Prohibited Student Conduct (132M-125-035)
The college may impose disciplinary sanctions against a student who commits, or aids,
abets, incites, encourages or assists another person to commit, an act(s) of misconduct
which include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
- Academic dishonesty. Any act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism,
and fabrication.
- Cheating includes using or any attempt to use, give, or obtain unauthorized assistance
relating to the completion of an academic assignment.
- Plagiarism includes taking and using as one's own, without proper attribution, the
ideas, writings, or work of another person in completing an academic assignment.
- Fabrication includes falsifying data, information, or citations in completing an academic
assignment and also includes providing false or deceptive information to an instructor
concerning the completion of an assignment.
- No student shall be allowed to withdraw from a course or from the college to avoid
the consequences of academic dishonesty.
- Other dishonesty. Any other acts of dishonesty. Such acts include, but are not limited to:
- Forgery, alteration, submission of falsified documents or misuse of any college document,
record, or instrument of identification;
- Tampering with an election conducted by or for college students; or
- Furnishing false information or failing to furnish correct information, in response
to the request or requirement of a college officer or employee.
- Obstruction or disruption. Obstruction or disruption of (a) any instruction, research, administration, disciplinary
proceeding, or other college activity, including the obstruction of the free flow
of pedestrian or vehicular movement on college property or at a college activity,
or (b) any activity that is authorized to occur on college property, whether or not
actually conducted or sponsored by the college. Participation in any activity which
unreasonably disrupts the operations of the college or infringes on the rights of
another member of the college community, or leads or incites another person to engage
in such an activity.
- Assault. Assault, physical abuse, verbal abuse, threat(s), intimidation, harassment,
bullying, stalking or other conduct which harms, threatens, or is reasonably perceived
as threatening the health or safety of another person or another person's property.
For purposes of this subsection:
- Bullying is physical or verbal abuse, repeated over time, and involving a power imbalance
between the aggressor and victim.
- Stalking is intentional and repeated following of another person, which places that
person in reasonable fear that the perpetrator intends to injure, intimidate or harass
that person. Stalking also includes instances where the perpetrator knows or reasonably
should know that the person is frightened, intimidated or harassed, even if the perpetrator
lacks such an intent.
- Cyber misconduct. Cyber stalking, cyberbullying or online harassment. Use of electronic
communications including, but not limited to, electronic mail, instant messaging,
electronic bulletin boards, and social media sites, to harass, abuse, bully or engage
in other conduct which harms, threatens, or is reasonably perceived as threatening
the health or safety of another person. Prohibited activities include, but are not
limited to, unauthorized monitoring of another's e-mail communications directly or
through spyware, sending threatening e-mails, disrupting electronic communications
with spam or by sending a computer virus, sending false messages to third parties
using another's e-mail identity, nonconsensual recording of sexual activity, and nonconsensual
distribution of a recording of sexual activity.
- Property violation. Attempted or actual damage to, or theft or misuse of, real or
personal property or money of:
- The college or state;
- Any student or college officer, employee, or organization;
- Any other member of the college community or organization; or
- Possession of such property or money after it has been stolen.
- Failure to comply with directive. Failure to comply with the direction of a college
officer or employee who is acting in the legitimate performance of his or her duties,
including failure to properly identify oneself to such a person when requested to
do so.
- Weapons. Possession or use of firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals or other dangerous
weapons which can be used to inflict bodily harm or to damage real or personal property
is prohibited on the college campus, at any other facilities leased or operated by
the college, or at any activity under the administration or sponsorship of the college.
Exceptions to this policy are permitted when the weapon is used in conjunction with
an approved college instructional program, is carried by duly constituted law enforcement
officer.
- Hazing. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any initiation into a student organization
or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization that causes,
or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious mental or emotional
harm, to any student.
- Alcohol, drug, and tobacco violations.
- Alcohol. The use, possession, delivery, sale, or being visibly under the influence of any
alcoholic beverage, except as permitted by law and applicable college policies.
- Marijuana. The use, possession, delivery, sale, or being visibly under the influence
of marijuana or the psychoactive compounds found in marijuana and intended for human
consumption, regardless of form. While state law permits the recreational use of marijuana,
federal law prohibits such use on college premises or in connection with college activities.
- Drugs. The use, possession, delivery, sale, or being under the influence of any legend
drug, including anabolic steroids, androgens, or human growth hormones as defined
in chapter 69.41 RCW, or any other controlled substance under chapter 69.50 RCW, except
as prescribed for a student's use by a licensed practitioner.
- Tobacco, electronic cigarettes and related products. Consistent with its efforts to
promote wellness, fitness, and a campus environment conducive to work, study, and
activities for staff, students, and the public, Lower Columbia College maintains a
smoke-free campus. The use of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and related products
in any building owned, leased or operated by the college or in any location is prohibited,
including twenty-five feet from entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation
intakes of any building owned, leased or operated by the college. "Related products"
includes, but is not limited to cigarettes, pipes, bidi, clove cigarettes, water pipes,
hookahs, chewing tobacco, and snuff.
- Lewd conduct. Conduct which is obscene, lewd, or indecent.
- Disorderly conduct. Conduct which disrupts campus operations or the educational environment,
is disturbing the peace, or assisting or encouraging another person to disturb the
peace.
- Discriminatory conduct. Discriminatory conduct which harms or adversely affects any
member of the college community because of her/his race; color; national origin; sensory,
mental or physical disability; use of a service animal; gender, including pregnancy;
marital status; age (40+); religion; creed; genetic information; sexual orientation;
gender identity; veteran's status; or any other legally protected classification.
Such finding is considered an aggravating factor in determining a sanction for such
conduct.
- Sexual misconduct. The term "sexual misconduct" includes sexual harassment, sexual
intimidation, and sexual violence.
- Sexual harassment. The term "sexual harassment" means unwelcome conduct of a sexual
nature, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other
verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is sufficiently serious
as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, based on sex, the ability of a student
to participate in or benefit from the college's educational program or that creates
an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus community members.
- Sexual intimidation. The term "sexual intimidation" incorporates the definition of
"sexual harassment" and means threatening or emotionally distressing conduct based
on sex including, but not limited to, nonconsensual recording of sexual activity or
the distribution of such recording.
- Sexual violence. The term "sexual violence" incorporates the definition of "sexual
harassment" and means a physical sexual act perpetrated without clear, knowing, and
voluntary consent, such as committing a sexual act against a person's will, exceeding
the scope of consent, or where the person is incapable of giving consent, including
rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual coercion, sexual exploitation, gender-
or sex-based stalking. The term further includes acts of dating or domestic violence.
A person may be incapable of giving consent by reason of age, threat or intimidation,
lack of opportunity to object, disability, drug or alcohol consumption, or other cause.
- Harassment. Unwelcome and offensive conduct, including verbal, nonverbal, or physical
conduct, that is directed at a person because of such person's protected status and
that is sufficiently serious as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, the
ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the college's educational program
or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus
community members. Protected status includes a person's race; color; national origin;
sensory, mental or physical disability; use of a service animal; gender, including
pregnancy; marital status; age (40+); religion; creed; genetic information; sexual
orientation; gender identity; veteran's status; or any other legally protected classification.
See "Sexual misconduct" for the definition of "sexual harassment." Harassing conduct
may include, but is not limited to, physical conduct, verbal, written, social media
and electronic communications.
- Retaliation. Retaliation, intimidation, threats, or coercion against anyone who asserts
a right protected by federal, state or local law, or college policies including, but
not limited to, student conduct code provisions prohibiting discrimination and harassment,
or who cooperates in an investigation.
- Theft or misuse of electronic resources. Theft or other misuse of computer time or
other electronic information resources of the college. Such misuse includes, but is
not limited to:
- Unauthorized use of such resources or opening of a file, message, or other item;
- Unauthorized duplication, transfer, or distribution of a computer program, file, message,
or other item;
- Unauthorized use or distribution of someone else's password or other identification;
- Use of such time or resources to interfere with someone else's work;
- Use of such time or resources to send, display, or print an obscene or abusive message,
text, or image;
- Use of such time or resources to interfere with normal operation of the college's
computing system or other electronic information resources;
- Use of such time or resources in violation of applicable copyright or other law;
- Adding to or otherwise altering the infrastructure of the college's electronic information
resources without authorization; or
- Failure to comply with the student computing resources policy.
- Unauthorized access. Unauthorized possession, duplication, or other use of a key,
keycard, or other restricted means of access to college property, or unauthorized
entry onto or into college property.
- Safety violations. Safety violation includes any nonaccidental conduct that interferes with or otherwise
compromises any college policy, equipment, or procedure relating to the safety and
security of the campus community, including tampering with fire safety equipment and
triggering false alarms or other emergency response systems.
- Abuse or misuse of any procedures. Abuse or misuse of any of the procedures relating
to student complaints or misconduct including, but not limited to:
- Failure to obey a subpoena;
- Falsification or misrepresentation of information;
- Disruption, or interference with the orderly conduct of a proceeding;
- Interfering with someone else's proper participation in a proceeding;
- Destroying or altering potential evidence, or attempting to intimidate or otherwise
improperly pressure a witness or potential witness;
- Attempting to influence the impartiality of, or harassing or intimidating, a student
conduct committee member; or
- Failure to comply with any disciplinary sanction(s) imposed under this student conduct
code.
- Motor vehicles. Operation of any motor vehicle on college property in an unsafe manner
or in a manner which is reasonably perceived as threatening the health or safety of
another person.
- Violation of other laws or policies. Violation of any federal, state, or local law,
rule, or regulation or other college rules or policies, including college traffic
and parking rules.
- Ethical violation. The breach of any generally recognized and published code of ethics
or standards of professional practice that governs the conduct of a particular profession
for which the student is taking a course or is pursuing as an educational goal or
major.
In addition to initiating discipline proceedings for violation of the student conduct
code, the college may refer any violations of federal, state or local laws to civil
and criminal authorities for disposition. The college shall proceed with student disciplinary
proceedings regardless of whether the underlying conduct is subject to civil or criminal
prosecution.