All students are required to read and familiarize themselves with and conform to college rules and regulations governing student conduct. The Student Code of Conduct is premised on the principles that the College is committed to:
- creating a stimulating and safe environment for learning, growth and personal transformation;
- upholding values that promote integrity and quality in teaching and learning; and
- creating the conditions for fair and just treatment of all members of our diverse college community.
The College’s authority over student conduct extends to any college-sponsored activity, whether it takes place on or off campus. Students may be subject to disciplinary action for infringement of the College’s rules and regulations.
Disciplinary Offenses
Academic Dishonesty
Engaging in academic dishonesty, which includes cheating, plagiarism or any other activity related to the misrepresentation of someone else’s work as one’s own, or using tools or other resources to secure an unfair advantage during an assessment.
Insubordination or Disrespect for Authority
Any person designated by the College to implement a policy is considered an authority figure. This behaviour will therefore include failure to obey a College employee who is performing his or her duties.
False Information
Furnishing false information or forging, unauthorised altering or misuse of any document, record or instrument of identification, or withholding information from the College or falsely claiming to represent the College or a student organisation or club.
Gambling/Card-Playing
Wagering for money or other things of value, except where permitted by law or College’s policy that allows card playing only in the student cafeteria/lounge.
Obstruction Of College Operations
Impeding the operations of the College by failure to comply with proper and lawful directions of a clearly identifiable College official or designee when acting in the performance of their duties, failure to present identification upon request of a College official or designee or failure to appear for a College disciplinary proceeding to respond to allegations or to testify as a witness when reasonably notified to do so.
Unauthorised Advertising, Sales and Fundraising
Students may not use the college’s grounds or premises to transact personal business with other students, faculty, or other college personnel. Registered student clubs and organisations who wish to conduct fundraising activities must go through the process of seeking approval from the Department of Student Development. Also, students may not post advertising materials on the college’s bulletin boards unless the material has been approved by the Director of Student Development or his/her designee.
Inappropriate Dressing
Dressing in any inappropriate form of attire that could bring disrespect to oneself and/or the College. The College reserves the right to determine what is inappropriate.
Complicity
Aiding, abetting, attempting, conspiring, hiring, willfully encouraging or being an accessory to any violation of the Code of Conduct;
Disorderly Conduct
Acting in a manner that is disorderly, lewd, indecent or a breach of peace; or using profanity or vulgarity or open and persistently challenging or circumventing College authority.
Disruptive Activity
Participating in or promoting disruptive activity (including but not limited to the use of cell phones) that interferes with teaching, College events and activities or disciplinary proceeding; interfering with teaching, changing the atmosphere of the classroom or library or preventing learning from taking place; loitering in corridors, persistent late arrivals to classes; or obstructing the College process, systems or services.
Computer Misuse
Abusing computer time; unauthorised entry into or transfer of a file, using another individual’s identification and password; interfering with the work of a student or staff member; messages or using the computer for stalking a victim; or interfering with the operations of the College and its computer systems.
Harassment
This activity includes any unwelcome verbal or physical contact of a sexual or non-sexual nature, which causes the recipient discomfort or humiliation or interferes with the recipient’s academic performance. Touching a person against his/ her will or threatening overtly or covertly to do violence to a person are both considered acts of harassment.
Stalking
The wilful, malicious and repeated following of another person including the use of technology such as emails, social network notifications, text messaging and cell phone calls for the carrying out of such acts.
Hazing
Endangering the mental or physical health or safety of a person; subjecting a person to public/ private humiliation or ridicule, removing public or private property for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with or as a condition of continued membership in a student group or organisation.
Off-Campus Behaviour
Committing violations of local and national laws involving COSTAATT students as perpetrator (s) or victim(s), [victims may include students or staff] or when the behaviour adversely affects the interest of the College.
Threatening Behaviour
Threatening physical abuse or verbally abusing or endangering the health or safety of another person.
Alcoholic Beverages and Illegal Substances
Using, selling, or possessing, alcoholic beverages or controlled substance, being under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances on College-controlled property or at College events
Breach of Campus Safety and Security
Accessing, entering, intentionally damaging door locks, possessing unauthorised college keys or access cards or duplications of, tampering with fire safety equipment or parking vehicles so as to obstruct access to College building;
Physical Battery (including but not limited to sexual battery)
Assaulting, battering, abusing or threatening another person with force on College premises and environs, at any College-related event or at all.
Possession of Weapons
Possessing or using unauthorised firearms or other weapons on College-controlled property ‘weapon’ being broadly defined to include, but not be limited to, all firearms, including BB guns, dangerous knives, explosives, explosive fuels, dangerous chemicals and fireworks.
Possession of Weapons
Knowingly violating the terms of the sanctions imposed for prior code offence.
Theft of or Damage to Property
Stealing, embezzling or possessing stolen property, destroying, damaging or littering on college property.
Narcotic and Tobacco Products
Violating the College regulations regarding the use of narcotic and tobacco products inclusive of cannabis i.e. marijuana, hemp, ganja, which states that the use of tobacco or narcotic products is not permitted anywhere on the College compound or at College-related events.