Principles of Community at Central Oregon Community College

The Community of Learners at Central Oregon Community College is dedicated to personal and academic excellence. Choosing to join the community obligates each member to a code of civilized behavior and responsibility for academic success. This introduction submits that membership in the Central Oregon Community College community is not without its responsibilities. It is understood that joining is evidence of subscribing to certain ideals and an agreement to strive for the level of achievement and virtue suggested by the following:

The Practice of Personal and Academic Integrity 
A commitment to this principle encourages honesty and fairness in and out of the classroom. It should eliminate cheating, plagiarism, lying, deceiving, and making excuses and dishonesty in academic and professional relationships.

Respect the Dignity of all Persons
A commitment to this principle encourages understanding. It is inconsistent with behaviors that compromise or demean the dignity of individuals or groups, including discrimination, intimidation and hazing, taunting, baiting, ridiculing, insulting and harassing other individuals.

Respect for the Rights and Property of Others 
Commitment to these principles is inconsistent with all forms of theft, vandalism, misappropriation, and malicious damage to or desecration and destruction of property. Respect for others' personal rights is inconsistent with any behavior that violates an individual's right to move about freely, to express appropriately and enjoy privacy.

Promote Empathy and Learn from Differences in People, Ideas and Opinions
Support for equal rights and opportunities for all members of the community regardless of their age, sex, race, religion, disability, ethnic heritage, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and political, social, other affiliation or disaffiliation.

Promote a Healthy and Safe Learning Environment
A commitment to this principle is a pledge to be compassionate and considerate, to avoid behaviors that are insensitive, inhospitable or inciteful or that unjustly or arbitrarily inhibit another's ability to feel safe and welcomed in his or her pursuit of personal and academic excellence.

Allegiance to these Principles
Community members are not only obliged to embrace these principles and appropriate actions but also have a responsibility to confront, challenge and respond to or report inappropriate behaviors whenever and wherever they are encountered.