Code of Student Conduct

Definitions

5. When used in this code:

1. The term ''aggravated violation'' means a violation which resulted or foreseeably could have resulted in significant damage to persons or property or which otherwise posed a substantial threat to the stability and continuance of normal university or university sponsored activities;
2. The term ''group'' means a number of persons who are associated with each other, but who have not complied with university requirements for registration as an organization;
3. The terms ''institution'' and ''university'' mean Susquehanna University and all of its schools, divisions and programs (including programs for study away);
4. The term ''organization'' means a number of persons who have complied with university requirements for registration;
5. The term “personal property” refers to an individual’s physical property or electronic property including electronic data or storage devices;
6. The term ''reckless'' means conduct which one should reasonably be expected to know would create a substantial risk of harm to persons or property or which would otherwise be likely to result in interference with normal university or university sponsored activities;
7. The term ''student'' means any person who is taking or auditing classes at the university (on or off-campus) or is matriculated in any university program;
8. The term ''university premises'' means buildings or grounds owned, leased, operated, controlled or supervised by the university;
9. The term ''university sponsored activity'' means any activity on or off university premises that is initiated or supervised by the university;
10. The term ''weapon'' is defined in accordance with state law, and includes any object or substance designed to inflict a wound or cause injury. Examples include, but are not limited to firearms, BB guns, chemical weapons (mace, tear gas), stun guns, air rifles, air pistols, paintball guns, bowie knives, dirks daggers, slingshots, leaded canes, metal knife sharpeners, switchblade knives, knives over 5” long, blackjacks, metallic knuckles, razors and razor blades (except solely for personal shaving) and any sharp, pointed or edged instruments (except instructional supplies, unaltered nail files and clippers and tools used solely for instruction, maintenance or preparation of food);
11. The terms ''will'' or ''shall'' are used in the imperative sense;
12. The term “complainant” refers to the person presenting a case and charges against a respondent in a Student Conduct Board or University Conduct Board;
13. The term “respondent” refers to the student charged with violating one or more of the university’s policies or state, federal or local law;
14. The term “conduct officer” refers to the individual conducting a Conduct Conference, overseeing a Student Conduct Board hearing or chairing/facilitating a University Conduct Board hearing;
15. The term “paraprofessional staff” refers to undergraduate residence hall staff (Head Residents and Resident Assistants) who may act on behalf of the Director of Residence Life & Civic Engagement or the Assistant Director of Residence Life for Student Conduct in the investigation of incidents, referring charges and settling minor disputes and offenses that occur in the residence halls;
16. The term “university official” refers to any individual who is employed by Susquehanna University as a professional administrator, faculty or staff member. In some instances, this may also refer to student workers / paraprofessional staff;
17. The term “Conduct Conference” refers to the process in which the facts of an alleged violation of the Code of Student Conduct are presented to the conduct officer (typically the Assistant Director of Residence Life for Student Conduct or a designee) to determine if a violation(s) took place and what sanction(s) are appropriate. This meeting is between the conduct officer and the charged student(s);
18. The term “Informal Resolution Conference” is an informal meeting scheduled with a student who has been charged for violating a policy determined to be low-level (typically Residence Life on-campus housing policies. See part 2 under the Additional Campus Policies Section of this Student Handbook) by the Assistant Director of Residence Life for Student Conduct or a designee. This meeting is between a paraprofessional staff and the charged student(s);
19. The term “sanction” refers to an outcome imposed for being found responsible for one or more violations of the Code of Student Conduct. Generally, sanctions are educational in nature and intended to modify the student’s behavior and build an awareness of personal responsibility and community standards;
20. The term “preponderance of evidence” refers to the level of proof used to determine the outcome of a conference or hearing. This standard indicates that the evidence presented is 51 percent likely to be true. (This standard is lower than “beyond a reasonable doubt.”);
21. The term “fundamental fairness” is a standard that protects an individual from arbitrary and unreasonable decisions and ensures due process through timeliness and equitable treatment;
22. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) - A federal law passed in 1974 that defines educational records and indicates who, and under what circumstances, an individual may have access to educational records.