Oxford College Community Standards

Oxford College of Emory University is an institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities, transmitting and advancing knowledge, and providing a range of services to both students and the general community. The college endeavors to foster in each student a love of learning, commitment to fair and honorable conduct, and respect for the safety and welfare of others. It also strives to protect the community from the influence of those who do not embody these values in their conduct, and to protect the integrity of the college and its property for the benefit of all. For this purpose, and in accordance with the bylaws of the college, the president of Emory University has defined the interests of the college community to be promoted and protected and has delegated to the dean of Oxford College and dean for campus life the responsibility of implementing such a system via the Oxford College Community Standards, hereafter referred to as the community standards

The activities of students beyond the classroom influence the educational process and learning environment, just as the intellectual atmosphere of the campus contributes to students’ personal growth and development. Many forms of non-academic behavior, as well as all academic affairs, are therefore areas of proper concern and regulation by the college community. The guiding principle of the community standards model is the responsible exercise of freedoms and privileges. Members of the college community are granted the greatest possible degree of self-determination correlative to acceptance of the full responsibility for their conduct and the consequences of their actions.

Because the college is an institution of learning, the community standards process has education as its foremost aim. The Community Standards expectations aims to sustain an environment conducive to learning, promote a climate of mutual respect, foster open dialogue that promotes learning and understanding, promote individual well-being and personal development, and encourage the application of ethical decision-making in the daily life of undergraduates.

The Community Standards applies to students enrolled in Oxford College, in their behavior both on and off campus. Furthermore, the dean of Oxford College and dean for campus life is delegated responsibility pertaining to all student organizations and student government. In addition, the dean of Oxford College and dean for campus life has the responsibility and authority to hold students and organizations accountable and may choose to handle such matters in a direct and expedient manner, including taking interim action, including but not limited to interim suspension pending the conclusion of an investigation and hearing, removal from campus housing, the issuance of a No Contact Order, or other measures.

Academic misconduct falls within the jurisdiction of the individual academic units of Oxford College, not this code. Allegations of nonacademic misconduct will be resolved in accordance with the procedures outlined in this code.

Continuation as a student is conditional upon compliance with the expectations of student conduct expressed or implied in this code.

Oxford College of Emory University expects that all students act honorably, demonstrating a keen sense of ethical conduct. The college expects that its students behave respectfully, providing consideration for other people and for property. As members of a community, Oxford College expects students to act responsibly, being accountable for the safety and well-being of themselves and others. College students are expected to be trustworthy, demonstrating honest character upon which others may rely with confidence. 

College students are required to inform them their guests about the Oxford College Community Standards, policies, procedures, and expectations and address any actions of their guests that are out of alignment with Community Standards.    

Instances of misconduct that are considered violations of this code and could result in disciplinary action against a student include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Attempting, assisting, knowingly permitting, or encouraging any conduct in violation of Oxford College's expectations of students' conduct.
2. Failure to comply with the direction of college officials or law enforcement officials acting in performance of their duties; failing to identify oneself to these officials when requested to do so.
3. Failure to complete sanctions assigned by the hearing officers of the college and/or knowingly violating the terms of any disciplinary sanction imposed or any mutual agreement reached in accordance with this code.
4. Disrupting the normal operations of the college (including teaching, research, service, and business operations) or college-sponsored activities by participating in an on-campus or off-campus demonstration, riot, or activity, or infringes on the rights of other members of the college community; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled or normal activities within any campus building or area.
5. Misuse of computer or network resources, including but not limited to, use of another individual's identification or password; using computer or network resources to send anonymous, obscene, or abusive messages; using computer or network resources in violation of copyright laws; use of computer or network resources to interfere with the normal operation of the college computer system; or any other violation of policies established by Oxford College Information Technology.
6. Violating policies established by Residential Educational and Services (RES) for college-owned residential facilities, including but not limited to the RES Housing Policies, the Guide to Housing, and the Oxford Housing Agreement.
7. Violating college rules, regulations, or policies.
8. Violating the University Tobacco Free Policy.
9. Violating any government laws or ordinances.

1. Physical Harm - Causing physical harm to any person, animal or living object.
2. Abuse, threats, or endangerment – Intentionally or recklessly engaging in the physical or abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, or other conduct that threatens or endangers the emotional or physical health or safety of any person(s).
3. Alarming, intimidating behavior, and/or inappropriate behavior - Engaging, threatening, intimidating, coercing, or inappropriate behaviors towards any persons including harassment or bullying. 
4. Sex and Gender-Based Harassment and Discrimination – Engaging in conduct that would be prohibited under Policy 8.2 - Sex and Gender-Based Harassment and Discriminatory Policy.  Conduct that falls under Policy 8.2 will be adjudicated under the process and procedures set forth in that policy.
5. Hazing – Engaging in conduct that would be prohibited under Policy 8.11 - University Anti-Hazing Policy
6. Bias based behavior – Engaging in discrimination or harassment against another person on the basis of the person’s race, color, religion, ethnic, or national origin, gender, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any factor that is prohibited consideration under University policy and applicable law as outlined in Policy 1.3: Equal Opportunity and Discrimination Harassment Policy. 
7. Banned Student Organizations - Joining, administering, representing, paying dues to, or claiming membership in a dissolved student organization. 
8. Indecent Exposure – Engaging in lewd or indecent behavior including, but not limited to, public nudity (unless specifically authorized for activities such as theater productions or class). 
9. Cyber Bullying - Using social media or electronic devices in a manner that violates this code, including but not limited to, cyber bullying.

1. Violating the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy including but not limited to:
   1. Use or possession of alcoholic beverages. This includes being in the presence of alcoholic beverages and not
   2. Manufacture or distribution of alcoholic beverages
   3. Public Intoxication.
   4. Possessing an open container of an alcoholic beverage on university premises
   5. Use or possession of any illegal drug or controlled substance (including prescribed medications) except as expressly permitted by law. This includes being in the presence of an illegal drug and not consuming.
   6. Providing and/or purchasing alcoholic beverages to a person under the age of 21
   7. Manufacture or distribution of any illegal drug or controlled substance (including prescribed medications) except as expressly permitted by law.
   8. Nonadherence to event policies as described in the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy
2. Prohibited Weapons - Using, possessing, or storing any weapon on campus without written authorization or expressed permission from a university official.
3. Storing fireworks or chemicals - Using, possessing, or storing fireworks, explosives, or dangerous or flammable chemicals on college premises without express permission from a college official. 
4. Tampering with fire safety equipment - Intentionally misusing, damaging, or tampering with fire or other safety equipment, including covering or disabling a smoke detector. Additional fire safety restrictions are detailed in the student housing regulations.
5. Drug Paraphernalia - Possession or use of items commonly associated or interpreted as paraphernalia (hookah, bongs, pipes, etc.).

1. Misrepresentation - Intentional misrepresentation, including but not limited to:
   1. Providing false or misleading information to a college official.
   2. Filing a false or misleading report with college officials or law enforcement officials.
   3. Manufacture, use, intended use, purchase or possession of false documents, identification, or access devices.
   4. Impersonating another individual through email, social media, electronic communication or other means.
   5. Violating the Honor Code of Oxford College.
2. Impersonation – Impersonating another individual through email, social media, electronic communication, or other means.
3. Unauthorized Recording of Others – Intentionally invading someone’s privacy by means of recording video or audio, photographing or otherwise capturing footage of an individual or group, with or without intent to appropriate, distribute, share or use someone’s likeness, identifying personal data, or documents without permission, including but not limited to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) support. 
4. Trespassing - Using or being in or on college premises without express permission from a college official.
5. Misuse of property or services, including but not limited to:
   1. Taking, using, or possessing property without the express permission of its owner or utilizing a service without express authorization from its provider.
   2. Refusing to return property to its owner when requested or refusing to discontinue the use of a service when requested to by its provider.
   3. Transferring or accepting the transfer of property or services that are known to be non-transferrable.
   4. Knowingly accepting, using, or possessing improperly obtained property or services.
6. Theft - Destroying, damaging, or vandalizing property.
7. Vandalizing – Destroying, damaging, or vandalizing property. 
8. Misuse of Community Standards - Inappropriately participating in the Community Standards and/or hearing processes, including but not limited to:
   1. Providing false or misleading information during the conduct process.
   2. Disrupting the hearing process in any way. 
   3. Filing a conduct complaint as a means to retaliate, harass, coerce, or intimidate another person.
   4. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a hearing body or other involved party prior to or during the course of proceeding conduct meeting or hearing; harassment or intimidation of a hearing body, during, or after a conduct meeting or hearing.
   5. Influencing another person to engage in any of the aforementioned acts.
   6. Recording and/or streaming any hearing proceedings without express permission of the chief conduct hearing officer.

Reporting Alleged Misconduct

Any member of the college community wishing to report an alleged violation of the Oxford Community Standards may submit an online Incident Report Form.. The chief hearing officer will determine whether action should be taken in response to a report. This determination may result in the report being assigned to a hearing officer for investigation or in assignment to the appropriate board or council for a hearing. Reports of alleged misconduct that meet the criteria for medical amnesty may be resolved as outlined within the Medical Amnesty Policy.

The hearing officer will notify a student in writing forty-eight hours prior to a scheduled investigation meeting or adjudicating hearing. Failure to attend an investigation meeting will result in a hearing on the alleged misconduct before either a hearing officer or the appropriate board. Failure to attend a hearing will result in the decision on the alleged Community Standards violation(s) without the benefit of the respondent’s involvement.

Reports of alleged sexual harassment and sexual misconduct will be resolved as outlined within the Sexual Misconduct Policy.

Violations of the Law and the Community Standards

Students may be accountable to both civil authorities and to the college for acts that constitute violations of the law and Community Standards. Those accused of violations of this code are subject to the college disciplinary proceedings outlined in this code while criminal, civil, or other college proceedings regarding the same conduct are pending. Respondents may not challenge the college disciplinary proceedings outlined in this code on the grounds that criminal allegations of possible violations, civil actions, or other college proceedings regarding the same incident are pending, may be initiated, or have been terminated, dismissed, reduced, or not yet adjudicated. The college will refer matters to federal, state, and local authorities when appropriate. The disciplinary process will proceed independent of, and not subject to, decisions made by non-college authorities.

Investigation Meeting

For cases assigned to a hearing officer for investigation, a preliminary meeting shall occur between a hearing officer and the respondent to review the report as well as to gather the respondent’s perspective on the incident. The hearing officer will explain the hearing process and also help the student understand the charges that the student allegedly violated. The purpose of this meeting is making personal contact with the respondent and to determine if the student plans to accept or deny responsibility for the given charges. Oxford College believes that this one-on-one meeting can help all students become more comfortable with the sometimes-overwhelming process. 

The chief hearing officer, once provided with the information from the investigation meeting, will recommend that the Peer Review Board or the Oxford College Community Standards Board adjudicate the case depending on the severity of the charges and prior record of the student involved. The Peer Review Board will be assigned less severe cases where separation from the college is not an appropriate outcome. The College Community Standards Board will hear cases not assigned to the Peer Review Board. In more severe or sensitive cases, the Oxford College Administrative Council may also be assigned the case. The use of the Administrative Council will be determined by the dean of campus life. The dean of campus life or the chief community standards officer may also choose to assign a student to meet with a hearing officer for a meeting and/or an adjudicating hearing. 

Purpose of a Hearing

The purpose of a hearing is to examine the report of misconduct, make a determination of responsibility and, if appropriate, assign sanction(s) for the case.

Procedures and Rules

The proceedings shall be non-adversarial in nature. The chair of the board will preserve the non-adversarial nature of the hearing. Examples would be monitoring questions asked by members of the Board and the accused receiving all pertinent information before the hearing.

Hearing proceedings will not be recorded by the college and students are prohibited from using any audio recording device during the proceeding.

The chair shall determine the admissibility of all evidence and testimony, as well as the relevance of all questions. This determination shall be based on relevance. Rules of evidence applicable to criminal or civil court proceedings shall not apply.

In situations where multiple students are alleged to have violated the code based on their behavior in one incident, the Peer Review Board and Community Standards Board may, at its discretion, hold a joint hearing for all of the respondents. In a joint hearing, all information and testimony are reviewed and available for all respondents. The boards make a separate finding for each student regarding responsibility and sanctions, if any.

Attendance

The respondent shall have the right to be present at all times during the hearing, except when the board or council enters into deliberations.

Failure on the part of the respondent, complainant, adviser, or witnesses to attend this hearing will result in the hearing body making a decision on the alleged misconduct without the benefit of the respondent's involvement, the adviser's support, or witnesses' testimony.

Witnesses

The college may require any enrolled student to attend and to give testimony relevant to the case under consideration. Signed, written statements of witnesses who cannot attend the hearing may be accepted at the discretion of the chief community standards officer.

The college may request the attendance of a faculty or staff member, or alternatively request that a faculty or staff member furnish a written statement. Failure to comply with a request of attendance by the board may result in a failure to comply violation.

Findings

For all cases, the standard that shall be used to determine the respondent’s responsibility is preponderance of evidence. After all admissible evidence has been reviewed, the Oxford College Community Standards Board shall deliberate to decide the case. For cases assigned to the Oxford College Community Standards Board, the respondent shall be found responsible or not responsible by a majority vote (4–2) for each alleged violation. For cases assigned to the Peer Review Board, the respondent shall be found responsible or not responsible by a majority vote (3–2). 

If the respondent is found responsible, the hearing officer or the board shall deliberate to make an assignment of sanction(s). At this time, the board will take into consideration previous violations that resulted in a responsible finding and the sanctions assigned. The sanctions assigned shall be determined by a majority vote. 

At the conclusion of the process the student will be notified in writing of the outcome of his or her case by the chief community standards officer or his/her designee for cases assigned to the Peer Review Board and the dean of campus life for cases assigned to the Community Standards Board. 

Hearing Officers

The dean of Oxford College shall appoint hearing officers as he/she deems advisable for the effective maintenance of the community standards process. Hearing officers shall be authorized to investigate and adjudicate all community standards cases arising under this code.

Boards and Councils

The dean of Oxford College will establish councils and boards, as he/she deems advisable for the effective implementation of the community standards process. The pool of faculty, staff, and student members will be from Oxford College.

The following standing boards and councils are established:

Oxford Community Standards Board

1. Jurisdiction: the Community Standards Board is established as the general hearing body for all allegations of severe community standards violations as determined by the Chief Community Standards Officer. Such violations include, but are not limited to, repeat alcohol violations, drug violations and significant property damage. 
2. Membership: the Oxford Community Standards Board shall be comprised of the following members:
   a. A chair, who shall be the chief community standards officer, or his/her designee. The chair does not vote except in cases of a tie regarding sanctions;
   b. Two faculty or staff members;
   c. Four students and;
   d. Student Conduct Solicitor. The solicitor does not vote.

Peer Review Board

1. Jurisdiction: the Peer Review Board is established as the hearing body for allegations of minor community standards violations as determined by the chief conduct officer. Such violations include, but are not limited to, minor instances of vandalism, some residence hall policy violations, and minor alcohol violations.
2. Membership: the Peer Review Board shall be comprised of the following members:
   a. Chair, who shall be the chief conduct officer, or his/her designee. The chair does not vote.
   b. Five students.

Oxford Administrative Council

1. Jurisdiction: the Oxford Administrative Council is established as the general hearing body for specific conduct cases deemed appropriate by the dean for campus life.
2. Membership: the Oxford Administrative Council shall be comprised of the following members:
   a. A chair, who shall be the chief community standards officer, or his/her designee. The chair does not vote.
   b. Three faculty or staff members.

The appointment of hearing officers as well as chairs, faculty, and staff to each of the hearing bodies shall be for a period of one academic year. Faculty and staff appointments shall be made by the dean of Oxford College. Student appointments shall be made by the chief community standards officer and dean for campus life. Appointments may be renewed at the discretion of the dean for campus life.

If a sufficient number of board or council members are not available, substitutes may be appointed by the dean of Oxford College and/or dean for campus life.

While participating in hearings, complainants and respondents shall have the following rights. A respondent may elect to waive some or all of these procedures and rules. Such an election must be made in writing to the chief community standards officer.

1. The right to a written notice of charges.
2. The right to a list of witnesses who will be asked by the college to testify at a hearing as well as the opportunity to review all written evidence.
3. The right to present evidence, or to call witnesses not already called by the college to testify or submit written statements. All witnesses must have the prior approval of the chief community standards officer. It is the responsibility of the respondent to notify any additional witnesses not called by the college of the time, date, and location of the hearing.
4. The right to suggest questions for the hearing officer or chair of the board to pose to a witness. The officer or chair of the board has the discretion to decline to ask a question if he or she deems it not relevant.
5. The right to receive assistance from an adviser who is a current member of the Oxford College community (faculty or staff) and who may be present. In general, advisers are only allowed on behalf of a respondent during College Community Standards Board hearings or Administrative Councils and not during administrative meetings or Peer Review Board hearings.
6. The right to be present at the hearing until such time as the hearing officer or the board/council retires to deliberate.

To protect the educational and non-adversarial nature of the community standards process, guidelines for participation of advisers will be strictly enforced. In general, participation of advisers is only allowed on behalf of respondents or complainants during conduct board hearing proceedings and not during administrative hearings or peer review board. Requests to have advisers present during other elements of the conduct process may be granted at the discretion of the chief community standards officer. At all times, advisers must follow the guidelines for their participation.

The term adviser is defined as a current faculty or staff member of the Oxford College community who provides assistance to a respondent or complainant at that student’s request during a formal hearing. The role of the adviser is to support the student. An adviser may not play an active role such as giving statements or questioning witnesses. An adviser may not speak for or on behalf of the student. A student may consult with his/ her adviser during breaks in the hearing, or an adviser may make whispered or written comments to the student during the hearing, provided such comments do not interfere with the hearing process.

In determining appropriate sanctions, consideration may be given to:

1. The nature of, severity of, and circumstances surrounding the violation
2. The student's acceptance of responsibility
3. Community impact history of the student
4. The impact of a sanction on a student.

Hearing officers, boards and councils determine sanctions for students who have accepted responsibility or been found in violation of this code. The following sanctions, singularly or in combination, may be imposed upon any student found to have violated this code.

Expulsion: permanent separation of the student from the institution. An expelled student will be removed from all classes and not permitted to re-enroll. Expelled students may be barred from campus following their expulsion.

Suspension: temporary separation of the student from the institution for a period of time.

Interim Suspension: a suspension given by the dean of campus life pending an investigation and/or adjudication of the incident. A student will not be permitted to attend class and may be removed from campus housing.

Dismissal: a separation of the student from the institution. A dismissed student will be removed from all classes and not permitted to re-enroll while the dismissal is in effect. Dismissal may either be definite, for a specific period of time, such as a number of semesters or indefinite, the dismissal is in effect until certain conditions are met by the student that allow for readmission. Dismissed students may be barred from campus and/or from utilizing campus services during the term of their suspension.

Probationary Status: formal recognition that the student is not currently in good disciplinary standing with the college. Probation may impact the student's eligibility to participate in certain programs (i.e.: student organizations, leadership roles, campus events) or services. Probation may either be definite, for a specific period of time, such as a number of semesters or indefinite, the probation is in effect until certain conditions are met by the student that allow for conduct probation removal. Probation becomes a part of a student's permanent file.

Written Reprimand: a notice in writing to the student that the student has violated institutional regulations and must cease and not repeat the inappropriate action and future misconduct may lead to a more severe penalty. The reprimand remains on a student's record until a future date set by the board/council or hearing officer. This can affect sanctioning of future violations.

Warning: a notice in writing to the student that the student has violated institutional regulations and must cease and not repeat the inappropriate action.

Loss of Privileges: denial of specified privileges for a designated period of time. This sanction may include, for example, denial of the right to represent the college in such things as student leadership capacities or sports teams, denial of the use of campus facilities, or denial of parking privileges, or loss of privileges to participate in organizations, activities, or events.

Residence Hall Restriction/Relocation: prohibited from entering residence halls or being moved from one residence hall to another.

No Contact Order: prohibition against having any form of contact with another student for a defined period of time. Such contact includes in person communications, telephone calls, e-mails, or sending messages through a third party.

Restitution: compensation for loss, damage, or injury. This may take the form of service, monetary compensation or material replacement.

Mandated Administrative Tasks: completion of a specific number of hours of administrative tasks. Typically this service is to the college community.

Educational Projects/Initiatives: projects, classes, or assignments designated to educate a student in connection with the effects of his/her behavior.

Meeting(s) with the Health Educator: The student will meet with the health educator and follow all recommendations, which may include additional assignments and/or meetings.

Meeting with a RES Professional Staff Member: The student will meet with a RES professional staff member to discuss their choices and behavior related to the incident.

Interview and Reaction: Student must interview a relevant member of the college community and write a paper reflecting on the interview and how it relates to their choices regarding the code.

Media Assignment: Student must create a banner/flyer/bulletin board regarding a topic that is relevant to the violation.

Letter of Apology: Student must write a letter of apology to whomever was affected negatively by their behavior.

Reflection Paper/Essay: Student is required to write at minimum, a 1,000 word essay. The topic of this essay can vary, based on the situation and the specific facts of the case.

Fines: monetary fine sanctions depend on severity and the degree of the infraction.

Other: other sanctions as deemed appropriate by a hearing body/hearing officer and approved by the chief community standards officer.

The college reserves the right to place a hold on the diploma, degree certification, official transcripts, or registration of the respondent even though he or she may have completed all academic requirements. The diploma, degree certification, official transcripts, or registration may be withheld until any allegations of misconduct are resolved and/or sanctions as well as other community standards obligations completed.

The following sanctions will automatically be documented in the student's personal performance record, commonly referred to a student's conduct record:

1. Expulsion
2. Dismissal
3. Suspension
4. Probation in cases involving serious behavior and/or repeated offenses, where a decision is made to include a permanent notation on the student's personal performance record.
5. Reprimand

When a student is subjected to any of the actions indicated above, a record of the case will be retained by the dean for campus life. If the student is subsequently found responsible for any violation of the community standards, a record of all previous disciplinary findings of “responsible” for any violation will be provided to the hearing board. The previous record will be considered in deciding the proper disciplinary action to be taken, but only after responsibility is determined.

Students found responsible and assigned sanctions of probation, suspension or expulsion may be ineligible for scholarships and other forms of financial aid administered by the college, campus leadership positions, participation in collegiate events/programs and the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program.

Please note that all student behavioral records continue to the Atlanta campus when a student graduates from Oxford College.

The dean of Oxford College will receive all appeals to cases resolved under the code.

The respondent may appeal findings of responsibility and/or sanctions. To initiate an appeal, the respondent must submit a written statement of the specific reason(s) for appeal to the chief hearing officer or to the dean of the college within five business days of receipt of the hearing decision. The chief hearing officer will give the appeal and all relevant case information the dean of the college.

The Dean of the College will review the documents pertaining to the case to determine:

1. Whether the hearing was conducted in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Oxford College Community Standards.
2. Whether the interpretation of the code was appropriate.
3. Whether the sanction(s) imposed were appropriate.
4. Whether new, relevant information has been discovered that could affect the outcome of the case.

After reviewing the documents pertaining to the case, the dean of the college will issue a written response to the student within a reasonable period of time from the receipt of the request for review. The dean of the college shall recommend one of the following courses of action:

1. Affirm the hearing decision and affirm the recommended sanction(s).
2. Affirm the findings of the hearing decision, but impose a different set of sanction(s), which may be of lesser severity.
3. Remand the case to the chief hearing officer to assign a hearing body to coordinate a new hearing.

This decision by the dean of the college shall be final.

Administrative Council: comprised of a chair and three faculty or staff members of Oxford College and adjudicates specific community standards cases deemed appropriate by the dean for campus life.

Administrative sanction: impacts a student's status with the college.

Adviser: an Oxford College faculty or staff member whom a student charged with misconduct may seek for advice. This person may also be present at any hearings on the matter.

College: refers to Oxford College of Emory College.

College official: means any person employed by the college, including but not limited to resident assistants, residence life coordinators, law enforcement officers, and other administrative and professional staff.

College premises: buildings or grounds owned, leased, operated, controlled, affiliated with, or supervised by the college.

College-sponsored activity: any activity, on or off campus that is initiated, aided, authorized, or supervised by the college.

Complainant: refers to the accuser and can be used to refer to a person, a group, or the college. When the complainant is a group, any one of the following may be appointed by that body to represent it: the college, an entity, or a single person, provided that person is a member of the Oxford College community.

Community Standards Board: comprised of a chair, two faculty or staff members, four students, and a student conduct solicitor and adjudicates cases of a more serious nature such as drugs, repeat alcohol violations or cases deemed appropriate by the chief community standards officer.

Dean of the College and Dean for Campus Life: references to the dean include his or her designee.

Educational sanction: requires a student to become actively engaged in a process, which will allow him/her to reflect upon the incident and learn a number of things.

Hazing: any activity expected of someone joining a group or organization (or to maintain full status in a group or organization) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing are not neutral acts; these are violations. View official policy.

Hearing body: any person(s) authorized by the dean for campus life to hold a disciplinary hearing, to determine whether a student has violated the code, and to recommend sanctions. This term includes the College Community Standards Board, the Peer Review Board, Administrative Council and hearing officers.

Hearing Officer: any person(s) authorized by the chief community standards officer to hold preliminary meetings, investigations, hold community standards hearings, and determine whether a student has violated the code as well as recommend sanctions.

Notify in writing (transmit in writing): to send via electronic mail to student's Emory email address, to mail (US or campus) written notice to the student's most recent address of record, or to hand deliver written notice to the student.

Peer Review Board: comprised of a chair and five students and adjudicates cases of minor policy violations such as noise or alcohol or cases deemed appropriate by the chief community standards officer.

Preponderance of evidence: more likely than not that a violation occurred.

Respondent: refers to the accused student. This term may be used interchangeably with accused or accused organization.

Student: any person pursuing undergraduate studies at Oxford College. At the discretion of the dean for campus life, the term may be extended to mean: (1) a person not currently enrolled who was enrolled in the fall, spring, or summer term preceding the alleged violation, or (2) a person who, while not currently enrolled, has been enrolled in Oxford College and may reasonably seek enrollment at a future date, or (3) a person who has applied or been accepted for admission to Oxford College and may reasonably be expected to enroll.

Weapon: any object or substance designed to inflict a wound, cause injury or incapacitate, including, but not limited to, all firearms, airsoft guns, stun guns, bows and arrows, explosives, pellet guns, BB guns, switchblade or gravity knives, clubs, blackjacks or brass knuckles, or ice picks.

Limitations Regarding Rehabilitation

The college is not designed or equipped to rehabilitate students who do not abide by this code. It may be necessary to remove those students from the campus and to sever the institution's relationship with them, as provided in this code.

Interpretation

Any question of interpretation or application of this code shall be referred to the dean of campus life, the chief community standards officer or their designee for final determination.

Confidentiality, Maintenance, and Retention of Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Conduct records may be shared within the college with those individuals with an educational need to know, as provided by FERPA. To the extent permitted or required by law, the complainant or victim may also receive notice of the outcome of the conduct process. Students should be aware that the outcome of conduct proceedings may result in actions by other departments of the college over which the chief community standards officer has no direct control. Student conduct records may be also released to other institutions as permitted or required by FERPA.

The chief community standards officer shall:

1. Maintain files on all undergraduate student conduct reports, records, and hearing proceedings.
2. Be the official custodian of records relating to the nonacademic misconduct of undergraduate students;
3. Retain records of all conduct cases that result in a finding of responsibility for seven years after graduation from Oxford College; and
4. Establish additional policies regarding the retention and maintenance of student conduct records, and such policies shall conform to established college policies on record retention.

Nature of and Changes to the Code

Nothing in this document constitutes a contract or creates a contractual obligation on the part of Oxford College. The college reserves the right to interpret and apply its policies and procedures, and to deviate from these guidelines, as appropriate in the particular circumstances and in accordance with the mission and goals of the college. The college further reserves the right to alter or modify any statement contained in this document without prior notice.