Student Code of Conduct
STUDENT LIFE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The primary role of Student Life involves the growth of each student in fellowship, engagement in the local church, biblical knowledge, and love for God and neighbor. Developing a close-knit student body that cares for and assists one another in both the academic and spiritual aspects of studies is a necessary component of Student Life at NEIBS.
STUDENT LIFE CORE VALUES
While all students who attend NEIBS may not have a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, all students are expected to treat one another with honor and respect.
We value the spiritual growth and development of our students who are encouraged, challenged, and expected to grow in their knowledge of God, their love for fellow believers, their service in the Kingdom of God through the local church, and their compassionate care for one another.
Academic community: We value academic success and recognize that learning takes place in
and out of the classroom. While students may choose to take courses on any of the three levels (Audit, Enrichment, Certificate), each student should treat all others, no matter what level, with respect and honor, encouraging one another in spiritual growth and a hunger for God’s truth.
Academic Staff: Students are expected to treat all teaching and administrative staff with dignity and respect, and all staff are expected to treat one another and each student as an image bearer of God. The biblical principles of loving God and loving our neighbor underlay all aspects of Student Life at NEIBS for both students and staff.
STUDENT CODE OF ETHICS
NEIBS is committed to a Christian and thoroughly biblical academic and whole-life experience. As a member of this community, the students commit to the following:
-I will respect the emphasis of academic pursuit, the Institute’s Code of Conduct, and its Mission.
-I will respect the opinions and differences of all members of the NEIBS community as they align with biblical doctrine, practice, and morality.
-I will practice civility and demonstrate conduct that reflects the values of the institution.
-I will respect the rights and property of the Institute and its members.
--I will provide accurate information and complete requisite assignments for my level of study.
-I will report violations of the Student Code of Conduct to my professor, the Dean of Students, or the Institute’s Director as soon as possible.
-I will refrain from actions that deny other members of the community their rights before God.
-I will adhere to the instructions of Institute staff acting within the scope of their position.
-I will preserve the privacy of other individuals and groups, and respect the property of
individuals, groups, and the hosting facility.
-I will follow and respect all policies established by the Institute.
GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS
All grievances or complaints related to a failure of staff or other students to conduct themselves in God-glorifying manners or complaints related to academic issues may be brought to the NEIBS Board. Prompt action will be taken to investigate the grievance or complaint, and the student will be kept abreast of the proceedings, as appropriate.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
ARTICLE I Introduction and Purpose
Northeast Institute for Biblical Studies seeks to provide students with a biblically aligned experience that prepares them to participate in a local church as active and growing members, and to do so with a commitment to biblical moral and ethical standards. To achieve this end, NEIBS has outlined a set of desired values and attitudes considered the foundation of moral, spiritual, and intellectual integrity in the Body of Christ.
Students are responsible before God and His people for the consequences of their actions. The Institute’s Student Code of Conduct addresses three major areas of biblical integrity, including: 1) academic honesty, 2) respect for rules and policies, and 3) respect for the Body of Christ.
Discrimination
NEIBS does not discriminate based on race, color, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or pregnancy status. However, as a biblical and Christian institution, NEIBS upholds biblical standards of marriage and sexuality. God created humans as either male or female at birth. Marriage is between a male and a female who were born and remain in that gender from birth.
ARTICLE II: Definitions
Academic Dishonesty – The term “academic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to: (1) use
of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (2) dependence upon the
aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports,
solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; or (3) the acquisition, without permission,
of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the Institute’s faculty or staff.
Appeals Process – The term “appeals process” refers to a student’s action to appeal discipline upon the receipt of the NEIBS Board’s decision on matters of grievances or complaints. The respondent student will have one week to give a written appeal to the Dean or Director. Lacking such appeal, the decision is final. Upon receipt of a written appeal, the Dean or Director will respond to the student within a week, indicating his or her decision regarding the appeal.
Complaint – The term “complaint” means a written statement alleging a violation of the Student or Faculty Code of Conduct or other published rule applicable to students or faculty. Information submitted by other means will be reviewed and may be acted upon at the Board’s discretion.
Complainant – The term “complainant” can be any member of the NEIBS community who presents information to the NEIBS Board regarding student(s) or faculty/staff who have allegedly violated the Student or Faculty Code of Conduct. Persons making such referrals are required to provide information relevant to the situation and may be expected to appear as the complainant before the NEIBS Board.
Complainant/Witness Statement – The term “complainant/witness statement” means a written
statement by a complainant or a witness, describing the particulars of the alleged incident and detailing the impact of the alleged incident.
Dean of Students – As NEIBS grows, a Dean of Students shall be appointed to oversee Student Life and assist with issues related to students and alumni.
Director – The Director is the individual appointed by the Board to oversee the Institute in all of its functions and activities.
Discipline – The term “discipline” means the action issued by the Board, the Dean, or the Director as a result of a student being found to violate an Institute rule or policy. The process of discipline comes from the Scriptures, including, but not limited to, Matthew 18.
Institute – The term “Institute” means the students, faculty, and staff of Northeast Institute for Biblical Studies, as well as the sites and premises where classes are held.
Faculty Member – The term “faculty member” means any person employed by the Institute to
conduct classroom activities.
Member of the Institute Community – The term includes, but is not limited to, any person who is a faculty member, staff, student, volunteer, or Board member of NEIBS.
Plagiarism – The term “plagiarism” means submitting material that in part or whole is not
entirely one’s own work without attributing those same portions to their correct source.
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the
published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement. It also
includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in
the selling of term papers or other academic materials. In addition, materials generated using
artificial intelligence tools, like ChatGPT, without citing the tool, are plagiarism.
Policy – The written rules of the Institute as found in the Student or Faculty Code of Conduct, the Student Handbook, and any Institute-sanctioned publication, such as a website or newsletter.
Preponderance of Evidence – The term means relevant evidence, considered as a whole, that a policy violation is more likely than not to have occurred. The standard used in hearing all conduct cases within this Student Code of Conduct is “preponderance of evidence.”
Respondent – The term “respondent” refers to the student(s) or student group(s), faculty, or staff who have allegedly violated the Student Code of Conduct.
Student – The term “student” means any person who has paid an acceptance fee, registered for
courses, or participated in any course or any aspect of study at NEIBS. Persons who are not officially enrolled for a particular term, but who have a continuing relationship with the Institute, may be considered students. Student status lasts until an individual completes his or her desired courses of study or notifies the Institute of their intent to permanently leave.
Student Code of Conduct – The term “Student Code of Conduct” refers to all documents relevant
to student behavior and the Institute’s student conduct procedures. The Student Code of Conduct
may be amended by the NEIBS Board with written or online notice to the Institute community.
ARTICLE III: Student Conduct Authority
A. The Dean or Director is the person designated by the NEIBS Board to be responsible for the oversight and administration of the Student Code of Conduct, to include the determination and definition of all policies and statements within the Code.
B. The NEIBS Board will determine whether discipline is brought for alleged misconduct and decide which type of discipline is needed to address the alleged violation(s) of Institute policies.
D. The Director, under the supervision of the Board, will develop policies for the administration of the conduct program and procedural rules for the conduct of hearings, which are consistent with provisions of the Student Code of Conduct and biblical teaching on discipline.
E. Decisions concerning discipline made by the NEIBS Board or, upon review, by the Dean or Director will be binding, pending the normal appeal and review process.
ARTICLE IV: Proscribed Conduct
A. Jurisdiction of the Institute
The Student Code of Conduct applies to behaviors that take place during all meetings or activities of the Institute or any publications of the Institute, whether online or published.
These behaviors include:
• Any situation where it appears that the student’s conduct may present a danger or threat
to the health or safety of him/herself or others;
• Any situation detrimental to the academic or spiritual mission and/or interests of the Institute;
• Any situation that significantly impinges upon the rights, property, or achievements of
self or others, or significantly breaches the peace and/or causes disorder.
Students subject to conduct jurisdiction include all persons taking courses within the physical
or virtual NEIBS campus environment. All students are responsible for the behavior of their visitors, guests, or family members and may be personally disciplined, including removal from the Institute, for violation of the Student Code of Conduct by those individuals.
The Code of Student Conduct may be applied to behavior conducted online, via email, or
another electronic medium. Students should also be aware that online postings such as blogs,
web postings, chats, and social networking sites are in the public sphere and are not private.
These postings can subject a student to allegations of conduct violations if evidence of policy
violations is posted online. The Institute does not regularly search for this information but
may act if such information is brought to the attention of Institute officials.
However, most online speech by students not involving Institute networks or technology will
be protected as free expression and not subject to this Code, with two notable exceptions:
• A true threat, defined as “a threat a reasonable person would interpret as a serious expression of intent to inflict bodily harm upon specific individuals”;
• Speech posted online about the Institute or its community members that causes a significant on-campus disruption or clearly violates biblical guidelines for speech or action.
All alleged incidents are subject to a one-year limitation on reporting violations of the Code of Student Conduct, except in the cases of alleged sexual abuse. The Institute does not accept anonymous complaints, but the Board, Dean, and Director will seek to limit the exposure of the complainant as much as possible.
NOTE: Students continue to be subject to local, state, and federal laws that are not in conflict with the written Scriptures. Violations of those laws may also constitute violations of the Code. The Institute may proceed with Institute conduct action and may impose discipline independent of any criminal proceeding involving the same conduct, even if such criminal proceeding is not yet resolved or is resolved in the student’s favor due to a non-biblical decision of the court.
B. Prohibited Conduct—Rules and Policies
Any student found to have engaged in, attempted, assisted, or incited prohibited conduct
while within the Institute’s jurisdiction will be subject to disciplinary action through the
Institute’s student conduct process. Any student found to be in violation for the following
misconduct is subject to the discipline as outlined in this handbook. Responsibility is not diminished for acts in violation of this Code that are committed in ignorance of the Code, or under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or improper use of controlled substances.
Violations include:
1. Abuse of Student Conduct procedures
Abuse of the Institute student conduct procedures includes, but is not limited to:
• Failure to obey the summons of the NEIBS Board or an Institute official.
• Falsifying, distorting, or misrepresenting information before the Board or Institute official.
• Attempting to influence the impartiality of a Board member prior to, and/or during the course of the conduct proceeding.
• Failure to comply with one or more of the discipline(s) imposed under the Student Code of Conduct by the Board.
• Retaliation or harassment of the complainant or other person alleging misconduct, including but not limited to intimidation and threats.
2. Alcohol
• Use of alcoholic beverages on Institute sites during Institute-sponsored activities is prohibited.
• The Institute does not have a policy concerning alcoholic consumption while not participating in Institute events and activities.
• However, intoxication or abusive use of alcohol is a violation of biblical morality and is subject to possible disciplinary procedures.
3. Assault
Any physical intimidation, act of violence, or conduct which threatens or endangers the health, safety, or well-being of any person or group. Assault includes, but is not limited to, hitting, kicking, slapping, punching, pushing, biting, and or spitting on another person or persons.
4. Complicity
Complicity includes, but is not limited to:
• Making a conscious decision to conceal a violation or obstruct the enforcement of a provision of the Student Code of Conduct or other policy.
• Knowingly assisting another to violate the Student Code of Conduct or other policy.
• Failure to remove oneself from a situation when a violation is known to be taking place or about to occur, or failing to report it thereafter. Students who anticipate or observe a violation of Institute policy are expected to remove themselves from the situation and to report the violation.
5. Discrimination
Any act or failure to act that is based upon an individual or group’s actual or perceived protected status that complies with biblical morality (see Article II: Discrimination) that limits or denies the ability to participate in or benefit from the Institute’s educational program or activities.
6. Disruptive Conduct
Disruptive conduct means behavior with the intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, by:
• Making unreasonable noise.
• Using obscene language or gestures.
• Acting in a way that impairs, interferes with, or obstructs the orderly conduct, processes, or functions of the Institute and/or members or guests of the Institute.
• Impeding or interfering with the rights of others to enter, use, or leave any Institute facility or scheduled activity, or carry out their normal functions or duties.
• Interference with the academic freedom and freedom of speech of any member or guest at the Institute, except that which violates biblical standards of speech or action.
• Actions that impair, interfere with, or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, and functions within the classroom, bathrooms, or other locations within the Institute premises.
• Actions at Institute-sponsored events that disrupt, cause harm to others, or negatively affect the Institute’s community. Students are expected to govern their behavior and conduct themselves within the Student Code of Conduct at Institute-sponsored events.
• Disrespecting an Institute Official (i.e., faculty, staff, administrators, etc.)
7. Drugs and Controlled Substances
Use of illegal drugs or controlled substances while on Institute premises or arriving on Institute premises under the visible influence of such illegal drugs or controlled substances.
8. Failure to Comply/Noncompliance
Noncompliance is established when one or more of the following occurs:
• Failure to comply with a reasonable directive of an Institute official (i.e., faculty, staff, administrators) or non-Institute law enforcement official in the performance of their duties.
• Failure to comply with the final decision/disciplines rendered by the NEIBS Board, the Dean, or the Director.
• Failure to comply with the request of an Institute student conduct hearing or review body to be a witness at an Institute conduct proceeding.
• Failure to meet with an authorized Institute official or staff member when directed to do so.
9. Sexual Misconduct
Includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, non-marital sexual contact, non-marital sexual intercourse, and/or sexual exploitation.
10. Falsification/Fraud/False Testimony
• Knowingly making a false oral or written statement to any Institute board, officer, or member of the Institute faculty, administration, or staff.
• Withholding information or providing misleading information to an Institute official or the Institute Board.
• Any other acts of falsification, fraud, or false testimony.
11. Fire Safety
• Inappropriate activation of any emergency warning equipment or the false reporting of any emergency.
• Removing, damaging, interfering with, or tampering with fire safety or other emergency warning equipment, including smoke/heat detectors, sprinklers, extinguishers, fire alarms, fire hoses, and exit signs, etc.
• Smoking of any kind of items (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, vaping pen, marijuana, or other smoking equipment) within a building(s) on Institute premises is not permitted.
12. Harassment
• Conduct (not of a sexual nature) that threatens, harms, or intimidates another person, creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive atmosphere, educational, or work environment for another person or group.
• Communicating to or about another person any lewd, lascivious, threatening, or obscene words, language, drawings, or caricatures.
13. Theft/Attempted Theft/Unauthorized Use of Property
The unauthorized taking, misappropriation, or possession of any real, personal, or intellectual property owned or maintained by the Institute or any other person on or off the premises.
14. Threats of Violence
An intentional verbal or written threat or act to do violence to another person, or doing some act which creates a well-founded fear that such violence is imminent.
15. Tobacco Use/Smoking
• Smoking of any kind of items (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, vaping pen, marijuana, or other smoking equipment) within a building(s) or outside on Institute premises is not permitted.
16. Vandalism
• The intentional, unauthorized damage, destruction, or defacing of property of the Institute or properties being used by the Institute;
• “Trashing” of public areas.
ARTICLE V: Informal Conduct Procedures
As a Christian Institute, we believe that all individuals will act in godly manners seeking to love God and love their neighbor. However, incidents may occur that do not reflect godly behavior. In cases where offense may have occurred between individuals, we encourage the application of Matthew 18 guidelines in which the offended individual first seeks to resolve the situation with the offender personally. If that does not bring resolution, the following actions may be taken.
Preliminary Inquiry
When the Institute Board is informed that an incident has occurred, the Board conducts a preliminary inquiry into the nature of the incident, complaint, or notice, the evidence available, and the parties involved.
The preliminary inquiry may lead to:
• A determination that there is insufficient evidence to pursue the investigation, because the behavior alleged, even if proven, would not violate the Code of Student Conduct (e.g., for reasons such as mistaken identity or allegations of behavior that falls outside the code).
• A more comprehensive investigation, when it is clear more information must be gathered
• A formal complaint of a violation and/or a biblical discussion with the respondent student.
When an initial inquiry meeting is held, the possible outcomes include:
• A decision not to pursue the allegation based on a lack of or insufficient evidence. The
matter should be closed, and the records should so indicate;
• A decision on the allegation where possible disciplinary action is to be taken informally;
• A decision to proceed with the investigation and/or referral for a “formal” resolution.
If a decision on the allegation is made and the finding is that the respondent student is not
responsible for violating the Code, the process will end. The party bringing the complaint may
request that the Dean and/or the Director reopen the investigation and/or grant a hearing.
This decision will be in the sole discretion of the Dean and/or the Director and will only be granted for extraordinary cause. If the Institute’s finding is that the respondent student is in violation, and the respondent student accepts this finding within three days, the Institute considers this an “uncontested allegation.” The Board conducting the initial disciplinary discussion will then determine the discipline(s) for the misconduct, which the respondent student may accept or reject. If accepted, the process ends. In cases of minor misconduct, both steps in this paragraph can be accomplished in one meeting. The respondent student may appeal to the Dean or Director for further consideration.
Review and Finalize Discipline(s)
If the student is found in violation(s), disciplines will be recommended by the Institute’s Board when applicable, who will review and finalize the disciplines, subject to the Institute's appeals process by any party to the complaint.