University Senate approves revised code for student ethics

Conduct guide reviewed for first time in 20 years

While the infractions have always been there, students can now see for themselves what rules they are breaking in the revised Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Previous to the revision, students could be held accountable for rules that weren't listed in the code book, said Dave Fried, associate dean of students.

Fried said that the conduct guide has not been completly reviewed in 15 to 20 years.

Douglas McConkey, vice president of student affairs, said that although sections of the code book are always reviewed, this time is different because the whole document was looked at..

"There were a lot of people who worked a long time to revise the code," McConkey said.

The year-long project was reviewed by the Student Rights, Ethics and Standards Committee and the Student and Campus Life Council before referral to the University Senate for approval.

The university has concentrated on two areas of the code: Section Five, Code Violations, and Section Six, Judicial Procedures.

Fried said that the most significant change made under Section Six was the addition of judicial procedures for housing and residence along with recreation services.

"We have worked to modify both areas so there is consistency to the appeal procedure," Fried said."We want the students to know the judicial systems are all related."

Section Five has been split up into five parts that makes the codes easier to follow. An appendix has been added after Section Six.

Fried said that there have been new subsections added to Section Five, like stalking and arson, while the drug policy has been revised to include prescription drugs.

The most significant change under Section Five is the sexual misconduct policy that includes rape, which used to be included under the physical assault section.

"Hearing board members would be asking 'how do you define rape?'," Fried said. "We have always dealt with those types of violations but we wanted to make definitions clearer."

The university looked at codes from over two dozen similar schools to base the revisions on.

Fried said that the code should be perceived as a changing document, with issues like the grade appeal process and the academic ethics policy on the agenda for next year.

"We have been living with a code that had things missing," Fried said. "We wanted to provide for a better structure that is more user-friendly."

The new code can be viewed at www.bsu.edu/sa/dean.


Comments

More from The Daily






Loading Recent Classifieds...