As part of our educational mission, Normandale Community College established the Code of Conduct and student rights and responsibilities system. The Code and Student Rights and Responsibilities Board serve as the guide and system to develop students' understanding of their rights, responsibilities and expectations as members of the Normandale community.
The Student Rights and Responsibilities Board seeks to educate students about their community responsibilities, consequences for their decisions and civility through shared values of academic integrity, respect and fairness. Normandale Community College is committed to the establishment of a learning environment which is reflected in this Code of Conduct.
College means Normandale Community College.
Administrator means that person designated by the college president to be responsible for the administration of the student Code of Conduct by serving as the Hearing Officer.
Alleged student violator means any student accused of violating the Code.
Cheating includes but is not limited to -
College official includes any person employed by the College performing assigned administrative or professional responsibilities.
College premises include all land, buildings, facilities and other property in the possession of or owned, used or controlled by the College, including adjacent streets and sidewalks. The Code applies at all locations rented by the College, including facilities as part of the Education for Global Learning program.
Complainant means any person who submits a complaint alleging that a student violated the Code. A student who believes that s/he has been a victim of another student's misconduct will have the same rights under this Code as are provided to the Complainant, even if another member of the College community submitted the complaint itself.
Expulsion means permanent denial of the privilege of enrollment at the College. Students expelled are not permitted to be on College premises at any time without written approval by the Administrator or designee.
Faculty member means any person hired by the College to conduct classroom or teaching activities or who is otherwise considered by the College to be a member of its faculty.
Hazing means an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a person, subjects a person to public humiliation or ridicule, or 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 student group, organization or sports team.
Hearing Officer means the person dedicated to preside over procedural matters under review by the Student Rights and Responsibilities Board.
May is used in the permissive sense.
Member of the College community includes any person who is a student, faculty member, College official or any other person employed by the College. A person's status in a particular situation shall be determined by the Dean of Students or designee.
Organization means any number of persons who have complied with the formal requirements for College registration as a Student Senate recognized club or Student Life funded group.
Plagiarism includes but is not limited to the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
Policy means the written regulations of the College and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) as found in, but not limited to -
Preponderance of evidence means a standard of responsibility that more likely than not the Code has been violated.
Shall is used in the imperative sense.
Student includes all persons who:
Student Rights and Responsibilities Board (SRRB) means any person or persons authorized by the Dean of Students and appointed by the Normandale Student Senate to determine whether a student has violated the Code and to recommend sanctions that may be imposed or to consider an appeal as to whether a student has violated the Code or the sanctions imposed by the Hearing Officer.
Summary Suspension means a suspension imposed without a formal hearing to ensure the safety and well-being of members of the College community.
Suspension means denial of the privilege of enrollment for a specified period of time after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions may be specified.
Jurisdiction of the student Code of Conduct.
The College Code shall apply to conduct that occurs on college premises, at college sponsored activities, and to off-campus in the following circumstances:
Allegations of discrimination, harassment and sexual violence shall be resolved pursuant to Board Policy 1B.1, Nondiscrimination in Employment and Education Opportunity, System Procedure 1B.1.1, Report/Complaint of Discrimination/ Harassment Investigation and Resolution, Board Policy 1B.3, Sexual Violence Policy, System Procedure 1B.3.1, Sexual Violence Procedure. Allegations of fraud or dishonest acts shall be resolved pursuant to Board Policy 1C.2, Fraudulent or Other Dishonest Acts.
Conduct—Rules and Regulations.
Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit the following misconduct in circumstances falling under the jurisdiction of this Code may be subject to the discipline actions outlined in Article III:
Violation of Law and College Discipline
College disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with conduct that potentially violates both criminal law and this Code (that is, if both possible violations result from the same factual situation) without regard to the pendency of civil or criminal litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution. Proceedings under this Code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings off campus at the discretion of the Administrator.
Determinations made or sanctions imposed under this Code shall not be subject to change because criminal complaints arising out of the same facts giving rise to violation of college rules were dismissed, reduced or resolved in favor of or against the criminal law defendant.
Investigation and Informal Process
Formal Hearing
Sanctions
More than one of the sanctions listed above may be imposed for any single violation.
Summary Suspension
In certain circumstances, the Administrator may impose a summary suspension prior to the informal or formal proceedings described in the previous articles. A summary suspension may be imposed only when, in the judgment of the Administrator, the alleged student violator's presence on the college campus would constitute a threat to the safety and well-being of members of the campus community.
To the greatest extent possible before implementing the summary suspension, the alleged student violator shall be given oral or written notice of the intent to impose summary suspension and shall be given an opportunity to present oral or written arguments against the imposition of the suspension.
However, the refusal of a student to accept or acknowledge this notice shall not prevent the implementation of a summary suspension. Notice of the summary suspension shall be provided in writing to the student. After the student has been summarily suspended, the student shall be provided an opportunity for a formal or informal hearing within the shortest reasonable time period, not to exceed nine (9) school or business days.
During the summary suspension, the student may not enter the campus without obtaining prior permission from the Administrator.
Appeals
Academic Integrity Policy
Purpose
The academic reputation of Normandale Community College is held in esteem based upon the rigor and quality of the academic work completed by students at our institution. Faculty, staff and students play an important role in promoting and preserving academic integrity on campus. Faculty and staff should educate students and discourage acts of academic dishonesty.
Definitions
Academic Dishonesty is a term that encompasses different forms of unethical or dishonest behavior in an academic setting. Examples that violate the Academic Integrity Policy include:
Cheating includes, but is not limited to:
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
Furnishing False Information includes, but is not limited to:
Forgery, alteration or misuse includes, but is not limited to:
Other Forms of Academic Dishonesty include, but are not limited to:
Reporting of Violations
Faculty who have reason to believe a violation has occurred, they may submit a report to the Dean of Students Office through the student referral form. This report should include the name of the alleged student(s), evidentiary documentation and date of the alleged violation.
The Dean of Students Office will track any prior violations that have been reported and follow up with the reporter when appropriate. Additionally, the Dean or appointee will identify what sanctions are warranted.
Procedures and Sanctions
Academic misconduct is considered a serious offense. Allegations of academic dishonesty will be resolved following the Procedures described in the Student Code of Conduct. A violation of this policy, may result in various resolutions that could lead to suspension or expulsion from the College.
Appeals
Students may appeal the sanctioning decision(s) in their resolution letter. This appeal must be generated by the student and must be submitted in writing within 5 business day upon receipt of their letter.
Students appealing the resolutions assigned by the Conduct Hearing Officer will be addressed by the Vice-President for Student Affairs. Any concerns about their overall course final grade or the grade on an assignment, will be reviewed through the Academic Grievance Procedure by the Academic Dean of that department.
Any question of interpretation or application of the Code shall be referred to the Dean of Students or his or her designee for final determination.
The Code shall be reviewed every five (5) years under the direction of the Dean of Students.