Section XII - Student Services

XII D 1

Student Matters - Student Conduct & Zero Tolerance Policy

To present the standards of behavior expected of students and procedures for handling misconduct

The College reserves the right to maintain a safe and orderly educational environment for students and staff. Therefore, when in the judgment of College officials, a student’s conduct disrupts or threatens to disrupt the College community, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken to restore and protect the safety of that community.

Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with generally accepted standards of scholarship and behavior. The purpose of this statement is to protect the rights of all students in their academic pursuits.

Student Conduct

Students at Randolph Community College are considered responsible adults; therefore, each student should use discretion and common sense in his/her appearance and behavior. All behavior which is prohibited by federal, state and local laws is prohibited on campus and may result in immediate dismissal, arrest or other appropriate action. Faculty and staff are authorized to handle minor violations. Any student whose behavior or other attribute is in violation of these provisions, the College official will take appropriate corrective and disciplinary action.

The following types of student behavior are explicitly prohibited.

  1. Violations of Academic Integrity – See policy VIII A 9 Academic Integrity for specific details
  2. Misuse, Damage, or Theft of College Property
  3. Drug and Alcohol Use or Possession – See policy VI B 10 Drug-Free Workplace for specific details
  4. Violations of Civility (e.g., Rude, Disrespectful, Lewd, Indecent, or Offensive Conduct or Apparel) – See policy VI B 11 for specific details
  5. Mental, Physical, Psychological, Cyber or Verbal Abuse
  6. Harassment – See policy XII D2 Student Grievance Procedures (Due Process) for specific details
  7. Possession or Use of a Firearm, Incendiary Device, Explosive, or Other Weapons – See policy VI B 21 Weapons for specific details
  8. Forgery
  9. Unlawful Conduct
  10. Other Misconduct – This type of student behavior is deemed by a College official to be a violation of commonly accepted standards of decency and safety or threatens the learning environment of students or the working environment of College employees.
Zero Tolerance

Randolph Community College Policy does NOT allow any individual(s) to disrupt or threaten its learning environment. While faculty and staff are authorized to handle minor violations of the Student Code of Conduct, there are behaviors that will be addressed by the appropriate College officials on a zero tolerance basis,

The following types of student behavior will not be tolerated.

  1. Weapons of any kind
  2. Illegal drug sales, transaction or use
  3. Gang activity – see details below
  4. Fighting
  5. Physical, cyber, or verbal abuse
  6. Threats of physical action against another individual
  7. Harassment (Title IX) – see XII D2 Student Grievance Procedures
Corrective/Disciplinary Action

If a minor act of misconduct continues or occurs at the Zero Tolerance level and threatens the health, well-being, function, or orderly conduct of a class, person, activity, or the College as a whole, then the following actions should be taken:

  1. The instructor or other College official should immediately suspend the student from the class, function, or activity.
  2. If necessary, the School Resource Officer or sheriff’s department (if the SRO is unavailable) should be contacted to escort the student off campus.
  3. Information regarding the incident should be provided to the appropriate dean, staff director, or school resource officer, as soon as possible after the incident.
  4. The dean, staff director, or school resource officer will immediately forward to the vice president for student services for further action. After investigating, the vice president for student services will make the decision as to whether the student may return to campus, is suspended for a period of time appropriate to the infraction, or is permanently expelled.
The president and the vice president for student services are authorized to expel immediately any student(s) who commit(s) behavior that is prohibited by federal, state, or local laws.

An individual who is not a Randolph Community College student and who violates the procedures will be removed from campus immediately and not allowed to return. Any attempt to return to the campus will be considered trespassing.

Randolph Community College maintains the right to file formal legal proceedings against any student or individual who commits behavior prohibited by federal, state, or local laws.

Student Appeal

After the vice president for student services decides the corrective/disciplinary action, if the student has grounds to believe the corrective action is unjust, then the student may appeal in writing to the President within 5 working days. The President may arrange a hearing with the student after receiving the student’s request. The President’s decision is final.

Gang Activity

The Zero Tolerance Policy will apply to gang activity or gang related activity. This includes any activity which will lead college officials to reasonably believe that such behavior, apparel, activities, acts or other attributes are gang related and would materially interfere or substantially disrupt the college environment or activity and/or educational objectives. The following is prohibited at Randolph Community College:

  • Wearing apparel of a gang related nature, including but not limited to clothing, clothing accessories, jewelry, hair accessories, tattoos, emblems, badges, symbols, signs, or items which indicate a student’s membership in or affiliation with a gang.
  • Presenting a physical safety hazard to self, students, staff, faculty or other persons on the college campus.
  • Communicating either verbally or non-verbally (gestures, handshakes, slogans, drawings, etc.) to convey membership or affiliation in a gang.
  • Defacing college or personal property with gang-related graffiti, symbols, or slogans.
  • Requiring payment for protection, insurance, or otherwise intimidating or threatening any person related to gang activity.
  • Soliciting others for gang membership.
  • Committing any other illegal act or other violation of college policies that relate to gang activity.

 

Adopted: 09/15/2011

Revised: 01/19/2012, 03/22/2012, 11/20/2014