Code of Student Conduct

Students at the University of North Alabama are responsible for knowing and staying knowledgeable of the Code of Student Conduct and its processes.

Confidentiality of records connected to the Code of Student Conduct and the conduct process is required through the Family Educational Records Privacy Act (FERPA).  Waivers of FERPA can be found at https://www.una.edu/policies/ferpa-notification-family-educational-and-right-to-privacy-act.html

Purpose and Goals:

The University of North Alabama is committed to providing a community that fosters and nurtures individual growth while promoting integrity, community, social justice, respect, and responsibility. By promoting these foundational aspects of maturity and growth, the Code of Student Conduct seeks to provide guidance for student behavior that aligns with the mission and values of the University of North Alabama.  Behavior that fails to align with the mission and values of the University of North Alabama will be addressed through a respectful, fair, and educational student conduct process.

The goals of the Code of Student Conduct and its process are:

• Provide an environment that promotes the educational mission of the University of North Alabama.
• Provide an environment that promotes the safety and health of the University of North Alabama students.
• Educate students on the appropriate practice of respecting all members of the University of North Alabama community.
• Support a high ethical standard of individual and student organizational behavior.
• Allow the University of North Alabama community to hold each other accountable.
• Build a culture where students and student organizations take responsibility for actions that do not align with the mission and values of the University of North Alabama.

Jurisdiction

The Code of Student Conduct and the student conduct process apply to the conduct of students and the University of North Alabama-affiliated student organizations. For the purposes of student conduct, the University of North Alabama considers an individual to be a student when an offer of admission has been extended and thereafter as long as the student has a continuing educational interest in the University.

The University of North Alabama retains conduct jurisdiction over students who choose to take a leave of absence, withdraw, or have graduated for any misconduct that occurred prior to the leave, withdrawal, or graduation. If sanctioned, a hold may be placed on the student’s ability to re-enroll and/or obtain official transcripts and/or graduate.  All sanctions must be satisfied prior to re-enrollment eligibility.

The Code of Student Conduct applies to behaviors that take place on campus, and at UNA-sponsored events and may also apply off-campus when the Director of Student Conduct or designee determines that the off-campus conduct may present a danger or threat to the health or safety of him/herself or others; and/or impinges upon the rights, property or achievements of self or others or significantly breaches the peace and/or causes social disorder; and/or is detrimental to the educational mission and/or interests of the University.

The Code of Student Conduct may be applied to behavior conducted online, via email, or another electronic medium. Students should also be aware that online postings such as blogs, web postings, chats, and social networking sites are in the public sphere and are not private. These postings can subject a student to allegations of conduct violations if evidence of policy violations is posted online. The University does not regularly search for this information but may act if and when such information is brought to the attention of UNA officials. 

The Code of Student Conduct applies to guests of students. Student hosts may be held accountable for the misconduct of their guests.

Violations:

Although not all-inclusive, some aspects of misconduct deemed unacceptable and subject to disciplinary action are as follows:

1. Academic Dishonesty. Acts of academic dishonesty such as cheating, plagiarism, and/or misrepresentation will be addressed as outlined in the Academic Honesty Policy.
2. Alcohol. Unlawful use, possession, distribution, or sale of alcoholic beverages.
3. Assisting or cooperating. Action or inaction with another or others to violate the Code of Student Conduct; Complicity with or failure of any student or organized group to appropriately address known or obvious violations of the Code of Student Conduct or law.
4. Discrimination. Any act or failure to act which denies, deprives, or limits the educational, employment, residential, and/or social access, benefits, and/or opportunities of any member of the campus community, guest, or visitor that is based upon an individual or group's actual or perceived status (race, color, sex, pregnancy status, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status or any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law). See the UNA Policy on Nondiscrimination.
5. Discriminatory and Bias-Related Harassment. Any unwelcome conduct based on actual or perceived status including [race, color, sex, pregnancy status, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status or any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law]. Any unwelcome conduct should be reported to campus officials, who will act to remedy and resolve reported incidents on behalf of the reporting party and community. See the UNA Policy on Discriminatory Harassment at https://www.una.edu/titleix/policies-and-procedures.html
6. Disorderly conduct/disruption. Substantial disruption of UNA operations including obstruction of teaching, research, administration, other UNA activities, and/or other authorized non-UNA activities which occur on campus; Causing, inciting, or participating in any disturbance that presents a clear and present danger to self or others, causes physical harm to others, or damage and/or destruction of property.
7. Drugs. Unlawful use, possession, distribution, or sale of illegal drugs and other controlled substances or drug paraphernalia.
8. Failure to comply. Abuse or interference with, or failure to comply in, UNA processes including conduct and academic integrity hearings; Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in or use of, the campus conduct system; Failure to follow reasonable directions of UNA officials or law enforcement during the performance of their duties.
9. Fire Safety. Violation of local, state, federal, or campus fire policies.
10. Fraud. Knowingly furnishing, presenting, or possessing false, falsified, or forged materials, documents, accounts, records, identification, or financial instruments in order to gain something of value or preferential treatment.
11. Gambling. Gambling is prohibited by the laws of the State of Alabama. (Gambling may include lotteries, sports pools, and online betting activities).
12. Harassment: Unwelcome conduct that is so severe, pervasive, or persistent, and objectively offensive, and that so undermines and detracts from the person’s educational experience, that it denies or limits a person’s equal access to an institution’s resources, activities, and opportunities.
13. Harm to Persons. Intentionally or recklessly causing physical harm or endangering the health or safety of any person.
14. Hazing. An intentional or reckless act that degrades and/or endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or that destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization. Participation or cooperation by the person(s) being hazed does not excuse the violation. Failing to intervene to prevent, and/or failing to discourage, and/or failing to report those acts may also violate this policy.
15. Hostile Environment. Sanctions can and will be imposed for the creation of a hostile environment only when discriminatory and bias-related harassment is sufficiently severe, pervasive (or persistent), and objectively offensive such that it unreasonably interferes with, limits or denies the ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s educational or employment, social and/or residential program or activities. [2]
16. IT and Acceptable Use. Violating the University Acceptable Use and Computing Policy, found online at: http://www.una.edu/its/una-it-policy.html
17. Ordinances and Laws. Evidence of violation of local, state, or federal laws, when substantiated through the University’s conduct process.
18. Other Policies. Violating other published UNA policies or rules.
19. Retaliatory Discrimination. Any intentional, adverse action taken by a responding individual or allied third party, absent legitimate nondiscriminatory purposes, against a participant or supporter of a participant in a civil rights grievance proceeding or other protected activity under this Code.
20. Sexual Misconduct. Refer to the sexual misconduct policy found at https://www.una.edu/titleix/policies-and-procedures.html.
21. Theft. The unauthorized taking or maintaining possession of anything of value belonging to another entity. 
22. Threatening Behaviors. Implied threats or written or verbal conduct that causes a reasonable expectation of injury to the health or safety of any person or damage to any property.
23. Traffic/Parking Policy. Violation of traffic and parking rules and regulations.
24. Trespassing. Unauthorized access to any UNA building (i.e. keys, cards, etc.) or unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of means of access to any University building or failing to timely report a lost UNA identification card or key; Misuse of access privileges to UNA premises or unauthorized entry to or use of buildings.
25. Vandalism. Intentional, reckless, and/or unauthorized damage to or destruction of UNA property or the personal property of another.
26. Weapons. Unauthorized possession, transportation, and/or use of firearms and other dangerous weapons on campus.  Please see the University Weapons Policy for more information and definitions of “firearms”, “dangerous weapons”, and “campus”. 

Conduct Sanctions

One or more of the following sanctions may be imposed upon any student or student organization for any single violation of the Code of Student Conduct:

Warning: An official written notice that the student has violated UNA policies and/or rules and that more severe conduct action will result should the student be involved in other violations while the student is enrolled at the University.

Restitution: Compensation for damage caused to the University or any person’s property. This could also include situations such as failure to return a reserved space to the proper condition – labor costs and expenses. This is not a fine but, rather, a repayment for labor costs and/or the value of property destroyed, damaged, consumed, or stolen.

Fines: Reasonable fines may be imposed.

Community/UNA Service Requirements: For a student or organization to complete a specific supervised UNA service.

Loss of Privileges: The student will be denied specified privileges for a designated period of time.

Confiscation of Prohibited Property: Items whose presence is in violation of UNA policy will be confiscated and will become the property of the University. Prohibited items may be returned to the owner at the discretion of the Director of Student Conduct and/or Campus Police.

Behavioral Requirement: This includes required activities including, but not limited to, seeking counseling or substance abuse screening, writing a letter of apology, etc.

Educational Program: Requirement to attend, present and/or participate in a program related to the violation. It may also be a requirement to sponsor or assist with a program for others on campus to aid them in learning about a specific topic or issue related to the violation for which the student or organization was found responsible. The audience may be restricted.

Restriction of Visitation Privileges: May be imposed on a resident or non-resident student. The parameters of the restriction will be specified.

UNA Housing Probation: Official notice that, should further violations of University Residences or UNA policies occur during a specified probationary period, the student may immediately be removed from UNA housing. Regular probationary meetings may also be imposed.

UNA Housing Reassignment: Reassignment to another UNA housing facility. University Residences personnel will decide on the reassignment details.

UNA Housing Suspension: Removal from UNA housing for a specified period of time after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for re-admission to UNA housing may be specified. Under this sanction, a student is required to vacate UNA housing within 24 hours of notification of the action, though this deadline may be extended upon application to, and at the discretion of, University Residences personnel. This sanction may be enforced with a trespass action if deemed necessary. Prior to reapplication for UNA housing, the student must request a Housing Readmission Review with the Department of Housing & Residence Life to determine whether or not the student may return to University Housing, if so, whether any restrictions apply. 

UNA Housing Expulsion: The student’s privilege to live in, or visit, any UNA housing structure is revoked indefinitely. This sanction may be enforced with a trespass action if deemed necessary.

UNA Probation: The student is put on official notice that, should further violations of UNA policies occur during a specified probationary period, the student may face suspension or expulsion. Regular probationary meetings may also be imposed.

Eligibility Restriction: The student is deemed “not in good standing” with the University for a specified period of time. Specific limitations or exceptions may be granted by the Director of Student Conduct or his/her designee and the terms of this conduct sanction may include but are not limited to, the following:

1. a) Ineligibility to hold any office in any student organization recognized by the University or hold an elected or appointed office at the University; or
2. b) Ineligibility to represent the University to anyone outside the University community in any way including participating in the study abroad program, attending conferences, or representing the University at an official function, event, or intercollegiate competition as a player, manager, or student coach, etc.

UNA Suspension: Separation from the University for a specified minimum period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Eligibility may be contingent upon satisfaction of specific conditions noted at the time of suspension. The student is required to vacate the campus within 24 hours of notification of the action, though this deadline may be extended upon application to, and at the discretion of, the Director of Student Conduct or his/her designee.  During the suspension period, the student is banned from university property, functions, events, and activities without prior written approval from the Director of Student Conduct or his/her designee.  This sanction may be enforced with a trespass action as necessary.

UNA Expulsion: Permanent separation from the University. The student is banned from university property and the student’s presence at any UNA-sponsored activity or event is prohibited. This action may be enforced with a trespass action as necessary.

Other Sanctions: Additional or alternate sanctions may be created and designed as deemed appropriate to the offense with the approval of the Director of Student Conduct or designee.

Student Organization Sanction: Deactivation, de-recognition, loss of all privileges (including status as a UNA registered group/organization), for a specified period of time.