Inside Iowa State
March 3, 2000
Input sought to revised student conduct draft
by Diana Pounds
A proposed revision of the student
conduct code is fairer, because it applies the same
disciplinary procedures to all students, whether they live in
residence halls, Greek houses or elsewhere. It's clearer,
because procedures are spelled out in detail. And it's
heftier, because there are some new conduct violations, such
as selling class notes without the written permission of the
instructor.
That's dean of students Kathleen MacKay and legal services director Paul Tanaka's nutshell overview of the proposed conduct code. The two are in the process of meeting with student, faculty and staff groups to discuss the new code and seek input.
Two years in the making, the conduct code originally was reviewed by a committee of students, faculty and staff. The committee recommended changes to the code, and university legal services staff and other campus staff who deal with student discipline followed up with additional revisions.
The proposed code provides for uniform disciplinary procedures for all students, MacKay said. Currently, there are variations in those procedures, depending on where students live and which student panels hear the cases involving alleged conduct violations. Some panels have more authority than others, MacKay explained.
Under the proposed code, all student panels will follow the same procedure, Tanaka said. They will hear the case, then make a recommendation to the dean of students, who will make a decision.
The proposed code also will allow central tracking of repeated misconduct by individuals, MacKay said. Now, there is uneven reporting of misconduct, because some infractions are handled within the residence halls or Greek systems and not reported to the dean of students office. Students in off-campus apartments are at a disadvantage now, MacKay said, because their conduct violations are handled centrally through the office of judicial affairs.
Among several new conduct violations in the proposed code is a section prohibiting the "unauthorized sale of others' intellectual works." The proliferation of businesses offering student-written copies of class lectures spurred this addition to the conduct code, Tanaka said. The section states that "course-related presentations are owned by the presenter" and that students must obtain written permission to sell lecture notes or recordings. This provision already has been published in the academic regulations, and is now being added to the conduct rules.
Other new conduct violations include racial harassment, aiding or assisting others in violating university conduct regulations and indecent exposure.
Concerns for safety on campus prompted several additions or amendments to the proposed code, Tanaka said.
"The new code establishes a policy of taking tougher disciplinary action when the offense involves violence or threatened violence. It also specifies the kinds of weapons that are not allowed on campus, broadens the definition of assault and allows for no-contact orders in cases in which it's believed that someone may interfere with another's safety or ability to work effectively," he said.
A new provision, which is not part of the conduct rules, allows officials to order the involuntary withdrawal of a student who, due to a mental disorder, poses significant danger to self or others. The medical withdrawal also can be invoked if a student's condition poses substantial risk to property or renders a student unable to do activities necessary to obtain an education.
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Send your comments . . .
Vice president for student affairs Tom Hill is seeking comments on the proposed Student Conduct Code from the campus community. He says the plan is to revise the code, as needed, and implement it next fall. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to review the proposed Student Conduct Code (available on the Web at www.iasta te.edu/~deanstdt_info/dishandbook/) and provide suggestions. Comments can be sent to Paul Tanaka, 305 Beardshear, legalservices@mail.adp.iastate.edu, or Kathleen MacKay, 117 Pearson, kmackay@iastate.edu.
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