Statement of Purpose
Any campus judiciary must have, at its core, the intention to adhere to the fundamental rights and responsibilities inherent in scholarly inquiry, civil discourse, and intellectual rigor. No University community can exist if these values are not safeguarded and explored, free from violence and bias.
With this in mind, the University has set forth reasonable expectations and standards of behavior in this Statement of Community Responsibilities and Expectations. The goal of this document is to put in place the community’s procedures for resolving conflict, for educating community members as to standards of interaction, and, if necessary, for removing from our community those who will not adhere to these standards.
Community Responsibilities and Expectations
The purpose of this code is to delineate non-academic standards of conduct appropriate to the University in consonance with the educational goals of the University. A student enrolling in the University assumes a responsibility to conduct himself/herself in a manner compatible with the University’s function as an educational institution. All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code and their individual responsibility with it.
The Student Code of Conduct applies to all students of Point Park University.
The student is expected to respect and abide by local ordinances, and state and federal statutes, both on and off campus. As a member of the educational community, s/he is expected to abide by the institution’s code of student conduct which clarifies those behavioral standards considered essential to its educational mission.
Student Groups and Organizations
Student groups and organizations may be charged with violations of this Code. A student group or organization may be held collectively responsible and its officers may be held individually responsible when violations of the Code by those associated with the group or organization have occurred.
A position of leadership in a student group, organization, or athletic team entails responsibility. Student officers cannot permit, condone, or acquiesce in any violation of this Code by the group or organization.
Definition of Terms
“Student” means any person registered or enrolled in a University program or course of study at Point Park University.
“University Official” means any person employed or contracted by the University who is assigned administrative or professional responsibilities.
“Member of the University Community” means any student, faculty member, University official or employee of the University.
“Offense” means conduct and/or attempts to engage in conduct inappropriate to the University community for which disciplinary action may be instituted.
“University Property” means all property owned, leased or controlled by the University.
Prohibited Conduct
Article 1: Offenses Related to Persons
(are committed when a student or student organization):
a) Intentionally or knowingly and without authority or consent limits or restricts the freedom of a person to move about in a lawful manner.
b) Threatens, intimidates, coerces, or uses physical force in a manner that causes a person to be fearful of physical harm or threatens or endangers the health or safety of a person.
c) Physically abuses or injures another person.
d) Intentionally slanders or libels another person.
e) Obstructs or interferes with another person’s civil rights.
f) Commits an act of sexual misconduct.
g) Sexually harasses another person.
h) Exhibits behavior of any kind that imperils or jeopardizes the health and safety of any person or persons is prohibited. This includes any action which could be injurious to self or others.
i) Knowingly whether with or without consent intentionally hazes another student.
j) Committing any act prohibited by this Code or University policy because of a person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
Article 2: Offenses Related to Property
(are committed when a student or student organization):
a) Knowingly and without consent or authorization has in his or her possession property of another person or the University.
b) Knowingly and without consent or authorization removes, uses, misappropriates, or sells the property of another person or the University.
c) Damages or destroys property owned or in the possession of another person or the University.
d) Obtains the property owned of another person or the University by misrepresentation, or by fraudulent means.
e) Enters property or uses facilities of another person or the University without consent or authorization.
Article 3: Offenses Related to the Operation of the University
(are committed when a student or student organization):
a) Abuses or damages University property by using it in a manner inconsistent with its designated purposes.
b) Forges, alters, takes possession, duplicates, or uses documents, records, keys or identification without consent or authorization.
c) Falsifies, or gives false information or records submitted to a University official or office.
d) Fails without just cause to comply with the lawful directions of a University official acting in the performance of his or her duties and authority.
e) Refuses to respond to a legitimate request to report to a University official.
f) Fails to present University identification upon request by an authorized University official.
g) Purports to represent the University or another person in the University community improperly and without authorization.
h) Intentionally obstructs the operation and functions of the University.
i) Knowingly and without consent or authorization misuses or misappropriates services provided by the University.
j) Violates any other published University policy or regulation.
k) Exhibits conduct unbecoming a university student.
Article 4: Offenses Related to Welfare, Health or Safety
(are committed when a student or student organization):
a) Possesses or manufactures, without University authorization, firearms, explosives, dangerous weapons, or other articles or substances injurious to persons or property.
b) Falsely reports a fire, or activates emergency warning equipment, or communicates false information regarding the existence of explosives on University property.
c) Refuses to vacate buildings, street walks, driveways or other facilities of the University when directed to do so by an official of the University having just cause to so order, unless official student government actions be declared.
d) Abuses, misuses, removes or damages fire or safety equipment.
e) Uses, possesses, distributes, sells or is under the influence of narcotics, hallucinogenics, dangerous drugs or controlled substances except as permitted by law.
f) Possesses, consumes or dispenses alcoholic beverages in violation of the law and/or in violation of the University alcohol policy
Article 5: Offenses Related to the University Judicial System
(are committed when a student or student organization):
a) Attempts to intimidate, coerce, or influence a person by any means in an effort to discourage or prevent his/her use of, or participation in, any disciplinary process or proceeding.
b) Attempts to influence the impartiality of any member of a disciplinary body prior to, or during, the course of a disciplinary proceeding.
c) Fails to respond to the summons of a disciplinary body or official.
d) Knowingly falsifies, distorts, or misrepresents information before a disciplinary body.
e) Disrupts or interferes with the orderly conduct of a disciplinary proceeding.
f) Knowingly institutes a disciplinary proceeding without proper cause.
g) Fails to complete disciplinary sanctions by the stated deadline or violates the terms of any disciplinary sanctions imposed in accordance with this code.
