E. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Student Code of Conduct
E.1.01 - Policy:
Each student shall have access to LSCS’s rules and regulations concerning student conduct. These rules and regulations are in effect when attending or participating in any activity sponsored by LSCS or one of its Colleges, either on campus or at an off-campus location.
LSCS is dedicated to providing a quality comprehensive educational program designed to meet and balance the diverse and changing educational, social, economic, and cultural needs of the community while providing a safe and healthful environment. LSCS is committed not only to learning and to the advancement of knowledge but also to the education of ethically sensitive and responsible persons. LSCS seeks to achieve these goals through a sound educational program and through rules and regulations governing student life that encourage responsibility and respect for the rights and viewpoints of others.
LSCS believes that students are adults who are responsible for their own actions, and who should be free to pursue their educational objectives in an environment that promotes learning, protects the integrity of the academic process, and protects the learning community.
E.1.02 - Policy Regarding Conduct:
LSCS and each of its Colleges shall provide a safe, responsive learning environment for all students and shall develop a student code of conduct to effectuate this goal.
E.1.03 - Applicability of Code of Conduct:
The academic and non-academic misconduct described in this section applies to all students enrolled in a credit or non-credit course at LSCS, whether offered on or off campus.
E.1.04 - Academic Matters:
Students assigned to health or other facilities, as part of clinical courses or serving in internships as part of a course, are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner in the clinical/internship setting and to adhere to the standards of practice appropriate to the particular professional field. Professional conduct is a component of the academic performance evaluation of a student.
Action taken against a student for failure to meet academic performance standards will be considered an academic matter and not a disciplinary matter in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Accordingly, any such actions may be appealed under applicable provisions of the academic regulations, not under the Student Code of Conduct.
E.1.05 - Off-Campus Activities:
When off-campus and not participating in matters related to LSCS or one of its Colleges’ activities or business, students shall not be considered under the control of LSCS, and LSCS shall not be held responsible for the off-campus activities or personal conduct of its students. Students who violate a local ordinance or any law risk the penalties prescribed by civil or criminal law. Nonetheless, LSCS may take disciplinary action against those students whose behavior off-campus, or in matters unrelated to LSCS or one of its Colleges’ activities or business, indicates that they pose a serious and substantial danger to others.
E.1.06 - Prohibited Conduct:
The following conduct is prohibited on LSCS/College premises, at College-sponsored activities, or during the execution of LSCS/College business.
E.1.07 - “College-Sponsored Activities” Defined:
“College-sponsored activities” are events and activities initiated by a student, student organization, College department, faculty member, or other employee which meet one of these:
a. are expressly authorized, aided, conducted, or supervised by the College;
b. are funded in whole or in part by the College;
c. are initiated by an officially registered student organization and conducted or promoted in the name of that student organization and/or the College; or
d. take place on College premises.
This definition also extends to LSCS/College business that does not necessarily occur on LSCS/College premises or at LSCS/College-sponsored activities.
E.1.08 - Non-Academic Misconduct:
Non-academic misconduct can occur in many different ways. Examples of non-academic misconduct, include, but are not limited to the following:
a. Disrupting, obstructing, or interfering with College or College-sponsored activities or access to College facilities or college-sponsored activities, including, but not limited to, teaching, studying, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, cultural events, or fire, police, emergency, and other services. Student demonstrations and similar activities must follow LSCS’s Free Speech Policy Procedures.
b. Causing physical and/or psychological abuse, threats of violence, terroristic threats, stalking, or harassment of any member of the LSCS community or visitor on LSCS property, or conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any such person. This includes verbal threats and threats made via electronic communication. Using, possessing or storing without authorization any weapon, dangerous chemical, or explosive element, including without limitation ammunition, whether or not the user or possessor holds a federal, state, or other license.
c. Violating a policy by use or possession of a weapon or instrument designed to look like a firearm, explosive, or weapon, which is used to assault or to cause reasonable apprehension of harm to another person.
d. Initiating, or causing to be initiated, any false report, warning, or threat of fire, explosion, or other emergency.
e. Violating fire regulations, including the misuse or damage of fire safety equipment; tampering, misusing, damaging, or playing with fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, exit lights, emergency lights, or other similar equipment; tampering with or pulling under false pretenses a fire alarm; or propping stairwell fire doors open.
f. Violating the terms of any disciplinary action imposed in accordance with this Code.
g. Interfering with freedom of expression of others.
h. Violating any LSCS policy, procedure, regulation or rule, including, but not limited to, those concerning sexual assault, moving violations, student organizations, use of LSCS facilities, smoking, alcohol, and the time, place, and manner of public expressions.
i. Possessing, using, selling, administering, or distributing alcoholic beverages or any illegal or controlled substances, designer drug, or drug paraphernalia without authorization.
j. Littering, damaging, defacing, or destroying LSCS property, or property under its jurisdiction, or removing, using, occupying, or entering such property improperly or without authorization.
k. Gambling or holding a raffle or lottery at LSCS without proper approval from LSCS and/or other authorities.
l. Violating any local, state, federal, or other applicable law.
m. Engaging in obscene, vulgar, offensively lewd, or indecent conduct, expression, or sexual conduct in or on LSCS property, including computer access of obscene material.
n. Furnishing false information or willfully misrepresenting any fact to LSCS or to members of the LSCS community who are acting in the exercise of their official duties.
o. Forging, altering, falsifying, or misusing LSCS documents, records, forms, or identification cards.
p. Willfully misrepresenting to anyone within or outside of the college community one's status with LSCS, or willfully misrepresenting that the LSCS supports, sponsors, or approves the services or activities of any person, group, or organization.
q. Stealing or attempting theft of LSCS property or services or personal property, or knowingly possessing such stolen property.
r. Infringing upon the right of other students to fair and equal access to any of LSCS’s library materials and other LSCS academic resources.
s. Using, without authorization, the LSCS’s facilities and/or equipment, including but not limited to, the phone system, mail system, computer system, transportation system, and/or equipment, or use of any of the above for any illegal act. LSCS facilities may be used for the designated educational purposes only. LSCS facilities may not be used for personal use, personal business use, or commercial use (except as otherwise authorized in the LSCS Board Policy Manual). LSCS facilities may be used for recreational activities only in designated areas.
t. Causing false information to be presented before any administrative proceeding of LSCS, or intentionally destroying evidence relevant to such a proceeding.
u. Failing to comply with the direction of LSCS officials, including campus security officers acting in the performance of their duties.
v. Hazing - (see subsection E.2.05).
w. Abandoning a child in any place on LSCS’s premises without providing reasonable and necessary care for the child, under circumstances under which no reasonable, similarly situated adult would leave a child at that age and ability. A student commits an offense if having custody, care, or control of a child younger than 15 years of age and intentionally abandoning the child on LSCS’s premises, exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of harm.
x. Using abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place, phone conversation, or via electronic communication directed at another student, LSCS employee, or visitor.
y. Attempting to commit acts prohibited in this Code of Conduct, or encouraging or assisting others to commit such acts are prohibited and may be punished to the same extent as if one had committed the prohibited act.
E.1.09 - Classroom Misconduct:
LSCS seeks to provide an environment where discussion and expression of all views relevant to the subject matter of the class are recognized as essential to the teaching and learning process. However, students do not have the right to interfere with the freedom of the faculty to teach or the rights of other students to learn.
Faculty are to set the standards of conduct that are acceptable in the classroom at the beginning of the semester. If a student behaves disruptively in the classroom after the faculty member has explained the unacceptability of such conduct and the consequences that will result, the student may be asked to leave the room for the remainder of the class time. If the student refuses to leave the room when directed, the faculty member may request the assistance of LSCS’s Police Department. If such assistance is requested, the police officer will inform the student that he or she is not to return to class until he or she has met with the academic dean and received written permission to return to class.
When a student is asked to leave the class, the faculty member shall prepare and submit a written report of the incident to the Chief Academic Officer and the Chief Student Affairs Officer. The report shall include the date, time, place, and student conduct. The office of the Chief Student Affairs Officer shall maintain the written report of the incident.
E.1.10 - Academic Integrity:
LSCS upholds the academic core values of learning: honesty, respect, fairness, and accountability. It promotes the importance of personal and academic honesty. It embraces the belief that all learners – students, faculty, staff, and administrators – will abide by the aforementioned academic core values providing their own work and giving appropriate credit to the work of others. Fabrication of sources, cheating, or unauthorized collaboration is prohibited on any work submitted within LSCS.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism and cheating.
Any occurrence of academic dishonesty is to be determined in accordance with Section “Academic Achievement”, Chapter V - INSTRUCTION, LSCS Board Policy Manual.
E.1.11 - Dress and Grooming:
Students' dress or grooming may not materially and substantially interfere with normal school operations.
Students are expected to be dressed and groomed in an appropriate manner while on campus or while participating in activities sponsored by LSCS.