal and logistical support. Students can be connected to an advisor by contacting our office. If you’re interested in training as an OSCCS advisor or mentor, learn more on the Resources for Faculty and Staff page.

Please note that all participants in the COD process, including respondents, complainants, advisors, and witnesses are expected to follow the OSCCS’s expectations on decorum. If you have any questions about this expectations, please contact us at osccs@mit.edu.