Student Rights & Responsibilities

No student shall:

• use any facility, equipment, material or service contrary to express instruction or without proper authority;
• obtain any University equipment, material or service by fraudulent means or by providing false information;
• make, alter, use, receive or possess University supplies without proper authority. University supplies include but are not limited to equipment, keys, records, permits, letterhead, digital products, stationery and envelopes;
• enter into our remain in any private University property without proper authority or remain in any property when asked to leave by an office of the University;
• knowing invited or admit a guest who has been trespassed or restricted from the area or facility.

Reference the Student and Visitor Trespass from University Property at the University Policies website.

No student shall:

• misappropriate, destroy or otherwise damage University property;
• misappropriate, destroy or otherwise damage any property not the person’s own on University property;
• deface the inside or outside of any building or property of the University.

No student shall:

• misappropriate, destroy or otherwise damage University property;
• mutilate or deface library books or material;
• purposefully misplace library books or material or in any way deprive others of access to library resources;
• abuse any University computer or computer related facility, network, or software, to access, alter or remove computer files or software without proper authorization, purposefully misplace, or deprive others of access to such computer resources;
• use computer equipment on campus to download, distribute or send illegal, offensive, discriminatory, and/or harassing material;
• misuse or utilize bookable space for purposes, which are not academic in nature without the permission of library staff.

No student shall:

• fail to comply with University policies, procedures, regulations and directions;
• fail to comply with directions of University officials acting in the legitimate performance of their duties;
• fail to comply with applicable law, including federal, provincial laws and regulations as may be in force from time to time.

No student shall:

• fail to identify themselves to representatives of Campus Safety Services, exam proctors, or other University officials where such information is relevant to the legitimate pursuit of their duties.

No student shall:

• obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of university property or;
• obstruct, interrupt or interfere with any person in the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of university property;
• engage in behaviour that is contrary to the reasonable expectations of the university community or interferes with the proper functioning of the University, including but not limited to behaviours such as public urination, public nudity, or the active disruption of University sanctioned events.

No student shall:

• verbally, whether in writing, orally, electronically or via social media, threaten harm or incite hate to any member of the University community;
• physically abuse, threaten or cause any other member of the University community to reasonably fear physical abuse or for their safety;
• create a condition which endangers or threatens the safety or personal information or privacy of themselves or others.

No student on University property or off-campus, individually or with a group, or in connection with a demonstration including picketing or a rally:

• use words which threaten violence or physical or verbal abuse to any group or individual;
• use words in a situation of clear and imminent danger which incites, or is intended to incite, others to behaviour which (would) result(s) in misconduct as outlined in this section.

No student shall:

• harass a person or a group (see definitions).

No student shall:

• possess, distribute or use false identification or altered identification;
• possess, produce, distribute, alter or use falsified official university, medical, or employment documentation;
• possess, utilize, produce, alter any official Carleton University branding, including but not limited to the university crest, logo, flag, coat of arms.

No student shall:

• knowingly bring a false or vexatious charge against any member of the University community;
• knowingly falsify an incident report on another student.

No student shall:

• be intoxicated and disorderly in public on University property;
• be in possession of, furnish to anyone, or consume, illegal drugs or controlled substances;
• be in possession of, or consume alcoholic beverages, except when properly in attendance at a licensed campus pub or event, or as permitted under the Residence Standards and Agreement and/or the University Alcohol and Cannabis Use Policy;
• be in possession of or consume alcohol anywhere on University property if under the age of 19 (nineteen) years;
• furnish alcoholic beverages to any person under the age of 19 (nineteen;
• consume, possess, attempt to purchase, purchase or distribute cannabis under the age of 19 (nineteen);
• consume cannabis on the University campus or property;
• sell cannabis, other than through the Ontario cannabis retailer;
• distribute cannabis that is sold, or that is intended to be sold, other than through the Ontario cannabis retailer;
• purchase cannabis from anywhere other than a licensed Ontario cannabis retailer;
• cultivate, propagate, or harvest, or offer to cultivate, propagate or harvest cannabis on University property.
• otherwise violate the University Alcohol and Cannabis Use Policy or the Residence Standards and Agreement.

NOTE: Intoxication will not diminish responsibility for one’s involvement in a violation of the Students Rights and Responsibilities Policy.

No student shall:

• engage in “hazing” (see definitions).

No student shall:

• possess University property or the property of any member of the University community without the permission of the rightful owner;
• engage in theft of University property;
• use, possess, or distribute firearms, explosives, other weapons or dangerous chemicals on University property.

No student shall:

• falsify, distort, or otherwise misrepresent information at any point in the application of this Policy;
• disrupt or interfere with the orderly conduct of a student non-academic misconduct hearing;
• attempt to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of the student non-
• academic misconduct process;
• attempt to influence the impartiality of a member of the CURB prior to, and/or during the student non-academic misconduct process;
• harass (verbally or physically) and/or intimidate or attempt to intimidate a member of Carleton University Resolution Board (CURB) prior to, during, and/or after a student non-academic misconduct process;
• influence or attempt to influence another person to abuse the Carleton University Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy or knowingly violate conditions of confidentiality imposed by the Director, Manager, or the CURB.

No student shall:

• engage in activities that are prohibited under any of the University’s Policies.

No student shall:

• distribute, sell or otherwise profit from copyrighted materials that are protected legally in Canada.

While there is typically nothing required of you prior to the meeting, the steps below can help you to be more prepared:

1. Review the meeting notice sent to you (via your Carleton email) to gain a better understanding of the purpose of the meeting.
2. Review information on the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) Policy to ensure you understand your obligations and any alleged violations.
3. Reflect on the incident and prepare any statements or discussion points you would like to raise during the meeting. If you feel as if you have breached the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) Policy, please come prepared with possible resolutions.
4. Contact the University Ombuds Services for support in understanding University processes and student advocacy.

The Office of Student Affairs focuses on an educational and restorative approach to incidents on campus. The meeting is an opportunity to express what has occurred from your own perspective and to work with a staff member to come to an appropriate resolution.

If the meeting date you were provided does not permit you to participate, please respond to the meeting invitation at least two working days in advance to advise us on why you are unable to attend and to request a new meeting date.

Failure to attend a scheduled meeting without providing adequate notice will result in you waiving the ability to participate in the process. The staff member administrating your case will render a decision based on all information available to them at the time, and without the benefit of your input. This is called a decision in absentia and will be binding. Once this decision is made, you will be notified of the outcome and rationale for the decision via an email to your Carleton email account.  There is still an opportunity to appeal a decision in absentia following the procedures outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) Policy. The Office of Student Affairs is committed to the principals of due process and procedural fairness. This means that in most cases, if you attend your meeting, you are entitled to the opportunity to discuss the incident that occurred with the staff member administrating your case to provide additional information and perspective. As much as possible the Office of Student Affairs strives to involve students in the process of deciding how best to repair the harm caused by an incident.

Yes, Carleton University can take necessary and appropriate action in cases in which a student is accused of serious conduct on or off-campus, or through social or other electronic media.

The Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy applies to the conduct of students while on Carleton University premises as well as off-campus in certain circumstances such as when acting as delegates or designated representatives of  Carleton University, attending a University sanctioned event off-campus, and when at their place of work while on a University co-op placement. This policy also applies to exchange students studying at Carleton University. Further, this policy applies to students who are enrolled in classes and who engage in prohibited, abusive and/or inappropriate behaviour on the internet that may impact the Carleton community.

Unless provided written third-party consent by a student, the Office of Student Affairs is bound by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), R.S.O. 1990 and typically only shares information regarding student conduct proceedings with those who need it for work purposes. If you are under the age of 18 we reserve the right to share information with your parent or guardian. If there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, the Office of Student Affairs may contact the appropriate professionals (such as campus safety), and/or your emergency contacts as identified on your Carleton Account. Student conduct records are not attached to academic records or transcripts.

Yes, in most cases, you will have 10 working days from the date that your outcome letter was sent to you to submit an appeal. If you wish to appeal, please follow the guidelines as outlined in your outcome letter.

Procedures for how to appeal an outcome of the conduct process will be reviewed with you in your initial meeting, and also included in the outcome letter that you will receive after a decision has been rendered. Your appeal will be considered by an independent decision maker who was not involved in the initial outcome of your case.

Please note that appeals for parking infractions, provincial offence notices, campus bans, residence conduct outcomes, and sexual violence cases follow separate appeal procedures. Questions regarding these procedures should be directed to the department that oversees the process or the University Ombuds Services.

Yes, students may elect to bring a support person with them to a student conduct meeting. Importantly, the support person may not submit arguments or otherwise advocate on the student’s behalf and is there as a support only. There are generally no restrictions on who can serve as a support person however, they will be privy to all details related to the incident being discussed. The Ombuds person is able to serve as a support person for students attending a student conduct meeting subject to availability.

The Office of Student Affairs emphasizes an educational and restorative approach wherever possible. The majority of cases referred to Student Affairs are resolved without significant impacts to an individual’s ability to continue their studies at Carleton. Should your studies be impacted by the outcome of the Student Affairs process, all options available to you for appeal or further support will be explored with you at the conclusion of the process.