Disciplinary Sanctions

Violation of the Student Code of Conduct

Based on the severity of the incident, the vice president for student affairs may take one of two actions - no referral to the hearing body or referral to the hearing body.

After a determination that a student has violated the Student Code of Conduct, the vice president for student affairs or the president's designee may impose one or more of the following sanctions without referral to the hearing body. The notification of the sanction imposed shall be sent to the student and the person(s) who initially filed the complaint.

Restitution: A student who has committed an offense against property may be required to reimburse Athens Technical College or other owner for damage to, or misappropriation of, such property. Any such payment in restitution shall be limited to the actual cost of repair or replacement.

Reprimand: A written reprimand may be given to any student. Such a reprimand does not restrict the student in any way. However, it signifies to the student that there is being given another chance to conduct themselves as a proper member of the Athens Technical College community and that any further violation may result in more severe sanctions.

Restriction: A restriction upon a student's privileges for a period of time may be imposed. This restriction may include but is not limited to denial of the right to represent Athens Technical College, denial of use of facilities, alteration or revocation of parking privileges, or restrictions from participating in extracurricular activities.

Disciplinary Probation: Continued student enrollment on probation may be conditioned upon adherence to specified terms. Any student placed on probation will be notified of the terms and length of probation in writing. Any conduct determined after due process to violate these terms while on probation may result in the imposition of more serious disciplinary sanctions, as specified by the terms of probation.

Failing or Lowered Grade: In cases of academic misconduct, the vice president for student affairs or the president's designee will make a recommendation to the vice president for academic affairs or their designee, who may authorize the instructor to award a failing or lowered grade in the course, or a loss of credit on the assignment or examination.

After a determination that a student has violated the Student Code of Conduct, the vice president for student affairs or the president's designee may recommend the imposition of one of the following sanctions if appropriate. The vice president for student affairs' recommendation will be forwarded to the hearing body, which may impose one or more of the following sanctions, as well as those described in the section above, following a hearing. A copy of the written recommendation shall be provided to the student and the person filing the complaint.

Disciplinary Suspension: If a student is suspended, they are separated from Athens Technical College for a stated period. Conditions of reinstatement, if any, must be stated in the notice of suspension.

Disciplinary Expulsion: In the case of removal and exclusion from Athens Technical College, college controlled facilities, programs, events, and activities. the vice president for student affairs maintains a record of the reason for the student's dismissal. Students dismissed from Athens Technical College for any reason may write to the vice president for student affairs for reinstatement twelve (12) months following the expulsion. If approval for reinstatement is granted, the student will be placed on disciplinary probation for a specified term. The probationary status may be removed at the end of the specified term at the discretion of the vice president for student affairs or the president's designee.

System-Wide Expulsion: Where a student has been expelled or suspended three times from the same or different colleges in the Technical College System of Georgia in the past seven years, the student will not be permitted to register at any college in the Technical College System of Georgia for ten years after the most recent expulsion/suspension.

Violation of Federal, State, or Local Law

If a student is convicted or pleads with nolo contendere to an off-campus violation of federal, state, or local law but not with any other violation of the Student Code of Conduct, disciplinary action may be taken, and sanctions imposed for misconduct detrimental to Athens Technical College's vital interests and stated mission and purpose.

Disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a student charged with a violation of a law that violates the Student Code of Conduct if both violations result from the same factual situation, without regard to criminal arrest and/or prosecution. Proceedings under this Student Code of Conduct may be conducted prior to, simultaneously with, or following criminal proceedings.
When a student is charged by federal, state, or local authorities with a violation of law, Athens Technical College will not request or agree to special consideration for that individual because of their status as a student. Athens Technical College will cooperate fully with law enforcement and other agencies in enforcing criminal law on campus and the conditions imposed by criminal courts for rehabilitating student violators. Individual students, acting in their capacities, remain free to interact with governmental representatives as they deem appropriate.

Interim Disciplinary Suspension

As a general rule, the status of a student accused of violating the Student Code of Conduct should not be altered until a final determination is made regarding the allegations against him/her. However, an interim suspension may be imposed upon a finding by the vice president for student affairs or their designee that the continued presence of the accused student on campus constitutes a potential or immediate threat to the safety and well-being of the accused student or any other member of the Athens Technical College community or its guests, or that the continued presence of the student on campus creates a risk of substantial disruption of classroom or other college-related activities. If an interim disciplinary suspension is imposed, the matter must be referred as soon as possible to the hearing body. The student need not request an appeal.

Conditions of Disciplinary Suspension and Expulsion

A student suspended or expelled from Athens Technical College shall be denied all privileges afforded a student and shall be required to vacate college premises at a time determined by the vice president for student affairs or the president's designee. In addition, after vacating college premises, a suspended or expelled student may not enter upon Athens Technical College premises at any time, for any purpose, in the absence of written permission from the vice president for student affairs or the president's designee. A suspended or expelled student must contact the vice president for student affairs or the president's designee for permission to enter college premises for a limited, specified purpose.

If the student seeks to submit a signed Disciplinary Sanction Appeal Form, the vice president for student affairs or the president's designee must accept the form by mail or fax if they refuse the student's request to enter Athens Technical College Premises for that specified purpose. A scheduled appeal hearing before the hearing body shall be understood as expressed permission from the vice president for student affairs or the president's designee for a student to enter Athens Technical College premises for the duration of that hearing.