The following are examples of behavior that is discouraged and prohibited under the Community Standards. These examples include, but are not limited to:
Students are expected to abide by all policies and procedures applicable to student conduct, including, but not limited to, the Community Standards, and they may be subject to various sanctions for violations of these policies and procedures, as described further below and in the respective policies. Abusing the college’s policies and procedures is also prohibited and may result in sanctions. Examples of potential abuse of the college’s policies and procedures include, but are not limited to:
The college prohibits abusive behavior, which is any act that endangers the health or safety of any person or persons, or which destroys or removes public or private property. Demeaning, disrespectful, or vulgar behavior also violates these standards.
The college respects the rights of community members to exercise their legal options regarding alcohol consumption and recognizes that responsible alcohol use can be compatible with healthy adult behavior. However, irresponsible or under-age use of alcohol is always prohibited. Irresponsible drinking is defined as consuming alcohol in a way that is likely to result in a harmful level of intoxication or intoxication- related behaviors that are disruptive, damaging, or dangerous.
Students are expected to conduct any activities involving alcohol in a lawful and socially responsible manner. As such, the following expectations support the safe and legal consumption of alcohol:
Students over 21 who elect to drink outside of their residential rooms in other approved spaces may only have a reasonable amount of alcohol for one person to consume. Outside of their residential room, no single student should be in possession of any more than 1 six-pack of beer, a half pint of alcohol or one 750mL bottle of wine.
Outside of a student’s residential room, alcoholic beverages may not be left unattended. Public Safety Officers will first attempt to identify ownership of unattended alcohol, and, if no one takes responsibility for it, Public Safety Officers will confiscate and immediately dispose of the unattended alcohol. If the Public Safety Officers determine that a student is or has been engaging in irresponsible drinking, then alcohol will be confiscated from that person, regardless of their age or the amount in their possession.
If college officials, including Public Safety Officers, have reason to suspect that any of these provisions are being violated, they shall have the authority to investigate, regardless of the location.
For policies and procedures related to alcohol at events, please visit the Student Events section of the handbook.
Collusion is action or inaction on the part of a student who is aware that another student has violated, or is violating, a college policy, and participates in violating the policy, does not report the violation, or, if appropriate, does not try to stop or otherwise address the behavior. Students are expected to confront their peers, if appropriate, or remove themselves from a situation and then report the information as soon as possible to the appropriate school official and/or law enforcement. A student is not required to confront or otherwise attempt to stop a student if such action would jeopardize the student’s own safety or wellbeing.
Conditions that may risk the health of another person are prohibited. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Students are expected not to act in ways that are deceptive or manipulative. This includes misrepresenting oneself knowingly, involving others in violations without their knowledge, or manipulating people or processes.
St. John’s College acknowledges and supports the rights of individuals to demonstrate and protest peacefully on campus. All individuals wishing to hold a demonstration or protest are encouraged to register the event through the normal event registration process. While most campus demonstrations and protests are peaceful and non-obstructive, having advanced knowledge of these events allows the College to take necessary measures to ensure campus safety.
Students who violate the College’s Community Standards policy during a demonstration or protest may be subject to disciplinary action. Additionally, the College will intervene in demonstrations and protests that constitute a disruption. A disruption is:
Using, possessing, distributing, manufacturing, or dispensing Illicit Drugs* illegally is prohibited. This policy also prohibits the use of cannabis, even for medicinal purposes. Synthetic drugs that contain ingredients or mimic the effects of illicit drugs are also prohibited. In addition, prescription medications and over-the-counter medications must be used according to prescribed instructions and the distribution of prescription drugs without a prescription is prohibited. Drug paraphernalia, including, but not limited to, bongs and vaporizers, are not permitted on campus. Driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery while impaired or under the influence of illicit drugs, cannabis, or a prescription drug that affects one’s abilities adversely, is prohibited.
There is a list of crisis hotlines and mental health services in Santa Fe available in the “Drug Abuse Prevention Program” appendix of the Handbook.
*“Illicit Drugs” refers to “controlled substances” as defined in Schedules I through V, Section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. Section 812).
It is each student’s responsibility to review and follow fire evacuation procedures, participate in fire drills, and take proactive measures to minimize the risk of fire. Any action or inaction on a student’s part that contributes to increased risk of fire is a violation of fire safety and is prohibited. Examples of violations include:
Students may not possess or use materials or articles that can create hazardous conditions on campus. A “hazardous condition” is one that poses a threat to building facilities and/or the occupants thereof as determined by facilities services personnel and/or environmental health and safety staff. Legally-permitted chemicals or substances that can threaten or cause harm or fear in others are also not permitted.
Students may not build fires on campus property except in approved fireplaces because of our dry climate and the risk that a fire could grow out of control rapidly. A responsible party must monitor any fire at all times and must extinguish it entirely before it is left unattended. Building bonfires also violates the Santa Fe municipal code. No fireworks of any kind are to be kept or set off anywhere on campus because of the potential for injury or fire they pose, and because they are a disturbance to the community. Violators are subject to substantial fines or, in extreme cases, expulsion from the college.
The college prohibits hazing, which is defined as any act that destroys or removes public or private property, endangers a student’s mental or physical health or safety, or entails ridicule, embarrassment, harassment, intimidation, or other similar behavior, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition of continued membership in, a group or organization. Examples include paddling, creating excessive fatigue, physical and psychological shock, public stunts, and degrading or humiliating games and activities. The victim’s express or implied consent is not a defense, and apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing also violates these Standards.
Students are expected to be honest and demonstrate a respect for the truth. It is prohibited to furnish false, falsified, or forged information or to withhold information from a college representative knowingly, including information requested in association with any college policy or procedure’s enforcement. This includes making false statements, as well as falsifying or misusing documents, accounts, records, identification, or financial instruments. Unauthorized use, possession, lending or duplication of means of access (such as keys or ID Cards) to college facilities, including the dining hall, is also prohibited.
Any misuse of the college’s facilities, equipment, networks, websites, list serves, email, passwords, accounts, or information is prohibited. Misuse that results in network interruption or failure is also prohibited and may also result in legal action against those responsible.
Misuse of services is defined as using property, facilities, or personnel in ways in which they are not designed or intended. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Students are expected to maintain cordial neighbor relations and may be disciplined under the Community Standards for behavior that disrupts neighbors and/or the greater Santa Fe community, violates the law, or otherwise affects or threatens to affect the college’s reputation adversely.
Failure to comply with the directions of a college representative, college staff member, or law enforcement officer during the performance of their duties is prohibited. Examples include:
Small, quiet gatherings that involve only a few individuals may be held in the residences, provided that other residents’ sleep or study is not disturbed. Permission for these gatherings is not required. Should a gathering disturb a student, it is expected that the student will first ask the host politely to quiet the gathering. If this fails, the student should contact the resident advisor or the switchboard. Public Safety may end gatherings that have become a nuisance to others, whether or not a specific complaint has been lodged. Large gatherings are not permitted in the residence halls or common rooms.
Excessive or flagrant violation of the college’s parking policies may be referred for discipline under these Standards, in addition to normal fines or revocation of parking privileges. See Vehicle Registration Policies & Procedures for more detailed information.
The purpose of this policy is to allow members of our community (employees, students, and authorized volunteers) to post flyers publicly to disseminate information, ideas, and other dialogue in furtherance of a rich academic and educational environment while promoting the civility that is essential to the flourishing of our community and encouraging respect for college property. To that end, this policy sets forth the criteria for the temporary display of posters, flyers, and any other form of display on campus.
General Information
Postings should be confined to bulletin boards. Bulletin boards provide space for sharing information that is intended to benefit the campus community as a whole, such as information about community meetings and events or to further community dialogue and should not be used solely for personal messaging. Prior approval of posters or flyers is not required, but members of the community should consider our norms of civility and use good judgment when posting. Our campus is often host to people of all ages. Those who post flyers should consider if they are suitable for viewing by the general public. In general, flyers and posters should contain the name of the person or club posting them and the date of any advertised events.
Compliance with College Policy
The content of posters must adhere to our community standards policies, which guide our community life on campus. In particular, posters and flyers must comply with the Title IX and Sex-Based Harassment and Discrimination Policy, the Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, and may not encourage the consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs or other illegal activity. Posters and flyers must also comply with any applicable laws.
Locations
Postings by Unaffiliated Entities
Non-college organizations and off-campus vendors that wish to publicize events and advertise on campus may only post on the bulletin boards across from switchboard operations in the Pritzker Student Center. Postings in all other locations will be removed. Any postings by non-college organizations and off-campus vendors are expected to comply with the guidelines set forth in this policy.
Chalking
Chalking is subject to the same parameters outlined in the “General Information” section above. To protect the look of the campus as well as the integrity of our structures, chalking is not permitted on certain surfaces, including buildings, planters, walls, covered entryways, covered patio areas, or brick steps and patios. It is permitted on any concrete walkways and plazas that are in areas open to the weather. Chalking may be removed at any time at the discretion of the College.
Removal of Postings
Posters and flyers should not be defaced or removed if they are allowed under this policy. A controversial posting should be the basis for a conversation rather than addressed by removal or defacing. Anyone who is unsure whether a posting is acceptable under the policy should bring it to the attention of the Vice President for Student Engagement, Assistant Dean, Dean, or Public Safety Officer. If a posting is clearly unacceptable, college staff members may remove it immediately and without notice. Postings are generally removed at the end of the fall and spring semesters and during spring recess. Student Ambassadors routinely remove outdated flyers or flyers that have been posted for more than two weeks.
To ensure that all parties are able to express themselves openly and without fear of unauthorized or surreptitious recording, audio/video recording and photography of any community member requires express consent, and except when taken by the college for identification, security, or other institutional purposes, any audio/video recording or photography taken without such consent is prohibited. Unmanned aerial systems, referred to commonly as drones, are not permitted to fly or operate on any areas of St. John’s College property. Exceptions may be granted for special projects upon approval by the Director of Public Safety, the Assistant Dean, or the Vice President of Student Engagement.
St. John’s College is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment that promotes critical thinking, respectful dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas. To uphold these principles and ensure the well-being of our student body, this Policy restricts or prohibits third-party political and religious groups from soliciting and/or proselytizing students on campus premises.
As an educational institution, it is imperative that the College maintains neutrality on matters of politics and religion to uphold our commitment to fairness, equity, and inclusivity. Allowing third-party religious and political groups to solicit and/or proselytize students could create the perception of institutional endorsement or bias, compromising our impartiality and potentially alienating members of our diverse community.
While external religious and political groups are prohibited from soliciting and/or proselytizing students on campus, we encourage them to engage with our community through established channels, such as appropriate student clubs, academic partnerships, invited speaker events, or participation in campus-sponsored discussions, provided that such engagements align with the College’s mission and values.
Students are expected to act in ways that minimize the risk of harm and promote individuals and the community’s safety. Examples of violations of this policy include, but are not limited to:
St. John’s College recognizes its leadership role in promoting a healthy and safe environment for all members of the community and acknowledges and supports the findings of the Surgeon General of the United States and the Centers for Disease Control that active or passive use of tobacco, as well as the ingredients and chemicals commonly found in tobacco products, is a significant health hazard. In light of these risks, and in conjunction with the applicable state and local regulations, St. John’s College has set forth the following Smoke, Tobacco and Nicotine-Free Area Campus Policy.
This Policy applies to all college faculty, staff, students, agents and contractors and all visitors, vendors and guests of the college.
The smoking or use of any tobacco and nicotine product (including but not limited to the use of e- cigarettes, juuls or other vaping devices) is limited to three areas on Campus. The designated smoking areas are located in the faculty/staff parking lot across the street from the Evans Science Lab (parking lot C) and the student parking lot (parking lot D) and the staff parking lot (parking lot F).
All tobacco and nicotine products must be extinguished and properly disposed of prior to entering any other area of college property; to include college vehicles. The sale or free distribution or sampling of any tobacco and nicotine product are prohibited in and on all college property and at all college-sponsored events.
Products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for smoking cessation (i.e. nicotine patches, etc.) are not considered prohibited tobacco or nicotine products under this Policy. Note that e-cigarettes, juuls and other vaping devices have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as smoking cessation products and, thus, are prohibited, unless in designated areas.
This Policy shall be included in the student, staff and faculty handbooks, new employee and student orientation programs and other campus documents where appropriate. The college shall post notices of this Policy in an effort to ensure that all of the college’s visitors, vendors and guests are aware of the Policy.
While smoking violations by faculty and staff will be handled by Human Resources, for students, the following table sets out penalties for non-compliance with this policy:
Note that students who choose to smoke in or on our buildings and/or tamper with fire safety equipment in any building, including their residential room, will be immediately subject to a $300 fine and will proceed through the community standards process, even for a first offense.
It is the responsibility of all members of the College community to establish and maintain smoke-free/tobacco-free/nicotine-free areas within the campus environment. Each community member is responsible for monitoring compliance with this Policy.
All fines collected for smoking violations will be invested in programs to promote a healthy and safe environment for all members of the community.
Students, staff and faculty who want to stop using tobacco and nicotine products are encouraged to review the following information and resources:
The college does not tolerate sexual violence of any kind. If a member of the college community has been or may have been sexually assaulted, they are urged to call 911, contact Solace Sexual Assault Services (24/7 service), go to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center Emergency Room, or contact Public Safety by dialing 0 from an on-campus phone or dialing a Public Safety Officer directly at 505-660-8177. Students may also go to the Student Health Office during business hours.
It is important to receive caring support as soon as possible. The psychotherapists at the Counseling Center on campus are available to provide confidential support for students who have experienced or suspect they may have experienced sexual misconduct. To make an appointment with one of the staff therapists, call 505-984-6420. Further, the Solace Sexual Assault Services () has a 24-hour hotline response at 1-800-721-7273.
Students can decide later whether or not to press charges, but it is important to note that evidence may be lost if the student does not seek immediate assistance. Activities such as showering, changing clothes, washing bed linens or clothing, or disposing of clothing or trash may result in the loss of evidence.
Even if a student is unsure whether what happened was an instance of sexual misconduct, the college encourages them to report the incident to the college and to seek appropriate assistance by talking to a therapist, senior resident, resident advisor, Director of Public Safety, nurse-practitioner, physician, or Title IX Coordinators.
Communications with therapists and licensed medical providers are confidential. However, other college employees, including resident advisors and senior residents, have an obligation to inform the Title IX coordinator that sexual misconduct has occurred. The Title IX coordinator will then contact the student to discuss the incident and whether the complaint process will be initiated. The Title IX coordinator will attempt to comply with a student’s request for confidentiality, except that in certain circumstances, disclosure may be required for the Title IX coordinator to ensure the safety and security of the campus. For the complete statement of policies and procedures, see the “St. John’s Sexual Misconduct Policy” appendix of the Handbook.
St. John’s College is a small, closely-knit community, all of whose members have a responsibility to foster this closeness. Discrimination or harassment of any kind, whether physical or verbal, is a breach of the trust upon which the community relies, and will not be tolerated. Therefore, behavior that makes another individual feel intimidated, or even uncomfortable, will be treated as a serious disciplinary matter that can lead to expulsion. Rules against sexual harassment and discrimination apply to all community members, including tutors and staff in their relationships with students.
The college has many resources for a student who believes that they have experienced or witnessed discrimination or harassment of any kind in any measure: the Assistant Dean, the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, the Vice President for Student Engagement, senior residents, and college therapists can address this problem or refer a student to someone who can.
In compliance with federal and state laws, the college has formulated a detailed policy on discrimination and sexual harassment, which can be found the “” and the “Discrimination and Harassment Policy” appendices of the Handbook. Moreover, any complaint or grievance on the part of a student or group of students indicating that there has been harassment or a violation, misinterpretation, or inequitable application of policies, procedures, or treatment because of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or other legally- protected classification may be brought before the college in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Discrimination and Harassment Policy.
Complaints not covered under this policy should be filed through the St. John’s College Complaint Process. See St. John’s College Complaint Process.
Students are expected to conform to community standards, such as civility, responsibility, and honesty in their use of social media. All material posted on social media is subject to privacy and copyright laws. Care should be taken to ensure that material posted online is appropriate for public display. Use of the St. John’s College name, logo, and seal should be reserved for officially affiliated pages only. The full social media policy can be found at sjc.edu/communications.
Solicitation on students and other individuals’ part is prohibited on campus. However, student organizations may receive permission to sponsor pre-approved fundraising events. Contact the Associate Director of Student Engagement for more information about obtaining approval for organizational fundraising events.
Theft is defined as the unauthorized acquisition or possession of items/services that belong to another person or entity (including removal of furniture from campus common spaces).
Damage is defined as the actual destruction of, or harm caused to, any property, regardless of intent. Vandalism is defined as the intentional damage of, or harm to, the property of another person or the college, or misuse of property that leads to damage. In addition to being referred for potential discipline under these Standards, as damage to college property has a financial effect on the college, the repair charges and/or related fines will be assessed to the student(s) found responsible for the damage. A fine may be assessed for the damage and the actual cost of repair.
Any violation of any college policy, or any violation of any local, state, or federal law, is prohibited. The college may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student who has violated federal, state, or local laws, regardless of actual or potential civil or criminal proceedings. It is the college’s practice to pursue timely resolution through its conduct proceedings, rather than delay campus proceedings until the outcome of criminal and/or civil proceedings.
Violence in any form is strictly prohibited. Violence includes threatening or causing physical harm, such as fighting, or any other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person and/or the community. Violence against animals is also prohibited.
The possession or use of any weapon or paraphernalia—including, but not limited to, firearms, ammunition, pellet guns, air guns, paintball guns, stun guns/grenades, tasers, smoke devices, bows/arrows (with the exception of the archery club during designated and supervised practice sessions on the SAC field), swords, large knives, explosives, and fireworks—is prohibited on the college campus because of the potential for personal injury or death, theft, unauthorized use of such items, and the disruptive effect on the campus community. In addition, verbal or written threats by a student indicating they have a prohibited weapon or explosive will be considered and responded to as an actual threat, whether or not evidence of such weapon or explosive exists.
