STUDENT CONDUCT CODE

Section III:  Prohibited Conduct

Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit the following misconduct is subject to the disciplinary sanctions outlined in the next section.

1. Academic Dishonesty
   Failure to show integrity in meeting academic obligations includes but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty.
   
   
2. Computer Misuse
   Any violation of the University Computer Use Policy or MnSCU Policy and Procedure 5.22 and 5.22.1 on Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources.  MSUM’s computer use policy can be found at http://web.mnstate.edu/it/policy/computer_policies.shtml.
   
   
3. Demonstrations and Riots
   Participating in an on-campus or off-campus demonstration, riot or activity that disrupts the normal operations of the University and/or infringes on the rights of other members of the University community; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities on University premises.
   
   
4. Disorderly, Lewd, or Indecent Conduct
   Conduct that is disorderly, lewd, or indecent; breach of peace; or aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to breach the peace on University premises or at functions sponsored by, or participated in by, the University or members of the academic community. Disorderly Conduct includes but is not limited to:  Any unauthorized use of electronic or other devices to make an audio or video record of any person while on University premises without his/her prior knowledge, or without his/her effective consent when such a recording is likely to cause injury or distress.  This includes, but is not limited to, knowingly taking pictures of another person in a gym, locker room, or restroom.
   
   
5. Disruption of Operations of the University
   Unreasonably interfering, obstructing, or preventing the regular and essential operation of the University, which includes but is not limited to: studying, teaching, research, programs, services, and the administration of fire, police or emergency services.
   
   
6. Failure to Comply
   Failure to comply with the directions of University officials including, but not limited to, campus security, residence hall staff, faculty or administrators acting in the performance of their duties, refusal to identify oneself or providing false identification; failure to present identification upon request to University personnel in the performance of their duties. Failure to complete a specified student conduct sanction or violating the terms of a disciplinary probation.
   
   
7. Firearms
   Illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, other weapons, or dangerous chemicals on University premises or use of any such item, even if legally possessed, in a manner that harms, threatens or causes fear to others.
   
   In accordance with MnSCU Possession or Carry of Firearm Policy 5.21, which can be found at http://www.mnscu.edu/board/policy/521.html, students are prohibited from possession or carrying a firearm while on university property, regardless of whether the student has a permit to carry a firearm. Exceptions to this policy do not prohibit the lawful carry or possession of firearms in parking facilities or parking areas. Violations of this policy by students are subject to discipline up to and including removal from the university.
   
   
8. Hazing
   (As defined above in Section I:  Definitions)
   
   
9. Interfering with Judicial Procedures
1. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a Student Conduct Panel.
2. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a Student Conduct Panel proceeding.
3. Filing a formal complaint falsely accusing another student with violating a provision of this code or falsely accusing a University employee of misconduct.
4. Attempting to discourage an individual's proper participating in, or use of, the student conduct system.
5. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a Student Conduct Panel prior to, and/or during the course of, the Student Conduct Panel proceeding.
6. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a Student Conduct Panel prior to, during, and/or after a student conduct code proceeding.
7. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Student Code.
8. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the student conduct code system.
   
   
10. Physical Abuse and Threat
    Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person, to include oneself.
    
    
11. Sexual Violence
    See MSUM Sexual Violence Policy & Procedure: http://web.mnstate.edu/security/SexualViolencePolicy.pdf.
    
    
12. Shared Responsibility for Violations
    Enticing, inciting others, abetting, conspiring, being an accessory, or participating in any act prohibited by this code.
    
    
13. Theft
    Attempted or actual theft of and/or damage to property of the MSUM or property of a member of the MSUM community or other personal or public property, on or off campus.
    
    
14. Published Policies
    Violation of any MSUM or MnSCU policy, rule, or regulation published in hard copy (some contained in under the Policies and Procedures Section of the handbook) or available electronically on the MSUM or MnSCU website.
    
    
15. Laws
    Violation of any federal, state or local law.

Residence Hall Prohibited Conduct

In addition to following the Student Conduct Code outlined in the Prohibited Conduct, students are responsible for knowing and following residence hall policies.

1. Advertising/Solicitation
• Any posting of advertising materials must be approved and posted by authorized University staff only. The stuffing of apartment and residence hall mailboxes is permitted only by on campus offices or organizations with approval. Please bring these items to the Department of Housing and Residential Life (Ballard Hall 120) for approval and distribution.
• Solicitation is not permitted in University buildings and/or grounds, excluding any approved University sponsored charity fundraiser programs. The Department of Housing and Residential Life reserves the right to individually approve or deny solicitation based activities.
• Hall staff may post information relative to floor and hall activities (meetings, programs) or housing information (reminders, announcements) on bulletin boards, bathroom walls, or elevator lobbies. No other postings are allowed in these areas.
  
  
2. Air Conditioners
   Air conditioners (including window and floor units) may be permitted if a medical necessity is verified based on medical documentation and approval is granted by the Department of Housing and Residential Life. Air conditioner units must be provided by the student and may be installed only by the University staff. A fee may be charged for such services.
   
   
3. Alcohol and Other Drugs
   In addition to the University Alcohol and Other Drug Policy found in the University’s Policies and Procedures in the Student Handbook, the following are specific to behaviors that occur in the residence halls:
• Knowingly being in the presence of any form of alcoholic beverage, non-alcoholic beer, drug, or controlled substance is prohibited. A student is expected to remove him/herself from such situations.
• Distributing, serving, selling, hosting an event/gathering or providing access to any alcohol, other drug, or controlled substance is prohibited.
• Possession of drug paraphernalia or materials intended for drug use are prohibited.
• Odors that are evidence of drug use are prohibited in the residence halls. This includes odors emanating from a student’s residence hall room, clothing, or property.
• Alcoholic beverage and other drug signs and posters are not allowed as decorations. To minimize confusion over the alcohol policy and help decrease unnecessary confrontations, no empty alcohol containers of any kind may be used as decoration.
  
  
4. Room/Building Security
• Propping Doors: Residents may not prop any residence hall door intended to remain closed and/or locked for safety and security reasons. Propped doors compromise the safety and security measures they are designed to meet, including fire safety.
• Unauthorized presence: Students and visitors may not enter or roam a hall or living unit where they do not live without an escort who is a resident of that hall or living unit. Allowing unescorted non-residents access to a building or living area, including walking through the residence halls unescorted, is a violation of this policy.
• Unauthorized entry: Unauthorized entry of a restricted area or a person’s residence hall room without permission of the occupant or person responsible for the area is not permitted.
  
  
5. Computer/Internet Misuse
   Any violation of the University Computer Use Policy or MnSCU Policy and Procedure 5.22 and 5.22.1 on Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources is prohibited. MSUM’s computer use policy can be found at http://web.mnstate.edu/it/policy/computer_policies.shtml.
   
   In addition, students are responsible for abiding by the following Midcontinent (MC) policies:
• The MC network may be used only for lawful purposes. Transmission, distribution or storage of any material in violation of any applicable law or regulation is prohibited. This includes, without limitation, material protected by copyright, trademark, trade secret or other intellectual property right used without proper authorization, and material that is obscene, defamatory, constitutes an illegal threat, or violates export control laws.
• Violations of system or network security are prohibited, and may result in criminal and civil liability. Examples of system or network violation include unauthorized access to or use of data, unauthorized monitoring of data or traffic on any network or system without express authorization of the owner of the system or network, and interference with service to any user.
• Sending unsolicited mail messages, including, without limitation, commercial advertising and informational announcements, is explicitly prohibited.

Additional information on Midcontinent’s Acceptable Use Policy can be found here: http://www.mnstate.edu/housing/residencehalls.aspx

6. Disruption to Community
   Disruptive behavior in and around the residence halls is prohibited. This includes conducting oneself in a manner so as to disturb, intimidate, or threaten other members of the university community, engaging in inappropriate behavior that necessitates additional response from university or city personnel, or individual or group activities that may result in damage or destruction to self or property.
   
   
7. Fire Safety
• When fire alarms are activated, including during scheduled fire drills, all occupants must evacuate the building. Residents must wait outside the building until a member of the hall staff indicates they may return.
• Fire Safety equipment is provided to help ensure everyone's safety. Tampering with alarms, extinguishers, sprinklers, or smoke detectors is a violation of local, state, and federal laws, as well as a violation of University policies.
• Batteries may not be removed from smoke detectors except to replace them. Replacement batteries are available at your hall front desk.
• Any activity that could potentially compromise fire safety in the halls is a violation of policy. This includes such behaviors as falsely pulling a fire alarm, covering or removing a smoke detector, hanging items from sprinkler heads, obstructing egress by chaining a bike to a stairwell or blocking a corridor with floor mats, shoes, furniture or other items that impedes firefighters’ access to a fire.
• Withholding information/evidence concerning a fire is a serious offense.
• Prohibited items: anything that smolders (incense) or with an open flame or open heating elements are not allowed in residence hall rooms (e.g. candles, hotplates, hotpots, etc.). With the exception of microwaves, cooking appliances are permitted only in designated kitchen facilities.
  
  
8. Guests
   A guest is defined as anyone not assigned to the room/apartment. Guests must use the unisex/gender neutral or designated gendered bathroom. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests, and are responsible for making sure their guests adhere to all University policies.
• Residents will discuss and document when guests will be allowed per room by using the Roommate Agreement Form. After completion this form will be kept on file and can be referred to if there are disputes. All guests must be pre-approved by residents of the room.
• Overnight guests cannot stay for more than three nights in a week.
• Guests of the opposite gender are allowed 24 hours a day, but these times can be limited by the mutual agreement of the roommates.
• Guests and visitors of must be escorted at all times by a hall resident.
• Cohabitation is not permitted.
  
  
9. Harassment (Physical, Racial, Sexual, Verbal, Electronic, by Telephone, or other forms of bias
   Students are prohibited from harassing any other person by making repeated and/or unwelcome sex-related comments, sexual overtures, verbal threats, or physical behavior, including rape. (See also MSUM Nondiscrimination in Education and Employment Opportunity policy and procedure and the MSUM Sexual Violence policy and procedure in the Student Handbook.) It is a violation for persons to use the telephone or electronic means to harass or threaten others. Please report obscene or nuisance telephone calls or electronic messages to Public Safety. You should also report it to your RA immediately.
   
   
10. Health Hazards
    Situations or items such as piled, soiled clothing, exposed food items, vomit or bodily fluids, and the noxious odors emanating from such pose serious health hazards in the community and are prohibited.
    
    
11. Laundry Facilities Abuse
    Abuse of another's possessions or damage to equipment in the laundry room is not permitted. Any use of the equipment by or for a non-resident of that building is not permitted.
    
    
12. Lofts
    Only university provided lofts or those rented from CSI Lofts are permitted. Rental information is available at: www.csilofts.com. Be sure to check with Housing and Residential Life prior to renting a loft, as rooms in some halls are not conducive to lofting.
    
    
13. Occupancy
    A student assigned to a double room only has claim for one-half the room and its furnishings. Each roommate has an equal right to access the room and the privacy within it. A student in a double room without a roommate, must always be ready to accommodate a second resident. An attempt will be made to send notice of any new roommate assignment, but prior notice may not be possible. Students without roommates may be consolidated (i.e. moved to another room) in order to accommodate double-as-single room requests.
    
    
14. Painting
    The painting of residence hall rooms is not permitted. Similarly, students are not permitted to decorate walls, ceilings or furniture with paint, highlighter, pencils, pens, washable paints, acrylics, laundry detergent, or any other substances.
    
    
15. Pets
    Pets are not permitted in the residence halls, with the exception of fish. Fish tanks may be no larger than 10-gallon total capacity per room. University staff will require immediate removal of unauthorized pets. For more information regarding the University’s policy on animals on campus, please refer to the Animals on Campus policy (http://web.mnstate.edu/adminaff/files/policies/animals.cfm).
    
    
16. Political Canvassing
    Campaigning on behalf of candidates for local, county, state and national offices is permitted in the residence halls under the following guidelines:
• Complete the “application for political campaigning” form and submit to the Housing and Residential Life Department at least twenty four (24) hours prior to the requested campaign time. (Form is available in the Department of Housing and Residential Life, Ballard Hall 120). Completed applications shall be available to the public. Complaints about a campaign worker will be made to the responsible party on the application.
• Candidates may campaign in public areas, on residence hall floors or in the dining areas and may be joined by up to three campaign workers. In the absence of their candidate, campaign workers may campaign only in the public areas (lobby, outside dining hall entrance).
• Door-to-door political campaigning by the candidate with his/her campaign workers may occur between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. daily. Public area campaigning is permitted between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. daily.
• Residents who do not wish to be disturbed may display a “No Solicitation” sign on their room door. Candidates and campaign workers must honor these signs as well as all requests to leave a particular room. No campaign material may be attached to doors.
• Campaign workers and candidates must display or wear identification while campaigning in the residence halls.
• No more than three campaign workers will be allowed in each requested campaign area at any one time.
• No device that amplifies sound may be used.
• Political advertising can be inserted into University owned and operated mailboxes when items are addressed in accordance with postal guidelines.
  
  
17. Public Property
    Possession or use as decoration of stolen property including city, county, or state government property, such as road signs, is not permitted. Possession of stolen property is a violation of state law and University policy. Stolen or unauthorized property is subject to confiscation.
    
    
18. Published Policies
    Students are responsible for abiding by any MnSCU, MSUM (including the Student Conduct Code), or Housing and Residential Life policy, rule, or regulation published in hard copy or available electronically.
    
    
19. Quiet Hours/Courtesy Hours
    Residents have the right to sleep and study in their rooms at any time. When asked by someone to respect this right, residents are expected to demonstrate courtesy and consideration by complying with the request. This policy applies to noise that can be heard from both inside and outside a residence hall.
    
    Quiet hours are in effect from 10:00 PM until 9:00 AM Sunday to Thursday, 12:00 AM until 9:00 AM weekends (Friday and Saturday). Individual floors may choose to extend these hours. Quiet hours means that sound must not be audible beyond the limits of any individual room, hallway, or lounge. During finals week, 24-hour quiet hours will be in effect. Any student removing a loft at the end of a semester or academic year must do so before 24-hour quiet hours begin or wait until final examinations are completed.
    
    Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As a general rule, at no time should noise be heard from a resident's room more than 2 doors away, or from another floor.
    
    
20. Residence Hall Room as a Place of Business
    The use of state property including resources, residence hall rooms, internet connectivity, and/or phone service for purpose of running a business is prohibited. This includes providing child care, selling goods or services online or on a floor, or other revenue generating practices.
    
    
21. Room Decorations
• Room decorations may not damage facilities or create a health, safety or fire hazard and should be subject to each roommate’s approval. Fire regulations prohibit the use of any flammable hanging decoration including cloth, parachutes, fish nets, crepe paper, etc. Every resident will be required to remove any decoration or furnishings deemed potential fire hazards.
• Decorations on room doors are not to cover more than one third (1/3) of the door.
• Rooms may not be painted.
• Natural holiday trees are not permitted in the residence halls. Artificial trees and fiber optic trees may be used according to listed safety precautions.
• Any supplementary lighting (including strings of lights) must be UL (Underwriters Laboratories) approved. Never put lights on metallic objects, such as a loft, to avoid a short circuit. Lighting may not obstruct doorways or walking paths.
• To avoid potential damage charges, do not use nails, screws or sticky adhesives. Use a tacky, putty substance like “TackIt” or 3M Command adhesives. Contact paper, masking tape and duct tape can damage paint and will strip the finish off wooden doors and other surfaces. Adhesive remains will need to be cleaned, and hooks and mirrors removed from the walls before check out. Residents will be billed for the removal.
  
  
22. Satellite Dishes and Antennas
    Satellite dishes, antennas, or similar devices are not permitted in the residence halls.
    
    
23. Smoking and Tobacco Use
    Smoking, tobacco use, and tobacco sales (including the use or sales of smokeless tobacco products) are prohibited on University-owned, -operated, -or leased property.
    
    
24. Sports in the Halls
    Running, hacky sack, Frisbee throwing, hockey, in-line skating, skate boarding, rip-sticking, bouncing balls, riding bikes, and other athletic/sport-type activities are prohibited in the residence halls. No remote control toys are to be operated in the hallways. Staff members reserve the right to confiscate equipment used in violation of this policy. Those causing damage to university property due to use of this type of equipment will be held financially responsible.
    
    
25. Trash Removal
    Students are responsible for taking out their own trash. Trash must be taken to and deposited in the nearest designated trash areas. All trash must be removed from all rooms during break periods.
    
    
26. University Furniture
    Public area (lobby, study room, lounge) furniture is not permitted in student rooms. University furniture may not be removed from its designated location, including student rooms, except by authorized University personnel.
    
    
27. Waterbeds
    Waterbeds are not permitted.
    
    
28. Weapons
    Students may not use or possess firearms, fireworks, explosives, or other dangerous weapons or materials in the residence halls. Firearms include any gun, rifle, pistol, or handgun designed to fire bullets, BBs, pellets, or other projectiles by means of explosive gas, compressed air, or other propellant. Weapons include, but are not limited to, knives, switchblades, razors, metal knuckles, bow and arrows, nunchukus, foils, or any instrument used to threaten or inflict injury upon another person. Dangerous materials include lighter fluid, propane, or other dangerous chemicals.
    
    
29. Windows and Screen
    For safety purposes, window screens may not be opened (i.e. cutting the screen) or removed at any time. Removing or opening a window screen for other than emergency purposes may result in a fine. Throwing any object from a residence hall window or using a window as an entry or non-emergency exit is a serious safety concern.