Disruptive Student Policy

The purpose of this rule is to implement the Policy on Student Rights and Responsibilities by providing a procedure that an instructor may elect to follow in dealing with disruptive student behavior in instructional areas, as an alternative to, or in addition to, the procedures contained in the Student Code of Conduct. This procedure is designed to provide an efficient, informal process for resolving student-instructor classroom conflicts.

Definitions
  1. “Disruptive behavior” and “disruption” mean any behavior that willfully disturbs the orderly conduct of the learning environment. There are two levels of disruptive behavior and disruption. Level I includes, but is not limited to, unwarranted talking, noisemaking, discussing, or demonstrating about matters that are not relevant to the subject matter of the class or activity; interrupting the instructor or other students; unnecessary physical activity or movement in an instructional area; or persistent tardiness that interrupts an instructional activity. Level II, in addition to behavior that disrupts the instructional area, is behavior that presents a threat to the safety of those present, and may include, but is not limited to, being under the influence and/or in possession of alcohol or illicit drugs, fighting, assault, battery, threatening others with assault or physical harm, carrying a gun or other deadly or dangerous weapon, or engaging in other verbal or physical conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, or threatening educational environment. Any student whose behavior falls into a Level II category will automatically be subject to a charge of a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
  2. “Instructional area” means any area of the College where instructional activities take place. This includes, but is not limited to, classrooms, laboratories, studios, gymnasia, library facilities, faculty offices, clinical practice facilities, or field trip sites.
  3. “Instructor” means any person performing an instructional function for the College. This includes, but is not limited to, instructors, tutors, counselors, advisors, librarians, co-op coordinators, and mentors.
Nondiscrimination

This procedure is to be applied in a nondiscriminatory manner, without regard to a person’s gender, race, age, color, religion, veteran’s status, disability, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin.

If a disruption occurs in an instructional area, the instructor may elect to take either or both of the following actions:

  1. Proceed under this rule as described in the following procedures, and/or
  2. File a charge with the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, in which event the matter will proceed under the Student Code of Conduct.

Procedure for Dealing with Disruptive Behavior

Level I

Except for disruptive behavior provided for under Level II, the following procedures should be used:

First Violation

The first time a particular student causes a disruption, the instructor—depending on the seriousness of the infraction—should:

  1. Order the student to immediately stop the disruptive behavior and give the student a verbal warning.

  2. Make a written note of the warning for the instructor’s files.

  3. Talk with the student after class to explain the consequences of any further disruption.

Second Violation

The second time a student causes a disruption, or if a student fails to stop behavior that constituted the first violation, the instructor should:

  1. Inform the student of the infraction and order the student to leave the instructional area.
  2. If the student leaves voluntarily, the instructor shall select from the following options for possible readmission into the class, and, to the extent practicable, inform the student of the option before the next class period:
    • Permit the student to return the next class period, whether or not a charge is filed under the Student Code of Conduct; or
    • Require that the student meet with one or more responsible officials, including the department chair, the dean, and/or the vice president for student affairs, prior to being permitted to return to class, whether or not a charge is filed. Classes missed during the time period in which the student fails to attend this meeting will be recorded as unexcused absences and will be handled as such in accordance with the official course syllabus. The meeting, which will be held prior to the next class, if possible, shall be a mediation/problem-solving session and shall produce a written warning establishing the consequences of any future infraction, or alternatively, an agreement binding the student to specific penalties or sanctions in the event of any future infractions. There will be no student advisor at this meeting. Following this meeting, the student will be allowed to return to class. Notwithstanding any prior discussions or agreements between the student and the instructor, the vice president, for good cause, including, but not limited to, any record of previous infractions at Prince George’s Community College, may impose further conditions or sanctions that he/she may deem warranted, and/or may institute proceedings under the Student Code of Conduct.
    • Failure or refusal by the student to attend the scheduled meeting will result in the matter being referred to the Vice President for Student Affairs for such further action that the vice president deems appropriate, and the student shall be excluded from class until the matter is settled.
  3. If the student refuses to leave, the instructor shall advise the student that the failure to leave voluntarily renders the student liable for immediate suspension, dismissal, or expulsion, as well as criminal prosecution for trespass. If the student still refuses to leave, the instructor shall call the College police to have the student removed.
  4. If the student has had to be removed by the College police, the instructor is obligated to file a charge under the Student Code of Conduct, and unless interim suspension has been imposed, the student will be required to meet with the dean and/or the Vice President for Student Affairs prior to being permitted to return to class. The instructor will also be present at the meeting unless specifically excused for good cause by the dean and/or vice president. The meeting will be held at the earliest time practicable, but in no event later than three working days subsequent to the instructor’s action. The meeting shall be informal in nature. The official conducting the meeting shall seek to determine whether the student should be permitted to return to the instructional area or should be excluded pending adjudication of the charge. The results of this meeting will determine the student’s access to work missed.
Level II

If a student’s behavior, in addition to disrupting the instructional area, presents a threat to the safety of those present, which may include, but is not limited to, being under the influence and/or in possession of alcohol or illicit drugs, fighting, assault, battery, threatening others with assault or physical harm, carrying a gun or other deadly or dangerous weapon, or engaging in verbal or physical conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, or threatening educational environment, the instructor should:

  1. Order the student to stop the disruptive behavior and leave the area.
  2. Call, or assign someone to call, the emergency phone number (ext. 0111) for the College police to remove, and if necessary, arrest the student.
  3. Notify the department chair and dean and file a charge under the Student Code of Conduct with the vice president for student affairs.
  4. If the instructor believes that the student’s presence within the College presents an immediate threat to the safety of the College community, the instructor should request, through the academic dean and vice president for student affairs, that the student be placed on interim suspension.
  5. Unless interim suspension has been imposed by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the disruptive student will be required to meet with the dean and/or the Vice President for Student Affairs prior to being permitted to return to class. The instructor also will be present at the meeting unless specifically excused for good cause by the dean and/or vice president. The meeting will be held at the earliest time practicable, but in no event later than three working days subsequent to the instructor’s action. The meeting shall be informal in nature. The official conducting the meeting shall seek to determine whether the student should be permitted to return to the instructional area or should be excluded pending resolution of the matter, and provide the student with an explicit warning as to the consequences of any future disruption. The results of this meeting will determine the student’s access to work missed.
  6. In addition, the instructor may file charges under various criminal laws, such as §26-101 of the Education Article of the Maryland Code, which provides criminal penalties for persons found guilty of willfully disturbing activities at an institution of higher education.
Third or Subsequent Violation, or Violation of Agreement

If the instructor determines that the student has been disruptive for the third time, or has violated any agreement as a result of a second violation, a charge against the student under the Student Code of Conduct is mandatory on the part of the instructor; in addition, the instructor shall:

  1. Order the student to leave the instructional area, and if the student refuses to leave, call the College police, who will remove the student. 
  2. Notify the department chair and dean of the infraction, and bar the student from further attending class until the matter has been finally resolved by the vice president for student affairs. An informal meeting will be convened by the Vice President for Student Affairs and shall include the student, an advisor chosen by the student, if the student desires one, the instructor, and others as determined by the vice president for student affairs.
  3. The role of the advisor is limited to observer of the proceedings and counselor to the student, and does not extend to legal representative for the student. The advisor is not an advocate and may not comment, question witnesses, or present argument, and may be excluded from doing so. The student will be given a reasonable opportunity during the course of the meeting to confer in private with the advisor. If the student has selected an advisor with personal knowledge of the events leading to this meeting, he/she may give his/her recollection of the events. No continuances will be granted to allow the advisor to attend.
  4. The conditions for readmission to class, if permitted at all, shall be determined by the Vice President for Student Affairs and communicated through the dean to the instructor.
Appeals for Dealing with Disruptive Behavior

A student may appeal to the Vice President for Student Affairs any adverse action taken or decision made under this rule, except those appeals from decisions of the vice president shall be to the president, who may appoint a designee to consider the same. A student may also seek redress through the department chair of any adverse academic impact of an absence from class imposed under this rule.

  1. Any such appeal must be in writing and delivered to the Vice President for Student Affairs (or president, if the appeal is from the vice president’s decision) not later than two working days after the student receives notice of the decision. Notice may be delivered to the student or mailed to the student at his or her last address recorded in the Office of Records and Registration. Notice by mail shall be conclusively presumed to have been received by the student five days after the date it is deposited in the mail, first class, postage prepaid, and properly addressed.
  2. The party considering the appeal will expeditiously conduct such investigation as he or she deems appropriate to determine whether or not the decision appealed is supported by substantial credible evidence, and will give the student an opportunity to present his or her side of the case before deciding the appeal.
  3. The decision will be affirmed if supported by substantial credible evidence and if consistent with college policies, procedures, regulations, and rules.
  4. A student otherwise barred from attending class will not be permitted to attend class pending appeal except with the written permission of the Vice President for Student Affairs or president, if the appeal is from the vice president’s decision.

Outreach Program and Data Requests

Request for Outreach Program

The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities is committed to educating students about their role as members of our college community and society. Through marketing campaigns, participation in educational workshops, and facilitated conversations, students are empowered to think beyond themselves and understand how their actions affect their future, the lives of others, and their community. Any department or student club of the College community can request an Outreach Program. Requests can be made at conduct@pgcc.edu.

  • Academic Integrity
  • Alcohol and Drug Prevention (Marijuana and Prescription Drug)
  • Bystander Intervention
  • Civility Topics Focusing On Campus Culture
  • Classroom Management and Responding to Disruptions
  • Conduct Records and the Job Search
  • Cyber Bullying and Social Media
  • Ethical Decision Making
  • Family Educational Right and Privacy Act/ FERPA (Buckley Amendment) – Confidentiality
  • Sexual Misconduct Prevention And Response
  • The Code of Student Conduct and How It Applies to Students On and Off Campus
Data Requests

Faculty and staff can request student conduct data for the following information:

  • Conduct statistics
  • Alcohol and Drug statistics
  • Clery information
  • Verification of records for clubs
  • Scholarships
  • Athletics
  • Off-campus trips

Requests can be made by email at conduct@pgcc.edu.