Student Code of Conduct

All Quinnipiac students are expected to know and abide by the policies, standards and expectations of Quinnipiac University. Any student reported to have violated this code will have their behavior addressed through the student conduct system. Any attempt, whether successful or not, to violate any policy, rule, regulation or standard of Quinnipiac University will be considered the same as having violated the policy itself and will be addressed appropriately.

The university may respond to violations of its own policies whether or not legal proceedings are underway or forthcoming, and may use information from third-party sources, including but not limited to law enforcement agencies, the courts and outside media, to address student conduct concerns. Quinnipiac makes no attempt to shield members of the university community from the law, nor does it intervene in legal proceedings against a member of the community. These standards are announced in writing to give students general notice of the expectations of Quinnipiac University. These standards should be read broadly and are not designed to define all prohibited behaviors in exhaustive terms. 

The following behaviors are prohibited at Quinnipiac University:

1. Alcohol

Students should review and are expected to abide by all applicable laws and Quinnipiac’s Policy Statement on the Prevention of Alcohol Abuse and Other Drug Use or Abuse, as published in the Student Handbook, or otherwise distributed or published by Quinnipiac.

  1. Possession or consumption of alcohol if under the age of 21
  2. Distribution, transportation, giving/sharing, serving, and/or purchasing alcohol to or for any person under the age of 21
  3. Public intoxication or any other disruptive behavior resulting from the consumption of alcohol or drugs
  4. Common sources (e.g., kegs, beer balls, punch bowls, jungle juice, coolers, bars, etc. and/or other large quantities of alcohol)
  5. Large gatherings or events where alcohol is present
  6. Possession or use of alcohol paraphernalia, consumption devices, and/or games that promote consumption of alcohol (e.g., beer/water pong tables, flip cup, funnels, ice luges, shot skis, empty/decorative alcohol containers, etc.) Such items may be confiscated and not returned
  7. Possession or consumption of alcohol in public areas, except where designated, or at university events where alcohol is not served, regardless of age
  8. Selling alcohol without a license, or selling alcohol without university approval

2. Controlled Substances

Students should review and are expected to abide by all applicable laws and Quinnipiac’s Policy Statement on the Prevention of Alcohol Abuse and Other Drug Use or Abuse, as published in the Student Handbook, or otherwise distributed or published by Quinnipiac.

  1. Possession or use of illegal, harmful, and/or prohibited drugs or other controlled substances
  2. Manufacture, distribution, sharing, cultivation, storage, and/or sale of illegal, harmful, and/or prohibited drugs or other controlled substances
  3. Possession and/or use of drug paraphernalia
  4. Improper possession, misuse, distribution, sharing, storage, and/or sale of any medication

3. Civility and Respect

  1. Conduct that is disruptive to the university community, disturbs the peace, obstructs university objectives and/or operations, interferes with the rights and/or activities of others, and/or interferes with the performance and duties of university staff
  2. Failure to comply with the Good Neighbor Policy
  3. Violation of Residential Life Quiet Hours Policy
  4. Misconduct on the university shuttle and/or shuttle stop (including, but not limited to: damage, vandalism, verbal and/or physical abuse, and intoxication)

4. Complicity

Assisting another student, student organization or any other person in any violation(s) of the Student Code of Conduct either through act or omission. Students who are present in-person or virtually, or who are otherwise aware of a violation of the Student Code of Conduct may be held responsible, even if they are not directly involved in the violation itself.

5. Harassment, Abuse, Health and Safety

  1. Personal harassment, intimidation and/or verbal abuse, including hostile or profane words, actions or gestures directed at an individual or group
  2. Threatening or intimidating words or actions, including the threat to inflict physical or emotional harm, abuse, or injury to any person
  3. Acts of physical aggression, or actions that inflict physical harm, physical abuse, or injury to any person
  4. Non-physical or physical coercion
  5. Slanderous, false or malicious statement(s) about a person or defamation of character
  6. Endangerment of the health and safety of self and/or others
  7. Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of any substance
  8. Failure to comply with university directives designed to limit the spread of, or exposure to contagions, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc.
  9. Photographing, recording, broadcasting or livestreaming a person without their consent in a location where a person would reasonably expect privacy

  10. Failure to wear footwear in a university academic or administrative building, a food service or dining area, or in any other area as directed by university personnel. Footwear must cover the entire bottom of each foot and must have impermeable soles

6. Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment and Bias-Motivated Acts and Behavior

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment and Bias-Motivated Acts and Behavior Policy

7. Gender-Based Discrimination and Harassment

Quinnipiac University is committed to providing an environment free from gender-based or sexual discrimination and misconduct. As reflected in the statement on jurisdiction, Quinnipiac reserves the right to address, through the Student Conduct Process, incidents that occur off campus that may endanger the health, safety and welfare of self or others and/ or adversely affect the University and/or the pursuit of its objectives.

The university prohibits:

  1. Sexual harassment, as defined by the Title IX Policy
  2. Gender-based discriminatory harassment, as defined in the Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment and Bias Motivated Acts and Behavior Policy
  3. Sexual assault, as defined by the Title IX Policy
  4. Dating violence, as defined by the Title IX Policy
  5. Domestic violence, as defined by the Title IX Policy
  6. Stalking, as defined by the Title IX Policy
  7. Sexual exploitation, as defined within this policy

Under these policies, sexual exploitation is defined as a nonconsensual act or acts committed through exploitation of another person’s sexuality for the purpose of sexual gratification, financial gain, personal benefit or advantage, or for the purpose of causing harm to another’s reputation. Sexual exploitation includes but is not limited to:

  • invasion of sexual privacy and voyeurism (in-person or through audio or video recording);
  • knowingly transmitting a sexually transmitted infection;
  • exposing of a person’s body or genitals;
  • involvement in the trafficking of another person for sexual purposes

Allegations containing any element of sex discrimination or sexual misconduct, including sexual exploitation or gender based discriminatory harassment, shall be investigated and adjudicated pursuant to the procedures outlined in the Title IX Policy.

Students who believe they have experienced or witnessed an incident of discrimination or harassment should immediately contact the Title IX coordinator:

Patricio Jimenez

Title IX Coordinator

Department of Cultural and Global Engagement

275 Mount Carmel Avenue, CCE-180

Hamden, CT 06518

patricio.jimenez@qu.edu

203-582-7757

8. Hazing

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Policy Statement on Hazing

9. Property

  1. Unauthorized use, misuse, or possession of another’s property or Quinnipiac property
  2. The theft of another’s property or Quinnipiac property, or unauthorized possession of another’s property or Quinnipiac property
  3. Damage, defacement, and/or vandalism to another’s property or Quinnipiac property
  4. Tampering with locks and/or duplication or unauthorized use of Quinnipiac keys or access cards
  5. Propping or tampering with doors to prevent them from closing or locking
  6. Creating messes and littering on campus or any university-owned property
  7. Throwing, launching, or propelling objects
  8. Failure to report damage

10. Orders and Directions

  1. Failure to comply with reasonable directions of Quinnipiac officials (or someone acting in the name of Quinnipiac)
  2. Harassment, intimidation and/or verbal abuse of Quinnipiac officials (or someone acting in the name of Quinnipiac) acting within the scope of their duties
  3. Unauthorized entry into or use of Quinnipiac property, grounds, or buildings or attempting to gain entry into unauthorized areas, including the roofs of buildings, passing over or under fences or barriers, entering or exiting through windows, using campus ponds or streams for swimming, ice skating, etc., or using any university facilities or grounds in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose 
  4. Leaving the scene of an incident
  5. False 911 and/or campus emergency system calls both on and off campus
  6. Failure to provide a university QCard to university personnel (e.g., residence hall director, public safety officer, resident assistant, etc.) upon request

11. Misuse of Documents/Property

  1. Using or providing false information or identification to a Quinnipiac official (or to someone acting in the name of Quinnipiac)
  2. Forgery, alteration, distribution or unauthorized possession of Quinnipiac documents, records or instruments of identification
  3. Forgery, alteration, possession, manufacture or distribution of false identifications, documents or records
  4. Unauthorized use of Quinnipiac’s name or logo or failure to use Quinnipiac’s name or logo in a manner consistent with its designated objectives
  5. Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Computer and Information Resources Policy

12. Fire and Fire Protection Systems

  1. Tampering, covering, damaging, removing or improper use of fire safety equipment (e.g. smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, exit signs, emergency exits, etc.)
  2. Causing a false fire alarm
  3. Failure to evacuate during fire alarm or emergency
  4. The setting of fires, unauthorized burning, arson or adding any material to any unauthorized fire

13. Firearms, Weapons and Explosives

  1. Possession, storage or use of firecrackers, sparklers, fireworks, fire bombs, smoke bombs, fire starters, flammable fuels/fire accelerants or any explosive device
  2. Possession, transportation, storage or use of firearms, air guns, gel blaster guns, paintball guns, BB guns, tasers, stun guns, fixed-blade knives/daggers of any length and/or any pocket/folding knife with a blade longer than 4”, or any other weapon or weapon facsimile
  3. Bomb scares or threats, or any other false report likely to cause fear or terror
  4. Use of any object as a weapon or in a threatening, aggressive, or violent way

14. Misuse of University Funds

  1. Embezzlement or misuse of the funds of the university and/or its student organizations
  2. Forgery, falsification or alteration of student employee timesheets or misuse of any university payroll, budget, or financial system

15. Gambling

Gambling or being part of a gambling ring, bookmaking or any other illegal transactions

16. Smoking and Tobacco

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Policy on Smoking and Tobacco

17. Solicitation and Promotion

  1. The solicitation, promotion and/or sale of merchandise or services, and the solicitation/collection of donations (with or without products or services rendered) without university approval
  2. Posting or distributing solicitation materials in unauthorized areas

18. Residential Life

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Residential Life Policies

19. Visitor and Guest Policy

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Policy Statement on Visitors and Guests

20. Federal, State and Local Laws

Any violation of federal, state and/or local laws resulting in criminal or civil sanctions, warrants, charges, or convictions, or any illegal conduct which adversely affects the community and/or the university and the pursuit of its objectives

21. Risk Management Policy

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Policy Statement on Risk Management

22. Student Organizations

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University General Policy Statement for Student Organizations

23. Expressive Activities and Speech

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Expressive Activities and Speech Policy

24. Animals

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Policy Statement on Animals

25. Noise

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Policy Statement on Noise

26. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/Drones

Any violation of the Quinnipiac University Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)/Drone Policy

27. Abuse of the Student Conduct Process

  1. Providing false statements during conduct proceedings
  2. Harassment and/or intimidation of a conduct officer, witness, victim, or other involved party prior to, during and/or after a conduct proceeding, including any acts of retaliation
  3. Failure to participate in a university investigation
  4. Failure to fulfill the terms and conditions of university sanctions