SECTION 4: Community Behavioral Standards

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SECTION 3: Violations of Local, State, and Federal Law
SECTION 5: Overview of the Student Conduct Process

College of Saint Mary considers the behaviors described in the following sub-sections as inappropriate for the University community and in opposition to CSM’s core values and the values of the student conduct process set forth in this document. These expectations apply to all students regardless of academic program or residency. The University encourages all community members to report to University officials all incidents that involve the following actions. Any student found to have committed, or to have attempted to commit, the following may be subject to the sanctions outlined in Section 7: Conduct Procedures.

Excellence— CSM students share a commitment to achieving academic distinction, fostering leadership, and nurturing a love of lifelong learning. The following behaviors, though not limited to these, stand in opposition to this value:

  1. Alcohol: Use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverage or paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law and the University’s Alcohol Policy. http://www.csm.edu/student-life
  2. Drugs: Use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs and other controlled substances or drug paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law and the University’s Drug Policy. This policy includes the abuse, misuse, sale, or distribution of prescription or over-the-counter medications. http://www.csm.edu/student-life
  3. Tobacco: Smoking or tobacco use within the bounds of the University campus.
  4. Violations of Law: Violation of local, state, or federal laws, regardless of whether law enforcement intervened.
  5. Unauthorized Entry: Unauthorized entry or use of University facilities, including trespassing, propping or unauthorized use of alarmed doors, or unauthorized possession or duplication of University keys, access cards, and codes.
  6. Damage and Destruction: Intentional, reckless and/or unauthorized damage to or destruction of University property or the personal property of another.
  7. Weapons: Possession, use, or distribution of explosives (including fireworks and ammunition), guns (including air, BB, paintball, facsimile weapons and pellet guns), or other weapons or dangerous objects such as, but not limited to, arrows, axes, machetes, nun chucks, throwing stars, or knives with a blade of longer than 4 inches, including the storage of any item that falls within the category of a weapon in a vehicle parked on University property.
  8. Violation of Residence Life Policies: Violation of published Residence Life policies or rules, which are found in the Residence Life Handbook. http://www.csm.edu/student-life/campus-living/residence halls/lozier-tower

Service— CSM students are committed to servant leadership and social responsibility. Behaviors that violate this value include, but are not limited to:

  1. Fire Safety: Violation of local, state, federal or campus fire policies including, but not limited to:
    1. Intentionally or recklessly causing a fire which damages University or personal property or which causes injury;
    2. Failure to evacuate a University-controlled building during a fire alarm;
    3. Improper use of University fire safety equipment; or
    4. Tampering with or improperly engaging a fire alarm or fire detection/control equipment while on University property.

  2. Health & Safety: Creation of health and/or safety hazards (failing to maintain a healthy/safe residence hall room, dangerous pranks, hanging out of or climbing from/on/in windows, balconies, roofs, etc.

  3. Animals:Animals, with the exception of animals that provide assistance, and pets as outlined in the Residence Life Handbook, are not permitted within campus buildings except as permitted by law.

  4. Wheeled Devices: Skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, bicycles, hover boards, and similar wheeled devices are not permitted inside University buildings, residence halls or on athletic fields. Additionally, wheeled devices may not be ridden on railings, curbs, benches, or any such fixtures that may be damaged by these activities, and individuals may be liable for damage to University property caused by such activities.

  5. Disruptive Behaviors: Behavior which cases substantial disruption of University operations including obstruction of teaching, research, administration, other University activities, or other authorized non-University activities which occur on campus.

  6. Rioting: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.

Dignity— CSM students show positive regard for each other and for the community. Behavior that violates this value includes, but is not limited to:

  1. Harm to Persons: Intentionally or recklessly causing physical harm or endangering the health or safety of any person, including self.
  2. Threatening Behaviors:
    1. Threat: Written or verbal conduct that causes a reasonable expectation of injury to the health or safety of any person or damage to any property.
    2. Intimidation: Intimidation defined as implied threats or acts that cause a reasonable fear of harm in another.

  3. Bullying/Cyberbullying: Repeated and/or severe aggressive behaviors that intimidate or intentionally harm or control another person physically or emotionally verbally, in writing, or via an online platform.

  4. Hazing:Encompasses any action or activity which does not contribute to the positive development of a person, or which inflicts or intends to cause mental or bodily harm or anxieties, or which may demean, degrade, or disgrace any person.

  5. Intimate Partner/Relationship Violence: Violence or abuse by a person who has been in romantic or an intimate relationship with another. Please see CSM’s Sexual Misconduct, Harassment, Relationship Violence and Stalking Policy for definitions and procedures. http://www.csm.edu/student-life/student-support/title-ix

  6. Stalking: Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person(s) that would cause a reasonable person to (a) fear for his or her safety or the safety of others, or (b) suffer substantial emotional distress. Please see CSM’s Sexual Misconduct, Harassment, Relationship Violence and Stalking Policy for definitions and procedures. http://www.csm.edu/student-life/student-support/title-ix

  7. Sexual Misconduct: Includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, sexual violence, and/or sexual exploitation Please see CSM’s Sexual Misconduct, Harassment, Relationship Violence and Stalking Policy for definitions and procedures. http://www.csm.edu/student-life/student-support/title-ix

Compassion— CSM students extend mercy in all relationships as they care for others in their communities. Behaviors inconsistent with this value include, but are not limited to:

  1. By standing: Complicity with or failure of any student to address known or obvious violations of the Code of Conduct or law.
  2. Collusion: Action or inaction with another or others to violate the Code of Conduct;
  3. Noncompliance: Failure to comply with directions of University officials acting in the performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.

Inclusivity— College of Saint Mary students recognize that respecting the dignity of every person is essential for creating and sustaining a flourishing University community. They understand and appreciate how their decisions and actions impact others and are just and equitable in their treatment of all members of the community. Conduct that violates this value include, but is not limited to:

  1. Discrimination: Any act or failure to act that is based upon an individual or group’s actual or perceived status (sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected status) that is sufficiently severe that it limits or denies the ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s educational program or activities.
  2. Harassment: Any unwelcome conduct based on actual or perceived status (sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected status).
  3. Abuse of the Conduct Process: Abuse or interference with, or failure to comply in, University processes including conduct and academic integrity hearings including, but not limited to:
    1. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information;
    2. Failure to provide, destroying or concealing information during an investigation of an alleged policy violation;
    3. Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the conduct system;
    4. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a campus conduct body prior to, during, and/or following a conduct hearing;
    5. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) assigned by the hearing officer;
    6. Influencing, or attempting to influence, another person to commit an abuse of the conduct process.

Integrity—College of Saint Mary students exemplify honesty, honor, and strong moral principles. Behavior inconsistent with this value includes, but is not limited to:

  1. Falsification: Knowingly furnishing or possessing false, falsified or forged materials, documents, accounts, records, identification or financial instruments.
  2. Forgery: Alteration or misuse of University documents, records, or identification, or knowingly providing false documentation to the University.
  3. Academic Dishonesty: Academic policies are outlined in the Academic Catalog.
  4. Unauthorized Access: Unauthorized access to any University building (ex: keys, cards, etc.) or unauthorized possession, duplication or use of means of access to any University building or failing to make a timely report of a lost University access card.
  5. Trust: Violations of positions of trust within the community.
  6. Theft: Intentional unauthorized taking or possession of University property or the personal property of another, including goods, services, and other valuables.
  7. Trademark: Unauthorized use (including misuse) of University or organizational names and images.
  8. Acceptable Use: Violations of the University’s institutional use and computing policy, found online here.