Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct

Scope

All students at Indiana University, as defined in the Definitions section.

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Policy Statement

Indiana University recognizes its responsibility to support and uphold the basic freedoms and citizenship rights of all students. Just as students have rights, they also have responsibilities.

Every Indiana University student is responsible for reading and understanding this Statement, as well as other expectations identified by individual schools or organizations relevant to an academic major, professional field, or on-campus residence. This Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct is intended to identify the basic rights, responsibilities, and expectations of all students and student groups to serve as a guide for the overall student experience at Indiana University.

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Reason for Policy

The purposes of Indiana University include the advancement of knowledge, the pursuit of truth, the development of students, and the promotion of the general well-being of society. As a community, we share a dedication to maintaining an environment that supports trust, respect, honesty, civility, free inquiry, creativity, and an open exchange of ideas.

Individual rights are best protected by a collective commitment to mutual respect. A student who accepts admission to Indiana University agrees to:

• be ethical in his or her participation in the academic community,
• take responsibility for what he or she says and does,
• behave in a manner that is respectful of the dignity of others, treating others with civility and understanding, and
• use university resources and facilities in appropriate ways consistent with their purpose and in accordance with applicable polices.

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Procedures

Part I: Student Rights

Indiana University recognizes its responsibility to support and uphold the basic freedoms and citizenship rights of all students. Within that context, students have the following rights:

1. Rights in the Pursuit of Education
   The classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and studios are the essential learning environments of the university, and the freedom to learn in these environments should be promoted and encouraged by instructors. The following statements have been developed in support of a student’s rights in the classroom or other learning environment. Students shall have the right to:
   • Have access to faculty, academic technology, classrooms, libraries, presentations, and other resources necessary for the learning process.
   • Have access to academic advising and clear expectations for degree and graduation requirements.
   • Have decisions related to the pursuit of their education made in a clear manner.
   • Learn in an environment that supports the freedom of self-expression and association.
   • Participate in an exchange of ideas, pursuant with his or her constitutional rights and the Preamble of this Code, free of conduct that impedes either an instructor’s ability to teach or the student’s ability to learn. (See Guidelines for Dealing with Disruptive Students in Academic Settings, University Faculty Council, April 12, 2005.)
   • Receive either a paper or an electronic class syllabus in a timely manner.
   • Expect to interact with faculty who act professionally; provide clearly stated class goals; provide clear expectations for class performance and evaluation; meet classes as scheduled; are accessible for office hours, appointments, or consultation; and maintain a clear connection between course content and the most recently approved course description.
   • Expect a faculty member will be sensitive to the student’s religious beliefs and observances, including an expectation that instructors will make reasonable arrangements upon notice that the student must miss an exam or other academic exercise resulting from the observance of a religious holiday. (See Policy on Accommodations for Religious Observances, University Faculty Council, March 28, 2000).
   • Have the freedom to raise relevant issues pertaining to classroom discussion (including personal and political beliefs), offer reasonable doubts about data presented, and express alternative opinions without concern for any academic penalty. Students have the right to expect that their work will be evaluated by academic standards alone.
   • Study, work, and interact in an environment of professionalism and of mutual trust and respect that is free of amorous or sexual advances by a faculty member. All amorous or sexual relationships between faculty members and students are unacceptable when the faculty member has any professional responsibility for the student, even when both parties have consented or appear to have consented to the relationship. Such professional responsibility encompasses both instructional and noninstructional contexts. A faculty member shall not have an amorous or sexual relationship, consensual or otherwise, with a student who is enrolled in a course being taught by the faculty member or whose performance is being supervised or evaluated by the faculty member. A faculty member should be careful to distance himself or herself from any decisions that may reward or penalize a student with whom he or she has or has had an amorous or sexual relationship, even outside the instructional context, especially when the faculty member and student are in the same academic unit or in units that are allied academically. (From the University Code of Academic Ethics, Part A.1, Relations with Students.) See definition of “faculty member” in the Code.
2. Right to Freedom from Discrimination
   Students have the right to study, work, and interact in an environment that is free from discrimination in violation of law or university policy by any member of the university community. Students at Indiana University are expected to respect the rights and dignity of other students, faculty, and staff.

   
   The university will not exclude any person from participation in its programs or activities on the basis of arbitrary considerations of such characteristics as age, color, disability, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

   A student has the right to be free from such discrimination by other students that has the effect of interfering with the student’s ability to participate in programs or activities of the university.

   Students wishing more information regarding these statements should consult the following policies:

   • Non-Discrimination/Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
   • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
   • Sexual Misconduct

   Indiana University administrators are responsible for publicizing and implementing the university’s Non-Discrimination/Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy and Sexual Misconduct Policy in their respective areas of jurisdiction. Students who believe that they are victims of discrimination may obtain information concerning the university’s applicable policies and procedures from the campus affirmative action officer, Title IX Coordinator, or the dean of students office.

3. Right to Freedom from Harassment
   A student has the right to be free from sexual or discriminatory harassment a) in any building or at any location on any university property, or b) that occurs in a building or on property that is not university property if the harassment arises from university activities that are being conducted off the university campus or if the harassment undermines the security of the university community or the integrity of the educational process or poses a serious threat.

   
   Discriminatory harassment is defined as conduct that targets an individual based upon age, color, religion, disability, race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or veteran’s status and that adversely affects a term or condition of an individual’s education, housing, or participation in a university activity; or has the purpose or effect of unreasonably creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for academic pursuits, housing, or participation in university activities.

   The Indiana University Sexual Misconduct Policy, as adopted by the Board of Trustees March 1, 2015, provides procedures for handling complaints concerning all forms of sexual misconduct including sexual harassment and sex/gender based discrimination (as defined in the Sexual Misconduct Policy). Other forms of discrimination or harassment are handled under existing procedures for misconduct.

   Indiana University administrators are responsible for publicizing and implementing the university’s Non-Discrimination/Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy and Sexual Misconduct Policy in their respective areas of jurisdiction. Students who believe that they are victims of discrimination may obtain information concerning the university’s applicable policies and procedures from the campus affirmative action officer, Title IX Coordinator, or the dean of students office.

4. Right to Access Records and Facilities
   Students can expect to have access to policies and procedures that affect them and access to university offices that may be able to assist them, such as the Office of Institutional Equity or the dean of students office.

   
   Students can expect that their academic records will be maintained and they will have access to their records in a manner consistent with the Indiana University policies and applicable state and federal laws.

   Students can expect to have reasonable access to university facilities and resources.

5. Right to Freedom of Association, Expression, Advocacy, and Publication 
   Students are free to form, join, and participate in groups or organizations that promote student interests, including but not limited to groups or organizations that are organized for intellectual, religious, social, economic, political, recreational, or cultural purposes. 

   In accordance with the state and federal Constitution and university policy, the university recognizes the rights of all students to engage in discussion, to express thoughts and opinions, and to assemble, speak, write, publish or invite speakers on any subject without university interference or fear of university disciplinary action. 

   Students may engage in peaceful and orderly protests, demonstrations, and picketing that do not disrupt functions of the university, subject to appropriate regulation concerning time, place, and manner. If a student feels that this right has been violated, the student may file a request with the dean of students for an investigation and appropriate action. 

   Students who publish student publications under university auspices have the right to be free of university censorship. Student editors and managers may be suspended or removed from their positions only for proper cause and by appropriate proceedings conducted by the agency responsible for the appointment of such editors and managers. 

   Indiana University does not require a student group or organization to register and be approved by the university. Student groups and organizations must comply with all federal, state and local laws, as well as university policies. 

   A student group or organization may be authorized to use university facilities for extracurricular activities, subject to the procedures established by the dean of students on each campus.

6. Right to Contribute to University Governance 
   Students have the right to contribute to the making of institutional policy generally affecting their social or academic affairs. 

   Students have the right to participate in the formation of standards of student conduct and the student disciplinary procedures by serving as members of appropriate committees such as the Student Affairs Committee of the faculty council.

   Students have the right to be represented by a student government.

7. Right to Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities 
   Indiana University is committed to creating a learning environment and academic community that promotes educational opportunities for all individuals, including those with disabilities. Course directors are asked to make reasonable accommodations, upon request by the student or the university, for such disabilities. It is the responsibility of students with documented physical or learning disabilities seeking accommodation to notify their course directors and the relevant campus office that deals with such cases in a timely manner concerning the need for such accommodation. Indiana University will make reasonable accommodations for access to programs, services, and facilities as outlined by applicable state and federal laws.

   CAMPUS SUPPORT OFFICES
   Bloomington	Disability Services for Students
   East	Accessibility Services
   Indianapolis	Adaptive Educational Services
   Kokomo	Accessibility Center
   Northwest	Disability Support Services
   Southeast	Disability Services
   South Bend	Office of Disability Support Services

8. Rights of Student in the Judicial Process 
   Students who believe that any of their rights, as defined in this Code, have been violated by a member of the university community have the right to file a complaint, as outlined in Part III, Procedures. 

   A student making a complaint under the provisions of this Code should expect that the university will make a good faith attempt to determine the validity of the complaint.

   An alleged offender, complainant or victim is not entitled to be present while the individuals who are responsible for determining the merits of the complaint are deliberating the merits of the complaint. 

   Rights of a victim include:

   1. The student has the option of being present in all aspects of a hearing during which witnesses provide evidence.

   2. The university will disclose the final results of any disciplinary proceeding to complainants as permitted by the provisions of state and federal laws.

   Rights of the student charged (alleged offender):

   1. A student charged with violating this Code has the right to a fair and reasonable process for handling the charges.

   2. The student has the right to be informed of the procedures that will be used in adjudicating the charges against him/her, including but not limited to notice of the charges, deadlines associated with stages of the process, the kinds of evidence that may be submitted at each stage, and the availability of appeals processes, if any.

   3. The student has the right to be present during those portions of any hearing in which witnesses provide evidence relating to the charge.

   4. The student who is participating in a hearing or proceeding at which evidence may be submitted is entitled to request the university make a good faith attempt to compel the attendance of witnesses, compel the production of documents, and provide a reasonable time period within which requests for witnesses and documents can be submitted and acted upon.

9. Rights of Students as University Employees 
   A student’s rights and responsibilities as an employee of the university are governed by the policies of the unit and by the applicable personnel policies of Indiana University. Students should contact their immediate supervisor, the Office of Student Employment, or University Human Resources for information. All personnel policies, including the policies for student hourly employees, are also available on the Indiana University Web site.

Part II: Student Responsibilities

Just as students have rights, they also have responsibilities. Indiana University recognizes its responsibility to support and uphold the basic freedoms and citizenship rights of all students, and it expects students to be responsible for the following:

1. Uphold and follow all codes of conduct, including this Code, relevant codes and bulletins of respective schools, professional programs or professional societies, and all rules applicable to conduct in class environments or university-sponsored activities, including off-campus clinical, field, internships, or in-service experiences.
2. Obey all applicable university policies and procedures and all local, state, and federal laws.
3. Facilitate the learning environment and the process of learning, including attending class regularly, completing class assignments, and coming to class prepared.
4. Plan a program of study appropriate to the student’s educational goals. This may include selecting a major field of study, choosing an appropriate degree program within the discipline, planning class schedules, and meeting the requirements for the degree.
5. Use university property and facilities in support of their education while being mindful of the rights of others to use university property and facilities.
6. Maintain and regularly monitor their university accounts including e-mail and bursar accounts.
7. Uphold and maintain academic and professional honesty and integrity.
   Academic misconduct is defined as any activity that tends to undermine the academic integrity of the institution. The university may discipline a student for academic misconduct. Academic misconduct may involve human, hard-copy, or electronic resources.

   
   Policies of academic misconduct apply to all course-, department-, school-, and university-related activities, including field trips, conferences, performances, and sports activities off-campus, exams outside of a specific course structure (such as take-home exams, entrance exams, or auditions, theses and master’s exams, and doctoral qualifying exams and dissertations), and research work outside of a specific course structure (such as lab experiments, data collection, service learning, and collaborative research projects). The faculty member may take into account the seriousness of the violation in assessing a penalty for acts of academic misconduct. The faculty member must report all cases of academic misconduct to the dean of students, or appropriate official. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

   1. Cheating: Cheating is considered to be an attempt to use or provide unauthorized assistance, materials, information, or study aids in any form and in any academic exercise or environment.

      1. A student must not use external assistance on any “in-class” or “take-home” examination, unless the instructor specifically has authorized external assistance. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, the use of tutors, books, notes, calculators, computers, and wireless communication devices.

      2. A student must not use another person as a substitute in the taking of an examination or quiz, nor allow other persons to conduct research or to prepare work, without advanced authorization from the instructor to whom the work is being submitted.

      3. A student must not use materials from a commercial term paper company, files of papers prepared by other persons, or submit documents found on the Internet.

      4. A student must not collaborate with other persons on a particular project and submit a copy of a written report that is represented explicitly or implicitly as the student’s individual work.

      5. A student must not use any unauthorized assistance in a laboratory, at a computer terminal, or on fieldwork.

      6. A student must not steal examinations or other course materials, including but not limited to, physical copies and photographic or electronic images.

      7. A student must not submit substantial portions of the same academic work for credit or honors more than once without permission of the instructor or program to whom he work is being submitted.

      8. A student must not, without authorization, alter a grade or score in any way, nor alter answers on a returned exam or assignment for credit.

   2. Fabrication: A student must not falsify or invent any information or data in an academic exercise including, but not limited to, records or reports, laboratory results, and citation to the sources of information.

   3. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s work, including the work of other students, as one’s own. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged, unless the information is common knowledge. What is considered “common knowledge” may differ from course to course.

      1. A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, opinions, theories, formulas, graphics, or pictures of another person without acknowledgment.

      2. A student must give credit to the originality of others and acknowledge indebtedness whenever:

         1. directly quoting another person’s actual words, whether oral or written;

         2. using another person’s ideas, opinions, or theories;

         3. paraphrasing the words, ideas, opinions, or theories of others, whether oral or written;

         4. borrowing facts, statistics, or illustrative material; or

         5. offering materials assembled or collected by others in the form of projects or collections without acknowledgment

   4. Interference: A student must not steal, change, destroy, or impede another student’s work, nor should the student unjustly attempt, through a bribe, a promise of favors or threats, to affect any student’s grade or the evaluation of academic performance. Impeding another student’s work includes, but is not limited to, the theft, defacement, or mutilation of resources so as to deprive others of the information they contain.

   5. Violation of Course Rules: A student must not violate course rules established by a department, the course syllabus, verbal or written instructions, or the course materials that are rationally related to the content of the course or to the enhancement of the learning process in the course.

   6. Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: A student must not intentionally or knowingly help or attempt to help another student to commit an act of academic misconduct, nor allow another student to use his or her work or resources to commit an act of misconduct.

8. Be responsible for their behavior, and respect the rights and dignity of others both within and outside of the university community. 
   
   The university may discipline a student for the following acts of personal misconduct that occur on university property, including but not limited to academic and administration buildings, residence halls, athletic and recreational facilities, and other university-serviced property, such as sororities and fraternities:

   1. Dishonest conduct including, but not limited to, false accusation of misconduct, forgery, alteration, or misuse of any university document, record, or identification; and giving to a university official information known to be false.

   2. Assuming another person’s identity or role through deception or without proper authorization. Communicating or acting under the guise, name, identification, e-mail address, signature, or other indications of another person or group without proper authorization or authority.

   3. Knowingly initiating, transmitting, filing, or circulating a false report or warning concerning an impending bombing, fire, or other emergency or catastrophe; or transmitting such a report to an official or an official agency.

   4. Unauthorized release or use of any university access codes for computer systems, duplicating systems, and other university equipment.

   5. Conduct that is lewd, indecent, or obscene and/or is in violation of the Sexual Misconduct Policy, UA-03.

   6. Disorderly conduct, including obstructive and disruptive behavior that interferes with teaching, research, administration, or other university or university-authorized activity. (See Guidelines for Dealing with Disruptive Students in Academic Settings, University Faculty Council, April 12, 2005.)

   7. Actions that endanger one’s self, others in the university community, or the academic process.

   8. Failure to comply with the directions of authorized university officials in the performance of their duties, including failure to identify oneself when requested to do so; failure to comply with the terms of a disciplinary sanction; or refusal to vacate a university facility when directed to do so.

   9. Unauthorized entry, use, or occupancy of university facilities.

   10. Unauthorized taking, possession, or use of university property or services or the property or services of others.

   11. Damage to or destruction of university property or the property belonging to others.

   12. Unauthorized setting of fires on university property; unauthorized use of or interference with fire equipment and emergency personnel.

   13. Unauthorized possession, use, manufacture, distribution, or sale of illegal fireworks, incendiary devices, or other dangerous explosives.

   14. Possession of any weapon or potential weapon on any university property contrary to law or university policy; possession or display of any firearm on university property, except in the course of an authorized activity.

   15. Sale of any firearms from university property or using university facilities, including through computer and telephone accounts; intentional possession of a dangerous article or substance as a potential weapon.

   16. Acting with violence.

   17. Aiding, encouraging, or participating in a riot.

   18. Harassment, including sexual harassment, as defined in Part I (c) of the Code.

   19. Stalking or hazing of any kind whether the behavior is carried out verbally, physically, electronically, or in written form.

       1. All forms of stalking, including as defined in the Sexual Misconduct Policy.

       2. Hazing is defined as any conduct that subjects another person, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or psychologically, to anything that may endanger, abuse, degrade, or intimidate the person as a condition of association with a group or organization, regardless of the person’s consent or lack of consent.

   20. Physical abuse of any person, including the following:

       1. The use of physical force or violence to restrict the freedom of action or movement of another person or to endanger the health or safety of another person;

       2. Physical behavior that involves an express or implied threat to interfere with an individual’s personal safety, academic efforts, employment, or participation in university-sponsored extracurricular activities or causes the person to have a reasonable apprehension that such harm is about to occur; or

       3. Physical behavior that has the purpose or reasonably foreseeable effect of interfering with an individual’s personal safety, academic efforts, employment, or participation in university-sponsored extracurricular activities or causes the person to have a reasonable apprehension that such harm is about to occur;

       4. Sexual assault as defined in the Sexual Misconduct Policy, UA-03, including the following;

          1. Non-consensual Sexual Penetration, and/or

          2. Non-consensual Sexual Contact. 

       5. Physical abuse that constitutes dating or domestic violence as defined in the Sexual Misconduct Policy, UA-03.

   21. Verbal abuse of another person, including the following:

       1. An express or implied threat to:

          1. Interfere with an individual’s personal safety, academic efforts, employment, or participation in university-sponsored activities and that under the circumstances causes the person to have a reasonable apprehension that such harm is about to occur; or

          2. Injure that person, or damage his or her property; or

       2. “Fighting words” that are spoken face-to-face as a personal insult to the listener or listeners in personally abusive language inherently likely to provoke a violent reaction by the listener or listeners to the speaker.

       3. Verbal abuse that constitutes dating or domestic violence as defined in the Sexual Misconduct Policy, UA-03.

   22. Unauthorized possession, use, or supplying alcoholic beverages to others contrary to law or university policy.

       1. Indiana University prohibits:

          1. Public intoxication, use, or possession of alcoholic beverages on university property (including any undergraduate residence supervised by the university, including fraternity and sorority houses) except as otherwise noted in Part II, Section H (22) b and Part II, Section H (22) c.

          2. Providing alcohol contrary to law.

       2. The dean of students, or equivalent role on each campus has discretion to allow exceptions to Part II, Section H (22) a, allowing use or possession of alcohol by persons, including students, who meet the minimum drinking age standards of the State of Indiana, under the following circumstances:

          1. Use or possession of alcoholic beverages by persons who are of lawful drinking age may be generally permitted in residences supervised by the university, including fraternity and sorority houses, when specifically approved by the campus dean of students. Such use or possession may be allowed in residence rooms, apartments, and certain common areas as specifically approved by the dean of students. However, use or possession under this section shall be permitted only in residences supervised by a live-in employee specifically charged with policy enforcement.

          2. Use or possession of alcoholic beverages may be permitted on an event-by-event basis in designated undergraduate residences (including fraternity and sorority houses) supervised by a live-in employee specifically charged with policy enforcement, when temporary permission is granted by the dean of students for events at which persons of lawful drinking age may lawfully possess and use alcoholic beverages.

       3. The chancellor/provost of each campus has discretion to allow exceptions to Part II, Section H (22) a, allowing use or possession of alcohol by persons, including students, who meet the minimum drinking age standards of the State of Indiana, under the following circumstances:

          1. Use or possession of alcoholic beverages may be permitted in facilities such as student unions or on-campus hotels, including guest rooms and other areas, specifically approved by the campus chancellor/provost.

          2. Use or possession of alcoholic beverages may be permitted in other areas, such as private offices and faculty lounges, not accessible to the public.

          3. Use or possession of alcoholic beverages may be permitted in areas accessible to the public, if specifically approved by the campus chancellor/provost.

          4. Indiana University also permits the nonconspicuous possession of alcoholic beverages on university property when in transit to areas where they may be possessed or used under the provisions above.

          5. Student organizations that serve or permit possession of alcoholic beverages at student organization functions, on or off campus, may be disciplined if violations of alcoholic beverage laws or of university regulations occur. Individual students who plan, sponsor, or direct such functions also may be subject to discipline.

          6. The chancellor/provost or dean of students may make rules covering these uses. Those rules shall be enforceable as provisions of this Code.

   23. Unauthorized possession, manufacture, sale, distribution, or use of illegal drugs, any controlled substance, or drug paraphernalia. Being under the influence of illegal drugs or unauthorized controlled substances.

   24. Intentionally obstructing or blocking access to university facilities, property, or programs.

   25. Violation of other disseminated university regulations, policies, or rules. Examples of such regulations include but are not limited to university computing policies, residence hall policies, and recreational sports facility policies.

   26. A violation of any Indiana or federal criminal law.

   27. Engaging in or encouraging retaliation or any behavior or activity that threatens or intimidates any potential participant in a judicial process, and/or that is in violation of the Sexual Misconduct Policy, UA-03.

   28. Engaging in conduct in violation of the Sexual Misconduct Policy, UA-03 not otherwise covered in H1 through H27 of this section.

9. Personal Misconduct Not on University Property 
   The university may discipline a student for acts of personal misconduct or criminal acts that are not committed on university property if the acts arise from university activities that are being conducted off the university campus, or if the misconduct undermines the security of the university community or the integrity of the educational process or poses a serious threat to self or others.

   1. Indiana University is committed to the promotion of a civil community both on campus and off campus.

   2. Indiana University regards off-campus activity, including but not limited to university-sponsored events, as an integral part of a student’s academic, personal, and professional growth. Thus, the university recognizes the right of all students to expect that the university will subject individuals to the same responsibilities and disciplinary procedures when conduct:

      1. Adversely impacts the university’s mission, or the tenets of this Code, such as altering academic transcripts, harassment of any kind, trafficking in term papers, use of a computer or other electronic device to obtain unauthorized access to information;

      2. Presents a clear danger to the personal safety of any person or the protection of any person’s property, such as alcohol and drug offenses, arson, battery, fraud, hazing, participation in group violence, stalking, or theft;

      3. Violates policies of an academic program and related facilities, including but not limited to an off-campus clinical, field, internship, or in-service experience, or an overseas study program.

      4. Is in violation of the Sexual Misconduct Policy, UA-03.

Part III: Procedures for Implementation of the Code

University-Wide Procedures found on this page apply to all campuses and supersede any campus-level policies and procedures. Procedures governing areas not covered by University-Wide Procedures may be addressed by each campus.

Campus procedures are to be reviewed and approved periodically through the local campus faculty council. Any revision should also be reviewed by University Counsel. It is recommended that campus procedures remain fairly similar across all campuses in an effort to assist students transferring among IU campuses.

The University-Wide Procedures will provide for:

• Student Sexual Misconduct - Title IX Complaint Resolution Procedures
• Academic Appointee and Staff Sexual Misconduct - Title IX Complaint Resolution Procedures
• Student Sexual Misconduct - University Complaint Resolution Procedures
• Academic Appointee and Staff Sexual Misconduct - University Complaint Resolution Procedures
• Principles for Other Procedures
• Involvement of Advisors

Principles for Other Procedures

Student Grievances 
Students are to have clear procedures to follow when they believe that any of their rights, as defined in earlier sections of this Code, have been violated by a member of the university community. The local campus offices of the dean of students, affirmative action, and faculty affairs, as appropriate, will assist students in addressing their complaints.

Academic and Personal Misconduct 
Clear procedures with specific information about the persons who are involved, timelines, and disciplinary sanctions are to be created and maintained at the campus level. These procedures are to be designed to provide students with procedural fairness and to ensure equal protection for all students and appropriate sanctions

Victim Notification
A person who is a victim of any specific misconduct for which disciplinary proceedings are conducted under this Code is entitled to participate in proceedings relating to evidence, but not the deliberative process in which the hearing officer or panel weigh the evidence presented and arrive at a decision. If the subject matter of the disciplinary proceeding involves crimes of violence or a sex offense and the accused is determined to have committed the act, the dean of students is required to notify the victim of the outcome of disciplinary proceedings in a timely manner.

Involvement of Advisors 
An individual charged, a victim, or anyone providing testimony is entitled, at their expense, to be accompanied by an advisor or support person of their choice. Except as provided in UA-03, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy, an advisor or support person is limited to the role of advising. The advisor or support person may not participate in the proceeding, may not question witnesses, and may not make any statements during the proceeding. Campus-specific procedures may be adopted to allow a student to have an advisor or support person to speak on the student’s behalf at the final appeal hearing.

A student with a disability affecting communication or a student who cannot effectively communicate in the English language may seek a reasonable accommodation from the office of the dean of students to allow an advisor or interpreter to present or translate the proceedings.

Part IV: Adoption Provisions and Persons Authorized to Exercise Specific Responsibilities

Adoption Provisions

1. Resolution of Adoption
   1. The foregoing Code is hereby adopted by the Board of Trustees of Indiana University under the authority conferred by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana in chapter 273 of the Acts of the General Assembly in 1969 [Ind. Code § 20-12-1 (1988)] and in compliance with House Concurrent Resolution No. 22 as enacted in chapter 444 of the Acts of the General Assembly in 1969.
   2. This code, as hereby adopted, supersedes the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities which was effective on August 15, 1975, the Code of Student Ethics previously adopted by the Board of Trustees and effective on August 15, 1990, the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct previously adopted by the Board of Trustees and effective on August 15, 1997, and the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct previously adopted by the Board of Trustees on June 11, 2004, and effective on August 15, 2004.
   3. This code, as hereby adopted, shall be effective on August 1, 2009.
2. Effect of Adoption
   1. The adoption of this code shall not affect any rights or liabilities that were accrued, any sanctions that were incurred, or any proceedings that were begun before August 1, 2009. Any rights, liabilities, and sanctions that accrued or were incurred before August 1, 2009, shall continue to be enforced as if the new Code had not been adopted. Any proceedings that were begun before August 1, 2009, shall likewise continue as if the new Code had not been adopted.
   2. Acts of misconduct that were committed before August 1, 2009, shall be governed by the rules and procedures in effect at the time of such acts.
   3. Acts of misconduct that are committed after August 1, 2009, shall be governed by the rules and procedures included in this new Code.
   4. The provisions of this code do not alter existing faculty grievance policies and procedures.
3. Amendments to the Code by Academic Units
   1. The Code of Student Ethics was adopted by the University Faculty Council on April 16, 1990, by the following resolution: "The Code of Student Ethics shall apply to all students at Indiana University. Any unit of the university may adopt additional or alternative substantive or procedural standards to this code, provided the alternative or additional standards:
      1. Are necessary to meet academic concerns or to comply with the professional or accreditation standards; and
      2. Guarantee students in the unit a fair opportunity to be heard consistent with the standards of evidence and due process found in this code."
   2. In establishing additional or alternative processes, a unit must use the following procedure:
      1. Proposed revisions to the Code must be submitted to the Agenda Committee of the appropriate faculty council (Campus or University) for review, and to the full faculty council for approval, to ensure the revisions are comprehensive and consistent, and that they meet the criteria outlined above.
      2. Upon approval by a campus faculty council, the revisions must be reported to the campus Dean of Students and the University Faculty Council Agenda Committee. The University Faculty Council will review and consider final approval of the revisions.
      3. Upon final approval of an alternative process, the fact that this code does not apply to the unit, with regard to academic matters, must be publicized in a fashion calculated to inform all students taking courses in the unit, that they will be judged by the alternative process. The notice must also explain where copies of the alternate process are available.
      4. Upon a student being found responsible for violation of a provision set forth in an alternative process, the Dean of Students must be informed in writing of the student’s name and identification number, a description of the offense, the date and location of the offense, and a description of any sanction or action taken by the university official, or hearing commission, who considered the reported violation.

Persons Authorized to Exercise Specified Responsibilities

1. Under this Code, the authority that is given to a specified Indiana University official or employee may be exercised by any person who occupies the specified position or has a comparable position on a campus that does not have the specified position. This Code refers to the following specified positions but each position includes any equivalent position on a campus that does not use these specific titles:
   1. Dean of Students/Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
   2. Vice Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
   3. Affirmative Action Officer
   4. Title IX Coordinator
   5. Assistant Vice President for Human Resources
   6. Faculty Council President
   7. Provost/Chancellor
2. Under this Code, the authority that is given to a particular Indiana University official or employee may be exercised by that particular person or by that person’s designee.

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Definitions

Student
For purposes of this Code, the term “student” includes the following:

1. A person who is admitted or enrolled in any credit-bearing course or program in any school or division of Indiana University.
2. A person who is admitted to Indiana University and is present on a campus for the purpose of being enrolled in any credit-bearing course or program in any school or division of Indiana University.
3. A person who has been admitted and enrolled in any credit-bearing course or program in any school or division of Indiana University and continues to be associated with Indiana University because of failure to complete the course or the program in which the person was enrolled.
4. A person who is not admitted to the university, but who is taking classes to transfer to another university, for personal enrichment, or in preparation to apply to a graduate program.
5. Individuals who withdraw after having allegedly committed misconduct, or who are not officially enrolled for a particular term, but who have an expected continued academic relationship with the University, may be considered “students.”
6. For the purposes of this Code, “student” includes all students enrolled on the campuses of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) or Columbus.

Faculty or Faculty Member
In this Code, the terms “faculty” or “faculty members” include all who teach and/or do research at the university, including (but not limited to) tenure-track faculty, librarians, holders of research or clinical ranks, lecturers, graduate students with teaching responsibilities, visiting and part-time faculty, and other instructional personnel including coaches, advisors, and counselors.

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Sanctions

Violations of this code will be addressed in accordance with applicable university and campus procedures and policies.

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Additional Contacts

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History

Prior to 1969, all disciplinary issues at Indiana University were handled directly by the various campus deans. Then, on the heels of the American Civil Rights Movement, IU students began to demand that their rights as well as their obligations be codified in a single document to which all could refer. On the Bloomington campus, this led directly to the publication and distribution of the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities by the Division of Student Affairs. In the 1980s, this document was inserted into the Ins & Outs, a popular campus guide published by the Office of the Dean of Students. Finally, in 1990, the Trustees of Indiana University approved a university-wide Code of Student Ethics, which later was named the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. Each campus now is responsible for establishing its own set of procedures for implementation of this Code.

The Code was amended on September 22, 2015 and transferred to a new website. The summary of those changes are attached here.

The Code was revised in accordance with changes in the Sexual Misconduct Policy on August 25, 2016.

The Code was revised in accordance with changes in the Sexual Misconduct Policy on January 1, 2017.

On December 13, 2022, the University Faculty Council approved moving the Code to a separate policy. Non-substantive changes to contact information were made to the Code. This revisions was reviewed and approved by the University President on March 1, 2023.

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