Roger Williams University is a community dedicated to learning and assumes that students come to the University for serious purposes. Students live and work together in an atmosphere of mutual and self-respect.

They join with faculty and administration in creating a living/learning environment that is conducive to both personal and academic growth. Students and the student staff are empowered by the University with considerable responsibility.

In return, the University assumes students to have a high degree of maturity and expects civil conduct which affirms human values.  Judicial intervention is intended to increase the student's awareness of the effect of their actions on others in the community.The philosophy of our judicial system is education.  Our goal is to assist students to grow and learn from their mistakes.  Self-control is a vital component in an orderly society which is consistent with our educational mission.

Enforcement of the Code is the process by which the University community rules upon the propriety of student behavior. This Code applies to both the undergraduate and graduate students of Roger Williams University.

Regulations for Student Conduct

The following actions/behaviors shall constitute violations of the Roger Williams University Student Conduct Code:

1. Violating federal, state, or local laws on University premises or while in attendance at University sponsored or supervised events or committing off-campus violations of federal, state, or local law, or actions that adversely affect the University and/or the pursuit of its objectives.
   
   
2. Any form of coerced sexual activity, including but not limited to, acts of sexual assault (stranger, date, or acquaintance), sexual abuse, or unwanted sexual contact. Refer to the sexual assault/statement of unwanted sexual activity section of the student handbook.
   
   
3. Harassment of an individual or group, where the action is a course of conduct which subjects a person or group of persons to unwanted physical contact or the threat of such contact, or which seriously threatens or alarms a person or group.
   
   
4. Committing acts of physical or mental abuse or engaging in actions which intimidate, harass, threaten, coerce, or otherwise endanger the health or safety of self or another person. This includes, but is not limited to, fighting.
   
   
5. Acts which are not civil or respectful and/or which breach the peace, including but not limited to engaging in disorderly conduct.  This also includes disrupting the functions of the University.
   
   
6. Planning, directing, or committing acts of hazing, defined as any act which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of a student or subjects the person to ridicule, embarrassment, or unlawful activity for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization.
   
   
7. Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys or access cards to any University premises or unauthorized entry or use of University premises.
   
   
8. Unauthorized possession, use or misuse, removal, defacing, tampering, damage or destruction of University owned or leased property, equipment (including telephone system), programs, or materials, as well as that of any member of the University community, guest of the University, vendor, contractor, or any other person.
   
   
9. Any action which creates a fire hazard. This includes, but is not limited to, tampering with fire safety equipment, possessing or using any hazardous and/ or explosive material, failing to evacuate a building/area after notice has been given or knowingly making a false report of a dangerous condition.
   
   
10. Failure to comply with the instructions/requests of University staff and/or other officials acting in the performance of their assigned duties; failure to positively identify one's self or providing false information when appropriately requested to do so, and refusal to respond to an administrative officer. This also includes withholding material information from the University and making false statements to any University official.
    
    
11. Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following, are prohibited:
    
    a. Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty.  See Academic Integrity policy. 
    
    b. The manufacture, sale, use, and/or possession of false identification or permit.
    
    c. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any University document.
    
    d. Representing the University, any recognized student organization, University personnel, or any official University group without explicit prior consent.
    
    
12. Theft or misuse of computer information systems (Internet connection, network, etc.) are prohibited (see Appropriate Use Policy), including but not limited to:
    
    a. Unauthorized entry into a file to use, read, or change contents;
    
    b. Unauthorized transfer of files or programs; Refer to Copyright Policy.
    
    c. Unauthorized use of another person's identification and password;
    
    d. Use of computing or phone systems to send obscene, threatening or harassing messages;
    
    e. Interfering with the normal operation of the University computing system, including the initiation of the spread of a computer virus.
    
    
13. The University unequivocally prohibits the selling, distribution, misuse, possession, and/or professionally unsupervised use of all prescription drugs, hallucinogenic drugs, and controlled substances (including marijuana, etc.) by any member of the University community except as expressly permitted by law. Refer to the Drug Laws and drug sanction guidelines sections of the student handbook.
    
    a. The sale, distribution, and possession of drug paraphernalia (pipes, bongs, roach clips, rolling papers, etc.) is prohibited.
    
    b. The misuse of nonprescription medication or other substance is prohibited.
    
    
14. The laws of the State of Rhode Island prohibit the possession, use, and/or transfer of alcohol by anyone under the age of twenty-one (21).  Alcohol or alcohol related material shall not be consumed or displayed in any public area of the University (including room/apartment windows). No student, regardless of age, shall act in a disorderly or disruptive manner while under the influence of alcohol. Large volume containers and excessive amounts of alcohol are prohibited on campus (see quantity policy). Objects used as drinking apparatuses and activities that promote rapid consumption of alcohol are prohibited. Refer to the alcohol sanction guidelines section of the student handbook.
    
    a. Cedar Hall is an alcohol free community, thus all alcohol, including empty containers, is prohibited anywhere in the building regardless of a person's age.
    
    b. The University prohibits students or their guests, regardless of age, from distributing a quantity of alcohol on University property.
    
    c. The operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited.
    
    
15. All students are required to abide by the rules and regulations as set forth by the University Student Handbook, posted flyers, distributed handouts, University catalog, residence hall contract, parking regulations and other University regulations which may be established hereafter to meet the specific need of the student or the University community.
    
    
16. Aiding, abetting, or attempting to commit an act or action that violates any Student Conduct Code. A student present when a Student Conduct Code is violated may be held responsible even if he or she is not directly involved in the perpetration of the violation. Students who anticipate or observe a violation of community standards are expected to remove themselves from participation and are encouraged to report the violation. All students are fully responsible for their guest's behavior.
    
    
17. Abuse of the judicial system, including but not limited to:
    
    a. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed by the University;
    
    b.Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a judicial body;
    
    c. Institution of a judicial complaint knowingly without cause;
    
    d. Attempting to discourage an individual's proper participation in, or use of, the judicial system;
    
    e. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a judicial body prior to, during, and/or after a judicial proceeding;
    
    f. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a judicial body, witness or victim prior to, during, and/or after a judicial proceeding;
    
    g. Failure to obey a notice to appear for a meeting or a hearing;
    
    h. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the judicial system.
    
    
18. Violations of the Student Conduct Code that are motivated by prejudice toward a person or group because of factors such as race, religion, ethnicity, disability, national origin, age, gender or sexual orientation may be assessed an enhanced sanction.
    
    
19.  Use, possession, or storage of any firearm, 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 is prohibited.