Conduct and Discipline
Two objectives of higher education are to develop self-reliance and to form desirable and acceptable habits of conduct among students.
Instead of designing numerous regulations to cover in detail matters of student conduct, Mississippi State University recognizes students as adults who are expected to obey the law, rules and regulations of the University, to take personal responsibility for their conduct, to respect the rights of others, and to have regard for the preservation of State and University property as well as the private property of others. Mississippi State University will not police the personal lives of students on or off campus or invade their privacy by spying or intrusive searches; however, students whose conduct threatens to cause disorder, public disturbances, danger to themselves and others, or property damage will be disciplined.
A listing of acts of misconduct which are unacceptable and may require disciplinary action is provided online at http://www.msstate.edu/web/security/ together with a detailed explanation of disciplinary processes for students in the University. Those apprehended and proven guilty of violating the law or rules and regulations of the University may receive a maximum penalty of expulsion from the University.
MSU Honor Code
Academic dishonesty is a corrosive force in the academic life of a university. It jeopardizes the quality of education and depreciates the genuine achievements of others. It is, without reservation, a responsibility of all members of the Mississippi State University community to actively deter it.
All students who are admitted to MSU agree to abide by the Honor Code which states, “As a Mississippi State University student I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”
Those individuals who are reported for MSU Honor code violations will be subject to the procedures and sanctions as found at: www.students.msstate.edu/honorcode.
Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)
The BIT is made up of university representatives who work to connect the dots of problematic actions involving students that may be known to the various faculty, staff and administrators. Departments represented on the BIT include (but are not limited to): Dean of Students Office, Office of the Provost, Faculty, Housing and Residence Life, Student Health Services, Student Counseling Services, Disability Support Services, and the MSU Police Department. The goal of the BIT is to successfully engage, support, and minimize the concerns associated with students in distress. Accomplishing these goals requires a coordinated institutional response that includes all members of the MSU community.
Maroon Alert System
Mississippi State University encourages all students, faculty and staff to sign up for the Maroon Alert System. In case of a campus emergency, administration will activate the Maroon Alert system and begin to communicate with the university community using appropriate media including:
- The Web page at www.emergency.msstate.edu (yellow banner on the home page)
- Groupwise Instant messaging for students and employees
- Text messaging on participating cell phones
- E-mail using the students or employees official e-mail address
- Campus radio station WMSV 91.1-FM
- Mobile loudspeaker announcements by campus speakers system and police vehicles
- The HOT LINE 325-5555 (activated only during emergency)