Table of Contents

• Student Rights and Responsibilities
• Section 1: Introduction
• Section 2: Philosophy & Learning Outcomes
• Section 3: Application of the Code of Conduct
• Section 4: Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence
• Section 5: Definitions
• Section 6: Violations of the Law
• Section 7: Expectations of Behavior
• Section 8: Student Conduct Procedures
• Section 9: Student Conduct Process
• Section 10: Student Conduct Authority

Section 1: Introduction

The Code of Conduct was created with the goal of fostering an environment that ensures student learning and open access to higher education. All students are responsible for following the policies in the Code.

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Section 2: Philosophy & Learning Outcomes

The conduct process is an educational endeavor intended to encourage personal responsibility, integrity and ethical decision-making. Students should achieve outcomes such as accepting responsibility for choices and recognizing the value of the conduct process as an educational opportunity.

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Section 3: Application of the Code of Conduct

The Code applies to individual students and student organizations. A "student" is defined as anyone issued an ID number, offered admission, enrolled in any credit or non-credit course or maintaining a continuing educational relationship with the college.

The College retains jurisdiction over students who take a leave of absence, withdraw or graduate for misconduct occurring prior to or during their departure if they seek to return.

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Section 4: Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence

Claims of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, gender-based harassment, sexual harassment,and sexual violence (including Title IX offenses) are addressed under the college's Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity and Diversity (PAA). These matters are handled by the college's Affirmative Action Officer and/or Title IX Coordinator rather than through the standard Student Code of Conduct process.

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Section 5: Key Definitions

• Code of Conduct Administrator (CCA): The official charged with administering the Code.
• Material and Substantial Disruption: Conduct that affects day-to-day operations or prevents others from participating in College programs.
• Standard of Proof: Preponderance of Evidence (more likely than not/greater than 50% chance).
• Sanctions: Obligations ranging from Written Warnings to Disciplinary Expulsion.

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Section 6: Violations of the Law

Alleged violations of federal, state, and local laws may be reviewed and addressed under the Code. When an offense occurs, the college’s conduct process will go forward regardless of any civil or criminal complaint or process that may arise from the same incident. The College reserves the right to exercise its authority of interim suspension upon notification that a student is facing a criminal investigation (see Section 8).

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Section 7: Code of Conduct Violations

Prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to:

• Academic Dishonesty: Cheating (including unauthorized use of generative AI), plagiarism, fabrication and unauthorized distribution of course materials.
• Alcohol and Cannabis: Unauthorized use, possession or distribution on campus or at college-sponsored programs.
• Harassment: Severe or pervasive actions interfering with another's work or education.
• Unauthorized Recording: Creating or disseminating audio/video of persons without consent, including recording lectures without ADA accommodations.
• Weapons: Possession of firearms, knives, explosives or reasonable facsimiles.

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Section 8: Student Conduct Procedures

A. Interim Measures

The Cod of Conduct Administrator (CCA) may impose interim measures such as no-contact orders or interim suspensions if a student poses a threat to others, property or day-to-day operations. During an interim suspension, a student is prohibited from entering College property or participating in activities until the complaint is resolved.

B. Discipline for Conduct that Interferes with the college Environment

• Interfering with the educational process in a class or clinical site is prohibited.
• Faculty may resolve matters informally or temporarily remove a student from class.
• Permanent removal from a class for conduct reasons requires a referral to the CCA.

C. Discipline for Academic Dishonesty

• Faculty have the right to address academic dishonesty directly, including issuing a failing grade for an assignment or course.
• If a student's dishonesty results in program dismissal, the charge must be referred to the CCA.
• Students may file a grievance through the Grade Appeal Process if they believe a grade was issued in error.

D. Discipline for Off-Campus Behavior

The College reserves the right to take action for off-campus behavior that adversely affects the community, poses a safety threat, or involves violations of state or federal law.

E. Group Violations

Student organizations and their officers may be held collectively and individually responsible for violations.

F. Amnesty

The CCA may elect not to pursue disciplinary action against a student who reports a violation in good faith, even if they were using alcohol or drugs at the time, provided they did not harm others.

G. Complaint of Alleged Violation

Any person may allege a violation by completing a report, generally no later than thirty days after the event

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Section 9: Student Conduct Process

This policy is not intended to prevent members of the College community from attempting to resolve matters informally.

Failure to cooperate with the College's investigation of an alleged Code of Conduct violation, including failing to appear for a Preliminary Inquiry meeting, an Administrative Resolution meeting or a Student Conduct Board Hearing will result in a decision being made in the student's absence, discipline up to and including expulsion, and a forfeiture of the student's rights to a hearing or appeal.

Step 1: Initiation of Student Conduct Process

The Student Conduct Process is initiated once a complaint of an alleged violation is received by the CCA. A complaint is defined as an allegation of a violation of the Code of Conduct, which is filed with or by the CCA. The CCA may act on a complaint of a potential violation whether a complaint form is completed or not.

Step 2: Preliminary Inquiry

When the CCA files or receives a complaint alleging that a student has acted in a manner which may be in violation of the Code, the CCA may conduct a preliminary inquiry into the nature of the complaint, the evidence available, and the parties involved. The preliminary inquiry may lead to:

1. A determination that there is insufficient evidence to pursue the investigation because the behavior alleged, even if proven, would not violate the Code and therefore the process ends; or
2. A determination that the alleged behavior constitutes a possible violation of the Code, resulting in a request to schedule an Administrative Resolution meeting with the CCA within five (5) days; or
3. Further investigation is needed to make a determination.

Step 3: Administrative Resolution

After a Preliminary Inquiry, or when a Preliminary Inquiry is not necessary as determined by the CCA, the CCA will meet with the Student to review the complaint, and provide the Student an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

The Student has the right to be accompanied by any advisor of their own choosing and at their own expense. The advisor may be a staff or faculty member, student, family member or an attorney. An advisor's role is limited to advising the Student directly and discretely. An advisor is not otherwise permitted to participate directly in the meeting.

The possible outcomes of an Administrative Resolution meeting include:

1. A decision not to pursue the complaint based on insufficient information. The matter should be closed and the records should so indicate; or
2. The CCA issuing an Administrative Resolution in writing which is maintained in a Student's disciplinary file. The Student shall have the right to request a Student Conduct Board Hearing five (5) days after issuance of the Administrative Resolution letter.

Under certain circumstances during the Code of Conduct process, interim measures may be imposed by the CCA including, but not limited to: no-contact orders, restriction/loss of privileges, or interim suspension, in a manner consistent with this Code.

Failure by the Student to appear for an Administrative Resolution meeting with the CCA will result in a decision being made in the student's absence, discipline up to and including expulsion, and a forfeiture of the student's rights to a hearing or appeal.

Step 4: Student Conduct Board Hearing

1. Overview

A hearing with the Student Conduct Board shall be scheduled by the CCA not later than thirty (30) days following a Student's request for a hearing.

A written Statement of Alleged Violations shall be presented to the Student not less than five (5) days prior to the hearing. The Statement of Alleged Violations shall include a summary of the complaint, administrative or remedial steps taken, the Code of Conduct Violations, and the documentary evidence and witnesses to be presented in support of the Statement of Alleged Violations. A Student Conduct Board hearing is an administrative hearing. The rules of evidence do not apply.

In a matter involving more than one Student, the Student Conduct Board may permit at its discretion, individual hearings for each Student.

The Student has the right to be accompanied by any advisor of their own choosing and at their own expense. An advisor's role is limited to advising the Student directly and discretely. An advisor is not otherwise permitted to participate directly in the hearing.

2. Make-Up of the Conduct Board

The Conduct Board shall consist of 3-5 members selected by the CCA. The CCA shall appoint from the members a Chair of the Conduct Board, who shall be responsible for administering the hearing. In cases involving academic dishonesty, the Conduct Board members may include faculty, although not from the department where the alleged conduct occurred.

3. Student Conduct Board Hearing Procedure

A hearing is normally conducted in private. There shall be a record created of all hearings. The record shall be the property of the College. All procedural questions are subject to the final decision of the Chair of the Student Conduct Board. Admission of any person(s) to the hearing shall be at the discretion of the Chair of the Student Conduct Board.

A hearing shall proceed as follows:

1. The CCA presents the Statement of Violations on behalf of the College. The CCA may present documents, materials and/or witnesses in support of the Statement of Violations.
2. Student responds to the Statement of Violations. The Student may present documents, materials and/or witnesses in response to the Statement of Violations.
3. Following the parties' presentations, the Student Conduct Board may question each party, their witnesses and/or review all information presented. The Student Conduct Board has the discretion to request additional documents, materials or information from either party.
4. While direct cross-examination by the parties is not permitted, each party will be given the opportunity to question the other by presenting questions through the Chair of the Student Conduct Board. If the Chair determines a question is relevant, the other party will be asked to respond.
5. The Student Conduct Board shall have a final opportunity to question the parties.
6. After the hearing, the Student Conduct Board shall determine by majority vote whether the Statement of Violations has been proven.
7. A Student Conduct Board's decision shall be based on a preponderance of evidence standard.
8. Within ten (10) days of the conclusion of a hearing, the Student Conduct Board shall issue a written decision that includes a summary of the hearing, findings on each violation contained in the Statement of Alleged Violations, the evidence supporting each finding, and disciplinary action taken, if any.

Step 5: Conduct Board Sanctions

A student found in violation of the College's Code of Conduct shall be subject to sanctions as defined herein.

A student who violates the Code of Conduct while serving an existing sanction shall be subject to further discipline, up to and including expulsion. The intent of the College is to impose sanctions in a progressive manner, beginning with the least punitive sanction. However, depending on factors, such as the nature and severity of a student's violation and/or prior disciplinary history, the College reserves the right to impose any sanction at any time.

Step 6: Appeal

Within five (5) days of receiving a written decision from the Student Conduct Board, the Student may file an appeal with the College's Appeals Officer. In cases of academic dishonesty, the Appeals Officer shall be the College's senior academic officer or designee.

An appeal must be submitted in writing and be based on a credible claim that:

1. The hearing was not conducted in conformity with the Code of Conduct;
2. The decision was not supported by a preponderance of the evidence presented;
3. The sanction imposed was not appropriate in light of the Student Conduct Board's decision; or
4. New evidence exists, which was not presented at the hearing because it was not reasonably known to the Student at that time, and which is sufficiently relevant such that it could alter the Student Conduct Board's decision.

The Appeals Officer shall issue a written decision within ten (10) days of receiving the appeal. The Appeals Officer may accept, reject, or modify the Student Conduct Board's decision or sanction. The Appeals Officer's decision shall be final.

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Section 10: Student Conduct Authority

A. Authority

The CCA is vested with the authority to administer the Student Code of Conduct and the conduct process.

B. Gatekeeping

No complaint will be forwarded unless there is reasonable cause to believe a policy violation occurred. Reasonable cause requires credible information, such as witness statements, police reports or news articles. Complaints unsupported by credible information will not be processed.

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