Student Conduct Code

Generally, college jurisdiction and discipline shall apply to conduct of an enrolled student that occurs on or off college premises, including in online and electronic spaces, and that adversely affects the college community and the pursuit of its objectives.

Any student found to have committed misconduct is subject to the disciplinary sanctions outlined in Article V, Section C. Misconduct is defined as, but not limited to, the following:

1. Acts of dishonesty, including, but not limited to, the following:
   1. Cheating
      1. The term “cheating” includes, but is not limited to: 
         • Use, or the attempted use, of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests or examinations.
         • Dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems or carrying out other assignments.
         • The acquisition of teaching or testing materials, including test banks and answer keys, or access to online resources provided by textbook publishers, without the express permission of the college faculty or staff
   2. plagiarism
      1. The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to:
         • the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment.
         • It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
   3. violations of testing protocols, or any other form of academic dishonesty that seeks to portray the work of others as your own to gain an academic advantage over others through the unacknowledged effort of others, or in any way benefit from anything not through your own scholarship.
   4. Furnishing false information to any college official or faculty member.
   5. Forgery, alteration or misuse of any college document, record or instrument of identification.
   6. Tampering with the election of any college-recognized student organization.
   7. Printing or posting knowingly false information with the intent to harm or humiliate an individual.

2. Disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings or other college activities, including its public service functions on or off campus, or other authorized non-college activities, when they occur on college premises and that infringes on the rights of other members of the college community; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within.
3. Violence, including physical abuse, fighting, threats of violence, or other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
4. Verbal harassment, including bullying, is defined as unwelcome words or conduct, intentional or otherwise, that are severe, persistent or pervasive and unreasonably interfere with a community member’s ability to enjoy the benefits and opportunities of the college, that is not otherwise covered by Title IX or Non-discrimination policies elsewhere in this handbook.
5. Sexual misconduct that is not otherwise covered by Title IX or Non-discrimination policies elsewhere in this handbook., including:
   1. sexual harassment, defined here as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and any other intentional conduct of a sexual nature that are severe, persistent, or pervasive and deny the recipient reasonable access to educational or co-curricular opportunities.
   2. dating or domestic violence, where physical violence is committed between individuals who are in an interpersonal relationship or share a domicile;
   3. sexual assault, including the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with anybody part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.
   4. Fondling, the touching by hands (or other parts of the body) of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim.
   5. sexual exploitation, including violations of personal privacy that encompass voyeurism, unauthorized recordings and distribution of sexually explicit media without permission. stalking, or instances where there are two or more incidents of physical or virtual following of an individual that causes substantial emotional distress or a fear for personal safety.
   6. retaliation for filing a sexual misconduct complaint.

*For the purposes of this section, consent means:

conduct that signifies through words or behaviors that the parties have indicated agreement to engage in sexual activity. Consent is an informed agreement to participate in specific sexual acts.

• Past consent does not imply future consent.
• Silence or absence of resistance, by itself, does not imply consent.
• Consent to engage in sexual activity with one person does not imply consent to engage in sexual activity with another.
• Consent can be withdrawn at any time, including during sexual activity.
• Coercion, force or threat of force invalidates consent.

Sexual misconduct that meets the definitions of sexual harassment under Title IX or the Council on Postsecondary Education Non-Discrimination Policy will be adjudicated through the process outlined by the Rhode Island Office of Postsecondary Education Commissioner (see page 59).

6. Hate crimes and/or bias-related behaviors that result in damage to property, or abuse, harassment or intimidation of another person based on the perceived or actual religion, ethnicity, race, national origin, disability, veteran status, sex, gender, gender identity/expression or sexual orientation. Violations that meet the state definition of a hate crime may be referred to local law enforcement agencies. Bias-related incidents that are not breaches of college policies or state or federal law may be addressed using the mediation provisions of this code.
7. Hazing, any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, that willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. This conduct shall include, but not be limited to, whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any brutal treatment or forced physical activity that is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student or any other person, or that subjects the student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.
8. Theft and vandalism, attempted or actual, of and/or damage to property of the college or property of a member of the college community or other personal or public property.
9. Failure to comply with directions of college 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 access to any college premises or unauthorized entry to or use of college premises; unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys or access cards.
11. Violation of college policies, rules or regulations as published in print or online or distributed electronically. Also, violations of federal, state or local laws, on college premises or at college-sponsored or supervised activities.
12. Use, possession or distribution of narcotic or other controlled substances except as expressly permitted by law.
    1. Use, possession or distribution of alcoholic beverages except as expressly permitted by the law and college regulations, or public intoxication.
    2. Illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, other weapons or dangerous chemicals on college premises.

13. Retaliation, physical or through intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination against a complainant, respondent, witness, reporting party or any participant involved (or believed to be involved) in a disciplinary investigation or process, directly or through others acting on your behalf.
14. Obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on college premises or at college-sponsored or supervised functions. The use of recreational conveyances, motorized or otherwise, is prohibited in the buildings and sidewalks. This includes, but is not limited to skateboards, bicycles, scooters and hover boards.
15. Disorderly conduct that is, lewd or indecent; breaches the peace; or aiding, abetting or procuring another person to breach the peace on college premises or at functions sponsored by or participated in by the college.
16. Theft or other abuse of computer time, including but not limited to:
    1. Unauthorized entry into a file to use, read or change the contents, or for any other purpose.
    2. Unauthorized transfer of a file.
    3. Unauthorized use of another individual’s identification and password.
    4. Use of computing facilities to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member or college official.Use of computing facilities to view or send obscene or abusive messages.
    5. Use of computing facilities to interfere with normal operation of the college computing system.
    6. Any breach of computer ethics.

17. Abuse of the disciplinary system or other process including the Sexual Misconduct Policy, including but not limited to:
    1. Failure to obey the summons of a conduct hearing board or college official.
    2. Falsification, distortion or misrepresentation of information to a college official, college investigator, Campus Police or before a conduct hearing board.
    3. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a meeting of a conduct hearing board.
    4. Institution of the disciplinary process knowingly without cause.
    5. Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the disciplinary process.
    6. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a college official or member of a conduct hearing board prior to and/or during the course of a hearing.
    7. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a conduct hearing board prior to, during and/or after a hearing and/or of a college official during the disciplinary process.
    8. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed by a college hearing board or hearing officer under the Student Conduct Code.
    9. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the disciplinary process.

1. There is no tolerance for the following types of misconduct:
   1. Violence
   2. Sexual misconduct
   3. Possession of a weapon
   4. Conduct that is classified as a hate crime
2. Behavior related to any of these types of misconduct may result in suspension or expulsion from the college. Formal complaints must be adjudicated by a student conduct hearing board, not an administrative hearing officer except as otherwise provided for by college or Council on Postsecondary Education policy or process.

1. If a student is charged only with an off-campus violation of federal, state or local laws but not with any other violations of this code, disciplinary action may be taken and sanctions imposed for grave misconduct that demonstrates flagrant disregard for the college community. In such cases, no sanction may be imposed unless the student has been found guilty in a court of law or has declined to contest such charges, although not actually admitting guilt (e.g., “no contest” or “nolo contendere”).  However, the college may conduct a review to determine if the student poses a danger to the community through the established Threat Assessment process and enact recommendations made through that process up to, and including, temporary suspension.
2. College disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with a violation of law that is also a violation of this Student Conduct Code. An example of this would be if both violations result from the same factual situation, without regard to the pendency of civil litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution. Proceedings under this Student Conduct Code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings off campus.
3. When federal, state or local authorities charge a student with a violation of law, the college will not request or agree to special consideration for that individual because of his or her status as a student. If the alleged offense is also the subject of a proceeding before a disciplinary body that is a component of the Student Conduct Code, the college may advise off-campus authorities of the existence of the Student Conduct Code and of how such matters will be handled internally within the college community. The college will cooperate fully with law enforcement and other agencies in the enforcement of criminal courts for the rehabilitation of student violators. Individual students and faculty members, acting in their personal capacities, remain free to interact with governmental representatives as they deem appropriate.