Policy 3F.1 Student Conduct Code

 

A. Purpose:

The purpose of the Student Conduct Code is to maintain a safe, respectful and inclusive environment that provides a supportive learning environment for students, staff and faculty.  It establishes student rights and responsibilities, defines prohibited student conduct, ensures fair disciplinary procedures, and encourages growth through educational interventions.  Anoka-Ramsey Community College is committed to providing an educational conduct process that informs students of their rights as members of the community and educates them on the responsibilities they have to themselves and other members of the college community.

B. Statement of Student Rights:

In accordance with Minnesota State Board Policy 3.1, at Anoka-Ramsey Community College have the freedom to learn, freedom of expression and freedom of association.  A student has the right to privacy as governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.  Students have the right to review corrected course material (exams and other assignments) used for evaluating academic performance, and due process in academic and conduct disciplinary actions.  While exercising these rights, students have responsibilities in ensuring these same rights are available to the college community.

C. Statement of Student Expectations and Responsibilities:

Students are expected to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. Student responsibilities and the expectations of the College are described in the Student Conduct Code.  Each student of Anoka-Ramsey Community College is expected to contribute to Anoka-Ramsey’s safe, supportive and respectful learning environment (consistent with MinnState Procedure 1C.02 Respectful Workplace) through professional and respectful behavior and communication, treating self and others with positive consideration and displaying good judgment  Behavior that is threatening to the safety or welfare of self or others, or that is harassing or discriminatory in nature, will be reviewed promptly by the College and appropriate action will be taken. The Student Conduct Code does not replace nor reduce the requirements of civil or criminal laws.

D. Definitions

  1. “Student” includes all persons registered who:

    a. Are enrolled in one or more courses, either credit or non-credit;

    b. Withdraw, transfer, or graduate after an alleged violation of the student conduct code:

    c. Are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the college; or

    d. Have been notified of their acceptance for admission or have initiated the process of application for admission or financial aid.
  2. The term “member of the college community” includes any person who is a student, staff or faculty member, administrator or any other person employed by the college.
  3. The term “administrator” is a campus employee authorized by the President of the college to administer the Student Conduct Code on the campus and to impose sanctions upon students found to have violated the code.

E. College Jurisdiction:

Anoka-Ramsey Community College has the right to take necessary and appropriate action to support and protect the safety and well-being of the college community. Anoka-Ramsey students are expected to abide by local, state and federal laws as well as college policies. The college has discretion to proceed with disciplinary action under this code in the event the alleged conduct is also subject to criminal or civil judicial proceedings. The college may hold students accountable for a violation of prohibited behaviors contained in the Student Conduct Code committed off campus when:

F. Faculty Right and Authority:

The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Students who engage in prohibited behaviors that result in disruption of a class or college-sponsored activity may be directed by the faculty member to leave the class or activity for the remainder of the period. Longer suspensions from a class or activity, or dismissal on disciplinary grounds, require a referral to the administrator.

G. Prohibited Student Conduct:

Conduct for which students are subject to disciplinary sanctions include, but are not limited to:

1. Academic Dishonesty—Cheating, plagiarizing, or aiding and abetting another person in cheating or plagiarism.

       a. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests or examinations, the use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments, or the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic materials belonging to a member of the college faculty or staff.

      b. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials the student did not create as their own, whether created by someone else, assisted or created by generative artificial intelligence (AI), or purchased from individuals or companies that produce term papers or other academic work.

      c. Unauthorized use of generative AI that violates an instructor’s articulated policy or unauthorized use of generative AI to assist with or complete coursework that is not permitted by the instructor is a form of academic dishonesty.

2. Alcoholic Beverages and Illegal Substances—Using, selling, manufacturing, distributing or possessing alcoholic beverages or controlled substances or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances on college controlled property except as expressly permitted by law.. (See also Drug- and Alcohol-Free Policy)

3. College Policy Infraction—Violating any other college or department policy or regulation that has been posted or publicized.

4. Complicity—Aiding, abetting, attempting, conspiring, hiring, willfully encouraging or being an accessory to any violation of the Student Conduct Code.

5. Technology Misuse—Abusing college information technology, including, but not limited to, computer hardware and software, computer labs, classroom technologies and computing or electronic communications devices and services. (See also college Policy 1A.10 Acceptable Use of Technology and Minnesota State Board Policy 5.22.)

6. Disrespectful behavior and/or communication: Language or behaviors that are disrespectful, degrading, and/or verbally abusive of any person, including swearing, harassment, slurs, abusive language, insults, and/or unwelcome communication. Format may include, but not limited to, email, social media and face to face.

7. Discrimination: Unfair, prejudicial treatment of a person, or group of people, not based on protected class status. Note: Allegations of discrimination or harassment based on race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or membership or activity in a local commission shall be adjudicated under separate procedures in accordance with college and system Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policies (Minnesota State Board Policy 1B.1), but violators shall be subject to the sanctions as described in the Student Conduct Code. (See also - Anoka-Ramsey 1B.1 Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy)

8. Harassment and Bullying: Unwelcomed and/or offensive behavior (verbal, written, physical or digital) that is severe, pervasive or targeted enough that it interferes with a person’s ability to work, learn or participate in an activity. This behavior creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for the individual or group. demeans, humiliates and intimidates another person.  Allegations of harassment based on protected class status will be addressed according with MinnState Board Policy 1B.1 and ARCC Policy 1B.1.

9. Disruptive Activity—Engaging in or promoting disruptive behavior that interferes with teaching, research, administration, college events or activities, or disciplinary proceedings is prohibited. This includes conduct that disrupts the classroom environment, prevents learning from occurring, or obstructs or misuses college processes, systems, or services.

10. Facilities Misuse—Using college facilities, supplies, vehicles, telephones, keys or other materials or service without authorization.

11. False Information—Furnishing false information; forging; unauthorized altering or misusing any document, record or instrument of identification; the knowledgeable passing of an insufficient funds check or use of fraudulent payment method for any financial obligation to the College; withholding information from the college; falsely claiming to represent the college or a student organization or club; unauthorized altering or misuse of any data or record (electronic or paper) for academic or personal gain.

12. Gambling—Wagering for money or other things of value, except where permitted by law.

13. Hazing—Endangering the mental or physical health of safety of a person, subjecting a person to public humiliation or ridicule, destroying or removing public or private property for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with or as a condition of continued membership in a student group, organization, or athletic team.

14. Health, Safety or Security Endangerment—Initiating any false report, warning or threat of fire, explosion or other emergency, failing to abide by any published or posted health, safety or security measures, tampering with fire safety equipment or parking vehicles to obstruct access to college buildings.

15. Obstruction of College Operations—Impeding the operations of the college by failing to comply with directions (this includes failing to comply with any sanction or restriction imposed by the student conduct process) of a clearly identifiable college official or designee when acting in the performance of their duties, failing to present identification upon request of a college official or designee.

16. Smoking and Tobacco—Violating the college regulations (including use of tobacco only in designated college areas) regarding smoking and the use of tobacco products. (Policy 1A.9 Environmental Health and Safety)

17. Solicitation—Selling of goods or services without authorization, recruiting without authorization.

18. Theft of or Damage to Property—Stealing, embezzling or possessing stolen property, destroying, defacing, using graffiti, damaging or littering on college property.

19. Violence (this includes MinnState 1B.3 Sexual Misconduct Policy) and Threatening Behavior—Endangering the health or safety of another person physically (includes engaging in any form of fighting, any unwanted or inappropriate touching of another, or detaining another against their will) or verbally, or causing reasonable apprehension of such harm. This may occur through verbal abuse, stalking, hazing, intimidation, threats, harassment, sexual harassment, repeated phone calls, electronic messages, text messages, emails, or postings on social networking sites (See also Zero Tolerance Policy). Sexual violence includes a continuum of conduct that includes sexual assault, non-forcible sex acts, dating and relationship violence, stalking, as well as aiding in sexual violence.

20. Weapons—Possessing or using unauthorized firearms or other weapons on college controlled property. A weapon is broadly defined to include, but is not limited to, all firearms, dangerous knives, explosives, explosive fuels, dangerous chemicals, billy clubs and fireworks. (See also Zero Tolerance and Possession or Carry of Firearms Policies)

21. Cannabis or Cannabis related products: The possession and use of cannabis or cannabis related products remains illegal under federal law, including the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, the Controlled Substances Act, and the Campus Security Act, and and Minnesota State Board Policy 5.18 Alcoholic Beverages or Controlled Substances on Campus. Therefore, the use, possession, production, manufacture, and distribution of marijuana continues to be prohibited while a student is on college owned or controlled property or any function authorized or controlled by the college.

H. Violation of Law and College Discipline:

College disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with conduct that potentially violates both the criminal law and this Student Code (that is, if both possible violations result from the same factual situation) without regard to the pendency of civil or criminal litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution. Proceedings under this Student Code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings off campus at the discretion of the administrator. Determinations made or sanctions imposed under this Student Code shall not be subject to change because criminal charges arising out of the same facts giving rise to violation of college rules were dismissed, reduced, or resolved in favor of or against the criminal law defendant.

History: 

01.2007 Revised in compliance with revised Minnesota State policy. Procedural language moved to new procedure

10.2015 Revised to include language regarding Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Law

07.2016 Revised to include definition of sexual violence and language referencing Minnesota State policy 1B.3

07.2017 Technical changes, MnSCU to Minnesota State

04.2026 Substantial rewrite of policy, addition of language specific to policy violations related to use of artificial intelligence