Student Code of Conduct Policy

Violation of College rules and regulations is considered a serious matter and may result in disciplinary measures. The College establishes the following ten (10) rules of the Student Code of Conduct:

Rule 1. Disruption of the College

A student shall not by use of violence, force, noise, coercion, threats, intimidation, fear, passive resistance, or any other conduct cause the disruption or obstruction of any lawful mission, process, or function of the College.

Rule 2. Damage, Destruction, or Theft of College/Private Property

A student shall not intentionally cause or attempt to cause damage to College or private property, including electronic property. A student shall not steal or attempt to steal College or private property, including electronic property.

Rule 3. Physical and/or Verbal Abuse of a College Employee, Student, or Other Person not Employed by the College

A student shall not intentionally harass, verbally abuse, do bodily harm, or engage in any conduct on or off-campus, verbal, written, via electronic media, or cyberbullying that causes emotional distress to or places another student or employee of the college in reasonable fear of bodily injury.

Rule 4. Weapons and Dangerous Instruments

A student shall not possess, handle, transport, or transmit any object that can reasonably be considered a weapon.

This rule does not apply to normal school supplies such as a pencil or a compass, but it does cover all dangerous objects that have no reasonable use related to approved College activities.

This rule does not apply to any law enforcement officer who is required by law or regulation to carry a firearm while in uniform or in the course of duty.

This rule does not apply to Criminal Justice Technology or Basic Law Enforcement Training students when firearms and other equipment are essential training aids within the approved course under the supervision of a qualified instructor.

Rule 5. Narcotics, Alcoholic Beverages, and Stimulant Drugs

1. A student shall not distribute, dispense, possess, use, or be under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or other intoxicating liquor or unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess, use, or be under the influence of any narcotic drug, a hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, anabolic steroid or any other “controlled substance” before, during, or after school hours on College premises, at any other College locations, or at College-sponsored events or activities. The college reserves the right to sell alcoholic beverages at college sanctioned events that have been properly permitted by the Alcohol Beverage Control commission of North Carolina.
   A student’s legal use of prescribed or over-the-counter drugs is not a violation of policy only if such use does not endanger the student or others, and it does not interfere with student learning or participation in student-related activities. Students shall be held strictly accountable for their behavior while under the influence of prescribed drugs or over-the-counter drugs.
2. Any student who possesses, uses, sells, gives, or in any way transfers a controlled substance or manufactures a controlled substance while on college premises or as part of any collegesponsored activity will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion and referral for prosecution, and possible legal sanctions. Instructors have the discretion to determine whether a student may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If the instructor suspects a student is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he or she has the authority to contact campus security to remove the student from the classroom.  Instructors must notify the Vice President of Instruction and Student Support or designee of this alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct as soon as possible.
3. A student shall not knowingly possess an instrument of drug paraphernalia for the purpose of ingesting a controlled substance.

For more information on the College’s philosophy on drugs and alcohol, see Section 7.15 Alcohol  and Drug Policy.

Rule 6. Academic Integrity Policy

Two key values at Carteret Community College are honesty and integrity. These values are critical within our learning environment. Students are expected to exhibit academic honesty and integrity in all college endeavors. This specifically means that all students will avoid the following: plagiarism, cheating, fabrication and academic misconduct. 

Definition of Terms:

Plagiarism: to represent the words, ideas, or materials of another person without acknowledgment. Not citing properly, cutting and pasting from the Internet, and representing another’s words or ideas constitutes plagiarism. College-level work should be the thoughtful reflection and assessment of the published materials learners have gathered for study while being written and cited properly. Reflection and summary represent critical thinking skills. Students who are in doubt as to whether they are providing proper attribution should consult with their instructor or a tutor in MAPS for guidance.

Cheating: is using unauthorized materials or receiving unauthorized assistance before, during, or after a quiz, test, examination or another academic assignment. Permission from the instructor should always be granted before the collaboration with any other individual or outside resource on an assignment.

Fabrication: is the use of invented information or the falsification of research or other findings in completing any course-related activity.

Academic Misconduct: includes academically dishonest acts such as tampering with grades or taking part in stealing, buying or obtaining an exam or assignment.

Procedure

When an instructor identifies a potential academic integrity violation, the course instructor shall request a meeting with the student via a college email to discuss the incident. A face-to-face meeting is preferable; however, if it is not possible, a meeting to discuss the allegations via email or other technology is acceptable. The student will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations. If the alleged incident of academic dishonesty occurs while using academic support and/or testing services, the college employee witnessing or involved in the incident will report the suspicions to the course instructor within twenty-four hours. The course instructor will then follow the procedure outlined b elo w. If the violation and resulting consequences is discussed in the course syllabus, the instructor shall follow the stated procedure. If the violation is not covered by the syllabus, and corrective or punitive action is warranted, the instructor shall initiate an Academic Integrity violation form.

Within five business days of the initial contact with the student, if the instructor decides to impose a consequence (see academic integrity consequences below), the instructor will initiate an Academic Integrity Violation form, documenting the details of the incident, student notification and the imposed consequence. The instructor will obtain signatures from the student, instructor, program chair and division dean. If an instructor is not able to contact the student, or obtain the student’s signature, this will not stop the process of reporting the violation.

The instructor then submits a completed form to the Dean of Student Services. Reports of Academic Integrity violations are kept on file in the office of the Dean of Student Services. The Dean of Student Services will notify the instructor, copying the chair, academic dean and Vice President of Instruction and Student Support, about any prior violations of academic integrity for that student, which may result in further consequences. Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy do not expire.  Students who wish to appeal should see Appeal of Academic Action in Section 7.6 of the College Catalog and Student Handbook.

Academic Integrity Consequences

Deliberate violation of the academic integrity policy will result in the following consequences:

First offense – The instructor may assign a grade of zero on the assignment/test, which may or may not lead to failure in the course.

Second offense – The student may incur failure of the course, whether the second offense occurred in the same course/semester or in a different or subsequent course/semester. Students who are removed from a class for violating the academic integrity policy will receive a grade of “F” for the course and cannot receive a grade of “WD”.

Third offense – Recommended student suspension or expulsion. Specific Programs (e.g. health science programs, BLET): Certain programs of study may employ different procedures or consequences as required by their outside accrediting bodies or agencies.

Example Violations of Academic Integrity

Violations of academic integrity include but are not limited to the following examples

• Copying or collaborating on assignments without permission.
• Quoting, paraphrasing or summarizing someone else’s work without giving proper citations.
• Submitting an assignment purchased and/or copied from an online or commercial entity.
• Using unauthorized materials (e.g., textbook, notes, technological devices) during an examination.
• Sharing information about the contents of an assignment (including examination) that a student has not taken.
• Interfering electronically with the property of another individual via college computer or other means.
• Sharing a student Carteret CC username/password or other course login information.
• Using unauthorized translation software and assistance from native speakers or advanced- level students in foreign language classes.
• Using unauthorized artificial intelligence software for assignments unless explicitly approved by your instructor.

Rule 7. Repeated Noncompliance

A student shall not repeatedly fail to comply with directions of faculty members or other authorized college personnel during any period of time when under the authority of college personnel.

Rule 8. Unlawful Harassment, Stalking, & Sex Offenses

Students and college employees shall not engage in conduct that falls under the definitions of harassment, stalking, sex offenses, and/or other inappropriate behavior cited below:

Unlawful Harassment

Unlawful harassment is unwelcome or unsolicited speech or conduct based upon race, sex, creed, religion, national origin, age, color, or disability as defined by N.C. Gen. Stat.168A-3 that creates a hostile work environment or learning environment or circumstances involving quid pro quo.

A hostile work or learning environment is one that both a reasonable person would find hostile or abusive and that the particular person who is the object of the harassment perceives to be hostile or abusive. Hostile environment is determined by looking at all of the circumstances, including the frequency of the harassing conduct, its severity, whether it is physically threatening or humiliating, and whether it unreasonably interferes with an employee’s work performance or with a student’s academic performance and/or full enjoyment of college programs or services.

Quid pro quo harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct when (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or a student’s academic performance, or (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting such individual.

Examples of sexual harassment may include all activities that attempt to extort sexual favors, inappropriate touching, suggestive comments, and public display (including on or via computers) of pornographic or suggestive calendars, posters, or signs. Sexual harassment does not include personal compliments welcomed by the recipient, or social interaction or relationships freely entered into by participants. However, the College strongly discourages romantic and sexual relationships between faculty and student or between supervisor and employee even when such relationships appear, or are believed to be, consensual. The lines of power and authority that exist between the parties may undermine freedom of choice. If a charge is made by a party in a consensual relationship, the College will treat the charge the same as any other charge.

Stalking

Students/Employees shall not engage in conduct which constitutes stalking as defined by the NC General Statutes Section 14-277.3. Generally, it is a repeated course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to

1. fear for their safety or safety of others; or
2. suffer substantial emotional distress.

For more information, see 7.2, Sexual Discrimination, Harassment, and Violence (Title IX).

Sex Offenses and Intimate Partner Violence

Students/employees shall not engage in any physical, sexual, or psychological harm against an individual including, but not limited to, current or former partners or spouses of the individual. Behaviors include, but are not limited to, stalking, dating violence, sexual violence, and domestic violence.

Retaliation

Retaliation is adverse treatment that occurs because of opposition to unlawful harassment, stalking, or sexual offenses. Retaliation by any employee of the College against a student or an employee for responsibly using the policy and its procedures is grounds for appropriate disciplinary action.

Consequences

In determining whether conduct constitutes unlawful harassment, stalking, or sex offenses, the record as a whole will be considered, as well as the totality of the circumstances, such as the nature of the alleged conduct and the context in which it occurred. Any employee found to be in violation of this policy will be disciplined in accordance with the Due Process and Discipline portions of the Carteret Community College Policy & Procedures Manual. Any student found to be in violation of Rule 8 will be disciplined in accordance with the Student Conduct Policy portion in the College Catalog & Student Handbook.

Complaint

1. Each office and person involved in advising a grievant must provide written notification about sources of assistance and services, and procedures for victims.
2. Offices and persons involved in advising a grievant must avoid comments that might dissuade victims from pursuing their rights or constitute threats of reprisal. Such behavior in itself is discriminatory and is a violation of the policy.
3. The grievant has the right to bypass any step in the procedure involving review of or decisions by the accused.
4. A grievant has a concurrent right to appeal to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

False Allegations

Failure to substantiate a complaint is not equivalent to a false allegation. However, a false allegation brought forth with malicious intent or without regard for truth will subject the complainant to disciplinary action.

Grievance Officers Designated

With respect to unlawful workplace harassment, stalking or sex offenses alleged to have been experienced by faculty or staff members, or by job applicants, the Director of Human Resources is the designated grievance officer with responsibility for processing such grievances in accordance with procedures set forth in the Unlawful Harassment Procedures of the College Policy & Procedures Manual.

With respect to unlawful harassment, stalking, or sex offenses alleged to have been experienced by students, the Title IX Coordinator is the designated grievance officer with responsibility for processing unlawful harassment, stalking, and sex offense grievances in accordance with procedures set forth in the College Catalog & Student Handbook.

If the grievance officer is unable to serve because of personal involvement in the allegations giving rise to the grievance, the president, or president’s designee, shall appoint a substitute grievance officer.

Rule 9. Unsafe Health Science Practices

Policy. The Health Sciences faculty of Carteret Community College has both a legal and ethical responsibility to protect the public and health care community from unsafe practices. As a result of this obligation, students may be disciplined and/or dismissed from a program of study for practices that are deemed threats to individual safety. Safety threats are those who threaten or have the potential to threaten the safety of a client, the client’s family, another student, a faculty member, or another health care provider.

Procedure. The faculty member or clinical site supervisor who determines that a student cannot function at a safe level in clinical practice will notify the student to leave the area immediately. The faculty member will then notify the curriculum chairperson, who in turn will notify the Dean of Health Sciences and the Dean of Student Services within 24 hours of the incident. The faculty member, the curriculum chairperson, the Dean of Health Sciences, and the Dean of Student Services, or designee, will meet to discuss the situation and to determine the appropriate action. The student involved is afforded the opportunity to meet with these individuals to state the student’s position. During the period of investigation, the student will not participate in any clinical experience but may be allowed to attend classroom sessions. The student has the right to appeal the decision involving disciplinary action according to the Procedures for Disciplinary Action, as described in the College Catalog and the Student Handbook.

Rule 10. Fraudulent Use of the College Name

Any activity conducted, legal or illegal, on-campus or off-campus, verbal, written or via electronic media that identifies the College or states or implies the official sanction of Carteret Community College without the express involvement or permission of Carteret Community College will be considered a violation and may result in disciplinary measures.