Standards of Student Conduct

Students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have the responsibility to conduct themselves in a way that positively impacts the safety, welfare, or educational opportunities of others in the University community. Students are expected to act as responsible members of the community, respect the rights, privileges, and dignity of others, and refrain from actions that infringe upon the rights of others or interfere with normal University activities.

Offenses

The following acts are prohibited and are violations of the Student Conduct Code:

Offenses against the University Community

Acts of dishonesty, including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Furnishing false or misleading information to any University official or office.
2. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any University document, record, or instrument of identification.
3. Tampering with the election of any student organization or violating the terms of the UAB Student Government Associations.
Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other University activities, including its public-service functions, whether on or off-campus, and other authorized non-University activities that occur on University premises.
Failure to comply with directions of University officials or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
Violation of published University policies, rules, or regulations, including, without limitation, the other University policies, rules and standards as outlined in Section VII.

Offenses against Persons

Physical Abuse
a. Physical abuse of another individual.
Hazing
1. Hazing is a violation of University policy and includes any completed or attempted action, inaction, situation created, or communication that recklessly or intentionally harms or threatens or is intended to harm or threaten the mental or physical health or safety of a student or individual, or any completed or attempted act that destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of, among other things, initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization.
2. Hazing actions include, but are not limited to, the following acts involving other individuals or any attempt to take the following actions:
  1. Unreasonable interference with a student’s academic performance.
  2. Forced actions or inactions that demean or disgrace an individual.
  3. Forced or coerced consumption of food, alcohol, drugs, or any other substance.
  4. Forced or coerced actions that violate the law or this Code.
  5. Forced or coerced wearing of inappropriate apparel.
  6. Forced or coerced exclusion from social contact.
  7. Creation of unnecessary fatigue, which includes, but is not limited to, physical activity or deprivation of sleep.
  8. Deprivation of food.
  9. Any unnecessary physical contact, including, but not limited to, beating, paddling or forced exercises.
  10. Personal servitude.

Offenses against Property

Attempted or actual theft of and/or damage to property of the University or property of a member of the University community or other personal or public property.
Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys or access cards to any University premises or unauthorized entry to or use of University premises.
Theft or other abuse of computer usage, including, but not limited to:
1. Unauthorized entry into a file to, among other things, use, read, or change the contents.
2. Unauthorized transfer of a file.
3. Unauthorized use of another individual’s identification or password.
4. Unauthorized use of another individual’s computer, tablet, phone, or other similar device.
5. Use of University computing facilities, network, equipment, accounts, or services to interfere with the work of another student or University official or with normal operation of the University computing system.
6. Use of University computing facilities, network, equipment, accounts, or services to send obscene or abusive messages or to view obscene material or content.
7. Use of University computing facilities, network, equipment, accounts, or services in a manner contrary to University policies.
Damage to or littering on public grounds of the University, including, but not limited to, driving motor vehicles on lawns or grounds of University property without prior authorization from the appropriate University official.

Offenses Disrupting Order or Disregarding Health and Safety

Use, possession, cultivation, manufacturing, dispersing, attempted distribution, or distribution of drug paraphernalia, narcotics, synthetic drugs, or other controlled substances, except as expressly permitted by law.
Improper use of products for purposes of altering mood or state of being. This includes the misuse of legal products as inhalants.
Use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages, except as expressly permitted by the law and University regulations, or public intoxication.
Possession or use of a dangerous weapon or firearm on University premises in violation of University policy.
Actions that disrupt the normal operations of the University and infringe on the rights of other members of the University community; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area; intentional obstruction that unreasonably interferes with freedom of movement, either pedestrian and/or vehicular, on campus; actions that incite or contribute to panic or distress and disrupt the normal operations of the University, regardless of intent.
Obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on University premises or at University-sponsored or supervised functions.
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 functions sponsored by, or participated in, by the University.
Violation of federal, state, or local law on University premises or at a University sponsored or supervised activity.
Entering false fire alarms or bomb threats, tampering with fire extinguishers, alarms, or other safety equipment.
Violation of traffic and parking rules and regulations including, but not limited to:
a. Repeated or flagrant violations of the rules as set forth in University Traffic and Parking Regulations.
b. Tampering with, removal, or theft of wheel locks, barricades, traffic cones or traffic control devices.
Violation of federal, state, or local law off University premises and not related to University sponsored or supervised activities that adversely affects or is detrimental to the University community and/or the pursuit of its objectives. The decision to pursue disciplinary action under this provision is that of the Conduct Administrator.
The operation of any form of gambling business or related activity sponsored by an organization identified as an approved University organization. Any student or group of students who accepts or manages wagers or who provides the mechanisms for wagering or for playing games of chance for profit will be presumed to be operating a gambling business.
Facilitating or encouraging gambling by a student athlete or seeking or encouraging a student athlete to provide information or advice regarding competitions in which they shall participate.
The unauthorized use of University property or resources for personal gain.
Being present during any violation of University policy or the Student Conduct Code in such a way as to condone, support, or encourage that violation. Students who anticipate or observe such a violation are expected, if possible, to report any potential violation before it occurs or report details of the violation after its occurrence.

Abuse of the Conduct System

Failure to obey the summons of a Conduct Investigator, a Conduct Body, or University official.
Failure to control the participation of a selected adviser at any point in the conduct process.
Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a Conduct Body or to a University official during the conduct process.
Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a conduct proceeding.
Pursuit of an alleged violation of the Code in a manner that is intentionally dishonest, frivolous, or malicious (e.g., filing a false report).
Attempting to discourage or influence an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the conduct system.
Attempting to influence the impartiality of a Conduct Investigator, the Conduct Administrator, a Chairperson, a member of a Conduct Body, a member of a Review Board, or other University official prior to and/or during the course of the conduct proceeding.
Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a Conduct Investigator, the Conduct Administrator, a Chairperson, a member of a Conduct Body, a member of a Review Board, or other University official prior to, during, and/or after a conduct proceeding.
Failure to comply with sanction(s) imposed under the Student Conduct Code.
Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the conduct system.
Any other act that is intended to or has the effect of delaying or interfering with the orderly operation of the conduct process.

Self-Disclosure of Arrests and Convictions

A student must disclose to the Vice President of Student Affairs or Office of Student Conduct any arrests or convictions for a criminal offense—excluding minor traffic violations that do not result in an arrest or injury to others—that occurs after the student is first admitted to the University. This disclosure obligation applies to all arrests and convictions described above that occur inside or outside the State of Alabama at any time, regardless of whether the University is in session at the time. Such disclosures must be made within seven (7) calendar days of the arrest and/or conviction. If the arrest or conviction involves a juvenile proceeding or a student has been granted youthful offender status with regard to the case, the student should seek the advice of counsel regarding the disclosure obligation in light of the relevant law of the state in which the conviction occurred. Failure to comply with this disclosure obligation without a valid legal basis for doing so under a juvenile or youthful offender exception shall be deemed a violation of the Student Conduct Code.

This is not meant to be a mechanism to adjudicate more violations as part of the Student Conduct Code. Our current assumption is that for most disclosures, there may be a follow-up email or conversation to fill in any necessary facts and context, and no additional formal follow-up will be required. For convictions occurring in Alabama, the Office of Student Conduct will also access the court records database of the relevant city or county to check the specific charges and status of each. For the small number of serious infractions, there may be a meeting with a designee from Student Conduct to discuss what the student is doing to prevent a repeat offense or similar harmful behavior and also an offer of information regarding resources to assist the student in future decision-making. In rare cases, there may be a referral to Student Conduct for formal action. When necessary, the University's Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Team may be notified.

Retaliation

It is a violation of this Code for any student to retaliate or allow retaliation in any manner against a member of the University community who, in good faith, reports a suspected violation of this Code to University officials or participates in any aspect of the conduct process relating to a suspected violation. This includes, but is not limited to, efforts to retaliate either directly or indirectly against an individual as well as direct or indirect retaliation against that individual’s family and friends. Retaliation based on the outcome of the conduct process is also prohibited.