In This Section

California Education Code (section 66300) requires the governing board of every California community college to adopt standards of student conduct and establish appropriate disciplinary procedures for violations of those standards. By enrolling at Cuesta College, students accept the responsibility to comply with all applicable federal and state laws, Board Policies, Administrative Procedures, and College regulations. 

The Office of the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Success & Support Programs serves as the College's Student Conduct Office. The Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Success and Support Programs is designated as the Student Code of Conduct Officer and is responsible for administering the Student Code of Conduct and overseeing the student disciplinary process for conduct occuring on District property, at College-sponsored or College-related activities, and in other circumstances where the College has jurisdiction under applicable law and policy. 

The purpose of the Student Code of Conduct is to support the educational mission of Cuesta College by promoting a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning enviornment. When alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct or other applicable College policies are reported, the College reviews the matter through established procedures that provide students with notice of the allegations and an opportunity to respond in accordance with applicable due process requirements. 

All students are expected to conduct themselves with integrity and respect in every aspect of College life. Behavior that impairs, interferes with, or disrupts the learning enviornment; threatens the health or safety of others; infringes upon the rights of members of the College community; or otherwise disrupts the orderly operation of the College may constitute misconduct and may result in disciplinary action. These expectations apply to conduct ocurring on District property, during College-sponsored activities or events, and in online enviornments when such conduct falls within the College's jurisidction.  

The student disciplinary process is educational in nature and is intended to promote personal accountability while protecting the rights, safety, and well-being of the College community. When appropriate, the College may impose disciplinary measures, including restricting or removing individuals whose conduct poses a risk to others or substantially disrupts College operations. The College's disciplinary process does not replace or supersede the federal or state legal system, but operates independently under the authority granted to the College to maintain a safe and orderly educational enviornment.

Cuesta College is committed to administering the Student Code of Conduct fairly, consistently, and with respect for the rights of all individuals. Through education, accountability, and due process, the College strives to foster a campus community where every student has the opportunity to learn, work, and participate in an enviornment that is safe, respectful, and conducive to academic success.  

Removal from Class (Education Code Section 76032): Any instructor may order a student removed from his/her class for the day of the removal and the next class meeting. The instructor will file an Incident Referral with the Office of the Vice President of Student Success and Support Programs. The incident will be reviewed for possible further disciplinary action.

The student shall not be returned to class during the period of the removal without the concurrence of the instructor. Nothing herein will prevent the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President Student Success and Support Programs or designee from recommending disciplinary action in accordance with these procedures based on the facts which led to the removal.

The instructor cannot fail, drop, or suspend a student from the class for this incident but can make that disciplinary recommendation as part of the referral process. The recommendation of the instructor will be considered while the incident is under review and the student’s due process rights are being observed.

FERPA affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. An "eligible student" under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age. For more information about FERPA and students' rights concerning FERPA, please visit Admissions & Records Notification of Rights Under FERPA. You may be asked or required to complete FERPA Release Form in order for us to speak with individuals who are assisting you in student conduct related matters.

Examples of academic misconduct include cheating on exams or quizzes, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, providing false information or excuses, misuse of course materials, intimidation/disruption, or creating the appearance of dishonesty.

  • Review the Cuesta College Student Code of Conduct each semester.
  • Always read the class syllabus and directions for exams and assignments.
  • If you are having problems or are uncertain about the rules, ask for help.
  • Start studying and working on assignments early. Students who procrastinate have less time to get help, are more stressed, and more likely to succumb to the temptation to cheat.

Exams
Exams are important, but your grade will not rely on the outcome of one exam alone. Resist the
temptation to seek an unfair advantage by cheating on exams. Remember that the possibility of getting a few extra points isn't worth the risk of failing.

Exams in Classrooms

  • Don’t sit with friends or study partners during exams. If you have similar answers, you are more likely to be suspected of misconduct (and potentially found responsible) if you sat next to each other.
  • Make sure that all phones, notes or materials are stored away and out of sight before you receive your exam. Phones or notes that are visible constitutes academic misconduct.
    Keep your eyes on your exam. If you need to look away, be careful not to look in the direction of another student.
  • Don’t talk to anyone about anything during an exam. If you need something, ask a proctor.
  • Cover your exam so others can’t copy from you.
  • Stop working on your exam immediately when the instructor calls time.
  • When you get an exam back, don’t make any alterations (changes or corrections) on the exam itself; make corrections on a separate sheet of paper. Do not submit an altered exam for re-grading.

Exams Taken Remotely

  • Make sure you have a reliable internet connection. Eduroam is available globally for people with an edu email/login at universities across the world. UCs, CSUs and CA community colleges are all on eduroam. If you need access to wifi, you may be able to access it at a local institution. More information is available at https://www.eduroam.org/.
  • Pay close attention to instructions and follow them carefully. If you are taking the exam on Canvas and are not permitted to have other applications, browsers or tabs open, don't. If you are not permitted to click outside the Canvas exam window, don't. Simply failing to follow directions is a violation, regardless of why you did so.
  • An open note/open book exam usually does not mean open internet. Be sure you know exactly what resources are and are not permitted. 
  • Ask if you aren't sure whether you are permitted to use spelling, grammar or translation applications.
  • Don't communicate with other students during your exam in any way. No talking, texting, chatting, etc.
  • Wait until after the exam window closes to go online or communicate with other students to check your answers

Writing Papers

Avoid plagiarism. Do your best to put information in your own words and document all sources that you use.

  • Understand the definition of plagiarism. If you copy words directly, you must use quotation marks and cite the source, including web sources.
  • If you borrow facts, statistics, graphs, pictures, etc., you must cite the source.
  • If you borrow someone else’s information or idea and don’t copy word for word, you must correctly paraphrase or summarize the information, that is, put it in your own words, and you must still cite the source.
  • Not all websites are good sources of information.
  • Ask if you aren't sure whether you are permitted to use spelling, grammar or translation applications.
  • If you are not sure, ask the instructor for help or talk with a Student Success Center representative. Getting help from friends, online help sites, or private tutors can be risky because you may get more help than is appropriate.
  • It is better to turn a paper in late or not at all than to hurry at the last minute and submit work
    that is not properly written.

Collaboration

Students are expected to do all coursework that will be submitted for a grade independently (i.e., on their own) unless the instructor has given explicit permission for students to work with and/or get help from others. Even when an instructor allows some degree of collaboration, the instructor often limits how much or the type of help a student may give and/or receive.

  • Do not work together more than the instructor allows. 
  • If you are allowed to work together, do not copy someone else’s work or allow someone else to borrow your work.
  • Do not copy answers from solution manuals, students who previously took the class, or other sources.
  • If you are not certain, ask the instructor about whether and how much you can work together.

Additional suggestions to avoid problems:

  • Do not post an instructor’s materials online without the express permission of the instructor.
  • Do not make up false excuses to miss an exam or obtain an extension on an assignment.
  • Do not falsify/make up data for lab results.