Specific Standards of Behavior (Code of Conduct)
Listed below are the Specific Standards of Behavior (Code of Conduct). The Code of Conduct is broken into four sections: Personal Identification and Representation; Interference with the Health, Safety, or Rights of Other Persons; Care of University or Personal Property; and Demonstration of Other Groups or Individual Action. Alleged violation of any of the following may result in charges being filed against a student or organization.
1. Personal Identification and Representation
Failure to act in accordance with these standards must be treated as a major failure to accept responsibility as a student and make one subject to separation from the community. Prohibited are:
(a) Furnishing false or incomplete information to university offices, officials, or judicial boards.
(b) Failing to appear before a university official or judicial board when directed to appear.
(c) Making, forging, printing, reproducing, copying, or altering any record, document, writing, or identification used or maintained by the university that results in injury, defrauding, or misrepresentation.
(d) Refusing to identify one's self when directed by an authorized university official. Students are expected to carry their FREDCard at all times.
(e) Transferring one's own FREDCard to another for the purpose of that other individual obtaining university services or privileges.
(f) Attempting to obtain or obtaining a university privilege or service to which the student is not entitled.
(g) Providing erroneous information concerning a change in status concerning financial refunds or financial independence from parents or legal guardian.
2. Interference with the Health, Safety, or Rights of Other Persons
All members of the university community share the responsibility for protecting and maintaining community health, safety, and the rights of other persons. Students are required to obey the statutes and laws of the nation and the state, as well as the ordinances and laws of the village of Fredonia, city of Dunkirk, and the towns of Pomfret and Dunkirk. Conviction of a violation of such laws, statutes, or ordinances may be grounds for suspension or dismissal.
The following conduct is prohibited:
(a) Failing to comply with directions of university or town officials (this includes, but is not limited to, faculty, staff, Residence Director, Resident Assistant, security, safety or fire officials carrying out properly assigned responsibilities).
(b) Failing to comply with the final decision of a judicial board or administrative action.
(c) Misusing safety equipment including but not limited to tampering with fire equipment, fire alarms, exit lights, refusal to obey a fire alarm, initiating a false fire alarm, submitting a bomb threat, activating emergency phones, sprinkler systems, or propping doors open.
(d)
1) Fighting and threats to, physical abuse of, or harassment and any other action which threatens to or does endanger the health, safety, or welfare of a fellow student and/or member of the university community.
2) Engages or threatens to engage in behavior which poses imminent danger of causing substantial harm to self or others.
3) Obstructing or disrupting teaching, administrative or public service functions of the university.
4) Obstructing or disrupting disciplinary proceedings or authorized university activities.
(e)
1) Engaging in any action or situation which endangers the mental or physical health of a member of the university or local community.
2) Creating a situation that results in harassment of a member of the university or local community.
3) Engaging in any form of hazing, which endangers the mental or physical health or involves the forced consumption of alcohol or drugs for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with any organization. This is more particularly described in the University Policy on Hazing.
(f) Participation in any form of non-consensual sexual intimacy and unwanted physical sexual conduct. This is more particularly described in the University Policy on Sexual Assault.
(g) Possessing firearms, explosives (including firecrackers), weapons, BB guns, knives (4 inches or longer or switchblade), paintball guns, potato guns, or blow guns.
(h) Illegally using, possessing, selling, or distributing narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, marijuana or its derivatives, or drug paraphernalia. This is more particularly described in the University Policy on Drugs and Alcohol.
(i) Illegally using alcohol, possessing alcohol, selling or distributing alcohol; distributing alcohol to minors. This is more particularly described in the University Policy on Drugs and Alcohol.
(j) Use of speakers or other sound amplifying equipment without clearance as to time and place from the Office of Student Affairs.
(k)
(1) Posting of posters, handbills, or notices without permission of the appropriate university official. The Office of Campus Life must approve all postings.
(2) Solicitation or vending or any kind is not permitted on campus or in residence halls, unless permission is given by the Office of Residence Life and the Office of Campus Life.
(l) Smoking in non-smoking areas so designated by the University President or his/her designee.
(m) Ignoring reasonable standards of appropriate behavior, including disorderly conduct.
(n) Engaging in cheating, plagiarism, or collusion on any examination or on assigned work. This is more particularly described in the University Policy on Academic Integrity.
(o) Refusing to accept financial obligations incurred as a student enrolled at the university. (The university is empowered to refuse to register, graduate, or release records of any student who is delinquent in his/her obligations to the university.)
(p) Viewing, possessing, or distributing child pornography.
(q) Counterfeiting or violating copyright laws.
(r) Illegal or inappropriate use of SUNY Fredonia's network or computers. This is more particularly described in the Computer and Network Usage Policy.
(s) Engaging in unlawful gambling activities under conditions that are contrary to the provisions of state law or any applicable university policy.
3. Care of University and Personal Property
Maintaining and preserving university grounds, academic buildings, and other associated structures is an obligation of all members of the university community. Similarly, maintaining and preserving personal property is also an obligation. Prohibited are:
(a)
1) Theft, unauthorized possession of, property belonging to the university, a member of the university community, a campus guest, or community member.
2) Vandalism, destruction of, damage to, or inappropriate use of property belonging to the university, a member of the university community, a campus guest, or community member.
(b) Destruction, mutilation, and defacement of or tampering with books, magazines, library materials or equipment, or computer services or equipment.
(c) Unauthorized occupancy of or trespassing on university property or facilities.
4. Demonstration of Other Groups or Individual Action
The campus must be open to a free exchange of ideas and individuals and groups have protected Constitutional rights; therefore, all members of the community are expected to conduct dialogues with mutual respect and courtesy.
Prohibited are:
(a) Denying to other students, officials, employees, or invited guests of the university lawful freedom of movement on the campus, lawful use of the property or facilities of the university, or the right of lawful entrance to and exit from any of the university's facilities.
(b) Impeding the staff or faculty of the university in the performance of their duties, or impeding any student of the university in the pursuit of his or her legitimate educational or social activities, through the use of restraint, coercion, or intimidation, or when force and violence are presented or threatened.
(c) Engaging in any intentional overt activity resulting in the obstruction to, disruption of, or interference with any of the legitimate missions, processes, procedures, or functions of the university.
(d) Refusing to vacate a building, street, sidewalk, driveway, or other facility of the university when directed to do so by an authorized official.
(e) Making unnecessary noise or causing noise to be made with objects and instruments, which disturb university functions or community living.