Students will now have to agree to a code of conduct to attend classes at RCCD campuses

Written by Diego Dee Garcia

Students will now have to agree to the Student Code of Conduct Policy every semester before being able to register for classes.

The Student Code of Conduct Policy encourages students who attend any college in the Riverside Community College District to engage in critical judgement while they go along with their planned studies.

“We decided to put this in front before students sign up for classes to remind them that there is a student code of conduct and that the main points have been highlighted on the form,” said Sandra Mayo, president of Moreno Valley College.

The Student Code of Conduct provides students with rights and responsibilities which include but are not limited to: challenging a prerequisite for a course, filing a complaint for unlawful discrimination and developing an Educational Plan with a counselor.

Along with allotted rights, students are provided a list of responsibilities. Some of the responsibilities are: declaring an educational goal by the time 15 semester units are completed and attending class and maintaining progress toward a goal.

A student must also conduct themselves in a professional manner. Students must refrain from stealing or attempting to steal district or private property, causing or attempting to cause bodily harm to a student or District employee, being under the influence, plagiarism, willfully or persistent smoking in any area where prohibited and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

If any student breaks the code of conduct policy they will be subject to disciplinary proceedings and their actions may result in removal, suspension or expulsion from any of the three colleges in the RCCD parameters.

Every student must accept the Student Code of Conduct Policy, just as they accept an agreement when registering a smartphone or setting up a social media account.

Riverside City College President Wolde-Ab Isaac and Virginia Blumenthal, president of the Board of Trustees, have been invited to Washington D.C. by Secretary of Education John B. King on March 24.

Isaac and Blumenthal plan to share their strategy for improving the outcomes and completion rates for Pell Grant students and communities that are educationally and economically challenged.

RCCD Student Trustee Ryan Rudolph made a statement while giving a Student Report  on March 15 at a Board of Trustees meeting.

“On Monday (March 14), was the beginning of thee campaign for my position as Student Trustee,” Rudolph said. Its really exciting to see a lot more students get involved and run for my position. Because student engagement, especially on the board is very important.”

Peggy Cartwright, associate vice chancellor of Strategic Communications and Institutional Advancement also gave a statement to the Board on March 15 in regards to the Centennial Plaza celebration which took place March 13.

“I heard people as they walked out the door saying how spectacular the hall was, how amazing the rooftop view was,” Cartwright said. “I heard a number of people say ‘we watched the building go up’.”