Self-discipline is an essential element of individual growth and development. Accordingly, students are expected to display the qualities of courtesy and integrity which characterize the behavior of mature individuals.

Academic Standing

Students’ academic standing shall be determined under the rules and regulations proposed by the faculty and approved by the President. However, students may appeal a decision on academic standing by doing so in writing. Such an appeal should be made to the Chief Academic Officer.

Rights and Responsibilities

The rights of students, including the freedom to observe, hear, study, and write are acknowledged by Martin Community College. In exercising their rights of citizenship, students are encouraged to act as responsible citizens and to further the principles of free learning. All students or constituted group of students have the right to express their views and concerns regarding the operation of Martin Community College.

Dismissal, Suspension, or Expulsion

The President or any other authorized college official may dismiss, suspend, or expel any student who disrupts the legal mission, educational processes, or functions of the College. A record of the dismissal, suspension, or expulsion (for non-academic disciplinary purposes) will be maintained in the student’s educational record.

Disruption

Students shall not, by use of violence, force, coercion, threat, intimidation, or any other means, intentionally cause obstruction or disruption of any educational processes or other school-related functions. Students shall not encourage or urge other students to engage in disruptive activities. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Occupying any college building or room with the intent of depriving others of its use
• Blocking the entrance or exit of any building or corridor to willfully deprive others of access to or from the building or corridor
• Setting fire to or damaging any college building or property
• Possessing a firearm or any other weapon on the College premises or threatening the use of explosives. The only exception to this policy is that law enforcement officers, either on duty or on call, may wear a firearm while on campus as part of their prescribed equipment. Basic Law Enforcement Training students may possess a weapon if used in connection with a regularly scheduled educational, recreational, or training program under adequate supervision of an MCC employee
• Preventing or attempting to prevent any class, activity, meeting, or assembly on the College campus
• Blocking normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic on the campus of Martin Community College
• Continuously and/or intentionally making noise or acting in any manner so as to interfere with instructors’ ability to conduct their classes or other duties
• Stealing or attempting to steal College property or personal property belonging to other students, employees, or visitors while on the campus of Martin Community College
• Intentionally causing physical injury or behaving in such a way as to cause physical injury to other students or employees while on campus or while at a college-sponsored activity off campus
• Possessing, using, transmitting, or being under the influence of any narcotic, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, alcoholic beverage, or any other kind of intoxicant while on campus. Using a drug as prescribed and officially authorized by a physician will not be considered a violation of this regulation
• Intentionally and knowingly furnishing false information with intent to exploit or to commit an act of fraud;
• Deliberately cheating or knowingly and intentionally engaging in acts of plagiarism
• Outright refusing to obey or follow the instructions of instructors or any other college officials in a manner which could jeopardize the education or the security of others
• Gambling while on campus or at a college-sponsored activity
• Intentionally and openly using profanity while on campus or at a college-sponsored activity in such a manner that listeners could be unnecessarily embarrassed, offended, or insulted
• Intentionally and openly engaging in obscene activities while on campus or at a college-sponsored event
• Using portable radios, cassettes, CDs, portable/cellular telephones, pagers, etc., inside any building on the campus of Martin Community College in a disruptive manner. If these devices disrupt class, instructors have the right to ask students not to bring them
• Bringing food or drinks into classrooms where signage indicates “No Food or Drinks Allowed”

Religious Observance

In compliance with G.S. 115D-5, MCC policy permits a student to be excused, with the opportunity to make-up any test or other missed work, a maximum of two excused absences per academic year for religious observances required by a student’s faith. The policy limits the excused absences to a maximum of two days per academic year.

Students who wish to be excused for a Religious Observance required by their faith must complete and submit a request form to the instructor(s) prior to the census date of each class. The Request for Excused Absences for Religious Observance can be picked up from Student Services. This does not supersede the college-wide attendance policy as outlined in the college catalog or syllabus, with the exception of a reasonable accommodation for the make-up of missed course work.

Cheating

Cheating Defined

Cheating is defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary (2017) as: “to use unfair or dishonest methods to gain an advantage.” Cheating is a form of academic dishonesty that can be intentional or unintentional and includes, but is not limited to: plagiarism, copying from another student and/or paper or online sources, misrepresenting someone else’s work as your own, working with others if your instructor explicitly asks you not to, falsifying documents or other records, and/or submitting work under your name that was not done by you.

Students can avoid cheating by following the assignment instructions, clarifying with the instructor when they can and cannot collaborate with others, reviewing their work with a critical eye and honestly asking themselves if the information they are providing is their own work or if someone else should have been given credit by citing the work. Library resources are available to learn about cheating, plagiarism, and citations.

Consequences of Cheating

Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses and will result in the following sanctions:

• 1st offense: Failure of the assignment in which the action occurred
• 2nd offense: Failure of the course, with a grade of F (not WF) in which the action occurred
• 3rd offense: Expelled from Martin Community College (MCC) for one full-calendar year

Incidents of cheating and plagiarism will be reported to the Chief Academic Officer and the Registrar, and will be kept on file as part of the student’s academic record in the Registrar’s Office.

Specific program policies may supersede this policy.