FF. Student Conduct & Discipline
STUDENT CONDUCT
The South Plains College Mission Statement reflects the goal of helping students become productive and responsible citizens in a global society. This is achieved through providing learning environments that are innovative, engaging, compassionate, safe, diverse, and supportive. This mission is central to the expectations for student conduct. As members of the South Plains College community, students are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct that is published annually in the South Plains College Student Guide. It can be found at http://catalog.southplainscollege.edu/index.php?catoid=56.
APPLICATION AND JURISDICTION
Students are subject to discipline for prohibited conduct that occurs while the student is participating in off-campus activities sponsored by or affiliated with the College, including field trips, internships, rotations, and clinical assignments.
College disciplinary action may be instituted against a student charged with conduct that potentially violates both the civil/criminal law and College policy without regard to the pendency of civil or criminal litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution. At the discretion of the dean of students, proceedings under this chapter may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following criminal proceedings off campus. Determinations made and sanctions imposed under this policy will not be subject to change because criminal charges arising out of the same facts that give rise to the violations of college rules were dismissed, reduced, or resolved in favor of or against the criminal law defendant.
College disciplinary action instituted by the Office of the Dean of Students will be based upon the “Preponderance of Evidence” standard. This standard is satisfied if the action is deemed more likely to have occurred than not.
Adjudication of any alleged violation of the Code of Conduct will follow the procedures laid out in the Code of Conduct in effect on the day that the Dean of Students office receives notification of the alleged violation and not the date on which the purported infraction is noted to have occurred.
All code of conduct violations that fall under the definitions of equal opportunity, harassment and nondiscrimination will be investigated and adjudicated following Policy FH.
REPORTING STUDENT CONDUCT VIOLATIONS
Breaches in the student code of conduct can be reported online using the General Student Conduct Report form, the Academic Dishonesty Report, or any other applicable reporting form at https://www.southplainscollege.edu/referral/. Reports for safety related concerns may also be directed to the SPC Police Department. Reporters may also directly contact the Dean of Students Office with suspected Code of Conduct Violations.
DISCIPLINARY RECORDS
Disciplinary records are confidential and are covered under FERPA guidelines. The disciplinary record is kept separate from the student’s academic record, is confidential, and will not be revealed except on request of the student or in accordance with applicable state and federal law.
The dean of students will notify the Office of the Registrar and other appropriate administrative offices if any of the sanctions prohibit the student from enrolling in future semesters or prevent a student from maintaining enrollment at the time of the sanctions. Suspension is noted on the official transcript during the term of suspension. A permanent notation indicating the student is not eligible for enrollment is placed on the official transcript for students who are expelled. A written record of any case investigated by the Dean of Students Office will be maintained for at least seven years. The disciplinary record will reflect the nature of the charge, the sanction assessed, and any other pertinent information.
Authorized: Vice President for Student Affairs Date Issued: 2/18/2013
Approved by Executive Council – 9/17/2018
Amendment:3/9/2022
Nature of Revision: Content
