St. Mary’s College of Maryland strives to allow students to grow as persons and to learn and works to provide an environment that serves that goal. It is important that all members of the College community conduct themselves in a responsible manner that is consistent with the mission of the College. When a student becomes a member of the College community, they agree to comply with the College’s policies and rules. When these are violated, the community is harmed. The Code of Student Conduct has been established to maintain standards of conduct and to protect the rights of everyone.
The following misconduct is subject to disciplinary action, as provided for in this Code:
- Violation of published College policies, rules and regulations, including violation of the terms and conditions of the Residential Life Housing Contract and Handbook.
- Violation of federal, state or local laws.
- Acts of dishonesty to include:
- Violations of the academic misconduct policy, including but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty.
- Furnishing false information to any College instructor, official, or other office with an intent to deceive.
- Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any College document, record, instrument, or identification.
- Intentional disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other College-sponsored activities.
- Physical, written, verbal, electronic, or mental abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health, safety, or emotional well-being of oneself or others to include:
- Bullying: a pattern of behavior when an individual repeatedly uses power in an intentional manner, including verbal, physical, or written conduct directed at another individual.
- Cyberbullying: the use of electronic communication to harm or harass others in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner.
- Intimidation: Subjecting an individual to intentional action that significantly threatens and induces a sense of fear and/or inferiority.
- Coercion: the improper use of pressure to compel another individual to initiate or continue action.
- Threats: Physical, written, verbal, or electronic conduct which reasonably expresses an intention to cause an individual injury, harm, or damage.
- Physical restraint, assault, or any other act of physical violence, or use of physical force against an individual.
- Theft, destruction, vandalism, misuse or abuse to property of the College or property of a member of the College community, including, but not limited to, painting/chalking on exterior walls and sidewalks or hanging banners from exterior facing windows.
- Failure to comply with a reasonable request of authorized College personnel or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
- Tampering with, removal of, setting off, or damage to the equipment or alarm systems in any College building when no apparent fire or immediate danger exists.
- Unauthorized possession or use of keys to any College door or facility, unauthorized operation of any locking mechanism; unauthorized entry to or use of College facilities.
- Controlled substance violation to include:
- Use, possession, or distribution of narcotics or other controlled dangerous substances, including medicinal and recreational marijuana, and related paraphernalia on College premises.
- Violation of the College Alcohol Policy.
- Illegal or unauthorized use, possession, or distribution of firearms, explosives, or other dangerous weapons or chemicals on College premises.
- Conduct which is disorderly, lewd, or indecent; breach of peace; or aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to breach the peace.
- Abuse of the Conduct System, including:
- Failure to respond to a summons of the Conduct Board or the student conduct officer.
- Initiation of a conduct proceeding knowingly without cause.
- Attempt to influence the impartiality of a member of the Conduct Board prior to or during the course of a conduct proceeding.
- Failure to complete or comply with a disciplinary sanction assigned by the Conduct Board/Hearing Officer.
- Verbal, physical, or mental harassment or intimidation of any member of the conduct body, witnesses, complainants, or respondents prior to, during, or after a conduct proceeding.
- Violation of the College Policy Against Sexual Harassment.
- Violation of the College Hazing Policy.
- Harassment, which is defined as unwelcome conduct that is (a) based on a legally protected class, including: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law; and/or (b) that is so severe or pervasive that it interferes with an individual’s work or academic performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.