Code of Conduct

Purpose

The purpose of the Code is to express and emulate the morale character of our beloved Prophet Muhammad saw with standards of honesty, respect for persons and property, and responsibility. In addition, we seek to support each student in accessing the resources they need to be well. The Code reflects the Dar’l Fodiawa’s mission and identity, and it exists to guide conduct, safeguarding and promoting Dar’l Fodiawa’s educational activities.

Students are responsible for reading and reviewing the Code of Student Conduct, and for understanding the responsibilities they assume by enrolling in Dar’l Fodiawa Institute. For purposes of handling student conduct matters, a “student” is defined as someone who has enrolled in the institute and has not formally severed recognized student status with Dar’l Fodiawa. Students retain this status throughout their time at Dar’l Fodiawa, including academic terms, scheduled vacations, summer months, periods of leave, or off-campus activities.

Student conduct action may not be brought against someone who has formally severed recognized student status with the institute or who has graduated from Dar’l Fodiawa except when such an individual may once again be a recognized student. The institution reserves the right to at any time bar any non-current member of the Dar’l Fodiawa’s community from being on campus or participating in institution-sponsored activities. In situations where it may not be possible to resolve a case prior to a student’s graduation, the President (or designee) may cause the student’s degree to be withheld until the case is fully resolved.

The institute reserves the right to investigate and sanction alleged misconduct even when it occurs off campus. The institute usually will apply the Code in instances where the off-campus misconduct:

  • occurs in connection with an institute-sponsored event or when students are acting as representatives of the institute, or

  • directly affects another member of the Dar’l Fodiawa community, or

  • suggests a potential danger or threat to others.

It is important that students know where to turn when they have questions, and for the institute to be confident that those to whom they turn understand the student conduct system. In addition to the language of the Code itself, the institute makes available a variety of resources: Regional Amir, Members of the faculty, The Disciplinary board, and House Amir. If a student has a general question about student conduct policy, the Regional Amir can provide helpful and accurate answers and may refer more detailed questions to other campus resources. For more detailed information, students may speak with the The Disciplinary board, who have extensive familiarity with the student conduct process and who are prepared to explain it to students and faculty who become involved in any aspect of a student conduct matter.

Dar’l Fodiawa Statement on Academic Integrity

 

Dar’l Fodiawa institute is an academic community deeply engaged in inquiry and intellectual exchange and is committed to core principles of academic freedom, academic integrity and rigorous, creative scholarship. We recognize that intellectual and artistic exchange depend on a mutual respect for independent inquiry, reflection and expression. Faculty, staff, and students alike are therefore dedicated to fostering an environment that upholds the highest standards of fairness, integrity, and respect in all their academic endeavors.

As contributors to an ongoing scholarly and creative conversation that depends upon thoughtful and fair acknowledgment and treatment of the inquiries, reflections, and expressions of others, each member of the Dar’l Fodiawa community is expected to use and represent the work of others fairly and honestly; to acknowledge the work of others fully and accurately through proper attribution and citation; and to produce their own work unless collaboration is permitted. Faculty and staff members are expected to meet these standards in all their work as described in the employee and faculty handbooks; students are subject to the policies and procedures described below.

In educating students in the values, dispositions, and responsibilities of independent thinkers and scholars, the Bates faculty recognizes that certain scholarly practices reflect complex tasks that require instruction and practice. Faculty are committed to teaching these critical practices. Students, in turn, are responsible for learning these scholarly practices and demonstrating them in all their work; they are not only a means of showing learning but of developing genuine understanding, not only the mark of an independent scholar but the way to become one.

Violations of Academic Integrity

Violations of principles and practices of academic integrity fall into two subcategories: (1) plagiarism and misuse of sources and (2) cheating.

1. Plagiarism and Misuse of Sources

Plagiarism is the use without proper attribution of someone else’s words, ideas or other work as if it were one’s own. Failure to properly indicate and acknowledge the work of others can lead a reader, listener or viewer to think that information, research, ideas, words, images, data, artistic and creative elements, or other work are the student’s own efforts, when they are not. Plagiarism significantly departs from accepted standards in the academic community and misleads others into thinking the work is the student’s own.

Misuse of sources, like plagiarism, reflects failure to properly credit the work of others but involves errors, mistakes, incomplete, or inadequate attempts and other errors in citation, quotation, and attribution that would not seriously mislead others into thinking the work is the student’s own.

The responsibility to give credit for material that would not qualify as common knowledge applies to almost all types of assignments and situations, not just papers, and not only to final work but also submitted drafts. Work in which students must acknowledge sources and the contributions of others includes but is not limited to draft and final versions of the following:

  • talks and other oral presentations

  • visual aids, presentation slides, or other media tools

  • websites, Web pages, webcasts, and other multimedia work

  • artistic, musical, and other creative work

  • lab reports

  • problem sets

  • thesis chapters, papers, proposals, literature reviews, abstracts, annotated bibliographies, and other writing

  • exams, including in-class and take-home exams.

2. Cheating

Cheating involves violating recognized norms for academic inquiry or specific norms established by faculty for particular assignments or using other methods, including technology, to gain unearned academic advantage. Examples of cheating include but are not limited to the following:

  • unauthorized collaboration

  • using materials not permitted during an exam, when writing a paper, or in completing other assignments

  • receiving assistance beyond what is permitted

  • manufacturing or falsifying data

  • submitting the same work to satisfy the requirements of two different courses without getting permission from the instructor of the second course or permission from both instructors if the same work is submitted in two courses during a single semester

  • knowingly providing assistance of any kind to another person who is attempting to cheat or plagiarize

Violations of academic integrity are among the most serious offenses that students can commit; any violation may result in consequences at both the course and institutional levels. Procedures, findings, and consequences for violations of academic integrity may depend on specific circumstances, such as the student’s grade level, educational background, prior violation of academic integrity policies, attempts made to cite or acknowledge sources, and the amount and type of work at issue.

Social Misconduct

 

Dar’l Fodiawa students are held responsible for their conduct at all times. Any student who becomes disorderly, is involved in any disturbance, interferes with the rights of others, damages property, or is individually or as a member of a group involved in unacceptable social behavior on or off campus may be subject to student conduct action by the Regional Amir or The Disciplinary board.

General Categories of Social Misconduct

Cases of social misconduct usually fall into one of several general categories. While not exhaustive, the following categories illustrate the expectations of the institute and provide examples of misconduct subject to student conduct action. Addressing a violation of the Institute’s Code of Conduct does not exempt the individual from prosecution by proper authorities under criminal or civil code, and criminal or civil prosecution does not exempt the individual from being held accountable under the Institute’s Code of Student Conduct.

1. Actions Against Persons

Conduct which involves force, threat of force, or intimidation directed at an individual or group of individuals may constitute an “action against persons” violation.

Examples of actions against persons violations include:

Assault

  • This includes any unwanted physical contact, as well as fighting and physical altercations.

Sexual Misconduct

  • Please refer to the College’s Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Anti-Harassment Policy for detailed definitions regarding sexual misconduct violations (e.g., rape, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking) and the procedures for adjudicating alleged violations.

Hazing

  • Dar’l Fodiawa prohibits injurious hazing, defined as “any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of a student. . . .” Specifically, hazing means an act that, as an explicit or implicit condition for initiation to, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in a group or organization, (1) could be seen by a reasonable person as endangering the physical health of an individual or as causing mental distress to an individual through, for example, humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning treatment, (2) destroys or removes public or private property, (3) involves the consumption of alcohol or drugs, or the consumption or other substances to excess, or (4) violates any institute’s policy. An act may be considered hazing regardless of the person’s consent to participate.

Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying

  • This includes acts of intimidation, stalking, confrontation, verbal slurs, insults or taunts, physical force or threat of physical force made with the intention of causing fear, intimidation, ridicule, humiliation, disparagement, disruption to the educational environment, or damage to property. Such acts may be committed in person, by proxy, via telephone or cell phone, via text message, or any electronic means including social networking websites.

  • For conduct concerns that may be related to a protected class (race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, national origin, religion, or other identity).

2. Actions Against Property

Conduct which results in damage to property of another individual or of the Institute, or conduct which improperly converts another’s property to personal use may constitute an “action against property” violation.

Examples of actions against property violations include:

Theft

  • To steal or knowingly possess stolen property or any item reasonably thought to be lost and not abandoned.

Damaging the property of another person or of the Institute

  • Students may be subject to student conduct action for damage to the property of another person or institute property, including their own rooms, in addition to providing restitution for any monetary costs assessed by another person or the College to repair such damage.

Illegally entering College facilities

  • This includes unauthorized possession, use, or duplication of the Institute's keys or cards, passwords, or other means of access.

3. Dangerous or Disorderly Conduct

Conduct that is dangerous to self or others, or conduct that creates a disturbance or disrupts the ability of the Institute to carry on its essential functions may constitute a “dangerous or disorderly conduct” violation. In accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, the Institute’s standards of conduct prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs and alcohol by students and employees, on the Institute’s property, or as part of any of its activities.

Examples of dangerous or disorderly conduct violations include:

Illegally possessing, using, or distributing any scheduled drugs

  • Unlawful possession, distribution, or use of illegal drugs and narcotics, including amphetamines, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and LSD, renders a student liable to disciplinary action, including confiscation of materials, student conduct action up to and including suspension and dismissal.

Violators of these policies may be subject to student conduct action, including confiscation of materials, the revocation of the privilege of using Institute’s facilities for such events and/or referral to the Disciplinary Board.

The Institute will also utilize its mental health resources to help students involved with drugs and alcohol.

Possessing a weapon on campus

  • Weapons prohibited on campus include but are not limited to firearms, ammunition, knives, BB or pellet guns, and slingshots. These items are not permitted except by permission of Dar’l Fodiawa’s Campus Safety, which will register and store them. It is the responsibility of students to check with Dar’l Fodiawa’s Security if there is a question of whether an item would be prohibited under this policy.

Fire safety violations

  • Possessing or producing explosives and setting fires are prohibited. Intentionally setting off a fire alarm, misuse of a fire extinguisher, or any action that might cause a fire in the Institute’s building will be considered a serious offense and may be met with student conduct action, including suspension or dismissal by the Disciplinary Board. Firecrackers, flares, and explosives are prohibited on campus.

Disorderly conduct

Conduct which infringes on the freedom and activities of others, or conduct which is disruptive, harassing, or a nuisance may constitute disorderly conduct.

4. Obstruction of Institute Procedures

Conduct which interferes with the regular procedures of the Institute, investigation of alleged Code violations, the process by which they are resolved, or their outcomes, or that violates any Institute policy, including but not limited to the Computer Use Policy, Residence Hall and Dining Service Regulations, may constitute an “obstruction of Institute procedures” violation. Application of this section shall not be used to restrict the exercise of free expression of any member of the Institute community.