NOTE: As of June 18, 2009 this section has been updated to reflect changes that have been made to the Rules of Conduct. These rules may be found in Chapter 5 on the University of Central Florida Regulations website.
UCF-5.008 Rules of Conduct
The following defined and described actions include, but are not limited to, conduct for which disciplinary action may be taken at the University of Central Florida. Individual students are expected to abide by these rules of conduct, and administrators are expected to enforce them. These rules of conduct should be read broadly and are not designed to define prohibited conduct in exhaustive terms. Additional rules and regulations may be revised during the year; announcements will be made on adoption of the changes or additions.
(1) Academic Misconduct
(a) Unauthorized assistance: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise unless specifically authorized by the instructor of record. The unauthorized possession of examination or course related material also constitutes cheating.
(b) Communication to another through written, visual, electronic, or oral means. The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained through someone else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment or project.
(c) Commercial Use of Academic Material: Selling notes, handouts, etc. without authorization or using them for any commercial purpose without the express written permission of the University and the Instructor is a violation of this rule.
(d) Falsifying or misrepresenting your academic work.
(e) Plagiarism: Whereby another’s work is used or appropriated without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.
(f) Any student who knowingly helps another violate academic behavior standards is also in violation of the standards.
(2) Possessing and/or Providing False and Misleading Information and/or Falsification of University Records
(a) Withholding related information, or furnishing false or misleading information (oral or written) to University officials, university and non-university law enforcement officers, faculty or staff.
(b) Possession, use or attempted use of any form of fraudulent identification.
(c) Forgery, alteration or misuse of any University document, material, file, record or instrument of identification.
(d) Deliberately and purposefully providing false or misleading verbal or written information about another person.
(e) Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information during the Student Conduct Review Process, including knowingly initiating a false complaint.
(3) Disruptive Conduct
(a) An act that impairs, interferes with, or obstructs the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the University or any part thereof or the rights of other members of the University community.
(b) Any act which deliberately impedes or interferes with the normal flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
(c) An act which tampers with the election(s) of any University student organization or group including major violations of the SGA Election Statutes.
(d) Misuse of any University safety equipment, firefighting equipment, or fire alarms.
(e) An act which deliberately interferes with the academic freedom or the freedom of speech of any member or guest of the University community.
(f) A false report of an explosive or incendiary device, which constitutes a threat or bomb scare.
(g) Breach of peace: an act, which aids, abets, or procures another person to breach the peace on the University premises or at University sponsored/related functions.
(h) Failure to comply with oral or written instruction from duly authorized University officials (i.e. faculty, staff, administration, residence hall staff) acting within the scope of their job duties or law enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duties, including failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
(i) Failure to produce identification upon request by a University official (i.e. faculty, staff, administration, residence hall staff), acting within the scope of their job duties or law enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duties.
(j) Hindering or interfering with the Student Conduct Review Process by failing to obey the notice from a university official to appear for a student conduct meeting or hearing; and/or attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participating in, or use of, the Student Conduct Review Process.
(4) Harmful Behavior
(a) Physical harm or threat of physical harm to any person. This harmful behavior policy may not apply in those instances where it is found that a student is acting in self defense.
(b) Harassment: defined as behavior (including written or electronic communication) that could cause severe emotional distress, intimidation, or coercion to another person or could place another person in the victim’s position in fear of bodily injury or death.
(c) Verbal or written abuse, threats, intimidation, coercion and/or other conduct that endangers the health, safety, or wellbeing of others. This definition, however, shall not be interpreted to abridge the right of any member of the University community to freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and any other applicable law.
(d) Failure to respect the privacy of other individuals.
(e) Retaliation against or harassment of complainant(s) or other person(s) alleging misconduct.
(5) Sexual Misconduct
(a) Any nonconsensual sexual conduct which occurs on or off the UCF campus. Consent, to be valid, must be:
i. Freely and actively given.
ii. In mutually understandable words or actions.
iii. Consent to one form of sexual activity can never imply consent to other forms of sexual activity.
iv. Consent is not the lack of resistance; there is no duty to fight off a sexual aggressor.
v. Consent can be withdrawn at anytime, as long as the withdrawal is clearly communicated by the person withdrawing consent through words or actions.
vi. A person shall not knowingly take advantage of another person who is under 18 years of age, mentally defective, under the influence of prescribed medication, alcohol or other chemical drugs, or who is not conscious or awake, and thus is not able to give consent as defined above. Further, a person shall not physically or verbally coerce another person to engage in any form of sexual conduct, to the end that consent as defined above is not given.
vii. Any attempted acts of sexual misconduct are also violations of this policy.
(b) Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or conduct of a sexual nature which prevents or impairs another person’s full enjoyment of the educational benefits, atmosphere, or opportunities provided as part of the University.
(c) Exposure of one’s body in such a manner that another party reasonably could be offended or to display sexual behavior which another person reasonably finds offensive.
(d) Sexual stimulation sought through trespass, spy, or eavesdropping activities.
(e) Attempting to commit by solicitation sexual acts with a minor by oral, written, or electronic means.
(6) Larceny/Property Damage
(a) Unauthorized use, possession, or services or theft of property. Such property may be personal or public.
(b) Damage or defacing of University property or the property of another person whether or not it is on University premises.
(7) Hazing
(a) Any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health and/or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, any organization operating under registration with the University. Hazing may result in felony charges.
(b) Brutality of a physical nature such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements; forced consumption of any food, liquid, liquor, drug, or other substances; or other forced elements; or other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental or physical health or safety of the individual.
(c) Any activity which could subject the individual to mental stress such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced contact which could result in embarrassment, or any other activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual.
(d) Forcing or requiring the violation of University policies, federal, state, or local law.
(e) Any activity, as described above, upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with a University of Central Florida organization may be directly or indirectly conditioned, shall be presumed to be a “forced” activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such an activity notwithstanding.
(8) Unauthorized Use of Keys, and/or Entry
(a) Unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys to any University premises.
(b) Unauthorized entry or attempted entry.
(9) Misconduct at University Sponsored/Related Activities
(a) Violation of UCF rules of conduct at UCF sponsored related activities shall also be a violation of the golden rule.
(b) Violations of a regulation(s) of a host institution sponsored/related activity shall be a violation of the golden rule.
(10) Unlawful Possession, Use, or Sale of any Controlled Substance
Use, possession, sale, distribution, cultivation, manufacture or attempt to obtain any narcotic or other controlled substances, and possession and/or use of drug paraphernalia, except as expressly permitted by law.
(11) Alcoholic Beverages Violation
Use, possession, sale and/or distribution of alcoholic beverages, except as expressly permitted by the law and University regulations and policy, and behavior under the influence of alcoholic beverages.
(12) Possession and/or Use of a Firearm and/or Dangerous Material
(a) Possession, storage or use of firearms, explosives, ammunition, other weapons or dangerous articles or substances including but not limited to tasers, switchblade knives, and non-lethal weapons such as air soft guns on university owned or affiliated property or at university sponsored/related activities is prohibited.
(b) Possession or use of fireworks of any description, explosives, or chemicals which are disruptive, explosive, or corrosive on University premises or at University sponsored/related activities.
(13) Instigation or Participation in Group Disturbances during Demonstrations, Parades, or Picketings
(a) Participation in a demonstration(s), parade(s), or picketing which invades the rights of others, which interferes with the educational function of the University, or which jeopardizes public order and safety.
(b) Leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area.
(14) Misuse of Computing and Telecommunications Resources
(a) Theft or other abuse of computer facilities and resources
(b) Unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose.
(c) Unauthorized transfer of a file.
(d) Use of another individual’s identification and/or password.
(e) Use of computing facilities and telecommunications resources to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member or University Official.
(f) Use of computing facilities and telecommunications resources to send obscene or abusive messages.
(g) Use of computing facilities and telecommunications resources to interfere with normal operation of the University computing system.
(h) Use of computing facilities and telecommunications resources in violation of copyright laws.
(i) Any violation of the University of Central Florida Use of Information Technology and Resources Policy .
(j) Any violation of the University of Central Florida ResNet Acceptable Use Policy.
(15) Gambling
(a) Play in an unlawful game of chance for money or for anything of value on University premises or at any affair sponsored by a student or student organization.
(b) Unlawfully sell, barter or dispose of a ticket, order, or any interest in a scheme of chance by whatever name on University premises or at any affair sponsored by a student or student organization.
(c) Wager on a University team or organization in a competition, with a direct influence in the success of the competition.
(16) University Student Residence Violations
Violation(s) of any Department of Housing and residence Life policy, rule or regulation published in hard copy or available electronically via Department of Housing and Residence Life website.
(17) University Wordmark Violations
Unauthorized use of the official University wordmark, Pegasus, monogram, seal, or other graphic identity symbol.
(18) Violation of Local, State, and/or Federal Laws
Violation of any local, state and/or federal law that may result in a felony or misdemeanor.
