Student Rights and Responsibilities

Other Policies

Health and Safety Policies

Smoking

The College maintains a smoke-free environment. Smoking is permitted outdoors except where prohibited.

Health Services

As a community-based institution, Florida Community College relies on health services provided within the community for students. Various health agencies are brought to each campus periodically to make their services available to students. Arrangements and coordination are handled by the student affairs offices and/or student activities offices.

AIDS Information

It is the policy of the College to maintain an appropriate balance between the rights of individuals with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) to obtain an education with the rights of students and employees to an environment in which they are protected from contracting the disease. In order to assist Florida Community College in responding to the medical, legal and ethical concerns raised by AIDS and/or AIDS-related issues, the College president has established procedures which address the education, safety and legal rights of students and employees.

The College will be flexible in its response to incidents of the disease, evaluating each occurrence in light of its general policy and the latest information available. A College environment committee shall meet on an as needed basis to:

1. determine whether students or employees with a communicable disease may pose an imminent risk to the College community and
2. determine what action is in the best interest of students or employees and the College.

All information obtained and reviewed by this committee will be treated as confidential.

Florida Community College has designated counselors on each campus and the assistant dean of student affairs on the North Campus, to serve as AIDS counselors, available to the student body and employees on a request basis. These individuals can answer questions and serve as resource people regarding the disease. The student affairs office on each campus can arrange an appointment. For information call 904.766.6607.

Emergencies and First Aid

The campus security officer should be contacted in situations requiring the rendering of first aid. In the case of emergencies involving students who have no physician on record, whose physician cannot be contacted or whose families do not reside in this area, students will be transported to the emergency room of a nearby hospital by private means of transportation of their choice or by the city rescue squad. Expenses incurred are the responsibility of students.

Accident Reporting

Any accident should be reported immediately to a security officer. Any driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to another, or property damage in any amount, must immediately notify a security officer who will contact the police for investigation and an accident report.

Occupational Education Safety

Students enrolling in associate in science, associate in applied science or continuing education industrial education programs are required to supply their own personal protection safety equipment, hand tools and tool belt or box by the third week of class. Personal protective safety equipment should comply with applicable industrial standards and hand tools should be of an industrial grade.

At the beginning of each term, faculty will provide students with shop safety rules and a list of required personal protection safety equipment and hand tool requirements and their approximate costs. Obtaining required equipment and observing prescribed safety rules are mandatory for continued enrollment in industrial education programs.

Sexual Assault

Florida Community College will not tolerate sexual assault in any form, including date and acquaintance sexual assault. Should probable cause be determined that campus regulations prohibiting sexual assault have been violated, disciplinary action will be pursued through the code of student conduct or other appropriate internal processes. Discipline may result in suspension or dismissal from the College.

Any student or employee reporting a sexual assault will be treated with respect and sensitivity. Contacts and conversations which transpire pursuant to this procedure will be held in confidence.

Student(s) charged with sexual assault can be prosecuted under the Florida Criminal Statutes and/or discipline by the code of student conduct. A decision by the criminal justice authorities not to prosecute does not preclude the College from pursuing disciplinary action.

Reporting and action taken by the College for sexual assault against a student or an employee will be limited to incidents occurring on College property or facilities, or at a College-sponsored function.

Complaint Procedures:

Individuals who believe they have been sexually assaulted and wish further information or assistance may contact the campus student success dean. Any person wishing to file a complaint may contact a campus security office.

Downtown Campus: 904.633.8390
Kent Campus: 904.381.3688
North Campus: 904.766.6608/6609
South Campus: 904.646.2357

All reported cases will be referred to the crime prevention coordinator.

Crime Prevention Coordinator, North Campus, Room A-145, 904.766.6659/904.632.3111

This office will discuss the matter with the student and make referrals as appropriate. The person reporting the incident may request to be kept anonymous. A report will be completed and forwarded to the director of equal access/equal opportunity. Situations requiring immediate administrative support will be referred to the campus dean of student success.

Campus Dean of Student Success Downtown Campus, Room 1097 904.632.8250

Campus Dean of Student Success Kent Campus, Room B-100 904.381.3443

Campus Dean of Student Success North Campus, Room E-132 904.766.6763

Campus Dean of Student Success South Campus, Room U-131 904.646.2009

Substance Abuse

Florida Community College is committed to enhancing a positive campus environment through Collegewide educational programs for all students, faculty and staff which relate to alcohol and drug abuse and to the College’s alcohol/drug information centers. The College also seeks to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, and city ordinances.

The illegal use of harmful and addictive chemical substances poses a threat to the educational environment. Thus, in accordance with the Drug Free Schools and Communication Act Amendments of 1989, it is necessary to inform the College community of the harmful and addictive potential associated with the use of drugs, the incompatibility of illegal drugs with the educational mission of Florida Community College and the consequences of the use, possession, manufacture or sale of such drugs.

The Florida Community College Board of Trustees Rules outline the accepted code of conduct for students and employees. This code of conduct prohibits:

1. any act or behavior on the part of students which tends to interfere with or otherwise disturb the orderly conduct, processes, functions and/or interests of the College, and
2. such acts or behaviors may include but are not limited to the consumption of alcoholic beverages on campus or at College functions, illegal use or possession of drugs or narcotics on campus or at College functions.

The College reserves the right to suspend, terminate or retroactively cancel the enrollment of students for disciplinary reasons. The College may also make referrals to legal authorities for appropriate action.

Information on the health risks of substance abuse and on criminal penalties is contained in information sent to students each year.

The department of student affairs can assist students with referral information to appropriate community resources in a confidential, professional manner. Counselors are available on all campuses to assist both day and evening students in obtaining information relating to referral to community agencies. All contacts related to substance abuse will be held in strict confidence.

Computing Policies

Software Piracy

Software piracy is a felony. People or companies convicted of illegally copying and using a computer software program or combination of programs are subject to a prison term of up to five years and fines up to $250,000. This is in addition to civil suits for damages and other relief that the offender may face. Anyone copying computer software that the College has purchased is violating the copyright law and is subject to the penalties described above.

Computing Facilities Policies and User Agreement

Florida Community College computing facilities are defined as any computer, network, peripheral, operating system, software, or any combination thereof owned, licensed by or under the control of Florida Community College.

A user of Florida Community College computing facilities will:

Recognize that Florida Community College computing facilities are intended to support the academic mission and administrative functions of the college and assume full responsibility for using these facilities in an effective, efficient, ethical, lawful and courteous manner.

Recognize that authorized Florida Community College systems personnel may, while performing routine operations or investigating system problems or complaints, have access to data and software stored in Florida Community College computing facilities, including electronic mail.

Recognize that Florida Community College disclaims responsibility for loss of data, time delay, system performance, software performance or any other damages arising from the use of Florida Community College computing facilities.

Understand that some systems at Florida Community College are operated under license agreements with IBM, Microsoft, Novell and others. Under these agreements, the systems may be used for instructional and research-related purposes only.

Take all necessary steps to protect the integrity of Florida Community College computing facilities. Specifically, users shall not share with others the access codes, account numbers, passwords or other authorization assigned to them. The user shall be responsible for all access and/or authorizations assigned and all activities occurring under these accesses/authorizations.

Respect the copyrights of all software and data available through Florida Community College computing facilities. Take reasonable steps to protect the integrity and privacy of the software and data available.

Use Florida Community College computing resources in a manner consistent with all Florida Community College general policies, rules and procedures regarding codes of conduct, academic integrity and the college environment.

Respect the policies established by the administrators of external networks such as those accessible through the Internet. The user shall also respect the policies established by the administrators of computing facilities at Florida Community College.

Respect the privacy of electronic mail and other user files transmitted and stored in Florida Community College computing facilities or at any other location accessible through a network.

Accept that a user ID or program may be terminated, or its priority may be altered if it is consuming excessive system resources, degrading system response or threatening system integrity.

Use only those facilities which are in the public domain, or for which they have obtained explicit authorization, at Florida Community College or any other location accessible through Florida Community College computing facilities.

Not use the Florida Community College computing facilities for conducting private business or for personal financial gain, that is not related to designated college programs or functions.

Not use Florida Community College computing facilities for any unauthorized or illegal purpose, such as creation or deliberate introduction of a computer virus, destruction or alteration of data owned by others, destruction or alteration of computing facilities, interference with legitimate access to computing facilities or harassment of users of such facilities at Florida Community College or elsewhere, unauthorized disruption of Florida Community College computing facilities, attempts to discover or alter passwords or to bypass security systems in Florida Community College computing facilities or in any other computing facility.

I understand that violation of these policies may result in temporary or permanent loss of my access to any or all Florida Community College computing facilities and other disciplinary actions as appropriate. I also understand that any use of Florida Community College facilities is not private and that data and/or transactions may be reviewed by system administrators as part of normal operations and that Florida Community College implies no privacy or secrecy for those using its computing facilities.

I further understand that by my acceptance of employment in any capacity with Florida Community College and/or registration for classes at Florida Community College and/or use of Florida Community College computing facilities that I have agreed to and entered into this agreement as it is incorporated into the applications for employment and admission.

Campus Policies

Children on Campus

To assist in maintaining the appropriate environment conducive to learning and to protect minors from injury, no children under age 16 will be allowed in instructional areas and no unsupervised children in non-instructional areas during scheduled classes or while testing except during College approved events.

Parents and/or guardians are expected to assist Florida Community College in maintaining a normal college environment that is conducive to learning. While visiting campus on short-term business, children should not be left unattended.

Every attempt should be made to arrange for appropriate child care at the Florida Community College child development centers or private child care sources.

Distribution of Leaflets and Posters

Students who want to distribute any kind of printed matter, such as posters, leaflets or flyers among the student body on campus must secure approval in advance. The student activities office will provide to students lists of certain rules governing the distribution of printed matter. The purpose of these rules is to keep the campus attractive and free of litter.

All posters, banners, showcards, etc. must be approved by the student activities office. All materials will be placed in those areas specified.

Student Travel

Trip approval and travel requests may be obtained through the student activities offices on each campus.

Trips that interfere with students’ classroom responsibilities are discouraged.

A faculty advisor will accompany the group or organization all approved trips.

Regulation Changes

The College reserves the right to change rules, regulations, policies and procedures at any time.

Parking and Traffic Regulations

Faculty members, staff and students may obtain valid parking decals that should be affixed to the motor vehicle which the individual operates, drives or parks on facilities of the college. Decals are available at each campus security office and in the Martin Center for College Services.

Students may park only in areas designated for student parking; parking in faculty, staff or visitor spaces is prohibited. Citations may be issued when a parking violation has occurred, which can include towing of the vehicle.

Parking Fee Waiver

If you do not use the Florida Community College parking facilities at any campus or center, you should obtain a parking fee waiver at any enrollment services office prior to registering for classes. Your parking fee waiver information will be entered into the system and parking fees will not be reflected in your registration fees. The deadline for applying for a parking fee waiver is the same as for the drop deadline. If you have any questions, please call your enrollment services office.

Pagers and Cell Phones

Students must set pagers, cell phones and other such devices to silent modes, or turn them off, while class is in session.