“Institution” or “university” refers to “Middle Georgia State University”.
“Student” includes all persons taking courses at the University, either full-time or part-time, pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional studies. Persons who withdraw after allegedly violating the Student Code of Conduct, who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the University or who have been notified of their acceptance for admission are considered “students” as are persons who are living in University residence halls. This Student Code of Conduct does apply at all locations of the University.
“Faculty member” means any person hired by the University to conduct classroom or teaching activities or who is otherwise considered by the University to be a member of its faculty. It may also be synonymous with “professor” and/or “instructor”.
“University official” includes any person employed by the University, performing assigned administrative or professional responsibilities.
“Member of the University community” includes any person who is a student, faculty member, University official, or any other person employed by the University. A person’s status in a particular situation shall be determined by the Chief Student Conduct Officer.
“University premises” includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property in the possession of or owned, used or controlled by the University (including adjacent streets and sidewalks).
“Recognized Student Organization” or “RSO” means any number of persons who have complied with the formal requirements for the University’s recognized student organizations process.
“Student Conduct Board” means any person or persons authorized by the University, upon recommendation of the Executive Committee of the Senate, to determine whether a student has or has not violated the Student Code of Conduct and to recommend sanctions that may be imposed when a violation has been committed. Student Conduct Board panels shall be comprised of one faculty member, one staff member, and one student.
“Student Conduct Officer” means a University official authorized on a case-by-case basis by the President to impose sanctions upon any student(s) found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct. The President may authorize a Student Conduct Officer to serve simultaneously as a Student Conduct Officer and the sole member or one of the members of the Student Conduct Board. The President may authorize the same Student Conduct Officer to impose sanctions in all cases.
“Appeals Board” means any person or persons authorized by the University President to consider an appeal from a Student Conduct Board’s determination as to whether a student has violated the Student Code of Conduct or from the sanctions imposed by the Student Conduct Officer. Appeals Boards shall be comprised of one faculty member, one staff member and one student member of the approved Student Conduct board
“Shall” is used in the imperative sense.
“May” is used in the permissive sense.
“Chief Student Conduct Officer” is that person designated by the University President to be responsible for the administration of the Student Code of Conduct.
“Policy” means the written regulations of the University as found in, but not limited to, the Student Code of Conduct, Residence Life handbook, Student handbook, the University web page and computer use policy, and Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs.
“Cheating” includes but is not limited to: (1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (2) use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; (3) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the University faculty or staff; (4) engaging in behavior specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course syllabus or class discussion.
“Plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to: (1) the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement; (2) the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials; (3) and/or using internet material without proper citation.
“Complainant” means any person who submits a charge alleging that a student violated this Student Code of Conduct. When a student believes that he/she has been a victim of another student’s misconduct, the student who believes he/she has been a victim will have the same rights under this Student Code of Conduct as are provided to the Complainant, even if another member of the University community submitted the charge itself.
"Respondent” means any student accused of violating this Student Code of Conduct.
"Preponderance of the evidence" means the evidence in a case must be sufficient to incline a reasonable and impartial mind to one side of the issue rather than to the other side, i.e. is it more likely than not that a violation occurred.
