At Kansas State University students have a direct and primary role in the establishment and enforcement of campus and living group policies and regulations. The basic philosophy of discipline is one of education and enforcement of community standards. Since that is the ultimate purpose, we focus on the growth and development of the student. Most efforts are directed at preventing problems, or at least correcting them, rather than concentrating on punishment. The responsibility for proper conduct is put upon the student, not the university, with the assumption that most students do not try to intentionally cause violations, and will generally respect the rights and property of others.
The following principles govern the disciplinary process. Every effort is made to bring about outcomes that are positive for all parties involved; students will be members of all Student Governing Association judicial bodies; formal hearing processes are fundamentally fair and respect the rights of the individuals involved; confidentiality will be respected; records of proceedings will be released only on written authorization of the student(s) involved unless otherwise authorized by law or court order. The procedures are outlined in the SGA Judicial Code, included in the by-laws to the SGA Constitution.
Descriptions of the judicial structure and process, as well as university policies, are free and are available in the Office of Student Activities and Services in the K-State Student Union.
Important information regarding the judicial process and student rights are available in the Office of Student Activities and Services in the K-State Student Union.
The following described behaviors constitute misconduct in which disciplinary sanctions will be imposed:
1. Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:
a. Furnishing false information to any university official, faculty/staff member, or office.
b. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any university document, record, or instrument of identification.
c. Tampering with the election of any organization or student governing body.
2. Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceeding, other university activities, including its public-service functions on or off campus, or other authorized non-university activities.
3. Conduct that threatens or endangers the mental or physical health or safety of any person, including, but not limited to physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, and coercion.
4. Attempted or actual theft of or damage to property.
5. Hazing, which is defined as an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization. Consent by the person hazed shall be no defense to the hazing.
6. Telephone harassment, which shall include:
a. Making calls containing lewd or obscene remarks.
b. Making calls intended to harass whether or not conversation ensues.
c. Making the telephone ring repeatedly with intent to harass.
d. Making repeated calls in which conversation ensues solely to harass.
7. Failure to comply with directions of university faculty, staff, or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
8. Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys, or other devices that provide access to any university premises or service.
9. Unauthorized presence in or use of university premises, facilities, or property.
10. Violation of university policies, rules, or regulations.
11. Violation of federal, state, or local law.
12. Unauthorized distribution, use, or possession of a controlled substance (as described in Chapter 65, Article 41 of Kansas Statutes Annotated on university premises) or at university-sponsored activities.
13. Unlawful use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or violation of the university's alcoholic and cereal malt beverage policy.
14. Possession or use of firearms, explosives, weapons, or dangerous chemicals on university premises or at a university-sponsored activity or any other violation of the university weapons policy.
15. Intentionally initiating or causing to be initiated any false report, warning, or threat of fire, explosion, or other emergency on university premises or at a university-sponsored activity.
16. Participation in a campus demonstration which unreasonably disrupts the normal operations of the university and infringes on the rights of other members of the university community; inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area; intentional obstruction which unreasonably interferes with freedom of movement, either pedestrian or vehicular, on campus.
17. Intentionally interfering with the freedom of expression of others on university premises or at a university-sponsored activity.
18. Conduct that is disorderly, lewd, or indecent; breach of peace; or aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to breach the peace on university premises or at university- sponsored activities.
19. Any violation of the stated K-State information technology usage policies.
20. Abuse of the SGA Judicial Program, including, but not limited to:
a. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information.
b. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a judicial proceeding.
c. Knowingly initiating a complaint without cause.
d. Attempting to discourage an individual's proper participation in, or use of, the judicial system.
e. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a judicial board prior to, or during the course of, the judicial proceeding.
f. Verbal, written, phone, or physical harassment, and/or intimidation of a member of a judicial board.
g. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under this code.
h. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the judicial system.
21. Any illegal or unauthorized taking, selling, or distribution of class notes.
Kansas State University's honor system is based on personal integrity, which is presumed to be sufficient assurance that, in academic matters, each student's work is performed honestly and without unauthorized assistance. Students, by registering at K-State, acknowledge the jurisdiction of the honor system.
The policies and procedures of the graduate and undergraduate honor system apply to all full-time and part-time students enrolled in courses on-campus, off-campus, and via distance learning.
A prominent part of the honor system is the honor pledge, which applies to all assignments, examinations, or other course work undertaken by students. The honor pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated: “On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work.”
The honor system trusts students to perform their academic work honestly and with integrity. The honor system is based on trust and administered jointly by students and faculty members of the Honor Council. Having students equally share in the process increases the visibility of Honor Council procedures and promotes a community of trust.
The Honor Council is comprised of students and faculty who are appointed each spring for two-year terms. Students are nominated by the student body president or the associate provost for diversity; faculty are nominated by their respective dean or the dean of student life. All nominations are subject to the approval of the provost. Members of the honor council adjudicate the honor system by serving as case investigators, advisors, and hearing panelists.
HIPE is a student organization that functions as an educational branch of the honor system HIPE is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students who promote integrity by making educational presentations to students and faculty and serve as advisors to alleged violators of the honor pledge, as these students move through the investigating and adjudicating phases of the honor system.
All members of the academic community, both students and faculty, are urged to report acts of academic dishonesty. To discuss or report an alleged violation, contact the director of the honor system.
The honor system uses the Faculty Senate-approved definition of academic dishonesty found in the Faculty Handbook and at the honor system webpage.
Students' rights are enumerated under Article XII of the Student Governing Association constitution.
The Honor Council constitution can be reviewed in the student handbook section of the campus phone book. The investigation and adjudication procedures can be reviewed on the Internet at www.k-state.edu/honor.
K-State Honor System
Kansas State University
215 Fairchild Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-2595
E-mail: honor@ksu.edu
Students, faculty, and administrators are members of a community dedicated to the growth and development of individuals.
Enrollment at K-State entails responsibilities as well as privileges. Acceptance of and adherence to the following policies are necessary for the protection of the rights of others and the protection and health of the community.
Complete copies of these policies, which are excerpted below, are available in the Office of Student Activities and Services in the K-State Student Union and the Office of Student Life in Holton Hall, unless otherwise indicated. The most current version of these policies is available in the University Handbook: www.k-state.edu/academicservices/fhbook. Information about these policies can also be found in the student life handbook section of the campus phone book.
For information about other policies go to www.k-state.edu/policies.
The following procedures will be employed to deal with grade appeals and academic grievances other than matters of academic dishonesty brought by students against faculty members or faculty members against students. These procedures will serve three functions: (1) to safeguard the rights and academic freedom of both students and faculty, (2) to assure due process, and (3) to provide for consistency in handling undergraduate academic grievances throughout the university.
Unethical actions by faculty or administrators should be reported as soon as possible so that appropriate action can be taken. The grievance must be made within six months of the alleged unethical action(s). Students should begin by contacting the office of their dean. The dean, or a representative of the dean, will describe the procedure to be followed and will aid the student in procedural matters. Further, the dean or representative will appoint a faculty member as an advocate for the student if the situation seems to warrant an advocate or if the student requests an advocate. If a faculty advocate is appointed, the student will participate in the selection of, and must agree to the appointment of, the person selected. The advocate need not be in the same college as the student.
Grievances involving student academic dishonesty
The procedures for handling charges of cheating or other academic dishonesty are given in the policy on academic dishonesty. See the Honor System of this catalog for details.
a. All efforts will be made by the student and instructor involved in any grievance to settle all disputes that may arise. Grade appeals must be initiated within six months following the issue date of the grade in question.
b. If a grade change grievance is not resolved by the student and instructor, the student may appeal in writing to the department head concerned, who will act as a mediator in the dispute. This appeal should be made within two weeks of the date of the decision of the instructor. At this time, the student may petition the dean of his or her college for an ombudsperson. The duties of the ombudsperson are to arrange meetings of all concerned parties and report actions taken at each level to the appropriate persons or groups. The role of the ombudsperson is to expedite the process and to ensure a fair hearing.
c. If the grievance has not been settled to the student's satisfaction at the department level, written appeal may be made to the dean of the college in which the course is taken. This appeal should be made within two weeks of the date of receipt of the decision by the department head.
d. If the student does not feel that an adequate solution has been reached in any academic dispute, she/he may appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Grievance Board, which will arbitrate the dispute. This appeal should be made within two weeks of the date of receipt of the appeal by the dean. Appeals received during the summer will be heard the following fall term. Appeals should be addressed to the Undergraduate Grievance Board.
e. The two week time limits given in the sections above are intended to move the grievance process along at a reasonable rate. The limits may be modified for reasonable reasons such as illness, scheduled academic holidays, or mutual consent of both parties.
Facilities of Kansas State University are not available for unrestricted use by non-university groups. University property may not be used for commercial purposes except when sponsored by a university-affiliated organization or department. The regulations governing fund-raising and the posting and distribution of literature are available in the Office of Student Activities and Services.
The legal drinking age in Kansas for alcoholic beverages is 21. The Kansas Board of Regents policy permits the service and consumption of alcoholic beverages under authorized and appropriately controlled conditions and regulations. Included in the K-State policy is information on alcohol and cereal malt beverage service and consumption in residence halls, at athletic events, and for student organizations.
In 1988 Congress passed the Drug-Free Workplace Act. This act applies to all institutions holding and applying for federal grants and contracts. K-State adopted the policy that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of controlled substances is prohibited in its workplace.
K-State facilities are available for use by authorized groups for activities that complement the teaching, research, and service programs of the university. Policies and procedures for use of K-State facilities (other than the K-State Student Union) are available in the Division of Facilities in Dykstra Hall.
Policies and procedures for use of the K-State Student Union are available in the Union Reservations Office on the second floor or in the Source Handbook for Registered Organizations.
The university seeks to create an environment in which all students, faculty, and staff interact solely on the basis of individual strengths and characteristics without having those interactions shaped by generalizations, stereotypes, or valuations based on gender. Copies of applicable policies are available in the Women's Center in Holton Hall and Office of Affirmative Action in Anderson Hall.
Under the direction of the Kansas Board of Regents, the university has developed guidelines to assist students, faculty, and staff in the event that a situation involving Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) should occur. Current copies of the guidelines are available upon request from the Department of Health Promotion, Lafene Health Center.
All members of the university community are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to educate themselves regarding the candidates and issues relating to national, state, and local elections. Copies of the university guidelines related to political activities on campus are available in the Office of Student Activities and Services.
Racial and/or ethnic harassment is prohibited by K-State and includes conduct toward an individual or group on the basis of race, ethnicity, or racial affiliation that has the purpose and effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment; interfering with an individual's work, academic performance, living environment, personal security, or participation in any university-sponsored activities; or threatening an individual's employment or academic opportunities.
Racial and/or ethnic harassment should be reported to the university administrator responsible for the department or unit or to the Office of Affirmative Action. For students with complaints of harassment by other students, the dean or associate dean of student life may be regarded as the appropriate administrator. Copies of the policy are also available from the Office of Affirmative Action in Anderson Hall.
In a pluralistic, multicultural, and interdenominational university environment, freedom of worship is supported. Religious programs and activities must comply with university policies as well as federal, state, and local laws. In keeping with its education mission, the university may specify the time, place, and manner of religious events, but may not regulate their content.
Since students may refrain from class and work activities on major faith holidays, faculty and staff are requested to give consideration to these religious holidays in planning exams, deadlines, and class requirements. Students are requested to coordinate their plans with instructors in preparation for these observances. Assistance or clarification may be received at the Office of the Coordinator of Religious Activities, Holton Hall.
K-State prohibits sexual harassment and has defined sexual harassment as any behavior that, through inappropriate sexual content or disparagement of members of one sex, interferes with an individual's work or learning environment. This policy applies to the working and learning relationships of all individuals within the university community—faculty, staff, and students.
Sexual harassment should be reported to the university administrator responsible for the department or unit or to the Office of Affirmative Action. Students with complaints of sexual harassment by other students should contact the Office of Student Life, the Office of Affirmative Action, or Women's Center. Copies of the policy prohibiting sexual harassment are available from the Office of Student Activities and Services, departmental offices, the Women's Center, Office of Student Life, or the Office of Affirmative Action.
No form of sexual violence will be tolerated or condoned at Kansas State University. This policy prohibits not only those acts commonly understood to constitute “sexual assault,” but all attempts to coerce sexual activity as well. Although the university cannot assure protection from sexual violence, it can state expectations of conduct and impose sanctions on any university student who fails to meet those expectations. Copies of the policy prohibiting sexual violence are available in the Women's Center in Holton Hall or Office of Student Life.
The Student Discrimination Review Committee hears complaints of discrimination from students based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, military or veteran status, or age in employment, academic areas or other programs, services, or activities in the university community. This committee is an appellate body and is to be used if a satisfactory resolution is not reached at the departmental or unit head level.
The committee is appointed by the university president upon recommendations from the student body president and the president of Faculty Senate. Copies of this policy are available from the Office of Student Activities and Services or the Office of Affirmative Action.
Kansas State University is a land-grant, public research university, committed to teaching and learning, research, and service to the people of Kansas, the nation, and the world. Our collective mission is best accomplished when every member of the university community acknowledges and practices the following principles:
We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every person and strive to maintain an atmosphere of justice based on respect for each other.
We affirm the right of each person to freely express thoughts and opinions in a spirit of civility and decency. We believe that diversity of views enriches our learning environment and we promote open expression within a climate of courtesy, sensitivity, and mutual respect.
We affirm the value of human diversity for community. We confront and reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including those based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs, economic status, or any other differences that have led to misunderstandings, hostility, and injustice.
We acknowledge that we are a part of the larger Kansas community and that we have an obligation to be engaged in a positive way with our civic partners.
We recognize our individual obligations to the university community and to the principles that sustain it. We will each strive to contribute to a positive spirit that affirms learning and growth for all members of the community.
This campaign works to apply the principles of active nonviolence to problems associated with discrimination, harassment, violence, and other abuses of power.