Code of Conduct
College conduct expectations are essential to the establishment of an environment conducive to learning, to the protection of the educational purpose of Alpena Community College and to the maintenance of a reasonable level of order on the campus. The College strives to maintain these standards through educational programs, counseling, and the promulgation of conduct standards.
An important objective in the area of student behavior is to create a climate that fosters self-control and observance of standards without great external direction. When this process fails, or when circumstances in a conduct situation are particularly serious, appropriate action must be taken. In such cases, an attempt is made to reach decisions which are consistent with the educational objectives of Alpena Community College and the developmental needs of the student.
Basically, disciplinary action is viewed as a part of the educational process. Although the educational development of the individual student is of major significance in conduct cases, the College also has the responsibility to act, protect its educational purpose and community, and to maintain its standards. When a suspension is a possibility, an effort is made to determine whether the student is profiting from educational work at the College and if it would be beneficial for the student and the College community for the student to remain on campus. These codes of conduct also apply to off-campus activities such as field trips, extension courses, and athletic events.
In reviewing conduct cases, standards of procedural due process are observed to assure that the fundamentals of fair play are followed in the adjudication of student conduct problems.
Certain behaviors are not consistent with the objectives of Alpena Community College. Specifically, students or student groups are subject to disciplinary action if they:
- Furnish false information to or withhold requested academic, personal, or organizational information from the college with the intent to deceive, including incidents of embezzlement and fraud.
- Forge, alter, or misuse College documents, records, identification cards, or write worthless checks.
- Abuse another person (students found guilty of assault may be dismissed from the College).
- Maliciously destruct, damage, vandalize, or misuse College property including fire alarm systems, and other safety devices; water, plumbing, and lighting fixtures; library materials, or private property on campus. This includes dismantling and the removal or transfer of College furniture from one room to another or from one building to another without official permission.
- Are involved in grand larceny, burglary, or petty larceny on the campus or in off-campus living quarters.
- Carry or possess weapons, ammunition, fireworks, or other explosives on campus.
- Consume, sell, or possess illegal drugs (Students found guilty of selling controlled substances may be dismissed from the College. See Drug-Free Campus Policy.)
- Are involved in disruptive or disorderly conduct.
- Fail to comply with directions of or interfere with College officials acting in the performance of their duties.
- Gain unauthorized entry to College facilities and/or possess keys or duplicate keys without proper authorization.
- Violate College policies concerning the registration, scheduling, and recognition of student organizations and activities, the use of College facilities, or the time, place, and manner of mass meetings.
- Gamble on any College-owned or supervised property.
- Initiate false fire alarms (students found guilty of initiating a false fire alarm may be dismissed from the College).
- Have unauthorized pets in the facilities.
- Smoke in College buildings (prohibited by State law).
- Consume alcoholic beverages in any College building or on College property.
Alpena Community College nursing students should also refer to the "Nursing Student Handbook" for additional nursing codes of behavior.
The College will cooperate fully with law enforcement and other agencies in the enforcement of civil law and in programs for the rehabilitation of student violators. Although ordinarily, the College will not impose further sanctions after law enforcement agencies have disposed of the case, the College reserves the right to do so. Also, the College has an obligation to take note of sanctions by civil authorities and to institute counseling or disciplinary action if the student's conduct has interfered with the exercise of its educational objectives and responsibilities of the College to its members.
Student behavior that is detrimental to an environment conducive to learning or to the maintenance of a reasonable level of order on the campus or in the classroom shall be considered disruptive conduct. Any behavior that could constitute a safety risk to the student or others will be deemed disruptive conduct and the student may be asked to leave the classroom or lab. A student involved in disruptive conduct will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Handbook. This can include suspension or dismissal.