Rules of Conduct

Enumerated below are the specific prohibitions, policies and procedures of the Code that are the foundation for individual and group conduct at the University of San Diego (USD). As a member of the USD community, each student is responsible for understanding and following these standards, policies and procedures. Students are expected to model good citizenship and engage in respectful, responsible, and appropriate conduct that is consistent with USD's mission and values and reflects positively upon the USD community.

The following conduct is prohibited on University premises or at University events, wherever they may occur. This same conduct, though occurring off University premises and not at University events, may nonetheless be subject to University sanctions when it adversely affects the University, its educational mission or its community. Violation of these standards, policies and procedures may subject an individual or group to disciplinary action as determined by the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students or their designee, pursuant to the provisions of the Code.

1. Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:
   1. Cheating, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty. Academic Integrity violations are managed under the USD Honor Code. * Law School Honor Code
   2. Forgery, alteration or misuse of any instrument of identification, record or University document.
   3. Appropriation of institutional resources for personal advantage.
   4. Tampering with the election of any University organized student organization.
   5. Furnishing false information to any University official, faculty member or department.
2. Disruption of teaching, research, administration, conduct proceedings, or any other institutional activity.
3. Any act of sexual misconduct or relationship violence, as defined in the Title IX Policy Prohibiting Sex Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct and Relationship Violence and Grievance Procedures
4. Abuse of any person, including but not limited to:
   1. physical abuse
   2. threats
   3. verbal intimidation
   4. libel
   5. harassment
   6. stalking
   7. coercion
   8. cyberbullying
   9. and/or other conduct which threatens the health or safety of any person either in person or online/virtually.
5. Committing a hate crime or engaging in an act of intolerance in violation of University policy.
6. Attempted or actual theft or unauthorized use of the property of the University, or property of any member of the University community, or property being used for a University event or other personal or public property.
7. Damage or attempted damage to University property, to property of any member of the University community, to property being used for a University event, or to other personal or public property.
8. Conduct that is disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene.
9. Failure to comply with the direction of a University official, including Department of Public Safety, or law enforcement officer who is acting in performance of their duties, and/or the failure to identify oneself to any of these persons when requested to do so.
10. Climbing or any other unauthorized activity on the façades, ledges, or roofs of University facilities.
11. Launching or dropping an object or substance from within or on a University structure or property.
12. Hazing, as defined by applicable law or by the University's hazing policy included in the Code.
13. Alcohol:
    1. Possession, consumption, or sale of alcoholic beverages by persons under the age of 21 years on University property or at a University-sponsored event.
    2. Providing alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 21 years or having an open container in a public location when 21 or over on University property or at a University-sponsored event.
    3. Public display of intoxication on University property or at a University-sponsored event.
    4. Possession and/or utilization of devices for the rapid, high-risk consumption of alcohol including but not limited to games with alcohol, funnels, beer pong accessories, beer bongs, luges, etc., regardless of age.
    5. Driving on University property while under the influence of alcohol.
    6. Operating a motor or push-on vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
    7. A student may be accountable for prohibited items documented in shared space. A student seeking medical attention for themselves or for another person, due to alcohol and other drug intoxication by contacting either University or local authorities might not be formally adjudicated for the associated rule of conduct by the University.
14. Use, possession, manufacture, cultivation, or dissemination of illegal drugs or drug-related paraphernalia; being under the influence of illegal drugs; or the misuse of legal pharmaceutical drugs.
    1. Use of marijuana, the use, possession, manufacture, cultivation, dissemination, or being under the influence of marijuana on University property or at University-related activities is prohibited.
    2. A student may be accountable for prohibited items documented in a shared space.
    3. CBD products as allowed by the Federal Farm Bill are permitted.
    4. The above policy is notwithstanding the California Compassionate Use Act of 1996, or any other California Law. A student seeking medical attention for themselves or for another person, due to alcohol and other drug intoxication by contacting either University or local authorities might not be formally adjudicated for the associated rule of conduct by the University.
15. Violation of any policy listed in the Student Policies and Selected University Policies section of the code. (Dining Services, Parking, IT, Residential Life, etc.)
16. Unauthorized possession or use of a weapon on University property or in connection with a University activity.
    1. For the purpose of this policy, a “weapon” shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:
       1. A firearm, pellet gun, airsoft gun, skeet rifle, paint gun, potato gun, spear gun, slingshot, bow & arrow, air rifle, taser gun, explosive material (including fireworks), pistol, dagger, ice pick, retractable bladed knife, knife with a fixed blade longer than 2.5 inches used for any purpose other than food preparation and consumption, or any other form of weapon, self-defense instrument, or ammunition used for any purpose.
       2. Possession of a laser of 5 milliwatts (5/1000 of a watt) or more on University property or in connection with a University activity requires the advance written approval of the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students (or designee).
    2. Unauthorized possession or use of any weapon in violation of the California Penal Code (including but not limited to sections 626.10 and 16000 et seq.) shall constitute a violation of this rule of conduct. Similarly, use or possession of a laser pointer in violation of California Penal Code section 417.27 or other applicable law shall constitute a violation of this rule of conduct.
17. Violating campus fire safety or security through setting or behavior leading to an unauthorized fire; creating a fire hazard; failing to attend to or completely extinguish an authorized fire; misusing, disabling, damaging or tampering with fire safety equipment; reporting or creating a false fire alarm; failure to vacate a building or entering a building during a fire alarm; re-entering a building without authorization after a fire alarm; interfering with campus and/or emergency personnel responding to a fire alarm.
18. Misconduct that arises on campus or off campus in which a student is detained, arrested, cited, or otherwise charged with violations of local, state, or federal laws that materially or adversely affect the individual's suitability as a member of the University of San Diego community.
19. Conduct that intentionally or recklessly threatens or endangers the health and safety of any person, or violates any health and safety requirements identified by the University or by local and state officials.
20. Misconduct that arises on or off campus that jeopardizes the welfare of the USD community or its members.
21. Abuse of the conduct process, including but not limited to: (a) failure to obey a notice or other directive issued in connection with a conduct proceeding; (b) falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a disciplinary hearing board or disciplinary officer; (c) failure to comply with the sanctions imposed under the Code.
22. Violations of any other University policy.