2. General Behavior Code

2.1 General Student Responsibilities
Every NDSU student has the responsibility to observe and to help maintain a code of personal behavior and social relationships that will positively contribute to the educational effectiveness of the University and ones own personal growth. To this end, students are expected to observe the University standards published in this Code and those outlined in any other University policies, regulations, contracts, or license contracts published elsewhere. In addition, students are expected to observe the laws of the community, the state, and the nation at all times, on and off campus.

2.2 Persons Covered Under This Code
For the purpose of this document, student refers to all individuals who have been admitted to the University, to previously enrolled students for any act committed while they were enrolled students or between all periods of enrollment, to students and others similarly associated with the University, and to all campus visitors. Student organizations are held to the same behavioral standards that apply to individual students.

2.3 Off-Campus Acts
When acts committed off campus by students affect the interests of the University community, those acts may also be subject to resolution under this Code. The University addresses all reported off-campus student behaviors that involve illegal or abusive use of alcohol and/or other drugs and violence. In addition, there may be other off-campus behaviors that affect the interests of the University. A sample, but not exhaustive, listing of these acts are outlined in Section 4.17, Personal Inappropriate Behavior Not on University Property.

2.4 NDSU Student Employees When students commit acts that potentially violate this Code while in their capacities as student employees of NDSU, the University reserves the right to review those potential conflicts with these standards. When viewed as appropriate, NDSU may pursue resolution of those conflicts under this Code in addition to any other personnel actions that may be taken against the students as employees.

2.5 Inappropriate Behavior by Student Athletes
Because of their special relationship to the University, student athletes are responsible for observing the content of this Code as well as the Student Athlete Code of Conduct and team rules. For this reason, student athletes may face hearings under both Codes and different findings and/or sanctions may result. If criminal charges are also pending, the student athlete may answer separately to three different jurisdictions for the same set of circumstances. Because the University's procedures are educational (administrative) and not criminal in nature, such separate procedures do not constitute double/triple jeopardy. The University may proceed before, during, or after criminal proceedings.

2.6 Violations of Law
When students commit acts that are also violations of community, state, or federal laws, on or off campus, those students will be subject to the same civil and/or criminal penalties as any other citizen in addition to campus resolution. Campus resolution of such acts may proceed before, during, or after the civil or criminal proceedings are concluded. Since the campus actions are educational, taking the University's educational interests into account, and not criminal proceedings, such simultaneous actions do not constitute double jeopardy and differing judgments may result.

2.7 Bias-Motivated Violations
Any Code violation from this section, or any other section of the Code, that is determined to have been motivated by hate based on age, race, color, disability, religion, sex (gender), national origin, or sexual orientation may result in enhanced sanctions above those typically assigned for the same violations when not motivated by hate.

2.8 Repeated Code Violations
Repeated violations of this Code are relevant in determining a student's continued membership in the University community. Progressively more severe sanctions, including Suspension or Expulsion from the University, may be assigned, depending on the nature of the violation(s).

2.9 Designees
Administrators in this document may designate one or more individuals to act on their behalf.

2.10 Final Code Authority
The behaviors described in this Code are illustrative rather than exhaustive and are offered for educational purposes. In the event there arises some ambiguity, inconsistency, or need for clarification in these statements, such definition, interpretation, or clarification will be determined at the sole discretion of the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Dean of Student Life and that determination will be final. A student, staff, or faculty member may request written clarification from the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Dean of Student Life.

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Appeals Chart

Related Policies

Final Note

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NDSU Webmaster
Last Updated: 06/10/05
Published by North Dakota State University