Section 3

Standards of Conduct

In order to foster a positive campus community and maintain an optimal learning environment, KCTCS establishes the following behavioral expectations of students:

Standard 1: KCTCS students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity, and support a campus environment that is conducive to learning and scholarship.

Violations or attempted violations may include, but are not limited to:

1. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism or facilitating academic dishonesty.
2. Classroom conduct that disrupts or interferes with the learning experience, such as sleeping, horseplay, cell phone use, entering or leaving class while it is in session, unnecessary interruptions, failure to exhibit respect and consideration to faculty, staff, and fellow students during class or class experiences.

Standard 2: KCTCS students are expected to respect and preserve the health, safety, welfare, privacy and rights of all members of the campus community.

Violations or attempted violations may include, but are not limited to:

1. Physical violence – hitting, pushing, use of a weapon, beating or other such activity resulting in or intended to cause harm.
2. Making a threat(s) of violence (including verbal, written, or virtual communication) that does or could cause(s) a reasonable expectation of harm to the health or safety of a specific person.
3. Substantial or repeated acts directed as a person or group of people that would cause a reasonable person to feel fearful, including but not limited to:
   1. Bullying, defined as repeated and/or severe behavior that is aggressive and likely to intimidate or intentionally hurt, control, or degrade another person physically or mentally.
   2. Stalking, defined as engaging in two or more acts directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the individual’s safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress.
   3. Hazing, defined as acts likely to cause physical or psychological harm or social exclusion or humiliation.
4. Failure to follow reasonable requirements, closures, limitations, or other measures put in place by the college or the System in response to crisis or emergency situations such as natural disasters, acts of terrorism, pandemics, public health crises, or any other plans necessary to address any and all safety, health, or other security situations.
5. Any form of retaliation towards a complainant or a participant in an investigation or conduct process. Retaliation will not be tolerated.

**Instances of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment are governed by the KCTCS Sexual Misconduct Procedure, which is administered separately from this Code.

Standard 3: KCTCS students are expected to respect the property of others, and the property, facilities, resources, and reputation of the College.

Violations or attempted violations may include, but are not limited to:

1. Illegal or unauthorized possession or use of weapons, including but not limited to: firearms, explosive devices, knives longer than three inches, or any other object used to threaten or cause harm. The full policy is available at KCTCS Administrative Policies and Procedures, 3.3.23 Policy on Deadly Weapons.
2. Making a threat of violence (including verbal, written, or virtual communications) that causes a reasonable expectation of harm to the health or safety of the campus.
3. Behavior that can put physical safety at risk, including but not limited to:
   1. Reckless driving.
   2. Possessing flammable chemicals or fireworks or tampering with smoke detectors.
   3. Climbing on roofs, buildings, or other structures.
   4. Leaving minors unattended on campus.
   5. Knowingly or recklessly putting others at risk of a contagious disease or exposure to infectious materials.
   6. Failing to follow KCTCS or College directives aimed at:
      1. reducing the spread of a contagious disease, or
      2. limiting campus access to ensure safety and security following a disaster impacting campus property, or
      3. other rules or protocols put in place to protect people and property.
4. Misuse, theft, or unauthorized use of College services or property.
5. Trespassing or unauthorized access to physical or virtual/cyber property or services of the College.
6. Attending classes without being registered for them, other than with permission by the instructor.
7. Theft of the property of a member of the College community.
8. Intentional destruction of property.
9. Use of recreational or outdoor equipment indoors (such as skateboards and hover boards), or reckless use of equipment outdoors.
10. Having an animal in a campus building other than in accordance with campus policy and ADA laws, such as permissible service animals trained to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability or illness or animals in the course of being trained as service animals. The full policy is found at KCTCS Administrative Policies and Procedures, 3.3.24 KCTCS Policy on Live Animals on Campus.
11. Unauthorized or irresponsible use of College computer, network, or other technology system resources as described in KCTCS Administrative Policies and Procedures, 4.2.5 Information and Information Technology Responsible Use Policy. KCTCS reserves the right to review and investigate activity of any sort on any machine or technology resource belonging to KCTCS, including reviewing email accounts, documents, hard drives, cloud-based accounts, or any other resource or method of use.

Standard 4: KCTCS students are expected to observe the rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the College as well as local, state and federal laws.

Violations or attempted violations may include, but are not limited to:

1. Prohibiting classroom instruction or learning from occurring.
2. Prohibiting College sponsored events from occurring.
3. Infringing on the rights of other members of the College community, including violations of policies or procedures pertaining to expressive activity.
4. Leading or inciting others to interrupt scheduled or normal activities within any campus building or area.
5. Obstructing the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on College property or at a College sponsored or supervised event.
6. Illegal or unauthorized possession, manufacturing, use, or distribution of marijuana, heroin, narcotics, synthetic drugs as determined by KRS Chapter 218A, and any other illegal or controlled substance or look-alike drug except as expressly permitted by law and College policy.
7. Illegal or unauthorized possession, manufacturing, use, or distribution of alcohol, except as expressly permitted by College policy. No person under 21 years of age may possess or consume alcoholic beverages, under any circumstances.
8. Illegal possession or use of prescription medications.
9. Public intoxication, vomiting, or other effects of irresponsible substance consumption.
10. Smoking or using tobacco products, including e-cigarettes or any other violation of the College’s Smoke-Free campus policy as found in the KCTCS Administrative Policies & Procedures, 3.3.14 KCTCS Tobacco Free Policy.
11. Failure to comply with
    1. the Code of Student Conduct
    2. directions of an authorized College representative who is performing his/her duties
    3. any reasonable guidelines for the use of labs, offices, waiting areas, classrooms, common areas, etc.
    4. any finding made and disciplinary action taken based on this Code of Student Conduct
    5. any local, state or federal law