ARTICLE III: STUDENT CONDUCT

A. Jurisdiction of the Student Code of Conduct

The University of Northern Colorado Student Code of Conduct shall apply to conduct that occurs on University premises, at University sponsored activities, and to off-campus conduct that adversely affects the University community, poses a threat to safety of persons or property, or damages the institution’s reputation or relationship with the greater community. In addition, University of Northern Colorado, in collaboration with the Greeley community, may respond to student violations of community-based laws and ordinances designed to protect civility and quality of life. The Dean of Students or designee shall decide whether the Student Code of Conduct shall be applied to conduct occurring off campus, on a case by case basis, at his/her discretion.

Each student shall be responsible for his/her conduct from the time of application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree, even though conduct may occur before classes begin or after classes end, as well as during the academic year and during periods between terms of actual enrollment (and even if his or her conduct is not discovered until after a degree is awarded). The Student Code shall apply to a student’s conduct even if the student withdraws from school while a disciplinary matter is pending.

B. Prohibited Student Conduct

Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit the following misconduct is subject to the disciplinary sanctions outlined in Article IV:

  1. Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:
    1. Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty.
    2. Furnishing false information to any University official.
    3. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any instrument of identification, University document, or record.
  2. Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, other University activities, including its public service functions on or off campus, or other authorized non-University activities when the conduct occurs on University premises.
  3. Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person, including the student.
  4. Repeated conduct which would cause a reasonable person to fear for his/her safety or to alter his/her activities in response to the repeated conduct. Such repeated conduct may include, but is not limited to, any of the following: following, approaching, contacting, or placing under surveillance a person, a member of that person’s family, or close acquaintance, whether or not conversation ensues.
  5. Harassment, which consists of any verbal, visual, written or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it adversely affects, or has the purpose or logical consequence of interfering with any student’s educational program or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment within the University community.
    1. Sexual Harassment, which includes, but is not limited to non-consensual verbal or physical conduct related to sex which unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work, educational, or social performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work, educational, or social environment; or is a violation of an individual’s privacy, at the University, on University-owned or controlled property, at university sponsored or supervised activities, or at functions of recognized student organizations.
    2. Bias-Related Harassment, which includes harassment of a person or group because of factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, creed, national origin, disability, political affiliation or veteran status.
  6. Sexual Misconduct, which is defined as:
    1. Sexual contact that is without consent by any party. It is the obligation of any person to obtain active consent from the other person prior to sexual contact. Examples of misconduct include, but are not limited to, touching another’s genitals/breasts without consent; having sexual contact with someone whose decision making ability is compromised (e.g. from alcohol or drug usage); or continuing sexual activity after either party has made it clear, either verbally or by conduct, that they do not wish to have physical contact.
    2. Obscene or indecent behavior, which includes, but is not limited to, exposure of one's sexual organs or the display of sexual behavior that would reasonably be offensive to others; deliberate observation of others for sexual purposes without their consent; taking or posting of photographs/images of a sexual nature without consent; possession or distribution of illegal pornography; or viewing or posting pornography in public venues.
  7. Theft of and/or damage to property of the University or property of a member of the University community or other personal or public property, on or off campus.
  8. Hazing, defined as an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization. The express or implied consent of the victim will not be a defense. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing are not neutral acts; they are violations of this rule.
  9. Failure to comply with directions of University officials or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
  10. Unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys to any University premises or unauthorized entry to or use of University premises.
  11. Violation of any University policy, rule, or regulation published in hard copy or available electronically on the University website, including, but not limited to, the Residence Life Handbook, Student-Athlete Handbook, UNC Computer, Internet & Electronic Communications Policies and Procedures, or any academic college policies.
  12. Violations of federal, state, and municipal laws, or any other conduct not included above, which unreasonably interferes with the operations of the University, and the pursuit of its educational purposes and objectives or the rights of others, or which renders a person or organization unfit or unsuitable for continued association or affiliation with the University.
  13. Use, possession, manufacturing, or distribution of marijuana, heroin, narcotics, other controlled substances, and/or paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law.
  14. Public intoxication, use, possession, manufacturing, or distribution of alcoholic beverages except as expressly permitted by University regulations or by law. Alcoholic beverages may not, in any circumstance, be used by, possessed by or distributed to any person under twenty-one (21) years of age.
  15. Possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, other weapons, or dangerous chemicals on University premises or use of any object in a way that harms, threatens, or causes fear to others on or off campus. Weapons include, but are not limited to, any object or substance designed to inflict a wound, cause injury, or incapacitate, including, but not limited to, all firearms, pellet guns, switchblade knives, or instruments designed to look like any of the above. Concealed weapons may only be carried by sworn law enforcement officers. All other concealed weapons, whether carrying with a lawful permit or otherwise, are strictly prohibited on all campus premises.
  16. Participating in an on-campus or off-campus demonstration, riot or activity that disrupts the normal operations of the University and/or infringes on the rights of other members of the University community; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area.
  17. Obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on University premises or at University sponsored or supervised functions.
  18. Conduct that is disorderly, lewd, or indecent; breach of peace or aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to breach the peace on University premises or at functions sponsored by, or participated in by, the University or members of the academic community. Disorderly conduct also includes, but is not limited to, any unauthorized use of electronic or other devices to make an audio or video record of any person without his/her prior knowledge, or without his/her effective consent when such a recording is likely to cause injury or distress.
  19. Abuse of the Student Conduct System, including but not limited to:
    1. Failure to obey the notice from a University Hearing Officer or designated University Official to appear for a meeting or hearing as part of the Student Conduct System.
    2. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a University Hearing Officer or designated University Official.
    3. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a University Hearing proceeding.
    4. Institution of a student code of conduct proceeding in bad faith.
    5. Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the student conduct system.
    6. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a University Hearing Officer or Appeal Reader prior to, during the course of, or after a University Hearing proceeding.
    7. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a University Hearing Officer or Appeal Reader prior to, during the course of, or after a University Hearing proceeding.
    8. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Student Code of Conduct.
    9. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the Student Conduct System.
  20. Intentional initiation or circulation of any false report, warning, or threat of fire, bombs, or explosives on University-owned or controlled property, at University-sponsored or supervised functions or at functions or facilities of recognized student organizations.
  21. Retaliation against any individual. Retaliation is defined as any conduct which serves as a reprisal with the intent of causing physical or psychological pain. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome or repeated contacts by telephone, by letter, in person, or by third party; damaging or vandalizing personal property; offensive acts/gestures; overt threats, whether or not they were actually carried out; or any conduct that would instill fear and trepidation in the victim.

C. Violation of Law and University Discipline

Students may be held independently accountable to both civic authorities and to the University for acts which constitute violations of law and/or violations of University policies, regulations, or procedures. Disciplinary action will not be subject to challenge on the ground that criminal charges involving the same incident have been dismissed, reduced, or are in process. A Colorado law states that if a person is convicted of a riot offense (inciting, arming, or engaging) he/she must be immediately suspended from a Colorado state-supported institution of higher education for a period of twelve months and will be unable to attend any other Colorado state-supported institution of higher education for that time period.

D. Academic Expectations Related to Student Conduct

In order to encourage and foster academic excellence, the University expects students to conduct themselves in accordance with certain generally accepted norms of scholarship and professional behaviors. Because of this expectation, the University does not tolerate any form of academic misconduct. Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, and knowingly or recklessly encouraging or making possible any act of plagiarism, cheating, or fabrication. Academic misconduct is an unacceptable activity in scholarship and is in conflict with academic and professional ethics and morals.

Consequently, students who are judged to have engaged in some form of academic misconduct may be subject to (1) a zero or an “F” on the work in question, (2) an “F” in the course, (3) other academic penalties as outlined in the professor’s course requirements and expectations, (4) disciplinary action as specified in the Sanctions for Misconduct section below, or (5) any combination thereof. Procedural due process, including the right to appeal, is to be followed in making a determination of whether academic misconduct has occurred.

Generally, a student’s intentions will not be the primary consideration in the determination of whether academic misconduct has occurred. A student’s intentions will usually be considered only during the process of deciding on the appropriate sanctions or penalties.

Plagiarism is the act of appropriating the written, artistic, or musical composition of another, or portions thereof; or the ideas, language, or symbols of same and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind. Plagiarism includes not only the exact duplication of another’s work, but also the lifting of a substantial or essential portion thereof.

Regarding written work in particular, direct quotations, statements which are the result of paraphrasing or summarizing the work of another, and other information which is not considered common knowledge must be cited or acknowledged, usually in the form of a footnote. Quotation marks or a proper form of indentation shall be used to indicate all direct quotations.

As long as a student adequately acknowledges his/her sources and as long as there is no reason to believe that the student has attempted to pose as the originator, the student will not be charged with plagiarism even though the form of the acknowledgment may be unacceptable. However, students should be aware that most professors require certain forms of acknowledgment and some may evaluate a project on the basis of form.

Cheating is the act of using or attempting to use, in examination or other academic work, material, information, or study aids which are not permitted by the instructor. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: Using books, notes, cell phones, PDAs, calculators or copying from or conversing with others during an examination (unless such external aids or communication are permitted by the instructor); having someone else do research, write papers, or take examinations; doing research, writing papers, or taking examinations for someone else; submitting large portions of the same work as part of the academic work for more than one course (unless such submission is permitted by the instructor).

Fabrication is the invention of material or its source and its use as an authority in academic work. Fabrication includes, but is not limited to: inventing the data for a scientific experiment; inventing the title and author of a publication in order to use the invented publication as a source; or knowingly attributing material to an incorrect source.