Non-Academic Misconduct
Non-Academic Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Behavior
a. Indecent Conduct: disorderly, lewd, or indecent conduct, including public physical or verbal action; language commonly considered offensive (not limited to, but including profanity); or distribution of obscene or libelous written or electronic material
b. Violence: mental or physical abuse of any person (including dating violence, domestic violence or sexual violence) on West Georgia Technical College premises or at technical college-sponsored or technical college-supervised functions, including physical actions which threaten or endanger the health or safety of any such persons. This includes fighting and/or other disruptive behavior, which includes any action or threat of violence which endangers the peace, safety, or orderly function of the technical college, its facilities, or persons engaged in the business of the technical college. Note: certain physical abuse may also be considered unlawful harassment.
c. Harassment: any act, comment, behavior, or clothing which is of a sexually suggestive, harassing, offensive, or intimidating nature or unlawful conduct based on race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, genetic information, political affirmation or belief that interferes with a group or individual's: (1) performance, (2) work or educational environment or (3) ability to participate in an educational program or activities. This also includes unlawful conduct against groups such as disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam Era or anyone based on their citizenship status. The technical college also prohibits stalking, or other behavior which objectively and unreasonably interferes with another's legal rights or creates an objectively intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. (This also includes the display of or navigation to pornography and other inappropriate websites and materials and inappropriate behavior on social media and/or networking applications.) Impermissible harassment may include verbal, non-verbal and/or physical conduct.
d. Disruption: prohibits activities not otherwise protected by law including the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, which intentionally obstructs or interrupts teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings or other technical college activities, including public service functions and other duly authorized activities on West Georgia Technical College premises or at the college-sponsored activity sites.
e. Failure to Comply: Failure to comply with lawful directions of technical college officials and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
2. Professionalism
a. Personal Appearance: Students are expected to maintain proper personal appearance at all times. Attire and grooming should be appropriate for the occupational area in which the student is training. Appropriate is what one normally would wear on a job in the specific area of training. Any attire considered unsafe or disruptive to the class will not be allowed. Students inappropriately dressed or dressed in a manner that could present a safety hazard will not be allowed to attend class. Students are expected to practice good personal hygiene. These requirements are designed to instill in each student a sense of order and respect for himself/herself, other students, and the faculty.
b. The wearing of work-related headgear is restricted to department area in which the student is enrolled. An exception to this policy is if the headgear is part of a College recognized uniform such as the nurse cap. It is inappropriate for headgear (baseball caps, stocking caps, etc.) with the exception of religious headgear, to be worn indoors by either male or female students. A primary mission of the West Georgia Technical College is to prepare Students for workplace success; appearance is a major concern employers identify as an area of needed emphasis.
3. Use of Technical College Property
a. Theft and Damage: prohibits theft of, misuse of, or harm to technical college property, or theft of or damage to property of a member of the technical college community or a campus visitor on technical college Premises or at a technical college function.
b. Occupation or Seizure: illegal occupation or seizure in any manner of technical college property, a technical college Premises, or any portion thereof for a use inconsistent with prescribed, customary, or authorized use.
c. Presence on technical college Premises: prohibits unauthorized entry upon technical college Premises; unauthorized entry into technical college Premises or a portion thereof which has been restricted in use; unauthorized presence in technical college Premises after closing hours; or furnishing false information to gain entry upon technical college Premises.
d. Assembly: prohibits participation in or conducting an unauthorized gathering that objectively threatens or causes injury to person or property or that interferes with free access to technical college facilities or that is unprotected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America and objectively harmful, obstructive, or disruptive to the educational process or functions of the technical college.
e. Fire Alarms: prohibits setting off a fire alarm or using or tampering with any fire safety equipment on technical college Premises or at technical college-sponsored activity sites, except with reasonable belief in the need for such alarm or equipment. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, students must evacuate the building unless otherwise directed by a technical college official.
f. Obstruction: prohibits obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on technical college Premises or at technical college sponsored or supervised functions. Refer to College Parking Policy and Regulations.
4. Drugs, Alcohol and Other Substances
Substances referred to under this policy include all illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages and misused legal drugs (both prescription and over the counter).
a. Alcohol: Students must comply with all state and federal laws regulating alcohol as well as TCSG Policy II.C.6, Alcohol on Campus. Alcoholic beverages may not be served or sold at any student sponsored function. Students being in a state of intoxication on technical college Premises or at college-sponsored or supervised functions (including off-campus functions), internships, externships, practicum, clinical sites, co-operative or academic sponsored programs or activities or in a college-owned vehicle is prohibited.
b. Controlled substances, illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia: The technical college prohibits possession, use, sale or distribution of any controlled substance, illegal drugs, or drug paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law. Any influence which may be attributed to the use of drugs shall not in any way limit the responsibility of the individual for the conduct or consequences of his/her actions.
c. Food: The technical college prohibits eating and/or drinking in classrooms, shops, and labs or other unauthorized areas on technical college Premises, unless otherwise permitted by technical college officials.
d. Tobacco: The technical college prohibits smoking, or using other forms of electronic, alternative smoking devices and other forms of tobacco products in buildings, classrooms, shops, and labs or other unauthorized areas on West Georgia Technical College Premises.
5. Use of Technology
a. Damage and Destruction: Destruction of or harm to equipment, software, or data belonging to the technical college or to others is considered unacceptable usage. This may include altering, downloading, or installing software on technical college computers, tampering with computer hardware or software configuration, improper access to the technical college's network, and disconnection of technical college computers or devices.
b. Electronic Devices: Unless otherwise permitted by technical college officials, the College prohibits use of electronic devices in classrooms, labs, and other instructional, event, or affiliated facilities on technical college Premises. Such devices include, but are not limited to cell phones, beepers, walkie talkies, cameras, gaming devices, and other electronic devices, which may cause unnecessary disruption to the teaching/learning process on campus. The College also prohibits attaching personal electronic devices to college computers under any circumstances.
c. Harassment: The College prohibits the use of computer technology to objectively interfere with another's legal right to be free from harassment (obscene messages, jokes, communications or other materials) based on that individual's race, color, creed, genetic information, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affirmation or belief, disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era or citizenship status.
d. Unacceptable Use: Use of computing facilities to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member or technical college official. This includes the unauthorized use of another individual's identification and password. West Georgia Technical College prohibits any additional violation to the Department’s Acceptable Computer and Internet Use Policy.
6. Weapons
The Technical College System of Georgia is committed to providing all employees, students, volunteers, visitors, vendors and contractors a safe and secure workplace and/or academic setting. The possession, carrying, or transportation of a firearm, weapon, or explosive compound/material in or on college buildings or property shall be governed by Georgia state law. All individuals are expected to comply with the related laws. Failure to follow laws pertaining to weapons is considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Relevant Georgia laws to be aware of and compliant with include but may not be limited to:
O.C.G.A.§ 16-8-12(a)(6)(A)(iii)
O.C.G.A.§ 16-7-80
O.C.G.A.§ 16-7-81
O.C.G.A.§ 16-7-85
O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-121
O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-125.1
O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-126
O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-127
O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-127.1
O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-129
O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-130
O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-133
O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-135
O.C.G.A.§ 16-11-137
O.C.G.A.§ 43-38-10
7. Gambling
The Technical College System of Georgia prohibits the violation of federal, state or local gambling laws on technical college Premises or at technical college sponsored or supervised activities.
8. Financial Irresponsibility
The technical college prohibits the theft or misappropriation of any technical college, student organization or other assets.
9. Violation of Technical College Policy
Violation of published System or West Georgia Technical College Policies, rules or regulations including, but not limited to, rules imposed upon students who enroll in a particular class or program, internships, externships, practicum, clinical sites, co-operative, or any academic sponsored programs or activities, student organizations or students who reside in on-campus housing.
10. Aiding and Abetting
Aiding, abetting, or procuring another person to do an activity which otherwise violates this Code of Conduct is prohibited.
11. Falsification of Documentation
Disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student who falsifies any documentation related to the technical college either to the technical college or to others in the community, including, but not limited to falsification of: technical college transcripts; transcripts or other documentation from other institutions to obtain credit from or admission to the technical college; technical college report cards or other grade reports; documentation related to a student’s citizenship status; tests, homework, attendance records; signature of any technical college employee in his or her official capacity; signatures of any employee of a clinical or internship site where the student is participating in an educational program associated with the technical college or records related to any clinical, internship or other academic activity associated with the technical college
12. Violation of Law
a. If a student is convicted or pleads Nolo Contendere to an on-campus or off-campus violation of federal, state, or local law, but not has not been charged with any other violation of the Student Code of Conduct, disciplinary action may nevertheless be taken and sanctions imposed if the violation of federal, state or local law is detrimental to the technical college’s vital interests and stated mission and purpose.
b. Disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with violation of a law that is also a violation of the Student Code of Conduct if both violations result from the same factual situation, without regard to criminal arrest and/or prosecution. Proceedings under this Student Code of Conduct may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following criminal proceedings.
c. When a student is charged by federal, state, or local authorities with a violation of law, the technical college will not request or agree to special consideration for that individual because of his/her status as a student. The technical college will cooperate fully with law enforcement and other agencies in the enforcement of criminal law on campus and in the conditions imposed by criminal courts for the rehabilitation of student violators. Individual students, acting in their personal capacities, remain free to interact with governmental representatives as they deem appropriate.
13. Abuse of the Student Judicial Process , including, but not limited to:
a. Failure to obey the notification of the Vice President for Student Affairs or the technical college president’s designee, Hearing Body, Appellate Board or Technical College Official.
b. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information in a judicial proceeding.
c. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a disciplinary proceeding.
d. Initiating a disciplinary proceeding knowingly without cause.
e. Attempting to discourage an individual's proper participation in, or use of, the disciplinary process.
f. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a Hearing Body, or Appellate Board prior to, and/or during the course of, the disciplinary proceeding.
g. Harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of a member of a Hearing Body, or Appellate Board prior to, during, and/or after a disciplinary proceeding.
h. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Student Code.
Records Retention
Documents shall be held for no less than three (3) years after the graduation of the student or the date of the student's last attendance.