Ethical Conduct and Sportsmanship
Standards of Conduct
It is a privilege to be a member of a North Greenville University intercollegiate athletic team, but it also carries a tremendous responsibility. Student-athletes behavior should reflect the standards of a Christ-centered and biblically faithful University. A NGU student-athlete represents not only himself or herself, but is a visible representative of North Greenville University, the department of Athletics and his/her coaches and team. Therefore, it is always important that student-athletes show good sportsmanship and conduct themselves in a manner that brings pride to North Greenville University.
All student-athletes are expected to abide by the community standards as stated in the North Greenville University student handbook, the student-athlete handbook and any additional standards established by their coaches. The University may discipline, in its sole discretion, any student who violates the student code of conduct, advocates or engages in conduct or lifestyles inconsistent with Scripture, violates any conference rule or regulation, or who engages in behavior which could violate any local or federal law. This could include immediate suspension and/or removal from the team and/or from the university and the loss of athletic grant-in-aid.
All violations of the university student handbook will be investigated and adjudicated by the Office of Student Engagement or other appropriate department. The following areas are considered major by North Greenville University: the use of alcohol, drugs, assault or abuse, sexual misconduct, unauthorized visitation, violation of outside law and outstanding disciplinary fines. Please refer to the NGU Student Handbook for further information.
Hazing
The NCAA defines hazing as “any act committed against someone joining or becoming a member or maintaining membership in any organization that is humiliating, intimidating or demeaning, or endangers the health and safety of the person. Hazing includes active or passive participation in such acts and occurs regardless of the willingness to participate in the activities. Hazing creates an environment/climate in which dignity and respect are absent.”
North Greenville University states hazing can be identified as, but not limited to, any situation where any individual or group knowingly requires a student or other person at the university to perform any act, on or off campus, for the purpose of induction, admission, or membership into any group (team, club, organization, etc.) associated with or connected to the university. A person’s willingness to participate in an act of hazing does not justify or excuse the act or fall outside of this policy. If any harm comes to an individual during a hazing act, all persons involved will be held responsible. Induction, admission, or membership activities that are not classified as hazing, and are conducted in a respectful manner that do not involve shameful, hurtful, disrespectful, or dangerous acts may be carried out if approved in advance by the Office of Student Accountability. Actions that interfere with individual liberties are prohibited. Participating or promoting class or group clashes, fights, hazing, or other types of disorderly behavior both on and off campus is prohibited.
Procedures for Concerns or Issues
The university allows all students access to register concerns or issues through a chain of command. As a general rule, the student is asked to first approach the coach, faculty member or staff member with whom the student may have an issue. If the issue is not resolved, the student can then take the issue to the athletic director, dean, or director responsible in the appropriate area. If the issue is still not resolved, the student can take the issue to the vice-president responsible for the appropriate area.
National Anthem Policy
North Greenville University student-athletes, coaches and all athletic personnel are representatives of the university and therefore are expected to refrain from displaying personal political viewpoints or protests during the playing of the National Anthem at both home and away events. As a demonstration of unity, NGU teams are expected to stand during the playing of the National Anthem, while choosing one of the following options:
- Place right hand over the heart, holding hats/helmets (if applicable).
- Lock arms, placing hats/helmets on ground in front of players (if applicable).
- Bow heads, holding hats/helmets (if applicable), with arms at side.
For information regarding official protocols for the National Anthem and related matters, see 36 USC Chapter 3, Section 301.
NCAA and Conference Carolinas Responsibilities
All student-athletes are required to adhere to applicable NCAA rules. Rule violations can bring great embarrassment on the student-athlete, his/her family, and the university and can result in the forfeiture of athletic eligibility. When in doubt, the student-athlete should consult with the appropriate athletics administrator.
In addition, the student-athlete must adhere to all Conference Carolinas regulations. The Conference Carolinas Code of Conduct provides that each member institution has the primary responsibility to cultivate and maintain maximum sportsmanlike conduct in all athletic events.
Title IX
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, prohibits discrimination based on sex. Sexual harassment of students, which includes acts of sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by this federal law. Both men and women can be victims of sex discrimination. North Greenville University prohibits sexual discrimination and harassment of its employees and students in any form. In maintaining this policy, the University seeks to assert basic Christian precepts, to affirm ethical standards universally accepted in the workplace, classroom and other locations, and to uphold existing applicable federal and state law. All forms of prohibited conduct under this policy are regarded as serious University offenses, and violations will result in discipline, including potential separation from the University. Some forms of prohibited conduct may also violate state and federal laws, and criminal prosecution may occur independently of any disciplinary action imposed by the University. For a full statement of the University’s policy see https://ngu.edu/title-ix/ For any complaints, email or call the Title IX Coordinator, Tracy Kramer. (Tracy.Kramer@ngu.edu, office: 864-334-4101) or submit a complaint form online via the student portal or the above webpage.
Housing
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
All students must apply for resident or commuter status each year. A commuter student has the same responsibilities as the resident student where the same regulations and policies apply. Students who violate these policies are subject to university sanctions.
All students who sign housing agreements are bound to the terms of the contract, once the date is within two weeks of the Fall semester start date, whether or not they meet the exemption requirements as outlined below. Agreements submitted after this time are binding at the time of submission. All campus housing is considered private property, reserved for the exclusive use of resident students, invited guests, and authorized university personnel.
Student-athletes must comply with all applicable requirements as spelled out in the student handbook.
https://ngu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ngu_student_handbook.pdf
Transfer Students: Unless approved for an exemption, all incoming transfer students must reside on campus until their NGU enrolled regular semesters and full-time transfer regular semesters equal eight (8) regular semesters. Transfer students may request an exemption based on the guidelines listed above. Further, if a student is transferring from a college or university found in one of the following counties (South Carolina: Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, Pickens, and Spartanburg; North Carolina: Hendersonville and Polk) and he or she has been living at an address within one of the approved counties, then he/she can request an exemption based on being under a pre-existing housing agreement. This housing arrangement must have existed 120 days prior to entering NGU. Proper documentation must be provided.
International Students: All international students must live in university housing unless they meet the requirements listed above.
Athletic Transgender Policy
As affirmed in the university’s A Statement on Human Flourishing and in keeping with
The Baptist Faith and Message (2000), North Greenville University believes that God has divinely ordained differences between the sexes, including biological distinctions, and those distinctions reflect God’s design in human creation. Consistent with that belief, the University requires that all students who participate on male or female teams participate on teams for the sex in which they were born. North Greenville University staff will not knowingly recruit a student-athlete who identifies as transgender or a person who identifies as transitioning to participate on a team designated for the opposite gender.
Approved SLC 1/12/24