At Rhodes College, 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 determining whether a student has engaged in misconduct. 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. Ignorance is not an excuse for violating College policy.
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 any violation of the Honor Code or Standards of Conduct.
Examples of student misconduct at Rhodes include, but are not limited to:
- 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 course work, college administration, faculty, residence hall administration, Campus Safety, Honor Council, or Community Standards Council. If an 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 a 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 course work. 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. 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
- Outside the academic context, stealing is 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. Any Honor Code/Standards of Conduct violation committed by a guest of a Rhodes College student, excluding prospective students registered through the Admissions Office, shall be the responsibility of their host. Failure of a student host to reasonably supervise guest behavior, including behavior occurring in their residence hall rooms, behavior at student organization events, college-sponsored events, and behavior by off-campus guests. See the Guests and Visitors policy for more information.
- Interfering with College or College-sponsored activities, including but not limited to, studying, teaching, research, college administration, campus safety, or fire, police, or emergency services.
- 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. This includes, but is not limited to, 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 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.
- 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.
- Possession of weapons of any type by students or guests while on College property, including firearms, B-B guns, pellet guns, bows and arrows, hunting knives, explosives or other weapons, except as specifically permitted by the Weapons Policy in the Student Handbook.
- Violation of any College regulation or policy, including, but not limited to Campus Policies, Campus Safety Policies, Residence Hall Policies, etc.
- Violating the terms of any disciplinary outcome imposed in accordance with the Honor Code or Standards of Conduct.
- Violation of any federal, state or local law.
- 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.
Hazing. According to Tennessee state law (TN 49-7-123 & 49-2-120), every college and university must implement a policy prohibiting hazing. Hazing refers to any intentional or reckless act, whether on or off-campus, by a single student or a group of students that endangers another student's physical or mental health and safety. However, customary athletic events, contests, or competitions are not considered hazing, and the law is limited to actions and situations related to initiation or affiliation with an organization.
The College's definition of hazing includes acts that cause mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, ridicule, humiliation, intimidation, or endangerment of health and safety, regardless of affiliation, including but not limited to recruiting, joining, pledging, initiating, admitting, affiliating, participating, or retaining membership in an organization or team.
- Pressuring, coercing, and/or violating federal, state, provincial, local law, organizational, NCAA, or college policy;
- Consumption of any food, liquid, alcohol liquid, drug, or other substance in any non-customary manner;
- Physical contact, including and not limited to beating, paddling, branding, dangerous physical activity, exposure to elements, or threats of such conduct;
- Any other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the health or safety of the student;
- Any activity or exercise that is inconsistent with the mission of the organization/team;
- Any activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual through acts such as line-ups or berating, sleep deprivation, forced or coerced exclusion from social interaction, forced or coerced wearing of clothing/apparel, forced conduct, threats of such behavior that could result in extreme embarrassment or any other forced activity that could negatively affect the student’s mental health or dignity;
- Disruption of academic performance or class attendance, including early morning or late-night work sessions,
- Personal or financial servitude (e.g., not limited to doing someone’s laundry, buying someone’s food, driving someone around/“chauffeuring” someone, completing someone’s classwork for them);
- Publicly wearing apparel that is conspicuous and not generally in good taste;
- Engaging in public stunts,
- Any activity that a reasonable person would view as morally degrading or humiliating games and activities.
- Kidnapping or abandonment
The College holds individuals and organizations accountable for hazing, regardless of whether it occurs on or off campus. Victims' voluntary participation in hazing does not absolve responsibility. The severity of the hazing, including forced alcohol or drug consumption, physical abuse that causes or could cause bodily harm, sexual misconduct, or deprivation of sleep, food, or water, will determine the sanctions and accountability action plans. First-time acts of aggravated hazing may result in suspension or expulsion.