Non-Criminal Violations by University of Florida Students

Chapter 4.041 of the University of Florida (UF) regulations details the scope and violations of the Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code. UF may impose disciplinary action for any alleged violations of the Student Honor Code or Student Conduct Code that occur on the university campus, at housing of any UF organization or group, at activities officially approved by UF or sponsored by or conducted by UF groups or organizations, or any other off-campus violations of local, state, federal, or international law.

Many UF disciplinary hearings stem from criminal charges. It is important to understand that being prosecuted for criminal charges does not mean UF will not pursue a disciplinary hearing, nor does disciplinary action by UF mean you will not face criminal charges.

Gainesville UF Student Disciplinary Violations Lawyer

If you are facing a UF disciplinary hearing, you should know that you have the right to an attorney for help defending your rights. Galigani Law Firm assists students in Gainesville and at colleges throughout Florida with college disciplinary hearings and criminal charges such as drug charges, driving under the influence (DUI), and sex crimes.

Contact our firm at (352) 375-0812 or send us a message online right now to set up a free consultation that will let our experienced criminal defense attorneys review your case. We can prepare you for your hearing and we will work to help secure the most favorable outcome possible for your case.


University of Florida Student Disciplinary Violations Information Center


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UF Student Honor Code Violations

Violations of the Student Honor Code include:

  • Plagiarism — Presenting all or any portion of another person’s work as the student’s own. This can include but is not limited to quoting oral or written materials without proper attribution and submitting an assignment that is entirely or partially identical to a document not authored by the student.
  • Unauthorized Use of Materials or Resources (“Cheating”) — Unauthorized materials or resources in an academic activity can include but are not limited to use of a “cheat sheet” materials during an examination, quiz, or other academic activity, use of other prohibited materials or resources, or use of any other resources prepared by another student and used without proper attribution to the other student or that other student’s express consent or without proper attribution to the other student.
  • Prohibited Collaboration or Consultation — Unauthorized actions with another person on an academic activity may include but is not limited to looking at another student’s exam or quiz or collaborating on an examination, take-home test, writing project, assignment, or any other academic or co-curricular activity.
  • False or Misleading Statement Relating to a Student Honor Code Violation — Students cannot make false or misleading statements in reporting alleged Student Honor Code violations, during the course of Student Honor Code proceedings, or on final appeals following proceedings.
  • False or Misleading Statement for the Purpose of Procuring an Academic Advantage — Students are also prohibited from making false or misleading statements in order to obtain an academic advantage.
  • Use of Fabricated or Falsified Information — A student is prohibited from using or presenting information that he or she “knows or in the exercise of ordinary care should be aware” such information is fabricated or falsified.
  • Interference with or Sabotage of Academic Activity — A student cannot remove, conceal, damage, destroy, or steal materials or resources needed to complete an academic activity, tamper with another student’s work, or steal from another student’s materials or resources in order to either interfere with that other student’s successful completion of an academic activity or enhance the offending student’s own completion.
  • Unauthorized Taking or Receipt of Materials or Resources to Gain an Academic Advantage
  • Unauthorized Recordings — Students are prohibited from making or receiving unauthorized audio or video recordings of a class, co-curricular meeting, organizational meeting, or meeting with a faculty member.
  • Bribery — Students cannot offer, give, receive, or solicit a bribe of money, goods, services or anything of value in exchange for an academic advantage
  • Submission of Paper or Academic Work Purchased or Obtained from an Outside Source — Outside sources includes but are not limited to commercial vendors of research papers or files of research papers or tests maintained by a student organization or other body or person.
  • Conspiracy to Commit Academic Dishonesty — Students are prohibited from conspiring with any other person to commit an act that violates the Student Honor Code.

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UF Student Conduct Code Violations

Violations of the Student Code of Conduct include:

  • Causing Physical or Other Harm to any Person — Conduct that includes but is not limited to acts of physical violence, assault, and relationship or domestic violence, as well as actions that actually cause severe emotional distress or endanger one’s own health or safety (UF Regulation 4.036 Involuntary Medical Withdrawal).
  • Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct — UF clearly notes that it is the responsibility of the person initiating a sexual activity to make sure the other person is capable of consenting to that activity, and consent to one form of sexual activity does not mean consent is given to another type of activity. “Consent is given by an affirmative verbal response or acts that are unmistakable in their meaning.”
  • Harassment — This includes sexual harassment and verbal or written threats like stalking, cyber-stalking, and racial harassment involving coercion or any other conduct that places another person in reasonable fear of physical harm or creates a hostile environment.
  • Obscene Behavior — Any conduct that would be considered obscene under the standards of the local community, including but not limited to video voyeurism or public exposure of one’s own sexual organs.
  • Hazing — Conduct including but not limited to actions that recklessly, by design, or intentionally endanger the mental or physical health or safety of a student, causes or attempts to cause physical injury or other harm to a student, or has a tendency to or is intended to demean, disgrace, humiliate, or degrade a student.
  • Firearms or Other Weapons Violations — Possession, use, sale, or distribution of any firearm, ammunition, weapon, or other device not explicitly permitted under UF Regulation 2.001.
  • Fire Safety Violations — Possession and/or use of fireworks, tampering with fire safety equipment, or conduct causing or attempting to cause a fire or explosion.
  • Drug Violations — Includes the use, possession, manufacturing, distribution, or sale of any controlled substance prohibited by law, possession of drug paraphernalia, use of a prescription drug not issued to the student, or distribution or sale of a prescription drug to a person to whom the prescription was not originally issued.
  • Alcohol Beverages Violations — Includes underage possession or consumption, public intoxication, DUI, distribution or sale of alcoholic beverage to minors, excessive rapid consumption, possession of common source containers such as kegs, or any other violation of the Alcoholic Beverages Regulation (UF Regulation 2.019).
  • Conduct Disruptive to the University Community — Includes disruption of a University activity, disruption of a class or curricular activity, conduct which is disorderly or a breach of the peace under law, violations of the Campus Demonstration Regulation (UF Regulation 2.002), or any other violation of UF Regulation 1.008.
  • Misuse or Unauthorized Possession or Use of Public or Private Property — Includes theft, misuse of identification card, unauthorized sale of student tickets, or conduct that destroys, damages, or litters any property of the University or an individual or group.
  • Misuse or Unauthorized Use of University Computer Resources — Includes violations of copyright law, violations of the Policies on Information Technology (UF Regulation 1.0102), use of the University’s computer resources to violate any law or University regulation or Board of Governors’ regulation, or unauthorized actions relating to UF computers, computer system, or computer network.
  • Unauthorized Entry to University Facilities — In addition to unauthorized access to property of the University or a member of the University community, also includes unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys or access cards for any such property.
  • Furnishing False Information
  • Invasion of Privacy and Unauthorized Electronic or Digital Recording — Unauthorized recording of personal conversations, images, meetings, or activities, including classes or organizational or University meetings.
  • Violation of University Policy
  • Violation of Law
  • Obstruction of the University Conduct Process — Includes failure to appear at a hearing, failure to testify at a hearing, or violating and/or failure to complete conduct sanctions.
  • Failure to Comply with Directive — Directive may be from law enforcement official or University official.
  • Complicity in Violating the Student Conduct Code

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Find a UF Student Disciplinary Violations Lawyer in Gainesville

You have the right to defend yourself against alleged violations of the UF Student Honor Code or Student Conduct Code, and you also have the right to consult an attorney. While a lawyer can only act as an “advisor” during a UF disciplinary hearing, you can still gain valuable advice about how to handle your case and give yourself the best chance of having the charges against you reduced or dismissed.

Galigani Law Firm helps students in UF college disciplinary hearings and we offer a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your case. Contact our firm right now at (352) 375-0812 or send us a message online to let our skilled criminal defense attorneys analyze your case.