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Standards for Student Conduct

(California Code of Regulations; Title 5, Article 2)

  1. Campus Community Values

    The University is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy living and learning environment for students, faculty, and staff. Each member of the campus community should choose behaviors that contribute toward this end. Students are expected to be good citizens and to engage in responsible behaviors that reflect well upon their university, to be civil to one another and to others in the campus community, and contribute positively to student and university life.

  2. Grounds for Student Discipline

    Student behavior that is not consistent with the Student Conduct Code is addressed through an educational process that is designed to promote safety and good citizenship and, when necessary, impose appropriate consequences.

    The following are the grounds upon which student discipline can be based:

    1. Dishonesty, including:
      1. Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty that are intended to gain unfair academic advantage.
      2. Furnishing false information to a University official, faculty member, or campus office.
      3. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of a University document, key, or identification instrument.
      4. Misrepresenting one's self to be an authorized agent of the University or one of its auxiliaries.
    2. Unauthorized entry into, presence in, use of, or misuse of University property.
    3. Willful, material and substantial disruption or obstruction of a University‐related activity, or any on‐campus activity.
    4. Participating in an activity that substantially and materially disrupts the normal operations of the University, or infringes on the rights of members of the University community.
    5. Willful, material and substantial obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or other traffic, on or leading to campus property or an off‐campus University related activity.
    6. Disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene behavior at a University related activity, or directed toward a member of the University community.
    7. Conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person within or related to the University community, including physical abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, or sexual misconduct.
    8. Hazing, or conspiracy to haze. Hazing is defined as any method of initiation or pre‐initiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university or other educational institution in this state (Penal Code 245.6), and in addition, any act likely to cause physical harm, personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm, to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university or other educational institution. The term "hazing" does not include customary athletic events or school sanctioned events. Neither the express or implied consent of a victim of hazing, nor the lack of active participation in a particular hazing incident is a defense. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing is not a neutral act, and is also a violation of this section.
    9. Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of illegal drugs or drug‐ related paraphernalia, (except as expressly permitted by law and University regulations) or the misuse of legal pharmaceutical drugs.
    10. Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of alcoholic beverages (except as expressly permitted by law and University regulations), or public intoxication while on campus or at a University related activity.
    11. Theft of property or services from the University community, or misappropriation of University resources.
    12. Unauthorized destruction, or damage to University property or other property in the University community.
    13. Possession or misuse of firearms or guns, replicas, ammunition, explosives, fireworks, knives, other weapons, or dangerous chemicals (without the prior authorization of the campus president) on campus or at a University related activity.
    14. Unauthorized recording, dissemination, or publication of academic presentations (including handwritten notes) for a commercial purpose.
    15. Misuse of computer facilities or resources, including:
      1. Unauthorized entry into a file, for any purpose.
      2. Unauthorized transfer of a file.
      3. Use of another's identification or password.
      4. Use of computing facilities, campus network, or other resources to interfere with the work of another member of the University community.
      5. Use of computing facilities and resources to send obscene or intimidating and abusive messages.
      6. Use of computing facilities and resources to interfere with normal University operations.
      7. Use of computing facilities and resources in violation of copyright laws.
      8. Violation of a campus computer use policy.
    16. Violation of any published University policy, rule, regulation or presidential order.
    17. Failure to comply with directions or, or interference with, any University official or any public safety officer while acting in the performance of his/her duties.
    18. Any act chargeable as a violation of a federal, state, or local law that poses a substantial threat to the safety or well being of members of the University community, to property within the University community or poses a significant threat of disruption or interference with University operations.
    19. Violation of the Student Conduct Procedures, including:
      1. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information related to a student discipline matter.
      2. Disruption or interference with the orderly progress of a student discipline proceeding.
      3. Initiation of a student discipline proceeding in bad faith.
      4. Attempting to discourage another from participating in the student discipline matter.
      5. Attempting to influence the impartiality of any participant in a student discipline matter.
      6. Verbal or physical harassment or intimidation of any participant in a student discipline matter.
      7. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under a student discipline proceeding.
    20. Encouraging, permitting, or assisting another to do any act that could subject him or her to discipline.
  3. Procedures for Enforcing This Code
    The Chancellor shall adopt procedures to ensure students are afforded appropriate notice and an opportunity to be heard before the University imposes any sanction for a violation of the Student Conduct Code.
  4. Application of This Code

    Sanctions for the conduct listed above can be imposed on applicants, enrolled students, students between academic terms, graduates awaiting degrees, and students who withdraw from school while a disciplinary matter is pending. Conduct that threatens the safety or security of the campus community, or substantially disrupts the functions or operation of the University is within the jurisdiction of this Article regardless of whether it occurs on or off campus. Nothing in this Code may conflict with Education Code Section 66301 that prohibits disciplinary action against students based on behavior protected by the First Amendment.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 66017, 66452, 66600, 69810, 89030, 89030.1 and 89035, Education Code. Reference: Sections 66450, 69813 et seq. and 89030, Education Code; and Section 245.6, Penal Code.

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