Disciplinary Policies and Procedures

Introduction

The purpose of discipline is to help students learn to cooperate with rules and regulations and to take responsibility for their actions. The Dean of Students has considerable discretion in dealing with disciplinary matters. The Dean of Students will investigate reports of misconduct or violation of campus rules or policies. In the event that the Dean of Students is not available for addressing disciplinary matters, the Dean of Character Education or other individual appointed by the President of the College will address the issues. A violation will be categorized as follows:

1. Infringement,
2. Infraction, or
3. Major violation.

Disciplinary Procedures

The Dean of Students will investigate any alleged violation of the College’s rules and policies, including the College’s Title IX policy and procedures. If it is determined that a violation has occurred, the Dean of Students will determine the seriousness of the charges (infringement, infraction, or major violation). If the alleged conduct is an infringement, infraction or major violation, the Dean of Students will conduct a hearing to determine if a violation has occurred. If a violation has occurred, the Dean of Students will determine the appropriate consequences. Penalties include official warning, temporary restrictions, housing status review, counseling, fines, administrative reprimand, disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension, or disciplinary dismissal, which are defined in this policy. The student may appeal the Dean of Student’s decision to the Campus Disciplinary Board by following the appeals process.

Infringement

Examples of a rule or policy violation constituting an infringement include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Violation of the College’s campus closing hour policy
2. Littering
3. Violation of the College’s appearance policy
4. Failure to observe policies on display of alcohol or drug advertisements
5. Minor inappropriate conduct in the dining hall, residence halls, chapel, or anywhere on campus
6. Failure to observe residence hall rules
7. Repeated failure to observe vehicle regulations on campus
8. Excessive public display of affection (PDA)
9. Smoking on campus
10. Any other conduct determined by the Dean of Students to constitute an infringement

Punishment for commission of an infringement includes, but is not limited to official warnings, temporary restrictions, housing status review, counseling, fines, or administrative reprimand.

Infraction

Examples of a rule or policy violation constituting an infraction include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Disorderly conduct
2. Disruption of classes/college activities
3. Insubordination or failure to cooperate with a hall director, RA, administrator, faculty or staff member (such as Security or dining hall worker)
4. Display of obscene, vulgar or sexually exploitative material (including online or telecommunication methods)
5. Possession or use of firearms, fireworks, explosives, flammable liquids/materials and weapons on campus
6. Tampering with fire extinguishers
7. Falsifying chapel or convocation attendance
8. Profanity, vulgar speech and gestures, or swearing
9. Dishonest use of an ID card, including using another person’s ID or lending one’s ID card to someone else
10. Financial irresponsibility (such as writing bad checks)
11. Unauthorized use of campus long distance telephone codes
12. Direct or indirect sharing of computer password
13. Numerous or repeated infringements
14. Noncompliance with punishment for infringements
15. Any other conduct determined by the Dean of Students to constitute an infraction

Punishment for commission of an infraction includes, but is not limited to housing status review, counseling, administrative reprimand, disciplinary probation, and disciplinary suspension.

Major Violation

Examples of a rule or policy violation constituting a major violation include, but are not limited to the following:

1. College of the Ozarks expects and demands high standards of intellectual honesty from its students. These high standards demand that dishonest work be rejected and that those students engaging in such work bear the consequences, which may include zero credit on assignments, failing course grades, and/or expulsion from the College. The Dean of the College will review all academic dishonesty cases to determine if a violation has occurred and will determine appropriate punishment if warranted.
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   a. Cheating on quizzes, tests, examinations, or other graded exercises is (1) borrowing someone’s answers, (2) providing answers for other students, (3) using unauthorized material during the exercises, or (4) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the College faculty or staff.
   
   b. Plagiarism, or academic theft, is presenting the words or ideas of someone else as one’s own in an assignment without giving them due credit as the originator of those words or ideas. A student is guilty of plagiarism if he or she submits as his or her own work a written or spoken assignment that contains words or ideas copied from another person’s book, article, manuscript, notes, Internet site, calculations, translations, computer programs, or any other source. Obviously, turning in another student’s assignment or a paper totally taken from someone else’s work is plagiarism. But it is also plagiarism to reword or summarize the words or ideas of another author and present them as part of one’s assignment unless one gives the author credit. Plagiarism occurs when a student uses a sequence of words or ideas without having digested, integrated, and reorganized the author’s words in his or her own mind and without acknowledgment in the assignment.
   
   c. Similarly, a student is an accomplice in plagiarism and equally guilty (1) if he allows his own words in outline or finished form to be copied and submitted as the work of another; (2) if he prepares an assignment for another student and allows it to be submitted as that other student’s work; or (3) if he keeps or contributes to a file of papers, speeches, tests, lab work, or other assignments with the clear intent that they be copied and submitted as the work of anyone other than the author. Students should keep paper and electronic copies of all their notes and all their drafts of assignments to help prove their authorship in case questions of plagiarism should arise.
    
2. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any College document, record, or instrument of identification
3. Violation of the College’s Zero Tolerance Alcohol & Drug Policy
4. Violation of the College’s Lifestyle/Sexuality Policy
5. Violation of the College’s Title IX Policy
6. Violation of the College’s Non Discrimination Policy
7. Violation of the College’s Computer Use Policy
8. Violation of the Residence Hall Internet Access Policy
9. Violation of the College’s Residence Hall Policy
10. Stealing or maliciously damaging property of the College or another individual
11. Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys to any College premises or unauthorized entry to or use of College premises. The unauthorized entry into offices, private areas of campus, including breaking into vending machines, as well as offices and buildings, is strictly prohibited. Students are not allowed in a building or an outside location after hours without authorization. Students are not allowed to be in areas that are normally off limits to students unless authorized by a work supervisor, including but not limited to steam tunnels, rooftops, maintenance rooms, and water treatment/pump house areas.
12. Derogatory racial speech or acts toward anyone 
13. Setting off a false fire alarm
14. Hazing, physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person
15. Charges of violation of a law. Proceedings under this student code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal off campus proceedings (includes DWI but not parking violations).
16. Use of a campus long distance code for a long distance call without approval. Violation will result in a minimum fine of $50.00 and minimum disciplinary probation for one year.
17. Numerous or repeated infractions
18. Noncompliance with punishment for infractions
19. Failure to submit to requested drug test
20. Failure to show appropriate respect to the United States flag
21. Any other conduct determined by the Dean of Students to constitute a major violation

Punishment for commission of a major violation includes, but is not limited to administrative reprimand, disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension, or disciplinary dismissal.

Disciplinary Actions

The action for a specific incident may include one or more of the consequences listed, or different consequences may be devised for a particular situation. Previous disciplinary problems may affect the level of action. Multiple conduct issues occurring simultaneously or any violation that has occurred on more than one occasion may conclude with more severe disciplinary ramifications.

Definitions

Official Warning
A verbal warning is given.

Temporary Restrictions
For a set period of time a student is prohibited from campus facilities such as the Fieldhouse or a specific residence hall.

Housing Status Review
A student may be required to vacate campus housing.

Counseling
A student may be required to meet for a specific number of times with the Campus Pastor or a specified counselor.

Fines
Fines may be assessed for a number of rule or policy violations.

Administrative Reprimand
An administrative reprimand is a letter to the student from the Dean of Students citing the problem behavior. A copy of the letter is placed in the student’s file in the Dean of Students office. This letter would be used in any further disciplinary action taken against this student.

Disciplinary Probation
Probation means that the individual’s standing as a student is in serious jeopardy. Restrictions ranging from the remainder of the semester to a full year will be imposed. A student placed on probation will not be allowed to represent the College in any activity.

Disciplinary Suspension
The student is separated from the College for a designated minimum period of time and may not be on campus during the period of suspension. Specific requirements may be placed on the student’s return. In some instances, medical clearance from a licensed provider (psychologist, medical, etc.) may be necessary for some students wishing to reapply to the College. The College reserves the right to require a psychological or other professional evaluation with the reapplication process. Action of the Admissions office will be required for readmission.

Disciplinary Expulsion
A student who is expelled from the College because of a discipline matter is not eligible for return to the institution.