As a special purpose educational community, as opposed to a general purpose community, and in keeping with its Christian purpose and ideals, Dana College has adopted regulations, which seek to discourage behavior which might deter the college from furthering its mission. The following principles provide a foundation for building the code of student conduct:

1. The college has a primary concern to create an environment which values academic achievement and personal integrity.

2. The college disapproves of conduct, which breaks the peace, causes disorder, and substantially interferes with the rights of others.

3. The college disapproves of behavior, which threatens the physical, mental, and spiritual health and safety of members of the college community.

4. The college has an obligation to protect its property and the property of the members of its community from theft, damage, destruction, or misuse.

5. The college has a commitment to meet its contractual agreements.

6. The college has an obligation to support and be guided by the laws of the land.

7. As an educational community, the college is obligated to establish and promote standards of behavior and decorum of its own, which will serve the well being of the total community and the individual members.

8. As a residential college, the college is obligated to make certain that the residential experience contributes fully to the institution’s educational objectives and development of its students.

The college has the authority to designate additional or more specific rules and regulations supplementary to those listed in this handbook, provided they are consistent with the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities of the students at Dana College and the safety of our campus community. Any minimum and maximum sanctions identified are intended primarily for the purpose of indicating the general range of sanctions, which may be expected as a result of violations of those regulations and should not be interpreted as the only sanctions that can be applied.

A student who enrolls at Dana College accepts responsibility to comply with the college’s policies and behavioral expectations. Students are responsible for becoming familiar with these policies and the Student Code of Conduct. Failure to be informed will not excuse inappropriate behavior as it relates to these policies.

Local, state, and federal laws and policies apply to Dana College students, as well. Students may be held accountable to outside law enforcement and the campus discipline system for an act that violates a law and the Student Code of Conduct. In these cases, the college may complete its disciplinary process and make decisions on such behavior at any point during a criminal or civil proceeding.

The Student Code of Conduct shall apply to inappropriate student behavior on college premises and at college events. It may also apply to conduct occurring off campus that adversely affects the college community and/or educational goals and objectives. This includes inappropriate behavior on or off campus at times when classes are not in session.