Rights and Responsibilities
The Bethune-Cookman University community is committed to fostering a campus environment that represents our Christian tradition, is conducive to academic inquiry, a productive campus life, and thoughtful study and discourse. The student conduct program within the Vice President for Enrollment Management Office is committed to an educational and developmental process that balances the interests and safety of individual students with the interests and safety of the Bethune-Cookman University community. Each member of the Bethune-Cookman University community bears responsibility for their conduct and to assume reasonable responsibility for the behavior of others. When members of the community fail to exemplify these five values by engaging in a violation of the rules and standards below, campus conduct proceedings are used to assert and uphold the Student Honor Code.
The student conduct process at Bethune-Cookman University is not intended to punish students; rather, it exists to protect the interests of the community and to challenge those whose behavior is not in accordance with our policies. Sanctions are intended to challenge students’ moral and ethical decision-making and to help them bring their behavior into accord with our community expectations and develop an understanding of the impact of their behavior.
It is each community member's responsibility to read and understand the Student Honor Code to gain an understanding of the expectation under which he or she should govern their behaviors. Please click the link below to read the Student Honor Code of Conduct.
Student Honor Code Rights
A student/organization who has been charged with a violation and thus alleged to be involved in misconduct or inappropriate behavior will be granted the following to ensure fundamental fairness in the university judicial process:
- Notice of Charges – To be informed in writing of the specific violation and inappropriate behavior in which the student or organization is suspected of involvement.
- Procedures – To be informed in writing of the student judicial process.
- Hearing – To have an opportunity to be heard in person before a decision is made.
- Evidence – To know the nature of the evidence and to be able to question witness except in extenuating circumstances.
- Witness – To be able to offer a defense by having a material and/or character witnesses speak on his/her behalf.
- Advisor – To have a Bethune-Cookman University faculty, staff, or student attend the hearing in the role of a friend, advisor, or counselor. If an accused student desires to have an advisor/attorney of their choice present at the hearing, that advisor may not speak or represent the student. They are present for consultation purposes only. Also, students who would like to have an advisor/attorney present will need to notify the Vice President for Enrollment Management ’ of the person’s name and contact information at least two business days before the scheduled hearing. This prior notification will provide an opportunity for the Vice President for Enrollment Management to request University Counsel’s presence at the hearing.
- Written Decision – To have a written response reporting the results of the hearing.
- Appeal – To appeal a decision of a hearing officer or judicial board except when admitting guilt and minimum sanction is given.
The Vice President for Enrollment Management has the right to overturn a decision of the University Judicial Officer, the University Disciplinary Panel, the Housing Review Panel and/or the Sexual Misconduct Panel if he/she feels a decision undermined the integrity of the student judicial process. The Provost has the right to overturn a decision of the Academic Review Panel. All appeals end with the Vice President of Student Affairs or the Provost.
Residential Community Standards
Students are expected to engage with each other in a positive, respectful manner, even when dealing with conflicts. It is doubtful that any roommates make it through a year without disagreements. The hallmark of “good” roommates is their willingness to calmly talk through their differences and to seek compromise when appropriate. Students are encouraged to bear in mind that their actions may affect the entire student community. Sometimes the intervention of a facilitator (for example, the Hall Management) may be necessary for students in a room or suite to work out their differences.
The residence halls are laboratories of human relationships where students may live with people of different lifestyles. You will develop lasting friendships in the halls as you participate in various activities. Residence hall activities and programs are designed to supplement classroom learning by promoting growth and awareness. With this, resident students should be able to:
- Read and study free from undue interference in one's room; unreasonable noises and other distractions inhibit the exercise of this right.
- Sleep without undue disturbance from noise, guests of roommates, etc.
- Expect that a roommate will respect one's personal belongings.
- Have a clean environment in which to live.
- Have free access to one's room and facilities.
- Have personal privacy.
- Host an approved guest with the expectation that guests are to respect the rights of the host roommate(s) and other residents.
- Openly communicate in the resolution of conflicts.
- Be free from fear of intimidation, physical, and/or emotional harm.
- Expect reasonable cooperation in the use of the room telephone.
