Rights and Responsibilities of Students

The College’s primary function is to provide education for those persons who enroll within the system. The goal of the College is to provide an educational environment that will include the opportunity for academic, social, and personal growth. Enrollment in a state-supported educational institution of higher learning is not compulsory. As such, the student assumes obligations of performance and behavior reasonably imposed by the institution of choice relevant to its lawful missions, processes, and functions.

Freedom of discussion, inquiry, and expression is protected and nurtured in the classroom as the safeguard of the freedom to learn. Students are expected to exercise their freedom to learn in a manner consistent with the maintenance of civil discourse and orderly conduct. Responsibility for civil discourse and orderly conduct in the classroom is vested in the instructor, and responsibility for maintaining order elsewhere is set forth in the “Student Code of Conduct” and is vested in the Dean of Students.

The College assumes that the student has earnest educational purpose and maturity of reasonable behavior. This assumption continues until the student demonstrates otherwise. Every student is subject to federal, state, and local laws and is expected to be familiar with the requirements of such laws. Any student who violates any provision of those laws is subject to disciplinary action, including expulsion, despite any action taken by civil authorities on account of the violation whether the crime happened on or off campus. The College strives to assure due process and to outline specific ways of appeal in case of disagreement with administered sanctions.

1. Student Rights
   Article I – A student shall have the right to participate in a free exchange of ideas, and there shall be no college rule or administrative rule that in any way abridges the rights of freedom of speech, expression, petition, and peaceful assembly as set forth by law.
   
   Article II – Each student shall have the right to participate in all areas and activities of the College, free from any harassment and any form of illegal discrimination and without regard to any subgroup classification or stereotype.

   Article III – A student has the right to personal privacy except as otherwise provided by law. This will be observed by students and College authorities alike.

   1. Article IV – Each student subject to disciplinary action arising from violations of the Student Code of Conduct shall be assured procedural due process. At all Disciplinary Conferences and Reviews, an accused student shall be assumed innocent until there is a preponderance of evidence (the majority of the evidence would cause a reasonable person to support a conclusion). In all proceedings, the student shall be guaranteed substantive and procedural due process.

2. Student Responsibilities
   Article I – A student has the responsibility to respect the rights and property of others, including other students, staff, faculty, and administration.

   Article II – A student has the responsibility to be fully acquainted with the published College StudentHandbook and to comply with it and with the laws of the land.

   Article III – A student has the responsibility to recognize that student actions reflect upon the individuals involved and upon the entire College community.

   Article IV – A student has the responsibility to recognize the College’s obligation to provide an environment for learning.