The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), including all employees or agents of Georgia Tech and its affiliated organizations, adheres to the principles of openness and transparency in relationships with lenders offering educational loan programs.

Students and parents are encouraged to consider the following before applying for a private educational loan:

Students are strongly encouraged to first pursue the availability of free or lower-cost financial aid with the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid.

Directions on how to apply for Title IV federal grants, loans and work-study are available at www.finaid.gatech.edu/apply or by calling or visiting the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

A private education loan may reduce eligibility for free or lower-cost federal, state, or school student financial aid.

Georgia Tech prohibits conflicts of interest between the responsibilities of its employees and the personal interests of an employee or family member of an employee. Georgia Tech bans any revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender, whether for institutional or personal gain.

Employees of Georgia Tech or its affiliated organizations shall not accept anything of value for serving on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender, guarantor, or group of lenders.

Georgia Tech employees are bound by state law and institutional polices related to the receipt of gifts or gratuities. All employees, as well as their family members, are prohibited from accepting a gift with more than nominal value from anyone that the employee or Georgia Tech interacts with on official state business or from any other prohibited source. Gifts include, but are not limited to: (1) Food (including meals) (2) Lodging and (3) Personal Services.

Georgia Tech does not allow any officer or person involved with student loans to either solicit or accept gifts from a lender, guarantor or servicer of student loans where that gift has more than nominal value.

Georgia Tech does not allow its financial aid staff or anyone in a position of having influence over student loan decisions to consult with lenders for a fee, payment, or other financial benefit.

Georgia Tech will not assign a borrower's loan to a particular lender.

Georgia Tech will not refuse or delay certification of any loan based on a borrower’s selection of a lender or guarantor.

Georgia Tech will not request or accept any offer for student loan funds in exchange for: (1) a specified number of loans made or (2) a specific loan volume.

Georgia Tech will not accept any offer from any lender to provide call center staffing or financial aid office assistance.

Return of Title IV Funds Policy
A calculation is made for all financial aid recipients to determine whether a student who completely withdraws during a term has "earned" the monies disbursed. A student "earns" his/her aid based on the period of time they remain enrolled. During the first 60% of the term a student "earns" financial aid in direct proportion to the length of time he/she remains enrolled. The earned and unearned aid is determined by a daily prorated ratio. Basically, if you canceled enrollment at the 20% point of the term, you earned 20% of the financial aid you were originally scheduled to receive. The 80% of the amount of unearned Federal financial aid or a portion of the 80% of unearned aid will be returned (canceled from your account). Once you have completed more than 60% of the term, you have earned all the federal assistance that you were scheduled to receive. Specific percentages by date are published by the Bursar's Office.

A daily roster is generated by the Office of the Registrar that identifies students who have completely withdrawn from the institution. The Registrar's office records and publishes the official date of withdrawal.

The percentage of the period that the student remained enrolled is derived by dividing the number of days the student attended by the number of days in the term. The withdrawal date is:

• The date the student notified the institution of intent to withdraw (initiation of withdrawal process) or
• The midpoint of the term for a student who leaves without notifying the institution of their intent to withdraw.

The responsibility to repay unearned aid is shared by the institution and the student in proportion to the aid each is assumed to possess. Georgia Tech will use the Return of Financial Aid - Refund Policy worksheet to determine the amount the student and/or the institution must refund (canceled from your student account) to the appropriate programs. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and the Bursar's Office will cooperatively verify the accuracy of each refund calculation.

Institution's Return of Funds
Once the institution's portion of the return of funds has been calculated the OSFA will reduce the student's original financial aid award and return the funds within 45 (forty-five) days to the appropriate program(s) in the order specific in this policy. If this creates a "balance" on the student's account in the Bursar's office, the Bursar will notify the student of the obligation. The student will be responsible for paying the debt to the Bursar immediately. The student will not be allowed to register or receive an official transcript until the debt has been paid in full.

Student's Return of Funds
Once the student's portion of the return of funds has been calculated, the Bursar's Office will notify the student of the amount he/she must repay. The student must pay Georgia Tech the full amount of his/her debt and Georgia Tech will return the funds to the appropriate programs within 45 days. To continue eligibility past 45 days, the student must pay the overpayment in full to Georgia Tech's Bursar's office.

Unearned Title IV aid shall be returned to the following programs in the following order by both the student and the Institute:

1. Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
2. Subsidized Stafford Loan
3. Perkins Loan
4. Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)/Graduate PLUS
5. Pell Grant
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

Post-Withdrawal Funds
If the amount disbursed to the student is less than the amount the student earned, the amount maybe considered a post-withdrawal disbursement. Post-withdrawal eligibility can be used to credit outstanding charges on a student's account. Georgia Tech has 30 (thirty) days from the date of the institution determined that the student withdrew, to offer any amount of the post-withdrawal disbursement to the student, (or parent for PLUS). The student (or parent) may accept or decline some or all of the post-withdrawal disbursement that is not credited to the student's account. The student or parent must respond within 14 days from the date that the institution sends the notification to be eligible to receive the post withdrawal disbursement. If the student (or parent) does not respond to the institution's notice, no portion of the post-withdrawal disbursement that is not credited to the student's account may be disbursed.

HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship Only Refund
If a refund is due and the student received HOPE/Zell Miller funds but did not receive federal Title IV funds, then such amounts must be refunded to HOPE/Zell Miller. These amounts are refunded by applying the institution's Refund Policy to the student's original HOPE/Zell Miller award for tuition.

Title IV and HOPE/Zell Miller Refund
If in addition to HOPE/Zell Miller funds, the student also received federal Title IV funds, then refund amounts are distributed proportionately. OSFA then determines the amount of the federal Title IV refund as prescribed by the federal "Return of Title IV Funds" policy.

Financial Aid Calculated Examples:

The calculation for the amount of Federal financial aid to return (cancel from your student account) is based on the lesser amount of:

Institutional charges: (Tuition, Mandatory fees, Special course fees, Housing and Meal charges (if you live on campus)

OR:

Federal Aid awarded: (Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, Parent or Grad PLUS Loan, Pell Grant, Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (SEOG))

The lesser amount of the institutional charges or federal aid awarded is then multiplied by a daily prorated ratio based on your certified date of withdrawal. The result is the amount of aid to be returned.

 

	Example1:	Example2:
Institutional Charges
Tuition	$3,859	$3,859
Recreation Fee	54	54
Health Fee	154	154
Transportation Fee	81	81
Technology Fee	107	107
Activity Fee	123	123
Athletic Fee	127	127
Special Institution Fee	272	272
Campus Housing	3,900	3,900
Total	$8,677	$8,677
Financial Aid Awarded
Unsubsidized Stafford	$990	$3,713
Subsidized Stafford Loan	2,723	2,723
Perkins Loan	1200
Pell Grant	2,250
SEOG	2,000
Total	$9,163	$6,436

Example 1: Since the total institutional charges are less than the total financial aid awarded, the cancellation of aid will be calculated using the $8,677 because it is less than the Federal Financial Aid Awarded of $9,163.

If your date of withdrawal is at the midpoint of the term, $8,677 would be multiplied by 50% to calculate $4338.50 to return from your Federal Financial Aid funds. For the example, the entire $990 Unsubsidized Stafford Loan would be returned to the servicer (canceled from your account) as well as $2723 of the Subsidized Stafford Loan and $625.50 of the Perkins Loan. Therefore $990 + $2723 + $625.50 = $4,338.50 is the amount of aid to be returned (canceled from your account).

Example 2: Since the financial aid awards are less than the total institutional charges, the cancellation of aid will be calculated using $6,436 because it is less than the total institutional charges of $8,677.

If your date of withdrawal results in a 31% term completion earned rate, then the unearned percentage is 69%. Therefore, we would multiply $6,436 by 69% to calculate $4,441 to return from your Federal Financial Aid funds. For this example, the entire $3,713 Unsubsidized Stafford Loan would be returned to the servicer (canceled from your account) as well as $728 of the Subsidized Stafford Loan. Therefore $3,713 + $728 = $4,441 is the amount of aid to be returned (canceled from your account).

Unofficial Withdrawal Policy:
Financial aid funds are awarded under the assumption you will attend school for the entire term. If you unofficially withdraw (leave and do not properly provide official notification of withdrawal), you may no longer be eligible for the full amount of aid funds you were originally scheduled to receive.

Official Notification Not Provided

1. One category of unofficial withdrawal happens if you did not complete the withdrawal process or otherwise notify the school of the intent to withdraw due to illness, accident, grievous personal loss or other circumstances beyond your control. If the failure to properly withdraw is beyond your control, the withdrawal date is the date you no longer were able to attend class.
2. A second category of unofficial withdrawals encompasses all other withdrawals where official notification is not provided to the school. For these withdrawals the withdrawal date is the midpoint of the term, unless otherwise documented.

Time Frame of Withdrawal Date for an Unofficial Withdrawal
For Unofficial withdrawals, a school must process aid adjustments for unofficial withdrawals within 45 calendar days from the earlier of; (1) the end of the payment period or period of enrollment, (2) the end of the academic year, or (3) the end of the student's educational program.

At the end of each term, our office identifies students who did not successfully complete any courses. For students who do not earn a passing grade in any course, a notice will be sent to instructors asking for verification of the last date of attendance at an academically related activity. Examples of academically related activities are:

• Examinations or quizzes
• Tutorials
• Computer-assisted instruction
• Academic advising or counseling
• Academic conferences
• Completing an academic assignment, paper, or project
• Attending a study group required by the institution where attendance is taken

In the absence of evidence of a last day of attendance at an academically related activity, the student who failed to earn a passing grade in any class is considered to be an unofficial withdrawal. Also, if attendance documentation is not received, a return of financial aid funds calculation will occur using the midpoint (50%) as the point for the unofficial date of withdrawal.

For information on Financial Assistance please follow the link below.
http://www.grad.gatech.edu/paying-for-grad-school

For information on General Policies please follow the links below.
http://www.grad.gatech.edu/policies
http://www.grad.gatech.edu/theses-dissertations-policies
http://www.grad.gatech.edu/checklist

Policies on Graduate Admissions can be found in the Student Catalog, Graduate Admissions

For information on Graduate Student Handbook please follow the link below.
http://www.grad.gatech.edu/student-handbook

Policy & Procedure No. 7

POLICY ON THE ADVISEMENT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH AND THE APPOINTMENT OF
THESIS ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Doctoral Theses

There are two committees which function to advise, approve and conduct the final doctoral oral examination of the thesis and the student's knowledge of the field in which it lies.

The first committee is called the Thesis Advisory Committee or the Thesis Reading Committee and consists of at least three persons, one of whom is the Thesis Advisor. This committee approves the research topic, provides advice and guidance during the research and is charged with approving the thesis when the research is completed and presented as the doctoral thesis. When the Thesis Advisory Committee considers the thesis to be satisfactory, a recommendation is made to the Dean of the Graduate Division for the appointment of the second committee, which is called the Final Doctoral Examination Committee, and it consists of at least five individuals.

The Thesis Advisory Committee consists of at least three members satisfying the following: (1) the thesis advisor shall be a member of the Academic Faculty (with approval of the school or college Graduate Committee, an adjunct * faculty member appointed for the specific purpose of advising graduate students may serve as the thesis advisor); (2) the majority of committee members shall be members of the Academic Faculty. The Committee is approved by the Graduate Committee in the School of College, recommended by the School Director through the College Dean, and appointed by the Dean of the Graduate Division.

The Final Doctoral Examination Committee, which consists of at least five persons, always contains the Thesis Advisory Committee members and others as appropriate, who are recommended by the school or college to the Dean of the Graduate Division for approval. At least one member of the Final Doctoral Examination Committee must be from the academic faculty of a School (or College) which is distinct from the unit in which the student is enrolled.

It is recognized that some Schools and Colleges may wish to appoint a Thesis Advisory Committee which consists of five or more persons and to recommend this committee to serve as the Final Doctoral Examination Committee. Where the constraints outlined above are met for both committees, this is permissible.

Master's Theses

For Master's Thesis advisement, the Thesis Advisory Committee consists of at least three members, the majority of whom must be members of the Academic Faculty. The thesis advisor who serves as the Chairman of the Thesis Advisory Committee must be a member of the Academic Faculty (with approval of the school or college Graduate Committee, an adjunct * faculty member appointed by the specific purpose of advising graduate students may serve as the thesis advisor.) The committee is recommended by the School Director through the College Dean and appointed by the Dean of the Graduate Division.

* "adjunct" does not indicate formal appointment, but rather appointment as indicated in this policy statement.

Note On Joint Degrees And Departments

For joint (inter-institutional) departments or degree programs, committees should have at least one faculty member from each institution, and a majority should be joint program faculty. Joint program faculty will have undergone a nomination and appointment process in the joint program in order to qualify for the right to advise students in the joint program.

POLICY ON PUBLICATION OF THESES

A policy of the Georgia Institute of Technology is that Doctoral and Master's Theses are openly published. Extraordinary delays are not to be allowed to protect proprietary interests of sponsors.

It is anticipated that all Ph.D. theses and a significant fraction of master's theses be published in the open, refereed literature.

In all cases, doctoral research should meet the "Guidelines for Ph.D. Dissertation Research", and in no situation should these be compromised to allow for concealing important research results because of security classification or a sponsor's proprietary interest.

A student may routinely elect to have publication of his or her thesis withheld for a period of one year, if recommended by the student's thesis advisor. Requests for extensions beyond one year must be justified and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

A Georgia Tech doctoral dissertation in its final form may not be used or have been used to meet the requirements for a separate degree at another institution.

GUIDELINES FOR PH.D. DISSERTATION RESEARCH

1. The research should provide a useful educational experience for the student emphasizing creativity, independent action and learning, research methodology, and scholarly approach.
2. The research must be relevant to the field in which the student is pursuing a degree.
3. The contributions to knowledge must be original and as such, should represent a substantial addition to the fundamental knowledge of the field or a new and better interpretation of facts already known. The research must demonstrate creativity. Dissertations based on well known principles, techniques, and models applied to situations only somewhat different from previous applications are not acceptable.
4. The dissertation should contain clear statements about (a) the relevance and importance of the problem and (b) the significance, originality, and generality of the research results. The relationship of the research to the literature of the field should be described.
5. The research should possess the major characteristics of the scientific method, namely objectivity and reproducibility. Assumptions should be clearly stated in both experimental and theoretical research.
6. The dissertation should reflect a level of competence indicative of significant achievement beyond the master's level. Thus, the research is expected to draw directly upon advanced learning in the student's major field and demonstrate mastery of that knowledge.
7. The dissertation must demonstrate understanding of the theory and methodology related to its main thrust. Further the dissertation should reflect knowledge of the application area.
8. The research should result in at least one paper publishable in a suitable refereed journal of engineering, science, management or architecture, as appropriate.
9. The dissertation should demonstrate a high degree of proficiency in written communication of research results. It should conform to the Institute's requirements as outlined in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research "Manual for the Preparation of Graduate Dissertations and Thesis".
10. The scope of the research should be such that it requires at least the time and effort equivalent to one year of full time graduate study.

Course Load Requirements
Course Selection
Guidelines for Registration of Doctoral Dissertation Hours
Responsibility

The following general policies are provided to serve as guidelines for determining the hourly work loads of students who are pursuing graduate degrees.

1. Full-time graduate students are expected to give primary attention to the pursuit of their degrees.
2. Graduate students are expected to take semester work loads which will contribute to substantial progress toward a degree.
3. Graduate students shall register for a number of hours of research which is consistent with a realistic appraisal of the amount of work to be done on a project, thesis, or dissertation, and the amount of faculty involvement and use of Institute facilities required.
4. Realistic accounting for graduate student credit hours helps support a quality graduate program.

Transcript Recognition of Teaching and Research Activity

Students holding Graduate Teaching or Graduate Research Assistantships may register for courses in recognition of teaching (8997) and research (8998) activities if these courses are available for their school. The 8997 and 8998 courses are audit-base courses. A student may not register for more than a total of 9 hours of 8997 and 8998 during any semester.

Course Load Requirements

The following regulations shall govern the semester registration requirements for students who are pursuing graduate degrees:

1. Full-time students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours on a letter grade or pass-fail basis. As an exception, the advisor and school chair may allow up to 3 hours out of the 12 minimum to be taken on an audit basis in Fall and Spring semesters; in Summer semesters the advisor and school chair may allow up to 6 hours out of the 12 minimum to be taken on an audit basis. Hours in excess of the required 12 may be taken on any basis. Full-time students working exclusively on thesis research should be registered for 18 or more hours of 7000 or 9000 (Master’s or Doctoral Thesis) in Fall and Spring semesters, and for up to 16 hours during Summer semesters.
2. The following students must register on a full-time basis as defined above:
   1. graduate research and teaching assistants;
   2. students supported by fellowships, traineeships or individual grants;
   3. students with out-of-state tuition waivers;
   4. students assigned to the institute by the Armed Forces for the purpose of pursuing a degree;
   5. students on student visas;
   6. graduate co-op students on non-work semesters.
3. Students involved in thesis research must register for an appropriate number of 7000 or 9000 hours.
4. The minimum load for part-time students is 3 credit hours.
5. A student may register for only one hour of Master’s or Doctoral Thesis (7000 or 9000) during the semester of graduation. This exception may be used once for each degree.
6. The maximum allowable semester load for employed students other than graduate assistants is reduced as a function of the number of hours employed per week as follows:
   

   Work load per week	Maximum semester hour load
   Full time (40 hours)	6
   3/4 of full time (30 hours)	9
   2/3 of full time (27 hours)	10
   1/2 of full time (20 hours)	12
   1/3 of full time (13 hours)	15
   1/4 of full time (10 hours)	18  (16 for Summer semesters)

   The minimum course load for these students is three hours, except as described in Course Load Requirement #5 above, but such students should be encouraged to take the maximum load they can handle in order to progress toward completion of the degree.

Course Selection

Full-time students are expected to enroll for a letter grade in regular courses and thesis hours whenever possible. Registration loads should reflect, as much as possible, the student and faculty efforts involved in the program of study. Registration loads each semester should be comprised of various hours from the areas listed below:

1. Regular courses; letter-grade, pass-fail and in special cases, audit;
2. 7000 or 9000 courses for thesis students;
3. Special problem or research project courses;
4. Specific courses for teaching or research education;
5. GTA/GRA courses 8997/8998 (up to a maximum of 9) if available in the student’s major school and the student has an assistantship.

Guidelines for Registration of Doctoral Dissertation Hours

1. Beginning full-time doctoral students, especially those who are research assistants, are encouraged to register for at least 3 hours of 9000. This would allow, and encourage, such students to maintain a lighter academic load to begin laying the groundwork for Ph.D. research.
2. Advanced full-time doctoral students who are working primarily on their dissertation research should register for 18 or more hours of 9000 in Fall and Spring semesters, and for up to 16 hours of 9000 for summer semesters. If they are taking other coursework, the number of 9000 hours would be reduced by the number of formal coursework hours. Students who are required by their schools to register for 8997 or 8998 would further reduce the number of 9000 hours, so that the total number of hours is at least 18 (no more than 16 in Summer). The advisor and/or school determines whether the total is above 18 for Fall and Spring semesters.
3. Part-time doctoral students engaged in research for the Ph.D. should register for the number of 9000 hours consistent with their and their faculty advisor’s activity on the dissertation research.
4. All full-time students coded as Master’s students but involved in preparation for the Ph.D. are encouraged to register for 9000 hours consistent with the amount of work involved.

Academic units are encouraged to remove any in-school restrictions on registering for 9000. For example, some schools will not allow a graduate student to register for 9000 until after the student has become a candidate for the Ph.D. degree. The reasoning behind this restriction is not clear unless one takes a very restrictive interpretation of what registering for 9000 means. Academic units are encouraged to adopt a broader interpretation, so that dissertation hours reflect all stages of the doctoral dissertation--literature research, topic selection, experimental/theoretical preparation, research performance, writing and presentation. All of these stages require institute facilities and faculty involvement.

Responsibility

The responsibility for advising graduate students properly, not only in regard to programs of study, but also in regard to minimum and maximum semester course loads, rests solely within the chain from advisor/graduate coordinator to school chair to college dean. Although each graduate student is responsible for knowing the requirements for his or her degree and for insuring the appropriate, steady progress is being made toward that degree, each graduate student must have access to fair and equitable advisement. Responsibility for scheduling the proper requirements for a particular program of study and an appropriate course load per semester rests with the student and advisor alike.

For information on Responsible Conduct of Research please follow the link below.
www.rcr.gatech.edu

All qualified persons are equally welcome to seek admission to the Georgia Institute of Technology, and all persons may apply for and accept admission confident that the policy and regular practice of the Institute will not discriminate against them on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national origin.

Projections of the number of graduate students to be admitted and enrolled in any year will be determined (a) by the capacity of the Institute, (b) by the capacity of the admitting department, and (c) by approved enrollment levels. If the number of eligible applicants for admission exceeds the number of applicants who can be admitted and enrolled, those to be offered admission will be selected on the basis of (a) the department’s judgment of the applicant's relative qualifications for satisfactory performance in the Institute/program/research area and (b) recognition of the Institute's special responsibilities to the residents of Georgia.

Verification of credentials and certification of compliance with Institute policies shall be the responsibility of the Office of Graduate Admissions. Policies and procedures that are approved by the Office of the President, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Graduate Senate of the Institute shall be applied in determining eligibility for consideration for graduate study. From those eligible candidates, final admission decisions shall be the responsibility of the admitting department. Satisfying minimal standards, however, does not guarantee admission, since the number of eligible applicants generally far exceeds the number of places available. As a result, many well-qualified applicants cannot be accommodated.

The criteria used in determining each applicant’s eligibility for consideration shall include: (1) evidence of award of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent (prior to matriculation) from a recognized institution and graduation in the upper half of their class (Masters) or upper quarter of their class (Doctoral); students must show evidence of preparation in their chosen field sufficient to ensure profitable graduate study; (2) for international applicants, satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). From eligible candidates, departments may make final admission decisions based on a combination of factors, including academic degrees and records, the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores, and relevant work experience. Also considered are the appropriateness of the applicant’s goals to the degree program in which they are interested and to the research interests of the program's faculty. In addition, consideration may be given to how the applicant’s background and life experience would contribute significantly to an educationally beneficial mix of students.

Applicants who do not satisfy basic admission criteria may, for sufficient reason, be admitted with the approval of the Graduate Committee as established in the statutes and bylaws of the Institute.

This statement is in accordance with the Institute’s Mission and Vision statement which can be viewed at www.gatech.edu/vision/.

For information on Thesis and Dissertations please follow the link below.
http://www.grad.gatech.edu/theses-dissertations

Policy Statement: The most current Student Code of Conduct (the “Code”) can be found on the Policy Library web site as listed in the References. In the event of any conflict, the Code found in the Policy Library will govern.

Table of Contents

A. General
B. Definitions
C. Prohibited Non-Academic Conduct
D. Prohibited Academic Conduct
E. Interim Measures
F. Conduct Procedures
G. Sanctions
H. Appeal Procedures
I. Record Keeping and Release of Information
J. References

A. GENERAL

The Code educates all members of the Georgia Tech Community about the Institute’s expectations and Students’ rights and creates a standard by which Students are expected to conduct themselves for the purpose of establishing an environment conducive to academic excellence. Georgia Tech Students, Registered Student Organizations, and Groups are responsible for their own behavior, and the Institute has the authority to establish an internal structure for the enforcement of its policies and procedures, the terms of which students have agreed to accept by their enrollment.

1. Authority
a. The Code is not written with the specificity of a criminal statute and should not be confused with criminal law. Institute conduct proceedings are not restricted by the rules of evidence governing criminal and civil proceedings. Students may be charged under multiple sections of the Student Code of Conduct (Non-Academic Misconduct, the Academic Misconduct) based upon the same conduct. Students may be held accountable both to civil or criminal authorities and the Institute for acts that constitute violations of law and the Policy. Proceedings under this Policy may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings. Students who reside in Institute housing are subject to Housing policies and procedures in addition to this Code.

b. Sexual misconduct is not governed by this Code, but by the Sexual Misconduct Policy, including its procedures and sanctions.

c. The Office of Student Integrity (OSI), in consultation with the Office of the General Counsel, shall develop consistent operating procedures for the administration of the Conduct Process and for the conduct of Student Conduct Panel hearings.

d. Any question of the interpretation or application of the Code shall be referred to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students for final determination.

e. In any instance in which reference is made to an official of the Institute, such reference shall mean the official or the official’s designee.

2. Jurisdiction

a. The Institute shall take necessary and appropriate action to protect the safety and well-being of its community. Accordingly, student conduct should be addressed when such acts occur on Institute property, at Institute-sponsored or affiliated events, or otherwise violate the Institute’s student conduct policies, regardless as to where such conduct occurs. If the student has admitted responsibility and has voluntarily decided to participate in the informal process, the procedures outlined in this section will not apply. Academic misconduct relevant to any Institute activity will be addressed regardless of where it may have occurred. Non-academic misconduct will be addressed whenever such acts:

1. occur on Institute Premises;
2. occur at Institute-sponsored activities;
3. occur at Student Group or Organization Activities;
4. occur online or through an electronic medium; or
5. occur off Institute Premises when conduct adversely affects the Institute and/or the pursuit of its objectives.

b. Each Student shall be responsible for their conduct under this Code from the time of application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree. This includes conduct that may occur before classes begin or after classes end during the academic year, as well as during time periods between terms of actual enrollment. The Code shall apply to a Student’s conduct even if the Student withdraws from school while a disciplinary matter is pending. The Code applies to Institute programs in virtually remote and overseas locations.

c. The Institute shall retain the ability to adjudicate matters that occurred during a Student’s enrollment at Georgia Tech.

3. Inappropriate Classroom Behavior
The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the instructor. Students who engage in any acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by the instructor to leave the class for the remainder of the class period. Longer suspensions from a class can be administered only by the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students in accordance with this Code.

4. Registered Student Organization Discipline
Registered Student Organizations are subject to this Code. Any Registered Student Organization accused of committing or attempting to commit one or more acts of misconduct is subject to the conduct procedures outlined in Section F.

B. DEFINITIONS

“Administrative Conference” refers to the meeting between the Respondent and the Student Conduct Administrator and/or Investigator that can occur at the initiation of the Conduct Process. An Administrative Resolution may be offered to the Respondent during this conference.

“Administrative Resolution” refers to a decision by a Student Conduct Administrator that will
result in the Respondent either being found responsible or not for the alleged violation.

“Advisor” refers to an individual, chosen by the Respondent or the Complainant (where applicable), who assist a Respondent or the Complainant with the Conduct Process. The Respondent and the Complainant have the right to use an Advisor (who may or may not be an attorney) of their choosing, and at their own expense, for the express purpose of providing advice and counsel. The Advisor may be present during meetings and proceedings of the investigatory and/or resolution process at which the advisee is present. The Advisor may advise the advisee in any manner, including providing questions, suggestions, and guidance on responses to any questions asked of the advisee, but shall not participate directly during the investigation and/or resolution process unless it is a Title IX proceeding.

“Appellate Officer” means the person authorized by the Institute to consider an appeal of a disciplinary decision rendered by a Student Conduct Administrator, a Student Conduct Panel, or the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students.

“Business Day” means any day in which the Institute is open for its full hours of operation, in accordance with the Institute’s official calendars. All campuses will follow their respective calendars. When an authorized Institute Official closes the Institute, it will not be considered a Business Day.

“Chair” means a member of a Student Conduct Panel who is identified by the Institute to oversee the proceedings during a hearing.

“Complainant” means an individual who is alleged to be a victim of conduct that would violate any Board of Regents or other applicable Institute policy, including but not limited to, the Code.

“Community” includes any Student, Staff, Faculty Member, Institute Official, Affiliate, or any other person employed by the Institute. A person’s status in a particular situation shall be determined by the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students.

“Conduct Process” refers to the process that begins upon receipt of complaint, to include, the Administrative Conference, the investigation of misconduct allegations, and all other meetings and proceedings of the investigatory and/or resolution process.

“Faculty Member” means any person hired by the Institute to conduct classroom, teaching, or research activities or who is otherwise considered by the Institute to be a member of its Faculty.

“Group” means persons who are associated with each other, but who have not complied with Institute requirements for chartering or annual registration as a Registered Student Organization.

“Group or Organization Activity” means any activity on or off Institute Premises that is directly initiated for, or supervised by a Group or Registered Student Organization, including any individual activity occurring in buildings, facilities, grounds, utilities, or resources (including computer resources) owned, leased, operated, controlled, or supervised by a Group or Registered Student Organization.

“Information” means any Witness testimony, documents, statements, or tangible material
presented to an Investigator, Student Conduct Administrator, or Student Conduct Panel.

“Institute” and “Georgia Tech” each refer to the Georgia Institute of Technology, its respective campuses, and all of its undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, divisions, and programs.

“Institute Official” is defined as Faculty Members, administration, or staff, including students serving as Institute employees, who are acting on behalf of the Institute.

“Institute Premises” includes all land buildings, facilities, grounds, utilities, resources, and other property (including computer resources) in the possession of, or owned, operated, leased, controlled, or supervised by the Institute (including adjacent streets and sidewalks).

“Investigator” means a person or entity charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct.

“May” is used in the permissive sense.

“Office of Student Integrity” or “OSI” means the office designated by the Institute to oversee the Code.

“Policy” or “Policies” means any written rule or regulation of the Institute, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

“Preponderance of the Evidence” is the standard of review used in determining responsibility and means whether a Respondent is more likely than not to be in violation of the Code.

“President” means the President of the Institute or their designee.

“Registered Student Organization” or “RSO” means persons who have complied with or are in the process of complying with, the Institute requirements for chartering or annual registration requirements pursuant to the Registered Student Organizations Policy.

“Respondent” means a Student, Group, or RSO who is alleged to be in violation of the Code. The individual designated as the highest-ranking member of the Group or RSO shall represent the Group or RSO as the Respondent.

“Sanction” and “Supplementary Requirements” means the conditions imposed upon a Respondent found responsible for a violation of the Code.

“Student” means any person who is taking or auditing classes of the Institute, either full-time or part-time; is participating in academic programs; or is pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional studies. A Student is also any person who matriculates in any Institute program, has been accepted for enrollment, or is eligible to re-enroll without applying for readmission.

“Student Conduct Administrator” means an Institute Official as authorized by the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students to lead the Administrative Conference, recommend violations based on an investigation of alleged misconduct, or impose Sanctions upon any Student(s) found to have violated the Code.

“Student Conduct Panel” means a set of persons authorized by the Institute to determine whether the Respondent has violated the Code. In non-academic cases, the Panel recommends a decision and Sanctions, if applicable, to the Director of Student Integrity.

“System Director” refers the University System of Georgia’s System Director of Equity & Investigations.  

“Substantial Evidence” means evidence a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.

“Weapon” means any object or substance designed, intended, or used to inflict or threaten bodily injury.

“Will” and “shall” are used in the imperative sense.

“Witness” is defined as a person providing information during the Conduct Process.
 

C. PROHIBITED NON-ACADEMIC CONDUCT

Any Student, Group, or RSO accused of committing or attempting to commit one or more acts of non-academic misconduct is subject to the Conduct Process in Section F.

1. Alcohol violations including, but not limited to:

a. Underage use or possession of alcohol.
b. Possession or consumption of alcohol in an unauthorized area.
c. Use or possession of fake identification.
d. Distribution of alcohol to underage person(s).
e. Behavior, while under the influence of alcohol that endangers any person.
f. Disorderly conduct associated with the use of alcoholic beverages.

2. Illegal drugs and other substance violations including, but not limited to:

a. Use or possession of illegal drugs (without valid medical or dental prescription).
b. Behavior, while under the influence of illegal drugs, that endangers any person.
c. Manufacturing, furnishing, selling, or distributing of any narcotic or dangerous drug controlled by law.
d. Disorderly conduct associated with the use of illegal drugs.

3. Unjustifiably pushing, striking, or otherwise intentionally causing reasonable apprehension of such harm to any person.

4. Disorderly conduct including, but not limited to:

a. Boisterousness, rowdiness, obscene, or indecent conduct or appearance.
b. Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, or other Institute activities, including its public service functions or other authorized activities.
c. Breach of the peace.

5. Behavior that endangers any person(s), including self.

6. Unauthorized use of Institute Premises including:

a. Unauthorized entry into any Institute Premises or remaining without permission in any building after normal closing hours.
b. Possessing, using, making, or causing to be made any key or other means of access to any Institute Premises without proper authorization.

7. Furnishing false information to any Institute Official.

8. Forgery, alteration, replication, or misuse of any document, record, or identification upon which the Institute relies, regardless of the medium.

9. Hazing is conduct, whether on or off Institute Premises, which exceeds the normal expectations of the organizational purpose or mission and which:

a. Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student as a condition of affiliation with a Group or RSO;
b. Is sufficiently severe or pervasive enough to interfere with academic responsibilities; or
c. Is any intentional, negligent or reckless action, or situation-causing another pain, embarrassment, ridicule or harassment, regardless of the willingness of the participant.

10. Safety violations, including, but not limited to:

a. Intentionally initiating or causing to be initiated any false reporting, warning or threat of fire, explosion, or other emergency.
b. Tampering with safety devices or other emergency, safety, or firefighting equipment.
c. Setting or attempting to set an unauthorized fire.
d. Unauthorized possession of fireworks, firearms, and/or ammunition.
e. Unauthorized possession of authorized weapons and/or dangerous materials or chemicals.
f. Unauthorized sale, possession, furnishing, or use of any bomb or explosive or incendiary device.

11. Theft and/or unauthorized possession or use of property or services belonging to the Institute, another person, or any other entity.

12. Malicious or unauthorized damage to or destruction of Institute property or property belonging to another.

13. Illegal gambling, including online gambling.

14. Failure to return or submit property or records of the Institute within the time prescribed by the Institute.

15. Acting with any other person to perform an unlawful act or to violate an Institute, Board of Regents, and/or University System Policy.

16. Failure to comply with instructions or a directive of any properly identified Institute Official while that person is acting in the performance of official duties.

17. Abuse of the Conduct Process including, but not limited to:

a. Failure to cooperate with the investigation, resolution, and procedures of the Code.
b. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of Information before a Student Conduct Administrator or Student Conduct Panel.
c. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of an Administrative Conference and/or a Student Conduct Panel proceeding.
d. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a Student Conduct Administrator and/or a member of a Student Conduct  Panel at any point in the Conduct Process.
e. Failure to comply with the Sanction and/or Supplementary Requirements imposed under the Code.
f. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the Conduct Process.

18. Harassing another person including, but not limited to:

Placing another person in reasonable fear of his/her personal safety through words or actions directed at that person, or unreasonably interfering with the working, learning, or living environment of the person.

19. Violation of any Institute Policy, rule or regulation.

20. Violation of any Board of Regents or University System of Georgia Policy and/or federal, state, or local law.

21. Discriminatory conduct including:

a. Objectively offensive conduct directed at a particular person or persons based upon that person or persons’ race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or any class protected by law that creates a hostile environment or that results in excluding participation in, or denies the benefits of any educational program or working opportunity for that person or persons.
b. Verbal or written threats, coercion or any other conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or any class protected by law, that by design, intent or recklessness incites reasonable fear of physical harm or otherwise unreasonably interferes with another’s working, learning, or living environment of the person. Allegations of sex and/or gender-based discrimination will be governed by the Sexual Misconduct Policy.

D. PROHIBITED ACADEMIC CONDUCT

Any Student accused of committing or attempting to commit one or more of the following acts of academic misconduct is subject to conduct procedures in Section F.

1. Unauthorized access including possessing, using, or exchanging improperly acquired written or verbal information in the preparation of a problem set, laboratory report, essay, examination, or other academic assignment.

2. Unauthorized collaboration including unauthorized interaction with another Student or Students in the fulfillment of academic requirements.

3. Plagiarism including submission of material that is wholly or substantially identical to that created or published by another person or persons, without adequate credit notations indicating the authorship.

4. False claims of performance for work that has been submitted by a Student.

5. Grade alteration including alteration of any academic grade or rating to obtain unearned academic credit.

6. Deliberate falsification including a written or verbal statement of fact to a Faculty Member and/or Institute Official, to obtain unearned academic credit.

7. Forgery including alteration, or misuse of any Institute document relating to the academic status of the Student.

8. Distortion including any act that distorts or could distort grades or other academic records.

9. Unauthorized use of another’s intellectual property including classroom recordings, power point presentations, lecture notes (any media), examination questions, or study guides.

E. INTERIM MEASURES

Interim measures may be implemented by the Institute at any point after the Institute becomes aware of the alleged student misconduct and should be designed to protect any student or other individual in the USG community. To the extent interim measures are imposed, they should minimize the burden on both the alleged victim Complainant (where applicable) and the Respondent, where feasible. Interim measures may include, but are not limited to:

1. Change of housing assignment;
2. Issuance of a “no contact” directive;
3. Restrictions or bars to entering certain Institute Premises;
4. Changes to academic or employment arrangements, schedules, or supervisions;
5. Interim suspension; and
6. Other measures designed to preserve the safety and well-being of the parties and the Institute’s Community.

Any reports that involves allegation(s) of conduct that could lead to the suspension or expulsion of the Respondent(s) in an initial report must be promptly reported to the System Director.

Interim Suspension:

In certain circumstances the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students may impose a suspension prior to the investigation and resolution process.

1. The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students will determine if interim suspension is warranted. Interim suspensions should occur only where necessary to maintain safety and shall be limited to situations where the Respondent poses a serious and immediate danger or threat to persons or property. In making such an assessment, the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students shall consider the existence of a significant risk to the health or safety of the Complainant (where applicable) or the campus community; the nature, duration, and severity of the risk; the probability of potential injury; and whether less restrictive means can be used to significantly mitigate the risk.

Before an interim suspension is issued, the institution must make reasonable efforts to give the Respondent the opportunity to be heard on whether the Respondent’s presence on campus poses a danger. If an interim suspension is issued, the terms of the suspension shall take effect immediately. The Respondent shall receive notice of the interim suspension and the opportunity to respond to the interim suspension. The Student shall be notified in writing of this action and the reasons for the interim suspension. Within three business days of receiving a challenge the institution will determine whether the interim suspension should continue.

2. During the interim suspension the Student may be denied access to classes, campus facilities, and all other Institute activities or privileges.

3. Cases of interim suspension shall be given priority and will be expedited through the conduct process.

F. CONDUCT PROCEDURES

1. Case Referrals

Any person may file a complaint against a Student, Group or RSO for violations of the Code. The procedures for filing a complaint are on the OSI website.

The complaint shall be prepared in writing and directed to OSI. Complaints should include as much information as possible – such as: (1) the type of misconduct alleged; (2) the name and contact information of the Respondent; (3) the date(s), time(s), and place(s) of the misconduct; (4) the name(s) and contact information of any individual(s) with knowledge of the incident; (5) whether any tangible evidence has been preserved; and (6) whether a criminal complaint has been made.

The complaint should be submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place or when it is reasonably discovered, generally within thirty (30) Business Days following the discovery of the incident. The Complainant should forward any supporting documentation to OSI within ten (10) Business Days of the original submission or OSI may process the case based solely on the original complaint. OSI may also initiate a complaint based upon information received.

Complainants may file a report with law enforcement as well as with OSI.

Confidentiality: Where a Complainant (where applicable) requests that their identity be withheld or the allegation(s) not be investigated, the Institute should consider whether or not such request(s) can be honored while still promoting a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for the institution and conducting an effective review of the allegations. The institution should inform the requesting party that the institution cannot guarantee confidentiality and that even granting requests for confidentiality shall not prevent the institution from reporting information or statistical data as required by law, including the Clery Act.

Retaliation: Anyone who, has made a report or complaint, provided information, assisted, participated or refused to participate in any investigation or resolution under applicable Board of Regents or Institute Policy shall not be subjected to retaliation. Anyone who believes they have been the subjected to retaliation should immediately contact the appropriate department or individual(s) for that institution. Any person found to have engaged in retaliation shall be subject to disciplinary action, pursuant to Institute Policy.

False Complaints/Statements: Individuals are prohibited from knowingly giving false statements to an institution official. Any person found to have knowingly submitted false complaints, accusations, or statements, including during a hearing, in violation of applicable Board of Regents or Institute Policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action (up to and including suspension or expulsion) and adjudicated pursuant to Institute Policy.

Amnesty: Students should be encouraged to come forward and report violations of the law and/or student code of conduct notwithstanding their choice to consume alcohol or drugs. Information reported by a student during the conduct process concerning their consumption of drugs or alcohol will not be voluntarily reported to law enforcement; nor will information that the individual provides be used against the individual for purposes of conduct violations. Nevertheless, these students may be required to meet with staff members regarding the incident and may be required to participate in appropriate educational program(s). The required participation in an educational program under this amnesty procedure will not be considered a sanction. Nothing in this amnesty procedure shall prevent an Institute staff member who is otherwise obligated by law (the Clery Act) to report information or statistical data as required.

2. Communications

All communications (requests for meetings, notifications, notice of hearings, etc.) will be provided via official Institute e-mail addresses, as defined by the Office of Information Technology. If the Respondent is not currently enrolled, the notification will be sent via U.S. Postal Service to the last known address on file with the Registrar.

3. Rights

Throughout the Conduct Process, the Respondent, as party to the proceedings, is granted the following rights:

1. to seek information from a Student Conduct Administrator and/or Investigator;
2. to be informed of the charge(s) and alleged misconduct upon which the charge is based;
3. to be informed of the Information upon which a charge is based and afforded an opportunity to offer a relevant response;
4. to use an Advisor;
5. to remain silent with no inference of responsibility drawn;
6. to call and question relevant Witnesses;
7. to present Information in his/her behalf;
8. to be considered not responsible until proven responsible by a Preponderance of the Evidence;
9. to be informed of the outcome of the disciplinary proceeding in writing;
10. to appeal the decision;
11. to waive any of the above rights; and
12. to have resolution of the case within a reasonable time.

Throughout the Conduct Process, the Complainant (where applicable), as party to the proceedings, is granted the following rights:

1. to have an Advisor of their own choosing, at their own expense;
2. to be informed of the outcome of the disciplinary proceeding in writing; and
3. to appeal the decision.

Throughout the Conduct Process, Witnesses have the right to remain silent with no inference of responsibility drawn.

4. Investigation and Resolution Process
Initial Evaluation of Incident Reports

a. After OSI receives a complaint, the Student Conduct Administrator will review the complaint and any supporting Information to decide what, if any process to initiate. The Student Conduct Administrator will determine whether the facts as alleged in the complaint or report are sufficient to initiate a Conduct Process.

• If the Student Conduct Administrator determines that the facts of the complaint or report, even if true, would not constitute a violation of Policy, no further action will be taken. Otherwise, the Student Conduct Administrator may (1) attempt to resolve the situation through an informal resolution process including, but not limited to, mediation or a meeting between the Respondent and a Student Conduct Administrator or a third party; or (2) perform an initial investigation to determine what charges should be brought against the Respondent and whether those charges could potentially result in suspension or expulsion of the Respondent.
• The Respondent shall receive notice of the alleged misconduct with sufficient details, shall be provided an opportunity to respond, and shall be allowed to remain silent during the investigation and resolution process, without an adverse inference. Sufficient details include the identifies of the parties involved, if known, a statement of the alleged misconduct violation(s), and the date and location of the alleged incident, if known.  If the Respondent chooses to remain silent, the investigation may proceed, and Policy violation charges may still result and may be resolved against the Respondent. 

b. If OSI receives multiple complaints involving the same Student, each complaint will be considered separately in determining whether a Conduct Process should be initiated.  Multiple charges against the same Respondent will generally be investigated and adjudicated separately; however, multiple charges may be investigated and adjudicated together under appropriate circumstances, which may include, but are not limited to, consent of the parties, similar or related conduct, and the administrative burden of considering the charges separately. 

c. Process for Cases which will Not Result in Suspension or Expulsion 

1. If the Student Conduct Administrator initiates the Conduct Process, the Respondent is notified and is requested to contact the Student Conduct Administrator within five (5) Business Days of the notification to schedule an Administrative Conference. During the Conduct Process, the Respondent should continue to attend class and required Institute functions unless otherwise instructed by the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students or OSI. Should the Respondent fail to contact the Student Conduct Administrator within five (5) Business Days, or fail to attend the Administrative Conference, the Student Conduct Administrator may resolve the case in the Student’s absence, or may refer the case to a Student Conduct Panel.
2. At the Administrative Conference, the Respondent is presented with the alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct, supporting Information, and an explanation of his/her rights. The Respondent may bring an Advisor. However, if the Advisor disrupts the investigation and resolution process, they may be asked to leave. The Respondent will be provided the opportunity to present their version of the reported incident.

d. Process for Cases Which May Result in Expulsion or Suspension  

1. In cases which may result in expulsion or suspension, Georgia Tech must notify the System Director pursuant to USG Policy 4.6.
2. The Complainant (where applicable) and Respondent shall be provided with written notice of the complaint/allegations, pending investigation, possible charges, possible sanctions, available support services, and the identity of the Investigator(s). Notice should be provided via institution e-mail to the address on file.
3. Upon receipt of the written notice, the Respondent shall be given five (5) Business Days to respond in writing. In that response, the Respondent shall have the right to admit or to deny the allegations, and to set forth a defense with facts, Witnesses, and supporting materials– whether written or electronic – in support. Failure to respond by the deadline will be considered a general denial of the alleged misconduct.
4. After review of the Respondent’s response, the investigation shall continue with interviews of the Respondent, the Complainant (where applicable) and other relevant Witnesses; collection and review of documents or other physical or electronic information; and any other steps deemed necessary by the Investigator. The Investigator should retain written notes and/or obtain written or recorded statements from each interview. The Investigator shall also keep a record of any proffered Witnesses not interviewed, along with a brief, written explanation.
5. The investigation shall be summarized in writing in an initial investigation report and provided to the Respondent and the Complainant (where applicable and permissible by law) in person or via email. This summary should clearly indicate any resulting charges (or alternatively, a determination of no charges), as well as the facts and evidence in support thereof and possible sanctions.
6. To the extent the summary report indicates that the Respondent will be charged with any violation, the Respondent shall have the opportunity to respond in writing. The Respondent’s written response to the report shall be due no later than three (3) Business Days following the date of the report. The Respondent’s written response should outline a plea in response to the charge(s), and where applicable, the defense(s), and the facts, Witnesses, and documents – whether written or electronic – in support. The Respondent’s failure to submit a written response to the charge(s) within three (3) Business Days will be interpreted as a denial of the charge(s).
7. The Investigator shall conduct further investigation and update the investigative report if warranted by the Respondent’s response. 
8. The final investigative report shall be provided to the Student Conduct Panel or Student Conduct Administrator for consideration in adjudicating the charges brought against the Respondent. A copy shall also be provided to the Respondent and the Complainant (where applicable) before any hearing. The Investigator may testify as a Witness regarding the investigation and findings but shall otherwise have no part in the hearing process and shall not attempt to otherwise influence the proceedings outside of providing testimony during the hearing.
9. During the Conduct Process, the Respondent should continue to attend class and required Institute functions unless otherwise instructed by the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students or OSI.

e. The case will be adjudicated by the Student Conduct Administrator or a Student Conduct Panel. The Respondent shall have the option of having the charges heard by either the Student Conduct Administrator or by a Student Conduct Panel. The Respondent may also request that the case be adjudicated by a different Student Conduct Administrator than that initially authorized to hear the case in the event of perceived bias of the initially authorized official. The Student’s reasons for their preference must be conveyed to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, in writing, before the investigation begins.  Ordinarily, the Student’s preference will be honored; however, the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students will make the final decision in their sole discretion. If the Student’s preference is not honored, the rationale for the decision will be provided to the Student in writing. The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students reserves the right to determine the process to be used based on the relevant facts and circumstances, including, but not limited to: 

1. imminent graduation of the Student;
2. end of the semester; or
3. extraordinary circumstances.

f. If the case is to be adjudicated by the Student Conduct Panel, the case shall be referred to the Student Conduct Panel and follow the procedures outlined in Section F-5-b.

Resolution of the case should be made within thirty (30) Business Days of the Administrative Conference. If resolution cannot be reached in thirty (30) Business Days, OSI will inform the Respondent and Complainant (where applicable). OSI may waive this timeline for good cause.

5. Forms of Case Resolution

In no case shall a hearing to resolve charge(s) of student misconduct take place before the investigative report has been finalized or before the Respondent has had an opportunity to respond in writing, unless the Respondent has chosen to go through an informal process or otherwise provided a written waiver of rights to these procedures. Further, unrelated charges and/or cases shall be heard separately unless the Respondent consents to the charges/cases being heard jointly.

Where the Respondent contests the charges, and after the investigative report has been finalized and copies provided to the Respondent and the Complainant (where applicable and permissible by law) the case shall be set for hearing; however, in cases with a Complainant, the Complainant and Respondent may have the option of selecting informal resolution, except where deemed inappropriate by the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, (or their designee) or the System Director.

Where a case is not resolved through informal means, the charges shall be heard either by an Administrator or a Student Conduct Panel. Notice of the date, time, and location of the hearing, shall be provided to the Respondent and the Complainant (where applicable) at least five (5) Business Days prior to the hearing. Hearings shall be conducted in person or via conferencing technology as reasonably available.

The following standards will apply to any such hearing, whether before an Administrator or a Student Conduct Panel:

1. The Respondent and Complainant (where applicable) shall have the right to present Witnesses and evidence to the hearing officer or panel. Witness testimony, if provided, shall pertain to knowledge and facts directly associated with the case being heard. The Respondent and Complainant (where applicable) shall have the right to confront any Witnesses, including the other party, by submitting written questions to the Hearing Officer or Hearing Panel for consideration. Advisors may actively assist in drafting questions. The Hearing Officer or Hearing Panel shall ask the questions as written and will limit questions only if they are unrelated to determining the veracity of the charge leveled against the Respondent(s). In any event, the Hearing Officer or Hearing Panel shall err on the side of asking all submitted questions and must document the reason for not asking any particular questions.
2. Where the Student Conduct Administrator or panel determines that a party or Witness is unavailable and unable to be present due to extenuating circumstances, the Student Conduct Administrator or panel may establish special procedures for providing testimony from a separate location. In doing so, the Student Conduct Administrator or panel must determine there is a valid basis for the unavailability, ensure proper sequestration in a manner that ensures testimony has not been tainted, and make a determination that such an arrangement will not unfairly disadvantage any party. Should it be reasonably believed by the Student Conduct Administrator or panel that a party or Witness who is not physically present has presented tainted testimony, the Student Conduct Administrator or panel will disregard or discount the testimony.
3. Formal judicial rules of evidence do not apply to the investigatory or resolution process.
4. The standard of review shall be a Preponderance of the Evidence; however, any decision to suspend or to expel a student must also be supported by Substantial Evidence at the hearing.
5. The Institute shall maintain documentation of the proceedings, which may include written findings of fact, transcripts, audio recordings and/or video recordings.
6. Following a hearing, both the Respondent and Complainant (where applicable) shall be provided a written decision of the outcome and any resulting sanctions. The decision shall include details on how to appeal, as outlined below. Additionally, the written decision shall summarize the evidence in support of the sanction. The same form will be completed, regardless of whether the student opts for a student panel or an administrative hearing.

a. Administrative Resolution

The Student Conduct Administrator renders a decision of: 1) Not Responsible, which closes the case, or 2) Responsible for one or more violations with an appropriate Sanction, and, as warranted, one or more from among the Supplementary Requirements. The Respondent, after being notified of the Student Conduct Administrator’s decision, may submit an appeal to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students according to the appeal procedures described in Section H.

b. Student Conduct Panel

1. Decisions and Sanctions
   The Student Conduct Panel, after convening a hearing, recommends a disciplinary decision to the Director of Student Integrity. The Director of Student Integrity, after reviewing the case, renders a decision of 1) Not Responsible, which closes the case, or 2) Responsible for one or more violations of the Policy with an appropriate Sanction and, as warranted, one or more from among the Supplementary Requirements. The Respondent, after being notified of the decision and Sanction, may appeal to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, according to appeal procedures described in Section H.
    
2. Scheduling of Student Conduct Panel Hearing
   After the case is forwarded to a Student Conduct Panel, the Complainant and the Respondent will be notified of available dates and times for a hearing. The Respondent may indicate preferences from among the available dates and times. These preferences will be considered by OSI if received within three (3) Business Days of the date the options were presented to the Respondent. 

This official notice will be provided at least five (5) Business Days prior to the hearing and will include the time, date, and location of the hearing. In addition, the notice will specify the Complainant(s), Witnesses(s), and nature of the alleged misconduct. The Respondent may waive the notification timeline in order to expedite the hearing process. Upon request, the Respondent may meet with a Student Conduct Administrator to review Information and hearing procedures.

c. Faculty Conference (optional academic case resolution)

A faculty conference is an optional way in which an alleged act of academic misconduct can be resolved.

1. Initiation of Complaint

The Faculty Conference is initiated by the instructor of record, who requests the meeting with the Respondent to discuss the alleged misconduct. Should the Respondent not choose to participate in a Faculty Conference, the instructor should forward the case to OSI for investigation.

2. Participants

The Faculty Conference involves the instructor of record and the Respondent. The Faculty Conference may also involve Witnesses and a representative from OSI if requested by either the instructor or the Respondent.

3. Process

During the Faculty Conference, the instructor of record explains the alleged misconduct, supporting Information, and the Rights of the Respondent. The Respondent can provide: 1) his/her response to alleged misconduct, 2) supporting Information, and 3) Witnesses.

4. Conclusion

• If the instructor finds the Respondent not responsible, the case is closed.
• If the instructor finds the Respondent responsible, but the Respondent does not admit responsibility, the instructor forwards the case to OSI for investigation.
• If the instructor finds the Respondent responsible, and the Respondent acknowledges responsibility, the instructor proposes a Faculty Resolution including: 1) a Sanction of disciplinary warning, or disciplinary probation; 2) a grade penalty; and 3) an educational component.
• If the Respondent agrees to the Faculty Resolution, the Faculty Member forwards the resolution to OSI for consideration. OSI will determine if the Respondent has prior disciplinary history. If so, in the case will be investigated by OSI, in accordance with Section F-4.
• If the Respondent does not agree to the Faculty Resolution, the Faculty Member forwards the case to OSI.

5. Implementation

• The Respondent is formally notified of the proposed Faculty Resolution by OSI, according to the communication guidelines in Section F-2.
• The Faculty resolution goes into effect upon delivery unless the Respondent requests within five (5) Business Days that the case be forwarded to OSI for investigation.

6. Hearing Participants and Attendees

• Student Conduct Panel hearings shall ordinarily be closed except for the Respondent(s), the Complainant(s), Advisor(s), and Witnesses. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Chair. Witnesses are allowed at the discretion of the Chair. The Chair may exclude any person, including the Respondent, who disrupts a hearing.
• A Respondent who fails to appear after proper notice will be deemed to have responded "Not Responsible" to the charges against him/her and to have exercised the right to remain silent without prejudice. At the discretion of the Chairperson the hearing may be conducted in the absence of the Student(s) and all the Information regarding the alleged misconduct shall be presented and considered.
• The Complainant(s) and Respondent(s) may be accompanied by an Advisor and up to two (2) family members. The Complainant(s) and/or Respondent(s) should select an Advisor who can attend the hearing at the scheduled date and time. Delays are not usually granted due to scheduling conflicts of an Advisor.
• Subject to the Chairperson’s control of the hearing, the Complainant(s), Respondent(s), and their Advisor(s), and up to two (2) family members may be allowed to attend the Student Conduct Panel hearing, but not Panel deliberations.
• In Student Conduct Panel hearings involving more than one Respondent, OSI may permit the Student Conduct Panel hearings concerning each Student to be conducted either separately or jointly.
• A maximum of two (2) character Witnesses will be allowed in a hearing.

7. Hearing Procedures for Student Panel

• The Chair shall exercise control over the proceedings to achieve orderly completion of the hearing.

• Advisors are restricted to private communications with their advisee(s). If the Advisor disrupts the hearing process, he/she may be asked to leave.
   
• All questions by the Complainant(s) and Respondent(s) must be directed to the Chairperson, rather than to the Witness directly. Questions of whether potential Information will be received shall be resolved at the discretion of the Chairperson.
   
• In addition to the Information provided by OSI, the Student Conduct Panel, at the discretion of the Chair, may accept additional pertinent information and testimony (including impact statements). Any letters of recommendation submitted by the Respondent will be admitted for consideration at the discretion of the Chair and, if admitted, will be viewed only during Panel deliberations.
   
• All procedural questions arising during the hearing are subject to the final decision of the Chair.
   
• The Student Conduct Panel’s standard of proof shall be a Preponderance of the Evidence.  Where the potential sanctions for the alleged misconduct may involve a suspension or expulsion, the Panel’s finding must be supported by Substantial Evidence.
   
• The Student Conduct Panel in consultation with OSI, may reasonably accommodate concerns for the personal safety and well-being of the Complainant(s), Respondent(s), and/or Witnesses during the hearing.
   
• The Student Conduct Panel shall make a recording of the proceeding, which will serve as the official record of the hearing. No other recording will be permitted. The Respondent or the Complainant may request a copy of the Institute's recording or may listen to the original recording in a location designated by OSI at no charge. The record shall be the property of the Institute and is subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 USC §1232g.

G. SANCTIONS

Sanctions are imposed only when the Respondent is found responsible for one (1) or more violations of the Policy. All Sanctions are officially recorded. A Respondent who is found responsible must be given one of the four (4) Sanctions, listed in Section G-1 in ascending order of severity. The Respondent may also be subject to one or more Supplementary Requirements. There is no requirement that a Student receive less severe sanctions before more severe sanctions; some conduct may warrant immediate expulsion.

In determining the severity of sanctions or corrective actions the following should be considered: the frequency, severity, and/or nature of the offense, history of past conduct, a Respondent’s willingness to accept responsibility, previous institutional response to similar conduct, strength of the evidence, and the wellbeing of the Institute community. The Institute will determine sanctions and issue notice of the same, as outlined above.

1. Sanction Descriptions

Disciplinary Warning
A disciplinary warning is a formal written notice that the Student, Group, or RSO has violated the Student Code of Conduct and that further violations may result in more serious disciplinary action. Students, Groups, or RSOs who receive a disciplinary warning are still considered in good standing with the Institute.

Disciplinary Probation
Disciplinary probation means there is a specified time period during which the Student, Group, or RSO is considered not in good standing with the Institute. Further violations during that time period may result in more serious disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from the Institute.

Suspension
Suspension means a Student, Group, or RSO has been found responsible for violating the Institute’s Policy. Suspension is separation of the Student from the Institute for a specified period of time, after which the Student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified by OSI or the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. A suspended Student shall immediately leave campus and may not re-enter campus without prior approval from the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. Students on suspension are not permitted to enroll in classes at the Institute during their suspension. OSI will determine when the Respondent has met the requirements for readmission. For an RSO, the Institute will withdraw recognition for the duration of the suspension. Any further disciplinary violation may result in disciplinary action up to and including Expulsion.

Expulsion
Expulsion means a Student, Group, or RSO has been found responsible for violating the Institute’s Policy. Expulsion is permanent separation and termination of the Respondent’s status as a Georgia Tech Student, and exclusion from Institute Premises, privileges, and activities. For an RSO, the Institute permanently withdraws recognition.

For suspension and expulsion, the Institute must articulate, in its written decision, the Substantial Evidence relied upon in determining that suspension or expulsion were appropriate.

 2. Supplementary Requirements

• Restitution: Payment to the Institute or to an affected party for damages resulting from a violation of the Code.
• Fine: A monetary penalty paid to the Institute.
• Grade Change: Change of grade for the course and/or coursework in which the academic misconduct occurred.
• Programmatic Requirements: Required completion of designated educational programs
  (e.g., alcohol, community issues, anger management, assessments, etc.).
• Restrictions: Exclusion from participation in specified services and activities.
• Revocation of Admission and/or Degree: Admission to, or a degree awarded from the Institute may be revoked for fraud, misrepresentation, or other violation of Institute standards obtaining the degree, or for other serious violations committed by a Student prior to graduation.
• Withholding Degree: The Institute may withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the completion of the process set forth in this Student Code of Conduct, including the completion of all Sanctions and Supplementary Requirements, if any.
• Other Requirements may be imposed.

H. APPEAL PROCEDURES

Appeals may be made in any cases where sanctions are issued, even when such sanctions are held “in abeyance,” such as probationary or expulsion. Where the sanction imposed includes a suspension or expulsion, there are appellate procedures provided to the Respondent and Complainant at every level.   

Any party may challenge the participation of any Institute official or employee in the process on the grounds of personal bias by submitting a written statement to the Institute’s designee setting forth the basis for the challenge. The written challenge should be submitted within a reasonable time after the party reasonably should have known of the existence of the bias. The Institute’s designee will determine whether to sustain or deny the challenge, and if sustained, the replacement to be appointed.

1. Reasons for Appeal

The appeal process is not intended to grant a new hearing at a higher level. An appeal shall be limited to a review of the record of the initial hearing, supporting documents, and the Respondent’s written appeal. The Respondent must explicitly state why he or she believes an appeal is warranted. Appeals will be considered only for the following reasons:

a. to consider new information, sufficient to alter the decision, or other relevant facts not brought out in the original hearing (or appeal), because such information was not known or knowable to the person appealing during the time of the hearing (or appeal);
b. to allege a procedural error within the hearing process that may have substantially impacted the fairness of the hearing (or appeal), including but not limited to whether any hearing questions were improperly excluded or whether the decision was tainted by a conflict of interest or bias by the Title IX Coordinator, Conduct Officer, investigator(s), or decision maker(s); or
c. to allege that the finding was inconsistent with the weight of the information.

2. Process

a. Effective date of sanctions

• If a case is appealed, sanctions are not imposed while the appeal is pending unless the welfare of a person or the community is threatened.
   
• Sanctions will be imposed if an appeal is not filed, the deadline for an appeal passes, or when an appeal decision has been finalized.

 b. Appeal to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students

• The appeal must be made in writing and must set forth one or more of the bases outlined above and must be submitted within five (5) Business Days of the date of the final written decision.
   
• The appeal shall be a review of the record only, and no new meeting with the Respondent or the Complainant will be held. The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, or their designee, may affirm the original finding and sanction; affirm the original finding but issue a new sanction of greater or lesser severity; remand the case back to the decision-maker to correct a procedural or factual defect; or reverse or dismiss the case if there was a procedural or factual defect that cannot be remedied by remand.
   
• The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students or their designee shall then issue a decision in writing to the Respondent within a reasonable time period, ordinarily ten (10) Business Days. This is the final decision of the Institute, unless the sanction is suspension or expulsion.
   
• In cases where the Respondent has been expelled or suspended, the decision of the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students or his/her designee may be appealed to the President of the Institute solely on the three grounds set forth above.

c. Appeal to the President

• The appeal to the President must be made in writing, must set forth one or more of the bases outlined above, and must be submitted within five (5) Business Days of the date of the final written decision by the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students.
   
• The appeal shall be a review of the record only, and no new meeting with the Respondent or the Complainant (where applicable) will be held.
   
• The President may affirm the original finding and sanction; affirm the original finding but issue a new sanction of greater or lesser severity, remand the case back to any lower decision maker to correct a procedural or factual defect; or reverse or dismiss the case if there was a procedural or factual defect that cannot be remedied by remand. The President’s decision shall be issued in writing to the parties within a reasonable time period, ordinarily within ten (10) Business Days. The President’s decision shall be the final decision of the Institute.

3. Appeal Decisions
Decisions of the Appellate Officer go into effect immediately. Appeals received after the designated deadlines will not be considered unless the Institute or Board of Regents has granted an extension prior to the deadline. If an appeal is not received by the deadline the last decision on the matter will become final.

4. Board of Regents
In cases where the President has received an appeal and issued a final decision,  The Respondent or Complainant (where applicable)may file an application for discretionary review to the Board of Regents in accordance with the Board of Regents Policy 6.26, Application for Discretionary Review. Applications from USG students are permitted for final institution decisions other than decisions on admissions (including program admissions), residency, student grades, and traffic citations, as the final decision on those matters rests with the President of the institution at which the appeal is heard. The application for review shall be submitted in writing to University System Office of Legal Affairs the within twenty (20) calendar days following the Institute’s final decision.

I. RECORD KEEPING AND RELEASE OF INFORMATION

1. Retention of Student Conduct Records
Georgia Tech retains student conduct records in accordance with USG Records Retention Schedules.

2. Release of Information
Student disciplinary files shall be governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act 20 U.S.C. § 1232g.

a. Academic or non-academic misconduct resulting in expulsion may be released to third parties indefinitely.
b. Academic misconduct that resulted in suspension may be released to third parties for five years after sanction completion.
c. Any non-academic misconduct that resulted in suspension where a potential threat to the campus community exists (including but not limited to illegal drug distribution, endangering or harming any person, or jeopardizing the safety of any person) may be released to third parties for five years after sanction completion. In instances of suspension where no threat to the community is identified, the suspension may be reported until the sanction is complete.
d. Any academic or non-academic misconduct that did not result in suspension or expulsion is not released to third parties.
e. The Institute requires a specific written request from the student to release the entire disciplinary record to third parties.

3. Parent/Legal Guardian Notification
Parents/Legal Guardians of Students under the age of 21 may be notified when a Student is found responsible for violating the Georgia Tech Student Policy on Alcohol and other Drugs when any of the following occur:

a. A Student endangers themselves or others while under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Specific instances include driving under the influence, fighting, alcohol poisoning, and hospitalization.
b. The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students determines that any future violation of Institute Policy will most likely result in suspension from the Institute.
c. A Student Conduct Administrator determines that any future violation of Institute Policy will likely result in removal from housing.

4. Transcript Encumbrances
In pending cases that could result in Suspension or Expulsion, the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students will normally place a temporary encumbrance (hold) on a Respondent’s records. The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students will also place a hold on a Respondent’s records if the Respondent fails to respond to an official request to meet with a Student Conduct Administrator or the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, or if the Respondent fails to complete assigned Sanctions.

J. REFERENCES

Academic Honor Code:  www.honor.gatech.edu
Board of Regents: www.usg.edu/policymanual/
Computer Use and Network Policy: www.security.gatech.edu
Department of Housing:  www.housing.gatech.edu
Faculty Senate: www.Facultysenate.gatech.edu

Office of the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students:
www.studentlife.gatech.edu/
Office of Student Integrity:  www.osi.gatech.edu
Title IX Information: https://titleix.gatech.edu/
Fraternity & Sorority Life Hazing Statement: https://greek.gatech.edu/content/hazing-statement

The following policies can be found on the OSI website:
Alcohol and Drug Policy
Sexual Misconduct Policy
Good Samaritan/Medical Amnesty Provision

Revision Date	Author	Description
February 2021	Student Life/Legal Affairs	Editorial Updates
August 2020	Student Life/Legal Affairs	Revised per BOR Policy
October 2017	Office of Student Integrity	Revised per BOR Policy
July 1, 2016	Student Life/Legal Affairs	Substantive changes for BOR compliance
April 2015	Office of Student Integrity	Discriminatory Conduct Provision added to policy
March 2015	Office of Student Integrity	Added designee language to appeals section
04-22-2014	Office of Student Integrity	Code of Conduct posted

The purpose of the Georgia Tech Graduate Student Government Association is to represent the graduate student body in all matters concerning academics, welfare, administration, social activities, and other matters specific to graduate students; to work with the Office of Vice Provost for Graduate and Undergraduate Studies and the Office of Dean of Students in promoting greater recognition of graduate education on and off campus; to promote closer graduate student-faculty-administration relations; and to stimulate interest in and appreciation of graduate education both on and off campus.

For Graduate Student Government Association Policies,* please see: http://sga.gatech.edu/g/about/policy/

*For the purposes of student government autonomy, these policies are not subject to the Student Regulations Process (i.e., Institute Gradrate Committee and Academic Senate) as outlined in the Institute Policy Development and Life Cycle Process.

"The Institute recognizes that students may become involved constructively in efforts of individuals and organizations to improve physical and social conditions of the Institute, to increase the effectiveness of the Institute, to increase the effectiveness of the processes of learning and development of maturity, and to create larger opportunities for self-government characterized by orderly procedures and the exercise of mature judgment."
                                                              --Statute 2.5.4 of the Georgia Institute of Technology

The Georgia Tech Undergraduate Student Government Association is made up of three branches, modeled after the United States federal government. Each branch serves the student body in a unique way, and is detailed below:

Executive Branch
Key functions of the Executive Branch include addressing the needs and growing changes of the student body, reviewing campus policies, and actively developing solutions to student issues. The Executive Branch is the voice of the Georgia Tech student body.

Legislative Branch
The primary responsibilities of the Legislative Branch include:

• Expressing the position of the the student body on issues affecting the student experience.
• Formulating the annual Student Activity Fee Budget during the spring semester.
• Allocating Student Activity Fee funds to chartered student organizations throughout the year.
• Modifying the structure and functions of Student Government.
• Approving all amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Student Government Association.

Judicial Branch

The Undergraduate Judiciary Cabinet (UJC) serves two main purposes: upholding non-academic integrity and interpreting any actions or legislation of the USGA to uphold the system of checks and balances provided for by the Undergraduate Constitution. The UJC also has appellate jurisdiction over all lower courts. At any given time there are twelve acting justices and one Chief Justice.

For Undergraduate Student Government Association Policies,* please see: http://sga.gatech.edu/ug/

*For the purposes of student government autonomy, these policies are not subject to the Student Regulations Process (i.e., Student Regulations Committee and Academic Senate) as outlined in the Institute Policy Development and Life Cycle Process.

It is the responsibility of all students to notify the Health Center, the School of Applied Physiology, and the Office of Disabled Student Services of any disability that would make participation in swimming, competitive sports, and aerobic training hazardous to their well-being. Any student requesting special consideration because of mental or physical disability should have his or her physician write an explanatory letter, giving full details of the disability and consequent limitations on physical activity, to the medical director of Health Services. This letter must accompany the Medical Entrance form.