Number of reported student conduct issues at St. Clair College decreases in Fall 18

By Cody Wall

To some students, harassment and other issues that fall under the student code remain a sensitive topic, but St. Clair College seems to be heading in the better direction.

On Jan. 22 the St. Clair College Board of Governors reviewed the number of reported issues under St. Clair’s Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities policy. The number of non-academic issues filed dropped from 21 in Fall 2017 to 14 in Fall 2018. The decrease in reported issues comes at a time when St. Clair has seen  a 21.6 per cent increase in enrollment. 

Issues falling under the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities policy are not only non-academic issues such as harassment and or physical assault. For example plagiarism also fall under the code.

While the reported number of issues has dropped this Fall, many students located on St. Clair’s campuses remain reluctant to discuss the topic. Reeghan Cincelli feels St. Clair has done a good job informing students on ways to prevent and handle issues.

“I think it’s pretty safe here,” said Cincelli. “They promote stuff really well around here and they offer services if you are ever in need of them.”

Beth Pirouet is a college resolutions officer for St. Clair College who is responsible for ensuring reported issues are handled in an appropriate way. Both sides of the reported issue are given a fair opportunity to tell their side of the story.    

“I always say to students when they come and see me, I may be a college administrator but my role is very much an impartial one,” said Pirouet. “I’ve dealt with matters that have been student to student, staff to student and student to staff and I’ve always maintained that middle. There are always two sides to every story.”

One of the most common concerns when reporting someone for their behaviour is many people do not want to get a peer expelled from the college. However, Pirouet said each case is dealt with differently and the punishment varies on the severity of the actions.  

“The code is not set up to be a penalty to students but rather it is a tool that we use to help change and adjust behaviour midstream,” said Pirouet.

If any student feels they have been in a situation that falls under the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities policy they are able to file the issue with a college resolution officer. With all information discussed being kept confidential unless otherwise required to be disclosed by the law.