At Research College of Nursing, students are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism at all times. This includes demonstrating respect, integrity, ethical behavior, and collaborative communication in academic, clinical, and interpersonal settings. Students are expected to engage thoughtfully with peers, communicate respectfully with faculty, staff, and clinical partners, and act with compassion and professionalism toward patients, families, and the public.

Violations of this standard are taken seriously and may impact student evaluation and progression, including disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. 

Personal Misconduct

Examples of personal misconduct include, but are not limited to:

  • Commission of a Crime: Engaging in illegal or violent activity. Students must report any arrests or pending criminal or Human Services-related charges to the Provost within 48 hours. Failure to report is a separate violation.
  • Serious Professional Misconduct: Behavior—on or off campus—that compromises patient safety, violates ethical standards, or may affect a student’s ability to obtain or maintain licensure or employment. Dismissals from healthcare-related roles must be reported to the Provost within 48 hours.
  • Sexual Misconduct or Harassment: Refer to the College’s Title IX Policy for definitions and reporting procedures.
  • Incivility or Bullying:
  • Incivility: Hostile, accusatory, or disrespectful behavior, including online.
  • Bullying: Repeated, harmful actions intended to humiliate or distress, including via electronic means.
  • Disruptive Behavior: Interfering with classes, clinical activities, or College-sponsored events.
  • Lack of Accountability or Planning: Failing to manage personal schedules around academic obligations or disregarding attendance and assignment policies.
  • Impairment from Substances: Participating in College activities while impaired by alcohol or drugs, including misuse of prescribed medications.
  • Obstructing an Investigation: Destroying or altering documents, refusing to participate, or otherwise interfering with an Research College of Nursing investigation.
  • Inappropriate Use of Social or Electronic Media: Posting false, harmful, or confidential content about peers, faculty, clinical sites, or the College; sharing HIPAA-protected information; or posting content involving nudity, illegal activity, substance use, hazing, or academic dishonesty.

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct undermines the integrity of the College and the value of its academic programs. Prohibited behaviors include:

  • Plagiarism: Presenting another person's work, ideas, results, or methods as your own, without proper citation.
  • Cheating: Using or attempting to use unauthorized aids, technology, or information in any evaluative context. This includes, but is not limited to: unauthorized notes/texts for online exams; unauthorized collaboration; internet searches for test answers; providing/accepting unauthorized online testing codes; submitting work completed by others; submitting AI-generated work without proper acknowledgment or explicit faculty permission; unauthorized use or altering of graded work for re-grading; recycling one's own work without permission; or using/possessing any unapproved electronic device during an examination or assessment.
  • Fabrication or Falsification of Data: Making up data/results (fabrication, e.g., charting an unperformed assessment) or manipulating research materials/data, or dishonest reporting of results (falsification, e.g., improper adjustment, gross negligence in data collection/analysis, or selective reporting for deception).
  • Aiding and Abetting Dishonesty: Providing material, information, or assistance with knowledge or reasonable expectation of its use for a prohibited act.
  • Falsification of Academic Records and Official Documents: Altering academic records without authorization, forging signatures, or falsifying information on any official academic document.
  • Copyright Infringement: Using online platforms to access or share course materials may constitute copyright infringement or academic misconduct, depending on how they are used. Uploading or downloading copyrighted content—such as exams, assignments, or lecture materials—without proper authorization can violate U.S. copyright law. Additionally, using such platforms to gain an unfair academic advantage may breach the College’s academic integrity policy and could result in disciplinary action.

General Clinical Misconduct

In the clinical setting, adherence to professional standards, competence, integrity, accountability, and safety is paramount. The following are non-exhaustive examples of unacceptable clinical misconduct:

  • Failure to Prepare for Clinical Experience: Arriving unprepared for clinical or simulation sessions, including lacking necessary knowledge, incomplete pre-clinical assignments, or not having required equipment.
  • Engaging in Irresponsible, Unsafe, or Harmful Practice (General): Negligence, carelessness, or lack of preparation that does not rise to gross negligence leading to patient harm. This includes failure to competently/thoroughly complete assigned nursing care (without directly causing patient harm or gross negligence) or refusing assigned care (not patient abandonment).
  • Failure to Report: Not reporting an error, incident, or omission in care to appropriate personnel (e.g., nursing staff on unit, clinical instructor), when this failure does not directly contribute to or conceal patient harm.
  • Inaccurate or Incomplete Documentation: Documenting care inaccurately or incompletely due to oversight or unintentional error, not intentional falsification or fabrication.
  • Failure to Communicate Effectively or Collaborate: Persistent or egregious failure to communicate effectively with patients, families, healthcare team members, or faculty, or a refusal to collaborate.
  • Unexcused Absences or Multiple Incidents of Tardiness: Unjustified absences from, or habitual tardiness to, assigned clinical or simulation sessions, impacting continuity of care or team function.

Serious Clinical Misconduct

Serious Clinical Misconduct refers to behaviors that pose an immediate or significant risk to patient safety, violate fundamental ethical principles of nursing, or constitute a severe breach of professional standards or legal requirements. These actions reflect a fundamental incompatibility with the responsibilities of a healthcare professional and may irreversibly impact a student's ability to obtain or retain a nursing license. Any finding of Serious Clinical Misconduct will be referred to the Provost and is subject to immediate and non-appealable sanctions, which may include suspension or dismissal from the College.

Student Conduct Review Process

  1. Initial Review and Student Meeting
    When a misconduct concern is reported—whether academic, personal, or clinical—faculty will attempt to meet with the student within three (3) business days. If the student declines to participate, the process will proceed without their input. The purpose of this meeting is to:
    • Review the reported behavior and supporting evidence
    • Provide the student an opportunity to respond
    • Determine an appropriate course of action
  2. Determination and Response
    If no violation is found, or no corrective action is needed, the matter is considered resolved. If a violation is confirmed:
    • Faculty will consult with the appropriate administrator and issue a written report (e.g., a Student Success Plan) outlining the violation and any required corrective actions or expectations.
    • The report will be sent to the student electronically and filed with the Provost’s Office.
    • The student may submit a written response within three (3) business days to provide context or express disagreement. This response will be appended to the official documentation and shared with the issuing faculty member.

Students who wish to contest the outcome may refer to the College’s Grievance, Grade Appeal, and Complaint Resolution Policy.

Any behavior that unreasonably interferes with patient safety is grounds for immediate dismissal.