Student Code of Conduct

Student Code of Conduct

The Student Code of Conduct Violations are established as the following; however, this is not an exhaustive list. Should the behaviors, activities or actions of a student endanger the life, health, safety or wellbeing of others in the College Community, prohibit the normal processes of the school day, or be determined to be detrimental to the mission and values of the college, they are also subject to disciplinary action via the Student Code of Conduct.

A. Violations Against Persons

1. Physical Violence/ Abuse. Physical violence in any form cannot be tolerated in a civil, educational environment. This category of misconduct encompasses any action where physical contact is made resulting in harm or with the intent to cause harm. Such actions include, but are not limited to assault and battery (simple and/or by means of a dangerous weapon), fighting/brawling, slapping, shoving and restraining. Under no circumstance is physical violence an acceptable means to resolve problems, disputes, or interpersonal relations.
2. Endangering Behavior. Intentionally or unintentionally, knowingly or unknowingly or recklessly causing physical harm to any person, or causing reasonable apprehension of such harm or threat.
3. Intimidation. Implied or actual threats or acts that cause a reasonable fear of harm in another, and may be inferred from conduct, words, or circumstances reasonably calculated to cause fear.
4. Hazing. Defined as an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.
5. Harassment. Verbal or physical conduct that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment. Specific exclusions apply to instances characterized as Title IX offences.
6. Bullying and Cyberbullying. Bullying and cyberbullying are repeated and/or severe aggressive behaviors that intimidate or intentionally harm or control another person physically or emotionally, and are not protected by freedom of expression.
7. Retaliation. Intimidating, threatening, or taking adverse action against a student for making a good faith report of misconduct or for participating, cooperating or being associated with an investigation or the student conduct process. Retaliation is a violation of the student Code of Conduct and anyone who believes she or he has been the target of retaliation should immediately contact the Student Conduct Officer. Students found to have engaged in prohibited retaliation shall be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct.
8. Stalking. Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress. Course of conduct means two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with person’s property. 

B. Violations Against Property

1. Destruction of Property. Attempted or actual destruction, defacing, tampering with, materially altering or otherwise damaging property not one’s own; and/or creating a condition that endangers or threatens property not one’s own.
2. Theft of Property. Attempted or actual theft of property of the College or of a Member of the College Community or other personal or public property.

C. Violations Against the College / College Community

1. Abuse of the Student Conduct System. This violation encompasses but is not limited to:

1. Failure to obey the notice from the Student Conduct Officer or Title IX officer and/or hearing board to appear for a meeting or hearing as part of the student conduct system
2. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before the Student Conduct Officer or hearing panel
3. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a judicial proceeding
4. Knowingly initiating a judicial proceeding without cause
5. Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the judicial system
6. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a judicial body prior to and/or during the course of the judicial proceeding
7. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a judicial body prior to, during, and/or after a judicial proceeding
8. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Student Code of Conduct
9. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the judicial system
10. Making repeated or false reports of offenses through the Grievance or Student Conduct process

2. Acts of Dishonesty. Having false or misleading information given to the College through a third party on behalf of the student; forgery, alteration or misuse of any College document, record, or instrument of identification; furnishing false information to any College official, faculty member or office.

3. Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct. Activities or behaviors that disrupt teaching, research, administration, conduct proceedings, online services, or other Technical College activities, including the public-service functions on or off campus or other authorized non-college activities.

4. Gambling. Including unlawful games of betting for money or anything of value.

5. Reasonable Request. Failure to comply with a reasonable request from faculty, staff, college officials or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identity oneself to these persons when requested to do so.

6. Theft of Computer Time/ Unauthorized Use of Computers. Including but not limited to:

1. Unauthorized entry into a file to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose
2. Unauthorized transfer of a file
3. Unauthorized use of another individual’s identification and password
4. Use of computer facilities to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member or college official
5. Use of computer facilities to send obscene or abusive messages or to view obscene electronic information
6. Use of computing facilities to interfere with normal operation of the college computing system
7. Violation of the College’s Student Computer Use Policy and Internet Use Policy
8. Violation of the College’s Student Printing policy or theft of printing services, in include unauthorized use of another individual’s account.

7. Trespassing/Unauthorized Entry. Knowingly entering or remaining in a college building, office, room or any other College property at any time without appropriate permission or authorization. This includes unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys to any College premises.

8. Social Media and Other Electronic Platforms. Behavior conducted through social media and/or other electronic platforms that is detrimental to the college, its students, faculty, or staff in their roles as members of the campus community is governed by this Code. Chattahoochee Technical College reserves the right to take actions that address the policy violations through educational intervention or sanctions. This includes but is not limited to using social media and other electronic platforms to objectively and unreasonably interfere with another’s legal rights or uses that create an objectively intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

9. Academic Misconduct. Intentional act of deception in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work of another person or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic work. Students are expected to be honest and ethical in their academic work.

1. Plagiarizing any assignment or part of an assignment.
2. Copying and submitting another’s work as one’s own.
3. Using unauthorized notes or equipment (programmable calculator, PDA, cell phone, etc.) during an examination, proctored event, or any other assessed activity.
4. Stealing an examination or using a stolen examination for any purpose.
5. Allowing another student to have access to your work, thereby enabling that student to represent the work as his/her own.
6. Having someone else take a quiz or exam in one’s place, taking an exam for someone else, assisting someone in any way during a quiz or exam, or using any unauthorized electronic device or other unauthorized method of support during a quiz or exam.
7. Falsifying or fabricating information such as data for a lab report.
8. Falsifying a patient’s medical record, a student’s clinical record, or any other student record, including a record of attendance.
9. Using or copying another person’s electronic file or copying any electronic information or computer program.
10. Other forms of cheating or misconduct are forbidden, even if not listed here specifically.

Academic misconduct violations will follow the disciplinary measures set forth by Academic Affairs and will be addressed according to the Student Code of Conduct.

10.  Violations Involving Weapons

1. Weapons. The possession, carrying, or transportation of a firearm, weapon, or explosive compound/material in or on College premises shall be governed by Georgia state law. All individuals are expected to comply with the related laws. Illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, other weapons, or dangerous chemicals on College premises or use of any such item, or otherwise, any failure to follow laws pertaining to weapons is considered a violation of the Code.
2. Fire/Explosives Materials or Devices. Any action that causes or attempts to cause a fire or explosion (including bomb threats), false reporting of a fire, tampering of safety devices; and/or the failure to leave a College building during a fire alarm.

11.  Violations Involving Substances

1. Alcohol. Use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages (except as expressly permitted by College regulations), and/or public intoxication on College’s premises or at off-campus activities sponsored by the College. Alcoholic beverages may not, in any circumstances, be used by, possessed by, or distributed to any person under twenty-one (21) years of age or any violation the Drug-Free School and Alcohol Prevention Policy.
2. Use of Tobacco Products. Use of products in or around campus buildings except in marked designated smoking areas.
3. Controlled Substances. Use, possession, manufacturing, or distribution of narcotics, or other controlled substances, and/or related paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law or any violation of the Drug-Free School and Communities Act.

12.  Other / Unclassified Violations

1. Conduct Unbecoming of a Student. Including but not limited to conduct that is disorderly, lewd or indecent; a breach of peace; or aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to breach the peace on College premises or at other locations where classes, activities, or functions sponsored or participated in by the College may be held.
2. Disruptive activity or behavior not previously specified. Deemed to have a negative interference with the College, the College community or to the student, staff or faculty of Chattahoochee Technical College.