Definitions

Chief Student Services Officer (CSSO):

The individual designated by the College President to administer student affairs and be responsible for administering the College’s Student Code of Conduct and this procedure. The CSSO may delegate student discipline to another individual (designee). 

Code of Conduct:

A document developed and published by each College which defines prescribed conduct of students. 

Complainant(s):

A person(s) who is subject to the alleged misconduct or related retaliation. For purposes of this procedure, a complainant can be a CCCS employee(s), student(s), authorized volunteer(s), guest(s), or visitor(s). 

Day:

Refers to working day unless otherwise noted below. 

Jurisdiction:

Applies to behaviors that take place on the campus, at System or College sponsored events; and may also apply off-campus and to online activity when the Chief

Student Services Officer (CSSO), or designee, determines that the off-campus conduct affects a substantial System or College interest. A substantial College interest is defined to include the following:

• Any action that constitutes criminal offense as defined by federal or Colorado law. This includes, but is not limited to, single or repeat violations of any local, state or federal law committed in the municipality where the System or the College is located;
• Any situation where it appears that the accused individual may present a danger or threat to the health or safety of self or others;
• Any situation that significantly impinges upon the rights, property or achievements of self or others or significantly breaches the peace and/or causes social disorder; and/or
• Any situation that is detrimental to the educational interests of the System or the College.

Any online postings or other electronic communication by students, including cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, cyber-harassment, etc. occurring completely outside of the System or the College’s control (e.g., not on System or College networks, websites or between System or College email accounts) will only be subject to this procedure when those online behaviors can be shown to cause a substantial on-campus disruption. Otherwise, such communications are considered speech protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. 

Notice:

Notices which are required to be given by this procedure shall be considered served upon the student when given by personal delivery, mailing by certified mail, or emailing the student to their official College email address requesting a delivery receipt notification. If notice is mailed, student shall be given three (3) additional days to respond. 

Respondent:

A student whose alleged conduct is the subject of a complaint or incident. 

Retaliatory Acts:

Include but not limited to intimidation, verbal or physical threats, harassment, coercion, or other adverse action(s) against a person who reports an incident of misconduct. 

Sanctions:

One or more of the following may be imposed when there is a finding that a student has violated the College’s Code of Conduct:

1. Warning: A Notice served upon the student advising her/him that he/she is violating or has violated College regulations.
2. Probation: After a finding of violation of the Code of Conduct, restriction of student’s privileges for a designated period of time including the probability of more severe disciplinary sanctions if the student is found to be violating any College regulations during the probationary period.
3. Other Disciplinary Sanction: Fines, restitution, denial of privileges (including extra-curricular activities or holding office in student organizations), assignment to perform services for the benefit of the College or community; educational sanctions such as mediation, letter of reflection, attendance at a workshop, seminar, or training writing a letter of apology seeking academic advising; re-assignment or eviction from campus housing, substance abuse screening, re-assignment to another class section, including a potential online section, or other sanction that doesn’t result in the student being denied the right of attending classes, or any combination of these.
4. College Suspension or Expulsion: An involuntary separation of the student from the College for misconduct not based on academic performance for a specified period of time.
   1. Suspension is a separation that shall not exceed three academic terms (including summer term)per suspension for any singular offense or situation. While a student is suspended, he or she is not eligible for admission or re-admission at any of the community Colleges within the System.

      Additionally, if a student is suspended at any of the other Auraria Campus Institutions (i.e., Metropolitan State University of Denver [MSUD] or the University of Colorado Denver [UCD]), he or she will not be eligible for admission or re-admission at the Community College of Denver (CCD). 

      Consequently, if a student is suspended at MSUD or UCD and attempts to enroll at one of the other twelve community Colleges within the System, he or she may be denied pursuant to the process under Board Policy 4-10, Admission, Continued Enrollment and Re-enrollment of Students. 

      Once the suspension is lifted at any of the community Colleges within the System, MSUD or UCD, the student may be eligible for admission or re-admission. 

      Examples of suspension include, but are not limited to the following: the College, a department or program, a class, use of a College facility or an activity. 

      Students may be suspended from one class period by the responsible faculty member or adjunct instructor. Longer suspensions can only be implemented by the CSSO or designee in accordance with this procedure.

   2. Expulsion is an indefinite separation from the College. The expelled student is not eligible for admission or re-admission at any of the community Colleges within the System.

      Additionally, if a student is expelled at MSUD or UCD, he or she will not be eligible for admission or re-admission at CCD. Consequently, if a student is expelled at MSUD or UCD and attempts to enroll at one of the other twelve community Colleges within the System, he or she may be denied pursuant to the process under Board Policy 4-10, Admission, Continued Enrollment and Re-enrollment of Students. 

      In exceptional cases where a student wants to be considered for admission or re-admission after an expulsion has been implemented, the student bears the burden to prove that the behavior resulting in the expulsion has been resolved. It is the College’s discretion to admit or deny the student.

5. Interim Action: An immediate action taken by the CSSO or designee, to ensure the safety and well-being of members of the System or College community; preservation of System or College property; or if the student poses a definite threat of disruption or interference to others or the normal operations of the System or College. In the event of an interim action, the hearing before the CSSO or designee shall occur as soon as possible following the interim action. If the College issues a permanent sanction, the student shall be afforded appeal rights as discussed below. If the College does not implement a permanent sanction, the interim action will be removed from the student’s record.
6. The College may issue a “Cease Communications”, “No Contact”, and/or “No Trespass” directive, also referred to as a persona non grata. Student: All persons currently taking courses at or sponsored by the College(s), pursuing either credit or non-credit courses (or both), including those concurrently attending secondary or post-secondary institutions and College. Persons who are not officially enrolled for a specific term, but who have a continuing relationship with the College are considered students.
7. Continuing Relationship: A student registered for an upcoming term or has indicated intent via a transaction such as a financial aid application to register for an upcoming term. A continuing relationship also includes students who are first time enrollees who engage in misconduct prior to the time of enrollment. For students in a continuing relationship status, jurisdiction and the reasonable person standard must be considered in pursuing disciplinary charges. The Student Conduct Code shall apply to a student's conduct even if the student withdraws from school while a disciplinary matter is pending.
8. Title IX Coordinator(s) and Title VI and VII Coordinator(s) (EO Coordinator): Designated by the College President to oversee all civil rights complaints.
9. Training: All College officials involved with the investigation and discipline process will be trained annually on the issues related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.