Article I. Student Codes

Violation of Law and College Rules and Regulations

Doane College, as a private College, is not required to provide due process in its response to student discipline matters. The policies and procedures below will be followed in a majority of student discipline cases, but the College specifically reserves the right to deviate from said policies and procedures whenever the administration determines that such a deviation is in the best interest of the student or students involved, in the best interests of the effective learning and educational environment to which all Doane students are entitled, or will best protect the safety and well being of the Doane student population. Nothing in these policies or procedures is intended to nor shall it create a contractual agreement between the College and the students as to how student discipline will be handled; rather, Doane retains discretion to protect the best interests of the institution and students in all cases.

College discipline will not be used to duplicate the function of city/state laws when a student is charged with or convicted of a violation occurring off-campus. The College may, however, impose sanctions for serious misconduct, flagrant disregard for the rights of others or jeopardizing the good reputation of the College as determined by the Vice President for Student Leadership. (Example: possession and/or use of narcotics or hallucinating agents are grounds for immediate suspension.) The College may institute proceedings against a student who violates a federal, state, county or city law that is also a violation of a published College policy.

Generally, College discipline is limited to incidents of student behavior that adversely affect the College community’s pursuit of its educational objective or create a substantial interference with the safety and well-being of Doane students. Doane College expects that individuals will respect the rights of others and have regard for preservation of property. The following misconduct, not an all-inclusive code, is subject to College disciplinary action. Each student is held accountable for his/her behavior under the judicial system of the College. Students are expected to be familiar with all College regulations and to abide by them at all times in order to maintain a fair, just and safe living-learning environment.

All forms of dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, forgery, knowingly furnishing false information to College staff, alteration or use of College documents or instruments of identification with intent to defraud is not tolerated. This includes the sale of term papers, computer programs, theft of and/or unauthorized use of telephone codes, computer security authorizations, dining hall cards, Doane ID cards and parking stickers. In addition, falsifying information obtained from the Doane College Web site, Web-Advisor, TigerNet, or from any print materials associated with the College is subject to disciplinary action.

Doane College may choose to address student discipline matters separate from or in conjunction with the criminal justice system. If a criminal complaint is filed against a student or students for conduct on or off campus which constitutes a crime of violence, theft,sexual assault, distribution of controlled substances and/or illegal drugs or any other serious crime, the College may determine whether the presence of student on campus during the pendency of the criminal justice proceedings will constitute a substantial interference with school and educational purposes. If such a determination is made, the College may suspend the student from attendance at Doane College until such time as the matter is brought to conclusion by the criminal justice system. Such suspension shall not restrict the College from invoking additional disciplinary sanctions as described below.

Section 1.01 Student Conduct Code

(This list is not all-inclusive):

1. Intentional obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings or other College activities. This includes violations of library policies.

2. Acts or expression of harassment, discrimination, personal intimidation or intentional physical or emotional abuse of any person.

3. Conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person, including one’s self, or conduct likely to result in property damage.

4. Theft or attempted theft of property or services of the College or that of a member of the College community or campus visitor, or possession of known stolen property. Includes failing to return checked out College equipment or property.

5. Failure to comply with directions of College officials or their designees acting in performance of their duties.

6. Failure to comply with the directive of law enforcement/fire department personnel acting honorably in the performance of their duties

7. Failure to comply with the terms of any disciplinary sanction imposed in accordance with the code of student conduct.

8. Failure to appear on request or give truthful testimony at a disciplinary hearing of the College.

9. Failure to respond to disciplinary or investigation notices sent by College officials

10. Failure to answer questions with College official accurately and honestly in College investigation or hearing.

11. Unauthorized entry or use of College facilities, driving on lawns or being on the roof of any College building, including residence halls and student rooms.

12. Violation of the law on campus and violation of the law off campus as explained under Violation of Law and College Rules and Regulations, including, but not limited to the Student Handbook, or the occurrence of conduct which causes a substantial interference with school purposes or damages the College reputation.

13. Unauthorized possession or use of firearms; including, but not limited to, rifles, shotguns, handguns, BB guns, air rifles, paint ball guns, sling shots, water balloon slingshots, fireworks, firecrackers or dangerous chemicals on campus. This includes carrying a concealed handgun, which is prohibited in or on Doane College property. This prohibits permit holders from possessing or carrying a concealed handgun on these premises. Unless otherwise authorized by law, violation of the prohibition is a criminal offence. This policy is pursuant of the Nebraska Revised Statue 36-2441.

14. Setting fires, tampering with fire protection equipment, causing false fire alarms or failure to leave the building during fire alarms or drills. Tampering with fire protective equipment may result in sanctions including a $500 fine.

15. Violations of published college rules to include: residence halls, traffic, dining hall and hazing.

16. Possession of, sale, distribution, use or involvement with any kind of non-prescribed narcotics, drugs or controlled substances. (Includes possession of prescription drugs that have been prescribed to others.)

17. Disorderly conduct or behavior that is not conductive to the Doane College environment.

18. Sexual misconduct, sexual assault, rape, sexual harassment or lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct or expression.

19. Using electronic devices to record or photograph art class nude models. This includes any and all inappropriate photographing or recording of community members in non-public environments without the prior approval from the individual/s.

20. Unsafe conduct that threatens or endangers one’s own life or the life of one or more members of the campus community.  Misuse or entry of Doane Lake or Miller Pond, regardless of the condition (frozen, dry, normal water level, etc.) or reason.  This includes fishing, ice-skating and walking.

21. Assault or attempted assault of any person.

22. Failure to comply with the policy on violence and unacceptable behavior as explained in greater detail under the Violence and unacceptable Behavior Policy.

23. Violation of the campus alcohol policy.

24. Deliberate or unjustified damage to property of the College or to property of a member of the campus community or campus visitor.

25. Providing false information to Doane College personnel acting in accordance with their position on Campus.  

26. Failure to produce your Doane ID when requested while on Doane property.

27. Providing or fabrication of false information or associations on your resume, applications or any college documentation.

28. Tampering with locks or doors in college buildings, unauthorized possession or use of college keys and alteration or duplication of college keys. Includes unauthorized propping open college doors during locked hours.

29. Contempt of adjudication proceedings, including disorderly behavior and impairing or interruption the due course of proceedings of college judicial bodies.

30. Failure to respond to campus notifications in a timely manner. Students are to check their e-mail accounts and mailboxes at least once a day. Students may be contacted via e-mail, letter or phone in regards to academic, business, conduct and community issues on campus.

31. Smoking in rooms, balconies, hallways, porches, public areas and other designated non- smoking areas. Smoking is allowed at least 50 feet away from building entrances in accordance with the Smoking Policy as outlined in Section 4.04. This is designed to keep second-hand smoke from non-smokers. Students that smoke near windows and doors are a disturbance to other residence. Hookahs are not allowed on the Doane College campus. If found, they may be confiscated or required to be removed immediately.

32. Violation of the Gathering Policy as outlined in Section 3.03.

33. Violation of the Student Responsibility and Self-Care policy as outlined below:

    1. Self-care and Threatening Behavior Policy:  Students must be able to care for themselves at all times. The college has limited resources for students who are not able to provide reasonable care for themselves. Incidents where students demonstrate lack of care for themselves (alcohol poisoning, suicidal threats, not taking health medication, failing to turn in required health documents to the Health and Wellness Director) may be removed from campus housing immediately. Students involved in incidents like this are required to provide documentation from health professionals that they have completed any assigned requirements from such incidents (such as alcohol evaluations or mental health evaluations). Failure to provide proof of evaluations will result in removal from housing with no refund of student room costs. Repeat incidents will result in removal from residential housing. Students who exhibit threatening behavior towards other students may be removed from housing immediately.

    2. Direct/Immediate Threat Policy:  Any student threatening to harm themselves or others will be taken seriously. ALL SUICIDAL OR HOMICIDAL STATEMENTS AS WELL AS CONCERNS WILL BE REPORTED TO THE CRETE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR LOCAL EMS IMMEDIATELY, even if the student claims that the statement or action was only meant in jest. This is a serious matter. Such threats or statements are unacceptable and mandate immediate attention and action.

If an immediate threat of harm to oneself or others is possible, then the College will take the necessary steps to ensure safety for the student and community and local authorities will be contacted. If no immediate threat of harm to oneself or others is present, then the College will move forward with the following steps:

1. Convene the Threat Assessment Management Team to assess threat and make recommendations.

2. Generate an assessment report.

3. Immediately contact the student posing the threat to ensure proper objective assessment interview.

4. If the student has disclosed a disability and has an accommodation plan with the college, the college will consider additional accommodations available to the student, and will, when necessary, make an individualized assessment of the direct threat posed by the student in accordance with applicable federal law.

5. At minimum, the college will respond with the following:

a. Establish contact with the accused student and alleged victims.

b. Confirm Report of threat and respond according to the steps within the Student Handbook.

c. The college will separate the accused student and victim. This may be provided by creating alternative classes or housing arrangements as the situation warrants.