Your Right to Know – Legal and Consumer Information

Accommodation for student activities and events will be provided upon request. Students with documented disabilities who need reasonable accommodations for their courses should apply for services at the Accessibility Center at  (303)556-3300. 

Visit the Accessibility Center to learn more about the services we provide for CCD students with disabilities 

• CCD information about our student body can be found under Current Enrollment Statistics.
• CCD student completion and graduation information can be found under Student Success
• CCD student placement into careers information
• CCD student retention and transfer-out rates can be found within the College Navigator

The Law 

Community College of Denver is a state-system community college governed by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. Board Policy requires the College to comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Amendments of 1989 (PL 101 226 in Federal law). A copy of this law is on file in the Human Resources Office for your reference. The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program includes: 

Code of Conduct 

Use, being under the influence, manufacturing, possession, cultivating, distribution, purchase, or sale of alcohol and/or drugs (illegal and/or dangerous or controlled substance) and/or alcohol/drug paraphernalia while on college-owned or college-controlled property, and/or at any function authorized or supervised by the college and / or in state-owned or leased vehicles. 
 
Note: Although possession and use of marijuana consistent with the requirements of the Colorado Constitution is no longer a crime in the State of Colorado, the possession and use of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Consistent with federal law, including the Controlled Substances Act and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, the use and/or possession of marijuana continues to be prohibited while a student is on college-owned or college-controlled property, and/or any function authorized or supervised by the college and/or in state-owned or leased vehicles. 

Legal Sanctions 

There are legal sanctions for violations of the Code of Conduct. Any student convicted of the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, use, or abuse of illicit drugs or alcohol is subject to criminal penalties under local, state, or federal law. These  

penalties range in severity from a fine of $100 to $8,000,000 and/or imprisonment. The exact penalty assessed depends upon the nature and severity of the individual offense. 

College Penalties 

The College will issue sanctions against students who violate the Code of Conduct. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action under student disciplinary policies. Sanctions include, but are not limited to, probation, suspension or expulsion from the College or probation, suspension or termination of employment; and referral to authorities for prosecution, as appropriate. 

Health Risks 

Many health risks are associated with drug and alcohol abuse. Risks include: malnutrition, brain damage, heart disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, mental illness, death, low birth-weight babies, and babies with drug addictions. Personal relationships, family dynamics, and the ability to work and study are also at risk. 
 
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program information and counseling resources are through the Dean of Students Office and Human Resources. 

Illegal Substances 

A controlled substances schedule is on file in the Dean of Students Office (Room M2820). Illegally possessing, using, distributing, or manufacturing any narcotic, dangerous drug, or controlled substance as classified by federal, state, and local laws or appearing on campus while under the influence of any illegally-obtained narcotic, dangerous, or controlled substance is a crime and violation of the Student Code of Conduct. 
 
Amendment 64 Information 
In November 2012, Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 to the Colorado Constitution. This amendment changed Colorado law to allow people 21 or over to cultivate, consume and possess limited amounts of marijuana in private, not in public. In light of the public nature of our campuses, any marijuana use or possession on campus would run contrary to this restriction. This amendment does not alter existing policies at Arapahoe Community College prohibiting the possession, use, and distribution of marijuana by students, employees, and all visitors on College property. 

Referral Resources 

Referrals for counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, and re-entry programs are available through the Dean Student Programming, Activities, and Resource Center and Human Resources for employees. Individuals may also search online for private and community-based programs as well as telephone directory listings found under "Alcoholism Treatment" and "Drug Abuse Information and Treatment." For more information contact the Dean Student Programming, Activities, and Resource Center at 303.352.3165 or Human Resources at 303.352.3042. 

• Student Code of Conduct
• Drug Use and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program
• SBOCCE policies and procedures

Security Reporting

• How to Report a Crime: Our Auraria campus police force takes safety seriously and crimes can even be reported anonymously if necessary. The department provides a text-a-tip process (at 720.593.8477) for quicker reporting, as well as emergency towers and call button phones throughout the campus. 
• Keeping You and the Campus Secure: Our Auraria police department has a number of videos and other resources to keep you safe on campus. 
• Campus Law Enforcement | As part of a tri-institutional campus, Community College of Denver used the dedicated full-service police department of our joint Auraria Higher Education Center.  
• Report stalking, harassment, dating violence, and sexual assault | CCD has a coordinator who oversees all discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct complaints and a process for reporting such violations 
• Prevention of stalking, harassment, dating violence, and sexual assault | As part of a tri-institutional campus, CCD partners with the Phoenix Center to provide timely prevention training around the areas of stalking, harassment, dating violence, and sexual assault. 
• Counseling Options | CCD offers several counseling options including our Counseling Center and Auraria Phoenix Center.
• Emergency and Evacuation Procedures are made available on the web and in our classrooms.
• Crime Logs | As part of a tri-institutional campus, our crime logs are housed within our campus joint police department, AHEC Police Crime Logs.
• Timely Warnings | As part of a tri-institutional campus, our timely warning system is jointly operated by the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC). AHEC provides the definition and procedure for time warnings. As a member of our community, students and staff are automatically opted into this text and email system.
• Campus Safety
• Clery Act (Annual Security Reporting) 

• Legal Notices and Disclaimers 
• Notice of Non-Discrimination 
• How to Complain or Appeal at CCD 

• CCD’s academic programs
• Directory of all CCD faculty and instructors 
• CCD’s catalog and schedule of courses 
• Textbook costs 
• Learn who are the Departmental Chairs and Deans 

Constitution Day is observed each year on September 17. On December 8, 2004, Public Law 108-447 was enacted, requiring all federally funded schools to educate students about the significance of the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. Colorado is actively supporting this effort by promoting Constitution Day education for students across the state.

• CCD Votes 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 restricts the release of student information to the public without the consent of the student, except for directory information. Directory information includes name, number of credits currently taking or completed, dates of enrollment, major, degrees earned and honors earned. The Solomon Amendment requires institutions receiving federal funds to provide additional directory information that includes addresses and phone numbers of enrolled students to the US Military.  

Notification of Rights under FERPA can be found here 

If you are taking any Community College of Denver courses, and you have a complaint about your experience with Community College of Denver, you have two options:  

1. You can follow Community of College of Denver’s complaint or appeal process or you may contact the Colorado Department of Higher Education to file a complaint. You can also contact the Higher Learning Commission, which is Arapahoe Community College's accrediting agency. 
2. If you are residing outside of Colorado while attending Community College of Denver, in many cases, you can file a complaint in the state where you are residing. This list of state agencies will work with student complaints as part of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. Each state has a listed process and contact person for reviewing student complaints.  

Before exercising either of the above options, students should be aware that most, if not all, external complaint processes require the student to exhaust all of the institution’s internal complaint procedures prior to considering the review of a grievance. 

Colorado Promise: Two Free Years of College Expanded  

Beginning with tax year 2025, students who attend Colorado public institutions of higher education with adjusted gross incomes of $90,000 or less may be eligible for complete reimbursement of any out-of-pocket tuition and fees they pay for postsecondary education. The program expands on individual institutional promise programs and extends financial support to middle income Colorado residents.