Student Code of Conduct

Behavior that violates university standards of conduct listed here and elsewhere will be subject to educative action through the appropriate student conduct process. If it is determined that a group is responsible for a violation, either by direct involvement or by condoning, encouraging or covering up the violation, appropriate action will be taken with respect to the group as well as to the individuals involved.  

Students will be expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct, university rules and procedures, and all federal, state and local laws. With that in mind, students are advised:

  • these expectations apply to behavior both on campus and off campus;
  • these expectations are based on the university’s commitment to educating students that they are responsible for, promoting the common good, through their own personal integrity, and respect for the dignity of all;
  • while the goal of these expectations is to educate students about those responsibilities, ignorance of the rules, procedures and laws shall not diminish responsibility when that behavior falls short of the goal;
  • the remedial action taken to foster this expectation may apply to various aspects of the student’s life on- and off-campus, including housing privileges, campus activities and, upon the input of Academic Affairs, academic arrangement.

The following conduct by a student or student organization is prohibited on and off campus:

  1. Abusive, threatening or dangerous behavior, including, but not limited to, fighting, physical abuse, verbal abuse, threatening statements or behavior, coercion and/or conduct which threatens or endangers the mental or physical health, safety or well-being of any person, or any aspect of the university community. This includes, but is not limited to, fighting or deliberate behavior that could instigate violence or abuse, intimidation and harassment.
  2. Sexual Misconduct. Violations of Niagara University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy include sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence.**      
  3. Theft or misappropriation of property or services and/or possession of stolen property.
  4. Destruction, damage or defacing of personal and/or university, public or private property, including, but not limited to, physical damage, improper disposal of trash and littering on university grounds.  
  5. Disorderly conduct, including, but not limited to, acts that are lewd, indecent or obscene, disruptive, those which breach the peace, and/or an obstruction to teaching, research, administration, other university activities or activities authorized which take place on university property.  
  6. Violation of Niagara University’s Alcohol Policy
  7. Violation of Niagara University’s Drug/Illegal Substances Policy
  8. Failure to abide by fire safety procedures including, but not limited to, tampering with fire safety equipment and/or activating a false or avoidable fire alarm, failure to exit during a fire alarm or maintaining an open flame. As required by law, the university’ fire records are available at Campus Safety.  
  9. Illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, weapon replicas, explosives, illegal fireworks or other items used to threaten, intimidate or harm another and/or violation of Niagara University's Weapons Policy.  
  10. Hazing, as both defined in Niagara University’s Hazing Policy and New York Penal Law.    
  11. Abuse of the Student Conduct Process, including, but not limited to, attempts to influence, harass and/or intimidate a member of a student conduct body/officer or any participant prior to, during and/or after a conduct proceeding; perjury or obstruction of an investigation; falsification, misrepresentation or distortion of information before a student conduct body/officer; failure to comply with the condition(s) imposed through the student conduct process.
  12. Tampering, falsification, misuse of any university document, password, key, swipe card, or any other instruments of access or identification.      
  13. Failure to comply with the directions of or interfering with university, local, state or federal officials acting in performance of their duties. This shall include, but is not limited to, failure to produce proper identification and/or providing false identification when directed to do so.  
  14. Computer abuse as defined in the Niagara University’s Policy on Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources, including, but not limited to, sending, receiving, downloading, printing, or displaying pornographic, obscene, lewd, or sexually harassing, or otherwise offensive images or text. Sending email, instant messaging, and texting, making phone calls or sending or facilitating the sending of any communication which is of a harassing, threatening, defamatory, intimidating, or obscene in manner.  
  15. Violation of rules or policies governing the university or any aspect of its facilities resources or services listed on this website and elsewhere.
  16. Violation of the Residence Hall Agreement, the Apartment Agreement or other Residence Life policies including, but not limited to, violations of residence halls community standards.  
  17. Violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law and/or behavior off-campus that has a negative impact on the university or members of the university community.