All Writing Center employees are expected to perform their jobs with care, commitment, and professionalism. Writing Center administrators will ensure you have the mentoring, support, and ongoing feedback necessary to succeed within the Writing Center.
If you fail to adhere to the Writing Center’s standards and expectations for successful job performance after 
Your First-Quarter Probationary Period, you may be subject to progressive discipline.
Your First-Quarter Probationary Period, you may be subject to progressive discipline.📋 Where it Comes From
The Writing Center is bound by and uses the progressive discipline process outlined by the DePaul Office of Student Employment.
This process addresses an employee’s unsatisfactory performance by providing clear, documented communication between that staff member and an administrator that addresses the issue at hand and articulates clear, actionable steps they can take to improve performance.
The ultimate and ideal goal of progressive discipline is remediation and development.
🚧 Behaviors & Violations
All of us are bound by existing DePaul University policies set forth by the Office of Compliance & Risk Management in the Code of Conduct. In addition to the policies in the Code of Conduct, student employees have specific responsibilities and rights that come with being a student at DePaul University, outlined in the Code of Student Responsibility.
Both the Code of Conduct and the Code of Student Responsibility define acceptable and unacceptable workplace and student behavior and make sure that everyone—in our physical and online spaces, using our services, or otherwise interacting with our office and our employees—has their rights and responsibilities defined and protected.
As a student support service within the Office of Academic Affairs, we use the procedures outlined in the Code of Conduct and the Code of Student Responsibility to address any violations of these codes of responsibility or conduct.
More specifically, the following behaviors may result in you being subject to the progressive discipline process:
- Chronic absences and/or tardiness, in excess of three in a quarter
- Unreported absence (no call, no show for a scheduled shift)
- Chronic failure to complete and/or send appointment letters by the end of your shift
- Defamation
- Serious offenses described by the Office of Human Resources, and in the Codes of Student Responsibility and the Depaul Code of Conduct
- Failure to complete work responsibilities as defined by your job description
- Recurring problems meeting or striving to meet quality of work standards
- Unprofessional behavior
- Failure to complete a quarterly ePortfolio
- Abusive behavior
- Fraud
- Public discussion of confidential matters, especially when it would identify a particular writer
- Behavior that damages the reputation of The Writing Center
- Any other chronic negligence of responsibilities
- Chronic failure to check in with receptionists
- Chronic failure to check Slack during shifts
- Chronic failure to check WCOnline during shifts
- Chronic failure to complete or attend required professional development activities or workshops
This list is illustrative; it is not exhaustive.
Administrators may use their discretion to determine whether other behaviors not included here may warrant progressive discipline or termination.
🪜 Progressive Discipline Stages
Using progressive discipline consistently and clearly allows Writing Center administrators to address small issues with performance before they become habitual or increase in severity.
However, in rare cases of particularly egregious behavior, the Writing Center reserves the right to skip stages of progressive discipline and move to more severe consequences.
*Following list and forms taken from the Student Employment website
💻 *From Student Employment
Steps for Addressing Issues & Administering Disciplinary Action
- Verbal Counseling: issued for minor infractions.
- Written Counseling: issued after previously delivering Verbal Counseling or for infractions of a serious nature. Managers can consult with the Office of Student Employment prior to a written counseling meeting. Please send the completed form to the Office of Student Employment at DPC 9500 (Loop) or SAC 192 ( Lincoln Park).
- Final Written Counseling: issued if Written Counseling has been distributed within the last 12 months or for a first serious offense. Managers must consult with the Office of Student Employment prior to a final written counseling meeting. Please send the completed form to the Office of Student Employment at DPC 9500 (Loop) or SAC 192 (Lincoln Park).
- Performance Improvement Plan: issued by managers in order to create an action plan and timeframe for student employees to correct unsatisfactory performance. This enforces scheduled check-ins with student employees to reflect on past behavior and how to improve. This form can be issued in conjunction with the Progressive Discipline Action Form, but is not required.
Forms Used in Progressive Discipline
offices.depaul.edu
https://offices.depaul.edu/student-employment/hiring-managing/Documents/Progressive%20Disciplinary%20Action%20Form%20Ver%204.pdf
offices.depaul.edu
https://offices.depaul.edu/student-employment/hiring-managing/Documents/performance-improvement-plan.pdf
💢 Involuntary Termination
If after both
- being placed on progressive discipline
- working with administrators to make an individualized performance improvement plan for continued work at the Writing Center
you fail to make necessary and agreed-upon changes to the appropriate extent, then you risk involuntary termination of employment.
If you commit an egregious offense in violation of policy, we reserve the right to terminate your employment immediately.