Our Commitment
Our Commitment
At Olympic College, we are committed to cultivating a culture that is welcoming, inclusive and supportive. Everyone has a role to play in upholding the values of this college. The Community Standards page is where you will find policies and procedures to help you navigate situations that may arise at the college.
All students have the responsibility of adhering to the Student Conduct Code, which prohibits, amongst other forms of misconduct, failing to comply with the directives of college employees and interfering with the safety of the campus community. For more info, refer to the Student Conduct Code (WAC 132C-120-065 Prohibited Student Conduct).
Interim Director of Community Standards & Title IX
To report a Student Conduct Code violation, please visit the OC Report It page.
Public Hearing: Proposed Updates to Student Conduct Code
- Date & Time: Tue., Jun. 3, 3 –4pm
- Location: Bremerton Campus, Bldg. 4, Rm. 209
- Zoom Link: https://olympic.zoom.us/j/97360978707
- Meeting ID: 973 6097 8707
Description: Join us for a public hearing on proposed updates to the Olympic College Student Conduct Code. The revisions address compliance with Sam's Law, modernize communication methods, clarify faculty roles in academic dishonesty cases, and enhance Title IX adjudication processes. Your input is valuable in shaping these important changes.
For more information on the proposed updates, as well as how to submit your comments, please refer to: https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsr/2025/09/25-09-165.htm
Student Conduct Code Sections
Below are sections of the student code of conduct that are commonly referred to regarding incidents.
Prohibited Student Conduct
The college may impose disciplinary sanctions against a student who commits, or aids, abets, incites, encourages or assists another person to commit, an act(s) of misconduct, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Academic dishonesty. Any act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication.
(a) Cheating includes any attempt to give or obtain unauthorized assistance relating to the completion of an academic assignment.
(b) Plagiarism includes taking and using as one's own, without proper attribution, the ideas, writings, or work of another person in completing an academic assignment. Prohibited conduct may also include the unauthorized submission for credit of academic work that has been submitted for credit in another course.
(c) Fabrication includes falsifying data, information, or citations in completing an academic assignment and also includes providing false or deceptive information to an instructor concerning the completion of an assignment.
(2) Other dishonesty. Any other acts of dishonesty. Such acts include, but are not limited to:
(a) Forgery, alteration, submission of falsified documents or misuse of any college document, record, or instrument of identification;
(b) Tampering with an election conducted by or for college students; or
(c) Furnishing false information, or failing to furnish correct information, in response to the request or requirement of a college officer or employee.
(3) Obstruction or disruption. Obstruction or disruption of:
(a) Any instruction, research, administration, disciplinary proceeding, or other college activity, including the obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular movement on college property or at a college activity; or
(b) Any activity that is authorized to occur on college property, whether or not actually conducted or sponsored by the college.
(4) Assault, abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment and stalking. Assault, physical abuse, verbal abuse, threat(s), intimidation, harassment, bullying, stalking, or other conduct which harms, threatens, or is reasonably perceived as threatening the health or safety of another person or another person's property. For purposes of this subsection:
(a) Bullying is severe, persistent, or pervasive physical or verbal abuse and involving a power imbalance between the aggressor and victim.
(b) Stalking is intentional and repeated following of another person, which places that person in reasonable fear that the perpetrator intends to injure, intimidate or harass that person. Stalking also includes instances where the perpetrator knows or reasonably should know that the person is frightened, intimidated or harassed, even if the perpetrator lacks such an intent.
(5) Cyber misconduct. Cyberstalking, cyberbullying or online harassment. Use of electronic communications, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, instant messaging, electronic bulletin boards, and social media sites, to harass, abuse, bully or engage in other conduct which harms, threatens, or is reasonably perceived as threatening the health or safety of another person. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to, unauthorized monitoring of another's email communications directly or through spyware, sending threatening emails, disrupting electronic communications with spam or by sending a computer virus, sending false messages to third parties using another's email identity, nonconsensual recording of sexual activity, and nonconsensual distribution of a recording of sexual activity.
(6) Property violation. Damage to, or theft or misuse of, real or personal property or money of:
(a) The college or state;
(b) Any student or college officer, employee, or organization;
(c) Any other member of the college community or organization; or
(d) Possession of such property or money after it has been stolen.
(7) Failure to comply with directive. Failure to comply with the direction of a college officer or employee who is acting in the legitimate performance of his or her duties, including failure to properly identify oneself to such a person when requested to do so.
(8) Weapons. Possession, holding, wearing, transporting, storage or presence of any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, explosive device, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm is prohibited on the college campus, subject to the following exceptions:
(a) Commissioned law enforcement personnel or legally authorized military personnel while in performance of their duties;
(b) A student with a valid concealed weapons permit may store a firearm in his or her vehicle parked on campus in accordance with RCW 9.41.050, provided the vehicle is locked and the weapon is concealed from view; or
(c) The president or his delegee may authorize possession of a weapon on campus upon a showing that the weapon is reasonably related to a legitimate pedagogical purpose. Such permission shall be in writing and shall be subject to such terms or conditions incorporated therein.
(9) PROPOSED. As used in RCW 28B.10.901 and 28B.10.902, "hazing" includes any act committed as part of a person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person attending a public or private institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution in this state, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. "Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions.
(10) Alcohol, drug, and tobacco violations.
(a) Alcohol. The use, possession, delivery, or sale of any alcoholic beverage, except as permitted by law and applicable college policies.
(b) Marijuana. The use, possession, delivery, or sale of marijuana or the psychoactive compounds found in marijuana and intended for human consumption, regardless of form. While state law permits the recreational use of marijuana, federal law prohibits such use on college premises or in connection with college activities.
(c) Drugs. The use, possession, delivery, or sale of any legend drug (any drug that requires a prescription including both controlled substances and nonnarcotic drugs), including anabolic steroids, androgens, or human growth hormones as defined in chapter 69.41 RCW, or any other controlled substance under chapter 69.50 RCW, except as prescribed for a student's use by a licensed practitioner.
(d) Tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and related products. Use of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and related products is prohibited in all buildings owned or controlled by the college, in all college vehicles, and on all college property, except in designated areas. All smoking materials are to be lit,smoked and extinguished in designated areas only. "Related products" include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, pipes, bidi, clove cigarettes, waterpipes, hookahs, chewing tobacco, and snuff.
(11) Lewd conduct. Conduct which is lewd or obscene.
(12) Discriminatory conduct. Discriminatory conduct which harms or adversely affects any member of the college community because of her/his: Race; color; national origin; sensory, mental, or physical disability; use of a service animal; gender, including pregnancy/family status; marital status; age (40+); religion; creed; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender identity; veteran's status; or any other legally protected classification.
(13) Sexual misconduct. The term "sexual misconduct" includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, sexual intimidation, and sexual violence. Use of alcohol or other drugs will not function as a defense to a violation of college policies regarding sexual misconduct. Cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct are subject to special discipline procedures; see WAC 132C-120-300 through 132C-120-315.
(a) Sexual harassment. The term "sexual harassment" means unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is sufficiently serious as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, based on sex, the ability of a person to participate in or benefit from the college's educational programs/activities or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus community members.
(b) Sexual intimidation. The term "sexual intimidation" incorporates the definition of "sexual harassment" and means threatening or emotionally distressing conduct based on sex including, but not limited to, nonconsensual recording of sexual activity or the distribution of such recording.
(c) Sexual violence. The term "sexual violence" incorporates the definition of "sexual harassment" and means a physical sexual act perpetrated without clear, knowing, and voluntary consent, such as committing a sexual act against a person's will, exceeding the scope of consent, or where the person is incapable of giving consent, including rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual coercion, sexual exploitation, or gender- or sex-based stalking. The term further includes acts of dating or domestic violence. A person may be incapable of giving consent by reason of age, threat or intimidation, lack of opportunity to object, disability, drug or alcohol consumption, or other cause.
(14) Harassment. Unwelcome and offensive conduct, including verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct, that is directed at a person because of such person's protected status and that is sufficiently serious as to deny or limit, and that does deny or limit, the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the college's educational program or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for other campus community members. Protected status includes a person's race; color; national origin; sensory, mental or physical disability; use of a service animal; gender, including pregnancy; marital status; age (40+); religion; creed; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender identity; veteran's status; or any other legally protected classification. See "Sexual misconduct" for the definition of "sexual harassment." Harassing conduct may include, but is not limited to, physical conduct, verbal, written, social media and electronic communications.
(15) Retaliation. Retaliation against any individual for reporting, providing information, exercising one's rights or responsibilities, or otherwise being involved in the process of responding to, investigating, or addressing allegations or violations of federal, state or local law, or college policies including, but not limited to, student conduct code provisions prohibiting discrimination and harassment. Retaliation is considered a separate offense, regardless of the outcome of the original complaint.
(16) Misuse of electronic resources. Theft or other misuse of computer time or other electronic information resources of the college. Such misuse includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Unauthorized use of such resources or opening of a file, message, or other item;
(b) Unauthorized duplication, transfer, or distribution of a computer program, file, message, or other item;
(c) Unauthorized use or distribution of someone else's password or other identification;
(d) Use of such time or resources to interfere with someone else's work;
(e) Use of such time or resources to send, display, or print an obscene or abusive message, text, or image;
(f) Use of such time or resources to interfere with normal operation of the college's computing system or other electronic information resources;
(g) Use of such time or resources in violation of applicable copyright or other law;
(h) Adding to or otherwise altering the infrastructure of the college's electronic information resources without authorization; or
(i) Failure to comply with the college's electronic use policy.
(17) Unauthorized access. Unauthorized possession, duplication, or other use of a key, keycard, or other restricted means of access to college property, or unauthorized entry onto or into college property.
(18) Safety violations. Safety violations include any nonaccidental conduct that interferes with or otherwise compromises any college policy, equipment, or procedure relating to the safety and security of the campus community, including tampering with fire safety equipment and triggering false alarms or other emergency response systems.
(19) Violation of other laws or policies. Violation of any federal, state, or local law, rule, or regulation or other college rules or policies, including college traffic and parking rules.
(20) Ethical violation. The breach of any generally recognized and published code of ethics or standards of professional practice that governs the conduct of a particular profession for which the student is taking a course or is pursuing as an educational goal or major.
In addition to initiating discipline proceedings for violation of the student conduct code, the college may refer any violations of federal, state or local laws to civil and criminal authorities for disposition. The college shall proceed with student disciplinary proceedings regardless of whether the underlying conduct is subject to civil or criminal prosecution.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.50 RCW. WSR 15-03-078, § 132C-120-065, filed 1/16/15, effective 2/16/15; WSR 05-10-052, § 132C-120-065, filed 4/29/05, effective 5/30/05; WSR 85-13-067 (Order 24, Resolution No. 52-0585), § 132C-120-065, filed 6/18/85; WSR 80-05-004 (Order 21, Resolution No. 49-0280), § 132C-120-065, filed 4/4/80.]
Brief Adjudicative Proceeding Authorized
This rule is adopted in accordance with RCW 34.05.482 through 34.05.494. Brief adjudicative proceedings shall be used, unless provided otherwise by another rule or determined otherwise in a particular case by the president, or a designee, in regard to:
(1) Parking violations.
(2) Outstanding debts owed by students.
(3) Use of college facilities.
(4) Residency determinations.
(5) Use of library - Fines.
(6) Challenges to contents of education records.
(7) Loss of eligibility for participation in institution sponsored athletic events.
(8) Student conduct appeals involving the following disciplinary actions:
(a) Suspensions of ten instructional days or less;
(b) Disciplinary probation;
(c) Written reprimands;
(d) Any conditions or terms imposed in conjunction with one of the foregoing disciplinary actions; and
(e) Appeals by a complainant in student disciplinary proceedings involving allegations of sexual misconduct in which the student conduct officer:
(i) Dismisses disciplinary proceedings based upon a finding that the allegations of sexual misconduct have no merit; or
(ii) Issues a verbal warning to respondent.
(9) Appeals of decisions regarding mandatory tuition and fee waivers.
Brief adjudicative proceedings are informal hearings and shall be conducted in a manner which will bring about a prompt fair resolution of the matter.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.50 RCW. WSR 15-03-078, § 132C-120-102, filed 1/16/15, effective 2/16/15.]
Definitions
The following definitions shall apply for the purposes of this student conduct code:
(1) "Student conduct officer" is a college administrator designated by the president or vice president for the student services area to be responsible for implementing and enforcing the student conduct code. The president or vice president for the student services area is authorized to reassign any and all of the student conduct officer's duties or responsibilities as set forth in this chapter as may be reasonably necessary.
(2) "Conduct review officer" is the vice president for the student services area or other college administrator designated by the president to be responsible for receiving and for reviewing or referring appeals of student disciplinary actions in accordance with the procedures of this code. The president is authorized to reassign any and all of the conduct review officer's duties or responsibilities as set forth in this chapter as may be reasonably necessary.
(3) "President" is the president of the college. The president is authorized to delegate any and all of his or her responsibilities as set forth in this chapter as may be reasonably necessary.
(4) "Disciplinary action" is the process by which the student conduct officer imposes discipline against a student for a violation of the student conduct code.
(5) "Disciplinary appeal" is the process by which an aggrieved student can appeal the discipline imposed by the student conduct officer. Disciplinary appeals from a suspension in excess of ten instructional days or an expulsion are heard by the student conduct appeals board. Appeals of all other appealable disciplinary action shall be reviewed through brief adjudicative proceedings.
(6) "Respondent" is the student against whom disciplinary action is initiated.
(7) "Service" is the process by which a document is officially delivered to a party. Unless otherwise provided, service upon a party shall be accomplished by:
(a) Hand delivery of the document to the party; or
(b) By sending the document by first class mail to the party's last known address.
Service is deemed complete upon hand delivery of the document or upon the date the document is deposited in the mail.
(8) "Filing" is the process by which a document is officially delivered to a college official responsible for facilitating a disciplinary review. Unless otherwise provided, filing shall be accomplished by:
(a) Hand delivery of the document to the specified college official or college official's assistant; or
(b) By sending the document by email and first class mail to the specified college official's office and college email address.
Papers required to be filed shall be deemed filed upon actual receipt during office hours at the office of the specified college official.
(9) "College premises" includes all campuses of the college, wherever located, and includes all land, buildings, facilities, vehicles, equipment, and other property owned, used, or controlled by the college.
(10) "Student" includes all persons taking courses at or through the college, whether on a full-time or part-time basis, and whether such courses are credit courses, noncredit courses, online courses, or otherwise. Persons who withdraw after allegedly violating the code, who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the college, or who have been notified of their acceptance for admission are considered "students."
(11) "Business day" means a weekday, excluding weekends and college holidays.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.50 RCW. WSR 15-03-078, § 132C-120-104, filed 1/16/15, effective 2/16/15.]
Appeal From Disciplinary Action
The respondent may appeal a disciplinary action by filing a written notice of appeal with the conduct review officer within twenty-one days of service of the student conduct officer's decision. Failure to timely file a notice of appeal constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal and the student conduct officer's decision shall be deemed final.
(2) The notice of appeal must include a brief statement explaining why the respondent is seeking review.
(3) The parties to an appeal shall be the respondent and the student conduct officer.
(4) A respondent, who timely appeals a disciplinary action or whose case is referred to the student conduct committee, has a right to a prompt, fair, and impartial hearing as provided for in these procedures.
(5) On appeal, the college bears the burden of establishing the evidentiary facts underlying the imposition of a disciplinary sanction by a preponderance of the evidence.
(6) Imposition of disciplinary sanction for violation of the student conduct code shall be stayed pending appeal, unless respondent has been summarily suspended. Protective measures which have been imposed to protect the health, safety and welfare of an individual or the campus community, such as no contact orders, will not be stayed.
(7) The student conduct committee shall hear appeals from:
(a) The imposition of disciplinary suspensions in excess of ten instructional days;
(b) Dismissals; and
(c) Discipline cases referred to the committee by the student conduct officer, the conduct review officer, or the president.
(8) Student conduct appeals from the imposition of the following disciplinary sanctions shall be reviewed through a brief adjudicative proceeding:
(a) Suspensions of ten instructional days or less;
(b) Disciplinary probation;
(c) Written reprimands; and
(d) Any conditions or terms imposed in conjunction with one of the disciplinary actions listed in (8)(a) through (c) of this subsection.
(9) Except as provided elsewhere in these rules, disciplinary warnings and dismissals of disciplinary actions are final and are not subject to appeal.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.50 RCW. WSR 15-03-078, § 132C-120-115, filed 1/16/15, effective 2/16/15; WSR 05-10-052, § 132C-120-115, filed 4/29/05, effective 5/30/05; WSR 85-13-067 (Order 24, Resolution No. 52-0585), § 132C-120-115, filed 6/18/85; WSR 80-05-004 (Order 21, Resolution No. 49-0280), § 132C-120-115, filed 4/4/80.]
Disciplinary Sanctions and Terms and Conditions
The following disciplinary sanctions may be imposed upon students found to have violated the student conduct code.
Disciplinary warning: A verbal statement to a student that there is a violation and that continued violation may be cause for further disciplinary action.
Written reprimand: Notice in writing that the student has violated one or more terms of this code of conduct and that continuation of the same or similar behavior may result in more severe disciplinary action.
Disciplinary probation: Formal action placing specific conditions and restrictions upon the student's continued attendance depending upon the seriousness of the violation. Probation may be for a limited time or may be for the duration of the student's attendance at the college.
Disciplinary suspension: Dismissal from the college and from the student status for a stated period of time. There will be no refund of tuition or fees for the quarter in which the action is taken.
Dismissal: The revocation of all rights and privileges of membership in the college community and exclusion from the campus and college-owned or controlled facilities without any possibility of return. There will be no refund of tuition or fees for the quarter in which the action is taken.
Disciplinary terms and conditions that may be imposed alone or in conjunction with a disciplinary sanction include, but are not limited to, the following:
Restitution: Reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property, or for injury to persons, or for reasonable costs incurred by the college in pursuing an investigation or disciplinary proceeding. This may take the form of monetary reimbursement, appropriate service, or other compensation.
Professional evaluation: Referral for drug, alcohol, psychological or medical evaluation by an appropriately certified or licensed professional may be required. The student may choose the professional within the scope of practice and with the professional credentials as defined by the college. The student will sign all necessary releases to allow the college access to any such evaluation. The student's return to college may be conditioned upon compliance with recommendations set forth in such a professional evaluation. If the evaluation indicates that the student is not capable of functioning within the college community, the student will remain suspended until future evaluation recommends that the student is capable of reentering the college and complying with the rules of conduct.
Not in good standing: A student may be deemed "not in good standing" with the college. If so, the student shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(1) Ineligible to hold an office in any student organization recognized by the college or to hold any elected or appointed office of the college.
(2) Ineligible to represent the college to anyone outside the college community in any way, including representing the college at any official function, or any forms of intercollegiate competition or representation.
Other terms and conditions: The vice president for the student services area may impose other terms and conditions, such as a no-contact order, as necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the campus community.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.50 RCW. WSR 15-03-078, § 132C-120-145, filed 1/16/15, effective 2/16/15; WSR 05-10-052, § 132C-120-145, filed 4/29/05, effective 5/30/05; WSR 85-13-067 (Order 24, Resolution No. 52-0585), § 132C-120-145, filed 6/18/85; WSR 80-05-004 (Order 21, Resolution No. 49-0280), § 132C-120-145, filed 4/4/80.]