2017-2018 WKCTC Student Handbook

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West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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Table of Contents Message from the President ................................................................................................................ 5 History of West Kentucky Community and Technical College ......................................................... 6 Mission Statement .............................................................................................................................. 7 WKCTC Leadership ........................................................................................................................... 7 WKCTC Leadership Team.......................................................................................................... 7 WKCTC Board of Directors ....................................................................................................... 7 WKCTC Academic Leadership .................................................................................................. 8 WKCTC Directors & Managers .................................................................................................. 8 Accreditation Statement ..................................................................................................................... 8 Admission ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Applying for Admission .............................................................................................................. 9 Admission and Registration Procedures ..................................................................................... 9 Non-Degree/Non-Credential Students ...................................................................................... 10 High School Students ................................................................................................................ 10 Second Chance Students ........................................................................................................... 10 Transient/Visiting Students ....................................................................................................... 10 International Students ................................................................................................................ 11 Readmission after Two or More Years: Academic Bankruptcy ............................................... 11 Previous College Work ............................................................................................................. 11 Change of Program.................................................................................................................... 11 First Year Experience ....................................................................................................................... 12 Registration ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Registration for Currently Enrolled Students ............................................................................ 14 Registration for New Students .................................................................................................. 14 Course withdrawal methods ...................................................................................................... 14 Advising .................................................................................................................................... 14 Tuition and Charges.......................................................................................................................... 15 Mandatory Student Fee ............................................................................................................. 15 Charges for Customized Course Offerings ............................................................................... 15 Charges for Services.................................................................................................................. 15 Charges for Special Examination .............................................................................................. 16 Cancellation of Registration for Non-Payment of Charges ...................................................... 16 West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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Payment Plan Options ............................................................................................................... 16 Refunds...................................................................................................................................... 17 Timeframe for Tuition Refunds* .............................................................................................. 17 Financial Delinquency............................................................................................................... 18 Financial Aid .................................................................................................................................... 19 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 19 Student Eligibility and Application ........................................................................................... 19 Dual Enrollment/Consortium Agreements ................................................................................ 19 Federal Student Loans ............................................................................................................... 19 State Programs........................................................................................................................... 20 Statutory Scholarships (Waivers) for Kentucky Residents ....................................................... 20 KCTCS and College Scholarships for Kentucky Residents...................................................... 20 College Tuition Scholarships .................................................................................................... 20 Third Party Assistance Programs .............................................................................................. 20 Tax Credits ................................................................................................................................ 20 Satisfactory Academic Progress ................................................................................................ 21 Personal Financial Liability - Withdrawing or All “E”s ........................................................... 21 WKCTC Bookstore .......................................................................................................................... 22 Services for Students ........................................................................................................................ 23 Tutoring Center ......................................................................................................................... 23 Accessibility Services ............................................................................................................... 23 Career Services .......................................................................................................................... 23 TRIO Student Support Services ................................................................................................ 24 Ready to Work / Work and Learn ............................................................................................. 24 Diversity and Inclusion Office .................................................................................................. 25 Adult Education Services .......................................................................................................... 25 Happening Hour ........................................................................................................................ 26 Student Clubs & Organizations ................................................................................................. 26 Workforce Solutions ................................................................................................................. 26 Print Management Policy .......................................................................................................... 27 Library ....................................................................................................................................... 27 Cyber Cafe and Center Cafe...................................................................................................... 29 Campus Safety........................................................................................................................... 29 West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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TITLE IX—Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, & Misconduct ............................................. 29 Alcohol, Drugs and Weapons.................................................................................................... 29 Safety Notification Alert Program (SNAP) .............................................................................. 30 Vehicle Registration and Parking Regulations.......................................................................... 30 Voter Registration ..................................................................................................................... 30 Weather Policy .......................................................................................................................... 30 Academic Policies ............................................................................................................................ 32 Student Load ............................................................................................................................. 32 Grading System ......................................................................................................................... 32 Academic Probation, Academic Suspension, and Reinstatement ............................................. 34 Repeating a Course.................................................................................................................... 35 Final Exams ............................................................................................................................... 35 Dean’s List ................................................................................................................................ 35 Graduation Requirements .......................................................................................................... 36 Graduation With Honors ........................................................................................................... 36 Multiple Associate Degrees ...................................................................................................... 37 Campus Maps ................................................................................................................................... 38 Off-Campus Sites ...................................................................................................................... 39 KCTCS Code of Student Conduct .................................................................................................... 40 Behavioral/Nonacademic Violations Process ................................................................................... 29 Appeal of Suspension or Expulsion to the KCTCS Board of Regents ............................................. 30

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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Message from the President Congratulations on your decision to attend one of the best community colleges in the nation!

West Kentucky Community and Technical College not only offers traditional twoyear transfer Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees, but it also offers an Associate in Fine Arts degree, Associate in Applied Science degrees, diplomas, and certificates in several technical fields.

WKCTC is committed to providing high quality educational experiences, meeting the educational needs of the College community, serving as a full partner in business and workforce development, and contributing to the overall economic and social well-being of the region. As we continue to fulfill our vision of the College being recognized as a preeminent community college nationwide, our focus continues to be on access, retention, and student success.

The Aspen Institute has selected West Kentucky Community and Technical College as one of the Top 10 community colleges in the nation each of the four consecutive times it has awarded the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s community colleges. West Kentucky was named a top five community college and a “Finalist with Distinction” in 2011 and in 2015. WKCTC was recognized for outstanding achievement in the areas of student learning outcomes, degree and college completion, labor market success in students securing jobs after college, and minority and low-income student success. Our focus on improving student learning helps ensure our students graduate with the knowledge they need to secure jobs or transfer to four-year schools.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College also provides a great return on your investment. The White House’s recently released College Score Card, ranked WKCTC’s average net price in the low range compared to other community colleges in the nation. The report added that individuals who graduate with an associate degree will make on average almost $5,000 more a year than individuals who only have a high school diploma.

West Kentucky has a long history of helping students achieve their dream by providing an array of options to fit student needs and foster student success. Whatever you want to achieve, wherever you want to go, faculty and staff at West Kentucky Community and Technical College are dedicated to helping you get there!

Anton Reece, Ed.D. President/CEO West Kentucky Community and Technical College

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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History of West Kentucky Community and Technical College West Kentucky Community and Technical College is a powerful example of what a successful postsecondary institution must be in the 21st century. Our comprehensive college arose from the foundations of two remarkable institutions – Paducah Community College and West Kentucky Technical College.

West Kentucky Technical College was founded in 1909 by Dr. Dennis Henry Anderson as West Kentucky Industrial College - a training school for African American teachers. The first building was located at what is now 1400 H. C. Mathis Drive. West Kentucky Industrial College became a state-supported junior college in 1918.

In 1932, the citizens of Paducah and McCracken County embarked on a mission to provide quality education in a municipally supported junior college, known as Paducah Junior College (PJC). PJC was founded as a private, non-profit junior college in the former YMCA building at 707 Broadway. Reverend U. R. Bell was PJC’s first president.

Meanwhile in 1938, West Kentucky Industrial College’s teaching program merged with West Kentucky State College in Frankfort. The college became known as the West Kentucky Vocational School and more vocational training programs were added to the school’s offerings. M. H. Griffin was the school’s first president.

In 1967, PJC joined the University of Kentucky community college system becoming a “new” college – Paducah Community College. R. G. “Dean” Matheson retired and Dr. Donald J. Clemens becomes the new PCC president, overseeing the construction of the Learning Resource Center and the Student & Fine Arts Centers .

Over the years, there have been many changes in both colleges, including changes in the focus of academic programs, changes of college names, changes of college campus locations and change of governance. In 1997, the two colleges were united under one system umbrella when they joined the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) as a result of the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997.

Collaboration grew among the two colleges until an effort to consolidate into one seamless institution was born. In 2003, Dr. Barbara Veazey was inaugurated as the first president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College. In December 2011, WKCTC was named one of the top 5 community colleges in the nation by The Aspen Institute. In 2016, Dr. Anton R. Reece became the second president of WKCTC, succeeding the retiring Dr. Veazey.

Each year more than 9,000 students come to West Kentucky Community and Technical College seeking traditional two-year transfer associate degrees in arts, science, fine arts and applied science degrees, diplomas or certificates.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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Mission Statement The mission of West Kentucky Community and Technical College is to provide excellence in teaching and learning, promote student success and support economic development.

WKCTC Leadership WKCTC Leadership Team Dr. Anton Reece Dr. David Heflin Susan Graves Dr. Renea Akin Lee Emmons Dr. Belinda Dalton-Russell Kevin O’Neill Dr. Karen Hlinka Bridget Canter Janett Blythe

President/CEO Vice President, Academic Affairs Vice President, Business Affairs Interim Vice President, Enrollment Management Vice President, Institutional Advancement Vice President, Student Development Interim Vice President, Workforce/Economic Development Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs (interim) Director, Human Resources Director, Marketing & Public Relations

WKCTC Board of Directors The 10-member West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors is composed of seven community leaders appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The additional three members consist of elected representatives from WKCTC faculty, staff and student body.

Jason E. Jones Deborah Edmonds Larry Kelly Dr. Shirley Menendez Jennifer Smith Summer Holland Heather Coltharp Gavin Posey Vacant Vacant

Benton, KY Paducah, KY Bardwell, KY Paducah, KY Mayfield, KY Benton, KY Paducah, KY Paducah, KY

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Chair Vice-Chair Secretary

Staff Representative Faculty Representative Student Representative

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WKCTC Academic Leadership Carrie Hopper Stephanie Milliken Tammy Potter Britton Shurley Shari Gholson Paul Aho Julie Thompson

Dean, Allied Health and Personal Services Dean, Applied Technologies Dean, Business and Computer Related Technologies Dean, Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences Dean, Nursing Dean, Paducah School of Art and Design Dean, Science and Mathematics (interim)

WKCTC Directors & Managers Octavia Lawrence Trent Johnson Dr. Kay Combs Melissa Duncan Brian Heller Chevene Duncan-Herring Angel Rhodes Ruby Rodgers Dr. Lisa Stephenson Amy Sullivan Jess Puffenbarger Gail Bachuss Shelia Highfil Jennifer Strout Marlo Rhodes Steve Hearn David Wallace Lori Johnson Kristen Amaya

Director, Academic Advising & Assessment Director, Admissions Director, Adult Education Director, Challenger Learning Center Director, Clemens Fine Arts Center Director, Office of Diversity & Inclusion Director, Financial Aid Director, Information Technology Director, K-12 Partnerships Director, Library Services Registrar Director, TRIO Student Support Services Manager, Accessibility Services Manager, Business Operations Manager, Career Services Manager, External Education Manager, Safety & Security Manager, Transfer Services Coordinator, Veterans Services

Accreditation Statement West Kentucky Community and Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Associate Degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of West Kentucky Community and Technical College. The Commission is to be contact only if there is evidence that appears to support an institution’s significant noncompliance with a requirement or standard.

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Admission Applying for Admission A student enrolling at a KCTCS college for the first time must submit an application for admission. Students who are reentering a KCTCS college after being out for one or more semesters should contact the college admissions office to confirm the process for readmission. Students may be admitted to a KCTCS college as freshmen, as students with transfer credit from other institutions, as visiting students, or as non-degree students. KCTCS colleges admit students who have graduated from high school, who have earned a high school general equivalency diploma (GED), who are eligible to pursue a GED, or who are dually enrolled in high school and the college.

Admission and Registration Procedures Prospective students should contact the WKCTC Admissions Office and request an admission application or visit the college’s website to complete an online application. The full and proper name of the student and KCTCS student ID number must be used in registration and for all other official purposes. Applicants entering with transfer credit must have an official transcript from each college attended forwarded to the WKCTC Admissions Office.

Applicants should submit results of the American College Test® (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test® (SAT). Applicants who have not taken the ACT® must meet assessment requirements outlined in the Assessment & Placement Policy. For specific information regarding course placement, students should refer to the KCTCS Assessment and Placement Policy, which is available on the website at kctcs.edu, under “Students”, then “Academic Regulations”.

Admission to WKCTC does not guarantee admission to a specific program. Applicants seeking admission to an occupational/technical program at WKCTC should contact the WKCTC Admissions Office for information regarding any special requirements for program admission.

Applicants must submit an application for admission and supporting documents prior to the first day of classes of the term or session for which the student plans to enroll. Students should check with the WKCTC Admissions Office for registration/application deadlines.

A student who applies for admission to a KCTCS college will receive instructions to establish access to Student Self-Service. Student Self-Service allows a student access to many services such as registration, grades, class schedule, financial aid awards, bill payment and many other services.

All enrolled KCTCS students will be given access to a KCTCS- assigned email account. Official communication from faculty and student service personnel will be sent to this address. Students will continue to have access to this account as long as they are enrolled.

After receiving the completed application and other documents, the admission office will notify the applicant of his or her admission status. It is expected that all students will submit all required credentials in order to be eligible to register for classes. In the event this is not possible, students should contact the WKCTC Admissions Office for instructions or assistance. While provisions may be provided, students will not be permitted to register for subsequent semesters without all official required documents.

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Non-Degree/Non-Credential Students At the discretion of the institution, persons who desire instruction without wishing to earn a credential may be admitted as non-degree/non-credential students. These students are exempt from taking the assessment instrument; however, all students (including high school students) must meet individual pre-requisites such as those for entry-level English and mathematics courses.

Students may declare credential-seeking status after meeting regular admission requirements. The college may review and reclassify credential-seeking status in accordance with policies established at each individual college. Non-degree/non-credential students are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid programs.

Credit earned before a student meets admission requirements will be counted toward a credential.

High School Students The condition of graduation from high school may be waived for a student currently enrolled in high school subject to the following guidelines.

All applicants shall submit: • KCTCS application for admission by the appropriate deadline • The results of the ACT®, SAT® and/or ASSET® or COMPASS™ in accordance with KCTCS Assessment and Placement Policy.

• WKCTC may require additional information as part of the admission process.

In some cases, courses offered on the high school campus carry both high school and college credit. See your high school counselor for more information.

Second Chance Students A student who has previously attended a college or university – other than a college in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System– and who has less than an overall gradepoint average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in all course work attempted, may be considered for admission on probation provided the applicant demonstrates both of the following: • Has not enrolled at a college or university for at least one 16-week semester, and • Can demonstrate potential for success.

Students who have less than a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and have not sat out a 16-week semester may appeal their Admission Status. Please see the Admissions Office for further details.

Transient/Visiting Students A student may be admitted as a transient or visiting student. A transient or visiting student must submit a form completed by the student’s home college indicating that the student is eligible to enroll in that institution. Admission as a transient or visiting student is valid for one academic year.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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International Students WKCTC is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students. Consult the Office of Student Development for details.

Readmission after Two or More Years: Academic Bankruptcy A student who has been readmitted after having remained out of a KCTCS College for a period of two or more years and who has completed at least 12 credit hours in college-level courses with a grade point average of 2.0 or better after readmission, may choose to have his/her previous KCTCS course work removed from the computation of the grade point average. This procedure is commonly called “academic bankruptcy.”

A student who declares academic bankruptcy will continue to receive credit for those courses in which a grade of A, B, C, D, or P was earned prior to readmission without including those grades in the GPA computation. A student who has completed a credential and re-enrolls may not apply the academic bankruptcy rule to courses taken for the credential already completed.

Previous College Work An applicant who has previously attended an accredited college or university which awards degrees at the associate level or higher and who has an overall grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in all course work attempted will be accepted for admission. For specific information on course placement, applicants should refer to the KCTCS Assessment and Placement Policy, which is available on the website at kctcs.edu, under “Students”, then “Academic Regulations”.

An official transcript of all previous college work must be submitted. The Council on Postsecondary Education’s (CPE’s) general education transfer policy provides the basis for an institution’s policy on the acceptance of transfer credit. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers’ “Transfer Credit Practices of Educational Institutions” shall serve as a reference for admission of transfer students to an institution and for the acceptance of transfer credit.

WKCTC shall provide academic counseling concerning the transfer of credit to transferring students. WKCTC shall accept a student’s college credit earned when a course is taken both for high school credit and for college credit. Credit earned through a dual credit or dual enrollment arrangement shall be treated the same as credit earned in any other college course.

Degree credit work is recognized credit hour for credit hour if taken on the semester system.

Quarter hours are recognized as two-thirds (2/3) of a semester hour. Recognition of credit earned at a non-accredited college or university may be obtained by special subject examinations or may be validated upon the completion of 12 credit hours, excluding transitional courses, with a grade point average of at least 2.0.

Change of Program When students enroll at WKCTC, they select a program of study in which they wish to “major” or receive a credential. Students enrolled at WKCTC may request a program change. These students should seek appropriate advising and financial aid counseling.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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First Year Experience Effective for students beginning in the fall 2016 semester, FYE 105: Achieving Academic Success, one or more modular components, or equivalency will be mandatory for all new students seeking diplomas, seeking associate degrees, enrolled in developmental education courses, or listed with an undecided major. The purpose of this mandate is to support student success through a researched highimpact practice.

Definition of New Student A new student, for the purpose of this policy, is defined as any student who is enrolled for the first time and seeking a degree at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. Returning students are highly encouraged to take this course. Student who have earned dual credit are also considered new students.

Course Grading Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher.

Mandatory Students benefit most from this course at the start of their academic careers; therefore, they must successfully complete the course within the first semester. If students fail to enroll or to earn a “C” or higher within the first semester, an advising hold will be placed on their accounts specifying registration in FYE 105 for the next semester.

Exemptions for FYE 105 Course Select groups of students are exempt from the FYE 105 mandate due to special circumstances.

1. A student may be exempt if non-credential seeking.

2. A student may be exempt if already completed a diploma or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution.

3. A student may be exempt if transferring to West Kentucky Community and Technical College after having completed at least 12 general education credit hours from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

4. A student may be exempt if enrolled as a non-credential high school student, a noncredential Workforce student, or enrolled in only Adult Learning courses.

5. A student may be exempt if entered directly into a selective admissions program.

Note: Students who have earned college credit for GEN 100 through the high school dual credit program will not be exempt. Any special requests for exemption must be approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs or designee.

Equivalency must be approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Programs desiring to use one or more modular components in lieu of the 3-credit-hour course must seek approval from the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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Course Delivery Options Due to the importance of relationship building and social interaction within this course, it is highly recommended that students take this course in person rather than online.

Approved October 30, 2015

Revised June 14, 2016

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Revised June 14, 2017

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Registration Registration for Currently Enrolled Students Currently enrolled students must meet with their assigned academic advisors for self-enroll permission or to register. Students may locate the name of their advisor by logging in to their Student Center in PeopleSoft.

Registration for New Students Students must complete an application for admission and submit required placement assessment scores prior to registration. New student registration is held in the Advising Center. Registration continues in a class until the first class meeting.

Course withdrawal methods Students should fill out the online drop request form on the WKCTC Records Office page. • Contact Financial Aid to ensure you will not be required to pay back any awarded money. • Instructor permission is required after mid-session and you must forward their approval via your KCTCS Student e-mail account to WKCTCrecords@kctcs.edu.

Advising Every student at WKCTC has an academic advisor assigned to them. An advisor is someone who works with students to develop a plan to meet their academic and career goals and select a program that aligns with their interest and personality. Students can visit their advisor at any time during the semester, but they are required to meet with their advisor at least once each semester to review goals and plans for meeting them. Keep in mind, at WKCTC advising is a shared responsibility between students, staff, and faculty.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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Tuition and Charges Tuition and charges vary based on whether a student is a Kentucky resident, non-resident, or resident of a contiguous county of a contiguous state. Tuition and charges are on a per credit hour rate, including courses that are audited. For questions regarding residency status and guidelines, see Appendix A. All tuition and charges are payable in full prior to the beginning of classes for each session of the term unless prior arrangement has been made with the college business office. Consult the WKCTC Business Office for college-specific required payment dates. Provisions for partial or deferred payment instructions are available in the “Payment Plan Options” section below.

Tuition and charges are assessed at the time of registration and based upon a per credit hour rate for all KCTCS colleges regardless of whether the courses are taken during the day, evening, and/or on weekends, and regardless of whether the courses are taken for credit or audit purposes. Tuition rates vary based upon Kentucky resident or non-Kentucky resident status. Qualifying students living in out of state counties that are contiguous to Kentucky may qualify for a reduced tuition rate. Fractional credit hour tuition and charges are assessed for fractional credit offerings (i.e., a student taking ¼ credit hour course would be assessed ¼ rate of student with same residency taking a 1 credit hour course). Tuition and charges are refundable as per the “Refunds” section below.

Charges for services are non-refundable unless specifically stated as refundable. Consult with the WKCTC Business Office for specifics. The tuition charges for the 2017-2018 academic year were not available at the time of publication. Tuition charges are published at kctcs.edu as soon as they are available.

Mandatory Student Fee All students are charged a mandatory student fee of $8 per credit hour for all coursework taken at WKCTC. Effective 2017-2018, students enrolled in online courses pay a $20 credit hour fee.

Questions regarding fees may be directed to the WKCTC Business Office.

Charges for Customized Course Offerings Some courses, including courses created specifically upon request (credit or non-credit) may have additional charges. The additional charge, depending upon the requirements of developing and producing the customized course or program, will vary depending upon the length and content of the course or program offerings. All tuition and charges for customized courses are payable upon registration unless prior arrangements, including third party contracts, have been made with the offering college. Please contact the WKCTC Business Office for specifics.

Charges for Services Some charges for services may exist, including some individual program and/or special testing charges. General examples of these charges include, but are not limited to, the following: GED and ACT® testing, returned check charge and lost library book/video replacement charge. Charges will vary by service and are non-refundable. Contact the WKCTC Business Office for specifics.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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Charges for Special Examination WKCTC offers students institutionally developed special examinations to demonstrate mastery of course content and receive credit toward program requirements. Special examinations are course specific and charges are separate from regular tuition charges. Special examination charges are payable in full at the time the examination is scheduled. Contact the WKCTC Business Office for a listing of all charges.

Students who are enrolled in courses for which they elect to take a special examination in lieu of completing the course must officially withdraw from the course. The withdrawal date determines the status of the student’s assessment, refund, and grade for the enrollment period. All special examination credit is awarded using the test credit process. In such instances, a grade will not be awarded on the current term grade report. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for application requirements.

Cancellation of Registration for Non-Payment of Charges Students who have not paid their tuition and charges, arranged for a payment plan, or finalized financial aid on or before the college’s required payment date are subject to having their registration cancelled for non-payment. Consult the WKCTC Business Office for specific required payment dates.

Payment Plan Options In addition to the payment options of cash, check, or credit card, students may choose to participate in a KCTCS flexible tuition and charges payment plan (an option for students not planning to pay in full or having made an arrangement to pay in full) prior to the college’s required payment date.

To enroll in a payment plan, a student may login to his/her student self-service account (https://students.kctcs.edu) or contact the business office. Students have the option, depending on registration date, to enroll in one of three payment plan options listed below.

Plans Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

Service Charge Percent Down * None * 25% * 50%

Monthly Payments 4 3 2

Availability Advance Registration Only Through Advance Registration Through Regular Registration

.

Total payment of the balance of tuition and charges must be made by the required date. Contact the business office for specifics.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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Tuition and Charges

Refunds In order to receive a tuition refund, a student must officially withdraw within the refund period specified within this policy. Refunds for sessions different from those listed below are prorated according to the session in proportion to the traditional 16-week session. A session is defined as an enrollment period within an academic term. An academic term (fall, spring, or summer) may have a number of sessions running concurrently -- 16-, 8-, or 4-week.

KCTCS has partnered with Bankmobile, a financial services company focused solely on higher education, to process student refund payments. Students are required to choose from one of the following three options for receiving any refunds due them: 1) ACH transfer to a bank account of their choice, 2) Paper check mailed to the student address on file, 3) Refund to a OneAccount, an FDIC insured checking account offered by Bankmobile. For additional information, please visit www.kctcsdebitcard.vibeaccount.com.

Timeframe for Tuition Refunds* Session 100 percent 50 percent No Refund 16-week Within 7th day 8th - 29th days After 29th day 8-week Within 4th day 5th - 15th days After 15th day 6-week Within 3rd day 4th - 11th days After 11th day 5-week Within 2nd day 3rd – 9th days After 9th day 4-week Within 1st day 2nd - 7th days After 7th day * Calendar days of the session, including all Saturdays and Sundays, but excluding KCTCS recognized holidays.

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Financial Delinquency Any student who is delinquent in financial obligations to a college, or any division or organization of a college, shall not be allowed to register for future terms, receive transcripts, transfer credits to another institution, or graduate. Delinquent accounts are subject to KCTCS Business Procedure 7.4 Collection of Accounts Receivable and may be referred to an outside collection agency. Note: referred accounts are subject to collection charges in addition to the amount owed the college and are the responsibility of the delinquent party. The delinquency, if referred to a collection agency, is also subject to being listed with credit reporting agencies. Specific questions may be directed to the WKCTC Business Office.

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Financial Aid Overview WKCTC offers a complement of student financial aid, including local scholarships that are specific to an individual college or program. There is no charge to apply for student aid. Among the U.S. Department of Education Title IV programs offered are Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Federal Work Study, and federally supported Federal Direct Loan Program. The colleges also participate in state supported aid programs. Detailed information regarding student financial aid can be found on the WKCTC website.

Student Eligibility and Application To receive student financial aid from any program in which KCTCS participates requires meeting established eligibility criteria. A listing of specific criteria can be found on the WKCTC website. In general, you must have a demonstrated need as supported by a FAFSA and a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate If you are admitted “conditionally,” you may receive student aid for one semester only before your admission file must be complete.

You can apply for student aid electronically by using the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site, www.fafsa.ed.gov. Applying for student financial aid is free. You will need the latest income tax forms for you and your spouse or you and your parents (1040, 1040 A, 1040EZ, or 1040 Telefile).

If you did not file a tax return you will need documentation of all sources of income, taxed or untaxed.

It is recommended that all records and materials used in completing the application be saved. A percentage of all applicants are randomly selected for verification. If selected for verification, documentation must be provided in order to receive aid. Applying early insures consideration of your information for maximum funding and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon AFTER October 1 as possible.

For questions concerning the U.S. Department of Education Title IV programs, you may contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 1-800-730-8913 TDD for hearing impaired.

Dual Enrollment/Consortium Agreements In some instances, a student may take classes at different KCTCS colleges and wish the different enrollments to count toward total enrollment. In such instances, specific eligibility requirements apply. Please consult the WKCTC Financial Aid Office for criteria.

Federal Student Loans WKCTC participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program. You do not have to be eligible for other federal student aid to participate in this program. However, an application using the FAFSA is required. Please contact the WKCTC Financial Aid Office for specific information about loan requirements.

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State Programs The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) administers a number of state supported student financial aid programs. Among those offered are: College Access Program (CAP), Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) and KHEAA Early Childhood Development Scholarship. For the complete listing of aid program offerings, please see KHEAA’s website: www.kheaa.com.

Statutory Scholarships (Waivers) for Kentucky Residents KCTCS by virtue of state statute offers a number of tuition scholarships for Kentucky residents who meet specific eligibility criteria. Included in these are scholarships for: KCTCS Faculty and Staff; Kentucky residents age 65 or older; survivors of police officers and firefighters killed in duty; dependents of disabled police officers and firefighters; teachers; foster and adopted children; veterans; and children, step-children, and/ or orphans of veterans killed or disabled in action. A more detailed overview and eligibility requirements can be found on the KCTCS website.

KCTCS and College Scholarships for Kentucky Residents KCTCS also offers a number of tuition scholarships for Kentucky residents. These include: KCTCS Presidential Scholarship; John T. Smith Scholarship; Commonwealth Scholarship; Kentucky Colonels Better Life Scholarship; Martha C. Johnson Tuition Scholarship; Charles E. Cranmer- Liquid Transport, Inc. Scholarship; William Foster Tichenor Nursing Scholarship; and the Robert Stephen Weimann Tuition Scholarship for Non-Traditional Harlan County Residents.

For details and application information, please contact your local college’s student financial aid office. Additionally, each year, a number of individuals, organizations and companies make funding available for scholarships to various KCTCS colleges. The amount and criteria for these awards will vary. These scholarships are advertised when available, and eligible students may apply at that time. Information is available through the WKCTC Financial Aid Office.

College Tuition Scholarships Each local college offers tuition scholarships. Among these scholarships are: foundation scholarships to support enrollment management; need based; program-specific; KCTCS Employee Spouse/Dependents; and Securing Educational Excellence in Kentucky Scholarship (SEEK).

Please contact your local college for specifics.

Third Party Assistance Programs There are a wide number of outside agencies who offer educational assistance and other services to students. Included among them are Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Kentucky Office for the Blind. A more detailed listing and brief description of the programs they offer and contacts for each can be found on the KCTCS Website. Additionally, local social service agencies offer a variety of programs to assist students including: Kentucky Works (JOBS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Workforce Investment Act (WIA), and AmeriCorps.

Tax Credits The U.S. Government grants a tax credit for eligible persons and/or their dependent attending college filing a federal tax return. The tax credits are referred to as the HOPE Scholarship and Lifetime Learning tax credit. Please contact your personal tax advisor regarding your eligibility.

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Satisfactory Academic Progress Federal regulations mandate that a student receiving Federal Student Aid under Title IV programs must maintain satisfactory academic progress in his/her course of study regardless of whether or not student aid is awarded each semester. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is measured with the following standards: Qualitative (cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0 per semester), Quantitative (Maximum Time Frame of 150 percent of the credits for completion of their program), and Quantitative Percentage (Earned hours/Attempted must equal at least 67 percent).

If a student is suspended from Student Aid because his/her cumulative grade point average does not meet the minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) he/she may take additional classes without Student Aid (unless the student is academically suspended) to raise his/her GPA and, if successful, may be reinstated. If a student is on Academic Probation or Academic Suspension, he/she will automatically be on Student Aid Probation or Student Aid Suspension. If a student is reinstated from Academic Suspension by appeal or any means, he/she must appeal his/her Student Aid status separately to be considered for Student Aid reinstatement eligibility.

Students placed on student aid suspension and having unusual circumstances (illness, death in the family, accidents, etc.) and not making satisfactory academic progress have the right to appeal.

However, during the appeal process persons are responsible for their own expenses, i.e., tuition, books, supplies, etc.

Personal Financial Liability - Withdrawing or All “E”s Students who withdraw from college before the 60 percent point in the semester or who stop attending and therefore receive all “E”s may be financially liable to repay the student aid received.

Persons desiring to withdraw from college must do so according to their college’s withdrawal policy which can be found on the school’s website. A copy of the worksheet and examples used for this calculation can be requested the WKCTC Financial Aid Office.

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WKCTC Bookstore The WKCTC Bookstore is located in the Anderson Technical Building and provides not only textbooks and supplies for students, but also a variety of campus apparel - all of which are chargeable with financial aid. Regular bookstore hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The bookstore hours are extended during peak times at the beginning of each semester. Students may also contact the bookstore at (270) 534-3330.

Students must have a copy of their schedule when purchasing books; a photo ID is required if charging with financial aid.

Financial aid charge dates normally begin approximately one week prior to the first day of class and continue until one week after classes begin. Charges can only be made during the approved time period.

Notices about extended bookstore hours and financial aid charge dates are sent to students through their KCTCS e-mail account. The WKCTC Bookstore only stocks books for WKCTC classes.

Internet class texts can easily be purchased online and delivered directly to the student by visiting kctcs.bncollege.com.

Financial aid is accepted. The WKCTC Bookstore is operated by Barnes and Noble.

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Services for Students Tutoring Center Tutors in the Tutoring Center work with students to improve their understanding of classes and assignments. Tutors also help students strategize for upcoming tests and offer study tips. Tutoring services are provided in computer information services, mathematics, reading comprehension, science, writing and more. These services are free to all WKCTC students taking any WKCTC or KCTCS class.

Accessibility Services The Accessibility Services Office at West Kentucky Community and Technical College is committed to providing students with disabilities with a positive environment focusing on student ability rather than disability. The Accessibility Services Office strives to foster success in all academic environments at WKCTC and to support equal access as well as promoting campus-wide diversity.

Career Services WKCTC Career Services is pleased to offer WKCTC students assistance in major and career exploration, job and internship searches, resume and cover letter education, and interviewing skills.

Career Services can help students explore career options that fit their personality, talents and skills. 16 Personalities is a free personality test that can assist students in self-assessment. For those students who need a more in depth personality evaluation, the Career Services Manager can arrange other assessments.

O*Net (https://www.onetonline.org/) and The Occupational Outlook Handbook (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/) are online resources that can be used by students to explore careers, education and training, pay, and outlook for a variety of careers.

WKCTC provides students and alumni with access to a free online career services manager named Pathway. Students and alumni can register on Pathway, search job listings, and post their resume for employers to review.

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TRIO Student Support Services The TRIO (Student Support Services) program is a federally funded program providing the needed services designed to help qualifying students succeed in college. The TRIO staff is committed to helping students stay enrolled, earn good grades and graduate or transfer to a four-year college. To qualify, students must be first generation, in targeted income range, and/or have a documented disability according to regulations set by Department of Education.

TRIO Services include: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Academic, personal, and career counseling Orientation to college requirements Assistance with Financial Aid and transfer applications Tutoring Intervention counseling for students to improve classroom performance Additional attention for students who are underprepared, nontraditional, or with physical or learning disabilities Workshops in financial literacy, study skills, career planning and transfer process Personal mentoring and guidance Computer and printing access Individual educational plans based on academic strengths and weaknesses Tours and meetings with campus instructors at regional four-year colleges for transfer students Admission to cultural events on campus

Ready to Work / Work and Learn Ready to Work and Work and Learn are programs designed to assist low-income parents pursuing a GED or attending college classes at WKCTC. Both programs assist students in meeting their KTAP/TANF work requirement through a combination of school and paid work study (on campus and off campus). Services provided to students include referrals for transportation, counseling, tutoring, childcare and other resources to assist them while pursuing their educational goals.

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Diversity and Inclusion Office WKCTC Diversity and Inclusion Office is committed to valuing and fostering a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for all students, staff, and faculty and community members. WKCTC strive to promote respect for and appreciation of differences in race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, gender, gender identity and expression, age and national origin. WKCTC provide resources and support to increase educational opportunities, programs, and services with efforts to address diverse student populations promoting student success.

Terminology • •

Diversity is range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs.

Inclusion is involvement and empowerment where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized. This requires active, intentional, and continual engagement with diversity in the curriculum, the classroom, co-curricular activities, social, cultural, and intellectual communities and any places where people might connect.

For more information, please contact Chevene Duncan-Herring, Director of Diversity & Inclusion located in Anderson Technical Building Room 100, (270) 534-3209, chevene.duncanherring@kctcs.edu

Adult Education Services The Adult Learning Center located in the Anderson Technical Building, Room 111 offers a variety of free services including GED preparation, GED Official Practice Test (OPT), and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Individuals who have not earned a high school diploma may prepare to take the General Educational Development (GED) Test that is given two times a month generally the second and fourth Wednesdays.

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Happening Hour Happening Hour takes place on Mondays from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. It is a time set aside for students to participate in activities and events at WKCTC. The Student Activities Office collaborates with many departments, organizations and agencies to provide a variety of entertaining Happening Hour events including competitions, talent showcasing, educational opportunities, and cultural experiences. Such events are intended to enhance the lives of students at WKCTC. Each month during Happening Hour there is a Student Government Association (SGA) meeting and a Club Day. The SGA meetings require having a representative from each campus organization to maintain communication between the organizations; therefore, no other club meetings should be scheduled during SGA meeting times. Club Day provides clubs and organizations a regular time to meet, but they may meet at other times as well. There are events and activities scheduled during each Happening Hour in both fall and spring semesters. To view the schedule of Happening Hour events check the college Web site under “Student Life� or go to or the message boards located throughout the campus.

Student Clubs & Organizations Student activities allow students to become active community leaders, increase college spirit, and explore potential. Students can connect and form long-lasting relationships while gaining career experience, transferable skills, and knowledge. Becoming involved in student clubs and organizations promotes a sense of community and provides a high quality of life. Students are able to develop interpersonal skills, values, ethics, and a sense of belonging.

Guided by the Student Government Association, each club has a faculty or staff advisor. Student club organizations focus on performing arts, leadership, law, creative thinking, volunteerism, physical health, political, or special interests.

Workforce Solutions Workforce Solutions exists to provide non-credit and credit, general and customized training, assessments, facilitation, consulting and coaching for existing and new businesses and industries to promote economic development in the Purchase Area of western Kentucky. Workforce Solutions provides assistance to companies to identify and develop training to help them meet their workforce needs. Workforce Solutions can coordinate all aspects of the training: location, equipment, curriculum, materials, facilitators, etc. Consulting, assessment, and facilitation is also available. Workforce Solutions provides qualified, experienced professionals to meet an organization’s needs.

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Print Management Policy Enrolled students are given a printing account of 400 free black/white type print pages at the beginning of each semester. Students may print in color at the Grisham Lab in Rosenthal Hall at a charge of 20 cents per page. Each color page is deducted from the student’s account at the rate of four black and white pages.

Any balance left in the account at the end of each semester will “not” be reimbursed. Students who go over their printing allowance may purchase vouchers for additional pages from the Business Office at the Anderson building. Additional pages may be purchased in the following increments: Voucher increments of: $ 1.00 (20 pages) $ 5.00 (100 pages) Students must enter their KCTCS student login information to release a print job. When the account drops below $2.50, a message displays notifying the student that additional pages should be purchased. Students may not transfer any portion of their print account to another student’s print account.

Community users are allowed to print 10 pages per day.

Library The library is located on the second floor of the Matheson Learning Resource Center (MLC), and offers WKCTC students, faculty and staff a full range of materials and technology to meet their academic and personal needs. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., and Fridays 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters. (Closed on weekends). Check our website for special hours and closures: from the main WKCTC website, choose “Academics” at the top, then “Library” on the left menu.

At the library, you will find: • • • • • •

Books – over 20,000 physical and more than 130,000 electronic (eBooks) available for checkout.

Special Collections - historical materials significant to the Paducah and Western Kentucky area, as well as yearbooks and other items from our college.

Popular and Young Adult collections - current, bestselling fiction and nonfiction titles for pleasure reading.

DVDs – Classic films, Academy Award winners, family videos and cartoons, documentaries, and educational videos.

Children’s collection – Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and other award winners.

Audiobooks – Hear stories come to life at home or on the road with books on CD.

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Library (continued) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• •

• • •

Book drops - available downstairs at MLC and the Allied Health Building.

Need to keep items longer? Renew online, http://opac.kctcs.edu/vwebv/login or call the library at 270-534-3197.

Computer labs – 32 computers offer Internet access, black and white printing, and Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.

Headphones at each computer station.

Need a thumb drive to save your files? Ask our staff at the circulation desk.

Wi-Fi, wireless printing, and power-up stations for personal devices.

Microfilm reader/printer - view The Paducah Sun newspaper from 1879 to the present.

Kindles and calculators available for checkout.

FREE scanners, printing, and fax services.

Copier (15 cents per copy).

Articles – some print journals and magazines available in the library, and thousands of journals and articles available through our online research databases: Gale, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and Kentucky Virtual Library.

Use Primo search box on the library website to search databases and the library’s catalog of books and videos - all at once. Or, choose “Find Resources” to search a particular database.

Films on Demand - streaming collection of more than 44,000 videos.

Naxos Music Library – make your own playlists from a live streaming music collection!

Library Guides – online pages that feature resources in all main subject areas. Start here to begin your research in a particular program or course, and see recommended databases, books, articles, and more.

Can’t find it at the Library? Use our FREE Interlibrary Loan service. We can request your book or journal article from any of the other academic or public libraries across the state of Kentucky. Request your items at our circulation desk at the library, or use our convenient online Interlibrary Loan request form: https://secure.westkentucky.kctcs.edu/illrequest FREE Coffee Mondays! Enjoy a free cup every Monday from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters.

Events – hear presentations on various topics from authors, poets, as well as students, faculty, and community members throughout the year. All events are free, and we often have free refreshments! Visit our Library Events page on our website, see events on the WKCTC Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter, @WKCTC_Library.

Use our resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from any computer! If you haven’t already logged in, off-campus users will be prompted to log in with a KCTCS user name and password (the same one used to log in to computers on campus or when using Blackboard).

Need more help? Ask a librarian online: https://secure.westkentucky.kctcs.edu/asklibrarian/ Visit our website, https://westkentucky.kctcs.edu/Academics/Library/index.aspx (From www.westkentucky.kctcs.edu, choose Academics, then Library). Or call 270-5343197.

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Cyber Cafe and Center Cafe The Cyber Cafe is located on the first floor of the Emerging Technology Center. Drop in and choose from a wide variety of menu items. Cyber Cafe hours are 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Daily menus for the Wi-Fi Grill.

The Center Cafe is located in the Student Center in the Clemens Building. Center Cafe hours are 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Kitchen Café is located in Paducah School of Art and Design’s 2D and Graphic Design building at 905 Harrison Street in Paducah. Kitchen Café hours are 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Hours may vary during class breaks and summer months.

Campus Safety In compliance with federal and state regulations, the College makes available to all prospective students, current students, and employees an annual security report containing programs that promote campus safety and campus crime statistics and policies. A copy of this report may be requested in the Security Office or viewed on the WKCTC website.

TITLE IX—Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, & Misconduct Discrimination/Harassment Discrimination or harassment complaints should be directed to the Title IX Compliance Officer for resolution pursuant to the KCTCS Code of Student Conduct.

Sexual Misconduct Sexual misconduct matters should be directed to the Title IX Compliance Officer to be handled in accordance with the KCTCS Sexual Misconduct Procedure. Any responsible employee who receives information related to sexual misconduct is required to report it to the Title IX Compliance Officer.

Chevene Duncan-Herring Title IX Compliance Officer Anderson Technical Building, Room 100 (270) 534-3209 chevene.duncan-herring@kctcs.edu Alcohol, Drugs and Weapons Alcohol, illegal drugs and weapons are prohibited on campus.

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Safety Notification Alert Program (SNAP) The emergency alert system on the campus is known as the Safety Notification Alert Process (SNAP).

SNAP is activated when there is an emergency on campus that warrants notification to faculty, staff and students of a dangerous situation, including the delaying or closing of the College due to inclement weather.

When SNAP is activated, an alert message is sent to all faculty/staff office computers and to faculty/staff office phones. Additionally, certain computers in computer labs receive the alert. Anyone who has opted to have a text message alert sent to their cell phone also receives the alert message.

Vehicle Registration and Parking Regulations Students must register any vehicle that is driven on campus. Parking tags should be obtained for all vehicles through the Business Office in the Anderson Technical Building, Room 127. Students must bring in the license plate number, the year, make and model of their vehicle. There is no charge for parking tags.

Citations are issued for parking in restricted areas – handicapped zones, fire lanes and areas that are not marked with lines on both sides of the parking space. Repeat violators are towed at the expense of the vehicle operator.

Voter Registration Students interested in obtaining a voter registration form should visit elect.ky.gov/registertovote.

Weather Policy It is college policy to remain open and conduct classes according to the regular class schedule except under extreme weather conditions. In the event of extreme weather, classes may be delayed or cancelled.

The college president makes the decision when severe weather or other emergencies might require a closing, delayed opening, suspension, or interruption of regularly scheduled work or class hours. The president consults with maintenance and operations, the crisis team, and the president’s leadership team to determine the circumstances of the college closing or other modifications to normal work hours.

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Decisions regarding inclement weather are made as quickly as possible and with everyone’s best interests in mind. However, while every effort is taken to quickly examine road conditions and weather data for our entire service area, we must also encourage your personal responsibility to keep yourself safe. To that end, if the college remains open or operates on a delayed schedule, it is ultimately your own assessment and final decision about whether roads are safe in your area.

If road conditions are poor in the early morning but are expected to improve later in the day, the college may delay the beginning of classes. Please visit http://westkentucky.kctcs.edu/Student_Life/Weather.aspx for the complete delayed schedule.

In the event that the delayed schedule is in effect and the weather situation worsens, the college reserves the right to change the schedule to a “closed” status. If this change in schedule is deemed necessary, the decision will be posted by as soon as possible. During the delayed schedule, evening classes offered in Paducah and at off-campus sites in Ballard, Graves and Marshall counties will be held as scheduled unless cancellation is announced. The college will make every effort to make announcements on evening class cancellations by 3:00 p.m.

If there is inclement weather and no announcement about the college is made, you should assume that classes will meet as scheduled. In the event the college uses a delayed schedule or cancels classes, every reasonable effort will be made to post an announcement to the college switchboard (270-554-9200) and on the college home page. Text messages will also be sent to mobile phones of students, staff, and faculty who have enrolled in the Safety Notification Alert Process (SNAP) at westkentucky.kctcs.edu/Student_Life/Security/Get_SNAP .

The college will also contact local radio and television stations listed below.

WPSD-TV, Paducah NBC wpsdtv.com WKYQ, Paducah - 93.3 FM wkyq.com WKYX, Paducah - 94.3 FM wkyx.com WDDJ, Paducah - 96.9 FM electric969.com WREZ, Paducah - 105.5 FM 1055thecat.com WMOK, Paducah - 920 AM WDXR, Paducah - 1450 AM WPAD, Paducah - 1560 AM WCBL, Benton - 99.1 FM wcblradio.com WLLE, Mayfield - 94.7 FM willieradio.com WKMS, Murray - 91.3 FM or 92.1 FM wkms.org

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Academic Policies Student Load Full-time student academic status for the fall and spring term is 12 credit hours. Full-time student academic status for the summer term is 6 credit hours.

The maximum load to be carried during any semester by a student (including residence, correspondence, and extension courses) is 19 credit hours or the number of hours specified in the curriculum for the particular semester, whichever is larger.

A student who has attained a grade-point average of 3.0 on a load of at least 15 credit hours for the preceding semester may be permitted by the college president (or designee) to carry a maximum of three additional credit hours, provided the total is not in excess of 22 credit hours for the semester.

Normally, the maximum course load (including residence, correspondence, and extension courses) shall be four credit hours for the four-week intersession, six hours for the five-week session, seven credit hours in a six-week session, or 10 credit hours in the eight-week summer session. A student who has attained a grade point average of 3.0 may be granted permission by the college president (or designee) to carry a maximum of five hours in a four-week session, seven hours in the 5-week session, eight hours in a six-week session, 12 hours in an eight-week session, and fifteen hours in the twelve-week session.

A student on academic probation shall not take more than 15 credit hours in a semester, three credit hours in a four-week intersession, four hours in the five-week session, six credit hours in a sixweek summer session, seven credit hours in an eight-week summer session and nine hours in the twelve-week session.

A student may be registered simultaneously at a KCTCS college and at another institution only with the approval of the college president (or designee), the credit hours obtained at the other institution being considered a part of the student’s maximum load. If the simultaneous registration has not been authorized, the transfer of credit from the other institution may be denied.

Grading System The grading system uses a series of letters, to which are assigned grade point values. The system is based neither on an absolute numerical system nor on a distribution curve, but on the following descriptions: A: represents exceptionally high achievement. It is valued at four grade points for each credit hour in non-remedial and non-developmental courses.

B: represents high achievement. It is valued at three grade points for each credit hour in nonremedial and non-developmental courses.

C: represents satisfactory achievement. It is valued at two grade points for each credit hour in nonremedial and non-developmental courses.

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D: represents the minimum achievement for credit. It is valued at one grade point for each credit hour in non-remedial and non-developmental courses.

E: represents unsatisfactory achievement and indicates failure in the course. It is valued at zero credit hours and zero grade points in non-remedial and non-developmental courses. Credit may be obtained by repeating the entire course.

F: represents unsatisfactory achievement in a course taken on a Pass-Fail basis. It has no value in computing the grade point average. Credit may only be obtained by repeating the entire course.

This grade may be used for developmental courses.

AU (Audit): has no value in computing grade-point average. A student who has been admitted to the college may elect to enroll in a course(s) as an auditor, except in selective admissions programs. Auditing courses in a selective admissions program requires admission to the program and availability of space in the courses. With few exceptions, any change from audit to credit by a student fully admitted to a college must be accomplished by the last date to enter a class and any change from credit to audit must be made by mid-term of the semester or session in which the student is enrolled. An audited class may be taken for credit at a later date. Anyone who desires to audit a class must be admitted to the college and officially registered for the course.

I: means that part of the work of the course remains unfinished. It shall be given only when there is a reasonable possibility that a passing grade will result from completion of the work. The instructor and student will discuss the requirements for completion of course with the time limit for completion not to exceed a maximum of one year; failure to do so will result in an automatic change of grade from I to E. Each college shall maintain a record of incomplete grades recorded in courses of that college. This record, completed by the instructor at the time the I grade is reported, shall include: (1) the name and number of the student, (2) the 70-course number and hours of credit, (3) semester or session and year of enrollment, (4) signature of the instructor, (5) a brief statement of the reason(s) for recording the incomplete grade, and (6) an adequate guide for removal of the incomplete grade. In the instructor’s absence, the division chairperson (or designee), shall forward to the college president (or designee) the appropriate letter grade to replace the incomplete grade.

W: represents a withdrawal from class without completing course requirements. A student may officially withdraw from any class up to and including the date of mid-term with a W grade. After the date of midterm and through the last class of the semester or session, any student may officially request to withdraw from a course and receive a W which may be given at the discretion of the instructor. Each instructor shall state on the first or second class meeting the factors to be used in determining if a student will be allowed to withdraw during the discretionary period. An instructor shall not assign a student a W for a class unless the student has officially withdrawn from that class in a manner prescribed by the college. The grade of W may be assigned by the College Appeals Board in cases involving a violation of student academic rights or for academic offenses.

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P: represents a satisfactory grade in a course taken on a Pass-Fail basis. The student who receives a P in a course shall be eligible to continue into the next sequential course(s). The grade of P may be assigned by the College Appeals Board in cases involving a violation of student academic rights. It has no value in computing the grade point average. This grade may be used for developmental courses.

MP: represents Making Progress and may be assigned only for developmental courses and means that the student has made significant progress but needs and deserves more time to achieve a passing grade. The student should re-enroll in the course in order to continue advancement to the level of competence set for the course. Grades may be earned following re-enrollment for developmental courses. The grade of MP has no value in computing grade point average.

Pass/Fail: may be selected for a maximum of two elective courses, subject to certain restrictions, by students with at least 30 credit hours and not on academic probation. Courses with these grades can count toward graduation but are not used in calculating grade-point standing. Courses taken on a pass-fail basis shall be limited to those considered as elective in the student’s program, and such other courses or types of courses as might be specifically approved. Prerequisites for such courses may be ignored at the student’s own hazard. The student is expected to participate fully in the course and take all examinations as though the student were enrolled on a regular basis. Students may not change from a pass-fail basis nor from a regular basis to a pass-fail basis after the last date for entering an organized class. Courses offered only on a pass-fail basis, remedial or developmental, or taken by special examination, shall not be included in the maximum number of elective courses which a student may take under these provisions Changing Grades: A grade once reported shall not be changed except when the instructor states in writing that an error has been made. The grade change must be submitted by the end of the following semester or session or, in exceptional cases, at the discretion of the president (or designee). However, each respective College Appeals Board may change a grade to P or W in the case of a violation of student academic rights or to a W in the case of an academic offense.

Grade-Point Average (GPA): The GPA on the KCTCS transcript is derived from all courses taken at KCTCS institutions. The grade-point average is the ratio of the total grade points earned to the total credit hours attempted excluding courses taken on a pass/fail basis and courses with grades of W or I. Total grade points are derived by multiplying the number of credit hours for the course by the number of grade points assigned to the grade earned: A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D =1, E = 0.

Reporting Final Grades: The final grades for a course shall be filed with the office of the college president (or designee) by such date as determined by the academic calendar.

Academic Probation, Academic Suspension, and Reinstatement Academic Probation: A student earning a cumulative grade point average below a 2.0 at the end of a term shall be placed on academic probation. A student shall be removed from academic probation by earning at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

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Academic Suspension (Dismissal): If a student is placed on academic probation for two consecutive terms (which is noted on the transcript as “subject to dismissal” the second time) and does not earn either a cumulative GPA or a term GPA of at least a 2.0 in the third term, the student shall be academically suspended. Non-enrollment has no effect on probation status. The president (or designee) may grant an exception based upon an individual’s case. A student on academic suspension may not enroll in courses which count toward a KCTCS degree.

Reinstatement: A student who has been academically suspended may be reinstated by the president (or designee) after remaining out of the college for at least one 16-week semester and providing evidence of ability to perform at the level required. A student who has been academically suspended shall, upon reinstatement, be placed on academic probation and be subject to academic suspension if the student has failed to earn a current term GPA of 2.0 during the first term of reinstatement. Upon a second suspension, a student may be reinstated by the president (or designee) after remaining out of the college for at least two 16-week semesters and providing evidence of ability to perform at the level required.

Repeating a Course A student may repeat a course for the purpose of improving a grade. The course must be repeated with the same grade option as the original enrollment in the course. The highest grade earned in a completed course shall constitute the official grade for the course and will be the only grade included within the cumulative GPA. Credit shall count only once for a KCTCS credential. If a student has been dropped from an occupation or technical program, course enrollment may be dependent upon readmission to the program. After a student has completed the same course twice, a division chair (or designee) in consultation with the instructor may refuse to approve a third registration in the same course, including those offered by correspondence, extension, and distance learning technology. Subject to the approval of the division chair (or designee), a student may receive approval for a substitution of comparable courses (e.g. MAT 150 may be taken as a repeat option for MA 109 and vice versa.). NOTE: A parent course cannot be repeated using modules.

Students who have received passing grade in a parent course are not eligible to enroll in any module of that parent course.

Final Exams Any student with more than two exams scheduled on one day as described in the college’s final exam schedule shall be entitled to have one of those exams rescheduled. The student must submit a petition for rescheduling in writing to the instructor no later than one week prior to the last class meeting.

Dean’s List The Dean’s List recognizes the academic excellence of students who have earned an overall semester GPA of 3.5 or higher in courses numbered 100 or above. Honorary certificates of merit are generally awarded to students who have achieved this distinction.

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Graduation Requirements For the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Fine Arts, and Associate in Applied Science degrees, regardless of the time the student has attended the college, at least 25 percent of the approved curriculum for any degree must be completed at the student’s home college. A student’s home college will grant the certificate and diploma credentials from its approved program inventory when a minimum of 25 percent of the required coursework has been completed within KCTCS. Students seeking Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Fine Arts, or Associate in Applied Science degrees or Diplomas must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in order to be eligible for graduation. To be eligible for a certificate, a student must satisfactorily complete an approved curriculum with a grade point average of at least 2.0 in the courses required for the certificate.

In order to be eligible to receive KCTCS credentials, students must satisfactorily complete the minimum number of credits required for that credential, including the general education requirements as specified in the KCTCS Board of Regents Policies 4.11 and 4.12 and program requirements, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and complete the college’s application for graduation within the posted deadline for the term. In order to be eligible for: • Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Fine Arts, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in Applied Technology degrees, students must satisfactorily complete 60 credits, including the general education requirements as specified in the KCTCS Board of Regents Policies 4.11 and 4.12 and program requirements, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.

• Diplomas, student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 36 hours including the general education requirements as specified by the KCTCS Board of Regents Policies 4.11 and 4.12 and program requirements, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.

• Certificates, students must satisfactorily complete an approved curriculum with a grade point average of at least 2.0 in the courses required for the certificate.

• Course substitutions may be made by the college president (or designee) on an individual basis with the advice of the appropriate division chairperson. Specific information about the requirements for these programs is available below in the Academic Credentials Awarded section.

Graduation with Honors Students who have completed at least 45 credit hours of work toward degree completion or 30 credit hours of work toward diploma completion in the KCTCS colleges shall be graduated “With High Distinction” if they attain a grade-point average of 3.60 or higher on all work attempted.

Students who have completed at least 45 credit hours of work toward degree completion or 30 credit hours of work toward diploma completion in the KCTCS colleges shall be graduated “With Distinction” if they attain a GPA of 3.40-3.59 on all work attempted.

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Multiple Associate Degrees A student will be eligible for an additional degree when the student has completed the requirements of the second curriculum including a minimum of six credit hours relevant to the second degree and beyond the requirements for the first degree. In no case will a degree be granted for the completion of a second option in a program. The completion of a second option, however, will be recorded on the transcript.

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Campus Maps

1. Waller Hall (WAL) 2. Rosenthal Hall (ROS) 3. Carson Hall (CAR) 4. Carson Carriage House 5. Haws Gymnasium (GYM) 6. Guard Building 7. Maintenance Garage 8. Marshall Nemer Building

9. Clemens Student Center/Fine Arts Building (Theatre) (SCA) 10. Matheson Learning Resource Center (MLC) 11. Crounse Hall (CRO) 12. Crisp Building/Challenger Learning Center (CLC) 13. Allied Health Building (AHB) 14. Emerging Technology Center (ETC) 15. Anderson Technical Building (ATB) 16. WKCTC Campus Bookstore

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Off-Campus Sites Paducah School of Art & Design 905 Harrison Street Paducah, KY 42001 Skilled Craft Training Center 70 Hickory Road Hickory, KY 42051 Purchase Training Center 234 Pioneer Industrial Drive Mayfield, KY 42066

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

KCTCS Code of Student Conduct

Effective Date January 1, 2017

Preface 1. The KCTCS Environment: An effective, well-rounded education requires learner exposure to new, different, and varied ideas, thoughts, concepts, and information. Thus, to facilitate thinking, learning, growth and development, KCTCS facilities are learning environments that recognize and respect a diversity of ideas, viewpoints, backgrounds, and people, regardless of whether we personally agree with them. Accordingly, honesty, integrity, openness, and civility are essential tenets of our environment.

2. Student Responsibility for this Student Code of Conduct: As a condition of enrollment in and attendance at any KCTCS course, program, or event, all KCTCS students accept this Student Code of Conduct and are responsible for knowing, understanding, and complying with the rights, privileges, and obligations contained herein. Ignorance of the Code or its provisions shall not be just cause for violations of this Code.

3. Amendments: This document does not create a contract and can be duly changed at any time, without notice to or consent of a student. Notwithstanding, changes in this document shall not be retroactively applied to any student or situation.

4. Email Addresses: All KCTCS students are provided a KCTCS email address upon enrollment in any KCTCS College. Regardless of whether students have elected to forward incoming emails to other email accounts, the KCTCS email provided upon enrollment shall be the student’s official email address for receipt of communications from any KCTCS office or official. Students are responsible for checking it regularly. Official notices from KCTCS offices or officials shall be deemed effectively delivered forty-eight (48) hours after it is delivered to the student’s KCTCS email address.

5. Acknowledgments: KCTCS acknowledges the following as resources for the 2016 revisions to this document:

a. Student Conduct Administration and Title IX: Gold Standard Practices for Resolutions of Allegations of Sexual Misconduct on College Campuses, White Paper prepared by the Association for Student Conduct Administration, 2014. b. Professional resources and guidance from the Association of Student Conduct Administration (ASCA), the Association for Title IX Administrators (ATIXA), and the NCHERM Group, LLC. c. The Student Codes of Conduct and related procedures from: William Rainey Harper College (IL), Valencia College (FL), Waubonsee Community College (IL), Sinclair Community College (OH), College of Coastal Georgia, Technical System of Georgia, Colorado Community College Online, Rockland Community College (NY); College of the Albemarle (NC) and many other community college examples; Oberlin College; Purdue University; and the University of Iowa.

TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE I. FOUNDATIONS AND PRINCIPLES ....................................................................... 2 ARTICLE II. THE KCTCS STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS.......................................................... 3 Article III. PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS OF STUDENT CONDUCT ................................ 4 Section 1: General Principles ........................................................................................................ 4 A. Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 4 B. Authority ............................................................................................................................. 4 C. Proceedings ......................................................................................................................... 5 D. Interplay of Code of Student Conduct with Local, State and Federal Law......................... 5 Section 2: Definitions.................................................................................................................... 5 A. Student................................................................................................................................. 5 B. Campus................................................................................................................................ 6 Section 3: Standards of Conduct ................................................................................................... 7 Section 4: Proceedings .................................................................................................................. 8 A. Student Harassment or Discrimination Grievance Procedure ............................................. 8 B. Academic............................................................................................................................. 9 i. Grievances Involving Academic Rights of Students ..................................................... 10 ii. Discipline Process for Academic Honesty Violations ................................................... 11 iii. Appeals of Academic Violations ................................................................................... 12 iv. Student Rights During the Appeals Process (Academic Rights/Academic Offenses….13 C. Behavioral/Non-Academic ................................................................................................ 13 i. Reporting Violations of the Code .................................................................................. 13 ii. Administrative Review and Resolution ......................................................................... 13 1. Preliminary Review .................................................................................................... 13 2. Interim Measures ........................................................................................................ 14 3. Immediate Temporary Suspension.............................................................................. 14 4. Formal Conduct Process ............................................................................................. 16 5. Appeal of a Code Violation Finding ........................................................................... 16 D. Sanctions ........................................................................................................................... 16 E. Appeals .............................................................................................................................. 18 i. College Appeals Board .................................................................................................. 18 1. Purpose and Composition ............................................................................................ 18 2. Service on the College Appeals Board (CAB) ........................................................... 18 3. Quorum ........................................................................................................................ 19 4. CAB Review Process................................................................................................... 19 ii. Appeal of Suspension or Expulsion to the KCTCS Board of Regents .......................... 20 Section 5: Student Organizations ................................................................................................ 21 A. Types of Organizations ..................................................................................................... 21 B. Registration ....................................................................................................................... 21 C. Use of KCTCS Facilities ................................................................................................... 21 D. Advisors ............................................................................................................................ 21 E. Conduct Violations by Student Organizations .................................................................. 22 COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS ....................................................................................... 24 Acknowledgements APPENDIX ………………………………………………………………………………………….25 Appeal Processes Flowcharts 1

Article I. FOUNDATIONS AND PRINCIPLES Who We Are: The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (“KCTCS” or “System”) was established in 1998 through an act of Kentucky’s General Assembly, KRS 164.580. The System is made up of sixteen colleges with various campuses situated throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky and dedicated to supplying the educational and training needs of students seeking two (2) year academic or technical degrees as well as other certificate, licensure, and training programs.

Our Governing Body: KCTCS colleges are governed by one body, the KCTCS Board of Regents, the membership, role, responsibilities, and authority of which is set forth in sections of KRS 164.290 to 164.475 and more specifically detailed in KRS 164. 580 to KRS 164.600. The KCTCS Board of Regents is authorized by KRS 164.350 to adopt rules, regulations, and bylaws governing its members, and this Bill of Rights and Code of Student Conduct is established under their authority to govern student academic and behavioral matters. Nothing contained in this Code of Student Conduct should be construed as creating a contract between KCTCS and students.

The local boards of directors as established in KRS 164.600 have no authority to govern or regulate student conduct and may not act contrary to the authority granted solely to the KCTCS Board of Regents and properly delegated to appropriate academic and administrative bodies within the System.

Our Philosophy and Commitment: KCTCS Colleges strive to provide students with education and training in a structured yet free environment that recognizes the dignity and value in all people and all groups. KCTCS is committed to a community of learning where students and ideas do not simply exist but flourish and thrive.

KCTCS understands, accepts, and exercises the role of the institution as the primary entity responsible for the enforcement of conduct that permits students to grow academically and personally as they pursue education and training in the System. To encourage an atmosphere conducive to the education of all students enrolled in KCTCS colleges, KCTCS recognizes that fundamental values, principles, and responsibilities are imperative to the proper functioning of our college community.

Our Students and Our Community: Students are members of our academic community as well as our local, state, national, and global communities. KCTCS recognizes the freedoms, rights, and privileges of our students but also demands of our students those responsibilities, obligations, and duties that are part of good citizenship. When students fail to live up to the standards necessary to be responsible and productive members of the KCTCS academic community, those administrators and faculty given authority by the KCTCS Board of Regents to act in accordance with the KCTCS Student Code of Conduct shall take measures to protect the community, to preserve property, and to maintain order. At all times, System officials shall balance the needs of the students involved against the well-being of the academic community as a whole.

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Article II. THE KCTCS STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS The KCTCS community recognizes and declares that students have certain fundamental rights which shall not be arbitrarily abridged or denied or removed without appropriate due process.

Among them are the right to: 1. Learn, study, grow, and develop without fear of threats, harassment, bullying, or discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, nationality, age, religion, gender, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, or military service.

2. Treat others and be treated with civility and recognized as individuals, rather than a class.

3. Free written and oral speech, restrained only by those proper constraints that limit and protect the First Amendment Rights of others.

4. Hold and express divergent viewpoints with respect and civility toward others.

5. Participate in a community devoted to scholarship, inquiry, debate, thought, and expression within a community of scholars, including the right to express agreement and dissent.

6. Form and participate in student presses and organizations, and to assemble and participate in the social, religious, and political activities available in a free and open society.

7. Participate meaningfully in the governance of their colleges, including, when appropriate, representation on college or System committees and the KCTCS Board of Regents in accordance with proper rules and regulations.

8. Have privacy in their educational, academic, and financial records.

9. Have clear and comprehensible course objectives and requirements, degree and graduation requirements, transfer policies, and grading policies, and to know with accuracy and clarity information that assists them in successfully meeting the established academic standards in their classes.

10. Receive grades based only on fair and just evaluations of performance as measured by standards presented in the first or second class section or in the introductory materials for a distance learning course.

11. Have access to reasonable accommodations as required under U.S. and state laws related to the establishment of an equal opportunity to succeed.

12. Full disclosure and publication of the substantive rules and possible sanctions as described in a current KCTCS Code of Student Conduct

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13. Have knowledge of allegations against the student, the right to express a proper defense, the right to know the findings of any proceeding against the student, and a right to an appeal in accordance with reasonable and proper policies and procedures.

14. Be free of penalty for violating regulations, rules, or policies imposed after-the-fact.

15. All rights considered basic human rights and memorialized in the United States Constitution, the laws and regulations of the United States of America, the Kentucky Constitution, the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and KCTCS policies and procedures.

16. KCTCS students have the right to privacy in their educational, academic, and financial records. This right to privacy shall be consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended, (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99).

FERPA is a federal law that protects the confidentiality of personally identifiable information contained in student education records. KCTCS shall adhere to policies and procedures for identification of directory information and for any release of information that is not identified as directory information and therefore protected by FERPA. KCTCS students shall also enjoy, when relevant, the protections of KRS 164.283.

ARTICLE III. PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS OF STUDENT CONDUCT

SECTION 1: GENERAL PRINCIPLES A. Purpose The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (“KCTCS” or “System”) student code is intended to set forth the expectations for academic and behavioral responsibilities of the students who enroll in and attend the sixteen KCTCS colleges across Kentucky. As declared in Article I, KCTCS Colleges are committed to creating a community where learning flourishes and students from all backgrounds and experiences are welcome and respected. The KCTCS Code of Student Conduct provides the framework for student success without unnecessary distractions and harmful disruptions.

B. Authority The Kentucky General Assembly through KRS 164.350 authorized the KCTCS Board of Regents to adopt rules, regulations, and bylaws governing its members. The KCTCS Code of Student Conduct is enacted under the legislatively granted authority to govern student academic and behavioral matters. The KCTCS President exercises delegated authority in promulgating this Code for the safety and well-being of the campus community. The KCTCS President delegates authority to each College President to apply the Code at their respective college, and the College Presidents designate the Chief Student Affairs Officers (CSAO) as the front line authorities for application of the Code.

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This Code may apply to acts conducted on or off campus when those acts have a direct impact on the orderly conduct of regular college business. This Code may apply to acts conducted as faceto-face encounters, cyberspace, or by use of any means or medium that facilitates violation of the rules contained herein. The Code is written to provide a reference for general guidelines of expected student behaviors and penalties for failing to meet those expectations. It is not a criminal code nor an exhaustive list of misconduct.

C. Proceedings Disciplinary actions and other proceedings conducted under this Code shall be fair, expedient, and civil. Disciplinary actions and other proceedings under the Code are not legal processes and are not regulated by the rules that govern court procedures, including the rules of evidence, rules of procedure, and burdens of proof. Students do not have a right to be represented by counsel in any action or proceeding provided in this document. Where permitted, students may select an advocate to advise them, but such advocates function as advisors to the student and have no right or expectancy of addressing the college panel, board, or official Deviations from the processes outlined in this Code shall not invalidate a proceeding or decision unless such deviations substantially prejudice a party.

These standards apply to conduct that occurs on or off College premises if it affects the College community.

D. Interplay of Code of Student Conduct with Local, State and Federal Law 1.

2.

3.

Students enjoy the privilege of attendance, and accept the governance of KCTCS policies, local ordinances, state law, and federal law.

Students who enroll at KCTCS accept the responsibility of reviewing and abiding by the rules of conduct described in this Code. Violation of these general rules of conduct may lead to disciplinary action by the College in accordance with this Code.

If a student engages in conduct that is in violation of state or federal law as well as this Code, KCTCS reserves the right to refer such conduct to the appropriate law enforcement agency for prosecution in addition to College disciplinary action.

Disciplinary action under this Code may proceed regardless of the status of criminal prosecution; action taken under this Code does not constitute or necessarily reflect formal legal processes under law.

SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS A. Student In this Code, the term “student� means: 1. Any individual who applies for admission at a KCTCS college, is accepted, and has registered for a course(s). Students who withdraw after allegedly violating the KCTCS Code of Student Conduct are still considered a student for purposes of completing the processes outlined in the Code. Once a student registers for classes, they are responsible for associated tuition and fees unless classes are dropped according to the refund schedule; and/or 5

2. Individuals enrolled at another institution of higher education who are enrolled in classes on a KCTCS campus (depending on the terms governing this arrangement); and/or 3. Student organizations recognized by the College. The organization may be held collectively responsible for violations of this Code if the organization’s leadership consents to or encourages violation of this Code.

B. Campus All property (land, buildings, facilities), including adjacent streets and sidewalks, in the possession of, owned, used, or controlled by a KCTCS college. Campus may also extend to mean the platform through which courses are offered online.

SECTION 3: STANDARDS OF CONDUCT In order to foster a positive campus community and maintain an optimal learning environment, KCTCS establishes the following behavioral expectations of students: Standard 1: Students shall adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity, and support a campus environment that is conducive to learning and scholarship.

Violations or attempted violations may include, but are not limited to: 1. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism or facilitating academic dishonesty.

2. Conduct that disrupts or interferes with the learning experience, such as sleeping, horseplay, cell phone use, entering or leaving class while it is in session, unnecessary interruptions, failure to exhibit respect and consideration to faculty, staff, and fellow students.

Standard 2: Students shall respect and preserve the health, safety, welfare, privacy and rights of all members of the campus community.

Violations or attempted violations may include, but are not limited to: 1. Physical violence – hitting, pushing, use of a weapon, beating or other such activity resulting in or intended to cause harm.

2. Making a threat(s) of violence (including verbal, written, or virtual communication) that does or could cause(s) a reasonable expectation of harm to the health or safety of a specific person or group of people.

3. Substantial or repeated acts directed at a person or group of people that would cause a reasonable person to feel fearful, including but not limited to: a. Bullying, defined as repeated and/or severe behavior that is aggressive and likely to intimidate or intentionally hurt, control, or degrade another person physically or mentally. b. Stalking, defined as engaging in two or more acts directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the individual’s safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress.

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c. Hazing, defined as acts likely to cause physical or psychological harm or social exclusion or humiliation.

4. Any form of retaliation towards a complainant or a participant in an investigation or conduct process. Retaliation will not be tolerated. **Instances of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment are governed by the KCTCS Sexual Misconduct Procedure, which is administered separately from this Code.

Standard 3: Students shall respect the property of others, and the property, facilities, resources, and reputation of the College.

Violations or attempted violations may include, but are not limited to: 1. Illegal or unauthorized possession or use of weapons, including but not limited to: firearms, explosive devices, knives longer than three inches, or any other object used to threaten or cause harm. The full policy is available at KCTCS Administrative Policies and Procedures, 3.3.23 Policy on Deadly Weapons.

2. Behavior that can put physical safety at risk, including but not limited to: a. b. c. d. e.

Reckless driving Possessing flammable chemicals or fireworks or tampering with smoke detectors Climbing on roofs or buildings Leaving minors unattended on campus.

Knowingly putting others at risk of a contagious disease or exposure to infectious materials

3. Misuse, theft, or unauthorized use of College services or property 3. Trespassing or unauthorized access to physical or virtual/cyber property or services of the College.

5. Attending classes without being registered for them, other than with permission of the instructor.

6. Theft of or intentional damage to or destruction of college or individual property.

7. Use of recreational or outdoor equipment indoors (such as skateboards and hover boards), or reckless use of equipment outdoors.

8. Having an animal in a campus building other than in accordance with campus policy and ADA laws, such as permissible service animals trained to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability or illness or animals in the course of being trained as service animals. The full policy is found at KCTCS Administrative Policies and Procedures, 3.3.24 KCTCS Policy on Live Animals on Campus.

9. Unauthorized or irresponsible use of College computer, network, or other technology system resources as described in KCTCS Administrative Policies and Procedures, 4.2.5 Information and Information Technology Responsible Use Policy. KCTCS reserves the right to review and investigate activity of any sort on any machine or technology resource belonging to KCTCS, including reviewing email accounts, documents, hard drives, cloud-based accounts, or any other resource or method of use.

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Standard 4: Students shall observe the rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the College as well as local, state and federal laws.

Violations may include, but are not limited to: 1. Interfering with classroom instruction or learning.

2. Interfering with College sponsored events.

3. Infringing the rights of other members of the College community, including violations of policies or procedures pertaining to expressive activity.

4. Leading or inciting others to interrupt scheduled or normal activities within any campus building or area.

5. Obstructing the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on College property or at a College sponsored or supervised event.

6. Illegal or unauthorized possession, manufacturing, use, or distribution of alcohol, marijuana, heroin, narcotics, synthetic drugs as determined by KRS Chapter 218A, and any other illegal or controlled substance or look-alike drug except as expressly permitted by law and College policy. Students of legal age may possess or consume alcoholic beverages consistent with law and applicable policy. (KCTCS Administrative Policies and Procedures 3.3.13.2) 7. Illegal possession or use of prescription medications.

8. Public intoxication, vomiting, or other effects of excessive substance consumption.

9. Smoking or using tobacco products, including e-cigarettes or any other violation of the College’s Smoke-Free campus policy as found in the KCTCS Administrative Policies & Procedures, 3.3.14 KCTCS Tobacco Free Policy.

10. Failure to comply with a. the Code of Student Conduct b. directions of an authorized College representative who is performing his/her duties c. any reasonable guidelines for the use of labs, offices, waiting areas, classrooms, common areas, etc. d. any finding made and disciplinary action taken based on this Code of Student Conduct e. any local, state or federal law SECTION 4: PROCEEDINGS A. STUDENT HARASSMENT OR DISCRIMINATION GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE The Kentucky Community and Technical College System has zero tolerance for illegal discrimination of any kind. Any student who thinks he/she may have been discriminated against 8

or subjected to harassment by students or employees because of his or her race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, beliefs, political affiliation, veteran status, age, or disability (including denial of a request for an accommodation), has the right to pursue an informal and/or formal discrimination grievance. The informal student discrimination grievance procedure is described below.

Complaints relating to sexual misconduct should be made to the College Title IX Coordinator or other college administrator. Such complaints shall be handled in accordance with the Sexual Misconduct Procedure.

The Chief Student Affairs Officer (CSAO) or his/her designee shall be responsible for investigating student discrimination grievances. If appropriate, this shall be conducted in collaboration with the college human resources director.

1. If a student thinks that he/she has been discriminated against, the student shall inform the CSAO or his/her designee within thirty (30) calendar days of the occurrence of the alleged incident. The CSAO or his/her designee shall conduct a preliminary investigation of the discrimination grievance.

2. The student, CSAO or his/her designee, and other involved parties shall work informally to negotiate a solution within fourteen (14) calendar days.

The informal student discrimination grievance procedure shall be completed within fortyfour (44) calendar days of the occurrence of the alleged incident.

3. If the grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student through the informal grievance procedure, the student may file a formal appeal pursuant to Section D below.

B. ACADEMIC Students may file appeals when they believe a violation of their academic rights has occurred. The scope of a grievance does not include matters a student simply does not like or disagrees with, unless the matter represents a violation of the student’s academic rights.

Students have the academic right to:     

timely receive information about course content and grading criteria hold and express a contrary opinion fair and impartial academic evaluation confidentiality of academic records informed evaluation of student character and ability

More information about student academic rights may be found in the Student Bill of Rights, particularly #1, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14.

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Lying, misrepresenting, or omitting relevant facts otherwise known at the time may subject students, faculty, or staff to disciplinary action, possibly up to and including dismissal or termination. i. Grievances Involving Academic Rights of Students Step 1: Informal Resolution The student should first speak with the instructor and try to resolve the issue. All interactions must reflect civility and mutual respect, even where the parties’ views or positions differ. If a satisfactory resolution is not achieved, the student should proceed to Step 2 below.

Step 2: Formal Grievance To file a formal grievance, the student must submit a clear, succinct written appeal specifying each alleged violation, along with supporting facts and relevant dates to the appropriate division chair/dean within thirty (30) business days of the alleged violation or posting of grade. Untimely appeals will be barred, dismissed, and not further considered. The division chair will resolve the issue within fifteen (15) business days.

Step 3 Formal Appeal If no resolution is reached at Step 2 within 15 business days, or if the student does not accept the decision of the division chair, the student may within fifteen (15) business days appeal the division chair’s decision to the KCTCS College President or designee.

Such appeal must be in writing and shall clearly identify the relevant facts, the reason for the appeal, the specific relief requested, and why the appeal should be granted. No new matter may be appealed which was not included in the student’s original appeal to the division chair.

The College President or designee will consider the appeal and issue a written decision within 15 business days.

Step 4 CAB Hearing If no decision is rendered by the College President at Step 3 within 15 business days or if the student does not accept the decision of the College President or designee, the student has fifteen (15) business days to submit a written request for a hearing before the College Appeals Board (see Section E). The request for hearing must clearly identify the relevant facts, why the College President’s decision was wrong, and the specific relief requested. No new matter may be appealed which was not included in the student’s original appeal to the division chair. The CAB shall consider all matters and render its decision in accordance with Section E or as soon thereafter as practicable.

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ii. Discipline for Academic Honesty Violations Incidents of academic dishonesty and misconduct which occur within the context of a specific course are resolved by the academic department in accordance with the College academic honesty policy. In such a case, the instructor or academic department determines whether academic dishonesty or misconduct occurred, and if so, the appropriate academic penalty.

Lying, misrepresenting, or omitting relevant facts otherwise known at the time may subject students, faculty, or staff to disciplinary action, possibly up to and including dismissal or termination.

Sanctions for academic dishonesty or misconduct may include but are not limited to: a. Requiring the student to resubmit the assignment b. A lower or failing grade on the assignment, exam, or in the course; c. Removal from the course d. Referral for other disciplinary actions A student who receives a penalty for academic dishonesty or misconduct may not avoid the academic penalty by withdrawing from the course.

Academic Violations Process All academic misconduct actions must be reported to the chief academic officer for record keeping purposes. The instructor should submit to the division chair or chief academic officer a written description of the activity that resulted in the accusation of academic dishonesty and the proposed sanction to facilitate a fair and reasonable approach to protecting the academic interests of the college and its stakeholders. Once a determination is made to proceed, the following process shall be observed: Step 1: Notice Within fifteen (15) business days of the determination, the instructor shall notify the student in writing of the academic offense, explain the sanction, and inform the student of his or her right to appeal the determination of guilt and/or severity of the sanction.

Step 2: Informal Resolution The student may request the instructor to reconsider a determination of guilt for an academic dishonesty and/or severity of the sanction. The instructor may then confer with the appropriate division chair/chief academic officer to determine appropriate sanctions for the student.

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iii. Appeals of Academic Violations If the student and faculty member have been unable to informally resolve an academic honesty determination and sanction, the student may appeal either the determination of guilt, the sanction, or both as provided herein. Students who are not satisfied with the outcome of their protest to the faculty member may submit an appeal to the division chair of the department. The division chair shall attempt to resolve all cases referred by student appeal to the satisfaction of the instructor and the student. (Reference the Appeals in Cases of Alleged Academic Violation of Student Academic Rights flowchart in Appendix.)

Step 1 Formal Appeal If no resolution is reached within 15 business days, or if the student does not accept the decision of the division chair, the student may within fifteen (15) business days appeal the division chair’s decision to the KCTCS College President or designee.

Such appeal must be in writing and shall clearly identify the relevant facts, the reason for the appeal, the specific relief requested, and why the appeal should be granted. No new matter may be appealed which was not included in the student’s original appeal to the division chair.

The College President or designee will consider the appeal and issue a written decision within 15 business days.

Step 2 Upon reviewing the basis of the student appeal, the College President or designee shall attempt to resolve the matter. If no resolution is reached within 15 business days, the student may submit a written appeal to the College Appeals Board (CAB).

(See section D) Step 3 CAB Hearing If no decision is rendered by the College President at Step 3 within 15 business days or if the student does not accept the decision of the College President or designee, the student has fifteen (15) business days to submit a written request for a hearing before the College Appeals Board (see Section E). The request for hearing must clearly identify the relevant facts, why the College President’s decision was wrong, and the specific relief requested. No new matter may be appealed which was not included in the student’s original appeal to the division chair. The CAB shall consider all matters and render its decision in accordance with Section E or as soon thereafter as practicable.

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iv.

Student Rights During the Appeals Process (Academic Rights/Academic Offenses): In cases of academic rights and academic offenses, the student shall have the right of class attendance and participation during the consideration of any appeal except that such attendance and participation may be limited when: a. outside agencies are used as a part of the student’s educational experience, in which case precedence will be given to the terms of any agreement(s), which have been negotiated between the college and the agency; or b. patient/client contact is involved in the student’s educational experience, in which case only patient/client contact may be limited or excluded at the discretion of program faculty.

If the appeal is decided in the student’s favor, the college must provide an opportunity for the student to complete any essential experiences missed due to the appeals process. An appeal of a grade after the class has been completed, a grade change by the CAB will only be for a P grade or a W grade.

C. BEHAVIORAL/NON-ACADEMIC i. Reporting Violations of the Code Any student, faculty or staff member, or visitor to the college may make a report to the Chief Student Affairs Officer (CSAO) of suspected violations of the Code of Student Conduct. A written complaint is not required, but is preferred. Those making reports are generally expected to participate in proceedings related to the report and to provide information during the process.

If the complaint is received more than one term after the incident occurred, the Chief Student Affairs Officer will assess whether or not disciplinary action should still go forward. The assessment will be based on such information as: the nature of the violation, the likelihood of repetition, and the impact upon the campus community.

(Reference the Appeal of Behavioral/Non-Academic Grievance flowchart in Appendix.) ii. Administrative Review and Resolution 1. Preliminary Review Upon receiving a report of an alleged violation of this Code, the CSAO will notify the student within five (5) business days if necessary for an informal or formal review. The CSAO may conduct a preliminary review to determine if there is credible information to proceed with an investigation and/or to formally charge a student with a violation of this Code. During the course of this preliminary review, the CSAO may meet with affected parties and/or witnesses. The CSAO will notify any interviewees of the preliminary nature of the review and that it may result in formal misconduct charges. a. Case Not Pursued--If the CSAO does not find sufficient evidence that a violation of this Code has occurred, the CSAO will not pursue the matter 13

further. The CSAO will maintain documentation of the receipt of an allegation that is separate from the formal student record. The CSAO will notify the student that the matter has been closed and no further action will be taken. b. Informal Response—If the CSAO finds concerning information that does not rise to the level of a violation of this Code, the College may still take reasonable action, such as requiring a student to meet with a staff member prior to registering for courses, or a verbal or written warning. c. Formal Response—If there is sufficient credible information that a student has violated this Code, then the CSAO will initiate the conduct process.

2. Interim Measures Upon preliminary review, KCTCS reserves the right to enact any interim measures necessary to protect the rights, property, well-being, and personal safety of employees, students, guests, or other stakeholders. Interim measures may be imposed regardless of whether formal disciplinary action is sought or pursued against the Respondent. Such measures may include, but are not limited to: •

referral to counseling services and other resources

•

rescheduling of exams or assignments (in conjunction with appropriate faculty)

•

no-contact order

•

limited access to college facilities or organizations pending resolution of the report

•

temporary work reassignment

•

temporary class schedule reassignment

•

administrative leave during the investigation and resolution

•

report of the matter to local law enforcement in the jurisdiction in which the college is located

•

any other remedy necessary to achieve the goals of this policy

3. Immediate Temporary Suspension a. A student may be suspended immediately when: •

If, in the judgment of the College President (upon consultation with CSAO and/or the college Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)), there is reasonable cause to believe the presence of the student poses a serious threat to persons and/or property, or the student has been charged with a crime so serious as to threaten the welfare of the college community, the College President may impose temporary sanctions, including temporary suspension and ban from campus.

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•

Except in the case of emergency circumstances, the student will be provided an informal opportunity to discuss the matter and possible resolution.

•

The student may be temporarily banned from campus if he/she refuses to cease disruptive behavior or conduct in violation of this policy after direct orders from the College President (upon consultation with the CSAO and/or BIT).

•

When such suspension is involved, the student must leave campus immediately. Law enforcement will be called if the student refuses to comply, which may lead to more severe consequences, including expulsion.

b. Notice of Right to Appeal •

The College President shall issue a written notice of the immediate temporary suspension and campus ban to the student. This written notice shall include the student’s right to appeal the decision to the College Appeals Board (CAB).

•

The student may file a written appeal with the College Appeals Board within ten (10) business days. If requested in the written appeal, the CAB shall schedule a hearing of the case within 48 hours, or as soon as practicable. The CAB shall consider the student’s academic needs to attend class, use the library, and fulfill other academic commitments.



The CAB may uphold the immediate temporary suspension, overturn the decision and return the student to regular status, or enact other remedies and/or sanctions. The alternative remedies/sanctions may be more extensive than the temporary suspension, such as expulsion or other sanctions that are appropriate. The CAB shall communicate its findings to the College President and the Student within three (3) business days of the decision. Should the CAB uphold the immediate temporary suspension, it shall remain in effect until such time as the student proves circumstances have changed and he/she can resume attendance without posing a threat to the campus community. The CAB’s decision is final except in cases of complete and total suspension for longer than a semester or expulsion that are subject to appeal to the KCTCS Board of Regents.

•

If the student’s circumstances change, the student may make a written request to the College President for readmission to the college.

•

The College President will consult with the CSAO and/or BIT to determine if the student has demonstrated that his/her dangerous or threatening behavior has been remediated.

•

The College President may require the student to enter into a behavioral contract that establishes specific terms and limitations for the student’s conduct and consequences for failure to abide by those terms as a condition of readmission.

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4. Formal Conduct Process When the CSAO finds sufficient credible information, a formal conduct process will be initiated. The CSAO will present the respondent with formal written notice of the alleged violations of this Code and provide an opportunity for the respondent to make a formal statement to the CSAO, and to provide any evidence and any witnesses pertinent to the alleged violation. The CSAO shall review the evidence and conduct witness interviews. When the CSAO is satisfied that a full review has been conducted, the CSAO shall notify the respondent in writing of the findings. If the CSAO’s investigation shows the respondent has violated this Code, the report of findings shall also notify the respondent of the sanctions imposed. The report of findings shall also provide the respondent with notice of his/her rights to appeal.

The CSAO will seek to resolve the formal conduct process within sixty (60) calendar days of the initial report. Extenuating circumstances may arise that require the extension of time frames, including extension beyond sixty (60) calendar days. Extenuating circumstances may include the complexity and scope of the allegations, the number of witnesses involved, the availability of the parties or witnesses, the effect of a concurrent criminal investigation, any intervening school break or vacation, or other unforeseen circumstances. In the event that the investigation and resolution exceed this time frame, the CSAO will notify affected parties of the reason(s) for the delay and the expected adjustment in time frames.

Best efforts will be made to complete the process in a timely manner by balancing principles of thoroughness and fundamental fairness with promptness.

5. Appeal of a Code Violation Finding A student may within thirty (30) calendar days appeal a code violation finding by submitting a written request for appeal to the College President. Untimely appeals will not be considered. The appeal may ask for reconsideration of guilt or innocence and/or the severity of the sanction. Upon receipt of the appeal, the College President shall notify the College Appeals Board of the request for appeal. (Reference the College Appeal Board (CAB) Appeal Process flowchart in Appendix.) The College Appeals Board procedures are described in section E below.

D. Sanctions Sanctions are designed to protect the College’s educational mission, to promote safety and security of the College community, educate and rehabilitate students, and deter students from behavior that harms, harasses, or threatens people or property. More than one sanction may be imposed in a case. The following factors are generally considered when determining sanctions for a particular case: •

The nature of the violation(s)

•

Prior findings of responsibility and sanction(s) 16

•

Mitigating circumstances surrounding the violation

•

The student’s motivation(s) for engaging in the behavior

•

Impacts of the behavior

•

Sanctions which have been imposed in similar cases in the past

•

The developmental and educational impact on the student

Sanctions tailored to the particular violation may be enacted by the College. A nonexhaustive list of standard sanctions includes: 1. Reprimand: Official written notice to the student that the behavior is not acceptable at the College and that additional incidents may result in more severe sanctions. This notice exists in the student conduct file and is not reflected on an academic transcript.

2. Disciplinary Probation: A period of time (which may be indefinite) during which a student is under warning that any other violation of College policy may result in suspension. Disciplinary probation may also prohibit a student from participating in certain College activities or programs, as it is considered notice that the student is not in good standing due to behavior. This notice exists in the student conduct file and is not reflected on an academic transcript.

3. Eviction: Forced removal from a classroom or other College property. This notice exists in the student conduct file and is not reflected on an academic transcript.

4. Suspension: A defined period of time during which a student is not permitted to engage in any of the privileges, courses, organizations, events, or activities associated with being a student at the KCTCS College. During the period of suspension, a Student Dean Hold service indicator will be placed on the student’s PeopleSoft account to prevent enrollment at any other KCTCS college. The Student Dean Hold may only be removed by the home college where the service indicator was applied. Once the period of suspension has been completed, the student may request that the Student Dean Hold service indicator be removed.

5. Expulsion: Permanent, forced withdrawal from the College as determined by the hearing body.

Suspension or expulsion decisions may be appealed to the KCTCS Board of Regents (KRS 164.370). See Section E(ii) below.

In addition to the standard sanctions above, individualized sanctions may be imposed that are designed to maximize the learning of a specific student. These sanctions take into account the student’s learning style and stage of development, as well as the unique factors of a given situation. Multiple individualized sanctions may be imposed, including but not limited to one or more of the following:

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1.

Reflective Activity: An activity designed to promote reflection by the student about his/her behavior and its impact. Examples can include: writing assignments, interviews, research projects, etc. Completion will be based on fulfilling the objective requirements of the assignment, not on whether the student adopts or expresses a particular perspective or point of view.

2.

College/Community Service: Service to the College or community of up to 16 hours to be served within a specified time frame.

3.

Educational Sanction: An educational sanction requiring attendance or participation in a pre-arranged class, program, or activity designed to prevent or deal with high-risk behavior.

4.

Counseling Assessment: Student may be referred to an external counseling evaluation. Counseling referrals and any suspension, expulsion, or readmission shall all be consistent with state and federal law and shall include the CSAO and/or the College President’s consultation with Disability Services if appropriate and at all times with the KCTCS Office of General Counsel.

5.

Restitution: Payment to a harmed party, such as to repair or replace vandalized property.

6.

Meetings with College Resources: Meeting with a College employee or office to learn about resources offered to support students, both on and off campus.

E. Appeals i. College Appeals Board The College Appeals Board (CAB) serves as a hearing body for appeals of violations of academic rights, findings of academic misconduct, and non-academic/behavioral determinations under the Code of Student Conduct.

1. Purpose and Composition The purpose of the CAB is to review both academic and non-academic appeals. The Appeals Board shall consist of six members: 2 students 2 full time regular faculty 2 full time regular staff In addition, 2 student alternates, 1 faculty alternate, and 1 staff alternate shall be appointed. These alternates must meet the same requirements as the regular members.

2. Service on the CAB a. Student members and alternates: Each student member must have earned at least 24 semester credit hours at the college, must have had one full academic year of attendance at the college, and must be in good academic standing. The CSAO shall recommend students to the College President for appointment. Appointments shall be for a term of one year.

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b. Faculty and staff members and alternates: Faculty and staff members are elected to staggered three-year terms by the faculty and/or by the College staff. Faculty members cannot be division chairs or deans. c.

Official appointment letters for CAB members and alternates will be sent by the College President.

d. Appeals Board Chair: The chair is elected annually by the Appeals Board members. e. If the appeal involves a case in which a member of CAB has a direct relationship (academic appeal within the faculty member’s department), conflict of interest, personal stake in the outcome, or other circumstance that may reasonably lead to questions of impartiality, that member of the CAB should be recused from hearing the appeal.

3. Quorum A quorum of five members, at least three of whom must be faculty and staff, is required for the conduct of business of the Appeals Board.

4. CAB Review Process a. Within five (5) business days of receipt of a request for hearing the CAB will meet to determine if the issue on appeal is properly before the hearing panel. If the CAB decides that the request for a hearing is not properly before the body, the Chair of the CAB will notify the student and the appropriate college officials in writing within five (5) business days, including the reasons for the CAB’s decision not to hear the matter. b. If the CAB determines that it is proper to consider the appeal, within five (5) business days the Chair will request statements related to the appeal from the appropriate college officials. Those statement are due for submission to the CAB within five (5) business days. The CAB then has five (5) business days to review the appeal and associated statements and decide by majority vote whether to grant a hearing or to make a decision based on the record provided by each party. c. The CAB’s decision as to the hearing will be communicated in writing within five (5) business days of the decision to the student and the appropriate college officials. If the CAB does not grant a hearing, the student has no further right to appeal within the system except in cases of suspension or expulsion, which may be appealed to the Board of Regents. d. If the CAB decides to hear the case, it will establish procedures (including a schedule) and notify the student and the appropriate college officials. All parties shall have the reasonable opportunity to appear at the hearing and to present oral and written evidence in support of their positions. The CAB may call for further evidence as it deems appropriate. CAB hearings are not legal processes and do not follow the rules applicable to court or outside administrative proceedings. Students do not have a right to have counsel represent them, but may bring any one person they desire as an advisor at the hearing. The advisor will not address the hearing or 19

“represent” the student. The hearing shall be held, and a final decision made by the CAB within 15 business days after the decision to hear the case. The decision of the CAB is final and the student has no further right to appeal within the system except in cases of suspension or expulsion of a student. e. If the CAB hears the case because of some question about the fact of the student’s guilt, it shall have the authority to impose a final decision as to guilt or innocence.

If the CAB decides not to hear the case, the student has no further right of appeal within the system except in cases of suspension or expulsion. f.

If the CAB hears the case because of an appeal of the severity of the sanction, it shall recommend an appropriate sanction to the appropriate college official(s). If the CAB does not support the sanction, the CAB shall submit its decision and a recommendation of appropriate sanction to the College President or designee who shall consult with the appropriate college official(s) involved to find an appropriate sanction. The final decision is the responsibility of the College President.

ii. Appeal of Suspension or Expulsion to the KCTCS Board of Regents Pursuant to KRS 164.370, students may appeal a sanction of suspension or expulsion to the KCTCS Board of Regents. (Reference Appeal of Suspension or Expulsion to the KCTCS Board of Regents flowchart in Appendix.)

1. Before an appeal can be submitted to the Board of Regents, the student must exhaust all available remedies by using all applicable appeal processes in this Code.

2. The student has 30 calendar days from the completion of the final applicable appeal process to submit an appeal in writing to the KCTCS Board of Regents in care of the KCTCS President.

3. Upon receipt of an appeal, the KCTCS President shall forward the appeal document to the Office of General Counsel. The Office of General Counsel shall conduct a review of the record related to the suspension or expulsion, and may conduct additional fact finding if warranted. The Office of General Counsel shall prepare a Report of Findings.

4. The appeal shall be heard by a three-person panel (appointed by the KCTCS President) consisting of the KCTCS Vice President responsible for Student Services, the Chair of the Education Committee of the KCTCS Board of Regents, and one of the student members of the KCTCS Board of Regents. The panel members shall review the Report of Findings then meet, with the option to use video conferencing, with a representative of the Office of General Counsel to finalize a recommendation, which will be acted upon by the full Board of Regents at the next scheduled meeting.

5. The student shall be notified in writing of the recommendation of the panel and of the date the full Board will take action on the recommendation. Once the Board has taken action, the student will receive written notice of the final decision.

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Section 5: STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS KCTCS recognizes that organized activities serve to augment and improve the educational experience of the members of the College community. Membership in student organizations shall be limited to students, faculty, and staff of the College except Honor, Leadership, and Recognition Societies that may include other persons as provided for in their national constitutions.

A. Types of Organizations The College recognizes and encourages students to participate in the following types of organizations: 1. Honor, Leadership, and Recognition Societies; 2. Divisional Organizations and Professional Fraternities; 3. Political Organizations; 4. Governmental Organizations; and 5. Specialty Organizations (religious, athletic, military, etc.)

B. Registration The registration of any student organization is at the discretion of the College and is dependent upon the completion of the required application form and compliance with the rules and additional criteria, such as a probationary period, the College may set forth. Such criteria shall be established and published by the College and made uniform for all similar types of organizations. Only those student organizations officially recognized and registered with the colleges may enjoy the rights and privileges associated with recognition. Student organizations must be registered before they may use College facilities or properties. Unrecognized and unregistered student organizations may use College facilities or properties in the same manner that external or unaffiliated organizations access and use facilities or properties.

C. Use of KCTCS Facilities Student organizations may use KCTCS facilities for sanctioned meetings and events in accordance with KCTCS Administrative Policy and Procedure 3.3.16 Kentucky Community and Technical College System Policy and Procedural Guidelines for the Management and Use of Facilities. Student organizations must request the use of space through the College’s published procedures.

D. Advisors Registered and recognized student organizations are required to have two advisors. Advisors must be members of the college faculty or staff. Only full time college faculty and/or full time staff classified as exempt may serve as advisors if that service is incorporated into their job

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duties and if their service is in alignment with the policies and procedures of KCTCS Human Resources.

Advisors are chosen by the members of the organization and submitted for approval to the College President or designee for approval. If approval is not granted or advisors leave their position, the President or designee may appoint advisors consistent with KCTCS Human Resources policies and procedures.

Advisors are responsible for: 1. Providing support and guidance to the organization in carrying out the purposes of the organization 2. Counseling and advising the officers of the organization as to their powers and responsibilities 3. Attending all meetings of the organization The College President or designee may make an exception to permit a student organization only one advisor when appropriate or necessary. Registered, recognized student organizations must abide by all policies and procedures relevant to affiliated organizations. Volunteers associated with recognized, registered student organizations shall be used only as the law permits and shall be the responsibility of the student organization, not KCTCS. Failure to have an approved advisor will result in suspension of college registration and recognition until an approved advisor is in place.

E. Conduct Violations by Student Organizations If a Student Organization fails to abide by any College policy, procedure, or standard, the Student Organization as a whole as well as individual members may face disciplinary action pursuant to this Code.

The following sanctions may be imposed against a Student Organization as a whole for the violation of College conduct regulations or failure to file required financial statements each year.

This list is neither exhaustive nor in order of severity and may by enlarged upon or modified to meet the particular circumstances of any given situation.

1. Recommendation for charter revocation: An official request to a national office that the local chapter’s charter be revoked.

2. Revocation of College registration: Permanent severance of the organization’s relationship with the College.

3. Suspension of College registration: Temporary severance of the organization’s relationship with the College for a specific period of time. The period of time and any requirements, which must be satisfied prior to re-registration.

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4. Probation: Notice that further finding of responsibility for the violation of College conduct regulation(s) as specified in the decision of the hearing officer will likely result in the suspension or revocation of College registration.

5. Reprimand: College disapproval or warning issued to the student organization.

6. Restrictions: Restriction of some or all of the organization’s activities or privileges, including the right to recruit new members.

7. Other educational sanctions: Projects, assignments, programs with the effect of educating the organization’s members.

Student Organizations are not entitled to due process under these rules, nor do they have appeal rights equivalent to individual student rights. The right to recognize and register a Student Organization falls within the authority granted to each College President/CEO.

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COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS Kentucky Community and Technical College System is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, or genetic information. Further, we vigilantly prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, military service, or any other nonmerit based factor.

Compliance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination, with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is coordinated by the KCTCS Office of General Counsel, 300 North Main Street, Versailles, KY 40383. Each college has a Title IX Coordinator serving the college community.

Efforts to comply with the laws and regulations applicable to people with disabilities, as required

by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (revised 1992) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, are coordinated through the Office of Disability Services at each KCTCS College.

Questions concerning compliance with college policies and procedures should be directed to the Chief Student Affairs Officer at the college.

The Kentucky Community and Technical System is in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989. Questions may be directed to the Chief Student Affairs Officer or the Director of Human Resources’ office at each KCTCS College.

Questions about admissions to any KCTCS College should be directed to the appropriate Admissions Office.

EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE External remedies are available for students through the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. For more information, you may contact the Philadelphia Office: U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Wanamaker Building, Suite 515 100 Penn Square East Philadelphia, PA 19107 Telephone: 215-656-8541 FAX: 215-656-8605; TDD: 215-656-8604 Email: OCR_Philadelphia@ed.gov

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APPENDIX Appeals in Cases of Alleged Student Academic Offenses Appeals in cases of Alleged Violations of Student Academic Rights College Appeals Board (CAB) Appeal Process Appeal of Behavioral/Nonacademic Grievance Appeal of Suspension or Expulsion to the KCTCS Board of Regents

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Appeals in Cases of Alleged Student Academic Offense

Instructor reports student’s academic offense and possible sanctions to division chair/dean within 15 business days of occurrence

Instructor notifies student in writing of the reported offense and sanctions

Sanctions for a finding of academic dishonesty or misconduct include but are not limited to: Student accepts decision

Student protests guilt or severity of sanction to instructor

Instructor confers with division chair/dean. Sanctions may be upheld or adjusted

Student accepts decision

• Requiring the student to resubmit the assignment • A lower grade on the assignment or in the course • A zero for the assignment or exam • A failing grade in the course • Removal from the course • Referral for disciplinary actions beyond the above sanctions

Student files appeal with division chair. Division chair/dean attempts resolution

Student accepts decision

College President/ designee has 15 business days to resolve.

Student may submit written appeal to College Appeals Board if no resolution is achieved after 15 business days 26

Appeals in Cases of Alleged Violation of Student Academic Rights and Grade Appeals

Informal Appeal (discretionary) Student attempts to resolve issue with instructor and/or division chair/dean within 30 business days of discovery of occurrence or posting of grade

Student and instructor resolve matter

Formal Grievance If unable to reach resolution with instructor, student may request resolution by Division chair/dean within 30 business days of discovery or posting of grade.

Division chair/dean resolves issue satisfactorily.

Formal Appeal If student is not satisfied with resolution, or no resolution is issued, he/she has 15 busienss days to submit a written appeal to the College President or designee

College President or designee resolves issues satisfactorily.

If no decision is rendered within 15 business days or if the student does not accept the decision of the College President or designee, the student has (15) business days submit a written request for a hearing before the College Appeals Board

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College Appeals Board (CAB) Appeal Process

Appeal request is received If the CAB hears the case because of some question about the fact of the student’s guilt, it shall have the authority to impose a final decision as to guilt or innocence. If the CAB decides not to hear the case, the student has no further right of appeal within the system except in cases of suspension or expulsion.

CAB panel has 5 business days to decide whether it will consider appeal for hearing.

CAB panel decides not to consider the appeal. Student and parties are notified within 5 business days

CAB panel decides to consider the appeal. Chair requests statements from appropriate college officials within 5 business days. Statements due to CAB in 5 business days

CAB has 5 business days to review case and decide to grant hearing or make a decision based on the statements already submitted

CAB grants hearing; establishes procedures and schedule and notifies student and appropriate college officials

If the CAB hears the case because of an appeal of the severity of the sanction, it shall recommend an appropriate sanction to the appropriate college official(s). If the CAB does not support the sanction, the CAB shall submit its decision and a recommendation of appropriate sanction to the College President or designee who shall consult with the appropriate college official(s) involved to find an appropriate sanction. The final decision is the responsibility of the College President.

CAB does not grant hearing and issues decision based on the record. Student has no further right to appeal except in cases of suspension or expulsion

CAB makes final decision within 15 business days after decision to hear the case. The decision of the CAB is final and the student has no further right to appeal within the system except in cases of suspension or expulsion

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Behavioral/Nonacademic Violations Process Interim Measures Upon preliminary review, KCTCS reserves the right to enact any interim measures necessary. Such measures may include, but are not limited to:  referral to counseling services and other resources  rescheduling of exams or assignments (in conjunction with appropriate faculty)  no-contact letter  limited access to college facilities or organizations pending resolution of the report  temporary work reassignment  temporary class schedule reassignment  administrative leave during the investigation and resolution  report of the matter to local law enforcement in the jurisdiction in which the college is located  KCTCS further reserves the right to apply any other remedy that can be tailored to the involved individuals to achieve the goals of this policy

Complaint report submitted to the Chief Student Affairs Officer (CSAO)

CSAO investigates to determine if there is credible information of code violation.

(Preliminary Review)

Informal Response CSAO may issue verbal or written warning or require informal action

Case not pursued CSAO maintains documentation and Student is notified that matter is closed.

Formal response CSAO initiates conduct process

Student files written appeal to CAB within 30 days

Student complies with decided measures

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Appeal of Suspension or Expulsion to the KCTCS Board of Regents Before an appeal can be submitted to the Board of Regents, the student must exhaust all available remedies by using all applicable appeal processes in this Code.

Student submits appeal in writing to KCTCS Board of Regents in care of KCTCS President within 30 calendar days from the completion of the final applicable appeal process

KCTCS President forwards appeal to Office of General Counsel for review

The appeal shall be heard by a three-person panel (appointed by the KCTCS President) consisting of the KCTCS Vice President responsible for Student Services, the Chair of the Education Committee of the KCTCS Board of Regents, and one of the student members of the KCTCS Board of Regents.

Reference Article III, Section 4.E.ii, of the KCTCS Code of Student Conduct.

A three-person panel conducts a review and makes a recommendation to the Board of Regents

Board of Regents reviews and votes upon recommendation

Student is notified of final decision in writing by Office of General Counsel

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