Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Building

Definitions

When used in this code:

  • The term "classroom, lab, or office disruption" means behavior a reasonable person would view as substantially or repeatedly interfering with the conduct of class or lab.  Examples range from persisting in speaking without being recognized to resorting to physical threats or insults.

  • The term "person of their choosing" includes students, faculty, staff, or others who advise complainants or respondents.  The adviser’s role is to provide personal counsel and support to the respondent or complainant, but not to present the case or address the hearing panel, hearing chairperson or other participants in the process. The adviser may not serve as a witness in the conduct proceeding. Legal representation is only permitted when the student faces concurrent criminal charges or for proceedings related to an alleged violation of the sexual misconduct policy.

  • The term "college" means Howard Community College, college owned or controlled property, and all college departments, programs and college sponsored activities, including off-campus when the vice president of student services or designee determines that the off-campus conduct affects a substantial college interest. A substantial college interest is defined to include any situation where it appears the student’s conduct may present a danger or threat to the health or safety of self or others; and/or 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 mission and/or interests of the college.

  • The term "reckless" means conduct which one should reasonably be expected to know would create a substantial risk of harm to persons or property or which would otherwise be likely to result in interference with normal college or college-sponsored activities.

  • The term "student" includes all applicants for credit and noncredit courses and programs sponsored by the college,  and any person for whom the college maintains education records, as defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, and related regulations. 

  • The term "college premises" means buildings or grounds owned, leased, operated, controlled, or supervised by the college.

  • The terms "college-sponsored activity" means any activity on or off college premises that is specifically initiated or supervised by the college.

  • The term "complainant" usually means a person who filed the complaint against the student/respondent.  In matters of serious misconduct requiring a hearing by the discipline committee, the complainant may be the vice president of student services or designee recommending suspension or expulsion.

  • The term "respondent" is defined as the student accused of violating the Student Code of Conduct.

  • The term “preponderance of evidence” means information that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that it is more likely than not that a student violated the Student Code of Conduct

  • The term "will" is used in the imperative sense. The term “may” is used in the permissive sense.