Major School Rules

The following are major School rules, organized around four guiding principles. Infractions of either the letter or spirit of these rules are serious disciplinary matters and often lead to suspension, dismissal, or other institutional responses. Students in the presence of these rule violations add support by their presence and may also be held accountable.

In general, we are responsible for all students’ behavior when they are under our jurisdiction while School is in session. This includes when a student is:

  1. on campus or at a School event held off campus, such as the prom or a School trip.
  2. a boarding student who remains under the School’s jurisdiction except when the student is under parental jurisdiction. Parental jurisdiction includes parents or those designated as guardians and accepted by the School as such.
  3. a day student in the company of a boarding student or boarding students who are under the School’s jurisdiction; these students are also expected to uphold the standards of the School. Under these circumstances, day students and boarding students who violate School rules should expect to face the equivalent disciplinary response.

This definition notwithstanding, we regard any conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the School, whether on School grounds, off School grounds, or online, while school is in session or during vacation, whether in the case of a day student or a boarding student, as sufficient grounds for disciplinary action, including dismissal. Examples of “conduct prejudicial to the Academy” may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. any student who is in certain situations requiring the intervention of the police. This could include the illegal use of drugs or alcohol, shoplifting, vandalism, or presence at or hosting an off-campus party where illegal activity is taking place.
  2. any student who, while visiting another school or institution, acts in such a way as to cause physical or emotional harm to people or damage to property.

These examples are not meant to be exhaustive, but to communicate the types of situations that could move the School to take disciplinary action.

ACT WITH HONESTY AND INTEGRITY

Honesty: Honesty is a fundamental expectation of the School, and complete integrity in all matters, personal and academic, is expected of each student. Therefore, dishonesty compromises trust and constitutes a violation of the School’s standards. Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

  • lying and deceitful behavior, including any false representation, verbally or in writing (including email messages, text messages, conference postings, blog entries and online postings).
  • cheating, including plagiarism, which is the act of taking someone else’s work as your own, and the provision of unauthorized assistance. (Please see Scholarship and Academic Integrity for standards, guidelines and examples of appropriate citation.)
  • use of artificial intelligence without permission of the instructor and/or proper citation.

As an educational institution, the School holds all students accountable for complete academic integrity in all matters. Appropriate citation is expected in every assignment, across the School. While teachers will take time to review all expectations on an annual basis, students are accountable at all times for using their own voice.  Plagiarism as well as cheating are regarded as major school violations.

Milton Academy recognizes that there is a difference between being honest when confronted and bringing oneself forward, voluntarily subjecting oneself to disciplinary action. We acknowledge that the latter involves a higher degree of personal responsibility and integrity. Truthfulness, even in the face of social pressure, is one of the values the School most wishes to foster.

Theft: Students are expected to respect community property and the property of others, therefore, stealing the property of others, including School property, seriously undermines the qualities of trust necessary in a school and will be considered a major School rule violation.

Vandalism: Students are expected to respect community property and the property of others. Therefore, willful destruction of or damage to the property of others, including School property, seriously undermines the qualities of trust necessary in a school and will be considered a major school violation. Cases of accidental damage or destruction to School property will not warrant disciplinary action, but the student(s) involved will be held responsible for the costs of repair. A student who vandalizes any property of the School, faculty, staff, or another student will be expected to pay for, clean up, repair or replace the damaged property and may be subject to a disciplinary response. This provision includes damage in dorm rooms.

Whereabouts: For safety and accountability, students must keep the School accurately informed of their whereabouts at all times when under the School’s jurisdiction. Leaving campus without signing out is considered a breach of trust and thus a violation of a major School rule (see Leaving the Campus, and Signing out to Leave Campus).

Town of Milton Cemetery

The Town of Milton Cemetery is off limits for Milton Academy students unless they are there under the supervision of an adult. Violation of this rule may result in disciplinary action.

TREAT OTHERS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT

Students are expected to uphold the rights and well-being of others. Therefore, impinging on the well-being or violating the rights of others, whether targeting individuals or not, is an unacceptable breach of these standards. While injury or harm can occur in interactions between any individual students or groups of students, the School is mindful of the extra impact that these forms of misconduct may have on historically marginalized groups. The School therefore examines with particular scrutiny any conduct targeting identities and groups protected under state and federal law.

All the offenses below include harms done in person, in written or image form, electronic, etc. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of offensive or derogatory images or language that are perceived as being used to humiliate, mock, or insult a person or particular group of people. Impinging on the rights of others, includes but is not limited to:

Harassment

Milton Academy prohibits harassment of any kind. The School therefore forbids harassing behavior, including the use of harassing language and images, regardless of the location, time or medium of the harassing behavior, that creates a hostile environment at School for a targeted student; behavior that infringes on the rights or well-being of a targeted student at School; and behavior that materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of the School. This prohibition includes but is not limited to: racial, color, or national origin harassment; religious harassment; sexual harassment or sexual orientation harassment; gender identity harassment; actual or perceived age harassment; disability harassment; harassment based on any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

This conduct is prohibited at all times in all places, on or off campus. In addition, the above prohibitions apply regardless of the medium—for example, and without limitation, in direct personal interactions, in any electronic or voice communication.

Students who feel that they have been the victim of harassment, or who witness or learn of the harassment of another student, are strongly encouraged to report the matter promptly to the dean of students. Students may also discuss the matter with their advisor, their class deans, a member of the deans’ office or any other adult with whom the student feels comfortable.

Any student found to have harassed another individual will be subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal.

Please see the Milton Academy Hazing and Harassment Policy in this Handbook’s appendix for more details of the School’s harassment policies.

Hazing

Milton Academy prohibits hazing. Both the principal organizer and any participant in an act of hazing will be subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal. Consent shall not be available as a defense to hazing. Pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Milton Academy mandates that all students read “An Act Prohibiting the Practice of Hazing” and abide by its provisions (reprinted in this Handbook’s appendix).

Please see the Milton Academy Hazing and Harassment Policy in this Handbook’s appendix for more details of the School’s hazing policies.

Bullying

Milton Academy prohibits all forms of bullying. The School therefore forbids bullying behavior, regardless of the location, time, or medium of that behavior, that creates a hostile environment at School for a targeted student; infringes on the rights or well-being of a targeted student at School; or materially and substantially disrupts the educational or the orderly operation of the School. As a result, a student may face disciplinary consequences for conduct that occurs off of the School campus and outside of School hours. Most bullying behavior has the following in common:

  • it is deliberately hurtful;
  • it is repeated, often over a period of time;
  • it is difficult for the target of the bully or bullying behaviors to defend themselves against the negative behavior.

Bullying or bullying behavior includes intimidation or harassment that causes a reasonable student to fear for their physical safety or property. Bullying may fall into, but is not limited to, the following categories: physical bullying, verbal bullying, written bullying, psychological bullying, cyber-bullying, racial bullying, and bullying on the basis of gender identity or expression, or on the basis of sexual orientation.

The above prohibitions apply regardless of the medium—for example, and without limitation, in direct personal interactions, in any electronic or voice communication, and on blogs, social networking sites, web forums or other online sites.

Students who feel that they have been the victim of bullying, or who witness or learn of the bullying of another student, are strongly encouraged to report the matter promptly to the dean of students. Students may also discuss the matter with their advisor, their class deans, a member of the deans’ office or any other adult with whom the student feels comfortable.

Students found to be in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

Please see the Milton Academy Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan in this Handbook’s appendix for more details of the School’s policies.

Retaliation

The School prohibits all forms of retaliation. Retaliation is any form of intimidation, reprisal, bullying or harassment directed against a student who reports unlawful discrimination, hazing, harassment, or bullying, provides information during an investigation of unlawful discrimination, hazing, harassment, or bullying, witnesses or has reliable information about any such incident or behavior.

Please see the Milton Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan and the Milton Hazing and Harassment Policy for more details.

Demeaning language and images

The School prohibits any student from using words or images that demean or denigrate other individuals on the basis of social identities. This prohibition includes but is not limited to slurs and other demeaning words and images, defacement or use of insulting images related to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and disability.

This prohibition applies regardless of the medium. Students found to be in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

Assault

The School prohibits all forms of assault, including sexual assault, and any threats of violence against an individual, a group of individuals, or the School. This prohibition applies regardless of the medium. Students found to be in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

The rules and prohibitions set forth in this section pertain regardless of the medium used, whether the offense takes place in person, in any electronic or voice communication or in blogs, social networking sites, web forums or any other online sites. Students are required and expected to have reviewed and be familiar with the Milton Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan and the Milton Hazing and Harassment Policy, as amended from time to time, and all set forth in this Handbook’s appendix and posted on the Milton website. Adults in the Milton community will be supportive in helping students to seek more information about any of these policies. Students knowingly in the presence of these rule violations add support by their presence and may also be held accountable.

Sexual Misconduct Policy

Milton Academy is committed to providing a safe, respectful and supportive living, learning and working environment, free from sexual misconduct, in which all members of the community can thrive and succeed. The School’s Sexual Misconduct Policy is designed to uphold this commitment and to create a consistent standard for responding to reports and keeping the community safe. The policy, which applies to all members of the community (students, employees and parents), defines key terms, prohibited conduct, and protections related to sexual misconduct. Additionally, the policy outlines relevant protocols and procedures for reporting, investigating and resolving incidents and allegations of sexual misconduct.

MAINTAIN A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

Students are expected to maintain a safe and healthy environment for themselves and others. Any behavior that violates the safety of oneself or others or threatens to violate the safety of oneself or others will make a student liable for disciplinary action, including dismissal.

Alcohol or other drugs: Students are expected to obey state and federal laws, as well as the rules of the School concerning the use of alcohol and illegal drugs, and not to endanger the health and well-being of themselves and others. Therefore, it is not acceptable to:

  • Possess, use, distribute, or provide alcohol, marijuana or any drug, which includes, but is not limited to, any controlled substance or anabolic steroid (please note that while possession of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalized in Massachusetts, it remains a violation of the law for anyone under the age of 21 to possess or use marijuana);
  • Misuse or distribute prescription or over-the-counter medications, supplements, or chemical substances, whether one’s own prescription or others’;
  • Maintain prescription medication in one’s room without permission of the Faulkner Health Center;
  • Return to the jurisdiction of the School showing evidence of having used alcohol or drugs;
  • Possess, use, distribute, or provide paraphernalia related to alcohol or drugs (paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to: vaporizers, rolling papers, pipes, or any bottle or container specific for the purpose of holding alcoholic beverages);
  • Possess or use any substance known to result in a similar effect as alcohol and other drugs; or
  • Knowingly remain in the presence of a violation of any of the foregoing rules.

If the School suspects that a student has been using alcohol or illegal drugs, or is abusing prescription medication prescribed to them or others, the student will normally be taken to the Faulkner Health Center or hospital and undergo a drug test. If the School determines it is necessary, the student’s cell phone and any electronic communications devices may be held by the Faulkner Health Center during this time. Students whose cell phones are being held will be allowed to contact their parents or guardians using the Faulkner Health Center phone.

On a first drug or alcohol offense a student should expect to appear before the Discipline Committee. In addition, the student should expect to be required to receive an assessment from an outside drug and alcohol counselor at the parent(s)/guardian(s) expense, and to be required to meet with a member of the School’s Counseling Center staff. This counseling will continue until the School and the Counseling Center agree that the goals have been met. The School will normally administer drug testing, at the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) expense, as a form of monitoring the student. Any positive test for a student undergoing random drug testing as a result of violating the School’s drug and alcohol policy, will be considered a repeat violation of the School’s drug and alcohol policy and will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. We expect that parents will support this policy and not permit the use of alcohol or drugs at student gatherings in their homes.

Tobacco, Nicotine, and Vaping

Milton is a tobacco-free campus. In keeping with the findings of medical experts that the use of tobacco products is unhealthy, the School prohibits possession and use of all tobacco products and nicotine delivery systems, as well as the recreational use of all tobacco and nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and vaporizers while on campus, at School-sponsored events, or while under School jurisdiction. A first offense will normally result in a Dean’s Committee and required participation in a cessation program at the parent(s)/guardian(s) expense. A second violation will result in a Discipline Committee hearing.

Weapons or dangerous substances

The possession or use of weapons or dangerous substances, including fireworks, firearms, firearm or para-military paraphernalia, knives, any other weapons (or associated paraphernalia), or a dangerous item or substance that causes intimidation or threatens the safety and well-being of another constitutes a violation of major School rules and may result in disciplinary action.

Open flames

The use of any open flame, which includes, but is not limited to, lighted cigarettes, candles, incense, matches and lighters, in any School building, except under faculty or staff supervision, is not permitted. Tampering with fire prevention devices (smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, etc.) puts others at risk and is forbidden. Creating a potential fire hazard is considered a violation of major School rules and will result in disciplinary action.

BE A POSITIVE AND COOPERATIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY

Respect for others forms the foundation for our open exchange of ideas and experiences. Freedom of expression carries responsibility and requires that students be mindful of others in all of their personal interactions. In exercising this freedom, a student must not impinge upon the dignity of any other individual. In all activities and interactions, Milton students are expected to be positive and cooperative, holding the rights and well-being of those around them uppermost in their minds. Moreover, students should value the community’s diversity as an opportunity for learning and moral growth.

Students are expected to be positive and cooperative in their dealings with members of the school community. Student behavior may not hinder the learning process or interfere with the experience of others in the classroom, athletic fields, theater, dormitories or any other space hosting a School event. Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to: deliberate disobedience, sexual activity in a public place, misuse of technology, and/or severe or frequent violation of dorm rules, community standards, or any additional regulations as set forth in this Handbook.

Cellular and Mobile Devices

Use of cell phones is permitted in classrooms only with the explicit approval of the teacher. Use of cell phones and digital music/media players is prohibited during assemblies, performances, and other gatherings. Students should be considerate of those around them and may be asked to excuse themselves from spaces such as the library or dining hall if their use of such devices is disrupting others. Students who misuse their phone or other mobile devices should expect to have their devices confiscated and turned in to the deans’ office.

Cell phones, cameras, and devices with camera or recording capabilities must never be used in locker rooms or bathrooms. Photographs may not be taken and video and audio recordings may not be made in any location without the subject’s explicit permission. Distributing or publishing (physically or electronically) photographs, videos or audio recordings without the subject’s consent is prohibited. Further, sending inappropriate (for example and without limitation, tasteless or obscene) pictures or videos of yourself or others via any medium (for example and without limitation, using text, email, the Internet or social media) is also prohibited. This includes forwarding pictures or videos you have received from another individual, whether or not you know the person depicted in the photo or video. Violating these guidelines may lead to disciplinary action and could, depending on the facts and circumstances, result in prosecution under Massachusetts or federal law.

Freedom of Expression

Freedom of expression is an important value at Milton. The School encourages students to think critically, to question what they see and read, and to know their own minds instead of being passive receivers of ideas. However, freedom of expression carries responsibility and requires that students be mindful of others in all of their personal interactions. In exercising this freedom, a student must not impinge upon the dignity of any other individual. By articulating these values, the School seeks to foster and protect the rights of the individual to express his or her opinions, and to ensure the well-being of the entire community.

Online resources are intended to support the educational mission of the School. Access to these resources is not a right, but a privilege, one that carries responsibility. If a student’s behavior does not meet the standards set by the School, that student may have his or her online privileges suspended or revoked and/or may face disciplinary action.

Students who stand in violation of these communication standards will face standard disciplinary action, including but not limited to:

  • loss of online privileges;
  • an appearance before a Dean’s Committee; or
  • an appearance before a Discipline Committee.

Dress Guidelines

Milton recognizes that clothing choices should be a safe way for all learners to “Dare to be true” by comfortably and respectfully expressing themselves. With this degree of choice comes the responsibility for all members of the Milton Academy community to dress in neat and appropriate clothing during the academic day, showing respect for themselves, the occasion, and others.

Within the guidelines of neat and appropriate, the following reflect our community values:

  1. At no time at School or School-sponsored events may a student wear:
  • clothing decorated with messages expressing derogatory references to one’s or another’s identity (i.e., race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, disability, etc).
  • clothing decorated with messages advocating violence, alcohol or other drugs.
  • clothing expressing obscenities.
  1. Underwear (boxers, briefs, etc.), bra cups, and bra clasps should be covered with opaque material.

Respect for the occasion requires occasion-specific guidelines in addition to the general guidelines above:

  1. Family-style dinners—most Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights:
  2. Hats are not permitted
  3. Semi-formal dress events, such as Convocation, etc.:
    a. Dress
    b. Skirt or dress pants and dress shirt or blouse (may be accompanied by a blazer, jacket, and/or tie)
    c. All the above options should be accompanied by dress shoes (eg. not sneakers, rubber footwear, etc.)
    d. In each case above, denim fabric and athletic wear are not appropriate
  4. Formal Dress:
    a.Students may wear the following for occasions requiring formal dress:
      i. Dress
      ii. Blazer, dress shirt, tie, dress pants
      iii. Skirt or dress pants and blouse
      iv. All the above options should be accompanied by dress shoes (e.g. not sneakers, rubber footwear, etc.)
    b. For Graduation, Class I may attend in any of the following:
      i. White dress
      ii. Blue blazer, white dress shirt, tie, and dress pants
      iii. White skirt or dress pants and white dress shirt or blouse
      iv. All the above options should be accompanied by dress shoes (e.g. not sneakers, rubber footwear, etc.)

Disregard for these guidelines should be reported to class deans, house heads, or administrators. As with disregard for any of the School’s expectations, infractions could result in a response from the School commensurate with the level of disregard.

Gambling

Gambling of any kind is prohibited at School. Gambling activity may result in disciplinary action.