The authority to apply the Code of Community Standards arises with the Board of Trustees and is passed through the President of the College and to the Office of Community Standards.
The College believes that each Emersonian brings unique qualities and talents to our community and that every individual should be treated in a respectful manner. All members of our community are expected to conduct themselves with integrity, civility, and respect for the differences and the dignity that each member brings to our community. These Community Standards apply to all communications (e.g. oral, written, or in gesture).
The Code of Community Standards applies to the below situations, regardless of whether they occur in person or in online or remote educational settings. The College reserves the right to investigate and resolve any reports of potential violations of College policy in all situations:
- Involving students, student groups, a group of students, and/or student organizations affiliated with any part of the College.
- Occurring on or off-campus
- Occurring from the time of a student's application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree (even if the conduct is not discovered until after a degree is awarded), including, but not limited to:
- During the academic year
- Before classes start or after classes end
- During time away from the campus (e.g., study abroad, internships)
- During periods between terms of enrollment
- While on leave from the College
- During any remote or virtual time period, including but not limited to classes, coursework, meetings, chats, etc.
Students and recognized student groups and organizations are responsible for the behavior of their guests. The College reserves the right to refer a host of a guest to the Student Conduct Process when the guest’s behavior is reported to be in violation of College policy.
Definitions
Advisor
An individual of a student’s choosing who can accompany and support the student during the Student Conduct Process. An advisor can be any person of the student’s choosing and is at the student’s expense. Students may only have one advisor present for any meeting throughout the Student Conduct Process. Advisors cannot serve as witnesses and cannot speak on behalf of a student or communicate directly or indirectly with staff in relation to a student’s participation in the Student Conduct Process. If a student needs assistance in finding an advisor, the Office of Community Standards will provide resources to students upon request.
Associate Dean for Campus Life
The supervisor of the Office of Community Standards, they are responsible for overseeing the administration of the Code of Community Standards.
Business Day
Any day, Monday through Friday, that the College is open.
Calendar Day
Any day of the week, including days that the College is closed.
College
Emerson College.
College Community Member
Any person who is a student or a College official; any other person working for the College, either directly or indirectly (e.g., private enterprise on campus); or any person who resides on College premises.
College Official
Any person employed or contracted by the College to perform administrative, instructional, or professional duties.
College Policy
Policies, expectations, and standards of behavior a student is required to comply with as a member of the Emerson community. College policy is inclusive of the Code of Community Standards.
College Premises
Includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property owned, operated, controlled, or leased by the College, either solely or in conjunction with another entity.
Complainant
Any person who provides information reporting a potential violation of College policy.
Community Standards Conference
A Student Conduct Process for resolution of a potential violation of College Policy. Community Standards Conferences are one-on-one meetings between a Responding Party and a Community Standards Administrator. Community Standards Conferences are conversational, reflective, and educational in nature; they are described in greater detail in the Detailed Description of All Resolution Processes.
Conduct Board Hearing
A formal resolution process that takes place before a panel of three to five trained Conduct Board members. Conduct Board Hearings are described in greater detail in the Detailed Description of All Resolution Processes.
Designee
A staff or faculty member who has responsibility for implementing or administering the Code of Community Standards, in part or in whole, at the direction of appropriate College Officials.
Finding
The decision made at the conclusion of a Student Conduct Process. Findings are based upon a preponderance of the evidence standard (“more likely than not”). Findings are fully explained in Findings and Sanctions.
Good Conduct Standing
A status signifying that a student is not currently on College Probation, Suspension, or Dismissal from the College.
Hearing Chair
A College official assigned to facilitate a Conduct Board Hearing. A Hearing Chair is a non-voting member of the Conduct Board who ensures an equitable, fair, and consistent hearing process. The Hearing Chair may also advise the Conduct Board during hearing proceedings.
Community Standards Administrator
Members of the College Community who are trained, assigned, and authorized to determine whether a student is responsible for a violation of College policy during a Community Standards Conference.
Conduct Board
Members of the College Community who are trained and authorized to determine whether a student is responsible for a violation of College policy during a Conduct Board Hearing.
Interest Group
A group of six or more students currently enrolled in Emerson who wishes to pursue a common education, civic, social, cultural, or recreational interest and is currently not registered with Student Government and Student Engagement and Leadership yet.
Interim Administrative Measures
Temporary actions that the College may take to ensure the safety of the community and/or individual students in response to potential violations of College Policy. They may be put in place prior to or during the Student Conduct Process.
Outcome
A formal or informal resolution to the Student Conduct Process that includes both the findings and the sanctions, if applicable.
Panel Chair
A College official assigned to facilitate a Resolution Panel. The Panel Chair is a non-voting member of the Resolution Panel who ensures an equitable, fair, and consistent Resolution Panel process. They may also advise the Resolution Panel members during proceedings.
Recognized Student Organization
An association or group of persons that has complied with the formal requirements for College recognition as defined by the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership.
Resolution Panel
A formal resolution process that occurs if a student formally accepts responsibility for a violation of College policy and is referred to or requests that a panel determine sanctions. Resolution Panels are described in greater detail in the Detailed Description of All Resolution Processes.
Responding Party
Any student that has been referred to the Student Conduct Process due to a potential violation of College Policy.
Sanction
A required educational, restorative, or reflective action assigned to a student found responsible for a violation of College policy. Sanctions may also be passive, meaning they do not require action to complete (e.g. warnings, academic misconduct notices, or restrictions from campus spaces or resources).
Sanctioning Body
One or more members of the College authorized to assign or recommend sanctions related to a finding of responsibility for a violation of College policy. Sanctioning body members are trained and supported by the Office of Community Standards under the direction of the Associate Dean for Campus Life.
Student
Any person admitted, registered, enrolled, or attending any course at the College, either full-time or part-time, pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies. This includes any person who is on a leave of absence or suspended from the College.
Student Conduct Process
The process administered by the Office of Community Standards to review and resolve potential student violations of College Policy, except for potential violations of the College’s Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation. The Student Conduct Process includes all formal and informal resolution options that may be utilized by the Office of Community Standards, the Associate Dean for Campus Life, or other College leadership.
Witness
Any individual who has first-person knowledge and/or relevant information about potential violations of College policy.