All members of the USF community have a strong responsibility to protect and maintain an academic climate in which the fundamental freedom to learn can be enjoyed by all and where the rights and well-being of all members of the community are protected. To this end, certain basic regulations and policies have been developed to govern the conduct of all students as members of the University community.
The University reserves the right to review student conduct that occurs on and off campus when such behavior is inconsistent with these expectations and the Student Conduct Code. In addition, students are responsible for the actions of their guests and will be held accountable for any violations of University standards, policies and procedures by a guest. Students should accompany their guests at all times while on campus. If necessary, the University reserves the right to limit the guest privileges of a student.
The following acts will subject students to disciplinary action:
1. Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:
a. Furnishing false information to the University, any University official, faculty member, or office
b. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any University records, permits, documents, communication equipment, or identification cards and government issued documents
2. Conduct that endangers the physical or psychological well-being of any person including but not limited to the following:
a. Physical abuse
b. Verbal abuse
c. Threats
d. Intimidation
e. Harassment
f. Coercion
g. Harm to self
h. Hazing (Reference Hazing Policy for more information)
3. Attempted or actual theft of property on or off campus
4. Destruction, damage, or misuse of University property or the property of any other person or group
5. Degrading language or actions, including stalking, or any practice by a group or individual that degrades a student or University community member, endangers health, jeopardizes personal safety, or interferes with an employee’s duties or with a student’s class attendance or educational pursuits
6. Nonconsensual physical contact of a sexual nature
7. Failure to comply with directions of University officials (including Resident Advisors) or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so; refusal or failure to leave premises because of conduct prescribed by this code
8. Violation of any University standard, policy or procedure, including Residence Life policies listed in the Residence Life section of this handbook
9. Conduct in which a student is detained, arrested, cited, or otherwise charged with violations of local, state, or federal laws
10. Use, possession, manufacturing, or distribution of drugs or equipment, products or material used in manufacturing, growing, using, or distributing of any drug or controlled substance (Please refer to the University’s Drug Free Policy for more information)
11. Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of alcoholic beverages (except as expressly permitted by University regulations, refer to the University’s Drug Free Policy), public intoxication; alcoholic beverages may not, in any circumstance, be used by, possessed by or distributed to any person under twenty-one (21) years of age
12. Possession or use of firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or other dangerous weapons or instruments on University premises or use of any such item (This includes but is not limited to BB guns, Airsoft guns, Mace, switchblades and the like)
13. Unauthorized entry into or use or defacement of University facilities, including residence halls and other buildings and grounds, including roofs, ledges, balconies; unauthorized erection or use on University property of any structures including but not limited to tents, huts, gazebos, shelters, platforms, and public address systems
14. Launching, dropping, throwing or dumping any object or substance from within or on a University structure or property
15. Lewd or indecent conduct
16. Aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to violate any provision of the Student Conduct Code
17. Disorderly Conduct including but not limited to:
a. excessive or prolonged noise
b. behavior that interferes with the orderly functioning of the University
c. behavior that interferes with an individual’s pursuit of an education on University premises or during an authorized University class, field trip, seminar, competition or other meeting, or University-related activities
18. Any unauthorized use of electronic or other devices to make an audio or video record of any person while on University premises without his/her prior knowledge, or without his/her effective consent when such a recording is likely to cause injury or distress. This includes, but is not limited to, surreptitiously taking pictures of another person
19. Any violation of the University Technology Resources Appropriate Use Policy
20. Abuse of the Student Conduct System, including but not limited to:
a. Failure to obey the notice from a student conduct officer/board or University official to appear for a meeting or hearing as part of the Student Conduct System
b. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a student conduct officer/board
c. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a student conduct proceeding
d. Institution of a student conduct code proceeding in bad faith
e. Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participating in, or use of, the student conduct system
f. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a student conduct officer/board prior to, and/or during the course of, the student conduct proceedin
g. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a student conduct officer/board prior to, during, and/or after a student conduct proceeding
h. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Student Conduct Code
i. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the student conduct code system
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