The current version of the Lafayette College Student Code of Conduct (The Code) was revised by a committee of students, faculty, and College administrators and has been adopted by the faculty of Lafayette College. The committee wishes to acknowledge the wealth of professional resources that were invaluable to this process, including “A Twenty-First Century Model Student Conduct Code,” the NCHERM Group Model Code Project, the Association for Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA), and the many colleagues and institutions whose conduct codes were consulted in an effort to incorporate best practices.
The Office of Student Conduct and the Office of Advising and Co-Curricular Programs will solicit feedback from the Lafayette community regarding proposed changes. Those revisions that require a vote of the faculty will be brought to the proper committee(s) for consideration. Those revisions that do not require a vote of the faculty will be brought to the proper committee(s) for inclusion in their annual report(s) to the faculty. A comprehensive review of the code will be conducted every five years and will be led by the Office of Student Conduct, in consultation with the Office of Advising and Co-Curricular Programs, and the chairs of the faculty committee(s) responsible for carrying out the procedures outlined in this code.
The following policies and procedures are in effect from August 1, 2023, until further revisions are made. The College reserves the right to make changes to the code at any time. The most recent version of the code can be found on the College’s website.
An important aspect in attending College is the exercise of responsibility in a dynamic community of learning. Students, therefore, are expected to be honorable, ethical, and mature in every regard, and to have consideration for the welfare of others as individuals and for the community as a whole. In addition to exhibiting maturity and self-control, students and student organizations are expected to so conduct themselves that they cause no physical, emotional, or mental harm to others; that they neither break laws nor contribute to the delinquency of others; and that they do not destroy property. Participation in any activity that harms or demeans others may lead to dismissal of individuals and dissolution/withdrawal of recognition of groups. The College expects students individually and in organizations to adhere to this basic requirement through the use of judgment and good will. Membership in the Lafayette community is a privilege, and those failing to meet this expectation may be refused continued membership in the community.
Since Lafayette is a residential college, the students and faculty have joined in establishing rules and regulations as a guide to group living. These rules are based on experience and should be changed when experience indicates it desirable. At any particular time, however, they are to be accepted as stated and adhered to by students. Responsibility for the creation and enforcement of the rules rests on all members of the academic community: students, faculty, and administrative officers.
Lafayette College is interested in furthering the intellectual and personal growth of its students and in encouraging them to undertake responsibility. One of the challenges of leadership of campus organizations is to assume the responsibility for the maintenance of campus regulations. College rules should serve as a guide for high personal standards and are not designed to deprive the individual of the necessity to develop their own set of higher standards and to exercise their own self-discipline.
The Code of Conduct applies to all behavior by individual students, their guests, and recognized or unrecognized student organizations that occurs on College-owned or operated property including, but not limited to, in classrooms and at College-sponsored or recognized events and activities, regardless of location. This includes events or activities held by College-recognized student organizations, regardless of location. The College may also hold students and organizations accountable to the Code of Conduct and additional policies for behavior that occurs off-campus.
For the purposes of enforcing the Code of Conduct, students are accountable to the code from the time they are notified of their acceptance to the College until they receive their degree, resign, or are expelled from the College. This includes conduct that occurs between semesters, while a student is on a temporary leave (voluntary or involuntary), or has been suspended from the College. An individual who has been awarded their degree, resigned, or otherwise separated from the College may still be held accountable to the Code of Conduct for behavior that occurred while that individual was a student, even if the behavior is not discovered until after the individual has been awarded their degree, resigned, or otherwise been separated from the College. The College may proceed with conduct procedures even while a student is on a temporary leave from the College, or after a student has resigned from the College.
In addition to the Code of Conduct, students are also accountable to Lafayette College Policies, including the Lafayette College Policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Non-Discrimination.
For purposes of enforcing this Code, the College will treat attempts to commit any of the violations listed in this Code as if those attempts had been completed. Additionally, helping another student violate, or attempt to violate, any policy addressed by this Code is also prohibited.
The behaviors described in this section are in conflict with the principles of the Introductory Statement of this Code. When information is brought to the attention of the College that suggests a student or student organization has violated one or more of the following policies, the student or organization accused of violating the Code of Conduct will be subject to the conduct procedures outlined in this code. When the respondent is a student organization, all communications concerning the alleged organizational violations will be relayed to the organization’s representative, which is typically the organization’s president. Incidents involving allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking are subject to the Lafayette College Policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Non-Discrimination and related procedures.
Students at Lafayette are part of a broader academic community, with a shared set of values and assumptions, and united by the common goals of acquiring and advancing knowledge. Within that community are many smaller, specialized communities, each with its own specific conventions for working and communicating. In general, however, intellectual endeavor involves discussing the ideas that others have already expressed; striving to understand them more deeply; applying those ideas to new and far-reaching problems; and respectfully challenging those ideas and attempting to extend or even replace them in light of new discoveries.
We at Lafayette share the values of the academic community, which (among other things) require us to acknowledge the contributions that others have made and to continue to add to ongoing intellectual conversations. Failure to uphold these values, either intentionally or inadvertently, is a violation of the community’s standards. Moreover, certain violations of the community’s standards clearly rise to the level of academic dishonesty and can have serious consequences.
While not an exhaustive list, the following actions are examples of academic dishonesty:
For helpful information, see Appendix II, How to Avoid Plagiarism.
A student who is found responsible for violating the Academic Integrity Policy may receive a range of possible sanctions, including suspension or expulsion. Finally, the underlying principle is one of intellectual honesty. If a person is to have self-respect and the respect of others, all work must be his/her own.
Lafayette College embraces a broad educational mission that focuses on the nurturing of the inquiring mind in an environment that integrates intellectual, social, and personal growth. Recognizing that the abuse of alcohol and other drugs is detrimental to this mission, the College strives to educate students concerning the dangers of alcohol and other drug abuse and the importance of making healthy and responsible choices. In addition to regulating the use of alcohol on its properties, the College encourages and supports the efforts of students and student organizations to sponsor alcohol-free social events that are open to the College community.
Lafayette College reserves the right to regulate the use of alcohol on its properties and at any institution-associated activity, regardless of location. The Division of Student Life is responsible for the clarification, interpretation, and implementation of the Alcohol Policy.
Legal Age: The attempted or actual purchase, consumption, transportation, or possession of alcoholic beverages by a person under 21 is prohibited.
False Identification: Using or attempting to use an identification card falsely representing oneself as being 21 years of age or older for the purpose of obtaining alcohol or obtaining entrance to a facility that serves alcohol is prohibited.
Residence Halls and Private Rooms: Alcohol may not be present in the common areas of residence halls (i.e., lounges, recreation rooms, etc.), without advance permission from the vice president for Student Life or the interim dean of students. In suite style housing, alcohol may be possessed and consumed in suite common areas if all occupants are over 21.
Sale of Alcoholic Beverages: The unlicensed sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. This includes the selling of tickets to events where alcoholic beverages are provided, charging admission, or accepting donations for any activity involving alcohol. Students and student organizations may not use College funds to purchase or provide alcohol at social events, either on or off campus.
Open Container: Possession of open containers of alcohol on the grounds outside any College-owned or College-operated property, including residence halls, College-owned or College-operated off-campus residences, athletic fields or fraternities and sororities (including balconies and backyards) is prohibited by College policy and City of Easton ordinance. Exceptions must be approved by the vice president for Student Life or the interim dean of students.
Common Sources of Alcohol: Bulk containers, such as kegs or any alcohol dispensing-device requiring a tap, are not permitted anywhere on College-owned or operated property at any time.
Providing Alcohol to Minors: Providing alcohol to underage individuals is prohibited, including leaving alcohol unattended in locations where those under 21 may serve themselves. The student or student organization that serves alcohol to a person regardless of age shares responsibility with that person for any violation of the Lafayette College Code of Conduct while that person is under the influence of alcohol.
Irresponsible Use of Alcohol: Activities or possession of items that promote the rapid or excessive consumption of alcohol (i.e., funneling, drinking games, chugging contests, etc.), serving alcohol to intoxicated persons, public drunkenness, and/or events where there is pressure or an expectation to consume alcohol are prohibited. Serving, possessing, and/or consuming grain alcohol that is at or above 120 proof is prohibited.
Advertisements: Neither direct nor implied references of any kind to the availability of alcohol at an event may be made in any publicity for the event.
Program Co-sponsorship: The College ordinarily will not enter into sponsorship of College activities, programs, or events with firms whose primary purpose is the manufacture, sale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages.
Students and student organizations that intend to host social events at which alcohol is present must adhere to the guidelines outlined. The Division of Student Life should be consulted for policy interpretation and clarification. Students and student organizations that violate the College’s Alcohol Policy should expect to receive sanctions as outlined in this code.
Some student organizations are accountable to external organizations. The College’s Alcohol Policy does not preclude those student organizations from complying with the risk management guidelines imposed by their external organizations and/or insurance carriers. The College encourages these organizations to follow all of their risk management policies pertaining to alcohol, drugs, hazing, sexual assault, etc. Student organizations should consult the guidelines of their external organizations (if applicable) prior to planning an event with alcohol. If the College becomes aware or suspects that a student organization has violated its own risk management guidelines, any external organization’s leadership or appropriate representatives may be notified. It should be noted, however, that if an organization’s external organization has policies that are less restrictive than those of the College, the College policies must be adhered to.
Organization Events: Any activity for which the organization pays, directly or indirectly, constitutes an event sponsored by that organization. Also, any event or activity that takes place in an organization’s house (where applicable) is the responsibility of the organization. Other factors may be considered by the case administrator or panel in determining whether an event is the responsibility of an organization including, but not limited to, attendance at the event, publicity for the event, and reasonable perception of those in attendance or aware of the event. Organizations that use any private, off-campus facility to host social events may be held accountable by the College for violations of city and Commonwealth laws as well as the applicable policies outlined in the Code of Conduct.
Host Responsibility: A student and/or organization sponsoring an event is solely responsible for ensuring that the Alcohol Policy is observed, and will be held responsible for violations of the Policy by individuals in attendance whether or not those attendees are current Lafayette students. Each case will be evaluated, however, based on the efforts of the host and/or organization to ensure compliance. Individual students who violate these rules will be held accountable and, when appropriate, both individuals and organizations will be subject to the conduct process.
Distribution of Alcohol: It is not uncommon for the majority of those in attendance at social functions to be under 21 years of age. Hosts are responsible for ensuring only those over 21 bring and/or consume alcohol at the event, and ensuring prohibited alcohol (i.e., liquor, grain alcohol) is neither present nor consumed at the event. Underage guests may not bring alcohol to the event nor consume alcohol at the event.
Security and Safety: One host is required for every ten guests. Hosts must be TIPS trained, must remain alcohol-free for the entire event, and are responsible for ensuring the safety of guests and compliance with College, state, and local policies. Individuals may not host more than 50 guests. Organizations wishing to host more than 50 guests must identify an appropriate venue, subject to approval by the Office of Student Involvement, and provide a minimum of two security officers to monitor the event in addition to the required number of student hosts.
The Office of Public Safety may periodically monitor social events at which alcohol is present. College officials reserve the right of access to all areas of any facility on its properties at any time. The use of early warning systems is prohibited.
Quantity of Alcohol: The quantity of alcohol permitted at a social event shall be limited for the number of persons of legal age expected to be present at the event. A reasonable amount of alcohol is that quantity sufficient to serve each person of legal age one drink (12-oz. beer @4-5% ABV or 6-oz. wine @ 11-12% ABV) per hour of the event. Hard liquor is not permitted at events where attendees are primarily students.
Off-Campus Events: Students and student organizations hosting events at local businesses must complete the event notification form and adhere to all College, state, and local policies. Additionally, if the event is not within walking distance, transportation must be provided to and from the event.
Event Notification: An event notification form must be submitted fourteen days in advance of social events at which alcohol is to be served.
Host Training: All hosts listed on the event registration form must have completed TIPS training prior to the date of the event and within the current academic year.
Food and Alternative Beverages: Social function hosts must provide sufficient food and non-alcoholic beverages in proportion to the number of people in attendance throughout the function. These must be readily available and displayed with prominence for the duration of the event.
Cleaning Responsibilities: Events held in on-campus, non-residential buildings or outside on campus require custodial service, which must be arranged in advance and paid for by the student or student organization. In off-campus residences, all debris resulting from a social event must be cleaned up no later than 9 a.m. the following day by the student or student organization that sponsored the event.
In the event that a student or student organization assists a Lafayette College student whom the reporter believes is intoxicated or is experiencing a drug overdose in contacting Public Safety and/or professional medical assistance, neither the student who is intoxicated or experiencing the drug overdose nor the individual or group who provides assistance for that individual will be subject to College disciplinary action for (1) being intoxicated, (2) using drugs, or (3) having provided that person with alcohol. Students calling for assistance for themselves also will be covered under this policy. This policy does not excuse or protect those who flagrantly and/or repeatedly violate the College’s Alcohol or Drugs Policies. It applies to circumstances due to alcohol or drugs, and does not extend to related infractions such as assault or property damage and also does not apply to those who have sold or distributed drugs to another individual. Student or student organizations covered under this policy will not be subject to the formal conduct process, and the incident will not be included as part of the individual’s student file in the Office of Advising & Co-Curricular Programs nor the organization’s file in the Office of Student Conduct. Individuals involved will be required to meet with an administrator to discuss the incident and may be required to complete harm-reduction educational sessions and/or a substance use assessment at the discretion of the administrator and as appropriate. The incident will result in notification to parent(s) and/or guardian(s) only in serious health and safety emergencies in compliance with FERPA privacy laws. It should be noted that this policy refers only to the application of the Code of Conduct and does not preclude other College or non-College entities from applying their own policies, procedures, and outcomes to the situation. The Good Samaritan Policy does not apply to situations where College administrators, staff, or faculty members observe or report a violation of the Alcohol or Drugs Policies.
The College’s Faculty Committee on Student Life will review at the conclusion of each academic year the policies and practices regarding alcohol and other drugs, for the purpose of increasing their effectiveness and maintaining a healthy and safe campus environment. The College conducts a biennial review of its alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs as required by the Drug Free Schools and Community Act.
The owner/custodian of an animal (dog, cat, etc.) at Lafayette College must keep the animal under control at all times. Behaviors that demonstrate an animal is not being properly controlled include, but are not limited to, when animals are:
For information regarding service animals on Lafayette’s campus, see the Lafayette College Service Animal Policy and the Lafayette College Assistance Animal Policy on the Academic Resource Center/Accessibility Services website.
College-issued identification (ID) cards must be presented when reasonably requested by any College official including, but not limited to, resident advisers, public safety officers, and any other employee of the College acting in that person’s official capacity. Lending of one’s ID card or punching a hole in it are prohibited. The legal bearer of the card assumes all liabilities arising from its use. Loss should be reported immediately. College-issued ID cards become void upon interruption of enrollment.
For more information regarding your College ID card, see the back of the card that was issued to you when you became a student.
Abuse or interference with, or failure to comply with, the conduct process includes:
Substantial disruption of College or other agency operations, or private citizens, includes, but is not limited to:
Tampering with the election of any College-recognized student organization is prohibited.
Failing to comply with the directives of College officials, resident advisers, law enforcement officials, emergency medical or fire personnel, or authorized agents of the College acting in the performance of their duties is prohibited. This includes directives made through all forms of communication including, but not limited to, the Lafayette email account, campus mail box, and/or home address.
Violation of any federal, state, local, or campus fire policies including, but not limited to:
Gambling for money or other things of value on College property or at College or student organization-sponsored events is prohibited. Gambling includes, but is not limited to:
For more information on this policy including when and how some of these activities can take place legally, see the “Fundraising and Games of Chance” policy in the Student Organization Guide.
Guests are individuals who are being hosted on the campus by a currently enrolled student or student organization and/or visiting a student’s or student organization’s housing, on or off campus. Any violations of College policy or damage to College facilities caused by a guest will be the responsibility of the host, and the host may be held accountable for the actions of the guest.
For information on overnight guests, see Appendix IV, Office of Residence Life Terms of Contract.
Any unwelcome expressive, visual, or physical conduct including, but not limited to, bullying, cyberbullying, stalking, cyber-stalking, threats, and intimidation. A one-time act of these behaviors may constitute a violation of the harassment clause.
For information on harassment of a sexual nature, see the Lafayette College Policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination.
Lafayette College requires that no student participate in and that no student organization allow any of its prospective members, new members, members, or others to participate in any ceremony or practice that involves mental or physical exhaustion or abuse, or in any way interferes with the students’ mental or physical ability to perform their work at Lafayette College. These rites must not reflect unfavorably upon either the group or the College or be of a dangerous, rude, or demeaning nature. Hazing, whether it occurs on or off campus, is prohibited and will be subject to sanctioning through the conduct process. Hazing is intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a student’s membership or status in an organization, causing, coercing or forcing a student to do any of the following:
Penalties for hazing may include:
Pledging or affiliating with a student organization without having met the eligibility requirements established by the College is prohibited. Further, an organization is prohibited from accepting a member who does not meet the eligibility requirements established by the College.
This Lafayette College Policy applies to all users of IT resources owned or managed by Lafayette College. IT resources include, but are not limited to, all College-owned, licensed, or managed hardware and software, as well as the College network, regardless of the ownership of the device connected to the network, the means of connecting, or the locale from which the connection is made.
Federal, State, and Local Laws: Users must comply with all federal, state, and other applicable laws; all applicable College rules and procedures; and all applicable licenses and contracts. Examples include, but are not limited to, laws pertaining to libel, copyright, trademark, child pornography, and hacking; the College’s Code of Conduct; the College’s Principles of Intellectual Honesty; the College’s Sexual Harassment Policy; and all applicable software licenses.
Authorization: Users may use only those IT resources they are authorized to use, in the manner and to the extent authorized, and they must not attempt to subvert or bypass College-imposed security mechanisms. Ability to access computers, computer accounts, computer files, or other IT resources does not, by itself, imply authorization to do so. Accounts and passwords may not be shared with or used by persons other than those to whom they have been assigned by the College. Users must make a reasonable effort to protect passwords and secure resources against unauthorized use.
Fair Share of Resources: Users must respect the finite capacity of the College’s IT resources and limit their use so as not to consume an unreasonable amount of those resources or to interfere unreasonably with the activity of other users. Information Technology Services may set limits on an individual’s use of IT resources or require that an individual user refrain from specific uses in order to assure that these resources can be used by anyone who needs them. Reasonableness of use will be assessed in the context of all relevant circumstances, but any use that degrades the performance of the College network or interferes with the ability of others to use IT resources or with the College’s educational or business activities will be considered unacceptable.
Personal Use: Users may not use IT resources to campaign for or against a candidate for political office or for commercial purposes inconsistent with the College’s tax-exempt status. Personal use of College IT resources for other purposes is permitted when it does not interfere with the performance of one’s job or other College responsibilities, does not compromise the functionality or degrade the performance of IT resources, does not consume a significant amount of IT resources, and is otherwise in compliance with this Policy. Further limits on personal use by College employees may be imposed in accordance with normal supervisory practices.
For more information regarding Information Technology Services policy, see General Campus Policies.
The deliberate and public exposure of one’s intimate body parts, public urination, public defecation, and public sex acts are prohibited.
Violations of any condition of the Office of Residence Life contracts or housing agreements for on-campus housing, college-owned or operated off-campus housing, and private off-campus housing is prohibited.
For more information, see the above-listed contracts and agreements in Appendices IV-V.
For more information on the definition of consent and College policies and procedures regarding sexual assault, see the Lafayette College Policy on Sexual Assault.
Domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are also prohibited in the College’s Policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Non-Discrimination. For more information, please see the Lafayette College Policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Non-Discrimination.
An organized social event is one that is open to the public or held in a public space. Activities sponsored/hosted by students or student groups must not interfere with the educational purposes of the College, disturb others, or conflict with other College events. Student and student groups must inform the Office of Student involvement in advance of any social event by filling out an event registration form at least three weeks prior to the event. The enforcement of regulations pertaining to organized social events sponsored by a student organization is the responsibility of the organization’s officers.
For more information on solicitation and distribution, see Appendix VII.
The attempted or actual taking or unauthorized possession of property or services belonging to another individual, the College, or other entities is prohibited. Services include, but are not limited to, residing in a College residence outside the contracted period, using a parking pass registered in someone else’s name, and accessing television or internet service that you have not paid for. The unauthorized removal of College furniture, such as those found in residence hall lounges or other campus buildings, will be considered a violation of this policy.
The serious expression of the intent to commit an act of violence against an individual or group is prohibited.
The unauthorized use or misuse of College or organizational names and images is prohibited. For permission to use the College’s trademark or licenses, please contact the Communications Division at 610-330-5120.
No student may rush, pledge, join, recruit for, participate in, perpetuate, contribute funds to, or otherwise engage in activities as an actual or prospective member of an unrecognized organization while on any property owned or under the control of the College (referred to as the “Lafayette Campus”), including, but not limited to, the public and private areas of the College, residence halls or other living areas on campus, as well as other buildings and facilities, including the grounds, athletic fields, and other property of the College, or while otherwise using Lafayette’s resources, wherever they may be located. (Such conduct is hereinafter referred to as “Prohibited On-Campus Conduct.”) Prohibited On-Campus Conduct also extends to the use of College-provided electronic mail, telephone service, servers, or other College-supplied technology, even when physically off of campus property, if using Lafayette’s resources to reach onto campus to engage in conduct regarding an unrecognized organization. The foregoing broad prohibition on the use of any College property in connection with Prohibited On-Campus Conduct by unrecognized organizations is intended to make clear that any such conduct is undertaken without College approval or endorsement, and constitutes a violation of this Policy.
Definition: An unrecognized organization is any fraternity, sorority, or other similar social organization that:
The College retains full and final authority to determine whether a particular organization is operating as an unrecognized organization, and to determine whether a particular student is engaging in Prohibited On-Campus Conduct with an unrecognized organization.
Any student who violates the College’s policy against Prohibited On-Campus Conduct with an unrecognized organization will automatically be brought before the Faculty Committee on Student Conduct, and be subject to the full range of disciplinary sanctions available at the College, up to and including expulsion. Moreover, any such organization may itself be subject to additional organization-wide discipline, legal action, and in appropriate circumstances, could face civil and criminal penalties.
For more information, see the Policy Prohibiting On-Campus Student Participation in Unrecognized Organizations, page 31.
The College reserves the right to hold students or student organizations accountable for any behavior that violates any federal, Commonwealth, or local law or ordinance that is not otherwise specifically addressed in the code. For incidents that occur off campus, the laws of the local jurisdiction will apply to this Policy.
The use or attempted use of physical violence intentionally or recklessly directed at another person or group of people is prohibited. In cases involving domestic violence or dating violence, the procedures outlined in the Lafayette College Policy on Sexual Assault, Sexual Exploitation, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking will apply.
For more information on the policies and procedures regarding domestic violence and dating violence, see the Lafayette College Policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Non-Discrimination.
The unauthorized possession, use, or distribution of explosives (including fireworks and ammunition), guns (including air, BB, paintball, facsimile weapons, and pellet guns), or other weapons or dangerous objects including, but not limited to, arrows, axes, machetes, nunchuks, throwing stars, swords, or knives (other than an ordinary pocketknife carried in a closed position, with a blade of three inches or less, or cutlery of a reasonable size when used in a kitchen or other food preparation area) is prohibited.
The unauthorized possession, use, or distribution of other hazardous materials including, but not limited to, gunpowder or dangerous chemicals is prohibited.
Items falling within the category of weapons or hazardous materials may not be present without authorization anywhere on College property including inside a vehicle.