CCA expects students to conduct themselves as responsible individuals, respecting the rights and differences of others. All members of the CCA community have a strong responsibility to protect and maintain an academic climate in which the fundamental freedom to learn can be enjoyed by all. To this end, CCA's Code of Conduct and disciplinary procedures have been established.

Code of Conduct

The following acts will not be tolerated at CCA and subject the offender to disciplinary action. This list of prohibited conduct is illustrative only. Conduct at CCA or in direct connection with any college or college-related activity violates the code whenever it is detrimental to the security, personal safety, or welfare of the members of the college community, damages or potentially damages college or individual property or facilities, or otherwise opposes the college's interests.

• Knowingly furnishing false information to the college
• Forgery, alteration, or misuse of college documents, records, or identification
• Interference with, obstruction of, or disruption of the teaching or learning process, administration, or any other authorized college activity
• Violation of the college's policies against unlawful harassment and discrimination or of its other important policies for compliance with laws governing such actions
• Causing injury or physical harm to or abusing any member or guest of the college community
• Theft, defacing, or damage to any property of the college or to the property of any member or guest of the college community
• Unauthorized entry into or use of college facilities
• Violation of a city, county, state, or federal law on college-owned or -controlled property or at any college-supervised function
• Possession, distribution, or use of illegal drugs on college property or at college-sponsored activities or events
• Possession, distribution, or use of alcohol on college property or at college-sponsored activities or events, except under the conditions specified in the Alcohol Policy
• Possession or use of firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or other dangerous weapons on college property or at college-sponsored activities
• Unauthorized residence in college-owned or college-controlled property
• Violation of the college's residence agreements, rules, or other policies, including
• Acts or threats of intimidation or harassment
• Attempting, soliciting, assisting, or inciting another to perform an act which violates the Code of Conduct
• Failure to comply with the direction of college officials acting in the performance of their duties

Mental Health Difficulties

The college may administratively take nondisciplinary action affecting, on a temporary basis, a student's attendance after instances of disruptive or other behavior that the college reasonably believes may be caused by mental health issues. Such actions must be approved by the vice president for Student Affairs or the associate vice president for Student Affairs, and shall generally first allow but not require the student an opportunity for submission of information by the student, the student's health care provider, or both and, in the judgment of the college, if it so desires, an independent medical evaluation selected by the college.

Possible temporary actions include placement on leave of absence, with return conditioned on medical evaluation and report (student's treatment professional or an independent professional).

Disciplinary Procedures for Academic Offenses

See Academic Integrity

Disciplinary Procedures for Nonacademic Offenses

Filing of Charges. Any member of the college community may file a charge alleging that a student has violated a provision of the Code of Conduct in the course of activities other than those regulated by the Academic Integrity Code. Such charges must be stated in writing, identifying the basis of the charge, the relevant events, the dates, and the individuals that have knowledge of the events. Charges should be filed with the Student Affairs Office before the close of the semester in which the events have occurred unless permitted otherwise by the chief student conduct officer (who will not permit such a delay without good reason). Under usual circumstances, the chief student conduct officer will transmit a copy of the charge to the student who is alleged to have violated the Code (the respondent).

Intake of Charges and Review. Within 15 calendar days, the charge will be reviewed by the chief student conduct officer, who will determine whether the allegations, if true, would constitute a minor or major violation of the Code. For possible minor violations, the chief student conduct officer may assign a student conduct officer to conduct a preliminary investigation. For possible major violations, the chief student conduct officer will conduct a preliminary investigation.

Preliminary Investigation and Conduct Meeting. A student conduct officer will conduct a preliminary investigation to ascertain whether the charges may have merit. If determined they do not, the a student conduct officer will notify the appropriate persons in writing that the charges have been dismissed and will identify the reasons for that decision. Otherwise, the student conduct officer will notify the respondent in writing that the charges must proceed and will promptly convene a meeting with the respondent.

If the charges are based upon a first and minor violation of the Code by the respondent, who agrees to accept a resolution of the charges, the meeting will be educational in that the a student conduct officer and the student will explore the reasons for the policy, discuss the circumstances that led to the infraction, and agree on an appropriate minimum sanction for any further similar violation. If thereafter a charge alleging a similar violation is admitted by the student, the student conduct officer may impose the agreed minimum sanction without further procedures; however, if no minimum sanction was previously agreed, the second charge will be referred to the chief student conduct officer for investigation.

If the charges allege a major violation or if the student has previously been placed on disciplinary probation, the primary goal of this meeting will be to review the charges and attempt an administrative resolution of them. The respondent must inform the student conduct officer at that the time whether he or she will accept the proposed resolution or contest the charges. If the respondent accepts the proposed resolution, the student conduct officer will promptly send written confirmation of the resolution to the respondent and will close the matter. If the respondent contests the charges, the student conduct officer will schedule a student conduct hearing by the hearing board, generally to be held within 15 working days.

Conduct Hearing. The hearing board (normally composed of two staff members or administrators, one faculty member, and two students) will hear the case. The evidence in support of the charges will be presented at the hearing by the chief student conduct officer, who will also submit proposed sanctions for the offense, in a sealed envelope, to the chair of the hearing board. The respondent will have the right to attend the hearing, to challenge the evidence presented by the chief student conduct officer, and to submit evidence on his or her behalf. The hearing board will decide, by a simple majority vote, whether or not the preponderance of the evidence establishes the alleged violation.

If the hearing board determines that there has been a violation, it will also determine whether to adopt the sanctions proposed by the chief student conduct officer or to impose some other sanction. The board will promptly issue a written determination, which the chief student conduct officer will transmit to the respondent. The determination of the hearing board is final in the event a timely appeal is not filed.

Appeals. The respondent may file a written appeal with the vice president for Student Affairs within five working days of notification of the hearing board's determination. The appeal must identify a significant procedural impropriety, inappropriate penalty, or other clear and substantial reason for reconsideration of the board's decision. The decision of the vice president is final and binding on all parties.

Disciplinary Hearing Guidelines

Hearings will normally be closed to the public. Admission will be made at the discretion of the chair of the hearing board.

Hearings involving more than one responding student will normally be held separately but can be combined at the request of the chief student conduct officer and at the discretion of the chair of the hearing board.

Respondents will be responsible for presenting their defense, although another member of the campus community may assist in preparing the defense. If, in extraordinary circumstances and for good cause, the respondent requests assistance at the hearing by a person who is not a member of the campus community, the hearing board may, but need not, permit such assistance.

Relevant in-person witness testimony, records, and written statements may be submitted as evidence for either side. The rules of evidence for court proceedings shall not apply and admissibility of all evidence will be subject to determination by the chair of the hearing board.

The chief student conduct officer, the respondent, or the hearing board itself may call witnesses, who will normally be available for questioning by all parties. Where a witness is unable or unwilling to appear, the witness's signed statement or closed interview conducted by the hearing board may be admitted into evidence and presented for review and rebuttal by the respondent without disclosure of the witness's identity. However, its weight shall be considered in the light of the absence of the respondent's opportunity to cross-examine, and no violation shall be solely premised upon such evidence.

Disciplinary Actions

Students judged to be in violation of any of the rules of conduct or to have engaged in any other inappropriate behavior as determined solely by the college may receive one or more of the following sanctions:

• Verbal warning: the student is advised of wrongdoing(s).
• Written warning: the student is notified in writing more serious penalties will be forthcoming if the misconduct continues.
• Sanctions: restitution, fines, community service, or similar sanctions are levied.
• Disciplinary probation: the student is notified of a specified period of time in which to improve the conduct or face dismissal.
• Disciplinary suspension: the student's status as a member of the college community is terminated for a definite period of time with specific requirements that must be met before return to the college can be approved.
• Disciplinary dismissal: the student's status as a member of the college community is terminated for an indefinite period of time. The college will normally provide the student with a written statement of its intention to impose the penalty and its reasons for doing so. In cases of disciplinary suspension or dismissal, the student is responsible for all financial obligations to the college. Reinstatement after disciplinary dismissal is extremely rare.
• Referral for Criminal Prosecution: criminally unlawful acts (violations of local, state, or federal laws) will be determined by the appropriate civic governmental authority.

The college does not follow and is not obligated to follow any set progressive disciplinary procedures. The college has the discretion to levy any form of discipline, including dismissal and employment termination, at any time with or without prior notice or prior discipline.

If it is determined an actual or potential threat exists to the safety or well-being of any member of the college community (including the respondent), a threat to the preservation of college property, or a threat of disruption of the operations of the college, the vice president for Student Affairs or the associate vice president for Student Affairs may impose a summary suspension, removal from the residence halls, or other interim measures that shall be immediately effective but subject to later review.

Issues pertaining to alleged violations of the Residential Life Code of Conduct will normally be addressed and adjudicated by the Residential Life staff.

Alcohol Policy

See Campus Guidelines

Smoking

See Campus Guidelines