Article Ii: Judicial authority

The Vice President for Student Services has designated the Dean of Students as the person responsible for the administration of the Student Code of Conduct. The Dean of Students shall develop policies and procedural rules for the administration of the student conduct process which are consistent with provisions of the Student Conduct Code. The Dean of Students or their designee will also facilitate the training of hearing officers and Student Conduct Committee members.

The Vice President for Student Services (or the Dean of Students as the Vice President for Student Services designee) or the chairperson of the PCA Student Affairs Committee shall determine the composition of the Student Conduct Committee and Appellate Boards.

Decisions made by the Student Conduct Committee and/or Student Conduct Administrator shall be final, pending the normal appeal process. In each case in which a Student Conduct Committee determines that a student has violated the Student Conduct Code, the sanction(s) shall be determined and imposed by the Student Conduct Administrator. The recommendation of all members of the Student Conduct Committee shall be considered by the Student Conduct Administrator to determine sanctions. The Student Conduct Administrator is not limited to sanctions recommended by members of the Student Conduct Committee.

Generally, Parkland College jurisdiction and discipline shall be limited to conduct which occurs on Parkland College premises and other officially recognized off-campus locations or events in which Parkland College is represented as a sponsor or participant. Conduct that adversely affects the Parkland College community and/or the pursuit of its objectives may be included and adjudicated, however, regardless of location. It is the sole discretion of the Dean of Students to decide on a case-by-case basis whether the Student Conduct Code shall be applied to conduct occurrences off-campus. 

A. Policy or Law - Violation of law and Parkland College discipline
  1. Parkland College administration may institute disciplinary proceedings against a student charged with violation of a law that is also a violation of this Student Conduct Code, for example, if both violations result from the same factual situation, without regard to the pendency of civil litigation in court or criminal arrest and prosecution.  Proceedings under this Student Conduct Code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings off campus.
  2. When a student is charged by federal, state, or local authorities with a violation of law, Parkland College will not request or agree to special consideration for that individual because of his or her status as a student. However, if the alleged offense is also the subject of a proceeding before a Student Conduct Committee under the Student Conduct Code, Parkland College may advise off-campus authorities of the existence of the Student Conduct Code and how such matters will be handled internally within the Parkland College community. Parkland College will cooperate fully with law enforcement and other agencies in the enforcement of criminal law on campus and in the conditions imposed by criminal courts for the rehabilitation of student violators. Individual students and faculty members, acting in their personal capacities, remain free to interact with governmental representatives as they deem appropriate. 
B. Rights to Due Process

Parkland College shall guarantee procedural due process through the Student Code of Conduct. These guarantees include:

  1. Notice in writing through the college issued email and/or mail to the address appearing on either the student’s current local address or permanent address on record with the College at the discretion of the Dean of students of the alleged violation(s) of the Student Code of Conduct;
  2. An opportunity to be heard in a Student Conduct Committee hearing and to have the alleged violation(s) discussed and addressed; and
  3. The opportunity for the student to appeal a conduct decision(s) if rendered in a Student Conduct Committee hearing.
C. Standards of Proof
The standard of proof in all disciplinary proceedings will be decided by the “preponderance of the evidence” standard, which is commonly known as “more likely so than not” standard, meaning that the fact to be proven is more likely than not