Academic Integrity

Any involvement with cheating, the fabrication or invention of information used in an academic exercise, plagiarism, facilitating academic dishonesty of others, or denying others access to information or material may result in disciplinary action being taken. Breaches of academic integrity can result in serious consequences ranging from reprimand to expulsion. The complete text of the New Brunswick Campus Policy on Academic Integrity for Undergraduate and Graduate Students may be found at http://teachx.rutgers.edu/integrity/.

Policy Against Verbal Assault, Defamation, And Harassment

This policy supersedes the "Student Life Policy against Insult, Defamation, and Harassment."

I. Statement of Principles

Intolerance and bigotry are antithetical to the values of the university and unacceptable within the Rutgers community. One of the ways the university seeks to effect this value is through a policy of nondiscrimination, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, or veteran status in university programs. In order to reinforce institutional goals of nondiscrimination, tolerance, and civility, the following policy against verbal assault, defamation, and harassment is intended to inform students that the verbal assault, defamation, or harassment of others violates acceptable standards of conduct within the university. (This policy is not intended to supersede the university's policy against sexual harassment.)

Verbal assault, defamation, or harassment interferes with the mission of the university. Each member of this community is expected to be sufficiently tolerant of others so that all students are free to pursue their goals in an open environment, able to participate in the free exchange of ideas, and able to share equally in the benefits of our educational opportunities. Beyond that, each member of the community is encouraged to do all that she or he can to ensure that the university is fair, humane, and responsible to all students.

A community establishes standards in order to be able to fulfill its mission. The policy against verbal assault, defamation, and harassment seeks to guarantee certain minimum standards. Free speech and the open discussion of ideas are an integral part of the university community and are fully encouraged, but acts that restrict the rights and opportunities of others through violence, intimidation, the destruction of property, or verbal assault, even if communicative in nature, are not protected speech and are to be condemned.

II. Prohibited Conduct

Any of the following acts, even if communicative in nature, are prohibited "separable offenses" (charges that could lead to suspension or expulsion from the university) under the provisions of the University Code of Student Conduct:

1. Use of force against the person or property of any member of the university community or against the person or property of anyone on university premises, or the threat of such physical abuse. (Verbal assault may be prosecuted as a "threat of ... physical abuse.");

2. Theft of, or intentional damage to, university property, or property in the possession of, or owned by, a member of the university. (Acts of graffiti or other vandalism may be prosecuted as "intentional damage to ... property.");

3. Harassment, which is statutorily defined by New Jersey law to mean, and here means, purposefully making or causing to be made a communication or communications anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language, or in any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm, or subjecting or threatening to subject another to striking, kicking, shoving or other offensive touching, or engaging in any other course of conduct or of repeatedly committed acts with purpose to alarm or seriously annoy any other person. Harassment is considered a separable offense under the University Code of Student Conduct.

4. Defamation, which is judicially defined to mean, and here means, the unprivileged oral or written publication of a false statement of fact that exposes the person about whom it is made to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or subjects that person to loss of the good will and confidence of others, or so harms that person's reputation as to deter others from associating with her or him. Defamation is considered a separable offense under the University Code of Student Conduct.

While any of the four categories of acts listed above is a separable offense, that, if proven, could lead to a sanction of expulsion or suspension from the university under the provisions of the University Code of Student Conduct, clearly minor instances of such prohibited behavior should not be treated as separatable offenses requiring a university-level hearing.The initial judgments of whether a particular act is of a separable or non separable level are made by Judicial Officers assigned by the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and are subject to review by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Students who believe themselves to be victims of verbal assault, harassment or defamation should report such incidents to the dean or the dean of students of their college or school. In addition, the following individuals have been identified to handle complaints:

Donald C. Heilman, J.D., Ed.M.
Director of Compliance, Research & Assessment
Office of Student Affairs, Rutgers University
Bishop House 105
College Avenue Campus
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
PH: 732-932-7109
Fax: 732-932-1507
dheilman@echo.rutgers.edu

Ms. Cheryl Clarke
Director of Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities
3 Barlett Street, Room 104
College Avenue Campus
732/932-1711

Ms. Mary Beth Daisey
Associate Chancellor for Student Affairs
Armitage Hall, Room 248
Camden Campus
856/225-6043

Ms. Marcia Brown
Vice Chancellor
Center for Law and Justice
Newark Campus
973/353-5541

Some complaints can be and should be resolved by informal methods, while others will require the implementation of formal procedures. All complaints are treated confidentially; complainants are encouraged to report incidents even if they do not wish to pursue the matter beyond the reporting stage.