M E M O R A N D U M


TO:		Campus Presidents			
DATE:		April 27, 2004	
FROM:		Robert L. King				
SUBJECT:	Recommended SUNY Policies on Student Code of Conduct

In April 2003, I shared with you a number of concerns regarding hazing, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages
and other misconduct by students.  In my memo, I outlined four possible approaches to address these issues.  At the 
Presidents’ meeting in June 2003, I asked President Hefner to work with the Realigning for Excellence Advisory 
Council to review each approach and prepare a set of recommendations to advance our agenda in these areas.

The Realigning for Excellence Advisory Council worked with representatives from the Council of Chief Student 
Affairs Administrators, and the Office of University Life to develop a series of recommendations.  Those 
recommendations have been reviewed and discussed with members of System Administration staff, including Counsel’s 
Office and Dr. Betty Capaldi.  After much deliberation, I am pleased to accept the recommendations of the Realigning
for Excellence Advisory Council.  The message we send is a strong one, and it signals our commitment to high 
academic and behavioral standards.  The recommendations that I have accepted are outlined below:

* Each campus will develop a specific, written plan to ensure students receive and positively affirm the campus’s 
Student Code of Conduct.  Campuses may choose an implementation plan that best suits their needs, provided it 
contains an affirmation statement which will be completed by each student prior to being allowed to attend classes. 
 
* The Student Code of Conduct at each campus should specifically address inappropriate behaviors associated with 
the abuse of alcohol and other substances.  The Student Code of Conduct should clearly identify the types of 
actions that may be taken by campus authorities in response to these behaviors.  Examples of behaviors that are 
detrimental to the learning environment and/or damaging to the reputation of the institution should be identified 
within the Student Code of Conduct.  Further, each campus should review their judicial sanctions regarding repeat 
offenders and if appropriate, strengthen those sanctions.

* Each campus will include appropriate wording in its Student Code of Conduct to permit campus judicial action for 
inappropriate student conduct at off-campus locations, whenever the student’s conduct adversely affects the campus 
community or undermines the interests and/or mission of the institution.

* Each campus will develop a "permanent transcript notation" policy that addresses hazing and other serious 
violations of the student conduct code, especially conduct which leads to the death or serious physical injury to 
another person.Each campus should develop a transcript notation policy that specifically addresses hazing.  
Students that are suspended or expelled from the University for hazing shall have a notation placed on their 
transcript that shall be permanent.  Further, students found responsible for such violationshazing shall not 
receive credit for the semester in which the suspension or expulsion occurred, and will be liable for all tuition 
and fees for that semester.

* Copies of written policy must be submitted to Ed Engelbride, Room N530 at SUNY System Administration.
       
High expectations combined with strong and consistent enforcement are bookends in a comprehensive approach to 
positively impact student behavior.  Prevention, education, and intervention must be added to the overall campus 
strategy to be truly effective.  It is my strong belief that by implementing the above measures, we will be able 
to strengthen our efforts regarding inappropriate student behavior and send an even stronger message regarding our 
stance against hazing.
       
      
Copy:	Senior Staff
	Council of Chief Student Affairs Administrators