Community and Conduct
About Community and Conduct
Community and Conduct at San Francisco State University encompasses Residential Life and the Office of Student Conduct, working together to foster a safe, inclusive and supportive campus community. This unit serves as a hub for student support – it promotes positive community engagement in the residence halls, upholds university standards of behavior and provides caring intervention for students facing unique challenges. By utilizing a campus-wide network of resources and staff, the Community and Conduct Unit connects students with the help they need to thrive academically and personally.
Community and Conduct Unit integrate community-building, personal development and safety net services to enhance the student experience. By uniting Residential Life, the Office of Student Conduct and the Action Care Team, the unit ensures that SFSU students live in a community where respect and responsibility are the norm, and where anyone who is struggling can find support. Through these combined efforts, San Francisco State University fosters a campus environment where all students can thrive academically, socially and emotionally, knowing that their community cares about their success and well-being.
Community and Conduct focuses on the following:
Residential Life: Building an Inclusive Community
Residential Life provides SFSU students with an on-campus living experience that supports responsible community engagement, academic success and leadership development.
Living on campus, students become part of a vibrant residential community where they are respected, valued and actively involved in shaping their experience.
A dedicated team of professional staff and student leaders (such as resident assistants and residence hall directors) work to ensure that life outside the classroom is supportive and enriching.
Through educational programs, social events and day-to-day interactions, Residential Life cultivates an atmosphere of positive interaction and mutual respect among students from all backgrounds. This focus on inclusivity and engagement helps residents build lifelong skills and connections while contributing to a safe, welcoming home on campus.
Office of Student Conduct: Upholding Standards and Education
The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) upholds the university’s standards for student behavior and community integrity. OSC is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the Code of Student Conduct in a fair and confidential manner, ensuring due process for students involved in disciplinary cases.
Beyond enforcing rules, the office emphasizes education and personal growth: it strives to facilitate student learning and ethical development through the conduct process. This means students are encouraged to reflect on their choices, understand how their actions affect others and take responsibility for upholding community standards.
The OSC promotes academic integrity and responsible conduct through outreach and educational initiatives, helping students align their behavior with the university’s values. By holding students accountable and providing guidance when policies are violated, the Office of Student Conduct helps maintain a safe, orderly campus environment conducive to everyone’s success.
Action Care Team: Early Intervention and Support
A key collaborative effort within the Community and Conduct Unit is the Action Care Team (ACT) – SFSU’s multidisciplinary behavioral intervention team. ACT is comprised of professionals from across campus (Residential Life, Student Conduct, Counseling and Psychological Services, Disability Resources, the Dean of Students Office, University Police and other departments) who work together to support students in distress. The team’s focus is to reduce students’ levels of distress and address concerning behaviors in a proactive, caring manner.
When faculty, staff or peers refer a student of concern to ACT, the team collects information, assesses the situation and coordinates a response plan to connect that student with appropriate support services (such as counseling, academic help or health resources). This coordinated, campus-wide approach ensures that students facing unique personal or academic challenges are not left to struggle alone – instead, they are guided to the help they need through a network of care and referrals.
