Student Services & Support Programs at Durham Technical Community College

Student Services

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Problems with substance abuse are extremely complex. Substance abuse on campus can impact the safety and well being of faculty, staff, and students. Therefore, it is the policy of Durham Technical Community College that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of alcohol or a controlled substance is prohibited on college premises and is prohibited as part of college-sponsored activities. Any student violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. The specifics of this policy are outlined as follows:

Any student who possesses, uses, sells, manufactures, gives, or in any way transfers a controlled substance or alcoholic beverage to another person on college premises or as part of any college-sponsored activity will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion and referral for prosecution.
The term “controlled substance” means any drug listed in 21 CFR Part 1308 and other federal regulations as well as those listed in Article V, Chapter 90, of the North Carolina General Statutes. Generally, these are drugs which have a high potential for abuse. They include but are not limited to the following: cocaine, heroin, marijuana, PCP, and “crack.” They also include any “legal” drugs that have not been prescribed specifically by a licensed physician.
If any student is convicted of violating any criminal drug or alcoholic beverage control statute while on college premises, in the workplace, or as part of any college-sponsored activity, he or she will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Alternatively, the college may require the student to successfully finish a drug abuse program sponsored by an approved private or governmental institution as a precondition of continued enrollment at the college.
Each student is required to inform the college in writing within five days after he or she is convicted for violation of any federal, state, or local criminal drug or alcoholic beverage control statute where such violation occurred while on college premises, in the workplace, or as part of any college-sponsored activity. A conviction means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo contendre) or the imposition of a sentence by a judge or jury in any federal or state court.
Employees working under federal grants who are convicted of violating drug laws in the workplace, on college premises, or as part of any college-sponsored activity shall be reported to the appropriate federal agency. The Human Resources Department of Durham Technical Community College must notify the U.S. Government agency through which the grant was made within 10 days after receiving notice from the employee or otherwise receiving actual notice of a violation of a drug statute occurring in the workplace. The college shall take appropriate disciplinary action within 30 calendar days from receipt of notice. All employees must abide by this policy as a condition of further employment on any federal government grant.

Students employed under the College Work- Study Program are considered to be employees of the college if the work is performed for the college in which the student is enrolled. For work performed for a federal, state, or local public agency; a private nonprofit; or a private for-profit agency; students are considered to be employees of the college unless the agreement between the college and the other organization specifies that the organization is considered to be the employer.

Possible disciplinary action for students violating this policy may include probation, suspension, expulsion, denial of participation in college activities, denial of opportunity to represent the college, required completion of a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program, termination of college work-study employment, and/or referral for prosecution.

Source: 2011-2012 Catalog and Student Handbook

Sexual Harassment Policy

Any individual who feels that he or she has been subjected to acts of sexual harassment/assault should report the incident immediately. The individual may choose to report the incident either during a private and confidential discussion of the issue with a counselor or by initiating a formal complaint to the affirmative action officer or another college administrator.

A student desiring to pursue the issue through a confidential meeting should go to the Counseling and Student Development office to discuss the matter with a counselor on an informal basis. An employee desiring to pursue the issue in a confidential setting should meet with the affirmative action officer. During this private and confidential discussion, the counselor or affirmative action officer will help the student or employee determine the best course of action to resolve the situation. If desired by the individual, the counselor may facilitate a mediation session between the parties involved in order to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Any mediated resolution will close the matter.

A student can report a formal complaint of sexual harassment/assault to the vice president for Student Services, the affirmative action officer, or the appropriate program director or academic dean. An employee can report a formal complaint of sexual harassment/assault to the director of Human Resources, the affirmative action officer, or his/her immediate supervisor. All formal complaints of sexual harassment/assault will be investigated. The administrator receiving the initial formal complaint will complete an Incident Report Form which will be forwarded to the affirmative action officer for investigation. The person initiating the formal complaint will receive a response from the affirmative action officer within 10 working days of the initial complaint. This written response should include an explanation of the investigation process and a reasonable time frame for the resolution of the complaint.

Additional information regarding these procedures is available from the office of the affirmative action officer.

Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

Background
Durham Technical Community College is committed to promoting and providing a safe and healthy environment for its faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors. As part of this commitment, the college is adopting a Tobacco-Free Campus Policy effective May 21, 2012. This policy also supports the NC Community College System’s goal of all community colleges in the state having 100 percent tobacco-free campuses by April 2013.

Definitions
For the purposes of this policy, “tobacco products” are defined as cigarettes, cigars, blunts, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and any other items containing or reasonably resembling tobacco or tobacco products. “Tobacco use” includes smoking, chewing, dipping, or any other use of tobacco products. “Tobacco-free campus” refers to any building, facility, grounds, property, or vehicles owned or leased by Durham Technical Community College as well as any spaces where college-sponsored or college-related activities are held, whether on or off campus.

Tobacco products may be included in instructional activities in college buildings if the activity is conducted or supervised by the faculty member overseeing the instruction and if the activity does not include smoking, chewing, or otherwise ingesting the tobacco product.

Policy
Employees, students, visitors, and contractors are prohibited from using tobacco products at any time on college property as well as on any spaces where college-sponsored or college-related activities are held, including during non-instructional and non-service hours.

Communication
Signs will be posted to provide notification to faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors of the college’s 100 percent Tobacco-Free Campus Policy. The college will also communicate about implementation of the Tobacco-Free Campus Policy through printed information in employee and student handbooks and on the college’s website and through announcements during college-related activities.

Enforcement
All members of the college community are asked to respectfully remind faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors who are using tobacco products while on college property about the college’s Tobacco-Free Campus Policy. Information cards will be available for distribution to tobacco users by any member of the college community. The tobacco-free information cards will indicate that the college is a tobacco-free campus, provide notice of actions and penalties for use, and provide information about tobacco-use prevention and cessation resources.

Campus Police and Public Safety officers are responsible for reminding faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors about the college’s Tobacco-Free Campus Policy and provide them with a copy of the tobacco-free information card. Officers may ask to see identification for faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors and complete an incident report for anyone violating the college’s policy. Copies of incident reports for an employee will be sent to the employee’s direct supervisor and division head for handling through the employee warning and disciplinary process. Copies of incident reports for students will be sent to the appropriate Student Learning, Development, and Support staff for handling through the student warning and disciplinary process.

Employees and students cited for tobacco use will be notified of tobacco-use prevention programs and tobacco-use cessation resources. The five levels of offenses with penalties for tobacco-use on campus are as follows:

First Offense – Written warning;
Second Offense – $25 fine;
Third Offense – $50 fine;
Fourth Offense – Implementation of a contract with special conditions for faculty or staff and academic misconduct action for students, based on the respective disciplinary process;
Additional Offenses – Disciplinary leave and/or termination of employment for faculty or staff and academic misconduct action for students, based on the respective disciplinary process.

Campus Police and Public Safety officers and employees will give a copy of the tobacco-free information card to visitors or contractors using tobacco products on college property and ask them to extinguish cigarettes, cigars, or pipes or to dispose of smokeless tobacco products. If a visitor or contractor refuses to comply with this request, officers and employees may ask the visitor or contractor to leave campus. Contractors will be asked to identify themselves and will be reported to the employee contracting for the outside services. The college employee will contact the company supervisor or manager and communicate in writing the college’ s expectation that contractors adhere to the college’s Tobacco-Free Campus Policy for continued work with the college.

Prevention and Cessation
The college will encourage employees and students to abstain from and/or cease smoking and using tobacco products. Information about tobacco-use prevention and cessation programs will be made available to faculty, staff, and students. Any fines collected as a result of employees and students cited for Tobacco-Free Campus offenses will be used to support wellness activities at the college.

You may also call the NC Tobacco-Use Quitline at 1-800-784-8669, or visit quitlinenc.com.

Student Code of Conduct

All Durham Tech students are expected to conduct themselves as responsible adults. Behavior that persistently or grossly disrupts the educational process or functioning of the college, whether it occurs on campus or at any college-sponsored activity, may result in disciplinary action. Specific violations of the Student Code of Conduct include the following:

Academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism as outlined in the college’s Academic Honesty policy;
Vandalism, damage, destruction, or theft of institutional or private property;
Abuse or misuse of computing resources as outlined in the college’s Appropriate Use of Computing Resources policy;
Forgery, falsification, alteration, or misuse of college records, documents, or identification;
Violation of regulations concerning drug and alcohol use as outlined in the college’s Drug and Alcohol policy;
Possession or use of firearms, knives, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or other weapons, except for legally authorized use either on campus or at any college-sponsored event;
Verbal or physical harassment, assault, or battery of a college employee, student, or visitor;
Sexual harassment as outlined in the college’s Sexual Harassment policy;
Disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct;
Breach of peace on college property or at any college-sponsored function in a manner that disturbs the privacy of other individuals and/or the instructional program;
Failure to comply with the directions of college officials, faculty, staff, or campus police/security officers acting in the performance of their duties;
Failure to identify oneself when on college property or at a college-sponsored or college-supervised event upon the request of college officials, faculty, staff, or campus police/security officers acting in the performance of their duties;
Violation of college regulations or policies; and
Breach of any federal, state, or local criminal law either on campus or at any college-sponsored activity.

Violations of this code of conduct may result in immediate sanctions, including probation or suspension from the college by the president, upon recommendation by the chief instructional officer, or expulsion from the college by the president, upon recommendation by the chief student services officer and the chief instructional officer. Additionally, the college may defer imposition of sanctions pending the outcome of an investigation. Students who wish to appeal any sanction should consult the Student Grievance Procedure as outlined in this publication.

Source: 2012-2013 Catalog and Student Handbook

Appropriate Use of Computing Resources Policy	Drug and Alcohol Policy	Tobacco-Free Campus Policy
Center for Academic Excellence	Library	Student Activities
Career Services	Safety and Security	Student Code of Conduct
Counseling and Student Development	Sexual Harassment/Assault Policy	Student Grievance Procedure

Student Services
Drug and Alcohol Policy
Problems with substance abuse are extremely complex. Substance abuse on campus can impact the safety and well being of faculty, staff, and students. Therefore, it is the policy of Durham Technical Community College that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of alcohol or a controlled substance is prohibited on college premises and is prohibited as part of college-sponsored activities. Any student violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. The specifics of this policy are outlined as follows: Any student who possesses, uses, sells, manufactures, gives, or in any way transfers a controlled substance or alcoholic beverage to another person on college premises or as part of any college-sponsored activity will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion and referral for prosecution. The term “controlled substance” means any drug listed in 21 CFR Part 1308 and other federal regulations as well as those listed in Article V, Chapter 90, of the North Carolina General Statutes. Generally, these are drugs which have a high potential for abuse. They include but are not limited to the following: cocaine, heroin, marijuana, PCP, and “crack.” They also include any “legal” drugs that have not been prescribed specifically by a licensed physician. If any student is convicted of violating any criminal drug or alcoholic beverage control statute while on college premises, in the workplace, or as part of any college-sponsored activity, he or she will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Alternatively, the college may require the student to successfully finish a drug abuse program sponsored by an approved private or governmental institution as a precondition of continued enrollment at the college. Each student is required to inform the college in writing within five days after he or she is convicted for violation of any federal, state, or local criminal drug or alcoholic beverage control statute where such violation occurred while on college premises, in the workplace, or as part of any college-sponsored activity. A conviction means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo contendre) or the imposition of a sentence by a judge or jury in any federal or state court. Employees working under federal grants who are convicted of violating drug laws in the workplace, on college premises, or as part of any college-sponsored activity shall be reported to the appropriate federal agency. The Human Resources Department of Durham Technical Community College must notify the U.S. Government agency through which the grant was made within 10 days after receiving notice from the employee or otherwise receiving actual notice of a violation of a drug statute occurring in the workplace. The college shall take appropriate disciplinary action within 30 calendar days from receipt of notice. All employees must abide by this policy as a condition of further employment on any federal government grant. Students employed under the College Work- Study Program are considered to be employees of the college if the work is performed for the college in which the student is enrolled. For work performed for a federal, state, or local public agency; a private nonprofit; or a private for-profit agency; students are considered to be employees of the college unless the agreement between the college and the other organization specifies that the organization is considered to be the employer. Possible disciplinary action for students violating this policy may include probation, suspension, expulsion, denial of participation in college activities, denial of opportunity to represent the college, required completion of a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program, termination of college work-study employment, and/or referral for prosecution.
	Source: 2011-2012 Catalog and Student Handbook
Sexual Harassment Policy
Any individual who feels that he or she has been subjected to acts of sexual harassment/assault should report the incident immediately. The individual may choose to report the incident either during a private and confidential discussion of the issue with a counselor or by initiating a formal complaint to the affirmative action officer or another college administrator. A student desiring to pursue the issue through a confidential meeting should go to the Counseling and Student Development office to discuss the matter with a counselor on an informal basis. An employee desiring to pursue the issue in a confidential setting should meet with the affirmative action officer. During this private and confidential discussion, the counselor or affirmative action officer will help the student or employee determine the best course of action to resolve the situation. If desired by the individual, the counselor may facilitate a mediation session between the parties involved in order to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Any mediated resolution will close the matter. A student can report a formal complaint of sexual harassment/assault to the vice president for Student Services, the affirmative action officer, or the appropriate program director or academic dean. An employee can report a formal complaint of sexual harassment/assault to the director of Human Resources, the affirmative action officer, or his/her immediate supervisor. All formal complaints of sexual harassment/assault will be investigated. The administrator receiving the initial formal complaint will complete an Incident Report Form which will be forwarded to the affirmative action officer for investigation. The person initiating the formal complaint will receive a response from the affirmative action officer within 10 working days of the initial complaint. This written response should include an explanation of the investigation process and a reasonable time frame for the resolution of the complaint. Additional information regarding these procedures is available from the office of the affirmative action officer.
Tobacco-Free Campus Policy
Background Durham Technical Community College is committed to promoting and providing a safe and healthy environment for its faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors. As part of this commitment, the college is adopting a Tobacco-Free Campus Policy effective May 21, 2012. This policy also supports the NC Community College System’s goal of all community colleges in the state having 100 percent tobacco-free campuses by April 2013. Definitions For the purposes of this policy, “tobacco products” are defined as cigarettes, cigars, blunts, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and any other items containing or reasonably resembling tobacco or tobacco products. “Tobacco use” includes smoking, chewing, dipping, or any other use of tobacco products. “Tobacco-free campus” refers to any building, facility, grounds, property, or vehicles owned or leased by Durham Technical Community College as well as any spaces where college-sponsored or college-related activities are held, whether on or off campus. Tobacco products may be included in instructional activities in college buildings if the activity is conducted or supervised by the faculty member overseeing the instruction and if the activity does not include smoking, chewing, or otherwise ingesting the tobacco product. Policy Employees, students, visitors, and contractors are prohibited from using tobacco products at any time on college property as well as on any spaces where college-sponsored or college-related activities are held, including during non-instructional and non-service hours. Communication Signs will be posted to provide notification to faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors of the college’s 100 percent Tobacco-Free Campus Policy. The college will also communicate about implementation of the Tobacco-Free Campus Policy through printed information in employee and student handbooks and on the college’s website and through announcements during college-related activities. Enforcement All members of the college community are asked to respectfully remind faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors who are using tobacco products while on college property about the college’s Tobacco-Free Campus Policy. Information cards will be available for distribution to tobacco users by any member of the college community. The tobacco-free information cards will indicate that the college is a tobacco-free campus, provide notice of actions and penalties for use, and provide information about tobacco-use prevention and cessation resources. Campus Police and Public Safety officers are responsible for reminding faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors about the college’s Tobacco-Free Campus Policy and provide them with a copy of the tobacco-free information card. Officers may ask to see identification for faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors and complete an incident report for anyone violating the college’s policy. Copies of incident reports for an employee will be sent to the employee’s direct supervisor and division head for handling through the employee warning and disciplinary process. Copies of incident reports for students will be sent to the appropriate Student Learning, Development, and Support staff for handling through the student warning and disciplinary process. Employees and students cited for tobacco use will be notified of tobacco-use prevention programs and tobacco-use cessation resources. The five levels of offenses with penalties for tobacco-use on campus are as follows: First Offense – Written warning; Second Offense – $25 fine; Third Offense – $50 fine; Fourth Offense – Implementation of a contract with special conditions for faculty or staff and academic misconduct action for students, based on the respective disciplinary process; Additional Offenses – Disciplinary leave and/or termination of employment for faculty or staff and academic misconduct action for students, based on the respective disciplinary process. Campus Police and Public Safety officers and employees will give a copy of the tobacco-free information card to visitors or contractors using tobacco products on college property and ask them to extinguish cigarettes, cigars, or pipes or to dispose of smokeless tobacco products. If a visitor or contractor refuses to comply with this request, officers and employees may ask the visitor or contractor to leave campus. Contractors will be asked to identify themselves and will be reported to the employee contracting for the outside services. The college employee will contact the company supervisor or manager and communicate in writing the college’ s expectation that contractors adhere to the college’s Tobacco-Free Campus Policy for continued work with the college. Prevention and Cessation The college will encourage employees and students to abstain from and/or cease smoking and using tobacco products. Information about tobacco-use prevention and cessation programs will be made available to faculty, staff, and students. Any fines collected as a result of employees and students cited for Tobacco-Free Campus offenses will be used to support wellness activities at the college. You may also call the NC Tobacco-Use Quitline at 1-800-784-8669, or visit quitlinenc.com.
Student Code of Conduct
All Durham Tech students are expected to conduct themselves as responsible adults. Behavior that persistently or grossly disrupts the educational process or functioning of the college, whether it occurs on campus or at any college-sponsored activity, may result in disciplinary action. Specific violations of the Student Code of Conduct include the following: Academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism as outlined in the college’s Academic Honesty policy; Vandalism, damage, destruction, or theft of institutional or private property; Abuse or misuse of computing resources as outlined in the college’s Appropriate Use of Computing Resources policy; Forgery, falsification, alteration, or misuse of college records, documents, or identification; Violation of regulations concerning drug and alcohol use as outlined in the college’s Drug and Alcohol policy; Possession or use of firearms, knives, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or other weapons, except for legally authorized use either on campus or at any college-sponsored event; Verbal or physical harassment, assault, or battery of a college employee, student, or visitor; Sexual harassment as outlined in the college’s Sexual Harassment policy; Disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct; Breach of peace on college property or at any college-sponsored function in a manner that disturbs the privacy of other individuals and/or the instructional program; Failure to comply with the directions of college officials, faculty, staff, or campus police/security officers acting in the performance of their duties; Failure to identify oneself when on college property or at a college-sponsored or college-supervised event upon the request of college officials, faculty, staff, or campus police/security officers acting in the performance of their duties; Violation of college regulations or policies; and Breach of any federal, state, or local criminal law either on campus or at any college-sponsored activity. Violations of this code of conduct may result in immediate sanctions, including probation or suspension from the college by the president, upon recommendation by the chief instructional officer, or expulsion from the college by the president, upon recommendation by the chief student services officer and the chief instructional officer. Additionally, the college may defer imposition of sanctions pending the outcome of an investigation. Students who wish to appeal any sanction should consult the Student Grievance Procedure as outlined in this publication.
	Source: 2012-2013 Catalog and Student Handbook