Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

Overview of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

The purpose of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution is to maintain the general welfare of the college community. Santa Barbara City College strives to make the campus community a place of study and work where people are treated, and treat one another, with respect and courtesy. The College views the student judicial process as a learning experience that can result in growth and personal understanding of one’s responsibilities and privileges within both the college community and the surrounding communities.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution is to establish an ethic of care at Santa Barbara City College through its preventive, behavioral and accountability practices. Establishment of an “ethic of care” aid in providing a safe, respectful and supportive Community where students, parents, faculty and staff will be challenged to develop their critical thinking, values, connectedness to the community, sense of identity, understanding of independence and interdependence and multicultural awareness. An “ethic of care” model for Student Conduct and conflict Resolution is a holistic approach to engage community members regarding their behaviors and responsibilities, recognizing that concern for self and others in a community of individuals can have a powerful impact. The values, functional practices and programs of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution support this holistic model and demonstrate an effort to aid in student development and contribute to a positive, successful and respectful living and learning environment throughout the university community.

Learning Goals

Our goal in Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution is that the student, through their experience in our process, will grow in the following areas:

1. Intellectual Growth: The student will gain a better understanding of the consequences and potential consequences of his/her personal actions and will learn the purposes of institutional policies. He/She will employ critical thinking in problem solving and ultimately obtain a degree.

2. Clarification of Values: The student will learn the effect of their behavior on others. The student will demonstrate ethical development, will comply with institutional policy and commit no further violations of policy. The student will gain understanding of the institutional values reflected in institutional policies. The student will gain a better understanding of the importance of personal integrity. Through our process the student will be asked to scrutinize his/her beliefs, ethics and values. The student will be able to articulate his/her personal ethics and values, will act in congruence with those ethics and values and make decisions that reflect his/her beliefs.

3. Social Responsibility: The student will contribute positively to the college community and beyond. The student will understand and participate in relevant governance systems and understand, abide by and participate in the development, maintenance and orderly change of community, social and legal standards or norms.

Authority

The Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees is charged with responsibility for the governance of Santa Barbara City College. In furtherance of that responsibility, the Board of Trustees has the authority to adopt and enforce such rules and regulations, as it deems necessary for the operation, control, and management of Santa Barbara City College. Education Code Section 66300 states that the Board of Trustees shall adopt specific rules and regulations governing student behavior. A copy of these policies is provided to each student at registration, and copies are also available in the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, CC - 222. The Standards of Student Conduct adopted by the Board of Trustees includes provisions relating to the standards of conduct expected of students at Santa Barbara City College. Faculty and administrators involved in the disciplinary process are expected to abide by the standards articulated in the Santa Barbara City College Standards of Student Conduct. Students who fail to conform to the established standards of student conduct are subject to one or more of the disciplinary penalties listed in the Standards of Student Conduct. A disciplinary penalty may not be imposed upon a student for engaging in prohibited conduct unless the student has been offered an opportunity for a hearing that conforms to certain minimal procedural due process standards. Student Conduct Policies have been drafted to establish disciplinary hearing procedures that conform to procedural due process requirements. The Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution("OSCCR") is authorized to establish and administer this policy. Any questions regarding interpretation of this code or any of its provisions should be directed to the Dean, Educational Programs for final determination. Questions regarding behavioral problems should be directed to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution.

Values

The values of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution provide a framework for programs and practices that mirror institutional values. The Office of Student Judicial Affairs' values are: Civic responsibility and student involvement;Education and development of all students;Respect, dignity and equity;A socially just community;Responsibility, accountability and critical thinking; and Fairness, honesty and integrity

Jurisdiction

1. This policy governs:

1. Student conduct that occurs on or as it relates to college property or at official functions and college-sponsored programs conducted away from the campus. College property is defined as land, buildings and facilities in possession of or owned, used or controlled by the college or funded by college budgets.
2. Student conduct that occurs off college property is subject to this policy if it: (1) adversely affects the health, safety or security of any member of the college community or the mission of the college; or (2) involves any records or documents of the college.

2. Proceedings initiated under this policy are separate from civil or criminal proceedings that may relate to the same incident. Investigations or conduct proceedings by the college are not postponed while criminal or civil proceedings are pending unless otherwise determined by the Dean, Educational Programs.

3. The unexcused failure of a student to appear and/or respond to the conduct process does not prevent the college from proceeding with the conduct process.

 

Student Rights and Responsibilities

The Santa Barbara Community College District exists in order to foster knowledge, the pursuit of truth, the development of students and the general well being of society. This can only be achieved in an environment where there are appropriate educational opportunities and academic freedom, including the freedom to teach and the freedom to learn in an environment where students are encouraged to develop their critical judgment and engage in a free search for truth.

 

To achieve the environment and conditions essential to the pursuit of these goals, Santa Barbara City College has developed a policy regarding students’ rights and responsibilities. Students who feel their rights have been violated may take their complaint to the appropriate department chair or administrator. The college’s organizational structure provides the appropriate levels of appeal through which such a complaint can be pursued. The exception to this process would be those complaints that deal with State regulations, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The District Compliance Officer handles complaints within these areas. Complaints by students about the acts of other students are handled by the Assistant Dean, Educational Programs and are covered under the College’s Standards of Student Conduct and Due Process.

 

It is the duty of all students who are potential parties or witnesses to an alleged violation of the Standard of Student Conduct to participate conscientiously in the conduct process. Students have a duty to cooperate and discuss the incident with an investigator and over the telephone or in person, adhere to stated deadlines, attend scheduled meetings, and participate in all proceedings.

 

Failure to meet these duties may result in a decision being made without the benefit of the student’s participation or may result in a student being charged with failing to comply with the direction of a college official. It is the responsibility of a charged student to seek modification to any criminal or civil restraining orders to allow for the completion of any conduct process defined in the Standards of Student Conduct.