Student Code of Conduct

Generally, College punitive action shall be limited to conduct which adversely affects the College community’s pursuit of its educational objectives or behavior that disrupts the teaching/learning process. Violation of the Code of Classroom Courtesy and/or the following examples of misconduct are subject to disciplinary action. 

• Sleeping in class.
• Failure to maintain reasonable hygiene.
• Conduct that is lewd, indecent, or obscene.
• Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other College activities.
• Persistent or gross acts of willful disobedience or defiance toward College personnel.
• Intrusive use of personal sound amplification equipment.
• Committing illegal acts.
• Gambling or holding a raffle or lottery on the campus or at any College function.
• Littering, defacing, destroying, removing, or damaging property of the College or property under its jurisdiction.
• Computer and lab abuse in violation of College policy.
• Violation of the Alcohol and Drug Policy.
• Assault, battery, or physical abuse, and psychological abuse or threat of such abuse toward any person on college premises or at college activities. Includes sexual harassment and/ or assault and other behavior addressed by Southwest’s Sexual Harassment policy. 
• Possessing on College property or at any College activity any dangerous chemical, explosive element, or component parts thereof, not used for lawful College studies.
• Possessing a rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, or other firearm, or weapon as defined in section 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia on College property without the authorization of the President of the College.
• Seizing, holding, commandeering, or damaging any property or facility of the College or a threat to do so, or refusing to depart from any property or facility of the College upon direction by College officials or other persons authorized within the regulations of the College.
• All forms of dishonesty, cheating, plagiarism, knowingly furnishing false information to the College, forgery, and alteration or the use of altered College documents.
• Failure to identify oneself on College property or at a College event when asked to do so by College personnel acting in the performance of his or her duties.
• Participating in or inciting a riot or an unauthorized or disorderly assembly. All forms of sexual harassment or racial discrimination other than such forms as constitute protected speech.
• Possession of an animal on campus that is not a service animal.

Faculty, staff, and students should first contact 911 in cases where there is a definite and imminent risk of physical harm or fear for safety.  The individual(s) of concern should also be reported to Campus Police and the Dean of Student Success.  At off-campus locations, faculty, staff, and students should first call 911 and then notify the site coordinator for the College, who will contact College administration.

Procedure for Enforcing the Code of Conduct 

Penalties for Misconduct  

Student Conduct Addendum

The College’s Student Code of Conduct is hereby amended to include the following provisions and any violation of such shall be grounds for discipline under the College’s Student Code of Conduct policy. All other provisions remain unchanged and applicable:

1. Disruptive Acts
   1. Disrupting or obstructing the normal learning, living, or work environments of other members of the College community or the functions or activities of the College (as well as activities conducted on the College’s property with its permission) is prohibited. Examples include: blocking entrances, corridors or exits; interfering with ongoing educational activities, cultural events, or recreational, extracurricular or athletic programs; unauthorized presence in a building after normal closing hours or after notice that the building is being closed; interfering with vehicular or pedestrian traffic; creating unsanitary conditions; and interfering with any other effort to protect the health and safety of members of the College community or larger public.
   2. No person may obstruct, disrupt, or attempt by physical force to cancel or discontinue speech by any speaker or the observation of speech by any person intending to see or hear a speaker.
2. Violations of Laws, Regulations, and Ordinances
   1. Prohibited conduct includes violations of federal, state, or local laws, regulations, orders, or ordinances.
      1. Students have a continuing duty to promptly report to the Dean of Students any arrests for violations of federal, state, local, or international law, excluding minor traffic violations that do not result in injury to others. This duty applies regardless of where the arrest occurred (inside or outside the Commonwealth of Virginia) and regardless of whether the College is in session at the time of the arrest. An arrest includes the issuance of a written citation or summons regardless of whether the student is taken into custody by law enforcement. Charges related to driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs are not “minor traffic violations” and must be reported.
3. Masking to Conceal Identity
   1. Consistent with Virginia Code § 18.2-422, any individual who is present on College property or attending a College event who is wearing a mask, hood, or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, must present a valid college or government issued identification document containing both the person’s legal name and photograph when requested by a campus policy or security officer or otherwise establish the individual’s identity to the satisfaction of the campus police or security officer.
4. Encampments
   1. The construction or occupation of a Camping Tent is prohibited.
      1. “Camping Tent” means any collapsible tent or structure, typically having as its basic components a flexible material supported by a framework, designed, intended, or used as temporary shelter while camping or on recreational outdoor outings. Camping Tents may include tents known as “pup tents,” “dome tents,” “cabin tents,” “hiker tents,” and “backpacking tents.”
      2. A “Camping Tent” does not include a tent with all sides entirely open and where there is an unobstructed view into such tent from the outside at all angles. All other conduct provisions apply to the use of open tents.
      3. Only tents approved in advance pursuant to the Expressive Activity Policy shall be permitted. No Camping Tents shall be permitted at any time. All tents of any type must be removed no later than 9:00 PM or when the college is officially closed for the day.
   2. Camping is prohibited on property owned, leased, or operated by the College, Virginia Community College System, or their foundations.
      1. “Camping” means the act of using any part of the property or facilities for living accommodation purposes, such as establishment of temporary or permanent living quarters, sleeping outdoors overnight or making preparations for overnight sleeping (including the laying down of bedding), storing personal belongings, using any tent, shelter, or similar structure regardless of size for sleeping; sleeping in, on, or under parked vehicles, or setting up temporary or permanent sleeping areas outdoors or in structures not designated for human occupancy.
      2. “Camping” does not include the use of College, VCCS, or their foundations’ property that has been wholly or partially designated as sleeping or relaxation areas; a tailgating activity in conjunction with a College, VCCS, or foundation event; or the use of temporary hammocks or lounge furniture for recreation or studying activities outdoors on College, VCCS, or foundation owned property during the hours of 7:45 AM and 9:00 PM.
   3. These prohibitions shall not apply to the College, the Virginia Community College System Office, or the College or System foundations or to Non-Camping Tents erected for their use.
   4. These prohibitions shall not apply to federal, state, or local governments or their agencies or to Non-Camping Tents erected for their use.
5. Applicability:
   1. The Code of Conduct, including this Addendum, shall apply both to the conduct of individual students as well as student organizations.
   2. Each recognized student organization shall represent that its activities and the activities of its members will not violate federal, state, or local law; or the College’s Code of Conduct, including this Addendum.
   3. The Code of Conduct, including this Addendum, applies to all student activities within College, VCCS, or their foundations’ programs or activities wherever located. The Code of Conduct, including this Addendum, also applies to all student conduct occurring on the College campus and on any property owned, leased, or operated by the College, VCCS, or their foundations. The Code of Conduct, including this Addendum, additionally applies to any property used as a student residence and in regard to which students have expressly agreed to abide by or provided written consent to be governed by College policies. Violations of other College or VCCS policies may result in disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct.