Office of Student Conduct

The District implements policies to guarantee that no qualified student or prospective student or any person having an educational relationship with the District shall be unlawfully discriminated against, harassed, or excluded from any benefits, activities, or programs on the grounds of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics, or due to the association with a person or group with one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics:

• Ethnic group identification, race, or national origin or ancestry
• Color
• Sex, gender, gender identity, or gender expression
• Sexual orientation or sexual identity
• Pregnancy or childbirth-related condition
• Religion or religious creed
• Age
• Physical or mental disability
• Medical condition
• Political affiliation or belief
• Military and veteran status
• Marital status
• Conversing in a language other than English (However, students shall be required to speak English when the use of English is necessary for educational or communication purposes.)

Steps to Resolution

1. Students should speak with their professor about the concern. See the Faculty and Staff Directory for more information.
2. Students, who feel as though they are unable to speak with their professor or resolve the situation, should then contact the Instructional Division Area Dean.

For additional information, refer to the Student Standards of Conduct Guide.

Note: Most complaints, grievances, or disciplinary matters should be resolved at the campus level. This is the quickest and most successful way of resolving issues involving the college. You are encouraged to work through the campus complaint process first. Issues that are not resolved at the college or Los Rios District level may be presented via the resources provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. You are encouraged to use the official form provided by the Chancellor's office. However, that form is not required, and complaints will not be considered defective or rejected if you do not use the form.

In addition to complaints being filed by students or employees, complaints may be initiated by other individuals or entities, such as a family member, representative, organization, or other third party wishing to file on behalf of an individual or group alleged to have suffered unlawful discrimination or harassment. For more information, please refer to Los Rios Regulation 2423.

Administration Members Serving as Compliance Officers

Note: Most complaints, grievances or disciplinary matters should be resolved at the campus level. This is the quickest and most successful way of resolving issues involving the college. You are encouraged to work through the campus complaint process first. Issues that are not resolved at the college or Los Rios District level may be presented via resources provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. Complainants are encouraged to use the official form provided by the Chancellor's office, however, that form is not required and complaints will not be considered defective or rejected if you do not use the form.

In addition to complaints being filed by students or employees, complaints may be initiated by other individuals or entities, such as a family member, representative, organization, or other third party wishing to file on behalf of an individual or group alleged to have suffered unlawful discrimination or harassment. For more information, please refer to Los Rios Regulation 2423.

1. You are required to meet with the Associate Vice President of Student Services, Disciplinary Officer in the Office of Student Conduct. This referral means that the alleged student behavior is believed to have been a violation of our District Standards of Student Conduct.
2. The student will receive a certified letter notifying the student of their referral via US standard mail. In the notification, you are instructed to make an appointment for an investigative meeting with the Disciplinary Officer.
3. At this informal meeting, the Disciplinary Officer shall interview the student for the purpose of discussing the alleged misconduct and the disciplinary action, if any, which should be taken.
4. At this meeting the parties shall have the right to present statements, testimony, evidence, and witnesses, except that neither party shall have the right to be represented by an attorney. This is a mandatory meeting. If the student fails to make an appointment and/or does not attend the meeting, the Disciplinary Officer may review the case and initiate disciplinary action without input from the student.
5. After the investigative meeting, the Disciplinary Officer may initiate disciplinary action by filing a notice with the Vice President of Student Services and serving such notice on the student charged. This decision depends entirely on the information obtained during the investigation.
6. The student has the right to request an appeal to the disciplinary action with the Vice President of Student Services. Not later than 7 days after the service of the notice of disciplinary action. A copy of the appeal form will be mailed to you along with your notice of disciplinary action.
7. After an Appeal Hearing, a written decision will be mailed to the student from the Office of the President within 10 days of the conclusion of the hearing.
8. At this point, the final decision for disciplinary action rests with the ARC College President. The President may approve, reject, or modify the written decision. The decision of the College President for disciplinary action is final.

Los Rios Policies and Regulations

The following forms of discipline may be imposed on a student who is found guilty of misconduct by the Office of Student Conduct:

Formal Warning

The formal warning gives notice that a student's conduct in a specific instance does not meet the District Standards of Student Conduct and that continued misconduct may result in a more serious disciplinary action.

Disciplinary Probation

The disciplinary probation gives notice that the student found in violation of the District Standards of Student Conduct may continue to be enrolled under stated conditions, violations of which may be cause for more serious disciplinary action.

Restitution

Reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property which may take the form of appropriate service to repair or otherwise compensate for damages. Restitution may be imposed in combination with any other penalty.

Removal by Instructor

Denial of the right to attend a particular class for a specific length of time may not exceed two meetings of class (Education Code Sec. 76031).

Suspension

The suspension is denial for good cause of all campus privileges, including one or more of the following:

• The right to enter the campus
• Exclusion from one or more classes for a period of up to 10 days of instruction
• Exclusion from one or more classes and activities for the remainder of the school term
• Exclusion from all classes and activities of the Community College for one or more terms (Periods of suspension do not allow for makeup classwork) (Education.Code.Sec.76031 and Penal.Code.246)

Note: Suspension applies to all of the colleges in the Los Rios Community College District.

Expulsion

Expulsion by the Board of Trustees of the Los Rios Community College District for an indefinite period of time includes loss of all College privileges at all colleges in the Los Rios system including College employment and the privilege of entering any portion of the campus except by written authorization from the Vice President of Student Services. Expulsion must be imposed by the Board of Trustees of the Los Rios Community College District. Readmission is contingent upon a showing of rehabilitation by the student (Education.Code.Sec.76031 and Penal.Code.246). Penalties of a lesser degree may be applied by the Vice President of Student Services as part of the process from those listed.

Non-Students

Additionally, non-students who are found to violate the Los Rios Policies and Regulations addressing Standards of Conduct may be removed from the campus or specific facilities for a period of up to one year by the Vice President, Student Services.

A hold is a notation on a student record that could restrict the student from performing certain actions until the hold is resolved and removed. Depending on the type of hold, it may prevent the student from enrolling in courses, receiving financial aid, ordering transcripts and verifications, etc.


2RT Hold - Restricts UTP Sticker 

This hold indicates that you have picked up the UTP and then became ineligible for the UTP, having dropped below four units for two consecutive terms for Fall/Spring and/or zero units for Summer. You will not be able to receive the UTP until you have made an appointment with the Associate Vice President of Student Services to discuss your enrollment history.

Release of this hold: The Associate Vice President of Student Services will authorize the release of this hold as appropriate.

DIS Hold - Disciplinary Action in Process

Release of this hold: The Associate Vice President of Student Services will authorize the release of this hold as appropriate.

SUS Hold - Suspension Due to Behavior and the Student is Suspended

Release of this hold: The Associate Vice President of Student Services will authorize the release of this hold as appropriate.

EXP Hold - Expulsion 

All enrollment activity is blocked for students who have been expelled.

Release of this hold: The Associate Vice President of Student Services will authorize the release of this hold as appropriate.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Guidelines for the Release of Student Educational Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records, including the right to inspect their records, request an amendment of the records that the student believes are inaccurate, and the right to control disclosures of their records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosures without consent.
One of the exceptions permitted by FERPA, is the release of Directory Information to parties outside the institution. Directory Information is defined as information which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. American River College, in the majority of situations, does not release any student information, even Directory Information, without the prior written consent of the student. Directory information is only released to the National Student Clearinghouse.  Student conduct information is not released to third-party institutions unless a legal subpoena is provided or if signed consent by the student is provided to the Office of Student Conduct.>

Community members, students, faculty, staff, and guests are encouraged to immediately report all crimes, suspicious activity, emergencies, and any other public safety-related incidents to the Los Rios Police Department at (916) 558-2221, or ext. 2221 from a standard on-campus phone.

Crimes or Emergencies On Campus

Contact the Los Rios Police Department at (916) 558-2221. From a standard on-campus phone, dial ext. 2221. You may also dial 911 for community-based emergency assistance. From a standard on-campus phone, dial 911. Use these numbers for reporting an on-campus fire, police, and medical emergencies.

Communications center personnel are trained to respond appropriately to emergencies of any nature. There are many “blue light” emergency telephones located throughout the campuses which connect directly into the Communications Center of the Los Rios Police Department. These auto-dialing phones may be used to summon emergency police, fire, or medical assistance.

Crimes or Emergencies Off-Campus

The Los Rios Community College District does not have off-campus student housing or student organization facilities. The off-campus emergency telephone number is 911. Use this number from payphones and all off-campus locations for community-based fire, police, and medical services. Refer to your local telephone directory for further information.

Non-Emergencies On Campus

Contact the Los Rios Police Department at (916) 558-2221 or from a standard on-campus phone, ext. 2221. You may also use the blue phones on campus for non-emergency services.

Confidential Reporting Procedures

All reports to the Los Rios Police Department can be made confidentially and anonymously in accordance with the reporting person's wishes.

Weapons Possession

State law prohibits the possession of weapons, all firearms, fireworks, explosives, or any dangerous weapons on campus. Refer to Penal Code section 16000.

Violators are subject to criminal prosecution and District discipline. The Los Rios Community College District supports the federal guideline (37.007.1Ed Code) that prohibits handguns on campus. The possession of a firearm on district property is prohibited and strictly enforced.

Persons in violation of this regulation will be subject to criminal and disciplinary action, as is formalized in District Regulation 2441. If you observe a firearm or other weapon on campus, contact the campus police immediately at (916) 558-2221, or from a standard on-campus phone, ext. 2221. If you believe the weapon is about to be used, contact 911 immediately, or from a standard on-campus phone, 911.

Workplace Violence

The District is committed to creating and maintaining a working, learning, and social environment for all employees that is free from violence. The campus has zero tolerance for violence against any member of the workforce, other persons in the workplace, or property.

Clery Act Crime Statistics