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Institutional Student Conduct: Standards

Students who enroll at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are expected to conduct themselves responsibility and to pursue their studies with integrity.  By enrolling at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, students agree to comply with the College’s rules and regulations.  These rules and regulations are outlined in the “Student Code of Conduct” found online under Resources on the Student Affairs website https://www.abac.edu/campus_life/student-affairs.html

 Students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Code of Conduct, as it contains important policies and information regarding student experience and behavior. 

Student Rights and Responsibilities and Student Conduct

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) has the dual responsibility of educating students and helping them develop into mature citizens who take their place in the larger community.  In order to accomplish this mission, the College seeks to develop an environment which fosters respect and integrity among its members.  To facilitate this environment and to meet its educational goals, the College has adopted conduct regulations for students and student organizations and has established an administrative process for dealing with alleged violations of those regulations.

The Student Code of Conduct represents the expectations of student and organizational behavior at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.  When a student becomes a part of the College community, they agree to abide by the Code of Conduct.  This code is based on the principles and beliefs that students and/or organizations are responsible adult learners, capable of making informed decisions and are accountable for their behavior and consequences of their decisions.  Students and organizations are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the policies and regulations set forth by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.  Conduct which is of a disorderly nature and in violation of written policy shall subject the student or student organization to disciplinary action.  The student is also subject to city, state, and federal law.  The College will not intervene, nor will it ask special treatment for a student who has violated the law. 

Student accused of violations of local, state, or federal laws that adversely affect the College may also be subject to the appropriate Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College disciplinary process.  Pending civil or criminal matters shall not prevent Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, at its discretion, from initiating appropriate disciplinary action.  Proceedings under this Code may be carried out before, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings, and will not be subject to a challenge on the ground that criminal charges involving the same incident have been dismissed or reduced.

Generally, College conduct regulations shall apply to conduct which occurs on College premises.  Further, the conduct regulations shall apply to conduct which occurs while a student or student organization is attending or participating in any College sponsored activity wherever that activity may take place, or any behavior, on or off College premises, which adversely affects the College community or the pursuit of its objectives.

All students and student organizations are subject to the regulations outlined in the Code of Conduct, College Catalog, and Student Handbook. Unfamiliarity with these regulations is not a valid excuse for infractions of the regulations.  Provisions of the Student Code of Conduct may be revised, supplemented, or amended as necessary at any time by the appropriate College authorities.  The students and administration of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are bound by the regulations set forth in the following as well as any additional rules and regulations resulting from revisions to the Code during any academic year.

Off-Campus Activities and Behaviors

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is not responsible or liable for off-campus activities and behaviors; however, it reserves the right to take action in response to off-campus activities and behaviors that contradict the College’s interests and purposes.  Students and student organizations are expected to conduct themselves as representatives of the College.

When a student is charged with both a criminal offense off campus and charged with a violation of the Student Code of Conduct or Honor Code at the College, the two processes are unrelated and conducted independently of each other.

Reports of Student Misconduct

All members of the College community may file formal complaints about students, faculty, or staff conduct with the Dean of Students.  Complaints to the appropriate department and/or person(s) should include as much information as possible such as: 1) the type of misconduct alleged; 2) the name and contact information of the individual(s) accused of misconduct; 3) the date(s), time(s), and place(s) of the misconduct; 4) the name(s) and contact information of any individual(s) with knowledge of the incident; 5) whether any tangible evidence has been preserved; and 6) whether a criminal complaint has been made.  Complaints will be investigated and resolved as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct or through Human Resources.  More information about reporting student misconduct can be found in the “Student Code of Conduct” at https://abac-conduct.catalog.prod.coursedog.com. The “Incident Reporting Form” can also be found on the Student Affairs website under Reporting Forms.

Investigation and Disciplinary Proceedings

ABAC Standards for Institutional Student Conduct Investigation and Disciplinary Proceedings reflect the Georgia Board of Regents Policy, Section 4.6.5 at: http://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section4/policy/C332

This Policy establishes minimum procedural standards for investigations and resolutions of alleged student conduct violations, which each institution must incorporate into its respective student conduct policies. The purpose of this Policy is to ensure uniformity in the quality of investigations while providing for due process that affords fairness and equity in all student conduct investigations. This Policy is not intended to infringe or restrict rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution including free speech under the First Amendment, or the due process clauses of Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.

These procedures apply to matters relating to student misconduct, except matters relating to academic dishonesty, which may be covered under separate institutional policies. ABAC shall inform students of their procedures governing student misconduct complaints and investigations. For the purposes of this Policy the term Complainant means an individual who is alleged to be a victim of conduct that would violate any Board or other applicable institution policy. The term Respondent means an individual who is alleged to have engaged in behavior that would violate any Board or other applicable institution policy. Other individuals who report information to an institution regarding alleged policy violations are deemed Reporters.

Students participating in Study Abroad programs are expected to follow the ABAC Student Code of Conduct while also complying with the laws of the region they are visiting. See the Study Abroad Handbook for clarification.

Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (“ABAC”) is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and institutional policies and guidelines; the institution prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the ABAC Community on campus, in connection with a institutional program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the ABAC community.

Every member of the ABAC community is expected to uphold this policy as a matter of mutual respect and fundamental fairness in human relations. All members of the faculty, staff, and student body are expected to ensure that nondiscriminatory practices are followed at the institution.

For additional information or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, employees and applicants for employment should contact the Office of Human Resources at Herring Hall 33 or at hr@abac.edu.  Students and applicants for admission should contact the Office of Student Affairs at Branch Hall 208 or at deanofstudents@abac.edu. 

ABAC complies with the University System of Georgia’s Non-Discrimination Policy which is consistent with the requirements and objectives of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, Executive Order 11246, as amended, the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Rights Act of 1994, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 and the Georgia Fair Employment Act of 1978, as amended.