Standards of Conduct

Generally, prohibited conduct for which a student is subject to discipline is defined as follows:

• • • Conduct which intentionally or carelessly threatens the health or safety of any person on University-owned or leased property, at a University approved function.
    • Unauthorized entry into or occupation of University facilities which are locked, closed to student activities, or otherwise restricted as to use.
    • Intentional disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, other University activities, or activities authorized to take place on University property.
    • Unlawfully blocking or impeding normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic on or adjacent to University property.
    • Violation of University policies or regulations including policies concerning the use of University facilities.
    • University identification cards, other documents, or computer files or systems.
    • Any violation of local law, if such directly affects the University’s pursuit of its proper educational purposes and only to the extent that such violations are not covered by other Standards of Conduct and only where a specific provision of a statute or ordinance is charged in the complaint.
    • Failure to comply with directions of University officials including failure to produce identification in situations concerning alleged violations.
    • Failure to identify one – self successfully or produce a legitimate AFU student ID to an AFU official employee when asked.
    • Bribery: offering or giving money or any item of service to an AFU employee for the purpose of attempting to obtain assistance that would not have otherwise been provided. Such an action is inappropriate conduct and the university has the right for an immediate legal action according to AFU disciplinary rules and regulations.
    • Failure to comply with AFU copyright policy with regards to the ownership of intellectual material.
    • Failure to maintain confidential information obtained during or after studying at AFU, as the University prohibits any form of disclosure or distribution of confidential data and information.
    • Unauthorized possession of dangerous, chemicals, illegal knives, weapon, or any similar items.
    • Harassment on campus is prohibited along with discrimination against colleagues, faculty, staff members on grounds of religion, ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, and any type of disability that weakened the AFU essential ethics shall not be tolerated.
    • Smoking: AFU adopts a smoking-free environment within its campus, except in the designated areas.
    • Student Dress Code Violation: AFU Students are expected to follow and respect the university’s dress. AFU Dress Code clearly defines the acceptable student attire in accordance with the culture and law of the UAE.

Student Code of Conduct 

• • • The Student Code of Conduct establishes standards of expected behaviour for students and student organizations at the university and puts in place fair and efficient procedures for protecting student rights and handling student misconduct. 
    • The University seeks to foster a community that is respectful of the rights, opportunities, and welfare of students, faculty, staff, and guests, that is free from violence, threats, and intimidation, and promotes health and safety of the University community. 
    • The University expects all students to conduct themselves as honest, responsible and law-abiding members of the academic community and to respect the rights of other students and members of the faculty and staff to use and enjoy University facilities and to participate in University programs. 
    • In order to preserve the spirit of community and provide a comfortable safe environment for all students enrolled in the University, the University holds each member of its community responsible for respecting the rights, privileges and opinions of other members of the community. 
    • Students and their organizations shall conduct their activities in a manner compatible with the commitment of the University to maintain an intellectual and cultural environment conducive to personal development and critical awareness, and in compliance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates, and UAE University Policies and Procedures. 
    • The University is dedicated to responsible stewardship of its resources and to protecting its property and resources from theft, damage, destruction, or misuse. 
    • The University is dedicated to the rational and orderly resolution of conflict. 
    • The Code shall apply to student conduct that occurs on University premises or at University-sponsored activities. The Code also shall apply to off-campus student conduct when the conduct, as alleged, adversely affects a substantial University interest and either constitutes a criminal offense as defined by law, or indicates that the student may present a danger or threat to the health or safety of the student or others. 
    • Any member of the University community may file a written complaint against a student or organization alleging misconduct under this Code or other University Policies or regulations. 
    • Any alleged breach of the Student Code of Conduct may result in the University taking disciplinary action against the student(s) concerned. 
    • Disciplinary sanctions for misconduct may not be imposed without a disciplinary proceeding in accordance with the Procedures set in this Policy. 

Expected Conduct of the Student 

Each Student should act honestly and responsibly and respect the University laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines. The student must respect other students' rights, faculty members, staff, and the public. A student is prohibited from behaving in a manner that is considered a breach to others individual rights. 

Disciplinary Actions 

• • • Any student who commits a breach to regulations, policies, and traditions shall be fined according to the policy whether this violation took place on the University Campus or in events sponsored by the University. 
    • A student should not be accountable by the concerned authorities for committing a misconduct act unless the university commences its disciplinary action against the student. University disciplinary actions may commence before, after, or during the misconduct procedures. Should the student be found innocent, that would not prevent the commencement of disciplinary actions unless the innocence is supported by objective reasons that refute the incident. 

Filing Complaints 

• • • Each member of the university community has the right to file a complaint or make his concerns known without fear of reprisal. 
    • Any faculty member, staff member, or student at the University can file an incident report documenting a misconduct complaint against a university student. 
    • All complaints must be put in writing. 
    • No student bringing a complaint under these procedures, whether successful or otherwise, will be treated less favourably by a AFU employee than if the complaint had not been brought. If evidence to the contrary is found, the AFU employee may be subject to disciplinary proceedings under University Policies. 
    • Any person named in a complaint will be informed of the substantive nature of the complaint and will have the right to reply as part of the investigation. Any information contained within the complaint will be made available only to those involved in its resolution. 
    • Complaints should be made immediately during or after the incident of alleged misconduct. Substantial delays in making the complaint following the date of the alleged misconduct may give cause for the University not to investigate the matter. 

General Behavioural Violations 

• • • Each breach to the University regulations, rules and by-laws is considered a violation that necessitates discipline, in particular the following: 
    • Each action, saying or dress that is improper to the rules of decorum or conduct and represents a breach to the on or off campus accepted standards of behaviour. 
    • Each behaviour that negatively affects the University reputation or breaches the colleges. 
    • Disturbance during classes or instigation not to attend them. 
    • Assault or threatening to assault or insult the University staff, students, visitors, or assault to any properties inside the university. 
    • Hazing that disrupts the student activities or unacceptable action to the standards of behaviour inside the campus or causing any damage to the campus either directly or indirectly. 
    • Damage or deformation of the University movable or immovable properties. 
    • Possession of weapons, explosive or flammable materials inside the University Campus.
    • Presence of male students in the female student areas without proper justification and vice versa. 
    • Breach of the Intellectual Property Rights of others, whether through unauthorized photocopying, quoting, or resorting to offices to prepare research papers and studies. 
    • Breaching the housing regulations prepared by the Students Affairs. 
    • Formation of any organizations or groups or societies or issuing newsletters, newspapers or magazines or distributing them inside the University Campus or fund-raising or collection of signatures without obtaining a prior permit from the competent authorities in the university. 
    • To make false statements or information to any media party and particularly any related information about admission, registration, and student affairs. 
    • Taking prohibited drugs or distribution thereof or smoking inside the University Campus. 
    • Each saying or action or doing that affects the honour or dignity or breach to the accepted code of conduct and values inside or outside the University. 
    • Dishonouring the regulations imposed by the university or the college concerning trips and activities conducted inside or outside the University Campus. 
    • Non-compliance to the University security staff during performing their official duty or refusing to show his/her ID card when requested. 
    • Stealing, attempting to steal, or unauthorized usage which include: 
    • Unauthorized transfer to any file. 
    • Unauthorized usage of a username or password to another individual. 
    • Using computers to plagiarize another student's work or faculty member or staff in the University. 
    • Using the computer or means of social media channels to send offensive messages or harassment. 
    • Using mobile phones during study classes. 
    • Using photographing cameras inside the University Campus whether via mobile phone - laptop - electronic gadgets in a way that abuses others or the university standing. 
    • Any other behaviour that the University Disciplinary Authority sees as a disciplinary violation. 

Proscribed Conduct 

The following offenses constitute violations of the Student Code of Conduct and can lead to serious disciplinary action: 

Acts of Dishonesty 

These include: 

• • • Cheating, plagiarism or other breaches of academic integrity, such as fabrication, facilitating or aiding academic dishonesty; theft of instructional materials or tests; unauthorized access to or manipulation of laboratory equipment or experiments; alteration of grades or files; misuse of research data in reporting results; use of personal relationships to gain grades or favours, or otherwise attempting to obtain grades or credit through fraudulent means. 
    • Knowingly furnishing false information to any University official, faculty member or office. 
    • Forgery, alteration or misuse of University documents, records, instruments of identification, computer programs, or accounts. 

Stalking, Harassment, and Hazing 

• • • Stalking includes, but is not limited to, purposely or knowingly causing another person substantial emotional distress or reasonable apprehension of bodily injury or death by repeatedly following the stalked person or harassing, threatening, or intimidating the stalked person, in-person or by mail, by electronic communication or any other action, device, or method. 
    • Harassment includes but is not limited to verbal, graphic and/or written abuse directed at another, beyond a reasonable expression of opinion, which: 
    • Is threatening or carries with it the intention to do bodily harm, 
    • Substantially interferes with a person's exercise of his/her responsibilities as a student, faculty, or staff member, or 
    • Constitutes any sort of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. 
    • Hazing includes but is not limited to any conduct or method of initiation, admission, or condition of continued membership in any student group, which: 
    • Endangers the physical or mental health or safety of any student or other person, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest; forced consumption of drugs or alcohol; beating or branding; involuntary confinement or 
    • Destroys, vandalizes, or removes public or private property. 

Assault 

• • • Physical or psychological assault, which includes but is not limited to: physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature or physical interference with a person that prevents the person from conducting his/her customary or usual affairs, puts the person in fear for his/her physical safety, or causes the person to suffer actual physical injury. 
    • Any other non-consensual physical assault. 

Discrimination 

Any conduct that constitutes discrimination against any member of the University Community because of gender, religion, age, disability, race, colour, and origin while engaged in educational programs or other activities directly related to the University business. 

Misuse of Mobile Phones 

All students must not use mobile phones in a manner that interfere with the teaching, learning and other educational processes at the University. Use of mobile phones is limited to areas outside classrooms, labs, libraries, studios, and other areas where the use of mobile phones will not disrupt the educational process. 

Photography 

It is prohibited to photograph students at any of the University premises without their permission. 

Theft/Misuse of Property 

• • • Theft, attempted theft, or unauthorized possession, use, or removal of University property or the property of any member of the University community. 
    • Defacing, tampering, damaging, or destroying University property or the property of any member of the University community. 
    • Unauthorized presence in/on or use of University grounds, facilities, or property. 
    • Theft or other abuse of computer facilities, capabilities and/or computer time, including but not limited to: 
    • Unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose. 
    • Unauthorized transfer of a file. 
    • Unauthorized use of another individual's identification or password, 
    • Use of computing facilities to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member or University official. 
    • Use of computing facilities to send harassing or abusive messages. 
    • Use of computing facilities to interfere with the normal operation of the computing system. 
    • Unauthorized use of computer resources or copying of computer data or software. Examples of unauthorized use or copying include: attempts to alter systems; unauthorized access or copying of data or software attempts to release data, text, files or software in violation of copyright protection; and the condoning, approving, or directing of unauthorized use or copying. 
    • Attempts to circumvent or defeat any University-owned system firewall or any other mechanism put in place to manage the network. 
    • Theft of the University services, including but not limited to telephone services, food services or housing. 

Inappropriate Dress 

Dress standards are part of the culture and socially accepted norms of ethics and are strongly associated with the identity, traditions, beliefs, and values that are deeply rooted in United Arab Emirates society. 

Dress Code

All students are expected to adhere to common practices of modesty, cleanliness and neatness; to dress in a respectful manner within the acceptable standards of the community and in such a manner as to contribute to the academic atmosphere, not detract from it. Students who fail to comply with this dress code may be subject to disciplinary actions.

• • • Kandura (Deshdasha)
    • Abaya and Sheila
    • Formal or Casual attire
    • Pants/Trousers below knee
    • Skirts below knee
    • Blouse/Jackets covering the arm to elbow.
    • Sleeveless, Pants/Trousers and skirts above knee are prohibited.

The students are also expected to obey to all university rules and regulations and are prohibited from engaging in any unlawful conduct. Any student violating the code of conduct published in this policy either as a principal actor, aider or accomplice shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Smoking 

• • • The University is mindful of the wellbeing of persons in both the living and the working environment. AFU adopts a smoking-free environment within its campus, except in the designated areas. 

Noise 

• • • Students are expected to respect the Quiet and Courtesy. The noise level in the university must be kept at a minimum. Students must comply with requests for quiet immediately by discontinuing the activity causing the disturbance or noise.

    • Sound systems of any type must not be directed out of the windows/doors or used outside the campus. Repeated disregard for the noise level caused by use of sound equipment may result in the confiscation of such equipment.

Failure to Comply 

All students who fail to abide by the Student Code of Conduct or other directives issued by the University will be subject to disciplinary action.