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Academic Honesty & Standards of Conduct

Board Policy 5500

Academic Honesty & Standards of Conduct

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY 

El Camino College is dedicated to maintaining an optimal learning environment and insists upon academic honesty. To uphold the academic integrity of the institution, all members of the academic community, faculty, staff and students alike, must assume responsibility for providing an educational environment of the highest standards characterized by a spirit of academic honesty. 

It is the responsibility of all members of the academic community to behave in a manner which encourages learning and promotes honesty and to act with fairness toward others. Students should not seek an unfair advantage over other students when completing an assignment, taking an examination, or engaging in any other kind of academic activity. 

 

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT 

Conduct at El Camino College must conform to the laws of the State of California, District policies, and campus rules and regulations. The El Camino College faculty, staff, and administration are dedicated to maintaining a positive learning environment. Optimal standards for behavior are essential to the maintenance of a quality college environment. These standards will apply to all students on campus, other college property or while attending any college-sponsored event. Violation of such laws, policies, rules, and regulations or behavior adversely affecting suitability as a student, will lead to disciplinary action. Disciplinary actions as noted in Administrative Procedure 5520 may be taken against any person who engages in behavior defined as misconduct.  

The following misconduct shall constitute good cause for discipline, including but not limited to the removal, suspension, or expulsion of a student. 

 

I.DISHONESTY 

a.Cheating, plagiarism (including plagiarism in a student publication), or engaging in other academic dishonesty including but not limited to: 

  1. Representing the words, ideas, or work of another as one’s own in any academic exercise including the use of commercial term paper companies or online sources for essays, term papers, or research papers, whether free or paid. 
  2. Copying from another student or former student or allowing another student to copy from one’s work. 
  3. Allowing another individual to assume one’s identity or assuming the identity of another individual.
  4. Changing answers on a previously scored test, assignment, or experiment with the intent to defraud. 
  5. Inventing data for the purpose of completing an assignment, a laboratory experiment, or case study analysis with the intent to defraud. 
  6. Obtaining or copying exams or test questions when prohibited by the instructor. 
  7. Giving or receiving information during an examination or test by any means such as sign language, hand signals or secret codes, or through the use of any electronic device. 
  8. Using aids such as notes, calculators, or electronic devices unless specifically authorized by the instructor. 
  9. Handing in the same paper or other assignment in more than one class when prohibited by the instructor. 
  10. Any other action which is not an honest reflection of a student’s own academic work. 

b.Other forms of dishonesty, including but not limited to forgery or attempted forgery of any academic record; alteration or misuse of college documents, records or identification; or knowingly furnishing false information to the District. 

c.Unauthorized preparation, giving, selling, transfer, distribution, or publication, for any commercial purpose, of any contemporaneous recording of an academic presentation in a classroom or equivalent site of instruction, including but not limited to handwritten or typewritten class notes, except as permitted by any District policy or administrative procedure. 

II.DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT AND EXPRESSION 

a.Disruptive behavior, willful disobedience, profanity or vulgarity, or the open defiance of the authority of, or abuse of, college personnel. 

b.Any acts of aggression including verbal or physical actions that are intended to create fear, apprehension, or bodily harm. 

c.Lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct on District-owned or -controlled property, or at District sponsored or supervised functions. 

d.Engaging in expression which is obscene; libelous or slanderous; or which so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on college premises, other college property, or while attending any college-sponsored event, or the violation of lawful District administrative procedures, or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the District.

e.Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other authorized college activities including but not limited to its community service functions or to authorized activities held off campus. Obstruction or disruption includes but is not limited to the use of skateboards, bicycles, radios and roller skates 

f.Failure to comply with the directions of a member of the college certificated personnel, college management or supervisory personnel, college staff member, or campus police acting within the scope of his or her duties. 

 

III.DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND SMOKING 

a.Unlawful possession, use, sale, offer to sell, or furnishing, or being under the influence of, any controlled substance listed in Sections 11053-11058 of the California Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind; or unlawful possession of, or offering, arranging, or negotiating the sale of any drug paraphernalia, as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 11014.5. 

b.Willful or persistent smoking in any area where smoking has been prohibited by law or by regulation of the college or District. 

 

IV.THEFT, ROBBERY AND DAMAGE 

a.Committing or attempting to commit robbery or extortion. 

b.Causing or attempting to cause damage to District property at any location or to private property on campus. 

c.Stealing or attempting to steal District property at any location or private property on campus, or knowingly receiving stolen District property at any location or private property on campus. 

d.Willful misconduct which results in cutting, defacing, or other injury to any real or personal property owned by the District or personal property of other individuals on campus. 

 

V.HARASSMENTS AND THREATENING/VIOLENT BEHAVIOR 

a.Causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical injury to another person including but not limited to: assault, battery, sex crimes including sexual assault or rape. 

b.Committing sexual harassment as defined by law or by District policies and procedures. 

c.Engaging in harassing, hazing, or injurious behavior for any reason or discriminatory behavior based on race, sex, (i.e., gender) sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by law. 

d.Willful misconduct which results in injury or death to a student or to college personnel. 

 

 

VI.WEAPONS AND MISUSE OF FACILITIES

a.Possession, sale or otherwise furnishing any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object, including but not limited to any facsimile firearm, knife or explosive, unless, in the case of possession of any object of this type, the student has obtained written permission to possess the item from the appropriate State agency and a District employee, which is concurred in by the college president. 

b.Unauthorized entry to or use of college facilities, equipment or supplies. 

 

VII.MISCELLANEOUS 

a.Persistent or habitual serious misconduct where other means of correction have failed to bring about proper conduct. 

b.The commission of any act constituting a crime under California law, on campus or any district owned property or at any college-sponsored event. 

 

I understand that violating any part of the CECHS – ECC code of conduct will result in disciplinary action that may include being returned to the school of residence.