Student Code of Conduct

Initiated by: Vice President of Academic Affairs
Reviewed by: Policy Coordinator
Approved by: Dr. Paul F. Gasparro, President

Purpose

Belmont College expects students to act as adults, to respect the rights and privileges of others, and to be responsible for self-conduct. The College Board of Trustees’ Code of Conduct establishes guidelines pertaining to students’ conduct.

Policy Statement

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of Belmont College is charged by law with the responsibility of making rules and regulations for the College and establishing policy governing the conduct of the members of the College community and visitors to the College (specifically, Section 3345.21 of the Ohio Revised Code requires that the Board of Trustees of each college or university which receives any state funds for its support shall adopt regulations for the conduct of the students, faculty, administrative staff, non-academic employees and visitors); and

WHEREAS, the statute requiring the creation of these regulations clearly states that such regulations shall not restrict freedom of speech nor the right of persons on the campus to assemble peacefully (these regulations are not intended in any way to discourage or restrict freedom of speech, including criticism, expression of grievances, or petition for redress of wrongs, real or fancied, so long as rights of freedom of speech and assembly are exercised in a lawful and peaceful manner); and

WHEREAS, persons who violate these regulations may be ejected from College property, and suspended or expelled from Belmont College, or liable to legal prosecution, as may be appropriate for any individual member of the College community or any visitor to the College (any penalties assessed as a result of the violation of any of these regulations shall be imposed according to due process).

Persons Affected

All students of Belmont College.

Procedures

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that in consideration of its responsibilities, the mandate of the statute referred to above, and the principles stated, the Board of Trustees of Belmont College does declare that the practices enumerated below are unacceptable conduct for members of the College Community and visitors to the College:

• Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other College activities, including the College’s public service functions or of other authorized activities, on College-owned or -controlled property.
• Disorderly conduct and indecent or obscene conduct or expressions, especially on College property or College-regulated property or at a College-registered function.
• Physical abuse or detention of any person on College-owned or -controlled property or at any College-sponsored or -supervised functions, or conduct which endangers the health or safety of any such persons
• Physical or verbal abuse of any person, or conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any such persons.
• Theft or damage to property of the College or of property of a member of the College community or the property of a visitor to the College.
• Unauthorized entry to or use of College facilities, including both buildings and grounds.
• Violation of College-established policies or regulations, including regulations in the Belmont College Course Catalog Student Handbook, the Board Policy Manual, and other publications pertaining to student organizations, student-, faculty-, administrative staff-, non-academic employee-, and visitor-conduct.
• Use, possession, or distribution of narcotic or illegal drugs on College-owned or ‑controlled property, except as expressly permitted by law.
• Failure to comply with directions of College enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and to identify one’s self to these officers when requested to do so.
• Failure to comply with the direction of College officials acting in the performance of their duties
• Illegal or unauthorized possession or use of firearms, projectile weapons, knives, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or other weapons on College-owned and -controlled property. The Ohio Revised Code describes “firearms “as: any deadly weapon capable of expelling or propelling one or more projectiles by the action of an explosive or combustible propellant. “Firearm” includes an unloaded firearm, and any firearm that is inoperable but that can readily be rendered operable including compressed air guns, such as pellet or BB guns.
• Disorderly conduct, breach of the peace, and aiding, abetting, or procuring another to breach the peace on Belmont College-owned or -controlled property or at College-sponsored or -supervised functions.
• Dishonesty (such as cheating, plagiarism) or knowingly furnishing false information to the College by forgery, alteration, or misuse of College documents, records, or identification.
• Nonpayment of College fees within the appropriate period.
• Discrimination against a person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, housing, citizenship, Veteran status, or genetic information
• Unauthorized possession, sale, or consumption of alcoholic beverages in or on College property.
• Hazing any member of the College community. Hazing is defined as any act which causes, or is likely to cause, physical or mental harm or which demeans or tends to demean a person.
• The College reserves the right to re-evaluate students’ status and to recommend disciplinary action for students charged with:
  • Violating a city, state, or federal law on College property.
  • Violating any applicable Board or College policy.