St. John’s is a community of learning. The college expects its members to conform to standards of civility that make communal life and work possible. Foremost among these standards is respect for the person and property of others. Such respect is shown in both speech and action. All members of the community should expect this respect from others and must behave toward others in a way that makes such respect clear. In a community that brings people from diverse backgrounds together this may require a deliberate effort to understand those with whom one is living and working. The college expects this effort from all its members; such an effort is essential to the intellectual enterprise in which we are engaged.
This is followed closely by the obligation to maintain an orderly and reasonably quiet atmosphere conducive to study and reflection, and by the obligation to cooperate with others whose habits differ from one’s own. The college does not tolerate failure to meet this standard, nor does it condone incivility in any form. Failure to abide by decent standards of civility may result in immediate expulsion from the dormitories or from the college. A student who is expelled from the dormitories will have to find housing elsewhere and will not be entitled to refund of dormitory fees or food-service charges. The Assistant Dean, Executive Director of Campus Wellness, or Director of Student Services may bar off-campus students from visiting the dormitories.
All members of the college community share responsibility for upholding standards of decency and civility and for maintaining living conditions that are conducive to study and learning. The college therefore expects every student to abide by all the rules of residence and to refrain from misbehavior whether or not it is explicitly mentioned in the rules of residence; it expects every student to exhort fellow students to similar behavior. For the good of the community, it also expects all students, regardless of consequences, to report their own misdeeds, to try to persuade others to report their own misdeeds, and to report the misdeeds of those who cannot be persuaded to do so. Failure or refusal to report misbehavior may lead to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
The college expects community members to be honest. The college expects students not to lie and not to withhold information, either about themselves or about their fellow students. Dishonesty may lead to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
Students are obliged to obey all city, state, and federal laws. Being a St. John’s student offers no special immunity to any violator of public laws.
The Undergraduate Student Polity has established certain rules by referendum vote. Both undergraduate and graduate students should conform their behavior to these rules. The rules established by referendum are:
In accordance with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, St. John’s College alcohol and other drug policies reinforce our commitment to maintaining an environment that is dedicated to the holistic development of all members of our community. College policies surrounding the consumption of alcohol and the use of other drugs has as its guiding principle the concern and care for the community. Students are encouraged to review the information below and the applicable policies govern the use of alcohol and other drugs.
The college observes state and municipal laws regarding the possession, consumption, and distribution of alcoholic beverages. These prohibit the purchase or consumption of alcoholic beverages by any person who is less than 21 years of age, as well as the furnishing or sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone less than 21 or to any intoxicated person.
Students who consume alcoholic beverages under any circumstances are expected to do so moderately and are responsible for their actions. Drunkenness, offensive conduct, engaging in “drinking games,” or other violations of college rules may subject the offender to disciplinary action including fines, suspension, and expulsion. Additionally, being intoxicated at the time of engaging in behavior that results in action under the civility policy is considered as an aggravating factor, not a mitigating factor.
The use, possession, or distribution of illegal narcotics or other controlled substances except as expressly permitted by federal, state and/or local law, as well as the misuse of prescription drugs is prohibited. They—the use of illegal drugs and the misuse of any drug—are also incompatible with the purposes of the college program. Drug paraphernalia may indicate illegal drug use, and possession may result in disciplinary action. Use or possession of marijuana, including medical marijuana is strictly prohibited on campus. Examples of drug violations include, but are not limited to the illegal or improper use, possession, cultivation, distribution, manufacture, or sale of any drug(s), including prescribed medications. Students who are found to have violated the college’s policy on drug use may subject the offender to disciplinary action including fines, suspension, and expulsion. Additionally being under the influence of drugs at the time of engaging in behavior that results in action under the civility policy is considered as an aggravating factor, not a mitigating factor.
Knowing when to seek help for drug or alcohol use can be a daunting process and the college has resources and support services in place to help guide you in that process. Students may come to this realization at any point in their journey to recovery and we realize and understand that it is often consequences to a pattern of behavior that prompts this realization. While the college may still move forward with disciplinary action, requirements aimed at educating students about alcohol and other drugs and efforts to support sustained behavior change is also important. Students may seek support by reaching out to the Executive Director, Campus Wellness, the Assistant Dean, the Associate Dean, or the Director of Student Services. The college makes available to all students counseling, psychiatric, medical, and wellness services through the Student Health and Wellness Center and students who are concerned about their relationship with alcohol or other drugs are highly encouraged to seek out these services.
State and local laws generally prohibit individuals from betting, making wagers, or gambling. Thus, a poker game, if played for money, is unlawful. The college does not sponsor or sanction such activities, and no student group may sponsor, organize, or participate in such activities, except as the law allows.
Qualified organizations, including the college, may conduct “gaming events” under certain circumstances. The Director of Student Services must approve any gaming event at St. John’s College. Lola’s is a permitted gaming event, and the college works with students to ensure compliance with the law. Roulette is prohibited, and card or dice games are allowed only if they are played for tokens for which no cash prize is awarded or offered. Under certain circumstances, prizes in money or merchandise may be awarded using a paddle wheel, wheel of fortune, chance book, or bingo. Only individuals who have been members of the college (student, faculty, or staff) for more than 12 months may operate a gaming device.
The college is required to submit a report to the Department of Inspections and Permits for each gaming event (e.g. Lola’s). Student groups coordinating a gaming event will provide the Director of Student Services with the information necessary to make this report.
St. John’s College is a small closely-knit community, all of whose members have a responsibility to treat one another with respect. Discrimination or harassment of any kind, whether physical or verbal, is a breach of the trust we rely on as a community, and cannot be tolerated. Discrimination and harassment will be treated as serious disciplinary matters that can lead to dismissal from the college. Rules against discrimination and harassment apply to all members of the community, including tutors in their relations with students. The college has defined and formulated a detailed Discrimination and Harassment Policy, which is included in Appendix B.
Sexual or romantic relationships between tutors and undergraduate students are prohibited. Such relationships may lead to circumstances falling under the definition of sexual harassment; they constitute a breach of conduct even when harassment is not alleged. The responsibility for preventing such relationships lies with the tutors. Conducting sexual or romantic relationships with students will subject tutors to sanctions which may include termination of appointment.
These prohibitions apply to tutors and Graduate Institute students whenever a tutor has any kind of instructional or evaluative responsibility for that student, for the same reasons as given above and with corresponding sanctions. Should a tutor be in a sexual or romantic relationship with a Graduate Institute student, that tutor must disclose the relationship to the Associate Dean in order to avoid being assigned to a position of instructional or evaluative responsibility for that student.
The college is committed to providing programs, activities, and an educational environment that is free from all sex-based discrimination, including sexual misconduct. As a leader in liberal arts education, the college highly values the environment that results when students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds come together to discuss the ideas and ideals that are the cornerstone of a St. John’s education.
Consistent with these values and applicable law, including Title IX, the Clery Act and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, the college maintains a comprehensive program designed to protect members of the community from Title IX Sexual Harassment and sexual misconduct.
Any member of the college community who believes that they have witnessed, experienced, or are aware of conduct that constitutes a violation of College policies is encouraged to talk to somebody about what happened. Tutors and most employees of the college, including Resident Advisors and Community Facilitators are considered Responsible Employees and are required to notify the Title IX/Sexual Misconduct Coordinator of any reports of potential sexual misconduct.
For any individual subject to or witness to sexual misconduct of any type, the first step is always the same: get to a safe place as soon as possible. If emergency assistance is required, call Public Safety (443-336-2348) or Local Emergency Services by dialing 911. If you have been affected by sexual misconduct and wish to seek emergency medical treatment, Anne Arundel County Medical Center (442-481-2000) is equipped with evidence collection kits and staff specially trained to conduct forensic examinations.
There are a number of different options available to students who wish to report sexual misconduct to the college:
Additional information and resources, along with the full-text of the applicable policies are available online.
Copyright law extends to “original works of authorship” (Title 17, United States Code), whether literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, or some other kind of intellectual work. If such a work is copyrighted, there are specific legal limits on who can copy or otherwise use that work. Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement. Students are responsible for making sure that their use of copyrighted materials is appropriate and legal. If a student infringes on copyright using College resources, the College may be held liable. If you are interested in copying, showing, or distributing something that is copyrighted, the Library Director is available to give you guidance. In general, the Library Director is available to help you answer questions about appropriate use of copyrighted materials.
Copyright infringement will be treated as a disciplinary matter, subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Legal penalties for copyright infringement include both civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. More information can be found on the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at copyright.gov, and their FAQ’s at copyright.gov/help/faq. A copy of the St. John’s College plan to address copyright infringement is available upon request in the IT office.
Honesty, civility, and respect are cornerstones of the college community. In order to ensure that all parties feel free to speak and express themselves openly and without fear of unauthorized or surreptitious recording, audio and video recording and photography of any community member requires express consent, except where taken by the college for identification, security, or other institutional purposes
or by a community member for submission to the Campus Safety Alert system. Please note that it is also a violation of Maryland state law to record a conversation without the express consent of all parties.
In their use of social media, students are expected to conform to community standards, such as civility, responsibility, and honesty. All material posted on social media is subject to privacy and copyright laws. Care should be taken to make sure that material posted online is appropriate for public display.
Use of the St. John’s College name, logo, and seal should be reserved for officially affiliated pages only.
The full social media policy can be found here.
The maintenance of standards of civility is essential to the well-being of a community devoted to study; the observation of certain formalities supports those standards. Seminars, lectures, concerts, convocation, and commencement exercises are formal occasions and students should dress appropriately. In tutorials, offices, bookstore, library, coffee shop, and dining hall (other than on the occasions mentioned above), students may dress more informally.
Feet must be shod at all times in the classroom buildings, offices, bookstore, libraries, coffee shop, dining hall, and FSK Auditorium.
Bicycles are to be registered in the Public Safety Office. Students who own bicycles should keep them locked on one of the bicycle racks. The college advises students to use the best quality U-type lock available. Racks are located in front of Paca-Carroll, behind Randall, by the library, and in the basements of Chase-Stone, Gilliam, and Spector. Bicycles must not be left in the halls or common rooms of the dormitories. Unregistered bicycles will be removed from the racks periodically. Advance warning (one week) of removals will be given.
The college walkways are designed for pedestrians. Students who use bicycles or skateboards on campus are responsible for doing so safely and considerately. If, in the judgment of any college official or Public Safety Officer, a bicyclist is endangering or disturbing others, a fine may be imposed and the bicycle or skateboard may be confiscated.
Empty cans, bottles and wastepaper should be placed in the litter baskets or recycling containers located at convenient places around the campus.
When a student’s name changes, the student must notify the Office of the Registrar and present official documentation of the name change, e.g., a court order or marriage certificate. Alteration of the name on the student’s record and notification to the college community will only be made after these documents have been presented. Students who require a change of name in congruence with their gender identity or expression should contact the Office of the Registrar.
Parking on campus is very limited. Freshmen and sophomores who live on campus are not allowed to park cars on campus; freshmen and sophomores who live off campus may purchase commuter permits during registration or at the Public Safety Office; juniors and seniors are strongly urged not to bring cars unless it is truly necessary. Parking on college lots is by permit only. There is only one type of permit for student parking. Permits do not guarantee the availability of parking spaces. Parking regulations may be changed at any time.
The Campbell, Chase Stone, and Mellon lots are faculty/staff lots. They are reserved for faculty and staff employees between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday, Thursday, and Friday. Students who park in these lots during these hours may have their cars towed without prior warning. Students may occasionally be given permission to park temporarily in these lots for specific reasons such as loading or unloading a car, but to do so they must first check with the Office of Public Safety in advance.
Public Safety Officers may ticket and tow unauthorized or illegally parked cars. The cost of retrieving a towed car is at least $250, plus storage charges if the car is not picked up the same day it is towed. Always assume that your car will be cited and/or towed if it is parked illegally.
Note: Towed cars are only returned to the registered owner of the motor vehicle. In an agreement with the tow company, vehicles registered with the Office of Public Safety may be returned to the student (even if not the owner). If your vehicle is not registered with the college, the tow company may not return the vehicle to you without the owner’s permission. Tow fees do not involve the college. These must be settled with the tow company.
Parking citations are $30 for all violations and may be paid at the Business Office or the Office of Public Safety.
Students who have guests on campus are responsible for properly registering the guests, obtaining temporary parking permits for them from the Office of Public Safety, and making sure they know which lots are open to them. Otherwise, their vehicles will be towed at their expense.
Motorcycles and motor scooters must be registered with the Office of Public Safety and parked in designated areas. Motorcycles, mopeds, or motor scooters may not be kept in any buildings. Also, a fine will be levied upon the owners of vehicles driven across any part of the campus. Drivers will be responsible for any damage incurred.
Off-campus parking is available at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The stadium is located less than a mile north of St. John’s. Visit pinnacleparking.com for more information. The State parking garage, located on St. John’s Street, is open to the public free of charge from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays and all-day Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.
A valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, and verification of insurance are required to obtain a permit. Freshmen and sophomores who live on campus may not park on campus. All others may purchase permits at the Public Safety Office. Permits may be purchased only for a car registered in the name of the student purchasing the permit or in his or her parent’s name. Students who obtain, or attempt to obtain, a permit for which they are not eligible are subject to significant penalties and may forfeit their eligibility to obtain a pass in the future.
Student Parking, year $150
Student Parking, second semester $75
GI Student Parking, each semester $75
Summer parking $60
Parties on campus are an important facet of student life and in order to allow them, there are necessary and prudent limitations that must be observed. Most rules that govern parties are devoted to ensuring their future continuation. Since so much is at stake, these rules will be enforced with great strictness. Contact the Community Facilitator for Student Activities and Events to obtain a copy of the event contract and for assistance in coordinating your event.
Two weeks prior to your event, email the details of your event to user.support(at)sjc.edu to request A /V support with microphones, screen projectors, speakers, and so forth.
Contact the Community Facilitator for Student Activities and Events for assistance in obtaining the required film license for any screening taking place outside of a dorm room. We have obtained reduced licensing fees through SWANK to assist your efforts. Any screening that takes place without a film license outside of a private residence qualifies as a public screening and is in violation of copyright law. Violators could face up to five years in prison and fines ranging up to $250,000.
The following items can be requested on the event contract.
A Community Facilitator will need to install the propane tanks for you and remove them at the end of the event. Patio heaters must not be moved while lit, and they cannot be used in a non-ventilated area.
The fire pit must be placed on level, flat ground away from any overhang and should not be moved while the fire is lit. One should not attempt to cook on the lid. The firepit must be doused with water completely at the conclusion of the event, and then returned the next day, once it has cooled, to the seating area adjacent to the Ptolemy Stone.
A bonfire needs to be planned a minimum of 3 weeks in advance in order to obtain the necessary burn permit from the city. You are required to douse the fire at the scheduled conclusion of your event, and Public Safety will likely stop by to make sure this presents no issue. If you are unable to receive the burn permit in advance of your event, you may not proceed. Instructions for obtaining the permit are as follows:
When students gather spontaneously in the college’s public areas (especially the quad and the coffee shop) the gathering may sometimes come to resemble a party even though there are no hosts or organizers. In such cases all college regulations are still to be observed. If, in the judgment of a Public Safety Officer, a Senior Resident, or the Director of Student Services, such a gathering is disturbing others or giving rise to violations of the rules, the gathering may be dispersed and the public area cleared.
Hosts of events with alcohol should understand and uphold the regulations as listed below. A host checklist has also been provided to aid in your coordination efforts and ensure compliance.
Disciplinary actions are private matters, though they may justly touch on common concerns. Disciplinary records are part of the education record of the student and may be permanently retained in the student’s file. They are governed by all of the requirements of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act set forth in Appendix III. In accordance with these requirements, some of the disciplinary matters of dependent students may be disclosed to their parents when the Dean or Assistant Dean deems that it is appropriate to do so.
Prospective students must obey the same rules as enrolled students. Enrolled students must use discretion in their social contacts with visiting prospective students; those who are irresponsible or exploitative in their relations with prospective students are subject to disciplinary action.
Violation of the principles, policies, and rules set out in this handbook will result in penalties. It is the task of the Assistant Dean, Executive Director of Campus Wellness, the Director of Student Services or the Coordinator of Student Services to determine the penalties and see that they are carried out. Penalties range from monetary fines to expulsion.
In cases of very serious infractions of college rules, the Director of Student Services may require that a student move out of a dormitory and find a place to live off campus. Sometimes such banishment may even extend into the following term, or the following year. A student required to move out of the dormitory during the semester also loses access to the dining hall and is not usually eligible for a refund of room or board fees.
College fines are levied by the Assistant Dean, the Director of Student Services, the Coordinator of Student Services, and the Chief of Public Safety. Some fines for specific offenses are:
This list is not exhaustive; other fines and/or consequences may be levied when warranted.
In general, when a student has committed any previous offense, fines and other penalties will increase sharply. Even one offense can be cause for dismissal from the college.
Fines do not include costs of repairing damages. The Director of Buildings and Grounds determines these costs and the Coordinator of Student Services informs students of the charges. Damages to college property in students’ rooms will be charged to the occupants. Students sharing a double are jointly responsible for the room and its contents.
If the student(s) responsible for damage to areas other than dormitory rooms is not identified, costs will be pro-rated among the students living in the dormitory, or using the area, and fines may be levied against them. This necessity is abhorrent and is easily avoided when all residents take full responsibility for what transpires in their residences.
Under Maryland law, smoking is not allowed anywhere in any building on campus because all are workplaces. Additionally, college policy is that the campus is smoke-free other than in designated smoking areas. The two designated smoking areas on campus include the ring of chairs between Temple Iglehart and the tennis courts and, for employees, the space behind the Heating Plant. College fines levied for violations of the law and policy. Disrespect for the no smoking zones may result in fines being assessed, and eventually, removal from campus housing.
