Gulf Coast Community College is a public college primarily serving citizens of Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties. Its mission includes maintaining high standards to foster a climate of excellence; providing opportunity and access for all; and creating a supportive, personalized environment for maximum student achievement. Sharing responsibility for this mission, students and college personnel are joined in a voluntary college community.

Admission to Gulf Coast Community College carries with it the expectation that students conduct themselves as responsible members of the college community. They must comply with all laws, all established rules and regulations of the college, maintain high standards of honesty and integrity, and will respect the rights, privileges, and property of other members of the college community.

The student is at once a member of the community at large and the college community.  As such, the student is subject to the rights, responsibilities, laws, and regulations of each community and is accountable to both. Violation of any college rule, policy, regulation, or violation of any law on college premises, college sponsored or related activities, or activities which adversely affect the interests of the college community, including those standards provided below, subject the student(s) to disciplinary action according to  published college disciplinary procedures:

1. Acts of Dishonesty - Acts of dishonesty such as cheating, plagiarism, furnishing false information, altering documents or identification.
2. Disruptive Acts - Any act or behavior which disrupts or interferes with teaching, learning, functions, or procedures on or off campus.
3. Abuse - Physical abuse, verbal abuse, profanity, indecent or abusive language, intimidation, harassment, stalking, coercion, or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health, safety, or well being of any person.
4. Identification - Students are required to provide identification when requested by college employees.
5. Reasonable Orders by GCCC Officials - Students are required to comply with reasonable requests or directions of GCCC employees acting on behalf of the college.
6. Theft/Vandalism - Theft or damage to the property of the college, a member of the college community, or visitor.
7. Assault/Battery - No student will threaten or inflict harm or discomfort to another person.
8. Sexual Misconduct - No student will commit or attempt to commit any form of sexual misconduct which includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual battery (rape), public indecency, lewd behavior, and/or voyeurism.
9. Drugs and Alcohol - The dispensation, possession, or use of, alcohol or controlled substances at the college or at college-sponsored activities is strictly prohibited. Students are prohibited from being under the influence of drugs or alcohol on college property or at college-sponsored activities.
10. Hazing - Students are prohibited from engaging in any hazing action or situation on or off campus which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, or participation in any college organization.
11. Public Laws - Any act by a student which results in the charge of a violation of a public law, occurring either on or off campus, may establish cause for legal and/or disciplinary action by the college.
12. Children - Students will not bring children to the classroom or leave any child unaccompanied on college property unless the child is enrolled in a course or program at the college.
13. Firearms, Weapons, Fireworks, Explosives - No student(s), except law enforcement officers, may have weapons in their possession on college property. Weapons are defined as firearms, knives, explosives, dangerous chemicals, flammable materials (except for cigarette lighters), fireworks, or any other items that might cause bodily injury or damage to property. Correctional and Law Enforcement students may handle weapons under direct supervision of firearms instructors at the Firing Range.
14. Gambling - Gambling of any kind is prohibited.
15. Unauthorized Entry - Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys to any college premises or unauthorized entry to or use of college premises is prohibited.
16. Emergency Equipment/Safety - Any action which causes or attempts to cause a fire, explosion, any false reporting of a fire (including bomb threats), pulling fire alarms, tampering with fire safety equipment, or other safety devices is prohibited.
17. Theft of Computer Time/Abuse - Items included, but are not limited to: (a) unauthorized entry into a file to use, read or change the contents, or for any other purpose; (b) unauthorized transfer or deletion of a file; (c) unauthorized use of another individual's identification or password; (d) use of computing facilities to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member, or college official; (e) use of computing facilities to send, view, or receive pornography and/or send obscene or abusive messages; (f) use of computing facilities to interfere with the normal operation of the college computing system; (g) may not use computer facilities to conduct commercial activities or engage in any illegal activity.
18. Complicity - A student present during the commission of an act by another person may be charged as a complicator if the student's subsequent behavior constitutes support of the violation. Student(s) who witness acts that constitute violation of college policy should promptly report the incident to college authorities.
19. Animals - Animals are not permitted on college property or at college-sponsored functions except that persons with disabilities may utilize service animals as appropriate.

JURISDICTION  The student Code of Conduct is applicable in all matters of student discipline, and any disciplinary action imposed upon a student shall be in accordance with this Code, unless the disciplinary action was imposed according to a separate college policy which the student accepted as a condition to participation in a particular course or program. Faculty members shall have the authority to take such actions as may be necessary to maintain order and proper conduct in the classroom to insure the cooperation of students in the accomplishment of the objectives of the course.

Disciplinary action, including dismissal from the college, may be imposed on a student for failure to abide by rules of conduct contained herein. The form of disciplinary action imposed will determine whether and under what conditions a violator may continue as a student at a college. Practices in disciplinary cases may vary in formality according to the severity of the case. As the president's designated representative in disciplinary matters, the dean of student development has the responsibility of establishing, reviewing, and enforcing student disciplinary regulations and procedures.