The Core Values and Behavioral Expectations of Delaware County Community College

The College considers the behavior described in the following subsections as inappropriate for the College community and in opposition to the core values set forth in this document. These expectations and rules apply to all students. Delaware County Community College encourages its students, faculty, staff, and administrators to report to College officials all incidents that involve the following actions. Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit the following misconduct is subject to the sanctions outlined in the Student Conduct Process.

Integrity

College students exemplify honesty, honor, and a respect for the truth in all of their dealings. Behavior that violates this value includes but is not limited to:

1. Falsification.

Knowingly furnishing false information to or about any College official acting in performance of their duties. This includes but is not limited to: false reporting of emergencies and/or furnishing or possessing false, falsified or forged materials, documents, accounts, records, identification, or financial instruments.

2. Academic Dishonesty. 

Acts of academic dishonesty as outlined in the Academic Honesty Policy.

3. Unauthorized Access.

Unauthorized access to any owned or leased College building or space (i.e., keys, cards, etc.), unauthorized possession, duplication or use of means of access to any Delaware County Community College building or failing to timely report a lost College identification card or key.

4. Collusion.

Action or inaction with another or others to violate the Code of Student Conduct.

5. Trust.

Violations of positions of trust within the community.

6. Election Tampering.

Tampering with the election of any College-­recognized student organization.

7. Taking of Property.

Intentional and unauthorized taking of College property or the personal property of another, including goods, services and other valuables.

8. Stolen Property.

Knowingly taking or maintaining possession of stolen property.

Community

College students build and enhance their community. Behavior that violates this value includes, but is not limited to:

9. Disruptive Behavior.

Substantial disruption of College operations including obstruction of teaching, research, administration, other College activities, and/or other authorized non-College activities which occur on campus.

10. Rioting.

Causing, inciting or participating in any disturbance that presents a clear and present danger to self or others, causes physical harm to others, or damage and/or destruction of property.

11. Unauthorized Entry.

Misuse of access privileges to College premises or unauthorized entry to or use of College buildings, owned or leased, including trespassing, propping or unauthorized use of alarmed doors for entry into or exit from a College building.

12. Trademark.

Unauthorized use (including misuse) of College or organizational names and images.

13. Damage and Destruction.

Intentional, reckless and/or unauthorized damage to or destruction of College property or the personal property of another.

14. OIT and Acceptable Use.

iolating the College Acceptable Use and Computing Policy, found online at: dccc.edu/oit/policies.

15. Gambling.

Gambling as prohibited by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Gambling may include raffles, lotteries, sports pools, and online betting activities.

16. Weapons.

Possession, use, or distribution of explosives (including fireworks and ammunition), guns (including air, BB, paintball, facsimile weapons, and pellet guns), or other weapons or dangerous objects such as arrows, axes, machetes, nunchucks, throwing stars, or knives with a blade of longer than 2.5 inches that a reasonable person not view as a pocket-knife or tool, including the storage of any item that falls within the category of a weapon in a vehicle parked on owned or leased College property. Parking lots at facilities used by the College, including schools, may have similar or additional expectations. Authorized exceptions for on-duty police officers and Municipal Police Academy cadets are outlined in the Possession or Weapons on Campus Policy.

17. Tobacco and Smoking.

Use of any tobacco product on campus per the Tobacco-Free Campus Policy or use of electronic cigarettes (i.e. vaping) or similar products on campus.

18. Fire Safety.

Violation of local, state, federal, or campus fire policies including, but not limited to:

• Intentionally or recklessly causing a fire which damages College or personal property or which causes injury.
• Failure to evacuate a College­‐controlled building during a fire alarm;
• Improper use of College fire safety equipment;
• Tampering with or improperly engaging a fire alarm or fire detection/control equipment while on College property. Such action may result in a local fine in addition to College sanctions.

19. Ineligible Pledging or Association.

Pledging or associating with an unauthorized student organization without having met eligibility requirements established by the College.

20. Animals.

Animals, with the exception of animals that provide assistance (e.g., seeing-eye dogs), are not permitted on campus except as permitted by law.

21. Wheeled Devices. 

Skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, bicycles, and similar wheeled devices are not permitted to be used inside College buildings or on athletic facilities including but not limited to tennis courts, basketball courts, and fields. Additionally, skateboards and other wheeled items may not be ridden on railings, curbs, benches, or any such fixtures that may be damaged by these activities, and individuals may be liable for damage.

Social Justice

Students recognize that respecting the dignity of every person is essential for creating and sustaining a flourishing college community. They understand and appreciate how their decisions and actions impact others and are just and equitable in their treatment of all members of the community. They act to discourage and challenge those whose actions may be harmful to and/or diminish the worth of others. Conduct that violates this value includes, but is not limited to:

22. Discrimination.

Any act or failure to act that is based upon an individual or group’s actual or perceived status (sex, gender, gender expression, race, citizenship, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected status) that is sufficiently severe that it limits or denies the ability to participate in or benefit from the College’s educational program or activities.

23. Harassment.

Any unwelcome conduct based on actual or perceived status including: sex, gender, gender expression, race, citizenship, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected status. Any unwelcome conduct should be reported to campus officials who will act to remedy and resolve reported incidents on behalf of the victim and community.

• Hostile Environment - Sanctions can and will be imposed for the creation of a hostile environment only when harassment is sufficiently severe, pervasive (or persistent), and objectively offensive that it unreasonably interferes with, limits, or denies the ability to participate in or benefit from the College’s educational or employment program or activities.

24. Retaliatory Discrimination or Harassment.

Any intentional, adverse action taken by a responding individual or allied third party, absent legitimate nondiscriminatory purposes, against a participant or supporter of a participant in a civil rights grievance proceeding or other protected activity under this Code.

25. Abuse of Conduct Process.

Abuse or interference with, or failure to comply with, College processes including conduct and academic integrity hearings including, but not limited to:

• Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information;
• Failure to provide, destroying, or concealing information during an investigation of an alleged policy violation;
• Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the campus conduct system;
• Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a campus conduct body prior to, during, and/or following a campus conduct proceeding;
• Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed by the campus conduct system;
• Influencing, or attempting to influence, another person to commit an abuse of the campus conduct system.

Respect

College students show positive regard for each other and for the community. Behavior that violates this value includes, but is not limited to:

26. Harm to Persons.

Intentionally or recklessly causing physical harm or endangering the health or safety of any person.

27. Threatening Behaviors:

• Threat - Written or verbal conduct that causes a reasonable expectation of injury to the health or safety of any person or damage to any property;
• Intimidation - Intimidation defined as implied threats or acts that cause a reasonable fear of harm in another.

28. Bullying and Cyberbullying.

Bullying and cyberbullying are repeated and/or severe aggressive behaviors that intimidate or intentionally harm or control another person physically or emotionally, and are not protected by freedom of expression.

29. Hazing.

Defined as an act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or that destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization. Participation or cooperation by the person(s) being hazed does not excuse the violation. Failing to intervene, to prevent, (and/or) failing to discourage (and/or) failing to report those acts may also violate this policy. See the Delaware County Community College Anti-Hazing Policy for more information.

30. Intimate Partner/Relationship Violence.

Violence or abuse by a person in an intimate relationship with another.

31. Stalking.

Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that is unwelcome and would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.

32. Sexual Misconduct.

Includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, non-­consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual intercourse, and/or sexual exploitation.

33. Public Exposure.

Includes deliberately and publicly exposing one’s intimate body parts, public urination, defecation, and public sex acts.

Responsibility

College students are given and accept a high level of responsibility to self, to others, and to the community. Behavior that violates this value includes, but is not limited to:

34. Alcohol.

Use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law, or being intoxicated on College premises or when representing the College at off-campus events.

• Empty Container - Possession of containers that previously contained alcoholic beverages. Empty containers will be considered an open container and deemed as proof of consumption and a violation of the alcohol policy. The policy applies to all students, regardless of age;
• Common Source - Possession of common source containers, whether full or empty, of alcohol such as kegs, beer balls, or boxed wine;
• Drinking Games - Participation in and/or being in the presence of drinking games or activities that encourage rapid consumption of alcohol;
• Possession - Possession of alcoholic beverages by anyone including persons 21 years of age or older on College property;
• Consumption - Consumption of alcoholic beverages or possession of an open container by anyone including persons 21 years of age or older on College property. This includes but is not limited to; public space within academic buildings, athletic venues/buildings, tailgating, etc.;
• Intoxication - Intoxication by any person, regardless of age. Social drinking must never be undertaken to the detriment of, or in violation of, the rights of others. As such, students are reminded that it is their responsibility to be sober at all times. The College will not tolerate public drunkenness since intoxicated students act in a manner inconsistent with the values of the college, pose a threat to themselves, and can make life unpleasant for those with whom they live. Any student found in an intoxicated condition will be subject to appropriate sanctions. Determination as to whether or not a student is intoxicated may be made on the basis of the following factors including, but not limited to whether a student is: unable to walk without assistance, speaking incoherently, unconscious, vomiting, emitting a strong odor of alcohol, behaving in a loud and/or disorderly manner;
• Sale/Distribution - Sale, distribution, or provision or attempts to sell, distribute or provide alcoholic beverages to or by anyone including persons 21 years of age or older on College property. This includes hosting a party where alcohol is present and/or being consumed without administrative approval.

35. Drugs.

Use, possession, and/or distribution of illegal drugs and other controlled substances or drug paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law.

• Paraphernalia - Possession of paraphernalia including any item typically used to inhale/ingest/inject/mask drugs, regardless of whether the item has been used for illegal purposes;
• Possession - Possession of drugs;
• Use - Use of drugs;
• Prescriptions - Misuse, abuse, and/or sale of prescription drugs;
• Distribution - Distribution (any form of exchange, gift, transfer or sale) of drugs;
• Co-Conspirator/Aiding - Serving as a co-conspirator in drug related activity on campus; includes aiding in and/or knowingly endorsing acts of distribution.

36. Failure to Comply.

Failure to comply with the reasonable directives of College officials or law enforcement officers during the performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.

37. Financial Responsibilities.

Failure to promptly meet financial responsibilities to the institution, including, but not limited to; knowingly passing a worthless check or money order in payment to the institution or to an official of the institution acting in an official capacity.

38. Other Policies.

Violating other published College policies or rules.

39. Health and Safety.

Creation of health and/or safety hazards (dangerous pranks, hanging out of or climbing from/on/in windows, balconies, roofs, etc.)

40. Violations of Law.

Evidence of violation of local, state or federal laws, when substantiated through the College’s conduct process.