Prohibited Behaviors

Professional Conduct

The behaviors considered a violation of the Standards of Professional Conduct include, but are not limited to, the following list. These are examples of actions that constitute misconduct for which students may be sanctioned.

1. Representing oneself as a graduate of the Northwestern Health Sciences University prior to program completion.
2. Chiropractic Students: Performing, whether on campus or off, a treatment or other procedure before graduation that is reserved to a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic without supervision and direction of a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic that maintains ranked faculty, adjunct faculty or preceptor-affiliation status with Northwestern’s academic programs.
3. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (ACM) Program Students: Practice of acupuncture or herbs without ACM Program faculty supervision or in other than an ACM Program educational setting before graduation. Students already licensed to practice acupuncture who enroll in the ACM Program for enhancement of skills may request an exception to this rule in writing to the Dean of the College of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
4. Massage Therapy Program Students: Practice of massage therapy outside of assigned projects and homework before graduation without Massage Therapy faculty supervision.
5. All Programs: Practicing or performing procedures without appropriate supervision or approval as required by: published policies and procedures of Northwestern Health Sciences University; federal, state, or local law; ethical and other guidance by the applicable professional organization or licensing board; or the policies of approved internship and externship sites.

Personal Conduct

The behaviors considered a violation of the Standards of Personal Conduct include, but are not limited to, the following list. These are examples of actions that constitute misconduct for which students may be sanctioned.

1. Intentionally or recklessly causing physical harm to any person on or off University premises or at University sponsored activities, or intentionally or recklessly causing reasonable apprehension of such harm. This includes, but is not limited to, hazing or verbal or written threats, abuse, harassment or sexual violence.
2. Theft of property or of services belonging to the University or others; knowing possession of stolen property on University premises or at Universitysponsored activities.
3. Dishonesty, furnishing false information, forgery, alterations, or unauthorized use of University documents, records, identification or property.
4. Damaging or destroying University property or property belonging to others. Littering or dumping trash on University grounds.
5. The Violation of the University Weapons Policy.
6. The Violation of the University Drug and Alcohol Use Policy.
7. Possession, sale or use of alcoholic beverages on campus, except where specifically authorized by the University. Knowing presence in a campus facility where alcohol is being consumed or is present without authorization of the University.
8. Failing to comply with the directions of University employees acting in the performance of their duties.
9. Verbally threatening, abusing or harassing any University employee in the performance of their duties.
10. Intentionally or recklessly misusing or damaging fire safety equipment.
11. Intentionally initiating or causing to be initiated any false report, warning or threat of fire, explosion or other emergency on University premises or at Universitysponsored activities.
12. Intentionally or recklessly interfering with normal University or Universitysponsored activities including but not limited to studying, teaching, research, University administration, or fire, police or emergency services.
13. Knowingly violating the terms of any disciplinary sanctions imposed in accordance with this code.
14. Engaging in disorderly conduct, public intoxication, or lewd, indecent or obscene behavior on University premises or at University-sponsored activities.
15. Violation of other published University regulations or policies.
16. Unauthorized presence in or use of University facilities, premises or equipment.
17. Actions which annoy, disturb or otherwise prevent the orderly conduct of activities, administration or classes of the University.
18. Actions not committed on University property, but related to the security of the University community or the integrity of the educational process.
19. Violations of Federal, State or local law.

SPECIAL NOTE: Northwestern Health Sciences University reserves the right to initiate disciplinary proceedings against students who have been formally charged with criminal violations off-campus by legal or civil authorities.

Academic Misconduct

Academic honesty and integrity are highly valued in the Northwestern campus community. Academic honesty directly concerns ethical behaviors that affect both the academic environment and the civic community. Academic dishonesty seriously violates the integrity of the academic enterprise and will not be tolerated.

The behaviors considered a violation of the Standards of Academic Conduct include, but are not limited to, the following list. These are examples of actions that constitute misconduct for which students may be sanctioned.

1. Buying, selling, otherwise obtaining, possessing or using any copy of any unsanctioned material intended to be used as an instrument of academic instruction or academic evaluation in advance of its initial administration.
2. Acting as a substitute for another person or using another person as a substitute in any academic evaluation process.
3. Using the aid of others or providing aid to others in a manner prohibited by the instructor, or University regulations, in the research, preparation, creation, writing, performing or publication of work for academic credit or evaluation.
4. Submitting the work of others in a manner which represents the work to be an individual's own.
5. Knowingly permitting one's work to be submitted by another person without the instructor's permission.
6. Knowingly violating the terms of any disciplinary sanctions imposed in accordance with this code.
7. Certain behaviors during the administration of an instrument meant to evaluate student progress (written examinations, quiz, lab practical, etc.), including the following or others that may be described by faculty in a course syllabus:
   • Having personal belongings other than writing implements in vicinity of the test. Examples of personal belongings include: briefcases, backpacks, purses, notebooks, textbooks, and unauthorized electronic devices (ex: cell phones, iPods, laptop computers, Blackberry’s, calculators).
   • Eyes wandering toward anyone else's test, or posturing in such a manner.
   • Placing one's test booklet or answer key so that another student may see it.
   • Study notes of any kind, in view of the student or other students.
   • Wearing a hat.
   • Long hair not tied back
   • Unauthorized use of headphones.
   • Unauthorized exit from the room; anyone who leaves the room may not return.
   • Behaving in a way that is a distraction to others.

Reporting Academic Misconduct

Faculty who determine that academic misconduct has occurred (i.e., items 1-6 above) should specify the misconduct by completing and submitting the Academic Misconduct Violation Report Form to the Program Dean, and the Dean of Students. The faculty member may elect to handle the incident with appropriate in-class remedies (e.g. grading decisions, requirements to resubmit the assignment) or the incident may be referred to the Program Dean, the Dean of Students, or their designee, for further investigation or possible referral to the Behavioral Standards Committee.

Faculty, test monitors, or students who are satisfied that a specific test-taking violation has occurred (i.e. item 7 above) during an examination or quiz will use the following procedure:

1. If a faculty member, or test monitor, witnesses a violation during an examination, the faculty member, or test monitor, should allow the student to finish the examination. The faculty member, or test monitor, will immediately document the incident using the Academic Misconduct Violation Report Form.
2. If a student witnesses a violation of academic conduct during an examination, the student should report the violation to a faculty member immediately following the examination. If the student(s) reports the violation more than two class days after the exam, action may not be taken. The faculty member will immediately document the incident using the Academic Misconduct Violation Report Form.

   The faculty member will interview all students involved to determine if there is enough evidence to take action. The faculty member also has the option to refer the investigation to the Program Dean.

   Students who come forward with allegations of a violation of another student should be assured that their confidentiality will be protected. However, if the matter is referred to the Program Dean, the student(s) may be asked to present what they witnessed.

3. Depending on the nature of the violation, the faculty member or Program Dean has three options for sanctions:
   1. a written warning to the student
   2. a grade of zero for the examination
   3. other sanction(s), as deemed appropriate

   In all cases, the sanction should be recorded on the Academic Misconduct Violation Report Form.

4. The faculty member, or Program Dean, will notify the accused student as soon as possible by email, but no later than five class days after the examination to describe the inappropriate test-taking behavior that was observed, and within ten class days of the examination to describe the action or sanction that will follow.
5. The faculty member, or Program Dean, will then send copies of the Academic Misconduct Violation Report Form to the Program Dean (if sent by the faculty member) and the Dean of Students for the student’s file. Other sanctions may follow.

Appeals

Students may appeal a faculty member’s decision to the Program Dean. Appeals may be submitted only if the student believes: the investigation and disciplinary processes have not been appropriately and fairly followed; new information has become available since the time of the investigation and hearing; or the sanction(s) issued were unduly harsh. Appeals must be made in writing on or before the fifth (5th) class day following the notification of the decision.

If the sanction was delivered by the Program Dean instead of the faculty member, students may appeal the decision to the Vice President of Academic and Student Programs. In either case, Appeal decisions are final.