Student Code of Conduct

Standards of Student Conduct

The H. Councill Trenholm State Community College Code of Conduct provides the standards of conduct by which students and organizations are expected to abide. Enrollment and affiliation with the College in no way relinquishes the right nor provides an escape of the responsibilities of local, state, or federal laws and regulations.

The conduct of each student and organization is to conform with the standards of common decency, with respect being given to the rights and property of others. The Student Code of Conduct applies to conduct that occurs on the college premises or while participating in official College-sanctioned activities. At any time, the College may dismiss students whose conduct is, in its judgment, detrimental to themselves or to the welfare of others. Violators of college rules and regulations are subject to disciplinary action.

A student may be disciplined and found in violation of the Student Code of Conduct to include but are not limited to the following:

1. Intentional disregard for the instructions given by college officials while they are carrying out their responsibilities.
2. Breaching college rules and regulations, including those related to student organizations, the use of college facilities, and the time, place, and manner of public expression or distribution of materials.
3. Dishonesty, cheating, forgery, plagiarism, misrepresentation, or alteration of college documents, records, or identification.
4. Obstruction or disruption of classes, administration, disciplinary procedures, or authorized college activities
5. Engaging in disorderly, indecent, obscene, or offensive behavior or expression that disrupts the College's primary educational mission or negatively impacts a student's status as a responsible member of the college community. This includes the use of campus computer resources, email addresses, and any other communication mediums available to students.
6. Profanity and/or obscene language or conduct.
7. Assault or battery, abuse, threat of force, or violence directed to any member of the college family, or a campus visitor engaged in authorized activities.  
8. Harassment, intimidation, physical assault or sexual assault.
9. Possession while on campus or attending campus-sponsored functions of any of the following weapons: any instrument or weapon commonly known as blackjack, slingshot, fire bomb, Billy club, or metal knuckles; any dagger, firearm (loaded or unloaded), pistol, revolver, rifle, or Taser gun; any knife, metal pipe, or bar used or intended to be used as a club; or any item such as a chain intended for bodily harm to any person.
   Trenholm State reserves the right to inspect any weapons in the possession of students that could potentially harm themselves, classmates, faculty, staff, or campus visitors. Note: Exceptions to this policy include on-campus security personnel, law enforcement agencies, and individuals granted permission by the College President or their designated representatives.
10. Use, possession, distribution, or presence on campus while under the influence of alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or any other dangerous drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, crystal meth, amphetamines, or illicit and illegal drugs, except as expressly permitted by law.
11. Bullying will not be tolerated.
12. Theft accessory of theft, having stolen property, or damage to property belonging to the College, a member of the college community, or a campus visitor.
13. Lewd, obscene, licentious, indecent, or inappropriate dress.
14. Improper use of the internet or other computer technology made available for student use.
15. Students are prohibited from participating in any on-campus solicitation or sales except for activities or fundraisers instituted or sponsored by the College.
16. Violation of written College rules, policies, and regulations.
17. Misuse, abuse, or unauthorized use of computing resources, including those for unauthorized purposes such as destroying, modifying, accessing, copying, or downloading programs, records, or data belonging to the College or another user without permission.
18. Conviction of any misdemeanor or felony which adversely affects the educational environment of the College.
19. Any other activity or conduct not explicitly covered within the Standards of Student Conduct that impairs or endangers any person or property within the College's educational environment will be reported to the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services.

Failure to comply with the authority of college officials acting within the capacity of their positions or any other activity or conduct not specifically stated herein which impairs or endangers any person or property of the College is considered to be in violation of the rules and regulations of the College.

Student Right-To-Know and Campus Security Act

Trenholm State is in compliance with the Federal Student Right-to-Know Act and Campus Security Act regarding the College's safety policies. Statistical Data regarding completion/persistence rate of all programs is available in the Office of Admissions and Campus Police. This data is also found in the Appendix at the back of this Student Handbook.

Individuals or any class of individuals who believe that they have been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Titles II, VI, VII, IX, and Section 504 (ADA), may contact the college’s Title IX Coordinators.

Grievances and DUE PROCESS Procedures

H. Councill Trenholm State Community College is committed to ensuring an environment for all employees and students that is fair, humane, and respectful. The College assures each student that no action will be taken on grounds unsupported by academic policies and procedures.

Emphasis will be placed upon achieving an equitable resolution to problems rather than seeking to emphasize guilt or punishment. Students are guaranteed procedural due process in situations involving severe disciplinary problems. The following procedures will be followed:

Procedure for Bringing Charges

1. Any student, faculty member, or administrator may file a charge in writing against a student for misconduct. The charge will be filed with the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services.
2. The complainant must file with the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services within thirty (30) calendar days following the date of the alleged violation(s). Upon receipt of the charge, the Vice-President will provide the student with a written statement of the charges and determine the course of action regarding the accusations. During this stage, the accused may admit to the charge and waive the right to the Hearing Board, and disciplinary action will be determined by the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services.
3. If disciplinary proceedings appear warranted, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services will set a date, time, and place for the hearing, and the accused will be informed by written notice at least two (2) days before the hearing. Anytime up until the day of the hearing, the accused may waive the right to a hearing, admit the charge, and have the punishment decided by the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services. Under such circumstances, the accused will be informed of the disciplinary action within ten (10) days.
4. Any student whose presence poses a possible danger to persons or property of the College or an ongoing threat of disrupting the academic process may be removed from the campus immediately.
5. Written notification of the date, time, and place of the hearing shall be sent to the student within five days of a complaint being filed.
6. A Disciplinary Committee comprised of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services, faculty, staff, and a student representative will be selected to hear each disciplinary case.
7. The Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services will notify the student(s) in writing of the results and findings of the Student Disciplinary Committee and the course of appeal to the President.

Disciplinary Sanctions

Upon the determination that a student(s) has violated any of the rules, regulations, or guidelines set forth in this Code, the following disciplinary sanctions may be imposed, either singly or in combination, by the appropriate College officials:

• Censure – A statement to the offender that he/she has violated college regulations and that there is a possibility of more stringent disciplinary actions in the event of future violations.
• Restitution – Reimbursement for damage or misappropriation.
• Disciplinary Probation – Students placed on probation will be notified of such in writing and will also be notified of the terms and length of the probation. Probation may include restrictions on the extracurricular activities of the student. Any conduct in violation of this Code while on probationary status may result in the imposition of further action.
• Suspension – Students who are suspended are deprived of student status and are separated from the College for a stated period of time. The suspension shall appear on the student’s disciplinary record.
• Expulsion – Termination of student status for a definite or indefinite period. The conditions of readmission, if any, shall be stated in writing to the student.

Student Complaint/Grievance And Appeal Policy 

Trenholm State recognizes that in order to efficiently and effectively carry out its mission, its students must feel confident that any valid complaint or grievance a student may make concerning the college will be promptly addressed by the appropriate authorities. Therefore, the following procedures for resolving such complaints and grievances have been adopted by H. Councill Trenholm State Community College.

The Trenholm State Student Handbook defines the initial steps to solve a complaint, as well as defines sexual harassment, discrimination, and grievance as follows:

• Complaints - Academic or non-academic areas of dissatisfaction with instructional or support services. Examples of academic complaints include a disputed course grade, faculty performance, or course information. Examples of non-academic complaints include a disputed late registration fee, delivery of support services, or student conduct.
• Sexual Harassment- Inappropriate introduction of sexual activities or comments into the workplace or learning environment. While sexual harassment may involve relationships among equals, it often involves relationships of unequal power, giving rise to elements of coercion centered on sexual activity for opportunities of benefit such as improved jobs or academic status.
• Discrimination- Difference in treatment in any service, program, course, or facility on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, sex, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, or parental status.
• Grievance - An unresolved complaint shall be termed a "grievance." A student who submits a complaint to the appropriate College officials and who is not satisfied with the plan of resolution.

Initial Steps to Resolve a Complaint

Informal Student Complaint Process

Trenholm State has a variety of procedures for dealing with student-related issues, including grade appeals, academic dishonesty violations, student discipline, harassment complaints, and Student Grievance procedures. One area not generally covered by other procedures concerns informal student complaints about faculty, staff, or student conduct. The College respects the academic freedom of the faculty and will not interfere with the exercise of appropriate discretion concerning the content or style of teaching activities. Indeed, academic freedom is and should be of paramount importance. At the same time, the College recognizes its responsibility to provide students with a procedure for addressing complaints about faculty/staff treatment of students that are not covered by other procedures.

Wherever possible, complaints at Trenholm State are handled in an informal manner. Administrators, faculty, and staff maintain an “open-door” policy to discuss issues of concern for all students. Faculty and staff serve as a resource for individuals seeking assistance in resolving matters within the College community. Students are encouraged to first attempt to resolve complaints with the faculty or staff person. If unresolved, students should next speak to the departmental chairperson or supervisor of the faculty or staff member in an effort to resolve the matter. If still unresolved, the student should lodge their complaint with the Vice President of Instructional Services (academic complaints) or Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services (non-academic complaints). The chart below details the initial area for assistance referral and subsequent contact areas. If students have any questions about the applicable area for assistance, they should consult with the Title IX Coordinator, who will advise the student if some other procedure is applicable to the type of complaint they are seeking to resolve.

Insert Table

Formal Student Complaint Process

If an informal conference regarding a complaint fails to reach the outcome requested by the student, the student may initiate the formal process described below by timely filing a written complaint with the respective Vice-President.  Any student enrolled at Trenholm State who wishes to make a formal complaint about an academic matter must report that matter in writing to the Executive Vice President of Instructional Services, who is responsible for managing academiccomplaints.  Any other types of complaints are considered non-academic and are reported to the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services, who is responsible for managing non-academic complaints. If the complaint involves a specific occurrence, the complaint shall be made within ten (10) working days of the occurrence.

The written complaint is completed on a Student Complaint Form which includes the date the complaint was reported, the student’s name, student identification number, contact information and current enrollment status. The specific elements of the complaint review that are included in the records are as follows: 

1. The date of the incident.
2. Whether or not the complaint is an academic or non-academic matter.
3. If the complaint involves a specific person and/or department.
4. A description of the complaint, including specific details and additional documentation.
5. Whether the complainant has had an opportunity to speak to a Trenholm State faculty or staff member regarding the complaint.
6. The person to whom the complainant spoke regarding the complaint.
7. The outcome of the conversation the complainant had with a Trenholm State faculty or staff member regarding the complaint.
8. Signature and Date Complaint Form completed by complainant.
9. A processing section for either the Executive Vice President of Instructional Services and/or Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services to complete.

If, after discussion between the student and the respective Vice President, it is determined that the complaint can be resolved immediately; the college official will take action to resolve the complaint and will submit a report within ten working days of the filing of the complaint to the President and other appropriate college officials, detailing both the complaint and its resolution.

Grievance Procedures

If any student’s complaint is not or cannot be resolved at the first level of supervision as described in the paragraphs above, such an unresolved complaint shall be termed a “grievance.” A student who submits a complaint to the appropriate College officials under the paragraphs above and who is not satisfied with the plan of resolution shall have the right to file a grievance with the College official and shall include the following information:

1. Date the original complaint was reported
2. Name of the person to whom the original complaint was reported
3. Detailed facts of the complaint
4. Proposed action to be taken by the receiving official to resolve the complaint
5. Specific action to be taken by the receiving official to resolve the complaint
6. Specific objection(s) to be the proposed plan of resolve
7. Other information relevant to the grievance that the complainant wants considered

If the complainant fails to file a notice of appeal by 4:30 pm on the 15th calendar day following having received the plan of resolution, the right to further appeal is forfeited.

Investigation Procedures

The Grievance Officer, either personally or with the assistance of such other persons as the President may designate, shall conduct a factual investigation of the grievance and shall research the applicable statue, regulations or policy, if any. The factual findings from the investigation by the Grievance Officer shall be stated in a written report.

The report will be submitted to the complainant and to the party against whom the complaint was made, the “Respondent, “and shall be made a part of the hearing record, if a hearing is requested by the complainant.

Students with Disabilities

Grievance Procedures for American Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, and the Rehabilitation Regulations

Trenholm State Community College ensures that students with disabilities enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as all other enrolled students. Additionally, specialized assistance will be provided as necessary to support students with disabilities in fulfilling their potential and meeting program and course requirements. The purpose of this grievance procedure is to ensure that no student is denied access to the institution or any of its programs due to disability.

Introduction

Trenholm State promotes the exchange of ideas among all members of the college community, including students, faculty, staff, and administration. An environment conducive to open exchange of ideas is essential to intellectual growth and positive change. However, the College recognizes that, at times, people may have differences that they are unable or unwilling to resolve themselves, and that employees and students must feel confident that the appropriate authorities will promptly address a valid complaint or grievance concerning the College.

Provided, however, that if a complaint is in the form of an alleged violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the student shall file the complaint with the Title IX Coordinator (Students) using the grievance procedure adopted by the State Board of Education for Title IX grievances. That procedure can be found in Alabama Community College System Policy No. 620.0. In the event that there is a hearing on a Title IX grievance, the hearing procedure shall be the same as stated herein below.

Title IX provides that “No person in the United States shall on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” If the student is uncertain as to whether his or her complaint would be covered by Title IX, the student shall meet with the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services to make that determination.

For Title IX-Related Matters

Dr. Pamelon Rollins (Employees)
Director of Human Resources| Senior Personnel Office
P.O. Box 10048
1225 Air Base Boulevard
Building A/B
Montgomery, AL 36108
(334) 420-4253
prollins@trenholmstate.edu

Dr. Theresa Mays (Students)
Vice President, Student Affairs & Information Services
P.O. Box 10048
1225 Air Base Boulevard
Building F
Montgomery, AL 36108
(334) 420-4296
tmays@trenholmstate.edu

For ADA-Related Matters

Regina Jones (Students)
Director of Student Success
P.O. Box 10048
1225 Air Base Boulevard
Montgomery, AL 36108
(334)420-4418
rjones@trenholmstate.edu

Anti-Harassment Policy

Trenholm State has a commitment to providing both employment and educational environments free of harassment or discrimination related to an individual’s race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Not only is such harassment or discrimination a violation of the policies of the Alabama Community College System, but it is also an institutional policy that any practice or behavior that constitutes such harassment or discrimination shall not be tolerated on Trenholm State’s campus or in any division or department, by any employee, student, agent, or non-employee on any College property or while engaged in any College-sponsored activity. It shall also be a violation of this policy for a person to engage in such harassment or discriminatory practice or behavior through the use of any College-owned or College-controlled communication process, system, or device.

For these purposes, the term “harassment” includes, but is not necessarily limited to:

• Language, behavior, or other activity that has the intent or effect of unduly demeaning, embarrassing, or discomforting any person, or creating an environment that is unduly demeaning, embarrassing, or discomforting to any person or persons of reasonable sensitivity.
• Harassment of employees or students by persons who are not employees or students shall also be a violation of this policy. Any employee or student who becomes aware of any such harassment shall report the incident(s) to the appropriate institutional official.

Such discrimination may or may not be in the form of harassment, per se. However, as with incidents of harassment, any employee or student who becomes aware of the unduly adverse treatment of any person on the basis of that person’s race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other impermissible factor, shall report such situation to an appropriate College official.

Sexual harassment is a form of misconduct that is considered under the law to be both harassment and discrimination, which is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for employees and under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for students. Sexual harassment does not refer to such innocent conduct as occasional compliments on another’s appearance; it refers to behavior with sexual connotations that would have the effect of interfering with, or the tendency to interfere with, the work, educational, or social environment of its victims. Sexual harassment may involve the behavior of a person of either sex toward a person of the opposite or the same sex, and occurs when it consists of unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, or other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when

1. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or educational opportunities.
2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting that individual.
3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment.

Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

1. Physical assault, or attempted physical assault, of a sexual nature.
2. Direct propositions of a sexual nature.
3. Subtle pressure for sexual activity.
4. Threats or coercion used for the purpose of soliciting sexual favors.
5. Displaying pictures or other objects that are sexual in nature that would have the tendency to create a hostile or offensive environment and serve no legitimate business purpose;
6. Repeated conduct that has the effect of causing, or intent to cause, discomfort or humiliation, or both, that includes comments of a sexual nature or sexually explicit statements, questions, jokes, or anecdotes.
7. Repeated conduct that has the effect of causing, or the intent to cause, discomfort or humiliation in the form of (i) touching, patting, pinching, hugging, or brushing against another’s body; (ii) comments of a sexual nature about another’s clothing or appearance; or (iii) remarks about sexual activity or prior sexual experiences.

Any student who is the victim, or intended victim, of sexual harassment should report the matter to the Title IX Coordinator (Students) as soon as possible after the situation occurs. If the matter is determined by the Title IX Coordinator to involve sexual harassment, it shall also be reported to the President of the College and to the Director of Human Resources, who shall also be kept informed of the progress and results of the investigation of the complaint. Any subsequent adverse treatment incurred by the reporting party that appears to be retaliation of, or related to, the report of sexual harassment should also be brought to the attention of the office of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services.

With regard to relationships of a physical nature, Trenholm State employees determine the ethical and moral tone of this college through both their personal conduct and their job performance. Therefore, each employee must be dedicated to the ideals of honor and integrity in all public and personal relationships. Relationships between College personnel of different ranks that involve partiality, preferential treatment, or other improper use of position shall not be tolerated. Consensual amorous relationships that might be appropriate in other circumstances are inappropriate when they occur between an instructor and a student for whom he or she has a responsibility or between any supervisor and an employee where preferential treatment result. Furthermore, such relationships have the potential to undermine the atmosphere of trust on which the educational process depends. Implicit in the concept of professionalism is the recognition by those in positions of authority that in their relationships with students or subordinate employees, there is always an element of power. Therefore, it is incumbent on those with authority not to abuse the power with which they are entrusted.

Steps Defined

In order to accommodate the resolution of such situations, Trenholm State offers the following grievance procedures as the appropriate course of action for settling disputes and resolving problems.

1. Initial Steps
   Any student of  Trenholm State who has a grievance against another student or a member of the Trenholm State faculty, staff, or administration concerning any form of discrimination (Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964), sexual harassment (Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972), or violation of the rights of the disabled (Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) should first attempt to resolve his/her situation with the individual involved. However, a student who believes herself or himself to have been subjected to sexual harassment is not required to first speak to or attempt to resolve the situation with the perpetrator of sexual harassment before filing a complaint. If for some reason resolution of the grievance is not possible, the student should make his/her grievance known to the immediate superior of the individual against whom the student has a grievance, and/or to the Title IX Coordinator (Students) in order to seek an informal resolution to the problem. If, after the discussion between the student and the respective College official or representative, it is determined that the complaint is valid, the College official or representative will take appropriate action to resolve the complaint using a formal “plan of resolution.”
   
   If the student’s complaint requires a formal “plan of resolution,” a written report must be submitted to the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services. The report shall be submitted by the College official or representative within ten business days of the initial complaint and shall detail the complaint and the plan to resolve the complaint. If a student’s complaint cannot be resolved in the manner described above, an unresolved complaint shall be termed a “grievance.”
2. Interim Resolution
   If the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services should determine that the grievance is of a nature that there should be imposed an interim resolution pending the outcome of the grievance procedure, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services shall recommend such an interim resolution to the President or designee. The President or designee shall have the discretion to impose or not impose an interim resolution.
3. Formal Grievance Process
   A student who submits a complaint to the appropriate College official or representative in the manner described above and who is not informed of a satisfactory resolution or plan of resolution within ten business days after the complaint’s initial submission shall have the right to file within ten business days, a formal grievance statement. The written grievance statement shall be filed using Grievance Form A, which will be provided by the Grievance Officer and shall include the following information:
   1. Date the original complaint was reported.
   2. Name of the person to whom the original complaint was reported.
   3. Facts of the complaint.
   4. Action taken, if any, by the receiving official to resolve the complaint.
      
      The grievance statement shall also contain any other information relevant to the grievance the Grievant wants to be considered by the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services. Any grievance must be filed within 45 calendar days of the occurrence of the alleged discriminatory act or the date on which the Grievant became aware that the discriminatory act took place
      
      The Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services will notify the student or a member of the Trenholm State faculty, staff, or administration of the charge(s) against him/her within five business days of receiving the formal grievance statement. If after a reasonable attempt to notify the student, faculty member, staff member, or administrator of the charges against him/her, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services is unable to do so, then the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services may suspend the student, or the President of the College or his/her designee may suspend with pay the faculty member, staff member, or administrator until a hearing is held and decision rendered.
      
      The College shall have thirty (30) calendar days from the date of receipt by the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services of the grievance to conduct an investigation of the allegation(s), hold a hearing on the grievance, and submit a written report to the Grievant of the findings arising from the hearing. Grievance Form A shall be used to report both the grievance and the hearing findings
4. Investigation Procedure
   The Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services shall have the right to conduct such preliminary hearing(s) as the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services or designee shall deem necessary to complete his/her investigation. The Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services shall conduct a factual investigation of the grievance allegations and shall research each applicable statute, regulation, and/or policy, if any. The Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services shall determine, after completion of the investigation, whether there is substantial evidence to support the grievance. The factual findings in the investigation and the conclusion of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services (Grievance Officer) shall be stated in a preliminary written report which shall be submitted to the Grievant and to the party or parties against whom the complaint was made and shall be made a part of the hearing record if a hearing is subsequently conducted. Each of the parties shall have the opportunity to file written objections to any of the factual findings and, if there is a hearing, to make their objections part of the hearing record. If the Grievance Officer finds the grievance is supported by substantial evidence, he or she shall make a recommendation in the report as to how the grievance should be resolved. Upon the receipt of the Grievance Officer’s preliminary report, the Grievant and the Respondent shall have three (3) business days to notify the Grievance Officer of the respective party’s request for a hearing. The Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services may, nevertheless, at his/her discretion, schedule a hearing on the grievance if doing so would be in the best interest of the College. In the event that no hearing is to be conducted, the Grievance Officer’s report shall be deemed a final report and shall be filed with the President, with a copy to be provided to the Grievant.
5. Hearing Procedure
   In the event that the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services schedules a hearing, the Title IX Coordinator or designee will appoint a qualified five-person committee. The Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services shall serve as the nonvoting chairperson. A quorum shall consist of four members of the committee and the chairperson. Unless the President determines otherwise, or both parties agree in writing for the hearing to be public, the hearing shall not be open to the public.
   
   At the hearing, the Grievant and the Respondent(s) shall be read the grievance statement. After the grievance is read into the record, the Grievant shall have the opportunity to present such oral testimony and offer such other supporting evidence as he/she shall deem appropriate to his/her claim. Each Respondent shall then be given the opportunity to present such testimony and offer such other evidence as he/she deems appropriate to the Respondent’s defense against the grievance. In the event that the College, or the administration of the College at large, is the party against whom the grievance is filed, the President shall designate a representative to appear at the hearing on behalf of the College.
   
   Any party to a grievance hearing shall have the right to retain, at the respective party’s own cost, the assistance of legal counsel or other personal representative. However, the respective attorney or personal representative, if any, shall act in an advisory role only and shall not be allowed to address the hearing body or question any witness. In the event that the College or its administration at large is the Respondent, the College representative shall not be an attorney or use an attorney unless the Grievant is also permitted to be assisted by an attorney or other personal representative.
   
   A student does not forfeit any of his/her constitutional rights upon his/her admission into Trenholm State, nor does a faculty member, staff member, or administrator forfeit his/her constitutional rights upon employment with Trenholm State. The Committee shall not have the authority to compel any witness to testify. However, insofar as it is not contrary to law, the Committee may consider the refusal of a witness to testify when deliberating the evidence. With regard to a College employee, the President shall have the authority to direct the employee to testify at a hearing if, in the discretion of the President, such testimony could be material to an accurate determination of the facts in the case.
   
   The hearing shall be recorded by either a court reporter on audio or video tape or by other electronic recording medium. In addition, all items offered into evidence by the parties, whether admitted as evidence or not, shall be marked and preserved as part of the hearing record.
6. Report of Findings and Conclusions
   Within five (5) working days following the hearing, there shall be a written report from the chairperson on the findings of the hearing committee (with a copy forwarded to the President, the Grievant, and each Respondent). The report shall contain at least the following:
   1. Date and place of the hearing.
   2. The name of each member of the hearing committee.
   3. A list of all witnesses for all parties to the grievance.
   4. Findings of facts relevant to the grievance.
   5. Conclusions of law, regulations, or policy relevant to the grievance.
   6. Recommendations(s) arising from the grievance and the hearing thereon.
7. Resolution of Grievance
   In the event of a finding by the Committee that the grievance was supported, in whole or in part, by the evidence presented, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services shall meet with the Grievant, the Respondent(s) and the appropriate College representative(s) and attempt to bring about a reasonable agreed-upon resolution of the grievance. If there is no mutual resolution, the President shall impose a resolution of the grievance, which shall be final and binding.
8. Appeal Procedure
   The President of Trenholm State shall be the appeal authority in upholding, rejecting, or modifying the recommendations of the Grievance [Committee] . The President shall not be bound in any manner by the recommendation(s) of the hearing committee but shall take it (them) into consideration in imposing his/her decision. The charged student, faculty member, staff member, or administrator may file a written request with the Title IX Coordinator and Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services requesting that the President of the College review the decision of the Grievance Committee. The written request must be filed within 15 calendar days following the party’s receipt of the hearing report. If the appeal is not filed by the close of business on the fifteenth day following the party’s receipt of the report, the party’s opportunity to appeal shall have been waived. If the appeal does not contain clear and specific objections to the hearing report, it shall be denied by the President. The President of the College shall issue his/her opinion to accept, reject, or modify the decision of the Grievance Committee within 15 calendar days of the initiation of the appeal process. If the decision of the Grievance Committee does not satisfy the complainant, and should the grievance allege discrimination (Title VI), sexual harassment (Title IX), or violation of the rights of the handicapped (Sec. 504), the complainant may file a written grievance with:
   1. The Alabama Community College System, pursuant to Alabama Community College System policies and procedures, with respect to Title IX violations;

      1. If, after exhausting all available institutional processes, a student’s complaint remains unresolved, the student may appeal to the Alabama Community College System using the System’s official Student Complaint Form or at the ACCS website (www.accs.edu).  Students may submit completed complaint forms by printing the form, signing it, and then either scanning it and emailing it to complaints@accs.edu  or mailing it to:

         
         Alabama Community College System
         Attention: Office of the Vice Chancellor
         for Instructional and Student Services
         P.O. Box 302130 Montgomery, AL 36130-2130

   2. The Vice Chancellor for Instructional and Student Services or an appropriate administrator designated by the Vice Chancellor will investigate the complaint within 30 days of receipt.
   3. The institution that is the subject of the complaint has 30 days to provide a written response to questions and/or concerns raised during the investigation. Such a response may or may not contain a resolution.
   4. The Vice-Chancellor or designated administrator will adjudicate the matter and write a report or letter to the institution and student detailing corrective action if any is necessary or stating that the school has no violation of policies.
   5. If corrective action is needed, the institution will have 30 days to comply or develop a plan to comply with the corrective action.
   6. The System Office will monitor the institution’s compliance to ensure the completion of any required corrective action.
   7. The regional office of the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education within 180 days of the discriminatory act;
   8. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission within 180 days of the discriminatory act.

Exception

When a complainant or grievant complains of, asserts the existence of, or indicates the possibility of sexual harassment violation of the law, Trenholm State policy, or standards of

appropriate conduct, the President may, at his/her discretion, determine that the matter will not be resolved through procedures set forth above, but will be reasonably, appropriately, and promptly investigated and resolved by the College pursuant to such process as the President determines in accordance with the College’s objective of maintaining a work and educational environment free from sexual harassment.

Complaint Policy for Veteran Affairs (VA) Students

Any complaint against the school should be routed through the VA GI Bill® Feedback System by going to the following link: http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/Feedback.asp. The VA will then follow up through the appropriate channels to investigate the complaint and resolve it satisfactorily.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

General Policies

Academic Calendar

Trenholm State publishes and makes available the Academic Calendar, grading policies, and refund policies to students and the general public. The College publishes the Catalog and Student Handbook on the College website and in print. The Academic Calendar is published within the Catalog and Student Handbook and is also published online. 

Grading Policies

The institution's grading policies are published in the Catalog. These policies include an explanation of the College’s grading system and procedures for course forgiveness, and academic bankruptcy. The Catalog also publishes grading policies specific to the Registered Nursing Program.

Each instructor distributes the grading policy in the course syllabus to every student at the beginning of each semester which includes methods of evaluation and grading policies specific to the course and instructor. These policies adhere to those published in the Catalog. The refund policies are published in the Catalog.

Online/Hybrid Course Policies

The College offers courses that are online or hybrid in format. Students taking online classes can access the Catalog online via the College website. Students can also access information concerning the Academic Calendar, grading policies, and refund policies on the College’s website.

Electronic Device Use

Students are not to disrupt the class or other students with electronic devices. Students may have electronic devices in the classroom or instructional laboratory as permitted by the instructor. Class disruptions from the use of electronic devices in classes or labs may result in students being removed from class or lab.

Tobacco-Free Policy

Trenholm State is now a 100% Tobacco Free Campus. Smoking is not permitted on campus grounds. Any College employee or student found to be in violation of the tobacco-free policy will be subject to a monetary fine, and tickets will be issued by campus security for violations of Trenholm State’s tobacco-free policy.

Campus Posting/Announcements

Bulletin boards are placed throughout buildings on campus for the posting of notices and/or announcements. Signs, posters, or literature is prohibited from being posted in restrooms, on glass panels, windows, walls, doors, ceilings, or any other surface that may suffer damage as a result of tape or tacks.

Students are encouraged to check their Trenholm State E-mail and Canvas accounts frequently for important campus announcements.

All postings, leaflets, pamphlets, and any other forms of announcements/notices must be approved by the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services prior to being displayed or distributed on campus.

Drug-Free Schools and Campuses

In compliance with Section 22, of Public Law 101-226, entitled “Drug Free Schools and Campuses, “Trenholm State hereby gives notice of the institution’s policy to prevent the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees. The basic elements of the policy are listed below:

1. A statement prohibiting the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs or abuse of alcohol by employees or students on Trenholm State property or at any activity conducted, sponsored, or authorized by or on behalf of Trenholm State.
2. A description of the applicable legal sanctions under local, state, or Federal law for the unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs and abuse of alcohol.
3. A description of the health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol.
4. A description of the drug and alcohol counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, or reentry programs that are available to employees and students.
5. A clear statement of the sanctions that the institution will impose against employees and students who violate the policy.
6. A biennial review by the institution of its program in an effort to (a) determine its effectiveness and implement changes to the program if they are needed and (b) ensure that the sanctions required by item No. 5 above are consistently enforced.
7. A copy of the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Policy/Program referred to in this statement is available from the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services Office.

Campus Safety

Safety Procedures

1. The practice of safety is an integral part of the institution’s educational program. Students are required to purchase and use safety protective coverings as required by their department.
2. The college has published procedures for fires, bomb threats, and extreme weather lockdowns. Each of these procedures requires certain behavior on the part of each student. All students should be familiar with the procedures for these emergency situations.
3. All accidents, injuries, and serious illness occurring on campus should be immediately reported to the instructor and the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services. Written documentation is required for all accidents/injuries. Forms may be obtained from the instructor or the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services
4. Evacuation routes are posted in each classroom, office, and other specified areas; and
5. Intercom instructions will advise students of what to do in emergency situations.

First Aid

Students requiring first aid should notify their instructor or the first available College official. In the event that a person needs emergency medical treatment, emergency services should be contacted, and College officials notified. A person suspected of being seriously ill or injured (broken bones, unconscious, etc.) should not be moved until medical personnel arrive. Any costs, such as transporting a student to the hospital, hospitalization, or treatments are the responsibility of the student. The College does not provide emergency medical services. All areas are equipped with first aid kits to treat minor injuries.

Inclement Weather

All class cancellations or College closings due to inclement weather will be announced through the media. Notices will be carried throughout all local radio and television stations.

For students on campus during inclement weather, intercom announcements will provide instructions for what to do in an emergency.

Note: Day classes include all classes held during the 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. period. Evening classes are defined as all classes meeting any time after 4:00 p.m. until the College closes at the end of the evening session.

Unattended Minors

Children are not allowed to attend classes and must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children visiting the campus are expected to comply with all College policies. The accompanying adult is responsible for ensuring compliance.

Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA)

Trenholm State has a commitment to safety and security and complies with the Violence Against Women Act and the Federal Clery Act, both helping to bolster response to and prevention of violence.

VAWA requires colleges and universities, both public and private, to participate in federal student aid programs to increase transparency about the scope of sexual violence on campus, guarantee victims enhanced rights, provide for Standards in institutional conduct proceedings, and provide campus community-wide prevention educational programming.

In compliance with VAWA and Clery, Trenholm State has processes in place to actively collect and share data on violent incidents, and we regularly offer sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking prevention workshops.  For more information contact the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services, or the Counseling Office for details.

Annual Safety Report

Trenholm State is required to publish and distribute an Annual Safety Report (ASR) by October 1 of each   year. The ASR must include crime statistics for three calendar years as well as all of the required campus safety and security policies and procedures.

Freedom From Retaliation

The faculty member (whether in the classroom or in individual conferences) fosters relevant free discussion, inquiry, and expression. A student is free to take reasonable exception to the information offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion without threat of undue censure by the faculty member. Information about student views, beliefs, and political associations that the faculty member acquires in the course of their work as instructor, advisor, and counselor is considered confidential. Faculty members are required to inform students of the content and requirements of each course and the criteria by which student performance is to be evaluated. A student is responsible for learning the prescribed content of the course in which he or she enrolls. The faculty member evaluates student performance in the classroom solely on an academic basis and not on a student’s philosophies or conduct in matters unrelated to academic performance. A student who contends to have encountered a prejudiced academic evaluation may use the college’s Student Grievance Procedure as a means of seeking redress. (See Due Process). Academic honesty is a primary responsibility of the student. Students found guilty of academic dishonesty will incur sanctions as prescribed by the college’s student judicial system.

Redress of Grievances

Anytime a student’s rights, as outlined herein, are violated, the student has the right to petition for redress through grievance procedures. A grievance is defined as the claim of an individual student that there has been a violation, misinterpretation, or misapplication of a rule, policy, or procedure in relation to institutional policies and procedures.

H. Councill Trenholm State Community College assures prompt and impartial consideration to any complaints, which its students may have during the course of their matriculation at the college. When circumstances require such a process to be sought, students are encouraged to submit complaints or grievances in accordance with the following procedures:

Students may use this procedure without penalty or fear of reprisal.

1. Students should make an attempt to resolve the issue with the faculty or staff member verbally and in writing.
2. Students should attempt to resolve the issue with the faculty/staff member’s immediate supervisor both verbally and in writing.
3. Students should provide a written complaint to the Grievance Officer, Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services, or designee in person or by mail.
4. Upon receipt of the complainant, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services or designee will within five (5) working days schedule a conference with the student filing the grievance or complainant.
5. If there is no resolution in the conference, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services will, within three (3) working days, schedule a judicial hearing and forward the complaint to the appropriate judicial council. The ADA Compliance Officer, if necessary, will become a part of the process at this juncture.
6. The judicial council’s decision can be appealed in writing to the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services within five (5) working days to be heard by the Appellate Judicial Council of the college.
7. The Appellate Council will hold a hearing within (5) working days of the appeal.
8. The Appellate Council’s decision can be appealed to the President of the college within two (2) working days, for a final decision.

College Description of Policies and Procedures Relating to Student Conduct

Students and student organizations are expected and required to abide by local, state and federal laws. Students and their organizations must be aware that legal charges may be brought against them both within the college judicial system and in the civil or criminal court system. The college administration is responsible for establishing a procedure for reviewing and taking institutional action against students and student organizations found guilty of off-campus violations of local, state and federal laws. While the college does not act as a policing agent for students when they are off campus, the college reserves the right to take action if a student’s or student organization’s behavior is judged to be contrary to the pursuit of the educational mission of the college or if the continued presence of the student or the organization poses a threat to their well-being or to the rights and property of members of the college community.

All students who represent the college through affiliation with any H. Councill Trenholm State Community College organization and/or athletic team, or any college-sponsored activity are required to be in good standing as an H. Councill Trenholm State Community College student. Depending upon the severity of offense(s), and/ or decisions rendered by the appropriate disciplinary committee and Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services, students who are found guilty of violating the Student/Collegiate Codes of Conduct and are sanctioned to disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion are not allowed to serve in the capacity of affiliate or representative. Affiliation and representation include, but are not limited to the following: Student Government Association, and clubs and organizations. The Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services assumes general responsibility for student life and services offered by the college. In this capacity, it is the Vice-President’s responsibility to assure that students are informed of behaviors and activities that are unbecoming and/or unwelcome by the college, some of which are listed and discussed in this section.

The following are code of conduct issues, but not limited to, violations related to the Trenholm Student:

Academic Dishonesty

Cheating includes:

• Submitting material that is not the student as part of course performance, such as copying from another student’s exam or the reciprocal of that matter.
• Using information or devices that are not allowed by the faculty, such as using formulas or data from a home computer program or using unauthorized materials for a take-home exam.
• Obtaining and using unauthorized material, such as a copy of an examination before it is given.
• Fabricating information, such as the data for a lab report.
• Violating procedures prescribed to protect the integrity of an assignment, test, or other evaluation.
• Collaborating with others on assignments without the faculty’s consent.
• Cooperating with or helping another student to cheat.
• Participating in or performing other forms of dishonest behavior, such as having another person take an examination in your place, altering exam answers and requesting the exam be regarded, or communicating with any person during an exam other than the exam proctor of faculty. (Such acts will be considered a severe infraction and carry a possible sanction of suspension in semester (s) length or expulsion.)

Plagiarism includes:

• Directly quoting the words of others without using quotation marks or indented format to identify them.
• Using sources of information (published or unpublished) without identifying them
• Paraphrasing materials or ideas of others without identifying the sources.
• Using themes, essays, term papers, tests, and other similar requirements that are not the work of the student submitting them.
• When direct quotations are used, they must be indicated, and when the ideas of another are incorporated in papers, they must be appropriately acknowledged.
• When a student is unsure about something that he/she wants to do or the proper use of materials, a faculty member should be consulted for clarification.

Generally, if a student writes while looking at a source or while looking at notes taken from a source, a footnote should be given. Whenever any idea is taken from a specific work, even when the student writes the idea entirely in his/her own words, there must be a footnote giving credit to the author responsible for the idea. The student should never retain a sentence pattern and substitute synonyms for the original words. Paraphrasing means the alteration of sentence pattern and changing of words. Any direct quotation should be footnoted or documented in an acceptable fashion. Methods of documentation vary, and it is possible to cite in the text itself, rather than in a footnote. The student should give credit in a manner specified by the instructor. (Such acts will be considered a severe infraction and carry a possible sanction of suspension in semester (s) length or expulsion)

Unauthorized/Illegal Web/Computer Use

Trenholm allows and encourages the use of Trenholm-owned computer resources. This use is a granted privilege, not a right. Student use must be in accordance with all applicable laws, policies, and standards regarding acceptable use. Areas of concern include but are not limited to:

• Discriminating or libelous statements.
• Threatening, Bullying and/or Harassing via email and social media outlets
• Copyright infringements (“illegal downloading”)
• Obscene, offensive or threatening materials
• Usage primarily for financial gain or compensation not relevant to Trenholm’s mission
• Computer Hacking to access institutional records to change grades, alter account balances, etc.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in charges being brought both within the college’s judicial system and in the civil or criminal court system. (Such acts will be considered a severe infraction and carry a possible sanction of suspension in semester (s) length or expulsion.)

Criminal Acts

Students who are arrested by authorities because of violation of criminal law are subject to suspension until the matter is settled by the police department or by the court. The nature of the offense and the settlement will determine what action, if any, will be taken by the college. The student may also be subject to the college’s disciplinary process. (Such acts will be considered a severe infraction and carries a possible sanction of suspension in semester (s) length or expulsion.)

Deception

It is unacceptable and illegal for any person to:

1. Misuse college records, forms, or documents by forgery, unauthorized alteration or reproduction, or any other means.
2. Provide false information, either written or oral, to the college or to any administrator of the college. (Students who falsify housing and or admissions records are also subject to removal/or disciplinary action.)
3. Attempt to perpetrate fraud against the college or the members of the college community.
4. Misrepresent information or lie. Participation in such acts is subject to college disciplinary action and is punishable by law. (Such acts will be considered a severe infraction and carry a possible sanction of suspension in semester (s) length or expulsion.)

Destruction of College Property

Destruction or attempted destruction or damage to college property, property of the area surrounding the college, or property belonging to a member of the college community is strictly prohibited. Every person who shall maliciously destroy, disfigure, or cause to be destroyed, disfigured, or injured the property of another, either real or personal, shall be subject to arrest and/or criminal prosecution. Students are expected to respect the property of the college and that of others. Destruction of such property, deliberate or through carelessness, will be considered a serious breach of H. Councill Trenholm State Community College’s standards. Participation in vandalism may result in a student’s arrest and prosecution by campus and/or county authorities as well as suspension/expulsion from the college. The college will request restitution. (Such acts will be considered a severe infraction and carries a possible sanction of suspension in semester (s) length or expulsion.)

Arson

Any person who willfully and maliciously sets fire to, or burns, or causes to be burned; who is a party to destruction by explosion from combustible material; or who aids, counsels, or procures the burning or destruction of any state-supported school building in this state, whether in use or vacant, shall be guilty of arson and subject to expulsion.

Any person observing or witnessing the destruction by fire of any state-supported school building, whether occupied or vacant, which fire was the result of his or her act of an accidental nature, and who willfully fails to sound the general alarm or report such fire to local fire department or other local authorities, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to the State penitentiary for not less than two (2) or more than ten (10) years. Any person, who by reason of his age comes under the jurisdiction of juvenile authorities and who is found guilty under section 1 (subsection 1 hereof) of this act shall not be eligible for probation unless and until at least six (6) months confinement has been served in a state reform school. (Such acts will be considered a severe infraction and carries a possible sanction of suspension in semester (s) length or expulsion.)

Fires

It is illegal to possess, sell, furnish, or use any incendiary device without proper authorization. Setting or causing to be set any unauthorized fire in or on college property is also prohibited. Violations of these regulations may result in prosecution under the Alabama Criminal Code and/or expulsion from H. Councill Trenholm State Community College. (Such acts will be considered a severe infraction and carries a possible sanction of suspension in semester (s) length or expulsion.)

Fire Drills, False Alarms and Sprinklers

No person shall:

1. Fail to evacuate a building or refuse to respond immediately to a fire alarm.
2. Ring any bell or operate/tamper with/or trigger any mechanical or electrical apparatus for the purpose of creating a false fire alarm.
3. Operate/tamper with/discharge/or remove any fire extinguishing equipment, emergency signs, exit signs, sprinkler system, identification of rooms or smoke detector without proper authorization.
4. Re-enter a building until it has been declared safe to do so by the appropriate staff.
5. Not comply with officials conducting the drills

Participation in such acts is subject to college disciplinary action and punishable by law. (Such acts will be considered a severe infraction and carries a possible sanction of suspension in semester (s) length or expulsion.)

Disorderly Conduct or Assembly

1. No person shall assemble on campus for the purpose of causing a riot, destruction of property, or a disorderly diversion, which interferes with the normal operation of the college. (This section does not deny individuals the right to peaceful, non-disruptive assembly.)
2. No person or group of people shall obstruct the free movement of other people about the campus or interfere with the use of college facilities.
3. The abuse or unauthorized use of sound amplification equipment in or out of doors is prohibited. (The use of such equipment must be authorized by the appropriate department).
4. Rowdy behavior, indecent language, excessive noise, or drunken or drug-induced behavior is prohibited.
5. Disorderly and/or obscene conduct or a breach of the peace on any college property or public function affiliated with the college is prohibited. This includes disorderly conduct in a school-sponsored assembly. Participation in such acts is subject to college disciplinary action and is punishable by law. (Such acts will be considered a moderate or severe infraction and carries a possible sanction of suspension in semester(s) length or expulsion.)

Disruption of Classes and College Functions

Any person who, without authority, disrupts classes or other educational functions with vociferous vulgar language, loud music, fighting, or confrontations with students/faculty/staff on the campus or in off-campus sites shall be arrested for disturbing the peace, turned over to civil authorities, and shall be subject to disciplinary action which may result in suspension or expulsion. This is also referenced to excessive talking and horse playing in assemblies sponsored by the college.

Disruptive Behavior

1. No person shall threaten to, or actually push, strike. No person shall threaten to, or actually push, strike, or physically assault any member of the college community or any guest on the campus.
2. Students who maliciously provoke or participate in fights will be subject to disciplinary action, which may result in one or more of the following penalties: arrest, disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, or expulsion.
3. Conduct which materially interferes with the normal operation of the college is prohibited.
4. Conduct and/or expressions that are obscene, intimidating, or which are blatantly offensive to the prevailing standards of an academic community are prohibited. Participation in such acts is subject to college disciplinary action and is punishable by law. Such acts may carry sanctions of probation, suspension, or expulsion.

In cases of disturbance, the following policy shall be instituted:

1. All students of the college should report to their classes whether perpetrators of the disturbance report for class or not. The basic expectation of college employees is to carry out their official responsibility. This also includes student employees.
2. On the day or days of the disruption, teachers are to check classrooms carefully and send a written report of all absences to the Vice President of Instructional Services/ designee.

Emergencies, Campus

In the regular operation of every institution, there will inevitably be occasions when the routine operations are interrupted and, in extreme instances, suspended altogether. Such occasions may be due to weather, fire, strikes, or organized student demonstrations. In such situations, students, faculty, and employees need to ensure that all functions and services of the college continue. In such cases, all involved should follow the directives of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Informational Services.

Emergencies, Off-Campus

All off-campus emergencies are to be reported to the site monitor of the off-campus site. In most cases, each site has a police officer employed by the college. In cases where an officer is not present, local authorities should be contacted.

Dress Code

H. Councill Trenholm State Community College students are expected to dress in a manner representative of an educational institution. Special occasions (e.g. convocations, employment/career fairs, graduation, coronations, plays, luncheons, banquets, speeches for class/assembly) dictate that business (e.g. a shirt and tie; business suit; blazer and skirt or slacks; dress) or formal wear (e.g. dinner dress, formal, business suit, or tuxedo) be worn. Other social occasions (e.g. talent shows, spring fest, dances) require informal but respectable apparel. Headdress is inappropriate for males during all indoor functions. The male headdresses that includes “do-rags” or scarves are considered inappropriate for the educational environment. Similarly, male dress that includes sagging or unbelted pants is considered inappropriate dress at H. Councill Trenholm State Community College.

Female students are also expected to present themselves in appropriate dress at all times. Inappropriate dress might include unreasonably short dresses, midriff tops, short shorts, halter-tops, or other apparel of a revealing nature that is worn publicly in the classroom or to special occasions as defined in the preceding paragraphs. It is important that females (as in the case of males) are dressed in a manner that is representative of an educational institution.

In special situations, faculty members have the authority to stipulate dress regulations for their classes or events sponsored by their department. Similarly, academic colleges and departments may stipulate dress requirements to supplement their educational goals and objectives. Any member of the faculty or staff reserves the right to hinder a student from entering into a classroom or college-sponsored event due to inappropriate dress. (Such acts carry a sanction of community service, fine, probation, and/or suspension.)

Failure to Comply

1. A. Failure to respond or properly identify oneself pursuant to a request by properly identified officials of the college while in the performance of their duties.
2. Failure to report to the office of a college official for a conference, meeting, or appointment by the official.
3. Failure to appear as a witness in a disciplinary case when properly notified.
4. Failure to comply with any disciplinary condition imposed on a person by any judicial body or administrator.
5. Failure to comply with the directions of a campus security officer

Participation in such acts is subject to college disciplinary action and carries a sanction of probation, suspension, or expulsion.

False Representation of the College

No person or group of persons shall claim, without proper authorization, to speak, act, or solicit in the name of the college or one of its organizations. As a member of a community of educated persons, a student is expected to exercise reasonable self-discipline and judgment when speaking or acting as a citizen.

Financial Obligations

Students are expected to meet their financial obligations with the college in accordance with the designated deadline dates. If obligations are not met, then the student may be subjected to a reduction in funds, will not be included in commencement exercises, and will not be granted a college transcript.

Forbidden Objects

The following objects are disallowed in all public areas of the college, unless authorized by appropriate officials:

1. Pets
2. Laboratory animals, either dead or alive
3. Open flames (e.g., candles) or any combustible decoration or device
4. Alcoholic beverages and/or beverage containers. (See Alcohol Policy)
5. Athletic equipment such as bats, weights, balls, etc.
6. Firearms, fireworks, and weapons of any kind

Fraud

It is unacceptable and illegal for any student to partake in:

1. False representation of a matter of fact, whether by words or by conduct.
2. False or misleading allegations or by concealment of that which should have been disclosed.
3. Deceive another so that he/she shall act upon it to his/her advantage.
4. Intentionally alter the truth for the purpose of inducing another in reliance upon it to part with some valuable thing in an effort to surrender a legal right.

Participation in such acts is subject to college disciplinary action, removal from the dormitory, and fines and is punishable by criminal and campus law.

Gambling

Gambling is not permitted on the premises of H. Councill Trenholm State Community College or at any activity sponsored by the college, whether on or off-campus. Violators are subject to arrest and prosecution by civil authorities as well as to college disciplinary action, which may result in one of the following penalties: disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, or dismissal from classes. Unauthorized playing of games for money or other items of value is prohibited. Possession of such may result in probation, suspension, or expulsion.

Immoral Relationships

Students who engage in immoral or illicit acts on campus will be subject to disciplinary action. Such acts include the use of obscene gestures, improper body exposures, stripping, and vulgar language to or in the vicinity of students, staff members, administrators, or faculty or visitors of the college. Said sanctions will apply probation, suspension, and expulsion.

Insubordination

Students are expected to respect people in authority. To disagree or hold a different point of view is normal, but the rule of mutual respect should prevail. Gross disrespect to persons in authority will not be tolerated. By Federal Statue, it is unlawful to threaten faculty of an educational institution. If a student verbally threatens a faculty member, then the student can be arrested, subjected to college disciplinary proceedings, and bound over to the courts of Montgomery County. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action, which may result in one of the following penalties: disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, or expulsion.

Joint Responsibility

All persons who knowingly act in concert to violate college regulations have individual and joint responsibility for such violations, and such concerted acts are prohibited.

Moral Turpitude

An act of baseness, vileness, or depravity that brings shame to the college and is in contradiction to the letter and spirit of the college’s Code of Conduct, good citizenship, and ethics is strictly prohibited. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

Picketing

It shall be unlawful for any person, singly or in concert with others, to engage in picketing or mass demonstration in such a manner as to obstruct or unreasonably interfere with free ingress or egress to and from any public premises, state property, county or municipal courthouses, city halls, office buildings, jails, or other public buildings owned by the State of Alabama, or any county or municipal government located therein or thereon conducted or so as to obstruct or unreasonably interfere with free use of public streets, sidewalks, or other public ways adjacent or contiguous thereto. Any person guilty of violating this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisoned in jail not more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Restrooms

Restrooms are designated separately for men and women and gender-neutral (designed for use by any gender). All individuals are required to utilize the gender-specific or gender-neutral restrooms as appropriate. Gender-neutral restrooms must be locked upon entry, and there is a notice to that effect on the doors. Any individual utilizing the opposite gender’s restroom will be subject to disciplinary action.

Students Riding in Automobiles

The college assumes no responsibility or liability regarding students riding in or parking private vehicles on campus. It is a privilege for students to drive on the campus of H. Councill Trenholm State Community College. The college reserves the right to revoke that privilege at any time for reasons not limited to excessive parking tickets, reckless driving, and parking in restricted areas.

Theft

No person shall take, attempt to take, or keep in his/ her possession items not legally possessed by him/her, including but not exclusively items of college property, or items belonging to students, faculty, staff, student groups, or visitors to the campus, without proper authorization. No person shall sell a textbook that is not his/her own without written permission of the owner.

Participation in such acts is subject to college disciplinary action including a maximum sanction of expulsion, and is punishable by law. The college assumes no responsibility for the theft of a student’s personal property.

Trademark Guidelines

Campus clubs and organizations and individual students may use the H. Councill Trenholm State Community College name, trademarks, or logos only with the written approval of the President.

Unauthorized Entry and Use -- College Facilities or Equipment

1. No person shall make unauthorized entry into any college building office, parking lot, or other facility. Nor should any person remain, without authorization, in any building after normal closing hours.
2. Unauthorized use of equipment is prohibited. This includes unauthorized use of computers and computer programs. Attempts to access restricted records and programs are prohibited. Such actions are a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. C. Unauthorized entry into vehicles is prohibited.
3. Unauthorized use of bathrooms, exits, or windows is prohibited.
4. Unauthorized use or duplication of keys is prohibited.
5. Unauthorized use or possession of any parking permit (hang tag) is prohibited.
6. No person shall enter or attempt to enter any dance, social, athletic event or any other recognized college organization without credentials for admission (i.e. ticket, identification card, invitation, etc.). Credentials should be that of the person seeking to gain admittance.

Participation in such acts is subject to college disciplinary action punishable by law, and may result in a fine, probation, suspension, or expulsion.

Violation of Law

Violation of local, state, or federal law on the campus is prohibited. Violations off campus which constitute either an aggravated misdemeanor or felony will be presumed to affect the student’s ability to function as a member of the college community and the student will be subject to disciplinary action by the college. Additionally, Trenholm State Community College has the right to sanction its students for off-campus violations. Trenholm State Community College has the right to sanction each student violator regardless of court hearings, upcoming court dates, or outcomes of such hearings.

Weapons and Firearms

It shall be a felony for any person to possess, carry, whether openly or concealed, any gun, rifle, pistol, or other firearm of any kind or any dynamite cartridge, bomb, grenade, mine, or powerful explosive (s) on educational property. Weapons of any type are not permitted in any area under college control or at any activity registered with the college. Violators will be subject to arrest and subject to prosecution by civil authorities. College disciplinary action also applies and the student may be expelled from the college.

Weapons and Firearms Description

1. A weapon is defined as any instrument used with the intent to cause bodily harm.
2. Possession of handguns or any lethal or potentially destructive weapons including, but not limited to: guns, bow and arrows, BB guns, air guns, ammunition, hunting slingshots, martial arts weapons, medieval weapons, darts, knives of any length, and other dangerous weapons are prohibited on the campus of Trenholm State Community College and/or college building, including off-campus host sites where Trenholm college courses or non-credit courses are offered. (Such items in automobiles are also strictly prohibited.)
3. Possession of any lethal or potentially destructive substances, including poisons, corrosive or volatile substances (e.g. acids, etc.) prohibited on the campus of Trenholm State Community College or in any host site of the college.
4. The use or discharge of any weapon or threatening another with a weapon is strictly prohibited.
5. Shotguns, small caliber rifles suitable for hunting, and other lethal weapons, including ammunition, may not be stored in automobiles, or any other building on campus or in host sites.

Note: Violators are subject to college disciplinary action, which will mandate expulsion and punish them by law.

Student Code of Conduct/Definition of Terms

To maintain an atmosphere on the Trenholm State Community College campus and host sites that is conducive to academic pursuits and fosters the growth and development of all members of the college community, a series of procedures and regulations governing student conduct and behavior has been established. Included in the procedures and regulations, which collectively are known as the Student Code of Conduct, are statements concerning expectations regarding student conduct, guarantees of student rights, and procedures for adjudicating allegations concerning student misconduct. The penalties for violation of these regulations are also contained in the Student Code of Conduct.

All students at Trenholm State Community College are expected to read and become familiar with all sections of the Student Code of Conduct. Each student is individually responsible for adhering to the regulations contained in the Code. A student who is found to have violated these regulations will be subject to disciplinary action, ranging from a disciplinary warning to 

suspension/ expulsion. The severity of the sanction is dependent upon the severity of the offense as determined by the judicial officer, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services /designee, or the appropriate judicial council. Discipline will be levied in all instances except those in which a qualified, licensed, mental health professional has communicated to the college in writing that the actions were caused by severe psychological problems sufficient to warrant the immediate withdrawal of the individual from the college. In each instance, the individual may not re-enroll at Trenholm State Community College for at least two full academic semesters and then only upon the written recommendation of the mental health professional.

Principles for Collegiate Conduct

Trenholm State Community College Collegiate Code of Conduct is designed to address the principal behaviors and conduct that are expected of students, faculty, and staff as they interact in a diverse learning environment. It is intended to enhance a student’s success in the classroom as well as in their campus life.

The tenets for this covenant are:

Integrity

Respect and embrace the principles of academic honesty

Philosophy

Embrace an academic philosophy for positive progress toward competency in goals, critical and logical thinking, and a commitment to excellence.

Class Attendance

Participate actively in classroom and other learning environments and commit to becoming a lifelong learner.

Diversity

Celebrate the similarities and differences in our cultures, races and ethnic origins.

Communications

Encourage open communication and expression, which is guided by respect for others.

Behavior

Understand that sexual and social harassment will not be tolerated. Therefore, always dress for success.

Discourage Profanity

Discourage the use of profanity and offensive actions out of respect for others.

Accountability

Accept personal responsibility for one’s actions and life choices and realize that embracing the negative elements of an unhealthy lifestyle will interfere with success.

Service

Engage in civic and service-learning opportunities to share knowledge and skills with local, national, and world communities.

Respect

Embrace and respect tradition by participating in rituals and observances, especially those that contribute to the history and heritage of the college. Assessment Conduct periodic assessments of academic, personal, and career progress. Stay focused on the purpose of being at the college.

Campus Safety

The student is encouraged to always think safety first when engaging in educational environments, social scenarios, and on and off-campus activities. Please be alert of your surroundings and threats to safety and inform appropriate authorities of such situations.

Students that swerve, horseplay, play loud music in vehicles, hang out of vehicles, have possession of drugs/ paraphernalia or alcoholic beverages in vehicles on the campus of Trenholm State Community College or host sites of the college will be arrested, adjudicated, fined (not to exceed $500) the vehicle will be impounded at the students’ expense and the student may be placed on probation, suspended, or expelled.

Freedom

Respect the freedom of others to express themselves in matters relating to academic and philosophical opinions.

Philosophy of Student Conduct and Discipline

The student disciplinary function of Trenholm State Community College is an integral part of the educational mission of the college. Learning responsible behavior and self-discipline are part of the educational process. The college expects its students to obey national, state, and local laws, to abide by the regulations of the college, to respect the rights and privileges of others, to support the purposes and standards of the institution, and to conduct themselves in a manner that brings no discredit to them or to the institution. In the event that students fail to demonstrate such behavior, the college has the obligation and right to discipline them. The acceptance of this implied right of the college by parents, guardians, and/or students is a prerequisite for enrollment as a student at Trenholm State Community College. The college’s judicial system and other components of the program emphasize the development of each individual’s acceptance of his or her own personal and social responsibilities.

Behavior that is not in keeping with standards acceptable to the college community is often symptomatic of attitudes, misconceptions, and emotional crises. Addressing the aforementioned traits is an essential component of the disciplinary process. An educational approach to discipline is employed whenever possible. The college judicial system and appeals process are designed to provide and help maintain an atmosphere within the college community that is conducive to academic pursuits. Stringent disciplinary measures against a student or a group of students, such as suspension or expulsion, are instituted only when lesser remedies are inconsistent with the college’s mission.

The college, however, recognizes its responsibilities to all members of the community (i.e. students, faculty, staff, guests of the college, and members of the local community). The protection of personal and institutional rights and property, therefore, is a primary focus of the disciplinary process.

Honor Code

I will be honest in all of my academic coursework and will not indulge in or tolerate the academic dishonesty of my counterparts or peers. I will not partake in any type of misconduct, misrepresentation, or immoral behavior that will harm, damage, or endanger any person, property, or myself or reflect negatively against me, or hinder my academic continuance. I will strive to achieve excellence and to complete degree requirements without hesitation. I am a valuable part of the Trenholm State Community College family, and proud of it.

On the campus of Trenholm State Community College, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services collaborates with all involved to provide a safe environment for students. The office of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services is located in Building F, Student Services Building on the Trenholm Campus.

Code Violations

The following list of violations of the Student Code of Conduct is an example of behaviors that may result in disciplinary action by the College. It is not to be regarded as all-inclusive. In the event that there arises ambiguity, inconsistency, or a need for further clarification regarding what constitutes a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services shall make the final determination. Any student or student organization found to be responsible for misconduct is subject to college sanctions. At the end of each violation are the sanction (s) that may be imposed by the college.

1.00 Abduction and/or Kidnapping. Enticing, persuading, or forcible seizing and carrying of any student, faculty, staff, or college official from one place to another without that person’s consent. (Suspension/Expulsion)

1.10 Academic Dishonesty. Misconduct, dishonesty, misrepresentation, immoral behavior that will harm, damage, or endanger any person or property or hinder academic continuance. (Probation/Suspension/Expulsion)

1.20 Aiding and /or Inciting. Aiding, abetting, persuading, and/or procuring another person or persons to commit any act of misconduct in the college community or environment; the persuading or aiding of another person to breach the peace on college premises or at functions sponsored, approved by, or participated. (criminal court sanctions/suspension/probation/expulsion) in by any member of the college. Gatherings of groups of students on/off of the premises in such a manner that causes damage to public or private property, causes injury to persons, or interferes with the orderly functioning of the college or with the normal flow of traffic or ordinary procedures. (Warning/Probation/Suspension)

1.30 Alcoholic Beverages. The use, consumption, possession, purchase, sale, and/or distribution of alcoholic beverages on college property, in cars or other vehicles, or at any of the college’s activities (whether on- or off-campus) are prohibited, except as expressly permitted by the college regulations, exceptions, or local, state, and federal laws. (Potential Fine, Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion.)

1.31 Alcohol/Drug Intoxication. Appearing in public on the college/host site premises while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs is strictly prohibited. This includes any disorderly conduct, regardless of whether such conduct results in injury to persons or property as a result of intoxication. (Potential Fine, Probation, Suspension, Expulsion)

1.40 Animals (pets). Having pets or other animals (e.g., dogs, cats, snakes, birds, hamsters, etc.), with the exception of seeing-eye dogs (when accompanied by their owner), is prohibited. (Potential Fine, Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion).

1.50 Arson/Fire Setting. The malicious, fraudulent, and/ or intentional burning of property on the college premises is prohibited. Acts include but are not limited to, creating fires, setting a personal fire, opening flames, and/or igniting flammable materials. (Potential Fine, Suspension/Expulsion)

Willfully starting a fire in college buildings or on college property without the proper authorization of the college Safety Director and the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services is prohibited. Compliance with local and state fire codes must be assured and verified. (Suspension/Expulsion)

1.60 Assault. The intentional harassment, degradation, threat or intimidation of another in an attempt to commit a battery or the intentional placing of another in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery. This includes engaging in, attempting or intending to engage in any form of mental, physical, verbal or mental abuse, coercion, which is directed toward another person or group of people which creates an intimidating, fearful or offensive environment in the classrooms, offices, and on the college premises (arrest, criminal adjudication, probation, suspension, or expulsion). In general, physical contact is not required. (Suspension/Expulsion)

1.70 Attempted Offenses. An attempt to commit an act on college property or involving members of the college community (that is, faculty, staff, student, or campus visitor) in an offense that would be in violation of any law, code of conduct, rule, regulation of local, state or federal criminal code. (Fine, Warning, Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion)

1.80 Battery. The unlawful application of force to the person of another is strictly prohibited (Fine, Arrest, Criminal Adjudication, Suspension, Expulsion)

1.81 Aggravated Battery. An unlawful act of violent injury to the person of another, accompanied by circumstances of aggravation, such as the use of a deadly weapon, is prohibited. (Expulsion)

1.90 Classroom and General Violations. Students must comply with campus life regulations. Any combination of three infractions committed during a semester will result in disciplinary actions. The following are prohibited:

1. Children in classrooms
2. Loud music
3. Horse playing
4. Vandalism
5. Sexual Activity in/or around classrooms, buildings
6. Fighting
7. Disrespect of instructors, administrators, staff, and custodial staff
8. Defacing property
9. Inappropriate dress
10. Loitering/Littering
11. Disrespecting others
12. Drugs/ alcohol use/possession/sale/intent to distribute.
13. Gang Activity; fights of more than two on one; signs; paraphernalia
14. Spreading harmful rumors
15. Cell phone usage in classrooms/assemblies
16. Joyriding/tampering with/on college or state-owned property.
17. Bullying and Harassing

Such acts or synonymous acts are prohibited and carry sanctions such as a warning, community service, fine not to exceed $500 (Unless the infraction is destruction or defacing property and restitution is a larger sum), probation, suspension, expulsion, or a combination thereof.

2.00 Contempt of Hearing. Contempt of hearing violation includes (1) the failure to appear before a judicial body after receiving the proper notification of a scheduled disciplinary hearing or conference, (2) willful disobedience to, or displaying open disrespect for a college judicial board member such as the use of profanity, threatening behavior, or derogatory remarks, comments, and/or gestures, and (3) failure to comply with disciplinary conditions as sanctions imposed by a judicial body or judicial administrative officer or staff person. Contempt charges will require the student to pay a disciplinary fine (to be determined by the appropriate council) (Forfeiture of Due Process Rights, Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion).

2.10 Damage to Property/Destruction of Property. Damage, vandalism or destruction to property owned or leased by the college or personal property belonging to an individual, including but not limited to, car vandalism, walking on roofs of a university building, defacing structures and facilities, littering, unauthorized biking, skateboarding in inappropriate areas, marking, egging, littering, painting, spraying, hallways, lobby areas, classrooms, doors, bricks, and siding without the proper authorization is prohibited. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

2.20 Dangerous, Threatening, and/or Unsafe Behavior. Any conduct or behavior which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person in the college environment. This includes but is not limited to, verbal threats to injure or harm another, horse playing, practical jokes, abductions, and kidnapping. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

2.30 Disorderly Conduct, Obstruction, and/or Disruption. Disorderly conduct is any offensive or annoying act that disrupts the peace. It includes but is not limited to conduct that is offensive or annoying to others or is disruptive to the rights of others. It includes excessive noise, misuse of musical instruments, noise-producing devices, talking excessively loud; failure to properly dispose of trash or food trays, shouting, loud stereo or radio sets; horseplay, practical jokes, and general annoyances; throwing any dangerous objects in a college facility or from the window of a college facility or onto the premises of the college. Breaking lines during registration, at campus events and activities, and so on, is deemed disorderly conduct. The intentional obstruction, interruption, hindrance, or disruption of teaching, research, administration, ceremonies, disciplinary proceedings, or other university tasks and activities; interfering with duties of a student, faculty/staff member or college official; withholding information vital to any investigation carried out by an authorized agent of the college; creating excessive noise which can be heard in other areas of the campus and which interferes with the normal operations of the college; creating excessive noise which can be heard in other areas of the campus and which interferes the normal operations of the college is prohibited. In so much as students are responsible for the behavior of their guests, students may receive sanctions if they permit their guests to behave disorderly on campus (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

2.40 Distribution of Illicit Printed Material. Distribution of printed materials that are libelous, derogatory, scurrilous, sexually explicit, pornographic, or that encourages violations of public laws or college regulations is prohibited (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

2.50 Drugs (Illegal)/ Drug Paraphernalia. The consumption, sale, distribution, manufacturing, purchase, passing of, or being in the presence of or the vicinity of illegal drugs, narcotics, the accessory to, or aiding and abetting of any controlled substances, are strictly prohibited from all locations of the college, and beyond the premises according to all local, state, and federal laws. Illegal drugs also include all prescription drugs without a valid medical prescription. Drug paraphernalia is strictly prohibited at the college. Paraphernalia is defined as all equipment, products, and materials of any kind used to facilitate planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, manufacturing, converting, processing, preparing, packaging, storing, concealing, playing with injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing a controlled substance into the body. The scope of this prohibition includes drugs or paraphernalia that is on the person or in the possession of a student on property owned or controlled by the college and/ or at events and activities sponsored by the college and involves related incidents that are subject to prosecution under local, state, and federal laws. The illegal possession of and/or use of drugs, or drug paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to, roach clips, bongs, masks, scales, balances, sandwich bags or plastic bags and their corners, sifters, syringes, spoons, chamber pipes, homemade pipes, film canisters, diluents, spray cans, carburetor pipes, paint, pipes, using screens, water pipes, and any other equipment, products, and materials that can be directly linked to the usage of controlled substances. Improper behavior or conduct on the campus which is a result of the use of illegal drugs means that one who, having consumed or used drugs, experiences a loss of the normal use of his/her mental and/or physical faculties is restricted. (Expulsion)

2.60 Failure to Comply. Failure to comply with the directions of college officials (including campus security) acting in the performance of their duties, failure to promptly identify oneself to college officials when requested, and failure to comply with disciplinary sanctions are prohibited. This includes direct disobedience of a lawful order of a college official, as well as failure to evacuate a building during a fire alarm, drill, or when otherwise so ordered by a college official, fire department staff, or local law official. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

2.70 Forgery, Dishonesty, Fraudulent Acts, and/or Misrepresentation.

Forgery of names, signatures, and documents (personal, public, and/or private) will not be tolerated. Forgery, deceptive acts, misrepresentation, and/or dishonest acts include, but are not limited to materials, altercation, and misuse of college documents, records, or student identification cards, or documents and records belonging to another, cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty; tampering with the election of any college recognized student organization; malfeasance or misuse of elective or appointive office in a student organization, its members, or the welfare of the college community; and fraudulently issuing worthless checks to the college. Lying, knowingly giving false information to the college or its officials, and other forms of dishonesty in college-related affairs are also prohibited. The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following: lying, fraudulently obtaining, altering, falsifying, transferring, loaning, selling, or misusing or attempting intended misuse of an ID card, validation sticker, or any college document or service. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

2.80 Guest’s Behavior.

Students are responsible for the behavior of their guests whom they invite to the campus or permit to visit the campus. If a guest is found to be in violation of the Code of Conduct while in the company of the student host or with the student host’s knowledge, applicable charges will be brought against the guest, as well as against the student host or the host student organization (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

2.90 Harassment (Verbal and/or Physical). The excessive physical annoyance of or the use of verbally abusive language by any person on college-owned or controlled property (on or off-campus sites) or while on the premises of, or while in attendance of, college-sponsored or supervised events is considered to be harassment and is prohibited. The scope of any form of harassment includes language to physical acts which degrade, insult, taunt or challenge another person by any means of communication, verbal, so as to provoke a violent response, communication of threat, defamation of character, use of profanity, verbal assaults, derogatory comments or remarks, sexist remarks, racists remarks or any behavior that places another member of the college community in a state of fear or anxiety (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

3.00 Hazing.

It is strictly prohibited for a person or organization to, in the course of another person’s initiation into or affiliation with any organization, intentionally or recklessly engage in conduct that creates a substantial risk of physical and/or mental injury to such other person or to a third person. This includes asking favors or demanding services from a person seeking to join a college-sponsored club/ organization (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

3.10 Health and Safety Violations.

This means any behavior that creates a risk or danger to others in the college community, throwing objects from windows or balconies, or the unlawful disposal of toxic chemicals. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

3.20 Identity Disclosure/Identification Cards. Failure to carry a valid college student identification card (when possession is in reason) while on the college property or failure to present it to a college official, security officers, administration, and staff members upon request is unacceptable. Fraudulently obtaining, transferring, selling, loaning, fabricating, manufacturing, falsifying, altering, misusing, or attempting or intending to misuse one’s ID card is prohibited. Presenting a false name or other identification, including a false or invalid ID card, to a college official while in the performance of their duties is prohibited. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

3.30 Indecent, Obscene, Immoral Behavior, and/or Profanity.

Conduct that is disorderly, lewd, indecent, and/or portrayed on the premises of the college or at college-sponsored or supervised activities on/off campus will not be tolerated.

Such acts include the use of obscene gestures, improper body exposures, stripping, and vulgar language to or in the vicinity of students, staff members, administrators, faculty, or visitors of the college or when visiting other colleges and/or venues. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

3.40 Moral Turpitude. An act of baseness, vileness, or depravity that brings shame to the college and is in contradiction to the letter and spirit of the college’s Code of Conduct, good citizenship, and ethics is strictly prohibited.  (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

3.50 Motor Vehicles, Traffic Violations, Parking Violations.

Violation of properly constituted rules and regulations governing the use of motor vehicles (e.g., automobiles, motorcycles, etc.) on college-owned or controlled property on/off-campus locations or at college-sponsored or supervised activities is prohibited. This also includes driving and parking on grass and sidewalks. Traffic tickets of the same offense will increase on the second and third offenses. Failure to obey traffic and parking regulations is punishable by the college’s Department of Safety.  (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

3.60 Rape.

Forcing or coercing another, regardless of sexual gender, personal affiliation, and/or affiliation with the college, to engage in the act of sexual intercourse without that person’s consent, or when the sexual intercourse is deemed without the person’s consent because the person (victim) is incapable of understanding the nature of the act by reason of stupor or abnormal condition of the mind produced by an intoxicating or narcotic agent administered by the offender. (Expulsion)

3.70 Safety Code-Mischief.

Tampering with safety equipment is a serious violation of the Code of Conduct and is subject to expulsion and/ or criminal prosecution. Making a statement verbally/ writing a false fire or bomb alert by any means, including a telephone call or by a warning device, theft, removal of, or tampering with security cameras, fire extinguishing or safety equipment, exit signs, smoke alarms and detectors, fire hoses, sprinkler systems, hoses, fire mischief, or violation of college guidelines regarding fire safety, or standard safety (e.g., failure to follow evacuation procedures or obstructing the evacuation of a building during a fire, fire drill, or any other type of emergency) is strictly prohibited. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

3.80 Sexual Assault.

The forcing of or attempting to force another person, regardless of sexual gender, personal affiliation, and/ or affiliation with the college, to participate in sexual intercourse and/or other sexual activities against his/ her will is prohibited. Such misconduct, including verbal coercion, threats, and physical restraint, also will not be tolerated. Disciplinary sanction for such acts will lead to expulsion. Violators also are subject to criminal prosecution.

3.90 Sexual Battery.

The forcing of or forceful intention of engaging in sexual misconduct by physical contact and/or excessive force (with or without a weapon) which leads to physical pain toward another person regardless of sexual gender, personal affiliation, and/or affiliation with the college, without his/her consent or when such sexual contact is deemed offensive to the victim, will not be tolerated by the college. Disciplinary sanction for such acts will lead to expulsion.

4.00 Sexual Harassment.

Regardless of sexual gender, personal affiliation, and/or affiliation with the college, sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome and unsolicited sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal, visual, or physical conduct or communication with sexual overtones that the victim deems offensive. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, unsolicited, deliberate, or repeated sexual flirtation, advances, or propositions verbally/written; verbal abuse of a sexual nature; display of sexually suggestive pictures or objects; and/or offensive or abusive physical contact of a sexual nature. If such acts occur with student to student, faculty/staff to student, student to faculty/staff, or faculty/staff to faculty/staff, an incident reporting form should be completed and submitted to the office of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services to begin an investigation. Such acts are taken seriously by the college and will not be tolerated; therefore, if these acts are alleged by a victim or transmitted as a rumor and the accusations are deemed as false, then the person (s) alleging the accusations will then be subjected to like disciplinary proceedings (to include sexual assault and battery).  (Probation, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

4.10 Solicitation. Unauthorized selling, collection of monies, and promotion (flyers) on campus or within college buildings is not permitted without permission of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services. Students may not act as agents for business firms, which entail solicitation, or the receipt of business offers or goods on college property. Further, students may not solicit on behalf of the college without the permission of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services. Use of any college facilities for business purposes of any nature (e.g., the selling of food, clothing, jewelry, merchandise, favors, manicures/pedicures, hair perming/styling/braiding, barbering, babysitting, etc.) is prohibited. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

4.20 Theft/Misappropriation.

Theft is defined as the wrongful taking of money or property without the consent of the owner, and/or the secreting of anything stolen, regardless of where the theft occurred; stealing from another person, agency, institution, or college; the taking of property belonging to another, with the intent of converting the property to one’s personal use; the unauthorized taking or consumption of food from a campus event; unauthorized use of another’s credit card; and failure to return another’s personal property upon request or within a reasonable period of time. Misappropriation, the taking of property belonging to another by mistake and/or without the owner’s permission but with no intent to convert the property to one’s personal use, is not permitted. This includes unauthorized moving or relocation of college furniture to one’s own room or to some other area, illegal and/or unauthorized possession or sale of any property without the proper authorization, and possession of property that has been reported lost or stolen. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

4.30 Trespassing.

Unauthorized presence on, in, or within any building or property owned or operated by the college (including technology labs, shop areas, classrooms, offices, buildings, etc.), or the unauthorized entry into or remaining in a facility or in a private room or office under the control of another, after having been asked to leave. Unauthorized campus visitors will be subject to arrest and criminal proceedings. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

4.40 Unauthorized Use/Entry of College Facilities. Unauthorized use of equipment, occupancy of, or unauthorized entry into or exit from college facilities is prohibited. Unauthorized entry/exiting includes entering and/or occupying and improperly exiting college facilities that are locked, closed, or restricted for use to certain or all persons. (Probation, Community Service, Suspension, Fine, or Expulsion)

4.50 Weapons/Firearms.

The use, possession, consumption, or display of weapons, firearms, or explosives is strictly prohibited on the premises of the college. Weapons include but are not limited to, the following: rifles, shotguns, ammunition, handguns, air guns, BB guns, bowie knives, daggers, switchblade knives, butcher knives, metallic or brass knuckles, explosives (including dangerous chemicals), water guns, play guns, firecrackers, propelled missiles, fireworks. The possession or use of items that resemble guns, knives, or other weapons is also strictly prohibited. When course content and classroom assignments require the use of such items, Divisional Deans should give prior written approval to the Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services, as a matter of record. (Expulsion)