Student Code of Conduct
PREFACE
The College expects all of its students, whether or not they are on campus or are currently enrolled as degree candidates, to behave in a mature and responsible manner. If the College determines that a student has violated the College’s standards of conduct, the College may discipline the student; such discipline may include suspension or expulsion from Emerson and any of its programs. Since the College expects students to show good judgment and use common sense at all times, not all kinds of misconduct or behavioral standards are specifically identified in this Handbook.
It is the goal of the College and its disciplinary system to help provide an environment, which is most supportive of and conducive to the maximum intellectual, psychological, social, physical and spiritual growth of all its students.
ARTICLE I: STATEMENT OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
All students at Emerson College have certain rights. These rights include:Student members of the Emerson College community as individuals and in groups have certainA. The right to be free from improper and illegal discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, religion, political views, sexual orientation, age,ex, military or other uniformed service or disability.
B. The right to freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of political belief and affiliation,freedom from discrimination, freedom of peaceful assembly and petition of redress or grievances.
C. The rights of freedom from personal force, violence, threats of violence, personal abuse, and sexual harassment, either as individuals or groups within the College community.
D. The right to organize one’s personal life and behavior, to pursue lawful activities, including freedom of movement, except when these rights interfere with the rights of others.
E. The right to be secure from unreasonable or unauthorized search or seizure.
F. The right to reasonable privacy, including the privacy of personal information.
G. The right to dissent; in other words, to carry on individual or organized activity which expresses grievances held against, or changes desired in society, the College or both; and provided this activity is carried on within the limits of democratic process of freedom of speech, assembly and petition.
H. The right to a fair disciplinary process if accused of violating the Code of Conduct.
I. The right to bring forward a complaint if one has a good faith reason to believe that it is more likely than not that the rights or responsibilities derived from this statement have been violated.
responsibilities. These include:
A. The responsibility to treat all members of the College community in a civil and respectful manner.Nothing in this Statement of Rights and Responsibilities can affect in any way the jurisdiction of courts and other civil authorities over an Emerson College student. Membership in the Emerson College community does not mean a privileged or immune status from the laws and regulations that other residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must obey. Alcohol and other drug laws, parking regulations, etc., apply equally to members and nonmembers of the academic community. Regardless of what state or country is listed as the permanent address, all students while in attendance at Emerson College are bound to obey the local, state and national laws where the campus/program resides.
B. The responsibility to carry and present College identification to authorized College officials upon request, including campus Public Safety Officers and Resident Assistants.
C. The responsibility to refrain from actions which deny other members of the community their rights as enumerated.
D. The responsibility to refrain from the use of force against a person or group, the forcible interference with another person’s freedom of movement, or the abuse of another person.
E. The responsibility to respect the right to property of individuals, groups and the College itself.
F. The responsibility to respect the confi dentiality of personal information about members of the Emerson College community and to preserve the right of privacy.
G. The responsibility to refrain from disruption in the form of coercion or violence.
H. The responsibility to insure that guests on campus (including other Emerson students within one’s Residence Hall living area) will behave in a manner consistent with the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, and the Conditions of Residency.
I. The responsibility to act as a good citizen.
J. The responsibility to observe all duly established College, local, State and Federal regulations.
Emerson College disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with violation of a law which is also a violation of Student Code, for example, if both violations result from the same factual situation, without regard to the pendency of civil litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution. Proceedings under this code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings off-campus at the College’s discretion.
ARTICLE II: STUDENT CODE AUTHORITY
The authority to enforce College rules and regulations arises with the Board of Trustees and is passed through the President to the Dean of Students. The Dean then delegates this authority to his/ her staff and the College Disciplinary System. The Dean therefore reserves the right to review the sanctions imposed at any disciplinary hearing to assure their appropriateness prior to their implementation. The following system is established to protect the rights of the Emerson College community and of students accused of any breach of the Student Code of Conduct.The right to proscribe conduct not otherwise covered by this code and to impose sanctions for violations of such proscriptions, shall be reserved for the President and his/her designees, and the Academic Deans and Faculty of the various Departments and their designees.
ARTICLE III: PROSCRIBED CONDUCT
A. Applicability:
College jurisdiction and discipline is not limited to student conduct which occurs on College premises or at College sponsored events off-campus. Rather the College reserves the right to apply the Student Code of Conduct to students whose misconduct has a direct and distinct adverse impact on the College community, its members, and or the pursuit of its objectives regardless of where such conduct may occur (refer to the Off-Campus Conduct Policy in Appendix B). Each student shall be responsible for his/her conduct from the time of application through the actual awarding of a degree, even though conduct may occur before classes begin or after classes end, as well as during the academic year and during periods between terms of actual enrollment (and even if their conduct is not discovered until after a degree is awarded). The Student Code of Conduct shall apply to a student’s conduct even if the student withdraws from the College while a disciplinary matter is pending.
B. Conduct – Rules and Regulations:
charge(s) as appropriate.
The following list of behaviors is intended to represent the types of acts that constitute violations of the Student Code of Conduct. Rules and regulations of the College, residence halls and departments not contained within the Student Code of Conduct may be communicated to students in publications and posted notices including, but not limited to, the Student Handbook, College Catalogue, College website, housing contracts, and other official publications. These rules and regulations may be amended from time to time in writing. Although this list is extensive, it should not be regarded as all-inclusive.
1. All forms of dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, knowingly furnishing false information to the College and/or a College official, and forgery, alteration or use of institutional documents, records, or instruments of identification with intent to defraud.
2. Intentional or reckless interference of College activities, including but not limited to teaching, research, administration, or fire, police or emergency services.
3. Physical or verbal abuse, assault, threats, intimidation, harassment, stalking, coercion, and/or any conduct which threatens or endangers the physical or psychological health or safety of another person.
4. Sexual violence, coercion or harassment against another individual whether perpetrated by a stranger or acquaintance. Prohibited conduct ranges from rape, attempted rape and sexual assault to sexual misconduct including, but not limited to stalking, voyeurism, exposure, sexually harassing communication, unwanted touching and sexual activity in a context of emotional coercion.
5. Behavior or activities which endanger the safety of one’s self or others, including, but not limited to the following:
a. Unauthorized storage, possession and/or use of firearms, fireworks, dangerous weapons, weapons used for sparring or fighting, or hazardous chemicals on College premises or at College-sponsored activities.
b. Unauthorized storage, possession and/or use of knives except butter/table knives without a serrated edge or non-locking pocket knives with a single edge no longer than 2” in length.
c. Throwing/dropping of objects from College buildings.
6. Conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of one’s self.
7. Intentionally or recklessly misusing or damaging fire or other safety equipment.
8. Attempted or actual vandalism, or the damage, destruction or defacement of College property or the property of others.
9. Attempted or actual theft of property or services including, but not limited to, the unauthorized duplication of copyrighted materials; knowingly in possession of stolen property.
10. Possession, use, manufacture or attempted or actual distribution of any controlled substance or illegal drug, or drug paraphernalia.
11. Illegal and unauthorized use, possession, manufacture or distribution of alcoholic beverages.
12. Smoking in any College owned or leased facility or vehicle, or otherwise designated “no smoking” areas.
13. False reporting of an emergency: the false report of bomb, fire, or other emergency in any building, structure, or facility on College premises or at a College sponsored activity by means of activating a fire alarm or in any other manner.
14. Unauthorized presence in/on or forcible entry into a College facility or College-related premises, including College building roofs or fire escapes.15. Unauthorized use or misuse of College property, including but not limited to equipment, thermostats, technology or keys.
16. Unauthorized use of candles, incense or open flames in College facilities.
17. Sale of tickets of chance or any other form of gambling.
18. Failure to comply with the directions of College officials, including campus public safety officers and resident assistants acting in the performance of their duties.
19. Hazing.
20. Abuse of the College disciplinary process, including but not limited to:
a. Interference with the conduct of a disciplinary hearing.
b. Intentionally providing false or misleading information to a disciplinary body.
c. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the
disciplinary process.d. Failure to comply with the terms or conditions of a sanction imposed by a
disciplinary body.
21. Aiding or abetting any violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Students are responsible for the actions of their guests.
22. Violation of published College policies, rules or regulations.
23. Behavior or activities that are disruptive to or negatively impact the College’s relationships with the City, its community or other institutions.
24. Violations of local, state and federal laws, regulations and ordinances, whether occurring on or off campus.
Further explanations and definitions of these Rules and Regulations can be found in Appendix B.
