Student Conduct

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Overview

College of the Redwoods Office of Student Conduct uses Maxient for email correspondence to students. Maxient is a software for managing behavior records for multiple student processes on campus.

Correspondence will be sent to your student email. You may also receive text alerting your that a letter is waiting.

It is possible that emails sent on behalf of Maxient may flag as potential spam or phishing. We encourage all students to check their spam folder if they are unable to observe a letter in their inbox or if they are expecting correspondence and haven’t received it within a timely manner.

To confirm the validity of the email communication you received, you may contact the Office of Student Conduct at 707-476-4146.

Contents of the Letter

The initial letter you receive will depend on the nature of the concern reported to the Office of Student Conduct. There may be alleged violations of the Student Conduct Code, which are issued in response to an incident that has occurred. These allegations represent the College’s concerns based only on the information provided to our office. Students have not been found responsible and will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations during an initial meeting with their assigned conduct officer.

A student may also receive an initial letter where they are asked to meet with Conduct Officer or designee, as they may have additional information to provide about the concern provided to the College.

Scheduling a Meeting

To schedule your requested meeting with the Conduct Officer, call the Office of Student Conduct at 707-476-4146, 9:00am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday.

For those who do not attend their meetings and/or fail to schedule an appointment, a hold will be placed on their student account. This will prevent students from adding/dropping courses or have the ability to pull a transcript. This hold will not be removed until the student has met with their assigned hearing officer to move forward with a case resolution.

More Information

An overview of the College's disciplinary process is available in Section 5 of the District's Administrative Procedures (AP 5500), along with our Disciplinary Process Flowchart.

For questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Student Conduct at student-conduct@redwoods.edu or 707-476-4146

This section provides a basic overview describing what occurs when a student has been accused of violating the Student Conduct Code

Disciplinary Process Flow Chart

Disciplinary cases involve allegations involving disruptive behavior, alcohol or drugs use, vandalism, infliction or threat of bodily harm, sexual misconduct, harassment, and other behaviors including those unrelated to cheating or plagiarism.

The process usually begins by notifying the student of the alleged misconduct and requesting that the student establish a meeting with the Office of Student Conduct. During the meeting, the student is made aware of the specific allegations involved. The student is given an opportunity to provide additional information that may become part of the case file. Students are allowed to have an advisor of their choice present during this initial meeting.

What happens next depends on the nature of the incident (i.e. minor vs. serious). Minor incidents involve those behaviors that are not likely to result in Suspension or Expulsion from the College. Serious incidents, on the other hand, involve behaviors that could result in Suspension or Expulsion from the College – and therefore must result in a formal hearing.

Minor incidents are generally dealt with and finalized during the initial meeting with the Office of Student Conduct. This is known as a Disciplinary Conference.

For incidents that are considered “Serious,” the student will have a choice between a Student Conduct Hearing and or to plead responsible and accept the recommended sanctions provided by the District.

Once the student’s case has been finalized (i.e. a decision has been reached via a hearing or a Mutual Agreement), the student will be notified of the decision electronically in the form of an outcome letter. The outcome letter will also include information on how to file an appeal.

If you have been referred to the Office of Student Conduct, we encourage you to seek assistance through our office or the many resources offered by College of the Redwoods. Although being contacted by our office can be overwhelming, Student Conduct will provide an impartial process as outlined in our AP 5500 Student Conduct Code and Disciplinary Procedures.. We will also provide a respectful and transparent environment to review all of your rights, responsibilities, questions, and options.
The first thing that will happen is that you will have a conversation with one of the staff in the Office of Student Conduct. In this initial meeting, you will have an opportunity to share your side of the story and ask questions about the process.

Students are expected to be sincere and to tell the truth. An organized and sequential telling of the story and presenting of evidence or information is most helpful. Disciplinary Conferences are more informal by definition and generally do not require a formal presentation. For ""minor"" violations where suspension or expulsion are not being considered, a focused and honest conversation is sufficient to resolve these types of cases.

Preparing for Your Hearing

Resolution through a Conduct Hearing is a more formal process. It is expected that students participating in this processes make a coherent presentation. Students are granted an opportunity to make a brief opening and closing statement at the hearing, as well as present any witnesses or documents required for a full understanding of the facts of the case.

Students who choose to participate in a Conduct Hearing are allowed an advisor of their choice who can help organize materials and instruct the student during the hearing. The Advisor does not represent the student they are working with. The student is expected to present their own case.

For more information on preparing for a hearing see our Hearing FAQs.

If you have been referred to the Office of Student Conduct, we encourage you to seek assistance through our office as soon as possible. Although being contacted by our office can be overwhelming, Student Conduct will provide an impartial process as outlined in our Student Conduct Code and Disciplinary Procedures. We will also provide a respectful and transparent environment to review all of your rights, responsibilities, questions, and options.

Referrals to the Office of Student Conduct

Student conduct referrals are issues to students when a member of the campus community has reported behavior that may be in violation of the Student Conduct Code (AP 5500). As indicated in the initial Notice of Investigation, the student must contact the Office of Student Conduct by the date provided to schedule an appointment.

During the meeting you will have a conversation with the Conduct Officer or designee about the incident that led to the referral. You will have the opportunity to present your side of the story and ask questions about the process. During the initial meeting, a decision will be made as to what process will be used to resolve the charges.

Students are expected to be sincere and to tell the truth. An organized and sequential telling of the story and presenting of evidence or information is most helpful. This appointment is informal and does not require a formal presentation. Typically, a focused and honest conversation is sufficient to resolve these types of cases.

Students have the right to procedural fairness and due process for the resolution of their student conduct case. Students have the right to have an advisor attend all meetings and hearings with them. Students also have the right to freedom from self incrimination, as well as the right to request a hearing and appeal any decision made by the Conduct Review Commitee.

Decisions for "minor" violations are made through mutual agreement between the student and Conduct Officer and are therefore not eligible for appeal For "minor" violations that are recolved through an informal investigation of the conduct officer, student have the right to request their case be heard by the Conduct Review Committee. For "serious" violations resolved by action of the Conduct Review Committee, students may appeal the decidion and assocaited sanctions with the President/Superintendent as outlined in AP 5500.

First, tell the truth. If you did what the instructor has alleged, then be candid and truthful. You still have an opportunity to prove to the faculty member that you have some integrity. If this is the case, then you will have a conversation regarding appropriate sanctions for this behavior.

If you did not commit academic misconduct, then tell the faculty member that you did not commit academic misconduct. Never say that you did commit an act simply because that looks like the easiest way to resolve the matter. The faculty member may then choose whether or not to file a report to the Office of Student Conduct.

Students who are in crisis or who are exhibiting concerning or worrisome behaviors often need additional attention in order to ensure they are safe, the community is safe, and that they continue to be successful while at College of the Redwoods.

Parents can make referrals to our Behavioral Intervention Team by using our referral form here.

If you think an immediate emergency situation exists, contact 911 or Campus Police at 707-476-4111 and report the behavior you have observed.

FERPA and Student Confidentiality

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, and its corresponding regulations gives students certain rights to privacy of their education records and rights of access to their education records.

FAQ's

The Office of Student Conduct are able to share information regarding the Student Conduct Code in general, but not about case specifics. A student may sign a release of information permitting staff in the Office of Student Conduct to discuss their case. This release must be made voluntarily and will stay on record in our office for one calenda year unless the student revokes it prior to that end date.

Yes, as long as the student signs a release allowing you to participate. Student records are protected by FERPA, a federal law which prohibits colleges from disclosing a student's education records without that student's permission. IN cases where the student agrees to have their parent present during a meeting or hearing, the student must first sign a document allowing their disciplinary records to be disclosed.

Students are expected to present their own perspective while participating in a meeting or hearing . Parents and other may assist the student in preparing their presentation but only the student may pressent the inforomation.