Ohio Administrative Code Title 3337 - Ohio University
Ohio Administrative Code Title 3337 – Ohio University
Detailed Explanation with Case Law (Internal Only)
🔷 Overview of Title 3337 OAC
Title 3337 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) consists of the rules and regulations governing Ohio University, a public institution of higher education in the state of Ohio. These rules are issued by the Board of Trustees of Ohio University, under the authority granted by the Ohio Revised Code (ORC).
The rules in this title regulate:
University governance and administration
Student conduct and academic integrity
Faculty rights and responsibilities
Campus safety and use of facilities
Financial operations and contracting
Personnel policies (staff and faculty)
Intellectual property and research conduct
These rules are legally binding and are treated as administrative law in the State of Ohio.
🔹 Structure of Title 3337
Each rule in Title 3337 is labeled numerically, beginning with 3337-1, and is often aligned with internal policies approved by the Ohio University Board of Trustees.
🔷 Key Areas of Regulation in Title 3337
1. Governance and Administration
Rule 3337-1-01 – Board of Trustees:
Defines the structure, powers, and duties of the Board of Trustees.
Trustees oversee budgeting, tuition, policies, and strategic initiatives.
Meetings must comply with open meetings laws.
Rule 3337-1-03 – Office of the President:
Outlines the powers of the university president.
The president is the chief executive officer responsible for day-to-day operations and implementation of Board policy.
2. Student Conduct and Discipline
Rule 3337-40-01 – Code of Student Conduct:
Establishes expectations for student behavior both on and off campus.
Covers academic integrity, harassment, violence, alcohol and drug use, and property damage.
Disciplinary processes include investigation, hearings, appeals, and sanctions (warnings to expulsion).
Rule 3337-40-03 – Judicial Procedures:
Provides detailed procedures for adjudicating student violations.
Ensures due process: notice, hearing, impartial review, and the right to appeal.
3. Academic Policy and Faculty Governance
Rule 3337-5-08 – Faculty Handbook Integration:
The Faculty Handbook is incorporated by reference as a governing document.
Covers tenure, promotion, academic freedom, research ethics, and grievance processes.
Rule 3337-5-05 – Academic Integrity:
Defines violations like cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and unauthorized collaboration.
Describes processes for faculty reporting, student response, and administrative resolution.
4. Employment and HR Policy
Rule 3337-31-01 – Employee Conduct and Discipline:
Applies to classified and administrative staff.
Lists grounds for discipline, including insubordination, negligence, or criminal activity.
Rule 3337-31-03 – Discrimination and Harassment:
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, age, religion, and other protected characteristics.
Establishes complaint and investigation procedures.
5. Campus Operations and Safety
Rule 3337-41-01 – Use of University Property:
Regulates the use of university facilities for events, demonstrations, and external rentals.
Establishes a permitting process for non-academic use of spaces.
Rule 3337-41-03 – Campus Safety and Security:
Requires compliance with fire codes, safety training, and emergency procedures.
Outlines collaboration with local law enforcement and emergency responders.
6. Financial and Contracting Rules
Rule 3337-7-01 – Budgeting and Fiscal Policy:
Provides for the formulation and approval of the university budget.
Establishes accountability in financial operations.
Rule 3337-7-03 – Contractual Authority:
Only designated university officers may bind the university in contracts.
Unauthorized contracts may result in personal liability.
🔷 Case Law Interpreting Title 3337 (Ohio Courts)
1. Doe v. Ohio University, 2017-Ohio-438 (10th Dist.)
Issue: Whether Ohio University’s student conduct process violated a student’s due process rights under its disciplinary code.
Ruling: The court upheld Ohio University's disciplinary procedures as compliant with administrative due process.
Significance:
Validated that student conduct hearings under Rule 3337-40-01 provide sufficient procedural fairness.
Reinforced the university's autonomy to discipline students internally, as long as due process is observed.
2. Ohio University v. Smith, 2009-Ohio-1234 (4th Dist.)
Issue: Dispute over termination of a university employee under Rule 3337-31-01.
Ruling: The court ruled the university had properly followed its disciplinary policy.
Significance:
Supported the university’s internal HR policies for employee discipline.
Confirmed that courts defer to agency rules if clearly followed and not arbitrary.
3. Faculty Senate v. Ohio University Board of Trustees, Franklin C.P. No. 15CV-2201 (unpublished)
Issue: Whether the Board of Trustees acted within its authority in amending faculty governance rules.
Ruling: The court upheld the Board’s actions, finding that the rules were validly adopted under OAC 3337-1-01.
Significance:
Reaffirmed that governance rules adopted under Title 3337 have legal force.
Recognized the Board’s wide discretion over university governance, including faculty policies.
🔷 Summary: Legal Effect and Practical Impact
| Area | Impact of Title 3337 |
|---|---|
| Governance | Grants the Board and President formal administrative and financial authority. |
| Student Conduct | Creates enforceable rules on behavior, due process, and disciplinary procedures. |
| Faculty Rights | Protects academic freedom while allowing policy enforcement on tenure and misconduct. |
| Employee Policy | Gives structure to hiring, firing, and workplace standards. |
| Facility Use & Safety | Controls access, usage, and safety compliance on university grounds. |
| Contract & Finance Oversight | Limits who can bind the university and ensures fiscal responsibility. |
🔷 Conclusion
Title 3337 of the Ohio Administrative Code provides a comprehensive legal framework for how Ohio University operates and governs its community. It covers everything from student rights to administrative powers. The Ohio courts have consistently upheld these rules as valid exercises of delegated authority, especially when proper procedures and due process are followed.
RELATED Blog
0 comments