WSR 25-09-165
PROPOSED RULES
OLYMPIC COLLEGE
[Filed April 23, 2025, 10:36 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 25-05-104.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Olympic College (college) student conduct code.
Hearing Location(s): On June 3, 2025, at 3:00 - 4:00 p.m., at Olympic College, Bremerton Campus, Building 4, Room 209; and virtually via Zoom at https://olympic.zoom.us/j/97360978707, Meeting ID 973 6097 8707.
Date of Intended Adoption: June 17, 2025.
Submit Written Comments to: Renee Lafreniere, 1600 Chester Avenue, Bremerton, WA 98337-1699, email rlafreniere@olympic.edu, beginning May 7, 2025, 8:00 a.m., by June 5, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact student disability services, phone 360-475-7540, email disabilityservices@olympic.edu, https://www.olympic.edu/about/policies-procedures/accessibility-accommodations.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Bring the college student conduct code into alignment with the model code to address Sam's Law requirements and modern service methods, allow for contracting in Title IX cases, and clarify faculty role in response to the Washington court of appeals' Nelson decision.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Academic Dishonesty: Clarify faculty members' role in investigating and sanctioning most academic dishonesty violations, with academic deans providing support. The student conduct officer will continue to receive and maintain records, retaining discretion to initiate conduct proceedings for repeat offenders or offenders across academic areas. This approach aligns with Washington state's model student conduct codes and existing grade appeal policies that provide procedural protections for students.
Service of Conduct Documents: Designate a student's college email address as the primary method for receiving student conduct documents, with first-class mail retained as an alternative. This update ensures more timely and secure notifications while enhancing privacy for recipients. The change is consistent with Washington state's model codes, which support the use of modern communication methods for official notices.
Hazing: Revise the student conduct code to incorporate state provisions from Sam's Law and federal requirements under the Stop Campus Hazing Act. These updates follow Washington state's model student conduct codes for addressing hazing and holding student organizations accountable.
Title IX Adjudication and Contracting: Preserve the college's discretion to appoint an administrative law judge or other qualified external professional as the decision-maker in Title IX and sexual misconduct cases involving student respondents, a practice initially adopted through emergency rule making. Additionally, clarify that the college may contract external investigators and advisors to ensure fair, compliant, and technically proficient case handling, given the complexity and infrequency of such cases. These provisions are aligned with Washington state's model student conduct codes and guidance from the attorney general's office.
Rule is necessary because of state court decision, Nelson v. Spokane Community College, 469 P. 3d 317 (Wash. App. Div. 3 2020).
Name of Proponent: Olympic College, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Dr. Brendon Taga, Olympic College, Bremerton, 4-312, 360-475-7476.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW
28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW
34.05.328. The college is not one of the enumerated agencies required to conduct cost-benefit analyses under RCW
34.05.328(5).
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Scope of exemption for rule proposal:
Is fully exempt.
April 16, 2025
Renee Lafreniere
Chief of Staff
Rules Coordinator
RDS-6285.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 15-03-078, filed 1/16/15, effective 2/16/15)
WAC 132C-120-065Prohibited 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) Hazing. Hazing ((includes, but is not limited to, any initiation into a student organization or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious mental or emotional harm, to any student))is any act committed as part of a person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a college sponsored 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, 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. Consent is not a valid defense against hazing. Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to:
(a) 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;
(b) Humiliation by ritual act;
(c) Striking another person with an object or body part;
(d) Causing someone to experience excessive fatigue, or physical and/or psychological shock; or
(e) Causing someone to engage in degrading or humiliating games or activities that create a risk of serious psychological, emotional, and/or physical harm.
(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.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 15-03-078, filed 1/16/15, effective 2/16/15)
WAC 132C-120-076((Classroom conduct.))Faculty authority.
(1) Classroom conduct. Faculty have the authority to take appropriate action to maintain order and proper conduct in the classroom and to maintain the effective cooperation of the class in fulfilling the objectives of the course.
An instructor has the authority to exclude a student from up to three class sessions if the student is disruptive to the learning environment pending a meeting with the vice president for the student services area or a designee. The instructor shall report any such exclusion from the class to the vice president for the student services area or designee who may at his or her discretion initiate disciplinary proceedings as provided in this procedure. The vice president for the student services area may impose a disciplinary probation that restricts the student from the classroom until the student has met with the vice president for the student services area and the student agrees to comply with the specific conditions outlined by the vice president for the student services area for conduct in the classroom. The student may appeal the disciplinary sanction according to the disciplinary appeal procedures.
(2) Academic dishonesty – Academic sanctions.
(a) Student responsibility. Students are responsible for adhering to academic integrity expectations set forth in course syllabi, program handbooks, and other applicable college policies.
(b) Academic authority. A faculty member need not give credit for course work that is the product of cheating, plagiarism, or other dishonesty. Faculty members have the authority to determine whether academic dishonesty has occurred in their course and to impose reprimands, educational opportunities, or other academic sanctions, up to and including a failing grade for the course, consistent with the course syllabus or program handbooks. Academic sanctions shall not limit nor preclude student conduct sanctions from the office of community standards for the same act of dishonesty.
(c) Appeal of academic sanctions. A student may appeal an academic sanction imposed by a faculty member through the college's grade appeal process. The grade appeal process shall be the sole avenue for contesting academic sanctions related to academic dishonesty.
(d) Student conduct referrals. Academic sanctions imposed under faculty academic authority are separate from student conduct sanctions under the student conduct code but shall be referred to the student conduct officer for recordkeeping and potential further review. The student conduct officer has sole discretion to determine whether additional nonacademic sanctions are warranted. Possible outcomes include, but are not limited to: Maintaining a record with no further action, engaging the student in a developmental conversation, or initiating the formal student conduct process if the student has prior referrals or the violation is severe. Nonacademic disciplinary sanctions do not replace academic sanctions imposed by faculty and may only be appealed through student conduct code procedures.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 15-03-078, filed 1/16/15, effective 2/16/15)
WAC 132C-120-104Definitions.
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))10 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 email and by certified mail or 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 emailed and deposited in the mail, whichever is first.
(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) "Student group" is a student organization, athletic team, or living group including, but not limited to, student clubs and organizations, members of a class or student cohort, student performance groups, and student living groups within student housing.
(12) "Business day" means a weekday, excluding weekends and college holidays.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 15-03-078, filed 1/16/15, effective 2/16/15)
WAC 132C-120-110Initiation of disciplinary action.
(1) All disciplinary actions will be initiated by the student conduct officer. If that officer is the subject of a complaint initiated by the respondent, the president shall, upon request and when feasible, designate another person to fulfill any such disciplinary responsibilities relative to the complainant.
(2)(a) The student conduct officer shall initiate disciplinary action by serving the respondent with written notice directing him or her to attend a disciplinary meeting. The notice shall briefly describe the factual allegations, the provision(s) of the conduct code the respondent is alleged to have violated, the range of possible sanctions for the alleged violation(s), and specify the time and location of the meeting. At the meeting, the student conduct officer will present the allegations to the respondent and the respondent shall be afforded an opportunity to explain what took place. If the respondent fails to attend the meeting, the student conduct officer may take disciplinary action based upon the available information.
(b) A student conduct officer, or designee, may review and investigate any complaint or allegation of hazing by a student group. A student group will be notified through its named officer(s) and address on file with the college. A student group may designate one representative who may speak on behalf of a student group during any investigation and/or disciplinary proceeding. A student group will have the rights of a respondent as set forth below.
(3) Within ((ten))10 days of the initial disciplinary meeting, and after considering the evidence in the case, including any facts or argument presented by the respondent, the student conduct officer shall serve the respondent with a written decision setting forth the facts and conclusions supporting his or her decision, the specific student conduct code provisions found to have been violated, the discipline imposed (if any), and a notice of any appeal rights with an explanation of the consequences of failing to file a timely appeal.
(4) The student conduct officer may take any of the following disciplinary actions:
(a) Exonerate the respondent and terminate the proceedings.
(b) Impose a disciplinary sanction(s), as described in WAC 132-120-145.
(c) Refer the matter directly to the student conduct committee for such disciplinary action as the committee deems appropriate. Such referral shall be in writing, to the attention of the chair of the student conduct committee, with a copy served on the respondent.
NEW SECTION
WAC 132C-120-146Hazing sanctions.
(1) Any student group that knowingly permits hazing is strictly liable for harm caused to persons or property resulting from hazing. If the organization, association, or student living group is a corporation whether for profit or nonprofit, the individual directors of the corporation may be held individually liable for damages.
(2) Any person who participates in the hazing of another shall forfeit any entitlement to state-funded grants, scholarships, or awards for a period of time determined by the college.
(3) Student groups that knowingly permit hazing to be conducted by its members or by others subject to its direction or control shall be deprived of any official recognition or approval granted by the college.
(4) Student groups found responsible for violating the code of student conduct, college antihazing policies, or state or federal laws relating to hazing or offenses related to alcohol, drugs, sexual assault, or physical assault will be disclosed in a public report issued by the college setting forth the name of the student group, the date the investigation began, the date the investigation ended, a finding of responsibility, a description of the incident(s) giving rise to the finding, and the details of the sanction(s) imposed.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-07-094, filed 3/19/21, effective 4/19/21)
WAC 132C-120-340Prehearing procedure.
(1) Upon receiving the disciplinary notice, the chair of the student conduct committee will send a hearing notice to all parties, in compliance with WAC 132C-120-122. In no event will the hearing date be set less than ((ten))10 days after the Title IX coordinator provided the final investigation report to the parties.
(2) A party may choose to have an attorney serve as their advisor at the party's own expense. This right will be waived unless, at least five days before the hearing, the attorney files a notice of appearance with the committee chair with copies to all parties and the student conduct officer.
(3) In preparation for the hearing, the parties will have equal access to all evidence gathered by the investigator during the investigation, regardless of whether the college intends to offer the evidence at the hearing.
(4) In sexual harassment cases, the college may, in its sole and exclusive discretion, contract with an administrative law judge, investigator, advisor, or other qualified person or organization to fulfill any required role in the procedure. This includes, but is not limited to, serving as the presiding officer, conducting investigations, providing advisory services to parties, or exercising any or all duties of the student conduct committee and/or committee chair, as necessary to ensure compliance with applicable laws and institutional policies.