Rules, Regulations and Rights

Students Rights Policies

Student Bill of Rights

Florida Community College associate in arts graduates are guaranteed the following rights under the Statewide Articulation Agreement (State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.024):

1. admission to one of the nine state universities, except to limited access programs which have additional admission requirements,
2. acceptance of at least 60 credit hours by the state universities toward the baccalaureate degree,
3. adherence to university requirements and policies based on the catalog in effect at the time the student first entered a community college, provided the student maintains continuous enrollment,
4. transfer of equivalent courses under the Statewide Course Numbering System,
5. acceptance by the state universities of credit earned in accelerated programs (e.g., CLEP, AP, PEP, Dual Enrollment, Early Admission and International Baccalaureate),
6. no additional General Education Requirements,
7. advance knowledge of selection criteria for limited access programs and
8. equal opportunity with native university students to enter limited access programs.

Should any guarantee be denied, students have the right of appeal. Each state university and community college shall make available established appeal procedures through the respective articulation officers.

Student Records and Privacy

Pursuant to Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, students and their parents are advised of certain practices and procedures at Florida Community College which relate to student records.

Once students reach the age of 18 or are enrolled in a postsecondary program, parents no longer have any rights to student information under this act unless students give written consent to release the information to their parents or the parents provide evidence that students are dependents of the parents as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Under this act, students or parents (if eligible) will be accorded access to students’ records within a reasonable time after the submission of a written request to the custodian of that record. Suitable arrangements will be made by the College to permit records to be reviewed in the presence of a representative of the custodian of records. Either students or parents (if eligible) have the right to challenge the content of any record they believe to be inaccurate, misleading or in violation of their rights or otherwise inappropriate and to insert into the record any written explanation of any matter therein. The custodian of the records challenged shall conduct a hearing upon the matter at a reasonable time and place at which time students or parents (if eligible) may present any evidence they may have in support of the challenge. If a record is challenged, the custodian of the record shall make a decision at the conclusion of the hearing. This decision may be appealed by students or parents (if eligible) through established procedures to the student appeals review committee. Action by the College President on an appeal is final.

Students or parents (if eligible) must consent to the release of any student information other than directory information to any person or agency. This consent must be in writing, signed, dated and must specify the information to be released, the reason for release and the names of individuals to whom the information is to be released.

The following records are maintained in students’ files: application for admission, transcripts from other colleges, academic history records and general correspondence.

The following information about individual students is classified as “directory information” and will be released upon request to any person. Individual students or parents (if eligible) have a right to submit a request in writing to the custodian of student records that all or any part of the directory information NOT be released. The request to withhold directory information must be submitted annually.

1. name
2. address
3. major field of study
4. dates of attendance
5. degrees or awards received

Religious Observances

The College shall reasonably accommodate the religious observances, practices and beliefs of individual students in regard to admissions, class attendance and the scheduling of examinations and work assignments.

Students who have a concern regarding the College’s implementation and/or interpretation of this rule shall have the right to formalize that concern through the general student appeal process.

Procedure

1. It is the responsibility of students to notify instructors in writing in advance of absences to observe religious holy days in their own faith. Upon such reasonable notification, such absences shall be excused without penalty.
2. Students shall be responsible for material covered during the period of observance and shall be provided a reasonable time to complete make up assignments.
3. The College and its faculty, as appropriate, shall schedule major class assignments, major examinations and official ceremonies on other than major religious holy days whenever possible.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment as defined in District Board of Trustees Rule 6Hx7-1.3, Definitions, is hereby deemed to be discrimination on the basis of sex and is expressly prohibited by this rule. This prohibition shall apply to every facet of the College’s operation including but not limited to employment and student environments, which include peer harassment. Any violation hereof shall result in disciplinary action, as appropriate.

Definition — 6Hx7-1.3 Definitions — 1.3

Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favor, or other verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, whenever:

1. submission of such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or course progress,
2. submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment or course decisions affecting that individual, or
3. such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or educational experience, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work or educational environment.

Peer sexual harassment is defined as sexual harassment of a student or students by another student or group of students which creates a hostile environment.

Complaint Procedures

Individuals who feel that they have been sexually harassed under the above definition and wish further information or assistance in filing a complaint, may contact:

Director, Equal Access/Equal Opportunity,
Donald T. Martin Center for College Services, Room 249, 904.632.3221
  OR
Director of Human Resources,
Donald T. Martin Center for College Services, Room 249, 904.632.3254
  OR
Downtown Dean of Student Success, Room 1097, 904.633.8200/633.8201
Kent Dean of Student Success, Room B-100, 904.381.3449
North Dean of Student Success, Room E-132, 904.766.6763
South Dean of Student Success, Room U-131, 904.646.2009
OR
Any administrator that the complainant may select.

Equal Access — Equal Opportunity

Florida Community College is an equal access/ equal opportunity/affirmative action college in education and employment. The commitment of FCCJ’s District Board of Trustees and the College administration to equal opportunity extends to all facets of governance, operational procedures, instructional programs, student activities and services.

The admission and employment policies of the College provide equal access to educational services and equal opportunity for employment within the College.

The College is guided by the principle that no person who chooses to learn or work at FCCJ shall be treated differently because of age, race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, sex, marital status or disability.

Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Assistant to the President for Equal Access/Equal Opportunity, Florida Community College, Donald T. Martin Center for College Services, Room 249, 501 W. State St., Jacksonville, FL 32202. Or call 904.632.3221.

Inquiries or complaints regarding access to FCCJ programs, activities, facilities and/or employment practices for people with disabilities may be addressed to the Associate Vice President of Student Success and ADA Coordinator, Florida Community College, 501 W. State St., Jacksonville, FL 32202. Or call 904.632.5004 (voice) or 904.766.6766 (TDD).

Academic Freedom and Responsibility

In light of the stated philosophy of Florida Community College, we, the District Board of Trustees of Florida Community College, recognize that faculty shall have academic freedom to promote learning, in an educational environment free from unreasonable restraint.

1. As citizens of the United States, members of this academic community enjoy the same basic freedoms, rights and responsibilities as all other citizens of this nation.
2. As teachers, members of this academic community should experience those freedoms and exercise those responsibilities related to the educational process. In order for this to take place, teachers should be free to research, to publish findings in the spirit of free inquiry, and to exercise academic responsibility in the classroom in examining and discussing subjects in a spirit of freedom and with a sense of direction.

The administration shall ensure that academic freedom exists to provide a means by which academic due process, as distinguished from civil due process, may be implemented.