Student Code of Conduct

Grievance Procedure - Non Academic Standards
Sexual Discrimination/Harassment Complaints
Sexual Assault Complaints
Controlled Substance Regulations
Interference with or Disruption of Education
Academic Integrity

The College has the obligation to determine the standards of conduct appropriate for those who become members of its student body. These standards apply to all and will be administered by the President and/or his designee who may take disciplinary action deemed appropriate for the violation committed. Students, who have rights and privileges as citizens, must keep in mind that admission to the College is a privileged status and involves special additional obligations to the college community. It also presumes that students, as members of the academic community, understand that due regard for law and the rights of others are always involved in the realm of liberty.

The rules of conduct specified below are not all-inclusive but are emphasized as being among those necessary for the security and well-being of students attending Eastern Arizona College and are among the circumstances which may lead to disciplinary action and possible dismissal.

  • Conviction of a crime or continued misconduct of any type that is an infraction of the established laws of the town, county, state or nation.

  • Possessing or using intoxicating liquors, narcotics or other illegal drugs.

  • Stealing or in possession of stolen articles.

  • Malicious destruction of property.

  • Endangering or threatening the life or physical safety of others or self, including forcible or nonforcible sexual assault.

  • Failure to meet financial obligations to the College.

  • Student conduct, on or off campus, prejudicial to the best interest of the College may be considered cause for disciplinary action or dismissal.

 

Grievance Procedure - Non-Academic Standards

Students aggrieved by College actions of a non-academic nature shall have the opportunity for appeal. When a complaint about a non-academic action arises, with the exception of sexual harassment, the student shall subscribe to the following procedure to render the complaint legitimate. Complaints of sexual harassment should follow the procedure set forth in GCCCD Policy 4730.00 Sexual Harassment and described later in this section under “Sexual Discrimination/Harassment Complaints”.  The student’s right for grievance shall be forfeited if the complaint is not addressed through the Official Review Process-Non-Academic Standards. The Official Review Process – Non-Academic Standards may not be applicable when services are delivered under the provisions of a negotiated contract.  The appeal process does not suspend any actions which are being grieved.

 

Definition of Terms

Days: Calendar days exclusive of weekends, semester breaks, and official holidays as identified in the College Catalog

Complainant: Student complainant

Official: College official(s) responsible for the program or action for which the student complainant has a grievance

Student Affairs Officer: Campus official designated by the College President for oversight of student affairs

Judiciary Committee: College committee charged with responsibility to advise the College President on policies, standards, rules and regulations for non-academic standards; and to serve as an appeals committee for grievances involving non-academic standards

Non-Academic Standards: All institutional actions exclusive of academic standards and discrimination as defined by federal or state laws

 

Official Review Process

Step 1. The Complainant shall seek out, within five (5) days of the action, the Official so both parties may be afforded an opportunity to clarify facts and to reach a mutually acceptable solution.

Step 2. If Complainant satisfaction is not achieved in Step 1, the Complainant shall provide a written request identifying the problem and requesting a meeting with the Student Affairs Officer. Within five (5) days of receipt of the request, the Student Affairs Officer shall arrange for a meeting with the Complainant and attempt to mediate an acceptable solution.

Step 3. If Complainant satisfaction is not achieved in Step 2, the Complainant shall provide a written request for a hearing by the Judiciary Committee. The request shall articulate the complaint and shall be delivered to the Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee and Student Affairs Officer within five (5) days after receiving a recommended solution as provided in Step II. Within ten (10) days of receipt of the request for a hearing, but not less than three (3) days of receipt of the request, the Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee shall arrange for a hearing. The Complainant, the Student Affairs Officer and the Official shall be in attendance at the hearing. Within ten (10) days of the conclusion of the hearing, the Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee shall set forth a written document addressing findings of fact and the decision reached by the Committee. Copies shall be addressed to the Complainant, the Student Affairs Officer, the Official and the College President. Decisions made by the Judiciary Committee are binding.

 

Sexual Discrimination/Harassment Complaints

It is the policy of Eastern Arizona College that there be no discrimination against any employee, applicant for employment, or student on the basis of sex. In keeping with this policy, the College prohibits sexual harassment by any of its employees, its students or third parties against any other employee, applicant for employment, or student. The College considers sexual harassment to be a major offense that can result in the suspension or discharge of the offender.

Any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, constitutes sexual harassment when:

  1. Submission to the conduct is made either an explicit or implicit condition of employment or academic standing;
  2. Submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as the basis for an employment decision affecting an employee or applicant for employment; or used as the basis for an academic decision affecting a student; or
  3. The harassment substantially interferes with an employee’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment; or interferes with a student’s academic performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive academic environment.

 

Bringing a Complaint

Any employee, applicant for employment or student who believes that he/she or another employee, applicant for employment, or student, (1) has been discriminated against on the basis of sex, or (2) has been sexually harassed, should promptly report the matter to any Dean (Assistant, Associate, Executive, etc.) or Vice President of the College. A College Dean or Vice President who receives a report of sexual harassment must present the allegations to the College President as soon as reasonably possible. The College President or personnel designated by the College President shall investigate complaints of sexual harassment. A complaint arising from a Graham County site may be reported to the Chief Academic and Student Officer at 928-428-8261, Student Services Building Room 219. A complaint arising from a Greenlee County site may be reported to Dr. Hal Weaver, Dean of Instruction at (928) 428-8509, Student Services Building Room 217.

 

Resolution of a Complaint

The College is committed to investigating each complaint thoroughly and taking immediate and appropriate corrective action on all confirmed violations of this policy. In determining whether or not any particular alleged conduct constitutes sexual harassment, the totality of the circumstances, the nature of the alleged incident(s) and the context in which the alleged incident(s) occurred will be reviewed and considered. The College prohibits reprisals by any of its employees or students against any complaining employee(s), student(s) or corroborating witness(es). Confidentiality will be maintained to the maximum extent reasonably possible.

 

Sexual Assault Complaints

A charge of sexual assault against a College student will be handled in a similar manner as described above in the Complaint of Sexual Harassment by the Chief Academic and Student Officer of the Thatcher Campus or Chief Officer for Greenlee County Eastern Arizona College sites. When a complainant of sexual assault gives information to the Officer that a sexual assault has taken place and accuses a College student of the offense, the Officer will have the discretion to suspend the accused student pending a hearing. When any necessary investigation is complete, the Officer will formally notify the accused student of the charges and will set a hearing date within 5 class days.

 

General College Regulations Regarding the Illegal Use of a Controlled Substance

  1. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited on College property or as part of any of the College's activities. For purposes of this regulation a controlled substance shall include any of the following:
    1. An illegal drug
    2. A legal drug used in excess of medically prescribed dosage
    3. An alcoholic beverage
    4. Any other mind-altering substance used in excess of medically prescribed dosage. 
  2. The conviction for the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance on College property or as part of any of its activities shall be cause for immediate suspension and shall result in one or more of the following conditions as considered appropriate by the College Office designated in charge of student affairs.
    1. Termination of enrollment with the college; or
    2. Requirement for the student to participate satisfactorily in a substance abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for such purposes by a federal, state, or local health, law enforcement, or other appropriate agency; and/or
    3. Other enrollment restrictions or stipulations as deemed in the best interest of the College and the student.
  3. Students shall receive each semester in the Class Schedule for careful consideration, information provided by the College detailing:
    1. Standards of conduct related to the possession, use, or distribution of drugs and alcohol by students on our institution's property or as any part of our institution's activities, including sanctions imposed for violation of those standards as detailed above in "General College Regulations," paragraphs A and B;
    2. A description of applicable legal sanctions under local, state and federal law for unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol;
    3. A description of the health risks associated with use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol; and
    4. A description of any drug and alcohol counseling treatment or rehabilitation or reentry programs that are available to students.

The College will conduct a biennial review of its "Program to Prevent Illicit Use of Drugs and Abuse of Alcohol by Employees and Students" to determine its effectiveness, implement needed changes, and ensure that disciplinary sanctions are consistently enforced.

Note: Federal law allows notification of parents or guardians when there is a violation of this policy or a student exhibits a pattern of illegal substance use.

 

Interference with or Disruption of Education

Eastern Arizona College is dedicated to the concept of providing education to all those who can benefit therefrom. The College has a responsibility to maintain public order so that individual rights to benefit from its programs and facilities will not be impaired.

A person commits interference with or disruption of education at Eastern Arizona College by doing any of the following:

  1. For the purpose of causing, or in reckless disregard of causing, interference with or disruption of Eastern Arizona College, threatening to cause physical injury to any employee of Eastern Arizona College or any person attending Eastern Arizona College.
  2. For the purpose of causing, or in reckless disregard of causing, interference with or disruption of Eastern Arizona College, threatening to cause damage to Eastern Arizona College, the property of an Eastern Arizona College employee or any person attending Eastern Arizona College.
  3. Knowingly going on or remaining on the property of Eastern Arizona College for the purpose of interfering with or disrupting the lawful use of the property or in any manner as to deny or interfere with the lawful use of the property by others.
  4. Knowingly refusing to obey a lawful order given pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-2911 (C).
  5. Bringing onto campus, or possessing on campus any: (a) deadly weapon, (b) firearm (loaded or unloaded), (c) explosive, (d) nunchuaka, (e) breakable container containing flammable liquid with a flash point of 150 degrees Fahrenheit or less and has a wick or similar device capable of being ignited, or (f) any combination of parts or materials designed and intended for use in making or converting a device into any item set forth in subdivisions (c) or (e) of this paragraph. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to Police Officers, certified and commissioned in the State of Arizona, or to weapons, and/or chemicals possessed and used as part of a course of instruction at Eastern Arizona College, or for weapons used for lawful exhibition or demonstration approved by the College President or designee.

For purposes of this policy, “interference with or disruption of” includes causing an employee of Eastern Arizona College to take any action to protect Eastern Arizona College or the employees, students or property of Eastern Arizona College.

Campus Security shall have the primary charge to maintain public order and the peaceful conduct of education upon all College property, assisted, when appropriate, by local law enforcement personnel.

Penalties for interference with or disruption of education upon College property shall include all appropriate legal remedies including, but not limited to: (a) the criminal penalties specified by A.R.S. § 13-2911, (b) the offender being required to leave College property, and (c) in the case of a student, faculty member or other staff violator, suspension, expulsion or other appropriate disciplinary action. In addition, any deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or explosive that is used, displayed or possessed by a person in violation of this policy shall be forfeited or otherwise disposed in accord with A.R.S. § 13-2911 (D).

 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a vital part of the culture of all successful institutions of higher learning. The value of the degrees, certificates and coursework offered by Eastern Arizona College greatly depends, now and in the future, on its reputation as an institution dedicated to academic honesty. This Academic Integrity Policy provides guidance in helping students and faculty understand the meaning and importance of academic integrity; defines academic dishonesty; and outlines the procedures for handling infractions of academic integrity. No provision or section of this policy shall be construed as infringing upon the academic freedom of any member of the EAC community to pursue and participate in any academic endeavor ordinarily considered appropriate. Each member of the EAC community is charged with honoring and upholding the policies and procedures governing academic integrity as set forth below.

 

Definition of Terms

As used in this policy:

Academic evaluation refers to any assignment, project, test, essay, quiz, performance, or other task or instrument by which students demonstrate mastery of course content, thus earning credit toward a class grade.

Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility associated with study, learning, and scholarship.

Academic misconduct means any act contrary to Academic Integrity, such as cheating, plagiarism, and earning grades dishonestly (see Section IV).

Academic standards are the rules and principles by which grades, student conduct, professional educator conduct, and class materials are evaluated.

Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee serves as the appeals committee for grievances concerning academic standards; compiles and considers reports on the nature and frequency of academic misconduct; hears charges and evidence of repeated or particularly serious academic misconduct; and imposes sanctions when such types of academic misconduct is determined to have occurred.

College means any and all Graham County Community College District (GCCCD) locations to which Eastern Arizona College delivers instructional services to students enrolled for credit.

Dean is the administrator who, under the direction of the Chief Academic Officer, supervises several academic divisions and other specified college areas.

District refers to the Graham County Community College District.

Division Chair is the person who immediately supervises professional educators in the departments comprising a division and other programs relevant to the division function.

Judiciary Committee serves as the appeals committee for grievances involving non-academic standards, hears charges and considers evidence of academic misconduct in the most serious cases, and imposes sanctions when academic misconduct is determined in those cases.

Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words, materials, work, and ideas, and adoption of an actual document, including a document available electronically, without properly acknowledging and documenting the source.

Professional educator is employed by the College as the instructor of record, contributing/substitute instructor of record, proctor, GCCCD staff or employee responsible for delivering instructional services and or resources to students.

Student means a person who is registered in a College course.

 

Student Responsibilities

Students are responsible for understanding the College’s policy regarding academic integrity and academic misconduct as well as the sanctions that may be imposed as a result of academic misconduct. Students are also responsible for understanding their appeal rights associated with findings of any policy violation.

Students shall practice the provisions of the College’s Code of Academic Integrity and uphold integrity in their academic pursuits.

 

Code of Academic Integrity

Students at Eastern Arizona College are expected to:

  • Conduct themselves in accordance with principles of academic integrity
  • Behave so as to foster an atmosphere of honesty and fairness
  • Avoid plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct
  • Give truthful information to any College professional educator or to any other College employee regarding issues concerning academic integrity or academic misconduct, or suspected academic misconduct
  • Not alter, misuse, or forge any College document, record, or instrument of identification.

Students are not excused from these provisions because of any failure or inability on the part of the professional educator to prevent other instances of academic misconduct.

 

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct includes any act that improperly affects the evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement, or any act designed to deceive a professional educator. Specific infractions include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Cheating on Examinations: Cheating includes the use of crib sheets, “cheat sheets,” or discarded computer programs; aid from other persons; copying from another student’s work; and soliciting and giving or receiving unauthorized aid orally, electronically, or in writing. The student will not consult books, notes, calculators, or other materials of any kind during an examination or assignment without the express permission of the instructor. If calculators, spellers, or other hand-held electronic devices are permitted to be used during an examination or assignment, no information may be programmed into or retrieved from the device other than that expressly permitted by the instructor

  2. Inappropriate Collaboration: Permission from an instructor for students to “work together” on homework, an assignment, or paper is not permission for one student to present another student’s work as his or her own. Unless the professional educator specifies otherwise, all work submitted for a grade or credit toward completion of a course will be the product of the student’s own understanding, expressed in the student’s own words, calculations, computer code, etc. One form of inappropriate collaboration involves having another person significantly alter either the content or grammar of the student’s written work. A student may seek feedback from another student or individual concerning a document's content, grammar, and spelling, but to avoid this type of inappropriate collaboration, the student must fix problems himself or herself.

  3. Submitting the Same Assignment for Different Classes: Submitting the same assignment for a second class violates the assumption that every assignment advances a student’s learning and growth. Unless instructors of both classes involved expressly allow it, submitting an assignment already submitted for another class is a breach of academic integrity.

  4. Intentional Misrepresentation: Misrepresentation occurs when a student claims that source materials contain information or phrasing that they do not. In addition, misrepresentation occurs when a student omits or inserts words, changes words, misquotes, or takes correctly quoted phrases out of context. If this is done with the intent to deceive a professional educator in any academic evaluation, the student has committed a breach of academic integrity.

  5. Plagiarism: Plagiarism means presenting someone else’s ideas or words as one’s own. Plagiarism may involve some degree of intent or may be the result of carelessness or ignorance of acceptable forms for citation. Not knowing how or when to cite a source does not excuse an act of plagiarism. Each of the four kinds of plagiarism below is a breach of academic integrity.

    • Copying without citation, the most serious form of plagiarism, involves copying part or all of a paper from the Internet, from a book or magazine, or from another source without indicating that the work is someone else’s. To avoid this form of plagiarism, quoted material must be placed in quotation marks and one of the standard forms of documentation (APA, MLA, etc.) must be used to indicate where the material came from.

    • Copying from an external source and citing the source but failing to show (by the use of quotation marks, for example) that the material is a direct quotation is another form of plagiarism. Simply documenting the source does not indicate that the words themselves are someone else’s. Avoiding this form of plagiarism involves putting all quoted material in quotation marks or using the format designated by APA, MLA etc. to indicate quoted material.

    • Incorrect paraphrasing is another form of plagiarism. Paraphrasing involves putting a lengthy phrase, sentence, or group of sentences written by another into one’s own words, thereby making it significantly different from the original. Changing a few words, or rearranging words, is not proper paraphrasing, and though the source is cited (as is always required with paraphrased material), wording remains substantially that of another and cannot rightfully be represented as original. Avoiding this form of plagiarism involves either making the material a direct quote by using quotation marks and citing the source, or paraphrasing properly by substantially changing the original to new words; again, making sure to cite the source.

    • Presenting arguments, lines of reasoning, or facts learned from someone else without citing the source, even if the material is paraphrased, is another form of plagiarism. The source must be properly cited

  6. Improper Influence: Attempting to influence a grade or to receive any other academic benefit not earned through the normal exercise of academic effort by offering anything of value, including the performance of services, to a professional educator, College employee, other College student, or any other person, is academic misconduct.

 

Procedures, Sanctions and Appeals

 

The Professional Educator

The College respects and accepts the professional educator’s qualifications and rights to determine academic standards. The professional educator is accountable for establishing and maintaining appropriate academic standards for coursework and for informing students of any special rules or practices for a particular class.

When a professional educator becomes aware of a possible violation of academic integrity by one of his or her students, a confidential conference between the professional educator and the student should be held to discuss the perceived violation and its consequences. If, following the conversation, the professional educator is satisfied that a violation has occurred, he or she may determine that one or more of the following consequences are appropriate and impose such penalty:

  • Issuing a verbal or written reprimand
  • Requiring that the academic project or examination in question be repeated
  • Assigning the academic project or examination in question a reduced grade
  • Requiring that the academic project or examination in question be repeated for a reduced grade.
  • Assigning the academic project or examination in question a failing grade
  • Assigning a reduced grade in the course
  • Assigning a failing grade in the course
  • Initiating the student’s involuntary withdrawal from the course.

The professional educator will resolve most violations in the above manner.

The professional educator will report each violation and its disposition to the division chair within five business days of the occurrence; the chair will report to the appropriate dean, who in turn will report it to the Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee. If the professional educator feels that the violation in question was especially serious or repeated, he or she may recommend that additional penalties be imposed.

 

The Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee

The Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee will be notified of all acts of academic misconduct. Such reports will be noted in the agenda and minutes of committee meetings. The committee may report the incidence and nature of these violations to the faculty and administration at appropriate intervals.

When, in the opinion of the committee, evidence of repeated or especially serious offenses exists, or upon the recommendation of the professional educator involved, the Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee will consider the case and may decide to impose one or more of the following additional penalties against a violator:

  • Placing a written reprimand in the student’s permanent file
  • Restricting the student’s access to certain college resources
  • Requiring the student to complete an academic integrity education program
  • Placing the student on academic probation.
  • If the Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee concludes that the violation is so serious as to possibly warrant the student’s exclusion from extracurricular college activities, or suspension or dismissal from the College, it will make that recommendation to the Judiciary Committee.

 

The Judiciary Committee

The Judiciary Committee will resolve the most serious acts of academic misconduct. Only the Judiciary Committee has authority to suspend or expel a student from the College for academic misconduct.

After receiving recommendation from the Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee that a violation of academic integrity may warrant the student’s dismissal from the college, the Judiciary Committee will consider the evidence and render a decision which shall be binding, subject only to student appeals as otherwise provided.

The Judiciary Committee may impose additional penalties against a violator, which may include:

  • Censure and exclusion from extracurricular college activities, including student government, athletics, performances, or other activities of the college community
  • Suspension for a specified period of time
  • Expulsion from the College without expectation of readmission.

 

A Student’s Right to Appeal

A student may appeal any decision to impose discipline as a result of academic misconduct through the established Grievance Procedure and Official Review Process for Academic Standards (GCCCD 5810.02).