Section 2. Scope

These regulations and any amendments shall apply to all students (i.e., part-time and full-time undergraduate, graduate and continuing education students) and all student organizations, and any persons participating in a university sponsored program or service, at Salem State University, and shall be considered part of the conditions of admission and enrollment of such students. Unless students have officially withdrawn from the University, they are assumed to be in continuous enrollment, including students on a leave of absence. As such, they are subject to the disciplinary regulations and procedures which follow.
Each student shall be responsible for individual conduct from the time of admission through the actual awarding of a degree, even though conduct may occur before classes begin or after classes end, as well as during the academic year and during periods between terms of actual enrollment (and even if the conduct is not discovered until after a degree is awarded). The Student Conduct Code shall apply to a student’s conduct even if the student withdraws from the University while a student conduct matter is pending.
Each student organization may be held responsible for the conduct of any of its members or guests in addition to any sanctions received by any student member in their individual capacity. Students are responsible for the contents of their rooms, cars, lockers, or person regardless of claims of personal ownership. Students may also be held responsible for shared common areas.
A registered student or campus organization may be held responsible for misconduct when it’s officers or other leadership use or knowingly allow the use of the facilities, resources, membership or name of the student/campus organization for actions that are a violation of the Student Conduct Code; the leadership of the student/campus organization encourages a violation of the Student Conduct Code by its members; or a significant number of members of the student/campus organization engage in concerted action which violates the Student Conduct Code and the leadership of the student/campus organization knows or should have known of a violation by its members and takes no action to stop the violation.
University student conduct proceedings may be instituted against a student or a student organization charged with conduct that potentially violates both the criminal law and the Student Conduct Code (that is, if both possible violations result from the same factual situation) without regard to the pendency of civil or criminal litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution. Proceedings under the Student Conduct Code may be carried out prior to or simultaneously with civil or criminal proceedings at the discretion of the Community Standards office. The University cooperates with law enforcement or other agencies, in the enforcement of laws on campus and in regards to its students. This includes providing information requested by subpoena or as otherwise permitted by law. Determinations made or sanctions imposed under the Student Conduct Code shall not be subject to change because criminal charges arising out of the same facts rise to violation of University rules were dismissed, reduced, or resolved in favor of or against the criminal law defendant.
In case of any conflicts or inconsistencies with any other rules, regulations, policies, and directives now existing, these regulations shall govern and shall be enforced by the president of Salem State University.
The University, upon recommendation from the appropriate governance committees, reserves the right to alter any or all of the student conduct system. Reasonable notice shall be furnished to the University community of any substantial change.
Salem State University is dedicated to the maintenance of the student conduct system which reasonably represents and is responsive to all members of the University community.
- It is the policy of Salem State to offer opportunities for student conduct board participation and to ensure equitable treatment of students charged with University violations without regard to race, religion, age, disability, sex or gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or national origin.
- In implementing this policy, the University follows the guidelines and requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1972 as well as the Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Plan as set forth by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and state and federal regulations regarding equal opportunity and affirmative action.
- To request accommodations, please contact Disability Services at 978.542.6217 or disability-services@salemstate.edu.