Handbook

Prohibited Conduct

The following examples of prohibited conduct are defined by the University to be violations of the Student Code of Conduct. Being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol does not diminish or excuse a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. The list should not be viewed as all-inclusive or exhaustive. Further, the University expects its students to exhibit a higher standard of conduct than the minimum needed to avoid discipline.

• Aiding and Abetting – Assisting, hiring, or encouraging another person to engage in a Code violation.
• Complicity – A student shall not, through act or omission, assist another student, individual, or group in committing or attempting to commit a violation of this Code of Conduct. A student who has knowledge of another committing or attempting to commit a violation of the Code of Conduct is required to remove themselves from the situation. Failure to do so when reasonable under the circumstances may be the basis for a violation of this policy.
• Destruction of Property – Intentionally or recklessly damaging, destroying, defacing, or tampering with University property or the property of any person or business on campus.
• Discrimination – Intentional discrimination against a person or group of people on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation except where such distinction is allowed by law.
• Disruption/Obstruction – Obstructing or interfering with University functions or any University activity. Disturbing the peace and good order of the University by, among other things; fighting, quarreling, excessive noise, or any behavior that causes or threatens to cause a material disruption to the residential, business or academic functions of the University. This includes, but is not limited to, a material disruption by the use of all types of social media outlets, cameras, electronic tablets, cell phones, and/or communication devices.
• Disruptive Classroom Conduct – Disruptive classroom conduct means engaging in behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor’s ability to teach or student learning. The classroom extends to any setting where a student is engaged in work toward academic credit or satisfaction of program-based requirements or related activities.
• Failure to Appear – Failing to appear at the request of any Hearing Officer or failure to schedule an appearance with a Hearing Officer as directed by University police or any other University official.
• Failure to Comply or Identify – Failure to comply with directions of University officials, police, or any other law enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duties, or failing to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
• Failure to Report or Respond – Failure to report or respond as directed by the Senior Director of Student Services & Judicial Affairs or designee on any matter including, but not limited to, a request to meet concerning an issue or notice alleging a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
• False Conduct Allegation – Making a prohibited conduct allegation against a member of the University community that is knowingly false.
• False Report of Emergency – Causing, making, or circulating a false report or warning of a fire, explosion, crime, or other catastrophe.
• False Statements – Being party to falsification; giving or providing false statements, written or oral; and/or providing false information during any University proceeding or to any University official.
• Falsification of Records – Altering, tampering, forging, or knowingly using falsified documents or records of the University, including, not limited to, UHV parking permits and student IDs. Falsifying, attempting to falsify, conspiring to falsify or knowingly using falsified academic records including, but not limited to, altering or assisting in the alteration of any official record of the University and/or submitting false information or omitting information that is required for or related to any academic record. Academic records include, but not limited to, applications for admission, application for the awarding of a degree, registration materials, grade change forms, and other documents or forms used by the Office of the Registrar. A former student who engages in this prohibited conduct may be subject to a bar against readmission, the revocation of a degree, and/or the withdrawal of a diploma under the Student Disciplinary Procedures.
• Forcible Entry or Trespass – Forcible or unauthorized entry to any University building, structure, or facility and/or unauthorized entry to or use of University grounds.
• Gambling, Wagering, and/or Bookmaking – Gambling, wagering, and/or bookmaking as defined by federal, state, and/or local laws on University grounds or by using University equipment or services.
• Hazing – Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the University campus, by one or more person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include students or the University.
• Mental or Bodily Harm – (a) Intentionally inflicting mental or bodily harm upon any person; (b) taking any action for the purpose of inflicting mental or bodily harm upon any person; (c) taking any reckless, but not accidental, action from which mental or bodily harm could result to any person; (d) engaging in conduct, including, but not limited to stalking, that causes a person to believe that the offender may cause mental or bodily harm; (e) communicating a threat to cause mental or bodily harm to any person; (f) any act which demeans, degrades, or disgraces any person and that causes, or would be reasonably likely to cause, mental or bodily harm. “Any person” as used in this section may include oneself.
• Misuse of Identification – Transferring, lending, or borrowing University identification.
• Misuse of Safety Equipment – Unauthorized use or alteration of firefighting equipment, safety devices, or other emergency equipment.
• Misuse or Abuse of Computers – Unauthorized use or misuse of any University computer, computer system, service, program, data, network, cable television network, or communication network. The inappropriate or disproportionate use of an information technology resource owned or controlled by the University or use of an information technology resource for an illegal threatening, harassing, abusive, or intentionally destructive purpose. Failure to comply with laws, license agreements, and contracts governing network, software and hardware use. Abuse of communal resources. Use of computing resources for unauthorized commercial purposes or personal gain. Breach of computer security, harmful access or invasion of privacy.
• Photographing and Videotaping – Photographing, videotaping, filming, digitally recording, or by any other means, secretly viewing with or without a device, another person without that person’s consent in any location where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, or in a manner that violates a reasonable expectation of privacy. This section does not apply to lawful security surveillance filming, or recording that is authorized by law enforcement or authorized University officials.
• Possession of Dangerous Weapons – Unauthorized possession of any weapon prohibited by the Texas Penal Code including, but not limited to, firearms, illegal knives, tire deflation devises, dangerous chemicals, or any explosive device of any description such as compressed air guns, pellet guns, BB guns, shotguns, or the ammunition of any firearm or other dangerous weapon or explosive on University grounds. Possessing a dangerous weapon in your vehicle constitutes a violation of this section; however, it shall not be a violation of this section if an individual, who possesses a concealed handgun license, stores or transports his or her licensed and lawfully possessed handgun and/or ammunition in his or her own locked privately owned or leased vehicle.
• Possession of Stolen Property – Possessing property known to the possessor to be stolen and that may be identified as property of the University or any other person or business.
• Public Intoxication – Presenting a threat to oneself or others due to being under the influence of alcoholic beverages or other drugs.
• Sexual Misconduct – Violation of the University of Houston System Sexual Misconduct Policy including, but not limited to, engaging in or attempting to engage in sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual intimidation, sexual harassment, nonconsensual sexual contact, intimate partner violence (domestic violence and dating violence) and/or stalking.
• Theft – Theft, or attempt theft, of property or services from any person or any business on University grounds.
• Unauthorized Use of Alcoholic Beverages – Possession, distribution, consumption of alcoholic beverages, or failure to comply with state or University regulations regarding the use or sale of alcoholic beverages. This includes the possession of empty alcohol containers. The only exception is during authorized University events.
• Unauthorized Use of Property or Service – Unauthorized use of property or services or unauthorized possession of University property or the property of any other person or business.
• Unauthorized Use of University Keys – Unauthorized use, distribution, duplication, or possession of any access key(s), card(s), or code(s) issued for any building, laboratory, facility, room, or other University property.
• Use, Manufacture, Distribution, Sale, Offer for Sale, or Possession of Controlled Substances or Drug Paraphernalia – The use, manufacture, distribution, sale, offer for sale, or possession of any controlled substances, including but not limited to, barbiturates, hallucinogens, amphetamines, cocaine, opium, heroin, or marijuana. Texas law defines Controlled Substances and Drug Paraphernalia.
• Violation of Campus Carry Policy – Any violation of the posted UHV Campus Carry Policy.
• Violation of University Policies and Procedures – Violation of University policies and procedures including, but not limited to, those published in the UHV Student Handbook.
• Violation of Probation or Suspension – Violation of the Code while on disciplinary probation or disciplinary suspension, or violation of the terms of disciplinary probation or disciplinary suspension.
• Violation of Student Housing and Residential Life Policies, Procedures and/or License Agreements – Violation of the terms of a University housing License Agreement or the published policies, rules and/or regulations of the Department of Residence Life.