Definitions and Terminology

Student Code of Conduct (Policy 2011: Regulations Governing Students)


Academic Honesty:  Expected of all students, academic honesty is ethical behavior in which students produce their own work and do not represent others’ work as their own, either by plagiarism, by cheating or by helping others to do so.

Cheating:

  • The acquisition, without permission, of tests, or other academic materials belonging to a member of the College faculty or staff.
  • The use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations.
  • The use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments.
  • Engaging in any behavior specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course syllabus or class discussion.
  • Allowing or participating in cheating by other students.
  • Copying from someone else’s work.
  • Submitting other work as your own or submitting your work for others.
  • Altering graded work and falsifying data.

Plagiarism: The use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

Associate Dean of Student Relations: Designated by the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer to uphold the Student Code of Conduct and manage the Resolution process.

College official: Any person employed by the College, performing assigned administrative or professional responsibilities.

College premises: Includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property in the possession of or owned, used, or controlled by the College (including adjacent streets and sidewalks).

College sponsored or supervised activities: Includes, but is not limited to: field trips, off- campus social activities organized by the College, official activities of College clubs, etc.

College: Schoolcraft College.

Conduct officer: Individual designated by Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer or Associate Dean of Student Relations to conduct an inquiry into a possible violation of the Student Code of Conduct, propose a resolution and sanction(s), and present information to a Hearing Panel.

Continuing educational interest: Describes an individual’s relationship with the College as it relates to the Student Code of Conduct. For example, a student who is admitted but has yet to register for classes is said to have a ‘continuing educational interest’ in the College and is therefore under the jurisdiction of the Code, even though the student has not attended any classes.

Faculty member: Any person hired by the College to conduct classroom or teaching activities or who is otherwise considered by the College to be a member of its faculty.

Hearing panel (or panel): College employees (usually three to five) who hear cases involving possible violations of the Student Code of Conduct, render a finding of “responsible” or “not responsible” concerning the respondent, and identify appropriate sanctions to be imposed on the respondent.

Jurisdiction: The power to enforce rules and make decisions related to the rules.

Mutual consent: Resolution when the respondent’s case is heard by an administrator and the respondent accepts the administrator’s findings and sanction(s).

Organization: Any group of people who meet the requirements for membership in a student club or organization.

Panel hearing (or hearing): The respondent’s case is heard by a hearing panel (usually three to five College employees). The panel delivers a finding and sanction(s). The respondent and the College each has the right to call for a panel hearing.

Policy: Written regulations of the College found in, among other places, the Student Code of Conduct, the College web page and Student Handbook.

Possible Code violation: Conduct described in a report that might be a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

President: Chief executive officer of the College, authorized by College’s governing board to implement board-approved policies and procedures.

Protected speech: Forms of speech that are protected by the First Amendment. Some forms of speech – such as online threats and statements that cause campus disruption – may not be protected.

Report: A verbal or written description of an incident, situation, interaction(s) or behavior(s).

Reporter: An individual who filed a report.

Respondent: An individual described in a report as possibly violating the Student Code of Conduct.

Student: Anyone who has been admitted to the College and who has a continuing educational interest in the College. The term includes all persons taking courses at the College, either full-time or part-time. Persons who withdraw after allegedly violating the Student Code, who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the College or who have been notified of their acceptance for admission are considered students.

Substantial College interest: Used to describe situations where a student’s off-campus behavior is seen to represent a threat to campus safety or a possible disruption to College operation, prompting the College to take disciplinary action against the student in order to protect the interest of the campus community.

Title IX Coordinator: Designated by the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer to manage the Resolution process in cases falling under the federal law known as Title IX.

Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer: Designated by the College President to administer the Student Code of Conduct.

Victim: An individual harmed or otherwise affected by possible Code violations described in the report. The reporter and the victim are not always the same person.