Student Conduct

Southern Arkansas University is dedicated not only to learning and to the advancement of knowledge, but also to the development of ethically-sensitive and responsible persons. SAU seeks to achieve these goals through a sound educational program and student conduct policies which encourage independence and maturity.

Each person, as a member of the SAU community, should

• have respect for others as fellow human beings;
• have respect for the views and ideas of others allowing them opportunity to be heard;
• conduct themselves in such a manner as to maintain a learning environment at the University
• conduct and promote practices that protect the equality of opportunity of all persons within the institution as well as the community, state, and nation;
• assume an obligation to obey all rules and regulations.

General Regulations

The University believes that it is unnecessary to design regulations to cover in detail all matters of student conduct. However, some of the more serious offenses which may arise on or about the University campus and/or in Columbia County are subject to disciplinary action or restricting action are:

1. plagiarism or cheating; forgery, alteration, destruction or misuse of University records, documents, or identification; knowingly furnishing written or verbal false information to the University; or other similar forms of dishonesty in University-related affairs (see Academic Integrity Policy, section 2.5);

2. participating in, including aiding and abetting, in the obstruction or disruption of teaching or administrative procedures or other University activities either in or out of the classroom;

3. misuse of computer equipment, programs, labs, or procedures (see Computer Services Policies, section 2.9);

4. unauthorized entry into a building, classroom, office, or residence; unauthorized use or possession of public or private property or property belonging to a member of the University community or campus visitor; unauthorized possession or use of building keys or equipment;

5. use, possession, sale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages;

6. use, possession, sale, or distribution of narcotics, marijuana, barbiturates, or “pep pills,” except as prescribed by a registered medical doctor;

7. use or possession on University-owned property or buildings of firearms, weapons, explosives, fireworks, air guns, war souvenirs, tear gas, or pyrotechnic devices;

8. depositing or discarding trash or litter on campus in other than appropriate trash and waste containers. No person shall throw or discard paper, bottles, cans, or any substance deemed as litter inside buildings or on campus property including all streets, walks, lawns, etc.;

9. causing any type of false alarm, disaster, fire, threat of bomb, or deliberate misuse of fire equipment (For the protection and welfare of the students of SAU, any student who shall give, or cause to be given, any type of false alarm of fire and/or threat of a bomb, or who shall deliberately misuse firefighting equipment, shall, upon being found guilty, be subject to action by the University resulting in possible suspension. Any non-student involved in the above offense will be referred to the civil authorities.);

10. harassing another person; addressing harassing language, slanderous and/or libelous language, or fighting words to a person; following a person in or about a public place or places (e.g., stalking);

11. assaulting another person; attempting or threatening to strike, kick, or otherwise subject another person to unconsented physical contact;

12. making obscene utterances, gestures, or displays; or engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts that are disorderly;

13. theft of or damage which is done individually or as a member of a group to property belonging to the University or belonging to a member of the University community, campus visitor, or to public or private property adjacent to the campus;

14. failure to meet the financial obligations specified by the University in a legal manner; if a student is unable to meet his or her obligations for a good reason, the student is responsible for calling on the department or individual concerned and attempting to arrange for an extension;

15. violation of University, municipal, or state regulations governing the use of motor vehicles on
University-owned or controlled property;

16. gambling on University property or in the University student housing;

17. failure to comply with the written or oral directions of the faculty, staff, University police, and/or other authorized University personnel (A student is expected, upon request, to surrender proper identification.);

18. blocking the entrances or exits of any campus buildings;

19. use of skateboards, inline and roller skates on University premises during the published, prohibited hours;

20. violation of visitation hours or other residence hall policies or regulations as posted in the hall or published in Hallways;

21. failure to ensure the proper accepted conduct of guests (A guest is defined as any person who is present at the invitation of a student or any person who is received by a student, or any invited or uninvited non-student who is accompanied by a student.);

22. failure to observe University-wide quiet hours. Because of the large number of student, faculty, and staff residences on the campus, students and visitors are to observe University-wide quiet hours both on the campus and on the streets bordering the campus from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday. This includes loud talking, shouting, loud radios, fireworks, explosive noises, loud engines, noisy group activities, etc. Any scheduled campus event that would be construed to be in violation of this regulation must be approved a minimum of one week in advance of the event in order to facilitate the notification of campus residents by mail.

23. participation in hazing or a hazing activity as an individual or as a member of a group;

24. violation of local, state, or federal law which adversely affects the student’s suitability as a member of the University community, or when it appears that the presence of the student on campus would seriously interfere with the normal educational functions or would endanger the student or threaten to endanger a member of the University community or University property;

25. violations of Arkansas or federal criminal statutes.