2016-2017 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Standards of Student Conduct


Return To: 2016-2017 Student Handbook  


Board of Trustees Policy 5.15

A. Purpose

To describe the standards of conduct to which students and organizations must adhere.

B. Policy

  1. The basic standard of behavior requires a student to comply with, observe and obey state and/or federal laws; the policies, rules and regulations of the college; and orders of the chancellor, faculty, administrators and staff of the institution who are charged with the administration of institutional affairs.
  2. A student is not entitled to greater immunities or privileges before the law than those enjoyed by other citizens generally. He/she is expected to obey the civil statutes of the state of Missouri and the federal government, and the Board of Trustees’ rules and regulations. He/she may be penalized by the college for violating its standards of conduct even though punished by state or federal authorities for the same act.

C. Procedures

  1. Inherent Authority
    The succeeding regulations describe offenses for which disciplinary proceedings may be initiated. The college expects all students and student organizations to obey the law, to show respect for properly constituted authority, to maintain integrity and high standards of individual honor in scholastic work, and to observe standards of conduct appropriate for a community of scholars. In short, a student enrolled in the college assumes an obligation to conduct himself/herself in a manner compatible with the college’s function as an educational institution.

    The college reserves the right to take necessary and appropriate action to protect the safety and well-being of the campus and to support the mission of the college. When a college administrator receives a report that a student’s or organization’s behavior off-campus potentially poses significant danger to the college community, or would otherwise disrupt the campus environment or adversely affect the college, appropriate action as outlined in this code may be taken. Complaints about off-campus behavior will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they merit review within the Student Conduct system.

    To the extent feasible and practical, disciplinary regulations at the college are in writing in order to provide students general notice of prohibited conduct. The regulations are not a criminal code; they should be read broadly and are not designed to define misconduct in exhaustive terms.
     
  2. Enumerated Standards
    Violations of the Code of Conduct include but are not limited to:
    1. unauthorized and/or illegal possession, use or distribution of alcoholic beverages or presence on campus while under the influence of such
    2. manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of controlled substances or presence on campus while under the influence of such
    3. theft of property or services
    4. vandalism or destruction of property
    5. assault and/or battery
    6. conduct that threatens the physical or mental well-being, health or safety of an individual
    7. intimidation or harassment that causes a reasonable student to fear for his or her physical safety or property, and the intimidation or harassment may consist of physical actions, including gestures, or oral, cyber bullying, electronic, or written communications, and any threat of retaliation for reporting any such intimidation or harassment
    8. gender-based or sexual misconduct as defined by policy 4.06
    9. possession, use, sales or purchase of firearms or other weapons
    10. trespassing on college property or other unauthorized use of college property or services
    11. abuse or misuse of college computer, network or other technology system resources, including unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material including through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and other violations of the college’s Computer Use Agreement
    12. academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarizing or furnishing false information on official documents or other requests from the college
    13. disrupting the peace, the learning environment of another student, the education process, college operations and/or related activity
    14. failure to identify oneself to, or comply with the directions of an authorized college employee or representative who is performing his/her duties
    15. any conduct that constitutes a violation of the terms of any discipline imposed in accordance with this procedure, or any form of retaliation towards a complainant or any participant in an investigation or conduct process. Retaliation will not be tolerated
    16. any conduct that constitutes a violation of handbooks, policy, contracts, or behavioral agreements specific to college programs or activities
    17. any conduct that constitutes a violation of Federal or State law, local ordinance or college policy or regulation
    18. gambling of any kind on college property, in college facilities or using college resources
    19. forgery, alteration or misuse of any college document, record, key, electronic device or identification cards
    20. hazing-participating in or causing a willful act, occurring on or off campus of the college, directed against a student or a prospective member of an organization operating under the sanction of the college that recklessly endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or prospective member for the purpose of initiation or admission into or continued membership in any such organization to the extent that such person is knowingly placed at probable risk of the loss of life or probable bodily or psychological harm
    21. stalking-purposely and repeatedly engaging in an unwanted course of conduct that causes alarm to another person when it is reasonable in that person’s situation to have been alarmed by the conduct
    22. disorderly, indecent or lewd conduct
    23. failure to conform to community standards of safety, good taste and decency. A student’s dress, hygiene and appearance shall not be such that it causes disruption, distracts others from the educational process or creates a health or safety problem
    24. participation in campus demonstrations that unreasonably disrupt the normal operations of the college and infringes on the rights of other members of the college community

D. Responsibilities

  1. As delegated by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Dean of Students or the designated campus or center administrator will administer the day-to-day proceedings in dealing with alleged violations of college standards of conduct in a manner consistent with procedural due process.
  2. The Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs, or other designated campus or center administrators, will receive student appeals and facilitate appeal proceedings as outlined in policy 5.16 Student Discipline and Appeal Procedures.

E. Definitions

  1. ” Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs” means the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, his/her designee(s), or his/her representative(s).
  2. “Dean of Students” means the Dean of Students, his/her designee(s), or his/her representative(s).
  3. “Chancellor” means the Chancellor, his/her designee(s) or his/her representative(s).
  4. “Student” means all persons taking courses at Ozarks Technical Community College, for college credit or non-credit, for continuing education, personal development, adult education and literacy or professional development, whether or not pursuing any degree or program offered by Ozarks Technical Community College. The college has jurisdiction for disciplinary purposes over a person who was an enrolled student at the time he/she allegedly violated a Board of Trustees policy, college regulation, or administrative rule.
  5. “Administrator” represents all vice chancellors, vice chancellors, campus presidents, deans, directors, coordinators, and department chairpersons of the college for the purposes of this code.
  6. “Board” means the Board of Trustees of Ozarks Technical Community College.