Student Code of Conduct
Note: The following information is a condensed version of the complete Student Code of Conduct. For a complete version, refer to Appendix 2: Student Code of Conduct in the College Catalog or a hard copy may be obtained from the Office of Student Success and Enrollment Management.
Students seeking information on how to resolve issues that may occur between the student and the College are encouraged to seek guidance from academic advisors, classroom instructors, the College Catalog, the Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management or any appropriate professional employee of the College.
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The College considers the following behaviors as inappropriate for the College community and in opposition to its core values and behavioral expectations. These expectations apply to all students. The College encourages community members to report all incidents of such behavior. Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit any of the following misconduct is subject to the sanctions outlined under this policy.
- Falsification. Knowingly providing or possessing false, falsified, or forged materials, documents, accounts, records, identification, or financial instruments.
- Academic Dishonesty. Acts of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:
- Cheating. Intentional use and/or attempted use of any unauthorized assistance in any academic exercise including dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor.
- Fabrication. Intentional and unauthorized falsification and/or invention or any information or citation in any academic exercise.
- Unauthorized Collaboration. Deliberately submitting work prepared collaboratively with someone else without explicit permission from the instructor.
- Facilitating dishonesty. Knowingly helping or attempting to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty, including students who substitute for other persons in examinations or represent, as their own, papers, reports, projects, or the academic works of others.
- Plagiarism. Knowingly representing the words, ideas, or artistic expression of another as one’s own work in any academic exercise, including but not limited to submitting previously-submitted assignments for which the student has earned credit, copying or purchasing other’s work, patch-working source material and representing the work as one’s own, or arranging for others to do work under a false name.
- Submitting, in whole or in part, prewritten term papers of another or the research of another, including but not limited to commercial vendors who sell or distribute such material.
- Theft of materials. The acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the faculty or staff, or another student.
- Unauthorized Access and/or Entry. Unauthorized access and/or entry to any College building (e.g., misuse of keys or access privileges), unauthorized possession, duplication or use of means of access to any College building, or unauthorized entry including trespassing.
- Election Tampering. Tampering with the election of any College-recognized student organization.
- Taking of Property. Intentional and unauthorized taking or possession of College property or the personal property of another, whether actual or attempted, including goods, services, and other valuables.
- Extortion. Threat or the implicit threat of harm to a person’s safety, reputation, or property in order to obtain property, including information, from someone else without their consent.
- Trademark. Unauthorized use, including misuse, of College or organizational names and/or images.
- Interference with College Environment. Substantial interference or disruption to the day-to-day functions of the academic or administrative environment.
- Damage and Destruction. Damage, destruction, or defacement of College property or the personal property of others.
- IT and Acceptable Use. Conduct resulting in a violation of the College’s Computer/Technology Acceptable Use policies, Email and Social Media policies and/or related Information Technology Resource policies.
- Gambling. Gambling as prohibited by the laws of the State of Maryland. Gambling may include lotteries, sports pools, and online betting activities.
- Solicitation and Sales. Unauthorized solicitation and sales, requesting contributions, peddling or otherwise selling, purchasing or offering goods and services for sale or purchase, distributing advertising materials, circulars or product samples, or engaging in any other conduct relating to any outside business interest or for-profit or personal or professional economic benefit on College property or using College resources.
- Weapons. Unauthorized use, possession, or storage of any weapon, dangerous chemical, or explosive element in violation of state or federal law, including Md. Criminal Law, Code Ann. Section 4-102(b).
- False Reports of Danger. False reporting of fire, bombs, other dangerous devices, or emergency situations.
- Smoking & Tobacco. Smoking or using any tobacco product or use of e-cigarettes, vaporizers or inhalers on College property.
- Fire Safety. Violation of local, state, or federal laws, or campus fire policies including, but not limited, to:
- Causing a fire on College property;
- Failure to evacuate a College-controlled building during a fire alarm;
- Improper use of College fire safety equipment; or
- Tampering with or improperly engaging a fire alarm or fire detection/control equipment while on College property.
- Rioting. Engaging in, or inciting others to engage in, harmful or destructive behavior that breaches the peace.
- Harm to Others. Causing physical harm or endangering the health or safety of any person.
- Threatening Behaviors.
- Threat. Written or verbal conduct that causes a reasonable expectation of injury to the health or safety of any person or damage to any property.
- Intimidation. Intimidation defined as implied threats or acts that cause a reasonable fear of harm in another.
- Harassment. Severe or pervasive actions, including, but not limited to written, electronic, voice, physical, or through third party, directed toward a specific individual, group or entity with the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with another’s work or education by creating an objectively hostile environment.
- Hate Crimes. A hate crime as defined by state or federal laws, including but not limited to any criminal act to which a bias motive is evident as a contributing factor.
- Hazing. Hazing as defined by state or federal laws, including but not limited to any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. For additional information, consult the Hazing Policy.
- Unauthorized Recording and Dissemination. Use of electronic or other devices to create and/or disseminate an unauthorized audio or video recording of any person(s) without the person’s prior knowledge or without the person’s effective consent due to intoxication, drug use, mental impairment or other conditions that may impair a person’s ability to convey effective consent. This includes, but is not limited to, surreptitiously taking pictures of another person in a locker room or restroom and recording classroom or administrative activities without the person’s consent.
- Public Exposure. Includes but is not limited to: deliberately and publicly exposing one’s intimate body parts, public urination, defecation, masturbation, and/or other public sex acts.
- Abuse of Conduct Process. Abuse, interference, and/or failure to comply with the College’s conduct process, including but not limited to:
- Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information during the conduct process;
- Failure to provide, destroying, or concealing information during an investigation of an alleged policy violation;
- Interference with the orderly conduct of the conduct process;
- Attempting to discourage an individual’s participation in, or use of, the conduct process;
- Attempting to influence the decision of a member of a Conduct Board prior to, and/or during the course of, the Student Conduct proceeding;
- Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a Conduct Board, College official, party to a complaint or witness participating in the conduct process;
- Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Code of Conduct;
- Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the conduct process; or
- Knowingly filing a false complaint under the Code of Conduct.
- Alcohol. Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of alcoholic beverages, on campus or as part of any college-sponsored program, including public intoxication or the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, in violation of the College’s Alcohol Policy and/or state or federal law.
- Marijuana. Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of marijuana and marijuana products or accessories on campus or as part of any college-sponsored program, including the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana in violation of the College’s Marijuana Policy.
- Controlled Substances. Use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances as defined by state and federal law.
- Prescription Medication. Abuse, misuse, sale, or distribution of prescription or over-the-counter medications.
- Failure to Comply. Failure to comply with the reasonable directives of College officials and/or law enforcement during the performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
- Other Policies. Violation of any College policies, rules, or regulations published in written copy or available electronically on the College’s website.
- Violations of Law. Including arrest, pending criminal charges, or adjudication of any violation of state or federal laws not otherwise enumerated herein.
- Academic Misconduct
The College has adopted the following policy on Academic Dishonesty.
- DEFINITION
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating on examinations, be they online or proctored in person.
- Plagiarism, the representing of another’s ideas or writing as one’s own, including but not limited to:
- Presenting all or part of another person’s work as something one has written;
- Paraphrasing or summarizing another’s writing without proper acknowledgment;
- Representing another’s artistic or technical work or creation as one’s own.
- Willingly collaborating with others in any of the above action(s) which result(s) in work being submitted which is not the student’s own.
- Stealing examinations, falsifying academic records, and other such offenses.
- Submitting work previously presented in another course without permission of the instructor.
- Unauthorized duplication of computer software.
- Unauthorized use of copyrighted or published material.
- ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT DISCIPLINARY ACTION
When faculty choose to report to the Office of the Vice President for Workforce and Academic Programs an incident of academic dishonesty in their class, the name of the student will be recorded, along with the nature of the offense and the course and semester in which it occurred.
The VP’s office will then send a note to the student, the student’s advisor and the student’s instructor (who reported the offense) stating:
- A first offense will result in an F or a zero for the assignment;
- A second offense will result in an F for the course (regardless of whether the second offense occurred in a class different from the first offense); the student may not withdraw from the class to avoid the F grade;
- A third offense will result in suspension from the College for a semester; the suspension will commence at the end of the semester in which the infraction occurred. Re-admission will be subject to approval by the Committee for Admissions and Academic Standing.
- The College reserves the right to consider alternative sanction for academic dishonesty commensurate with the magnitude and seriousness of the alleged offense.
The normal appeals process remains in effect throughout this scenario: initial appeal by the student alone to the instructor, then to the Dean, and then finally to the VP.
- ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT APPEAL PROCESS
- Informal Appeal Process
If a student wishes to discuss a disciplinary action that she/he has received for an alleged instance of academic dishonesty, the initial step is for the student to meet with the instructor to attempt to resolve the issue in an informal manner. This meeting should be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time outside of the instructional setting.
- Formal Appeal Process
To initiate a formal appeal, the student should first request a meeting with the instructor. If the issue cannot be resolved, the student must complete an Academic Grievance Form available from the office of the Vice President for Workforce and Academic Programs. The form should be submitted to the Dean for Faculty and Teaching. Appeals will be processed in accordance with the Academic Grievance Procedures outlined in this Catalog.
Title IX Policy
Chesapeake College prohibits all forms of sexual and gender-based harassment and misconduct, including but not limited to acts of sexual violence, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The college is committed to addressing all alleged incidents of sexual misconduct, preventing their reoccurrence, and remedying any effects. This policy is in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”), and applies to conduct which occurs on Chesapeake College property or at college-sanctioned events or programs that take place off campus, including trips or internships.
The college will adopt and follow procedures to fully implement this policy and to comply with federal and state laws and regulations including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 as amended, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Acts which includes the Violence Against Women Act. For purposes of this policy, Title IX shall be the term to capture all of these laws which implicate sexual misconduct and sex discrimination.
The complete policy can be found on the College website at http://www.chesapeake.edu/students/chesapeake-college-title-ix-policy-statement.
Disclosure of Disciplinary Proceeding Results
Chesapeake College will, upon written request, disclose to the alleged victim of any crime of violence or nonforcible sex offense the results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by the College against a student who is the alleged perpetrator of such crime or offense. If the alleged victim is deceased as a result of the crime or offense, the information shall be provided, upon request, to the next of kin of the alleged victim. This disclosure is required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act.
Substance Policies
Ban Against Alcohol and Drug Use
Unauthorized possession, use, sale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or of any illegal or controlled substance is prohibited by the Chesapeake College Student Code of Conduct. (Section 7, B, Code of Conduct Charges). These prohibitions cover any college-sanctioned off-campus activities as well as on-campus events.
Drug and/or Alcohol Abuse Counseling Referrals
Students who are seeking assistance for drug and/or alcohol abuse problems should contact the Behavioral Intervention Team (B.I.T.) for referral services to assist students attempting to address drug and/or alcohol abuse problems. For additional information please visit https://www.chesapeake.edu/bit.
Legal Sanctions
Chesapeake College students could face legal sanctions for violating local, state or federal laws against possession, use, sale, or distribution of illegal or controlled substances, or underage possession, use, sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages. Laws and possible sanctions vary by jurisdiction, but could include probation, community service, fines, and/or incarceration.
Health Risks Associated with Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Below are some of the health risks associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs:
Alcohol
- addiction (particularly for individuals with alcoholism in their families)
- every drinking episode results in some irreversible damage to brain cells
- fetal alcohol syndrome (birth defects caused by women drinking during pregnancy)
- increased risk of cirrhosis, ulcers, heart disease, injury by accident, cancer of mouth, esophagus, liver and stomach
- blackouts
- development of personality disorders
- increased tendency to abusive behavior
- impaired judgment may put individuals in life-threatening situations
- loss of inhibitions
- malnutrition and resultant damage to muscle, bone and other tissues
- circulatory impairment
- depression of central nervous system function
- increased effect of narcotics/tranquilizers when used together
- alcohol poisoning leading to possible coma and death
Marijuana
- psychological addiction depending on patterns of use
- stored in body fat for four to six weeks
- disruption of brain function is caused by a motivational syndrome (loss of energy and enthusiasm including short-term memory loss and impaired depth perception and time/space orientation)
- lung damage due to tar and other chemicals
- increased heart rate
- increased appetite which can lead to weight gain
- idiosyncratic constriction of air passages in lungs of asthmatics
- disruption of reproductive organ function in men and women
Stimulants (Ephedrine, Crystal Meth, Crack, Cocaine, Ritalin, etc.)
- extremely addictive
- development of overwhelming compulsion to repeat use (with “crack” cocaine)
- central nervous system stimulant
- increased heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure
- possible death-producing fibrillation of the heart
- possible death-producing seizures and strokes
- impaired judgment
- anxiety, apprehension, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, exhaustion, delusional thinking
- increased tendency of abusive behavior
Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP, mushrooms, Ecstasy)
- paranoid thoughts, anxiety, panic, depression
- delusions, time and visual distortions
- depersonalization
- extreme suggestibility while under the influence of the drug
- intensification of any pre-existing psychosis
- ataxia (unsteady gait/balance problem)
- impaired memory
- alteration of electrical activity of the brain
- changes in levels of brain chemicals
Inhalants - a diverse group of chemicals, including solvents, aerosols, gases, and volatile nitrites
- depression of the central nervous system, which can lead to death from a single use
- psychologically and physically addictive
- headache, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, nosebleeds, tremors
- heart, lung, kidney, and liver impairment/damage
- brain and nervous system damage and paralysis
Heroin
- prolonged psychological dependence
- rapid tolerance and physical addiction
- depression in central nervous system, suppression of pain sensation and relief from anxiety
- possible collapsed veins and infections such as hepatitis, endocarditis, or HIV/AIDS due to needle infection transmission
- irregular heartbeat and breathing
- drowsiness which may progress to coma and death depending on dose
- possibility of severe health consequences depending on the inert chemicals with which the heroin is combined
Tobacco-Free Campus Policy
Chesapeake College is committed to promoting a healthy and safe environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Therefore, the use of tobacco, tobacco product(s) and/or tobacco substitute(s) is prohibited on the campus of Chesapeake College (“college”) and all college sites. This consists of all buildings, including all grounds, exterior open spaces, parking lots, on-campus sidewalks, streets, driveways, stadiums, recreational spaces and practice facilities; and in all college-owned or leased vehicles.
Definition: Tobacco and tobacco products and tobacco substitutes includes all tobacco derived or containing products or substitutes including but not limited to cigarettes (clove, bidis, kreteks), electronic cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, hookah smoked products, and oral tobacco (spit and spitless, smokeless, chew, snuff), and tobacco substitutes. This policy applies to all individuals on Chesapeake College’s campus, including faculty, staff, students, parents, vendors and visitors.
Responsible Offices: The Vice President for Administrative Services and the Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management are responsible for implementing this policy.
Procedures: Faculty, staff and students who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action by the college. Visitors who violate this policy may be denied access to the college campus. Concerns regarding student, faculty/staff, and visitor violations of this policy should be referred to the Office of Public Safety.
Student Activities Policies
Eligibility to Participate in Student Groups
All current students (full or part-time) are eligible without restriction to take part in one or more of the student organizations at the College. Executive Board Members of student organizations must have a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average.
Students wishing to hold elective office in the Chesapeake College Student Government Association should consult the Student Government Association Constitution and Bylaws for eligibility requirements.
Athletic Eligibility Requirements
Students wishing to participate in intercollegiate sports must meet the standards of eligibility as stated by the National Junior Athletic Association, the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference, and the College administration.
Maryland Voter Registration Information
Chesapeake College students who will be 18 years of age prior to the next general election who have not registered to vote are encouraged to do so. The link below provides access to a Maryland Voter Registration Form which must be postmarked 21 days before the next election in order for a new voter to vote in that election: https://elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration.
Guest Speakers
In the interest of academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas, student organizations may sponsor speakers whose remarks do not necessarily reflect the views of the Board of Trustees, the administration, the faculty, or the staff of Chesapeake College. In all cases, student attendance at lectures of this type is voluntary.
Inclement Weather Procedures
When inclement weather or other events necessitate emergency cancellation of all classes and closing of the campus, special radio and television announcements and College telephone recordings will notify the community of such closings. The College switchboard will carry a recorded message by 6:15 a.m. for day events and by 3:30 p.m. for evening events. Information will also be available on the College Website at www.chesapeake.edu by 6:15 a.m./3:30 p.m.
Radio and television stations will be notified by 6:15 a.m. on radio stations ESPN, WAAI, WBAL, WCEI, WCEM, WCTR, WKDI, WPOC, WSCL, WSDL, WTDK, WMAR-TV, WBAL-TV, WJZ-TV, WJLA-TV, WBFF, WRDE, Easton Cable and WBOC-TV. When evening classes must be cancelled because of inclement weather, these stations will receive notification by 3:30 p.m. The College cannot be responsible for the timeliness in which radio and television information is aired.
Religious Accomodations for Students
HB 923 (2023) Policy Requirements:
Religious Accommodations Policy
Each public institution of higher education must adopt a written policy that provides reasonable academic accommodations for students to practice sincerely held faith-based or religious beliefs. Md. Code Ann., Educ. § 15-136. The policy must (1) provide an accommodation for a student, including excused absences, for a student to observe faith-based or religious holidays or participate in organized religious activities; (2) provide that a student be allowed reasonable alternative accommodations for missing an examination or other academic requirements due to an excused absence for a student to observe faith-based or religious holidays or participate in organized religious activities; and (3) include a grievance procedure to report noncompliance with the policy. Each public institution of higher education must post the policy prominently on its website. Except for the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), each public institution of higher education must also provide a space on campus to accommodate faith-based or religious practices.
Policy:
Chesapeake College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for its students’ religious and spiritual identities so they do not experience adverse academic consequences based upon a student’s sincerely held religious or spiritual beliefs or observances that conflict with academic requirements.
Procedure:
- A student may be absent, including excused absences, for a student toobserve faith-based or religious holidays or participate in organized religious activities.
- Students must notify faculty at least one week before absences or missed academic deadlines related to observing faith-based or religious holidays or participating in organized religious activities unless there is an unexpected occurrence. [Students are encouraged to review the calendar for all holidays/holy days at the beginning of each semester and to make accommodation requests as early as possible.]
- Faculty shall provide a student with reasonable alternative accommodations for missing an examination or other academic requirements due to an excused absence for a student to observe faith-based or religious holidays or participate in organized religious activities if the student’s sincerely held faith-based or religious belief or practice affects the student’s ability to take an examination as scheduled or meet any other academic requirement
- Students who need to report noncompliance with the policy, or appeal a faculty decision should refer to the Academic Grievance Policy on how to address concerns related to reasonable accommodations.
Space for Religious Practices:
Reflection Space: Chesapeake College offers a quiet and secure space reserved for lactation, meditation, and prayer to all students who wish to utilize it located in the LRC.
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