Students and Families

Any member of the College community may submit an Incident Report in response to an alleged Student Code of Conduct violation enacted by a student. The Vice President for Student Affairs and/or official designee has the discretion to dismiss the alleged charges or file formal charges against the respondent. Other forms of reporting that may initiate possible action being taken upon a respondent are as follows:

College Police report or a report from another law enforcement agency in the surrounding community and/or state/federal government.

Written statement(s) from any member of the College community that indicates a student has allegedly violated the Student Code of Conduct.

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs sends all students that may have violated the Student Code of Conduct an official letter informing the student of his/her alleged violation(s) and to attend a Student Rights Information Session. Students are granted seven business days to respond to this letter and attend the Student Rights Information Session.

Once this initial letter is sent to an official student email account, that student is known as a respondent for the duration of the conduct process. Upon completion of a Student Rights Information Session, the respondent can decide to accept the charges as they stand (Summary/Informal Resolution) or select a formal hearing.

If a formal hearing is selected, the program coordinator for Student Rights and Responsibilities and the respondent set a date for the formal hearing. Hearings are scheduled within seven days of the Student Rights Information Session. However, the Vice President for Student Affairs and/or designee reserve the right to extend this timeframe based on the circumstances of involved parties.

If there are any witnesses that would like to give testimony or provide a written statement to be read into the record at the hearing, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs must be made aware of those individuals five days prior to the formal hearing date.

The program coordinator for Student Rights and Responsibilities has ten days, from the date of the formal hearing, to issue a student conduct hearing outcome letter. The student conduct hearing outcome letter contains the following:

• List of the violations of the Student Code of Conduct;
• Brief description of behavior that may have violated the Student Code of Conduct;
• Decision rationale; and
• Appeal information (should the respondent be found responsible for Student Code of Conduct violations).

Students shall have the right:

1. of free inquiry, expression, assembly, and advocacy; and
2. to form and join organizations for legal purposes; individually and through representative organizations, to express views on issues of institutional policy and on matters of interest to the student body;
3. to a student press free of censorship;
4. to participate in recommendations on the allocation of funds derived from student fees;
5. to participate in the evaluation of faculty performance;
6. to due process of disciplinary proceedings;
7. to fair and unbiased academic evaluations based upon defined criteria, appropriate to the course, of which the instructor has advised them in writing at the beginning of the course, and to the review of academic evaluations;
8. to receive competent instruction, relevant to the subject matter, at the times and places assigned for their courses;
9. to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of instruction, and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion;
10. to be protected against improper disclosure of information about their views, beliefs, academic evaluations, political associations, and educational records; and
11. To enjoy a college experience free from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Students shall be responsible:

1. to meet the established requirements of the course in which they
   are enrolled;
2. to exercise their rights of free inquiry, expression, assembly, and advocacy in a manner which will not interfere with the rights of others or with the operation of the College;
3. to exercise their rights of free inquiry, expression and advocacy in the classroom in a manner which is relevant to the subject matter of the instructional program and is subject to the right of the instructor to maintain order;
4. to meet the obligations of responsible journalism in the student press; and
5. to comply with the College policies, procedures, and regulations applicable to students and student conduct.

1. Warning: Notice to the student that continuation or repetition of specified conduct may be cause for other disciplinary action.
2. Censure: Written reprimand for violation of specified regulation.
3. Educational Assignment: A developmental task or writing assignment designed to make a positive contribution to student’s overall success at the College.
4. Community Service: The completion of a specified amount of service hours to the campus and/or surrounding community.
5. Personal Counseling Assessment: A referral to Counseling Services, Disability Support Services, and other College student services may be required for some cases.
6. Restitution: In addition to any of the foregoing, reimbursement may be required for damage to or misappropriation of property. This may take the form of appropriate service or other compensation.
7. No Contact Order: A clear directive to cease and decease from any contact with a specified member of the College community. This includes, but not limited to, all faculty, staff, and students.
8. Campus Restrictions: A student’s privilege to enter in, or be near, specified campus buildings, areas, and/or extension centers has been revoked.
9. Probation: Exclusion from participation in privileges or extracurricular College activities as set forth in the notice of probation for a specified period of time. If a student while on probation violates any of the terms set forth in the notice of probation or violates the Student Code of Conduct, as determined after the opportunity for a hearing, he/she shall be subject to further discipline in the form of suspension, dismissal, or expulsion.
10. Interim Suspension: Exclusion from classes and other privileges or activities as set forth in the notice of interim suspension, pending final determination of an alleged violation.
11. Deferred Suspension: Completion of specified educational sanctions upon a specified date. If aforementioned sanctions have not been completed, the suspension will take immediate effect.
12. Suspension: Exclusion from classes and exclusion from other privileges or activities or from the College as set forth in the notice of suspension, for a definite period of time, with reinstatement thereafter dependent upon a showing of observance during the period of suspension of the terms set forth in the notice of suspension. If a student, while on suspension, violates any of the terms set forth in the notice of suspension or violates the Student Code of Conduct while on college property or in relation to a College-sponsored activity, as determined after the opportunity for a hearing, he/she shall be subject to further discipline in the form of dismissal or expulsion.
13. Dismissal: Termination of student status for an indefinite period. The student may be readmitted to the College only with the specific approval of the president. If a dismissed student violates the Student Code of Conduct while on College property or in relation to a College-sponsored activity, he/she shall be subject to further discipline in the form of expulsion.
14. Expulsion: Permanent termination of student status without possibility of readmission to any campus of the College.
15. Other: Other types of discipline as set forth in campus regulations.

It is the policy of the Board to comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and to provide for its employees and students a workplace which is drug-free. The president is authorized to make, promulgate, issue, rescind, and amend reasonable rules, regulations, and procedures to carry out this policy and to assure compliance with the Drug-Free Act of 1988. In addition, the College expects all members of the College community to comply with all federal, state, and local laws pertaining to the possession, use, manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of alcohol and drugs. A more detailed overview of the College’s can be found on the College’s website.

Prince George's Community College is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful community. In accordance with Maryland House Bill 923 (MD HB923) concerning academic accommodation appeals related to religion, the College upholds the prohibition of any unlawful discrimination or harassment based on religion.

We are dedicated to our Core Commitments and our efforts to provide reasonable religious accommodations to our students who face conflicts between their sincerely held religious practices or beliefs and any college policy, procedure, or academic requirement.

Students are required to check their course syllabi at the beginning of the semester for any religious or cultural conflicts. Additionally, students must inform their professors within 14 days of the semester and discuss arrangements for missed classes or assignments.

If students are Sabbath-observant, they must make this fact known to their professors for any course in which Friday, Saturday, or Sunday (depending on your faith) work is required.

If you require an Academic Religious Accommodation Appeal, please click here.

For the purpose of this policy, a religious practice or belief is defined as a sincerely held practice or observance that includes moral or ethical convictions regarding the nature, purpose, and cause of the universe. Religion encompasses not only conventional and organized religious beliefs, it also encompasses new, uncommon, or non-institutional religious beliefs subscribed to by a limited number of individuals.

A religious accommodation is characterized as a reasonable modification to class, exams, or assignments that allows a student to engage in their sincerely held religious practices or beliefs without imposing undue hardship on the college.

Some examples of religious accommodations may include designated time for prayer during the class which is normal practice, and the opportunity to participate in religious events or observe religious holidays. All accommodations must be reasonable and should not cause undue hardship to the college.

For more information on your rights, please contact:

• Office of Student Rights: 301-546-0887
• PGCC Institutional Information and Policies
• Maryland General Assembly: HB0923
• U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
• Know Your Rights: Title VI and Religion

PGCC is committed to our Core Commitments promoting Students First, Achievement, Continuous Improvement, Empathy, Equity, and Integrity; our effort is aimed at ensuring that all community members can pursue their educational goals while honoring their deeply-held religious beliefs.

Prince George’s Community College practices an open-door admissions policy, meaning it is open to all high school graduates and holders of high school equivalency degrees or certificates. Students are admitted to the College without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. However, specific requirements apply to individuals listed on the Maryland Sex Offender Registry or the National Sex Offender Registry. 

PGCC requires that any individual who is listed on the National Sex Offender Registry or the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Sex Offender Registry must comply with all local and state reporting requirements and must notify the College upon enrollment. Notification must be made to the Department of Public Safety’s Police Chief or their designee and the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities within three (3) calendar days of enrollment each semester. In addition, students who become listed on either Registry while already enrolled at the College must provide the same notification within three (3) calendar days of registration. Depending on each individual circumstance, a registered sex offender may be required to enter into an agreement with the College regarding their time at the College.

For more information, please contact:

PGCC Campus Police
Email: campuspolice@pgcc.edu
Phone: 301-546-0666

Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities
Email: studentconduct@pgcc.edu
Phone: 301-546-0887