Student Code of Conduct

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that supports and respects the rights of others. Accordingly, the following behaviors are prohibited, and students engaging, attempting to engage or assisting in the following behaviors are subject to disciplinary sanctions.

The Student Code of Conduct

A. Community Standards

Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys (including proximity cards) to any College premises.

Unauthorized entry to or unauthorized or improper use of a College private room, building, structure, vehicle, or facility.

Conduct that is disruptive, lewd, or indecent, regardless of intent, which breaches the peace of the community or infringes on the rights of others.

Illegal or unauthorized possession of any firearms, explosives, other weapons, or dangerous chemicals, whether in proper working condition or not.

Including but not limited to:

  1. Falsely reporting a bomb, fire, or any other emergency by means of activating a fire alarm or by any other means.
  2. Unauthorized possession, use, or alteration of any College-owned emergency or safety equipment.
  3. Failure to evacuate a building or other structure during an alarm activation.
  4. Actions that create a substantial risk such that the safety of an individual is compromised.
  5. Tampering with fire safety or other safety equipment. (Covering/disabling detectors, exit signs, fire extinguishers, etc.)

Committing acts of arson, creating a fire hazard, or unauthorized possession or use of flammable materials or hazardous substances.

Including but not limited to:

  1. Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, or other College activities, including its public-service functions on or off campus, or other authorized non-College activities, when the act occurs on College premises.
  2. Leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities associated with the operations of the College; intentional obstruction that unreasonably interferes with freedom of movement, either pedestrian or vehicular, on campus.
  3. Obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on College premises or at College sponsored or supervised functions.

Violation of federal, state, and/or local laws

Violation of published College policies, rules, and regulations. Note: See the SUNY Broome College Handbook for more information.

All selling and soliciting of merchandise and services on campus and in the Student Village is prohibited; unless approved through Campus Life or the Director of Housing, respectively.

Guests are defined as non-SUNY Broome students who are visiting. All students are responsible for the actions of their guests for any violations committed on College premises, or at College sponsored or supervised functions. Students are also expected to take reasonable action to prevent their guests from violating College policies.

The use of electric transportation devices is prohibited on SUNY Broome property walkways and crosswalks, and inside all buildings owned, leased, or rented by SUNY Broome. (Electric or hybrid vehicles inspected and registered in order to be operated or driven on public roads and highways in accordance with NYS VTL, are exempt from this policy. Motorized accessible scooters, covered by NYS VTL Article 34-C, are exempt from this policy.)

B. Personal Responsibility and Integrity

Including but not limited to:

  1. Providing false information to any College official, faculty member, College office or others acting in the performance of their duties.
  2. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any document, record, or instrument of identification.
  3. Tampering with the election of any College recognized student organization.
  4. Aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to violate a College policy.
  5. Academic dishonesty

  1. Possession or use of altered or another person’s documents, including those used to identification either on campus or in the College community.
  2. Manufacture, sale, or distribution of an identification to another individual.
  3. Failure to show proper student identification to any faculty, staff, or student staff in the performance of their official duties.

  1. Failure to comply with reasonable and lawful requests or directives of College officials or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or interference with faculty, staff, or student staff acting in the performance of their official duties. This includes, but is not limited to: not appearing at meetings when directed to do so; not providing identification; not abiding by any temporary and/or administrative directive; and not leaving areas/events when directed to do so.
  2. Failure to comply with and/or complete assigned conduct sanctions or Good Samaritan mandates.
  3. Violation of disciplinary probation or deferred suspension.

Any action that causes damage or which would tend to cause damage to the property of the College or property of a member of the College community or other personal or public property.

Including but not limited to:

  1. Attempted or actual theft of College property or services or property belonging to any member of the College community.
  2. The unauthorized possession of stolen property, College property, or property belonging to any member of the College community.
  3. Unauthorized use or abuse of computer time and/or computer systems, information, passwords, or computerized data.
  4. Obtaining or attempting to obtain telephone service by any devious means, including but not limited to: unauthorized charging of another person for service, utilizing fraudulent mechanical means to gain service, and/or tampering with connections, facilities, or documents.

Consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages, with the only exception being for individuals of the age 21 or older at a SUNY Broome sponsored event. Alcohol is not permitted in the Student Village regardless of legal age

The possession of any instrument or equipment that can be used for the rapid consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. (e.g. funnels, beer pong tables, etc.)

Students may not possess, distribute, or be knowingly in the presence of any drug, including cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol derivatives, narcotics or other controlled substances, on property owned by the College or property that directly supports the College’s educational purposes except as expressly permitted by law and College policy. Conduct related to the use of drugs where the individual becomes a disruption to the community is prohibited.

Items such as bowls, bongs, grinders, objects for packaging, storing and concealing drugs, and other drug paraphernalia are prohibited on campus property. Any items designed for the purpose of drug use will be considered a violation of this policy.

Tobacco, cannabis, and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device use is prohibited everywhere within the perimeter on all SUNY Broome property, both indoors and outdoors, as well as in College-owned vehicles, and in any vehicle on SUNY Broome property. The only exception are the two designated smoking areas; the small white gazebos.  Smoking at College sponsored events is also prohibited.

Including, but not limited to:

  1. Failure to comply with the instructions of a student conduct body or College official.
  2. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a student conduct body.
  3. Disruption or interference with the orderly administration of a student conduct proceeding.
  4. Institution of a student conduct proceeding knowingly without cause by filing a false report or statement.
  5. Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the student conduct system or Title IX grievance process through intimidation, threats, coercion, discrimination or any other means.
  6. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a student conduct body prior to, and/or during the course of, the student conduct proceeding.
  7. Harassment (verbal or physical), threats and/or intimidation or attempting to influence of a member of a student conduct body, Student Conduct staff or witness in the conduct process prior to, during, and/or after a student conduct proceeding either directly or through a third party.
  8. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the student conduct system.

Misuse or abuse of the College computer system, voice mail or telephone services as defined by the College. This includes but is not limited to:

  1. Unauthorized use or abuse of your computer account, including failure to safeguard User IDs and passwords.
  2. Sending abusive or threatening messages to students, faculty, or staff.
  3. Repeatedly sending messages with no appropriate intent.
  4. Accessing a student or staff account without authorization.
  5. Using a College office email account to send messages without authorization.
  6. Failure to comply with College technology policies.
  7. Illegal use including but not limited to illegal downloading, uploading, or use of file sharing programs with regard to copyrighted materials.

The unauthorized use of electronic or other devices to secretly record audio, video, photographs, or digital content of any person without their prior knowledge or consent is strictly prohibited—particularly when such recordings could cause harm, injury, or distress. Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, posting images or videos to social media or group chats, as well as secretly recording or photographing individuals in locker rooms, shower stalls, restrooms, or any other location where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

C. Violations of Health and/or Safety of an Individual

Includes such acts as, but is not limited to:

  1. Attempting or threatening to subject another person to unwanted physical contact.
  2. Persistent, pervasive, or severe bullying behaviors such as theft or destruction of personal property, public humiliation, intimidating or threatening behaviors.
  3. Directing obscene language or gestures at another person or group of people in a threatening manner.

Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons, regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that—

(I) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and

(II) causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury.

For more information, view Hazing Policy & Reporting.

Including but not limited to:

  1. Inflicting bodily harm upon any person.
  2. Taking any action for the purpose of inflicting harm upon any person.
  3. Threatened use of force upon any person.
  4. Subjecting another person to unwanted physical contact.

Taking any action that creates a substantial risk such that bodily harm could result to any person. These include but are not limited to:

  1. Objects or people on window ledges.
  2. Use of weapons of any kind for any purpose.
  3. Throwing objects (e.g. snowballs).
  4. Use of fireworks.
  5. Jeopardizing the physical or emotional safety of oneself or another.

Includes such acts believed to be motivated by a consideration (real or perceived) based on race, color, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or other protected characteristics is oral, written, graphic or physical conduct relating to an individual’s race, color, gender identity, national origin (including an individual’s ancestry, country of origin, or country of origin of the student’s parents, family members, or ancestors) or other protected characteristics that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent so as to interfere with or limit the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from the educational institution’s programs or activities. This includes but is not limited to:

  1. Bias-related harassment or discrimination
  2. Threatening, intimidating or fear provoking behavior

D. Sexual and Interpersonal Misconduct

Any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.

Generally described as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

  1. An employee conditioning educational benefits on participation in unwelcome sexual conduct (i.e., quid pro quo);
  2. Unwelcome conduct that a reasonable person would determine is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the educational institution’s education program or activity
  3. Sex and/or gender-based discrimination.
  4. Sexual Exploitation including but not limited to nonconsensual verbal, nonverbal or cyber communication of a sexual nature as well as nonconsensual photography, video or audio taping, posting of sexual activity or sexually explicit images.

Stalking (as defined in the VAWA amendments to the Clery Act), meaning engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to– (A) fear for their safety or the safety of others; or (B) suffer substantial emotional distress.

Any violence committed by a person: (A) who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and (B) where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors: (i) The length of the relationship; (ii) The type of relationship; (iii) The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.

Any felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under New York States domestic or family violence laws or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of New York State.

E. Student Village Regulations

Including but not limited to:

  • Noise that can be clearly heard outside of one’s immediate apartment during established quiet hours.
  • Noise that infringes on the rights of others to reasonable peace and quiet at any time (Courtesy Hours).

Students are to use appliances such as coffee makers, toasters and/or other cooking devices in the kitchen area only. A student found responsible for leaving an oven on, open, or unattended may lose the privilege to use the oven in that apartment. Any other appliances not provided by the College must be UL-approved (UL-Underwriters’ Laboratories). Air conditioners, additional microwaves, oil-based fryers, space heaters, halogen lamps, and multi-bulb ‘octopus’ lamps are not permitted. Appliances may not be left unattended while in use.

All students are responsible for the actions of their guests for any violations committed on College premises, or at College-sponsored or supervised functions. Students are also expected to take reasonable action to prevent their guests from violating College policies. Also, failure to properly register or sign-in guests or visitors is a violation of this policy.

Animals and pets are prohibited in the Student Village, except for fish in bowls that do not require filters, heaters, or lights. Service animals are permitted, provided proper documentation is presented. Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) require documented College approval before being brought into housing.

Including but not limited to:

  • Unauthorized lofts and waterbeds are not permitted in the Student Village.
  • Furniture that is designated as lounge furniture is not permitted in individual student rooms, or apartments.
  • Non-College furniture items that do not meet fire resistance requirements are strongly discouraged (requirements may be obtained through the Housing & Residential Life). Sofas, love seats, and stuffed chairs are prohibited.

In order to protect the safety of residents within the Student Village and to protect the safety of those people who pass by, the College has created guidelines for students regarding windows. These include but are not limited to prohibitions against:

  • Sitting or climbing on window ledges.
  • Removing screens from windows.
  • Direct yelling or music out of windows.
  • Throwing, tossing, or dropping items out of windows.
  • Placing objects (such as antennae) outside of windows.

Including but not limited to:

  • Flammable devices are not permitted in the Student Village. These include, but are not limited to candles, incense, and wax warmers.
  • Decorations.
  • Extension cords, or multi-plug outlets.

Students are expected to comply with all reasonable requests in regard to recycling.

Social games of chance on equal terms with other participants are permitted. Organized gambling is not allowed in the Student Village.

Ball playing (throwing, kicking, batting, etc.), boxing, wrestling, rollerblading, skateboarding, use of toy guns that shoot any kind of projectile (e.g. Nerf guns), use of lacrosse or hockey sticks, and other similar activity is not permitted inside the Student Village. Ball playing (i.e. lacrosse, softball, football, soccer) in areas that are immediately adjacent to the Student Village is not permitted.

Other Student Village policies, as defined by the Director of Housing & Residential Life or their designee. These policies shall be properly communicated to the College community in a timely manner. Examples of violations include but are not limited to violating the 24-hour quiet hours policy during study and final examination period.

F. Retaliation

Taking adverse action against any individual on the basis of a good faith report made by such individual, or on the basis of such individual’s participation in an investigation, hearing, or inquiry by the University or an appropriate authority, or the individual’s participation in a court proceeding relating to suspected wrongful conduct.

Please note: These general standards and expectations do not limit or restrict specific department, program, or course guidelines or expectations. It is the expectation that every student abide by all SUNY Broome policies, including but not limited to behavioral expectations stated in individual course syllabi.