skip to content

Quick Jump:

Student Code

Excerpt from Policy

The student is in the unique position of being a member of the college community and the community at large. Admission to the college carries with it the expectation that students:

  1. will respect and abide by the laws of the community, state, and nation;

  2. will adhere to college rules and regulations which assure the orderly conduct of college affairs;

  3. will maintain high standards of integrity and honesty;

  4. will respect the rights, privileges, and property of other members of the college community; and

  5. will not interfere with legitimate college affairs.

Bellevue Community College may apply sanctions or take other appropriate action only when student conduct interferes with the college’s:

  1. primary educational responsibility of ensuring the opportunity of all members of the college community to attain their educational objectives;
  2. subsidiary responsibilities of protecting property, keeping records, providing services, and sponsoring non-classroom activities such as lectures, concerts, athletic events, and social functions.

An atmosphere of learning and self-development is created by appropriate conditions in the college community. The rights, freedoms, and responsibilities in this document are critical ingredients toward the free, creative, and spirited educational environment to which the students, faculty, and staff of Bellevue Community College are committed.

Student Rights and Freedoms

The following enumerated rights and freedoms are guaranteed to each student within the limitations of statutory law and college policies that are deemed necessary to achieve the educational goals of the college:

Academic Freedom. Students are guaranteed rights of free inquiry, expression, and peaceful assembly upon and within college facilities that are generally open and available to the public. Students shall have the right of assembly as defined in WAC 132H-120-030 upon college facilities that are generally available to the public. [Certain provisions apply]. Students are free to pursue appropriate educational objectives from among the college’s curricula, programs and services, subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.50.090(3)(b). Students shall be protected from academic evaluation which is arbitrary, prejudiced or capricious. Students have the right to a learning environment which is free from unlawful discrimination, inappropriate and disrespectful conduct, and sexual harassment.

Due Process. The right of students to be secure in their persons, quarters, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures is guaranteed. No disciplinary sanction may be imposed on any student without notice to the accused of the nature of the charges. A student accused of violating the Student Code is entitled, upon request, to procedural due process as set forth in this chapter.

Distribution and Posting. Students may distribute or post printed or published material subject to official procedures printed and available in the Office of Student Programs.

Off-Campus Speakers. Recognized student organizations shall have the right to invite outside speakers to speak on campus subject to the availability of campus facilities, funding, and compliance with the college procedures available in the Campus Operations Office.
Incidental Sales. Students have the right to engage in incidental sales of personal property in a private transaction provided college facilities are not explicitly used for this purpose.

Commercial Activities. The use of college grounds or facilities for commercial or private gain purposes is prohibited [exceptions apply].

Fund-Raising. Students have the right to engage in fund raising activities for nonprofit organizations as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

Sale of Merchandise. All merchandise offered for commercial sale may be sold only through the College Bookstore or College Food Services except when approved by the Vice President of Student Services.

Student Responsibilities

Any student shall be subject to disciplinary action as provided for in this chapter, who either as a principal actor, aide, abettor, or accomplice as defined in RCW 9A.08.020:

  1. Materially and substantially interferes with the personal rights or privileges of others or the educational process of the college;

  2. Violates any provision of this chapter; or

  3. Commits any prohibited act including but not limited to the following:

    1. Alcoholic Beverages. Being demonstrably under the influence of any form of alcoholic beverage. Possessing or consuming any form of liquor or alcoholic beverage except as a participant of legal age in a student program, banquet, or educational program which has the special written authorization of the college president or his/her designee.
    2. Controlled Substances. Using, possessing, delivering, selling, or being under the influence of legend drugs, including anabolic steroids, androgens, or human growth hormones, as defined by RCW 69.41.010 and RCW 69.41.300 or any other controlled substance as defined in RCW 69.50.101 as now law or hereafter amended, except upon valid prescription or order of a practitioner, is subject to additional sanctions, including disqualification from participation in college-sponsored athletic events. For the purpose of this regulation, “sale” shall include the statutory meaning defined in RCW 69.04.005 as now law or hereafter amended.
    3. Illegal Entry. Unauthorized entry into or onto any locked or otherwise closed college facility in any manner, at any time, without permission of the college employee or agent in charge thereof.
    4. Forgery or Alteration of Records. Forgery, as defined in RCW 9A.60-010–9A.60.020 as now law or hereafter amended or any district record of instrument or tendering any forged record of instrument to any employee or agent of the district acting in his/her official capacity as such.
    5. Illegal Assembly. Participation in an assembly which materially and substantially interferes with vehicular or pedestrian traffic, classes, hearings, meetings, the educational and administrative functions of the college, or the private rights and privileges of others.
    6. Malicious Mischief. Intentional or negligent damage to or destruction of any college facility or other public or private real or personal property.
    7. Failure to Follow Instructions. Failure to comply with directions of properly identified college officials acting in performance of their duties.
    8. Physical Abuse. Physical abuse of any person or conduct which is intended unlawfully to threaten imminent bodily harm or to endanger the health or safety of any person on college-owned or controlled property or at college-sponsored or supervised functions.
    9. Assault. Assault, reckless endangerment, intimidation, or interference upon another person in the manner set forth in RCW 9A.36.010, RCW 28B.10.570 through RCW 28B.10.572 as now or hereafter amended.
    10. Disorderly, Abusive, or Bothersome Conduct. Disorderly or abusive behavior that interferes with the rights of others or which obstructs or disrupts teaching, research, or administrative functions.
    11. Weapons. Possession or use of firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or other dangerous weapons or instrumentalities on the college campus, except for authorized college purposes or for law enforcement officers, unless written approval has been obtained from the Dean of Student Services or any other person designated by the President.
    12. Lewd Conduct. Engaging in lewd, indecent, or obscene behavior on college-owned or controlled property or at college-sponsored or supervised functions.
    13. False Alarms. Falsely setting off or otherwise tampering with any emergency safety equipment, alarm, or other device established for the safety of individuals and/or college facilities.
    14. Cheating and Plagiarism. Engaging in cheating, stealing, plagiarizing, knowingly furnishing false information to the college, or submitting to a faculty member any work product that the student fraudulently represents as his or her own work for the purpose of fulfilling or partially fulfilling any assignment or task required as part of a program of instruction.
    15. Sexual Harassment. Engaging in unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature where such behavior knowingly offends the recipient, causes discomfort or humiliation, or interferes with job or school performance.
    16. Theft or Robbery. Theft or robbery from the district or from another as defined in RCW 9A.56.010 through RCW 9A.56.050 and RCW 9A.56.100 as now law or hereafter amended.
    17. Unauthorized Use of Property. Converting college equipment, supplies, or other property without proper authority.
    18. Refusal to Provide Identification. Refusal to provide positive identification (e.g., valid driver’s license or state identification card) in appropriate circumstances to any college employee in the lawful discharge of said employee’s duties.
    19. Smoking. Smoking in any college facility or on campus grounds except where specifically posted as permitted, or any other smoking not complying with chapter 60.160 RCW.
    20. False Complaint. Filing a formal complaint falsely accusing another student or college employee with violating a provision of this chapter.
    21. Improper use of computer, telephone, or other electronic devices. Conduct that violates the college’s acceptable use policy as it relates to computers, telephone, or electronic technology use, including electronic mail and the internet. Trespassing or gaining access, without authorization, to a computer, system, network, or electronic data owned, used by, or affiliated with the college.
    22. Ethics violation. The breach of any generally recognized and published code of ethics or standards of professional practice that governs the conduct of a particular profession for which the student is taking courses or is pursuing as an educational goal or major. These ethics codes must be distributed to students as part of an education program, course, or sequence of courses and the student must be informed that a violation of such ethics may subject the student to disciplinary action by the college.
    23. Criminal law violation, illegal behavior, other unlawful violations. Students can be reported to proper authorities for acts which constitute violations to applicable local, state and federal laws. When the student’s behavior is determined to threaten the health, safety and/or property of the college and its members, the college may immediately and summarily suspend the student and refer any such violation to the proper authorities for disposition.
    24. Stalking. Stalking by intentionally and repeatedly harassing or repeatedly following another person when the person being harassed or followed is reasonably placed in fear that the stalker intends to injure that person or another person, or property of the person or of another person. The stalker must either (i) intend to frighten, intimidate, or harass the person; or (ii) know or reasonably should know that the person is afraid, intimidated, or harassed, even if the stalker did not intend to place the person in fear or intimidate or harass the person.

Purpose of Disciplinary Action

The college may apply sanctions or take other appropriate action as defined in WAC 132H-120-200. Disciplinary action proceedings shall determine whether and under what conditions the violator may continue as a student of the college.

Initial Disciplinary Proceedings

  1. All disciplinary proceedings will be initiated by the Vice President of Student Services or his or her designated representative. The student may be placed on suspension pending commencement of disciplinary action.

  2. Any student accused of violating any provision of the rules of conduct shall be called for an initial meeting with the Vice President of Student Services or his or her designated representative. The student will be informed in writing of what provision or provisions of the rules of conduct he/she is charged with violating, and what appears to be the range of penalties, if any, which might result from initiation of disciplinary proceedings.

  3. After considering the evidence in the case and interviewing the accused student, if the accused student has appeared at the scheduled conference, the Vice President may take any of the following actions:

    • Terminate the proceeding, exonerating the student or students;
    • Dismiss the case after whatever counseling and advice the Vice President deems appropriate;
    • Impose verbal warning to student directly, not subject to the student’s right of appeal as provided in this chapter;
    • Impose additional sanctions of reprimand, probation, suspension, or dismissal, subject to the student’s right of appeal as provided in the following provisions.