Code of Student Conduct

As a member of the Purdue Global academic community, you are expected to conduct yourself with the highest levels of ethical and honest behavior, respect the rights of others, and refrain from any conduct that obstructs the work of the University. You are required to abide by the laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of Purdue Global. When each member of our community adheres to this commitment, the spirit of academic inquiry and discovery is best preserved for each and all. 

If you violate this code of conduct through one of the following actions, you may be subject to disciplinary sanctions:   

• Any conduct that substantially threatens or interferes with the maintenance of appropriate order and discipline in the operation of the University, or any conduct on University property or in connection with a University activity that invades the rights of others. Examples include, but are not limited to:   
  • Inappropriate or profane behavior that causes a disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other Purdue Global activities
  • The use of tobacco/vaping/related products in University buildings, and eating or drinking in any location other than designated areas
  • Bringing animals on to Purdue Global property or University-authorized locations unless they are assisting the physically impaired or are being used during approved academic activities
  • Bringing children into teaching areas at University-authorized locations
  • Failure to comply with all emergency evacuation procedures, disregarding safety practices, tampering with fire protection equipment, or violation of any other health and safety rules or regulations
  • Disruptive use of mobile phones or other electronic devices; all personal electronic devices must be in the off position during academic activity     

• Failure to conduct yourself in a professional manner with University staff and faculty, peers, or clients in an institutional, clinical, externship, or lab setting.

• Failure to comply with directions of University officials acting in the performance of their duties including, but not limited to, failing to present identification upon request of University officials acting in the official capacity of their position.

• Violation of any Purdue Global regulations. This includes, for example, regulations contained in official University publications or announced as administrative policy for a University official or other person authorized by the Chancellor of the University.​

• Dishonesty in connection with any University activity. Knowingly furnishing false information to the University is an example of dishonesty. Cheating and plagiarism are examples of academic dishonesty that are subject to the Academic Dishonesty policy.

• Posting or sharing Purdue Global course content or coursework on a public or private site or with any other person or group, unless authorized by your instructor. If the material is distributed or used by a student during a course, this may also be reported as Academic Dishonesty.

• Any behavior that is threatening, harassing, intimidating, in any way dangerous or violent, or that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any other person, whether or not such conduct occurs on University property. For information about the Sexual Misconduct Policy, please refer to the Additional References section of the Catalog.

• Theft of, attempted theft of, unauthorized use or possession of, unauthorized exertion of control over, or causing damage to property of any kind belonging to the University, a member of the University community, an onsite visitor, or a person or agency participating in a University activity.

• Unauthorized entry or access to, or unauthorized use or occupancy of, any University property including, without limitation, lands, buildings, structures, telecommunications, computer or data processing equipment, programs, systems, software, or other facilities or services connected with a University activity. See Responsible Use of University Technology for further details on prohibited activities with respect to University technology.

• The use, possession, sale, manufacturing, or distribution of alcohol, illegal drugs, or narcotic or prescription drugs, except as expressly permitted by law. Intentionally or recklessly inhaling or ingesting any substance (e.g., nitrous oxide, glue, paint, etc.) for the purpose or effect of altering your mental state also is prohibited.

• The possession, use, or distribution of any explosives, guns, or other deadly or dangerous weapons reasonably calculated to cause bodily injury on University property or in connection with a University activity, unless specifically authorized by the University.

• Copyright infringement. This includes unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, as well as engaging in illegal downloading or unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials using the University’s information technology system. Copyright infringement may be subject to civil and criminal liabilities, including financial penalties and/or imprisonment. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.  

Reporting a Code of Student Conduct Violation

Any individual from inside or outside the University community may file a complaint against a student suspected of violating the Code of Student Conduct. The complaint should be submitted to the student’s Dean or designee. Complaints should be submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place. No individual will be subject to retaliation for making a good-faith report of real or perceived conduct violations.

Code of Student Conduct Violation Investigation and Disciplinary Action

If you are the subject of an alleged Code of Student Conduct violation, the Dean/designee will investigate the complaint. You will receive notice of the allegation and will be able to make a statement in response. The Dean/designee may also request assistance from other University officials in review of an allegation.

After obtaining all relevant information and completing the investigation, the Dean/designee will make the determination as to whether it is more likely than not that you are responsible for the alleged violation(s) and either dismiss the allegation or impose a disciplinary sanction. Within 5 University business days following the conclusion of the investigation, you will be notified in writing of any disciplinary sanctions or other actions that may result from the investigation.

A violation of the Code of Student Conduct may result in one or more sanctions including, but not limited to:

• Verbal warning
• Written warning
• Grade reduction
• Suspension
• Dismissal

The University reserves the right to take immediate disciplinary action if:

1. You have multiple or repeated violations, or
2. Your actions pose a threat to the safety, security, or well-being of members or guests of the University community, University property, or the ability of the University to maintain normal operations and carry on its programs, services, and activities free of disruption.

To dispute the conduct violation, refer to Appeals and Grievances.         

Responsible Use of University Technology

Purdue Global values freedom of expression and encourages diverse viewpoints endemic to an academic institution. At the same time, the University expects you to act in a responsible, ethical, and legal manner when using the University's school facilities, equipment, websites, and systems (“Sites”). Sites include, but are not limited to, the online classroom, online seminars, virtual campus, discussion boards, and internal email system.

Purdue Global provides each student with a distinct username so that the University may confirm the identity of students as they log into University Sites. You are prohibited from sharing your University-provided username and password information with another person, allowing another to impersonate you while logged into any University Site, or logging into any University Site with another person's username and password.  

You are prohibited from circumventing any security measure of Purdue Global or another entity and intentionally using, distributing, or creating viruses, worms, malicious software, or keylogging techniques.

To facilitate social networking and to establish a sense of community, some Purdue Global Sites allow you to post your own content or communicate with others. When you use any Sites to post or transmit text, video, audio, or other material (“User Content”) for social networking purposes, you agree to accept sole responsibility for your User Content.

Purdue Global Sites are intended to be used for business and educational purposes only. You must agree that your User Content, which includes information posted or communicated that is not considered an educational record under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), may not:

1. Infringe on the intellectual property, trade secret, privacy, or publicity rights of others or contain copyright-protected material without the written permission of the copyright owner
2. Contain any material that conflicts with any article of the Student Bill of Rights and/or Code of Student Conduct
3. Be posted in a false name or the name of another person, or include impersonations of any person, except where such impersonations are obvious and are included exclusively for the purpose of parody
4. Include illegal material or encourage, solicit, or glorify illegal activity
5. Contain false statements or misrepresentations
6. Include commercial advertisements or solicitations, except if the University has specifically authorized their inclusion
7. Include material that is otherwise objectionable to the University

The University does not have control over and cannot censor all User Content students submit to its Sites or prevent students from uploading or adding inappropriate User Content to its Sites. The University does, however, monitor its Sites to the best of its ability to ensure that students do not submit, upload, add, or exchange any inappropriate User Content to or on its Sites.

If you see or hear inappropriate User Content on Purdue Global Sites or a misuse of University technology, you should promptly report a Code of Student Conduct violation.

All Purdue Global Sites and computer equipment, email accounts, facsimile equipment, Internet access, instant messaging, voicemail, and supplies, if provided, are done so exclusively to assist you in your educational activities. You should not expect that computer files, email, voicemail, Internet bookmarks, or any of your User Content are confidential or private, and, therefore, should have no expectation of privacy whatsoever related to your usage of these Sites, to the extent that the information is not considered an educational record under FERPA.

Even when content, such as a message or file, is erased, it may still be possible to recover the message or file. Therefore, the University cannot ensure the privacy of content that is not considered an educational record. Messages sent through the University's email or instant messaging accounts and Purdue Global-owned facsimile equipment, the contents of the hard drives of any computer that is the property of the University, any User Content, and any voicemail messages saved on telephones that are the property of the University may be used in administrative, judicial, or other proceedings such as those resulting from student grievances, even where the information is considered an educational record.

In addition, the University licenses software to support its educational processes. Without express written consent of the University, you are not permitted to copy, remove, alter, or install software on any University equipment. By using the University's computer equipment, software, and communication devices, you knowingly and voluntarily consent to your use of these systems being monitored and acknowledge the University's right to conduct such monitoring.