3.00 - Student Code of Conduct Policy

Purpose

To provide fair, consistent, and expeditious resolution of reports of student misconduct.

Definitions

While the College is dedicated to the rights and freedoms afforded individuals, some actions are considered inappropriate in an institution of higher education. The following behaviors are considered violations of the Student Code of Conduct that are subject to disciplinary action and/or referral to appropriate law enforcement agencies.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: The primary forms of academic dishonesty are: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and fabrication. Academic dishonesty on the part of any student will result in consequences consistent with those documented in the KCKCC Student Code of Conduct. Students are subject to classroom penalties and conduct sanctions as outlined in the course syllabus and in the Academic Integrity Policy. KCKCC Academic Integrity, Policy: 2.00.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Academic Integrity is considered a violation of Student Code of Conduct but covered under a separate college policy.

ACTS OF VIOLENCE (Clear and Present Danger): The Dean of Student Services or designated party may immediately impose an interim suspension in the event that there is a reasonable belief that a student’s continued presence on College property, or property leased by the College poses a significant danger to themselves or others, and/or there is reasonable cause to believe that such an interim suspension is required to protect lives or property and to insure the maintenance of order. A student placed on interim suspension shall be given prompt notice of the charges and an opportunity for an administrative meeting with the Dean of Student Services within 10 days of the imposition of the interim suspension. During the period of interim suspension, the student shall be prohibited from entering property owned or leased by the College at any time, for any reason, unless otherwise approved by the Dean of Student Services. Violation of such shall be grounds for removal from College property and possible trespass charges and expulsion. This shall include the statements by students communicated through the College’s computing systems or computing resources, social media or online classes.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Kansas State Law prohibits the possession, consumption, unlawful manufacture, distribution, and dispersion of any kind of alcoholic beverage on community college campuses. No student shall consume or possess beer, wine, or any alcoholic beverage on property owned or leased by the College. The College prohibits the consumption of any alcoholic beverages on any College-sponsored trip, event, activity or in student housing. Any student who is under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, or has alcoholic beverage in his/her possession, or who has alcoholic beverage containers in his/her room or trash will receive disciplinary action, possibly be disallowed housing privileges, or may receive the maximum penalty of dismissal from the College.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY: No student shall threaten or commit a physical or sexual assault or battery (including sexual offenses) on another student, faculty, administrator, staff, trustee or visitor. Any actual or threatened interference, including verbal harassment, intimidation, or personal abuse against any member of the college community is prohibited. A student charged with assault or battery on or off campus may face prosecution under criminal statutes and discipline under the Student Code of Conduct. The College reserves the right to pursue disciplinary action even if the criminal justice system does not prosecute.

ASSEMBLY: Individual(s) shall not assemble in a manner that obstructs the free movement of people about any college location or the free and normal use of college buildings and facilities or prevents or disrupts the normal operation of the College. Such assembly is subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICIAL REGULATIONS: No student shall willfully violate any published regulation for student conduct adopted or approved by the Board of Trustees.

BULLYING: No students shall engage in behavior that is intended to cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm to another student at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Examples of bullying include, but are not limited to the following:

• Verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, and epithets; slandering, ridiculing or maligning a person or his/her family; persistent name calling; using an individual or group as the butt of jokes.

• Verbal or physical conduct of a threatening, intimidating, or humiliating nature.

• Sabotaging or undermining an individual or group’s work performance or education experience.

• Inappropriate physical contact, such as pushing; shoving, kicking, poking, tripping, assault, or the threat of such conduct, or damage to a person’s work area or property.

• Inappropriate electronic communication, such as the use of electronic mail, text messaging, voice mail, social media, website, online chat rooms in a threatening, intimidating, or humiliating manner. Any individual who feels that he/she has been the victim of bullying, or who witnesses any incident of bullying, should promptly report it to the Dean of Student Services. Any student found to have engaged in prohibited bullying or retaliatory behavior is subject to immediate discipline up to and including expulsion.

COLLEGE COMPUTING SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES: Computing Systems refers to the College servers that provide access to the Internet, KCKCC websites and email. Computer Resources refers to the hardware and software licenses serviced by the College. Therefore, no student shall engage in the following:

• Intentional corruption or misuse of College computer systems.

• Use of systems for illegal or criminal activity.

• The use of College owned and operated computer networks, systems, software and hardware, posting of materials to electronic bulletin boards, chat rooms, mail lists, via conventional email, or other social media outlets used to intimidate, discriminate or create an atmosphere ofharassment based upon gender, race, religion, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or other basis impermissible under the law.

• Fraudulent, defaming, threatening, or obscene e-mail or graphical displays used to harass or intimidate another student, faculty, administrator, staff, trustee or visitor.

• Using College computing systems to view, post, share or send obscene or pornographic material or material that incites illegal activity.

• Use of College computing systems for commercial or for-profit activities.

• Unauthorized use of another person’s individual identification and password.

• The use of group web sites for the publication or distribution of copyrighted material or licensed software.

• Use of computing facilities to interfere with the normal, day-to day operation of the College.

• Knowingly spreading malware or viruses. Access to any computing resource or system may be revoked by the President of the College, or the President’s designee, without prior notice.

CONTRACTS: No student shall enter into a contract with an outside agency using the name of the College. Contracts entered into in violation of this rule shall be the personal responsibility of the student.

COUNTERFEITING AND ALTERING: No student shall reproduce, misuse and/or steal, forge, alter, copy, tamper with or alter in any way, manner, shape or form, any written record, document or identification, or any form(s) used or maintained by the College. This includes computerized data.

DUMPING AND LITTERING: No student shall deposit or dump litter or dispose of any refuse on any property owned or leased by the College, except in duly designated refuse depositories. All students, faculty, administrators, trustees, staff and visitors are encouraged to place recyclable items in appropriate containers.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES: No student shall use cellular phones or any electronic devices to cause disruption in the classroom, library, or any other area of the College environment. This includes but is not limited to abuse of cellular or other electronic devices as follows:

• Utilizing cellular phones or other electronic devices with photographic capabilities for the purposes or photographing test questions or engaging in other forms of academic misconduct, academic dishonesty or illegal activity is prohibited.

• Photographing individuals in non-public areas such as lavatories, locker rooms , or student housing private areas is prohibited.

• Taking unauthorized photographs of documents is prohibited.

• Utilizing any type of electronic device to photograph, video record, audio record or to make other electronic or digital record of or during course or extracurricular activities is prohibited unless permission is expressly granted by the instructor. When permission is granted, students agree to use such recordings only for personal use and agree not to post such recordings on the Internet or otherwise distribute them. Students needing recordings of lectures for disability related reasons should contact Student Accessibility and Support Service at (913) 288-7664.

FAILURE TO COMPLY: No student shall fail to comply with the directives of College officials acting in the performance of their duties.

FIREARMS, FIREWORKS AND OTHER WEAPONS: Unauthorized possession or use of firearms, (including B-B and pellet guns), fireworks, (cherry bombs, bottle rockets, firecrackers, etc.) and other explosives, dangerous chemicals, and bombs threats and slingshots are prohibited on any KCKCC owned, leased, and operated facilities. (except as described by the Prohibited Weapons Policy, Policy: 4.10) (https://www.kckcc.edu/about/policies-procedures/business-andfinance-policies.html)

The possession of a knife six inches in length or over, or one with a blade, which is automatically projected from the handle, is prohibited.

The use of any objects or instruments with the intent of bodily harm on any individual or damage of a building or grounds of College owned, or leased property is prohibited. Because of the danger to persons or property, the act of throwing or dropping anything from the windows or floors is subject to College disciplinary action.

Students identified as responsible for such activity will face serious disciplinary action and/or suspension from the College, as well as court prosecution.

The Kansas City Kansas Community College has a Prohibited Weapons Policy, Policy: 4.10, applicable to all students, staff and guests of KCKCC. All weapons are generally prohibited on KCKCC property except as permitted under the limited circumstances described in the Weapons Policy and under Kansas law.

Please refer to the KCKCC Prohibited Weapons Policy or your Student Handbook for more information. Anyone who witnesses a violation of the KCKCC Prohibited Weapons Policy should contact Campus Police at: 913-288-7636. Violations of federal, state or local laws or KCKCC policies may result in discipline up to and including expulsion from the college, criminal charges and monetary fines for personal injuries and property damage.

FIRE EQUIPMENT: It is illegal under state and federal law to tamper with any kind of fire emergency equipment. This includes pulling or calling in a false alarm, intentionally activating a smoke detector, discharging or removing a fire extinguisher or hose, breaking the safety glass on the fire extinguisher case, or leaving through a locked fire door.

GAMBLING: No student shall engage in any form of gambling, as defined in K.S.A. 21-6403, on property owned or leased by the College. This includes any College sponsored events, trips or activities.

HARASSMENT OR DISCRIMINATION: No student shall engage in harassment or discrimination of another student, faculty, administrator, staff member, trustee or visitor of the College. This includes harassment based upon gender, race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status protected by state or federal law or the KCKCC Discrimination and Harassment Policy, Policy: 5.00. (https://www.kckcc.edu/about/policies-procedures/humanresources-policies.html)

HAZING: Any 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 or association with a group or organization, is prohibited.

IDENTIFICATION/OFFICIAL DIRECTIVES: Upon request of any College official (law enforcement, administrator, faculty, or staff) a student must present current student identification. Failure to follow this or other reasonable directives of KCKCC officials may be grounds for disciplinary action.

ILLEGAL DRUGS: No student shall unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess or use a controlled substance as defined by College policies and/or as defined in the Uniform Controlled Substances Act (K.S.A. 654101 and K.S.A. 65-4107 as amended) and other related acts on property owned or leased by KCKCC or during any college-sponsored trip, event or activity either on or off campus. KCKCC Drug & Alcohol Use Policy, Policy: 5.45. (https://www.kckcc.edu/about/policies-procedures/human-resources-policies.html)

Illicit drug use within the context of competitive athletics and while enrolled in any of the health professions can compromise the physical well-being and health and safety of the individual and others; therefore, all athletes who practice and compete for athletic teams at KCKCC and all students enrolled in any of the health professions programs at KCKCC will be required to participate in the College’s randomized drug-testing program. Specifics of the drug testing procedures, list of drugs tested, and counseling procedures are outlined in the Student Athlete Handbook and in the individual Health Professions Handbook.

MATERIALLY DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR: No student shall behave in a manner that is materially disruptive to the learning environment or that endangers or infringes upon the rights and/or safety of other students or any member of the College Community. Any obstruction or disruption of an educational process, administrative process or other functions of the College is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to unwelcome physical contact or violent or threatening conduct which is deemed to be materially disruptive to the educational, administrative or other functions of the College. It is the responsibility of all student to cooperate fully with College Police and provide valid identification upon request.

SEXUAL OFFENSES: Sexual assault and sexual harassment as defined in applicable federal, state or municipal law, or sexual harassment in violation of College’s Discrimination and Harassment and Policy and Procedures and/or the Title IX/Sexual Misconduct Procedures and Guidelines will not be tolerated. Sexual assault includes, but is not limited to, rape, acquaintance rape, fondling, incest, statutory rape, forced sodomy, forced oral copulation, rape by a foreign object, sexual battery or threat of sexual assault. Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, such as requests for sexual favors; sexually motivated physical conduct; or other verbal, physical, conduct or communication of a sexual nature. Sexual Harassment may also include stalking. Stalking is engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or suffer substantial emotional distress. A sexual offense is “any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.” (National Incident- Based Reporting System User Manual, FBI). Consent can never be obtained through force, violence, coercion, pressure or intimidation. It can be withdrawn at any time. (KCKCC Discrimination and Harassment Policy, Policy: 5.00. (https://www.kckcc.edu/about/policiesprocedures/human-resources-policies.html)

SAFETY: No student shall engage in behavior which violates any safety rules of any classroom, laboratory, or other college premises, whether such procedures are written, oral rules or directions. This shall include, but may not be limited to, the wearing of any required personal protective equipment, and the following of prescribed methods and procedures for handling and disposing of certain materials which may be hazardous, unstable, infectious, etc.

SMOKING: The College provides a smoke-free environment. No student shall be allowed to smoke in any enclosed KCKCC owned or operated facilities or college vehicles. Along with tobacco cigarettes, students are not allowed to smoke e-cigarettes as it constitutes disruptive behavior. KCKCC Smoke and Tobacco – Free Campus, Policy: 1.11.

THEFT/DAMAGE TO PROPERTY: No person or persons shall engage in the attempted or actual theft of or damage to property belonging to another person or to the College. This includes tampering with coin-operated machines and the abuse of computer usage privileges. No student shall possess or offer for sale any books or property lost by or stolen from another person.

USE OF COLLEGE FACILITIES: No student, guest or community member shall be in college buildings or athletic facilities without proper authorization except during normal hours of operation. Unauthorized use of college facilities is strictly prohibited.

Policy Statement

Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment for students, faculty, administrators, staff, trustees and visitors. All members of the College community are expected to contribute to a positive campus environment that is conducive to advancing the mission of KCKCC. Each member of the campus community should choose behaviors that contribute towards this end.

It is the responsibility of the College to inform students of their rights and responsibilities, to define standards of behavior, and to assure students of substantive and procedural due process. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of this published and readily available code of conduct. Student’s failure to be aware of this published code of conduct does not excuse them from compliance with this policy.

KCKCC sets disciplinary rules and regulations and reserves the right to take disciplinary action against any student who, in the finding of the college administration, has not acted in the best interest of all members of the campus community. This includes any behavioral misconduct that occurs on property owned or leased by the College, as well as where a student resides or occurs at any KCKCC-sponsored trip, event or activity. This includes but is not limited to service-learning trips, internships, externships, clinical or practicum assignments.  Students must also abide by all local, state and national laws, and are subject to criminal action for violating such laws. Legal action taken as a result of violations to national, state and local laws does not preclude campus disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the College.

All students must:

• Treat all staff, faculty, administrators, trustees, visitors and other students with courtesy, respect and dignity.
• Maintain a cooperative and collaborative approach to inter-personal relationship.
• Act honestly and ethically in their dealings with staff, faculty, administrators, trustees, visitors and other students.
• Respect the privacy of staff, faculty, administrators, trustees, visitors and other students.
• Meet all financial obligations to the College.
• Obey all local, state and federal laws and regulations and all Kansas City Kansas Community College policies.
• Always have the College Student Identification card while on College property.
• Ensure that they do not act in a manner that unnecessarily or unreasonably impedes the ability of staff, faculty, administrators, trustees, visitors and other students to access or use the resources of the College.
• Ensure that they do not become involved in or encourage discrimination against or harassment or bullying of staff, faculty, administrators, trustees, visitors and other students.