Campus Policies
Student Rights and Responsibilities
As a Stony Brook Southampton student, you are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and abiding by the University's regulations, procedures, requirements, and deadlines as described in official publications, including the University's bulletins, the Student Handbook, and class schedules. Stony Brook Southampton students are also encouraged to visit www.stonybrook.edu/southampton, which provides additional information to help you become acclimated.
Student Consumer Information Statement
The following information is available through the University's Web site at
studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/sci/
• Stony Brook's academic programs, including the University faculty, laboratory, and physical facilities; student financial assistance
• The University Student Conduct Code and the State University of New York's rules for the maintenance of public order
• Campus safety policy and crime statistics
• The University alcohol and drug policy
• Stony Brook’s intercollegiate athletic program participation and financial support
• Student retention, graduation, and placement rates
Student Rights Statement
Stony Brook University is committed to the creation of an environment wholly supportive of students' academic and personal achievements. Beyond providing requisite academic resources and support services, the University seeks to sustain an environment in which the diverse cultural traditions and ideals represented in both the campus community and the nation at large are valued, nurtured, and promoted. In so doing, the University fulfills its mandate to prepare students to participate actively and productively in our larger society.
The following students' rights reflect this mandate within the context of the campus community and will be viewed in the larger context of federal and state mandates.
• The right to participate in all aspects of the University experience, both in and outside the classroom, without harassment or discrimination on the basis of religion, age, gender, disability, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
• The right to participate in a free exchange of ideas and dissent from views on all matters of interest to the student body, both in and outside the classroom.
• The right to organize and demonstrate peacefully, which includes expressions or actions that capture attention and attempt to persuade, so long as access to buildings and University community activities are not hampered.
• The right to free inquiry and expression by student media in accordance with professional journalistic standards.
• The right to personal privacy, confidentiality of records, and individual self-determination.
• The right to file a grievance in the event of an alleged breach of one's rights.
With the freedom that these rights afford comes the responsibility to conduct oneself with civility and respect toward the rights of others. It is also the responsibility of all those given these rights to protect and preserve them for others, so that with vigilance we may move closer to the ideals that these rights promise.
Environmental Stewardship
At Stony Brook University, we believe we must take a proactive role in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, operating our facilities in an environmentally sound manner, and promoting programs that support environmental stewardship. Environmental stewardship at Stony Brook University includes supporting environmentally responsible actions, services and products; promoting recycling and energy conservation; and incorporating recycled materials into our daily lives. Please visit www.stonybrook.edu/sustainability to see what Stony Brook Southampton is doing and how you can help!
Community Standards, Student Rights and Responsibilities, and Respect for People and Property in the University Community
The University Student Conduct Code is the campus guide for responsible nonacademic
student conduct. The Code also describes how to file a complaint if your rights as a member of the University community have been violated by another student.
University students and their guests are expected to respect the rights of others regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, on the campus, in the residence halls, and in the classroom. Complaints of harassment, physical abuse, threats, bias-related acts of harassment, assault or abuse, sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual assault, violations of alcohol and other drug policies, health and safety violations, theft, property damage, and misuse of electronic communications systems, will be investigated by the appropriate campus judicial body. Information about campus safety statistics and reports can be found on the University Police’s Web site at www.stonybrook.edu/police. Students may be arrested for violations of the law in addition to a referral to the conduct process. Significant violations of the University Student Conduct Code and Alcohol and Other Drug policies can result in separation from the University.
It is imperative that all full-time, part-time, undergraduate, and graduate students, campus residents, and visitors read, understand, and abide by the rules, regulations, and policies contained in the University Student Conduct Code; the Policy for On-Campus Sales, Service, and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages; Drug Policy; the Rules of Public Order; and all applicable federal, state, and local laws including parking regulations.
Students, staff, faculty, and visitors whose rights were allegedly violated by others on the campus, are encouraged to file a complaint with the Dean of Students Office, Chancellors Hall Room 205, (631) 632-5093; University Police, 162 Dutchess Hall, South Campus, call 911; and with your Residence Life staff at Amagansett Hall Lower Level (631) 632-5115.
The Advisory Committee on Campus Safety will provide, upon request, all campus crime
statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education. Direct such requests to Douglas Little, Assistant Chief of University Police, at (631) 632-7786. The United States Department of Education Web site for campus crime statistics is http://ope.ed.gov/security/ main.asp
The University Student Conduct Code, Alcohol Policy, and Rules of Public Order are available online at www.stonybrook.edu/southampton and in hard copy in the Office of the Dean. Students are encouraged to apply to become Administrative Hearing Board members who sit on panels and periodically hear cases of alleged student misconduct.
For assistance with any nonacademic judicial matters, please call either the Dean of Students at (631) 632-5093 or the Residence Life Coordinator at (631) 632-5115, or stop by the Dean of Students office in 205 Chancellor Hall or the Residence Life office in Amagansett Hall.
Residence Hall Regulations
Residence halls offer students the convenience of location for academic pursuits and the advantage of participation in a peer community. The University sets certain limits on occupancy and establishes regulations to preserve the facilities. The offer of on-campus accommodations is extended only to full-time matriculated students as a privilege and not a right. Occupancy in campus housing is conditional upon acceptance by each student of a set of terms and regulations established by the University through the Division of Campus Residences. In accordance with Chapter 416 of the Laws of 1988, the full set of rights, responsibilities, terms, and regulations for residence hall living can be found at
www.stonybrook.edu/southampton.
The University has the right, using established procedures, to suspend or withdraw accommodations, guest privileges, or access to a campus residence to any person(s) for violation of these regulations, for health and safety reasons, or for nonpayment of bills. In addition, the University can seek financial or other restitution for loss or damage to residence hall property.
Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
Stony Brook University does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran in its educational programs or in employment.
Also, the State of New York prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Discrimination is unlawful.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that individuals with disabilities be afforded equal opportunity in the areas of public services and programs, employment, transportation, and communications. In compliance with the ADA definition of disabilities, the University makes concerted efforts to provide reasonable accommodation and access to services and programs.
For more information, visit Disability Support Services online at studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/ or speak with Student Health and Counseling Services.
Any questions concerning this policy or allegations of noncompliance should be directed to the Office for Diversity and Affirmative Action, 201 Administration Building, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-0251, or call (631) 632-6280.
Academic Integrity
All Stony Brook students are expected to follow the codes established by the University. It is your responsibility to know the codes. Please familiarize yourself with them, For more information contact Marie Sweatt in the Office of the Dean or call (631) 632-8000.
The Academic Judiciary
If a student doesn't follow the codes he or she may face the Academic Judiciary.
The Academic Judiciary handles two kinds of issues:
1. Accusations of academic dishonesty against students
2. Academic grievances against faculty and staff
The Academic Judiciary in the Office of the Dean deals with accusations of dishonesty and handles complaints not linked to a particular course. If a student has a dispute with an instructor, he or she must first try to resolve it directly with the instructor and, if that fails, with the Dean. If he or she is still unable to resolve the matter, a grievance may be filed through the Academic Judiciary on the Stony Brook University campus. A hearing board will then consider the grievance and, if it deems appropriate, investigate the matter further and schedule a hearing.
When an instructor accuses a student of academic dishonesty, he or she normally will file a report of the incident with the Academic Judiciary hearing officer on the Stony Brook University main campus within three weeks of discovering it. The hearing officer will then notify the student (in writing) of the report and of the proposed penalties. The student will then have one month to appeal the accusation. If he or she appeals, the Academic Judiciary will schedule a hearing at which the testimony of the faculty member, the student, and any witnesses will be heard by a panel consisting of at least five members. If the panel finds the student innocent, his or her grade will be computed without penalty. If it finds the student guilty, the hearing board will determine penalties, which usually include a Q ("failure by reason of academic dishonesty") for the course. If the hearing board determines that the student provided false information in his or her appeal, it may accuse him or her of a second act of academic dishonesty, which would carry further penalties.
Students who need advice on issues related to this policy should contact Susan Ulrich in the Academic, Career and Internship Office at (631) 632-5094.
What is Academic Dishonesty?
The following is a list that contains some general parameters that define academic dishonesty. While these definitions include specific examples, the examples themselves cannot be listed exhaustively. Therefore, the list of examples is not all-inclusive.
Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized assistance, materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise; or preventing, or attempting to prevent, another from using authorized assistance, materials, etc.
• Using unauthorized notes, study aids, or information on an examination.
• Altering a graded work after it has been returned—then submitting the work for
re-grading.
• Allowing another person to do your work and submitting that work under your name or having someone else take an exam for you.
• Copying answers from someone else.
• Having in one’s possession without permission, any tests, notes, or property belonging to or generating from faculty, staff, or students.
Plagiarism: Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.
• Submitting material that in part or whole is not entirely one’s own work without attributing those same portions to their correct source.
• Copying from any source without quotation marks and the appropriate documentation.
• Re-wording an idea found in a source, but then omitting documentation.
• Copying a paper, or portion of a paper, that someone else has written.
Fabrication: Intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in any academic exercise.
• Presenting data that were not gathered in accordance with standard guidelines defining the appropriate methods for collecting or generating data, and failing to include an accurate account of the method by which the data were gathered or collected.
• Citing nonexistent or irrelevant articles.
• Working together with others on a take-home exam.
• Providing false information in connection with any inquiry regarding academic integrity.
• Taking a test or doing an assignment for someone else.
• Willfully offering to a student answers or information related to tests and examinations.
Obtaining an Unfair Advantage: Attempting to gain unauthorized advantage over fellow students in any academic exercise.
• Gaining or providing unauthorized access to examination materials.
• Lying about the need for an extension for an exam or paper.
• Continuing to write even when time is up during an exam.
• Stealing, destroying, defacing, or keeping library materials for one’s own use or with the purpose of depriving others of their use.
Falsification of Records and Official Documents: Misrepresenting, falsifying, or tampering with or attempting to tamper with any portion of an academic transcript, record, etc. for oneself or for another.
• Tampering with computer records.
• Forging a faculty/staff signature on any University document.
Unauthorized Access: Unauthorized access to computerized academic or administrative records or systems.
• Viewing/altering computer records; modifying computers.
• Releasing or dispensing information gained via unauthorized access.
• Interfering with the use/availability of computer systems or information.
For more information about academic dishonesty, consult the Stony Brook Southampton Web site at www.stonybrook.edu/southampton, or visit the Office of the Dean at 205 Chancellors Hall, or phone (631) 632-5093.
Student Health Regulations
It is a requirement of NYS Public Health Law §2165 that every student demonstrates proof of immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella to attend Stony Brook University. This law requires the University to prohibit a student’s future attendance if they fail to acquire or submit the necessary immunizations. All Stony Brook students must complete and return an acknowledgement form. This form can be downloaded from http://student affairs.stonybrook.edu/shs/forms. It is also a requirement of NYS Public Health Law §2167 that institutions, including colleges and universities, distribute information about meningococcal disease and vaccination to all students meeting the enrollment criteria, whether they live on or off campus.
Colleges in New York State are required to maintain a record of the following for each student: a response to receipt of meningococcal disease and vaccine information signed by the student or student’s parent or guardian. This must include information on the availability and cost of meningococcal meningitis vaccine (Menomune); and either: a record of meningococcal meningitis immunization within the past 10 years; or an acknowledgement of meningococcal disease risks and refusal of meningococcal meningitis immunization signed by the student or student's parent or guardian.
Required Student Health Insurance Plans
Stony Brook has a required health insurance plan for all full-time domestic students. This plan pays for most medically necessary bills and covers our students anywhere in the world, no matter whether on campus or on break. All full-time students are automatically billed for the University Health Insurance plan at the beginning of each semester. The cost of the insurance is approximately $1,000 per year. Waivers for this insurance are approved only if the student already has health insurance through a job, a parent or other related individual, a spouse, Medicaid, or "Healthy New York." Waivers for the 2007-2008 academic year will be accepted online through the SOLAR System until September 28, 2007, for Fall and until February 28, 2008, for Spring.
For questions about health insurance, contact the Student Health Insurance Office in the Student Health Center on the Stony Brook University campus, 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday to Friday, by phone at (631) 632-6054, or click on the Health Insurance Link on www.stonybrook.edu/success.