(A) The code applies to the on-campus conduct of all students and registered student organizations, including conduct using university computing or network resources. The code also applies to the off-campus conduct of students and registered student organizations directly connected to:
- Academic course requirements or any credit-bearing experiences, such as internships, field trips, study abroad, or student teaching;
- Any activity supporting pursuit of a degree, such as research at another institution or a professional practice assignment;
- Any activity sponsored, conducted, or authorized by the university or by registered student organizations;
- Any activity that causes substantial destruction of property belonging to the university or members of the university community, or causes or threatens serious harm to the safety or security of members of the university community; or
- Any activity which could constitute a criminal offense as defined by local, state or federal law, regardless of the existence or outcome of any criminal proceeding.
(B) The code may be applied to behavior conducted online, via e-mail, text, or other electronic medium. Students should also be aware that online postings such as web postings and posts on social networking sites and applications are in the public sphere and are not private. These postings can subject a student to allegations of conduct violations if evidence of policy violations is posted online. The university does not routinely search for code of student conduct violations, but may take action if and when such information comes to the attention of university officials.
Students and/or registered student organizations may also be held accountable for the behavior of their guests or members when the student or members of the registered student organization has knowledge of, facilitates or contributes to the guest's or member's misconduct.
The code governs all campuses of the university. Students attending regional campuses, centers, or institutes are advised to consult their local resources for additional information or rules pertaining to those locations.
The university reserves the right to administer the code and proceed with the hearing process even if the student withdraws from the university, is no longer enrolled in classes, or subsequently fails to meet the definition of a student while a disciplinary matter is pending. The university may, within its discretion, place a hold or other notation on the student's transcript while the matter is pending.
Students continue to be subject to federal, state, and local laws while at the university, and violations of those laws may also constitute code of student conduct violations. In such instances, the university may proceed with university disciplinary action under the code of student conduct independently of any criminal proceeding involving the same conduct and may impose sanctions for the code of student conduct violation even if such criminal proceeding is not yet resolved or is resolved in the student’s favor.
(C) Discrimination and harassment, including, but not limited to sexual misconduct, based on a protected class in any form is never acceptable. Students are responsible to know and adhere to the university's non-discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct policy found at https://policies.osu.edu. This policy and not this code of student conduct, govern the investigation, adjudication, and resolution of protected class discrimination and harassment complaints.
(Board approval dates: 3/2/2001, 12/7/2007, 4/6/2012, 4/8/2016, 9/2/2016, 2/22/2019, 5/31/2019, 11/16/2023)