BHSU STUDENT HANDBOOK AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION INFO AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FREE SPEECH POLICY

Welcome to the new academic year at Black Hills State University. Whether you are a new student or a returning student, the faculty and staff at BHSU look forward to partnering with you on your academic journey.

• Student Handbook, Code of Conduct, & Residential Standards of Living
• Student Org Manual
• FERPA Annual Notification
• BHSU Student Records & Student Directory Information Policy
• Campus Posting Guidelines

Helpful Forms and documents:

• Petition for fourth enrollment
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Freedom of Expression

BHSU SANCTIONS:

ALCOHOL

*ALL SANCTIONS ARE SITUATION-SPECIFIC. STANDARD SANCTIONS ARE CHANGED TO BENEFIT THE STUDENT’S EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

Explanations and Definitions

• Collection of Fines – All monies collected are used in the implementation (materials, location, time) of the Options Course by the BHSU Counseling Center
• Options Course – The Options course is a drug and alcohol education class facilitated through the BHSU Counseling Center.
  • Options Courses get progressively more in-depth as the number of violations increases.
  • What is the Options course?
• University Probation – University probation consists of the following:
  • University Staff is more aware of a student’s presence and movement in the hall/building.
  • Sanctions get stiffer if another violation occurs during this period.
  • Room search without consent/notice.
    • An unconsented and unannounced room search is a last resort, and then only if there is the belief there is a policy violation and with an Administrative Search Warrant
• Parental Notification
  • Privacy laws allow BHSU Student Conduct Officers to share certain information with a parent without the student's consent if that information pertains to drug or alcohol use.
• External Drug and Alcohol Evaluation
  • Evaluations are at the expense of the student.
  • Results and recommendations from the evaluation are to be shared with the Student Conduct Officer
  • Results and recommendations will be considered for possible sanctions.
• Housing Relocations
  • BHSU Residence Life has the authority to relocate students to different living accommodations (different rooms or a different building) when necessary.
  • Relocations are determined by their benefit to the student and/or the community inside the residence hall.
• Loss of Housing Privileges
  • BHSU Residence Life can release a student from their housing contract and ask that they vacate the residence hall.
  • The permanent removal of students from a residence hall is determined by the benefit to the student and/or the community inside the residence hall.

MARIJUANA & OTHER DRUGS

*ALL SANCTIONS ARE SITUATION-SPECIFIC. STANDARD SANCTIONS ARE CHANGED TO BENEFIT THE STUDENT’S EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Explanations and Definitions

• Collection of Fines – All monies collected are used in the implementation (materials, location, time) of the Options Course by the BHSU Counseling Center
• Options Course – The Options course is a drug and alcohol education class facilitated through BHSU Counseling Center.
  • Options Courses get progressively more in-depth as the number of violations increases.
  • What is the Options course?
• University Probation – University probation consists of the following:
  • University staff is more aware of a student’s presence and movement in the hall/building.
  • Sanctions get stiffer if another violation occurs during this period.
  • Room search without consent/notice.
    • An unconsented and unannounced room search is a last resort, and then only if there is the belief there is a policy violation and with an Administrative Search Warrant
• Parental Notification
  • Privacy laws allow BHSU Student Conduct Officers to share certain information with a parent without the student's consent if that information pertains to drug or alcohol use.
• External Drug and Alcohol Evaluation
  • Evaluations are at the expense of the student.
  • Results and recommendations from the evaluation are to be shared with the Student Conduct Officer
  • Results and recommendations will be considered for possible sanctions.
• Housing Relocations
  • BHSU Residence Life has the authority to relocate students to different living accommodations (different rooms or a different building) when necessary.
  • Relocations are determined by their benefit to the student and/or the community inside the residence hall.
• Loss of Housing Privileges
  • BHSU Residence Life can release a student from their housing contract and ask that they vacate the residence hall.
  • The permanent removal of students from a residence hall is determined by the benefit to the student and/or the community inside the residence hall.

FIRE SAFETY AND TAMPERING WITH FIRE EQUIPMENT

*ALL SANCTIONS ARE SITUATION-SPECIFIC. STANDARD SANCTIONS ARE CHANGED TO BENEFIT THE STUDENT’S EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

BHSU is committed to the safety of all on-campus residents; and as such takes fire safety precautions very seriously. BHSU divides fire safety violations into minor and major violations. Please see below for possible violations and the accompanying sanctions.

Fire safety minor violations: BHSU does not allow any of the following inside the residence halls of campus apartments:

• Open flame devices, including candles, incense, and smoking
• Open coil appliances such as hot plates and space heaters
• Negligent cooking includes cooking that is left without supervision and/or is the cause of a fire alarm; negligent cooking may include supervised cooking even though the cooking/food causes or triggers a fire alarm
• Halogen lamps
• Extension cords
• Outlet splitters
• Having more than four people in a residence hall room or apartment at one time

FIRE SAFETY MAJOR VIOLATIONS: BHSU does not allow any of the following behavior inside the residence halls of campus apartments:

• Any prank or activity involving fire extinguishers (the removal and/or discharge of)
• The possession of fireworks, flammable material, liquids, explosives, dangerous chemicals, and noxious or harmful materials/objects
  • All chemicals/explosives/fireworks found in any residence hall room are subject to immediate seizure by any staff member
• Failure to evacuate during a fire alarm or hindering the evacuation of other occupants during a fire alarm
• Tampering/abuse of fire equipment and/or any life/safety equipment
• False reporting to authorities – this includes intentionally pulling the fire alarm and setting off a false alarm
• Intentionally starting a fire or causing an explosion that places another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury

Note: Major violations dealing with fire safety or fire safety equipment regularly entail law enforcement or other public officials. Several of the behaviors listed above could carry severe criminal charges and prosecution.

SMOKING/VAPING IN THE RESIDENCE HALLS

BHSU CONSIDERS THE USE OF VAPE PENS, E-CIGARETTES, AND OTHER SUCH DEVICES AS SMOKING. USING ANY OF THESE DEVICES IN A CAMPUS BUILDING FALLS UNDER THIS POLICY. THE USE OF EITHER IS PROHIBITED INSIDE THE RESIDENCE HALLS AND CAMPUS APARTMENTS.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 

• DIRECTOR OF RESIDENCE LIFE, 605.642.6464
• DEAN OF STUDENTS, 605.642.6080