Code Violations

Howard Community College expects its students to adhere to high standards of honor and good citizenship. Students must conduct themselves in a responsible manner, which reflects credit upon themselves and the college. Acts of misconduct subject to disciplinary action include but are not limited to the following:

• Academic dishonesty (see section on academic honesty).
• Forgery or alteration of college records or college identification cards.
• Intentionally furnishing false information to the college.
• Deliberate destruction of, damage to, malicious misuse of, or abuse of property. (Students are financially liable for the repair or replacement of property when the damage is a result of their willful destruction, reckless and intentional behavior, or malicious misuse.)
• Sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sex offenses as defined by Maryland state law and promulgated by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the sexual violence definition promulgated by Title IX of The Education Amendments of 1972 (see section on sexual harassment).
• Physical abuse, threat, harassment, aggressive or threatening behaviors, or stalking of any member of the college community or visitor to the college, or conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of such person. Students are not permitted to contact faculty or staff members off campus, unless prior permission is given and communication is necessary and related to academic issues.
• Theft or attempted theft of college or private property which is physically located on college-owned or controlled property.
• Theft or unauthorized use of another individual’s identity, password, access to information, and/or the identity theft of any member of the college community or visitor to the college.
• Misuse of HCC’s computer network, equipment, and Internet access for other than educational purposes. This includes, but is not limited to the following: (1) copying or duplicating proprietary software or files stored on college-owned computers that are protected by copyright laws; (2) transmission of communication in any form (e.g., text, images, sound) where the content, meaning, and/or distribution of the message would violate applicable law or regulation, or be deemed obscene or threatening; or (3) any violation of HCC’s Acceptable Use of Technology Policy.
• Disorderly, disruptive, obscene, or indecent conduct on college-owned or controlled property, or at off-campus functions sponsored by, or participated in, by the college.
• Illegal possession, manufacture, distribution, sale, or use of alcoholic beverages, narcotics, marijuana, hypnotics, sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants, hallucinogens, and other similar known harmful or habit-forming drugs or chemicals, and the abuse or misuse of prescriptions or over-the-counter medications or chemicals on college-owned or controlled property, or during an off-campus college-sponsored activity.
• Drunkenness or being under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or other substances on college-owned or controlled property or during an off-campus college-sponsored activity.
• Intentional violation of the college policy on controlled substances and alcohol.
• Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other college activities, including the college’s public service functions or other authorized activities on college-owned or controlled property, or during an off-campus college-sponsored activity.
• Participation in, or organization of, any unauthorized activity to interrupt the functions of the college.
• Intentionally and substantially interfering with the freedom of expression of others.
• Illegal or unauthorized possession or use of knives, firearms, fireworks, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or arms classified as weapons on college-owned or controlled property. An instrument designed to look like a weapon, which is used by a student to cause reasonable apprehension or harm, is expressly included within the definition of weapon. Note: Students who are employees of law enforcement organizations and are required to carry a weapon on campus must notify the director of public safety in writing of their intent to carry a licensed weapon at the beginning of each semester. Failure to disclose this information is a violation of this code.
• Unauthorized entry to or use of college-owned or controlled facilities, including all buildings and grounds.
• Demonstrations that interfere with the rights of other members of the college community or with the normal function of the college.
• Deliberate disobedience or resistance of properly identified college authorities acting in the line of duty.
• Initiation of, or causing to be initiated, any false report, warning, or threat of fire, bomb explosion, or other emergency.
• Unauthorized or fraudulent use of the college’s facilities and equipment, including but not limited to the phone, mail, computer, and transportation systems.
• Hazing. This includes any act or causing any situation which recklessly or intentionally subjects a student to the risk of bodily injury or endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission in a student organization.
• Unattended Children. Students must not bring children under the age of 16 on campus and leave them unattended while attending classes or campus activities. Students who violate this policy may be subject to the penalties of the Family Law Article, Section 5-801, et seq. This restriction does not apply to younger students enrolled under special admission procedures.
• Bringing children to class.

Commentary:

The college recognizes students may have difficulty with day care for their children; however, HCC views the classroom as an adult-learning environment, and one that should be free from potential distractions.

• Classroom, office, or lab disruption.
• Knowingly violating the terms of any disciplinary sanction imposed in accordance with this code.
• Failure to identify oneself when requested by a college official, public safety officer, or faculty member, or failure to comply with instructions from college officials or public safety officers carrying out public safety functions. College officials may question students or campus visitors when there is a reasonable basis for believing that the person being stopped has committed an offense against the rules of the college or the State of Maryland.
• Gambling on college-owned or controlled property, or during college-sponsored activities.
• Excessive parking violations (see section on parking).
• Smoking and/or excessive smoking violations (see section on smoking).
• Use of cellular phones and mobile devices in the classroom or lab is at the instructor's discretion. Unless otherwise directed by the instructor, students who must bring such devices to class must disengage or place devices on inaudible signal so as not to disturb or interfere with classroom activities.
• Any unauthorized audio or video recording of any person on college premises or at college sponsored activities at other sites, without his/her prior knowledge or without his/her consent when such a recording has the potential to cause injury or distress. Students with disabilities who have been vetted through the office of Disability Support Services to record lectures must notify their instructor via their accommodation memo of their intent to record and are restricted to using these recordings for educational purposes only. All other students who wish to record lectures must obtain prior permission from their instructors authorizing audio and/or video recording and are restricted to using these recordings for educational purposes only.
• Any act or behavior which fails to comply with or violates the rules of the college or laws of the state of Maryland or of the United States.