GENERAL INFORMATION
INSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
The authority over student behavior involving individuals, groups, and/or organizations rests with the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System and is delegated by them to the President of the University. The President delegates authority in matters of non-academic student conduct to the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Dean of Students to establish and hold student conduct proceedings that will ensure the proper administration of the University’s rules and regulations. The Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee, shall oversee the operation of the student conduct system and administration of the Standards of Conduct. The Dean of Students or designee has the right to consider all alleged violations of the Standards and determine if a student, group, or student organization should be sanctioned for the violation(s). The Dean of Students or designee shall determine the appropriate course of action for all alleged violations. In exceptional circumstances and in the Vice President of Student Affairs discretion, the Vice President of Student Affairs may modify procedures outlined under these Standards of Conduct.
In addition, Nicholls State University expressly reserves the right to revise, supplement, or withdraw any policy or portion of a policy from time to time, as it deems necessary.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
As members of the Nicholls State University community, students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic and personal conduct. Disruptive behavior in the classroom and academic dishonesty violate these standards as well as the trust and commitment among students and faculty.
The primary responsibility for managing the learning environment rests with the faculty. Students who engage in any prohibited or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by the professor/instructor to leave the class for the remainder of the class period. The term “prohibited . . . acts” includes behavior prohibited by the professor/instructor (including, but not limited to, making unauthorized recording of any part of a class, online meeting, or other academic settings, persistently speaking without being recognized or called on, refusing to be seated, leaving or entering in a manner that is disruptive.). It must be emphasized that this provision is not designed to be used as a means to punish classroom dissent. The expression of disagreement with the instructor or classmates is not in itself disruptive behavior. Longer suspensions from a class or dismissal on conduct grounds must be preceded by the student conduct process, as set forth in the Student Policy and Procedure Manual.
AMNESTY
Nicholls State University strongly encourages victims and individuals to report all Standards of Conduct violations, acts of discrimination, any violence in general (including sexual violence), and medical emergencies. It is possible that many victims may be hesitant when it comes to reporting conduct that he/she believes violates the Standards of Conduct because of fear that they may be accused of violating policies or sections of the Standards in connection with the incident they are reporting. Underage drinking is a common example of conduct that may have occurred during such an incident. Because of the importance of reporting serious incidents, and to encourage reporting, Nicholls will not normally charge a victim who reports a violation of the Standards, even though the victim may have participated in a non-violent violation of the Standards (e.g., unauthorized use of alcohol). Nicholls may also elect to extend amnesty to students who report medical emergencies that may have occurred during an incident involving a potential violation. In such cases, however, Nicholls may exercise its discretion to impose educational sanctions as a required activity intended to engage the student in a positive learning experience related to the student’s inappropriate behavior.
