Yale College is an academic community dedicated to the advancement of learning. Students freely associate themselves with the College and in doing so affirm their commitment to a philosophy of mutual tolerance and respect. All students admitted to Yale should understand the responsibility thus placed upon them. If any member of the community should interfere with its functions or show himself or herself unable or unwilling to assist in them, the community may find it necessary to protect itself by suspending or terminating his or her membership. Indeed, by formal vote the Yale College Faculty has affirmed:
1. Its commitment to protect free expression and peaceful dissent and to preserve mutual respect and charitable relations among all members of the Yale community.
2. Its belief that physical restriction, coercion, or intimidation of any member of that community is contrary to the basic principles of the University.
3. Its expectation that such action will ordinarily result in temporary or permanent separation from Yale College.
The purpose of the regulations that follow is to spell out some of the actions that place the community in jeopardy and that may therefore result in suspension or expulsion from it. In general, these regulations are concerned with conduct on campus. While off-campus misconduct will not normally be the basis for disciplinary action by the University, it may result in disciplinary action under the circumstances specified below,1 or if such conduct otherwise imperils the integrity and values of the University community. Off-campus infractions committed in the course of a Yale-sponsored program anywhere in the world, such as a Yale Summer Session abroad course, a Yale-sponsored internship or fellowship, a student organization's tour, or the like, could also be subject to disciplinary charges. Students must recognize that Yale College exists within a larger community that has its own laws and standards of behavior, and that membership in Yale College confers no exemption from those laws and standards. Unruly behavior or illegal or destructive acts that adversely affect the community surrounding the Yale campus will not be condoned. Students, whether on campus or off campus, are under the jurisdiction of the city, state, and national governments.
Authority for disciplinary matters proceeds from the Yale Corporation, which has empowered the Yale College Faculty to oversee disciplinary actions with respect to undergraduates. Penalties for misconduct by undergraduates are ordinarily imposed by the Yale College Executive Committee, a standing committee of the Yale College Faculty by whose authorization it acts.
Violations of sexual misconduct will be addressed by the University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct (UWC), which recommends penalties to the Dean of Yale College.
The masters of the residential colleges, the University Librarian, the directors of the Yale computer facilities, and the Executive Director of Yale Dining, may summarily impose certain penalties for violations of the dormitory regulations, the library regulations, the computer facility regulations, and the dining services regulations.2
2 See Campus Housing and University Facilities; Library; Use of Additional Services and Facilities, section C, “Technology facilities”; Dining Services. See also section W below.
A member of the faculty finding evidence of academic dishonesty on a class assignment or examination is expected to bring the matter to the attention of the Executive Committee. Any member of the faculty, residential college master, residential college dean, or member of the University administration or staff may bring to the attention of the committee an alleged infraction of the Undergraduate Regulations.
An undergraduate student may bring a complaint of a nonacademic infraction to the attention of the Executive Committee only in conjunction with his or her residential college master, residential college dean, a member of the Yale College Dean’s Office, a human relations counselor, the College or University's Title IX Coordinator, a member of the President's Committee on Racial and Ethnic Harassment, or the University Police.3
Students may bring complaints regarding sexual misconduct directly to the UWC. The UWC provides an accessible representative and trained body to answer internal inquiries and fairly and expeditiously address formal and informal complaints of sexual misconduct. It has sole disciplinary authority over Yale College students charged with sexual misconduct and recommends penalties to the dean of Yale College. The UWC is appointed and authorized to act by the provost.
3 See the Disciplinary Procedures of the Executive Committee of Yale College.
Offenses
Among the offenses that are subject to disciplinary action are the following:
Cheating on examinations, plagiarism, improper acknowledgment of sources in essays, and the use of a single essay in more than one course except in academically appropriate circumstances and with the prior permission of the instructors.1
1 See Definitions of Cheating, Plagiarism, and Documentation of Sources.
Forging, altering, misrepresenting, or otherwise falsifying any transcript, academic record, identification card, or other document or communication.1
1 See also Use of Additional Services and Facilities, section A, "Undergraduate Career Services"; Library.
C. Acts of violence or physical force
Physical restriction, assault, or any other act of violence or use of physical force against any member of the community, or any act that threatens the use of violence or physical force.
D. Sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment
Any sexual activity for which clear and voluntary consent has not been given in advance; any sexual activity with someone who is incapable of giving valid consent because, for example, she or he is sleeping or otherwise incapacitated due to alcohol or drugs; any act of sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, or stalking. Sexual misconduct includes nonphysical actions such as digital media stalking, cyberbullying, and nonconsensual recording of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment consists of nonconsensual sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.1
1 For a fuller description of sexual misconduct, sexual consent, and sexual harassment see the Definitions of Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Consent, and Sexual Harassment. Sexual misconduct violations shall be addressed by the University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct and governed by its procedures.
E. Harassment, intimidation, or coercion
Acts of harassment, intimidation, or coercion, including harassment on the basis of race, ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation.
F. Interference with University functions
Participation in any effort to prevent or disrupt a class or other University function, or to seize or occupy any University building or part thereof, or to violate the right of an audience to listen at a University function.1
1 See Free Expression, Peaceful Dissent, and Demonstrations.
Participation in or attendance at riots or mass disturbances on the city streets or on any area of the campus.
Defiance or belligerence toward or lying to a University police officer, faculty member, or other University official who, in the line of duty, issues an order or asks for identification or information. Students are expected to carry University identification cards at all times and must identify themselves to University officials upon request. It is understood that University officials or police officers will identify themselves before making such a request.
I. Misconduct at a formal hearing
Deliberate and knowing misrepresentation or lying during a formal hearing conducted by University authorities.
J. Misrepresentation in applying for financial aid
Knowingly and deliberately supplying false information in an application for financial aid from the University or processed by the University.
The possession or use of explosives, incendiary materials, or weapons (weapons include, but are not limited to, guns, firearms, shotguns, rifles, air rifles, paintball and pellet guns, BB guns, Tasers, and knives) by any Yale student, which is absolutely prohibited on campus, in areas surrounding the campus, or in off-campus housing. Students participating in club sports or in any other recreational or sporting activities involving the use of firearms must adhere to this prohibition and to the protocols established by the University with respect to the possession, use, storage, and transportation of any firearms (see Club Sports Handbook, Section O, Sporting Firearms).
The unlawful possession, use, purchase, or distribution of alcohol on University property or as part of any University activity.
The unlawful possession, use, purchase, or distribution of illicit drugs or controlled substances (including stimulants, depressants, narcotics, or hallucinogenic drugs); the misuse of prescription drugs, including sharing, procuring, buying, or using in a manner different from the prescribed use, or by someone other than the person for whom it was prescribed.
N. Theft and willful property damage
Obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over the property of others, or the destruction of, or damage to, the property of others.
Presence in University buildings, steam tunnels, or on University property at times or places where such presence is prohibited, as, for example, when a building, facility, or room is locked and permission to enter has not been given.1
1 See also Campus Housing and University Facilities, section B, "Conduct in the dormitories," number 8, "Restricted Areas."
P. Offenses compromising campus fire safety
Deliberate and unnecessary activation of fire alarms; tampering with fire alarms or smoke detectors; deliberate and unnecessary discharge of fire extinguishers; deliberate or reckless starting of unauthorized fires; and other conduct creating a risk to persons or property from fire or smoke.1
1 See Campus Housing and University Facilities, section G, "Fire safety," number 1, "Fire Extinguishers," and number 2, "Fire Alarms, Smoke Detectors, and Sprinkler Systems."
Q. Offenses compromising campus security
Improper use of, tampering with, or vandalism of security systems or devices. Unauthorized possession or duplication of University identification/proximity cards or keys. Unauthorized propping open of, or tampering with, doors or gates, or actions in disregard of security postings.1
1 See also Campus Housing and University Facilities, section J, "General security."
R. Unauthorized use of services or facilities
Unauthorized, unlawful, or fraudulent use of services or facilities (such as computer services or the University's telephone or reprographic facilities).1
1 See also Use of Additional Services and Facilities.
Unauthorized removal, stashing or sequestering, defacing, mutilating, or theft of library materials, or willful and repeated failure to respond to recall notices.1
1 See also Library.
T. Offenses compromising course materials
Recording lectures without explicit permission of the lecturer, or selling or distributing for commercial purposes notes, transcriptions, or outlines of class lectures, or any course materials, in any course of instruction.
U. Violation of the regulations on alcohol or social functions
Violation of the regulations on social functions or the Yale College regulations on alcoholic beverages.1
1 See Yale College Regulations on Social Functions and Alcoholic Beverages.
Because it violates our community values and standards, Yale College prohibits all acts of hazing. Hazing includes any action that violates Connecticut hazing law (CT General Statute, Section 53-23a, Hazing) as well as additional violations spelled out in these regulations.
In addition to Connecticut law, Yale College defines hazing to include initiation or affiliation activities that intentionally or recklessly endanger physical or mental health; that intimidate, denigrate, or humiliate persons pledging or seeking membership, or seeking to retain membership, in a registered or unregistered student organization or on an athletic team; or that intimidate, denigrate, or humiliate third parties who are witness to or subject to such activities.1 Blindfolding or physically restraining another individual, with or without that person's consent, falls within the Yale College definition of hazing. Because hazing is an organizational activity, the organization, its officers, and responsible members will be held accountable for hazing violations.
Hazing is an offense whether it occurs on or off campus. The Executive Committee will not consider the implied or express consent of the person being hazed as a defense; nor will it consider the use of alcohol or drugs as a mitigating factor. To the contrary, in the context of hazing, the use of alcohol or drugs by any participants may be considered an express attempt to impair judgment, likely contributing to reckless behavior. Because hazing is an organizational activity, the organization, its officers, and responsible members will be held accountable for hazing violations.
Where harm occurs or the potential for harm exists to any person or persons as a result of hazing by members of a student group, the hosts of the event as well as the individuals directly involved and the officers of the organization (or their equivalent) can be held personally responsible. With respect to possible disciplinary action against all such persons, the Executive Committee may consider as mitigating factors efforts made to prevent the harmful or potentially harmful situation, as well as their cooperation with the Executive Committee’s investigation of the situation.
1 There are over 400 registered undergraduate student organizations in Yale College and a number of unregistered student organizations. Examples include but are not limited to athletic clubs, varsity teams, fraternities, sororities, musical groups, junior and senior societies, drama groups, comedy groups, political groups, cultural houses, tour guides, student government organizations, and residential colleges.
W. Special provisions concerning student organizations
1. Conduct at Off-Campus Events. Conduct occurring off campus at an event, or in connection with an event, held or sponsored by a fraternity, sorority, or other registered or unregistered student organization, is a violation of these regulations if the conduct occurs in the normal patrol area of the University Police and the conduct, had it occurred on campus, would be a violation of section C, “Acts of violence or physical force,” section D, “Sexual misconduct," including sexual harassment, section L, “Alcohol,” or section M, “Drugs,” of this section. In addition, as provided above, any conduct occurring off campus that imperils the integrity and values of the University community may result in disciplinary action.
The following penalties are among those which may be imposed by the Yale College Executive Committee or recommended by the University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct:
1. Reprimand. This is a matter of internal record only. Records of reprimands in college deans’ offices will be destroyed when students graduate.
2. Restriction. Denial of the use of certain University facilities or of the right to participate in certain activities or to exercise certain privileges.
3. Probation. The student is in official jeopardy. The commission of a serious offense while on probation will normally result in suspension or expulsion.
4. Suspension. Separation from the University for a stated period of time. A suspended student forfeits all privileges of enrollment, including residence, attendance at classes, participation in organized extracurricular activities, and use of University libraries as well as of athletic and other facilities. Suspension may require petition for readmission. A suspended student may not return to campus during the period of suspension for any reason unless he or she receives express written permission in advance from his or her residential college dean or the dean of Student Affairs. Students on suspension during the spring and the subsequent fall term are not eligible to participate in the Yale Summer Session or any Yale-sponsored activities or programs over the summer.
5. Expulsion. Permanent separation from the University. Expulsion shall be recorded on the academic transcript.
6. Fines. Yale reserves the right to impose fines as appropriate, in addition to requiring payment for costs resulting from or associated with the offenses.
In addition to imposing these penalties for offenses subject to disciplinary action, the University may refer students for prosecution.
Emergency, Interim, and Administrative Suspension
The president of the University, or an official of the University authorized by the president, may impose an emergency suspension from residence or academic status when, in the judgment of the president, such action appears necessary for reasons relating to a student's physical or emotional safety and well-being or the safety and well-being of a member of the University community or of University property, or may impose an immediate interim suspension when it appears necessary to deal with a continuing disturbance or a forcible interference by students with any University activity or with the free movement of any member of the University community. When an undergraduate in Yale College is suspended in this fashion, the matter may be referred either to the Yale College Executive Committee, to the University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct, or to the University Tribunal, if the Tribunal is convoked. Interim suspension may remain in effect until the Executive Committee, the UWC, or the University Tribunal has taken action with regard to the student; however, interim suspension may be lifted earlier by action of the president or the president’s authorized designee, or by action of the Executive Committee, the UWC, or University Tribunal panel after a preliminary review, which will be held at the earliest opportunity. 1
