The College makes every effort to maintain a safe and orderly educational environment for students and staff. Therefore, when, in the judgment of College officials, a student’s conduct disrupts or threatens to disrupt the College community, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken to restore and protect the sanctity of the community.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with generally accepted standards of scholarship and morality. The purpose of these standards is not to restrict student rights but to protect the rights of individuals in their academic pursuits.
The following regulation sets forth offenses for which disciplinary proceedings may be initiated. Violation of one or more of the following code provisions may result in one of the sanctions described in Procedure 5.3.2.1 – Discipline and Appeals Procedures for Academic-Related Violations and/or Procedure 5.3.2.2 – Discipline and Appeals Procedures for Non-Academic Related Violations.
I. Academic-Related Violations
A. Plagiarism – The intentional theft or unacknowledged use of work or ideas of another person or produced by artificial intelligence. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to: a) paraphrasing or summarizing another’s words or works without proper acknowledgement; b) using direct quotes of material without proper acknowledgment; or c) purchasing or using a paper or presentation written or produced by another person or by artificial intelligence. If a student is uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism, he/she should discuss with the class instructor.
B. Cheating – Receiving or giving another student any unauthorized information or material during or after a quiz, test, exam or assignment; using course textbooks or other class documents to look up answers; using tools such as calculators or language translators; working with others, either virtually or in-person; or using internet sources, artificial intelligence (AI) websites (such as ChatGPT or Google Bard) or search engines to complete a quiz, test, exam, project or assignment without prior approval from the instructor.
C. Aiding Acts of Academic Dishonesty – Providing information to another student when it is known, or when there is a reasonable expectation of knowing, that the student intends to use the information for cheating or other deceptive purposes.
II. Non-Academic Related Violations
A. Theft and Property Damage – Students shall not steal or damage College property or another individual’s property. Students who are caught stealing or damaging said property will be required to make restitution and may be eligible for civil or criminal prosecution as well as College discipline.
B. Trespass to Property – Students are trespassing if in an unauthorized area of the College campus; present on the College campus after closing hours (without permission); or remaining on the College campus after having been directed to leave by a College official.
C. Drugs and Alcohol – Students shall not unlawfully possess, use, be under the influence of, manufacture, dispense, sell or distribute alcohol, illegal or unauthorized controlled substances or impairing substances at any College location. For more specific information, see Policy 5.3.5 – Students – Alcohol and Drugs on Campus. In addition, students may not use tobacco of any form or e-cigarettes on campus.
D. Lewd and Indecent Behavior – Students shall not engage in lewd or indecent behavior, including public physical or verbal action or distribution of obscene material based on reasonable community standards. The conduct must be objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that the conduct constitutes lewd and/or indecent behavior.
E. Mental/Physical Abuse – Students shall not mentally or physically abuse any person on the College premises or at a College-supervised function, including verbal or physical actions which threaten or endanger the health or safety of any such persons.
F. Assault – Students shall not assault or threaten to assault another person for any reason whatsoever. Assault includes a demonstration of force, unlawful physical touching or striking.
G. Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence. Students shall not engage in sexual harassment and/or sexual violence. For more specific information and definitions of prohibited activities, consult Procedure 5.3.4.1 – Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence.
H. Unlawful Discrimination. Students shall not engage in unlawful discrimination. For more specific information and definitions of prohibited activities, consult Procedure 5.4.3.2 – Unlawful Discrimination.
I. Communicating Threats – Students shall not verbally, in writing, through a third party or by any other means threaten to physically injure another person or that person’s child, sibling, spouse or dependent, or willfully threaten to damage the property of another.
J. Bullying – Students shall not intimidate or threaten with harm any other individual. Bullying is defined as any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication that takes place on the College premises or at any College sponsored function that: (a) places a person in actual and reasonable fear of harm to his or her property; or (b) creates, or is certain to create, a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits or a College’s employee’s ability to perform the essential functions of his/her job.
K. Disorderly Conduct and Disruption – Students shall not obstruct or disrupt any teaching, research, administration or disciplinary proceedings, or other College activities, including public service functions, and other duly authorized activities on or off College premises. Students shall not occupy or seize, in any manner, College property, a College facility or any portion thereof for a use inconsistent with prescribed, customary, or authorized use. Students shall not participate in or conduct an assembly, demonstration or gathering in a manner which threatens or causes injury to person or property; which interferes with free access to, ingress or egress of College facilities; which is harmful, obstructive or disruptive to the educational process or institutional functions of the College; hold rallies, demonstrations, or any other forms of public gathering without prior approval of the College based on reasonable time, place and manner restrictions; remain at the scene of such an assembly after being asked to leave by a representative of the College staff.
L. In accordance with Policy 2.1.3, students are legally prohibited from carrying a weapon onto campus unless a legal exception applies. For purposes of this policy, a “weapon” includes firearms, explosives, BB guns, stun guns, air rifles or pistols, and certain types of knives or other sharp instruments. (see N.C.G.S. § 14-269.2). The prohibition does not apply if the weapon is on campus pursuant to one of the reasons listed in N.C.G.S. § 14-269.2(g) or is considered instructional supplies. It is the individual’s responsibility to know and understand the law prior to bringing any weapon onto campus. Failure to follow the law, regardless of the person’s intent, will result in appropriate disciplinary action and a referral to local law enforcement. It is permissible for an individual to bring a handgun onto campus under the following limited circumstances: A. The firearm is a handgun; AND B. The individual has a valid concealed handgun permit (or is exempt from the law requiring a permit); AND C. The handgun remains in either: a closed compartment or container within the locked vehicle of the permit holder; or a locked container securely affixed to the locked vehicle of the permit holder; AND D. The vehicle is unlocked only when the permit holder is entering or exiting the vehicle; AND E. The handgun remains in the closed compartment or container at all times except for a reasonable amount of time for the person to transfer the handgun from the closed compartment or container to his person or from his person to the closed compartment or container. F. Students may be allowed to bring weapons on campus as part of an approved class project if they have obtained and can provide prior permission from the class instructor. In such events, all Montgomery Community College policies and determined procedures must be followed by the student. Firearms (and other weapons prohibited on campus) may not be stored or transported in College-owned or rented vehicles except for instructional purposes.
M. Tampering with Fire Alarms – Setting off a fire alarm or using or tampering with any fire safety equipment, except with reasonable belief in the need for such alarm or equipment, may result in disciplinary action.
N. Gambling – Students may not gamble on campus or at any College-affiliated activities or events.
O. Traffic Violations – Students shall not violate College regulations regarding the operation and parking of motor vehicles.
P. Providing False Information – Students shall not present to the College or its employees false information as part of an investigation, inquiry, hearing or in other matters related to College activities; neither may a student knowingly withhold information which may have an effect on their enrollment or their status with the College.
Q. Disobedience/Insubordination – Failure to comply with instructions of College officials acting in performance of their duties may result in disciplinary action. Failure to adhere to the terms of any disciplinary action already in place may result in additional reprimands.
R. Financial Impropriety – Financial impropriety such as failure to pay College levied fines, failure to repay College-funded loans, misuse or failure to properly account for club or student organization funds, or the passing of worthless checks, drafts or orders to College officials may result in disciplinary action.
S. Public Laws – Violations of any federal, state or local laws occurring while on campus may lead to legal actions as well as College discipline. Violations of federal, state or local laws occurring off campus may result in disciplinary action if the student’s continued presence on campus constitutes a threat to the safety and order of the campus.
T. Failure to Report Criminal Activity – Failure to inform the College, in writing, within five (5) days after he or she is convicted for violation of any federal, state, or local criminal drug statue or alcoholic beverage control statute where such violation occurred while on a College location may result in disciplinary action. For more information, see Policy 5.3.5 – Student Alcohol and Drugs on Campus.
U. Unauthorized Access to College Records – Students may not access, view, copy or change official College records without expressed authority to do so.
V. Animals on Campus – Students may not have an animal of any kind on campus. This includes animals left within a vehicle. Services animals are permitted and any student with a service animal should report the use of a service animal to the College’s Disability Services Coordinator. For more information regarding service animals, see Policy 5.4.5 – Service Animals and Other Animals on Campus
W. Improper Use of the College Network/Technology – Students are prohibited from engaging in any activities prohibited under Policy 7.2 – Internet and Network Acceptable Use.
X. Violation of Policies and Procedures – Students are expected to be familiar with the College’s policies and procedures. Students may be disciplined for failure to follow the College’s policies and procedures.
Y. Violations of Normal Classroom Behavior – Not complying with reasonable rules issued by an instructor, causing disruption in the classroom or being disrespectful to classmates or the instructor may result in disciplinary action. The conduct must be objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that the conduct is disruptive or disrespectful not based on content or viewpoint discrimination.
Z. Student Assessment Team – Not complying with a recommendation or directive of the Behavioral Intervention Team pursuant to Policy 5.3.3 Behavioral Intervention may result in disciplinary action.
Adopted: January 8, 2020
Revised: October 11, 2023