University of
Colorado at Colorado Springs
Student Code of
Conduct
Article 1 Overview
The
purpose of the Student Conduct Code is to maintain the general welfare of the
university community. The university strives to make the campus community a
place of study, work, and residence where people are treated, and treat one
another, with respect and courtesy. The university views the student conduct
process as a learning experience that can result in growth and personal
understanding of one’s responsibilities and privileges within both the
university community and the greater community. All students must follow these
standards. Students who violate these standards will be subject to the UCCS
conduct process and associated sanctions. These procedures are designed to
provide fairness to all who are involved in the conduct process. This policy
should not be construed, and will not be enacted, to deny any student the right
to free speech and expression.
Article 2 Authority
Article
7, Part B, of the Laws of the Regents requires each campus to develop a student
code of conduct. The Office of the Dean of Students is authorized to establish
and administer this policy. Any questions regarding the interpretation of this
code or any of its provisions should be directed to the Vice Chancellor for
Student Success or his/her designee for final determination.
Questions
regarding behavioral issues should be directed to the Office of the Dean of
Students, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Main Hall 322 Campus Box
MH 11, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, phone 719-255-3258.
Article 3 Jurisdiction
Section
1
This policy governs:
1.01 Student
conduct that occurs on or as it relates to the university property, or at
official functions and university-sponsored programs conducted away from the
campus. University property is defined as land, buildings and facilities in
possession of or owned, used or controlled by the university or funded by
university
budgets.
1.02
Student conduct that occurs off
university property is subject to this policy if it:
1.02.a
Adversely affects the health, safety or
security of any member of the university community, or adversely affects the
mission of the university.
Section 2
Proceedings
initiated under this policy are separate from civil or criminal proceedings
that may relate to the same incident. Conduct proceedings by the university are
not postponed while criminal or civil proceedings are pending.
Article 4 Advisors
A
charged student and an alleged victim of an alleged policy violation have the
right to be accompanied by an advisor during the conduct process. Advisors are
not permitted to speak for, or on behalf of, the charged student or the alleged
victim during any phase of the conduct process, including hearings. However,
with permission from the Judicial Affairs Officer or the Conduct Board,
advisors may make a statement and/or ask questions of the charged student to
present relevant information after the Judicial Officer/Conduct Board has
completed discussions with the charged student or alleged victim.
Article 5 Duties
and Expectations of Students
It
is the duty of all students involved in the conduct process to participate
conscientiously. Students are expected to read this policy, make a timely
report of an incident, and file all necessary complaints through the Office of
the Dean of Students. Students have a duty to discuss the incident with a
Judicial Officer over the telephone or in person, adhere to stated deadlines,
attend scheduled meetings, and participate in all proceedings. Failure to meet
these duties and expectations may result in a student being charged with
failing to comply with the directions of a university official.
Article 6 Mission
Statement and Values of the Office of the Dean of Students
The
mission of the Office of the Dean of Students is to establish an ethic of care
at the
Article 7 Student Conduct Code
The
conduct listed below is prohibited, as are attempts to commit, aiding,
abetting, or inciting others to commit conduct prohibited by this Code.
Section
1 Violence against Another, Self
or Property
1.01 Assaulting
or physically abusing another person or being involved in brawling.
1.02
Engaging in intimate partner
violence. Intimate partner violence is conduct between people who are involved
in a sexual or romantic relationship when one person in the relationship causes
harm or significant alarm or distress to the other person. This includes, but
is not limited to, threats, assault, or other action against the person or
their property when used as a method of coercion, control, punishment,
intimidation, or revenge.
1.03
Harassment; engages in abusive
behavior when a student insults, taunts, challenges, or makes communication
towards an individual or individuals which is sufficiently severe or pervasive
as to likely provoke a violent response, or otherwise causes fear, substantial
annoyance, alarm, distress, disruption, or creates a hostile environment.
1.05
Engaging in retaliatory acts against
a person who reports an alleged violation of the code or testifies, assists, or
participates in a conduct proceeding or investigation is prohibited. Such a
violation could be through personal contact with an individual or conduct body,
or contact though a third party
Section 2 Sexual
Misconduct
2.01
Non-consensual sexual intercourse:
Non-consensual intercourse is any sexual intercourse (anal, oral, or vaginal),
including sexual intercourse with an object, however slight, by one person upon
another without consent.
2.02
Non-consensual sexual contact: Non-consensual
sexual contact is any sexual touching (including touching with an object)
however slight, by one person on another without consent.
2.03
Sexual exploitation and/or exposure:
Sexual exploitation and/or exposure occur when:
2.03.a
A student takes non-consensual, unjust
or abusive sexual advantage of another for his/her own pleasure, advantage or
benefit, or to pleasure, benefit or advantage anyone other that the one being
exploited; and the behavior does not constitute one of the other two above described
offenses.
2.03.b
A student engages in a lewd exposure of
the body done with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desire of any
person; and the behavior does not constitute one of the other two above
described offenses.
Section 3 Stalking
Stalking
includes behavior in which an individual willfully engages in a course of
conduct directed at a specific person that reasonably and seriously alarms,
torments or terrorizes the person.
Any
action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the health,
safety, or welfare of an individual for the purpose of initiation,
participation, admission into, or affiliation with any organization at the
university. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any abuse of a mental or
physical nature, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drugs, or substances,
or any forced physical activity that could adversely affect the health or
safety of the individual. Hazing also includes any activity that would subject
the individual to embarrassment or humiliation, the willingness of the
participant in such activity notwithstanding. (see appendix 2 for Colorado
State Statue on Hazing)
Section 5 Bias
Motivated Incident and Hate Crimes
Bias-related
incidents involve behavior or conduct that is motivated primarily or in part by
discrimination relating to age, color, ethnicity, gender, national origin,
ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, veteran
status, or unique individual style. Bias-related incidents include, but are not
limited to, non-threatening name calling and using degrading language or slurs
directed toward a person because of his or her actual or perceived membership
in a particular group. Hate crimes involve behavior or conduct that is motivated
primarily or in part by age, color, ethnicity, gender, national origin,
ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic.
5.01
Ethnic intimidation. Violating
section 18-9-121, Colorado Revised Statutes, is a violation of these standards.
(See appendix 3 for Colorado State Statue on Ethnic Intimidation)
5.02
Sexual Harassment, violating the
university’s Administrative Policy Statement on Sexual Harassment
Section 6 Interfering
with, Obstructing, or Disrupting a University Activity
6.01
University activities include, but
are not limited to, all normal university activities, such as teaching,
research, recreation, meetings, public events, and disciplinary proceedings.
6.02
This prohibition includes, but is not
limited to, interference, obstruction or disruption of the freedom of
expression or movement of students or other members of the university community
and their guests.
This
violation includes, but is not limited to:
7.01 Resisting
arrest.
7.02 Failing
to abide by the directions of a Peace Officer.
7.03
Tampering with, impairing, disabling,
or misusing fire protecting systems such as smoke detectors, fire
extinguishers, sprinklers, or alarms.
7.04 Failing
to evacuate during a fire alarm.
7.05 Arson/Setting
fires.
Section 8 Failure
to Comply
Failing
to comply with the direction of a University Official(s) who are performing
their duties, students are required to comply with instructions or directions
given by a University Official, including, but not limited to:
8.01 An
instruction to present identification.
8.02 An
instruction to appear at conduct proceedings or other mandatory meetings.
8.03
Failing to abide by or complete a
university sanction in a satisfactory manner, including violating this code
while on university probation or suspension in abeyance.
Section 9 False
Information
9.01 Providing false information to university
officials, Judicial Officers, the Conduct Hearing Board, or Public Safety
Officers in performance of their duties.
9.02
Forging, altering, falsifying,
misusing documents or records, or knowingly using possessing forged, altered,
or false documents or records.
The
unauthorized entry into a University facility or property by means of force or
misuse of keys.
Section 12 Misuse
of University Computing and Network Resources.
Section 13 Engaging
in, Inciting, or Arming Someone for a Riot or Public Disturbance
Section 14 Possessing
Firearms, Explosives, Fireworks, Incendiary Devices, Ammunition, or other Weapons
on Campus
14.01
Possession of a harmless instrument
designed to look like a firearm, explosive, or dangerous weapon is also
prohibited by this policy (including but not limited to BB guns, pellet guns,
martial arts equipment, and knives with a blade over 3” in length).
14.02
As mandated by Regent Policy, in the
case of student who is found responsible via the student conduct code process
to have intentionally or recklessly used or possessed a weapon in a way that
would intimidate, harass, injure, or otherwise interfere with the learning and
working environment of the university, the minimum disciplinary sanction will
be expulsion.
14.02.a
In the case of a harmless
instrument as described in section14.01, the minimum sanction shall be
expulsion if the student used the item with the intent to cause fear in or
assault another person.
Section 16 Illegal Drugs and Improper Use of
Prescription or Over the Counter Medications
16.01
If a student is in an Office of
Residence Life and Housing facility, this violation includes a student who
knew, or reasonably should have known, he/she was in the presence of illegal
drugs or paraphernalia.
16.02
In the case of a student found responsible
via the Student Conduct Code process to have endangered the health, safety, or
welfare of an individual through the provision of drugs, the minimum
disciplinary sanction shall be suspension.
16.03
In the case of a student found
responsible via the Student Conduct Code the minimum disciplinary sanction
shall be a mandated educational course and/or counseling or suspension. If the
student is found responsible for additional violations of Section 16 of the
Student Conduct Code the sanctions will increase in their severity.
16.04 If a student engages in the misuse of
prescription and/or over the counter medications, the minimum disciplinary
sanction shall be a mandated educational course and/or counseling or
suspension.
Possessing,
using, manufacturing, distributing, or selling alcoholic beverages by or to a
under-aged individual is a violation of Colorado State Statutes.
17.01
If an underage student is in an Office
of Residence Life and Housing facility that is alcohol free, this violation includes
a student who knew, or reasonably should have known, he/she was in the presence
of alcoholic beverages, or possessing, displaying, or being in the presence of
alcohol containers.
17.02
In the case of a student found
responsible via the Student Conduct code process to have endangered the health,
safety, or welfare of an individual through the provision of alcohol, the
minimum disciplinary sanction shall be suspension.
Section 18 Violating
any federal, state, or local laws or university regulation or policy, or
behaving or conducting one’s self in a manner which would violate the law.
A. Definitions
1. Intercourse. Intercourse includes vaginal penetration by a penis, object, tongue or finger, anal penetration by a penis, object, tongue, or finger, and oral copulation (mouth to genital contact or genital to mouth contact).
2. Sexual Touching. Sexual touching is any contact with the breasts, buttock, groin, or genitals, or touching another with any of these body parts, or making another touch you or themselves with or on any of these body parts.
3. Consent. Consent is informed, freely and actively given, mutually understandable words or actions which indicate a willingness to participate in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Consent is not effectively given if it results from the use of physical force, threats, intimidation, or coercion. Consent is absent when a person has sexual contact with another when the initiator knew, or reasonably should have known, that the person is incapacitated due to illness, consumption of alcohol or drugs, is unconscious, etc.
4. What Consent Means
In the absence of
mutually understandable words or actions (a meeting of the minds on what is to
be done, where, with whom, and in what way), it is the responsibility of the
initiator, or the person who wants to engage in the specific sexual activity to
make sure that he or she has consent from their partner(s).
Consent to some form of sexual activity does not necessarily imply
consent to other forms of sexual activity.
The initiator must obtain consent at every stage of sexual
interaction.
Consent will be
determined using both objective and subjective standards. The objective
standard is met when a reasonable person would consider the words or actions of
the parties manifested an agreement between them to do the same thing, in the
same way, at the same time, with one another. The subjective standard is met
when a party believes in good faith that the words or actions of the parties
manifested an agreement between them to do the same thing, in the same way, at
the same time, with one another.
Consent which is obtained through the use of fraud or force (actual
or implied) whether that force be physical force, threats, intimidation, or
coercion, is ineffective consent;
Physical force exists, for example, when
someone acts upon you physically, such as hitting, kicking, restraining or
otherwise exerting their physical control over you through violence.
Threats exist where a reasonable person would have been
compelled by the words or actions of another to give permission to sexual
contact they would not otherwise have given, absent the
threat. For example, threats to kill you, themselves, or to harm someone
you care for are sufficient to constitute threats.
Intimidation. Intimidation exists where someone uses
their physical presence to menace you, though no physical contact occurs, or
where your knowledge of prior violent behavior by an
assailant, coupled with menacing behavior, places you in fear as an implied
threat.
Coercion.
Coercion
exists when a sexual initiator engages in sexually pressuring and/or oppressive
behavior that violates norms of respect in the community, such that the
application of such pressure or oppression causes the object of the behavior to
engage in unwanted sexual behavior. Coercion may be differentiated from
seduction by the repetition of the coercive activity beyond what is reasonable,
the degree of pressure applied, environmental factors, such as isolation, and
the initiator's knowledge.
Consent
may never be given by:
A
minor to an adult.
Mentally
disabled persons.
Physically
incapacitated persons.
Additional
Clarifying Rules of Consent.
A person who is the object of sexual
aggression is not required to physically or otherwise resist a sexual
aggressor.
Silence, previous sexual
relationships, and/or current relationship with the respondent do not imply
consent.
Consent cannot be implied by attire,
or inferred from the buying of dinner or the spending of money on a date.
Consent to sexual activity may be
withdrawn at any time, as long as the withdrawal is communicated clearly.
Respondent's intentional use of alcohol/drugs
does not excuse a violation of the sexual misconduct policy.
1. The Office of the Dean of Students shall coordinate with the Office of Public Safety to investigate and resolve reports or complaints of Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking by a person as promptly as practicable. Ordinarily, investigations shall be concluded and reports submitted to the reviewing committee no later than 90 days following the receipt of a complaint. Ordinarily, the final report shall be sent to the Chancellor no later than 30 days after the committee's receipt of the draft report of the investigation.
2. It is the responsibility of the Office of the Dean of Students to determine the most appropriate means for addressing the report or complaint alleging Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence or Stalking by a student. Options include: 1) investigating the report or complaint as described below, 2) with the agreement of the parties, attempting to resolve the report or complaint through a form of alternative dispute resolution (e.g., mediation), or 3) determining that the facts of the complaint or report, even if true, would not constitute a violation of this Policy.
3. The Office of the Dean of Students may use police investigation reports and may designate another individual (either from within the University, including an administrator, or from outside the University) to conduct or assist with the investigation or to manage an alternative dispute resolution process. Outside investigators shall have training, qualifications and experience as will, in the judgment of the Dean of Students, facilitate the investigation. Anyone designated to address an allegation must adhere to the requirements of this Policy and confer with the Dean of Students about his or her progress.
4. All reports or complaints shall be made as promptly as feasible after the occurrence. (A delay in reporting may be reasonable under some circumstances, as determined on a case-by-case basis. An unreasonable delay in reporting, however, is an appropriate consideration in evaluating the merits of a complaint or report.)
5. If an investigation is conducted: The complainant and the respondent shall have the right to:
6. In cases covered by this policy, the Chancellor shall be notified that an investigation is taking place.
7. If the complainant resides in University housing, the Office of the Dean of Students shall consult Housing about whether either the respondent or the complainant, or both, should be moved during the investigation and review. If complainant and respondent are taking the same class or other educational activity, the Office of the Dean of Students shall consult with the responsible faculty member about any arrangements needed to separate the two during the investigation and review.
8. At the conclusion of an investigation, the investigator shall prepare a written report that shall include a statement of factual findings and a determination of whether this Policy has been violated and whether a conduct process should be initiated against the respondent. The report shall be presented for review to the Chancellor and her designated review committee.
9. The standing review committee may consult with the Office of the Dean of Students; may consult with the parties; request that further investigation be done by the same or another investigator; or request that the investigation be conducted again by another investigator. The standing review committee may adopt the investigator's report as its own or may prepare a separate report based on the findings of the investigation. The review committee may not, however, conduct its own investigation or hearing. Once the standing review committee has completed its review, the report(s) shall be sent to the Office of the Dean of Students, the complainant and the respondent, to the extent permitted by law. The report shall also be sent to the Chancellor.
11. The Office of the Dean of Students shall advise the complainant and respondent of the resolution of any investigation conducted under this Policy. A copy of the investigator's written report as approved by the review committee shall be provided to: (1) the complainant, (2) the respondent, (3) the Vice Chancellor for Student Success, and (4) the Chancellor.
12. In all cases, the Office of the Dean of Students shall retain the investigator's report, as approved by the standing review committee, for a minimum of seven years after the charged student graduates or permanently withdraws from the University.
13. All records of Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking reports and investigations shall be considered confidential and shall not be disclosed publicly except to the extent required by law.
14. Complaints Involving Two or More University of Colorado Campuses. When an alleged Policy violation involves more than one University of Colorado campus, the complaint shall be handled by the campus with disciplinary authority over the respondent. The campus responsible for the investigation may request the involvement or cooperation of any other affected campus and should advise appropriate officials of the affected campus of the progress and results of the investigation.
15. Complaints By and Against University Employees and Students Arising in an Affiliated Entity. University employees and students sometimes work or study at the worksite or program of another organization affiliated with the University. When a Policy violation is alleged by or against University students in those circumstances, the complaint shall be handled as provided in the affiliation agreement between the University and the other entity. In the absence of an affiliation agreement or a provision addressing this issue, the University may, in its discretion, choose to 1) conduct its own investigation, 2) conduct a joint investigation with the affiliated entity, 3) defer to the findings of an investigation by the affiliated entity where the University has reviewed the investigation process and is satisfied that it was fairly conducted, or 4) use the investigation and findings of the affiliated entity as a basis for further investigation.
The disciplinary process for Student Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking shall be the same as set forth in Sections I and J of the Student Conduct Policies and Procedures.
D. Sanctions
The sanctions for Student Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking shall be the same as set forth in Section L of the Student Conduct Policies and Procedures.
E. Appeals
The appeals process for Student Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking shall be the same as set forth in Section M of the Student Conduct Policies and Procedures.
Section 18-9-124 (2), C.R.S defines hazing as follows:
(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Section 18-9-121, C.R.S. states:
Ethnic Intimidation.
Section 18-9-101(2), Colorado Revised Statutes states:
"Riot means a public disturbance involving an assemblage of three or more persons who by tumultuous and violent conduct creates grave danger of damage, destruction or death."
Section 18-9-102 C.R.S. states:
Inciting riot.
Section 18-9-103, C.R.S. states:
Arming rioters.
Section 18-9-104, C.R.S. states:
Engaging in a riot.
1. A person commits an offense if he or she engages in a riot. The offense is a class 4 felony if in the course of rioting the actor employs a deadly weapon, a destructive device, or any article used or fashioned in a manner to cause a person to reasonably believe that the article is a deadly weapon, or if in the course of rioting the actor represents verbally or otherwise that he or she is armed with a deadly weapon; otherwise, it is a class 2 misdemeanor.
2. The provisions of section 18-9-102 (2) are applicable to attempt, solicitation, and conspiracy to commit an offense under this section."
Section 23-5-124, C.R.S. states:
Student enrollment - prohibition - public peace and order convictions.
1. No person who is convicted of a riot offense shall be enrolled in a state-supported institution of higher education for a period of twelve months following the date of conviction.
2. A student who is enrolled in a state-supported institution of higher education and who is convicted of a riot offense shall be immediately suspended from the institution upon the institution's notification of such conviction for a period of twelve months following the date of conviction; except that if a student has been suspended prior to the date of conviction by the state-supported institution of higher education for the same riot activity, the twelve month suspension shall run from the start of the suspension imposed by the institution.
3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a state-supported institution of higher education from implementing its own policies and procedures or disciplinary actions, in addition to the suspension in subsection (2) of this section, regarding students involved in riots.
4. (a) The court in each judicial district shall report to the Colorado commission on higher education the name of any person who is convicted in the judicial district of a riot offense.
(b) The Colorado commission on higher education shall make the conviction reports received pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (4) available to all state-supported institutions of higher education with the notification that the persons included in the conviction reports are subject to the provisions of this section and that the state-supported institution of higher education in which any of such persons are enrolled shall consider appropriate disciplinary action against the student.
5. Each state-supported institution of higher education shall notify its students and prospective students of the requirements of this section. The governing board of each state-supported institution of higher education shall prescribe the manner in which this information shall be disseminated.
6. For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires: