Student Rights And Responsibilities
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Values Pursuant to Student Rights and
Responsibilities
(WAC 132Z-112-010) and
(BP3:1.10)
Cascadia Community College, a state supported institution
of higher education, is a learning-centered college, maintained for the purpose
of providing to all learners knowledge and skills for the achievement of their
academic, professional, technical, and personal goals. As a public institution
of higher education, the college also exists to provide students with the
capacity for critical judgment and an independent search for truth toward both
optimal individual development and the well being of the entire learning
community.
Inherent in the college’s mission, vision, and goals are
certain rights and freedoms which provide to students the support and respect
needed for learning and personal development. Admission to Cascadia Community
College provides these rights to students but also assumes that students accept
the responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner that does not interfere
with the purposes of the college in providing education for all of its learners.
Freedom of Inquiry and Expression
(WAC 132Z-112-020) and (BP3:1.11)
As a public institution of higher education in the state of
Washington, Cascadia Community College recognizes and supports the following
principles regarding freedom of expression.
- Individual freedom of expression is a fundamental tenet of any free and
democratic society.
- Freedom of expression shall be interpreted to include all forms of
written and oral expression, and all forms of dramatic and artistic
expression.
- The college is dedicated to upholding the individual freedom of
expression as it is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of
the United States and that no act shall be undertaken by the college to
abridge that freedom.
- As an institution dedicated to freedom of thought and expression, the
college shall support expression of divergent viewpoints in order to foster
broadmindedness and a willingness to learn from others.
In keeping with these principles and the college’s right to place reasonable
restraints on the time, place and manner of expression, the college shall
observe the following general guidelines and appropriate general procedures to
ensure the responsible exercise of freedom of expression.
(1) Freedom of expression. It is the right of any
member of the college community to express any point of view and to be free from
harassment in such expression; it is the responsibility of those expressing
opinions to respect the rights and property of others, to refrain from
disrupting the normal operations of the college and to maintain lawful conduct.
The right of free speech and expression does not include
activity that may endanger the safety of any member of this college community or
visitors, or damage any of the facilities. Moreover, modes of expression
(including electronic transmissions) that are unlawful or indecent or that are
grossly offensive on matters such as race, color, national and ethnic origin,
religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, or veteran status are
inconsistent with accepted norms of conduct of the college and are subject to
the sanctions described in the Code of Student Conduct and disciplinary
procedures (Chapter 132Z-115 WAC).
(2) Sponsoring organizations. It is the right of all
recognized college organizations and units to sponsor lecturers, entertainers,
or exhibitions of their choice as approved by the college; it is the
responsibility of the sponsoring organization or unit to make adequate
preparation as deemed necessary by the college for the orderly conduct of such
events.
(3) Campus speakers. Student organizations
officially recognized by the college may invite speakers to the campus to
address their own membership and other interested students and employees if
suitable space is available and there is no interference with the regularly
scheduled program of the college. Although properly allowed by the college, the
appearance of such speakers on the campus implies neither approval nor
disapproval of them or their viewpoints. In the case of speakers who are
candidates for political office, equal opportunities shall be available to
opposing candidates if desired by them. Political candidates seeking to use
facilities to discuss campaign issues with nonstudents shall pay normal facility
rental fees. Speakers are subject to the normal considerations for law and order
and to the specific limitations imposed by the state constitution, which
prohibits state support for religious worship, exercise or instruction.
In order to insure an atmosphere of open exchange and to
insure that the educational objectives of the college are not obscured, the
president, in a case attended by strong emotional feeling, may prescribe
conditions for the conduct of the meeting, such as requiring that a designated
member of the faculty serve as chair, or requiring permission for comments and
questions from the floor. Likewise, the president may encourage the appearance
of one or more additional speakers at any meeting or at a subsequent meeting so
that other points of view may be expressed. The president may designate
representatives to recommend conditions such as time, manner, and place for the
conduct of particular meetings.
(4) Audiences. It is the right of all members of the
college community to attend any public event sponsored by any recognized campus
organization or unit, once applicable admission fees have been paid. It is the
responsibility of all who attend such events to respect the rights and property
of others.
(5) Facilities. It is the right of any recognized
campus organization or unit to schedule the use of appropriate college
facilities free from discrimination on the basis of viewpoints to be expressed
at the event; it is the responsibility of such an organization or unit to
provide sufficient evidence to the college administration that adequate
provision has been made for the health, safety and welfare of the general
public.
(6) Distribution of information. Handbills,
leaflets, newspapers and similar materials may be sold or distributed free of
charge by any student or students, or by members of recognized student
organizations, or by college employees during their off-work hours on or in
college facilities at locations specifically designated by the Director of
Communications and Marketing provided such distribution or sale does not
interfere with the ingress or egress of persons or interfere with the free flow
of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
Such handbills, leaflets, newspapers and related matter
must bear identification as to the publishing agency and distributing
organization or individual.
All nonstudents shall register with the Director of
Communications and Marketing prior to the distribution of any handbill, leaflet,
newspaper or related matter. Such distribution or sale must not interfere with
the free flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
Any person or persons who violates these provisions will be
subject to disciplinary action.
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