SECTION 1. Jurisdiction of Rhodes College
Students may be sanctioned for conduct which constitutes a hazard to the health, safety, or well- being of members of the College community or which is detrimental to the College’s interest whether such conduct occurs on campus, off campus, or at College-sponsored events. The OCS Administrator or designee, upon consultation with the Community Standards Council President, shall determine whether cases are within the jurisdiction of the Rhodes College Community Standards Council.
SECTION 2. Violations
The Community Standards Council recognizes three major responsibilities of every student:
- Each student is responsible for their behavior at all times and under all circumstances. Intoxication or the influence of drugs will not be considered a mitigating circumstance in judgment by the CSC of disruptive behavior.
- Each student is responsible for the actions of their guest and may be held socially and financially responsible for any social offenses committed by that guest.
- Since shared community standards are necessary to maintain an atmosphere of respect among individuals in the community, it is the responsibility of every member of the community to report to the CSC any violation of the Standards of Conduct.
Students are expected to be familiar with College policies, and a lack of awareness does not exempt individuals from accountability for violations.
Violations of the Standards of Conduct include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Lying in Official Matters and/or Dishonest Conduct. The term “lying” in official matters or “dishonest conduct” is defined as:
Making an untrue or deceptive statement;
Making a material omission, or conveying a false impression, with the intent to mislead a Rhodes College official in an official matter; or falsifying, altering, or misusing official material with the intent to mislead a Rhodes College official in an official matter. Official matters and material include, without limitation, matters having to do with coursework, college administration, faculty, residence hall administration, Campus Safety, Honor Council, or Community Standards Council. If a respondent student has lied in an Honor Council hearing, the Council may use the lie as evidence relating to the Respondent to the Honor System when determining an outcome.
Misuse or falsification of any state, federal, or College documents, forms, records, identification cards, or funds by actions such as forgery, alteration, or improper transfer;
Possession of a false identification card or possession of another’s identification card.
- Cheating. The term “cheating” is defined as:
The attempt or act of giving or receiving unauthorized aid from any source on academic coursework. Cheating includes plagiarism. Plagiarism is an act of academic dishonesty. A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, words, or statements of another person without appropriate acknowledgment. A student must give credit to the originality of others and acknowledge an indebtedness whenever the student does any of the following:
Quotes another person's actual words, either oral or written.
Paraphrases another person's actual words, either oral or written.
Uses another person's idea, opinion, or theory.
Borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material unless the information is common knowledge.
It is the student’s responsibility to consult the professor, an Honor Council member, or writing handbooks for procedure for properly acknowledging sources.
- Stealing. The term “stealing” is defined as:
The act of intentionally taking, appropriating, or transferring, without right or permission, the property (academic and non-academic) of any individual, organization, or institution, either permanently or temporarily associated with the Rhodes community.
(Academic) The following are examples of what could be considered under the definition of stealing:
Appropriating or obtaining access to files or any other electronically stored information without authorization of the owner of such files or information
Taking papers, files, gradebooks, notes, past tests or exams or other academically-related information without the owner’s authorization
Removal of or otherwise making unavailable any material from the Rhodes College library without permission
(Non-Academic) The attempted or actual theft of services or property of the College, of a member of the College community, or other personal or public property.
- Guest Behavior. Failure of a student host and their guest to adhere to the Guests and Visitors Policy.
- Interfering with College or College-sponsored activities. Interfering with, disrupting, or obstructing any College function, class, meeting, program, or other sponsored activity—whether on or off campus—is prohibited. This includes conduct that impedes the participation of others, prevents the normal flow of an event, or otherwise compromises the safety, integrity, or purpose of the activity.
- Bullying and Other Abusive Behavior. This offense includes, but is not limited to, a pattern of targeted, unwelcome conduct directed at an individual or group that a reasonable person would determine is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the College’s educational programs or activities.
- Hate-Motivated Acts. Engaging in verbal, written or physical conduct that is (1) based on a person’s or group’s race, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, gender identity, age (40 or over), or disability; and/or (2) intended to intimidate or injure the person physically, mentally or emotionally.
- Disorderly Conduct. Conduct that is disorderly, lewd, or indecent; conduct that has the effect of unreasonably disrupting the life of or interfering with the activities of persons or groups in the college community.
- Harm/Endangerment. Attempting or causing physical assault, verbal abuse, threats, coercion, and/or other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person, including the accused student. Includes conduct that reasonably makes or could be anticipated to make others feel unsafe.
- Interfering with the freedom of expression of others. Includes, but is not limited to, behavior that obstructs, disrupts, or otherwise interferes with the lawful freedom of expression of others, whether in speech, writing, performance, or other forms. In addition, it violates the Student Expressive Speech and Demonstration Policy.
- Vandalism/Property Damage. Attempted or actual destruction/damage and/or defacement to property of the College or property of a member of the College community or other personal or public property, on or off campus.
- Failure to comply. Failure to comply with College policies/procedures and/or directions of College officials, including, but not limited to, Campus Safety Officers, Resident Assistants, Staff, Faculty, etc., in the performance of their duties. This includes violating the terms of any disciplinary outcome imposed in accordance with the Honor Code or Standards of Conduct.
- Unauthorized use or entry of institutional facilities/resources. Unauthorized entry or use of institutional facilities/resources refers to accessing, occupying, or utilizing any college-owned or operated building, room, space, or equipment without proper authorization. This includes, but not limited to: 1)entering or remaining in any building, room, or area of campus without proper authorization, 2) climbing on or accessing the roof of any campus building or structure, regardless of intent, 3) accessing restricted areas such as maintenance rooms, utility tunnels, or secured administrative spaces without permission, 4) entering or climbing onto balconies, ledges, or exterior architectural features of college facilities not intended for general use, etc.
- Tampering with safety equipment. Any unauthorized modification, interference, disabling, or misuse of equipment intended for safety purposes. Includes but is not limited to fire alarms, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, emergency lighting, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers (i.e., misusing and/or discharging without cause), emergency exit signage, and electrical systems (i.e., manipulating wiring, outlets, fuse boxes, or lighting) designed to ensure safety.
- Weapons. Possession of weapons of any type by students or guests while on College property, including but not limited to, firearms, B-B guns, pellet guns, bows and arrows, hunting knives, explosives, or other weapons. For more information, refer to the Weapons Policy.
- Violation of any College regulation or policy. Engaging in behavior that violates, including, but not limited to, Campus Policies, Campus Safety Policies, Residence Hall Policies, etc.
- Hazing. Violation of the College's Hazing Policy.
- Silent Agreement/Passive Participation: The agreement to (can be inferred by silent presence or failure to act) or support for an act that is against federal, state, or local laws, Honor Code, Standards of Conduct, or College policy.
- Engaging in behavior that violates federal, state, and local law.