A student shall be subject to discipline for violations of College district policies and procedures, including the rules outlining expectations for student conduct. If a student commits an infraction or engages in misconduct, the College district may impose one or more of the following penalties:
- Reprimand – A verbal or written warning to the student following a rule violation. Repetition of such misconduct may result in more severe disciplinary actions.
- Restitution – Reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property. Reimbursement may take the form of appropriate service to repair or otherwise compensate for damage.
- Scholastic Penalties – The assignment of a failing grade on an assignment or examination or in a course by an instructor based on scholastic dishonesty; including cheating, collusion, and plagiarism; committed by a student. The instructor shall submit a written report of the incident and of the planned action to the instructor’s dean. Departmental Dean will determine if the incident should be referred to the Dean of Students.
- Conditional Probation – The placing of a student on notice that continued infraction of regulations may result in suspension or expulsion from the College. Conditional probation may include restrictions on a student’s rights and privileges or specified community service. The probation may be for a specified length of time or for an indefinite period according to the relative severity of the infraction or misconduct. Failure to fulfill the terms of the probation may lead to suspension or expulsion.
- Suspension – Forced withdrawal from the college for either a definite period of time or until stated conditions have been met. Normally suspension shall extend through a minimum of one regular long semester (with summer sessions not counting in the one semester minimum time lapse). However, suspension may exceed the one semester minimum.
- Expulsion – Permanent forced withdrawal from the College. A student receiving disciplinary expulsion shall have the action noted in the student’s permanent record.
No former student who has been suspended or expelled from the College District for disciplinary reasons shall be permitted on the campus or other facilities of the College District, initiated into an honorary or service organization, or permitted to receive credit for academic work done in residence or by correspondence or extension during the period of suspension or expulsion without the prior written approval of the College President or a designated representative.
When the Dean of Students or other designee of the College President receives information that a student has allegedly violated a College District policy or administrative rule, the dean or designee shall investigate the alleged violation. After completing a preliminary investigation, he or she may:
- Dismiss the allegation and provide the student written notice that the allegation of misconduct was made against the student and that the allegation was dismissed.
- Summon the student for a conference to be held within a reasonable time, not to exceed ten College District Business days, following the receipt of the allegation of misconduct. At the conference, the Dean of Students or designee shall notify the student of the allegation and provide the student an opportunity to respond.
After conferring with the student, if the Dean of Students or designee determines that the student did not commit a violation, the allegation shall be dismissed as unfounded. The student shall be provided written notice of the dismissal.
If the Dean of Students or designee determines that the student committed misconduct that warrants further action by the College, the student must be informed in writing of the determination in accordance with board policy FMA (Local). The procedures to be followed are outlined in FMA (Local).
The College District shall maintain for every student alleged or determined to have committed misconduct at the College District, a disciplinary record that shall reflect the charge, the disposition of the charge, the sanction assed, if any, and any other pertinent information. The disciplinary record shall be separate from the student’s academic record and shall be treated as confidential; the contents shall not be revealed except on request of the student or in accordance with applicable state or federal laws.
The disciplinary record shall be maintained permanently in the event that a student is expelled or subject to an extended suspension. In all other cases, the disciplinary record shall be maintained in accordance with the College District’s record retention schedule.