The following list describes actions which detract from the effectiveness of a University community and for which students are subject to disciplinary action. The list is not all-inclusive but contains examples of prohibited behavior.
A. Violation of published University policies, rules, and regulations such as the following:
1. Academic integrity violations including but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, and fraudulent alteration of academic materials. (See Section X of this document, OSU Academic Integrity Policy, for detailed definitions and procedures.)
2. Violation of Residential Life and Fraternity and Sorority Affairs behavior standards. On-campus residence hall policies and information regarding student standards and the Residential Life disciplinary process is available in the Residential Life Handbook through the Web site: http://www.reslife.okstate.edu/handbook/sub_reslife.html. Information on Fraternity and Sorority Affairs policies and the disciplinary process is available on-line at http://gogreek.okstate.edu.
3. Forgery or unauthorized use of University documents or records, financial aid documents, computers, electronic mail, telephones, identification, or property or the use of University equipment to perpetrate a violation of the Code of Conduct or to violate local, state, or federal law.
4. Providing false representations to the University in any form, written or verbal. Submission of false information or withholding information at the time of admission or readmission may make an individual ineligible for admission to or continuation in, Oklahoma State University.
5. The use of tobacco in any form in University classrooms, laboratories, libraries, field houses and other areas on campus except where explicitly authorized, consistent with Policy and Procedures Letter No. 1-0530.
6. Violation of University Information Technology policies including, but not limited to, the electronic mail policy, the interim appropriate computer use policy, and the interim network security policy.
7. Attempts and complicity: attempts to or encouraging others to commit acts prohibited by this code will be sanctioned to the same extent as if one had committed the prohibited act.
8. Interfering with the discipline procedures or outcomes, including but not limited to: falsification, distortion or misrepresentation of information before a hearing officer or hearing panel; knowingly initiating a complaint without cause; harassment and/or intimidation of any member of a hearing panel, witness(es), or university personnel before, during or after a proceeding; failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed by either a hearing officer or hearing panel.
9. Possessing, using, or storing firearms, explosives (including firecrackers), weapons, or dangerous chemicals on University property or in the course of any University activity, except as specifically authorized under applicable state law. This includes, but is not limited to bb guns, paintball guns, knives, swords, handguns, and rifles. (See OSU Policy and Procedures Letter 1.1301.1).
10. False reporting of a bomb, fire or other emergency.
11. Gambling for money or other things of value on campus or at university sponsored activities except as permitted by law.
B. Violation of federal and/or state law or local ordinances that has an impact on campus safety and/or student success, such as the following:
12. Disorderly conduct is behavior that is disorderly, lewd, indecent or a breach of peace on University property or at University sponsored activities. Examples include any nonconsensual photography, video or audio recording of another person on University premises when such recording causes or is likely to cause injury or distress. This conduct would be a violation off campus if it interfered with an individual’s educational opportunities.
13. Parties and/or large gatherings which disturb the peace of campus residences or off-campus neighborhoods.
14. Off campus behavior that violates local ordinances, state or federal law, and adversely affects the University community or the pursuit of the University's lawful educational mission, process or function. The University reserves the right to take necessary and appropriate action to protect the safety and well being of the campus community. Examples of off-campus behavior which may be subject to university disciplinary action include but are not limited to: selling or otherwise providing alcohol to underage students, selling or distributing illicit drugs, sexual violence, hazing, actions which result in the serious injury or death of another person(s), or repeated alcohol or drug offenses that jeopardize the individual's or community's educational opportunities. Sanctions for these violations will generally result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
C. Use and misuse of substances such as the following:
15. Illegal use, possession, sale, distribution, cultivation or manufacture of any state or federally controlled drug, substance or paraphernalia. (Also see Drug Free Schools and Workplace Policies, Appendices G and H.)
16. Consumption, possession, distribution, sale and the serving of low point beer or alcoholic beverages on the campus, in any of its buildings, and in officially recognized University housing (including residence halls and sorority and fraternity housing) regardless of age, except as expressly permitted by University policy. Public intoxication, driving under the influence of alcohol, actual physical control of a vehicle, providing alcohol to minors, transporting an open container of alcohol, driving while impaired, incapacitation, and being underage in possession of alcohol, on or off campus, are also violations of this policy. Students are expected to know and abide by all applicable laws regarding the consumption of low point beer and alcoholic beverages. Exceptions to this policy permit the possession or consumption of low point beer and /or alcoholic beverages by persons of lawful age (21) within the interior living spaces of certain University Apartments and Suites and designated public and non-public places on the OSU campus, properties, and facilities for special events. (See Residential Life policies/calendar or website [http://www.reslife.okstate.edu/] for alcohol policies in specific buildings.)
D. Threats of harm or actual harm to a person’s physical or mental health and/or safety such as the following:
17. Fighting or physical abuse of any person, including physically restraining or transporting someone against his/her will, or similar action.
18. Intentionally, recklessly, or negligently engaging in verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, bullying, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the mental or physical health and/or safety of any person or causes reasonable apprehension of such harm.
19. Hazing is any action or activity which causes or intends to cause physical or mental discomfort or distress, which may demean, degrade, or disgrace any person, regardless of location, intent or consent of participants, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing are not neutral acts; they are violations of this rule. (State law classifies hazing as a crime. See Hazing Statement, Appendix H, for the legal definition.) The University will strongly recommend the sanction of suspension for students found responsible for hazing.
20. Sexual misconduct includes but is not limited to unwelcome sexual contact or acts which involve intimidation, coercion, the implied use or threatened use of force, use of intoxicants to substantially impair the victim's ability to give effective consent, engaging in such acts when there is reasonable cause to believe the other person is in a mental state which renders him/her incapable of understanding the nature of the contact, or where the victim is a minor, indecent exposure, and voyeurism. (See Sexual Misconduct Policy, Appendix C, for more details.)
21. Sexual harassment, a form of gender discrimination, includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature when:
a. submission to such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of leadership, membership in an organization, student social events, academic standing, or participation in any University activity; or
b. submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for evaluation, particularly in making employment or academic decisions affecting the individual; or
c. such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the other individual's performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational and University environment. (See Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Policy, Appendix B in this document.)
22. Stalking - willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following or harassing another person in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to feel frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested.
E. Disruption, obstruction, or interference with normal University or University sponsored/hosted activities such as the following:
23. Disruption or obstruction of normal University or University sponsored or hosted activities, including, but not limited to, studying, teaching, research, University administration, or fire, police or emergency services on University premises or at officially arranged University activities off campus.
24. Failure to comply with the lawful directions of any University employee acting within the scope of their official duties and/or failure to identify oneself to such a person when requested to do so.
25. Classroom disruption – behavior a reasonable person would view as substantially or repeatedly interfering with the instructor's ability to teach the class or the ability of other students to benefit from the instructional program.
F. Damage or misuse of University resources or property, or personal property on University premises such as the following:
26. Theft, attempted theft, unauthorized possession, and/or defacement, damage, or destruction of property belonging to the University or others on University property.
27. Misuse or unauthorized use of fire fighting, fire sprinkling systems, and other safety equipment or warning devices.
28. Unauthorized entry into or use of any University building, facility, vehicle, equipment room or area. This includes unauthorized possession or use of University keys, computers, lock combinations or other special access codes, including telephone codes.