Student Code of Conduct
The College makes every effort to maintain a safe and orderly educational environment for students and staff. Therefore, when, in the judgment of College officials, a student’s conduct disrupts or threatens to disrupt the College community, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken to restore and protect the sanctity of the community.
The purpose of these standards is not to restrict student rights but to protect the rights of individuals in their academic pursuits.
For the purpose of this policy, student is defined as an individual who has been admitted to the College and has registered for courses, or otherwise entered into any other relationship with the College to take instruction. It further includes persons who are eligible to receive any of the rights and privileges afforded a person who is enrolled at the College. Student status lasts until an individual graduates, is dismissed, or is no longer enrolled.
Career and College Promise students are required to adhere to Isothermal Community College’s Student Code of Conduct while on or about the premises of the College campus, in Isothermal Community College courses, or at college-sponsored or college-supervised events. When the College is made aware of a high school student’s misconduct at their respective high school, the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs will determine if the dually enrolled student is also in violation of the College’s Student Code of Conduct policy.
Visitors to Isothermal Community College are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. The College reserves the right to suspend the privilege of visiting the campus or the use of its facilities. Visitors do not have the same rights to due process and appeals as students.
The following regulation sets forth offenses for which disciplinary proceedings may be initiated. Violation of one or more of the following code provisions may result in one of the sanctions described in Procedure 05.03.02.01 – Discipline and Appeals Procedures for Academic-Related Violations and/or Procedure 05.03.02.02 – Discipline and Appeals Procedures for Non-Academic Related Violations.
I. Academic-Related Violations
- Plagiarism – The intentional theft or unacknowledged use of work or ideas of another person or produced by artificial intelligence. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: a) paraphrasing or summarizing another’s words or works without proper acknowledgement; b) using direct quotes of material without proper acknowledgment; or c) submitting work as your own that has been purchased or produced by another person or by artificial intelligence. If a student is uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism, they should discuss with the course instructor.
- Cheating – Cheating is defined to include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Using materials or equipment to complete a learning activity not authorized by the administrator of the learning activity.
- Collaborating with any other person on a learning activity without permission from the instructor or facilitator.
- Knowingly obtaining, using, buying, selling, transporting, sharing, or soliciting in whole or in part the contents of a learning activity prior to its administration.
- Substituting for another student or permitting any other person to substitute for oneself.
- Falsifying information in order to gain an academic advantage, such as but not limited to: gaining additional time for completion of an assignment, make-up course work, etc.
- Cooperating or aiding in any of the above.
- Aiding Acts of Academic Dishonesty – Providing information to another student and knowing, or reasonably should have known, that the student intends to use the information for cheating or other deceptive purposes.
II. Non-Academic Related Violations
- Theft and Property Damage – Students shall not steal or damage College property or another individual’s property. Students who are caught stealing or damaging said property may be subject to civil or criminal prosecution as well as College sanctions.
- Trespass – Students may be considered trespassing if in an unauthorized area of the College campus or if they remain on or come to the College campus after having been issued a trespass notice by the College President. For more specific information, see Procedure 02.01.02.04 - Trespass.
- Drugs and Alcohol – Unlawfully possessing, using, being under the influence of, manufacturing, dispensing, selling, or distributing alcohol, illegal or unauthorized controlled substances or impairing substances at any College location is prohibited. For more specific information, see Policy 05.03.05 – Students – Alcohol and Drugs on Campus. In addition, students may not use tobacco of any form or e-cigarettes on campus, in college owned or rented vehicles, or at any College-sponsored activities or events.
- Lewd and Indecent Behavior – Students shall not engage in lewd or indecent behavior, including public physical or verbal action or distribution of obscene material based on reasonable community standards. The conduct must be objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that the conduct constitutes lewd and/or indecent behavior.
- Mental/Physical Abuse – Students shall not mentally or physically abuse any person on the College premises or at a College-sponsored function, including verbal or physical actions which threaten or endanger the health or safety of any such persons.
- Assault – Students shall not assault or threaten to assault any other living being for any reason whatsoever. Assault includes a demonstration of force, unlawful physical touching or striking.
- Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence – Students shall not engage in sexual harassment and/or sexual violence. For more specific information and definitions of prohibited activities, consult Procedure 05.03.04.01 – Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence.
- Unlawful Discrimination – Students shall not engage in unlawful discrimination. For more specific information and definitions of prohibited activities, consult Procedure 05.04.03.02 – Unlawful Discrimination.
- Communicating Threats – Students shall not verbally, in writing, through a third party or by any other means threaten to physically injure another living being or willfully threaten to damage the property of another.
- Bullying – Students shall not intimidate or threaten with harm any other individual. Bullying is defined as any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication that: (a) places a person in actual and reasonable fear of harm to their property; or (b) creates, or is certain to create, a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits or a College employee's ability to perform the essential functions of their job.
- Disorderly Conduct and Disruption – Students shall not obstruct or disrupt any College activities, educational or otherwise, including duly authorized activities on or off College premises. Students shall not occupy or seize, in any manner, College property, a College facility or any portion thereof for a use inconsistent with prescribed, customary, or authorized use. Students shall not participate in or conduct an assembly, demonstration or gathering in a manner which threatens or causes injury to person or property; which interferes with free access to, ingress or egress of College facilities; which is harmful, obstructive or disruptive to the educational process or institutional functions of the College; hold rallies, demonstrations, or any other forms of public gathering without prior approval of the College based on reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions; remain at the scene of such an assembly after being asked to leave by a representative of the College.
- Possession of Weapons – Students may not have a weapon of any kind, including but not limited to, certain types of knives, stun gun or any firearm in their possession on campus or at any College-affiliated activities or events except handguns as allowed by N.C.G.S. § 14-269.4. Handguns are permitted under these circumstances: a) the person has a concealed handgun permit that is lawfully issued; b) the handgun is in a closed compartment or container within the person’s locked vehicle; c) a person may unlock the vehicle to enter or exit the vehicle provided the handgun remains in the closed compartment at all times; and d) the vehicle is locked at all times.
- Tampering with Fire Alarms – Setting off a fire alarm or using or tampering with any fire safety equipment, except with reasonable belief in the need for such alarm or equipment.
- Gambling – Students may not gamble on campus or at any College-sponsored activities or events.
- Traffic Violations – Violation of College regulations regarding the operation and parking of motor vehicles. For additional information, refer to Policy 02.03.04.
- Providing False Information – Students shall not present to the College or its employees false information as part of an investigation, inquiry, hearing or in other matters related to College activities; nor may a student knowingly withhold information which may have an effect on their enrollment or their status with the College.
- Disobedience / Insubordination – Failure to comply with instructions of College officials acting in performance of their duties and failure to adhere to the terms of any conduct-related directive or sanction.
- Financial Impropriety – Financial impropriety such as failure to pay College-levied fines, misuse or failure to properly account for club or student organization funds, or the passing of worthless checks, drafts or money orders to College officials.
- Public Laws – Violations of any federal, state, or local laws occurring while on campus or at a college-sponsored event may lead to legal actions as well as College sanctions. Violations of federal, state, or local laws occurring off campus may result in disciplinary action if the student’s continued presence on campus constitutes a threat to the safety and order of the campus.
- Failure to Report Criminal Activity – Failure to inform the College, in writing, within five (5) days after they are convicted for violation of any federal, state, or local criminal drug statute or alcoholic beverage control statute where such violation occurred while on a College location. For more information, see Policy 05.03.05 – Student Alcohol and Drugs on Campus.
- Unauthorized Access to College Records – Students may not access, view, copy or change official College records without expressed authority to do so.
- Animals on Campus – Students may not have an animal of any kind on campus with the exception of specified in Policies 02.02.09, 03.04.09, and 05.04.05. Service animals are permitted and any student with a service animal should report the use of a service animal to the College’s Counselor and Student Advocacy Coordinator. For more information regarding service animals, see Policy 05.04.05 – Service Animals and Other Animals on Campus.
- Improper Use of the College Network/Technology – Students are prohibited from engaging in any activities prohibited under Policy 07.02 – Internet and Network Acceptable Use.
- Violations of Normal Classroom Behavior – Not complying with reasonable rules issued by an instructor, causing disruption in the classroom or being disrespectful to classmates or the instructor. The conduct must be objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that the conduct is disruptive or disrespectful not based on content or viewpoint discrimination.
- Unauthorized Solicitation – Students may not participate in the unauthorized activities that promote the sale of merchandise or services or request of donations.
- Student leaders are expected to abide by standards set forth in the Student Code of Conduct, the Student Leaders Manual, and the student club/organization’s constitution and/or bylaws, and to conduct themselves at all times in accordance with conduct befitting the leader of an organization at Isothermal Community College. Students are encouraged to report any concerns or information regarding violations of law or College policy or other behavior perceived to be a threat to the community.
