Honor Code and Student Code of Conduct
The Honor Code and the Student Code of Conduct both lay out the fair, respectful and ethical behaviors that allow the Buff community to thrive and encourage each ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder student to succeed. Learn more about both policies, the resolution process and outcomes a student may face if found responsible of violating either code.
Learn the policies
Honor Code
The Honor Code allows academic integrity to flourish by recognizing the importance of trust, respect and responsibility. Students are expected to follow the Honor Code by not participating in academic dishonesty, which can include plagiarism, cheating or helping another student gain an unfair advantage. Students can avoid Honor Code violations by:
- Reviewing syllabi and asking faculty any questions.
- Starting coursework early to avoid feeling rushed.
- Completing work on their own.
- Using campus resources for help.
Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct is the academic policy that supports community standards for behavior and emphasizes student's accountability and growth. The Code of Conduct outlines the actions that are prohibited for all students including, abusive conduct, underage drinking, damage to property, illegal use of drugs, having a fake ID, fire safety and other crimes. Students can follow the Code of Conduct by:
- Making good choices on and off campus.
- Following Boulder ordinances around noise, nuisance parties and illegal fireworks.
- Treating fellow Buffs and neighbors with respect.
The resolution process
The Honor Code and Student Conduct resolution processes, modeled after national best standards, allow us to achieve a balance between accountability and education. This helps students reflect on and repair any harm caused, and create a personal plan to minimize or eliminate harm in the future.
Resolution meeting notice
Once a student is referred to SCCR for allegedly violating the Honor Code or Student Code of Conduct, they will receive a letter inviting them to schedule a resolution meeting. This letter is not a penalty, sentencing or decison letter. However, if the student chooses to not move forward with the meeting, the university will still make a decision about the potential violation.
Talk with the resolution specialist
Resolution specialists are there to guide students through the resolution process. Students should feel free to ask them any questions they have about the process. This is also a good time for students to consider if they want to sign a , which would allow their family or guardian to view their conduct records.
Attend the resolution meeting
The resolution process follows due process, which means the resolution meeting is the student's chance to tell their side of the story. Students may bring an advisor, such as advocates or attorneys, to any resolution meeting. However, advisors are not permitted to speak for or on behalf of the student during any phase of the process.
Resolution outcomes
If a student is found responsible for violating the Honor Code or Student Code of Conduct, they may be assigned resolution outcomes such as educational classes, restorative justice or administrative outcomes that can impact their student status. Learn about the possible resolution outcomes students may face.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations in the conduct process for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodations contact Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution at studentconduct@colorado.edu as soon as possible and preferably within 24 hours of receiving the conduct notice.
When the resolution process is complete, students can:
- .
- .
For incidents involving sex misconduct, protected class discrimination or harassment, or related retaliation, records are retained by the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC).
We also encourage students who have gone through the resolution process to volunteer with the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Restorative Justice Program.
View your Conduct Record
Students can review their conduct record at any time. .
Student Confidentiality
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records, restricts university staff from sharing a discussing a student's academic and conduct records without the student's written permission. Therefore, a student's conduct records will not be shared with anyone unless they have signed a .
Family/Guardian Notification Policy
Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution may notify a student’s family/guardian when the student is found responsible for an alcohol and/or drug violation and is under the age of 21. An amendment to the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) permits University staff to disclose information regarding a student’s violation of the use or possession of alcohol or drugs, if the student is under the age of 21 at the time of the disclosure.
This notification will include outcomes of the resolution process:
- Disciplinary status outcome due to the alochol or drug policy violation.
- Educational program or other education outcome requirements.
A student’s family/guardian may also be notified if there is an imminent risk to the student’s health, safety, or welfare.
Didn't find what you were looking for? Visit our Honor Code FAQs and Student Code of Conduct FAQs pages.