All students should be familiar with The Student Conduct Code (Available in PDF) which specifically describes the system in great detail. Periodically, there are changes in the Code, and students will be notified through the Log. Copies of the Code are available upon request from all Student Life staff members or the Student Government Association Office. The Code can also be found on the College website in the Student Life Section.

An academic community depends upon the willingness of individuals to associate together in a common purpose in such a way that individual freedom and responsible order co-exist. Salem State College embraces the philosophy that the exercise of individual rights must be accompanied by an equal amount of responsibility to assure that the same rights are not denied to others. By accepting membership in the college community, a student acquires rights in as well as responsibilities to that community.

College students are recognized as being both citizens in the larger community and members of an academic community. In their roles as citizens, students are free to exercise their fundamental constitutional rights. Rights and responsibilities under local, state, and national laws are neither abridged nor extended by status as a student at Salem State College. However, as members of the academic community, students are expected to fulfill those behavioral responsibilities which accompany their membership and which are necessitated by the college's pursuit of its stated goals. These behavioral responsibilities are stated in college publications such as The Compass, The Student Conduct Code and The Guide to Residence Hall Living.

The College considers students to be adults, who by virtue of admission to the institution acknowledge the existence of limitations on social behavior and, whenever they exceed these limitations, accept responsibility for the consequences of their actions. Toward this end, the college does not function "in loco parentis;" the institution will not police students' personal lives on or off campus. Furthermore, the College expects that integrity and self-respect will be demonstrated by one's own commitment to responsible personal behavior; consequently, students are expected not to abuse their minds or bodies by use of harmful or illegal drugs including the excessive or untimely use of alcoholic beverages.

The Board of Higher Education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has mandated a zero tolerance policy regarding alcohol violations at all public universities, colleges, and community colleges. The mandate requires colleges to suspend any student who violates the alcohol policy three times. Based on this mandate, the following are the minimum sanctions for Salem State College:

	Resident Student	Commuter Student
First offense:	Residential Review	General Probation
	Referral to ADEPT Program	Referral to ADEPT Program
	Educational Program	Loss of guest privileges in Residential areas
	Parental Notification	Parental Notification
Second offense:	Suspension from the residence Halls for one year	Disciplinary Probation
	Disciplinary Probation	Referral to ADEPT Program
	Referral to ADEPT Program	Parental Notification
	Parental Notification
Third offense:	Suspension from the College	Suspension from the College

Note: Students found in violation of the alcohol policy through report of a sexual assault, psychological or medical emergency will not be automatically subject to the minimum sanction. Such sensitive situations will be handled on a case by case basis.

In all relationships with each other, the College expects that students will be guided by a mutual concern and respect for each other's feelings, individuality, privacy and right to live in an environment conducive to academic achievement.

The College is required by law to refer certain types of offenses to civil authorities. The College cannot and will not offer protection if and when civil authorities become legally involved in any case. The College reserves the right to take disciplinary action in such situations.

It is assumed that the conduct of all students will be consistent with the educational purposes of the institution and in no way will interfere with the functioning of the College as it seeks to fulfill that purpose. Likewise, individual and group behavior which inhibits members of the community-students, faculty and administrators-from carrying out their respective educational tasks and duties is unacceptable.

Policy violations committed by students will be handled through the college judicial process which has been established to resolve complaints of student misconduct. The judicial process is designed to protect due process rights and to reach decisions that are in the best interest of both the students and the College.