HTC Policies and Procedures
 |
Students Code of Student Conduct |
Policy 05.01 |
Code of Student Conduct
Part 1. Statement of Purpose
Hennepin Technical College recognizes that all students have responsibilities as citizens and as members of the college community. Student responsibilities include regular attendance, punctuality, positive relationships with other students and staff, appropriate behavior and attitude, and acceptable progress, all of which are necessary to assure success in the college.
The college has a responsibility to its students and staff to maintain an environment conductive to furthering its educational mission and to take corrective action when necessary. This code of student conduct incorporates appropriate due process and identifies steps to be taken when conduct occurs which may violate the code.
A summary of this code shall be published in the student handbook and other documents as deemed appropriate. The complete document shall be available in the Admissions Office. The college may revise the code as needed.
Part 2. Definitions
A. The term college property includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property, real and personal, possessed, owned, leased, used, or controlled by the college, including adjacent streets and sidewalks.
B. The term faculty member means any person hired by the college to conduct classroom activities.
C. The term member of the college community includes any person who is a student, faculty member, administrator, or any other person employed by the college.
D. The term student includes all persons taking courses at the college, both full-time and part-time. A person who is not officially enrolled for a particular term but who has a continuing relationship with the college is considered a student. A person who was enrolled during a spring term and is expected to enroll for the subsequent fall term is a student during the interim.
E. The term student conduct panel means a panel appointed to provide formal review and decision in student conduct hearings.
Part 3. College Jurisdiction
College jurisdiction is asserted for violations of the code of student conduct that occur on college property. College jurisdiction shall also extend to violations of the code that are not committed on college property when:
A. The violation is committed while participating in a college sanctioned or sponsored activity; or
B. The victim of the violation is a member of the college community; or
C. The violation is a felony under federal or state law; or
D. The violation adversely affects the educational, research, or service functions of the college.
Part 4. Student Conduct - Behavioral Proscriptions
A. All students have the responsibility to:
1. comply with all local, state, and federal laws.
2. comply with all published college and Board of Trustees rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
3. recognize and respect the rights of others.
4. assist the college staff with maintaining a safe college environment.
5. respect and maintain college property.
6. dress in a manner that meets standards of safety and health and is appropriate for the occupation for which the student is preparing.
7. provide complete and accurate information relative to college matters.
B. Examples of conduct that violate the code of student conduct and are subject to disciplinary sanctions by the college include, but are not limited to:
1. violation of local, state, or federal laws.
2. violation of published policies, rules, procedures, or regulations of the Board of Trustees or of the college.
3. acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating and plagiarism and forging, altering, or misusing college documents or records.
4. knowingly furnishing false information, oral or written, to the college.
5. failure to comply with directions of, or to present identification to college officials acting in the performance of their duties.
6. failure to comply with conditions of sanctions imposed by the college as a result of previous conduct code action.
7. possession of firearms or other weapons or devices while on college property or at college sponsored or supervised activities, except possession specifically authorized by the college. Firearms and other weapons or devices include but are not limited to: pistols; rifles; air guns; shotguns; ammunition; incendiary devices; smoke devices; knives; explosives; bows and arrows; or chemical agents. Refer to the HTC website for the Possession or Carry of Firearm and Other Weapons Policy (HTC Policy 04.09).
8. use, possession or distribution of alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or other controlled substances on college property or at college sponsored or supervised activities except as expressly permitted by law.
9. attending college classes or activities while under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or other controlled substances.
10. violating tobacco use policy. Refer to the HTC website for the Tobacco Use Policy (HTC Policy 03.02).
11. physical or psychological abuse or harassment of a person, including stalking; abuse or harassment through other persons, or by use of electronic or other communication devices such as audio/video recorders, computers, and telephones.
12. physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, coercion, or other conduct which endangers or threatens to endanger the health or safety of any person.
13. conduct which results in injury or death to a member of the college community, or to a visitor to the college.
14. engaging in fighting; engaging in assault or battery upon a member of the college community or a visitor to the college; engaging in obscene, abusive, lewd or profane language; engaging in boisterous or noisy conduct reasonably intend to arouse alarm, resentment or anger in others; disrupting classes, meetings, or other college activities.
15. unauthorized entry into college property.
16. theft of, damage to, or unauthorized use of college property or the property of any member of the college community or of a visitor to the college. This includes improper use of college computers, software, or other technology.
17. hazing - an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.
C. A person who incites or assists others to engage in conduct that violates the student conduct code shall be considered and treated the same as the person carrying out such action.
D. Allegations of discrimination, harassment, violence, or academic dishonesty shall be adjudicated under separate procedures in accordance with the college’s policies on these issues, but violators shall be subject to the sanctions described in the code of student conduct.
E. Academic discipline shall be conducted under a separate college policy. The procedures described in this code of student conduct shall not apply to academic discipline.
Part 5. Charges and Informal Meeting
Any member of the college community may file a charge against a student for violating the code of student conduct. Charges shall be prepared in writing and shall be filed with the Chief Student Affairs Officer (CSAO). A charge shall be submitted as soon as possible after the conduct takes place, preferably within three days. The CSAO shall conduct a preliminary investigation of the charge. If the charge is unwarranted, the CSAO may discontinue proceedings.
Upon determination that there may be merit to the charge, the CSAO shall:
A. provide written notice to the accused student that a charge has been filed alleging that the student has violated the code of student conduct. This notice shall state the specific violation(s) alleged and the dates the alleged violation(s) occurred.
B. provide the student with a copy of the code of student conduct.
C. inform the student of the nature of the evidence available to support the charge.
D. allow the student not less than 48 hours to prepare for the meeting, specify a date and time when the student is required to meet with the CSAO or dean to attempt an informal resolution of the charge.
E. inform the student that failure to appear for the informal meeting shall result in the charge being considered with the information available. Appropriate sanctions, if any, shall then be determined by the CSAO.
If a mutually acceptable resolution cannot be reached during the informal meeting, including any applicable sanctions, the CSAO shall refer the charge to the student conduct panel for formal adjudication.
The student conduct code in its complete form may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office. Those sections that are not included in this publication which are included in the complete code include:
• Formal hearing process
• Appeals process
• Sanctions
• Summary suspension process
Back to Plans and Policies page
Contact HTC at 952-995-1300 or info@hennepintech.edu
Copyright © 2008 by Hennepin Technical College