Rights & Responsibilities

Student Code of Conduct

1. Definitions

The terms "college" or "College" or "campus" or "DACC" all mean Danville Area Community College

The term “student” includes all persons taking courses at Danville Area Community College, either full or part time, credit or non credit. Persons who withdrew after allegedly violating the Student Code of Conduct, who are not officially enrolled in a course but who have a continuing relationship with the college or who are in the process of enrolling in a course are still considered “students”. This Student Code of Conduct does apply at all locations of DACC, including off campus sites, at college sponsored events, and in the online environment.

The term “faculty member” means any person hired by DACC to conduct classroom or teaching activities or who is otherwise considered by the College to be a member of faculty.

The term “administrator” includes any person employed by DACC, performing assigned administrative or professional responsibility.

The term “staff” includes any person employed by DACC, performing duties assigned support responsibility.

The term “member of the DACC college community” includes any person who is a student, faculty member, DACC administrator, staff, or any other person employed by the college. A person’s status in a particular situation shall be determined by the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services.

The term “college premises” includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property owned, used, or controlled by DACC [including adjacent streets and sidewalks].

The term “Student Conduct Hearing Committee” means any person or persons authorized by the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services to determine whether a student has violated the Student Code of Conduct and to recommend sanctions that may be imposed when a rules violation has been committed.

The term “Student Conduct Officer” means a DACC official authorized on a case-by case-basis by to impose sanctions upon any student(s) found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct. The Vice President of Instruction and Student Service may authorize the Student Conduct Officer to serve simultaneously as a Student Conduct Officer and the sole member or one of the members of the Student Conduct Hearing Committee. The Vice President of Instruction and Student Services may authorize the Student Conduct Officer to impose sanctions in all cases.

The term “Appeals Committee” means any person or persons authorized by the DACC President to consider an appeal from the Student Conduct Hearing Committee’s determination as to whether a student has violated the Student Code of Conduct or from the sanctions imposed by the Student Conduct Officer.

The terms “will” and “shall” means is used in the imperative sense.

The term “may” is used in the permissive sense.

The term “policy” means the written regulations of DACC as found in, but not limited to, the Student Code of Conduct, Student Handbook, and in the college catalog.

The term “cheating” includes, but is not limited to: (1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations;(2) use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; (3) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member the DACC faculty or staff; (4) engaging in any behavior specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course syllabus or class discussion.

The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

The term “Complainant” means any person who submits a referral alleging that a student violated this Student Code of Conduct. When a student believes that s/he has been a victim of another student’s misconduct, the student who believes s/he has been a victim will have the same right’s under this Student Code as are provided to the Complainant” even if another member of the DAC community submitted the charges itself.

The term “disruptive behavior” shall include, but not limited to the following:

1. Behavior that causes a disruption to either academic endeavors or the administration of the College;
2. Conduct that disrupts any authorized or sponsored College event;
3. The blocking of an entrance, exit, or access to any College facility, area, road, stairway and/or walkway;
4. Behavior that could endanger life or property
5. Behavior that infringes on the rights of other members of the College community;
6. Leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area

The term “Hazing” means any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.

The term “accused student” means any student accused of violating this Student Code of Conduct.

The term “FERPA” means the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. It deals with the release of student education records, and affords students certain rights regarding those records.

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2. Purpose of the Student Code of Conduct

    The primary purpose of the Student Code of Conduct is to assist Danville Area Community College in creating an environment that allows for quality, innovative, and accessible learning experiences. Students, faculty, staff and administration share in the responsibility for accomplishing the DACC mission. Student conduct standards at DACC are not to be equated to state or federal criminal codes.

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3. DACC Core Values and Expected Behavior

    Student Code of Conduct is based on the DACC Core Values which reflect the academic and non academic behaviors expected of all DACC students.

Integrity

Building trusting relationships

Examples of expected behavior

• Being respectful
• Being honest and sincere
• Being fair and reasonable
• Acting responsibly by meeting commitments and obligations
• Doing one's own work

Excellence

Working to achieve exceptional results

Examples of expected behavior

• Being a participative earner
• Reaching for the highest possible learning experience possible
• Being innovative and proactive
• Setting and achieving academic goals
• Taking pride in yourself and your school

Communication

Maintaining positive and productive campus relationships

Examples of expected behavior

• Developing positive attitudes and peer relationships
• Developing positive and productive relationships with faculty
• Maintaining awareness of campus policies and procedures

Adaptability

Meeting the changing needs of the community

Examples of expected behavior

• Being on time to each class
• Being prepared for each class
• Routinely attend classes
• Using effective learning strategies
• Using time management strategies

Diversity

Maintaining a safe and secure learning environment

Examples of expected behavior

• Respecting the opinions of others
• Treating other students with respect
• Respecting the rights of all members of the DACC community
• Abiding by campus policies and procedures

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4. College Policies

      In addition to its Mission and Values, the college has created policies to ensure Student Code of Conduct also covers all policies that are needed to protect the rights of the DACC community. Students must know and abide by all DACC policies.

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5. Student Code of Conduct Authority

• The Vice President of Instruction and Student Services is responsible for the Student Code of Conduct.
• The Vice President of Instruction and Student Services shall develop policies and procedures for the administration of the Student Code of Conduct system
• Decisions made by a Student Conduct Hearing Committee and/or the Conduct Officer shall be final, pending the normal appeal process.

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6. Jurisdiction of the Student Code of Conduct

    The Student Code of Conduct shall apply to conduct that occurs on DACC premises and at DACC sponsored activities. Each student shall be responsible for his/her conduct on DACC premises and at DACC sponsored activities. The Student Code of Conduct shall apply to a student’s conduct even if the student withdraws from or drops out of school while a disciplinary matter is pending.

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7. Student Code of Conduct-Rules and Regulations

    Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit the following misconduct is subject to disciplinary sanctions as outlined in section IX. of the Student Code of Conduct.

1. Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:
1. Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty
2. Furnishing false information to any DACC administrator, faculty, or staff member, or office
3. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any DACC document or record
2. Disruption or obstruction of teaching, administration, disciplinary proceedings, other DACC activities, or of other authorized non-DACC activities when the conduct occurs on DACC premises.
3. Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
4. Sexual Harassment, explicit sexual propositions, innuendos, jokes, obscene materials, unwanted advances, sexual favors, physical, verbal, or visual conduct based on sex.
5. Attempted or actual theft and/or damage to property of the DACC or property of a member of the DACC community or other personal or public property, on or off campus.
6. Engaging in acts of hazing, bullying or intimidating towards members of the DACC community.
7. Failure to comply with directions of DACC administrators or faculty or staff acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
8. Unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys to DACC premises.
9. Unauthorized access to any DACC office, computer, or premise.
10. Violation of any DACC policy, rule or regulation published in hard copy or available electronically on the DACC website.
11. Violation of any federal, state or local law.
12. Use, possession, manufacturing, or distribution of marijuana, heroin, narcotics, or other controlled substances.
13. Use, possession, manufacturing, or distribution of alcoholic beverages, or public intoxication.
14. Illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, other weapons, or dangerous chemicals on DACC premises or use of any such item, even if legally possessed, in a manner that harms, threatens, or causes fear to others.
15. Participating in an on-campus or off-campus demonstration, riot, or activity that disrupts the normal operations of DACC and/or infringes on the rights of other members of the DACC community; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area.
16. Obstruction of the flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on DACC premises.
17. Conduct that is disorderly, lewd, or indecent; breach of peace; or aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to breach the peace on the DACC premises. Disorderly conduct includes but is not limited to: Any unauthorized use of electronic or other devices to make an audio or video record of any person while on DACC premises without his/her prior knowledge, or without his/hers effective consent when such a recording is likely to cause injury or distress. This includes, but is not limited to, surreptitiously taking pictures of another person in the Fitness Center, locker rooms, or restrooms.
18. Any violation of the DACC Computer/IT policy.
19. Abuse of the Student Code of Conduct system, including but not limited to:
1. Failure to obey the notice from the Student Conduct Officer to appear for a meeting or hearing as part of the Student Code of Conduct system.
2. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before the Student Conduct Officer or Student Conduct Hearing Committee.
3. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a Student Code of Conduct discipline proceeding.
4. Attempt to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the Student Code of Conduct system
5. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a Student Conduct Hearing Committee.
6. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a Student Conduct Hearing Committee and/or any witness.
7. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Student Code of Conduct.
8. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the Student Code of Conduct system.

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