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Student Rights

San Diego Community College District Policy 3100 prescribes procedures by which the student or the district may formally initiate action to resolve disputes. If you have any problems, complaints, or situations that you feel need to be addressed, you may contact Student Services, a Dean, the Vice President of Continuing Education, or the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The complete text of Policy 3100 is available in each administration office.

Student Rights, Responsibilities and Code of Conduct

SDCCD Policy 3100 prescribes procedures by which the student or the district may formally initiate action to resolve disputes. If you have any problems , complaints or situations that you feel needs to be addressed you may contact Counseling (student services), the campus Dean, or the Vice President of Continuing Education.

The complete text of Policy 3100 is also available in each campus’ administration office.

Student Rights and Responsibilities District policy 3100 enumerates the rights and responsibilities of all San Diego Community College District students.

1.0 Student Rights All students shall have the right to a campus learning environment free from interference or disruption. The District shall ensure to the best of their ability to afford students the rights contained herein.

1.1 Students shall have the right to impartial objective evaluation of their academic performance. Students shall receive in writing, at the beginning of each course, information outlining the method of evaluating student progress including the method by which the final grade is determined.

1.2 Students shall have the right to exercise free expression including, but not limited to, the use of bulletin boards, the distribution of printed materials or petitions, and wearing of buttons, badges, or other insignia, so long as the expression is not obscene, libelous or slanderous according to current legal standards, and so long as the expression does not incite students so as to create a clear and present danger of (a) the commission of unlawful acts on community college premises, (b) the violation of lawful community college regulations, or (c) the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the community college. The District reserves the right to regulate the time, place and manner of all student activities. (Education Code Section 76120).

1.3 Students shall have the right to be free from acts or threats of intimidation, harassment, or physical aggression.

1.4 Students shall have the right to be free from the imposition of disciplinary sanctions without proper regard for due process.

1.5 Students shall have the right to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study without disrupting the instructional environment and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion. However, this does not preclude learning the content of any course for which they are enrolled.

1.6 Students shall have the right to participate in the formation of policy affecting them in accordance with established procedures for Shared Governance.

1.7 Students shall have the right to petition to organize interest groups and/or join student associations pursuant to Manual 3200.

1.8 Students shall have the right to invite guest speakers to make presentations on campus in accordance with campus guidelines and District policies and procedures.

1.9 Students shall have the right to develop student publications in accordance with standards established petitions, and wearing of buttons, badges, or other insignia, so long as the expression is not obscene, libelous or slanderous according to current legal standards, and so long as the expression does not incite students so as to create a clear and present danger of (a) the commission of unlawful acts on community college premises, (b) the violation of lawful community college regulations, or (c) the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the community college. The District reserves the right to regulate the time, place and manner of all student activities. (Education Code Section 76120).

1.10 Students with verified disabilities shall have the right to receive appropriate academic adjustments and auxiliary aids as specified in the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 2.0 Student Responsibilities Student behavior must remain in accordance with specific academic and behavior requirements as specified in District policy and which may be outlined by the course syllabus.

2.1 Students shall be responsible for defining and making progress toward their educational goal.

2.2 Students are responsible for reading and adhering to the policies and procedures as outlined in catalogs, schedules, course syllabi and other official printed materials.

2.3 Students with verified disabilities who believe they need academic adjustments or auxiliary aids are encouraged to identify themselves to their instructors to discuss the details and time lines necessary to provide appropriate accommodation. Students are responsible for providing written verification of their disability to the instructor upon request.

2.4 Students may elect to consult directly with a Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) Counselor Specialist regarding any accommodation. These students will be required to meet time lines and procedural requirements established by the DSPS Office.

3.0 Code of Conduct Students are subject to adhering to the policies and procedures of the San Diego Community College District, as well as all federal, state, and local laws. Students are subject to charges of misconduct concerning, but not limited to, the following acts when committed on District owned or controlled property or at District sponsored activities.

3.1 The taking of and passing off as ones own the work or ideas of another: plagiarism and academic cheating.

3.2 Falsification, alteration or misuse of campus/District documents, and records.

3.3 Act or threat of damage to or theft of property belonging to or located on District-controlled property or facilities.

3.4 The physical or verbal disruption of instructional or student services activities, administrative procedures, public service functions, authorized curricular or cocurricular activities or prevention of authorized guests from carrying out the purpose for which they are on campus.

3.5 The physical or verbal intimidation or harassment of such severity or pervasiveness as to have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a student's academic performance, or a District employee's work performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or work environment.

3.6 Disorderly, lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or expression or habitual profanity or vulgarity; any expression which is obscene, libelous or slanderous according to current legal standards or which so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts, or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the community college. (Ed. Code 76120)

3.7 Assault, or battery upon a student or district personnel on district premises or at any time or place while under the authority of District personnel.

3.8 Participation in hazing (California Education Code Sections 32050 through 32052).

3.9 Possession of weapons, explosives, unlicensed dangerous chemicals or objects which may be used as weapons or to threaten bodily harm, as specified in the California Penal Code or other applicable laws.

3.10 Participating in activities which are in violation of federal, state, or local laws or ordinances while on district premises or at district-sponsored or supervised activities.

3.11 Failure to comply with directions of staff members of the district who are acting within the scope of their employment. Continued and willful disobedience or open and persistent defiance of the authority of district personnel providing such conduct is related to district activities or college/ center attendance.

3.12 Smoking on District premises, or in vehicles provided by the district used for transporting students; except as permitted by applicable ordinances, laws, college guidelines and District procedure 0505.2.

3.13 Use, possession, distribution, or sale of alcoholic beverages on campus except as permitted by law.

3.14 Use, possession, distribution, manufacture or sale of narcotics or other hallucinogenic drugs or substances or inhaling or breathing the fumes of, or ingesting, any poison classified as such by the California Business and Professions Code Section 4160, Schedule “D,” except as provided by law, is prohibited when on district premises.

3.15 Violation of Policies & Procedures for Student Organizations as enumerated in Manual 3200. Student Grievance Procedure The purpose of this procedure is to provide a prompt and equitable means for resolving student grievance. The procedures enumerated in Student Grievance Procedures 3100.1 shall be available to any student who believes a district decision or action has adversely affected his/her rights as a student as specified in Student Rights and Responsibilities, Policy 3100, Section 1 through 10. Note that grades are not grievable under this policy.

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