Student Conduct & Rights
Student Conduct & Rights
Student Rights, Privileges, and Expectations
The Board of Trustees recognizes that as citizens of the Lassen Community College District, students are free, individually and collectively, to express their interest. Students of the College are afforded certain rights and privileges, in addition to the freedom to learn. However, these privileges carry with them an obligation to respect the rights and privileges of others, as well as an obligation to abide by rules and regulations set by the College, its various agencies, and its agents.
Academic Honesty
Student integrity is an expectation as well as an essential part of success at Lassen College. Students should strive to maintain high ethical standards in their scholarship, as members of the campus community, and in their personal lives. It is critical that students understand this responsibility and that they act with integrity in all their intellectual pursuits. The responsibility to act in an ethical manner is fundamental in the search for knowledge and failure to maintain high ethical standards may result in disciplinary.
Student Conduct and Rights
The Lassen Community College District believes that each student has an earnest purpose and that students will adhere to acceptable standards of personal conduct. In the development of responsible student conduct, disciplinary proceedings play a role substantially secondary to example, counseling, and admonition. In the exceptional circumstances, when these preferred means fail to produce student acceptance of responsibility commensurate with student freedom, due process shall be observed to protect the student from the unfair and arbitrary imposition of serious penalties. The College has developed procedures for protecting student rights. The rights protected under these procedures include, but are not limited to, those guaranteed by the established rules and regulations of the Lassen Community College District, the Education Code of the State of California, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Superintendent/President is authorized to suspend any student for good cause for an indefinite period of time as prescribed by code.
Student Conduct/Disciplinary Form
- View Board Policy 5500 – Standards of Conduct
- View Administrative Procedure 5520 – Student Discipline Procedures
- View Administrative Procedure 3410 – Nondiscrimination
- View Administrative Procedure 5530 – Student Rights and Grievances
- View Title IX – Sexual Discrimination
Grounds for Disciplinary Action
The following categories of behavior constitute good and sufficient cause for disciplinary action. Inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to, the following categories:
Dishonesty This includes cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the College.
Cheating This is the willful and intentional fraud and deception for the purpose of improving a grade or obtaining course credit, and includes all behavior by a student which is intended to gain unearned academic advantage by fraudulent and/or deceptive means. If charges are brought and proved, the consequences are severe, ranging from failure in an individual course to long-term suspension from the College.
Forgery This includes altering or issuing College documents, records, or identification.
Obstruction/Disruption This includes obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, computing services, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other College activities, including its public service functions and other College-authorized activities.
Physical Abuse This includes the physical abuse of any person on College-owned or controlled property or at College-sponsored or supervised functions, or conduct which threatens or endangers the health of any such person.
Property Theft/Damage This includes printed or software materials of the College, a member of the College community, or a campus visitor.
Policy/Regulation Violations This includes violation of College policies or campus regulations, including regulations concerning the registration of student organizations, the use of College facilities, or the time, place, and manner of public expression.
Alcohol and/or Narcotics This includes the use, possession, sale, or distribution of narcotics or other restricted drugs and alcoholic beverages on campus or at College-sponsored activities.
Discrimination This includes discrimination due to race, color, creed, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, political affiliations, ancestry, religion, national origin, marital status, or any other protected characteristic.
Harassment This includes harassment of a student or employee and sexual harassment.
Student Disciplinary Action
As defined in Board Policy 5500, the Superintendent/President shall establish 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 purpose of Board Policy 5500 is to define conduct that constitutes good cause for discipline, including but not limited to the removal, suspension, or expulsion of a student. The purpose of Administrative Procedure 5520 is to provide a prompt and equitable means to address violations of the Standards of Student Conduct. Board Policy 5500 and Administrative Procedure 5520 provide definitions of misconduct, definitions of disciplinary sanctions, and outlines the disciplinary hearing procedure. Disciplinary action involving students is primarily the responsibility of the Vice President for Student Services.
Student Conduct/Disciplinary Form
Student Conduct, Complaint and Grievance Procedures
Grievance or complaint action may be initiated by a student against another student, an instructor, or administrator, or any other District employee, and the College may initiate a grievance against a student. The following list indicates acts that are grounds for grievance: a) Violation of student rights; b) Act or threat of intimidation or harassment by a District employee or by a student; and c) Act or threat of physical aggression by a District employee or by a student.
- View Administrative Procedure 5530, Student Rights and Grievances, for complaints or grievances involving a violation of student rights.
- View Administrative Procedure 3410, Nondiscrimination, for complaints or grievances involving discrimination or harassment on the basis of any protected class.
Contact the Vice President for Student Services Office for assistance with grievances or complaints applicable to the grounds for grievance as listed above in (a), (b), or (c) that do not fall under Administrative Procedures 5530 or 3400. Phone: (530) 257-6181 x8970 Location: Main Campus – Creative Arts (CA), Room 209.
Student Complaints Regarding an Instructor
Students should attempt to work out a resolution with their instructors first. Student complaints regarding a faculty member should be referred to the Dean of Instruction in the Academic Services Office. If you are challenging your grade in a class, please see Grade Changes, Academic Grievances and Appeals in the catalog.
Hazing Policy
Participation in any kind of hazing is a misdemeanor. Hazing is defined as “Any method of initiation into a student organization or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization which causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger of physical harm to any student or other person attending the College.”
Substance Abuse Policy
In accordance with Public Law 101-226, “Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989”, the Board of Trustees of the Lassen Community College District prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students or employees on Lassen College property and as part of any Lassen College sponsored or sanctioned activity. Any student or employee who is in violation of this policy is subject to disciplinary action up to, and including, expulsion from Lassen College or termination of employment for violations of the standards of conduct. The decision to take disciplinary action in any instance rests with the Superintendent/President. The possession, use, and sale of alcoholic beverages by anyone on Lassen College-controlled property is a misdemeanor as per California Business Code 25608 (community college) and a violation of the Standards of Student Conduct. The use, sale or possession of any illegal drug is a violation of state law and any person found in violation may be subject to arrest by federal, state, local, or campus law enforcement authorities. Criminal prosecution is separate from any administrative discipline that may be imposed by the District.
Disciplinary Actions
Use, possession or distribution of narcotics or other restricted drugs and alcoholic beverages on campus is subject to disciplinary actions.
Legal Sanctions
Drug or alcohol abuse on campus or at college-sponsored functions could result in suspension, expulsion, or criminal prosecution. Students should be aware of these penalties. Possession or use of alcohol: one year in jail and/or fine. Possession or use of alcohol by minor: one year in jail and/or fine. Possession of marijuana — less than 1 oz: a fine; — more than 1 oz: county jail and/or fine. Possession of cocaine: imprisonment for one year.
Sale of any illegal drug: imprisonment in a state prison.
Students are required to report any convictions within five days of the occurrence. If students are a student employee, their employment may be terminated. Students will be ineligible for financial aid.
