Standards of Conduct

Students

Kent State University is a student-centered institution offering a broad array of academic programs to engage students in diverse learning environments that educate them to think critically and to expand their intellectual horizons while attaining the knowledge and skills necessary for responsible citizenship and productive careers. To maintain high standards, the University must furnish an atmosphere conducive to study and educational growth, as well as one that enables and assists students in developing in a positive manner. University rules and regulations form parameters for individual behavior on and off campus, and follow the normative standards of behavior adhered to by the City of Kent and Kent State University communities. By virtue of a student’s enrollment at Kent State University, he/she consents to follow the policies and procedures of the university, including those outlined in this Code of Student Conduct. It is the individual student’s responsibility to be familiar with all applicable conduct-related policies.

A student may access the full University Policy Register, which contains the complete text of all the University’s current policies online at: https://www.kent.edu/policyreg

. Other rules and regulations may be found in the Residence Hall Contract and the Hallways Handbook, as well as in publications such as the University Catalog.

The Office of Student Conduct is responsible for the adjudication of cases involving students and student organizations accused of violating campus rules, regulations, or policies; federal or state laws; and/or municipality ordinances.  The University’s student conduct-related goals are: to provide students with due process; to make students aware of and able to reasonably navigate through the conduct process; to have students accept responsibility for their actions when it is warranted; to be intentionally educational; to assist students in making responsible decisions; and to apply sanctions designed to assist students in their pursuit of excellence in both the classroom and the community.

The Student Conduct process is not a legal process and is separate from federal, state, and local court proceedings.  Instead, the standard of responsibility is based on a preponderance of the evidence.  The student conduct process is expected to:

• Determine consequences for behaviors that violate university rules, policies, and federal, state, and local laws or ordinances
• Offer outcomes to assist students in learning about the impact of their actions on themselves and others within their respective communities
• Protect the integrity of students, faculty, staff, the institution, and the University community

Prohibited Conduct specifically related to alcohol and other drugs:

Alcohol

• Use or possession of alcoholic beverages except as expressly permitted by law, university rules, regulations or policies; and/or public intoxication.
• Distribution of alcoholic beverages except as expressly permitted by law and/or University rules, regulations or policies.
• Violation of Residence Hall polices pertaining to empty alcohol containers.

Controlled Substances

• Use, possession, sale, or distribution of narcotics, controlled substances and/or related paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law.

Employees

University and administrative polices 6-01, 6-22, and 6-22.1 address expectations for employment, occupational safety and health, and a drug-free workplace.

6-01: University policy regarding employment

• Policy statement. The vice president for human resources is responsible for the development, implementation, and enforcement of the employment policies and practices at Kent state university, as delegated by the president. The vice president may delegate to the appropriate staff the authority to assist in the execution of these responsibilities.
• Employee code of conduct. Every employee of Kent state university is required to comply with the policies and guidelines established for employees, as well as applicable local, state, and federal laws. Therefore, the following are expected of each individual employee:
  • To maintain a professional demeanor.  Each Kent state university employee will exhibit a high degree of maturity and self-respect and foster an appreciation for other cultures, one's own cultural background, as well as the cultural matrix from which Kent state university exists.  Also, each will adhere to the lawful instructions and orders of their supervisors and other university officials who are performing duties within their official capacities.
  • To respect the dignity and well-being of others. Each employee of Kent state university will demonstrate respect for all campus and external community members.  Therefore, to purposely threaten, accost, demean, or to engage in gender, sexual or religious harassment, use vile, obscene or abusive language or exhibit lewd behavior, to be under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse while performing employment responsibilities is prohibited.  Also, to be involved in the possession, use, distribution of and sale of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited.  Deadly weapons, unless authorized by law, are also strictly prohibited.
  • To respect and safeguard the rights and property of others, and to better provide for the safety and security of each person,  each employee of Kent state university will be subject to all applicable local, state and federal laws and to all applicable provisions listed as part of university policy register.  Therefore, individuals found in violation of local, state, federal laws or university policies are subject to disciplinary action which could include dismissal from the university.
  • To prohibit discrimination, while respecting the differences in people, ideas, and opinions. Each employee of Kent state university will support equal rights and opportunities for all.
  • To practice personal and professional integrity, and to discourage all forms of dishonesty, deceit, and noncompliance to the code of conduct.

6-22: University policy regarding occupational safety and health

• The university is committed to an employee safety and health program that meets the guidelines established by the division of safety and hygiene of the state of Ohio.
• To prevent disabling injuries and illnesses originating on the job, the university will maintain a safety and health program conforming with the best practices of organizations of this type. To be successful such program must embody proper attitudes toward injury and illness prevention on the part of administrators, supervisors, and employees. It also requires cooperation among employees in all safety and health matters. Only through such a cooperative effort can a safety record in the best interest of all be established and preserved.
• The university accepts the responsibility for leadership of the safety and health program, for its effectiveness and improvement, and for providing the safeguards required to promote safe conditions.
• Supervisors are responsible for developing the proper attitude toward safety and health in themselves and in those they supervise and for overseeing that all operations are performed with the utmost regard for the safety and health of all personnel, including themselves.
• Employees are responsible for genuine adherence to all rules and regulations of the safety and health program, and for continuously practicing safety while performing their duties.

6-22.1: Administrative policy regarding a drug-free workplace

• Policy statement. The university is committed to maintaining a workplace free of illegal drugs. Recognizing that illegal drug use poses health and safety hazards to employees and to the community at large, the university prohibits the possession or use of illegal drugs on all university property and at other locations where employees are conducting university business.
• Employees manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possessing or using illegal drugs on university property and at other locations during the conduct of university business are subject to dismissal.
• The university will establish and maintain a drug-free awareness program including the following topics of concern:
  • Health and safety concerns from drug abuse.
  • University policy regarding illegal drug use.
  • Availability of approved drug counseling and rehabilitation services.
• Penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug-free violations.
• In compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, employees engaged in work under a federal grant or contract may be subject to additional requirements to ensure a drug-free workplace.
• In accordance with federal regulations, the violation of this policy could result in the suspension, termination or debarment of the individual or the institution from federal grants and/or contracts.