Code of Conduct
As a learning community, the Honor Code – a commitment to living with honesty, integrity, responsibility, and respect – helps guide standards for behavior on the basis of shared values and principles. Maintaining a vibrant learning environment that supports all members of our community requires students to make ethical decisions while taking personal and social responsibility for their actions. Each member of the University community bears responsibility for their conduct, reasonably holding others responsible for their actions, and refraining from actions that impair the university’s purpose or its reputation. When a student’s behavior is not consistent with our community standards, the University will respond and hold a student accountable for violations of the Code of Conduct.
The honor system and procedures to address alleged violations of the Code of Conduct exist to protect the interests of the community, challenge those whose behavior is not aligned with community standards as reflected in university policies and hold them accountable for those actions. Outcomes are intended to challenge students’ moral and ethical decision-making and help them bring their behavior into accord with our community expectations. When unable to live according to community expectations, the student conduct process may determine that students should no longer share in the privilege of participating in this community.
No complaint will be forwarded for a hearing unless there is reasonable cause to believe a policy has been violated. The director of student conduct (or designee) will assume responsibility for the preliminary inquiry of an allegation of misconduct to determine whether charges related to Code of Conduct violations shall be applied.
University action through the honor system does not preclude the possibility of civil or criminal charges being placed against an individual nor does the filing of civil or criminal charges preclude action by the university. Additionally, action through the honor system does not preclude other actions or outcomes assigned by student organizations or other units of the institution (e.g. student employment, athletic eligibility, leadership positions, organization participation).