Code of Conduct Life @ GMRIT

GMRIT Student Conduct Process

Introduction

An orderly environment promoting freedom of expression and inquiry is essential to the academic community. Society and educators alike have long recognized the desirability of academic institutions being fairly autonomous within the society, but this autonomy carries with it certain rights and responsibilities for students, faculty and administrators; likewise, the university community is not a haven from the laws, mores, and contemporary issues of the external society. When the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate actions or behaviors are crossed, there need to be well-established procedures within the university community for dealing with the misconduct. If such a system of internal rights, responsibilities, and corrective action is at all times grounded in principles of reasonableness and fairness for all concerned, the system itself will promote the educational process and enhance the highest aims of the academic community.

Within this social context, GMRIT has adopted the following principles to govern its internal student conduct processes for responding to student misconduct:

• Students are adults who are responsible for the consequences of their actions. An academic institution can and should discipline a student who violates institutional rules, particularly when the student’s conduct interferes with the safety or rights of other members of the institutional community (including fellow students, faculty, staff and visitors to the campus). On the other hand, students are responsible for using common sense and prudence in looking after their own safety and the safety of their property. The institution can try earnestly to maintain a safe campus, but it cannot guarantee students that they will be safe in all circumstances, particularly at parties which do not comply with GMRIT policies or when their own actions put them at risk.
• Academic institutions are neither law-enforcement agencies nor sanctuaries from the law. Criminal and civil laws still apply within the academic community. In addition, the institution has the authority to establish further policies and rules to discipline students who break these policies and rules. Where the interests of the academic institution and the members of the institutional community are involved, the special authority of the institution will be asserted. In short, the students neither relinquish civil rights nor acquire additional rights by virtue of being within an academic community; they do, however, take on additional responsibilities.
• Except for violations of civil or criminal law, the internal affairs of the educational institution are best handled by the institution itself without resort to outside intervention. There can be no guarantee that outside agencies will not choose to intervene on their own, but such possibilities are greatly diminished if the institution has established, well-defined processes to provide adequate protection of the personal safety and academic rights of all its members and to insure that principles of fairness are followed.
• If a student is charged with or convicted of an off-campus violation of the law, the institute may become involved if this action affects the student’s academic performance or if the behavior demonstrates disregard for the rights of others which might result in on-campus behavior which is harmful to others. Students charged with or convicted of off-campus violations of the law may also be charged with violation of institutional rules or regulations based on the same incident; double jeopardy does not legally exist in such situations, but the institutional sanctions should be relevant to the educational and institutional community interests to be protected.

Prescribed Conduct

1. General Applicability.
2. Generally, GMRIT jurisdiction and discipline will be applied to student conduct which occurs on Institute premises or during the course of off-campus activities related to GMRIT, or which adversely affects the Institute community and/or the pursuit by the Institute of its educational mission.
3. Students subject to jurisdiction and discipline include all persons taking courses or training at GMRIT, both full-time and part-time, graduate and undergraduate. Individuals who are not officially enrolled during a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the Institute, including those on co-op, are considered students. All those who reside in Institute housing (residence halls and apartments) are subject to this policy; students are responsible for the behavior of their visitors, guests or family members and can be personally sanctioned, including being removed from housing, for the violation of GMRIT policies, rules and regulations by those individuals. Student organizations and their officers are also expected to conform to GMRIT policies, rules and regulations; organizations and their officers can be sanctioned for failure of the organizations to do so.
4. Normally, GMRIT discipline will be limited to social or academic sanctions for misconduct which adversely affects the Institute’s pursuit of its educational objectives, including maintaining an appropriate campus environment. However, GMRIT may institute civil or criminal proceedings against a student in a case where such unusual action is warranted by the circumstances. The in-charge for Student Affairs or his/her delegated representative will decide when the Institute should press civil or criminal charges against a student.
5. If a student is charged only with an off-campus violation of local laws, but not with any violation of GMRIT policies, rules and regulations, GMRIT disciplinary action may still be taken and sanctions imposed for serious misconduct which demonstrates disregard for the rights of others, or which adversely affects the GMRIT community and/or the pursuit of its objectives. In such cases, interim suspension or restrictions may be imposed even before the student has been found guilty in a court of law.
6. When a student is charged by local authorities with a violation of the law, and the alleged offense is also the subject of a proceeding under the GMRIT Student Conduct Process, GMRIT may advise off-campus authorities of the existence of GMRIT Student Conduct Process and of how such matters will be handled internally within the Institute community. The Institute will cooperate fully with law enforcement and other agencies in the enforcement of criminal law on campus and in the conditions imposed by criminal courts for the rehabilitation of student violators. Individual students, faculty and staff, acting in their personal capacities, remain free to interact with governmental representatives as they deem appropriate.

GMRIT Conduct of Code

Any student/organization found to have committed the following prohibited conduct will be subject to disciplinary sanctions:

• ENDANGERING BEHAVIOR: Conduct that threatens or endangers the health and/or safety of a person(s).
• FRAUD: All forms of dishonesty including cheating, plagiarism, knowingly furnishing false information to the Institute, and forgery, alteration or use of Institute documents or instruments of identification with intent to defraud.
• INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR: Unreasonable disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other Institute activities.
• HARASSMENT: Abuse, threats, intimidation, assault, coercion and/or conduct, by physical, verbal, signed, written, photographic or electronic means, which threatens or endangers any person on GMRIT premises or at Institute sponsored or supervised functions.
• THEFT/VANDALISM: Attempted or actual theft of, damage to, or unauthorized possession or alteration of either GMRIT property, or the property of a member of the Institute community or other personal or public property.
• FAILURE TO COMPLY: Failure to comply with directions of GMRIT officials or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties; obstruction of the performance of these duties or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
• OFF CAMPUS BEHAVIOR: Any off-campus conduct which GMRIT deems demonstrates disregard for the rights of others.
• HAZING: any intentional or reckless act; occurring on or off the campus of GMRIT; by one person alone or acting with others; directed against an GMRIT student; that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that GMRIT student; and is reasonably believed by that GMRIT student as being for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include students at GMRIT or other universities..
• FIRE/FIRE SAFETY: Setting a fire, causing a false fire alarm, or causing an unreasonable situation that creates a fire safety hazard.
• UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY/DUPLICATION: Unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys to any Institute premises or unauthorized entry to or use of Institute premises.
• VIOLATION OF THE LAW: Violation of local law on Institute premises or at Institute sponsored or supervised activities.
• WEAPON POSSESSION: Illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, other weapons or dangerous chemicals on Institute premises.
• STALKING: Stalking occurs when a person engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific individual that is likely to cause such individual to have a reasonable fear of harm to his or her physical or emotional health, safety or property. Such conduct may include, but is not limited to: repeatedly engaging in unwanted contact or communication (including but not limited to, face-to-face communication, telephone calls or messages, electronic mail, written letters, gifts, or threatening or obscene gestures); surveillance; following; trespassing; or vandalism.

Warnings and Actions

Disciplinary Warnings

The following disciplinary warnings may be imposed upon students by GMRIT academic or administrative officials. Such warnings are not subject to appeal.

• Admonition: An oral or written statement to a student informing him/her that he or she has violated or is violating Institute policies, rules, or regulations.
• Warning: Written notice to a student that continued or further violations of any Institute policy, rule, or regulation within a specific period of time (not to exceed one calendar year) may result in more severe disciplinary action.

Disciplinary Actions

The following disciplinary sanctions may be imposed on students:

• Disciplinary Probation: Exclusion from use of specified Institute facilities or participation in certain activities and/or requirement to fulfill certain conditions during the probation period.
• Removal from GMRIT/Hostels: Exclusion from GMRIT or hostel facilities either temporarily or permanently.
• Disciplinary Suspension: Exclusion from classes, college, hostel or other privileges for a defined period, generally not exceeding one calendar year.
• Disciplinary Dismissal: Exclusion from college and associated privileges for an indefinite period until conditions for readmission are fulfilled.
• Disciplinary Expulsion: Termination of student status. Under normal circumstances, readmission is not possible.

Disciplinary Conditions

The following disciplinary conditions may be imposed on students or organizations:

• Discretionary Actions: Work assignments, community service or other related actions including:
  • Letter of apology
  • Spending a specified time period in the library
  • Program presentations
  • Mandated counseling session
  • Loss of privileges
  • Substance abuse education or evaluation
• Bar against Registration: Applied to students who fail to pay debts or comply with disciplinary procedures.
• Withholding of Records: Transcripts, degrees or records may be withheld until obligations are fulfilled.
• Organizational Restriction: Student groups may lose privileges or recognition temporarily or permanently.
• Serious Misconduct: Suspension or expulsion may occur for behaviors including:
  • Permitting or engaging in hazing
  • Setting fires or false fire alarms
  • Possession or threats involving weapons or explosives
  • Possession or sale of illegal drugs
  • Physical abuse or threats
  • Computer misconduct
  • Repeated violations of the Code of Conduct

Disciplinary Hearings

Student Conduct Hearings

Student misconduct cases are resolved through hearings conducted by the designated Student Conduct Officer appointed by the Principal or Vice Principal for Student Affairs.

Complaints of Misconduct

Any member of the Institute community may file a complaint against a student for misconduct. Complaints are typically submitted to Campus Safety, which investigates and forwards a report to the Student Conduct Officer.

Hearing Procedures for Sexual Misconduct Cases

The Process

• The Student Conduct Officer reviews documentation to determine whether the case should proceed through the conduct system or mediation.
• Incidents may be reported to Residence Life staff, faculty advisors, counselors, or other members of the GMRIT community.
• The complainant may consult the Coordinator for Advocacy to understand available options including counseling, advocacy, or legal referral.

Changes in academic or living arrangements may be provided if reasonable alternatives exist. Interim suspension or restrictions may also be imposed pending investigation.

Complaint Rights

Complainants in misconduct cases are assured the following protections:

• Treatment with dignity and compassion
• Information about the student conduct process
• Access to counseling assistance
• Support throughout the disciplinary process
• Due process protections
• Privacy regarding unrelated past behavior
• Confidentiality throughout the process
• Freedom from intimidation or harassment