4.6 Discipline of Students
4.6.1 Violations of State or Federal Law
A student in any University System of Georgia (USG) institution who is charged with, or indicted for, a felony or crime involving moral turpitude may be suspended pending the disposition of the criminal charges against him or her. Upon request, the student shall be afforded a hearing, as provided in this Policy Manual and any related institution policy, where he or she shall have the burden of establishing that his or her continued presence as a member of the student body will not be detrimental to the health, safety, welfare, or property of other students or members of the campus community or to the orderly operation of the institution. Upon final conviction, the student shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
4.6.2 Student Organization Responsibility for Drug Abuse
AbuseThe use of marijuana, controlled substances, or other illegal or dangerous drugs constitutes a serious threat to the public health, welfare, and academic achievement of students enrolled in the University System of Georgia (USG). Therefore, all student organizations, including but not limited to societies, fraternities, sororities, clubs, and similar groups of students which are affiliated with, recognized by, or which use the facilities under the jurisdiction of USG institutions, are responsible for enforcing compliance with local, state, and federal laws by all persons attending or participating in their respective functions and affairs, social or otherwise.
As provided by the Student Organization Responsibility for Drug Abuse Act, any such student organization which, through its officers, agents, or responsible members, knowingly permits, authorizes, or condones the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession, serving, consumption or use of marijuana, controlled substances, or other illegal or dangerous drugs at any affair, function, or activity of such student organization, social or otherwise, violates the laws of this State and, after being afforded the constitutional requirements of due process, shall have its recognition as a student organization withdrawn and shall be expelled from the campus for a minimum of one calendar year from the date of determination of guilt.
Such organization shall also be prohibited from using any property or facilities of the institution for a period of at least one year. Any lease, rental agreement, or other document between the Board of Regents or the institution and the student organization that relates to the use of the property leased, rented, or occupied shall be terminated for the student organization knowingly having permitted or authorized the unlawful actions described above.
All sanctions imposed by this policy shall be subject to review procedures authorized by the Board of Regents’ Policy on Application for Discretionary Review.
An appeal to the Board of Regents shall not defer the effective date of the adverse action against the student organization pending the Board’s review unless the Board so directs. Any such stay or suspension by the Board shall expire as of the date of the Board’s final decision on the matter.
4.6.3 Alcohol and Drugs on Campus
In accordance with Georgia laws governing the manufacture, sale, use, distribution, and possession of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs on college campuses and elsewhere, including the Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990, the Board of Regents encourages its institutions to adopt programs designed to increase awareness of the dangers involved in the use of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, or other illegal or dangerous drugs by University System of Georgia (USG) students and employees. Such programs shall stress individual responsibility related to the use of alcohol and drugs on and off the campus.
To assist in the implementation of such awareness programs and to enhance the enforcement of state laws at USG institutions, each institution shall adopt and disseminate comprehensive rules and regulations consistent with local, state, and federal laws concerning the manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, or use of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs on campus and at institutional-approved events off campus.
Disciplinary sanctions for the violation of such rules and regulations shall be included as a part of each institution’s disciplinary code of student conduct. Disciplinary sanctions for students convicted of a felony offense involving the manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, or use of marijuana, controlled substances, or other illegal or dangerous drugs shall include the forfeiture of academic credit and the temporary or permanent suspension or expulsion from the institution. All sanctions imposed by the institution shall be subject to review procedures authorized by Board of Regents’ Policy on Application for Discretionary Review.
The rules and regulations adopted by each institution shall also provide for relief from disciplinary sanctions previously imposed against one whose convictions are subsequently overturned on appeal or otherwise.
4.6.4 Disruptive Behavior
All policy set forth in Board of Regents Policy Manual | 6.8 Disruptive Behavior | University System of Georgia.
4.6.5 Tobacco and Smoke-Free Campuses
All policy set forth in Board of Regents Policy Manual | 6.10 Tobacco and Smoke-Free Campuses | University System of Georgia.
4.6.6 Weapons
The University System of Georgia (USG) prohibits all weapons on property owned or leased by the USG and its institutions, except as specifically provided herein or as provided in federal or state law set forth in Board of Regents Policy Manual | 6.11 Weapons | University System of Georgia.
4.6.7 Hazing
Hazing is a criminal act under state law and must be specifically prohibited by each institution’s student code of conduct. This policy sets forth institutional requirements for hazing investigation, reporting, and prevention to comply with state and federal law.
Each institution must include definitions of hazing and school/student organization in its student code of conduct that meet or exceed the definitions set forth in the Stop Campus Hazing Act and Max Gruver Act.
Each institution must establish policies covering the following areas:
Reporting and investigating of alleged incidents of hazing;
Due process requirements for adjudication of alleged incidents of hazing;
Public disclosure of administrative adjudications of hazing or hazing related criminal convictions within 15 days of final adjudication or public notice of conviction; AND
Promotion of hazing prevention and awareness, including information about applicable local and state law. Institution policies must include descriptions of research-informed campus-wide prevention programs and primary prevention strategies related to hazing for students, staff, and faculty. This may include skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and the promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without hazing.
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