Code of Conduct

Policy: Students, faculty members, and administrative employees are responsible for knowing and obeying IAU policies, as well as local, state and federal laws. The following list of the Code of Conduct is an example of behaviors that may result in disciplinary action by IAU. It is not to be regarded as all-inclusive. In the event that there arises ambiguity, inconsistency, or a need for further clarification regarding what constitutes a violation of the Code of Conduct, the Chief Academic Officer, President / Chief Executive Officer, human resources, or designated representative shall make the final determination. The following actions are defined by IAU as unacceptable forms of behavior and are subject to disciplinary response:

1. Dishonesty 
Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:

1. Furnishing false information to any IAU official, faculty member, or office
2. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any IAU document, record, or instrument of identification
3. Tampering with the election of any recognized IAU organization
4. Misappropriation of student activity and/or IAU funds
5. Falsification of work hours on a payroll timesheet
6. Violating a student’s right to privacy as outlined in the IAU’s FERPA policy

2. Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty, including but not limited to the following: 

1. Cheating: Using or attempting to use crib sheets, electronic sources, stolen exams, unauthorized study aids in an academic assignment, or copying or colluding with a fellow student in an effort to improve one’s grade.
2. Fabrication: Falsifying, inventing, or misstating any data, information, or citation in an academic assignment, field experience, academic credentials, job application or placement file.
3. Plagiarism: Using the works (i.e. ideas, words, images, other materials) of another person as one’s own academic property without proper citation in any academic assignment. This includes submission (in whole or in part) of any work purchased or downloaded from a website or an internet paper clearinghouse as well as work submitted by the student for another course or assignment.
4. Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: Assisting or attempting to assist any person to commit any act of academic misconduct, such as allowing someone to copy a paper or test answers.

3. Verbal Assault, Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying, Defamation, and Threatening or Abusive Behavior
Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, coercion, and/or other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.

Threatening or causing physical harm to another person. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to: personal injury, physical restraint against a person’s will, and holding or transporting an individual against his will.

 “Bullying” is defined as inappropriate, unwelcome behavior (through various means of communication or physical contact) which targets an individual or group because of a characteristic of the individual or group, whether protected by anti-discrimination laws or not. Prohibited bullying may also be the result of repeated behavior of an intimidating nature. Or, if direct, may also meet this definition and can occur through verbal, physical, electronic or other means.

 Conduct constitutes prohibited “Bullying” when a reasonable person in the circumstances would find the conduct sufficiently severe, based on its nature and frequency, to create an environment which is hostile or intimidating and which unreasonably interferes with the work, educational or college opportunity, or is intended to cause or is reasonably foreseeable to cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm.

 Prohibited bullying behavior can take a variety of forms, and may include, but is not limited to, the following examples:

• Verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, and epithets; slandering, ridiculing or maligning a person or his/her family; persistent name calling; using an individual or group as the butt of jokes;
• Verbal or physical conduct of a threatening, intimidating, or humiliating nature;
• Sabotaging or undermining an individual or group’s work performance or education experience;
• Inappropriate physical contact, such as pushing, shoving, kicking, poking, tripping, assault, or the threat of such conduct, or damage to a person’s work area or property, and
• Inappropriate electronic communication, such as the use of electronic mail, text messaging, voice mail, pagers, social media, website, and/or online chat rooms in a threatening, intimidating, or humiliating manner.

“Defamation” is defined as the oral, written, or electronic publication of a false statement of fact that exposes the person about whom it is made to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or subjects that person to loss of the good will and confidence of others, or so harms that person’s reputation as to deter others from associating with her or him.

4. Sexual Harassment 

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other offensive verbal or physical conduct that is either sexual in nature or directed at someone because of his or her gender. Sexual harassment creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment and will not be tolerated.

 Sexual harassment may take different forms. One form includes demands to submit to sexual requests as a condition to avoid some other loss, or offers benefits in return for sexual favors. Other forms of harassment include, but are not limited to:

• Verbal: Sexual innuendos, suggestive comments, jokes of a sexual nature, sexual propositions, threats.
• Non-Verbal: Sexually suggestive objects or pictures (e.g. scantily clad models, cartoons, etc.), suggestive or insulting sounds, leering, whistling, obscene gestures.
• Physical: Unwanted physical contact, including touching, pinching, brushing the body, pushing, or blocking movement or any other intentional bodily contact in a sexual manner.

Whatever form it takes, harassment is insulting and demeaning to the recipient and will not be tolerated. Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action.

5. Disruption or Obstruction
Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, other IAU activities, including its public service functions on or off campus, or other authorized non-IAU activities, when the act occurs on IAU premises.

Participation in campus demonstrations that disrupt the normal operations of the IAU and/or infringe on the rights of other members of the IAU community; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area; intentional obstruction that unreasonably interferes with freedom of movement, either pedestrian or vehicular, on campus, whether inside or outside.

Students are free to assemble and express themselves publicly in a peaceful, orderly manner. Public rallies, demonstrations (either by individuals or groups), and assemblies held on campus should be registered 24 hours in advance with the Office of Media & Events indicating the desired date, time, place, expected attendance, and type of demonstration planned. Public demonstrations not registered may violate the disruption/obstruction policy.

6. Theft, Damage, or Unauthorized Use
Attempted or actual theft of, unauthorized use of, and/or damage to IAU property or property of a member of the IAU community or other personal or public property. This includes the intent to destroy or vandalize property.

7. Unauthorized Entry or Use of IAU Premises
Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys and/or access codes to any IAU premises or unauthorized entry to or use of IAU premises. Trespassing upon, forcibly entering, or otherwise proceeding into unauthorized areas of IAU owned or leased facilities, their roofs, or the residential space of another without permission.

8. Compliance
Failure to comply with directions of IAU officials or law enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duties and/or failure to provide proof of identity to these persons when requested to do so.

9. Drugs, Alcohol, Firearms, Gambling
Abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Violation of any federal, state, or local law including but not limited to:

1. Use, possession, or distribution of narcotics or other controlled substances, except as expressly permitted by law.
2. Use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages, except as expressly permitted by the law and IAU policies, or public intoxication. Students 21 years of age and older may consume alcohol at sanctioned events. IAU students and their guests are expected to act responsibly in their use of alcoholic beverages. Student-sponsored events at IAU are for the benefit of IAU students. Groups that sponsor such events assume the responsibility to plan and implement safe, well-ordered events. 
3. Use or possession of drug-related paraphernalia on campus.
4. Use or possession of firearms, fireworks, explosives, other weapons, or dangerous chemicals on IAU premises not specifically authorized by IAU.
5. Misuse of legal objects in a dangerous manner (e.g., laser pointing in someone’s eyes).
6. Illegal gambling or wagering.

10. Disorderly, Indecent Conduct
Conduct that is deemed disorderly, lewd, or indecent; breach of peace or aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to breach the peace on IAU premises or at functions sponsored or participated in by IAU.

11. Theft or Other Abuse of Computer Resources
Theft or other abuse of computing resources and network access, including but not limited to:

1. Unauthorized entry into a file to use, read, change the contents, or for any other purpose.
2. Unauthorized transfer of a file.
3. Unauthorized use of another individual’s identification and password.
4. Use of computing facilities to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member, or IAU official.
5. Use of computing facilities to send, display, or print obscene or abusive messages.
6. Use of computing facilities to interfere with normal operation of the IAU computing system.
7. Knowingly causing a computer virus to become installed in a computer system or file.
8. Knowingly using the campus computer network to disseminate “spam” messages (i.e., unsolicited bulk email messages that are unrelated to the mission of IAU).
9. Knowingly using the campus network to send any threatening or otherwise inappropriate message.
10. Illegal download of copyrighted software or other works (e.g., music files).

12. Improper Use of Cell Phone Cameras
Misuse of mobile phone cameras, electronic capture devices, or unauthorized audio or video recording, in an area where the expectation of privacy exists, or to facilitate plagiarism, compromise academic work, including but not limited to tests, or otherwise improperly compromise the intellectual property rights of others.

13. Hazing
Hazing, defined as an act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or that destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization.

14. Abuse of Fire Safety Standards
Any activity involving tampering with fire alarms or firefighting equipment, unauthorized use of such equipment, failure to evacuate during a fire alarm, hindering the evacuation of other occupants, or hindering authorized emergency personnel.

15. Other Offenses Against the IAU Community

1. Violations of other published IAU policies, rules, or regulations. Such policies, rules, or regulations may include internship policies and student organization bylaws.
2. Selling, or solicitation, on campus without the written authorization from the President/CEO or his/her designee.
3. Creating a fire, safety, or health hazard.

16. Criminal Conduct and/or Civil Offenses
A violation of any local, state, or federal criminal law, or engaging in behavior that is a civil offense may be considered a violation of the IAU Code of Conduct, even if the specific criminal conduct/civil offense is not specifically listed in this section. The criminal conduct/civil offense may be considered as a violation of the Code of Conduct irrespective of whether the criminal violation/civil offense is prosecuted in a court of law. IAU may inform law enforcement agencies of perceived criminal violations and may elect to defer internal student conduct action until prosecution of the criminal violation has been completed. Exoneration from criminal charges will not result in immunity from civil action or IAU proceedings.