Conduct Definitions

Accused student means any student accused of violating the student code of conduct or other University policies.

Complainant means any person who submits a charge alleging that a student violated the student code of conduct or other University policies.

Dependent student is a student who is considered a dependent of one or both of the student’s parents, as defined by federal income tax regulations, with respect to the most recent federal income tax return filed by either or both parent(s).

Faculty member means any person hired by the University to conduct classroom or teaching activities or who is otherwise considered by the University to be a member of its faculty.

FERPA means, collectively, the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, as amended, and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

Hearing officer means a University official authorized on a case-by-case basis by the Dean of Student Experience to determine whether an accused student has committed proscribed conduct and, if so, to impose sanctions upon the student.

May is used in the permissive sense.

Member of the University community includes any person who is a student, faculty member, University official or any other person employed by the University. A person’s status in a particular situation shall be determined by the Dean of Student Experience.

Organization means any number of persons who have complied with the formal requirements for University recognition.

Policy means any policy, procedure, rule, and/or regulation of the University as found in, but not limited to, the student code of conduct and general policies, including without limitation those policies, procedures, rules, and/or regulations published in electronic form.

Proscribed conduct means a violation of University policies; conduct which adversely affects the University community and/or the pursuit of its objectives; or conduct which violates any federal, state, or local law.

Self-defense is defined as the justifiable infliction of harm upon another person to preserve oneself from imminent physical harm. Most importantly, self-defense must be preventative and proportional. The harm inflicted upon the attacker may only be as much force or harm as is needed to repel the attack and no more.

Shall is used in the imperative sense.

Special periods is the first two weeks of the academic year and the last two weeks of each academic semester, other times when the student conduct procedures set forth in this document cannot reasonably be utilized, and/or times not encompassed by the academic calendar including, but not limited to, the period between the end of the spring semester and the beginning of the fall semester.

Student includes all persons registered for classes at any location of the University (including courses taught in a foreign country or another off-site location), either full-time or part-time, pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional studies. Persons who withdraw after allegedly engaging in proscribed conduct, who are not officially enrolled for a particular term, but who have a continuing relationship with the University, or who have enrolled but not yet attended classes, are considered “students”.

Individuals who are both students and employees will be treated as students for the purpose of this policy/procedure only if their primary relationship to the institution is that of student. Allegations against individuals who are regular employees (regardless of student status) will be handled under the appropriate University personnel policies.

Student conduct body means any person or persons authorized by the Dean of Student Experience to determine whether a student has engaged in proscribed conduct and, if so, to recommend or impose sanctions.

University means Alfred University.

University official includes any person employed by the University, performing assigned administrative or professional responsibilities.

University premises include all land, buildings, facilities, and other property in the possession of or owned, used or controlled by the University (including adjacent streets and sidewalks).

Weapons cover all items capable of inflicting serious injury. This includes items which are legally possessed, but used in a manner that harms, threatens, or causes fear, or could easily be mistake as a weapon. Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: firearms, knives, air guns, spear guns, paint guns, bow and arrow, explosives: gunpowder, firecrackers, ammunition, etc.