Preamble
The Student Code of Ethics (“Code”) is not intended to interfere with other applicable laws, policies or regulations that relate to ethical conduct. This Code should be interpreted as being in concert with rather than in conflict with other laws, policies, and regulations whenever possible. Students, as a condition of admission, agree to abide by the Code. Students further agree to abide by all College regulations contained in the Catalog, Student Handbook, other publications and notices placed on official College bulletin boards including its portal, digital monitors, and/or website. This includes students who reside in College premises; participate in preceptorships; and participate in any College programs on or off College premises.
Students also are expected to abide by local, state and federal laws. The College assumes its students will conduct themselves as responsible citizens. The College, therefore, reserves the right to dismiss any student at any time, should it be in the best interest of the College or the student to do so. It is the personal responsibility of every student to respect the rights of others and to conduct themselves with integrity.
Purpose
The intent of this Code is to ensure that students neither lose their rights nor escape the responsibilities of citizenship. Students enrolled at the College must be guided by the highest standards of ethical conduct. They are expected to demonstrate professional qualities when dealing with persons in the College community, chiropractic patients, College visitors, other individuals associated with or conducting business with the College and with the general public.
Reservation of Rights Regarding this Code
The College reserves the right, without notice, to modify its policies, rules, processes, procedures and/ or guidelines; to change the content of this Code or to alter any other regulation affecting the student body; to place a student on interim suspension with or without filing a charge of misconduct; to remove a student on an emergency basis from its educational programs and activities whether the disciplinary processes are underway or not; or to impose discipline up to and including dismissal of any student at any time should it be in the interest of the College, or of the student, to do so.
Jurisdiction of the Student Code of Ethics
The Code shall apply to conduct that occurs on College premises or at College sponsored or College-related activities or service functions on or off College premises or at non-College activities on or off College premises that adversely affects the College Community and/or the pursuit of its objectives and/or triggers the College’s responsibilities under College policies or law. This includes conduct that occurs online or via any other virtual medium.
Each student shall be responsible for his/her conduct from the time of application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree, even though conduct may occur before classes begin or after classes end, as well as during the academic year and during periods between terms of actual enrollment (and even if their conduct is not discovered until after a grade or degree is awarded).
The Code shall apply to a student’s conduct even if the student withdraws from school while a disciplinary matter is pending.
The Code shall also apply to conduct occurring online such as harassment delivered by email or acts of bullying or discrimination posted in video form or on gossip sites.
Students must also be aware that information posted to blogs, webpages, social networking sites such as Twitter, Snapchat and Facebook, or other online postings are in the public sphere, and are not private. These postings can subject a student to a charge of misconduct if information posted online relates to, supports or constitutes misconduct. The College does not regularly monitor online activities but may take action if and when such information is discovered.
Non-Compliance
For a complete list of potential sanctions for noncompliance with the Student Code of Ethics, refer to the Student Code of Ethics published in the Student Handbook.
Additional Consequences for Non-Compliance
The policies and rules that govern this College process and the policies and rules of other College processes generally operate independently and do not substitute for each other. Subsequently, a finding of misconduct may result in additional consequences outside the jurisdiction of this College process or render a student ineligible for things a student may otherwise be eligible for such as but not limited to the following:
- Financial aid
- Immigration status
- Scholarships
- Awards
- Leadership positions
- Membership or participation in certain clubs and organizations
- Preceptorship
Please contact the appropriate College official for questions regarding other College processes.
Internal Administrative Process
This Code does not mirror criminal or civil legal processes. This Handbook is administrative, not legal. Therefore, rules of law, evidence and criminal/ civil procedure do not apply and will not be utilized with minor exceptions as specified in this Handbook.
While the activities covered by the laws of the larger community and those covered by College rules may overlap, it is important to note that the community’s laws and the College’s rules operate independently and that they do not substitute for each other.
Proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with misconduct that potentially violates both the criminal law and this Code (that is, if both possible violations result from the same factual situation) without regard to the pendency of civil or criminal litigation.
When Proceedings May Occur
The College may pursue enforcement of its own rules whether or not legal proceedings are underway or in prospect and may use information from third party sources (such as law enforcement agencies and the courts) to determine whether College rules have been broken. Proceedings under this Code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following a civil or criminal proceedings at the discretion of the Coordinator.
Cooperation with Law Enforcement
The Coordinator will cooperate with law enforcement in order that this Code does not interfere with the integrity or timing of a criminal investigation. At the request of law enforcement, the College may temporarily defer the fact-gathering portion of its investigation.
Legal Determinations
Neither law enforcement’s determination of whether or not to arrest or prosecute a student nor the outcome of any criminal prosecution are determinative of whether or not ethical misconduct has been proven under the Code. The College cannot and does not determine whether a crime has been committed beyond a reasonable doubt. That can only be done through the legal process.
Determinations made or sanctions/discipline imposed under this Code shall not be subject to change solely because criminal charges arising out of the same facts giving rise to a charge of ethical misconduct were dismissed, reduced or resolved in favor of or against a student.
Special Considerations for Charges of Violation of Law
When a student is charged by federal, state, or local authorities with a violation of law, the College will not request or agree to special consideration for that individual because of his or her status as a student. If the alleged offense is also being
processed under College processes, the College may advise legal authorities of the existence of such processes and of how such matters are typically handled within the College community.
Inquiries
For a complete copy of the Student Code of Ethics, please refer to the College’s website at https://www.palmer.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/student-code-of-ethics.pdf.
For inquiries regarding the administration of the Student Code of Ethics, contact the Senior Director for Compliance or any of the following coordinators:
MAIN CAMPUS:
Earlye Adams Julien, PHR, M.S. Ed.
Senior Director for Compliance
1000 Brady Street
Davenport, IA 52803
563-884-5476
julien_e@palmer.edu
Lori Larsen, B.A.
Compliance Specialist
(Also serving as Student Code of Ethics Coordinator)
1000 Brady Street
Davenport, IA 52803
563-884-5246
lori.larsen@palmer.edu
FLORIDA CAMPUS:
Jason Brewer, M.S.
Dean of Student Services
(Also Serving as Student Code of Ethics Coordinator designee)
Office of Student Services
4777 City Center Parkway Port
Orange, FL 32129
(386) 763-2781
jason.brewer@palmer.edu
