Student Affairs Section 2. Examples of Violations to the Student Code of Conduct

The responsible administrator for this section is the Office of Community Standards. The Office of Student Affairs has approval authority. 

The responsible administrator for this section is the Office of Community Standards. Student Affairs has approval authority.

2.0. Introduction

Any of the behaviors described in the Student Code of Conduct may constitute a violation of College practices or policies. The Student Code of Conduct does not comprehensively list all possible behaviors, activities, or situations that might constitute violations of the Student Code of Conduct. The Office of Community Standards will determine whether a particular behavior may constitute a violation depending on the circumstances and context in which that behavior occurred.

The College will not tolerate acts of retaliation (see Section 2.28.) against any individual who initiates a report or complaint to the College or who participates in any College adjudication process. Given the potential impact on individuals or the community, parties may be subject to Supportive, Temporary, or Emergency Measures (see Section 12).

2.1. Harm to Persons

2.1.1. Any conduct that causes physical or emotional harm, regardless of intent, or any conduct that endangers the wellbeing, health, or safety of any person.

2.1.2. Any conduct that threatens physical or emotional harm or any conduct that threatens to endanger the wellbeing, health, or safety of any person.

2.1.3. Any harassment, bullying, doxing, or intimidation of any person.

2.1.4. Conduct or a pattern of conduct—not of a sex-based, gender-based, or sexual nature—(including actions/behavior of a physical, verbal, graphic, written, or electronic nature) which places any person in reasonable fear of physical harm, emotional harm, or which harasses, bullies, or intimidates any person. For conduct of a sex-based, gender-based, or sexual nature, see Section 3, Interim Title IX Policy.

2.1.5. Any public exposure, which includes deliberately and publicly exposing one’s intimate body parts. Any public urination, defecation, or public sex acts.

Amherst College understands that slander, libel, defamation, and disparagement are harmful behaviors. These matters may not be resolvable by College processes; however, we can work to support a student navigating these matters. The College can work with community members to access resources that may resolve these types of matters.

2.2. Bias-Based Interference with Educational or Employment Opportunities 

Conduct that is directed at an individual or group of individuals on the basis of their actual or perceived race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity), age, disability, genetic information, military service or any other characteristic or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law that causes an interference with the affected person or group’s educational or employment opportunities (see Section 1.2, Statement on Respect for Persons).

2.3. Disruption of College Function

Conduct that disrupts or interferes with the functioning of the College, the performance of the duties of College personnel or other College business or activities, including, but not limited to, studying, teaching, research, or administration.

2.4. Academic Integrity

Amherst College considers it a violation of the requirements of academic integrity to submit work that is not one’s own or otherwise to undermine the conditions under which academic work is performed by oneself or by others. 

Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, academic dishonesty, including the fabrication, falsification, or forgery of academic work; cheating; plagiarism, including ghostwritten or contracted work; or the facilitation of other academic violations.

2.5. Reasonable Request Compliance

Failure to comply with a reasonable request by an official or agent of the College (i.e., requested meetings with staff or faculty, instructions from the Community Safety Team, other Community Living staff, Amherst College Police Department, etc.).

2.6. False Testimony

All participants in College adjudications are required to be truthful.

2.7. Participation in the College Adjudication Processes

Participants in adjudication processes are required to participate throughout the process unless the Office of Community Standards provides a written exemption. Participation is described in the Community Standards Adjudication Process (Section 12) and the Interim Title IX Grievance Process (Section 13).

 2.8. Abuse of College Equipment and Facilities

2.8.1. Abuse or destruction of buildings, equipment, or property belonging to the College.

2.8.2. Disregard for the rules governing the use of or access to College facilities and services.

2.9. Use of Computers and Networks

Students must comply with the College’s Acceptable Use Policy. Theft or other abuse of College computing facilities and networks, including, but not limited to:

2.9.1. Unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose.

2.9.2. Unauthorized transfer or deletion of a file or other digital content.

2.9.3. Use of another individual’s identification and password, regardless of whether permission was granted by the holder of the account.

2.9.4. Use of computer facilities or networks to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member, or College official.

2.9.5. Use of computing facilities or networks to send obscene or abusive messages (see Section 2.1, Harm to Persons).

2.9.6. Use of networks or computing facilities to interfere with normal operation of the College computing system.

2.10. Vandalism

Causing physical damage to the buildings, furnishings, or other property of another person or the College.

2.11. Theft

Theft or attempted theft of personal or College property, including intellectual property. Theft includes a student who accesses or attempts to access privileges or services to which the student is not entitled.

2.12. Weapons, Explosives, Ammunition

Possession, use, or distribution of firearms, ammunition, explosives, or other weapons (see Section 9, Fire and Life Safety, and Section 23, Weapons Policy).

2.13. Alcohol and other Drugs (see Section 4, Alcohol and other Drugs)

2.13.1. The cultivation, manufacture, storage, transportation, possession, use, distribution, sale, or trade of illegal drugs, as well as substances that are generally recognized as dangerous and detrimental to the individual and community.

2.13.2. The unlawful distribution, possession, social sharing, or non-prescribed use of prescription drugs.

2.13.3. The unlawful possession, use, purchase, promotion, manufacture, or distribution of alcohol or other legal drugs.

2.13.4. Possession and/or use of devices for the rapid, high-risk consumption of substances including but not limited to games with alcohol, funnels, beer pong accessories, beer bongs, luges, etc., regardless of age.

2.14. Fraud

2.14.1. Altering, forging, or contributing to fraudulent use of College documents, identification (IDs), or other official, non-College records.

2.14.2. Altering or forging the signature of any College official on a College document or other official, non-College records.

2.14.3. Use of another person’s College identification card, regardless of whether permission was granted. This subsection does not preclude students from assisting another student from obtaining sick meals (see https://www.amherst.edu/mm/52296).

2.14.4. Providing false, deceitful, or misleading information to a College official or agent.

2.15. Self-Identification

Giving false information, refusing to identify oneself, or refusing to present College identification to a College official.

2.16. Motor Vehicle Use

2.16.1. Inappropriate operation of a motor vehicle on campus, including while intoxicated (see Section 10, Traffic & Parking).

2.16.2. Inappropriate use or operation of College-owned or leased vehicles, no matter the location.

2.17. Fire & Life Safety

Fire and life safety policy violations (see Section 9, Fire & Life Safety).

2.18. Hazing

Violation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts law or Amherst College policy prohibiting the practice of hazing (see Section 5, Hazing).

2.19. Fraternity & Sorority Policy

Violation of fraternity policies (see Section 6, Fraternities & Sororities).

2.20. Residential & Community Life

Violation of Section 7, Residential & Community Life.

2.21. Trespass

Accessing College buildings, portions of buildings, construction sites, restricted-access equipment, or vehicles, or other restricted locales or structures where the restrictions are locally posted or have been made public.

2.22. Surreptitious or Unauthorized Observable Recording of Others

2.22.1. Audio and/or video recording of classes without advance approval from the instructor or as part of an approved disability accommodation.

2.22.2. Any other audio and/or video recording of any individual without that individual’s knowledge or permission (see MA General Law Part 4, Title I, Chapter 272, Section 99).

2.22.3. The distribution of any recording without permission.

2.23. Drones & Model Aircraft Policy

Violations of Section 24, the Unmanned Aerial Systems (‘Drones’) & Model Aircraft Policy.

2.24. Posting Policy

Violations of Section 25, the Posting Policy.

2.25. Violations of College Policy

Conduct that violates policies, rules, and procedures posted by College departments and offices whether found in this Code or not.

2.26.  Violations of Law

Conduct that violates local, state, federal, or otherwise applicable laws, statutes, regulations, codes, or ordinances, domestically, or internationally. 

2.27. Complicity or Facilitation

2.27.1. Complicity with, facilitation of, or failure of any student to appropriately address known or obvious violations of the Student Code of Conduct or law.

2.27.2. Complicity with, facilitation of, or failure of any student group to appropriately address known or obvious violations of the Student Code of Conduct or law by its members.

2.28. Retaliation

Adverse action or threatened action taken or made, personally or through a Third-Party, against someone who has reported alleged violations of the Code, or has been the subject of a report, or any other individual (e.g., an adjudicator, witness, or advisor) because they engaged with an established disciplinary process. Retaliation does not apply to reports made or information provided in good faith, even if the facts alleged in the report are determined not to be accurate. Some examples of retaliatory behavior can include: direct or indirect coercion, harassment, intimidation, threats, interference, or improper influence of another.