Student Handbook

Section 4: The Community Expectations

Core Values and Behavioral Expectations

The University of Saint Francis considers the behavior described in the following sections as inappropriate for the University of Saint Francis community and inconsistent to the core values set forth in the Code of Student Conduct. These expectations and rules apply to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. The University of Saint Francis encourages community members to report to University of Saint Francis officials all incidents that involve the following actions. Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit any of the following misconduct is subject to the sanctions outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.

Integrity

University of Saint Francis students exemplify honesty, honor and a respect for the truth in all of their dealings. Behavior that violates this value includes, but is not limited to:

  • Falsification. Knowingly furnishing or possessing false, falsified or forged materials, documents, accounts, records, identification or financial instruments.
  • Academic Dishonesty. Acts of academic dishonesty as outlined in the Code of Academic Integrity.
  • Unauthorized Access. Unauthorized access to any University of Saint Francis building (i.e. keys, cards, etc.) or unauthorized possession, duplication or use of means of access to any University of Saint Francis building or failing to timely report a lost University of Saint Francis identification card or key.
  • Collusion. Action or inaction with another or others to violate the Code of Student Conduct.
  • Trust. Violations of positions of trust within the community.
  • Election Tampering. Tampering with the election of any University of Saint Francis- recognized student organization (minor election code violations are addressed by the SGA).
  • Theft/Taking of Property. Intentional and unauthorized taking of University of Saint Francis property or the personal property of another, including goods, services and other valuables.
  • Stolen Property. Knowingly taking or maintaining possession of stolen property.

Community

University of Saint Francis students build and enhance their community. Behavior that violates this value includes, but is not limited to:

  • Disruptive Behavior. Substantial disruption of University of Saint Francis operations including obstruction of teaching, research, administration, other University of Saint Francis activities, and/or other authorized non-University of Saint Francis activities which disrupt the normal function of its campus community.
  • Disorderly Conduct/Rioting. Causing, inciting or participating in any disturbance that presents a clear and present danger to self or others, causes physical harm to others, or damage and/or destruction of property.
  • Unauthorized Entry. Misuse of access privileges to University of Saint Francis premises or unauthorized entry to or use of buildings, including trespassing, propping or unauthorized use of alarmed doors for entry into or exit from a University of Saint Francis building.
  • Trademark. Unauthorized use (including misuse) of University of Saint Francis or organizational names and images.
  • Damage/Destruction. Intentional, reckless and/or unauthorized damage to or destruction of University of Saint Francis property or the personal property of another.
  • UTS Computer Use Policy. Violating the University Technology Services Computer Use Policy.
  • Gambling. Gambling as prohibited by the laws of the State of Indiana (Gambling may include raffles, lotteries, sports pools and online betting activities).
  • Weapons. Possession, use, or distribution of explosives (including fireworks and ammunition), guns (including air, BB, paintball, facsimile weapons and pellet guns), or other weapons or dangerous objects such as arrows, axes, machetes, nun chucks, throwing stars, or knives with a blade of longer than four inches, including the storage of any item that falls within the category of a weapon in a vehicle parked on University of Saint Francis property.
  • Tobacco. Smoking or tobacco use in any area of campus.
  • Fire Safety. Violation of local, state, federal or campus fire policies including, but not limited to:
    • Intentionally or recklessly causing a fire which damages University of Saint Francis or personal property or which causes injury,
    • Failure to evacuate a University of Saint Francis-controlled building during a fire alarm,
    • Improper use of University of Saint Francis fire safety equipment, or
    • Tampering with or improperly engaging a fire alarm or fire detection/control equipment while on University of Saint Francis property. Such action may result in a local fine in addition to University of Saint Francis sanctions.
  • Animals. Animals, with the exception of animals that required as a certified disability accommodation (ex. seeing-eye dogs), and pets as outlined in the Student Handbook, are not permitted on campus except as permitted by law.
  • Wheeled Devices. Skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, bicycles and similar wheeled devices are not permitted inside University buildings; nor can they be secured to handrails, light poles, trees or any other campus fixture, except in designated areas (i.e. bicycle racks). Additionally, skateboards and other wheeled items may not be ridden or operated in buildings, mall areas, alleys, curbs, ramps, stairs, benches, or any such fixtures that may be damaged by these activities. Individuals may be liable for damage to University of Saint Francis property caused by these activities.

Social Justice

Students recognize that respecting the dignity of every person is essential for creating and sustaining a flourishing university community. They understand and appreciate how their decisions and actions impact others and are just and equitable in their treatment of all members of the community. They act to discourage and challenge those whose actions may be harmful to and/or diminish the worth of others. Conduct that violates this value includes, but is not limited to:

  • Discrimination. Any act or failure to act that is based upon an individual or group’s actual or perceived status (sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, or sexual orientation, or other protected status) that is sufficiently severe that it limits or denies the ability to participate in or benefit from the University of Saint Francis’s educational program or activity.
  • Harassment. Any unwelcome conduct. Such conduct may be based on actual or perceived status including: sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, sexual orientation or other protected state. Any unwelcome conduct should be reported to campus officials, who will act to remedy and resolve reported incidents on behalf of the victim and community.
    • Hostile Environment. Sanctions can and will be imposed for the creation of a hostile environment only when harassment is sufficiently severe, pervasive or persistent and objectively offensive that it unreasonably interferes with, limits or denies the ability to participate in or benefit from the University of Saint Francis’s educational or employment program or activities.*
  • Retaliation or Retaliatory Discrimination or Harassment. Any intentional, adverse action taken by an individual or allied third party, against a person for reporting an allegation, for supporting a reporting or responding party, or for assisting in providing information relevant to an allegation in a civil rights grievance proceeding or other protected activity.
  • Failure to Act. Complicity with or failure of any student or organized group to appropriately address known or obvious violations of the Code of Student Conduct or law.
  • Abuse of Conduct Process. Abuse of, interference with, or failure to comply in, University of Saint Francis processes including conduct and academic integrity hearings including, but not limited to:
    • Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information;
    • Failure to provide, destroying or concealing information during an investigation of an alleged policy violation;
    • Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the campus conduct system;
    • Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a campus conduct body prior to, during, and/or following a campus conduct proceeding;
    • Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed by the campus conduct system; and/or
    • Influencing, or attempting to influence, another person to commit an abuse of the campus conduct system.

Respect

University of Saint Francis students show positive regard for each other and for the community. Behavior that violates this value includes, but is not limited to:

  • Harm to Persons. Intentionally or recklessly causing physical harm or endangering the health or safety of oneself or any other person (includes physical altercations/fighting).
  • Threatening Behaviors.
    • Threat. Written or verbal conduct that causes a reasonable expectation of injury to the health or safety of any person or damage to any property; and/or
    • Intimidation. Implied threats or acts that cause a reasonable fear of harm in another.
  • Bullying and Cyberbullying. Bullying and cyberbullying are repeated and/or severe aggressive behaviors that intimidate or intentionally harm or control another person physically or emotionally, and are not protected by freedom of expression.
  • Hazing. Defined as an act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or that destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization. Participation or cooperation by the person(s) being hazed does not excuse the violation. Failing to intervene to prevent (and/or) failing to discourage (and/or) failing to report those acts may also violate this policy.
  • Intimate Partner/Relationship Violence. Violence or abuse by a person in an intimate relationship with another.
  • Stalking. Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that is unwelcome and would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.
  • Sexual Misconduct. Includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual intercourse, and/or sexual exploitation.
  • Public Exposure. Includes deliberately and publicly exposing one’s intimate body parts, public urination, defecation, and public sex acts.

Responsibility

University of Saint Francis students are given and accept a high level of responsibility to self, to others and to the community. Behavior that violates this value includes, but is not limited to:

  • Alcohol. Use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law and the University of Saint Francis’s Alcohol Policy.
  • Drugs. Use, possession or distribution of illegal drugs and other controlled substances or drug paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law and the University of Saint Francis’s Drug Policy.
  • Prescription Medications. Abuse, misuse, sale, or distribution of prescription or over- the-counter medications, and/or possession of prescription medications when not in a properly marked container that identifies the medication and patient.
  • Failure to Comply. Failure to comply with the reasonable directives of University of Saint Francis officials or law enforcement officers during the performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
  • Financial Responsibilities. Failure to promptly meet financial responsibilities to the institution, including, but not limited to: knowingly passing a worthless check or money order in payment to the institution or to an official of the institution acting in an official capacity.
  • Arrest. Failure of any student to accurately report an off-campus arrest by any law enforcement agency for any crime (including non-custodial or field arrests) to the Office of  the Vice President for Student Affairs within seventy-two (72) hours of release.
  • Other Policies. Violating other published University of Saint Francis policies or rules, including all Community Standards and Residential Life & Housing policies.
  • Health and Safety. Creation of health and/or safety hazards (ex. dangerous pranks, hanging out of or climbing from/on/in windows, balconies, roofs, etc.).
  • Violations of Law. Evidence of alleged violation of local, state or federal laws, when substantiated through the University of Saint Francis’s conduct process.