Standards of Conduct

A student or recognized student organization may be disciplined for the following types of misconduct:

1. Acts of Dishonesty
   • Providing false information to a College official (verbal, written, or electronic).
   • Falsifying, distorting, misrepresenting or withholding information in connection with a College investigation or hearing.
   • Forging, altering, destroying, falsifying or misusing records, identification or documents, whether in print or electronic form.
   • Cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized academic assistance, and other forms of academic dishonesty. The Honor Council hears cases regarding academic dishonesty. Please refer to the Young Harris College Honor Code at yhc.edu/policies-procedures/yhc-honor-code/
   • Theft, misappropriation, unauthorized possession, or unauthorized sale of private or public property including, but not limited to, College property.
   • Bribery; attempting influence or influencing a College process or decision for personal gain.
      
2. Threats, intimidation, causing physical harm to any person; endangering the health or safety of any person; engaging in conduct that causes a reasonable person to fear harm for their health or safety; or making an oral or written statement (including electronically) that a reasonable person hearing or reading the statement would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of violence to a particular individual or group of individuals, regardless of the intent to carry out the act of violence.
    
3. Harassment, which is defined as conduct that is so severe or pervasive or persistent or objectively offensive that it substantially interferes with the ability of a person to work, learn, live or participate in or benefit from the services, activities or privileges provided by the College.
    
4. Engaging in sexual misconduct is prohibited. Violations of the Young Harris College Sexual Misconduct Policy are governed under the procedures set forth in that policy (yhc.edu/titleix for more information.) Sexual misconduct not specifically addressed in the Young Harris College Sexual Misconduct Policy will be addressed through the Code of Conduct.
    
5. Invasion of another person’s privacy when that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Using electronic or other means to make a video, photographic, or audio record of any person, without the person’s knowledge or consent, in a location in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. The storing and/or distributing of such unauthorized recordings by any means is also prohibited.
    
6. Vandalizing, destroying, damaging or engaging in conduct or misuse that reasonably could cause damage to property of the College or any member, guest, contractor of the College.
    
7. Participating in hazing. “Hazing” is defined as any intentional or reckless act, on or off College property, by one (1) student, acting alone or with others, which is directed against any other student that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student, or which induces or coerces a student to endanger their own mental or physical health or safety. Hazing includes those actions taken and situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with any organization, group, or team.
    
8. Engaging in disorderly, lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or breach of peace. “Disorderly” conduct means conduct which creates a hazardous or physically offensive condition; making noise that could unreasonably disturb others who are carrying on lawful activities and conduct that breaches the peace. “Lewd, indecent, or obscene” conduct includes, but is not limited to, loud vocalization of profanity and expletives, public nudity, public urinating, and public sexual acts.
    
9. Engaging in speech, either orally or in writing that is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action or is likely to incite or produce such action.
    
10. Any act of arson; falsely reporting a fire, the presence of an explosive or incendiary device; setting off a false fire alarm; or tampering with, damaging, or removing fire extinguishers or any other safety or emergency equipment from its proper location, except when removed in a situation in which there is a reasonable belief of the need for such equipment.
     
11. Possessing, using, or duplicating College keys, access cards or identification cards without authorization from professional staff; or possessing, using, or entering College property without authorization from professional staff.
     
12. Theft, misuse, or unauthorized use of information technology facilities, resources, or access codes, or conduct that violates the College’s Acceptable IT Use Policy which can be found on the Current Students page on the YHC website.
     
13. Possessing, using, storing, or manufacturing any weapon or any facsimile of a weapon on College property or in connection with a College-affiliated activity.
     
14. Alcohol
    • Consuming, manufacturing, possessing, distributing, dispensing, selling, or being under the influence of alcoholic beverages on College property or in connection with a College-affiliated activity. (Please see Young Harris Alcohol Policy for the exceptions for students who are 21 years of age or older at special events designated by the President of the College.)
    • Consuming, manufacturing, possessing, distributing, dispensing, selling or being under the influence of alcoholic beverages, under 21 years of age.
    • Being in the presence of and failing to report those consuming, manufacturing, possessing, distributing, dispensing, selling, or being under the influence of alcoholic beverages on College property or in connection with a College affiliated activity.
       
15. Using, manufacturing, possessing, distributing, selling, dispensing or being under the influence of drugs; displaying, distributing, dispensing, possessing, or selling drug paraphernalia; using or possessing a prescription drug if the prescription was not issued to the student; or distributing or selling a prescription drug to a person to whom the prescription was not originally issued. Misuse of a prescription drug.
     
16. Failing to pay a College bill, account, or other College financial obligation.
     
17. Failing to respond to a request to report to a College administrative office; failing to comply with a reasonable request of a College employee or other public official acting within the scope of their duties; or failing to identify oneself to a College employee or other public official acting within the scope of their duties when requested to do so.
     
18. Violating the terms of conduct action or consequences imposed by the College. Failing to meet the timeframe of conduct sanctions.
     
19. Obstructing or disrupting teaching, learning, studying, research, public service, administration, disciplinary proceedings, emergency services or any other College- affiliated activity, or the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on College property.
     
20. A student whose behavior disrupts the residential community, violates College policy, or disrupts the educational process for other students will be subject to the Student Conduct process regardless of any contributing health condition. A student who threatens the health or safety of others may be removed under the interim suspension process. Violating a College policy or rule including, but not limited to those published in the Guide to Student Life, the College Catalog, the College web site, email notice, posted signage, or any other written communication.
     
21. Committing an act that is prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
     
22. Attempting to commit a violation of a Standard of Conduct or being an accessory to the commission of an act or attempted act in violation of a Standard of Conduct.