PDFWAC 132J-126-090
Conduct—Student responsibilities.
Any student or student group shall be subject to disciplinary action as provided for in this chapter, who either as a principal actor, aide, abettor, or accomplice as defined in RCW 9A.08.020:
Materially and substantially interferes with the personal rights or privileges of others or the educational process of the college;
Violates any provision of this chapter; or
Commits any prohibited act including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Academic dishonesty. Any act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication. In academically honest writing or speaking, the student documents his/her source of information whenever:
Another person's exact words are quoted;
Another person's idea, opinion or theory is used through paraphrase; and
Facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials are borrowed.
In order to complete academically honest work, students should:
Acknowledge all sources according to the method of citation preferred by the instructor;
Write as much as possible from one's own understanding of the materials and in one's own voice;
Ask an authority on the subject, such as the instructor who assigned the work; and
Seek help from academic student services such as the library and/or writing center.
(2) Tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and related products. The use of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and related products are not allowed on college campus. In addition to the main campus, this also includes any building and premises owned, leased or operated by the college outside of the main campus. "Related products" include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, pipes, bidi, clove cigarettes, waterpipes, hookahs, chewing tobacco, and snuff.
(3) Alcohol. The use, possession, delivery, sale, or being visibly under the influence of any alcoholic beverage, except as permitted by law and applicable college policies.
(4) Drugs/substance abuse.
(a) Any student who, while in any college facility or participating in a college-related program, uses, possesses, consumes, is demonstrably under the influence of, or sells any narcotic drug or controlled substance as defined in RCW 69.50.101, in violation of law or in a manner which significantly disrupts a college activity. For purposes of this section, "sell" includes the statutory meaning in RCW 69.50.410.
(b) Marijuana. The use, possession, delivery, sale, or being visibly under the influence of marijuana or the psychoactive compounds found in marijuana and intended for human consumption, regardless of form, is prohibited. While state law permits the recreational use of marijuana, federal law prohibits such use on college premises or in connection with college activities.
(5) Conduct at college functions. Any student who significantly disrupts or obstructs any teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, other college activities, including its public service functions on or off campus, or of other authorized noncollege activities when the conduct occurs on college premises.
(6) Theft; stolen property; robbery. Any student who, while in any college facility or participating in a college-related program, commits or attempts to commit theft as defined in RCW 9A.56.020, or possesses stolen property as defined in RCW 9A.56.140, or commits or attempts to commit robbery as defined in RCW 9A.56.190.
(7) Damaging property.
(a) Any student who causes or attempts to cause physical damage to property owned, controlled or operated by the college, or to property owned, controlled or operated by another person while said property is located on college facilities.
(b) Any student who in this or any other manner is guilty of malicious mischief in violation of RCW 9A.48.070 through 9A.48.100.
(8) Abuse; intimidation. Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
(9) Hazing.
(a) Hazing is any act committed as part of:
(i) A person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student group;
(ii) Any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such a student group; or
(iii) That causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student.
(b) Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to:
(i) Causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm;
(ii) Humiliation by ritual act;
(iii) Striking another person with an object or body part;
(iv) Causing someone to experience excessive fatigue, or physical and/or psychological shock; or
(v) Causing someone to engage in degrading or humiliating games or activities that create a risk of serious psychological, emotional, and/or physical harm.
(c) "Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions.
(d) Consent is not a valid defense against hazing.
(10) Failure to comply. Failure to comply with directions of college officials, campus safety officers, or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
(11) Possession of keys. Unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys to any college premises or unauthorized entry to or use of college premises.
(12) Policy violation. Violation of any college policy, rule, or regulation published in hard copy or available electronically on the college website.
(13) Violation of laws. Violation of any federal, state, or local law.
(14) False alarms. Falsely setting off or otherwise tampering with any emergency safety equipment, alarm, or other device established for the safety of individuals and/or college facilities.
(15) Harassment. Unwelcome and offensive conduct, including verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct, that is directed at a person because of such person's protected status and that is sufficiently serious as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the college's educational program or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus community members. Protected status includes a person's race; color; national origin; sensory, mental or physical disability; use of a service animal; gender, including pregnancy; marital status; age (40+); religion; creed; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender identity; veteran's status; or any other legally protected classification. See "Sexual misconduct" for the definition of "sexual harassment." Harassing conduct may include, but is not limited to, physical conduct, verbal, written, social media and electronic.
(16) Sexual misconduct.
(a) Sexual misconduct is any sexual activity with another that is unwanted and nonconsensual. Sexual misconduct includes physical contact as well as voyeurism.
(b) Consent to sexual activity requires that, at the time of the act, there are actual words or conduct demonstrating freely given agreement to sexual activity, silence or passivity is not consent. Even if words or conduct alone seem to imply consent, sexual activity is nonconsensual when:
(i) Force or blackmail is threatened or used to procure compliance with the sexual activity; or
(ii) The person is unconscious or physically unable to communicate his or her unwillingness to engage in sexual activity; or
(iii) The person lacks the mental capacity at the time of the sexual activity to be able to understand the nature or consequences of the act, whether that incapacity is produced by illness, defect, the influence of alcohol or another substance, or some other cause.
(c) A person commits voyeurism if, for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person, he or she knowingly views, photographs, or films another person, without that person's knowledge and consent, while the person being viewed, photographed, or filmed is in a place where he or she has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
(d) The term "sexual harassment" means unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is sufficiently serious as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, based on sex, the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the college's educational program or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus community members.
(e) The term "sexual intimidation" incorporates the definition of "sexual harassment" and means threatening or emotionally distressing conduct based on sex including, but not limited to, nonconsensual recording of sexual activity or the distribution of such recording.
(17) Sexual violence. The term "sexual violence" incorporates the definition of "sexual harassment" and means a physical sexual act perpetrated without clear, knowing, and voluntary consent, such as committing a sexual act against a person's will, exceeding the scope of consent, or where the person is incapable of giving consent, including rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual coercion, sexual exploitation, gender- or sex-based stalking. The term further includes acts of dating or domestic violence. A person may be incapable of giving consent by reason of age, threat or intimidation, lack of opportunity to object, disability, drug or alcohol consumption, or other cause.
(18) Weapons and fireworks. Possession or use of fireworks anywhere on campus; possession, holding, wearing, transporting, storage or presence of any firearm, dagger, sword, knife, or any other cutting or stabbing instrument, or club, or incendiary device, or explosive, or any facsimile weapons, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm and/or property damage is prohibited on the college campus, subject to the following exceptions:
(a) Commissioned law enforcement personnel, legally authorized military personnel, or bank-related security personnel required by their office to carry such weapons or devices.
(b) Possession or use of disabling chemical sprays when used for self-defense.
(c) The president may authorize possession of a weapon on campus upon a showing that the weapon is reasonably related to a legitimate pedagogical purpose. Such permission shall be in writing and shall be subject to such terms or conditions incorporated in the written permission.
(19) Demonstrations. Participating in an on-campus or off-campus demonstration, riot, or activity that disrupts the normal operations of the college and/or infringes on the rights of other members of the college community; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area.
(20) Disorderly conduct. Conduct that is disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene; 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 or members of the college community. Disorderly conduct includes, but is not limited to, any unauthorized use of electronic or other devices to make an audio or video record of any person while on college premises without his/her prior knowledge, or without his/her effective consent when such a recording is in a place or situation where he or she has a reasonable expectation of privacy. This includes, but is not limited to, surreptitiously taking pictures of another person in a gym, locker room, or restroom.
(21) Discriminatory conduct. Discriminatory conduct which harms or adversely affects any member of the college community because of his/her race; color; national origin; sensory, mental or physical disability; use of a service animal; gender, including pregnancy; marital status; age (40+); religion; creed; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender identity; veteran's status; or any other legally protected classification.
(22) Stalking. Stalking, defined as intentionally and repeatedly harassing or following a person and intentionally or unintentionally placing the person being followed or harassed in fear of physical harm to one's self or property or physical harm to another person or another's property.
(23) Improper use of technology. Theft or other abuse of computer facilities and resources including, but not limited to:
(a) Unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose.
(b) Unauthorized transfer of a file.
(c) Use of another individual's identification and/or password.
(d) Use of computing facilities and resources to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member, or college official.
(e) Use of computing facilities and resources to view or send obscene or abusive messages.
(f) Use of computing facilities and resources to interfere with normal operation of the college computing system.
(g) Use of computing facilities and resources in violation of copyright laws.
(h) Any violation of the Student Affairs Policy SA-24 - Student Acceptable Computer Use.
(24) Forgery or alteration of records. Any student who, while in any college facility or participating in a college-related program, engages in forgery, as defined in RCW 9A.60.020.
(25) Disruption of conduct process. Abuse of the student conduct system including, but not limited to:
(a) Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a student conduct officer.
(b) Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a student conduct hearing proceeding.
(c) Institution of a student conduct code proceeding in bad faith.
(d) Attempting to discourage an individual's proper participation in, or use of, the student conduct system.
(e) Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a student conduct officer prior to, and/or during the course of, the student conduct hearing proceeding.
(f) Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a student conduct officer prior to, during, and/or after a student conduct hearing proceeding.
(g) Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the student code.
(h) Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the student conduct code system.
(26) False complaint. Filing a formal complaint falsely accusing another student or college employee with violating a provision of this chapter.
(27) Classroom conduct. Any student who significantly disrupts any college class and makes it unreasonably difficult to conduct the class in an orderly manner shall be subject to disciplinary action. An instructor/faculty member may impose any of the following actions for classroom conduct:
(a) Warning: An oral or written notice to a student that college and/or classroom expectations about conduct have not been met.
(b) Reprimand: A written notice which censures a student for improper conduct and includes a warning that continuation or repetition of improper conduct shall result in further disciplinary action.
(c) Summary suspension for a maximum of two days: As defined in WAC 132J-126-230.
At any time, severe misconduct or continued misconduct shall be just cause for the matter to be forwarded immediately to the vice president of student affairs or designee for further action.
(28) Retaliation. Harming, threatening, intimidating, coercing, or taking adverse action of any kind against a person because such person reported an alleged violation of this code or college policy, provided information about an alleged violation, or participated as a witness or in any other capacity in a college investigation or disciplinary proceeding.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140(13) and 2022 c 209. WSR 23-06-050, § 132J-126-090, filed 2/27/23, effective 3/30/23. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140(13) and P.L. 113-4. WSR 14-24-129, § 132J-126-090, filed 12/3/14, effective 1/3/15.]