Student Conduct Code
AIU is an academic community committed to the educational and personal growth of its students. Behavior that infringes upon rights, safety or privileges, or that impedes the educational process is unacceptable and may lead to sanctions up to and including expulsion from the University.
AIU believes strongly in promoting the development of personal, professional and social responsibility. AIU also believes in a humanistic approach to discipline conducive to academic pursuits. However, AIU recognizes that its responsibility for the protection of personal and institutional rights and property is a primary focus of the disciplinary process.
Therefore, University administration reserves the right to develop any policy or take any action(s) deemed appropriate to maintain the safety and well-being of students. Student conduct offenses may be related to persons, property, campus operations, and welfare, health or safety of students, faculty and staff.
Students are encouraged to share personal experiences while participating in classes at AIU. However, students must be aware that should they disclose to any AIU faculty members or staff information that may cause harm to themselves or others, faculty members and staff are required to report such information to campus administration.
Courteous behavior and professional conduct, appropriate to a professional environment, is to be displayed at all times. Inappropriate conduct and/or communication, violations of the University’s Academic Honesty policy or violations of the Computing and Network Use policy will not be tolerated and may be a cause for sanctions or withdrawal.
Every student is subject to federal and state law and respective county and city ordinances. The conviction of a student for any criminal offense which interferes with the orderly operation of the University or which the Administration feels would endanger members of the University community shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Infringements of the Student Code of Conduct are handled by the AIU Conduct Committee. Conduct decisions rendered by the committee may be appealed to the Office of the Ombudsman as outlined in the Grievance Procedure.
A. Offenses Related to Persons
An offense related to a person is committed when a student:
- Intentionally or knowingly and without authority or consent, limits or restricts the freedom of a person to move about in a lawful manner;
- Threatens (by any means), intimidates or uses physical force in a manner that endangers the health or safety of another person or which reasonably causes another person to be fearful of physical or emotional harm;
- Intentionally harasses another person. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, impeding another persistently or wronging or bothering another persistently; or
- Engages in any activity related to other persons which is prohibited by law or court order.
B. Offenses Related to Property
An offense related to property is committed when a student:
- Knowingly and without consent or authorization possesses, removes, uses, misappropriates, or sells the property or services of another person or of the University;
- Intentionally or negligently damages or destroys property owned or in the possession of another person or of the University;
- Obtains the property of another person by misrepresentation or deceptive means;
- Enters or uses the facilities or property of another person or the University without consent or authorization; or
- Commits a computer-related offense.
C. Offenses Related to the Operation of the University
An offense related to the operation of the University is committed when a student:
- Engages in illegal, obscene or indecent conduct on University property or at University sponsored events;
- Forges, alters, possesses, duplicates, or uses documents, records, keys or identification without consent or the authorization of appropriate University officials;
- Fails without just cause to comply with the lawful order of a University official acting in the lawful performance of his/her duties and authority;
- Engages in solicitation in or on University property or involving the use of University property unless such solicitation is approved by appropriate University officials; or
- Intentionally acts to impair, interfere with, or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the University.
D. Offenses Related to Welfare, Health or Safety
An offense related to welfare, health or safety is committed when a student:
- Uses, possesses, or manufactures, without University authorization, firearms, explosives, weapons, unregistered fireworks, illegal chemical or biological agents or other dangerous articles or substances injurious to persons or property;
- Falsely reports a fire, activates emergency warning equipment, or communicates false information regarding the existence of explosives or hazardous materials on University property;
- Abuses, removes, or damages fire and safety equipment; fails to vacate a building or facility when a fire alarm is activated;
- Fails to leave a building, streets, 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; or
- Uses, possesses, distributes, sells, or is under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, hallucinogens, dangerous drugs, or controlled substances, except as permitted by law.
DISREGARD OF THE STUDENT CONDUCT CODE: PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES
The Chair of the AIU Conduct Committee and/or Campus Director have full authority to prescribe rules and regulations to govern student life and to take emergency measures to protect the health and safety of students and/or university employees. The AIU Conduct Committee provides review of the investigation, examination and resolution for actions warranting final warning and dismissal for AIU Online and Ground campuses.
OFFENSIVE MATERIALS
AIU’s professional environment requires that all students respect the following policy concerning offensive materials:
AIU’s Information System, photocopiers, media equipment, or other resources must not be used to produce, view, store, replicate, or transmit harassing, obscene, or offensive materials. This includes, but is not limited to, material from the Internet, screen savers, etc.. In addition, printed copies of such material, including those from magazines, are not permitted in the school.
As in the workplace, there is “zero-tolerance” for any students who violate this policy, and immediate withdrawal may result. Students must recognize that personal opinions as to what constitutes “offensive material” may vary but the following details describe what is typically understood to be offensive. Staff or students using AIU facilities who find materials being displayed to be offensive have a duty to act assertively by informing University personnel.
Offensive material includes, but is not limited to the following:
• Pornographic, nude, semi-nude or other similarly lewd images;
• Material displaying excessively violent or graphic content;
• Material of racist or similarly demeaning content; or
• Any material that in general is understood to be socially and/or culturally offensive.