Student Code of Conduct

Administrative Procedure 4.402

Definitions

  • Elgin Community College herein referred to as “College”.
  • College Premises includes all land, buildings, facilities or other property in the possession of or owned by, leased by, used, or controlled by the College, including adjacent streets and sidewalks.
  • College Official includes any person employed by the College, performing assigned administrative or professional duties.
  • College Community includes any person who is a student, faculty member, College official, visitor or any other person employed by the College or on College premises. A person's status in a particular situation shall be determined by the Vice President for Teaching, Learning, and Student Development.
  • Organization means any number of persons who have complied with the formal requirements for recognition, through the Office of Student Life.
  • Bullying means severe or pervasive conduct, including electronic communication, that is likely to (1) cause reasonable fear of harm to a person or property (2) cause a substantially detrimental effect on a person’s physical or mental health or (3) substantially interfere with a person’s academic performance or participation in College activities or services.

For more detailed information regarding Administrative Procedures, please visit the College Procedures webpage.

Student Obligations to the College

Registration at Elgin Community College entitles each student to the rights and privileges as a member in the college community. As in other communities, students must assume the responsibilities and obligations accompanying these rights and privileges. The responsibility for maintaining appropriate standards of conduct, observing all College regulations, and complying with all federal, state, and local laws rests with the student. Behavior for which a student is subject to disciplinary sanctions by the College fall into these categories:

  1. Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:
    1. Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty as outlined in Administrative Procedure 4.407: Academic Integrity.
    2. Providing false information to any College official, faculty member, or office.
    3. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any College document, record, equipment, or instrument of identification.
    4. Tampering with the election of any College-recognized student organization.
  2. Intentionally disrupting the orderly processes and operations of the College in one or more of the following ways:
    1. Interfering with the educational opportunities of other students through disruptive or inappropriate behavior, including profanity or other foul language.
    2. Intentionally obstructing or denying access, either pedestrian or vehicular, to facilities or services by those entitled to use such services or facilities on campus or while attending off-campus events.
    3. Intentionally interfering with the lawful rights of other persons on campus.
    4. Inciting others to perform acts prohibited by items mentioned in this section.
  3. Intentional participation in demonstrations within the interior of any College building, structure, or any other portion of the premises of the College which have not been approved through appropriate administrative procedures: 6.202: Use and Rental of Campus Hallways, Atriums and Grounds and 6.208: Facilities Usage Regulations. For further information, please visit the Office of Student Life, Room B 173, or Facilities Rental & Catering, Room E 105.
  4. Unauthorized entry into or occupation of any room, building, or premises of the College, including unauthorized entry or occupation at an unauthorized time, or any unauthorized or improper use of any College property, equipment or facilities as outlined in Administrative Procedure 6.208: Facilities Usage Regulations. For further information, please visit Facilities Rental & Catering, room E 105.
  5. Physical abuse, bullying, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, stalking, coercion and/or other reckless conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of self or others, including but not limited to the use of social media and electronic communication.
  6. Sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse, or stalking on College premises or at College sponsored or supervised activities as outlined in Administrative Procedure 3.404: Anti-Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy and Procedure.
  7. Discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex/gender, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation (including gender-related identity), order of protection status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law as stated in the College’s Notice of Non-Discrimination 3.402
  8. Attempted or actual theft and/or damage to property of the College or property of a member of the College community, or other personal or public property.
  9. Hazing, defined as an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or which 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 group or organization.
  10. Failure to comply with directions of College officials or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to those persons when requested to do so.
  11. Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys to any College premises, or unauthorized entry to College premises.
  12. Violation of published College policies, administrative procedures, rules, or regulations.
  13. Violation of federal, state, or local law or mandate on College premises or at Collegesponsored or supervised activities.
  14. Use, possession, distribution, or manufacture of illegal or controlled substances on College premises or at College-sponsored events except as permitted by law. ECC complies with state and federal regulation as outlined in Administrative Procedure 3.401: Drug-Free Campus.
  15. Use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages on College premises or at Collegesponsored events except as expressly permitted by the law and College regulations.
  16. Smoking in areas that are not designated by the College is a violation of Administrative Procedure 3.801: Smoking and Tobacco Use on Campus.
  17. Possession or use of firearms, explosives, firearm ammunition, incendiary devices, or other weapons except as authorized by the College, including possession of dangerous chemicals with intent to do harm.
  18. Conduct which is disorderly, reckless, lewd, or indecent; a breach of peace; or aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to breach the peace on College premises or at functions sponsored by, or participated in by, the College.
  19. Theft or other abuse of computer time or services, including any violation of the Acceptable Usage Guidelines for Electronic Student Services, which can be found in all computer labs.
    1. Use of computing facilities to view or share pornography or send obscene or abusive messages.
    2. Use of technology to interfere with or disrupt online learning environments, including unauthorized entry into digital classroom spaces such as Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, or others.
  20. Engaging in any behavior or activity that endangers the health and safety of another member of the ECC community, including but not limited to the failure to observe COVID-19 (or other public health emergency) behavioral expectations and guidelines when interacting with ECC students, faculty, or staff.
  21. Abuse of the Student Disciplinary Hearing Process, including but not limited to:
    1. Failure to request from the Judicial Affairs officer, in advance of the summons’ hearing date, a needed schedule accommodation.
    2. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before the Disciplinary Committee or Judicial Affairs officer.
    3. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of the disciplinary process.
    4. Submission of a Student Code of Conduct complaint knowingly without cause.
    5. Directly or indirectly attempting to discourage an individual's proper participation in, or use of, the disciplinary process.
    6. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of the Disciplinary Committee, or the Judicial Affairs officer, prior to, and/or during the course of, the disciplinary process.
    7. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of the Disciplinary Committee, Judicial Affairs officer, or witness prior to, during, or after the disciplinary process.
    8. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed as a result of the disciplinary process.

Disciplinary Procedures

Complaints:

Any member of the college community may file charges against any student for misconduct using the Complaint Procedure (Administrative Procedure 4.401).

Appeal

Following the adjudication of the complaint, the student, group or organization has the Right to Appeal to the Vice President of Teaching, Learning, and Student Development using the Appeal for Complaint Procedure (Administrative Procedure 4.408).

Student Class Participation

A student who remains enrolled in a class throughout a complaint, disciplinary process, or appeal should continue active participation in the course while the situation is being resolved, adjudicated, or reviewed, unless instructed otherwise by a College official. In situations where behavioral or safety issues exist, the Associate Vice-President of Student Services and Development, Dean of Students, or Judicial Affairs Officer may prohibit class participation, in person and/or via virtual means, to protect students, faculty, or staff.

Record of Complaint and/or Appeal

After the Complaint and/or Appeal Processes have been concluded, all records of the associated records will be placed in a confidential file in the Dean of Students office for a period of five (5) years.