Standards of Student Conduct Procedures

Safety First

When a student's behaviour is or appears to be unsafe, anyone on campus can contact Safety and Security to get help. The Safety and Security Office is next to the A building.

Disruptive Behaviour

When a student's behaviour is disruptive either in a classroom or elsewhare on campus, an instructor or staff mamber can ask the student to stop the behaviour. 

If the student does not stop, the instructor or staff mamber can tell the student to leave and/or contact the Office of Student Conduct, Accountability and Support.

If the student is asked to leave and refuses to do so, the instructor or staff member can call Safety and Security.

When the Office of Student Conduct, Accountability & Support receives a report of a possible breach of the Standards of Student Conduct, they will review report and decide if: 

1. The reported behaviour falls within the scope of the Standards of Student Conduct.
2. The reported behaviour can be addressed based on the report alone.
3. The reported behaviour is best addressed through supportive interventions.
4. The reported behaviour is best addressed under another college policy or process (e.g.: Concerns About Instruction Policy; Sexual Violence or Misconduct Policy, Respectful Workplace Policy, Appeal of Final Grades Policy etc).
5. The use of interim measures is needed to preserve the safety or security of any person or to protect College property or operations.

When the Office of Student Conduct, Accountability & Support receives a report that a student may have breached College policy, the student will be informed of the concerns and may be required to attend a meeting with a staff person from the Office. Meetings can be face to face or online. The office will decide the best format for the meeting.

Access Accommodations

If a student needs access accomodations to attend the meeting, they must notify the Office in advance of their need. 

Support person

A student can have a support person attend a meeting with them for support. A support person must be a member of the College community who has no previous involvement in the situation. Support persons do not speak or participate in the meeting.

At the meeting
During the meeting, the student will told about the concerns and given an opportunity to provide information about the incident or situation. The interviewer may ask some questions to clarify and/or test the information provided by the student. If more infromation is needed, another meeting may be arranged.

At the end of the meeting
The student will have an opportunity to ask procedural questions or offer any additional information not previously mentioned.

Following a Student Meeting, the Office will decide if:

• The situation warrants a College Response based on the available information.
• The situation is appropriate for informal resolution.
• The situation warrants further investigation (see Investigation below).
• The situation would be better addressed under another college policy or process.

Decisions  are made "on the balance of probabilities." The balance of probabilities means that something is more likely than not to have occurred.

Student meetings and related investigations are administrative processes, not legal ones. Legal counsel is not permitted to attend a Student Meeting or participate in an investigation.

If a student does not attend a meeting when required to do so, the Office may:

1. Apply interim measures until a meeting takes place.
2. Undertake a formal investigation.
3. Make a decision as to whether the behaviour is in breach of the policy based on the available information.

Interim measures are temporary non-disciplinary actions or restictions taken by the College on a case-by-case basis to preserve the health, safety and productivity of individuals, property, and operations.

When information suggests that a student may benefit from support services that will enable the student to continue at the College without causing harm or disruption to others, the Office of Student Conduct, Accountability & Support may develop a plan to support the student.

A supportive intervention requires cooperation from the student to be successful.

If the supportive intervention is successful in addressing the behavioural concerns, the student will be notified of any relevant expectations or conditions.

If the attempt is not sucessful, the Office of Student Conduct, Accountability & Support may make a decsion based on the available infromation or undertake further investigation.

The Office of Student Conduct, Accountability & Support reserves the right to work with a student to achieve an informal resolution to a concern or allegation as an alternative to rendering a formal decision and imposing a formal response.

If more investigation is needed, the Office of Student Conduct, Accountability & Support will conduct the investigation.

Investigations will normally commence within 10 business days of receiving a formal report and will normally conclude within 90 business days, notwithstanding extenuating circumstances. 

An investigation may include any or all the following:

1. Interviews with the student, those affected and any relevant witnesses, if available.
2. A review of relevant documents, media, on-line communications, and any other material relevant to the investigation.
3. A review and analysis of all information to determine the facts and any policy breach.

When necessary, Langara College may contact witnesses or other individuals who have pertinent information regarding the concerns and require the individual(s) to attend an interview. Names of witnesses may be provided by the student or another person. The Office will decide which, if any, witnesses will be interviewed.

If the investigation reveals significant new information, the Office will inform the student and allow the student to comment on the new information.

Decisions following an investigation will be made on the balance of probabilities, based on the preponderance of evidence.

When an investigation establishes that the student has breached the Standards of Student Conduct, the student will be notified in writing (using accessible format when requested) of the decision and any responses or conditions imposed.

When a student in engages in behaviour contrary to the behaviour expectations outlined in the policy, Department standards/protocols or may pose a safety risk in the placement, the relevant Department may, in consultation with the Office of Student Conduct, Accountability & Support:

1. Delay or postpone the placement according to department standards and protocols.
2. Remove a student from the placement according to departmental standards and protocols.
3. Refer the matter to the Office of Student Conduct, Accountability & Support.

In any student conduct or sexual violence and misconduct investigation, students have the right to:

• Know the allegation made against them
• Have an opportunity to respond and be heard before a decision is made
• Appeal a disciplinary decision that is made against them
• Have a support person during a meeting or during an investigation process

Students are asked to keep the details of the situation private and confidential among those directly involved in the case or investigating/managing the case. Participants in a student conduct process are asked not to discuss the case with closely involved students, instructors or colleagues until the matter is resolved.

Students may discuss their situation with a support person (counsellor, family member, LSU representative, or confidante), but are responsible to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
Confidentiality cannot be ensured if a student is/appears to be at risk of harm to self or others, or has made reference to harming a child or senior, or shares knowledge of a child or senior being harmed. In such cases, relevant information will be shared with the appropriate bodies to ensure the safety of the student/community.

Information may be requested from other College administrators, staff or faculty if it is deemed pertinent to the investigation, management or resolution of a situation. Information may be shared with other members of the College on a need to know basis.

College respponse to a found breach of the policy ido not appear on a student’s transcript or permanent academic record, except where a student is suspended from the College for disciplinary reasons.

All records related to the incident file are kept in the Office of Student Conduct, Accountability & Support.

Students may appeal decsions and responses imposed under the policy if the student believes the process was unfair or incorrect. Appeals are submitted in writing and most cases; the student is not required to attend a formal appeal meeting.

See the Student Appeals tab on this site for more information