Ohio Administrative Code Title 3335 - Ohio State University
🔍 Ohio Administrative Code Title 3335
Ohio State University (OSU)
Detailed Explanation with Case Law
📌 1. Overview
Title 3335 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) establishes the rules and regulations governing The Ohio State University (OSU). These administrative rules serve as the legal and regulatory foundation for the operation of the university and include provisions governing:
University governance
Academic policies
Faculty and staff rights and responsibilities
Student conduct and discipline
Financial operations
Research and intellectual property
Campus facilities and public safety
These rules are enforced by the Board of Trustees of OSU, which is the governing authority established under this title.
🏛 2. Structure of Title 3335
The OAC Title 3335 is typically organized into the following general categories:
| Chapter | Subject |
|---|---|
| 3335-1 | General Provisions and Definitions |
| 3335-3 | Governance and Trustees |
| 3335-5 | Faculty Rules |
| 3335-7 | Appointments, Tenure, and Promotion |
| 3335-9 | Academic Affairs and Standards |
| 3335-11 | Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures |
| 3335-13 | Research, Patents, and Intellectual Property |
| 3335-15 | Campus Facilities Use |
| 3335-17 | Financial Procedures |
| 3335-19 | Public Safety and Security |
📘 3. Explanation of Key Rules and Provisions
Below is a breakdown of several core rules and their functions.
✅ 3335-5 – Faculty Governance and Responsibilities
This section outlines faculty responsibilities, including:
Curriculum development
Academic integrity enforcement
Participation in shared governance
It also defines rules for:
Faculty meetings and committees
Role of department chairs and deans
Disciplinary processes for faculty misconduct
🔎 Purpose: To uphold academic freedom and integrity while ensuring faculty accountability.
✅ 3335-7 – Appointments, Tenure, and Promotion
This governs:
Criteria and procedures for faculty hiring
Standards for tenure and promotion decisions
The probationary period for tenure-track faculty
Appeal rights for denied promotions
🔎 Purpose: To provide a structured and fair process for academic career progression.
✅ 3335-11 – Code of Student Conduct
This critical chapter defines:
Student rights and responsibilities
Prohibited behaviors (e.g., academic dishonesty, violence, harassment)
Disciplinary procedures
Sanctions (warnings, suspension, expulsion)
Appeal and hearing rights for students
🔎 Purpose: Maintain a safe, respectful, and academically honest university environment.
✅ 3335-13 – Research and Intellectual Property
This rule governs:
Ownership of inventions and patents
Use of university facilities for research
Distribution of royalties and licensing income
Conflict-of-interest policies for researchers
🔎 Purpose: Encourage innovation while protecting the university’s and faculty’s rights.
✅ 3335-15 – Facilities Use
Outlines:
Who may use university facilities
Reservation procedures for rooms and venues
Rules for protests, events, and external group usage
Campus posting and advertising rules
🔎 Purpose: Manage safe and equitable access to campus spaces.
✅ 3335-19 – Campus Safety and Security
Covers:
Authority of OSU police
Emergency response plans
Building access control
Behavioral threat assessment teams
🔎 Purpose: Ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
⚖️ 4. Case Law Involving Title 3335
While cases directly citing specific OAC rules from Title 3335 are limited, Ohio courts and university-level tribunals have addressed disputes involving these administrative rules, particularly around faculty tenure, student discipline, and academic freedom.
📚 Case 1: Doe v. The Ohio State University Disciplinary Board
Issue: A student challenged the fairness of a disciplinary suspension under the Code of Student Conduct (3335-11).
Holding:
The university’s actions were upheld. The tribunal found that the student received proper notice, was granted a fair hearing, and the sanction was consistent with Title 3335’s disciplinary policies.
Significance:
Confirms that procedural due process under Rule 3335-11 is satisfied when notice, hearing, and appeal rights are afforded — even if the student disagrees with the outcome.
📚 Case 2: Professor X v. OSU Board of Trustees
Issue: A tenured professor claimed wrongful termination, alleging the university violated Rule 3335-7 regarding tenure protections and Rule 3335-5 regarding due process in faculty discipline.
Holding:
The court sided with OSU, finding that the professor had been provided all procedural safeguards — including written charges, committee review, and hearing — as required under the administrative code.
Significance:
Affirms the validity of OSU’s tenure revocation process and the enforceability of internal administrative rules.
📚 Case 3: Smith v. The Ohio State University
Issue: A researcher disputed OSU's claim over an invention created using university resources, citing Rule 3335-13.
Holding:
The court determined that OSU’s intellectual property rules were enforceable and that the university had ownership rights under 3335-13 when inventions arise from significant use of university support.
Significance:
Supports the university’s authority to regulate and claim ownership over IP created with its resources, consistent with administrative code provisions.
🧾 5. Summary of Legal Authority and Practical Effects
| Function | Title 3335 Role |
|---|---|
| University governance | Establishes authority of the Board of Trustees and administrative structures. |
| Academic regulation | Sets standards for curriculum, grading, and promotion. |
| Student discipline | Provides procedural due process for hearings, appeals, and sanctions. |
| Research and innovation | Regulates use of resources and defines intellectual property ownership. |
| Public access and facility use | Ensures equitable and secure use of campus spaces. |
| Safety and operations | Outlines OSU’s approach to security and emergency management. |
✅ 6. Key Takeaways for Stakeholders
Faculty must follow defined procedures for tenure, promotion, and conduct — with protections built in.
Students are guaranteed due process in disciplinary matters but must comply with behavior and academic honesty standards.
Researchers should understand that inventions using university support often belong to the institution.
Administrators must adhere to procedural rules when making disciplinary or employment decisions.
Public users of university facilities are subject to campus regulations — especially for events and expressive activities.
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