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Lower Columbia College is a diverse and dynamic learning community. As such, the college maintains a strong commitment to providing a learning environment that is civil and free from disruptive behavior. All members of the college community share in the responsibility to promote a positive learning environment, demonstrate mutual respect and dignity, and avoid adversarial relationships. Thus, students are expected to act as responsible members of this community, maintain a high degree of honesty and integrity, comply with the rules and regulations of the college, and respect the rights, privileges, and property of the college community.
The board of trustees of Washington State Community College District No. 13, acting pursuant to RCW 28B.50.140(13), delegates to the president of the college the authority to administer disciplinary action. Administration of the disciplinary procedures is the responsibility of the vice president of student services or their designee. Unless otherwise specified, the student conduct officer or delegee shall serve as the principal investigator and administrator for alleged violations of this code.
The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this student conduct code:
As members of the academic community, students are encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgment and to engage in an independent search for truth. Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The freedom to learn depends upon appropriate opportunities and conditions in the classroom, on the campus, and in the larger community. Students should exercise their freedom with responsibility. The responsibility to secure and to respect general conditions conducive to the freedom to learn is shared by all members of the college community.
The following enumerated rights are guaranteed to each student within the limitations of statutory law and college policy, which are deemed necessary to achieve the educational goals of the college:
The college may impose disciplinary sanctions against a student who commits, attempts to commit, aids, abets, incites, encourages or assists another person to commit, an act(s) of misconduct which include, but are not limited to, the following:
Brief adjudicative proceedings shall be used for student conduct appeals involving the following disciplinary actions:
The college record for brief adjudicative proceedings shall consist of any documents regarding the matter that were considered or prepared by the presiding officer for the brief adjudicative proceeding or by the reviewing officer for any review. These records shall be maintained according to the college's record retention schedule as the official record of the proceedings.
Both the respondent and the complainant in cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct shall be provided the same procedural rights to participate in student discipline matters, including the right to participate in the initial disciplinary decision-making process and to appeal any disciplinary decision.
This supplemental procedure applies to allegations of sexual harassment subject to Title IX jurisdiction pursuant to regulations promulgated by the United States Department of Education. See 34 C.F.R. Part 106. To the extent these supplemental hearing procedures conflict with the college's standard disciplinary procedures, WAC 132M-126-005 through 132M-126-110, these supplemental procedures shall take precedence.
Pursuant to RCW 28B.50.140(13) and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681, the college may impose disciplinary sanctions against a student who commits, attempts to commit, or aids, abets, incites, encourages, or assists another person to commit, an act(s) of "sexual harassment."
For purposes of this supplemental procedure, "sexual harassment" encompasses the following conduct:
The introduction and consideration of evidence during the hearing is subject to the following procedures and restrictions: