Code of Student Conduct and Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Access to Higher Education—Within the limits of its facilities, the College shall be open to all students who are qualified according to its admission standards. The College’s policies prohibit discrimination in admission on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, and disability.

Classroom Expression—The professor in the classroom and in conference encourages free discussion, inquiry, and expression subject only to the responsibility to maintain order and reasonable academic progress. Students are free to take reasoned exception to the data or view offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Disruptive classroom behavior may result in dismissal from class and disciplinary action.

Freedom of Inquiry and Expression—Students and student organizations are free to examine and to discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately. They are free to support causes by orderly means which do not disrupt the regular and essential operation of the institution. At the same time, it should be made clear to the academic and the larger community that in their public expressions or demonstrations students or student organizations speak only for themselves, and not for the institution.

Students are allowed to invite and to hear any person of their own choosing. Routine procedures required by the institution before a guest speaker is invited to appear on campus are designed to ensure that there is orderly scheduling of facilities and adequate preparation for the event, and that the occasion is conducted in a manner appropriate to an academic community. Institutional control of campus facilities will not be used as a device of censorship. It should be made clear to the academic and larger community that sponsorship of guest speakers does not imply approval or endorsement of the views expressed, either by the sponsoring group or the institution.

Student Participation in Institutional Government—As constituents of the academic community, students are free, individually and collectively, to express their views on issues of institutional policy and on matters of general interest to the student body. Students may run for elective office. Students may, through their Student Government Association, formulate and implement policies and may petition the administration for reconsideration of policies. The administration will notify the SAC (Student Advisory Council) of planned policy changes.

Grievances—Unless an already established appeals procedure exists, students may petition the College administration for review and reconsideration of a policy decision or implementation. The student should first discuss the issue with the College official responsible for the decision. If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved, the student has the right on the Budapest campus to appeal to the Dean of the Faculty.

Honor Code—McDaniel College is committed to the ideals of personal integrity and community honor in all aspects of campus life, including academic endeavors, use of the library and other facilities, and respect for community and personal property. Since the rights of the honest majority must be protected against the actions of individuals acting dishonestly, the Honor and Conduct Board addresses violations within the College community.

Student Media—Student media shall be free of censorship and advance approval of copy. Editors will be free to develop their own editorial and advertising policies and news coverage. Editors and managers of student publications will be protected from arbitrary suspension and removal.

College-published and -financed student media will state on the editorial page or in their regular announcements that the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the College or student body.

The editorial freedom of student editors involves the corresponding obligation to be governed by the canons of responsible journalism and media management. These entail the responsibility to avoid libel, undocumented allegations, attack on personal integrity, techniques of harassment, and innuendos. Student media and its management adhere to The Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists (revised 1996), FCC regulations, and individual organization codes of ethics.

Unrecognized publications may be distributed on campus insofar as the publication complies with the same standards of responsible journalism required of recognized publications.

Off-Campus Freedom of Student—College students are both private citizens and members of the academic community. As citizens, the students enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, right to petition and practice religion that other citizens enjoy. As members of the academic community, they are subject to the obligations which accrue to them by virtue of this membership. Faculty members and administrative officials ensure that institutional powers are not employed to inhibit intellectual and personal development of students exercising their rights of citizenship.

Privacy—Except under extreme emergency circumstances (imminent danger of life, safety, health, or property), or as required by law enforcement officials, premises occupied by students and the personal possessions of students will not be searched unless appropriate authorization at McDaniel College is provided by the Dean of the Faculty or designee.

Access to and Release of Student Records—McDaniel College complies with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). In accordance with FERPA, students have certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights are:

The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, or head of the academic department [or appropriate official] written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. The student should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to College officials with legitimate educational interests. A College official is defined as a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit and health staff ); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or assisting another College official in performing his or her tasks. A College official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. In addition, the College considers students dependent as defined by FERPA using Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore parents of dependent students may have access to students’ records through the Office of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.

McDaniel College may disclose “Directory Information” without the student’s consent. Directory information is defined as: name, dates of attendance, previous institutions(s) attended, major field of study, awards, honors, (includes Dean’s List), degree(s), past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, height and weight of athletes, hometown and photographs.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-4605

Student Right-to-Know—In accordance with the Student Right-to-Know Act of 1990, a graduation rate report is available from the Office of Registrar or in the Office of Academic Affairs.

Code of Student Conduct

Every community has certain regulations and traditions that every member is expected to abide by and uphold. A college community is no exception. The McDaniel College community, perhaps even more than others, depends upon mature and responsible members. Only in such a community can an atmosphere be established that will contribute to the liberal arts education.

Discipline administered by the agencies of McDaniel College is limited to incidents of student misconduct that adversely affect the College community. Students who attend McDaniel College must recognize that some conduct so exceeds the bounds of permissible behavior that they may be asked to pursue their education in some other environment. Such an individual forfeits all fees that have been paid.

A college-related activity includes any activity sponsored by, paid for, or supervised by the College or any organization recognized by the College. Any student responsible for misconduct on another campus or at college related functions is subject to College discipline.

The College will hold students accountable under the Code of Student Conduct for acts committed off campus in cases of serious misconduct, conduct that demonstrates flagrant disregard for the rights of others, or conduct that threatens the College’s relations with the community.

McDaniel College expects that individuals will respect the rights of others. Students responsible for misconduct may be disciplined. Attempts to commit a violation, conspiracies to commit a violation, or aiding another to commit a violation are causes for College disciplinary action. A student may not avoid College sanctions for an infraction(s) of the Code of Student Conduct by withdrawing from a class or the College. Standards of conduct apply on campus as well as on electronic media, including cyberspace. The following guidelines, which are not meant to be all-inclusive, indicate types of misconduct subject to College discipline:

Dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, violation of the Honor Code, or knowingly furnishing false information to the College.

Forgery, alteration, or use of College documents, records, or instruments of identification with intent to defraud; unauthorized use of keys.

Intentional obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other College activities, including public service functions and other authorized activities on College premises, tampering with the discipline process or filing frivolous appeals.

Harassment or intimidation of an individual (including but not limited to harassment or intimidation based on race, religion, creed, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, nationality, or veteran status).
Harassment includes any written, oral or physical acts (including electronically transmitted) that is reasonably perceived as hostile; causes bodily harm; or unreasonably interferes with the learning or living environment. Particularly if questionable behavior is repeated and/or if it continues after the offending party is informed of the objectionable and/or inappropriate nature of the behavior. Harassment can be a single incident, or a series of repeated incidents..

Physical or verbal abuse, including sexual assault, or conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person on College premises or at College-supervised functions or College-sponsored functions. Note: Physical altercations are a form of violence. The College expects that students will withdraw from situations that may result in physical altercations. Students always have the option of contacting a College official and/or the Department of Campus Safety to deal with a situation. Therefore, all students who participate in physical altercations may receive a discipline notification letter indicating that a hearing will take place. The burden of proof will fall upon the students to demonstrate that he/she took every measure to withdraw from the situation.

Stealing, concealing, defacing, or damaging, tampering (or intending to or attempting to) with College property or the property of others.

Unauthorized entry to or use of College facilities, including both buildings and grounds. Being on the roof of any building is prohibited.

Possession, use, sale, or distribution of controlled substances (drugs) or drug paraphernalia.

Unauthorized possession or use of firearms (including air rifles and air pistols), ammunition, explosives, combustibles, fireworks, laser guns, dangerous chemicals, or other weapons or facsimiles of any weapon on College-owned or College-supervised property.

Setting fires (including candles), tampering with fire-protection equipment, or giving false alarms. Interfering with the safety and/or health of a member of the College community (e.g. intentionally causing the evacuation of a College building for reasons known to be false; obstructing emergency evacuation of any facility on College property; willfully disregarding any emergency or fire alarm evacuation signal; hindering the duties of emergency services; misusing, altering, or tampering with any security or fire safety equipment; setting fires).

Failure to appear on official requests before one of the duly constituted disciplinary agents of the College.

Violations of published rules governing College residence halls, traffic, and any other regulations that may be enacted or published and violations of municipal, state, or federal laws.

Disorderly conduct on College-owned or controlled property or at College-sponsored or supervised functions, including public intoxication.

Lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or expression on College-owned or controlled property or at College-sponsored or supervised functions.

Failure to comply with directions of College officials acting in performance of their duties, including refusing to furnish identification upon request and/or abusing, disrespecting, or harassing College officials.

Violation of the College Alcohol Policy, including underage possession or consumption of alcohol, possession of alcohol in public areas, using/providing false identification, hosting or participating in drinking games or contests, or unauthorized possession of kegs, “party balls,” or other multi-liter containers. This list is not exhaustive.