Community Standards and Student Conduct Code

The Santa Clara University community is dedicated to the promotion of values consistent with academic and personal excellence. Choosing to join this community evidences your acceptance of these values.

As a member of this community, I will practice personal and academic integrity.

Living this value looks like:

• Being a “person of conscience,” who acts ethically, and whose decisions reflect moral sensitivity, judgment, commitment, and courage
• Showing consistency in my beliefs, my words, and my actions personally and professionally
• Being honest, responsible, and accountable in my scholarly activities, making course work my top priority, and taking credit only for my own work
• Accepting responsibility for my own actions and holding others accountable for their actions

Living this value is inconsistent with:

• Failing to take responsibility for my behavior
• Engaging in dishonest behavior such as cheating or falsifying information
• Tampering with data systems or computer networks

As a member of this community, I will respect and care for myself, others, and their property.

Living this value looks like:

• Maintaining my health in mind, body, spirit, and soul
• Treating other people and the environment with dignity,  as I expect to be treated
• Being a “person of compassion,” who stands with others in their need and takes action to help build a more just and humane world
• Recognizing and actively protecting the property rights of others in my apartment, neighborhood, residence hall, on campus, and in the surrounding community

Living this value is inconsistent with:

• Behaving in ways that cause others emotional distress, threaten or discourage the freedom, personal safety, and respect that all individuals deserve
• Hurting myself and others through the use or distribution  of drugs or alcohol
• Creating a dangerous environment by tampering with safety equipment or smoke detectors

As a member of this community, I will value diversity and learn from diverse people, ideas, and situations.

Living this value looks like:

• Understanding that differences in gender, socioeconomic status, ethnic background, race, culture, religion, sexuality, physical abilities, and other differences are rich opportunities for learning about other people, the world, and myself
• Working to understand and overcome personal, institutional, and societal biases, injustices, prejudices, and stereotyping
• Being fair, assigning benefits and burdens to people according to consistent, equitable, and just criteria

Living this value is inconsistent with:

• Harassing or threatening other members of the community
• Using degrading language toward any person or members of  a specific group
• Arguing or hampering my community’s right to the communication of ideas and ideals just because they don’t represent my own
• Validating unequal behavior toward a person because  of gender, socioeconomic status, ethnic background, race, culture, religion, sexuality, physical abilities, and/or other differences

As a member of this community, I will seek, share, and contribute to the common good.

Living this value looks like:

• Basing my actions on the belief that my own good is inextricably bound to the good of the whole community
• Contributing my talents and participating fully in the life and events of the community
• Engaging in the open dialogue and deep communication necessary to create a real rather than a “pretend” community
• Showing careful stewardship of common space, property, and equipment

Living this value is inconsistent with:

• Not conveying respect and responsibility for my  University community • Resisting learning about the perspectives shared by other community members
• Engaging in selfish or inconsiderate behavior

As a member of this community, I will be a leader-in-service to the campus and greater community beyond campus.

Living this value looks like:

• Seeking to understand not only “what is” but “what should be” and working actively to bring that about
• Making no decision without considering its effects on people who are poor, in need, and with the fewest resources
• Consistently role-modeling behavior reflective of the three Cs (Competence, Conscience, and Compassion)

Living this value is inconsistent with:

• Not valuing the efforts of community service activities
• Perceiving leadership as someone else’s responsibility to the campus and outside community

A goal of Santa Clara University is to provide students with a general education so that they will acquire knowledge, skills, and wisdom to deal with and contribute to contemporary society in constructive ways. As an institution of higher education rooted in the Jesuit tradition, the University is committed to creating and sustaining an environment that facilitates not only academic development, but also the personal and spiritual development of its members.

This commitment of the University encourages the greatest possible degree of freedom for individual choice and expression with the expectation that individual members of the community will:

• Be honest
• Demonstrate respect for oneself
• Demonstrate respect for others and property
• Demonstrate respect for the law and University standards, policies, and procedures, their administration, and the process for changing them

In keeping with this commitment, this Statement of Responsibilities and Standards of Conduct and related policies and procedures have been formulated to guarantee each student’s freedom to learn and to protect the fundamental rights of others. The University administration has established standards, policies, and procedures that are necessary to achieve its objectives as a Catholic, Jesuit university. These standards, policies, and procedures are inclusive of the laws of the nation, the state of California, and the local community.

All members of the Santa Clara University community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with the goals of the institution and demonstrate respect for self, others, and their property. Students living off campus are members of this community and, as such, are representatives of the University to the community-at-large. In this regard, students living off campus maintain an equal measure of accountability to the values and expectations of all members  of this community as identified in the Student Conduct Code.

Whether living in or traversing through the neighborhood, or parking in the streets, students are expected to adhere to the same high standards of conduct and behavior that are consistent with the students’ developing role as responsible and accountable citizens and reflect well upon the Santa Clara University community.

All members of the University community have a strong responsibility to protect and maintain an academic climate in which the fundamental freedom to learn can be enjoyed by all and where the rights and well-being of all members of the community are protected. To this end, certain basic regulations and policies have been developed to govern the conduct of all students as members of the University community.

The University reserves the right to review student conduct that occurs on and off campus when such behavior is inconsistent with these expectations and the Student Conduct Code. In addition, students are responsible for the actions of their guests and will be held accountable for any violations of University standards, policies, and procedures by a guest. Students should accompany their guests while on campus. If necessary, the University reserves the right to limit the guest privileges of  a student.

The following acts may subject students to disciplinary action:

1. Engaging in any form of academic dishonesty such as plagiarism (i.e., representing the work or ideas of others as one’s own without giving proper acknowledgment), cheating (e.g., copying the work of another person, falsifying laboratory data, sabotaging the work of others), and other acts generally understood to be dishonest by faculty or students in an academic context. (Law students, refer to School of Law code.)
2. Illegal use, possession, or distribution of drugs. The use or possession of equipment, products, or materials that are used or intended for use in manufacturing, growing,  using, or distributing any drug or controlled substance. Possessing, concealing, storing, carrying, or using any drug paraphernalia as defined in California Health and Safety Code §11364.5, including, but not limited to, objects intended for use, or designed for use in ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing cannabis, cocaine, hashish, or hashish oil into the human body.
3. Falsification or misuse, including non-authentic, altered, or fraudulent misuse, of University records, permits, documents, communication equipment, or identification cards and government-issued documents.
4. Knowingly furnishing false or incomplete information to the University, a University official, or a conduct hearing board in response to an authorized request.
5. Disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct; excessive  or prolonged noise; behavior that interferes with the  orderly functioning of the University, or interferes with  an individual’s pursuit of an education on University owned or controlled property or during an authorized University class, field trip, seminar, competition or other meeting, or University-related activity.
6. Detention, physical abuse, or conduct that threatens imminent bodily harm or endangers the physical well-being of any person.
7. Nonconsensual physical contact of a sexual nature such as sexual misconduct, sexual assault, and rape.
8. Destruction, damage, or misuse of University property or the property of any other person or group.
9. Theft or conversion of University property or the property of any other person or group.
10. Hazing, harassing, stalking, threatening, bullying, degrading language or actions, or any practice by a group or individual that degrades a student or employee, endangers health, jeopardizes personal safety, or interferes with an employee’s duties or with a student’s class attendance or a person’s educational pursuits.
11. Engaging in single or multiple acts—verbal, written, or physical—in violation of the Student Conduct Code motivated in whole or in part by a person or group’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religious creed, physical, or mental disability, medical condition, as defined by California law, marital status, citizenship status, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other status protected by law, and which has the purpose or effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with an individual’s or group’s safety or security, or which creates an intimidating, hostile, and objectively offensive educational, living or working environment. Bias related conduct in violation of the Student Conduct Code on the basis of actual or perceived religious faith and political affiliation/orientation is also prohibited.
12. Making a video recording, audio recording, or streaming audio/video of private, non-public conversations and/or meetings, inclusive of the classroom setting, without the knowledge and consent of all recorded parties.^{*                                                                           *The recording of classroom lectures, discussions, simulations, and other course-related activity is  governed by this University recording policy which balances the legitimate needs of students with disabilities that require the accommodation, the intellectual property concerns of its instructors, and the privacy of its students. In some instances, federal law may permit students with documented disabilities to record classroom activity. The Office of Accessible Education determines if classroom recording is an appropriate academic adjustment, auxiliary aid, and/or service with respect to each individual student’s documentation.}
13. Intentional obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other University activities; or obstruction or disruption that interferes with the freedom of movement, both pedestrian and vehicular.
14. Possessing, concealing, storing, carrying, or using any real or simulated weapons (including toy guns). The definition of weapons includes but is not limited to, firearms (including BB/pellet, Airsoft, and paintball guns— regardless of whether they are disassembled), knives (switchblade, double-edged, hunting-style [fixed-blade] of any length, throwing, folding [pocket-style with a blade that locks into place], and knives with blades of 2.5 inches in length or greater), explosives (including, though not limited to, fireworks and firecrackers), ammunition, dangerous chemicals, or any other dangerous weapons or instruments, or chemicals as defined by, though not limited to, California State Law except if expressly authorized by University policy or procedure (See “Housing and Residence Life Policies, Procedures, and Standards” for information that pertains to Residence Life).
15. Unauthorized entry into, or use or defacement of University facilities, including residence halls and other buildings and grounds, including unauthorized entry into, or presence in or on a University building; unauthorized erection, or use on University property of any structures including specifically, but not limited to tents, huts, gazebos, shelters, platforms, and public address systems; or unauthorized use of University property for dances, concerts, assemblies, meetings, sleeping, cooking, or eating if said activity interferes with the operation of the University or surrounding community.
16. Publication, posting, or distribution through the use of University resources (e.g., computer networks, telephone lines, email services, Internet connections), or at authorized University activities of material that violates the law of libel, obscenity, postal regulations, the fair use of copyrighted materials, or any law or statute or University policy.
17. Failure to comply with a reasonable request or order of a University executive or other authorized official(s); refusal or failure to leave such premises because of conduct prescribed by this code when such conduct constitutes violations of this code or a danger to personal safety, property, or educational or other appropriate University activities on such premises; or refusal or failure to identify oneself when requested by a University official provided the official is identified and indicates legitimate reason for the request.
18.  Possession, consumption, sale, or action under the influence of alcoholic beverages by persons under the age of 21; furnishing alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 21; consumption of alcoholic beverages in a public place (all areas other than individual residences, private offices, and scheduled private functions); excessive and inappropriate use of alcoholic beverages. (See also “Alcohol and Controlled Substances Within University Housing”)
19. Engaging in acts or deeds that may violate existing federal, state, county, or municipal laws or ordinances that materially or adversely affect the individual’s suitability as a member of the Santa Clara University community. 
20. Tampering with, removing, damaging, or destroying fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, smoke or heat detectors, emergency call boxes, and other safety equipment anywhere on University property; creating a fire, safety, or health hazard; or failure to respond to fire alarms, evacuate buildings during alarm activation, or respond to the directions of emergency personnel.
21. Any behavior that disrupts or causes disruption of computer services; damages, alters, or destroys data or records; adversely affects computer software, programs, systems, or networks; or uses data, computer systems,  or networks to devise or execute any scheme to defraud, deceive, extort, or wrongfully obtain money, property, or data.

Students who are alleged to have violated the Student Conduct Code may be subject to disciplinary action and, if applicable, may also be subject to criminal prosecution. A reported violation involving alcoholic beverages, cannabis, other drugs, and related equipment or paraphernalia, or weapons (real or simulated) will result in those items being confiscated and disposed of (when appropriate) by a responding University official.