Student Expectations & Behavioral Policies

Student Expectations

The College expects all students to behave responsibly as citizens of this community. Therefore, all students must abide by the Rhodes Honor System—the Honor Code, the Standards of Conduct, and the Rhodes Commitment to Diversity. With the Honor System, everyone in the Rhodes College community maintains the values and expectations by which they live and learn together.   

Persistent or extreme departures from this standard may lead to restrictions, removal from campus, suspension, or expulsion from the college. Rhodes reserves the right to exclude persons whose conduct is undesirable at any time. In such cases, no tuition, fees, or room and board refunds are made, and the College, its students, faculty, administrators, councils, committees, and officers do not bear any liability. 

The Dean of Students, Office of Community Standards, administrative designees, the Honor Council, and the Community Standards Council are responsible for administering rules for student behavior. 

This section of the College Catalogue provides a broad overview. The Student Handbook, available on the College website, contains all student policies. 

The Honor Council and Community Standards Council

The students of Rhodes assume responsibility for honorable conduct in campus life. They elect an Honor Council and a Community Standards Council. Each Council is composed of elected representatives from each of the four classes. The Council investigates alleged infractions of the Honor Code and Standards of Conduct and enforces regulations with outcomes up to and including expulsion. The decision may be appealed to the designated Committee. These committees may return cases to the appropriate Council for reconsideration; in that case, the Council’s decision is final. Every entering student is expected at matriculation to sign a pledge promising to uphold the College Commitment to Diversity Statement, the Honor Code, and the Standards of Conduct.

Alcohol Use

A complete description of the Rhodes College Alcohol Policy can be found in the Student Handbook on the College website. As a community, we embrace the vision of a healthy and balanced social environment grounded in trust and open communication among faculty, staff, and students. Such an environment fosters personal and community growth and embodies a sense of responsibility and accountability to self and others. This vision depends upon each member's commitment to achieve and maintain inclusiveness, consistency, continual education, and the growth of shared traditions. It is our duty to one another. Rhodes College supports legal, responsible, and healthy behaviors and reflects our community values. 

Rhodes is committed to providing its community members with information about alcohol and confidential referrals for professional assistance if needed. Awareness of the positive and negative effects of alcohol consumption may assist in efforts to make safe and responsible choices about alcohol. Educational programs are organized and conducted annually to promote continued awareness and encourage an attitude of genuine concern and care for others.  

Drug Use

The possession, use, sale, or distribution of illegal drugs, the misuse or abuse of medications or other legal drugs on the Rhodes campus is prohibited. Such conduct: 

• Violates the law; 
• Violates one’s physical and mental health; and, 
• Violates the fabric of the community with serious security risks resulting from dealing with individuals operating outside the law. 

As citizens, the Rhodes students, faculty, and staff are responsible for knowing and complying with all applicable state and local laws that make it a crime to possess, sell, deliver, or manufacture those drugs considered controlled substances by the state of Tennessee. Any member of the Rhodes community who violates the law is subject to prosecution and punishment by civil authorities and to disciplinary proceedings by the College. 

Sexual Misconduct Policy

Rhodes College is committed to ensuring a safe learning environment that supports the dignity of all members of the Rhodes community. Rhodes does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any of its education or employment programs and activities. Rhodes will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking.   

This Title IX Policy (the “Policy”) is intended to ensure that all members of the Rhodes community involved in a Title IX case receive appropriate support and fair treatment and that allegations of sexual harassment are handled promptly, thoroughly, and equitable. 

All Rhodes students and employees are expected to comply with this policy. Rhodes strongly encourages students to report instances of sexual harassment immediately. In addition, according to Rhodes’ Employee Handbook and Rhodes’ Mandatory Reporter Policy, employees are required to report such instances. 

Rhodes will review, evaluate, and make any revisions or amendments to this Policy on an ongoing and as-needed basis. 
 

General inquiries about the application of this Policy should be directed to the College’s Title IX Coordinator: 
Inez Warner, J.D. 
Director of Institutional Equity/Title IX Coordinator 
Rhodes College 
Southwestern Hall, Ste. 200 
2000 North Parkway 
Memphis, TN 38112 
901-843-3354 
warneri@rhodes.edu   
  

The complete sexual misconduct policy is in the Student Handbook and on the Title IX and Sexual Misconduct page. 

College Initiated Administrative Withdrawal (CIAW)

The College occasionally faces the problem of students who pose a threat to themselves or others, who are unable to cope, or who create a pattern of extreme disruption. If such behavior violates College rules and regulations, the case will be referred to the Dean of Students or the Dean’s designee for action. 

The College may administratively withdraw a student from classes, remove a student from residence halls, and/or require conditions for continued enrollment when one of the following transpires: 

• The student significantly disrupts the activities of the college community; 
• The student poses a direct risk to the health or safety of others or  
• The student demonstrates evidence of significant impairment such that they are unable to participate safely and successfully in the college's academic and/or residential life and cannot independently determine that a voluntary leave is needed.  

In the circumstance described above, the Dean of Students (DOS) or the Dean’s designee, in consultation with the appropriate medical, psychological, and academic resources, may administratively withdraw a student from their classes, remove the student from the residence halls, and/or place conditions on the student’s continued enrollment. The decision must be based on assessing 1) the probability, nature, duration, and severity of the disruption, risk, and/or impairment and 2) whether reasonable accommodations can mitigate the risk, allowing the student to remain enrolled. Under certain circumstances, either before or after deciding to withdraw the student administratively, DOS or the Dean’s designee may mandate that the student undergo a psychological or medical assessment to evaluate the student’s ability to participate successfully in the college community.   

The DOS’s determination regarding CIAW and the reasons supporting the decision are shared in written form with the student. The written determination includes the length of separation from the college and describes the conditions the student may seek to return.  

A student may appeal the CIAW determination in writing and provide supporting documentation within forty-eight (48) hours, the Vice President for Student Life, whose decision is the college's final decision. 

Campus Modes of Communication

The two official means of communication at Rhodes are campus mail and Rhodes email. All students, staff, and faculty have a personal Rhodes e-mail address, and students are expected to check this account regularly during the semester, breaks, and recesses. 

Official notices to individuals and the campus community are sent via e-mail; such correspondence is considered official. In addition to email, some official notices, communication, and information are sent via campus mail. For this reason, all students must maintain a P.O. Box in the mailroom in Burrow Hall. 

Residency Requirement 

Residential living is an integral part of the mission of Rhodes College and the student experience; all unmarried, full-time undergraduate students are required to live on campus and participate in one of the college meal plans during the academic year for three years (six fall and spring semesters).  Exchange students must live on campus and participate in one of the college meal plans for the duration of their enrollment. 

Residency requirement exemptions may be made for students who meet any of the following criteria and provide supporting documentation:

• Students who are married.
• Students who are legal guardians of minors who reside with them permanently.  
• Students who are at least 24 years old.  
• Students with a documented medical disability that cannot be accommodated in on-campus living.  
• A limited number of junior-level students may apply for exemptions to live off-campus based on projected space availability. The availability of this option varies from year to year, depending on enrollment numbers and housing availability. The Office of Residence Life will notify students if this option is available. Exemptions granted, if any, will be made at the sole discretion of the Office of Residence Life.  

Students who reside off-campus without meeting one or more criteria and do not get appropriate approval will be held responsible for all room and board costs for all semesters they are enrolled and residing off-campus without such approval.

By accepting a room assignment, a student is contractually obligated to occupy that room for the entire academic year unless the student withdraws from the College, is approved for a mid-semester withdrawal, is approved for a leave of absence, graduates, or participates in a study abroad program. Vacant spaces are subject to assignment by the Office of the Residence Life.

Financial hardship: If a student or their family/caretakers face financial hardship or experiences a significant life change that has impacted income and may be challenging to pay for housing, please contact Financial Aid for assistance.  

Residency Exemption Request Process

Students who are married:

Complete the Residency Exemption Request form and provide a copy of your marriage certificate. It must be submitted before approval. This exemption, if granted, remains in effect for the remainder of your time at Rhodes.  

Students who are 24 or older:

Complete the Residency Exemption Request form, and a copy of your birth certificate, driver’s license, or passport must be submitted before approval. This exemption, if granted, remains in effect for the remainder of your time at Rhodes.

Students with a medical condition:

A student has a medical condition that warrants the necessity to live off-campus.  The student needs to go through the  SAS accommodation request process. There must be an attestation of the medical condition from a qualified professional who has treated the student in the last six (6) months. Student Accessibility Services and the Office of Residence Life will review all required documentation.  

Most medical and mental health conditions can be accommodated in on-campus housing. We are anticipating not approving many exceptions for medical/mental health reasons. Please keep this in mind as you plan for the upcoming academic year.