Edmonds Community College Student Code of Conduct
WAC 132Y-125-001 – Student Code of Conduct
1. Authority
The Edmonds Community College board of trustees, acting pursuant to RCW 28B.50.140(14), delegates to the president of the college the authority to administer disciplinary action. Administration of the disciplinary procedures is the responsibility of the vice-president for student services or designee. The student conduct officer shall serve as the principal investigator and administrator for alleged violations of this code.
2. Statement of Student Rights
As members of the Edmonds Community College academic community, students are encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgment and to engage in an independent search for truth. Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The freedom to learn depends upon appropriate opportunities and conditions in the classroom, on the campus, and in the larger community. Students should exercise their freedom with responsibility. The responsibility to secure and to respect general conditions conducive to the freedom to learn is shared by all members of the college community.
The following rights are guaranteed to each student within the limitations of statutory law and college policies necessary to achieve the educational goals of the college, and also acting pursuant to Edmonds Community College Academic Freedom Policy (B.1.4):
(a) Academic freedom
(i) Students are guaranteed the rights of free inquiry, expression, and assembly upon and within college facilities that are generally open and available to the public.
(ii) Students are free to pursue appropriate educational objectives from among the college’s curricula, programs, and services, subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.50.090 (3)(b).
(iii) Students shall be protected from academic evaluation which is arbitrary, prejudiced, or capricious, but are responsible for meeting the standards of academic performance established by each of their instructors.
(iv) Students have the right to a learning environment which is free from unlawful discrimination, inappropriate and disrespectful conduct, and any and all harassment, including sexual harassment.
(b) Due process
(i) The rights of students to be secure in their persons, quarters, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures is guaranteed.
(ii) No disciplinary sanction may be imposed on any student without notice to the accused of the nature of the charges.
(iii) A student accused of violating this code of student conduct is entitled, upon request, to procedural due process as set forth in the student conduct hearing procedures.
3. Student Misconduct
The college may impose disciplinary sanctions against a student who commits, attempts to commit, aids, abets, incites, encourages or assists another person to commit, an act(s) of misconduct, which includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(a) Academic Dishonesty. Any act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to:
(i) Cheating including, but not limited to, intentional use or attempted use of unauthorized material, information, or study aids, misrepresentation of invention or any information such as falsifying research, inventing or exaggerating data, or listing incorrect or fictitious references.
(ii) Plagiarism including, but not limited to, presenting or submitting another person’s, entities’, and/or sources’ ideas, words, or other works in an instructional course without assigning proper credit.
(iii) Unauthorized collaboration including, but not limited to, intentionally sharing or working together in an academic exercise when such actions are not approved by the course instructor.
(iv) Academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, presenting or submitting in an instructional course either information that is known to be false (while concealing that falsity) or work that is substantially the same as that previously submitted in another course (without the current instructor’s approval).
(b) Other Dishonesty. Any other acts of dishonesty. Such acts include, but are not limited to:
(i) Forgery, alteration, submission of falsified documents or misuse of any college document, record, or instrument of identification;
(ii) Tampering with an election conducted by or for college students; or
(iii) Knowingly furnishing false information, or failing to furnish accurate and honest information, in response to the request or requirement of a college officer or employee.
(c) Obstruction or disruption of:
(i) Any instruction, research, administration, disciplinary proceeding, or other college activity, including the obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular movement on college property or at a college activity; or
(ii) Any operation of the college, including the infringement on the rights of another member(s) of the college community; or
(iii) Any activity that is authorized to occur on college property, whether or not actually conducted or sponsored by the college.
(d) Assault, intimidation, harassment. Assault, battery, physical abuse, verbal abuse, threat(s), intimidation, harassment, bullying, stalking, or other conduct which harms, threatens, or is reasonably perceived as threatening the health or safety of another person or another person’s property. For purposes of this subsection:
(i) Bullying is physical or verbal abuse, repeated over time, and involving a power imbalance between the aggressor and victim.
(ii) Stalking is intentional and repeated harassment or repeated following of another person, which places that person in reasonable fear that the stalker intends to injure the person, another person, or the property of the person or another person, and the stalker either intends to frighten, intimidate, or harass the person, or knows or reasonably should know that the person is frightened, intimidated or harassed, even if the stalker lacks such an intent.
(A) The person being harassed or followed is placed in reasonable fear that the stalker intends to injure the person, another person, or property of the person or of another person.
(B) Reasonable fear is a fear that a reasonable person in the same situation would experience under most circumstances.
(e) Cyber Misconduct. Cyberstalking, cyberbullying or online harassment. Use of electronic communications including, but not limited to, electronic mail, instant messaging, text and image messaging, electronic bulletin boards, and social media sites to harass, abuse, bully or engage in other conduct which harms, threatens, or is reasonably perceived as threatening the health or safety of another person. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to, unauthorized monitoring of another’s e-mail communications directly or through spyware, sending threatening e-mails, disrupting electronic communications with spam or by sending a computer virus, sending false messages to third parties using another’s e-mail and/or social media identity, nonconsensual recording of sexual activity, and/or nonconsensual distribution of a recording of sexual activity.
(f) Property Violation. Attempted or actual damage to, or theft or misuse of, real or personal property, or money of:
(i) The college or state;
(ii) Any student, college official, employee, or college affiliated or sponsored organization; or
(iii) Any other member of the college community, or organization; or
(iv) Possession of such property or money after it has been stolen.
(g) Failure to comply with Directive. Failure to comply with the direction of a college official or employee who is acting in the legitimate performance of their duties, including refusal to properly identify oneself to such a person when requested to do so.
(h) Weapons. Possession of any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, explosive device or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, unless previously authorized in writing by the president or designee.
(i) Hazing. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any initiation into or affiliation with 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 harm, or serious mental or emotional harm, to any student.
(j) Tobacco Violation. Violation of the college’s Tobacco Use – Smoking on Campus Policy (C 6.3.520).
(k) Alcohol. The use, possession, delivery, sale, or being observably under the influence of any alcoholic beverage, except as permitted by law and applicable college policies.
(l) Marijuana. The use, possession, delivery, sale, or being observably under the influence of marijuana or the psychoactive compounds found in marijuana and intended for human consumption, regardless of form. While state law permits the recreational use of marijuana, federal law prohibits such use on college premises or in connection with college activities.
(m) Drugs. The use, possession, delivery, sale, or being observably under the influence of any legend drug, narcotic drug or controlled substance as defined in chapters 69.41 and 69.50 RCW except in accordance with a lawful prescription for that student by a licensed health care professional.
(n) Lewd Conduct. Conduct which is lewd, or obscene.
(o) Discrimination. Conduct which harms or adversely affects any member of the college community because of their race; color; national origin; sensory, mental or physical disability; use of a service animal; gender, including pregnancy, marital status; age (40+); religion; creed; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender identity and expression; veteran’s status; any other legally protected classification; or any violation of the college’s nondiscrimination policy.
(p) Sexual Misconduct. The term “sexual misconduct” includes sexual harassment, sexual intimidation, and sexual violence.
(i) Sexual Harassment. Conduct includes, but is not limited to, engaging in unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other sexual conduct, including verbal, nonverbal, electronic or social media communication, or physical touching of a sexual nature that is sufficiently serious as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, based on sex, the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the college’s educational programs or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus community members, or violation of the college’s sexual harassment policy.
(ii) Sexual Intimidation. The term “sexual intimidation” incorporates the definition of “sexual harassment” and means threatening or emotionally distressing conduct based on sex including, but not limited to, nonconsensual recording of sexual activity or the distribution of such recording.
(iii) Sexual Violence. “Sexual violence” is a type of sexual discrimination and harassment. Nonconsensual sexual intercourse, nonconsensual sexual contact, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are all types of sexual violence.
(A) Nonconsensual sexual intercourse is any sexual intercourse (anal, oral, or vaginal), however slight, with any object, by a person upon another person, that is without consent and/or by force. Sexual intercourse includes anal or vaginal penetration by a penis, tongue, finger, or object, or oral copulation by mouth to genital contact or genital to mouth contact.
(B) Nonconsensual sexual contact is any intentional sexual touching, however slight, with any object, by a person upon another person that is without consent and /or by force. Sexual touching includes any bodily contact with the breasts, groin, mouth, or other bodily orifice of another individual, or any other bodily contact in a sexual manner.
(C) Domestic violence includes asserted violent misdemeanor and felony offenses committed by the victim’s current or former spouse, current or former cohabitant, person similarly situated under domestic or family violence laws, or anyone else protected under domestic or family violence law.
(D) Dating violence means violence by a person who has been in a romantic or intimate relationship with the victim. Whether there was such relationship will be gauged by its length, type, and frequency of interaction.
(E) Stalking means intentional and repeated harassment or following of another person, which places that person in reasonable fear that the perpetrator intends to injure, intimidate, or harass that person. Stalking also includes instances where the perpetrator knows or reasonably should know that the person is frightened, intimidated, or harassed, even if the perpetrator lacks such intent.
(F) Consent: Knowing, voluntary and clear permission by word or action, to engage in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Each party has the responsibility to make certain that the other has consented before engaging in the activity. For consent to be valid, there must be at the time of the act of sexual intercourse or sexual contact actual words or conduct indicating freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact. A person cannot consent if he or she is unable to understand what is happening or is disoriented, helpless, asleep, or unconscious for any reason, including due to alcohol or other drugs. An individual who engages in sexual activity when the individual knows, or should know, that the other person is physically or mentally incapacitated has engaged in nonconsensual conduct. Intoxication is not a defense against allegations that an individual has engaged in nonconsensual sexual conduct.
(q) Harassment. Unwelcome and offensive conduct, including verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct, that is directed at a person because of such person’s protected status and that is sufficiently serious as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the college’s educational program or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus community members. Protected status includes a person’s race; color; national origin; sensory, mental or physical disability; use of a service animal; gender, including pregnancy, marital status; age; religion; creed; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender identity and expression; veteran’s status; or any other legally protected classification. See “sexual harassment” as defined in (p) (i) of this subsection. Harassing conduct may include, but is not limited to, physical conduct, verbal, written, social media, and electronic communications.
(r) Retaliation. Retaliation against any individual for reporting, providing information, exercising one’s own rights or responsibilities, or otherwise being involved in the process of responding to, investigating, or addressing allegations or violations of federal, state or local law, or college policies, including, but not limited to, student conduct code provisions prohibiting discrimination and harassment.
(s) Misuse of Electronic Resources. Theft of or other misuse of computer time or other electronic information resources of the college. Such misuse includes, but is not limited to:
(i) Unauthorized use of such resources or opening of a file, message, or other item;
(ii) Unauthorized duplication, transfer, download, upload, or distribution of a computer program, file, message, or other item;
(iii) Unauthorized use or distribution of someone else’s password or other identification;
(iv) Use of such time or resources to interfere with someone else’s work;
(v) Use of such time or resources to send, display, or print an obscene or abusive message, text, or image;
(vi) Use of such time or resources to interfere with normal operation of the college’s computing system or other electronic information resources;
(vii) Use of such time or resources in violation of applicable copyright or other law;
(viii) Adding to or otherwise altering the infrastructure of the college’s electronic information resources without authorization; or
(ix) Failure to comply with the college’s regulation on appropriate use of college information technology resources or the electronic use policies as established by the college.
(t) Unauthorized Access. Unauthorized possession, duplication, or other use of a key, keycard, or other restricted means of access to college property, or unauthorized entry onto or into college property.
(u) Safety Violation. Safety violation includes any nonaccidental conduct that interferes with or otherwise compromises any college policy, equipment, or procedure relating to the safety and security of the campus community, including tampering with fire safety equipment and triggering false alarms or other emergency response systems.
(v) Violation of Other Laws or Policies. Violation of any federal, state, or local law, rule, or regulation or other college rules or policies, including college traffic and parking rules.
(w) Abuse or Misuse of Hearing Procedures. Abuse or misuse of any of the procedures relating to student complaints or misconduct including, but not limited to:
(i) Falsification or misrepresentation of information;
(ii) Disruption, or interference with the orderly conduct, of a proceeding;
(iii) Interfering with someone else’s proper participation in a proceeding;
(iv) Destroying or altering potential evidence, or attempting to intimidate or otherwise improperly pressure a witness or potential witness, including retaliation;
(v) Attempting to influence the impartiality of, or harassing or intimidating, a student conduct committee member; or
(vi) Failure to comply with any disciplinary sanction(s) imposed under EdCC’s student conduct code.
(x) Ethical Violation. The breach of any generally recognized and/or published code of ethics or standards of professional practice that governs the conduct of a particular profession for which the student is taking a course or is pursuing as an educational goal or program.
In addition to initiating discipline proceedings for violation of the student conduct code, the college may refer any violations of federal, state or local laws to civil and criminal authorities for disposition. The college shall proceed with student disciplinary proceedings regardless of whether the underlying conduct is subject to civil or criminal investigation or prosecution.
4. Sanctions
Disciplinary actions include, but are not limited to, the following sanctions that may be imposed upon students according to the student code of conduct hearing procedures.
(a) Warning. A verbal statement to a student that there is a violation and that continued violation may be cause for further disciplinary action.
(b) Reprimand. Notice in writing that the student has violated one or more terms of the college’s student conduct code and that continuation of the same or similar behavior may result in more severe disciplinary action.
(c) Probation. Formal action placing specific conditions and restrictions upon the student’s continued attendance and/or enrollment, and/or participation in college programs or activities, depending upon the seriousness of the violation and which may include a deferred disciplinary sanction. If the student subject to a deferred disciplinary sanction is found in violation of any college rule during the time of disciplinary probation, the deferred disciplinary sanction, which may include, but is not limited to, a suspension or a dismissal from the college, shall take effect immediately without further review. Any such sanction shall be in addition to any sanction or conditions arising from the new violation. Probation may be for a limited period of time or may be for the duration of the student’s attendance and/or enrollment at the college.
(d) Suspension. Dismissal from the college and from the student status for a stated period of time. There may be no refund of tuition or fees for the quarter in which the action is taken.
(e) Dismissal. The revocation of all rights and privileges of membership in the college community and exclusion from the campus and college-owned or controlled facilities without any possibility of return. There will be no refund of tuition or fees for the quarter in which the sanction is taken.
5. Terms and Conditions
Disciplinary terms and conditions that may be imposed alone or in conjunction with the imposition of a sanction(s) include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Restitution. Reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property, or for injury to persons, or for reasonable costs incurred by the college in pursuing an investigation or disciplinary proceeding. This may take the form of monetary reimbursement, appropriate service, or other compensation.
(b) Professional Evaluation. Referral for drug, alcohol, psychological or medical evaluation by an appropriately certified or licensed professional may be required. The student may choose the professional within the scope of practice and with the professional credentials as approved by the college. The student will sign all necessary releases to allow the college access to any such evaluation. The student’s return to college may be conditioned upon compliance with recommendations set forth in such a professional evaluation. A student may not return to campus if the evaluation indicates that the student is not capable of functioning within the college community, or if the evaluation lacks information for the college to make reasonable accommodations, or until future evaluation recommends that the student is capable of reentering the college and complying with the rules of conduct.
(c) No contact/Trespass order. An order directing a student to have no contact with a specified student, college employee, a member of the college community, or a particular college facility for a stated period of time.
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