Article II: Prohibited Conduct
A. Breaches of Conduct
Any student found to have committed the following misconduct is subject to the disciplinary sanctions outlined in Article III:
- Possession, use, and/or distribution of alcoholic beverages, in any form, in or about College grounds, instructional buildings, residence halls, or at any College-approved activity on or off campus;
- Use of tobacco products on any SAU Tech locations.
- Use, manufacture, distribution, or possession of drugs without medical prescription;
- Gambling on or about College property and residence halls;
- Disorderly conduct, such as, but not limited to, acts that are against the public peace, order or safety, and/or lewd, indecent, obscene conduct or expression during school related off-campus activities;
- Harassment, such as, intimidation, emotional abuse, verbal comments, stalking, bullying, cyber-bullying, threats of harm, or coercion;
- Unauthorized or illegal entry into a building, classroom, office, room, vehicle or residence hall;
- Dishonesty, such as academic cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information, including forgery, alteration, or misuse of College documents or identification;
- Disruption or obstruction of teaching, which includes, but is not limited to the use of profanity, vocal outbursts, inappropriate attire, talking, sleeping, and the use/abuse of cellular phones or other technology;
- Physical assault, threat of physical harm of any person or self, and/or conduct which threatens or endangers the health, safety, or welfare of any such person;
- Sexual misconduct (See Title IX procedures, Chapter 8);
- Non-recognized student groups attempting to function on the campus or in the name of SAU Tech;
- Failure to comply with directions, verbal or written, of College Officials, law enforcement agents, or residence hall staff acting in the performance of their duties. Refusing to respond to an official request related to alleged violation of College policy or regulation or giving false testimony or fraudulent evidence in College student conduct proceedings;
- Failure to fulfill obligations associated with an official disciplinary sanction;
- Possession or use of firearms, fireworks, other weapons, or chemicals that are of an explosive or corrosive nature on College property or at College functions;
- Theft, attempted theft, possession, sale or barter of property of the College or of a member of the College community or campus visitor;
- Damage or unauthorized use or possession of College property or property of a member of the College community or campus visitor;
- Engaging in overt physical acts which interfere with the normal or sponsored activities of the College on or off the campus, including, but not limited to, the blocking of ingress or egress to the College’s physical facilities, tampering with public utilities, or prevention of freedom of movement or expression by other students, College Officials, law enforcement agents, faculty members, employees, and invited guests;
- Failure to abide by College Housing regulations;
- The instigation of false fire/explosion, or emergency alarms, bomb threats, tampering/misusing or damaging fire extinguishers, alarms or other safety equipment;
- All forms of hazing, such as, any action taken or situation created intentionally to produce mental or physical harm or injury to any person on or off the College campus as a condition of admission into or affiliation with a group or organization, regardless of consent. (Note: Arkansas Act 75 of 1983 states, “No student of any school, college, university, or other educational institution in Arkansas shall engage in what is commonly known and recognized as hazing, or encourage, aid, or assist any other students in the commission of this offense”);
- Violation of policies, procedures, or regulations included in official publications of the College, such as, but not limited to, the College Catalog, traffic brochures, posted notices, other department publications, and Housing Contract;
- Misuse, abuse, and unauthorized use of computing resources, and/or use of computing resources for unauthorized purposes, such as, but not limited to, destroying, modifying, accessing, or copying programs, records, or data belonging to the College or another user without permission;
- Incorrigible or persistently irresponsible behavior;
- Such other violations of good conduct and/or law as the appropriate disciplinary agency or officer may decide warrant action;
- Conduct that adversely affects the student’s suitability as a member of the academic community;
- Abuse of the Disciplinary Process, including, but not limited to:
- Failure to obey the summons of a College Official.
- Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a College Official and/or committee.
- Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a disciplinary proceeding.
- Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the disciplinary system.
- Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of College Official involved in the disciplinary process prior to, and/or during the course of, the disciplinary proceeding.
- Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of witnesses or of a College Official prior to, during, and/or after a judicial proceeding.
- Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Code of Conduct.
- Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the disciplinary process.
Students are responsible for the conduct of their guests on or in College property and at functions sponsored by the College or any recognized College organization.
Anyone who is an accessory to a conduct violation is equally responsible, as though they committed the violation.
B. Housing Regulations
In addition to the regulations in this handbook, the following are specific regulations for all housing areas:
- Residents must escort their guest at all times. Guests are required to follow the same residence hall regulations as the residents. If a guest violates any policy, disciplinary action may be taken and sanctions imposed against the resident and/or the guest.
- Visitation and study hour maximums will be set by the institution. Please refer to the housing manual for these times.
- Visitation and study hours will be posted in each apartment.
- Visitors must be 18 years of age or older or a student of the College or accompanied by a parent/guardian.
- Residents are permitted one overnight guest of the same gender. Resident must receive prior approval from the Housing Office and complete the necessary forms.
- The possession of candles, incense, fireworks, or other potential fire hazards is prohibited.
- Pets are prohibited from all housing areas.
For more information regarding Housing, refer to SAU Tech’s Housing Manual.
C. Violation of Law and Student Conduct
- If a student is charged only with an off-campus violation of federal, state, or local laws, but not with any other violation of this Code, disciplinary action may still be taken and sanctions imposed for misconduct that demonstrates a disregard for the College community. Current SAU Tech students are to notify the Vice Chancellor of Student Services if they are charged or convicted of a felony as a current student of SAU Tech.
- College disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with violation of a civil or criminal law in an underlying factual situation that is also a violation of this Code of Conduct. This may occur without regard to the pendency of civil litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution. Proceedings under this Code of Conduct may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings off-campus.
- When a student is charged by federal, state, or local authorities with a violation of law, the College shall not request or agree to special consideration for that individual because of his or her status as a student. If the alleged offense is also the subject of a proceeding before a College Official and/or committee under the Code of Conduct, the College may advise off-campus authorities of the existence of the Code of Conduct and of how such matters shall be handled internally within the College community. The College shall 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 and members of the College community, acting in their personal capacities, remain free to interact with governmental representatives as they deem appropriate.