Code of Student Conduct

Source: https://catalog.northeastern.edu/handbook/code-student-conduct/ Parent: https://catalog.northeastern.edu/handbook/

Adopted November 12, 1971; last revised in April 2025.

The purpose of the Code of Student Conduct (the Code) is to set forth the university’s expectations of behavior that promotes the safety and welfare of the Northeastern University community. The university seeks to provide a supportive environment that is conducive to learning, the pursuit of truth, the exchange of knowledge, the intellectual development of students, and the general good of society. In those instances where violations of the behavioral expectations occur, Northeastern has developed policies and procedures to protect the interests of members of the university community, individually and collectively. The Code has been developed with the assistance of students, faculty, and staff of the university.

Applicability of the Code On and Off Campus/Jurisdiction of the Code
General Expectations
Student Expectations- Decision-Making Authority
Structure and Procedure of the Student Conduct Process

Applicability of the Code On and Off Campus/Jurisdiction of the Code

The Code applies to all Northeastern students, at all levels of study, in all colleges and programs, at all locations in the United States or abroad, on-ground or online, as well as all student groups and organizations. It applies to all Northeastern students both on and off campus. The university establishes guidelines for the behavior of its students to promote student conduct that does not adversely affect the educational mission of the university; members of the university community; and the university's relationship with the surrounding community, partner institutions, or co-op partners. Student behavior occurring off campus that allegedly violates the Code; university policy; local, state, federal, or host country laws; and that could negatively affect the educational mission of the university or its relationship with the surrounding community may subject students to discipline as noted in the Code.

Alleged violations of the Code are handled and/or overseen by the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. Because the conduct process is an educational process and not a legal or criminal one, the formal legal rules of evidence do not apply to the Code and its procedures. The Code states all rights applicable to the conduct process. Students may not access documents not included in their case packet, demand access to individuals, or compel witnesses to participate in the conduct process. For information regarding Title IX, sexual violence, and related rights and procedures, please refer to the university’s Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Title IX, which governs the investigation, adjudication, appeal, and other elements of the university's response to allegations of conduct that may constitute sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct.

The Code also applies to all accepted and prematriculated students. The university reserves the right to adjudicate an accepted student who allegedly engages in prohibited conduct prior to matriculation (e.g., at the university's New Student Orientation programs, while moving in, or prior to the official start of the semester) through the conduct process.

When a student withdraws, takes a leave of absence, or becomes inactive from the university after allegedly engaging in conduct that may violate any of the university’s policies, rules, regulations, or standards of conduct, but before the alleged violation has been adjudicated through the conduct process, a hold will be placed on the student’s record and the student will be banned from campus. The hold will prevent a student from reenrolling at the university until the alleged violations have been resolved. The university reserves the right to delay the awarding of a degree, certificate, badge, or other credential pending the resolution of the student conduct process. In the event a student is found responsible for violating university policy and the sanction is expulsion, the student will not be eligible to be awarded their pending credential. The university also reserves the right, in its discretion, to revoke degrees.