College Policies

APPENDIX B: COLLEGE POLICIES

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

Academic misconduct includes traditional textual plagiarism and its manifestations, including self-plagiarism, falsifying work or academic records, cheating, substitution of work or the work of another, actively participating in or condoning these activities with others, appropriating creative works of art in whole or part (images, sounds, lighting designs, audio tracks, scripts, etc). See “Sanctions” under the Disciplinary Process section and the Policy on Plagiarism in this section for further details pertinent to this matter.

ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG POLICY

See Alcohol and Other Drug Policy.

BICYCLES

A secure bicycle storage room is located in Boylston Place, a few doors down from the College’s Boylston Street residence halls. Students are required to register their bicycles through the department of Property Management; they can borrow an engraving instrument at Public Safety to engrave their bikes for identification purposes.

 

Bicycles may not be brought in to any other College facility, except residence halls. Whenever possible, it is recommended that bikes be stored in the bicycle storage room rather than a residence hall room in order to avoid unintended damage to walls and floors and to maximize space in residence hall rooms. Bicycles should not be chained to fences, doors, trees and other objects. The Fire Code dictates that all entrances, exits, corridors, stairwells and other areas of egress must be free and clear at all times. Bicycles in violation of this code will be removed from the area at the owner’s expense.

BUILDING ACCESS

During the following periods: Monday-Thursday, 6:30 p.m.-7:45 a.m.; Friday, 6:30 p.m.-Monday, 7:45 a.m.; and holidays, a current Emerson College ID or Access card ordinarily will be required for entry into College buildings. Persons without a current Emerson College ID or Access card ordinarily will not be admitted, with the exception of the following: (1) faculty and students from other academic institutions authorized to use the Emerson College Library, who will be required to show their current photo ID from their school and sign in, and (2) students from other to academic institutions who are cross registered for classes at Emerson, who will also be required show their current photo ID from their school and sign in. If the individual’s school ID is not a photo ID a supplemental, current, government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, must be shown along with the school ID.

 

Ordinarily, guests must be “signed in” by the Emerson College individual faculty, staff, or student who will be their “host” while they are visiting. The host must present his / her current Emerson ID

or Access card when signing in the guest, and the guest must present a current photo ID and sign the log at the security desk. The host who signs in a guest is responsible for the whereabouts and actions of his/ her guest in the Emerson building at all times while they are signed in. Students will be limited to signing in five (5) guests, unless otherwise authorized.

 

Activity Notifications, such as notifications from Property Management or departments will not serve as authorization for access to the building. They will serve as informational notifications to

Public Safety/Security regarding scheduled activities and may provide the name(s) of participants. But, participant entry to the building will be according to the standard procedures, i.e., Emerson ID or Access card or guest admittance.

 

The College reserves the right to make changes to these policies and procedures without notice, especially in the event of emergencies or other unusual situations.

CAMPUS POSTINGS

A. All hard copy postings must have an official Student Life posting registration stamp. Student

Organizations are strongly encouraged to show posters to their advisers prior to obtaining a registration stamp.

 

To obtain a registration stamp:

1. An original poster, table tent or flier must be dropped off at the Office of Student Life, 150 Boylston Street, 2nd floor at least 24 hours before the flier/poster is to be posted or placed.

2. Individuals and groups may not post or place any flier or notice without the original copy being stamped. Unregistered posters and table tents will be removed.

3. All registered fliers/posters will be stamped with a designation that denotes the end posting date. Fliers/posters will be approved for up to three weeks of posting. Groups may copy that flier for more general distribution. Poster registration does not imply College endorsement.

4. Student organizations are expected to remove their notices when their event has passed.

5. Alterations to an approved poster are considered unapproved. You must bring your flier to Student Life for reapproval.

6. All fliers must have Emerson College contact information in order to be approved.

7. All fliers advertising a fundraiser must have an approved Fundraising Form on file with the Office of Student Life before the poster may be stamped for approval.

8. All fliers advertising an event hosted by a recognized student organization in an off campus location must have a signed contract on file before the posting may be approved.

 

B. Postings of signs, fliers, advertisements and other materials are permitted on authorized bulletin boards only. All other postings will be removed.

Questions about a specific building posting policy may be directed to the building manager or contact person:

1. Campus Center–Director of the Campus Center

2. Residence Halls–Residence Directors

3. Little Building, 120 Boylston Street, 180 Tremont Street, 216 Tremont Street, and the Tufte Production and Performance Center–Building Managers

4. The Cabaret–Director of the Campus Center

C. No postings may be placed in elevators, on fire escapes, walls, doors, windows, fences, lamp posts or trees.

D. Postings, fliers, advertisements, and other notices are not permitted to be slipped under or placed on residence hall room doors without approval of the Associate Dean/Director of Housing and Residence Life.

E. Postings on the outside of any Emerson owned or rented property is prohibited.

F. No postings may be placed or distributed that promote a party or event where students under the legal drinking age are likely to be served or obtain alcoholic beverage.

G. No postings may be placed or distributed that mention, make reference to, allude to or depict alcohol; or promote, invite or encourage alcohol consumption.

H. No postings may be placed or distributed for non-college sponsored events at which alcohol will be served or consumed.

I. No postings for non-Emerson related events and activities will be approved for posting. Non- Emerson related events and activities are encouraged to purchase advertising space in The Berkeley Beacon.

J. If an Emerson related event is to take place on property under the jurisdiction of the City of Boston or Commonwealth of Massachusetts (i.e., the Boston Common, the Public Gardens, the Hatch Shell, etc.), a permit must be obtained through the Office of Government and Community Relations. Proof of a permit must be submitted before a poster will be approved in Student Life.

K. If an Emerson organization wishes to reference or credit an non-Emerson entity, a formal contract outlining the relationship will be required before a flier may be approved. The Dean of Students must review and approve all contracts.

L. Only events sponsored and coordinated by recognized clubs and organizations may post an event on the eCampus calendar or via the Campus Center Axis TV Service.

M. All students are encouraged to post their activities to the College’s website portal. Any post can be edited or removed if it is found to violate the Electronic Information Policy. All of the policies related to obtaining an approval stamp pertain to electronic posting submissions to the College’s web portal, ECommon.emerson.edu.

 

Please note: Failure to abide by these policies may lead to loss of posting privileges, College recognition and/or disciplinary action from the College.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

The primary responsibility for managing the classroom rests with the faculty. Students who engage in any prohibited or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by the  faculty member to leave the class for the remainder of the class period. A disciplinary hearing will determine whether a longer suspension or dismissal from a class is warranted.

CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIPS POLICY

Emerson College is committed to maintaining an environment where the education of students is of the greatest importance. Dating, romantic, or sexual relationships between College employees (e.g. faculty and staff members) and students, even if consensual, can negatively affect the educational environment for students. Power differentials, real or perceived, can diminish a student’s ability to give meaningful consent to such a relationship. A faculty member’s ability to teach, evaluate, or advise a student without partiality is suspect when the faculty member and the student have a dating, romantic, or sexual relationship. Similarly, a staff member’s ability to provide college services without partiality is suspect when the staff member and the student have a dating, romantic, or sexual relationship. Even when the employee and student act with integrity, others may perceive bias, partiality, or influence. Furthermore, the dissolution of these relationships can create discord and significantly impair the normal operations of the College.

 

For these reasons, dating, romantic, or sexual relationships between students and College employees, including relationships that occur when College is not in session or students are on leave, are prohibited.

 

On occasion, an employee will have a dating, romantic, or sexual relationship, or a marriage with an individual who then becomes a student, or an individual with a pre-existing relationship with a student will join the College. It is the obligation of the faculty member to disclose that relationship or marriage to the Dean of the School (or Executive Director of the Institute of Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies) in which the School (or Executive Director of the Institute of Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies) in which the student is enrolled. It is the obligation of the Dean or Executive Director to take steps that he or she deems necessary to insure that the educational experience of that student, and other students in the School or Program is not materially affected by the dating, romantic, sexual, or marital relationship. Since individual cases may vary, the Dean or Executive Director has discretion to consider specific circumstances - the nature of the relationship, the specifics of the student’s academic program and the faculty member’s responsibilities, the staff member’s duties and constraints on the School and Program - in fashioning these steps. The steps can range from no action, to the recusal of the faculty member from matters involving the student, to changes in the faculty member’s teaching, advising, service or other duties.

 

Similarly, it is the obligation of the staff member to disclose that relationship or marriage to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources. It is the obligation of the Associate Vice President, in consultation with appropriate academic or administrative personnel, to take the steps that he or she deems necessary to insure that the educational experience of the student, and other students, in the College, is not materially affected by the dating, romantic, sexual, or marital relationship. Since individual cases may vary, the Associate Vice President has discretion to consider specific circumstances - the nature of the relationship, the specifics of the student’s academic program, the staff member’s duties, and constraints of the College - in fashioning these steps. The steps can range from no action, to the recusal of the staff member from matters involving the student, to changes in the staff member’s duties.

 

Faculty members who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Complaints of violation of this policy should be made to the Dean of the School (or Executive Director of the Institute of Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies) in which the student is enrolled.

 

Staff members who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Complaints of violations of this policy should be made to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources.

COPYRIGHT POLICY

As an institution committed to leadership in communication studies and the performing arts, Emerson College requires that its faculty, staff, and students comply with all applicable laws concerning copyright and intellectual property. A full explanation of the policy is provided at emerson.edu/library. Click “About the Library,” then “Library Policies” and then “Copyright.”

DEMONSTRATIONS

The College believes in the right and is committed to the protection of all peaceful forms of protest. The campus must be open to a free exchange of ideas where diverse viewpoints can contend for acceptance in an atmosphere free of any recourse to physical force.

 

In turn, the College will insist that all protests be orderly and carried out with the following regulations:

A. The blocking of corridors or entrances to any area or the use of loud noise to disrupt a conference, meeting, or classroom session is prohibited.

B. Demonstrations may not be conducted in faculty or administrative Offices, classrooms, the library, or other academic/performance areas.

C. Picket lines in College corridors are prohibited. Students, faculty or other members of the College community who violate these regulations will be subject to disciplinary action.

DISABILITY STATEMENT

DISABILITY SERVICES OFFICE

Emerson College is committed to providing qualified students with disabilities equal access to the College’s programs, activities and services, while maintaining the high standards of achievement that are essential to the integrity of the College’s programs and services. In advancing these dual aims, the College will ensure that its policies, practices and procedures conform to federal and state statutes and regulations. The College’s philosophy is one of independence and self-determination. Students with disabilities - just like all students - have control over their lives here at Emerson and are ultimately responsible for making decisions about the choices available to them at the College.

governing law (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)

Two Federal statutes govern the rights of individuals with disabilities and apply to students with disabilities attending Emerson College. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) states that no “otherwise qualified person” with a disability can be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity within an institution that receives federal financial aid. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a person with a disability as any individual who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) has a record of such an impairment; or (3) is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA applies to Emerson College, both as a place of public accommodation and as an employer. Taken together, Section 504 and the ADA require institutions of higher education to provide equal access to educational opportunities to otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.

rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities

Emerson students with disabilities (as defined under the ADA) have the right to the following:

• Equal access to the College’s programs, activities and services;

• Reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services that they may need to have equal access to the College’s programs, activities and services;

• Appropriate confidentiality of information concerning their disability as required by federal and state law;

• Reasonably accessible and available information concerning the College’s disability services.

Emerson students with disabilities have the responsibility to do the following:

• Meet the College’s qualifications and maintain essential technical, academic and institutional standards;

• Inform the College’s Disability Services Office (DSO) if they require an accommodation to have equal access to any of the College’s programs, activities or services;

• Provide the DSO with appropriate documentation indicating how their disability limits participation in any of the College’s programs, activities and services;

• Follow the DSO’s procedures for requesting and obtaining reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF the COLLEGE

Emerson College has the right to do the following:

• Maintain the College’s academic standards;

• Enforce the College’s Code of Conduct;

• Request and receive appropriate documentation supporting students’ requests for accommodation, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services;

• Defer action on a student’s request for accommodation until the student provides appropriate documentation supporting the existence of his or her claimed disability and the appropriateness of the requested accommodation(s);

• Offer students the most cost-effective accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services that are responsive to the student’s particular needs;

• Decline to provide an accommodation that would require a waiver or alteration of an essential element of a course or program; provided that the appropriate academic Officer or department chair first identifies the course or program’s essential elements and concludes that the requested accommodation is incompatible with the essential elements of the course or program;

• Refuse to provide a requested accommodation, adjustment, and/or auxiliary aid and service, if providing the requested accommodation would impose an undue burden on the College.

 

Emerson College has the responsibility to do the following:

• Provide information to students concerning the resources and services available for students with disabilities and provide that information in accessible formats upon request;

• Ensure that the College’s programs, activities and services, when viewed in their entirety, are accessible to qualified students with disabilities in an integrated and appropriate setting;

• Work with students who request accommodations to identify reasonable and effective accommodations for each student’s needs within the context of a particular course or program’s essential elements;

• Respond to all requests for accommodation in a timely manner;

• Provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids for students with disabilities;

• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of the student’s documentation, records, and communication in accordance with federal and state law.

process for making accommodation requests

Emerson’s Disability Services Office (DSO) offers services to qualified students with documented physical, medical, visual, hearing, learning or psychiatric disabilities. The Disabilities Service

Coordinator is the College’s primary contact person for all students with disabilities. All student requests for accommodations must be directed to and evaluated by the Disability Services Coordinator.

 

Although the College does not require Emerson students with disabilities to register with the DSO, students must contact the DSO if they choose to request an accommodation or would like to take advantage of the DSO’s services. When making requests for accommodations, students should remember that it takes time for the College to arrange accommodations. Therefore, if a student’s requests are not made in a timely manner, the College cannot guarantee that accommodations will be provided when needed. For example, the College requires sufficient time to arrange for accommodations such as sign interpreters, texts in alternative formats or possibly altering room assignments. Students who wish to request test accommodations should also note that professors often want to know about a student’s need for test accommodations early in the semester so alternative arrangements can be made in advance of any exams.

 

Students who request accommodations will be asked to provide the DSO with recent and appropriate documentation of their disability, and why their requested accommodation is necessary. A qualified professional must prepare the documentation. After submitting this documentation to the DSO, a student must make an appointment to meet with the Disability Service Coordinator where they will review together the documentation and the student’s request for accommodations. After reviewing a student’s request for accommodation(s) and the supporting documentation, the Coordinator will decide whether or not the student is eligible to receive the requested, or some alternative accommodation(s), and will inform the student in writing of this decision. The DSO also will inform the student in writing of his or her right to appeal the DSO’s decision.

Location and Contact

The Disability Services Office is located at 216 Tremont Street on the fifth floor. The Disability Service Coordinator can be reached by email at dso@emerson.edu or by telephone at 617-824-8415. The mailing address is Disability Service Office, Emerson College, 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. Additional information concerning the philosophy, policies and procedures pertinent to disability services can be found at Disability Services. Students should contact the DSO with any and all questions or concerns.

ELECTRONIC INFORMATION POLICY STATEMENT*

ELECTRONIC MAIL

The following policy describes the degree of privacy e-mail users may reasonably assume. College personnel generally will not read or make available for anyone else to read the contents of any student e-mail files without the permission of the user, unless there are grounds for doing so. Such grounds might include, but are not limited to, maintaining system integrity (such as tracking viruses), meeting legal obligations (such as subpoenas), and performing certain system management functions (such as routing misaddressed messages).

INTERNET USE

Emerson College provides Internet access to support the curricular and informational needs of students, faculty, and staff members. All users are responsible for acknowledging sources, handling potentially offensive material with discretion, and acquiring information which is consistent with one’s objectives as a student, faculty or staff member.

 

Responsibility for acknowledging sources

Documents and other information accessed through the Internet that are used in compiling reports, term papers, journal articles, and the like, must be cited with a proper footnote and

bibliographic reference as if the source were a book or other printed work. To do otherwise constitutes plagiarism and will be treated as such.

 

Responsibility for handling potentially offensive material with discretion

Material can be accessed on the Internet that some may consider to be objectionable or offensive. In no way does Emerson College encourage or endorse accessing such material except for legitimate academic purposes. Users must exercise judgment when choosing the information they access. If there is the reasonable expectation that the accessed information would be considered objectionable by some, then public terminals (those in open Offices, labs, the library and other public places) may not be used and hard copy of such information may not be directed to public printers. Thus, in accessing such material, the user has the responsibility to do so in a private environment, such as a residence hall room or private Office, and in such a way that the material does not negatively affect those who may deem it objectionable or offensive. For example, such material should not be forwarded to others without their consent.

 

Responsibility for Internet use consistent with one’s objectives as student, faculty, or staff member

The College provides on-campus Internet capabilities to students, faculty, and staff members at the College’s expense, for their use on College business and incidentally for personal purposes, so long as this use does not violate College policy or adversely affect others. The Internet is not to be used to cause harm, no matter how minor, to any individual or computer facility. Users are expected to familiarize themselves with the College’s electronic policies found on-line at emerson.edu/policy. Users are expected to protect Emerson College’s good name and reputation.

 

Sharing of Copyrighted Files

Most movies, sound recordings, and software applications are copyrighted. Any duplication of copyrighted materials without the express consent of the copyright holder is not only against

Emerson College policy, it is against state and federal law. Those laws carry severe penalties, with significant fines and prison sentences for the most serious violations.

VIOLATIONS OF GUIDELINES

Violations of the above policies are considered unethical and may lead to College disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution. Individuals are encouraged to report information concerning instances in which the above guidelines have been or are being violated.

 

In accordance with the established College practices, policies, and procedures, confirmation of inappropriate use of Emerson College technology resources may result in termination of access, expulsion from the College, termination of employment, legal action or other disciplinary action.

 

*A copy of the complete Electronic Information Policy Statement can be accessed through the Emerson College Home Page (emerson.edu/policy).

E-MAIL AND COLLEGE COMMUNICATION

Every enrolled degree-seeking student is assigned an Emerson College e-mail address as part of their ECnet account. This e-mail address is usually in the form of firstname_lastname@emerson.edu. The College considers the transmission of information to students, via e-mail, to this College assigned e-mail address as a form of official notification. It is your responsibility to check your Emerson e-mail account regularly. You can access your Emerson e-mail account via the web, from any Internet networked computer, at the URL ecmail.emerson.edu.

 

You may adjust your e-mail settings so that messages sent to your College assigned e-mail address are redirected to an alternate/preferred e-mail address of your choosing. To do so, select the “Redirect my ECMail” option from the pages.emerson.edu/myaccount web page. Redirecting your e-mail address will inform the College’s network to automatically forward any e-mail messages sent to your ECnet account to your preferred e-mail address.

 

Any questions regarding your ID number or PIN, contact the Registrar at (617) 824-8655.

 

Any technical questions or problems using Interactive Services or ECmail, contact the Help Desk at (617) 824-8080.

FALSE REPORTING OF EMERGENCIES

Knowingly reporting a false emergency (e.g., pulling a fire alarm station, calling in a bomb threat) is a criminal offense and is considered a grave violation of College policy. Actions such as this place the lives of people on and off the campus in jeopardy. Any student found responsible for knowingly reporting a false emergency in the residence halls will receive a minimum sanction of expulsion from the residence halls. Behavior such as this in other campus buildings will be responded to with equal severity by the College.

 

The College may also be obligated to turn over the name of any student responsible for such behavior to the appropriate municipal authorities.

FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES

In an effort to both assist student organizations and college department’s planning and insure appropriate use of the institution’s name, all Emerson student organizations are required to register their intent to conduct any fundraising activities on or off the campus in the Office of Student Life.

 

On-campus fundraising includes conducting drawings, raffles (see Gambling section for information relate to obtaining a permit for a raffle), and selling of goods and/or services. Off campus fundraising activities include soliciting merchants, foundations, corporations, parents or alumni for contributions in and of themselves, or in return for an advertisement or service. Lists of parents, alumni or students will only be made available to those student organizations which have received authorization through registration. Fundraising activities benefiting an outside organization/company/foundation must have a letter of permission from said organization/company/foundation when registering the activity. Only recognized and funded student organizations may fundraise. All funds must be deposited into an on-campus account.

GAMBLING

Gambling or the sale of lottery tickets (e.g. tickets of chance) by individuals is forbidden on campus property.

 

Recognized student organizations and College departments must submit an application to the  City of Boston to obtain a one-day gambling permit in order to host a raffle. A drawing is not considered gambling. Contact the Associate Dean of Students for more information.

GUESTS

Students are responsible for insuring that their guests (i.e. persons they invite on campus) behave in a manner consistent with the Student Code of Conduct.

HAZING

Emerson College recognizes that student clubs and organizations including fraternities and sororities function as integral parts of the campus community. The College also believes that the purposes and programs of student groups should be in consonance with its educational mission, and that the orientation, education, and activities of group members should support the institutional mission. Hazing is antiethical to the College’s mission and is therefore strictly prohibited.

“Hazing” means any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any student club/organization operating under the sanction of the college.

The term hazing includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as beating, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, alcohol or other drug, or other substance, or any forced physical activity that could adversely effect health or mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of an individual. It is important to note that the willingness of an individual to participate in any activity as described above does not sanction such behavior.

Students and/or student groups found responsible for engaging in any activity which can be described as hazing will be subject to disciplinary action which may include suspension or dismissal of campus privileges or from the campus.

PENALTIES FOR HAZING

Chapter 665 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts states:

Section 17

Whoever is a principal organizer or participant in the crime of hazing, as defined herein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment.

The term “hazing” as used in this section and in sections eighteen and nineteen, shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution under this action.

Section 18

Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing as defined in section seventeen and is at the scene of such crime shall, to the extent that such person can do so without danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable. Whoever fails to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.

Section 19

Each institution of secondary education and each public and private institution of post secondary education shall issue to every student group, student team or student organization which is part of such institution or is recognized by the institution or permitted by the institution to use its name or facilities or is known by the institution to exist as an unaffiliated student group, student team or student organization, a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen provided, however, that an institution’s compliance with this section’s requirements that an institution issue copies of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations shall not constitute evidence of the institution’s recognition or endorsement of said unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations.

Each such group, team or organization shall distribute a copy of this section and section seventeen and eighteen to each of its members, plebes, pledges or applicants for membership. It shall be the duty of each such group, team or organization acting through its designated officer, to deliver annually, to the institution an attested acknowledgment stating that such group, team or organization has received a copy of this section and said sections seventeen and eighteen, that each of its members, plebes, pledges, or applicants has received a copy of sections seventeen and eighteen, and that such group, team or organization understands and agrees to comply with the provisions of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen.

Each institution of secondary education and each public or private institution of post secondary education shall, at least annually, before or at the start of enrollment, deliver to each person who enrolls as a full time student in such institution a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen.

Each institution of secondary education and each public or private institution of post secondary education shall file, at least annually, a report with the regents of higher education and in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education, certifying that such institution has complied with its responsibility to inform student groups, teams, or organizations and to notify each full time student enrolled by it of the provisions of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen and also certifying that said institution has adopted a disciplinary policy with regard to the organizers and participants of hazing, and that such policy has been set forth with appropriate emphasis in the student handbook or similar means of communicating the institution’s policies to its students. The board of regents and, in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education shall promulgate regulations governing the content and frequency of such reports, and shall forthwith report to the attorney general any such institution which fails to make such report.

Approved January 5, 1988

HIV/AIDS CAMPUS STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION

Emerson College is committed to a compassionate response to all members of the community who are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as well as those who have Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The College seeks to create a safe and open environment for communication while safeguarding and respecting the confidentiality of its individuals. Students, faculty, and staff are guaranteed access to all areas of the institution such as residence halls, dining rooms, athletic facilities, classrooms, and offices without discrimination on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. Members of the Emerson Community are afforded the right to participate in all College activities without restriction. At the same time, Emerson College expects that members of its community act responsibly in preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS. The College provides on-going, prevention-based education, information and resources.

CONFIDENTIALITY

No member of the Emerson College community may publicize or otherwise provide any person, group, agency, insurer, employer or institution with any medical or other information regarding the HIV/AIDS status of an Emerson College faculty, staff member or student without written consent from the individual involved or, if the case permits from an immediate family member or the domestic partner. College employees responsible for maintaining student and employee records will carefully weigh the importance of including any specific information about the existence of known HIV infection in Emerson College medical records, counseling records, personnel files, housing records or any other College file, except when circumstances of medical necessity mandate it. At minimum, the inclusion of any information regarding HIV infection in a College record will be discussed with the individual prior to any entry.

EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS

A.The Center for Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs, provides HIV/AIDS education and prevention for the student body. The Wellness Educator, within the Center, coordinates programming and utilizes resources available both within the College and in the Boston community. Current information regarding HIV/AIDS is available to any member of the Emerson community through the Center for Health and Wellness.
B. Where relevant, the Faculty integrates HIV/AIDS related projects, research and lectures into the general curriculum.
C. The College sponsors periodic outreach efforts for students addressing issues of HIV/AIDS prevention, safer sex, and responsible decision-making with respect to alcohol and other drug use.
D. The College identifies employees who have specific needs relating to HIV/AIDS prevention. Groups include staff that may come in contact with blood products, such as those in the Center for Health and Wellness, Facilities Management, Public Safety and Athletics. Focused education and information is made available through Human Resources.
E. If the Center for Health and Wellness determines that a communicable disease situation exists on the campus, such that, individuals who have immune systems that are compromised are placed at significant risk, the College will make efforts to notify the community.
F. Only when authorized and as directed by the individual or, if the case permits, by an immediate member of the family, or a domestic partner (as defined by the College’s Human Resources policy statement on benefits), the College will inform the Emerson community about a member who is affected by HIV or AIDS.

HIV ANTIBODY TESTING

Individuals seeking to be tested for the HIV antibody are encouraged to utilize anonymous testing (where a name or other identifying information is not given) rather than confidential testing (where a name or social security number is given). Centers that provide pre- and post-testing counseling are highly recommended. Refer to the Resource section in this book for further information.

TREATMENT, SERVICES, REFERRAL

When an individual with HIV or AIDS self-identifies at the Center for Health and Wellness or the Counseling Center, treatment is provided within the limitations of services available in each department. In most cases, referral off-campus for comprehensive medical and psychological services is the most appropriate and most effective treatment response. Students, faculty and staff are reassured of their confidentiality as outlined above.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP POLICY

 

A. Introduction

The purpose of this policy is to encourage research, publication, and artistic, creative, and pedagogical work of the highest possible caliber and to protect the intellectual property of the College and its faculty, staff, and students.

 

B. Copyright Law Generally

“Copyright” means that bundle of rights that protect original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which they can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. “Works of authorship” (including computer programs) include, but are not limited to the following: course materials such as syllabi, lesson plans, and lecture notes; written works; musical works, including any accompanying words; dramatic works, including any accompanying music; pantomimes and choreographic works; pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works (photographs, prints, diagrams, models, and technical drawings); motion pictures and other audiovisual works; sound recordings; and architectural works. “Tangible media” include, but are not limited to, books, periodicals, manuscripts, phonorecords, films, tapes, and disks.

 

You can find a general description of copyright law at emerson.edu/policy/Copyright-Policy.cfm. If you have specific questions about College copyrights, contact the Office of the General Counsel. The Office of the General Counsel can refer you to competent counsel for personal copyright matters.

 

C. Copyright Ownership Policy

1. Staff, administrators, student employees, and other non-faculty employees.

Emerson College owns the copyright to any works created by staff, administrators, student employees, and other non-faculty employees in the course of their College duties. This includes, but is not limited to, copyright in works such as publications, software, web design, graphic and artistic work, photographs and other visual images, audio recordings, music, dramatic, or theatrical work, and data compilations. If the employee asks, the College may, but is not required to, grant the employee a nonexclusive license to use the work for mutually-agreed purposes.

2. Faculty.

Text pertaining to faculty can be found in the Faculty Handbook.

3. Students

a. Student Rights Generally.

“Student Works” are those works produced by Emerson students in fulfillment of class assignments, as projects for academic credit, or as projects with co-curricular or extra-curricular organizations. Student Works’ primary purpose is educational. Student Works are owned by the student(s), subject to a non-exclusive royalty-free license to use the Student Work for the College’s educational, promotional, and public relations purposes if the Student Work is not a confidential educational record.

b. Student Responsibilities

Each student who participates in the creation of a Student Work is responsible for his or her contribution to such Student Work including, without being limited to, ensuring that his or her contribution to such Student Work does not violate or infringe on any copyright, any right of privacy, or any other right of any person, and that such Student Work is not libelous, obscene, or otherwise contrary to law. Each student is responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions for the use of any copyrighted materials the student contributes to in such Student Work.

Any advice or assistance given by any faculty member or other representative of Emerson College to any student in relation to the foregoing responsibilities, or otherwise in relation to the preparation or production of a Student Work, shall not be construed (a) as the assumption of such responsibility or of any liability by such person or by Emerson College; (b) to deem the College or such person a joint venturer with such student; or (c) to grant such student the power, right, or authority to create any obligation or responsibility on behalf of, or otherwise, to bind the College or such person.

Each student who creates or participates in the creation of a Student Work agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Emerson College against any loss, damage, liability, or expense that Emerson College incurs as a result of the preparation or production of such Student Work, including, without being limited to, any material in such work that infringes or violates any copyright, right of privacy, or any other right of any person, or is libelous, obscene, or contrary to law.

c. Limitation on Transfer Rights in Student Works.

Student Works may also have market value. However, if a student markets, commercially distributes, or transfers to a third party his or her rights in a Student Work, it may deprive other students of the opportunity to work with the Student Work and hinder faculty supervision of the Work, thereby limiting the primary educational purpose of the Student Work. Students should also be sure that their marketing, commercial distribution, or transfer of rights does not infringe upon the rights of co-authors of the Student Work. Any Student Work that is produced by more than one student is subject to the following policy, and all students agree, as a condition of their attendance at the College, to abide by the provisions of this policy.

Students agree to wait until every student who contributed to the Student Work students has either graduated from Emerson College or is no longer enrolled before distributing their own interest in joint Student Work. This temporary limitation on distribution of joint Student Work includes distribution in any manner, such as by sale or other transfer of the ownership or other rights, license, lease, loan, gift, or otherwise. Students may, however, enter joint Student Work in festivals or competitions. Students shall make joint Student Work available to other students and to faculty members of Emerson College who participated in creation of the Student Work for any use relating to his or her education or to the education of such other students. The Dean of the appropriate school at Emerson College may, in his/her sole discretion, in consultation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the President of the College, waive these restrictions for any reason satisfactory to the Dean.

d. Emerson Credit.

Emerson College will decide whether or not to put its name on a given Student Work. If so requested by the appropriate dean at Emerson College, the student(s) who owns each Student Works agrees to credit in such Student Work, in a manner satisfactory to the dean, any donor to Emerson College whose donation contributed directly to the production of such Student Work.

e. Destruction of Student Work.

It is the obligation of the student to retrieve his or her work. The College has no obligation to preserve student work and reserves the right to destroy it after the end of the semester in which the work was created.

4. Works created by outside vendors and contractors.

In general, the College expects to own the copyright in the work of outside vendors and contractors. The College official engaging the outside vendor or contractor and signing the contract is responsible for insuring that the contract protects the College’s rights. The College expects that employees engaging outside vendors and contractors on behalf of the College will obtain legal advice from the Office of General Counsel prior to their engagement or the execution of a contract.

 

D. Disclosure

Faculty or students who create works in which the College may have an ownership interest should make an immediate disclosure, in writing, to the Dean of their respective School.

 

E. Trade and Service Marks

The College owns certain trademarks and service marks. These include, but are not limited to:

1. Emerson College

2. Emerson

3. E 1880 (design plus date in black and white)

4. E 1880 (design plus date in color)

5. Bringing Innovation to Communication and the Arts

6. EVVY

7. Ploughshares

8. WERS

9. Music for the Independent Mind

10. American Comedy Archives

Faculty, staff, and students must obtain the written consent of the Vice President for Administration and Finance before using Emerson trademarks or service marks (or any phrase or mark likely to cause confusion with Emerson trade marks or services marks) in connection with works in which they have a personal ownership interest.

LIFE THREATENING BEHAVIOR

Emerson College recognizes that certain life threatening behaviors (e.g. suicide threats, gestures or attempts to harm oneself (e.g. burning, cutting, etc); eating disorders; substance abuse; threats, gestures or attempts to harm others) are signs of personal distress. While the College is committed to helping students alleviate whatever stress factors are precipitating life threatening behavior, such behavior is considered disruptive to and unacceptable in the academic and social/living environments of the College community. At the discretion of the Dean of Students or his/her designee, a parent, guardian or family member may be notified.

 

Any student who demonstrates such behavior while enrolled at Emerson may be required to attend an administrative hearing and may be required to immediately undergo a psychological,

medical and/or substance abuse evaluation. The results of a psychological, medical and/or substance abuse evaluation will be considered in determining if or under what conditions the student may continue at Emerson College. The College may insist that the student actively engage in psychotherapy, an eating disorder program and/or a substance abuse treatment program while enrolled at Emerson College or may be required to withdraw from the residence hall and/or the College. Students who refuse such an evaluation are subject to being automatically suspended from the College and/or residence hall.

MASSACHUSETTS LAWS FOR ALCOHOL, FIREARMS AND FIREWORKS

A. Alcoholic Beverages: an individual must be 21 years of age or older to purchase, possess, be served or consume alcohol in Massachusetts. It is illegal to misrepresent one’s age with the intent of procuring alcohol, to provide alcohol to an individual under the age of 21, to sell alcohol without a license or to possess an open container of or consume alcohol in public places.

B. Firearms: any person carrying a firearm loaded or unloaded in any building or on the ground of any college or university without the written authorization of the board or Officer in charge of said college or university shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both.

C. Fireworks: their possession, sale and use are prohibited under Massachusetts law.

MOTOR VEHICLES

Students, commuters and residents, are urged not to bring an automobile into the Emerson College area. Traffic is highly congested and the very limited metered parking has a strictly enforced two hour limit. A public parking garage is located underneath the Boston Common with an entrance and exit on Charles Street.

 

Students are not permitted to park in College parking spaces. Violators will be towed at their own expense.

NAME, LOGO OR MOTTO USE POLICY

Use of the Emerson College (EC) name, logo or motto/tag line is prohibited without advanced approval by the Dean of Students or his/her designee. College recognized student organizations and individual students should direct their inquiries to the Associate Dean of Students in the Office of Student Life. Permission to utilize the EC name, logo or motto/tagline by recognized student organizations is typically granted as long as the EC name, logo or motto/tagline isn’t altered and is being used for College–related business or activities. Use of the EC name, logo or motto/tagline is typically not granted for individual student use.

NON-DISCRIMINATION policy

Emerson College is committed to fostering a climate of respect for students, staff and faculty, as well as others who participate in the College’s program and activities. As a part of that commitment, Emerson prohibits discrimination or harassment based on an individual’s gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under applicable local, state or federal law (“protected characteristics”). Emerson also prohibits discrimination or harassment based on an individual’s participation in a protected activity (such as reporting alleged discrimination or harassment). This policy complies with federal, state and local laws.

 

In addition, Emerson expects that its students, faculty, staff, vendors, contractors, alumni and guests (collectively, “members of the Emerson community”) will conduct themselves appropriately

and refrain from behavior that infringes on the rights of others. Accordingly, individuals who discriminate against or harass others, regardless of whether such conduct rises to the level of unlawful discrimination or harassment, may be subject to disciplinary action, up to including immediate termination of employment, or association with Emerson, expulsion from Emerson.

 

A. Definitions

1. Unlawful discrimination is unfavorable or unfair treatment of a person or a “class” of people based on their protected characteristic(s).

Examples of unlawful discrimination would include denying an individual a job or promotion, or denying a student the opportunity to participate in an educational activity because of his or her protected characteristic(s).

2. Discriminatory Harassment is harassment based on an individual’s protected characteristic(s).

Discriminatory harassment is defined, for purposes of this policy, as conduct that degrades or shows hostility towards an individual because of his or her protected characteristic(s) and which:

a. has the intent or effect of unreasonably interfering with the individual’s employment or educational endeavors, or

b. has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile, intimidating or offensive working or educational environment (“hostile environment”).

3. Sexual harassment is a form of unlawful sex discrimination.

A person may be found to have engaged in unlawful sexual harassment if he or she makes unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors, or engages in other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature where:

a. submission to such advances, requests or conduct by an employee or student is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of his or her employment or educational experience (“quid pro quo” harassment).

b. such advances, requests, or conduct have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an employee’s or student’s professional or educational performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or sexually offensive work or educational environment (“hostile environment” harassment).

 Both men and women can be perpetrators and victims of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can also involve conduct towards members of the same or opposite sex as the harasser. Whether unwelcome sexual conduct rises to the level of unlawful sexual harassment depends on how severe or pervasive the conduct is. Sexual harassment may include the following:

a. Unwelcome physical touching of a sexual nature;

b. Unwelcome verbal communication of a sexual nature (lewd jokes, sexual inquiries or comments about individual’s bodies, repeated requests for dates, or comments about one’s sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess); or

c. Displaying or distributing sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, graffiti, or written materials.

4. Unlawful Retaliation is taking negative or adverse actions against someone because he or she has engaged in legally protected activities.

The College will not tolerate members of its community taking adverse action towards anyone who, in good faith, alleges illegal discrimination or harassment. Nor will the College tolerate retaliation against individuals who cooperate with an investigation related to any investigation or another individual’s discrimination complaint. The College may discipline individuals who retaliate. Such discipline may rise to the level of immediate termination of employment, or association with Emerson, or in the case of students, expulsions from the College.

 

B. Complaint Procedure

Employees and students are encouraged to bring complaints of discrimination or harassment immediately to the attention of the following individuals, or to the attention of the College’s General Counsel. The individuals identified below are available to discuss any concerns employees or students may have, as well as to provide information about Emerson’s complaint procedure. The College has designated the Associate Vice President for Human Resources and the Dean of Students to investigate complaints of unlawful discrimination. The College will ensure that no person who is the subject of a complaint will be assigned to investigate that complaint. The College’s General Counsel and Associate General Counsel are available to provide advice or assistance to the investigating Officer.

1. Employee Complaints

Complaints under this policy by an employee of the College, including faculty members (defined as all part-time and full-time professors, assistant professors, associate professors, lecturers, instructors and visiting professors), administrators, or staff, should be brought to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, 8 Park Plaza, in the State Transportation Building, (617) 824-8580.

2. Student Complaints

Students who believe they have been subjected to unlawful discrimination or harassment may initiate a complaint under this policy by speaking to the Director of Multicultural Student Affairs (617) 824-8637, or the Dean of Students (617) 824-8640, both of whom are located on the 2nd floor of 150 Boylston Street (Max Mutchnick Campus Center).

Investigation and Resolution of Student Complaints

The individuals available to receive complaints, identified above, were selected to give students the opportunity to initiate a complaint in a place which they will feel most comfortable doing so. These individuals have the responsibility, after speaking with the complainant and/or reviewing a written complaint, to ensure that the complaint is promptly directed for investigation to: (1) the Dean of Students, when the accused is a student, or (2) the Associate Vice President for Human Resources for all other complaints.

 

C. Investigation Procedure

Emerson will promptly, equitably, and thoroughly investigate all complaints of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation it receives. All investigations will include private interviews with the individual filing the complaint, the person alleged to have committed the discrimination or harassment, and third-party witnesses, and will include consideration of other relevant evidence. When Emerson has completed its investigation, it will inform both the complainant and the subject of the complaint that the College has concluded its investigation and the College’s determination as to whether sufficient evidence exists to support a claim of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.

 

Emerson shall conduct the investigation and resolution of complaints with as much confidentiality as possible, without compromising the thoroughness of the investigation or the rights of the alleged offender.

 

D. College’s Response to Harassment or Retaliation

If the investigation reveals that a member of the Emerson community has engaged in inappropriate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, Emerson will take prompt remedial action to eliminate the conduct, prevent recurrence and correct its effects, including, where appropriate, imposing discipline on the offender. Such disciplinary action may include, but may not be limited to, a written warning, temporary suspension, and/or immediate termination of employment or expulsion from the College or its residence halls.

 

Emerson recognizes the false accusations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation may have a serious effect upon innocent persons and the community as a whole. Therefore, if the College becomes aware that an individual has knowingly made a false accusation of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation against another, it will take disciplinary action against the individual who made the false accusation.

 

E. State and Federal Resources for Victims of Unlawful Discrimination, Harassment, or Retaliation

In addition to filing a complaint with Emerson College, as described above, an Emerson student or employee who believes that he or she has been subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation may file a formal complaint with the government agencies that are identified below. Please note that state and federal agencies only permit individuals to file complaints within a limited time frame from when the discrimination occurred.

 

Both Employees and Students May Bring Complaints of Discrimination and Harassment to the Following State or Federal Agencies:

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination

One Ashburton Place, Room 601

Boston, MA 02108

617-994-6000

mass.gov/mcad/

 

United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

John F. Kennedy Federal Building

Government Center Room 475

Boston, MA 02203-0506

1-800-669-4000

eeoc.gov

 

Students May Also Bring Complaints To:

Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

United States Department of Education

33 Arch Street, Suite 900

Boston, MA 02110-1491

617-289-0111

Email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov

Web: ed.gov/ocr

Off-Campus Conduct Policy

Students have a responsibility as members of both the Emerson College community and the neighborhood community to demonstrate respect and concern for their neighbors. Therefore,

Emerson College imposes an obligation upon all its students both resident and non-resident to demonstrate responsible citizenship in their local neighborhood.

 

Prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to: excessive noise; illegal possession, use, sale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages; use, possession, or distribution of any controlled substance or illegal drug; drinking alcoholic beverages on the street; manufacture, distribution, or use of false identification cards; objects being thrown or dropped out of windows; disorderly, disruptive or destructive behavior.

 

The College reserves the right to refer to a hearing body for disciplinary action any student engaged in these prohibited behaviors or any other behavior that is disruptive of its community/city relations, interferes with, or obstructs the lawful missions, processes, and functions of the College, or that is found by the College to be abhorrent or offensive to generally accepted standards of conduct. If found responsible, the student is subject to sanctions up to and including loss of College privileges, suspension, or dismissal from the College.

OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS POLICY

Events held off-campus using, or implying, the Emerson College name, utilizing the Emerson College accounting system and SGA allocated funds, or off-campus events publicized on campus are subject to all College policies and procedures as events held on campus. In addition, to utilize an off campus facility, students must arrange for a contract between the facility and the College. The Dean of Students is the College designee authorized to enter into contractual agreements with an off campus facility on behalf of the recognized student organizations. Contracts signed by students or advisors will not be honored.

 

A contract is required for use of ANY off-campus facility, regardless of how the facility is being used or cost. The facility must also carry and show proof of general liability insurance with a minimum of $3,000,000 coverage, naming Emerson College as an additional insured. A Certificate of Insurance must be obtained from the facility indicating the limits of insurance, if the facility is not a pre-approved vendor of the College.

 

Off-campus events must be registered through the Office of Student Life by meeting with the Associate Dean of Students at least 4 weeks in advance of the event. Although guests of Emerson College students are typically welcomed, attendance by non-Emerson students may be restricted accessing a given event. When permitted, students who present a valid Emerson College ID are permitted to bring up to two (2) non-Emerson guests with them to an event.

On-campus events policy

Policies and procedures for holding events on the Emerson College campus for both recognized student organizations and individual student projects are outlined in the Student Organizational and Adviser Resource Guide.

PETS

Out of consideration for all members of the College community and for reasons of health and cleanliness, pets are not allowed in College buildings (e.g. Office, residence, recreational and academic buildings). Exceptions will be made, of course, in the case of guide dogs.

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY
  (Issued by the Academic Policy Committee and approved by the Faculty Assembly May, 1983, and updated and approved by Faculty Assembly, October 2005. See Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty Policy.

PRIVACY OF STUDENT RECORDS

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:

A. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records.

B. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other right.

C. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

D. The right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by Emerson College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

E. The right to obtain a copy of Emerson College’s student records policy. Students can obtain a copy of the policy from the Registrar’s Office.

DIRECTORY INFORMATION

Emerson College has designated the following items as Directory Information: student name, address, electronic mail address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study,

participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent previous school attended, and photograph. The College may disclose any of those items without prior written consent unless notified in writing to the contrary. Students wishing to withhold the disclosure of any aspects of the “Directory Information” must file a “Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information” form with the Registrar’s Office (216 Tremont Street).

RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT and sexual misconduct

Emerson College will not tolerate any form of sexual violence, coercion or harassment 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. A student found responsible for a forcible or non-forcible sex offense following an on-campus disciplinary procedure is subject to suspension or dismissal from the College. In the  Commonwealth of Massachusetts having sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with a person against the will of that person by force or threat of bodily harm constitutes rape. Rape is also defined as the intercourse with a person who is mentally incapacitated, unconscious, asleep or physically incapable of consenting due to the consumption of alcohol and other drugs.

Types of Unlawful Sexual Contact include:

Rape: forced sexual intercourse without the consent by the other person.

Acquaintance Rape: Rape by a casual acquaintance, friend, professor, girlfriend/boyfriend or date. Acquaintance rape is no less serious a crime than a rape which occurs between strangers.

Sexual Assault: includes all forms of unlawful sexual acts and sexual contact, in addition to rape, including: forced anal intercourse (sodomy), forced oral sex, forced penetration of genital or anal openings by a foreign object, including a finger. Other non-penetration forms of sexual assault include: unlawful sexual contact and sexual harassment. Unlawful sexual contact is defined as the unwanted touching, directly or through clothing of an intimate part of another person such as a sexual organ, buttocks, or breasts.

Any student involved in a sexual assault should:

1. Get to a safe place and call the Emerson College Public Safety Department or the police. Either agency will help a student who has been sexually assaulted whether or not the student chooses to prosecute the assailant. Reporting a sexual assault to the police does not commit the student to further legal action.

2. It is important to tell someone. A student who has been sexually assaulted should call a friend, family member or someone whom the student trusts and can talk with (e.g., Residence Life staff member, Center for Health and Wellness nurse, Counseling Center therapist or other individual on the Emerson staff).

3. Get medical attention immediately. Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Boston and Cambridge City Hospitals are experienced and prepared to help sexual assault victims. A prompt medical examination will test for pregnancy and STDs, and can secure valuable evidence that can be used later, should a survivor of a sexual assault wish to have the assailant prosecuted. Upon request, an Emerson College staff member will accompany the student whenever possible.

4. Seek counseling. Regardless of whether a student reports the assault, it is often helpful to seek counseling for the traumatic experience the victim survived. The crisis intervention and counseling services provided by Emerson College are available to all Emerson students regardless of where the assault may have occurred.

Judicial/Disciplinary Options

If a sexually assaulted student wishes to have the assailant prosecuted, the police and the district attorney’s Office will handle the legal proceedings without expense to the student.

If the perpetrator is a member of the campus community, the sexually assaulted student has the option to file a complaint through the College’s disciplinary systems (see Rules and Regulations section of this Handbook).

In either instance, a College representative will be available to the student throughout the process.

Campus Accommodations

The College will work with a student who has been sexually assaulted to accommodate reasonable and appropriate changes in his/her living arrangements, upon the student’s request.

RESIDENTIAL POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

Residents of the residence hall community at Emerson College have the following rights and responsibilities. See Residential Policies and Guidelines.

SALES ON CAMPUS

No student may solicit for money, sell or offer for sale, or promote the sale of goods or services by any person, student organization or company on College property or using College resources

including, but not limited to, residence hall rooms or addresses, Emerson College telephone numbers, ECnet accounts or computer networks or equipment. This policy does not preclude an individual student from selling a personal item (e.g. used text book, used musical instrument, etc.) from time to time as long as the sale does not violate any institutional policy.

 

The College may make limited exceptions to this policy for recognized student organizations raising money for the organization or for a registered charity in accordance with the College’s fundraising policy so long as all the funds raised go to the organization or charity and none are retained for personal benefit. The written permission of the Associate Dean of Students is required for all solicitations and sales.

SOLICITATIONS

The College does not permit the use of its facilities for the solicitation of contributions for religious, charitable, or political organizations or activities. This includes direct solicitation by members of the College community on behalf of such agencies. This prohibition includes the selling of goods or services, tickets or chances on behalf of religious, charitable, political, or any other groups.

SMOKING (See “Alcohol and Other Drug Policy”)

Smoking is prohibited within the archway area outside the 80 Boylston Street entranceway during posted hours (7am-11pm). If you choose to smoke near the Little Building during posted hours, please use the side entrance at 211 Tremont Street. The Piano Row building at 150 Boylston Street is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified facility. One prerequisite for LEED certification is Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control. The intent of the requirement is to “minimize exposure of building occupants, indoor surfaces, and ventilation air distribution systems to ETS.” To meet the prerequisite, in addition to prohibiting smoking in the building, any exterior smoking must be “at least 25 feet away from entries, outdoor air intakes and operable windows.” Thus smoking is prohibited anywhere on the sidewalks in front of the building facade.

 

In a similar spirit, the College asks smokers to refrain from congregating in front of other building entrances so that people do not have to pass through second-hand smoke.

Student organization sponsored trip policy

All trips sponsored by recognized student organizations and departments must be registered with the Office of Student Life. College protocol mandates that Trip Registration Forms be completed and submitted to the Office no less than 10 business days before the trip. The Trip Registration Form, a Trip Participant List, and a Risk and Release form will stay on file with the College. Failure to complete and return forms may result in a denial to use equipment and/or College activities money.

 

A student organization sponsored trip may include, but is not limited to an event where the College (including the SGA) is named as a sponsor and/or a trip where College equipment is used and/ or monies are used to fund part or the entire trip. Trip organizers are required to schedule a pre142 trip meeting with the Associate Dean of Students at least three weeks in advance of the trip. Please note: unless determined otherwise by the Dean of Students and/or his/her designee, an advisor or advisor designee must accompany the trip. Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Associate Dean of Students.

 

College funds spent on behalf of trip participants are typically non-refundable and nontransferable. Trip participants are financially responsible for all funds expended on their behalf in the event of their cancellation or subsequent ineligibility per College policy. Participants must be registered for a conference, meeting, or competition before travel arrangements will be made.

 

Students not in good social standing are ineligible to participate in student organization sponsored activities including, but not limited to off-campus film shoots, conference attendance, political/news event coverage, and social or cultural trips.

SUSPENSION OR DISMISSAL

Emerson College, through its various faculties or appropriate committees, reserves the discretionary right to suspend or dismiss any student from the College for failure to maintain a satisfactory academic record or for demonstrating behaviors that are deemed excessively disruptive to the academic process and/or social/living climate of the campus.

TELEVISION, RADIO AND FILM (TRF) SHOOTING POLICY STATEMENT

See TRF Shooting Policy.

WEAPONS

The use or possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons on College property or at any College sponsored event is specifically forbidden. Please note that Massachusetts general laws

Chapter 269: Section 10, Paragraph j states:

 

“Whoever, not being a law enforcement Officer and notwithstanding any license obtained by him under the provisions of chapter one hundred and forty, carries on his person a firearm as hereinafter defined, loaded or unloaded or other dangerous weapon in any building or on the grounds of any elementary or secondary school, college or university without the written authorization of the board or Officer in charge of such elementary or secondary school, college or university, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. For the purpose of this paragraph, “firearm” shall mean any pistol, revolver, rifle or smoothbore arm from which a shot, bullet or pellet can be discharged by whatever means.”

 

For further information regarding what the Commonwealth considers dangerous weapons, see Massachusetts general laws Chapter 269: Section 10, paragraph B at state.ma.us/legis/laws/mgl/269-10.htm.

 

Possession of realistic replicas of firearms or other dangerous weapons are also prohibited on Emerson property or at Emerson sponsored events (e.g. film shoots, performances, etc.) other than when being employed during a College sanctioned rehearsal or production. Recognized student organizations must receive prior approval for use of such props from the Dean of Students or his/her designee and the Director of Public Safety or his/her designee. Organizations should present their proposal for replica weapon use at least 14 days before intended use.