In an effort to uphold the Lakota Values of Woohola (Respect) and Woowothanja (Intergrity), Sitting Bull College places great importance on proper conduct and the research and scholarship of our students and faculty. We are committed to a culture of social integrity, academic integrity, and scholarly ethics. These values promotes ethical and honest behavior in connection with educational pursuits, good citizenship, and interaction with SBC peers. The code of conduct policy includes 1) Social Integrity and 2) Academic Honesty.
1) Social Integrity
When students fail to maintain a reasonable standard of conduct on campus, at the instructional centers or at any college-sponsored activity, they may be subject to disciplinary action. Disciplinary proceedings shall commence only after the student has been counseled or warned about improper conduct.
Sitting Bull College (SBC) expects all members of the community to conduct themselves in a manner supportive of the educational mission of the college. Any violations of established policy may lead to various sanctions, up to and including expulsion. Students are directed to the SBC website Student life and Code of Conduct (COC) page. Students are responsible for having read and abiding by the provisions of the Code of Conduct.
The COC process applies to the conduct of SBC students on the SBC campus or at SBC sponsored events. The COC also applies to student’s conduct online, via email or another electronic medium. Students should be aware that online postings such as blogs, web postings, chats and social networking sites are in the public sphere and are not private. If SBC becomes aware of postings made in violation of the COC, SBC shall be authorized to act against the violating student in accordance with the COC.
The following misconduct for which students are subject to college discipline applies to all times on campus and any off-campus functions sponsored or supervised by the college. Violations, or assisting or encouraging others in the violation of the College’s policies, are subject to disciplinary action through the appropriate process. The following behaviors violate SBC’s Student Code of Conduct:
1. Disruption of the Academic Environment is engaging in behavior, either in the classroom or online discussion forums, which substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor’s ability to teach and/or a student’s ability to learn.
2. Falsification means willfully providing false, misleading, or incomplete information; forging or altering official College records or documents or conspiring with or inducing others to forge or alter without proper authorization academic records or documents; misusing, altering, forging, falsifying, or transferring to another person College-issued identification; or intentionally making a false report of a bomb, fire, natural disaster, or other emergency to a College official or an emergency service agency.
3. Refusal to Identify and Comply is willfully refusing to or falsely identifying one’s self or willfully failing to comply with a proper order or summons when requested by campus security, law enforcement personnel, by emergency medical staff responding to an emergency, or by an SBC employee acting within the purview of his or her job responsibilities.
4. Attempt to Injure or Defraud is making, forging, printing, reproducing, copying, or altering any record, document, writing, or identification used or maintained by SBC when done with intent to injure, defraud, or misinform.
5. Harm to Person means engaging in conduct that endangers or threatens to endanger the physical and/or mental health, safety, or welfare of another person, including, but not limited to, threatening, stalking, harassing, intimidating, or assaulting behavior.
6. Bullying is aggressive behavior directed at another person that causes stress or harm and that is repeated over time, including but not limited to assaulting, defaming, terrorizing, making obscene gestures, or invading privacy.
7. Sexual Misconduct is any non-consensual behavior of a sexual nature that is committed by force or intimidation, or that is otherwise unwelcome. Sexual misconduct includes the following behaviors: sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual or gender-based harassment.
8. Disorderly Conduct is engaging in conduct that incites or threatens to incite an assault or breach of the peace; breaching the peace; obstructing or disrupting teaching, research, administrative, or public service functions; or obstructing or disrupting disciplinary procedures or authorized College activities.
9. Illegal or Unauthorized Possession or Use of Weapons means possessing or using weapons or articles or substances usable as weapons, including, but not limited to, firearms, incendiary devices, explosives, and dangerous biological or chemical agents, except in those instances when authorized by law and, where applicable, by proper SBC authority.
10. Illegal or Unauthorized Possession or Use of Drugs or Alcohol means possessing or using drugs or alcohol on campus or at any SBC sponsored or supported events.
11. Unauthorized Use of Campus Facilities or Services means wrongfully using SBC campus properties or facilities; misusing, altering, or damaging fire-fighting equipment, safety devices, or other emergency equipment or interfering with the performance of those specifically charged to carry out emergency services; or acting to obtain fraudulently—through deceit, unauthorized procedures, bad checks, or misrepresentation— goods, quarters, services, or funds from SBC departments or student groups or individuals acting on their behalf.
12. Theft, Property Damage, or Vandalism means theft or embezzlement of, damage to, destruction of, unauthorized possession of, or wrongful sale or gift of property.
13. Unauthorized Access means accessing SBC property, facilities, services, or information systems without authorization, or obtaining or providing to another person the means of such unauthorized access, including, but not limited to, using or providing keys, access cards, or access codes without authorization.
14. Disruptive Behavior means willfully disrupting SBC campus events, or SBC sponsored events; participating in a campus demonstration that disrupts the normal operations of the College and infringes on the rights of other individuals; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled or normal activities of the College; engaging in intentional obstruction that interferes with freedom of movement, either pedestrian or vehicular, on campus; using sound amplification equipment on campus without authorization; or making or causing noise, regardless of the means, that disturbs authorized SBC activities or functions.
15. Violation of Local, State, or Federal Laws or Ordinances means engaging in conduct that violates a local, state, or federal law, or ordinance, including, but not limited to, laws governing alcoholic beverages, drugs, gambling, sex offenses, indecent conduct, or arson.
16. Persistent Violations means engaging in repeated conduct or action in violation of this Code.
SBC forbids the possession and/or use of alcohol and/or drugs on campus. Sitting Bull College will specify those standards of behavior, which it considers essential to its educational mission and its community life. These specific regulations shall be designed to represent reasonable standards of student conduct.
SBC seeks to provide a safe, secure, and healthy environment for all students. Recognizing that the potential application of disciplinary sanctions could deter students from seeking medical attention for themselves or others, SBC will provide medical amnesty during the disciplinary action. However, a student requiring emergency evaluation or treatment at a medical facility will be required to complete an alcohol assessment or education program.
This is not considered a disciplinary response. Amnesty is granted only for violations of illegal or unauthorized possession or use of drugs or alcohol, and does not apply to other possible violations of the COC (e.g., property damage or assault) that may have occurred during the time of intoxication. In circumstances involving a student group, the willingness of the student group’s members to seek medical assistance for a member or a guest will be viewed as a mitigating factor in the review process for any possible violations.
SANCTIONS for Violations 1-16 above:
Students found responsible for disciplinary offenses under the COC are subject to sanctions. Factors to consider in determining appropriate sanctions include:
• Nature of the offense,
• Severity of the offense,
• Culpability of the student or student group,
• Impact on other students or members of the campus community, and
• Opportunity for student growth and development based on appropriate interventions.
The following sanctions, which are listed in order of least severe to most severe, may be imposed upon students or student groups who have violated the COC. The Dean of Academics and/or Dean of Students reserve the right to assign any sanction depending on each situation and the severity of the offense.
Typical sanction for first offense:
• Warning means the issuance of an oral or written warning or reprimand.
Typical sanction for second offense:
• Probation means special status with conditions imposed for a defined period of time and includes the probability of more severe disciplinary sanctions if the student or student group is found to violate any institutional regulation during the probationary period.
Typical sanctions for third offense or for first or second offense, based on severity:
• Required Compliance means satisfying evaluation, corrective action plan, counseling, and after-care requirements; work assignments; community service; participating in a restorative justice process; or other discretionary assignments.
• Confiscation means confiscation of goods used or possessed in violation of campus regulations or confiscation of falsified identification or identification wrongly used.
• Restitution means making compensation for loss, injury, or damage.
• Restriction of Privileges means the denial or restriction of specified privileges, including, but not limited to, access to an official transcript for a defined period of time.
Typical sanctions for sexual misconduct, weapons violations, possession of Class A and B drugs, Marijuana, and sale and distribution of any illegal or unauthorized substance:
• Expulsion means the permanent separation of the student from the College. This will be matter of permanent record.
• Withholding of Diploma or Degree means the withholding of diploma or degree otherwise earned for a defined period of time or until the completion of assigned sanctions.
Alcohol and Illegal Drug Sanctions Students at SBC are required to abide by all federal, state and local laws regarding the possession, sale, use and consumption of alcoholic beverages. SBC also considers the use, possession, distribution, or sale of those drugs (hallucinogens, narcotics, stimulants, and depressants) that are illegal except when taken under a physician’s prescription as contrary to the welfare of the campus community. Students involved in such activities are subject to disciplinary action and will be prosecuted according to the law.
SBC recognizes the serious problems created by the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs. In response to this awareness, SBC is an alcohol & drug free campus and has a referral system for alcohol and drug prevention programs that are committed to providing resources and referral services for students who experience alcohol and/or drug abuse. Please note that tobacco use is restricted to designated areas, failure to comply with designated areas constitutes violation of this policy.
INTERIM SUSPENSION
The President or delegate may impose an immediate suspension on a student pending a hearing before the appropriate disciplinary committee to:
1. Ensure the safety and well-being of members of the campus community or to preserve campus property,
2. Ensure the student’s own physical or emotional safety and well-being, or
3. Ensure the student or student group does not pose an ongoing threat of disrupting or interfering with the operations of the College.
During the interim suspension, the student or student group may be denied access to all College activities or privileges for which the student or student group might otherwise be eligible, including access to campus housing or property. The student or student group has a right to a prompt hearing before the President or delegate on the questions of identification and whether the interim suspension should remain in effect until the student appeals process is completed.
2) Academic Honesty
Classes at SBC will promote academic honesty and writing integrity using tools such as Turnitin so that students are confident in the writing process and uphold our cultural values of Wóksape (Wisdom).
Respect for oneself and the learning that occurs in and out of the classroom is a pivotal part of academic integrity. Sitting Bull College Student Code of Conduct clearly defines student misconduct that includes cheating, plagiarism, and using ChatGPT (AI) to complete writing as academic dishonesty and disruption of learning. Disciplinary policies and procedures can be found in the SBC Bulletin.
Writings that are completed within courses here at SBC will be submitted to an online plagiarism detector at www.turnitin.com within our MySBC learning management system. Individual course syllabi will describe acceptable use, guidelines, and consequences.
Plagiarism is from a Latin word for kidnapper. The act of kidnapping is the act of stealing. To use someone else’s ideas or words as one’s own would qualify as having plagiarized or stolen their work. Plagiarism will be identified as submission of student work (i.e., papers, diagrams, statistical tables, etc.) or completion of examinations and tests using material from the Internet or other resources in which evidence indicates material has been misappropriated. This includes information obtained from and tasks completed by AI technology usage i.e. ChatGPT.
Penalties for plagiarism will follow the protocol outlined below:
1. First Offense – The instructor will meet with the student or in the event of an online class will contact via email to discuss evidence of plagiarism in submitted class work. The student will be given the opportunity to redo the assignment. Grading on the resubmitted assignment will be at the discretion of the instructor.
2. Second Offense – The instructor will meet with the student or in the event of an online class the instructor will contact the student via email to discuss evidence of plagiarism in submitted class work. The student will not have an opportunity to repeat the assignment and will receive an F on the assignment.
3. Third Offense – The student will fail the course and a grade of an F will immediately be recorded by the SBC registrar. The student will not be allowed to withdraw from the class.
4. Academic Expulsion – If the student has been reprimanded for plagiarism repeatedly in more than one course in a previous class then academic expulsion would be imposed.
5. Faculty Actions –
a. All Faculty will inform students at the beginning of each course of the objectives, requirements, performance standards, and evaluation procedures for the course including attention to policy regarding Academic Misconduct (i.e. plagiarism) by distribution of class syllabi.
b. When a Faculty member has discovered evidence of plagiarism in student work, he or she shall report all actions imposed in writing within five (5) working days to their respective department chairperson, the Dean of Academics, the Dean of Students, and to staff who handle student withdrawals from classes. The report will include a brief description of the incident and rationale for the sanction. A copy of the report is to be given to the student as well.