A request for disciplinary action may be initiated in writing by district employees. When there is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the following procedures will be followed:
If the conduct occurred in the classroom, the instructor may remove the student from class for that day and the next class meeting if the student interfered with the instructional process. Removal must be reported to the disciplinary officer immediately. If the student is a threat to self or to others, the instructor must contact Campus Police immediately. If the student removed is a dependent minor, the instructor may request that the parent or guardian attend a parent conference regarding the removal. Upon removal of a student, the instructor will give the student verbal and/or written notice of the reasons for the removal. Refer to AR 5500 for more details.
If the conduct did not occur in the classroom, the college employee discovering the conduct will report the incident to the disciplinary officer and submit a written report on the appropriate form (i.e., Incident Report form). The report will include (a) date and time of the conduct, (b) location, (c) names of witnesses, and (d) a detailed explanation of the alleged misconduct.
When the report of alleged misconduct is sent to the disciplinary officer, the officer will evaluate the information to determine if it alleges a violation of the District’s student conduct policy and/or regulations. If the disciplinary officer determines that the report supports such allegations, a meeting will be requested with the student to provide the student an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The disciplinary officer will review all documentation related to the case to make a determination if disciplinary action is required. The disciplinary officer will send a notice by mail to the student charged with the violation. This notice will include a written explanation of the incident and the charges that have been made (i.e., the specific conduct involved and the specific regulation(s) alleged to have been violated.
The disciplinary decision is final and it is immediately in effect unless it involves termination of State and/ or local financial aid, suspension, or recommendation of expulsion, in which case the student may appeal the decision to the Disciplinary Hearing Panel within ten days. In cases referred to the Panel by the disciplinary officer or in cases where the decision is appealed to the Panel, the procedures in Section V will be followed. The student may, in writing, accept the penalty of suspension or expulsion without further hearing and without admitting participation in the conduct charged.
Range of Disciplinary Actions
- Verbal reprimand
A warning that the conduct is not acceptable.
- Written reprimand
Becomes part of the student file for a minimum of five years or longer at the discretion of the disciplinary officer, and is considered in the event of future violations.
- Mental Health Clearance
Mental health clearance may be required before a student is read- mitted to a particular class or allowed to be on district property. The campus chief administrative officer (or designee) must receive a letter from a licensed mental health professional stating that in his or her professional judgment, the student will no longer continue the behavior which gave rise to the disciplinary action or that the student’s presence on campus is not a threat to himself or herself or others. The mental health professional must be licensed by the State of California. The student shall bear the cost and expense of obtaining mental health clearance.
- Disciplinary Probation
A specific period of conditional participation in campus and academic affairs, which may involve any or all of the following:
• Ineligibility for all student government roles;
• Removal from any student government position;
• Revocation of the privilege of participating in district and/or student-sponsored activities;
• Ineligibility for membership on an athletic team;
• Limitation of courses and/or instructors the student may take
- Suspension
The Board of Trustees or the disciplinary officer may suspend a student for cause. Suspension will be accompanied by a hearing conducted by the Disciplinary Hearing Panel. Suspension may involve:
• Removal from one or more classes for the remainder of the academic term.
• Removal from all classes and activities of the District for one or more terms. During this time, the student may not be enrolled in any class or program within the District.
- Expulsion
The Board of Trustees may expel a student for cause when other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct or when the presence of the student causes a continuing danger to the physical safety of the student or others. Expulsion will be accompanied by a hearing conducted by the Disciplinary Hearing Panel.
For further information, students may contact the President’s Office at Irvine Valley College or refer to the South Orange County Community College District Administrative Regulation 5500, available in the college library or at socccd.edu.