Community Standards

Abuse of property may include, but is not limited to, damaging, destroying, misappropriating, misusing, or improperly accessing (including unauthorized entry into) University buildings, grounds, equipment, computing resources, educational materials, or the personal belongings of others.

Clark University prohibits the use, sale, provision, and distribution of alcohol, except as permitted by law, on any University-owned property, at any University activity or activity offered by a University–recognized student group or organization, or during any University-sponsored event or travel. This policy applies to any form of alcohol.

• Underage persons: A person under the legal drinking age may not possess, consume, be under the influence or in the presence of alcohol.
• Drinking games: Any activity or game that promotes or encourages the consumption of large amounts of alcohol is prohibited, including, but not limited to, activities such as beer pong, quarters, and flip cup.
• Alcohol paraphernalia: The possession of materials used in drinking games or activities that promote or encourage the consumption of large amounts of alcohol is prohibited, including, but not limited to, beer pong tables, beer funnels, and beer bongs. Paraphernalia may be confiscated by the University.
• Underage possession: The possession of alcohol by a person under the legal drinking age.
• Underage consumption: The consumption of alcohol by a person under the legal drinking age.
• In the presence of: Students under the legal drinking age are not allowed to knowingly be present in a space where alcohol is being consumed unless alcohol is served legally and in accordance with guidelines as part of an approved University event
• Open containers: Consumption and possession of open containers of alcohol are prohibited in common areas of residential buildings, inside academic and administrative facilities, and outdoors on University property unless alcohol is served legally and in accordance with guidelines as part of an approved University event.
• Public intoxication: Committing an offense in a public place while intoxicated to the degree the person may endanger themselves or others.
• Communal sources of alcohol: Communal sources of alcohol — e.g., beer balls, kegs, punches, and Jell-O shots — are prohibited.
• Production of alcohol: Brewing or making alcohol is prohibited in all University buildings.
• Other dangerous conduct: Consuming an amount of alcohol that interferes with a person’s participation in the Clark community and poses a risk to the health or safety of students or others is prohibited.

Clark has an Appropriate Use Policy (AUP) to protect shared computing and information resources for the entire campus. Students agree to the University’s AUP when using any Clark computing resource, including the Clark network.

Physical assault or battery is any unwanted physical contact, or threat to make unwanted physical contact, with harmful intent or result, by a Clark student against another individual. Physical assault includes, but is not limited to, attempting or committing an act that causes fear of injury; assault with a deadly weapon or with intent to murder, rape, or rob; physical harm against another person; insulting or provoking physical contact; or threatening to commit a crime of violence or to damage another person with harm, verbally or physically.

Censoring the press or broadcast media, including but not limited to impeding the circulation of printed media, is prohibited.

Clark’s Statement of Freedom of Expression and Community Values, available here.

Creating dangerous or unhealthy conditions (for yourself or others) threatens the Clark community and is prohibited.

Examples of such behavior include, but are not limited to:

• Possession or unauthorized use of hazardous materials (biological, chemical, or radioactive)
• Drugging and interfering with another person’s food or drink
• Possession or unauthorized use of flammable, corrosive, or poisonous chemicals on university premises
• Possession of firearms, explosives, or other weapons
• Tampering with any fire or safety equipment or fixtures
• Tampering with door locks, peepholes, or emergency doors (including propping doors open)
• Inappropriate use of windows (e.g., as an entrance or exit, throwing things from or out of windows)
• Lending a Clark card or key to allow unauthorized person(s) entry to a residence hall or house

Members of the Clark community are expected to abide by established rules and regulations. This includes the operating rules of academic or nonacademic offices, laboratories, and campus departments. Departmental policies are available on individual websites and/or in specific offices.

Clark’s Harassment and Discrimination Prevention Policy applies to the entire Clark community.

Disorderly conduct is defined as violent, abusive, indecent, profane, or inappropriate, harmful, and/or damaging conduct or language. These behaviors are unreasonable at the time of their occurrence and interrupt teaching, research, administration, community living, disciplinary proceedings, and/or other activities. This includes but is not limited to disruptive behavior in all University physical and online spaces, including on and off-campus conduct that has an impact on campus.

Students may not disrupt the orderly processes of the University that involve teaching, research, administration, community living, disciplinary proceedings, and/or other activities. Disruptive actions include, but are not limited to, unauthorized entry into or blocking/obstructing access to private offices, work areas, teaching areas, libraries, social facilities, or the ingress and egress of traffic on Clark and neighboring community sidewalks and roadways. Disruption includes conduct that is disorderly, disruptive, lewd, overly aggressive, obscene, or that causes alarm.

It is also a violation to deprive anyone exhibiting their freedom of expression of the opportunity to speak or be heard, to physically obstruct their movement, or to otherwise interfere with academic freedom, consistent with Clark’s Statement of Freedom of Expression and Community Values, available here.

Doxing, defined as the malicious act of publicly sharing private or identifying information about an individual without their consent, is strictly prohibited. This includes the unauthorized sharing of private or sensitive information. This information can include, but is not limited to:

• Full name
• Home address
• Phone numbers
• Email addresses
• Social Security numbers
• Personal photographs
• Bank account details
• Workplace information
• Other personally identifiable information

Prohibited actions include, but are not limited to:

• Sharing private information about an individual without their consent.
• Encouraging others to dox an individual.
• Using University resources (e.g., computers, networks) to facilitate doxing.

Threats, intimidation, coercion, and other verbal or physical conduct intended to endanger the mental or physical health or safety of any person are prohibited when such conduct is persistent or severe, subjectively threatening to the complainant, and would be objectively threatening to a reasonable person. These behaviors can occur in person, by phone, through third parties, online, or in other venues. This also includes behavior that includes, but is not limited to, threatening language, bullying, and/or physical, verbal, or written intimidation, stalking, and cyber harassment. The behavior in question is typically such that, if left unaddressed, the person would be denied the ability to participate in or benefit from some educational or other experience.

The University communicates essential information and business to students’ @clarku.edu email addresses. Students are responsible for reading all information sent to this email address.

Clark students are responsible for their behavior outside the University’s confines. The University may initiate disciplinary action when notified of violations of federal, state, and local laws, whether violations occur on or off campus. Off-campus students studying abroad or away from campus are expected to conduct themselves according to the policies and expectations outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and the Study Abroad “Statement of Responsibility and Release of Liability” contract. Students participating in an away or abroad program are expected to follow their host programs’ academic and behavioral expectations. If scheduled for disciplinary action by their host programs, any charges will also be reviewed by the Office of Community Standards, and Clark’s typical sanctions may apply.

Students should be advised removal from a study abroad or away program, or the revocation of admission into a similar program under these conditions, may have financial implications for which they will be held responsible. Costs may include payments made by the student in preparation for their travel and nonrefundable deposits paid to or by the University and study abroad programs.

The use or possession of fireworks is prohibited.

The forgery, alteration, or unauthorized possession or use of official documents, records, and identification instruments (i.e., Clark credentials) is prohibited. This includes acts of personal misrepresentation and knowingly furnishing false information to the University. In addition, the duplication of University keys is not allowed.

All forms of illegal gambling are prohibited. Massachusetts has approved limited options for legal betting and gambling, including specific sports betting platforms and casinos.

Betting and gambling are limited to those 21 years of age and older (Massachusetts General Laws, c. 23K § 25), and anyone under 21 is subject to a fine not to exceed $1000 (Massachusetts General Laws, c. 23K § 43).

MA law also prohibits individuals of any age from participating in many gambling activities, including, without limitation, betting on MA college teams, bookmaking or pool setting for profit, promoting or setting up a lottery for money or property, or winning or losing money or other valuables by play or hazard at any unsanctioned game. Bookmaking is illegal: There are severe penalties, up to a fine of $3,000 and three years in prison, for keeping, occupying, or being found in any place used “for registering bets, or buying or selling [betting] pools, upon the result of a trial contest of skill, speed, or endurance of man, beast, bird, or machine, or upon the result of a game, competition, political nomination, appointment or election” (Massachusetts General Laws, c. 271 § 17).

Acts constituting hate crimes, as defined by Massachusetts  General Laws Chapter 22C, Section 32, include “any criminal act coupled with overt actions motivated by bigotry and bias including, but not limited to, a threatened, attempted or completed overt act motivated at least in part by racial, religious, ethnic, handicap, gender or sexual orientation prejudice, or which otherwise deprives another person of [their] constitutional rights by threats, intimidation or coercion, or which seek to interfere with or disrupt a person’s exercise of constitutional rights through harassment or intimidation.”

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265, Section 39, Crimes Against the Person, states in relevant part that it is illegal to commit a crime against another person or their property with the intent to intimidate them because of their race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.

Clark University complies with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) and Massachusetts laws related to hazing. Clark prohibits all hazing that meets either the federal definition of hazing under the SCHA or the Massachusetts definition of hazing. Hazing violates this policy and may also violate Massachusetts state law. See Clark’s Hazing Policy, available here.

Clark does not tolerate the distribution, manufacturing, possession, sale, or use of illegal drugs or drug-related paraphernalia (e.g., bongs, pipes, etc.), including the improper use of prescription drugs. A student determined to have recently used, been under the influence of, or been using illegal drugs may be found in violation of this provision. Usage may be indicated by, for example, odor, fans, or towels under the door.

Infractions that involve the distribution of drugs may result in more severe sanctions. Clark retains the right to report all violations of this provision to local, state, and federal authorities. Any student who is in the presence of illegal drugs will be held accountable for possession, depending on the nature and circumstances of the incident, unless it’s clear from the incident report and or information gathered during the hearing that the student was in no way aware of nor involved in a violation of the illegal drug policy.

Despite the adoption of cannabis legislation in Massachusetts, the possession, cultivation, and use of cannabis remain illegal under federal law, and permitting its use at Clark University would violate the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. Cannabis possession, use, and services are not allowed on the Clark University campus, even with a valid prescription. To discuss the possibility of a disability accommodation related to cannabis, students should contact Student Accessibility Services.

To maintain a clean, safe, and environmentally responsible campus, Clark University prohibits illegally dumping waste materials on campus grounds or in surrounding areas.

Illegal dumping refers to the unauthorized disposal of waste materials, including but not limited to household garbage, construction debris, hazardous substances, and electronic waste, in non-designated areas.

Any student who assists another person in the commission or attempted commission of a violation of the Student Code of Conduct or other University policy may be held jointly responsible. This includes hosting a nonstudent who commits an offense.

In cases of alcohol or drug intoxication, poisoning, or suspected overdose, the primary concern is the health and safety of the person(s) involved. Individuals are strongly encouraged to call for medical assistance (508-793-7575 or x7575 from an on-campus phone, 911 if off-campus) for themselves or a friend/acquaintance who is dangerously intoxicated or under the influence. No student seeking medical treatment for an alcohol or other drug-related intoxication, poisoning, or suspected overdose will be subject to the University’s conduct process for the sole reason of using or possessing alcohol or drugs. This policy shall extend to other students seeking help for the intoxicated student.

The medical amnesty policy does not preclude the University or Worcester Police from addressing severe violations of the law should they present themselves during the medical intervention or hospital transport. Students who are transported and treated for acute drug or alcohol intoxication, poisoning, or overdose must follow up with the Associate Dean of Students or their designee.

Misinformation/Spreading Falsified Information

Clark University prides itself on building a healthy community and a sense of belonging for all students, staff, and faculty. Therefore, any student who spreads falsified information physically or electronically, such as on social media platforms, violates the Student Code of Conduct.

A good faith reporting of information that later proves to be false would not be considered a violation of this policy if the student made the report to an appropriate staff member based on a legitimately held concern or belief (as opposed to merely gossiping with other community members who lack the ability to investigate the concern or effectuate a remedy).

Mutual combat is defined as fighting in which both parties have contributed to the situation by verbal and/or physical action. It differs from assault as there is no clear aggressor.

Students are required to comply with reasonable directives or requests from University officials acting in the performance of their duties. Noncompliance also includes all acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to personal misrepresentation and knowingly furnishing false information to the University.

Political activity guidelines

Clark University is committed to active citizenship and, as a result, encourages faculty, staff, and students to exercise their right to participate as individuals in the political process, whether they are running for office, reaching out to their elected officials, or expressing their views in public or private forums. At the same time, no member of the university community should feel any institutional pressure to support a particular candidate or position.  

University-recognized student organizations may participate in a political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office as long as their campus-based activities comply with university policies and procedures. For more information, please read Clark’s political activity guidelines.

Knowingly helping or encouraging violations of Student Code of Conduct.

Students who live in Clark University residence halls and houses are required to follow the policies from the Office of Residential Life & Housing, available here

Clark University student hosts must always be able to account for the whereabouts of their guests on campus, and hosts assume responsibility for their guests’ actions and behaviors on campus. Guests must abide by the rules, regulations, and standards of the campus community. Guests may be asked to leave campus at the discretion of a University official. Students and their guests are required to carry proper identification at all times while on University property and are expected to comply with any requests made by University student staff and University officials to show identification.

The University will not tolerate retaliation in any form against any persons for their participation or involvement in reporting, investigation, and/or resolution. The University will take appropriate steps to prevent and/or address retaliatory conduct immediately. Retaliation includes any acts or words that constitute intimidation, threats, or coercion because of that person’s:

Clark recognizes skateboarding, biking, scootering, or the use of e-scooters, e-bikes, hoverboards, and similar personal electronic vehicles can be a preferred means of transportation on campus, but it must be done appropriately and responsibly.

Skateboarding, biking, scootering, and the use of e-scooters, e-bikes, hoverboards, and similar personal electronic vehicles are prohibited in:

• Parking garages
• Stairways and elevators
• Inside buildings, including residence halls, dining areas, lounges, and study rooms
• Crowded areas or high-traffic pedestrian zones

Always yield to pedestrians and be careful when using the shared spaces.

E-scooters, e-bikes, hoverboards, and similar personal electronic vehicles may not be stored in the residence halls or in other University buildings.

Smoke-Free Policy

Clark University strives to create a community and atmosphere of mutual respect and wellness, as free from hazards as possible. Issues affecting the health, safety, and well-being of Clark University community members are essential wherever possible. Research findings have clearly shown smoking, and exposing nonsmokers to secondhand smoke, constitutes a significant health hazard. Clark University recognizes its obligation to promote a healthy learning and working environment for the students, employees, and visitors on campus. This shared responsibility will ensure a healthy environment for all of us.

As of August 18, 2020, smoking of any kind, including any electronic nicotine-delivery system or smoking device, is prohibited for the entire campus community in or in close proximity to all facilities, Clark-owned or -leased properties, and areas occupied or controlled by the University. This includes, but is not limited to, all common work areas, elevators, hallways, University-owned or -leased vehicles (including while parked on campus grounds), garages, restrooms, cafeterias or dining areas, lounges, conference and meeting rooms, all enclosed areas in the workplace, parking lots, quads, the green, grounds, rooftops, plazas, courtyards, entrance and exit ways, athletic fields, the Athletic and recreation complex, bus stops, and any other areas of the university campus. This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, alumni, guests, visitors, vendors, and contractors. Common courtesy and consideration toward others should be exercised in implementing and enforcing this policy.

Student ID Card Usage Policy

Proper identification for a Clark University student, faculty, or staff member is their OneCard. OneCards are issued for individual use only and are non-transferable. Sharing your ID card with others is strictly prohibited.

Allowing another person to use your ID card to access campus facilities, services, or events is a violation of university policies and may result in conduct sanctions. This policy helps ensure campus safety, accurate identification, and the integrity of university systems.

Students are expected to respect property belonging to other people and the property of the University or its affiliates (e.g., Harvest Table). Students must never take possession of another person’s property without the owner’s express permission of this policy, including but not limited to theft of University property; larceny from a member of the University community or a campus visit; and intentionally, recklessly, or negligently causing damage to the property of the University or an individual. Students found responsible for theft will be expected to provide adequate restitution and will face appropriate conduct action.

Title IX and Sex Based Harassment and Discrimination Policy and Procedures

Title IX applies to all students, faculty, and staff. The language of the statute reads as follows:

No person in the United States shall, based on sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

To file a Title IX report or formal complaint, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, Brittany Brickman, by email (title-ix@clarku.edu), by phone (508-793-7194), or in person in ASEC 315.  Access the Sex-Based Harassment and Discrimination Policy and Procedures here.

Knowingly violating the terms of any sanction imposed in accordance with the conduct process under the Student Code of Conduct.

The unauthorized use, possession, or storage of any weapon, whether a federal or state license to possess it has been issued to the possessor, is prohibited. Persons who are licensed and obligated to carry firearms must obtain written permission from the Chief of Police at Clark University to carry such firearms on campus. The possession of the facsimile of a weapon or the use of a facsimile weapon is prohibited.