Code of Conduct
This information is from Major Facts, the student handbook. The information printed is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. However, this does not preclude the possibility of changes taking place during the academic year. Any changes will be updated on this website.

BASIC EXPECTATIONS/INHERENT AUTHORITY
Students at Millsaps, because they are members of an academic community dedicated to the achievement of excellence, are expected to meet the highest standards of personal, ethical and moral conduct possible. The commitment of the faculty, staff and students to these standards contributes to the high respect in which the Millsaps degree is held. Students must not destroy that respect by failure to meet these standards. Continuation as a student is conditional upon compliance with the requirements of student conduct expressed or implied in this code.

The College has the responsibility and authority to establish high standards for scholarship, student conduct and campus life. Therefore, it cannot condone violations of local, state or federal laws or conduct detrimental to students or to the College; nor can the college condone behavior which exploits another individual’s physical or psychological well-being. Students, as adults, and student organizations are presumed to know the law as it applies to illegal conduct prohibited by municipal, state or federal law.

Students are responsible for the behavior of their guests while on Millsaps property and/or at Millsaps functions.

The Millsaps Student Conduct process, also referred to as the student judicial system, is not intended to mirror that of any court system. The policies and procedures used are not meant to resemble those in the criminal process. There is a fundamental difference in the nature of student discipline and that of criminal law. Student discipline is meant to maintain a positive living and learning environment. The process is designed to help students make positive choices for themselves, choosing self-responsibility instead of submitting to peer pressure, and to challenge them to accept responsibility for any negative choices.

The Board of Trustees has given authority for all student conduct/disciplinary matters to the President of the College. In turn, and in accordance with the bylaws of the college, the President of the College has defined the interests of the college community to be promoted and protected by such a judicial system and has delegated to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students the responsibility of assigning and maintaining a conduct code.

The Code of Conduct may be reviewed annually and changes require the approval of the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students may designate an administrator(s) to provide enforcement of the Code of Conduct and to provide oversight for the necessary student conduct procedures.

The College reserves the right to take necessary and appropriate action to protect the safety and well-being of the campus community. The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students is charged with protecting the welfare of all students. Accordingly, in emergency situations, the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students has full authority to deal with student conduct according to the circumstances of the emergency and for its duration.

The President holds the final decision on appeal of any case. The responsibility for the appeals has been delegated to the Vice President and Dean of Students.

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.

The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students is delegated responsibility pertaining to all students, student organizations, student government, and fraternities and sororities. In addition, the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students has the responsibility and authority to discipline such organizations and, for various alleged violations including hazing, may choose to handle such matters in a direct and expedient manner, including taking interim action, until the completion of the conduct process.

CONFIDENTIALITY
Students’ conduct records are confidential and will not be released outside the College without the student’s specific written permission, except as provided by applicable law.

Each judicial body has specific rules and regulations, however, certain common guiding principles exist. Those rules and regulations are found throughout this book, in the College
Catalog and by contacting the appropriate leader of the judicial body.
• The College reserves the right to hear any case in which the party or parties are/were enrolled, regardless of the time passed.
• The Vice President for Student Life and the Dean of Students, and President retain the right to impose interim sanctions, including temporary suspension, prior to the beginning of the administrative process. In cases of temporary suspension, the student shall immediately be removed from the campus for the student’s protection, for the protection of others, for the protection of the campus property, or to maintain the normal operation of the College. Before a temporary suspension is imposed, the Dean of Students or a designee shall meet with the student, unless it is impossible or unreasonable to do so, to give the student an opportunity to respond to the charges. A written notice shall be delivered to the student stating the reasons for the action and that a hearing will be scheduled within ten days of the suspension.

STUDENT CONDUCT/JUDICIAL COUNCIL
The Millsaps students, faculty and administrative officers have created a Judicial Council to assure just, timely, and constructive resolution of controversies arising from infractions of Millsaps College social and disciplinary policies. Details describing the Judicial Council are found in Student Body Association Constitution Article IV.

Wherever possible violations of student behavior will be handled informally with emphasis placed on the personal growth and development of the student.

The Student Conduct Process and Judicial Council presumes every student charged with a violation to be not responsible until proven responsible.

The Chairperson shall make all rulings on matters relating to the conduct of the hearing, including matters regarding evidence, witnesses, and decorum. Changes may be made by the chairman to accommodate unusual circumstances. The chairman, in consultation with the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Student’s designee, shall rule on any request for consolidated or separate hearings for those incidents involving multiple students.

The Judicial Council is composed of ten voting members and is appointed as follows: two faculty members appointed by the Vice President and Dean of the College with the approval of the President; eight student members appointed by a committee chaired by the Student Body Association Second Vice President, composed of three current Judicial Council members and two current Student Body Association Officers. The student appointees to the Judicial Council must be confirmed by vote of the Student Body Association Senate.

The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students (or the Vice President for Student Life’s designee) serves as the advisor of the Council. The designee/advisor does not vote.

PROHIBITED CONDUCT
Each student may be subject to this Code whether misconduct occurs on College premises, at College-sponsored activities, or at any location off-campus when such conduct is brought to the attention of the College. It is neither possible nor necessary to specify every instance of misconduct that could result in disciplinary action against a student. The following list includes, but is not limited to, conduct which may subject a student to disciplinary action.

• Attempting, assisting, or encouraging any conduct prohibited by this Code.
• Causing physical and emotional harm to any person or causing reasonable apprehension or such harm, including all forms of hazing. (See Hazing Policy)
• Disorderly or inappropriate behavior, including destroying or damaging College property or the property of others.
• Taking any action or creating any situation that endangers another one’s mental or physical health, including but not limited to, the forced consumption of liquor or drugs for the purpose of initiating into or affiliation with any organization or group.
• Engaging in conduct directed at a specific person or persons that serves no legitimate purpose. Such conduct may include: explicit or implicit threats, including gestures that place a person in reasonable fear of unwelcome physical contact, harm or death; following a person about in a public place or to or from his or her residence; making remarks in a public place to a specific person that are by common usage lewd, obscene, expose a person to public hatred, or that can be reasonably expected to have a tendency to cause acts of violence by the person to whom the remark is addressed; or communicating by voice mail, making a telephone call whether or not a conversation ensues, “Facebook” messaging, texting, blogging, email, graphic means, or other digital means.
• Engaging in sexual conduct with another person without the consent of that person.
• Violations of the College’s Policy Statement on Discriminatory Harassment, which includes sexual harassment. (See Sexual Harassment & Discriminatory Harassment Policies)
• Initiating or causing any false report, warning, or threat of fire, explosion or other emergency.
• Misrepresenting information or furnishing false information to the College or its representatives.
• Forgery, alteration, misrepresentation, counterfeiting, or misuse of any College or other document, instrument of identification, or access device.
• Unauthorized distribution of alcoholic beverages or possession of alcoholic beverages for the purposes of distribution. (See Alcohol Policy)
• Possession or use of alcoholic beverages by an individual under 21 years of age; or providing alcoholic beverages to an individual under 21 years of age or to one who is noticeably intoxicated. (See Alcohol Policy)
• Operation of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances.
• Appearing in a public place manifestly under the influence of alcohol or a controlled or other intoxicating substance, particularly when there is danger to self, others, or property or there is unreasonable annoyance to person(s) in the vicinity.
• Unauthorized distribution, possession, or use of any controlled substance or distribution, possession, or use of any illegal drug.
• Unauthorized use, possession, or storage of any weapon.
• Unauthorized use or possession of fireworks or incendiary, dangerous, or noxious devices or materials.
• Unauthorized presence on or use of College premises, facilities, or property, including camping, building a fire, or use of an unauthorized heating, cooking, or electrical device.
• Intentionally or recklessly misusing or damaging fire or other safety equipment.
• Indecent exposure including exposing one’s own genitals, buttocks, or breasts in a public place unless specifically authorized for activities such as theater productions or classes. Indecent attire includes wearing underwear in public.
• Theft or misuse of property or services on College premises, at College-sponsored activities, or from College organization(s) or group(s), or possession of stolen property or use of stolen services on College premises, at College-sponsored activities, or from College organization(s) or group(s).
• Substantially interfering with the freedom of expression of others.
• Interfering with normal College functions, College-sponsored activities, or any function or activity on College premises including, but not limited to, studying, teaching, public speaking, research, College administration, or fire, police, or emergency services.
• Disregarding or failure to comply with the directive of a hearing body or College official, including a campus safety officer acting in the performance of his or her duties.
• Computer Usage Policy: Disruption of College or other computer systems (e.g. spamming); unauthorized alteration, disclosure, gaining or providing unauthorized access; destruction of College or other computer systems or material; improper access to College or other computer files and systems; or violation of copyright or proprietary material restrictions connected with College or other computer systems, programs, or materials. (See Ethical Use of Computing Policy)
• Violation of any government laws or ordinances, or of any College or individual school rules, regulations, or policies. Such College rules, regulations, or policies shall include, but are not limited to, the regulations and policies contained in the: College Housing Undergraduate Housing Agreement and Handbook, and Major Facts, the student handbook.
• Falsification, distortion, or misinterpretation of information before a judicial body or Conduct Officer performing a student conduct hearing.
• Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of disciplinary hearing proceedings.
• Knowingly instituting conduct proceedings without cause.
• Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the conduct process/judicial system.
• Attempting to influence the impartiality of a judicial body member prior to or during the course of the conduct proceeding.
• Harassment (verbal or physical) or intimidation of a member of a judicial body prior to, during or after a conduct proceeding.
• Knowingly violating the terms of any disciplinary sanction imposed or any mutual agreement reached in accordance with this Code.
• Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the conduct process or judicial system.
  

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