Student Development—Student Code of Conduct

Stanly Community College reserves the right to maintain a safe and orderly educational environment for students and staff. Therefore, when a student's behavior disrupts or threatens to disrupt the college community, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. The purpose of this code is not to restrict student rights but to protect the rights of individuals in their academic pursuits.

Prohibited student behaviors include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Academic Dishonesty: taking or acquiring possession of any academic material from a college employee or fellow student without permission; receiving or giving help during tests or other assessments of learning; submitting papers, reports, or assignments as originals that are not the student's own; plagiarism.
  2. Animals: animals on campus are forbidden, including animals left in vehicles. Service animals are permitted.
  3. Theft: stealing the property of another individual or of the college. Students guilty of theft may be referred for civil prosecution as well as college disciplinary action. Unauthorized entry or presence in a college facility is prohibited.
  4. Drugs and Alcoholic Beverages: SCC prohibits the unlawful use, possession, distribution, manufacture, or dispensation of any controlled substance or alcohol while on campus, facilities leased by the college, or at college-supported functions. The complete college drug and alcohol policy may be found on the college web site or obtained from the Vice President of Student Development.
  5. Inappropriate Conduct: lewd, indecent, or offensive conduct or clothing, including public physical or verbal action or distribution of obscene or libelous material. Mental, physical, or verbal abuse of any person (employee or student) on campus or at campus-sponsored functions is prohibited.
  6. Sexual Harassment: any act, comment, or behavior that violates the college policy on sexual harassment. This policy may be found on the college web site or obtained from the Vice President of Student Development.
  7. Weapons: possession or use of a firearm, incendiary device, explosive, or any instrument designed to inflict serious bodily injury to any person. These restrictions do not apply to on-duty law enforcement personnel or to any legitimate college-sponsored activity.
  8. Forgery: alteration or misuse of college documents, records, or instruments of identification with intent to deceive.
  9. False Information: presenting to the college intentionally erroneous information; knowingly withholding information which may have an effect upon enrollment or status with the college and which is legally and properly requested by the college.
  10. Damage to Property: inflicting damage to the property of the college or of any person working at or attending the college.
  11. Disobedience: failing to obey the reasonable requests or directions of any college employee.
  12. Disorderly Conduct: interrupting or interfering with the academic mission of the college or disturbing the peace of the college.
  13. Disruption: disrupting the normal activities of the college by physically or verbally interfering with instruction, meetings, functions, or activities.
  14. Public laws: Violating any local, state, or federal law may lead to legal action as well as campus discipline.
  15. Internet Use: Using the Internet for inappropriate or non-academic purposes including but not limited to viewing sites that may be offensive to others, chat rooms, and games.
  16. Unprofessional Conduct: Some curricula have specific codes of professional conduct that require appropriate behavior both on campus and at off-campus facilities, functions, or activities. Students in those curricula will be held accountable for adhering to those codes.
  17. Smoking: Effective January 1, 2008, the Albemarle campus and the Crutchfield campus will become tobacco free. Smoking on either campus will be prohibited after that date.
  18. The college facilities are open for students no earlier than 7:30 a.m. on days of operation and close 15 minutes after classes conclude for the day. Students should plan accordingly.

Implementation Responsibilities:

An instructor may discipline students involved in minor infractions of the rules and regulations of the classroom, as the instructor has the authority to define proper classroom behavior. Other violations of the Code of Conduct will be referred to the Vice President of Student Development for resolution.

Disciplinary Procedures:

Any instructor or staff member may use his or her discretion to warn a student against violating the Student Code of Conduct and may temporarily remove a student from a single class or activity for the duration of that specific class or activity. The instructor or staff member taking this action will notify the Vice President of Student Development immediately and will provide a written report of the incident to the Vice President of Student Development within 24 hours.

In an emergency situation, the President and the Vice President of Student Development are authorized to temporarily suspend any student from the college immediately.

A student charged with a violation of the Student Code of Conduct will receive a written notice of the charges and an appointment for a hearing. Based upon the results of the hearing, the Vice President of Student Development may:

  1. dismiss the charges.
  2. impose a sanction consistent with the nature of the violation.
  3. refer the student to a community agency for services.

In instances in which the student cannot be reached to schedule an appointment with the Vice president of Student Development or when the student refuses to cooperate, the Vice President shall send a certified letter to the student's last known address. The letter will provide the student with a list of charges, the Vice President's decision, and instructions governing the appeal process. In those instances when the student refuses to cooperate or does not attend the scheduled hearing with the Vice President, the Vice President's decision will be final.

Sanctions

Penalties for violating the code of conduct include but are not limited to the following:

  1. Reprimand: a written communication that gives official notice to the student that subsequent offense against the Student Code of Conduct may carry heavier penalties because of this prior infraction.
  2. Loss of Privileges: loss of access to college facilities, services, or activities for a specified period of time.
  3. Restitution: paying for damaging, misusing, destroying, or losing property belonging to the college, college personnel, or students.
  4. Loss of Academic Credit or Grade: imposed by an instructor due to academic dishonesty.

Note: In those instances where the loss of academic credit or grade has the effect of removing the student from a class or curriculum, the issue will be referred to the Vice President of Student Development for resolution and/or advisement.

  1. Temporary Suspension: exclusion from class and/or other privileges or activities as set forth in the notice until a final decision has been made concerning the alleged violation.
  2. Suspension: exclusion from class(es) and/or all other privileges or activities of the college for a specified period of time. Students who receive this sanction must get specific written permission from the Vice President of Student Development before returning to campus.
  3. Expulsion: dismissal of a student from campus for an indefinite period. The student loses his or her student status. The student may be readmitted to the college only with the approval of the President.

Right to Due Process

A student accused of violating the Student Code of Conduct is guaranteed these rights as the matter is resolved:

  1. the right to a specific written notice of the charges
  2. the right to know the names of accusers and to have a copy of all their written statements regarding the charges
  3. the right to a prompt hearing
  4. the right to have counsel present at the hearing
  5. the right to confront accusers and to hear all witnesses
  6. the right to present witnesses or evidence
  7. the right to remain silent to avoid self-incrimination
  8. the right to a full and complete record of the hearing
  9. the right to an appeal

Appeals Procedure

A student who disagrees with the decision of the Vice President of Student Development may appeal the decision to the President. This request must be submitted in writing to the Vice President of Student Development within three working days after receipt of the Vice President's decision.

The President has the authority to hear from the student and the Vice President of Student Development before ruling on the appeal and may approve, modify, or overturn the decision of the Vice President . The President will inform the student in writing of the final decision within ten working days of the receipt of the appeal. The President's decision will be final.

Right to Due Process

A student accused of violating the Student Code of Conduct is guaranteed these rights as the matter is resolved:

  1. the right to a specific written notice of the charges.
  2. the right to know the names of accusers and to have a copy of all their written statements regarding the charges.
  3. the right to a prompt hearing.
  4. the right to have counsel present at the hearing.
  5. the right to confront accusers and to hear all witnesses.
  6. the right to present witnesses or evidence.
  7. the right to remain silent to avoid self-incrimination.
  8. the right to a full and complete record of the hearing.
  9. the right to an appeal.

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