Student Conduct Policy

To enhance their opportunities for educational success, the College expects all students to conduct themselves so as to help, not hinder, their fellow students, staff, and instructors in achieving their common goals.

1. Aims of this Policy

The College regards certain forms of conduct as improper and unacceptable and will deal with such behaviour following processes which regard both the rights and safety of the College community.

The purposes of this policy are:

1.1 To facilitate:

Creation of an environment conducive to learning and teaching
Development of a community based on civility and mutual respect
Respect for diversity and free intellectual inquiry
Respect for property
Maintenance of individual safety.

1.2 To ensure that violations of this Policy are dealt with in an equitable, unbiased and timely manner.

This policy does not cover behaviour which is subject of a complaint under the Sexual Harassment Policy or the Academic Policies of the College.

2. Appropriate Conduct

The College recognizes that most students make considerable sacrifices to be able to attend classes. To enhance their opportunities for success, the College expects everyone to conduct themselves so as to help, not hinder, their fellow students, staff, and instructors in achieving their common goals.

One of the most important of those goals is to develop the skill of critical thinking through the free expression and exploration of a wide range of ideas. This may involve challenges to students' and faculty's strongly held beliefs and values. As long as such challenges are clearly directed at ideas, and are not merely personal attacks on those who hold them, the College accepts and encourages them as part of the learning process.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed as to prohibit peaceful assemblies and demonstrations or reasonable expressions of free speech.

3. Improper Behaviour

Improper behaviour is defined as either disruptive behaviour or as threatening and dangerous behaviour.

4. Disruptive Behaviour

Some kinds of expression and behaviour do not further the learning process; they may become disruptive to all concerned and may hinder the College's basic purpose: to foster both learning and a constructive, positive attitude toward learning. Therefore, the College will not accept disruptive behaviour in any College-sponsored activities whether conducted on or off campus.

Disruptive behaviour may include but is not limited to:

Speech or action that seriously distracts others from the task at hand, or the hindrance of others' work by failure to complete one's own work;
Speech or action that is clearly not part of a learning process and that creates an atmosphere of hostility, intimidation, ridicule, or anxiety among other students, staff or instructors;
Action that impedes the delivery of College services;
Falsification of identification or provision of false information to any College employee or representative in the performance of his/her duties;
Action that abuses College property and services by using them for unauthor ized purposes;
Excessive and unreasonable demand for attention or special treatment from faculty or staff, to the detriment of other students;
Actions which are arguably violations of the B.C. Human Rights Code or municipal bylaws;
Aiding, inciting, abetting or acting as an accomplice in the commission of any of the foregoing acts.

5. Threatening and Dangerous Behaviour

All members of the College community are expected to show respect for the College and its students and employees. Behaviour that is threatening or dangerous to others is unacceptable and will be dealt with quickly and firmly. The College will protect its students and employees against such conduct.

Threatening or dangerous behaviour may include but is not limited to:

Assaulting, threatening, physically or verbally abusing or intimidating another member of the College community;
Acting in a way which endangers the health, safety or well-being of others;
Damage, misuse, or threat to, or the unauthorized removal of, College property or the property of students or College employees;
Actions which are arguably violations of the Criminal Code of Canada;
Aiding, inciting, abetting or acting as an accomplice in the commission of any of the foregoing acts.

6. Procedures Student Improper Behaviour

College employees are governed by the Human Resources policies of the College. The following procedures and sanctions apply to students.

6.1 At their own discretion, employees who observe improper behaviour should intervene and deal with the situation. In class, the instructor may make such determination as appropriate.

6.2 All members of the College community who observe serious examples of improper behaviour outside of class should report these incidents with as much information as possible, including the names of witnesses, to the dean responsible for Student Services who will deal with the incident and inform the complainant of any outcomes.

6.3 In minor examples of improper behaviour in class the instructor may consult with or refer the situation to the coordinator, division chair, a counsellor and conflict resolution advisor. The instructor may also immediately employ the sanction described in article 7.1 of this policy.

6.4 If there are repeated minor examples of improper behaviour (i.e., after a student has been given two explicit warnings) in class or a major example of improper behaviour in class, the instructor should report the incident(s) to the coordinator, division chair, and to the dean responsible for Student Services.

6.5 In incidents of improper behaviour reported to the dean responsible for Student Services, he/she will investigate the situation and may have recourse to the services of the Counselling Department for mediation purposes or may request the aid of the conflict resolution advisor.

6.6 Among the recourses available to achieve a mediated settlement of an improper behaviour issue are apology, restitution or community service.

6.7 When an incident of improper behaviour is particularly serious or when danger may exist to students or others, an instructor or supervisor of a College-sponsored activity has the prerogative to cancel the class or activity in progress.

6.8 If the dean responsible for Student Services does not believe the incident(s) of improper behaviour can be successfully mediated or subject to conflict resolution, he/she may apply any of the sanctions outlined in articles 7.2 through 7.6 or recommend that the president apply the sanction outlined in article 7.7

6.9 In determining a sanction to be applied, the dean responsible for Student Services will consider whether a student has been previously involved in incidents of improper behaviour at the College.

6.10 When an incident of improper behaviour is particularly serious or when danger may exist to the student or others, the student may be immediately excluded from all classes and College services pending further investigation and resolution of the case.

7. Sanctions

7.1 Exclusion from a class Requirement that a student immediately leave class.

7.2 Written reprimand The student is advised in writing that further incidents of improper behaviour may result in more severe sanctions. Written reprimands will be kept on file by the dean responsible for Student Services.

7.3 Probation Conditional permission for a student to enrol or re-enrol in a course or courses. The terms of this measure will be provided to the student in a written communication.

7.4 Activity/Access Restriction or exclusion of a student from certain College activities; restricted, or denial of, access to certain areas of the College or to the use of certain facilities or equipment. The terms of this measure will be provided to the student in a written communication, but should not be designed to inhibit a student's ability to complete course requirements.

7.5 Expulsion Immediate exclusion of a student from one or more courses. The terms of this measure will be provided to the student in a written communication.

7.6 Refusal to enrol or re-enrol Refusal of the College to enrol or re-enrol a student in a course, courses or a program. The terms of this measure will be provided to the student in a written communication.

7.7 Suspension from the College Immediate exclusion of a student from all classes and College services. In future, the student will not be permitted to re-enrol in any course or program or take advantage of any College-sponsored activity or service. The terms of this measure will be provided to the student in a written communication.

8. Appeal Procedure

Individuals who wish to appeal may do so and be assured that the principles of natural justice will be observed, including the right for representation at all hearings.

8.1 All written communications informing the students of sanctions will outline the possible appeal procedure.

8.2 There is no appeal to the dean's imposition of sanctions 7.2 and 7.3 or an Instructor's imposition of sanction 7.1.

8.3 Students who wish to appeal the dean's imposition of sanction 7.4, 7.5 or 7.6 must make a written appeal to the Student Behaviour Appeals Committee within five working days after the imposition of the sanction.

8.4 The Committee is composed of one academic administrator plus one faculty member, one staff member and two students, elected by their respective unions, who each serve a one-year term. The committee is chaired by the academic vice-president.

8.5 Students who wish to appeal the president's imposition of sanction 7.7 must make a written appeal to the College's Board within 10 working days after the imposition of the sanction.

top