2006-2007 Student Handbook - University of the Incarnate Word

Community PoliciesStudent Code of ConductBased upon the model codes of Stoner and Sokolow*Section 1IntroductionThe University of the Incarnate Word community is committed to fostering a campus environment that isconducive to academic inquiry, productive campus life, and thoughtful study and discourse. A communityexists on the basis of shared values and principles. At University of the Incarnate Word, student membersof the community are expected to uphold and abide by certain standards of conduct that form the basis ofthe Student Code of Conduct. These standards are embodied within a set of core values that includeintegrity, fairness, respect, community and responsibility. When members of the community fail toexemplify these values, campus conduct proceedings are used to assert and uphold the Student Code ofConduct.Ultimately, each member of the University of the Incarnate Word community is expected to assumeresponsibility for her/his conduct, and to assume reasonable responsibility for the behavior of others. Onoccasion, this will involve kind and courteous admonition done when one member observes another ininappropriate conduct. At other times it will involve cooperation when the authorities are investigatinginstances of alleged misconduct.The student conduct process at University of the Incarnate Word is not intended to punish students.Rather, it exists to protect the interests of the community, and to challenge those whose behavior is notin accordance with our policies. Sanctions are intended to challenge students’ moral and ethicaldecision-making and to help them bring their behavior into accord with our community expectations.When a student is unable to conform his/her behavior to community expectations, the student conductprocess may determine that he/she should no longer share in the privilege of participating in thiscommunity.Students should be aware that the student conduct process is quite different from criminal and civil courtproceedings. Procedures and rights in student conduct proceedings are conducted with fairness to all, butdo not include the same protections of due process afforded by the courts. Fair process, within theseprocedures, assures written notice and a hearing before an objective decision-maker. No student will befound in violation of university policy without information showing that it is more likely than not that apolicy violation occurred, and any sanction will be proportionate to the severity of the violation.Section 2Jurisdiction over Student ConductStudents at University of the Incarnate Word are annually given a copy of the Student Code of Conduct.Students are charged with the responsibility of having read, and agreeing to abide by, the provisions of theStudent Code of Conduct and the authority of the student conduct process. The Student Code of Conductand the student conduct process apply to the conduct of individual students and university-affiliated studentorganizations. Because the Student Code of Conduct is based on shared values, it sets a range ofexpectations for the University of the Incarnate Word student no matter where or when their conduct maytake place.Therefore, the Student Code of Conduct will apply to behaviors that take place on the campus, atuniversity-sponsored events, and may also apply off-campus, when the administration determines that the47