In order to provide for the maximum safety and well-being of the College community, including guests, certain standards of behavior have been established at Middlesex County College. Upon admission to the College, all students accept an unqualified commitment to adhere to such standards and to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects pride in themselves and the College. These standards of conduct will apply to students engaging in College sponsored activities both on and off-campus.
Conduct that adversely affects a student’s responsible membership in the academic community may result in appropriate disciplinary action. The College will not tolerate disruptive behavior, violence or physical interference with the rights of any member of our college community.
The Code of Student Conduct identifies behavior deemed unacceptable at Middlesex County College. Infractions of the Code include, but are not limited to the prohibited conduct listed as follows:
1. Unauthorized use or possession on the campus of weapons, ammunition, explosives, fireworks, or other dangerous substances or materials.
2. Threatening, harassing or inflicting bodily harm or physical abuse or injury to the person of a fellow student, faculty or staff member, administrative officer or guest of the College.
3. Harassment, intimidation or bullying to the person of a fellow student of the College. Harassment, intimidation or bullying is defined as any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on the property of the College or at any function sponsored by the College that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the institution or the rights of other students’ and that:
a. a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property;
b. has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause disruption in, or interference with, the orderly operation of the College; or
c. creates a hostile educational environment for the student at the College; or
d. infringes on the rights of the student at the College by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.
4. Obstruction or disruption of teaching, learning, research, administration, discipline procedures or other College authorized event. Disruptions of teaching and learning which may include tardiness, offensive language or behavior, noise and improper use of personal communication devices (eg: cell phones, headphones, pagers, PDAs and laptops).
5. All forms of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating, copyright infringement, facilitating academic dishonesty and plagiarism or assisting others to engage in those activities.
6. The failure to report any action or plan of dishonesty whether knowledge of such act or plan is obtained directly or indirectly.
7. The soliciting of assisting another to do any act which would subject a student to probation, suspension or expulsion.
8. Unauthorized distribution, use, or possession of any substance constituting a “controlled dangerous substance” within the meaning of the New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substance Act, N.J.S.A. 24:21-1 et seq., or any illegal drug, on College property or at College sponsored activities.
9. Failure to comply with the College’s policy on smoking.
10. Illegal gambling on College property.
11. Any charge relating to the violation of any of the criminal statutes of the State of New Jersey, which violation occurs either on the campus, at off campus sponsored events or directly affects the College community. The College will cooperate fully with any law enforcement agency investigating such violations.
12. Falsification, alteration or withholding information related to records or documents maintained by the College.
13. Theft, misappropriation, vandalism, non-accidental damage, grossly negligent damage or arson to any College property or private property of a fellow student, faculty or staff member, administrative officer or guest of the College.
14. Failure to present student identification to a College employee in response to a request.
15. Unauthorized entry into any secured building or facility, obstructing access to any campus building or facility, the unauthorized use or occupation of any classroom, public or common indoor areas, recreational or athletic facility, faculty office or any other components of the College’s physical plant or property.
16. Failure to register the dissemination of printed material or unauthorized display of posters and advertising material.
17. Abusive or unauthorized use and operation of outdoor and indoor sound systems, public address systems sound tracks, or bull horns.
18. Unauthorized consumption and/or unauthorized possession of alcoholic beverages on campus.
19. Failure, after a warning, to wear adequate clothing and foot covering while attending classes or utilizing any campus facility.
20. Consumption of food and beverages outside of authorized areas unless authorization has been given by a faculty member, staff or administrator.
21. Soliciting or assisting another to do any act which would subject that student to any sanction within the Code of Student Conduct.
22. A failure to abide by the “acceptable use policies for computers.”
23. It is the policy of this College that membership in fraternities or sororities or any other clubs or organization not sponsored by the College is prohibited. Organizations that initiate, advocate or promote activities which threaten the safety or well-being of persons or property on College grounds, which disrupt the program environment or are harmful to the education process, are prohibited. Activities involving initiations, hazing, intimidation, and/or related actions of such group affiliations which are likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to students are prohibited. Any student causing and/or participating in activities which intimidate or adversely affects the attendance of another student or staff member will be subject to disciplinary action.
24. Engaging in or the soliciting of any activity which would interfere with the normal operation of the College.
The various penalties for the commission of a violation are listed below. Upon a finding, or plea, of guilt, for any violation, one or more of the listed sanctions may be imposed independently or cumulatively.
a. Warning: Notice, orally or in writing, that continuation or repetition of conduct found wrongful may be cause for more severe disciplinary action.
b. Probation:
1. Exclusion from participation in privileged or extracurricular College activities for a period not to exceed one year.
2. Fine, restitution, and/or community service not to exceed 50 hours and/or counseling services as may be required.
c. Disciplinary Suspension: Temporary exclusion from the College for a period of time not to exceed two years.
d. Expulsion: Permanent exclusion from the College for all programs, academic or extracurricular.
The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs (VPA&SA) or his or her representative shall have the authority and responsibility to secure the well being of the College community and to enhance the College’s ability to carry out its mission. Seeking to ensure this environment, in addition to any action brought under the Code of Student Conduct, any act or threat which, in the opinion of the VPA&SA, endangers any individual, any act which may result in the disruption of College activities or interfere with the right of any member of the College from performing assigned duties or attending class or which results in terrorizing any member of the College community or guests may warrant immediate suspension from classes and expulsion from all College properties and sites.
The VPA&SA shall schedule a hearing within three business days of such suspension for the purpose of determining whether or not the suspension should be ended, extended or result in a dismissal of the student. At the hearing, the student (who shall be permitted on campus for the limited purpose of attending the hearing) shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard and to produce witnesses. The student may request another student to act as his or her spokesperson or advisor (but not legal counsel) at the hearing. The VPA&SA shall request any person deemed relevant to appear in person, or by written statement, at the hearing and may consider such documents as are appropriate.
The VPA&SA shall preside over the hearing and it will be conducted in a manner designed to elicit as much information as possible. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply but all testimony, documents, and proofs considered shall be relevant to the issue being considered. A decision will be rendered by the VPA&SA within 48 hours after the completion of the hearing. That decision will be final.
Detailed information on procedures for filing complaints, hearings, the Judicial Board and appeals are available in the Office of Student Activities.