By enrolling in Sierra College, a student agrees to be a responsible member of the District community; obey the law; comply with the published rules and regulations of the District; respect the rights, privileges and property of the other members of the District community; and not interfere with legitimate District affairs.
Each student is responsible to adhere to the policies and procedures of Sierra College, as well as all federal, state and local laws. All rules and regulations applying to conduct also apply to student employees, whether all or a portion of the salary is paid by the District.
The District Superintendent/President has established procedures for the imposition of discipline on students in accordance with the requirements for due process of the federal and state law and regulations.
The procedures clearly define the conduct that is subject to discipline, and identify potential disciplinary actions, including but not limited to the removal, suspension or expulsion of a student.
The District Superintendent/President notifies the Board of all long term suspensions of one or more school terms. The Board considers any recommendation from the Superintendent/President for expulsion. The Board considers an expulsion recommendation in closed session unless the student requests that the matter be considered in a public meeting. Final action by the Board on the expulsion shall be taken at a public meeting.
The procedures are widely available to students through this catalog and other means.
The following conduct shall constitute good cause for discipline, including but not limited to:
- Disruptive behavior, willful disobedience, habitual profanity or vulgarity, defiance of the authority of, threats towards, or persistent abuse of, District personnel on District-controlled property or at District sponsored or supervised functions or through electronic means.
- Continued serious misconduct where other means of correction have failed to bring about proper conduct.
- Acts that would be considered sexual harassment as defined by law or by District policies and procedures.
- Sexual assault, sexual exploitation, or physical abuse, including rape, forced sodomy, forced oral copulation, rape by a foreign object, sexual battery, or threat or assault, street harassment, or any conduct that threatens the health and safety of the alleged victim, which includes students, college personnel, or campus visitors.
- Falsification, alteration or misuse of District documents and records; or knowingly furnishing false information to the District.
- Act or threat of damage to, theft or attempted theft, or knowingly receiving stolen property belonging to or located on District-controlled property or facilities
- Committing or attempting to commit robbery or extortion.
- Failure to comply with program-specific policies, procedures, and standards and District Board Policies and Administrative Procedures.
- The physical or verbal disruption of instructional or student services activities, administrative procedures, public service functions, authorized curricular or co-curricular activities or prevention of authorized guests from carrying out the purpose for which they are on campus.
- Unauthorized entry into, or use of, District-controlled facilities.
- Failure to comply with directions of District officials, faculty, staff, or campus security officers who are acting in performance of their duties.
- Engaging in conduct which is obscene, lewd or indecent; libelous or slanderous or which so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on District premises.
- Cheating or plagiarizing in relation to a District course or academic program. See also Board Policy 5515.
- Causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical injury to another person.
- Possession, sale or otherwise furnishing any firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous object, including but not limited to any facsimile firearm, knife or explosive, unless, in the case of possession of any object of this type, the student has obtained written permissions to possess the item from a District employee, which is concurred by the Superintendent/President.
- Gambling on District property.
- Unlawful possession, use, sale, offer to sell, or furnishing, or being under the influence of, any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing Section 11053) of Division 10 of the California Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind; or unlawful possession of, or offering, arranging or negotiating the sale of any drug paraphernalia, as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 11014.5, on campus or during District-sponsored activities such as field trips, athletic events, study abroad programs, conferences, and workshops.
- Smoking any substance or the use of tobacco or non-regulated nicotine products where prohibited by law or District regulation.
- Unauthorized preparation, giving, selling, transfer, distribution, or publication, for any commercial purpose, of any contemporaneous recording of an academic presentation in a classroom or equivalent site of instruction, including but not limited to class notes, except as permitted by any District policy or administrative procedure.
- Violation of any statute, regulation, or ordinance or law punishable by incarceration or a fine, other than a vehicular parking violation. Whether a student has committed such a violation shall be determined solely by the District for purposes of any student disciplinary action. Any District disciplinary action is separate and distinct from any other governmental action. The decision of any non-District person or entity, including, but not limited to, a jury, as to whether the violation occurred is not binding on the student disciplinary action, although it may be considered in the student disciplinary action.
- Discrimination against or harassment of another student, District employee, or individual based on ethnic group identification, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender identity and expression, race, color, medical condition, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, parenting after pregnancy, or because he or she is perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics. (Board Policies 3410 and 3430).
- Engaging in intimidating conduct or bullying against another student or employee through words or actions, including direct physical contact; verbal assaults, such as teasing or name-calling; social isolation or manipulation; and cyberbullying.
Reference: Sierra College Board Policy 5500.
