Student Conduct

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Student Conduct Review

Illegal Activity & Drug Use

Sexual Harassment

Mandatory Reporting

Alcohol Abuse and Misuse

Dismissal from a Program

Student Conduct Review

Effective with Fall Break 2015 programs, Learning Abroad will forward your name to the University of Utah Student Conduct Office for review. While the existence of past sanctions is not necessarily grounds for disqualification, it is taken into account during the pre-decision process for all Learning Abroad Programs and provided to any third party entities associated with your program that request your conduct record. If there are questions or concerns about your review, you will be contacted through Umail. Learning Abroad will mark this requirement as complete after your conduct record has been approved by the University of Utah Student Conduct Office. If you have questions or concerns about your conduct record, please contact the University of Utah Student Conduct Office.

If you are a non-U of U student, you are required to submit the Conduct Record Form. The Conduct Record Form can be found in your online application.

Illegal Activity & Drug Use

While traveling abroad, you are subject to the laws of the countries that you visit. The United States government and the University of Utah cannot ensure your safety should you participate in an illegal activity. Neither entity can protect you from arrest, incarceration or punishment. Additionally, the U.S. government and the University of Utah cannot protect you from discrimination within a foreign legal system. The use, purchase or sale of illegal drugs, in particular, is a crime often punishable by the severest penalties abroad.

The University of Utah has a zero-tolerance policy for the possession, use, manufacture, production, sale, exchange, or distribution of illegal drugs by anyone participating in a Learning Abroad Program. Violation of this policy will result in immediate dismissal from the program and disciplinary action upon return to campus.

The U.S. government and the University of Utah are unable to assist you if you are caught with drugs. You will be subject to the laws and penalties of the host country. Laws governing drug use and drug trafficking abroad are EXTREMELY harsh. If you are caught in possession of illegal drugs or commit any other illegal act, you will be subject to local, not U.S., laws. Imprisonment for drug related charges abroad is almost guaranteed in these situations and the term of incarceration is typically very long.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment and assault can happen any time and any place, not just at night or in a bar. If there has been an incident of sexual harassment while abroad, if you feel you have been harassed, or if you are at all uncomfortable with someone in your host family, institution, a peer, instructor, community member, etc., please notify the Faculty Director or the Office of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Title IX (OEOAA) as soon as possible. The Faculty Director, along with the OEOAA, will have resources to assist. Please note: all University of Utah staff and faculty are mandatory reporters. Any incident reported to staff or faculty will be promptly reported to OEOAA. You can learn more about Mandatory Reporting in the following section. Students have the option of contacting OEOAA directly.

If the harassment involves the Faculty Director, please inform your Learning Abroad Coordinator immediately. Learning Abroad will link you to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action for assistance. You will receive an email from OEOAA providing you with information about support, and options for reporting/addressing the behavior which will depend on the situation. Students can report directly to OEO at 801-581-8365, oeo@utah.edu, or submit a report online at oeo.utah.edu.

Mandatory Reporting

All staff and faculty are required to report any instances of inappropriate conduct as outlined below:

Title IX Reporting: All instances of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct involving anyone from Learning Abroad and anyone associated with our programs (program staff, students, visitors, faculty, etc.).
Clery Act: All instances of certain violent crimes that occur in our housing, classroom, or other "controlled" spaces, whether the alleged perpetrators and victims are Learning Abroad affiliated individuals or not.
Child Abuse: All reports of child abuse or neglect, even if they are about instances that happened prior to the program (even 20 years ago).
Discrimination and Bias: All instances of discrimination or bias based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability/disability, socioeconomic background, or any other similar social categories.

Alcohol Abuse and Misuse

Statistically, the use of alcohol is related to many health and safety emergencies involving students abroad. Alcohol misuse and abuse will not be tolerated on learning abroad programs. The University recommends that you avoid the risks associated with drinking. Additionally, students should be aware that the alcohol content of drinks overseas is typically higher than it would be in the U.S. For this reason, you should use extreme caution when consuming alcohol. Do not endanger yourself, your peers, or the community.

Students must comply with local drinking laws. These laws may differ from those of the United States. For instance, in many countries the legal drinking age is 18. The penalties for breaking laws governing the use and sale of alcohol are also likely to be different from the U.S. In addition to understanding that there are legal consequences, it is important to recognize that there are cultural ramifications to drinking. Most cultures disapprove of “getting drunk.” If you disregard local culture and choose to drink alcohol anyway, you may find that you are treated differently by the community, your peers, and your host family as a result of your behavior.

Disruptive or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. Moreover, inappropriate conduct resulting from the consumption of alcohol could result in dismissal from your program. Examples of such behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

Inattentiveness in class
Tardiness & poor attendance
Disruption of program activities
Disrespect towards peers,community members,or faculty
Behavior that endangers your well-being or the well-being of others

Faculty Directors and on-site personnel have the discretion to determine if the consumption of alcohol is appropriate during the program. That said, Faculty Directors and on-site staff may impose additional restrictions on the consumption of alcohol. Students are required to follow all instructions given by Faculty Directors or on-site personnel. Failure to follow instructions can result in your dismissal from the program. Contact Learning Abroad if you have questions or concerns about the alcohol policy for Learning Abroad Programs.

Dismissal from a Program

A dismissal occurs when you are involuntarily removed from your Program or when an acceptance to your Program is rescinded for any reason. Dismissal can occur before or after the Program begins. Under normal circumstances, the dismissal process will follow the steps outlined below.

Verbal Warning
Final Written Warning
Dismissal

The University and onsite personnel are authorized to skip any step of this process and move directly to a more advanced step if your conduct warrants a stronger response. Considerations include, but are not limited to, danger to self or others, patterns of behavior, nature of the violation, and a student’s response to the process. Common reasons for dismissal include, but are not limited to:

Failure to follow directions
Not completing Application steps or orientation requirements
Tardiness and poor attendance
Missing deadlines
Not checking Umail or responding to communication (verbal, written, or electronic) within 1 business day
New or pending violations with the Student Conduct Office or Housing & Residential Education
Becoming academically ineligible for the Program
Alcohol abuse or misuse
Violations of the Illegal Activity & Drug Use policy
Violence, aggression, or sexual harassment
Disruptive behavior

Learning Abroad and the Hinckley Institute reserve the right to consult with other offices on campus regarding dismissals. If you are dismissed from your Program, you will be referred to the University Office of the Dean of Students for follow up. If the dismissal occurs while you are abroad, you are not entitled to a judicial hearing before returning to campus.