i. UNO Student Policies

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Starting college is like setting sail on a great voyage—full of promise, discovery, and the occasional rough patch. But to make it safely from shore to success, you need a map and some guidelines. That’s where UNO’s student policies come in. They’re not roadblocks—they’re navigation tools to help you steer a strong, fulfilling course through university life, build your character, and support your crew.

The Student Code of Conduct – What It Means to Be Part of This Crew

At UNO, we believe that being a college student isn’t just about taking classes: it’s about being part of a community. And every community works best when there’s a shared understanding of how we treat one another. That’s what the Student Code of Conduct is all about.

It’s not just a list of rules—it’s a shared agreement that says:

• We look out for each other.
• We take our academics seriously.
• We show up with respect.

In short, we act like responsible Privateers.

Some of the behaviors expected of you include:

• Being honest in your academic work (no cheating, plagiarism, or unauthorized help)
• Respecting other people’s identities, safety, and boundaries
• Following laws and university policies around alcohol, drugs, weapons, and harassment
• Treating your professors, classmates, and campus spaces with care
• Acting in ways that contribute to a safe, inclusive, and productive environment

These expectations aren’t meant to scare you—they’re here to help you grow, protect your time here, and make UNO a place where everyone can thrive.

Let’s be real: we hope you read the Code of Conduct once, understand the expectations, and never have to think about it again. That’s the goal! But life happens—and if you or someone you know does end up in a difficult situation, there’s a process designed to be fair, educational, and supportive.

Here’s what happens if something does go wrong:

• Investigation & Hearing: Once an incident is reported, the Office of Student Accountability investigates. You’ll have a chance to meet and respond. Some cases resolve informally; others go to a Board of Review.
• Due Process & Fairness: You get written notice of allegations, the chance to be heard, and access to appeal—this isn’t punitive, it’s educational.
• Sanctions That Teach: Consequences range from warnings to workshops, community service, and more designed to guide growth, not punish for punishment’s sake.

Click here to read the full Student Handbook, including the Code of Conduct: https://www.uno.edu/media/37821

Academic Misconduct – Navigate with Integrity

Your academic reputation is your cargo. Guard it well. Academic misconduct—like plagiarism or cheating—damages your journey. According to UNO: “Plagiarism [is the]… unacknowledged inclusion of someone else’s actual words, ideas or data…”

Your degree is only as strong as the work you put into it—and your voice matters. That’s why academic integrity is such a big deal. We expect students to do their own work, think critically, and give credit where it’s due.

Throughout this book, we have focused on the active process of learning, not just on how to get good grades. The attitude of some students that grades are the end-all in academics has led many students to resort to academic dishonesty to try to get the best possible grades or handle the pressure of an academic program. Although you may be further tempted if you’ve heard people say, “Everybody does it,” or “It’s no big deal at my school,” you should be mindful of the consequences of cheating:

• You don’t learn as much. Cheating may get you the right answer on a particular exam question, but it won’t teach you how to apply knowledge in the world after school, nor will it give you a foundation of knowledge for learning the more advanced material. When you cheat, you cheat yourself out of opportunities.
• You risk failing the course or even expulsion from school. If you are found responsible for academic misconduct you risk getting a zero on the assignment or failing the course. Repeat offenses and you could face harsher consequences like suspension or even expulsion from school.
• Cheating causes stress. Fear of getting caught will cause you stress and anxiety; this will get in the way of performing well with the information you do know.
• You’re throwing away your money and time. Getting a college education is a big investment of money and effort. You’re simply not getting your full value when you cheat because you don’t learn as much.
• You are trashing your integrity. Cheating once and getting away with it makes it easier to cheat again, and the more you cheat, the more comfortable you will feel with giving up your integrity in other areas of life—with perhaps even more serious consequences.
• Cheating lowers your self-esteem. If you cheat, you are telling yourself that you are simply not smart enough to handle learning. It also robs you of the feeling of satisfaction from genuine success.

Technology has made it easier to cheat. Your credit card and an Internet connection can procure a paper for you on just about any subject and length. You can copy and paste for free from various Web sites. Students have made creative use of texting and video on their cell phones to gain unauthorized access to material for exams. But be aware that technology has also created ways for instructors to easily detect these forms of academic dishonesty. Most colleges make these tools available to their instructors. Instructors are also modifying their testing approaches to reduce potential academic misconduct by using methods that are harder to cheat at (such as in-class essays that evaluate your thinking and oral presentations).

If you feel uneasy about doing something in your college work, trust your instincts. Confirm with the instructor that your intended form of research or use of the material is acceptable. Cheating just doesn’t pay.

Examples of Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty can take many forms, and you should be careful to avoid them. The following list is a clear and complete compilation of what most institutions will consider unacceptable academic behavior.

• Cheating: using unauthorized notes, study aids, or information on an examination; altering a graded work after it has been returned, then submitting the work for regrading; allowing another person to do one’s work and submitting that work under one’s own name; submitting identical or similar papers for credit in more than one course without prior permission from the course instructors.
• Plagiarism: submitting material that in part or whole is not entirely one’s own work without attributing those same portions to their correct source.
• Fabrication: falsifying or inventing any information, data, or citation; presenting data that were not gathered in accordance with standard guidelines defining the appropriate methods for collecting or generating data and failing to include an accurate account of the method by which the data were gathered or collected.
• Obtaining an Unfair Advantage: (a) stealing, reproducing, circulating, or otherwise gaining access to examination materials prior to the time authorized by the instructor; (b) stealing, destroying, defacing, or concealing library materials with the purpose of depriving others of their use; (c) unauthorized collaboration on an academic assignment; (d) retaining, possessing, using or circulating previously given examination materials, where those materials clearly indicate that they are to be returned to the instructor at the conclusion of the examination; (e) intentionally obstructing or interfering with another student’s academic work; or (f) otherwise undertaking an activity with the purpose of creating or obtaining an unfair academic advantage over other students’ academic work.
• Aiding and Abetting Academic Dishonesty: (a) providing material, information, or other assistance to another person with knowledge that such aid could be used in any of the violations stated above, or (b) providing false information in connection with any inquiry regarding academic integrity.

But academic misconduct isn’t always as obvious as copying from a classmate during a test. Some of the most common violations are the ones students don’t realize cross the line. Here are a few:

Photo by Alex Knight on Unsplash

• Using AI tools like ChatGPT to write an essay or generate discussion board responses
  → Even if it’s your idea, submitting AI-written content without instructor permission can be considered plagiarism.
• Summarizing someone else’s work or idea without citing the source
  → “Putting it in your own words” still requires a citation if the original idea isn’t yours.
• Reusing a paper from a previous class (even if you wrote it)
  → That’s called self-plagiarism, and it needs approval from your professor.
• Asking a friend or tutor to “help rewrite” something until it’s basically theirs
  → Intent matters, and so does the final product.
• Sharing homework answers in a GroupMe or Discord channel
  → If it’s not explicitly allowed, this can count as unauthorized collaboration—even if everyone means well.

The bottom line? When in doubt, ask your professor. They’d rather you check than risk a violation.

You can read more about what counts as academic misconduct, what the process looks like, and what the potential consequences are here: UNO Academic Misconduct Policies

And if something does happen—mistakes can be part of learning—we’ll walk you through the process fairly and respectfully. It’s important to us to make sure everyone’s work reflects their own growth.

Free to Speak, Free to Disagree

UNO is a place where ideas can—and should—be explored. As a student, you have the right to express yourself through words, writing, signs, art, demonstrations, and more. You’re encouraged to advocate for your beliefs, challenge systems, and speak up when something doesn’t feel right.

That includes:

• Peaceful protest
• Organizing events
• Voicing opinions in class
• Advocating for yourself or others in policies or procedures

The University is content-neutral, meaning we don’t take sides based on viewpoint. Instead, we focus on how expression happens—ensuring it doesn’t threaten public safety, violate the rights of others, or interfere with university operations.

But let’s be clear: Free speech doesn’t mean speech without consequences.

• You can say things that others dislike. That’s part of academic freedom.
• You cannot make true threats, incite violence, or harass others.
• Hate speech—while often protected legally—may still violate UNO’s Code of Conduct if it targets others based on identity in a way that creates a hostile or unsafe environment.

So speak up. Ask questions. Protest. Build coalitions. Challenge norms. But do it with the awareness that rights come with responsibility, and our community depends on each of us to use our voice thoughtfully.

Learn more in UNO’s official Freedom of Expression Policy.

Title IX, Power-Based Violence & Healthy Relationships

Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected—on campus, in class, online, and in their relationships. At UNO, we take that seriously. We uphold Title IX, a federal law that protects students from discrimination based on sex or gender. That includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and gender-based discrimination.

But our goal isn’t just to respond to harm—it’s to help students build safer, more respectful communities from the start.

What Makes a Relationship Healthy?

You deserve relationships—romantic or not—that feel safe, balanced, and supportive. Here’s what that can look like:

• Communication is open and honest
  → You feel heard and understood—even when you disagree.
• Boundaries are respected
  → Physical, emotional, and digital boundaries are honored without guilt-tripping or pushback.
• Control doesn’t dominate the dynamic
  → No one should be pressuring you to change, isolate, or perform for them.
• Conflict is handled without fear
  → It’s normal to argue. It’s not normal to feel scared when you do.
• Support goes both ways
  → You both celebrate each other’s growth and space.

Unhealthy relationships can sneak up on you. If something feels off, you’re allowed to ask questions, step back, or reach out for help.

If Something Happens:

UNO has your back. Here’s what you should know:

• You can report sexual harassment, assault, or other misconduct—even anonymously—via the Guardian Conduct Portal or by emailing titleix@uno.edu.
• You have rights under UNO’s Title IX policy, including interim support, academic accommodations, and a fair process if there’s an investigation. Learn more at uno.edu/titleix/students.
• You can talk to someone confidentially through Counseling Services or our community partners like STAR (Sexual Trauma Awareness & Response) and the Family Justice Center.

Learn more here: https://www.uno.edu/titleix/students