Student Discipline

Our commitment to you

At PJC, we hold ourselves to a high standard — and we ask our students to do the same. The student discipline process exists to protect the learning environment for everyone on campus and to hold students accountable in a way that's fair, consistent, and educational. When a concern is reported, our goal is always to resolve it at the lowest possible level and to give every student a fair opportunity to be heard.

Who this applies to

These policies apply to all currently enrolled PJC students — whether you're taking classes on the Paris campus, at our Greenville or Sulphur Springs centers, online, or through dual credit. They cover conduct that happens on campus, at college-sponsored events and activities, and off-campus conduct that has a direct and substantial connection to the college community.

Withdrawing from PJC after a concern has been reported does not stop an open disciplinary proceeding.

Types of violations

There are two categories of student conduct violations at PJC:

Academic misconduct includes things like cheating on a test or assignment, plagiarizing someone else's work, and unauthorized collaboration (collusion). These violations undermine the integrity of your degree and the learning experience for everyone.

Non-academic / behavioral misconduct includes disruptive behavior, harassment, threats, damage to college property, weapons violations, drug and alcohol violations, and other conduct that violates PJC's standards or college policy.

Violations of federal, state, or local law may also result in college disciplinary action, regardless of whether criminal charges are filed. The college process and any legal proceedings are handled independently of each other.

For a complete list of prohibited conduct, see the Student Handbook / Catalog.

The discipline process

If a concern is reported, here's how the process works:

Step 1 — Report
Any faculty or staff member, student, or community member may report a concern in writing to the Office of Student Services or the Office of Student Life at ss@parisjc.edu. Your report should include as much detail as possible — what happened, when, where, and who was involved.

At this time, reports should be submitted by email (ss@parisjc.edu) or in person to the Office of Student Services or the Office of Student Life. An online intake form is coming soon and will be linked here when available.

Step 2 — Review
The Student Conduct Officer reviews the report to determine whether it falls under the student discipline policy and whether further action is warranted.

Step 3 — Written notice to the student
If the concern moves forward, the student involved will receive written notice of the alleged violation(s), including what policy was potentially violated and what the next steps are. You'll be given a reasonable amount of time to prepare before any meeting.

Step 4 — Administrative conference
You'll meet with the Student Conduct Officer to discuss the matter. This is your opportunity to share your perspective, present any relevant information, and ask questions. In many cases, concerns are resolved at this step through an informal agreement.

Step 5 — Formal Discipline Committee hearing (if applicable)
If the matter isn't resolved informally, or if the potential sanction is suspension or expulsion, a formal hearing will be scheduled before the Discipline Committee. Both sides will have an opportunity to present information, and the committee will issue a written decision.

Step 6 — Appeal to the College President (if applicable)
If you receive a sanction of suspension or expulsion and wish to appeal, you may submit a written appeal to the College President within the timeframe specified in your outcome letter. The President's decision is final.

Note on interim suspension: In situations where there is an immediate threat to the safety of students, faculty, staff, or college property, the VP of Student Services has the authority to impose an interim suspension while the matter is under review. If this applies to your situation, you'll be notified in writing.

Possible sanctions

Sanctions are applied based on the nature and severity of the violation, your prior disciplinary history, and other relevant factors. One or more of the following may be applied:

Verbal or written warning
Disciplinary probation
Educational assignment or community service requirement
Restitution for damaged property
Removal from a course or program
Suspension from PJC (temporary)
Expulsion from PJC (permanent)
Removal from college housing (for resident students)

A note on transcript notations: Per Texas Education Code §51.9364, students who are suspended or expelled for disciplinary reasons will have a notation on their transcript for the duration of the sanction or permanently in the case of expulsion. Students who are withdrawn while disciplinary charges are pending may also have a notation placed on their transcript.

Student rights in this process

You have the right to:

Receive written notice of the specific allegation(s) against you
Review the information and evidence that has been submitted
Present your own perspective and any supporting information
Be accompanied by an advisor of your choosing (the advisor may support you but may not speak on your behalf during proceedings)
Request reasonable ADA accommodations for any part of the process — contact the Student Conduct Officer to make this request
Appeal a decision of suspension or expulsion to the College President
Have your records protected under FERPA.

For Questions about Student Conduct at PJC:

Office of Student Life
Student Conduct Officer
903-782-0433
studentlife@parisjc.edu

Office of Student Services
PJC Administration Building, Room 152 (on Paris campus)
903-782-0211
ss@parisjc.edu

This page provides a summary of PJC's student discipline process. For complete policies and procedures, refer to the current PJC Catalog & Student Handbook. PJC reserves the right to update these policies at any time in accordance with applicable law and Board policy.