{"id":4031,"date":"2026-04-27T07:19:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T11:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/?post_type=policy&#038;p=4031"},"modified":"2026-04-27T07:19:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T11:19:10","slug":"student-code-of-conduct","status":"publish","type":"policy","link":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/policy\/student-code-of-conduct\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Code of Conduct"},"content":{"rendered":"<header id=\"top\"><\/header>\n<section>\n<h2>Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#rights\">Student Rights and Responsibilities<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section1\">Section 1: Introduction<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section2\">Section 2: Philosophy &amp; Learning Outcomes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section3\">Section 3: Application of the Code of Conduct<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section4\">Section 4: Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section5\">Section 5: Definitions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section6\">Section 6: Violations of the Law<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section7\">Section 7: Expectations of Behavior<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section8\">Section 8: Student Conduct Procedures<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section9\">Section 9: Student Conduct Process<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section10\">Section 10: Student Conduct Authority<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"section1\">\n<section id=\"rights\">\n<h2>Student Rights and Responsibilities<\/h2>\n<p>911±¬ÁÏÍø expects students to conduct themselves appropriately for a collegiate environment and assume responsibility for their own behavior.<\/p>\n<h3>Student Rights<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The right to pursue education and receive assistance in overcoming challenges.<\/li>\n<li>The right to fair and equal treatment without discrimination.<\/li>\n<li>The right to privacy and confidentiality under FERPA.<\/li>\n<li>The right to procedural and substantive due process in disciplinary matters.<\/li>\n<li>The right to an advisor of choice during formal conduct stages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Student Responsibilities<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>To comply with federal, state, and local laws.<\/li>\n<li>To comply with all College directives and policies.<\/li>\n<li>To choose behavior that does not interfere with the learning environment of others.<\/li>\n<li>To use the official College-issued email address for all official business.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<h2>Section 1: Introduction<\/h2>\n<p>The Code of Conduct was created with the goal of fostering an environment that ensures student learning and open access to higher education. All students are responsible for following the policies in the Code.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"rights\"><\/section>\n<section id=\"section2\">\n<h2>Section 2: Philosophy &amp; Learning Outcomes<\/h2>\n<p>The conduct process is an educational endeavor intended to encourage personal responsibility, integrity and ethical decision-making. Students should achieve outcomes such as accepting responsibility for choices and recognizing the value of the conduct process as an educational opportunity.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"section3\">\n<h2>Section 3: Application of the Code of Conduct<\/h2>\n<p>The Code applies to individual students and student organizations. A &#8220;student&#8221; is defined as anyone issued an ID number, offered admission, enrolled in any credit or non-credit course or maintaining a continuing educational relationship with the college.<\/p>\n<p>The College retains jurisdiction over students who take a leave of absence, withdraw or graduate for misconduct occurring prior to or during their departure if they seek to return.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"section4\">\n<h2>Section 4: Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence<\/h2>\n<p>Claims of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, gender-based harassment, sexual harassment,and sexual violence (including Title IX offenses) are addressed under the college&#8217;s Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity and Diversity (PAA). These matters are handled by the college&#8217;s Affirmative Action Officer and\/or Title IX Coordinator rather than through the standard Student Code of Conduct process.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"section5\">\n<h2>Section 5: Key Definitions<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Code of Conduct Administrator (CCA):<\/strong> The official charged with administering the Code.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Material and Substantial Disruption:<\/strong> Conduct that affects day-to-day operations or prevents others from participating in College programs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Standard of Proof:<\/strong> Preponderance of Evidence (more likely than not\/greater than 50% chance).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sanctions:<\/strong> Obligations ranging from Written Warnings to Disciplinary Expulsion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"section6\">\n<h2>Section 6: Violations of the Law<\/h2>\n<p>Alleged violations of federal, state, and local laws may be reviewed and addressed under the Code. When an offense occurs, the college\u2019s conduct process will go forward regardless of any civil or criminal complaint or process that may arise from the same incident. The College reserves the right to exercise its authority of interim suspension upon notification that a student is facing a criminal investigation (see Section 8).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"section7\">\n<h2>Section 7: Code of Conduct Violations<\/h2>\n<p>Prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Academic Dishonesty:<\/strong> Cheating (including unauthorized use of generative AI), plagiarism, fabrication and unauthorized distribution of course materials.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Alcohol and Cannabis:<\/strong> Unauthorized use, possession or distribution on campus or at college-sponsored programs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Harassment:<\/strong> Severe or pervasive actions interfering with another&#8217;s work or education.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unauthorized Recording:<\/strong> Creating or disseminating audio\/video of persons without consent, including recording lectures without ADA accommodations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Weapons:<\/strong> Possession of firearms, knives, explosives or reasonable facsimiles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"section8\">\n<h2>Section 8: Student Conduct Procedures<\/h2>\n<h3>A. Interim Measures<\/h3>\n<p>The Cod of Conduct Administrator (CCA) may impose interim measures such as no-contact orders or interim suspensions if a student poses a threat to others, property or day-to-day operations. During an interim suspension, a student is prohibited from entering College property or participating in activities until the complaint is resolved.<\/p>\n<h3>B. Discipline for Conduct that Interferes with the college Environment<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Interfering with the educational process in a class or clinical site is prohibited.<\/li>\n<li>Faculty may resolve matters informally or temporarily remove a student from class.<\/li>\n<li>Permanent removal from a class for conduct reasons requires a referral to the CCA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>C. Discipline for Academic Dishonesty<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Faculty have the right to address academic dishonesty directly, including issuing a failing grade for an assignment or course.<\/li>\n<li>If a student&#8217;s dishonesty results in program dismissal, the charge must be referred to the CCA.<\/li>\n<li>Students may file a grievance through the Grade Appeal Process if they believe a grade was issued in error.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>D. Discipline for Off-Campus Behavior<\/h3>\n<p>The College reserves the right to take action for off-campus behavior that adversely affects the community, poses a safety threat, or involves violations of state or federal law.<\/p>\n<h3>E. Group Violations<\/h3>\n<p>Student organizations and their officers may be held collectively and individually responsible for violations.<\/p>\n<h3>F. Amnesty<\/h3>\n<p>The CCA may elect not to pursue disciplinary action against a student who reports a violation in good faith, even if they were using alcohol or drugs at the time, provided they did not harm others.<\/p>\n<h3>G. Complaint of Alleged Violation<\/h3>\n<p>Any person may allege a violation by completing a report, generally no later than thirty days after the event.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"section9\">\n<h2>Section 9: Student Conduct Process<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Initiation:<\/strong> Process begins when a complaint is received by the CCA.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Preliminary Inquiry:<\/strong> The CCA determines if there is sufficient evidence to pursue the matter.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Administrative Resolution:<\/strong> A meeting between the CCA and the student to review the complaint.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Student Conduct Board Hearing:<\/strong> A 3\u20135 member board hears the case and determines responsibility by majority vote.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Appeal:<\/strong> Students may appeal within five days based on procedural error, lack of evidence, inappropriate sanctions or new evidence.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"section10\">\n<h2>Section 10: Student Conduct Authority<\/h2>\n<h3>A. Authority<\/h3>\n<p>The CCA is vested with the authority to administer the Student Code of Conduct and the conduct process.<\/p>\n<h3>B. Gatekeeping<\/h3>\n<p>No complaint will be forwarded unless there is reasonable cause to believe a policy violation occurred. Reasonable cause requires credible information, such as witness statements, police reports or news articles. Complaints unsupported by credible information will not be processed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<footer><em><strong>ISSUED:<\/strong> APRIL 2008<\/em><br \/>\n<em><strong>REVISED:<\/strong> SEPTEMBER 1, 2010; APRIL 12, 2016; FEBRUARY 18, 2020; SEPTEMBER 1, 2025<\/em><\/footer>\n\n","protected":false},"template":"","meta":{"_custom_body_class":"","_custom_post_class":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-4031","policy","type-policy","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Student Code of Conduct - Current Students<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/policy\/student-code-of-conduct\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Student Code of Conduct - Current Students\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/policy\/student-code-of-conduct\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Current Students\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/policy\/student-code-of-conduct\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/policy\/student-code-of-conduct\/\",\"name\":\"Student Code of Conduct - Current Students\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-27T11:19:10+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/policy\/student-code-of-conduct\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/policy\/student-code-of-conduct\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/policy\/student-code-of-conduct\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Student Code of Conduct\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/students\/\",\"name\":\"Current Students\",\"description\":\"Links &amp; 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