Section 132L-350-090. Disciplinary sanctions.

(1) The board of trustees acting in accordance with Washington state statutes delegates to the president of the college authority to administer disciplinary action. In addition, the board of trustees authorizes the college administration to promulgate rules and provide for sanctions that provide a civil and nondisruptive learning environment.

(2) Administration of the disciplinary procedure is the responsibility of the student conduct officer. The student conduct officer shall serve as the principal investigator and prosecutor for alleged violations of this code.

(3) In situations of apparent misconduct or apparent unauthorized presence in a college facility, it may be necessary for properly identified college personnel to ask a person to produce evidence of being a currently enrolled student at the college. Failure to comply with a legitimate request for identification from properly identified college personnel is a violation of this code and may result in a disciplinary action if the person is found to be a student. In emergency situations, cases of misconduct, or where there is a substantial danger to the college community or college property, failure to produce identification by a student may result in the assumption by college personnel that the person questioned is not a student and may result in direct civil or criminal action.

(4) The instructor is responsible for conduct in the classroom or any course-related activity or event and is authorized to take such steps as are necessary when behavior of the student disrupts the normal classroom procedure. Instructors may remove a student for the single class session in which such disruptive behavior occurs. When such behavior results in expulsion from a class session, the instructor must report the infraction in writing to the student conduct officer at the earliest opportunity. The student is automatically permitted to return to the next class session pending the outcome of any investigation or disciplinary hearings by the student conduct officer. If the student repeats behavior in any class session that again disrupts the normal classroom procedure, the student may be removed again for that class session by the instructor who shall again report the infraction to the student conduct officer in writing. In all cases involving classroom disruption, the student conduct officer will proceed with the investigation and/or disciplinary hearings in the quickest possible time consistent with the procedural requirements established in this code.

(5) The person in charge of any college office, department, or facility is responsible for conduct in that office, department, or facility and is authorized to take such steps as are necessary when behavior of the student disrupts the normal office procedure. The person in charge may remove a student for the single day in which such disruptive behavior occurs. When such behavior results in expulsion from an office, department, or facility, the person in charge must report the infraction in writing to the student conduct officer at the earliest opportunity. The student is automatically permitted to return the next day pending the outcome of any investigation or disciplinary hearings by the student conduct officer. If the student repeats behavior at any time in the future that again disrupts the normal office procedure, the student may be removed again for a single day by the person in charge who shall again report the infraction to the student conduct officer in writing. In all cases involving office disruption, the student conduct officer will proceed with the investigation and/or disciplinary hearings in the quickest possible time consistent with the procedural requirements established in this code.

(6) The student has the right to appeal any disciplinary action of an instructor or college employee to the student conduct officer in accordance with the procedures set forth in this code.

(7) A student formally charged or under investigation for a violation of this code may not excuse himself or herself from disciplinary hearings by withdrawing from the college.

(8) In addition to initiating discipline proceedings for violation of the student conduct code, the college may refer any violations of federal, state, or local laws to civil and criminal authorities for disposition. The college shall proceed with student disciplinary proceedings regardless of whether the underlying conduct is subject to civil or criminal prosecution.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140 and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 15-18-054, § 132L-350-090, filed 8/27/15, effective 9/27/15.]

RCW 28B.50.140 and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 15-18-054, § 132L-350-090, filed 8/27/15, effective 9/27/15.