|
Code of Conduct
We are a community made up of individuals from every
state and more than one hundred countries. The diverse
backgrounds and experiences that all of us collectively
bring to Tufts guarantee that living and studying in our
community will be seen through a broad variety of
lenses. All of us should cherish the chance to be
exposed to different values and beliefs, even though
balancing them will at times create tension among us.
There is no reason to think that we will always agree
with one another. We would not be an interesting campus
if we all held similar opinions about everything—or if
we were not willing to engage in difficult conversation
with others whose views we find hard to understand. I
urge you to be open to new ideas; to embrace the
unfamiliar. Take advantage of every opportunity to
broaden your understanding of others’ viewpoints, even
if you will never hold those viewpoints yourself, for
they will be part of your world beyond Tufts, and you
will thus be better prepared for that world.
At the same time, meaningful dialogue depends on respect
and civility. Those who engage in expression without
attention to these values can and should anticipate that
their choice of expression will not promote dialogue—it
will instead cause hurt and divisiveness. Rules and
policies cannot protect you from all that is unpleasant
since civility can’t be required—it can only be
encouraged. What all of us can do is voice our own
outrage when others’ behavior is outrageous. All of us
must remain committed to creating a community that feels
welcoming; one that promotes growth, learning and
enjoyment.
Tufts students are expected to be responsible citizens
of the Tufts community and of the larger communities of
which we are all members. Students are expected to
comply with all university policies, Somerville and
Medford city ordinances, and Massachusetts and federal
laws. The policies of the university are designed to
ensure a reasonable environment in which community
members can reasonably pursue an education and a social
life. Tufts’ Code of Conduct addresses the requirements
of ethical behavior in and out of the classroom. It also
addresses community participation and how our behavior
impacts others. Some of the policies that collectively
make up our code of conduct require:
- Ethical behavior, including academic integrity and honesty; an understanding and adherence to the requirements
of legitimate academic work and responsible use of the university’s resources, including information technology
resources;
- Respecting others’ privacy;
- Respecting the safety of community members by
avoiding behavior that harms, endangers, or
intimidates others, including the behavior of
individuals you bring to the campus as guests;
- Avoiding harassing behavior, including that
based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, age, ability, and
ethnic or national origin;
- Being absolutely certain that sexual activity is
mutually agreed upon;
- Respecting the property of the university and of
community members, including policies on theft,
vandalism, and graffiti;
- Respecting and abiding by all city and state
ordinances and state and federal laws and
regulations, as well as those that are specific to
the university, including those that pertain to the
possession and use of alcohol and other drugs;
- Cooperating with university officials;
- Respecting and adhering to the requirements and
policies regarding life in the residence halls of
the university; and
- Respecting and adhering to the policies of any
community in which we participate in any
university-related work or recreation, both on and
off the campus.
Most of the expectations and requirements for
appropriate conduct in the community are intuitive
and are those you would anticipate. However, some of
the policies address issues that you may not usually
think about or include specifics that you will need
to know. For this reason, you are urged to become
familiar with the standards for behavior in the
Tufts community. You will be held responsible for
adhering to these standards. Some of the policies
you should be familiar with include:
|
