Administration of Student Conduct

Student Discipline The Vice President for Student Affairs and Institutional Relations, reports to the President of the University and is the senior University administrator responsible for the management and enforcement of the Student Conduct Code. The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs reports to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Institutional Relations and may take immediate interim disciplinary action when he/she believes the presence of a student on campus poses a continuing danger to persons or property or presents a threat of disrupting the University environment. If the Associate Vice President should take such action, a student conduct hearing will be scheduled as soon thereafter as possible. Authority is delegated to the Student Conduct Officer, who reports to the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, to investigate, consistent with rules and regulations, violations of the Student Conduct Code and after thorough review, render decisions that are consistent with approved disciplinary actions. The Student Conduct Officer shall determine the composition of the Student Conduct Hearing Boards and determine which Board will be authorized to hear each matter. Conduct standards at the University are set forth in writing in order to give students general notice of prohibited conduct. These rules should be read broadly and are not designed to define prohibited conduct in exhaustive terms. Some of these regulations may also be found in other University publications such as the catalog and the residential lease agreement. When changes are necessary, they will be written, approved and posted on the Student Affairs web site as an addendum to this document. Violation of any municipal ordinance, law of the State of Texas or law of the United States may result in disciplinary action. Any disciplinary action imposed by the University may precede and may be in addition to any penalty that might be imposed by any offcampus authority.
Awareness of Policies Every student, including those who are participating in any program that is University sponsored, on or off campus, must abide by the rules and regulations governing student conduct. The rules and regulations are available on the Internet, at the front desk of the main campus library and in each administrative office on all PVAMU campuses. Additional copies are available by contacting the Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs.
Jurisdiction of the Student Code The PVAMU Student Code shall apply to conduct that occurs on the University premises, at PVAMU sponsored activities, and to offcampus conduct that adversely affects the University community and/or the pursuit of its objectives. Each student shall be responsible for his/her conduct from the time of application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree, even though conduct may occur before classes begin or after classes end, as well as during the academic year and during periods between terms of actual enrollment (and even if their conduct is not discovered until after a degree is awarded). The Student Code shall apply to a student’s conduct even if the student withdraws from school while a disciplinary matter is pending. The Student Conduct Officer shall determine whether the Student
Definition of Terms Applied to the Student Conduct Code
1. Accused Student – Any student accused of violating this Student Code.
2. Appeal - To request a review of a disciplinary decision.
3. Campus, University or Institution - Prairie View A&M University has a main campus located in Prairie View, Texas and other off-campus locations such as the Northwest Center; the College of Nursing in Houston; Lone Star College-University Center in the Woodlands and the Dallas site.
4. Complainant – Any person who submits a charge alleging that a student violated this Student Code. When a student believes that she/he has been a victim of another student’s misconduct, the student who believes she/he is a victim will have the same rights under this Student Code as are provided to the Complainant, even if another member of the community submitted the charge itself.
5. Disciplinary Actions - The proceedings that are used to determine if the Student Conduct Code has been violated.
6. Group - A number of persons who are associated with each other and operate as an organization but who have not complied with University requirements for registration as an official University organization.
7. Organization – A number of persons who have complied with University requirements for registration as a recognized student organization.
8. Published Policies - All University rules and regulations, policies and procedures produced as a result of approval of The Texas A&M University Board of Regents and/ or President of the University.
9. Records - All evidence produced as a written statement, as a document, report or produced as a result of a tape recording or computer entry.
10. Referral Notice - An official written or verbal request made by a University official to report to the Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or to the Student Conduct Office.
11. Sanctions - Any penalty that is determined to be an appropriate and just response to violations of the Student Conduct Code.
12. Student - Any person admitted to the university, pursuing undergraduate, graduate or professional studies, whether full-time or part-time and who is either currently enrolled or was enrolled the previous semester and registered for a future semester.
13. Student Conduct Hearing Board – Any person or persons authorized to determine whether a student has violated the Student Conduct Code and to recommend sanctions that may be imposed when a violation has been committed.
14. University Official - Any administrator, faculty member, staff, including residence hall directors, graduate assistants, resident assistants or other authorized individuals employed by the University.
15. University Premises - Buildings or grounds owned, leased, operated, controlled or supervised by the University.
16. University Property - Possessions that are within the control, possession, use or ownership of the University.
17. University Sponsored Activity - Any activity on or off campus that is initiated, aided, authorized or supervised by the University.
18. Weapon - Any object or substance designed to inflict a wound, cause injury, or incapacitate, including, but not limited to all fire arms, pellet guns, switchblade knives, paint ball guns, clubs, brass knuckles and explosives.