{"id":189,"date":"2024-07-15T16:31:26","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T16:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/?page_id=189"},"modified":"2026-08-05T15:25:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T15:25:31","slug":"p540","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/p540\/","title":{"rendered":"540 \u00a0Student\u00a0Conduct"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Approved by Board of Trustees<\/strong>
Effective Date: September 14, 2021
Responsible Division: Student Affairs<\/strong>
Responsible Office:  Dean of Students’ Office<\/strong>
Responsible Officer: Dean of Students through University Discipline and Rules Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I. <\/strong>Purpose<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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  1. 糖心Vlog官方 (糖心Vlog官方 or University) is committed to fostering a campus environment that is devoted to learning, growth, and service. We accept and practice the core values of honesty and integrity, respect for diversity, positive engagement in the community, and commitment to non-violence. The Office of Student Care and Conduct was created to uphold these values, educate the community about behavioral expectations, and hold members of the student community accountable to these rules and expectations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Student members of the university community are expected to uphold and abide by standards of conduct that form the basis of our Student Conduct Rules. Each member of the University community bears responsibility for their conduct. When community members fail to exemplify and uphold these standards of conduct, student conduct procedures are used to assert and uphold these standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The student conduct process at 糖心Vlog官方 exists to protect the interests of the University community and the individual student while striking a balance between these two interests. Students and student organizations that do not act in accordance with 糖心Vlog官方 rules and expectations will be challenged and may be sanctioned accordingly. Sanctions are designed to assist students and student organizations in achieving acceptable standards of behavior while providing tools and resources for life-long learning and conflict resolution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Generally, a victim’s input shall be sought during the disciplinary process; however, the right and responsibility for disposition of any individual complaint is reserved by the University. If a victim withdraws his\/her\/its complaint or refuses to offer testimony during the course of a disciplinary proceeding, the University reserves the right to proceed without his\/her\/its input.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. The University is committed to respecting students\u2019 constitutional rights. This policy shall be interpreted in a way that does not violate students\u2019 constitutional rights including, without limitation, the rights protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    II.  Definitions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Student. For the purposes of this policy, a student shall mean any person who is admitted and\/or registered for study at 糖心Vlog官方 for any academic period, either full-time or part-time, undergraduate, graduate, or professional studies. This shall include any period of time following admission and\/or registration, but preceding the start of classes for any academic period. It will also include any period which follows the end of an academic period through the last day for registration for the succeeding academic period, and during any period while the student is under suspension from the University. Finally, a student shall also include any person subject to a period of suspension or removal from campus as a sanction which results from a finding of a violation of this policy. In summary, the University considers a person a student when an offer of admission has been extended and thereafter as long as the student has a continuing educational interest in the University.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Student organization. For the purposes of this policy, a student organization is a group consisting primarily of currently enrolled students which has become officially recognized by the University following successful completion of the registration process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. University Official(s). For the purposes of this policy, a University Official is an administrator within the Office of Student Care and Conduct, specifically, the Associate Dean for Student Care and Conduct and\/or the Student Care and Conduct Specialist or their designees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Notice. For the purposes of this policy, a notice is a written communication sent to a student or student organization as directed by this policy. A notice provided to a student will be sent via the student\u2019s official 糖心Vlog官方 email account as well as a hard copy letter sent via first class USPS mail to the student\u2019s local address as indicated in the student information system. A notice sent to a student organization will be sent to the organization\u2019s president at that student\u2019s 糖心Vlog官方 email address and his\/her local address. Students have the responsibility to regularly check their University-issued email accounts and to ensure that the local address on file with 糖心Vlog官方 is current. The requirement to provide notice will be satisfied when sent as indicated and any period for response will begin on the date the email and\/or letter is sent, whichever is sent first.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      III. <\/strong>Responsibility and Jurisdiction<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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      1. The President of 糖心Vlog官方 is authorized to take such action as may be necessary to maintain campus conditions and to preserve the integrity of the University and its educational environment. The President has determined that the responsibility for the administration of student conduct at 糖心Vlog官方 is a function of the Dean of Students\u2019 office and\/or the appropriate adjudicating body. The Dean of Students\u2019 designees are University Officials as defined above. The University Officials are authorized to make the determination and\/or recommendation of the method of hearing for each complaint or allegation and to provide other opportunities for conflict resolution outside of the conduct process consistent with this policy. The University Officials shall implement policies, procedures, or other requirements for the administration of the student conduct program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Matters concerning academic misconduct are the responsibility of the Office of the University Provost and\/or the University Academic Misconduct Committee. This process is set out in detail in Policy 312 Academic Misconduct<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Students and student organizations are responsible for compliance with applicable University rules and policies at all times. Student organizations are subject to discipline for the conduct and actions of individual members of the organization while acting in their capacity as members of, or while attending or participating in any activity of, the organization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Disciplinary action may be taken against a student or student organization for violations of this policy which occur on University owned, leased, or otherwise controlled property, while participating in international or distance learning programs, and off campus, when the conduct impairs, interferes with, or obstructs any University activity or the mission, processes, and functions of the University. 糖心Vlog官方 may also take disciplinary action for any off-campus behavior that affects a substantial University interest. A substantial University interest is defined to include:\n
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        1. Any situation where a student\u2019s conduct may present a danger or threat to the health or safety of others;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Any situation that significantly impinges upon the rights, property, or achievements of others;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Any situation that is detrimental to the educational mission and\/or interests of the University.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. 糖心Vlog官方 may enforce its policy regardless of the status or outcome of any external proceedings instituted in any other forum, including any civil or criminal proceeding. Should a student withdraw from the University with University disciplinary action pending, the student\u2019s record may be encumbered by the appropriate University office until the proceedings have been concluded. The University may take action even if a student is absent from the proceeding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Confidentiality of Discipline Process. Subject to the exceptions provided pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232g and\/or the Tennessee Open Records Act, T.C.A. \u00a7 10-7-504(a)(4), a student\u2019s disciplinary files are considered \u201ceducation records\u201d and are confidential within the meaning of those Acts. Students have the right to review their own disciplinary files as set forth in Policy 318 Access to Education Records<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          IV. <\/strong>Student Conduct Rules: Values and Behavioral Expectations<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

          糖心Vlog官方 has adopted the following Community Standards of conduct. Each person who joins or affiliates with the University community does so freely and is expected to abide by these Community Standards. Following each Community Standard is a non-exclusive list of prohibited behaviors for which both students and student organizations may be subject to disciplinary action if such prohibited behavior is engaged in. These prohibited behaviors are considered inappropriate and in opposition to the community standards and expectations set forth by 糖心Vlog官方.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          1. Community Standard: 糖心Vlog官方 is committed to developing and nurturing a community devoted to learning, growth, and service. Behavior by students or student organizations including, but not limited to, the following, may be considered as being in violation of this Community Standard:\n
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            1. Alcoholic Beverages.\n
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              1. The use and\/or possession of alcoholic beverages on University owned or controlled property. This offense includes the violation of any local ordinance, state, or federal law concerning alcoholic beverages, on or off University owned or controlled property, where an affiliated group or organization has alcoholic beverages present and available for consumption. It will not be considered a violation of this policy if a student of legal drinking age possesses or consumes alcohol purchased from a third-party vendor during approved events taking place at a sports authority facility so long as the beverage is consumed within the sports authority facility. It will also not be considered a violation of this policy if a student of legal drinking age possesses or consumes alcohol provided at an event approved by the President to serve alcoholic beverages so long as the beverage is consumed within the confines of the designated area of the event. See Policy 755 Alcoholic Beverages<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. A student who is under the influence of alcohol should not be reluctant to seek assistance in the event of a health or safety emergency for fear of being sanctioned. The Office of Student Care and Conduct will generally not pursue disciplinary action against a student (or against a witness) for his\/her improper use of alcohol (e.g., underage drinking) under that circumstance. This practice only applies to amnesty from violations of this policy. It does not grant amnesty for criminal, civil, or legal consequences for violations of federal, state, or local law.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. Drugs.\n
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                1. The unlawful possession or use of any drug or controlled substance (including, but not limited to, any stimulant, depressant, narcotic or hallucinogenic drug, or marijuana), sale or distribution of any such drug or controlled substance. This offense includes:\n
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                  1. the violation of any local ordinance, state, or federal law concerning the unlawful possession or use of drugs, on or off University owned or controlled property;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  2. abusing legally obtained drugs by failing to take the drug as prescribed\/directed and\/or providing the prescribed drug to another person;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  3. using a prescription drug that has not been prescribed to the individual.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  4. Any reasonable suspicion of drug use or possession including, but not limited to, the odor of burnt or raw marijuana, physical characteristics of impairment, and\/or possession of any paraphernalia that can be used for drug consumption may lead to an investigation and possible violation of this policy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  5. A student who is under the influence of drugs should not be reluctant to seek assistance in the event of a health or safety emergency for fear of being sanctioned. The Office of Student Care and Conduct will generally not pursue disciplinary action against a student (or against a witness) for his\/her improper possession or use of drugs under that circumstance. This practice only applies to amnesty from violations of this policy. It does not grant amnesty for criminal, civil, or legal consequences for violations of federal, state, or local law.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  6. Drug Paraphernalia. The use or possession of equipment, products, or materials that are used or intended for use in manufacturing, growing, using, or distributing any drug or controlled substance. This offense includes, but is not limited to, the violation of any local ordinance, state, or federal law concerning the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, on or off University owned or controlled property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  7. Public Intoxication.\n
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                    1. Appearing on University owned or controlled property or at a University sponsored event while under the influence of a controlled substance or of any other intoxicating substance to the degree that the individual may be endangered; there is endangerment to other persons or property; or, the individual unreasonably annoys people in the vicinity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    2. A student who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs should not be reluctant to seek assistance in the event of a health or safety emergency for fear of being sanctioned. The Office of Student Care and Conduct will generally not pursue disciplinary action against a student (or against a witness) for his\/her improper use of alcohol (e.g., underage drinking) under that circumstance. This practice only applies to amnesty from violations of this policy. It does not grant amnesty for criminal, civil, or legal consequences for violations of federal, state, or local law.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    3. Explosives, Fireworks, and Flammable Materials. The unauthorized possession, ignition, or detonation of any object or article which could cause damage by fire or other means to persons or property, or possession of any substance which could be considered to be, and used as, fireworks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    4. Violation of University Rules. Any violation of the general policies, procedures, or other rules of the University as published in an official University publication or posted on an official University web page or social media page. These policies include, but are not limited to, the following:\n