Happy Holidays
Our administrative offices will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025. More Details >>
The Office of Student Conduct is committed to an educational and developmental process that balances the interests of individual students with the interests of the Ocean County College community. The Code of Student Conduct in Policy #5247 (PDF) is designed to address all student misconduct excluding gender-based misconduct. Gender based misconduct is covered by Title IX and addressed by Policy #2410 (PDF), Sexual Harassment.
Student Conduct works collaboratively with other offices and departments to create a safe, secure and civil environment where learning, growth and development can take place both inside and outside of the classroom. We provide an environment in which all college community members are treated with respect and dignity through utilizing a variety of methods for both individuals and groups.
Goals
Due Process, Standard of Evidence, and Sanctioning
The student conduct process is quite different from criminal and civil court proceedings. Student conduct procedures and rights are managed with fairness to all but do not include the same protections of due process afforded by the courts. Due process, as defined within this code, assures written notice, a thorough and equitable investigation, and the right to appeal in writing a finding or sanction, or both, based on specific grounds, as outlined in this document. Preponderance of the evidence is the evidence standard for this code. No student will be found in violation of Ocean County College policy or the Code of Student Conduct without information showing that it is more likely than not that a violation occurred, and sanctions will be proportionate to the severity of the violation and to the cumulative conduct history of the student.
Incident reports, campus security reports, and police reports are reviewed by the Office of Student Conduct. Involved individuals will be invited to discuss the incident with a Student Conduct Investigator.
Responsible
A Notice of Responsibility will be delivered to all parties of the finding(s) and sanction(s).
Not Responsible
If there is insufficient evidence through the investigation to support reasonable cause, the allegations will be closed with no further action.
Student Accepts Findings
Student accepts the findings by not responding to the notification and allowing seven business days to pass. In this case, the sanctions are applied and the process ends.
Student Rejects Findings
Student rejects the finding(s) and/or the sanction(s) by filing an appeal within seven business days to the Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA).
Veronica Guevara-Lovgren
Executive Director of Student Services
732-255-0400 ext. 2262
Dr. Tara Brugnoni
Director of Student Conduct
732-255-0400 ext. 2375
Kayla Stahl
Student Conduct Coordinator
732-255-0400 ext. 2390
Office Hours – 8:00 am to 5:00 pm