A. Student Conduct
Students have the responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner that does not impair the welfare or educational opportunities of others in the DCC community. Students must act as responsible members of the academic community; respect the personal and property rights, privileges, and dignity of others; and refrain from actions which interfere with normal College functions. The following conduct is prohibited by DCC and will be sanctioned in accordance with this code.
1. Forgery, falsification, or fraudulent misuse of DCC documents, records, or identification cards.
2. Furnishing false information to DCC or members of the College community who are performing their official duties.
3. Causing false information to be presented before any proceeding of the College or intentionally destroying evidence important to such a proceeding.
4. Tampering with the election of any recognized student organization.
5. Violations of copyright laws or policies.
6. Theft of property or auxiliary services including housing, or knowing possession of stolen property on College premises.
7. Unauthorized use, destruction, or damage of College property or the property of others on College premises or at College-sponsored activities.
8. Unauthorized or fraudulent use of the College’s facilities, telephone system, mail system, or computers, or use of any of the above for any illegal act.
9. Unauthorized entry, use, or occupancy of College facilities.
10. Failure to comply with the reasonable directives of College officials, including Resident Assistants, acting in the performance of their duties within the scope of their authority.
11. Violation of published College regulations or policies. Among such regulations are those pertaining to student housing, entry and use of College facilities, scientific research, inventions made or developed with College support, use of amplifying equipment, campus demonstrations, etc. College regulations and policies may be obtained from various offices of the College, e.g., Residence Life or from the Office of the Dean of Student Services.
12. Intentional obstruction or disruption of normal College or College-sponsored activities, including but not limited to studying, teaching, research, administration and disciplinary procedures, or fire, police, or emergency services.
13. Use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages on College premises or at College-sponsored activities except as permitted in College policies (DCC Facility Use Policy and DCC Alcohol/Dangerous Drug Policy). Note: Use of alcohol does not excuse abusive or destructive behavior. Sanctions for Student Conduct Code violations will not be reduced on the basis of alcohol use.
14. Disorderly or indecent conduct on College-owned or -controlled property or at College sponsored activities.
15. Interfering with the freedom of expression of others on College premises or at College sponsored activities.
16. Stalking, including, but not limited to, purposely or knowingly causing another personal substantial emotional distress or reasonable apprehension of bodily injury or death by repeatedly following another person or harassing, threatening, or intimidating another person, in person or by mail, by electronic communication or any other action, device or method.
17. Hazing, defined as an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, 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 group or organization.
18. Malicious intimidation or harassment of another. When a student, with the intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy, or offend, (1) causes bodily injury to another, (2) causes reasonable apprehension of bodily injury in another, (3) damages, destroys, or defaces any property of another or any public property, or (4) makes repeated telephone communications anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours or in offensively coarse language.
19. Use, possession, or distribution of any dangerous drug on College premises or at College-sponsored activities; or illegal distribution of any dangerous drug. [See The DCC Alcohol and Dangerous Drug Policy].
20. Retaliation against a person for filing a complaint or acts of intimidation directed towards the person to drop a complaint.
21. Illegal or unauthorized possession or use of firearms, explosives, other weapons, dangerous chemicals, or other noxious substances on College premises.
22. Violation of federal, state or local law on DCC premises or at DCC-sponsored activities; violation of published College policies, rules or regulations; acting to impair, interfere with or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes and functions of the College, including but not limited to:
a. Violence or threat of violence against self or any member or guest of the College community.
b. Interference with the freedom of movement of any member of guest of the College.
c. Interference with the rights of others to enter, use or leave any College facility, service or activity.
d. Use of public address systems on the campus outside of College buildings except with written permission of the Dean of Student Services.
23. Sexual Misconduct or Sexual Harassment. [See BP2-7 Sexual Misconduct Policy].
24. Homicide, assault, aggravated or felony assault, or threat of the same, to any person on College-owned or -controlled property or at College-sponsored functions, or conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any such person; or off-campus homicide, assault, aggravated or felony assault, or threat of the same.
25. Other conduct which harms to a person in the College community, damage to the property of another, or otherwise constitutes behavior inappropriate in the DCC setting.
26. Violation of the terms of any disciplinary sanction imposed in accordance with this Code.
27. Attempts to commit acts prohibited by the Standards of Student Conduct, or knowingly or willfully encouraging or assisting others to commit such acts, are prohibited by this Code and may be punished to the same extent as if one had committed the prohibited act.
B. Sanctions and Mitigating Factors
Committing any act prohibited by this Code may result in expulsion or suspension from the College. Mitigating factors may be considered. Such factors may include the present attitude and past disciplinary record of the offender, as well as the nature of the offense and the severity of any damage, injury, or harm resulting from it.
C. Application of Student Conduct Code to Off-Campus Offenses
Student Conduct Code charges may be initiated against a student who engages in conduct off-campus that threatens the health and safety of any member of the campus community. A student or College employee having knowledge of the off-campus offense may file a complaint with the Dean of Student Services. The Dean of Student Services, with the advice and counsel of appropriate professional staff to determine whether requirements for off-campus application of Student Conduct Code charges are met, will recommend to the President whether such charges should be made. In reaching a decision, the President will consider whether criminal charges have been or will be filed and whether the alleged offender is in the custody of criminal justice authorities. Disciplinary procedures set forth in this Code apply to charges initiated under this section. If the health and safety of the campus community can be protected through the criminal justice proceedings, the College may defer Student Conduct Code charges until criminal proceedings are concluded. College officials will encourage complainants to report alleged criminal conduct to criminal justice authorities. Proceedings under this Code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings off-campus.
D. Disciplinary Sanctions
1. The College will take necessary and appropriate action to protect the safety and wellbeing of the campus community. Sanctions for violating the Standards of Student Conduct may include any one or more of the following:
a. Expulsion. The student is permanently separated from the College and/or from any College-owned or -controlled property or events.
b. Suspension. The student is separated from the College for a specified period of time, but not longer than the remainder of the semester. The student shall not participate in any College sponsored activity and may be barred from College premises. The sanctions of expulsion and suspension require administrative review and approval by the DCC President.
c. Conduct Probation/Suspension Warning. A status which is imposed for a designated period of time and includes the probability of more severe disciplinary sanctions, including suspension or expulsion, if the student is found to have violated the Student Conduct Code during the period.
d. Disciplinary Reprimand. The student is given a written reprimand for violation of the Student Conduct Code and a warning that further misconduct may result in more severe disciplinary action.
e. Restitution. The student is required to make compensation for actual loss, damage or injury. This may take the form of appropriate service and/or monetary or material replacement.
f. Fines. Fines of up to $250 or other appropriate sanctions may be imposed. Grades and transcripts will be withheld until all fines are paid.
g. Other Sanctions. In addition to the above, other appropriate sanctions may be imposed. Some such sanctions are behavior modification treatment or suspension from activities or from a particular activity.
2. Repeated or aggravated violation of this Code may result in more severe disciplinary sanctions than any individual violation might warrant.
3. Notification of any sanction imposed will be sent to appropriate College officials.
4. Temporary Suspension. A student may be temporarily suspended from the College or evicted from College Housing by the DCC Dean of Student Services pending disciplinary or criminal proceedings. Such suspension or eviction will become immediately effective without prior notice whenever there is a possibility that the student’s continued presence on the campus constitutes a threat to the student or others or to the continuance of normal College operations. In such cases, the student is given an opportunity to appear before the DCC President within five (5) working days from the effective date of the suspension or eviction in order to discuss the following issues: (a) the reliability of the evidence against the student, and (b) whether the alleged conduct and surrounding circumstances reasonably indicate that the student’s presence on campus constitutes a threat to the student or others or to the continuance of normal College operations.
E. Readmission
Following suspension for misconduct, readmission to the College is dependent upon the student’s compliance with the conditions designated at the time of suspension and the student’s fitness to return to the campus community. Appropriate documentation, depending upon the nature of the original violation and the conditions of suspension, is required. Upon readmission, the student maybe placed on disciplinary probation for a designated period of time with required conditions and expectations of behavior monitored by a designated campus professional(s).
F. Group Sanctions
Every campus group and organization has the responsibility to take all reasonable steps to ensure that their collective and individual conduct is not in violation of the college code of conduct, regulations and/or federal, state and local laws. The following sanctions may be imposed upon campus groups or organizations:
1. Group General Probation: This is given to a college club or other organized group for a specified period. If group violations are repeated during the term of the probation, the charter may be revoked or activities restricted.
2. Group Restrictive Probation: Removing college recognition during the semester in which the offense occurred or for a longer period. While under restriction, the group may not seek or add members, hold or sponsor events in the college community, or engage in other activities as specified.
3. Group Charter Revocation: Removal of college recognition for a group, club, society, or other organization. A group may petition for re-charter if the president or his or her designee approves a time frame.