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 safety of the community.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with generally accepted standards of scholarship and morality. The purpose of these standards is not to restrict student rights but to protect the rights of individuals in their academic pursuits. These regulations apply to and encompass all properties and facilities owned or leased by Alamance Community College, including all ACC campuses and off-campus sites at which the College conducts programs, services, or events.
Procedural fairness is basic to the proper enforcement of all College policies and rules. In particular, no disciplinary sanctions shall be imposed unless the student has been informed in writing of the charges against him or her and has (1) an opportunity to know the nature and source of the evidence against him or her; (2) an opportunity to respond to all alleged violations and present evidence on his or her own behalf; and (3) an opportunity to file a petition of appeal of any disciplinary action taken against him or her.
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 5.3.2.1 - Discipline and Appeal for Academic Violations and/or Procedure 5.3.2.2 - Discipline and Appeal for Non-Academic Violations.
Academic Related Violations
- Plagiarism - Students shall not plagiarize. Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another’s work or ideas, presenting as original or new an idea derived from another source. 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) purchasing or using a paper or presentation written or produced by another person. If a student is uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism, he or she should talk to the class instructor.
- Cheating - Students shall not use notes or other material on an exam or class work without permission from the class instructor and shall not receive information from another student during an exam or obtain a copy of an exam or questions from an exam prior to taking the exam. Students shall not submit someone else’s work as their own or have someone take their exam and submit it as their own.
- Aiding Acts of Academic Dishonesty - Students shall not provide information to another student when they know, or reasonably should have known, that the student intends to use the information for cheating or other deceptive purposes.
Non-Academic Related Violations
- Theft and Property Damage - Students shall not steal, damage, or misuse College property or another individual’s property. Students who are caught stealing or damaging said property may be required to make restitution and may be eligible for civil or criminal prosecution as well as College discipline. Misuse is defined as any use that is inconsistent with the prescribed, customary authorized or intended use. Misuse includes damage, theft, unauthorized occupation or access, seizure, intentional breaking or destruction. It also includes tampering with safety or security equipment, motor vehicles, instructional equipment or technology, or providing false alarm or communicating a threat.
- Trespass to Property - Students shall not trespass. Students are trespassing if in an unauthorized area of the College campus, present on the College campus after closing hours (without permission), or remaining on the College campus after having been directed to leave by a College official.
- Drugs and Alcohol - Students shall not unlawfully possess, use, be under the influence of, manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute alcohol, illegal, or unauthorized controlled substances or impairing substances at any College location. For more specific information, see Policy 5.3.5 - Students - Alcohol and Drugs on Campus. In addition, students may not use tobacco of any form or e-cigarettes on campus or at any College-affiliated 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, profanity, obscenity, or lack of appropriate dress for the occasion. 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-supervised function, including oral, written, online or physical actions which harass, threaten, intimidate, coerce, bully, libel, slander, or endanger the health or safety of any such persons. Hazing is a form of mental and/or physical abuse.
- Assault - Students shall not assault or threaten to assault another person 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 5.3.4.1 - 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 5.4.3.2 - Unlawful Discrimination.
- Communicating Threats - Students shall not verbally, in writing, through a third party, or by any other means threaten to physically injure another person or that person’s child, sibling, spouse, or dependent, or willfully threaten to damage the property of another.
- Disorderly Conduct and Disruption - Students shall not obstruct or disrupt any teaching, research, administration or disciplinary proceedings, or other College functions and activities, including public service functions, and other 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 enter or leave College facilities; which is harmful, obstructive, or disruptive to the educational process or institutional functions of the College; or which infringes on the rights of others. Students shall not hold rallies, demonstrations, or any other forms of public gathering without prior approval of the College based on reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions; and shall not remain at the scene of such an assembly after being asked to leave by a representative of the College staff.
- Possession of Weapons - Students shall not have a weapon of any kind, including but not limited to, a knife, 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. Examples of weapons include but are not limited to explosives, incendiaries, bowie knives, dirks, daggers, loaded canes, sword canes, machetes, box cutters, brass knuckles, and hazardous chemical or biological agents unrelated to College instructional activities.
- Tampering with Fire Alarms, Public Safety, or Notification Devices - Students shall not set off a fire alarm or use or tamper with any fire safety equipment, public notification device, call box, camera, or speaker system except with reasonable belief in the need for such alarm or equipment.
- Gambling - Students shall not gamble or wager for money or material on campus or at any College-affiliated activities or events. As permitted by an exception in the North Carolina General Statutes, a nonprofit organization may conduct up to two raffles per year.
- Traffic Violations - Students shall not violate College regulations regarding the operation and parking of motor vehicles.
- Providing False Information - Students shall not present to the College or its employees forged or false information as part of an investigation, inquiry, hearing, or in other matters related to College activities; neither may a student knowingly withhold information which may have an effect on their enrollment or their status with the College. Students shall not present false identification with intent to deceive. ACC prohibits representing the College, its community members, or a student organization without authorization, or representing or using the identity of an individual member of the community without express authorization of the individual.
- Disobedience/Insubordination - Students shall identify themselves and comply with instructions of College officials acting in performance of their duties. Students will adhere to the terms of any discipline action or directive associated with threat assessment.
- Financial Impropriety - Students shall not engage in financial impropriety such as failure to pay College-levied fines, failure to repay College-funded loans, misuse or failure to properly account for club or student organization funds, or pass worthless checks, drafts, or orders to College officials.
- Public Laws - Students shall follow federal, state, and local laws while on campus or at College-authorized events or activities. Violations of public law may lead to legal actions as well as College discipline. 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 - Students shall inform the College in writing within five (5) days after a conviction for violation of any federal, state, or local criminal drug statue or alcoholic beverage control statute where such violation occurred while on a College location. For more information, see Policy 5.3.5 - 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. This includes animals left within a vehicle. Service animals are permitted, and any student with a service animal should report the use of a service animal to the College’s Disability Services Coordinator. For more information regarding service animals, see Policy 5.4.5 - 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 7.1 - Acceptable Use of Information Systems.
- Violation of Policies and Procedures - Students are expected to be familiar with the College’s policies and procedures. Students may be disciplined for failure to follow the College’s policies and procedures.
- Violations of Normal Classroom Behavior - Students are expected to comply with reasonable rules issued by an instructor. Students shall not cause disruption in the classroom or be disrespectful to classmates or the instructor. To be considered a violation, 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.
June 13,2022
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