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Student Responsibilities

Each CALUMS student is expected to be an example of proper conduct.

Student Responsibilities

PERSONAL CONDUCT

Each student is expected to be an example of proper conduct. This includes the student’s attitudes, actions, appearance, and attire. The University’s administration has the authority to take appropriate action or administrative disciplinary measures if this code of conduct is not adhered to. It is the policy of the University to prohibit smoking except in designated areas and prohibits unlawful possession or use of controlled substances or alcoholic beverages. Firearms possession anywhere on campus is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

CODE OF CONDUCT

The disciplinary standards outlined in this catalog include rules and enforcement measures. These are the basic guidelines for conduct on the premises of the University, at any school-sponsored activity, and, under certain circumstances, behavior in the outside community.

 At any time, the University reserves the right to exclude students whose conduct is deemed undesirable or contrary to the University’s best interests.

 These standards are subject to amendment at any time with notices being posted on the campus bulletin boards.

All amendments of the standards must be approved by the Academic Dean in conjunction with the Board of Trustees.

 The disciplinary standards described herein afford procedural fairness to the accused student and flexibility for the administration to exercise sanctions based on the individual circumstances of each case. Behavior resulting in disciplinary action may involve, but is not limited to, one or a combination of those listed below:

  • possession of alcoholic beverages on campus or at any school activities at any time or, for all
  • intoxication of the student
  • threatening another student, faculty, staff, or administrator
  • falsification of University documents, records, or identification
  • removal of library materials without permission
  • usage of abusive language to another student, faculty, staff, or administrator
  • theft or damage of University property or fellow student’s property
  • illegal intoxication with controlled substances, including drug and/or alcohol abuse
  • physical assault for any reason except clear self-defense
  • vandalism of University property
  • conviction for a crime beyond normal traffic violations
  • aiding and/or abetting in any of the above situations
  • possession of firearms or illegal weapons as defined by state and federal guidelines
  • violation of any state policies or regulations governing student’s relationship with the University

 Students accused of improper conduct shall be given adequate notice of the charges and an opportunity to present their case to an impartial appeals committee. Written notice of specific charge(s) made against a student shall be given at least 15 (fifteen) days before the student is to appear before the committee. While disciplinary action against a student is pending, the student’s status does not change unless it is found that the student poses a significant threat to the University community. Hearings are private; the accused student is afforded the opportunity to rebut all charges. The University establishes the charges by a preponderance of the evidence. The student has the right to appeal the disciplinary actions to the Academic Dean, but on the grounds that fair procedure was not followed by the committee or that the evidence in the record does not justify the decision or the sanction. A record will be kept of the disciplinary action taken, and the basis for this decision. The disciplinary action taken may be reflected on the student’s permanent record, as part of the disciplinary punishment. Disciplinary action invoked by the committee may involve, but is not limited to, one or a combination of the alternatives listed as follows:

 Dismissal:

Separation of the student from the University on a permanent basis.

 Suspension:

Separation of the student from the University for a specific length of time.

 Probation:

Status of the student indicating that the relationship with the University is tenuous and that the student’s record will be reviewed periodically to determine suitability to remain enrolled. Specific limitations and restrictions on the student’s privileges may accompany probation.

 University policy stipulates that a student dismissed by disciplinary action, from either the University or a course, may still receive a refund of tuition or other fees subject to the tuition refund policy of the University. Students dismissed from the University for disciplinary reasons must exclude themselves from the University classes, activities, facilities, and buildings. Any exception must be approved by the President.

 Students who have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the University are in violation of the Enrollment Agreement. Said students may be denied the right to graduate, take examinations, receive degrees, or obtain/request transcripts of their grades.

STUDENT OBLIGATIONS

In order for students to remain in good standing at the University, they must:

  • attend classes, academic standards, and meet all financial obligation;
  • be respectful in dealing with faculty, administrators, staff, and fellow students; and
  • comply with the federal, state, and municipal laws of the United States as well as the rules and regulations of the University.
  • maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

 Additionally, international students must:

  • enroll in a minimum of eight (8) units per quarter in the graduate program, and
  • complete three consecutive quarters before being entitled to an Annual Vacation. Graduate students in the master’s program must complete twenty-four (24) units per year.

CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular attendance is necessary to achieve satisfactory academic progress. Students must attend the first class meeting or they may be unofficially dropped by the instructor, resulting in a failing grade. Students registered in any course are expected to attend classes regularly and comply with class requirements to the satisfaction of their instructor. If the student is absent, he/she may be required to make up all work missed. It is the student’s responsibility to check on all assignments. The instructor may assign extra work, require special examinations, or refuse to grant credit for a course if the number of absences is excessive. Students should ascertain the exact policy of each faculty member at the beginning of each course.

 In case of severe illness or a death in the immediate family, the instructor of the course may “excuse” the student from attending class. However, it is the responsibility of the student to make up any academic work assigned during his/her absence. Cutting of classes will be considered as unexcused absences. Students who miss more than twelve hours of class time or three consecutive classes during any regular quarter may be withdrawn from that class. Students who wish to be allowed to continue attendance in the class must notify the instructor. If the work missed is completed to the instructor’s satisfaction within a reasonable period of time, the student may continue with the class. Any student missing more than twelve hours of class time or three consecutive classes during the quarter will be reported to the Academic Dean by the Instructor. The Academic Dean will then initiate the process of counseling or withdrawing that student from the class. Only registered students, University faculty and administrators, and guests invited by the instructor may attend classes. All others will be asked to leave.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT

Instructors are responsible for presenting appropriate material for courses, and students are responsible for learning this material. Although it is a student’s academic performance that is evaluated in determining grades, student conduct is important in the academic setting. Enrollment in a class may be terminated by an instructor due to disruption of class or academic activities, unsatisfactory student conduct, disrespect toward an instructor, student, or administrator, or academic dishonesty. Furthermore, upon the instructor’s assessment of misconduct, the instructor may recommend dismissal, probation, or suspension upon review of the Academic Dean and/or the Academic Committee. Each student is responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance established for each course in which he or she is enrolled.

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM POLICIES

Cheating

Cheating is the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work by using dishonest means. Cheating at CALUMS includes but is not limited to:

  1. copying, in part or whole, from another’s examination, paper, mathematical analysis, research or creative project, or the like;
  2. submitting as one’s own work an examination, paper, mathematical analysis, research or creative project, or the like which has been purchased, borrowed, or stolen, or fabricated data;
  3. consulting notes, sources, or materials, including use of electronic devices, not specifically authorized by the instructor during an examination;
  4. employing a surrogate to take an examination, write a paper, do mathematical analysis, or complete, in part or wholly, an evaluation instrument;
  5. falsification of or misrepresentation of class attendance or role sheets; and
  6. aiding or abetting any act that a reasonable person would conclude, when informed of the evidence, to be a dishonest means of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work by representing the work of another as one’s own without the necessary and appropriate acknowledgment to the writer or composer. More specifically, plagiarism is:

 The act of incorporating the ideas, words of sentences, paragraphs, or parts thereof without appropriate acknowledgment and representing the product as one’s own work; and the act of representing another intellectual work such as a musical composition, computer program, photograph, painting, drawing, sculpture, or research or the like as one’s own.

 One or more academic sanctions may be imposed for cheating or plagiarism. The choice of action taken is guided by the faculty member’s assessment of the extent of the cheating or plagiarism.

Academic sanctions include:

  • a redoing of the examination, paper, mathematical analysis, research or creative project, or the like;
  • a failing grade on the examination, paper, mathematical analysis, research or creative project, or the like;
  • a specified reduction in the course grade;
  • a failing grade in the course; or
  • dismissal, probation, or suspension upon review of the Academic Dean and/or the Academic Committee

 Students accused of cheating or plagiarism are entitled to and may petition for due process. Regulations in their entirety are published in the Faculty Handbook and the Student Handbook.

DRUG, ALCOHOL, AND SMOKING POLICIES

It is the policy of the Board of Trustees that the learning environment be free of prohibited or controlled substances. Specifically, all members of the University community, which include administration, faculty, staff, students, and guests, abstain from the consumption/use of alcohol, narcotics, and/or misuse of prescription drugs while on University property and on any field trip sponsored as part of the instructional program. Violation of this policy could lead to suspension, expulsion, termination, and in the context of criminal activity, referral to law enforcement agencies. Employees and students having difficulties with addictive substances can seek confidential counseling from the Student Services Office for referrals to agencies providing assistance with alcohol or drug-related problems.

 It is the policy of CALUMS that smoking is prohibited in all University buildings. At the discretion of the administration, outside areas may be set aside on University property to accommodate students, staff members, and faculty who smoke.

Violation of the smoking policy may result in suspension or termination of academic status or employment.