Standards and Policies

Undergrad Conduct Code

Undergraduate Student Life Policies
The Community Standards and Policies contains many of the relevant rules and regulations governing undergraduate student nonacademic life on the Homewood Campus. Most academic policies and procedures are published by the Office of Academic Advising in the Undergraduate Academic Manual. Students are responsible for complying with these policies.

Undergraduate Student Conduct Code [Top]

Introduction
The fundamental purpose of the University’s regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities.

Acceptance of membership in the University community carries with it an obligation on the part of each individual to respect the rights of others, to protect the University as a forum for the free expression of ideas, and to obey the law. This Undergraduate Student Conduct Code pertains to misconduct arising from offenses against persons and/or property committed on University property; to misconduct committed off University property against members of the University community; and to misconduct occurring off campus that causes significant harm to others. The University’s undergraduate student conduct system is designed to enforce the University’s conduct regulations.

The University reserves the right to institute disciplinary action whether or not the offense results or may result in action by a civil or criminal court.

Undergraduate Student Conduct Code [Top]
In addition to maintaining good academic standing, students are expected to refrain from conduct that injures persons or property. The University expects all students, including those living on or off campus, students studying abroad or at any off-campus university facility, or are on break to be law-abiding citizens, to respect the rights of others, and to refrain from behavior that impairs the University’s purpose or its reputation in the community. Students who have committed acts which are a danger to their own personal safety or which harm or have the potential of harming others, or who destroy, damage, or wrongfully appropriate property, will be disciplined and may forfeit their right to be members of the University community.

For example, students are expected to refrain from:

A. Conduct that disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of teaching and research, or with other lawful or authorized activities.

B. Conduct that causes, or can be reasonably expected to cause, or threatens physical harm to a person.

C. Physical or verbal threats against or intimidation of any person which results in limiting her/his full access to all aspects of life at the University.

D. Conduct or a pattern of conduct in which a person approaches or pursues another person with intent to place the person in fear of physical harm or with intent to harass or to intimidate the person.

E. Conduct that violates the University’s hazing policy, or other conduct or a pattern of conduct that harasses a person or group.

F. Conduct that constitutes sexual abuse, assault, or rape of another person.

G. Conduct that constitutes sexual harassment of another person.

H. Theft or vandalism of University property, property of others, or knowingly possessing stolen property.

I. The unauthorized use, possession, or storage of any weapons, chemicals, or explosives, including fireworks, on University property.

J. The unauthorized distribution, possession, or use of any controlled substance (such as, but not limited to, illegal drugs).

K. The possession or consumption of alcohol by individuals under the legal drinking age in Maryland (21 years of age), or the provision of alcohol to minors.

L. The distribution or sale of alcohol to individuals under the legal drinking age.

M. Failure to comply with the directions of University officials, instructors, administrators, staff, or the Baltimore City Police acting in performance of their duties.

N. The unauthorized or improper use of University property, facilities, resources, or the University name or seal.

O. Failure to observe University policies, procedures, rules, or regulations.

P. Misuse or abuse of any University computer, computer system, computer or communications service, program, data, network, or resource.

Q. Violation of any law of the United States, law of the State of Maryland, or municipal ordinance which occurs on or off campus which impinges on the rights of others or which impairs the University’s reputation.

R. Conduct that disturbs the peace or impinges on the rights of residents of neighborhoods where students reside, including, but not limited to: loud parties or excessive noise, shouting or talking that unreasonably disturbs other students or community members; public urination; drinking in public; littering or not disposing of trash appropriately; failure to reasonably maintain yard or premises.

S. Hosting or conducting an event in violation of university policies.

T. Conduct that hinders, obstructs, or interferes with investigations, hearings, sanctions, and other implementation processes of the Student Conduct Code.

U. Failure to appear for a University disciplinary hearing to respond to a charge or to testify as a witness when reasonably notified to do so.

V. Failure to comply with the terms of a judicial sanction. Other behavior may be equally inconsistent with the standard of conduct expected of a University student and the University’s commitment to providing an environment conducive to learning and research.