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Disciplinary Process

Any person may initiate a complaint against a student for violation of the Code of Conduct by filing a written complaint with the Vice President for Student Services. The complaint shall describe the conduct which allegedly violates the Student Code of Conduct. It should be noted that the complaining person may also pursue civil action in the courts. Additionally, any crime committed against the College will be referred to local law enforcement agencies for review to determine if criminal charges will be filed.

  1. The Vice President for Student Services will investigate the complaint.
  2. If in the opinion of the Vice President for Student Services a violation has occurred, he/she may administer sanctions. Sanctions applied will depend upon the severity of the offense and the student's previous conduct record. Disciplinary procedures and sanctions may be implemented with the assistance of other professional staff members as deemed necessary or appropriate by the Vice President for Student Services.
  3. Sanctions include one or a combination of the following:

    a. ADMONITION--An oral reprimand.

    b. WARNING--A written reprimand.

    c. CENSURE--A notice, written or spoken, stating that further misconduct will bring more serious action.

    d. DISCIPLINARY PROBATION--A defined period of time when the student is considered on a probationary status. If additional events occur during this probation period, the student may be considered for suspension or expulsion.

    e. DISCIPLINARY SUSPENSION--A written statement disqualifying the student for a specific time period from extracurricular or co-curricular activities.

    f. RESTITUTION--A written requirement that the student provide reimbursement for misappropriation or damage to College property, or that of an individual.

    g. SUSPENSION--A suspension of tuition waiver or scholarship.

  4. In applying any of the above sanctions, the decision of the Vice President for Student Services may be appealed in writing to the Vice President for Student Services within 5 business days of the receipt of the sanction.

    More serious disciplinary action could include:

    h. COLLEGE SUSPENSION--A written notice of exclusion from the College and any classes, privileges and College activities for a specified period of time.

    i. EXPULSION--A written termination of a student's status, as indicated for College suspension, for an indefinite period of time.

College suspension or expulsion, when recommended by the Vice President for Student Services, automatically requires a due process hearing prior to being applied.

Due Process Procedure for Students Recommended for College Expulsion

A student who is recommended for College suspension or expulsion as a disciplinary sanction shall be entitled to a due process hearing according to the following process:

  1. The Vice President for Student Services shall send a notice to the student specifying the misconduct for which expulsion is being recommended.
  2. The notice will contain the notification as to the time, date and place of the hearing before the Faculty-Student Review Committee.
  3. The Faculty-Student Review Committee shall be composed of three (3) student representatives chosen by the Student Government Association and three (3) faculty chosen by the faculty union leadership. The committee shall be chaired by the Vice President for Student Services.
  4. If the Vice President for Student Services has reasonable cause to believe that danger will be present if the student is permitted on campus, the student may be immediately suspended pending the full hearing.
  5. If the student ignores or refuses to acknowledge the hearing, the hearing may proceed with the student in absentia.
  6. At the hearing, the student will be permitted to speak in his/her own behalf, to present any witnesses in his/her behalf, and to question any witnesses against him/her.
  7. The hearing before the Faculty-Student Review Committee is not subject to formal rules of evidence.
  8. Minutes of the proceeding will be taken and prepared, as well as audio tapes. These minutes and audio tapes shall be made available to the student as well as to succeeding levels of review, should an appeal be filed.
  9. Within five (5) class days of the hearing, the Committee will issue findings sustaining, overturning or modifying the sanction recommended by the Vice President for Student Services to the President of the College.
  10. The student may appeal the findings of the Faculty-Student Review Committee by filing written notice with the Vice President for Student Services within five (5) class days of receipt of the Committee's findings.
  11. In the absence of an appeal filed within the time frame specified, the decision of the Faculty-Student Review Committee shall be automatically sustained and considered final.
  12. If appealed, the student will be informed within five (5) class days of receipt of the appeal, of the date, time and location of the hearing with the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Vice President of Business Services & Finance or their designees.
  13. The hearing with the Vice Presidents shall be scheduled within five (5) class days of the date of notification of appeal hearing to the student.
  14. On appeals to the Vice Presidents, only the official record of the Review Committee and summary of evidence will be reviewed. No new evidence or testimony will be considered.
  15. The student may appeal the findings of the Vice Presidents by filing written notice with the Associate Vice President for Student Services within five (5) class days of receipt of the Vice Presidents' findings by requesting a hearing with the President of the College.
  16. In the absence of an appeal filed within the time frame specified, the decision of the Vice Presidents shall be automatically sustained and considered final.
  17. If appealed, the student will be informed within five (5) class days of receipt of the appeal, of the date, time and location of the hearing with the President of the College.
  18. On appeals to the President, or ultimately to the Board of Trustees, (expulsion only) only the official record of the Review Committee, Vice-Presidents, and summary of evidence will be reviewed. No new evidence or testimony will be considered.
  19. The President shall issue her/his decision within five (5) class days of the hearing. The President may sustain, overturn or modify sanctions imposed by the Faculty-Student Review Committee.
  20. If the President sustains a recommendation of college suspension, the decision of the President shall be considered final.
  21. A recommendation of expulsion, if sustained by the President, may be appealed to the Board of Trustees.
  22. The final avenue of appeal, with regard to Expulsion, is the Board of Trustees of the College. The student must file with the President of the College within five (5) class days of the date of the notice of the President's findings, a written notice of intent to appeal to the Board of Trustees.
  23. Absence of an appeal of a decision of expulsion within the time frame indicated will result in the decision of expulsion being automatically sustained and considered final.
  24. The hearing before the Board of Trustees shall normally be scheduled for the next regularly scheduled board meeting.
  25. At the hearing before the Board of Trustees, the student may be assisted by counsel.
  26. The decision of the Board of Trustees sustaining, overturning, or modifying the decision of expulsion shall be issued within five (5) class days of the Board meeting.
  27. The decision of the Board of Trustees is final.