Code of Conduct

The Student Affairs Office, which trains student advocates and grievance hearing committee members on due process procedures, is also a fair and impartial resource for students, who are involved in the student grievance and discipline process. At any time, students can contact the Student Affairs Office at (619) 660-4295 with questions regarding the Student Code of Conduct, which delineates the Cuyamaca College's boundaries for acceptable behavior standards.

With links to the Student Conduct Procedures handbook, the Student Discipline Brochure, the Student Grievance and Due Process Procedures handbook, the Complaint Process Notice, the California Community College Chancellor's Office Complaint Process and Form, and the Nondiscrimination Notice and Sexual Harassment Policy.

As a student, who is a valuable part of the academic community, it's critical that you are knowledgeable about the grounds for disciplinary action per the Student Code of Conduct. You can always schedule an one-on-one workshop to learn more about the student code of conduct. In addition, workshops are always offered throughout the year.

Please take a few minutes to carefully review and educate yourself on these policies.

Grounds for Disciplinary Action

Grounds for Student Code of Conduct Violation

(These procedures also apply to distance education.)

Student conduct must conform to District and College rules and regulations. If a Student Code of Conduct violation occurs while a student is enrolled in any program of instruction or co-curricular offering within the District, to include distance education programs, he or she may be subject to Student Conduct Action for one or more of the following causes that must be District related. Except in response to conduct specified in subdivisions (g) and (h) of Section 76033, no student shall be removed, suspended, or expelled unless the conduct for which the student is disciplined is related to college activity or college attendance. This section is not intended to limit provisions of federal law, or limit the ability of community college districts to take appropriate action under federal law. These categories of behavior are not intended to be an exhaustive list, but are examples of causes and are good and sufficient causes for Conduct, including but not limited to the removal, suspension, or expulsion of a student. Other misconduct not listed may also result in Conduct if good cause exists (Education Code Section 76033, 76034).

1. Causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical injury to another person.
2. 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 Vice President of Student Services or designee.
3. Unlawful possession, use, sale, offer to sell, or furnishing, or being under the influence of, any controlled substance listed in California Health and Safety Code Sections 11053 et seq., 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.
4. Committing or attempting to commit robbery or extortion.
5. Causing or attempting to cause damage to District property or to private property on campus.
6. Stealing or attempting to steal District property or private property on campus, or knowingly receiving stolen District property or private property on campus.
7. Willful or persistent smoking in any area where smoking has been prohibited by law or by regulation of the college or the District.
8. Committing sexual harassment as defined by law or by District policies and procedures.
9. Engaging in harassing or discriminatory behavior based on disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or any other status protected by law.
10. Engaging in intimidating conduct or bullying against another student through words or actions, including direct physical contact; verbal assaults, such as teasing or name-calling; social isolation or manipulation; and cyberbullying.
11. Willful misconduct that results in injury or death to a student or to District personnel or which results in cutting, defacing, or other injury to any real or personal property owned by the District or on campus.
12. Disruptive behavior, willful disobedience, habitual profanity or vulgarity, or the open and persistent defiance of the authority of, or persistent abuse of, college personnel.
13. Cheating, plagiarism (including plagiarism in a student publication), or engaging in other academic dishonesty as defined by the College’s academic integrity standards.
14. Dishonesty; forgery; alteration or misuse of District documents, records or identification; or knowingly furnishing false information to the District.
15. Unauthorized entry upon or use of District facilities.
16. Lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or expression on District-owned or controlled property, or at District sponsored or supervised functions.
17. 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 District premises, or the violation of lawful District regulations, or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the District.
18. Persistent, serious misconduct where other means of correction have failed to bring about proper conduct.
19. 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.
20. Engaging in physical or verbal intimidation or harassment of such severity or pervasiveness as to have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a student’s academic performance, or District employee’s work performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational or work environment.
21. Engaging in physical or verbal disruption of instructional or student services activities, administrative procedures, public service functions, authorized curricular or co-curricular activities or prevention of authorized guests from carrying out the purpose for which they are on District property.
22. Sexual assault and sexual exploitation as defined in Education Code section 76033(g), (h).
23. Misconduct where good cause exists (Education Code Section 76033). District students who engage in any of the above are subject to the procedures outlined herein as authorized by AP 5520 Student Conduct Procedures