Student Conduct

A student will receive a secure message in their student email with information outlining the incident and allegation, how it violates the code of conduct, and information about a conduct hearing including the date, time, and location of the meeting. Conduct hearings may take place virtually based on the discretion of the conduct team.  

During the hearing, students will have the opportunity to meet with the conduct team to share their perspective of the allegations and provide additional information. The conduct team will also present information that the student may not already be aware of. If a student no-shows to a conduct hearing, the conduct team will move forward in absence of a hearing.

After the conduct hearing, the conduct team then reviews all relevant information and determines whether a code of conduct violation occurred using a “more likely than not” standard.

Students will receive a decision letter in their student email and this decision becomes part of their educational record. Students found responsible for code violations will be assessed sanctions and this will be included in the decision letter. Failure to complete sanctions may result in additional conduct violations.

The Academic Integrity Reporting Form is used to report alleged academic misconduct by one or more FRCC students.

The Student Conduct Referral Form is used to report alleged non-academic misconduct by one or more FRCC students.

The Report a Concern or Incident Form is used to report a student concern that may not be related to conduct violations.

Abuse or interference with College processes, including conduct and academic integrity meetings:

• Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information.
• Failure to provide, destroying, or concealing information during an investigation of an alleged Code violation.
• Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the campus conduct system.
• Inappropriately influencing any member of the campus community with conduct authority prior to, during, and/or following a campus conduct proceeding.
• Influencing or attempting to influence another individual to commit an abuse of the campus conduct process.

Plagiarizing, cheating, or committing any other form of academic misconduct including, but not limited to, unauthorized collaboration, falsification of information, and/or helping someone else violate reasonable standards for academic behavior. Students who engage in any type of academic dishonesty are subject to both academic consequences as determined by the instructor and to outcomes as set forth in the Student Behavioral Expectations and Responsibilities Resolution Procedure.

• Cheating: The act of using or attempting to use an examination or other academic work, material, information, or study aids which are not permitted by the instructor. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:
  
  • Using books, notes, or calculators or copying from or conversing with others during examinations (unless such external aids are permitted by the instructor).
  • Having someone else do research, write papers, or take examinations for someone else.
  • Submitting work completed in one class to fulfill an assignment in another class without prior approval from the instructor(s).
  • Stealing, distributing, selling, and buying tests or having someone take an exam on someone else’s behalf.
• Fabrication: The invention of material or its source and its use as an authority in academic work. Fabrication includes, but is not limited to:
  
  • Inventing the data for a scientific experiment.
  • Inventing the title and author of a publication in order to use the invented publication as a source.
  • Knowingly attributing material to an incorrect source.
• Plagiarism: The act of using someone else’s work without giving proper credit to the original source. The work can be written, artistic, musical, language, symbols, or media. Reusing one’s own prior work without proper citation (or approval of instructor) is also plagiarism.

It is a violation of this Code to actively assist another in violating the Code or covering up the violation after the fact.

Use, being under the influence, manufacturing, possession, cultivating, distribution, purchase, or sale of alcohol and/or drugs (illegal and/or dangerous or controlled substance) and/or alcohol/drug paraphernalia while on College-owned or College-controlled property, and/or at any function authorized or supervised by the College, and/or in state owned or leased vehicles. 

Animals are not permitted on campus except as permitted by law or as specifically approved by the College.

Please see SP 4-120b, regarding Student Disability Services for information related to service animals and emotional support animals.

Please see the appropriate handbook for regulations and processes for animals and pets in student housing, where applicable.

Bullying includes repeated and/or severe aggressive or negative actions or behaviors intentionally or reasonably likely to intimidate, hurt, control, or diminish another person, physically, mentally, or emotionally. Bullying may include direct or indirect communications in verbal or nonverbal form and specifically includes bullying by electronic means (e.g., cyberbullying).

For more information and compliance, see SP19-10, Bullying/Violence/Firearms on Campus.

Reckless and/or unauthorized damage to, or destruction of, College property or the individual property of another, regardless of intention. Damage or destruction of community, public, or private property.

Engaging in deceitful acts, including, but not limited to: collusion, forgery, falsification, alteration, misrepresentation, non-disclosure, or misuse of documents, records, identification and/or educational materials.

• Collusion: Action with another or others to violate the Code.
• Falsification: Knowingly furnishing or possessing false, falsified, or forged materials, documents, accounts, records, identification, or financial instruments, including electronic forgery and/or manipulation.

Discrimination is any distinction, preference, advantage, or detriment given to a person based on one or more actual or perceived protected classes. Harassment is a form of discrimination that includes Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment.

• Hostile Environment occurs when a person is subjected to verbal or physical conduct based on a protected class that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive, and objectively offensive to alter the conditions of a person’s employment or unreasonably interfere with a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from CCCS educational programs or activities, from both a subjective and objective viewpoint.
• Quid Pro Quo is a type of sexual harassment that exists when an employee conditions the provision of an aid, benefit, or service on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct, such as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
• Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.

For more information and how to file a complaint regarding discrimination or harassment, including sexual misconduct, see SP 19-60, Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct Resolution Process.

Engaging in any behavior that negatively affects or impedes teaching or learning (regardless of mode of delivery or class setting) or disrupts the general operation of the College.

Conduct that is detrimental to the College, and/or to community safety. Examples include, but are not limited to, slamming doors, throwing chairs, and/or defacing of College property or property of others.

• Failure to comply with or follow the lawful directives of College employees acting within the scope of their duties, including those directives issued by a College administrator to ensure the safety and well-being of others.
• Failure to comply with or follow the directives and/or sanctions imposed under CCCS policies and procedures.
• Failure to identify oneself to College officials, acting in their official capacity, when requested to do so.

Violation of federal, state, local, or campus fire policies including, but not limited to:

• Intentionally, recklessly, or negligently causing a fire that damages the College, individual property, or causes injury.
• Failure to evacuate a College owned, operated, or controlled facility during a fire alarm.
• Improper use of College fire safety equipment.
• Tampering with or improperly engaging a fire alarm or fire detection/control equipment while on College property. Such action may result in a criminal action.

Gambling as prohibited by the laws of the State of Colorado. Gambling may include, but is not limited to, raffles, lotteries, sports pools, and online betting activities. Participation in illegal gambling activities on College-owned or College-controlled property, and/or at any function authorized or supervised by the College, and/or in state owned or leased vehicles.

Intentionally or unintentionally causing physical harm, threating to cause harm, endangering the health and/or safety of any individual, or demonstrating violent behavior.

• Violent Behavior includes any act or threat of physical, verbal or psychological aggression, or the destruction or abuse of property by any individual.
• A threat is defined as direct or indirect, verbal or non-verbal conduct (including those made in person, by mail, over the telephone, by email, or by other means) intended to result or reasonably resulting in intimidation, harassment, harm, fear or endangerment of the safety of another person or property.

For more information and compliance, see SP 19-10, Bullying/Violence/Firearms on Campus.

Defined as an act that endangers the psychological, emotional, intellectual, and/or physical health and/or safety of a student, or that 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, team, or organization. Additionally, any act that places a student in a subservient role within an organization is considered hazing. Participation or consensual cooperation by the individual(s) being hazed does not excuse the violation. Failing to intervene to prevent, failing to discourage, and failing to report those acts may also violate this code.

Deliberately and publicly exposing one’s intimate body parts, public urination, defecation, and public sex acts.

• Retaliation: Retaliatory acts include, but are not limited to, intimidation, verbal or physical threats, harassment, coercion, or other adverse action(s) against a person who reports an incident of misconduct.

Causing, inciting, or participating in any disturbance that presents a clear and present danger to self or others, causes physical harm to others, or results in damage and/or destruction of property.

Obtaining, retaining or exercising control over property of another without authorization, or by threat or deception, with the purpose and/or effect of depriving the person(s) to whom the property belongs of its use or benefit.

Smoking and the use of tobacco and related products, including electronic smoking, where contrary to applicable laws or policies established by the College. This includes smoking inside buildings or in areas where smoking is posted as prohibited.

Unauthorized use, including misuse, of the College or organizational names and images without the express written consent of the institution or organization.

Unacceptable uses of any College-owned or operated equipment, network or system including, but not limited to: knowingly spreading computer viruses; reposting personal communications without the author’s consent; copying protected materials; using the network for financial or personal gain, commercial activity, or illegal activity; accessing the network using another individual’s account; unauthorized downloading/uploading software and/or digital video or music; downloading/uploading, viewing or displaying pornographic content, or any other attempt to compromise network integrity. For more information, see SP 4-32, Student Email Acceptable Use.

Unauthorized access to any College facility, including misuse of  keys, cards, restricted access areas, or unauthorized possession, duplication or use of other individual’s means of access to any College facility; failing to provide a timely report of a lost College identification card or key; misuse of access privileges to College premises or unauthorized entry to or use of facilities, including trespassing, propping, or unauthorized use of alarmed doors for entry into or exit from a College facility.

Violating any municipal, county, state or federal laws, or executive orders, or violating any public health orders in a manner that adversely impacts the health and well-being of the campus environment and those on campus.

Possession, use, or distribution of explosives (including fireworks and ammunition), guns (including air, BB, paintball, facsimile weapons, and pellet guns), or other weapons or dangerous objects, such as arrows, axes, machetes, nunchaku, throwing stars, or knives with a blade of longer than three (3) inches. This includes the unauthorized storage of any item that falls within the category of a weapon, including storage in a vehicle parked on College property, other than what is expressly permitted by law.

• Possession of an instrument designed to look like a firearm, explosive, or dangerous weapon is also prohibited by this policy.
• Intentionally or recklessly using and/or possessing a weapon or any other item in such a way that would intimidate, harass, injure, or otherwise interfere with the learning and working environment of the College shall face increased consequences.
• Students are prohibited from carrying firearms on campus, including all buildings and grounds, except under limited exceptions. Those with a valid concealed carry permit may carry concealed firearms only in campus parking areas, in accordance with state law. Students enrolled in academic programs that involve firearms may use and carry them for approved educational purposes. For further information, please consult the campus or local police and refer to the College’s housing and residential handbook, if applicable.

For more information and compliance, see SP 19-10, Bullying/Violence/Firearms on Campus.
Violation of Course, Program, or Activity Rules: 
Violation of established rules as contained in courses, programs activities, regulations, or guidelines and established by departments, regulatory boards, or licensing bodies, including all Housing and Residential Education policies, as applicable.

A student group or organization and its officers and membership may be held collectively and individually responsible when violations of this Code occur by the organization or its member(s), including the following conditions:

• Violation(s) take place at organization-sponsored or co-sponsored events, whether sponsorship is formal or implied.
• Violation(s) have received the consent or encouragement of the organization or of the organization’s leaders or officers.
• Violation(s) were known or should have been known to the membership or its officers.

Conduct meetings for student groups or organizations shall also follow the Student Behavioral Expectations and Responsibilities Resolution Procedure. In any such action, individual determinations as to responsibility will be made and restrictions, conditions, and outcomes may be assigned collectively and individually, and will be proportionate to the involvement of each individual and the organization. Procedures will begin with communication to the President or leadership of said organization.