A revised Code of Conduct is being proposed for Yuba College students, the final version of which will be approved by the Board of Trustees on March 15, reported Nora Compton, secretary to the college president, Paul Mendoza.
The current student Code of Conduct for Yuba College students was written fifteen years ago, in 1991. Mendoza plans to take the revised Code of Conduct to the Board of Trustees for approval in March.
According to Mendoza, the Associated Students of Yuba College was chiefly involved in forming and approving the changes to the new Student Code of Conduct.
According to the current Code of Conduct, which can be located online at http://www.yccd.edu/conduct.html, “In joining the academic community, students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with district standards and to comply with district rules and those adopted by state and local authority.”
According to the Student Code of Conduct, students are subject to discipline for continued disruptive behavior; habitual profanity or vulgarity.
Students are subject to severe punishment for assault, battery or any threat of force or violence upon a student, college personnel or visitors.
Tampering with, damaging or removing fire extinguishers or the alarm system is strictly prohibited.
Any form of sexual harassment, sexual battery, or sexual assault, as well as willful misconduct, which results in injury or death to college personnel, is subject to severe punishment.
Theft; the use or possession of a firearm or other deadly weapon; the use, sale, distribution or possession of controlled substances, poison, drug paraphernalia or alcoholic beverages is unacceptable.
Willful or persistent smoking in prohibited areas; dishonesty; the forgery, alteration or misuse of district documents is never acceptable and students will be punished.
The willful obstruction or disruption of any district activities; cheating; plagiarism; persistent misconduct; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor; and parking violations are more acts that can get a student expelled.
Students may be disciplined with a verbal or written reprimand, ineligibility to participate in extra curricular activities, suspension or expulsion from college.
Students are subject to a disciplinary hearing or expulsion hearing, but have the chance to be readmitted after expulsion, if legitimate proof is given supporting the decision.
Students may be disciplined “for acts which occur on district owned or controlled property, or at a district sponsored event, or while going to or from a district sponsored event when the transports is furnished by the district,” as noted in the handbook.
Instructors reserve the right to remove any student from a class for the remainder of one or two class meetings. However, before they are allowed to do so, the teacher must make a reasonable effort to give the student a verbal or written notice, which includes a legitimate reason for the proposed suspension.
The current Code of Conduct provides every student the right to freedom of expression.
Students may use bulletin boards, distribute printed materials or petitions and wear buttons, but they must refrain from harassing others while doing so.
Off-campus individuals, groups or activities, whether sponsored by the students, faculty, off-campus groups, or individuals, must be scheduled through the Student Activities Office, with at least a ten working days’ notice.
If students feel that their rights are being violated they have a right to a Grievance Hearing. “The purpose of this procedure,” according to the Student Code of Conduct, “is to provide a prompt and equitable means of resolving student grievance. These procedures shall be available to any student who reasonably believes a college decision or action has adversely affected his or her status, rights or privileges as a student.”
Grievances can be made regarding such matters as course grades and the freedom of expression. However, grievances may in no way address student disciplinary actions or police citations.
Students should make an effort to resolve the problem in an informal matter before requesting a grievance hearing.
To determine whether a hearing is necessary, the grievance must be filed in a timely manner, legitimate reason and facts must be given, the student must be personally or directly affected, and the grievance must not be frivolous or a means of harassment.
Hearings are closed and confidential, and witnesses are present only when giving testimony.
The ultimate decision lies in the college president’s hands, though an appeal may be requested.
The complete Student Code of Conduct, and other information concerning student rights and grievances, is available to students at all times online or through the campus life office.
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