A Legal Guide For College Code Violations

The Student Code of Conduct refers to regulating the expected behavior of the students that are part of a certain college. All the students must comply with all the standards set in it. However, sometimes students fail to obey the Student Code of Conduct and it is necessary to understand what occurs in that case. First, it is important to understand more about what the Code refers to.

The Student Code of Conduct

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The University is a unique community where students and the professors are fully oriented towards learning and teaching, researching and facilitating academic development. All the students are expected to fully comply with the Student Code of Conduct. Students are expected to positively contribute to the environment by valuing inclusiveness, opportunity, diversity, civility, and respect.

The purpose of the Code is to ensure that all the University members have equal opportunities and enjoy all the benefits, facilities and activities that the University has to offer without any unjust interference in any way.

Even though some details may differ depending on the University issuing the code, certain rules apply for everyone. It is prohibited to:

– assault, harass, intimidate or threaten another group or individual

– endanger the safety and health of others

– steal, misuse, destroy, deface or damage the property of the University in question or of any member of the community

– disrupt the activities of the University

– use the computers, services, equipment or facilities without the consent of the University

– falsely accuse any University member

– use, possess or distribute illegal supplements

– violate University’s policy concerning drinking issues

– encourage, aid or conspire in prohibited conduct of any kind

The Code is not limited to these rules, but failing to comply may lead to serious consequences. It is necessary to be familiar with all the rules of the college you attend and comply with all the rules respectively.

The most frequent violations and the legal consequences

source:fbi.gov

College stalking and cyberstalking are two offenses that are related and refer to the communication that was not wanted. Stalking refers to a pattern when one person repeatedly follows another, showing up in places where they expect to see the person of interest, sending gifts that are not wanted or calling frequently.

Cyberstalking refers to unwanted contact with the person via electronic means repeatedly. Often the university codes overlap with the state law, which may lead to very serious consequences. The usual penalties of the university are:

– probation

– suspension

– expulsion

There are also various other measures that universities use to ensure that the incident never happens again, such as counseling. It is important to understand that once you violate any of the rules in the Code of Conduct, that violation will be a part of your academic record. This is why it is necessary to contact an experienced lawyer who specializes in these types of cases. In most cases, these violations are just a matter of miscommunication or misunderstanding, but in order to control the consequences, it is highly recommended to have a qualified lawyer by your side.

source:thetimes.co.uk

Inter-Gender misconduct and harassment are serious violations. In some cases, students like to tease and behave in a very explicit manner with the intention to entertain. However, if the person you are addressing feels threatened in any way, your conduct will be against the rule in the University’s Code of Conduct and the consequences may be pretty severe. Universities, and the society in general, take these violations very seriously and if the University determines that you are responsible for the violation in question, you may face serious penalties such as loss of housing or financial aid, even expulsion.

College relationship violence can sometimes escalate since college can be very stressful. Sometimes personal boundaries can be crossed due to the specific social dynamics, or any other cultural aspect of the college. When the argument between partners who are also students escalates and violence occurs, the parties in question may face a criminal case of domestic violence. They may also face sanctions from the University. In cases of domestic violence, besides the University’s sanctions, you may also face criminal charges and later on penalties as well.

source:sites.allegheny.edu

College organizations such as marching bands, athletic teams, sororities, and fraternities may face consequences in cases when there are University Code of Conduct violations. The penalties are pretty strict for organizations that violate the rules. Common violations are:

– inter-gender assault

– harassment

– property destruction

The usual penalties for these kinds of violations are loss of tuition, criminal charges, probation in milder violations, expulsion as the final measure.

source:pxfuel.com

Misuse of texting and social media is a relatively new violation since the use of social media has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Sometimes students want to make a prank, but find themselves facing very harsh allegations. The college may take measures to punish this kind of behavior, but the consequences are not limited to the university. The violation will be a part of your academic record that may be asked by the potential employer. It can seriously affect your potential to grow and develop in the outside world as an adult.

If you want to know more about the most common violations, the possible consequences and the ways you can protect yourself, check Duffy Law. Here you will learn about everything you need to know if you have found yourself in a situation where you are facing consequences based on the University Code of Conduct.

It is very important to contact a lawyer immediately because a timely response can save you from potentially serious development of the situation. Violating the Code of Conduct can have serious consequences on your entire life, so it is necessary to do everything you can to protect yourself. If there is a misunderstanding, it is necessary to protect your rights and react properly.