Student Code of Conduct

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

Student disciplinary procedures are applicable to any student or student organization that is charged with a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. These procedures are designed to allow for fact-finding and decision-making in the context of an educational community and to encourage students to accept responsibility for their own actions. The intent is to provide adequate procedural safeguards to protect the rights of the individual student and the legitimate interests of the College. Additionally, all procedures are subject to applicable laws and regulations, and the April 24, 2011, “Dear Colleague Letter” guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. 

As a community of scholars, South Louisiana Community College is committed to providing an environment that values accountability, collaboration, excellence, innovation, respect, service, and trust. Such an environment is essential for fostering the intellectual growth and personal development of all students. All members of the College community share responsibility for maintaining conditions that support the College’s mission.

The community supports each member’s right to study and work in a quiet, respectful, non-violent atmosphere that is conducive to the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge. Students who voluntarily join this College Community assume the obligation of abiding by the standards commonly held by that community. Every student at South Louisiana Community College is, therefore, obligated to assume responsibility for their actions, to respect constituted authority, to be truthful, and to respect the rights of others, as well as to protect personal and public property.

The goal of the disciplinary system is to educate and discipline the individual as well as to protect the integrity and security of the South Louisiana College Community and its mission by serving as a deterrent.

The College discipline system recognizes that not all violations of local, State, and Federal law affect the interests of the College Community and the discipline system accepts jurisdiction in those instances where the College Community’s interest is substantially affected, regardless of whether the conduct in question occurs on or off-campus. The rules governing conduct may come under the jurisdiction of the legal system, but are typically and necessarily broader in coverage than statutes and ordinances.

South Louisiana Community College’s disciplinary system is not intended to be adversarial in nature and is substantially less formal than a court of law. The majority of cases, in which severe sanctions are not likely to be considered, can and should be handled informally. The objective of a system of student discipline is to promote responsible citizenship in a complex organizational or social setting.

MISCONDUCT TYPES

The College has identified certain types of misconduct that is subject to disciplinary sanctions.  These types include, but are not limited to:

• ACADEMIC DISHONESTY/INTEGRITY: Engaging in academic dishonesty including but not limited to cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism.  This section of the Code is addressed in the College’s Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures.

• FAILURE TO COMPLY: Failure to comply with the directions of College officials or agents, including law enforcement or security officers, acting in the good faith performance of their duties. This section is not intended to prohibit the lawful assertion of an individual’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
  • VIOLATING TERMS OF A DISCIPLINARY SANCTION: This sanction may have been imposed for an earlier violation of the Student Code of Conduct or other College rules.
  • VIOLATION OF RULES: Violation of, or attempt to violate, other rules that may be adopted by the College.
  • UNAUTHORIZE CONDUCT UNDER OUTSIDE GOVERNING BODY: Any conduct deemed inappropriate by a board or governing authority over a program.

• FALSE INFORMATION: Knowingly furnishing false information to the College; which includes but is not limited to false reporting or false accusations.

• FORGERY: Engaging in deceptive acts including Forgery, falsification, fabrication, unauthorized alteration, or misuse of College documents, records, or identification, including, but not limited to, electronic software and records or Misrepresenting oneself or an organization as an agent of the College.

• UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY 
  • UNAUTHORIZED PRESENCE: presence in or unauthorized use of College property, resources, or facilities.
  • UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS: unauthorized access to, disclosure of, or use of any College document, record, or identification, including but not limited to electronic software, data, and records.
  • UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY AND/OR UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION: Entry into, or use of any building, room, or other college-owned or college-controlled property, grounds, or activities without authorized approval. This also includes, but is not limited to, the unauthorized possession, duplication or use of college keys, lock combinations, access codes, and access cards, and/or credentials and/or propping open or tampering with doors/windows.

• DISORDERLY CONDUCT: Engaging in disruptive behavior including but not limited to classroom-related activities, studying, teaching, research, intellectual or creative endeavor, administration, service, or the provision of communication, computing, or emergency services.

• DAMAGE TO PROPERTY/THEFT: Possession of property the student knows or has reason to believe may be stolen or misappropriated.
• LEAVING CHILDREN UNATTENDED: Leaving children unattended or unsupervised in campus buildings or on campus grounds unless enrolled or participating in authorized campus activities is prohibited. The College assumes no responsibility for the supervision of children.
• TOBACCO/DRUGS/ ALCOHOL
  • ALCOHOL AND DRUGS: Using, being under the influence, manufacturing, possessing, cultivating, distributing, purchasing, or selling of alcohol and/or drugs (illegal and/or dangerous or controlled substance) and/or alcohol/drug paraphernalia while on college-owned or college-controlled property, and/or at any function authorized or supervised by the College and/or in state-owned or leased vehicles.
  • UNAUTHORIZED USE OF TOBACCO: students shall not use, chew, smoke, or sell tobacco products, e-cigarettes, vaporizer pens, and medical marijuana, at any time while subject to the jurisdiction of the SLCC Student Code of Conduct or in any place on SLCC properties.
• GAMBLING: Participation in illegal gambling activities on college-owned or college-controlled property, and/or any function authorized or supervised by the college.

• WEAPONS: Possession or distribution of any unauthorized firearms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks, and/or other dangerous weapons (or chemicals/flammable liquids), or use/threat of use of any instrument (including, but not limited to, paintball guns, pellet guns, airsoft guns, bow and arrows, knives) as a weapon to intimidate, harass, or cause harm to others.

• INAPPROPRIATE PERSONAL MISCONDUCT: Personal conduct which does not comply with socially accepted behavior in the academic community (e.g. drunkenness, use of profanity, disorderly conduct, lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct).

• RECORDING OF IMAGES WITHOUT KNOWING: Photographing, videotaping, filming, digitally recording, or by any other means secretly viewing, with or without a device, another person without that person’s content in any location where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, or in a manner that violates a reasonable expectation of privacy. This section does not apply to lawful security or surveillance filming or recording that is authorized by law enforcement or authorized College officials.

• HAZING: means an act by an individual or a group that, as an explicit or implicit condition for initiation to, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in a group or organization, regardless of consent:
  • Endangers the physical health or safety of a person or would cause a reasonable person severe emotional distress;
  • Results in the destruction or removal of public or private property;
  • Involves the consumption of alcohol or drugs;
  • Involves the consumption of substances to excess or placement of substances on the body;
  • Involves sexual activity;
  • Involves a violation of federal, state or local law or University policy; or
  • Disrupts the academic performance or class attendance of a person.

It is not a defense to a charge of hazing that (i) the consent of the person had been obtained; (ii) the conduct or activity that resulted in the death or injury of a person was not part of an official organizational event or was not otherwise sanctioned or approved by the organization; or (iii) the conduct or activity that resulted in death or injury of the person was not done as a condition of membership to an organization.

The following is a non-exclusive list of examples of acts which, regardless of severity, constitute hazing:

• Physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, paddling, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity;
• Physical activities, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements or extreme conditions, imprisonment, confinement, or calisthenics;
• Consumption of food, liquid, or any other substance, including but not limited to alcoholic beverages or drugs, that subjects the person to an unreasonable risk of harm or that may adversely affect the physical health or safety of the person;
• Placement of substances on the body of a person;
• Kidnapping or dropping a person off campus without return transportation;
• Activity that induces, causes, or requires an individual to perform a duty or task that involves the commission of a crime or an act of hazing.
• Engaging repeated or significant behavior toward another individual, whether in person, in writing, or through electronic means, after having been asked to stop, or doing so to such a degree that a reasonable person, subject to such contact, would regard the contact as unwanted.
• Any attempt to commit or conceal an act of misconduct prohibited by these rules is subject to sanctions to the same extent as completed acts.

• UNAUTHORIZED PETS/ ANIMALS: Possession of any unauthorized pet or animal, excluding trained service animals, while on college-owned or college-controlled property. Reasonable behavior is expected from service animals while on campus. If a service dog, for example, exhibits unacceptable behavior, the owner is expected to employ the proper training techniques to correct the situation. The owners of disruptive and aggressive service animals may be asked to remove them from college facilities. If the improper behavior happens repeatedly, the owner may be told not to bring the service animal into any facility until they take significant steps to mitigate the behavior. The service animal will be treated as an extension of the student and the student will be held responsible for the service animal’s behavior.

• HARASSMENT: Harassment is repeated, malicious mistreatment, verbal abuse, or conduct that is threatening, intimidating, humiliating, insulting, isolates people, or undermines their reputation through verbal or non-verbal communications. 
  • DISCRIMINATION: Engaging in discrimination against other students, faculty or staff, College officials, or guests on the basis of age, race, color, religion, marital status, sex/gender,  pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, height, weight, national origin, disability, veteran status, political affiliation, familial status, genetics, and/or any other legally protected class not heretofore mentioned.
  • BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING: Any behavior that is intentional and causes harm and where a real or perceived power imbalance exists between the parties involved. It may be physical, verbal, social (intentional damage to someone’s reputation or social standing), or may use technology, such as e-mail, phone, social media, or the Internet (cyberbullying).

• STUDENT ORGANIZATION MISCONDUCT
  • A complaint that a student organization has committed an act of academic or personal misconduct may be filed against the student organization and/or against individual members of the organization. This complaint may be filed by any person.
  • A complaint against a student organization and/or individual members of the organization must be submitted in writing to the Campus Student Engagement Director or designee. 
  • If the complaint is against a student organization, the Campus Student Engagement Director or designee has the authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the organization.

• STUDENT GRIEVANCE

A student grievance refers to non-academic and non-financial complaints of students against employees of South Louisiana Community College. It does not include grade appeals, academic status appeals, admission appeals, student discipline by the institution, financial aid appeals, refund appeals, and all other matters that are within the jurisdiction of other committees of the institution.

The college is committed to affording all students, including distance education students, the opportunity for accessibility and due process during the student grievance process. To ensure this, at each step of the process an available distance option will be provided when necessary.

DISCIPLINARY PROCESS

INCIDENT REPORT

Anyone may file a report alleging that a student or student organization violated the Code of Conduct via this form. Any report should be submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place. There is no time limit on reporting violations of the Student Code of Conduct; however, the longer someone waits to report an offense, the harder it becomes for college officials to obtain information and witness statements and to make determinations regarding alleged violations. After a report is received, the Director of Student Engagement or his or her designee will be in contact with you via your SoLAcc email address. You should read all emails and information thoroughly and follow any instructions or suggestions provided. Choosing to disengage in the process does not eliminate your involvement in the incident and the process may continue to move forward in absentia.  

INTERIM SUSPENSIONS

• In the majority of situations, students involved in the disciplinary process will remain as active participants (able to attend classes, participate in activities, etc.) in the College Community pending the determination of an appropriate sanction.
• In certain circumstances, the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs or designee may impose an interim suspension on a student prior to a judicial conference.  Interim suspensions may be imposed to ensure the safety and well-being of the student or the College Community or the preservation of College property.  Interim suspensions may also be imposed in cases where a student poses a threat of interference or disruption with normal College operations.
• During a period of interim suspension, a student may not attend classes or participate in College-related activities, whether they occur on or off-campus. A student on interim suspension may not otherwise be present on College premises unless authorized in writing in advance under conditions approved by the Vice-Chancellor for Student Services or designee.

INVESTIGATION

Upon receipt of a report, the Director of Student Engagement may conduct a preliminary investigation to determine if there is a preponderance of evidence to support an alleged violation of the Code and, if so, which violations occurred. During the time of the investigation, if the Director decides the report lacks merit, it will be dismissed within two (2) weeks and the appropriate parties involved will be notified.  If there is enough information to allege a violation of the Code or other university policy, the student conduct process will proceed. 

After the investigation, if it is determined that there is enough information to support an alleged violation of the Code, you will move on to the following resolution options.
 

Judicial Conference:

The informal hearing will be conducted by the Director of Student Engagement and the Director of Security or his or her designee. 

• An outcome of an informal meeting will be one of the following: 
  • A not responsible finding. 
  • Determination of responsibility and resulting sanctions.

APPEALS

First Level Appeal

A student who wishes to request a review of the determination of the Judicial Conference may do so by submitting a written request via this form to the Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs or designee. Such requests must be made within fifteen calendar days of a sanction assignment. Determinations or sanctions are considered to be final after the fifteen-day period.

Note: Appeal opportunity may be deemed unavailable due to a governing board or authority over an education program at SLCC.  

Requests shall be based on one or more of the following grounds:

• Irregularities in the proceedings, including but not limited to any abuse of discretion or misconduct during the Judicial Conference which has deprived the student of a fair and impartial disciplinary process.
• Newly discovered material evidence that could not have been presented during the fact-finding or hearing process.
• Excessive severity of the sanction.
• The decision is not reasonably justified by the evidence or is contrary to law.

The written Challenge to Sanction must include:

• The sanction letter sent to the student by the conduct office
•  a typewritten formal letter detailing the reasons why the student believes the Sanction for the code of conduct violation was unwarranted, with clear supporting rationale tied to and stating the appropriate condition for appeal as listed above
•  a copy of any other materials as relevant, to the issue.

Second Level Appeal

A student who wishes to request a review of the determination of the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs may do so by submitting a written request to the Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs. Such requests must be made within fifteen calendar days of a sanction assignment. Determinations or sanctions are considered to be final after the fifteen-day period.

Third Level Appeal

Students who wish to appeal a determination or suspension or dismissal sanction beyond the college may do so by submitting a written request for appeal to the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.  Requests for an appeal to the LCTCS Board must be made within thirty calendar days of the date of the decision made at the College.

SANCTIONS

One or more disciplinary sanctions may be imposed on a student following a Judicial Conference or Appeal Board Hearing. The Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs or designee is responsible for determining and imposing the appropriate sanction(s) in all cases.

The following sanctions may be imposed upon students:

• Warning -an official warning that the student’s behavior is in violation of the South Louisiana Community College Student Code of Conduct.  If a student is found guilty of a Code violation while on warning, sanction(s) resulting from the subsequent violation may be more severe.
• Probation -restrictive conditions may be imposed for a specified length of time which varies according to the severity of the offense. These conditions may include, but may not be limited to the following: loss of good standing, which may become a matter of record; ineligibility to receive any College award, scholarship, loan, honorary recognition, or initiation into any local or national organizations, and denial of the privilege to occupy a position of leadership or responsibility in any College student organization, publication, or activity, or ability to represent the College in an official capacity or position. While on probation, the student may continue to attend classes and will be given the opportunity to show capability and willingness to behave in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. If a student is found guilty of a Code violation while on probation, sanction(s) resulting from the subsequent violation may be more severe.  Any educational sanctions assigned with probation must be completed prior to the conclusion of the probation; otherwise, the probation will remain in effect.
• Suspension -a suspension may be imposed for a specified length of time which varies according to the severity of the offense.  During a period of suspension, a student may not attend classes or participate in College-related activities, whether they occur on or off-campus. A student on suspension may not otherwise be present on College premises unless authorized in writing in advance under conditions approved by the Vice-Chancellor for Student Services. Any educational sanctions assigned with a suspension must be completed prior to the conclusion of the suspension; otherwise, the suspension will remain in effect. 
• Expulsion -a dismissal is a permanent separation of the student from the College without the opportunity for the student to graduate or re-enroll in the future.
• Educational Sanctions -in conjunction with the sanctions listed above, a student may be assigned educational sanction(s).  These may include but are not limited to, College service, community service, reflective or research papers, classes or seminars.
• Restitution -may be required as compensation for damage, loss, or injury.  Forms of restitution may include appropriate service, monetary compensation, material replacement, or a combination of forms.

Note: Financial aid may be impacted by some of these sanctions.

The following sanctions may be imposed upon student groups or organizations:

• Warning
• Probation
• Deactivation - the deactivation of a student group or organization includes a loss of all privileges, including College recognition, for a specified period of time.
• Educational Sanctions
• Restitution