Code of Student Conduct

Code of Student Conduct

The District has an obligation to specify those standards of behavior essential to its educational mission and campus life.  The following conduct shall constitute good cause for discipline, including but not limited to the removal, suspension or expulsion of a student: 

• Causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical injury to another person.
• Possession, sale or otherwise furnishing any firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous object, including but not limited to any facsimile firearm, knife or explosive, unless, in the case of possession of any object of this type, the student has obtained written permission to possess the item from the District Police, which is concurred in by the Vice President of Student Services.
• Unlawful possession, use, sale, offer to sell, or furnishing, or being under the influence of, any controlled substance listed in California Health and Safety Code Sections 11053 et seq., an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind; or unlawful possession of, or offering, arranging or negotiating the sale of any drug paraphernalia, as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 11014.5.
• Committing or attempting to commit robbery or extortion.
• Causing or attempting to cause damage to District property or to private property on campus.
• Stealing or attempting to steal District property or private property on campus, or knowingly receiving stolen District property or private property on campus.
• Willful or persistent smoking in any area where smoking has been prohibited by law or by regulation of the college or the District.
• Committing sexual harassment as defined by law or by District policies and procedures.
• Engaging in harassing or discriminatory behavior based on race, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by law.
• Willful misconduct that results in injury or death to a student or to District personnel or which results in cutting, defacing, or other injury to any real or personal property owned by the District or on campus.
• Disruptive behavior, willful disobedience, habitual profanity or vulgarity, or the open and persistent defiance of the authority of, or persistent abuse of, college personnel.
• Cheating, plagiarism (including plagiarism in a student publication), or engaging in other academic dishonesty.
• Dishonesty; forgery; alteration or misuse of District documents, records or identification; or knowingly furnishing false information to the District.
• Unauthorized entry upon or use of District facilities.
• Lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or expression on District-owned or controlled property, or at District sponsored or supervised functions.
• Engaging in expression which is obscene, libelous or slanderous, or which so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on District premises, or the violation of lawful District regulations, or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the District.
• Persistent, serious misconduct where other means of correction have failed to bring about proper conduct.
• Unauthorized preparation, giving, selling, transfer, distribution, or publication, for any commercial purpose, of any contemporaneous recording of an academic presentation in a classroom or equivalent site of instruction, including but not limited to handwritten or typewritten class notes, except as permitted by any district policy or administrative procedure.

Student Discipline Procedures

Student Discipline Procedures (anchor here)

The District shall maintain and enforce a fair, uniform, and confidential student discipline process, the purpose of which is to promote the orderly conduct of a responsible student body in a manner compatible with the District and College function as an educational institution (Education Code 66300). 

Pursuant to California Education Code 76030 - 76037, the following types of discipline may be initiated at any time when a student is found to be in violation of the policies or rules and regulations of the West Valley-Mission Community College District or its colleges. College authorities will determine which type of action is appropriate. Any member of the college community (i.e., faculty, staff, and student) may file a written complaint with a college administrator against any student for misconduct. 

• Official warning: A written notice from the VPSS that if the misconduct continues it may result in further disciplinary action.
• Removal from class: An instructor may remove a student from class for up to two (2) consecutive class meetings.  A written report shall be provided to the VPSS.  A conference between the student and instructor, as arranged by the Division Dean.  The Division Dean may attend the conference. If further action is required, within five (5) days of the conference the Division Dean will refer the student to the VPSS for further disciplinary action. 
• Withdrawal of consent to remain on campus: District Police, working with the VPSS or college President, may notify a student that consent to remain on campus has been withdrawn.  Consent may only be withdrawn for up to fourteen (14) calendar days.  Any person who re-enters campus, except for the purpose of a meeting or hearing, is subject to arrest. 
• Official reprimand: A reprimand is a written notice of violation of specific rules from the VPSS, indicating that continued conduct of the type described in the reprimand may result in more severe disciplinary action. 
• Social probation: Students may be excluded from participation in specified or all extra-curricular college activities. 
• Restitution: Students may be required to reimburse the college for damages to or misappropriation of District property or property of a visitor of the college. 
• Disciplinary probation: Disciplinary probation is a lesser sanction than suspension. Probation requires the student to adhere to specific written terms and conditions defined by the College Hearing Board or the VPSS.  Should the student violate one or more of the terms of the probation during the probationary period, the Vice President of Student Services will impose a more stringent disciplinary action such as suspension.
• Interim/emergency suspension: In those cases where an immediate suspension is required in order to protect lives or property, or to ensure the maintenance of order, the College President or the President’s designee may summarily suspend a student for a period not to exceed ten (10) instructional days provided that, within the ten-day period, a reasonable opportunity for a disciplinary hearing is provided to that student.
• Disciplinary suspension: Disciplinary suspension is the exclusion from the campus and other privileges or activities for a definite period of time. Disciplinary suspension serves as a penalty against a student for repeated, continued, or serious violations of the District’s and/or College’s rules, policies, or regulations. A student may be suspended for one (1) or more classes for up to ten (10) days of instruction; from one (1) or more classes for the remainder of the school term; or from all college classes and activities for one (1) or more terms.
• Expulsion: An expulsion for good cause is a permanent termination of student status with readmission to the College upon the express approval of the Board of Trustees.

Consistent with Education Code Sections 66017 and 76030, the student disciplinary actions of interim/emergency suspension, disciplinary suspension, and expulsion are subject to the due process and appeal procedures. 

For more information on student discipline procedures, due process procedures and student appeal procedures refer to AP 5530.  (link to file)