Policies, Rules, and Regulations
Interpretation of Regulations
Disciplinary regulations at the College are set forth in writing in this handbook in order to give students general notice of prohibited conduct. The regulations should be read broadly and are not designed to define misconduct in exhaustive terms.
Definitions of Terms
1. “Cheating/collusion/plagiarism” - cheating means intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise; collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work offered for credit; plagiarism means intentionally representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise. (See Academic Integrity Policy)
2. “College premises” means buildings or grounds owned, leased, operated, controlled, or supervised by the College.
3. “College regulation or policy” means standards of conduct or requirements located in the:
a. College Catalog
b. Policies and Procedures Manual
c. Student Handbook
d. Any other official publication or College website
4. “College sponsored activity” means any activity on or off campus, which is initiated, aided, authorized, or supervised by the College.
5. “Controlled substance” and “illegal drugs” are those as defined by the state-controlled substances act, as amended.
6. “Fabrication” means intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation.
7. “Organization” means a number of persons who have complied with college requirements for registration of the group.
8. “Reckless” means conduct which one should reasonably be expected to know would create a substantial risk or harm to persons or property, or which would otherwise be likely to result in interference with normal college or college-sponsored activities.
9. “Sanctions” means any or all of the penalties that may be imposed for violation of College regulation.
10. “Student” means a person who has paid tuition and fees, and is taking or auditing courses through Vernon College.
11. “Violation” means an act or omission, which is contrary to a published college regulation or policy.
12. “Weapon” means any object or substance designed to inflict a wound, cause injury, or incapacitate, including but not limited to, all firearms, knives, clubs, or similar weapons, which are defined and prohibited by the state penal code, as amended.
Prohibited Conduct
Particular behavior that violates Vernon College standards of conduct listed below will be subject to disciplinary action through the appropriate judicial process. Prohibited student actions include, but are not limited to:
Academic Misconduct
1. All forms of academic dishonesty (plagiarism, fabrication, cheating, aiding and abetting academic misconduct).
2. Failure to comply with classroom behavior as outlined in the course syllabus provided by the instructor or that violates or impedes the learning abilities of others in the classroom or that threatens the well-being of other students or Vernon College personnel.
3. Illegal downloading and unauthorized use, infringement, and/or distribution of copyright materials, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, is prohibited and subject to appropriate disciplinary sanctions and may subject the student to civil and criminal liabilities. (See also Academic Integrity Policy – specific violations of “cheating”, “plagiarism”, and “collusion” and associated sanctions related to violations of academic integrity).
Non-Academic Misconduct
1. Any physical, mental, verbal act, or expression through electronic means that intentionally embarrasses, threatens harms or harasses any person or group on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, self-identification gender, or sexual orientation.
2. Possession, storage, use, or distribution of fireworks, explosives, weapons, ammunition, or any other substance or device designed to harm or incapacitate is prohibited on College premises or while attending a College sponsored activity.
3. Destruction or abuse of a fire alarm, extinguisher, or other safety device anywhere on college premises or making a false report concerning a fire, bomb, or other emergency.
4. Furnishing of false information to the College, forgery, unauthorized alteration or the unauthorized use of any College document or instrument of identification.
5. Unsolicited, deliberate or repeated sexual flirtations, advances or propositions, the display of sexually suggestive pictures or objects, and/or offensive or abusive physical contact of a sexual nature.
6. Unauthorized use of computer hardware or software.
7. Unauthorized possession, use or the abuse, destruction, or theft of property of the College or any of its members or guests.
8. Failure to comply with the direction of College officials acting in performance of their duties.
9. Failure to properly meet financial responsibilities to the College, including, but not limited to, knowingly passing a worthless check or money order in payment to the College.
10. Participating in or inciting a riot or any unauthorized or disorderly assembly.
11. Gambling, conducting or holding a raffle or lottery on college premises or at any College function except in cases of specific approval by the Vice President of Student Services and/or the Dean of Student Services.
12. Unacceptable standards of common decency in mode of dress.
13. Use of smokeless tobacco on all College premises or smoking of tobacco products in other than designated smoking areas.
14. Self-inflicted harm or the intent to physically harm others.
15. Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off College premises that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of, or resulting from being initiated into or affiliating with any recognized or non-recognized organization, despite an individuals “willing” participation.
16. Selling, peddling or soliciting with literature on campus except in cases of specific approval by the Dean of Student Services.
17. Forcing, threatening to force, coercing, or deceiving another to engage in sexual activity, or engaging in sexual activity with another with or without knowing that the activity is offensive to that person or that the person is unable to assess the nature of or control their own conduct.
18. Violation of federal, state, or local law when in the judgment of College officials, the violation represents a potential threat to the safety or security of the College community.
19. Inappropriate and/or disruptive use of cell phone.
20. Violence (or threat of violence) Against a Fellow Student: physical abuse of any person (including dating violence, domestic violence or sexual violence) on Vernon College premises or college-supervised functions, including physical actions which threaten or endanger the health or safety of any such persons. This includes physical actions which threaten or endanger the health of safety of any such persons. This includes fighting and/or other disruptive behavior, which includes any action or threat of violence which endangers the peace, safety, or orderly function of the College, its facilities, or persons engaged in the business of Vernon College. Note: certain physical abuse may also be considered unlawful harassment.
21. Violence (or threat of violence) Against a Faculty or Staff Member: physical abuse of any faculty or staff member (including dating violence, domestic violence or sexual violence) on Vernon College premises or college-supervised functions, including physical actions which threaten or endanger the health or safety of any such persons. This includes physical actions which threaten or endanger the health of safety of any such persons. This includes fighting and/or other disruptive behavior, which includes any action or threat of violence which endangers the peace, safety, or orderly function of the college, its facilities, or persons engaged in the business of Vernon College. Note: certain physical abuse may also be considered unlawful harassment.
22. Harassment Against a Fellow Student: Vernon College prohibits unlawful conduct based on race, color, self-identification, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, genetic information, political affirmation or belief, disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era or citizenship status addressed directly to any individual or group that has the purpose of effect of unreasonably and objectively interfering with that individual or group’s: (1) performance,
(2) work or educational environment or (3) ability to participate in an educational program or activity. The College also prohibits stalking, or other behavior which objectively and unreasonably interferes with another’s legal rights or creates an objectively intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. (This also includes the display of or navigation to pornography and other inappropriate websites and materials and inappropriate behavior on social media and/or networking applications.) Impermissible harassment may include verbal, non—verbal, electronic and/or physical conduct.
23. Harassment Against a Faculty or Staff Member. Vernon College prohibits unlawful conduct based on race, color, self-identification, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, genetic information, political affirmation or belief, disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era or citizenship status addressed directly to any faculty or staff member that has the purpose of effect of unreasonably and objectively interfering with that faculty or staff member’s: (1) performance, (2) work or educational environment or (3) ability to participate in an educational program or activity. The College also prohibits stalking, or other behavior which objectively and unreasonably interferes with another’s legal rights or creates an objectively intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. (This also includes the display of or navigation to pornography and other inappropriate websites and materials and inappropriate behavior on social media and/or networking applications.) Impermissible harassment may include verbal, non—verbal, electronic, and/or physical conduct.
24. Miscellaneous Misconduct.
25. Theft/Damage of College Property.
26. Occupation or seizure, in any manner, of Vernon College property, facility, or any portion thereof for a use inconsistent with prescribed, customary, or authorized use.
27. Unlawful Presence on College Premises.
28. Prohibited Assembly.
29. Tampering with Fire or Smoke Alarms.
30. Obstruction of Normal College Business.
31. Possession of Alcohol on College Grounds or at a College Sponsored Event.
32. Possession of a Controlled Substance on College Grounds or at a College Sponsored Event.
33. Smoking/Tobacco in unauthorized areas.
34. Unauthorized use, possession, or storage of any weapon or explosive (including fireworks) on College premises or at College sponsored activities.
35. Failure to comply with Housing rules and regulations.
36. Entry into, or use of, any building, facility, or room or other College property or grounds without authorized approval. This also includes the unauthorized possession or use of College keys, lock combinations, or other access codes.
37. Failure to comply with College traffic rules and regulations.
38. Damaging, destroying, defacing, or altering the property of the College or the property of another person or entity.
Copyright Infringement
Vernon College prohibits the unauthorized use and distribution of copyrighted materials including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing. Violating this policy may subject the student to civil and criminal liabilities and appropriate disciplinary actions as specified in the Student Handbook.
Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under Section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes infringement. Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than
$30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in it’s discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines up $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov.