Student Athlete Code of Conduct

The University of Massachusetts Boston/Athletics Department
Student-athletes are subject to the provisions of the handbook under Student Affairs Code of Conduct (http://www.umb.edu/student_affairs/code.html) As University students, the policies in this book apply to student-athletes in the same manner as any student at UMass Boston. Disciplinary action in the event of allegations of academic dishonesty, housing infractions, illegal activity or any other form of inappropriate behavior on or off campus will be treated under the University guidelines for such violations of institutional policy (http://www.umb.edu/admissions/ugrad_catalog/plagiarism.html).  Athletic Department actions may be applied in addition to the University's policies if such action is warranted. Department actions may include, but are not limited to:

·     Official reprimand;

·     Suspension from practice and/or competition;

·     Suspension for a semester;

·     Forfeit of team membership

Department punitive action is per the review of the head coach and the supervising Senior Associate Athletic Director, and with the final authority of the Vice Chancellor of Athletics.

NCAA and Conference Regulations
Student-athletes are subject to NCAA, LEC and ECAC rules and regulations governing unsportsmanlike behavior, substance abuse, gambling, bribery and the acceptance of non-permissible awards, benefits and expenses, as well as other forms of misconduct. All such rules and regulations are found in the NCAA Manual, LEC and ECAC bylaws.

Sportsmanlike Conduct
Sportsmanlike conduct is essential to UMass Boston's during competition between intercollegiate athletic teams. As highly visible representatives of the University, student-athletes, like the coaching staffs, are expected to portray the mission and values of the institution. Unsportsmanlike conduct will never be tolerated at UMass Boston in any form. The specific rules and regulations governing sportsmanlike conduct are documented in both the NCAA Sports Rules and The Little East Conference Sportsmanship Statement (http://www.littleeast.com/information/sportsmanship/index)

UMass Boston Hazing Policy

Students must read and understand the University of Massachusetts Boston hazing policy as well as Massachusetts General Law outlined above.

The University of Massachusetts Boston in compliance with Massachusetts State Law, Chapter 269 Sections, 17,18,19, and the Board of Higher Education, prohibits any form of humiliation or hazing. The policy in effect protects the students and employees of UMB. "Hazing" is outlined in the Massachusetts General Law, below. Consent shall not be an excuse or defense to any form of hazing. In addition, whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing and is at the scene of such a crime, shall, without danger or peril to self or others, report such a crime to an appropriate law enforcement official or to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or designee, as soon as possible.

Whoever fails to report, or is a principal organizer in the crime of hazing, shall be punished by a fine or by imprisonment. In addition to criminal charges, any alleged violations shall be reported to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs for disciplinary action, according to the Code of Student Conduct.

MGL Chapter 269: Section 17. Hazing; organizing or participating; hazing defined Section 17. Whoever is a principal organizer or participant in the crime of hazing, as defined herein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment.

The term "hazing" as used in this section and in sections eighteen and nineteen, shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution under this action. MGL Chapter 269: Section 18. Failure to report hazing

Section 18. Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing as defined in section seventeen and is at the scene of such crime shall, to the extent that such person can do so without danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable. Whoever fails to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.

MGL Chapter 269: Section 19. Copy of Secs. 17 to 19; issuance to students and student groups, teams and organizations; report
Section 19: Each institution of secondary education and each public and private institution of post secondary education shall issue to every student group, student team or student organization which is part of such institution or is recognized by the institution or permitted by the institution to use its name or facilities or is known by the institution to exist as an unaffiliated student group, student team or student organization, a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen; provided, however, that an institution's compliance with this section's requirements that an institution issue copies of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations shall not constitute evidence of the institution's recognition or endorsement of said unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations.

Each such group, team or organization shall distribute a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to each of its members, plebes, pledges or applicants for membership.

It shall be the duty of each such group, team or organization, acting through its designated officer, to deliver annually, to the institution an attested acknowledgement stating that such group, team or organization has received a copy of this section and said sections seventeen and eighteen, that each of its members, plebes, pledges, or applicants has received a copy of sections seventeen and eighteen, and that such group, team or organization understands and agrees to comply with the provisions of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen.

Each institution of secondary education and each public or private institution of post secondary education shall, at least annually, before or at the start of enrollment, deliver to each person who enrolls as a full time student in such institution a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen and also certify that said institution has adopted a disciplinary policy with regard to the organizers and participants of hazing, and that such policy has been set forth with appropriate emphasis in the student handbook or similar means of communicating the institution's policies to its students. The board of higher education and, in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education shall promulgate regulations governing the content and frequency of such reports, and shall forthwith report to the attorney general any such institution which fails to make such report.