WAC 132U-120-050   Student responsibilities.  As members of the Whatcom Community College community, students have an obligation to demonstrate academic and personal honesty and integrity. Students are expected to respect individual rights, recognize their impact on others, and take responsibility for their actions.

     Students shall be subject to disciplinary action for interfering with the personal rights or privileges of others or the educational process of the college. Students are prohibited from engaging in any unlawful conduct. Grounds for disciplinary action include, but are not limited to, the following:

     (1) Student misconduct.

     (a) Assault, reckless endangerment, intimidation or interference upon another person.

     (b) Disorderly, abusive, or bothersome conduct. Disorderly or abusive behavior that interferes with the rights of others or obstructs or disrupts teaching, research, or administrative functions.

     (c) Failure to follow instructions. Inattentiveness, inability, or failure of student to follow the instructions of a college official, thereby infringing upon the rights and privileges of others.

     (d) Providing false information to the college, forgery, or alteration of records.

     (e) Illegal assembly, disruption, obstruction or other act which materially and substantially interferes with vehicular or pedestrian traffic, classes, hearings, meetings, the educational and administrative functions of the college, or the private rights and privileges of others.

     (f) Inciting others. Intentionally encouraging, preparing, or compelling others to engage in any prohibited conduct.

     (g) Hazing. Hazing means any method of initiation into a student organization or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical, mental or emotional harm to any student or other person.

     (h) False complaint. Filing a formal complaint falsely accusing another student or college employee with violating a provision of this chapter.

     (i) False alarms. Falsely setting off or otherwise tampering with any emergency safety equipment, alarm, or other device established for the safety of individuals and/or college facilities.

     (j) Sexual harassment. Engaging in unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature where such behavior offends the recipient, causes discomfort or humiliation, or interferes with job or school performance.

     (k) Malicious harassment. Malicious harassment involves intimidation or bothersome behavior directed toward another person because of, or related to, that person's race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, or mental, physical, or sensory disability.

     (l) Theft and robbery. Theft of the property of the district or of another as defined in RCW 9A.56.010 -- 9A.56.050 and 9A.56.100 as now law or hereafter amended. Includes theft of the property of the district or of another; actual or attempted theft of property or services belonging to the college, any member of its community or any campus visitor; or knowingly possessing stolen property.

     (m) Damage to any college facility or equipment. Intentional or negligent damage to or destruction of any college facility, equipment, or other public or private real or personal property.

     (n) Unauthorized use of college or associated students' equipment and supplies. Converting of college equipment, supplies or computer systems for personal gain or use without proper authority.

     (o) Forgery or alteration of records. Forging or tendering any forged records or instruments, as defined in RCW 9A.60.010 -- 9A.60.020 as now law or hereafter amended, of any district record or instrument to an employee or agent of the district acting in his official capacity as such.

     (p) Illegal entry. Entering or remaining in any administrative office or otherwise closed college facility or entering after the closing time of college facilities without permission of an employee in charge.

     (q) Possession or use of firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or other dangerous weapons, instruments, or substances that can be used to inflict bodily harm or to damage real or personal property, except for authorized college purposes or law enforcement officers.

     (r) Refusal to provide identification (e.g., valid driver's license, student identification, passport, or state identification card) in appropriate circumstances to any college employee in the lawful discharge of said employee's duties.

     (s) Smoking. Smoking in any classroom or laboratory, the library, vehicle, or in any college facility or office posted "no smoking" or any other smoking not in compliance with chapter 70.160 RCW.

     (t) Controlled substances. Using, possessing, being demonstrably under the influence of, or selling any narcotic or controlled substance as defined in chapter 69.50 RCW as now law or hereafter amended, except when the use or possession of a drug is specifically prescribed as medication by an authorized medical doctor or dentist. For the purpose of this regulation, "sale" shall include the statutory meaning defined in RCW 69.50.410 as now law or hereafter amended.

     (u) Alcoholic beverages. Being demonstrably under the influence of any form of alcoholic beverage. Possessing or consuming any form of alcoholic beverage on college property, with the exception of sanctioned events, approved by the president or his or her designee and in compliance with state law.

     (v) Computer, telephone, or electronic technology violation. Conduct that violates the college published acceptable use rules on computer, telephone, or electronic technology use, including electronic mail and the internet.

     (w) Computer trespass. Gaining access, without authorization, to a computer system or network, or electronic data owned, used by, or affiliated with Whatcom Community College.

     (x) Ethics violation. The breach of any generally recognized and published code of ethics or standards of professional practice that governs the conduct of a particular profession for which the student is taking courses or is pursuing as an educational goal or major. These ethics codes must be distributed to students as part of an educational program, course, or sequence of courses and the student must be informed that a violation of such ethics codes may subject the student to disciplinary action by the college.

     (y) Criminal law violation, illegal behavior, other violations. Students may be accountable to the civil or criminal authorities and the college for acts which constitute violations of federal, state, or local law as well as college rules where the students' behavior is determined to threaten the health, safety, and/or property of the college and its members. The college may refer any such violations to civilian or criminal authorities for disposition.

     (2) Academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and facilitating academic dishonesty.

     (a) Cheating is intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic activity.

     (b) Plagiarism includes submitting to a faculty member any work product that the student fraudulently represents to the faculty member as the student's work product for the purpose of fulfilling or partially fulfilling any assignment or task required by the faculty member as part of the student's program of instruction.

     (c) Fabrication is the intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic activity.

     (d) Facilitating academic dishonesty is intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate a provision of this section of the disciplinary code.

     Acts of dishonesty are serious breaches of honor and shall be dealt with in the following manner:

     (i) Any student who commits or aids in the accomplishment of an act of academic dishonesty shall be subject to disciplinary action.

     (ii) In cases of academic dishonesty, the instructor or dean of students may adjust the student's grade. The instructor may also refer the matter to the dean of students for disciplinary action.

     (3) Classroom conduct. Faculty have the authority to take appropriate action to maintain order and proper conduct in the classroom and to maintain the effective cooperation of the class in fulfilling the objectives of the course.

     An instructor has the authority to exclude a student from any single class session during which the student is disruptive to the learning environment. The instructor shall report any such exclusion from the class to the dean of students or designee who may summarily suspend the student or initiate conduct proceedings as provided in this procedure. The dean may impose a disciplinary probation that restricts the student from the classroom until the student has met with the dean and the student agrees to comply with the specific conditions outlined by the dean for conduct in the classroom. The student may appeal the disciplinary sanction according to the disciplinary appeal procedures.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.130 and 28B.50.140. 03-01-072, § 132U-120-050, filed 12/12/02, effective 1/12/03; 88-15-005 (Order 88-03), § 132U-120-050, filed 7/8/88.]