Student Code of Conduct

• The term “University” means ITU University.
• The term “student” includes all persons taking courses, receiving services from University, and pursuing graduate studies at University.
• The term “faculty member” means any person hired by or contracted with the University to conduct instructional activities.
• The term “ITU staff” means any person employed by the University, with the exception of student employees.
• The term “member of the ITU community” includes students, faculty members or ITU staff, and or any other individual associated with the University. The Chief Student Affairs Administrator or designs shall determine a person’s status in a particular situation.
• The term “ITU Premises” includes all land, building, facilities and other property in the possession of or owned, used, or controlled by the University (including parking lots, adjacent streets and sidewalks)
• The term “judicial body” means any person or persons authorized by the Chief Student Affairs Administrator or designee to determine whether a student has violated the Student Code of Conduct and to recommend imposition of sanctions.
• The term “judicial Advisor” means an ITU official authorized on a case-by-case basis by the Chief Student Affairs Administrator or designee to impose sanctions upon students found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct. The Chief Student Affairs Administrator or designee may authorize a judicial advisor to serve simultaneously as a judicial advisor, and as the sole member or one of the members of the judicial body. Nothing shall prevent the Chief Student Affairs Administrator or designee from authorizing the same judicial advisor to impose sanctions in all cases.
• The term “shall” is used in the imperative sense.
• The term “may” is used in the permissive sense.
• The “Chief Student Affairs Administrator or designee” is the person designated by the CEO of ITU University to be responsible for administration of the Student Code of Conduct.
• The term “policy” is defined as the written regulations of the University.
• The term “organization” means any number of persons who have complied with the formal requirements for University recognition / registration.

• The judicial advisor shall determine the composition of judicial bodies and determine which judicial body shall be authorized to hear each case.
• The judicial advisor shall develop procedures for administration of the judicial program and for the conduct of hearings, which are not inconsistent with provisions of the Student Code of Conduct.
• Decisions made by a judicial body and / or judicial advisor shall be final. Pending the normal appeal process. (Unless otherwise is stated).

Jurisdiction of the University

The Code of Conduct applies to student behavior that affects the ITU community, irrespective of where that conduct may occur. Discipline may extend to off-campus activities and locations, when they adversely affect the ITU community and / or pursuit of its objectives.

Conduct – Rules and Regulations

Any student found to have committed the following misconduct may be subject to disciplinary sanctions outlined in Article IV.

• Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:
1. Furnishing false information to any University official, faculty member or office.
2. Forgery, alteration r misuse of any University document, record or instrument of identification.
3. Computer piracy, including duplication of computer software, copyright infringement and unauthorized computer entry.
• Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings and other University activities, including its public service functions on or off campus, or other authorized non-University activities, when the act occurs on ITU premises.
• Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, and harassment including, but not limited to, sexual harassment, coercion and/or other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person, either on ITU premises or at any University-sponsored activity.
• Attempted or actual theft of and/or damage to property of the University or property of a member of the ITU community or other personal or public property.
• ITU specifically prohibits any organization, chartered or otherwise, officially or in fact, from participating in the activity of “hazing”.
• Gambling on ITU premises, at University functions or through the use of University equipment.
• Failure to comply with directions of University officials or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
• Unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys to any part of ITU premises, or unauthorized entry to or use of ITU premises.
• Violation of federal, state or local law on ITU premises or at University-sponsored or University-supervised activities, or other violation of federal, state or local law which has an adverse effect on the ITU community.
• Violation of published University policies, rules or regulations.
• Use, possession or distribution of narcotic or other controlled substances, except as expressly permitted by law, or being under the influence of such substances.
• Illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, other weapons or dangerous chemicals on ITU premises or at any University-sponsored activity.
• Participating in a campus demonstration that disrupts normal operation of the University.
• Conduct that is disorderly, lewd or indecent; breach of peace; or aiding, abetting or procuring another person to breach the peace on ITU premises or at functions sponsored by the University.
• Theft or other abuse of computer time, including but not limited to:
1. Unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read or change contents, or for any other purpose.
2. Unauthorized transfer of a file.
3. Unauthorized use of another individual’s identification and password.
• Abuse of the judicial or disciplinary system, including, but not limited to:
1. Failure to appear before a judicial body or University official.
2. Falsification, distortion or misrepresentation of information before a judicial body.
3. Disruption or interference with orderly conduct of a judicial proceeding.
4. Attempting to influence the impartially of a member of a judicial body prior to, and / or during the course of the judicial proceeding.
5. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a judicial body prior to, during and/or after a judicial proceeding.
6. Failure to comply with sanction(s) imposed under the Student Code of Conduct.

Charges and Hearings

• Any member of the ITU community may file charges against any student for misconduct. Charges shall be prepared in writing and submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place.
• The judicial advisor may conduct an investigation to determine if charges have merit and/or if they can be resolved by mutual consent of parties involved on a basis acceptable to the judicial advisor (such as mediation). Such disposition shall be final, and there shall be no subsequent proceedings.
• All charges shall be presented to the accused students in written form. Chief Student Affairs Administrator or designee shall decide on how they want to follow up with the case. This could go up to an actual hearing.
• It is up to the Chief Student Affairs Administrator or designee to decide on everything related to the charges brought up against the accused student.

Sanctions

There shall be two major classifications of sanctions that may be imposed for violations of this procedure: Academic and Administrative. Academic sanctions will be defined as those actions related to the course work and grades which are the province of the instructor. Administrative sanctions are concerned with a student’s status on campus. The imposition of one variety of sanction will not preclude the additional imposition of the other.

• The sanctions listed below may be imposed upon any student found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct.
1. Warning – A verbal or written notice to the student that the student is in violation of or has violated University regulations.
2. Probation – A written reprimand for violation of specific regulations. Probation is for a designated period of time and includes the probability of more sever disciplinary sanctions if the student is found to be violating any University regulation(s) during the probationary period.
3. Fines – Fines may be imposed, as determined or approved by the university.
4. Restitution – Compensation for loss, damage or injury. This may take the form of appropriate service and/or monetary or material replacement.
5. Discretionary Sanctions – Work assignments, service to the University or other related discretionary assignments.
6. ITU Suspension – Separation of the student from the University for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified.
7. University Expulsion – Permanent separation of the student from the University.
• More than one sanction listed above may be imposed for a single violation.
• Other than University suspension and University Expulsion, disciplinary sanctions shall not be made part of the student’s permanent academic record, but shall become part of the student’s disciplinary record.

Academic Sanctions

Faculty members are responsible for determining the type of academic sanction and reporting the incident. Usually a form of “grade modification” will be employed. Before sanctions can be employed, the faculty member must have verified the instances of academic dishonesty by personal observation and/or documentation. In all cases the violation should be reported to The Chief Student Affairs Administrator. Sanctions that may be imposed by the faculty member include but are not limited to those listed below. A student may be:

• Reprimanded orally.
• Lowered grade on assignment, exam, paper, or project involved.
• Failed in the evaluation instrument (assignment, exam, paper, or project).
• Reduced in course grade, including possible failure of the course. NOTE: A grade of “F” earned in the course as a result of sanctions for academic dishonesty is final and shall be placed on the transcript.
• Referred for administrative sanctions. A faculty member may choose to refer a student to The Chief Student Affairs Administrator for disciplinary action in addition to the academic action the faculty member has taken or in lieu of any academic sanction.
• If the incident happened around final time, then the result is an immediate ‘F” in the course followed by other Administrative Sanctions, including NP in other courses taken in the same semester, up to expulsion.

Administrative Sanctions

Cheating or plagiarism in connection with an academic program at a campus may warrant expulsion, suspension, probation, or a lesser sanction. Administrative action involving academic dishonesty at ITU is the responsibility of the The Chief Student Affairs Administrator according to the Standards of Student Code of Conduct

The Chief Student Affairs Administrator will respond to:

• Referrals from the faculty;
• Flagrant violations of academic standards; and
• Repeat violations as brought to attention by the faculty or through the centralized reports filed with the The Chief Student Affairs Administrator. Repeat violators of the academic dishonesty procedure will face the following sanctions:
1. Students found to have violated the academic dishonesty procedure in two separate incidents may be placed on academic probation, and potentially suspended or expelled from the University
2. The University will initiate expulsion proceedings for students found to have violated the academic dishonesty procedure in three or more separate incidents. Faculty members will be notified by the The Chief Student Affairs Administrator when action has been taken.

Appeals

The accused student may appeal a sanction imposed. The request must be in writing and submitted within the timeframe outlined in the sanction notice. The Chief Student Affairs Administrator or designee may decide to uphold an appeal. Based on the nature of the case, he/she may decide to deny the appeal process.

Academic Grievance Procedures

An academic grievance procedure defines an administrative process through which students or employees may seek resolution of complaints or grievances arising from a decision made about them.

Informal Procedure

A student or employee who has a complaint or request is expected to first resolve it informally. The effort must include discussions with the specific faculty member, teaching assistant or staff member involved. A demonstrated lack of good faith by any party attempting to resolve complaints informally may be considered with all other factors to reach an ultimate decision on the merits of any grievance.

Formal Procedure

If all reasonable informal efforts to resolve a complaint fail, a student or employee may formalize it as a grievance. A formal grievance must be filed within 45 days from the time the student believes, or reasonably should have known, that an occurrence has effected his/her status. This period of 45 days includes all informal efforts to resolve the grievance. The student must submit the grievance in writing to the Administration Office. A proper administrator will conduct an investigation of the grievance and may interview the student for further clarification. After the investigation, the administrator may either grant or deny the redress sought or provide remedies. The decision will be issued no later than 14 days following receipt of the written grievance. If the administrator does not grant redress satisfactory to the student, the student has 14 days to appeal the decision to the University President upon written receipt of the appeal. The President has 14 days to notify the student of his decision, either grant or deny the redress sought or provide other remedies. The President’s decision is final. To launch a complain via the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) please go to the BPPE website.

Academic Integrity

ITU is dedicated to learning and research, and hence is committed to truth and accuracy. Integrity and intellectual honesty in scholarship and scientific investigation are, therefore, of paramount importance. These standards require intellectual honesty in conducting research, writing of research results and relations with colleagues. Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, falsification of data, etc.

Academic Dishonesty Policy

ITU is committed to creating an environment where student achievement is championed and celebrated. Because the university values academic integrity as an essential component of academic excellence, students are expected to be truthful and ethical in their academic work. Commitment to academic integrity is the responsibility of every student and faculty member at ITU.

Faculty and students come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, giving rise to different understandings of moral and ethical behavior. Faculty should clearly state well-defined standards to reduce uncertainty and clarify expectations.

Academic dishonesty is defined as: an act of deception in which a student claims credit for the work or effort of another person or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic work. Academic dishonesty is a violation of the ITU ‘Student Code of Conduct’ and will not be tolerated. Acts of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following:

Cheating

Unauthorized copying or collaboration on a test or assignment, or the use or attempted use of unauthorized materials;

Fabrication

Falsifying experimental data or results, inventing research or laboratory data or results for work not done, or falsely claiming sources not used; fabricating or falsifying documentation to try to change a course grade;

Plagiarism

Representing someone else’s words, ideas, artistry, or data as one’s own, including copying another person ’s work (including published and unpublished material, and material from the Internet) without appropriate referencing, presenting someone’s else’s opinions and theories as one ’s own, or working jointly on a project, then submitting it as one’s own;

Assisting

Assisting another student in an act of academic dishonesty, such as taking a test or doing an assignment for someone else, changing someone’s grades or academic records, or inappropriately disturbing exams to other students.