Student Code of Conduct

The purpose of these standards is to ensure a safe, respectful and productive learning environment for VCCCD students, staff, faculty and administrators. In order for the colleges and the district to fulfill their mission of student learning achievement, all employees must feel secure in their work setting. Student conduct that negatively impacts the ability of students to meet their educational goals or employees to carry out their professional job responsibilities will be subject to the terms of this procedure.


Definitions: The following conduct shall constitute good cause for discipline, including but not limited to the removal, suspension or expulsion of a student.

The procedures shall be made widely available to students through the college catalog and other means.  Students who violate any of the following standards for student conduct while at the District office, on the college campus, or during off-campus college-sponsored activities are subject to the procedures outlined in Administrative Procedure 5520 Student Discipline Procedure, except for conduct that constitutes sexual harassment under Title IX, which shall be addressed under Board Policy 3433 Prohibition of Sexual Harassment under Title IX. 

1. Causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical injury to another person;

2. Possession, sale, or otherwise furnishing a weapon, including but not limited to, any actual facsimile of a firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous object, or any item used to threaten bodily harm without written permission from a District employee, with concurrence of the College President or designee.

3. Unlawful possession, use, sale, offer to sell, or furnishing or being under the influence of any controlled substance listed in the California Health and Safety Code Sections 11053 et seq., an alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant of any kind; or unlawful possession of, or offering, arranging or negotiating the sale of any drug paraphernalia, as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 11014.5. (Use or possession of medical marijuana is not allowed on any college property.)

4. Committing or attempting to commit robbery or extortion.

5. Causing or attempting to cause damage to District property or to private property on campus.

6. Stealing or attempting to steal District property or private property on campus, or knowingly receiving stolen District property or private property on campus.

7. Willful or persistent smoking (including e-cigarettes or use of similar mechanisms) in any area where smoking has been prohibited by law or by regulation of the college or the District. 

8. Sexual Assault or sexual exploitation regardless of the victim's affiliation with the District.

9. Committing Sexual Harassment as defined by law or District policies and procedures. Engaging in harassing or discriminatory behavior based on disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law.

10. Engaging in harassing or discriminatory behavior based on disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race, or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law.  The District's response to instances of sexual harassment will follow the processes identified in Board Policy 3430 Prohibition of Harassment and Administrative Procedure 3430 Prohibition of Harassment.

11. Engaging in intimidating conduct or bullying against another student through words or actions, including direct physical contact, verbal assaults, such as teasing or name-calling, social isolation or manipulation, and cyber-bullying.

12. Willful misconduct that results in injury or death to a student or to District personnel of which results in cutting, defacing, or other injury to any real or personal property owned by the District or on campus.

13. Disruptive behavior, willful disobedience, profanity, vulgarity, lewd, or other offensive conduct, on campus or during campus sponsored activities or the open and persistent defiance of the authority of, or persistent abuse of, college personnel.

14. Cheating, plagiarism (including plagiarism in a student publication), or engaging in other academic dishonesty as defined by the CSSO.

15. Dishonesty, forgery, alteration or misuse of District/college documents, records or identification, or knowingly furnishing false information to the District/college or any related off-site agency or organization.

16. Unauthorized entry to or use of District/college facilities.

17. Lewd, indecent or obscene conduction or expression on District-owned or controlled property, or at a District sponsored or supervised functions.

18. Engaging in expression which is obscene, libelous, or slanderous, or which so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on District/college premises, or the violation of lawful District administrative procedures, or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the District.

19. Persistent, serious misconduct where other means of correction have failed to bring about proper conduct.

20. Unauthorized preparation, giving, selling, transfer, distribution, or publication of any recording or photography of an academic presentation in a classroom or equivalent site of instruction, including but not limited to written class materials, except as permitted by District policies or administrative procedures.

21. Violation of professional ethical code of conduct in classroom or clinical settings as identified by state licensing agencies (Board Registered Nursing, Emergency Medical Services Authority, Title 22, Peace Officers Standards and Training, California Department of Public Health). 

Students who engage in any of the above are subject to the procedures outlined in Administrative Procedure 5520 Student Discipline Procedure.