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  • CONDUCT CODE AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
    FOR STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

    The Student Organizations Code of Conduct is the Institute's policy regarding discipline of student Organizations. The primary purpose of this Code is to provide a quality educational environment for Students and student Organizations and to notify student Organizations of the Institute's expectations regarding behavior. The Code should be read broadly and is not designed to define misconduct in exhaustive terms.

    Student Organizations may be charged with violations of the Student Conduct Code and the Conduct Code for Student Organizations. Disciplinary action directed towards student Organizations shall be afforded according to procedures published and are available on the Dean of Students webpage: http://www.deanofstudents.gatech/policy .

    Article I: Definitions

    1. The term "Organization" means a number of persons who have complied with or are in process of complying with the requirements for chartering. For instance: societies, clubs, or similar organized student groups, within or recognized by the Institute.

    2. Student Organization members who violate Institute regulations may be held individually and jointly responsible, along with their respective student Organizations. Members of student Organizations who knowingly condone, encourage, or require behavior that violates Institute regulations may be held individually and jointly responsible, along with their respective Organization.

    Article II: Prohibited Conduct

    1. Student Organizations should be fully cognizant that they may be held accountable through the Institute's discipline system for their behavior and the behavior of their members representing them. All violations, whether on or off campus, of the academic and non-academic sections of the Student Conduct Code and all other Institute and Board of Regents policies will be addressed. These policies include, but are not limited to policies regarding Facility Usage, Computer Use and Misuse, Sexual Harassment and Misconduct, Alcohol and Illegal Drugs, Solicitation and Publicity, Student Government Joint Campus Organization Policies, and Student Activities Committee policies.

    2. An Organization violates an Institute policy or rule when:
      1. one or more of its officers or authorized representatives acting in the scope of their Organization capacities commits the violation;

      2. a member of an Organization or group acting with apparent authority of the Organization commits the violation;

      3. one or more members of an Organization or group fail to promptly report their knowledge or reasonable information about a violation to the appropriate Institute authorities;

      4. one or more members knowingly commits or fails to report a hazing incident;

      5. one or more members of an Organization or group or its officers, under circumstances in which such person(s) knew an act constituting a violation was occurring or about to occur, and /or fails to prevent the act or encourages, aids and abets the act.

      6. Student Organizations should also refer to Addendum I for further judicial considerations.

    Article III: Authority

    The general responsibility for discipline of all student Organizations or groups will be vested in the Office of Student Integrity within the Division of Student Affairs. The authority for judicial oversight it given by the Board of Regents Policy 302.06, Statutes and Bylaws of the Georgia Institute of Technology 2.4.3.3(f) and 2.8.1.7.(d)(4), and Student Government Joint Organizations Committee Policies.

    Article IV: Discipline Procedures

    1. Anyone wishing to report an alleged incident of group misconduct may make such a report in writing to the Office of the Dean of Students.

    2. The staff members in the office of the Dean of Students shall investigate alleged acts of student Organization misconduct and determine if disciplinary charges should be filed. Notices of the charges and the date, time and place of the hearing will be given to the President or an official representative of the Organization.

    3. The Dean of Students or the authorized representative will normally confer with the select officers, advisors, and/or members of the accused Organization.

    4. All student Organizations will have an administrative hearing with consultation of the accused Organizations Governing Board's Judicial Committee Chair, if it has one, and if that Governing Board has been granted the ability to make institutional policy.

    5. If the case does not involve charter revocation, the Dean of Students ordinarily shall make full disposition of the case.

    6. The Dean of Students can suspend an Organization and then recommend to Student Government or the Vice President of Student Affairs that a charter be revoked. Student Government will follow its guidelines for charter revocation as outlined in JCOC policy.

    7. Student Organizations that have a Judicial Governing Board (IFC for example) have the right to a hearing. The hearing procedures are spelled out in those Judicial Boards policies and procedures. That Judicial Board makes a recommendation to the Dean of Students, who then implements disciplinary action.

    Article V: Sanctions

    1. The following measures are disciplinary sanctions, which may be imposed against a student Organization for a violation of the Conduct Code for Student Organizations. This list is not exhaustive or in order of severity and may be enlarged or modified to meet particular circumstances.
    1. Suspension of Organization charter - temporary severance of the Organization's relationship with the Institute for a specified period of time.

    2. Restitution - Reimbursement for a loss or necessary repair caused by the Organization's actions.

    3. Monetary Fines - fines placed on an Organization

    4. Community Service - Assignment to work a specific number of hours of community service

    5. Restriction of privileges - Restriction of some or all of the Organizations' activities or privileges, including, but not limited to, social functions, use of campus space, use of Student Activity Fees, participation in campus activities. Restrictions may vary, based on the nature of the offense.

    6. Reprimand - written or oral notice of violation of specified regulations and warning that further such conduct may result in a more severe disciplinary action.

    7. Disciplinary Probation - Imposition of conditions on the Organization involved, with warning of possible increased severity of disciplinary action if further infractions occur (or if probation is violated). This sanction will likely result in suspension of the charter.

    8. Other - Alcohol awareness programs, risk management programs, etc.

    9. Notice to National offices or headquarters (if applicable)

    10. Removal of officers - Officers removed from their positions in the Organization

    1. More than one of the sanctions listed above may be imposed for any single violation.

    2. Individuals in an Organization and the student Organization may be addressed and sanctioned.

    3. Interim Suspension for Individuals and Student Groups: In certain circumstances the Office of the Dean of Students may impose an Institute suspension prior to the hearing. See the Interim suspension policy in the Student Code of Conduct.

      1. Interim suspension may be imposed only:
      1. To ensure the safety and well-being of members of the Institute community or to preserve Institute property; or
      2. To ensure the Students physical or emotional safety and well-being; or
      3. If the Student or Student Group/Organization poses a definite threat of disruption of or interference with the normal operations of the Institute; or
      4. If the Student is charged with a felony
      1. During the interim suspension for student groups, the Organization may be denied access to use of campus facilities and all other Institute activities or privileges and must cease all Organizational activities.

      2. The Dean of Students Critical Response Evaluation Team with appropriate members of the Management Team will make determine if interim suspension is warranted. Any one member of this team may make the decision with review and ratification if appropriate, by the remainder of the team within 72 hours of this decision.

      3. A Student or Organization that has been suspended on an interim basis may submit a request to the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Vice President's designee for a review of the decision within five (5) Working Days of the implementation of the suspension. A request for review of an Interim Suspension decision shall be made in writing and shall list all reasons that the student or Organization contends that the Interim Suspension is unwarranted. The reasons for the request for review are limited to:
      1. The reliability of the information concerning the Student's or Organization's conduct, including the matter of identity;

      2. Whether the conduct and surrounding circumstances reasonably indicate that the continued presence of the Student or Organization on Institute Premises poses a substantial and immediate threat to himself, herself, or others or the stability and continuance of normal Institute function.
      1. The Vice President or designee will respond to the Student or Organization in writing within two (2) Working Days of the receipt of the request.

    4. Board of Regents Policy 406.01 WITHDRAWAL OF RECOGNITION OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

    The Board of Regents has determined that the use of marijuana, controlled substances or other illegal or dangerous drugs constitutes a serious threat to the public health, welfare, and academic achievement of students enrolled in the University System of Georgia. Therefore, all student Organizations, including but not limited to societies, fraternities, sororities, clubs, and similar groups of students which are affiliated with, recognized by, or which use the facilities under the jurisdiction of institutions of the University System, are hereby charged with the responsibility of enforcing compliance with local, state and federal laws by all persons attending or participating in their respective functions and affairs, social or otherwise.

    As provided by the Student Organization Responsibility for Drug Abuse Act, any such student Organization which, through its officers, agents or responsible members, knowingly permits, authorizes or condones the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession, serving, consumption or use of marijuana, controlled substances, or other illegal or dangerous drugs at any affair, function, or activity of such student Organization, social or otherwise, is hereby declared to be in violation of the laws of this state and shall have its recognition as a student Organization withdrawn and, after complying with the constitutional requirements of due process, shall be expelled from the campus for a minimum of one calendar year from the date of determination of guilt. Such Organization shall also be prohibited from using any property or facilities of the institution for a period of at least one year. Any lease, rental agreement or other document between the Board of Regents or the institution and the student Organization which relates to the use of the property leased, rented or occupied shall be terminated for knowingly having permitted or authorized the unlawful actions described above. All sanctions imposed by this policy shall be subject to review procedures authorized by the Board of Regents (Article VIII of the Bylaws).

    An appeal to the Board of Regents shall not defer the effective date of the adverse action against the student Organization pending the Board's review unless the Board so directs. Any such stay or suspension by the Board shall expire as of the date of the Board's final decision on the matter. (BR Minutes, 1989-90,p. 384)

    This Policy amendment is intended to implement The Student Organization Responsibility for Drug Abuse Act of 1990 (Ga. Laws, 1990, p. 2033).

    Article VI: Appeals

    1. Organizations who take the decision of the Dean of Students and whom have the option of a Hearing Board waive their right to appeal that decision.

    2. Organizations who do not have a Hearing Board option may appeal the Dean of Student's decision to the Vice President of Student Affairs in writing within five (5) working days after the action about which there is a complaint. Such appeal shall be based on the Grounds for Appeals mentioned in Section of this Article.

    3. Organizations who have a Hearing Board option and have a hearing and want to appeal the decision of the Dean of Students, may appeal the case in writing to the Vice President of Student Affairs within five (5) working days after the action about which there is a complain. Such appeal shall be based on the Grounds for Appeals mentioned in Section E of this article.

    4. The Vice President of Student Affairs, within five (5) working days, shall refer the appeal to the Student Grievance and Appeal Committee. This committee shall review all facts and circumstances connected with the case and within five (5) working days shall make its findings and report thereon to the Vice President of Student Affairs. After consideration of the committee's report, the Vice President of Student Affairs within five (5) working days shall make a decision that will be final so far as the Institute is concerned.

    5. An appeal shall be limited to review of the verbatim record of the initial hearing and supporting documents for one or more of the following purposes:
      1. To determine whether the original hearing was conducted fairly in light of the charges and evidence presented and in conformity with prescribed procedures for due process.
      2. To determine whether the sanctions imposed were appropriate for the violation which the student or Organization was found to have committed.

    6. The only grounds for a new hearing that will be supported would be if new information is presented that was not available at time of hearing. The relevance and prior availability is to be determined by original hearing administrator.

    7. The appellate bodies can:
      1. Overturn the decision
      2. Uphold the decision
      3. Modify the decision
      4. Remand to original board


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