Union Graduate College - Current Students

Rules and Regulations for the Maintenance of Public Order

Union Graduate College honors the tradition of the university as a sanctuary of academic freedom and center of informed discussion. The basic significance of that sanctuary lies in the protection of intellectual freedoms: the rights of students to learn and to express their views, of professors to teach, and of scholars to engage in the advancement of knowledge, all free from external pressures or interference. The Graduate College recognizes that these freedoms can flourish only in an atmosphere of mutual respect, civility and trust among faculty and students, only when members of the Graduate College community are willing to accept self-restraint and reciprocity as the condition upon which they share in its intellectual autonomy.

Academic freedom and the sanctuary of the Graduate College campus extend to all who share these aims and responsibilities. They cannot be invoked by those who would subordinate intellectual freedom to political ends, or who violate the norms of conduct established to protect that freedom.
Application of Rules
These rules shall govern the conduct of all students, faculty, staff, visitors, licensees, invitees, and all other persons, whether or not their presence is authorized, upon all property under the control of the Graduate College (“campus”), to which such rules are applicable. These Rules are not to be construed as limiting or restricting the freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.
Prohibited Conduct
Neither any person, acting either singly or in concert with others, nor any organization shall:

Obstruct the free movement of persons and vehicles in any place to which these rules apply;
Deliberately disrupt or prevent the peaceful and orderly conduct of classes, lectures, and meetings, or deliberately interfere with the freedom of any persons (including invited speakers) to express their views;
Enter upon and remain in any building or facility for any purpose other than its authorized uses or in such manner as to obstruct its authorized use by others, remain (without authorization) in any building or facility after it is normally closed, or refuse to leave any building or facility after being asked to do so by an authorized administrative officer; 4. Take any action, create, or participate in the creation of any situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health, or that involves the forced consumption of liquor or drugs for the purpose of initiation into, or affiliation with, any organization.

Penalties
Any violator of any provision of these rules shall:

If a trespasser or visitor without specific license or invitation, be subject to ejection.
If a licensee or invitee, be directed to leave the premises and authorization to remain on campus will be revoked. In the event of a failure or refusal to do so, the licensee or invitee shall be subject to ejection.
If a student or student organization, be subject to the Student Disciplinary Code. Penalties include expulsion or such lesser disciplinary action as the facts of the case may warrant, including suspension, probation, loss of privileges, reprimand, warning, or rescission of permission for an organization to operate on campus.
In the case of any other member or non-student organization of the Graduate College community, be dismissed, suspended, or censured by the President. All of the above penalties will be in addition to any penalty pursuant to law which a violator or organization may be subject.

Procedures
Pending adjudication of the matter by the appropriate authorities (see below), members of Graduate College community deemed to have violated rules will be subject to immediate suspension from the Graduate College as determined by the President.
In the case of a trespasser or visitor in violation of any provisions of these rules, the President or the President’s designee shall inform the trespasser or visitor of the violation and direct the violator to leave such premises. In the event of a failure or refusal to do so, the President shall cause the violator's ejection from such property under the control of the College. In the case of a licensee or invitee, the President or the President’s designee shall inform the licensee or invitee that the license or invitation is withdrawn and direct the violator to leave the campus or other property of the Graduate College. In the event of a failure or refusal to do so, the President or the President’s designee shall cause the ejection of the violator from property under the control of the Graduate College.
Enforcement
In the case of a student or student-organization, charges for violation of any of these rules shall be presented, heard, and determined by the Academic Committee through the procedures set forth in the Student Disciplinary Code. In all other cases the President or the President’s designee shall be responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of these rules and shall designate the other administrative officers who are authorized to take action in accordance with such rules when required or appropriate to carry them into effect.

The provisions herein are not intended to curtail the rights of students, faculty, or staff to be heard upon any matter affecting their relationship with the Graduate College. In the case of any apparent violation of these rules by such persons who, in the judgment of the President or the President’s designee, do not pose any immediate threat of injury to person or property, the President or the President’s designee may make a reasonable effort: (1) to learn the cause of the conduct in question; (2) to persuade those engaged therein to desist; and (3) to employ permissible methods to resolve any issues which may be presented. In doing so, the President or the President’s designee shall warn such persons of the consequences of persistence in the prohibited conduct including their ejection from any premises of the Graduate College where their continued presence and conduct is in violation of these rules.
In any case where violation of these rules does not cease after such warning and in other cases of willful violation of such rules, the President or the President’s designee shall follow the procedures set forth above. The President or the President’s designee may apply to the public authorities for any aid which is deemed necessary to cause the ejection of any violator of these rules.

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Union Graduate College 80 Nott Terrace, Schenectady, NY 12308 US Phone: (518) 631-9900 Fax: (518) 631-9901
Educating Graduate students from Albany, Schenectady, Upstate New York’s Capital Region, United States, and around the World.