Oakridge College Student Handbook

Overview

This section summarizes important college-wide policies that students are expected to know.

These policies apply across Oakridge College, including classrooms, residence halls, Greek houses, student organization spaces, athletic spaces, events, offices, outdoor areas, and other campus grounds.

This section does not replace the full policies or procedures of the college. It gives students a clear reference for the major rules that affect daily student life.

The Details

Oakridge College expects students to act with respect, honesty, safety, and responsibility.

Students are responsible for knowing and following college policies. A student may still be held responsible for violating a policy even if they did not read or remember the exact wording.

When students are unsure whether a policy applies, they should ask Student Affairs, a faculty advisor, a Residence Assistant, Campus Security, or another appropriate college authority.

Non-Discrimination

Oakridge College does not allow discrimination against students, faculty, staff, visitors, or applicants.

Students may not target, exclude, harass, threaten, or mistreat someone because of identity, protected status, personal background, belief, role, department, organization, residence status, or social position.

Disagreement is allowed. Discrimination is not.

Concerns about discrimination may be reported to Student Affairs, a Residence Assistant, faculty, a Department Chair, a Dean, Campus Security, the Dean of Student Affairs, the Vice President, or the President.

Anti-Harassment

Harassment is prohibited.

Harassment may include repeated unwanted conduct, hostile behavior, sexual misconduct, bullying, stalking, targeted humiliation, intimidation, or conduct that interferes with a person’s ability to take part in college life.

Harassment may happen in person, through messages, through student organizations, in residence spaces, at events, or through digital communication.

Students who experience or witness harassment should report it to the proper college authority.

If the situation is immediate or unsafe, students should contact Campus Security.

Retaliation

Retaliation is prohibited.

Students may not punish, threaten, exclude, harass, pressure, intimidate, or target someone because that person:

• Made a good-faith report
• Asked for help
• Served as a witness
• Participated in a hearing
• Reported harassment
• Reported discrimination
• Reported misconduct
• Refused an improper request
• Used a college procedure

Retaliation may be treated as a separate conduct violation, even if the original complaint is not upheld.

Academic Freedom and Respectful Discussion

Oakridge College supports academic discussion, questioning, disagreement, and debate.

Students may ask questions, challenge ideas, disagree with faculty or classmates, and take part in difficult conversations when those conversations are connected to an academic purpose.

Academic discussion does not excuse harassment, threats, intimidation, discrimination, personal attacks, or repeated disruption.

A student may challenge an idea. A student may not use that challenge to attack or silence a person.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to complete academic work honestly.

Students may not cheat, plagiarize, falsify records, submit work they did not complete, misuse another student’s work, or falsely claim academic credit.

Students should ask the instructor when they are unsure whether collaboration, outside help, digital tools, reused work, or source material are allowed.

Academic integrity concerns may lead to academic consequences, disciplinary review, or both.

Student Privacy and Records

Student information should be handled with care.

College officials may share student information only when there is a proper college reason.

A proper reason may include:

• Academic advising
• Student support
• Residence life concerns
• Safety concerns
• Disciplinary review
• Campus Security response
• Academic records
• Official college procedure

Students should also respect the privacy of others.

Students may not share private records, messages, screenshots, disciplinary information, residence information, or personal student information in order to shame, threaten, harass, or retaliate against another person.

Drug, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Smoke-Free Campus Policy

Oakridge College prohibits drugs, alcohol, smoking, marijuana, tobacco, nicotine, and related products on campus grounds, except where a current college policy gives a specific documented medical exception.

This policy applies to students, staff, faculty, visitors, contractors, and guests while they are on campus grounds.

Campus grounds include:

• Classrooms
• Residence halls
• Greek houses
• Student organization spaces
• Athletic spaces
• Offices
• Event spaces
• Outdoor campus areas
• Parking areas
• College-owned or college-controlled spaces

Prohibited products and activities include, but are not limited to:

• Alcohol possession, consumption, or distribution
• Illegal drugs
• Controlled substances without authorization
• Marijuana
• Edibles
• Vape pens
• E-cigarettes
• Traditional cigarettes
• Cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars
• Joints and blunts
• Pipes
• Water pipes
• Hookahs
• Bubblers
• Bongs
• Dabbing or concentrate pens
• Snus
• Chewing tobacco
• Dip
• Smokeless tobacco
• Nicotine pouches
• Dissolvable tobacco products
• Tobacco, marijuana, hemp, or nicotine products in any form

This policy includes smoking, vaping, inhaling, chewing, holding in the mouth, consuming, distributing, selling, possessing, or otherwise using these products.

There are no exceptions while students and staff are on campus grounds unless the person has approved medical documentation from a licensed physician stating that the product is for medical purposes.

Medical documentation must be submitted to the Registrar before the stated college deadline or before the person uses or possesses the product on campus, depending on the policy notice in effect.

Students who violate this policy may be referred to Student Affairs, Campus Security, disciplinary review, or another appropriate authority.

Weapons

Weapons are not allowed in college spaces unless specifically authorized by college policy or lawful authority.

Weapons may include:

• Firearms
• Knives intended as weapons
• Explosives
• Tasers or similar devices
• Clubs or striking weapons
• Any object used or threatened as a weapon

A student who displays, implies, threatens, possesses, or uses a weapon may face immediate Campus Security involvement and disciplinary action.

Students should report weapons immediately.

Public Order and Campus Safety

Students are expected to help maintain safe and orderly campus spaces.

Students may not:

• Threaten others
• Use physical violence
• Block someone from leaving
• Refuse to leave when directed
• Disrupt classes or events
• Tamper with safety equipment
• Block exits
• Interfere with emergency response
• Create unsafe crowd conditions
• Encourage others to violate safety instructions

Students must follow reasonable safety instructions from Campus Security, Residence Assistants, faculty, staff, emergency responders, or other college authorities.

Use of College Facilities

Students may use college facilities only for approved purposes.

College spaces include classrooms, lecture halls, residence halls, Greek houses, libraries, athletic spaces, offices, laboratories, studios, event spaces, outdoor areas, and student organization spaces.

Students may not damage, misuse, occupy, reserve, or alter a college space without permission.

Students should leave spaces clean, safe, and usable for the next person or group.

Students or organizations may lose space privileges if they misuse college facilities.

Events and Scheduling

Student events must follow the proper approval and scheduling process.

Students may not claim a space, announce an official event, use the Oakridge name, invite outside guests, request a stream, or reserve college resources without proper approval when approval is required.

Scheduling conflicts should be handled through respectful communication first.

If students cannot resolve a conflict themselves, they should bring the matter to the proper advisor, Student Affairs, Residence Life, Department Chair, Dean, or senior college authority.

Major college events may take priority over ordinary student events.

Student Organizations, Greek Row, and Athletics

Student organizations, Greek Row groups, athletic teams, Student Council, and other student leadership bodies are part of Oakridge College.

They are not outside college authority.

Student groups must follow college rules about conduct, hazing, events, guests, residence life, alcohol, drugs, smoking, safety, scheduling, and use of resources.

A group may have traditions and internal rules, but those rules may not conflict with college policy.

Student leaders may not use their roles for harassment, retaliation, favoritism, coercion, hazing, or personal control.

Hazing

Hazing is prohibited.

Hazing includes any activity that humiliates, pressures, abuses, endangers, coerces, or degrades a student as a condition of joining, remaining in, or gaining status in a group.

Hazing may happen in clubs, teams, Greek Row, residence groups, student leadership bodies, or informal student groups.

A student may still be hazed even if they say they agreed to participate.

Consent does not make hazing acceptable.

Personal Relationships and Boundaries

Students are expected to respect personal boundaries.

Students may not use pressure, threats, social power, student leadership, group membership, academic access, housing access, or event access to force unwanted personal, romantic, sexual, social, or private involvement.

Students should also respect the professional boundaries of faculty and staff.

Concerns about boundary violations, pressure, favoritism, or misuse of authority may be reported to Student Affairs or another appropriate college authority.

Conflicts of Interest

Students in leadership roles should avoid conflicts of interest.

A conflict of interest may exist when a student’s personal relationship, romantic interest, friendship, rivalry, family tie, financial interest, or group loyalty could affect their judgment.

Conflicts may affect:

• Student Council decisions
• Club decisions
• Greek Row matters
• Athletic leadership
• Residence life matters
• Event planning
• Funding or resource use
• Discipline or complaints
• Recommendations or appointments

A student leader should step back from a decision when they cannot be fair.

Technology, Media, and Recordings

Students must use technology, messages, recordings, screenshots, and digital material responsibly.

Students may not:

• Harass others through messages
• Share private information without proper reason
• Record private meetings, hearings, classes, or residence matters without approval
• Distribute screenshots to shame or intimidate someone
• Falsify messages or records
• Use digital material to threaten, blackmail, or retaliate
• Misrepresent college communication
• Publish college material in a misleading way

Digital conduct may still be student conduct when it affects Oakridge College, students, faculty, staff, or college activities.

Guests and Visitors

Students are responsible for guests they invite into college spaces or events.

Guests must follow college rules.

Students should not bring guests into restricted spaces, residence spaces, events, or organization areas unless guests are allowed.

A guest may be removed from campus or an event if they violate policy, disrupt activity, or create a safety concern.

The student or group responsible for the guest may also face review.

False Reports and False Information

Students may not knowingly give false information to college officials.

This includes false information in:

• Reports
• Disciplinary hearings
• Academic records
• Residence life matters
• Event requests
• Student organization records
• Safety reports
• Applications or forms
• Statements to faculty, staff, Student Affairs, Campus Security, or administration

A good-faith report that turns out to be mistaken is not the same as a false report.

Students should report genuine concerns even if they are not completely sure.

Reporting Concerns

Students should report concerns to the proper authority.

A simple guide is:

• Course concern: instructor or faculty advisor
• Academic record concern: Registrar
• Program concern: Department Chair or Dean
• Residence concern: Residence Assistant or Student Affairs
• Club or organization concern: advisor or Student Affairs
• Greek Row concern: Student Affairs or Dean of Student Affairs
• Athletic concern: coach, advisor, or Student Affairs
• Safety concern: Campus Security or emergency services
• Harassment or discrimination concern: Student Affairs, Campus Security, Dean of Student Affairs, or another appropriate authority
• College-wide concern: Vice President or President

Students who are unsure where to go may begin with Student Affairs.

General Rule

Selected college policies exist to protect learning, safety, fairness, and community life.

Students are expected to know these rules, follow them, ask questions when unsure, and report serious concerns.

Oakridge College works best when students understand that college life depends on both freedom and responsibility.