Do you know a student who needs assistance but don't know how to help? The CARE team, formally known as BIT, receives reports of individuals who may need guidance to appropriate service and support provisions. You can refer a student by filling out the form below, by phone at 605-658-3555, or by sending an email to [email protected]. If you believe that there are Title IX concerns that may need to be addressed by the Title IX office, please submit an incident report from the link above, or email the Title IX Coordinator at [email protected]. in addition to submitting your referral.

If the student of concern is displaying concerning or threatening behavior that should be addressed right away by the Threat Assessment Review Team (TART), please indicate this on the form below and contact UPD right away at 605-658-6199.

Submit a Student of Concern Referral

Many graduate and professional schools, employers, and study abroad programs require that students obtain certification from the University of South Dakota that the student is in good standing, is not under restriction or probation, or has never had any significant violations of the Student Code of Conduct. These are sometimes called "Dean's Certification," "Judicial Record" or "Record Release." The requesting institution might suggest that you contact the Dean of Students, the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, or another similar department. Student Support and Conduct processes all requests for conduct record certification, but cannot provide character references or answer questions about students' moral character as part of a conduct record certification.

Submit a Record Request

The University of South Dakota strictly prohibits all forms of hazing by student organizations, athletic teams, and their members, whether acting individually or collectively. This includes any intentional or reckless action or situation, whether on or off-campus, that endangers an individual's physical or mental health, safety, or well-being as a condition of membership or participation in a group. The university is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment and holds all students and organizations accountable for upholding these standards.

Definition: Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate. Hazing is composed of three different components:

1. It occurs in a group setting.
2. Humiliating, degrading, or endangering behavior.
3. Occurs regardless of an individual's willingness to participate.

Examples of hazing include, but not limited to:

• Social isolation and/or name-calling using demeaning names or terms
• Threats or implied threats
• Damage to personal or private property
• Sleep deprivation
• Having a new or prospective member undress or wear embarrassing attire
• Verbal or physical abuse, including paddling or branding
• Sexual simulations or acts
• Forced alcohol or drug consumption
• Intimidation or harassment
• Scavenger hunts or other task-based lists that encourage embarrassment, discomfort, or policy/law violations
• Encouragement of behavior which violates institutional policies while on campus

StopHazing Research Lab. (2020, December). Hazing: The Issue, StopHazing Consulting. https://www.stophazing.org/issue

Private Reporting

The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities will attempt to safeguard the identity of the reporting party from those involved in the case unless necessary to address the allegation at hand. This is to encourage witnesses of an incident to come forward without fear of retaliation.

Report Hazing Incident

The purpose of the Student Code is to educate students about their civic and social responsibilities as members of the institutional community. The primary focus of the student conduct process is on educational and corrective outcomes; however, conduct sanctions such as suspension or expulsion from an institution may be necessary to uphold community standards and to protect the campus community. Extensive, organized, serious or repeated violations of this Student Code are taken into account when determining conduct sanctions.

The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities is committed to respecting and upholding the due process rights of students who have been alleged of violating terms within the Student Code of Conduct, Community Living Policies, or other syllabus or institutional policy expectations. We believe in honesty, fairness, and respect while resolving academic and disciplinary conduct concerns.

All exams and assignments, including rough drafts, should contain only new and original work. When appropriate, outside sources should be given the proper credit through citation, as requested by the course instructor. The use of ChatGPT or other AI generators, recycled papers, essay writing tools, or any other unauthorized assistance is prohibited unless specifically permitted by the individual course instructor. Permission to utilize an AI generator from one instructor does not mean that your other instructors will permit the use of AI, so be sure to review your course syllabus or ask your instructor what they will allow.

The University of South Dakota, along with the South Dakota Board of Regents, expects that its students familiarize themselves with the definitions and policies pertaining to Academic Integrity in order to avoid academic dishonesty concerns. Credit cannot be given to a dishonest assignment. For more information, review the Student Academic Misconduct Policy 2.9.2

Acts of dishonesty, including, but not limited to:

Cheating

• Use or giving of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests or examinations.
• Use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems or carrying out other assignments.
• Acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the institutional faculty or staff.

Plagiarism

• The use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement consistent with accepted practices of the discipline.
• The unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
• Other forms of dishonesty relating to academic achievement, research results or academically related public service.

Our residence halls are community living spaces in which student wellness (success, health and safety) is a primary focus. Residence hall policy is intended to support this concept. Community members should familiarize themselves with relevant policy, including their rights and responsibilities as on-campus residents. A detailed listing is available at University Housing.

Residents are encouraged to check with staff when unclear about rules such as permissible items, access, etc. A resident assistant (RA) may be able to help, or you may wish to make an appointment with your residence hall director (schedule with staff at the front desk).

• When a referral is made for a community living policy (CLP) violation, SRR staff may determine that the residence hall director would be best suited to follow-up on the matter.
• In such situations you can expect an email from the residence hall director, who will arrange for an in-hall meeting to review relevant policy and expectations, assist with any questions you may have, etc.
• Repeated CLP infractions, failing to attend a CLP meeting or to respond to staff direction regarding the violation may result in a conduct referral. Residents are encouraged to meet with housing staff in order to resolve a policy matter without it escalating to a conduct issue.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) permits colleges and universities to inform parents of drug and alcohol policy violations committed by their students. University of South Dakota (USD) personnel understand that parents are partners in responding to issues of substance abuse. Thus, under certain circumstances, it is USD policy to notify parents or guardians of their student’s alcohol and/or drug policy violation. You may review the full policy by clicking the link below.

Full Parental Notification of Drug/Alcohol Violation Policy

SRR will maintain the confidentiality of student disciplinary records as indicated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). A release of information or other written permission from the student must be included with any record disclosure requests. Disciplinary records are retained for seven years following an incident date.

Confidentiality of Student Records SDBOR 3.3.1