Student Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Bakersfield College is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment where every student can learn, grow, and succeed.
The Dean of Students Office oversees Student Rights and Responsibilities. We help students understand College policies, navigate difficult situations, address concerns, and connect with support. We also respond to reports involving student conduct, academic integrity, student grievances, and concerning behavior.
Our goal is to ensure that students are treated fairly, understand the process, and have an opportunity to share their perspective.
Standards of Student Conduct
Being part of the Bakersfield College community comes with both rights and responsibilities. Students are expected to respect the rights of others and follow College and District policies.
The KCCD Board Policy 5500: Standards of Student Conduct identifies conduct that may result in disciplinary action. Reports of possible misconduct are reviewed carefully and fairly, with attention to students’ due process rights.
The KCCD Administrative Procedure 5520: Student Discipline Procedures explains the disciplinary process.
Student Grievances
Students have the right to raise concerns when they believe a College decision or action has been unfair or has affected their rights as a student.
Student grievances are addressed separately from student conduct matters. The KCCD Administrative Procedure 5530: Student Rights and Grievances explains the grievance process. The Dean of Students Office can help students understand the process and identify the appropriate next steps.
Our Restorative Justice Approach
The Dean of Students Office uses restorative justice practices to address student conduct and conflict. Restorative justice focuses on understanding what happened, recognizing who was affected, taking responsibility, and identifying how to repair harm. Instead of looking only at which rule was broken and what consequence should follow, the process also asks:
- What happened?
- Who was affected, and how?
- What can be done to make things right?
- What support or skills will help the student move forward successfully?
Restorative outcomes may include guided conversations, written reflections, educational activities, agreements to repair harm, referrals to support services, or other appropriate measures.
Restorative justice does not excuse harmful behavior or remove accountability. Some situations may still require formal disciplinary action. The goal is to help students understand the impact of their choices, learn from the experience, rebuild trust when possible, and make better-informed decisions in the future.
Administrative Holds That Affect Registration
An administrative hold may be placed on a student’s record when a student conduct matter remains unresolved or required sanctions have not been completed. Depending on the hold, it may restrict registration, schedule changes, or other student record transactions. Students approved to return following a disciplinary separation may be subject to specific enrollment conditions, including limits on courses, programs, or units.
To learn what is required to resolve and remove a hold, contact the Dean of Students Office at (661) 395-4060 or dos@bakersfieldcollege.edu.
The Dean of Students Office is located in the Campus Center, on the Bakersfield College, Panorama campus.
