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RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
STUDENT DISCIPLINE AND DUE PROCESS
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The Riverside Community College District recognizes the importance of
student discipline and due process. To this end, the District has established
regulations for standards of student conduct and disciplinary procedures
which, when followed, assure students their due process rights.
Submitted to Board for First Reading 9-6-83
Approved by Board 11-1-83
Education Code Sections: 76030_76037
Adopted: November 1, 1983
Amended: May 19, 1998
APPENDIX C
6080
RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Regulations for Policy 6080, Student Discipline and Due Process
I. Responsibility
A. The President of the College is responsible for establishing
appropriate procedures for the administration of disciplinary actions.
All parties will attempt to resolve matters of student grievance or
student discipline by following the procedures below.
B. The Vice President of Student Services will be responsible
for the overall implementation of the regulations which are specifically
related to all nonacademic, student related matters.
C. The Vice president of Academic Affairs will be responsible
for the overall implementation of the regulations which are specifically
related to class activities or academic matters.
D. For matters involving the prohibition of discrimination
and the prohibition of sexual harassment, Board Policy 3099/4099 Affirmative
Action and Staff Diversity and/or Board Policy 3110/4110/6110 Prohibition
of Sexual Harassment, the concern should be referred to the District's
Affirmative Action Officer. Board Policy 6080 does not apply to such
matters.
E. The definitions of cheating and plagiarism and the penalties
for violating standards of student conduct pertaining to cheating
and plagiarism will be published in all schedules of classes, the
college catalog, the student handbook, and the faculty handbook. Faculty
members are encouraged to include the definitions and penalties in
their course syllabi.
II. Standards of Student Conduct
A. Student conduct must conform to District policy and regulations
and College procedures. Violations of such regulations and procedures
for which students are subject to disciplinary action include, but
are not limited to, the following:
1. Disobedience to directions of District officials (including
faculty) acting in the performance of their duties.
2. Violation of District rules and regulations, including
those concerning student organizations, the use of District facilities,
or the time, place, and manner of public expression or distribution
of materials.
3. Various forms of dishonesty, including but not limited
to:
a. Plagiarism: Presenting another person's language (spoken
or written), ideas, artistic works or thoughts, as if they were
one's own;
b. Cheating: Use of information not authorized by the
instructor for the purpose of obtaining a grade. Examples include,
but are not limited to, notes, recordings, and other students'
work;
c. Furnishing false information to the District for purposes
such as admission, enrollment, financial assistance, athletic
eligibility, transfer, or alteration of official documents.
4. Forgery, alteration, or the unauthorized possession or
use of District documents, records, or identification.
5. Unauthorized entry to or use of any District facilities.
6. Obstruction or disruption of District administrative
functions, classes, disciplinary procedures, or any other authorized
District activities.
7. Theft of or damage to property belonging to the District,
a member of the college community or a visitor to campus while at
any on-campus location, off-campus class site, or at any District
sponsored event.
8. Theft of other abuse of District facilities and/or computing
equipment including, but not limited to, the following:
a. Unauthorized entry into a file to use, read, or change
contents, or for any other purpose;
b. Unauthorized transfer of a file;
c. Unauthorized use of another individual's identification
or password;
d. Unauthorized use of phone or electronic devices such
as FAX, modem, etc.;
e. Use of computing facilities to interfere with the work
of another student or District official employee;
f. Use of computing facilities to send or receive obscene
or abusive messages;
g. Use of computing facilities to interfere with normal
operations of the District computing system.
9. Disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct or expression
on District property or at a District sponsored or supervised activity
which interferes with the District's educational responsibility.
10. Use, possession, distribution or being under the influence
of alcoholic beverages, controlled substance(s) or poison(s) classified
as such by Schedule D (Section 4160 of the Business and Professions
Code) while at any on-campus location, any off-campus class site,
or during any District sponsored activity, trip, or competition.
11. Harassment and abuse, directed toward individuals and
groups, which may include at least the following forms: the use
or threat of physical violence, coercion, intimidation, verbal or
written harassment and abuse, and unwanted physical contact of any
sort.
12. Assault or battery, abuse, or any threat of force or
violence directed toward any member of the District community or
any campus visitor.
13. Possession, while on a District campus or off-campus
class site, or at a District-sponsored function, of any explosives
or weapons, (except by persons given permission by the President
of the College or member of law enforcement agencies, acting in
their official capacities.)
14. Use or possession of any article, not usually designated
as a weapon, to threaten bodily harm.
15. Use of an electronic recording or any other communications
device (such as walkmans, cellular phones, pagers, recording devices,
etc.) in the classroom without the permission of the instructor.
16. The President of the College may at any time promulgate
additional rules or modify or clarify the foregoing rules.
B. Campus Regulations
1. Students are not permitted to eat or drink in classrooms.
2. Smoking is prohibited in all District buildings.
3. Gambling is not permitted on campus. Card playing or
similar activities are prohibited except in a designated campus
game or recreation area.
4. Dogs (with the exception of guide dogs) and other pets
are not allowed on campus.
5. Printed materials to be distributed or posted must be
approved for distribution by campus Student Activities Office. Advertisement
flyers and related literature may not be distributed or placed on
vehicles parked in District sites.
6. In accordance with Sections 32050, 32051, and 32052 of
the Education Code, the practice of hazing by organizations or individuals
either on or off the campus is strictly prohibited.
7. Students must be fully attired, including shoes or sandals,
while in the classroom or on the campus.
8. Library books and materials must be returned in a timely
manner.
9. Use of audio equipment on campus in public areas is restricted
to personal headphones or preapproved authorized activities.
10. Except for authorized police bicycle patrols, the riding/use
of bicycles, motorcycles, or motorized vehicles is limited to paved
streets or thoroughfares normally used for vehicular traffic. In
addition, the riding/use of all types of skates, skateboards, scooters,
or other such conveyances is prohibited on campus, except for approved
activities.
11. Only students enrolled in Riverside Community College
are allowed to attend classes. Therefore, the presence in classrooms
or laboratories of unenrolled individuals is prohibited. Occasionally,
visitors to classrooms may be permitted when approved by the faculty
member.
III. Disciplinary Action
A. Any student who disrupts the orderly operation of a District
campus, or who violates the standards of student conduct, is subject
to disciplinary action. Such action may be implemented by the President
of the College or designee.
B. The various types of disciplinary actions are set forth
hereafter: The District may utilize any level of discipline without
previously using a lower level of discipline and may utilize more
than one type of discipline in an appropriate case if appropriate.
1. Verbal Warning: This is a notice to the student that
continuation or repetition of specified conduct may be cause for
other disciplinary action.
2. Reprimand: This includes a written statement and/or a
probationary period to be specified by the President of the College
or designee for violation of specified rules. The reprimand serves
to place on record that a student's conduct in a specific instance
did not meet the standards expected by the District. It also specifies
the steps necessary to correct the inappropriate conduct and to
terminate the probation, if probation has been imposed. A person
placed on probation is notified that this is a warning and that
continued conduct of the type described in the reprimand may result
in further disciplinary action against the student.
3. Social Suspension: Social suspension limits a student's
attendance on campus to his/her scheduled class hours. This limitation
of District privileges will be set forth in the notice of social
suspension for a specified period of time. The imposition of social
suspension involves written notification to the student(s) and,
if necessary, the advisor of the organization involved of the reason
for social suspension.
4. "Temporary Suspension:" This suspension is
invoked by a classroom instructor due to student misconduct in the
classroom. The student may be removed from class the day of the
occurrence and the subsequent class period. If such suspension occurs,
the instructor will immediately notify the appropriate Department
Chairperson and/or campus Dean of Instruction who will in turn notify
the campus Dean of Student Services.
5. Interim Suspension: Interim suspension may be invoked
prior to a hearing to protect the safety and welfare of the District.
This is an interim suspension from all campus privileges including
class attendance. Interim suspension is limited to that period of
time necessary to resolve the problems that originally required
the interim suspension, and in any case, no more than a maximum
of ten (10) instructional days.
The student will be afforded the opportunity for a formal hearing
within ten (10) instructional days of imposition of the interim
suspension.
6. Restitution: This is financial reimbursement to
the District for damage or misappropriation of property. Reimbursement
may also take the form of appropriate service to repair or otherwise
compensate for damage.
7. Disciplinary Suspension: Disciplinary suspension
is a suspension of all campus privileges including class attendance
and may be imposed by the President of the College or designee following
a formal hearing for misconduct when other corrective measures have
failed or when the seriousness of the situation warrants such action.
Disciplinary suspension will not be more than ten (10) instructional
days.
8. Extended Suspension: The President of the College or
designee may suspend a student for good cause from all classes and
activities of the District for one or more terms.
9. Expulsion: An expulsion is a long term or permanent denial
of all campus privileges including class attendance. The Board of
Trustees may expel a student upon recommendation of the President
of the College
C. For cheating and/or plagiarism, after informing the Department
chair, a faculty member may recommend the following action:
1. First Instance: The student will be dropped from the
course where the offense occurred. Any tuition and applicable fees
will not be refunded. The grade in the class will be XF where X
denotes the reason for the F.
2. Second Instance: A second offense in any course in the
District will result in a second XF grade and a request to the Board
of Trustees for expulsion from the College. Any tuition and applicable
fees will not be refunded.
IV. Student Grievance Procedure
The purpose of a student grievance procedure is to provide a process
by which student-related issues may be resolved in a fair and efficient
manner following due process. The procedure is intended to achieve an
equitable solution to an issue with due regard for the rights of the
student, the faculty, the student body, and the District.
A. Procedure Relating To Disciplinary Action
In all cases when the President of the College or designee has initiated
disciplinary action, the student, within five (5) instructional days
following notification of the action, may convey to the appropriate
Vice President, in writing:
1. Concurrence with the decision, or
2. A grievance challenging the action.
Absence of any communication after the five day limit from the
student indicates concurrence with the decision.
B. General Grievance Process
Student grievances (other than for discipline) will be processed
in the following manner:
1. Consultation Process
a. Prior to any formal hearing, a student will be encouraged
to contact the appropriate faculty or staff member and attempt,
in good faith, to resolve the concern through the consultative
process. If a student is unsure of the appropriate faculty or
staff member to contact, he or she should contact the campus
Dean of Instruction, or campus Dean of Student Services for
nonacademic matters, who will direct the student to the appropriate
staff member. In cases where either the student or faculty/staff
member prefers to meet in the presence of a third party, he/she
will contact the above mentioned administrators. The Dean of
instruction or the Dean of Student Services will either serve
as the third party or designate someone for this purpose.
b. If the issue is not resolved by the affected parties,
the student may request an informal consultation with the appropriate
department chairperson, dean or director.
c. If the issue is not resolved with the appropriate
department chairperson, dean or director, the student may request
an informal consultation with the campus Dean of Instruction
or campus Dean of Student Services.
d. If the issue is not resolved with the appropriate
dean, the student may request an informal consultation with
the appropriate District Vice President.
(1) For academic matters, the conference will be with
the Vice President of Academic Affairs
(2) For nonacademic matters, the conference will be
with the Vice President of Student Services.
e. The Vice President will convey a decision
to all affected parties.
f. If the issue is not resolved at the informal consultation,
the student may file a formal, written grievance requesting
a formal hearing within thirty (30) instructional days of hearing
from the Vice President. The student will direct this letter
to the appropriate Vice President. The time limit for students
to file a formal written grievance will be 120 days from the
date of the incident giving rise to the grievance.
2. Formal Hearing
a. Upon receipt of a written request for a formal hearing,
the Vice President will arrange for the hearing within a reasonable
time period not to exceed twenty (20) instructional days. The
written request should contain a statement detailing the grievance
to be resolved, and the action or remedy requested. The Vice
President will forward signed copies of all written grievances
to the faculty member being grieved within seven (7) instructional
days.
b. A grievance withdrawn from the formal hearing stage
will be deemed without merit and cannot be refiled.
c. The formal hearing will be conducted before the Student
Grievance Committee. This committee will be composed as follows:
(1) Two students appointed by the ASRCC President.
(2) Two faculty members appointed by the Academic
Senate President.
(3) Two managers appointed by the President of the
College.
(4) The President of the College or his/her designee
_ a person who has received training in proper procedures
_ will serve as chair of the committee.
d. The Student Grievance Committee will:
(1) Set a reasonable time limit for the hearing.
(2) Receive signed written statements from both student
and faculty involved in the grievance specifying all pertinent
facts relevant to the case in question, a copy of which will
be given to the other party with due notification of rights
and responsibilities in the procedure for disposing of the
case.
(3) Transmit to all parties a written list of intended
areas of inquiry to be asked at hearings or interviews at
least 72 hours in advance of the hearing.
(4) Allow each party the right to be assisted at the
hearing by a student or staff member of the District whose
participation will be limited to directly advising the student
or staff member. The advisor may not enter into the proceeding
of the grievance committee. In addition, each party has the
right to question witnesses and testimony.
(5) Judge the relevancy and weight of testimony evidence.
The committee will make its findings of fact, limiting its
investigation to the formal allegations. It will also make
recommendation for disposition of the case.
(6) Maintain a transcript of the proceeding which
will be kept in a confidential file but be available for review
by either party.
(7) Submit its findings of fact and recommended action
to each party and the appropriate Vice President within ten
(10) instructional days of the completion of the formal hearing.
e. The formal hearing will be closed to the public.
f. Upon receipt of the Student Grievance Committee's
recommendation, the appropriate Vice President, within ten (10)
instructional days, will transmit, in writing, his/her decision
to all involved parties.
g. The student, within five (5) instructional days of
receipt of the Vice President's decision, may appeal the decision
to the President of the College. The President of the College
may:
(1) Concur with the Vice President's decision,
(2) Modify the recommended decision,
(3) Recommend action to the Board of
Trustees.
3. Appeals
In all cases, final appeal will rest with the Board of Trustees
May 19, 1998
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