Section 495D-121-590. Student conduct code—Prohibited student conduct.

The college may impose disciplinary sanctions against a student who commits, or aids, abets, incites, encourages, or assists another person to commit, an act(s) of misconduct which include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Academic dishonesty. Any act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication.

(a) Cheating includes any attempt to give or obtain unauthorized assistance relating to the completion of an academic assignment.

(b) Plagiarism includes taking and using as one's own, without proper attribution, the ideas, writings, or work of another person in completing an academic assignment. Prohibited conduct may also include the unauthorized submission for credit of academic work that has been submitted for credit in another course.

(c) Fabrication includes falsifying data, information, or citations in completing an academic assignment and also includes providing false or deceptive information to an instructor concerning the completion of an assignment.

(2) Other dishonesty. Any other acts of dishonesty. Such acts include, but are not limited to:

(a) Forgery, alteration, submission of falsified documents or misuse of any college document, record, or instrument of identification;

(b) Tampering with an election conducted by or for college students; or

(c) Furnishing false information or failing to furnish correct information, in response to the request or requirement of a college officer or employee.

(3) Disruptive activity. Participation in any activity that obstructs or disrupts:

(a) Any instruction, research, administration, disciplinary proceeding, or other college activity;

(b) The free flow of pedestrian or vehicular movement on college property or at a college activity;

(c) Any student's ability to profit from the instructional program; or

(d) Any activity that is authorized to occur on college property, whether or not actually conducted or sponsored by the college.

(4) Assault. Assault, physical abuse, verbal abuse, threat(s), intimidation, harassment, bullying, stalking or other conduct which harms, threatens, or is reasonably perceived as threatening the health or safety of another person or another person's property. For purposes of this subsection:

(a) Bullying is physical or verbal abuse, repeated over time, and involving a power imbalance between the aggressor and victim.

(b) Stalking is intentional and repeated following of another person, which places that person in reasonable fear that the perpetrator intends to injure, intimidate or harass that person. Stalking also includes instances where the perpetrator knows or reasonably should know that the person is frightened, intimidated or harassed, even if the perpetrator lacks such an intent.

(5) Imminent danger. Where the student presents an imminent danger to college property, or to himself or herself, or other students or persons in college facilities on or off campus, or to the education processes of the college.

(6) Cyber misconduct. Cyberstalking, cyberbullying, or online harassment. Use of electronic communications including, but not limited to, electronic mail, instant messaging, electronic bulletin boards, and social media sites to harass, abuse, bully or engage in other conduct which harms, threatens, or is reasonably perceived as threatening the health or safety of another person. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to, unauthorized monitoring of another's e-mail communications directly or through spyware, sending threatening e-mails, disrupting electronic communications with spam or by sending a computer virus, sending false messages to third parties using another's e-mail identity, nonconsensual recording of sexual activity, and nonconsensual distribution of a recording of sexual activity.

(7) Property violation. Attempted or actual damage to, or theft or misuse of, real or personal property or money of:

(a) The college or state;

(b) Any student or college officer, employee, or organization;

(c) Any other person or organization; or

(d) Possession of such property or money after it has been stolen.

(8) Noncompliance. Failure to comply with:

(a) The direction of a college officer or employee who is acting in the legitimate performance of his or her duties, including failure to properly identify oneself to such a person when requested to do so;

(b) A college attendance policy as published in the student handbook or course syllabus; or

(c) A college rule or policy as set forth in the Lake Washington Institute of Technology Policies and Procedures Manual which may be found in the library or online.

(9) Weapons. Possession, holding, wearing, transporting, storage, or presence of any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, martial arts weapons, explosive device, dangerous chemicals, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm is prohibited on the college campus, subject to the following exceptions:

(a) Commissioned law enforcement personnel or legally authorized military personnel while in performance of their duties; or

(b) A student with a valid concealed weapons permit may store a firearm in his or her vehicle parked on campus in accordance with RCW 9.41.050, provided the vehicle is locked and the weapon is concealed from view; or

(c) The president or designee may authorize possession of a weapon on campus upon a showing that the weapon is reasonably related to a legitimate pedagogical purpose. Such permission shall be in advance to bringing weapons to the college, in writing, and shall be subject to such terms or conditions incorporated therein.

(10) Hazing. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any initiation into a student organization or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious mental or emotional harm, to any student.

(11) Tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and related products. The use of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and related products in any building owned, leased, or operated by the college or in any location where such use is prohibited, including twenty-five feet from entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes of any building owned, leased, or operated by the college. "Related products" include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, pipes, bidi, clove cigarettes, waterpipes, hookahs, chewing tobacco, and snuff.

(12) Alcohol. Being observably under the influence of any alcoholic beverage, or otherwise using, possessing, selling, or delivering any alcoholic beverage, except as permitted by law and authorized by the college president.

(13) Marijuana. The use, possession, delivery, sale, or being observably under the influence of marijuana or the psychoactive compounds found in marijuana and intended for human consumption, regardless of form. While state law permits the recreational use of marijuana, federal law prohibits such use on college premises or in connection with college activities.

(14) Drugs. Being observably under the influence of any legend drug, narcotic drug, or controlled substance as defined in chapters 69.41 and 69.50 RCW, or otherwise using, possessing, delivering, or selling any such drug or substance, except in accordance with a lawful prescription for that student by a licensed health care professional. Being observably under the influence of any lawfully prescribed drug when enrolled in classes that require operation of heavy equipment or other dangerous equipment.

(15) Obstruction. Obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular movement on college property or at a college activity.

(16) Disorderly conduct. Conduct which is disorderly, lewd, obscene, or a breach of peace on college premises or at college sponsored activities.

(17) Discrimination. Discriminatory action which harms or adversely affects any member of the college community because of her/his race; color; national origin; sensory, mental, or physical disability; age; religion; creed; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender identity; veteran's status; or any other legally protected classification.

(18) Sexual misconduct. The term "sexual misconduct" includes sexual harassment, sexual intimidation, and sexual violence.

(a) Sexual harassment. The term "sexual harassment" means unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is sufficiently serious as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, based on sex, the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the college's educational program or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus community members.

(b) Sexual intimidation. The term "sexual intimidation" incorporates the definition of "sexual harassment" and means threatening or emotionally distressing conduct based on sex including, but not limited to, nonconsensual recording of sexual activity or the distribution of such recording.

(c) Sexual violence. "Sexual violence" is a type of sexual discrimination and harassment. Nonconsensual sexual intercourse, nonconsensual sexual contact, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are all types of sexual violence.

(i) Nonconsensual sexual intercourse is any sexual intercourse (anal, oral, or vaginal), however slight, with any object, by a person upon another person, that is without consent and/or by force. Sexual intercourse includes anal or vaginal penetration by a penis, tongue, finger, or object, or oral copulation by mouth to genital contact or genital to mouth contact.

(ii) Nonconsensual sexual contact is any intentional sexual touching, however slight, with any object, by a person upon another person that is without consent and/or by force. Sexual touching includes any bodily contact with the breasts, groin, mouth, or other bodily orifice of another individual, or any other bodily contact in a sexual manner.

(iii) Domestic violence includes asserted violent misdemeanor and felony offenses committed by the victim's current or former spouse, current or former cohabitant, person similarly situated under domestic or family violence law, or anyone else protected under domestic or family violence law.

(iv) Dating violence means violence by a person who has been in a romantic or intimate relationship with the victim. Whether there was such relationship will be gauged by its length, type, and frequency of interaction.

(v) Stalking means intentional and repeated harassment or following of another person, which places that person in reasonable fear that the perpetrator intends to injure, intimidate, or harass that person. Stalking also includes instances where the perpetrator knows or reasonably should know that the person is frightened, intimidated, or harassed, even if the perpetrator lacks such intent.

(vi) Consent: Knowing, voluntary and clear permission by word or action, to engage in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Each party has the responsibility to make certain that the other has consented before engaging in the activity. For consent to be valid, there must be at the time of the act of sexual intercourse or sexual contact actual words or conduct indicating freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact.

A person cannot consent if he or she is unable to understand what is happening or is disoriented, helpless, asleep or unconscious for any reason, including due to alcohol or other drugs. An individual who engages in sexual activity when the individual knows, or should know, that the other person is physically or mentally incapacitated has engaged in nonconsensual conduct.

Intoxication is not a defense against allegations that an individual has engaged in nonconsensual sexual conduct.

(19) Harassment. Unwelcome and offensive conduct, including verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct, that is directed at a person because of such person's protected status and that is sufficiently serious as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the college's educational program or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus community members. Protected status includes a person's race; color; national origin; sensory, mental, or physical disability; age; religion; creed; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender identity; veteran's status; or any other legally protected classification. See "Sexual misconduct" for the definition of "sexual harassment." Harassing conduct may include, but is not limited to, physical conduct, verbal, written, social media and electronic communications.

(20) Retaliation. Retaliation against any individual for reporting, providing information, exercising one's rights or responsibilities, or otherwise being involved in the process of responding to, investigating, or addressing allegations or violations of federal, state or local law, or college policies including, but not limited to, student conduct code provisions prohibiting discrimination and harassment.

(21) Misuse of information resources. Theft or other misuse of computer time or other electronic information resources of the college. Such misuse includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Unauthorized use of such resources or opening of a file, message, or other item;

(b) Unauthorized duplication, transfer, or distribution of a computer program, file, message, or other item;

(c) Unauthorized use or distribution of someone else's password or other identification;

(d) Use of such time or resources to interfere with someone else's work;

(e) Use of such time or resources to send, display, or print an obscene or abusive message, text, or image;

(f) Use of such time or resources to interfere with normal operation of the college's computing system or other electronic information resources;

(g) Use of such time or resources in violation of applicable copyright or other law;

(h) Adding to or otherwise altering the infrastructure of the college's electronic information resources without authorization;

(i) Failure to comply with the college's acceptable use policy.

(22) Breach of campus safety. Safety violation includes any nonaccidental conduct that interferes with or otherwise compromises any college policy, equipment, or procedure relating to the safety and security of the campus community. Breaching campus safety or security includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Unauthorized access to college facilities; intentionally damaging door locks; unauthorized possession of college keys or access cards; duplicating college keys or access cards; or propping open of exterior doors;

(b) Tampering with fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, alarm pull stations or emergency exits;

(c) Placement of equipment or vehicles, including bicycles, so as to obstruct the means of access to/from college buildings;

(d) Entering or remaining in any closed college facility or entering after the closing time of the college facility without permission of a college official;

(e) Operation of any motor vehicle on college property in an unsafe manner or in a manner which is reasonably perceived as threatening the health or safety of another person.

(23) Abuse of procedures. Abuse or misuse of any of the procedures relating to student complaints or misconduct including, but not limited to:

(a) Failure to obey a subpoena;

(b) Falsification or misrepresentation of information;

(c) Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a proceeding;

(d) Interfering with someone else's proper participation in a proceeding;

(e) Destroying or altering potential evidence or attempting to intimidate or otherwise improperly pressure a witness or potential witness;

(f) Attempting to influence the impartiality of, or harassing or intimidating, a student conduct committee member;

(g) Failure to comply with any disciplinary sanction(s) imposed under this student conduct code.

(24) Violation of laws. Violation of any federal, state, or local law, rule, or regulation or other college rules or policies, including college traffic and parking rules.

(25) Ethical violation. The breach of any generally recognized and published code of ethics or standards of professional practice that governs the conduct of a particular profession for which the student is taking a course or is pursuing as an educational goal or major.

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(13). WSR 16-10-092, § 495D-121-590, filed 5/3/16, effective 6/3/16; WSR 14-14-047, § 495D-121-590, filed 6/25/14, effective 7/26/14.]

RCW 28B.50.140(13). WSR 16-10-092, § 495D-121-590, filed 5/3/16, effective 6/3/16; WSR 14-14-047, § 495D-121-590, filed 6/25/14, effective 7/26/14.