Student Rights and Responsibilities

UNA students are responsible for knowing the information, policies and procedures outlined in this document and posted on the University website. The University reserves the right to make changes to this code as necessary and once those changes are posted online, they are in effect. Students are encouraged to check online at una.edu/student-conduct/index.html for the updated versions of all policies and procedures.

The University of North Alabama Code of Student Conduct is adapted from The NCHERM Group Model Developmental Code of Student Conduct and is used with permission.

Expectations for Student Conduct

The University of North Alabama is concerned with maintaining an environment in which the rights of all members of the campus community are protected while they pursue their educational objectives. It is important for each student to become aware of and abide by the Code of Student Conduct and other university regulations. Students are obligated at all times to assume responsibility for their actions, to respect established authority, to be truthful, to respect the rights of others, and to respect private and public property.

It is also important that members of the university community be willing to confront violations and the infringement of another’s rights — personally or by filing complaints with the University Police Department, Housing and Residence Life, or the Office of Student Conduct. The Director of Student Conduct and/or designee(s) determines the policy violations as they relate to overall campus violations and on-campus residence hall violations, as well as violations off-campus (see Jurisdiction Statement).

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Adapted, with gratitude, from Penn State University

Student Conduct Processes

Possible violations of University policy and/or the Code of Student Conduct may be reported by any member of the University community. Reports should be submitted, in writing, on the University Student Conduct Referral form available online at http://www.una.edu/student-conduct/forms.html or via an email that provides the information requested on the form. Additional information about the student conduct process and the rights available to students can be obtained by contacting the Office of Student Conduct or by accessing its policies and procedures online at http://www.una.edu/student-conduct/.

Jurisdiction Statement

Students at the University are provided a copy of the Code of Student Conduct annually in the form of a link on the University website. Students are responsible for having read and abiding by the provisions of the Code of Student Conduct.

The Code of Student Conduct and the student conduct process apply to the conduct of individual students, both undergraduate and graduate, including all UNA-affiliated student organizations. For the purposes of student conduct, the University 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 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 and all sanctions must be satisfied prior to re-enrollment eligibility.

The Code of Student Conduct applies to behaviors that take place on the campus, at UNA-sponsored events and may also apply off-campus when the Director of Student Conduct or designee determines that the off-campus conduct affects a substantial UNA interest¹. A substantial UNA interest is defined to include:

• Any situation where it appears that the student’s conduct may present a danger or threat to the health or safety of themselves or others; and/or
• Any situation that significantly impinges upon the rights, property or achievements of self or others or significantly breaches the peace and/or causes social disorder; and/or
• Any situation that 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 other 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 take action if and when such information is brought to the attention of UNA officials. However, most online speech by students not involving University networks or technology will be protected as free expression and not subject to this Code, with two notable exceptions

• A true threat, defined as “a threat a reasonable person would interpret as a serious expression of intent to inflict bodily harm upon specific individuals.”
• Speech posted online about the University or its community members that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it interferes with or denies an individual access to an educational opportunity or benefit provided by the University.

The Code of Student Conduct applies to guests of community members whose hosts may be held accountable for the misconduct of their guests. Visitors to and guests of UNA may seek resolution of violations of the Code of Student Conduct committed against them by members of UNA community.

There is no time limit on reporting violations of the Code of Student Conduct; however, the longer someone waits to report an offense, the harder it becomes for UNA officials to obtain information and witness statements and to make determinations regarding alleged violations.

Though anonymous complaints are permitted, doing so may limit the University’s ability to investigate and respond to a complaint. Those who are aware of misconduct are encouraged to report it as quickly as possible to the Office of Student Conduct and/or to University Police.

UNA email is the University’s primary means of communication with students. Students are responsible for all communication delivered to their UNA email address.