Student Code of Conduct Policy #3.0601

Policy Statement

Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with college policy and generally accepted norms of conduct in order to preserve a safe and supportive learning

environment. Students will be afforded appropriate due process in the resolution of any allegation(s) of violations of the Conduct. Students found responsible for violations are subject to sanctions which may include removal from course(s) or suspension/expulsion from the college.

Allegations of discrimination, harassment, sexual violence, fraud or dishonest acts as defined in Minnesota State Board Policy 1B.01, 1B.02, 1B.03, 1B.04 must be resolved pursuant to Board policy. Allegations of academic dishonesty will be resolved under separate procedures in accordance with SCC Academic policy 3.0602.

Purpose/Authority

The South Central College (SCC) Student Code of Conduct (the Code) define expectations for appropriate conduct to support a productive learning environment. The Code includes an outline of students’ right to due process, and sanctions resulting from violations.

Scope/Applicability

Jurisdiction of the Student Code of Conduct

The Code shall apply to conduct that occurs on College premises, at College sponsored activities, and to off-campus in the following circumstances:

  • Hazing is involved; or
  • The violation is committed while participating in a college sanctioned or sponsored activity; or
  • The victim is a member of the college community; or
  • The violation constitutes a felony under state or federal law; or
  • The violation adversely affects the educational, research, or service functions of the College. The Administrator (defined in procedures) shall decide whether the Conduct will apply to conduct occurring off-campus on a case-by-case basis.

Major Sections

Prohibited Student Conduct

Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit the following misconduct in circumstances falling under the jurisdiction of this Code may be subject to the disciplinary actions outlined in procedures:

  • Violation of any federal, state or local law.
  • Violation of any College or Board policy, rule or regulation published in hard copy or available electronically on the College or Minnesota State website.
  • Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:
    • all forms of academic dishonesty including cheating and/or plagiarism;
    • furnishing false information to any College official, faculty member or office;
    • forgery, alteration or misuse of any College document, record or instrument of identification;
    • use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests or examinations
    • use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems or carrying out other assignments;
    • acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the College faculty or staff; or
    • engaging in any behavior specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course syllabus or class discussion.
  • Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, routine College activities, other authorized College activities or other unauthorized activities on or off campus.
  • Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion and/or other conduct, in person or electronically, which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
  • Attempted or actual theft of and/or damage to property of the College or property of a member of the College community or other personal or public property, on or off campus.
  • Hazing defined as an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a person, subjects a person to public humiliation or ridicule, or which destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student group, organization, or athletic team. The expressed or implied consent of the victim will not be a defense. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing are not neutral acts; they are violations of this rule.
  • Failure to comply with directions of College officials or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
  • Unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys or other access modes to any College premises or unauthorized entry to or use of College premises.
  • Use, possession, manufacturing or distribution of narcotics or other controlled substances except as expressly permitted by law.

    Note: Although the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Law and program allows seriously ill Minnesotans to use medical marijuana to treat certain conditions, the possession and use of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Therefore, the use, possession, production, manufacture, and distribution of marijuana continues to be prohibited while a student is on college owned or controlled property or any function authorized or controlled by the college or university.
  • Use, possession, manufacturing or distribution of alcoholic beverages (except as expressly permitted by College or Minnesota State regulations), or public intoxication, or violation of Minnesota State Board Policy 5.18 and System Procedure 5.18.1 on Alcoholic Beverages and Controlled Substances on Campus. Alcoholic beverages may not, in any circumstance, be used by, possessed by or distributed to any person under twenty-one (21) years of age.
  • Possession or use of firearms, explosives, other weapons, or dangerous chemicals on College premises, even if legally possessed, in a manner that harms, threatens or causes fear to others. Minnesota State 5.21 policy states: Students are prohibited from possessing or carrying a firearm while on system property, regardless of whether the student has a permit to carry a firearm, except as otherwise provided in this policy.
  • Participating in an on-campus or off-campus demonstration, riot or activity that disrupts the normal operations of the College and/or infringes on the rights of other members of the College community; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area.
  • Conduct that is disorderly, lewd or indecent; breach of peace; or aiding, abetting or procuring another person to breach the peace on College premises or at functions sponsored by, or participated in by, the College or members of the academic community. Disorderly conduct includes but is not limited to: Any unauthorized use of electronic or other devices to make an audio or video record of any person while on College premises without his/her prior knowledge, or without his/her effective consent when such a recording is likely to cause injury or distress. This includes but is not limited to surreptitiously taking pictures of another person in a gym, locker room or restroom.
  • Sexual violence offenses are processed under Minnesota State System Sexual Violence policy 1B.03 and Procedure 1B.03.01
  • Any violation of the College's IT policies and procedures or Minnesota State System policy 5.22 and procedure 5.22.01 on Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources.
  • Abuse of the student conduct system, including but not limited to:
    • Failure to obey the notice to appear for a meeting or hearing as part of the student conduct system;
    • Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before the Student Conduct Board;
    • Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of Student Conduct Board proceedings;
    • Initiating a Student Code of Conduct proceeding in bad faith;
    • Attempting to discourage an individual's participation in, or use of, the student conduct system;
    • Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a Student Rights and Responsibilities Board prior to, and/or during the course of, the Student Rights and Responsibilities Board proceeding;
    • Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a Student Rights and Responsibilities Board prior to, during, and/or after a student Conduct Code proceeding;
    • Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Code;
    • Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the student conduct code system.

Violation of Law and College Discipline

College disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with conduct that potentially violates both criminal law and this Code (that is, if both possible violations result from the same factual situation) without regard to the pendency of civil or criminal litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution. Proceedings under this Code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings off campus at the discretion of the Administrator.

Determinations made or sanctions imposed under this Code shall not be subject to change because criminal complaints arising out of the same facts giving rise to violation of College rules were dismissed, reduced or resolved in favor of or against the criminal law defendant.

Maintenance of Records

Annually, and upon amendment, colleges and universities will notify students of the availability and location of the Student Code of Conduct and a copy of the code will be posted at appropriate locations on campus and on the college website.

List of related policies or procedures (if any):

  • 3.0602 Academic Dishonesty policy
  • 3.0801 Complaint/Grievance policy
  • 3.0801.0001 Complaint/Grievance procedure
  • 3.08 Student Complaints and Grievances policy (System)
  • 3.08.01 Student Complaints and Grievances procedure (System) 5.2301 Disclosure / Data Privacy Information policy
  • 5.23 Security and Privacy of Information Resources policy (System) 5.2402 Safety & Health policy
  • 5.2402.0001 Safety & Health procedure
  • 3.01 Student Rights and Responsibilities policy (System) 5.1801 Student Drug and Alcohol Use policy
  • 3.06 Student Conduct policy (System)
  • 3.06.01 Student Conduct procedures (System)
  • 1B.01 Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination in Employment and Education policy (System) 1B.01.01 Report/Complaint of Discrimination/Harassment Investigation and Resolution procedure (System)
  • 1B.02 Affirmative Action in Employment policy (System) 1B.03 Sexual Violence policy (System)
  • 1B.04 Access and Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities policy (System)
  • 5.22 Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources policy (System)
  • 5.22.01 Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Resources procedure (System)

Date of Last Review: 9/16/16