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CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT
The University of West
Alabama expects all students and organizations to be knowledgeable of the Code
of Student Conduct, and they should be aware that they are expected to conform to
that order.
The Code of Student Conduct governs the conduct of students and organizations in all behavioral
matters. Any questions regarding the Code should be directed to Danny
Buckalew, the Vice
President for Student Affairs, or Luther Gremmels, the Director of Student Life
and Housing.
By enrollment at the University, a student or organization
neither relinquishes rights nor escapes responsibility for compliance with
local, state and/or federal laws and regulations. Additionally, the University
has a responsibility to maintain a campus environment conducive to its
educational mission while protecting the safety, health, and well-being of all
students and other persons on campus. Students and organizations are thus
obligated to abide by the rules and policies promulgated by the University.
Interference, injury or the intentional attempt to injure or
interfere with the personal or property rights of any person, whether a student,
another member of the University community, visitor, or the University itself,
is strictly prohibited by the Code of Student Conduct.
ARTICLE I: APPLICATION
The Code of Student Conduct applies to individual students as well as to formal
and informal groups of students and describes the duties of University officials
and outlines the procedures to be followed in the disciplining of students and
organizations. The Code is applicable to behavior of students and organizations
on and off the University campus which is determined to be incompatible with the
educational environment and mission of the University. The right to proceed in
accordance with this Code shall in no way be affected by the filing of
criminal or civil charges in any court by any person or governmental entity
against the accused student or organization.
ARTICLE II: MISCONDUCT
Each student and organization is expected to conduct
his/her/its activities in accordance with standards of common decency and
decorum and with recognition and respect for the personal and property rights of
others and the educational process. Violators of the Code of Student Conduct
may be disciplined for the following:
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Academic
dishonesty, cheating, plagiarism, theft of examinations, or
knowingly furnishing false information to the University.
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Forging, altering or misusing any University documents,
records, or identification. A meal ticket may only be used by the student to
whom it was issued.
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Public intoxication or public display of alcoholic
beverages and the use or display of such in public areas of the residence
halls and all other public areas of the campus.
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Use, possession, sale, distribution, or in the presence
of narcotic or hallucinogenic drugs except as prescribed by a licensed
physician.
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Failure to comply with instructions of authorized
University personnel acting in the performance of duty.
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Destruction, theft, or possession of University property
or property of any member of, or visitor to, the University community. In
addition to disciplinary action a student will be held financially responsible
for property damaged or stolen.
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Participation in any form of gambling.
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Disorderly conduct, such as disturbing the peace,
including unauthorized demonstrations, rioting or inciting a riot, or any
activity which constitutes a general disturbance.
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Behavior or conduct which disrupts classes or other
campus activities.
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Use or possession of fireworks, firearms, air rifles or
pistols of any type on campus.
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Threatening and/or committing physical violence against
another person.
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Intentional misuse of any University fire alarms, fire
fighting equipment, or other safety devices, including entering false fire
alarms.
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Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research,
administration, service, disciplinary procedures, other University activities,
or other activities on University premises by either University or
non-University persons or groups.
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Conduct in violation of federal or state statutes or
local ordinances which threatens the health and/or safety of the University
community or which adversely affects the educational environment of the
University, regardless of whether such conduct has resulted in a conviction
under such statute or ordinance.
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Conviction of any misdemeanor or felony which adversely
affects the educational environment of the University.
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Repetitious issuance of worthless checks made payable
to The University of West Alabama or its agents.
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Physical or verbal abuse, threat of violence,
intimidation, profanity and physical or mental harassment. Making obscene
utterances, gestures, or displays; addressing harassing language,
slanderous/libelous language, or fighting words to a person; following a
person in or about a public place or places, (e.g., stalking); or engaging in
a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts that are disorderly.
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Lewd, obscene, licentious or indecent conduct or the
verbal or written threat of such action against another person.
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Any violation of policies,
rules, or regulations of University Housing.
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Unauthorized duplication of University Residence Hall
keys or keys to other University property. Also, unauthorized entry into
University buildings at any time.
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Hazing, i.e., any mental or physical requirement or
obligation placed upon a person by a member of an organization, an individual,
or group of individuals which could cause discomfort, pain, or injury, or
which violates any legal statute or University rule, regulation, or policy.
Hazing has been defined as, but not limited to, the striking, laying open hand
upon, treating with violence, or offering to do bodily harm to a person with
intent to punish or injure the individual, or other treatment of a tyrannical,
abusive, shameful, insulting or humiliating nature. Hazing is any action taken
or situation created, whether on or off the campus premises, to produce mental
or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Hazing is also
considered to be the creation of a situation which results in or might result
in mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule
including servitude often called "personal favors." The University
of West Alabama does not approve or condone hazing, and activities of this
nature shall be dealt with promptly and sternly.
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Violation of any University policies or regulations
which may be specified in other University publications.
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Any other activity or conduct not specifically stated
herein which impairs or endangers any person, property, or the educational
environment of the University.
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Students are responsible for notifying the Office of
Student Affairs if they contract a communicable and/or contagious disease which
presents a significant degree of health risk to other members of the
University community.
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Students who alter their class registration without the
approval of their advisor or Dean may be subject to disciplinary action.
(refer to #2)
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The University reserves the right to discipline its
students for felonies/misdemeanors and other violations which may occur off
campus. Such behavior often has the potential to be brought onto the campus
thus disrupting the educational atmosphere and mission of the University; thus
it has to be addressed.
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Depositing or discarding trash or litter on campus in
other than appropriate trash and waste containers. No person shall throw or
discard, except in appropriate trash and waste containers, paper, bottles,
cans, or any substance deemed as litter inside buildings or on campus property
including all streets, walks, lawns, etc.
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Causing any type of false alarm, disaster, fire, threat
of bomb, or deliberate misuse of fire equipment; for the protection and
welfare of the students of UWA, any student who shall give, or cause to be
given, any type of false alarm of fire, and/or threat of bomb, or who shall
deliberately misuse firefighting equipment, shall, upon being found guilty, be
subject to action by the University resulting in possible suspension. Any
non-student involved in the above offense will be referred to the civil
authorities.
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Failure to comply with the written or oral direction of
the faculty, staff or University Police and other authorized personnel. (A
student is expected upon request to surrender his/her proper identification).
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Blocking the entrances or exits of any campus
buildings.
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Failure to ensure the proper accepted conduct of
guests. (A guest is defined as any person who is present at the invitation of
a student or any person who is received by a student or any invited or
uninvited non-student who is accompanied by a student).
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Failure to observe University-wide quiet hours. Because
of the large number of student, faculty and staff residences on the campus,
students and visitors are to observe University-wide quiet hours on the campus
and on the streets bordering the campus from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Sunday
through Thursday, and 1:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. This
includes loud talking, shouting, loud radios, fireworks, explosive noises,
loud engines, noise group activities, etc.
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Student organizations are also governed by the
procedures and rules outlined in the Social Fraternities and Sororities
Handbook and/or the Student Organizations Handbook. Organizational leaders
are required to be aware of these policies.
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Conduct unbecoming a student of The University of West
Alabama.
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Violation of
the Code of Civility, the Facilities Conduct Policy or the Loitering
Policy.
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Violation of
the Policy on the Use of Computer Software, the Chat Room Policy and/or
other misuse of information technology such as the Internet.
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