The Code

The College considers the behavior described in the following subsections as inappropriate and in opposition to the values of the Community College of Aurora community. These responsibilities apply to all students including continuing education. The College encourages and expects students, faculty/instructors, and staff to engage as active bystanders and report to College officials incidents that involve the following behaviors. Any student found to have violated or to have attempted to violate the following responsibilities may be subject to the conditions, restrictions, and outcomes outlined in SP 4-30a, Student Behavior Expectations and Responsibilities Resolution Procedure.

The following section is organized alphabetically by violation followed by an explanation.

Abuse of Conduct Process: Abuse or interference with College processes, including conduct and academic integrity meetings:

• Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information.
• Failure to provide, destroying, or concealing information during an investigation of an alleged Code violation.
• Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the campus conduct system.
• Inappropriately influencing any member of the campus community with conduct authority prior to, during, and/or following a campus conduct proceeding.
• Influencing or attempting to influence another individual to commit an abuse of the campus conduct process.

Academic Integrity Language: Plagiarizing, cheating, or committing any other form of academic misconduct including, but not limited to, unauthorized collaboration, falsification of information, and/or helping someone else violates the College's commitment to academic excellence. To access the full guideline related to academic integrity, including the process for potential violations of academic integrity for students, please visit https://www.ccaurora.edu/file/download/instruction214academicintegritypdf.

• Cheating: The act of using or attempting to use an examination or other academic work, material, information, or study aids which are not permitted by the instructor. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:
  • Using books, notes, or calculators or copying from or conversing with others during examinations (unless such external aids are permitted by the instructor).
  • Having someone else do research, write papers, or take examinations for someone else.
  • Submitting work completed in one class to fulfill an assignment in another class without prior approval from the instructor(s).
  • Stealing, distributing, selling, and buying tests or having someone take an exam on someone else’s behalf.

• Fabrication: The invention of material or its source and its use as an authority in academic work. Fabrication includes, but is not limited to:
  • Inventing the data for a scientific experiment.
  • Inventing the title and author of a publication in order to use the invented publication as a source.
  • Knowingly attributing material to an incorrect source.
• Plagiarism: The act of using someone else’s work without giving proper credit to the original source. The work can be written, artistic, musical, language, symbols, or media. Reusing one’s own work without proper citation (or approval of instructor) is also plagiarism.

Aiding and Abetting: It is a violation of this Code to actively assist another in violating the Code or covering up the violation after the fact.

Alcohol/Drugs: Use, being under the influence, manufacturing, possession, cultivating, distribution, purchase, or sale of alcohol and/or drugs (illegal and/or dangerous or controlled substance) and/or alcohol/drug paraphernalia while on College-owned or College-controlled property, and/or at any function authorized or supervised by the College, and/or in state owned or leased vehicles.

Animals/Pets: Animals are not permitted on campus except as permitted by law or as specifically approved by the College.

• Please see SP 4-120b, regarding Student Disability Services  for information related to service animals and emotional support animals.
• Please see the appropriate handbook for regulations and processes for animals and pets in student housing, where applicable.

Bullying/Non-physical abuse: Bullying includes repeated and/or severe aggressive or negative actions or behaviors intentionally or reasonably likely to intimidate, hurt, control, or diminish another person, physically, mentally, or emotionally. Bullying may include direct or indirect communications in verbal or nonverbal form and specifically includes bullying by electronic means (e.g., cyberbullying).

• For more information and compliance, see SP19-10, Bullying/Violence/Firearms on Campus.

Damage and Destruction: Reckless and/or unauthorized damage to, or destruction of, College property or the individual property of another, regardless of intention. Damage or destruction of community, public, or private property.

Deceitful Acts: Engaging in deceitful acts, including, but not limited to: collusion, forgery, falsification, alteration, misrepresentation, non-disclosure, or misuse of documents, records, identification and/or educational materials.

• Collusion: Action with another or others to violate the Code.
• Falsification: Knowingly furnishing or possessing false, falsified, or forged materials, documents, accounts, records, identification, or financial instruments, including electronic forgery and/or manipulation.

Discrimination and Harassment: Discrimination is any distinction, preference, advantage, or detriment given to a person based on one or more actual or perceived protected classes. Harassment is a form of discrimination that includes Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment.

• Hostile Environment occurs when a person is subjected to verbal or physical conduct based on a protected class that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive, and objectively offensive to alter the conditions of a person’s employment or unreasonably interfere with a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from CCCS educational programs or activities, from both a subjective and objective viewpoint.
• Quid Pro Quo is a type of sexual harassment that exists when an employee conditions the provision of an aid, benefit, or service on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct, such as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
• Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
• For more information and how to file a complaint regarding discrimination or harassment, including sexual misconduct, see SP 19-60, Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct Resolution Process.  

Disruptive Behavior: Engaging in any behavior that negatively affects or impedes teaching or learning (regardless of mode of delivery or class setting) or disrupts the general operation of the College.

Endangerment or Defacement: Conduct that is detrimental to the College, and/or to community safety. Examples include, but are not limited to, slamming doors, throwing chairs, and/or defacing of College property or property of others.

Failure to Comply:

• Failure to comply with or follow the lawful directives of College employees acting within the scope of their duties, including those directives issued by a College administrator to ensure the safety and well-being of others.
• Failure to comply with or follow the directives and/or sanctions imposed under CCCS policies and procedures.
• Failure to identify oneself to College officials, acting in their official capacity, when requested to do so.

Fire Safety: Violation of federal, state, local, or campus fire policies including, but not limited to:

• Intentionally, recklessly, or negligently causing a fire that damages the College, individual property, or causes injury.
• Failure to evacuate a College owned, operated, or controlled facility during a fire alarm.
• Improper use of College fire safety equipment.
• Tampering with or improperly engaging a fire alarm or fire detection/control equipment while on College property. Such action may result in a criminal action.
  

Gambling: Gambling as prohibited by the laws of the State of Colorado. Gambling may include, but is not limited to, raffles, lotteries, sports pools, and online betting activities. Participation in illegal gambling activities on College-owned or College-controlled property, and/or any function authorized or supervised by the College, and/or in state owned or leased vehicles

Harm to individuals: Intentionally or unintentionally causing physical harm, threating to cause harm, endangering the health and/or safety of any individual, or demonstrating violent behavior.

• Violent Behavior includes any act or threat of physical, verbal or psychological aggression, or the destruction or abuse of property by any individual.
• A threat is defined as direct or indirect, verbal or non-verbal conduct (including those made in person, by mail, over the telephone, by email, or by other means) intended to result or reasonably resulting in intimidation, harassment, harm, fear or endangerment of the safety of another person or property.
• For more information and compliance, see SP 19-10, Bullying/Violence/Firearms on Campus.

Hazing: Defined as an act that endangers the psychological, emotional, intellectual, and/or physical health and/or safety of a student, or that destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group, team, or organization. Additionally, any act that places a student in a subservient role within an organization is considered hazing. Participation or consensual cooperation by the individual(s) being hazed does not excuse the violation. Failing to intervene to prevent, failing to discourage, and failing to report those acts may also violate this code.

Indecent Exposure: Deliberately and publicly exposing one’s intimate body parts, public urination, defecation, and public sex acts.

Retaliation: Retaliatory acts include, but are not limited to intimidation, verbal or physical threats, harassment, coercion, or other adverse action(s) against a person who reports an incident of misconduct.

Rioting: Causing, inciting, or participating in any disturbance that presents a clear and present danger to self or others, causes physical harm to others, or results in damage and/or destruction of property.

Theft: Obtaining, retaining or exercising control over property of another without authorization, or by threat or deception, with the purpose and/or effect of depriving the person(s) to whom the property belongs of its use or benefit.

Tobacco Violation: Smoking and the use of tobacco and related products, including electronic smoking, where contrary to applicable laws or policies established by the College. This includes smoking inside buildings or in areas where smoking is posted as prohibited.

Trademark Violation: Unauthorized use, including misuse, of the College or organizational names and images without the express written consent of the institution or organization.

Unacceptable Use of College Equipment, Network or System: Unacceptable uses of any College-owned or operated equipment, network or system including, but not limited to: knowingly spreading computer viruses; reposting personal communications without the author’s consent; copying protected materials; using the network for financial or personal gain, commercial activity, or illegal activity; accessing the network using another individual’s account; unauthorized downloading/uploading software and/or digital video or music; downloading/uploading, viewing or displaying pornographic content, or any other attempt to compromise network integrity. For more information, see SP 4-32, Student Email Acceptable Use.

Unauthorized Access and Entry: Unauthorized access to any College facility, including misuse of  keys, cards, restricted access areas, or unauthorized possession, duplication or use of other individual’s means of access to any College facility; failing to provide a timely report of a lost College identification card or key; misuse of access privileges to College premises or unauthorized entry to or use of facilities, including trespassing, propping, or unauthorized use of alarmed doors for entry into or exit from a College facility.

Violation of Laws, Directives and Signage: Violating any municipal, county, state or federal laws, or executive orders, or violating any public health orders in a manner that adversely impacts the health and well-being of the campus environment and those on campus.

Weapons Violation: Possession, use, or distribution of explosives (including fireworks and ammunition), guns (including air, BB, paintball, facsimile weapons, and pellet guns), or other weapons or dangerous objects, such as arrows, axes, machetes, nunchaku, throwing stars, or knives with a blade of longer than three (3) inches. This includes the unauthorized storage of any item that falls within the category of a weapon, including storage in a vehicle parked on College property, other than what is expressly permitted by law.

• Possession of an instrument designed to look like a firearm, explosive, or dangerous weapon is also prohibited by this policy.
• Intentionally or recklessly using and/or possessing a weapon or any other item in such a way that would intimidate, harass, injure, or otherwise interfere with the learning and working environment of the College shall face increased consequences.
• Students, faculty, and staff possessing valid Colorado Concealed Handgun Licenses are permitted to carry concealed on campus in accordance with state law and CCCS policy. For more details about certain restrictions, please consult with the campus/local police and/or the Housing and Residential Education Handbook, where applicable.
• For more information and compliance, see SP 19-10, Bullying/Violence/Firearms on Campus.

Violation of course, program, or activity rules: Violation of established rules as contained in courses, programs activities, regulations, or guidelines and established by departments, regulatory boards, or licensing bodies, including all Housing and Residential Education policies, as applicable.

Group Violations
A student group or organization and its officers and membership may be held collectively and individually responsible when violations of this Code occur by the organization or its member(s), including the following conditions:

• Violation(s) take place at organization-sponsored or co-sponsored events, whether sponsorship is formal or implied.
• Violation(s) have received the consent or encouragement of the organization or of the organization’s leaders or officers.
• Violation(s) were known or should have been known to the membership or its officers.

Conduct meetings for student groups or organizations shall also follow the Student Behavioral Expectations and Responsibilities Resolution Procedure. In any such action, individual determinations as to responsibility will be made and restrictions, conditions, and outcomes may be assigned collectively and individually, and will be proportionate to the involvement of each individual and the organization. Procedures will begin with communication to the President or leadership of said organization.

Amnesty

Assisting an individual by calling for help in an alcohol or drug-related emergency means neither the person who calls for help, nor the person who needs help will be subject to formal investigation nor receive a formal conduct record for their behavior. Students seeking assistance under these provisions may be required to meet with the SSAO and to complete educational, counseling, or other requirements aimed at addressing health and safety concerns. The requirements will be informal or on a deferred basis.

The student must fully comply with reporting to appropriate College officials for amnesty to be considered.