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Handbook of Operating Procedures

186 - Appendix A

HOOP Policy 186 - Appendix A - Unacceptable Student Conduct

Unacceptable conduct that would subject a student to disciplinary action includes, but is not limited to, the following: 

  • Academic Dishonesty: Engaging in academic dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, submitting for credit any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person without giving sufficient credit, taking an exam for another person or having another person take an exam for the student, acting in a manner that would give unfair advantage to a student, or attempting to commit such acts.  
    1. Cheating is the following or attempts to do the following:  
      • Copying from the test paper (or other assignment) of another student, engaging in written, oral, or any other means of communication with another student during a test, or giving aid to or seeking aid from another person during a test or on another assignment where doing so is prohibited by the instructor;
      • Possession and/or use during a test of materials which are not authorized by the person giving the test, such as class notes, calculators, electronic devices, books, or specifically designed “crib notes”;
      • Using, obtaining, or attempting to obtain by any means the whole or any part of a non-administered test, test key, homework solution, or computer program, or using a test that has been administered in prior classes or semesters, but which will be used again either in whole or in part, without permission of the instructor; or accessing a test bank without instructor permission;
      • Substituting for another person, or permitting another person to substitute for one’s self, to take a test; or
      • Falsifying research data, laboratory reports, and/or other records or academic work offered for credit.
    2. Plagiarism is the appropriation of material that is attributable in whole or in part to another source without any indication of the original source, including words, ideas, illustrations, structure, computer code, and other expression or media, and presenting that material as one’s own academic work being offered for credit or in conjunction with a program course or degree requirements.
    3. Collusion is the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing academic assignments offered for credit or collaboration with another person to commit a violation of any provision of the rules on academic dishonesty, including disclosing and/or distributing the contents of an exam.
    4. Misrepresenting facts for academic advantage to the University or an agent of the University. This includes, but is not limited, to providing false information on an application, providing false grades or résumés; providing false or misleading information in an effort to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, or other assignment for the purpose of obtaining an academic or financial benefit for oneself or another individual; and providing false or misleading information in an effort to injure another student academically or financially.
  • Alcohol/Drugs: Unauthorized or illegal use, possession or sale of a drug, narcotic or alcohol (also refer to HOOP 9, Alcoholic Beverages, HOOP 163, Fitness for Participation (Students) and HOOP 173 Substance Abuse).
  • Health and Safety: Endangering the health or safety of any person on or off university property, including while participating in any activities sponsored by the university or UT System, including, but not limited to, field trips, study abroad programs, inter- and/or intramural athletic activities, student organizations, and laboratory and other rotations or clinical assignments. 
  • Disruptions: Obstructing, disrupting or interfering, individually or in concert with others, with teaching, educational, research, administrative, disciplinary, public service or other activity or public performance authorized by the university to be held on university property or while participating in any activities sponsored by the university or UT System, including, but not limited to, field trips, study abroad programs, inter- and/or intramural athletic activities, student organizations, and laboratory and other rotations or clinical assignments, whether on or off university property; such behavior includes, but is not limited to, making false threats, any act that interrupts, modifies or damages university utility service or equipment; communication service or equipment; and computer hardware, programs, records or networks accessible through university resources.
  • Sexual Misconduct Investigations: Interfering with, obstructing, or refusing to participate in an investigation under HOOP 59, Prohibition of Sexual Harassment & Sexual Misconduct.
  • Inciting Lawless Action: Engaging in speaking or writing that is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and that is likely to incite or produce such action.
  • Unauthorized Use of Property: Engaging in the unauthorized possession and/or use of university property, equipment, supplies, buildings or facilities.
  • Hazing: Engaging in hazing, singly or in concert with others. Hazing, with or without the consent of a student and on or off campus, is prohibited by state law, and both the person submitting to the hazing and the person inflicting the hazing are subject to discipline. Knowingly failing to report hazing can subject one to discipline. Initiations or activities of organizations may not include features that are dangerous, harmful, or degrading to any student. Both the organization and participating individuals are subject to discipline.

    “Hazing” means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off of the campus, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student for purposes of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, or holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization if the act: 

    1. is any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance in or on the body, or similar activity;
    2. involves any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other similar activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
    3. any activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
    4. any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of law; or
    5. any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to acts described in this subsection.

In an effort to encourage reporting of hazing, the university may grant immunity from student or employee disciplinary action to a person who, in good faith, voluntarily reports specific incidents of hazing prior to being contacted concerning the incident or being included in the institution’s investigation of the incident.  This immunity does not extend to the person’s own violation of hazing.

  • Sexual Misconduct (refer to HOOP 59, Prohibition of Sexual Harassment & Sexual Misconduct).
  • Altering of Official Documents: Altering or assisting in the altering of any official record of the university or UT System, or submitting false information or omitting information required for or related to application for admission, award of a degree, or any official record. A former student who engages in such conduct is subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to bar against re-admission, revocation of degree, and withdrawal of diploma. This prohibition includes a student who participates or assists in the forging, altering, or duplicating of any parking permit, traffic ticket, or parking ticket issued by the university; any ticket for admission to a program or event sponsored by the university; any means of identification issued by the University; any instrument obligating the university to pay any sum of money; any key which may be used for entering any building owned or controlled by the university; or participating in such actions with other persons.
  • Vandalism: Defacing, mutilating, destroying or taking unauthorized possession of university property, equipment, supplies, buildings or facilities.
  • Use of Explosives, Weapons or Hazardous Chemicals: Possessing or using any type of explosive, firearm, imitation firearm, ammunition, hazardous chemical or weapon as defined by state or federal law while on university property, unless authorized by law.. The university has a policy regarding concealed handguns on campus (HOOP 222, Concealed Handguns on Campus).  Any violation of that policy by a student will be handled according to the procedures in this policy unless that policy explicitly states otherwise.
  • Failure to Report to Assignment: Failing to report to an assigned training environment, without approval for an excused absence, including service as a Graduate Teaching Assistant or Graduate Research Assistant, where such service is an academic requirement
  • Theft: Committing theft, stealing, or taking unauthorized possession of any personal property of any community member or university property within the buildings or facilities owned or controlled by the university or the U.T. System.
  • Retaliation: Retaliating in any way against an individual who has brought a complaint under this policy or any other university policy or participated in an investigation or disciplinary process of such complaint (see HOOP 108, Protection from Retaliation).
  • Engaging in Gambling: Gambling on property, buildings, or facilities owned or controlled by the university.
  • Information Resources Systems Usage Violations: Students using university information resources or connecting to university information resources with a personal or non-university owned system will be held responsible for adhering to all university policies and procedures regarding information resource usage as well as state and federal rules and regulations. Information resource systems usage violations include, but are not limited to, unauthorized system/network activity and unauthorized distribution or altering of programs and/or data. See HOOP 180, Acceptable Use of University Information Resources.
  • Knowingly Submitting False Information: Knowingly providing false information to University officials.  This prohibition includes a student who knowingly files a false report related to another student’s alleged violation of this policy.
  • Violations of Local, State or Federal Law: Engaging in conduct that may violate any provision of federal, state or local laws, whether or not the violation occurs on university property or in connection with any university activity.