Click on 2022-2023 Code of Student Conduct for access to the PDF version.
Section A: Introduction
Section B: Definitions
Section C: Scope
Section D: Prohibited Conduct
Section E: Recommendations and Changes
For information about the processes for investigating and resolving alleged violations of the Code of Student Conduct, please consult the Student Conduct Procedures and the Student Conduct Procedures for Student Groups.
Section A: Introduction
Brown University (“Brown” or “the University”) has developed this Code of Student Conduct (“the Code”) as a set of standards of student behavior and conduct that help maintain a campus environment where ideas are freely exchanged, University property and processes are respected, and conflicts are peacefully resolved. These objectives are further outlined in the Principles of the Brown University Community. The Code is intended to provide an educational and socially just framework to address allegations of prohibited conduct. When students at the University fail to uphold these standards by engaging in prohibited conduct, Student Conduct Procedures (“the Procedures”) are used to uphold the Code. The Code is administered by the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards.
The Academic Code, administered through the Office of the Dean of the College, is separate from the Code of Student Conduct and governs the academic conduct of undergraduate students. The Academic Code, Graduate Student Edition, administered through the Graduate School, is likewise separate from the Code of Student Conduct and governs the academic conduct of graduate students. The academic conduct of medical students is governed by the Academic Code with additional expectations outlined in the Medical Student Handbook. Behavioral conduct of medical students is likewise governed by the Code of Student Conduct with additional expectations outlined in the Medical Student Handbook. Cases involving alleged violations of the Academic Code are heard by the Standing Committee on the Academic Code, a standing committee of the faculty, administered by the Dean of the College, the Dean of the Graduate School and, for the purpose of appeals, the Medical Committee on Academic Standing.
Section B: Definitions
The following definitions apply to the Code.
B.1 The term "campus" means property owned, leased, used, or controlled by Brown University, and also includes streets, sidewalks, and pathways adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of the campus.
B.2 The term "University" means Brown University, as well as any affiliated programs or virtual spaces including, but not limited to, University programs located outside of the state of Rhode Island.
B.3 The term “student” refers to the following individuals:
- Undergraduate students begin their student status when they first engage in official University activities (e.g., taking an online course, arriving to campus for Orientation or athletic participation, etc.) and end their student status when they withdraw from the University or their enrollment is terminated with all requirements complete.
- Graduate and medical students begin their student status when they accept an offer of admission and end their student status when they withdraw from the University or their enrollment is terminated with all requirements complete.
- Students enrolled in executive and professional education programs through the School of Professional Studies are considered to be students from the time they accept an offer of admission into their programs until they withdraw from the University or their enrollment is terminated with all requirements complete.
- Students enrolled in the IE Executive MBA program will be subject to IE’s policies and procedures when the behavior occurs in Madrid but will be subject to this Code if the behavior occurs on Brown’s campus. Administrators on both campuses will collaborate to determine which institution’s policy and procedures will govern incidents that occur elsewhere.
- Pre-College students are generally subject to the jurisdiction of this Code, though modifications have been made to account for developmental maturity and their short time on campus. For more information about the policies and procedures governing students enrolled in Pre-College programs, please refer to the Pre-College Code of Conduct.
Section C: Scope
The Code covers behaviors by all Brown University students or student organizations, no matter where the behavior occurs. This includes, but is not limited to, behaviors that occur off campus but cause potential or actual harm to individuals (whether or not those individuals are affiliated with the University), the University community, or to institutional reputation, or that suggest a student’s presence on campus may pose a safety risk. Students are responsible for the behavior of their guests on campus. The determination of whether behavior is subject to this Code will be made by the Dean of Students or their designee. Online behaviors are also subject to the jurisdiction of the Code. The Code applies whether or not the University is in session.
Students who have taken a leave of absence from their studies or who have completed their residency requirement but have not yet fulfilled all degree requirements and have not graduated are considered students under this definition. If a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence from the University with an investigation or resolution process pending, the University reserves the right to proceed with the investigation and resolution to the extent possible and reserves the right to make an entry on the student’s academic transcript indicating that the student withdrew or is on a leave of absence with a non-academic disciplinary matter pending. The University reserves the right to place a hold on the student’s official and unofficial academic transcripts for up to 3 years until the matter is resolved. Students may petition the Dean of Students to have this hold removed before 3 years have passed.
For incidents in which the reporting party is not an enrolled Brown University student, the University may go forward as the complainant. Complaints filed against a student after their graduation will not be subject to the procedures outlined in this Code unless that student enrolls at Brown University again. There shall be no established time limit for reporting an incident, though a delay in reporting will limit the ability of the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards to investigate and resolve a complaint.
Allegations of sexual and gender-based harassment, sexual violence, relationship and interpersonal violence, and gender-based stalking will generally be subject to the procedures outlined in the Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment, Sexual Assault, Intimate Partner Violence, and Stalking Policy and the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy and the applicable Complaint Process administered by the Title IX and Gender Equity Office. Cases for which these allegations are ancillary to other allegations of violations of the Code are subject to the procedures outlined in the Student Conduct Procedures.
The University reserves the right to pursue matters through the Student Conduct Procedures that may also be addressed in the civil or criminal legal system. Proceedings under the Code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with or following civil or criminal proceedings. Decisions about the timing of University proceedings will be at the sole discretion of the Dean of Students or designee.