catalog - Prairie State College

POLICIES & GUIDELINES2006-2008 CATALOGPOLICIES &GUIDELINES18STUDENT RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIESAll students at Prairie State College are considered to beresponsible adults.Therefore, they are accountable for theirown personal behavior.The College expects students to beinformed about and obey local, state and federal laws and conformto the College’s standards of conduct. In affirming therights of its students, the College also affirms the obligations topreserve an atmosphere of orderly behavior and free exchangeof ideas and a respect for the rights and dignity of all of itsmembers.Prairie State College supports student rights of free inquiry,expression, association, peaceful assembly, redress of grievancesand due process.The exercise and preservation of these freedomsand rights require a respect for the rights of all in thecommunity. Students enrolling in the College assume an obligationto conduct themselves in a manner that is civil and compatiblewith the College’s function as an education institution. Itis clear that in a community of learning, willful disruption of theeducational process, destruction of property and interferencewith the orderly process of the College, or with the rights ofother members of the College, cannot be tolerated. In order tofulfill its functions of imparting and gaining knowledge, theCollege has the authority and responsibility to maintain orderwithin the College and to exclude those who are disruptive ofthe educational process.The College President shall be authorized to establishadministrative procedures to safeguard these rights and ensurethe discharge of these responsibilities.STUDENT CONDUCT (BOARD POLICY F-15)Prairie State College shall require a Code of Student Conductwhereby persons attending or visiting the College assume anobligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible withthe College’s functioning as an educational institution.In accordance therewith, the College shall institute thefollowing Code of Student Conduct:A. Children are not to accompany students to classes or be leftunattended on campus, in College buildings or at any Collegeevent.B. Food, beverages, sleeping, card-playing, playing of personalradios/cassette/CD players, disruptive activity, misuse of furnitureor other property, and/or inappropriate interpersonalconduct for a public area are not permitted in the Atrium orother designated areas.C.The College shall be designated as a “Clean Air/Smoke-Free”environment.D.The College shall be designated as a “Safe School Zone” withzero tolerance for any violations of the law committed on thecampus or at any College activity.The College operatesaccording to the Safe School Act of 1984, which allows for a“Safe School Zone,” thereby prohibiting criminal activitiesfrom occurring within the boundaries of the College campus.E. Misconduct for which students may be asked to leave theCollege premises and be subject to official College disciplinaryactions fall into the following categories:1. False information. Furnishing false, incomplete or misleadinginformation to the College on official records oraltering official documents;2. Obstruction of College business and activities.Obstruction, unauthorized interruption or disruption ofthe business of the College or any College activity includingbut not limited to testing, research, teaching, or of theclassroom setting;3. Abuse/Assault/Harassment. Physical or verbal abuse,assault or harassment against a student, employee or anyother person on the campus or at any College event;conduct or expression that intimidates, threatens orendangers the health or safety of any person on thecampus or at any College event;4. Destruction of College Property. Unwarranted damageor destruction of property belonging to the Collegeor to a member or guest of the College, including thatwhich is rented or leased;5. Theft. Unauthorized taking, embezzlement, misappropriationor possession of any College-owned property, theproperty of others, or property maintained by theCollege by any person on the campus or persons attendinga College event;6. Unauthorized Entry and Use of College Facilities.Unauthorized use, entry or occupancy of any Collegeroom, building or area of the College or any unauthorizedor improper use of the College property, facilityand equipment;7. Computer Information. Unauthorized or misuse ofcomputers, including damaging or altering records, furnishingfalse information, unauthorized use of files, programsor data without permission or any unauthorizeduse of computer hardware, software, accounts, passwordsor keys;8. Unauthorized Use or Possession of Keys.Unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys ofthe College;9. Alcoholic Beverages. Possession, distribution or use ofalcoholic or intoxicating beverages on College property,except as authorized in accordance with College policy;10. Illicit Drugs and Controlled Substances. Use,unlawful manufacture, sale, possession or distribution ofillicit drugs and controlled substances on the campus orat any College event in accordance with local, state andfederal laws;11. Weapons on Campus. Use or possession of firearms,ammunition, other dangerous weapons or materials(except as expressly authorized by Board policy), andthe use of instruments to simulate such weapons in actswhich endanger or are reasonably likely to endanger anyperson;12. Fire Safety. Tampering with fire safety equipment, settingor causing unauthorized fires, or calling in or settingoff false fire alarms on campus or at any College event;13. Bribery. Bribery, accepting a bribe, or failure to reporta bribe by any member of the College community;14. Rights of Others. Interference with the lawful rightsof others to any College activity or College event;15. Conduct/Behavior. Disorderly behavior and/or lewd,indecent, dangerous, violent, unlawful or obscene conductor expression as defined in federal, state or localstatutes on the campus or at any College event;16. College Policies and Regulations. Violation ofCollege policies or regulations;17. Failure to Comply with College Officials. Failure tocomply with directions of College officials, includingfaculty in assigned courses, when these officials are actingin performance of their duties and responsibilities andare requesting the student behave in accordance withCollege policies and regulations;