Student Code of Conduct

All students are expected to obey College policies, rules and regulations and not violate municipal, county, state or Federal law. Through voluntary entrance to the College, students indicate a willingness to adhere to the policies, rules and regulations of the College and acknowledge the right of the College to initiate appropriate disciplinary actions. Instructors are responsible for maintaining a classroom environment conducive to teaching and learning, and therefore, may remove any student from class for disruptive behavior or other disciplinary reasons.

Students at Northeast Iowa Community College are responsible for knowing the information, policies and procedures outlined in this document. The College reserves the right to make changes to this code as necessary and once those changes are posted online, they are in effect. Students are encouraged to check online for the current versions of all policies and procedures. Hard copies of the Student Conduct Code are available to students upon request from the vice president of student services. The complete Student Conduct Code is available in the College Catalog.‌

Although emphasis is placed on education and guidance in cases of misconduct, the College may take disciplinary action and/or civil and criminal actions against a person disrupting College business or processes in order to ensure the collective good of the community and to protect the rights of its members. The scope of authority of the College includes dismissing a student or visitor whose conduct is unsuited to the purpose of the College.

NICC retains the authority to immediately remove a student from an on-the-job training site, a clinical area, an observation, a class offered through any format, a student organization or the College property when a student’s grades, performance, conduct, or health may have a detrimental effect on the student, the College, other students, faculty or staff, customers, clients or patients of the cooperating agency.

Student Conduct Code Violations

The Student Conduct Code applies to prospective students and is enforceable at the time of application to the College or at the time of enrollment for non-credit classes. NICC students are expected to conduct themselves as good citizens of the College community by respecting the rights and property of others. Any person who commits, attempts to commit or incites/aids others in committing acts of misconduct may be subject to disciplinary procedures by the College. The following student conduct violations may be grounds for disciplinary action except when explicitly authorized by the College. However, this is not an exhaustive list of all behaviors that may be subject to disciplinary actions.

A. Substantial obstruction/disruption of learning, teaching, administrative processes, disciplinary procedures or any College authorized function/activity.

B. Unauthorized occupation/use of (or unauthorized entry into) any College property.

C. Conduct which threatens or endangers the health/safety of any person on the campus or at any College authorized function/activity including, but not limited to, physical abuse, the threat of physical abuse, sexual misconduct and assault.

D. Knowingly furnishing a false report or false warning that College property may be subject to a bombing, fire, crime, emergency or other catastrophe.

E. Theft, defacement, or damage to College property or to any agency/person on College property.

F. Interference with any lawful right of any person on the campus including the right of access to College property.

G. Animals are not permitted on campus with the exception of registered service animals and/or as permitted with advanced approval by College Administration.

H. Unlawful use, abuse, possession, selling, distributing or purchasing of alcohol or alcoholic beverages, prescription or non-prescription drugs, other controlled substances or drug paraphernalia.

I. Use or possession of firearms, ammunition, dangerous weapons, substances, or materials, or bombs, explosives, or explosive, incendiary devices prohibited by law is prohibited at or in any location owned, leased, or used by the College or at any College-sponsored activities or events. This prohibition includes possession in any vehicle at or in any location owned, leased, or used by the College or at any College-sponsored activities or events. Weapons include, but are not limited to: knives, guns (including BB, paintball, pellet) firearms, tasers or simulations of any such items (devices that appear to be real). A weapon may also include an object designed for use or used in a manner to inflict harm to a human being or animal or to damage property.

J. Off-campus conduct which directly and/or adversely disrupts or interferes with the educational or other functions of the College.

K. Threatening behaviors such as verbal abuse, humiliation, bullying, intimidation, stalking or harassment of any person of the College community sufficiently severe, persistent or offensive enough that it interferes with the victim’s ability to benefit from the College’s educational programming or activities. (See Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Policy).

L. Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual intercourse and/or sexual exploitation.

M. Dishonesty in any form at any time prior to or during the college process. This includes forgery, falsification of records, misrepresentation and lying.

N. Academic dishonesty in any form such as cheating and plagiarism.

O. Unauthorized use or possession of property belonging to the College or any agency/person on campus.

P. Inappropriate use of social media and/or college technology including cyber bullying. (See Computer Systems Acceptable Use Policy).

Q. Iowa law and the Board of Trustees Policy prohibit smoking or use of tobacco products within college buildings, on college grounds and in vehicles. This includes the use of any device that replicates the smoking experience, such as e-cigarettes. (See Tobacco-Free Policy).

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

S. Gambling at a College sponsored activity without specific authorization by the administration.

T. Failure to comply with the directives of College personnel acting in the performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to College officials when requested to do so.

U. The use of vulgar, offensive or obscene language or behavior as determined by rational standards of civil behavior in a public environment.

V. Operating a motor vehicle recklessly, so as to pose a threat to the safety of others, on campus or at College-sponsored activities off campus.

W. Violation of College policies or regulations supplemental to the Student Conduct Code, which are published in any other official College publication.

X. Retaliatory action taken by a responding individual or allied third party directed at an individual, group or any College representative.

Y. Abuse of or interference with the conduct process including, but not limited to: falsification, misrepresentation, concealing or destroying of any information related to a conduct case, attempting to discourage or influence another persons’ participation or use of the conduct process, failure to comply with the sanctions imposed as a result of the conduct process, or harassment  (verbal, physical, electronic) and/or intimidation of any member(s) of the conduct proceeding prior to, during, or following a conduct case.