Online Adjunct Faculty Handbook

Welcome to the world of online learning at Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ). Whether you are a full-time faculty member or an adjunct, this handbook has been designed to help orient you to the College and the services it provides to support online course development and online teaching.

Online courses enable the College to extend its teaching services and to enrich its diverse community of students. Mindful of the fact that many, if not most, faculty have teaching responsibilities both on campus and online, this handbook is intended to serve as an easy-to-reference informational tool. As such, it supplements, but does not replicate the Faculty Handbook, which is currently under revision.

The College Catalog, which contains the College calendar, student policies, program information and course descriptions, is an invaluable reference for all faculty. Copies are available in the registration office at each College campus and Center. It is also available online at http://www.fccj.edu/catalog/.

The Administrative Procedures Manual, available in each College library and Campus President’s office, defines College policies and procedures. It is also available online at http://www.fccj.edu/policies/index.html.

Distance Learning Philosophy and Mission

Distance learning is an integral part of FCCJ that promotes student success through innovative teaching, learning and technology.

The policies and procedures in this manual are based upon certain assumptions:

On-campus, traditional courses do not meet the needs of all students. Some people, due towork schedules, family commitments, etc., are better served by alternative approaches.

Faculty members are essential to the success of distance learning at FCCJ. Faculty bear responsibility for the academic quality of the distance learning experience and function as facilitators, coaches and tutors for distance learners.

Distance education at FCCJ is student-centered and student-focused. All policies and procedures are designed to meet student needs and promote student success.

Distance learning courses are not an “easy way out” for faculty. In a traditional, classroom-based course, the faculty has professional responsibilities commensurate with the students, and this philosophy also characterizes online instruction. In online courses, faculty must be willing and able to communicate with students via telephone, e-mail, letters and/or personal conference.

Distance learning courses are not "an easy way out” for students. Course requirements for distance learning courses are designed to be the equivalent of the same course taught on campus, and students must be highly motivated and well organized to complete these courses independently and successfully.

Performance Expectations and
Standards of Employment

Online Adjunct Expectations

Respond to email and phone requests from students within a 24-hour period, except on weekends and holidays. Notify your students and the Distance Learning Office (DLO) if you plan to go out of town, or will be unavailable for an extended period of time, that would prevent you from responding to students and DLO within a 24-hour period.

Respond to emails and phone calls from the DLO within a 24-hour period, except on weekends.

Meet all reasonable deadlines for administrative paperwork set by the Distance Learning Office and Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ). This includes book adoption, attendance verification, final grades, and other deadlines.

Teach the course for the complete session dates, as specified in the course registration system. For example, if class is scheduled Sept. 3 – Dec. 20, 2002, class should be conducted during that entire time period, and not be conducted outside of those dates.

Permit only registered and paid students to access your course account. You will be expected to check your class roster in Artemis at least every other day during the first two weeks of the session, and after each subsequent drop and withdrawal periods, specified in the College Calendar.

Maintain your faculty web page on the FCCJ server with the required information.

Ensure that you have access to a working computer and Internet connection. Have a back-up plan if your personal computer is not working.

Follow procedures of the DLO Alternate Site Testing program if your course requires proctored face-to-face testing. If you teach a course that requires a Florida state exit exam or FCCJ exit exam at the end of the term, you are responsible for administering the exit exam and following all exit exam procedures as defined by FCCJ Assessment Centers.

Participate in online adjunct mentoring activities throughout the semester, as announced.

Facilitate the administration of course evaluations and surveys for your students.

Follow the college course outline.

Uphold college academic standards and policies, and follow grading policy, specified in the College Catalog.

Submit a copy of the class syllabus to the DLO.

Make written agreements with each student assigned an Incomplete, and provide a copy of the agreement to the DLO.

Provide current contact information to the DLO for a period of one year from the end of the course.

Participate in an administrative evaluation of your course and instruction.

Use of Master Course Shells

All adjuncts who teach from a pre-developed FCCJ Master Course Shell must use the Master Course Shell in its entirety.

Adjuncts are allowed to make standard changes to syllabus dates, faculty contact information, etc., within the Master Course documents.

Adjuncts will use the FCCJ Master Course Shell and the course materials solely for the purpose of teaching courses at FCCJ. The Course Shell and all content within are considered the property of FCCJ.

Adjuncts will be required to complete the Master Course Shell Evaluation form upon request. FCCJ encourages feedback on the shell content, format, and course activities. This information will be used to improve the specific Master Course Shell, and the overall Online Course Development Project and Online Adjunct Recruitment and Training processes in the future.

Online Adjunct Evaluations

Three types of evaluations are used to evaluate online adjuncts:

Student evaluations completed at end of term

Instructors are e-mailed a link to direct students to complete the class evaluation

Withdrawal surveys

The Distance Learning Office surveys students who withdraw from any distance learning class

Administrative review

Distance Learning Program Managers and/or Dean will conduct guided observations of each online class mid term. You will be notified of the dates for the review window.

Student Reviews

Online classes are evaluated by students through an online questionnaire through Instructional Assessment System (IAS), developed by the University of Washington. Using the IAS form, survey “links” are created for each participating course section. IAS generates individual course section reports, including question results and student comments. Individual reports are sent as .html attachments to faculty for review and are used by the Distance Learning Office and faculty members to develop a plan for course improvement. Faculty are also surveyed about their experience with the instrument and with the process.

Adjunct Workload and Compensation

An adjunct faculty member is an unranked part-time teacher appointed on a semester or term basis. Adjunct faculty should have at least a master’s degree and several years of teaching and/or work experience. They have duties associated with teaching and do not assume other responsibilities of full-time faculty except as an associate adjunct faculty member or by designation of the Dean or Program Manager.

Adjunct Load

Adjuncts can teach up to 26 workload units per calendar year (Fall, Spring, Summer)

Online Class Size - First time online instructors are capped at 20 per class; otherwise standard allocations are followed for all FCCJ courses.

Check http://www1.fccj.edu/curriculum for individual course outlines and approved course allocations

Compensation

$500 per unit (credit hour)

Adjunct Teaching Contracts

The part-time contract is for one term at a time, and usually is for teaching one or two classes. Adjuncts may teach 26 workload units per calendar year.

Hiring Process

Once you have been interviewed and meet the requirements outlined to teach as an adjunct for FCCJ Distance Learning Office, your application will be submitted to the Human Resources Department for processing. HR prepares the contracts, maintains the contract database, and issues payroll authorizations to the Accounting Office as appropriate. Contracts are issued on an as-needed basis. There is no guarantee that a contract will be issued in subsequent semesters or sessions.

Reporting Structure

Online adjunct faculty members report to the Dean or Instructional Program Manager of the Distance Learning Office. The support staff in the Distance Learning Office, as well as Online Adjunct Mentors provide support to adjunct faculty members to assist with the administration and management of the online courses, student grading, textbook orders, offsite testing, etc.

Adjunct Faculty Personnel File

New adjunct faculty members must complete the appropriate tax and employment paperwork prior to beginning their initial course assignment. This paperwork includes:

Completed Employment Application for Part-time Adjunct Instructor (Available online)

Transcript Request Form(s)

Copy of Drivers License and Social Security Card

U. S. Department of Justice I-9 Form

IRS Form W-4 (2003)

You must show a current valid passport, or a valid driver’s license and original social security card (other options are also available).

Online Adjunct Orientation

An online orientation to the Distance Learning Office for new adjunct faculty members is provided with the Welcome Package upon hire. This orientation provides useful information for all newly hired adjuncts related to the Distance Learning Program at FCCJ, adjunct resources and responsibilities, etc. For more information, visit:

http://web.fccj.edu/~kbennett/adj_handbook/dl_orientation.html

College Support for Online Teaching

Learner Support Center (LSC)

The Learner Support Center (LSC) provides coordinated support for distance learning students. The LSC also provides support for faculty and staff with hardware or software problems. This centralized support center, combining the former Help Desk, College-wide Information Center and Advisors for distance learning students is expected to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week when justified by demand.

Currently, under the direction of Melanie Clark and with the support of Lillie Hookfin and Sheryl Williams, the LSC is located at the Deerwood Center in Room E-1500. Support is provided 78 hours per week to faculty, staff and students, wherever they may be. Current hours of operation are:

Monday-Thursday	7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. ET
Friday	7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
Saturday	9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET
Sunday	1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

The LSC can be reached at:

Technical Helpdesk Support	904.632.3151
Distance Learner Advising	904.646.2300
Information Center	904.646.2300
Toll-Free Voice	1.877.633.5950
FAX	904.997.2698
Toll-Free FAX	1.888.873.1145
E-mails:	helpdesk@fccj.edu advisor@fccj.edu info@fccj.edu

For more information about the LSC, contact Melanie Clark by e-mail: mclark@fccj.edu or by phone at 904.997.2728.

Distance Learning Office (DLO)

The Distance Learning Office (DLO), as part of the LSC, helps support online learning for both faculty and students. Listed below are the major activities coordinated by the office as it works in cooperation with campuses and centers to support online courses. The general DLO number is 997-2654. For more information about the office, contact Maria Puzziferro, Associate Dean, by e-mail: mpuzzife@fccj.edu.

What the Distance Learning Office Does

Before the Term Begins:

Scheduling Courses and Faculty Assignments

The DLO helps campuses coordinate course scheduling.

The DLO maintains past enrollment data on distance learning courses and makes recommendations to Deans, Associate Deans and Program Managers on course offerings and number of sections.

The DLO encodes distance learning courses and initiates changes to encoding upon campus request.

The DLO works with faculty to ensure that encoding information, specifically schedule notes, are correct.

The DLO works with faculty to coordinate the information on faculty web pages.

Marketing of Courses and Programs
The DLO helps advertise distance learning courses through various means. The DLO acts as the point of contact with the FCCJ Marketing Department on publicity and coordination of the print schedules.

A wealth of resources for prospective and current students on the FCCJ Distance Learning Web site is maintained and updated each term by the DLO. See http://www.distancelearning.org/.

The DLO also updates FCCJ course offerings for other Web-based sites including the Florida Community College Distance Learning Consortium and the Southern Regional Electronic Campus. The DLO also maintains program listings in academic directories such as Peterson’s and Barron’s.

Contact the DLO with any ideas that will help market distance learning opportunities.

Textbook Orders & Course Materials
The DLO coordinates online and telecourse textbook orders for all campuses and centers supported by the DLO. The faculty is provided with a textbook order form, which should be completed and returned to the DLO by the established deadline. The DLO is the central point of contact for faculty for online and telecourse book adoptions, however, if you place a book adoption or revision with the bookstore, please be sure to notify the DLO so that correct information is provided to students who may request it. Access to the textbook order form is available online at http://www.distancelearning.org/faculty/course.htm.

Welcome Postcard
The DLO coordinates the mailing of reminder postcards sent to distance learning students before each term begins. Postcards remind students to contact their instructor before the official term start date for which they are registered.

General Questions

The DLO responds to student phone calls and emails regarding: registration, online courses, telecourses, overrides, textbooks, orientation meetings, testing, etc.

Faculty Orientation and Training

Adjuncts that live in the local Jacksonville are and are teaching an online course and/or telecourse for the first time are invited to an individual orientation meeting with DLO Program Manager. At this meeting, DLO procedures are reviewed and a tour of the DLO, LSC, and TV Production facilities offered.

The DLO hosts a welcome reception for faculty at the beginning of each term, as well as orientation programs throughout the term for both online and telecourse faculty. New and veteran faculty is always invited to attend.

The DLO, in cooperation with Professional Development, organizes and plans faculty workshops in Web page development, word processing and other topics. All workshops may be used for One-Step credit.

During the Term

Faculty & Student Support:

The DLO provides distance learning course information, updates and course changes on cable television, via a 24-hour telephone hotline (633-8309), and on the Distance Learning web page http://www.distancelearning.org.

The DLO works closely with the Learner Support Center (LSC) to act as a clearinghouse for student questions. The DLO will respond to students’ general distance learning questions, but refers all questions regarding academic content, course requirements and grading to the appropriate faculty member. It does not attempt to address instructional or academic content questions. All other student questions regarding college policies and services are either answered by the DLO staff or referred to the appropriate FCCJ office.

Class Rosters, Student Mailing Labels, and Grades:

Only upon request, hard copy distance learning class rosters are distributed through the DLO, including temporary and permanent rosters. You can always access your most current class roster via Artemis https://artemis.fccj.edu/employee/.

The DLO provides student mailing labels to faculty who are using DLO’s Alternate Testing Site services, and only upon request to other distance learning faculty. At the end of the drop/add period, the DLO will send student mailing labels to faculty using Alternate Testing Site services. These labels may be used to send test results, feedback on assignments, courses reminders and updates.

Instructors must complete the Drop for Non Attendance report using ARTEMIS within the first full week of the online class. All grade input will also be through ARTEMIS. It is important that faculty complete the administration requirements by the advertised timelines to prevent unnecessary errors and financial costs to the college.

Testing at Alternate Sites:

Upon request, the DLO will develop a testing schedule for alternate test sites to supplement instructor testing for online and telecourses. Alternate testing does not replace the testing sessions conducted by the instructor.

The DLO will provide alternate test site information to faculty. At the present time, alternate site testing is conducted during the same week the instructor is giving the test. Please use the following form when requesting Alternate Site testing services: http://www.distancelearning.org/faculty/exam.html.

Alternate test sites include:

North Campus:	Wednesday, 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., ET
NS Mayport:	Thursday, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., ET
Betty P. Cook Center:	Thursday, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 pm, ET
Deerwood Center:	Saturday, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., ET
Kent Campus:	Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., ET

The DLO schedules and trains test proctors for each alternate site. Test proctors are held accountable for ensuring test security and implementing stringent testing policies and procedures.

The DLO receives test materials from instructors and distributes them via proctors to appropriate alternate sites along with lists of students expected to take the tests at each site.

The DLO collates completed tests after the proctor returns from the alternate testing site, then sends the tests to the instructor for grading and mailing back to students. If the proctor experienced problems or noted individual concerns from students, faculty are promptly notified.

The DLO will provide information and support to faculty regarding remote testing options, such as the Consortium of College Testing Centers http://testing.byu.edu/NCTA/Consortium/

Student Surveys:

As part of the SACS recommendation criteria, the DLO will assist faculty with the coordination of surveying both on-site and online orientation sessions.

The DLO surveys all students who withdraw from distance learning courses each term. The purpose of this brief one-page survey is to determine why students withdraw from distance learning courses and what improvements the DLO could make to prevent these withdrawals and encourage student completion of the courses. The student withdrawal survey is mailed after the college's official withdrawal deadline for each session.

In fulfillment of SACS guidelines, at the end of each term, the DLO evaluates all distance learning courses. The purpose of this evaluation survey is to ascertain the reasons students enroll in distance learning and obtain student feedback on DLO services and support services. Online surveys are used, as well as mail surveys.

The DLO summarizes the survey data and prepares reports for Campus Deans, Associate Deans and Program Managers. These reports are used for recommendations for course and program improvements. Technical Delivery & Support

The DLO will help route students’ technical problems to the LSC for resolution.

The DLO will assist faculty in obtaining distance learning course assistance from the technical areas.

Library Services

Campus libraries provide access to a wealth of printed, multimedia and online resources tailored to support the curriculum. The libraries have over 170,000 books, 6,600 videos and DVDs, and hundreds of CD-ROMs and other multimedia resources. All the libraries have computers with Internet access to many specialized periodical and reference databases, Ebooks, and the online statewide catalogs of all Florida community college and State University System libraries, which will be merging into a shared Library Management System in 2003. Librarians are available to assist faculty and students with their research in the library and to provide library research instruction to classes and other groups.

For off-campus users, the library Web page http://www.fccj.edu/library provides many of the same services as the physical libraries. Using the library Web page, students and faculty can search for and request books online, access full-text journal articles, Ebooks, and link to other library information and resources. Off-campus reference assistance is available through the “Ask-a-Librarian” email form and over the phone.

Faculty currently on contract may check out print materials for the regular loan period of two weeks and may renew the material if another patron does not request them. Certain materials may be checked out for the term with the approval of the campus librarian. All materials must be returned at the end of the term during which they are checked out. The libraries also provide intercampus and interlibrary loan services, including online requesting of materials through LINCCSearch, the statewide community college library catalog. Instructors may have materials placed on reserve by making arrangements at least three days in advance of releasing the reserve list to students.

All campus libraries provide instruction in the use of these resources. Call any campus library for information on scheduling library orientations for your students. For additional information concerning online services consult http://www.distancelearning.org/virtuallibrary/index.html.

Learning Centers

Instructional Support For Distance Learning Students

Distance learning students may access http://www.fccj.edu/current/learningcenter/index.html and the links to FCCJ campus Learning Centers’ pages to find helpful academic Internet Web sites and study skills resource pages.

Skills Tutor at http://www.skillstutor.com/ is an excellent interactive web-based instructional program, which offers extensive review and practice material in English, math, reading, biology, chemistry, and physical science to FCCJ students.

A distance learning student wishing to be entered into Skills Tutor should contact the Learner Support Center toll free at 1.877.633.5950, locally at 904.646.2300, or by e-mail advisor@fccj.edu with his/her name, social security number, and the title and reference number of his/her class to receive a user ID, password, site number, and be entered into Skills Tutor.

Each campus has a Learning Center where students will find free professional and peer tutoring in a wide variety of subjects (time and day schedules viewable at http://www.fccj.edu/current/learningcenter/index.html). Additionally, students may augment the free tutoring with self-paced computer instructional programs, videos, handouts and audiotapes. Students may also take practice tests and use learning materials to prepare for the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) or the new General Knowledge Test that is required for future teachers.

Assessment

If you plan on using on-campus testing, online course instructors are required to administer their own tests—at least one testing session per test. While the DLO hires test proctors to staff the alternate test sites, this does not replace instructor testing. Many students prefer to take their tests solely with their instructors. Please note that DLO Alternate Site Testing is not available during holiday weeks (i.e. Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, etc.).

Each of FCCJ’s four major campuses has an Assessment and Certification Center which faculty may use to give make-up tests to students who were scheduled for, but missed, attendance at alternate site and instructor-led testing sessions. To use the service, the instructor submits a form identifying each test and provides the Center with copies of the test and a list of students needing make-ups. The instructor should give students a date by which make-ups are to be completed. More specific information is provided on the Center’s Web site http://www.fccj.org/assessment/, or contact any one of the Centers for more specific information, including obtaining a faculty “Instructional Testing Request” form.

Additionally, the College offers support for faculty desiring additional security for the final examinations of students taking online courses who reside in areas remote from the College. To accomplish this, check the FCCJ Assessment and Certification Center Web site under “Remote Site Assessment.” Remote site assessment services provide the student with the opportunity to attend FCCJ from anywhere in the world. Assistance in identifying remote sites is available through the Consortium of College Testing Centers http://testing.byu.edu/NCTA/Consortium/. It must be determined whether the faculty member or the student will arrange the actual testing site. However, the FCCJ faculty member will need to know the remote site proctor’s name and title, address, telephone number and e-mail address, generally at least three weeks before the scheduled assessment date. Forms to assist in this process are available on FCCJ’s Assessment and Certification Web site: “Remote Site Proctor Instructions” http://www.distancelearning.org/testproctor.html and “Remote Site Examination Cover Sheet” http://www1.fccj.edu/assessment/remotcvr.htm.

Assessment Centers
Downtown	904.633.8388
Kent	904.381.3491
North	904.766.6708
Open (URC)	904.632.5009
South	904.646.2040

Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism

This section contains descriptions of the standards of conduct to which students must adhere and the penalties that may be imposed for the violation of those standards. Students enrolled in any degree, diploma or certificate program are subject to federal and state laws, respective county and city ordinances, and all rules and regulations of the College.

Academic dishonesty is considered a serious offense and is expressly prohibited. This policy includes all course assessment, related assignments, and all standardized tests (e.g. CPT, CLAST, CAT). Such dishonesty includes:

cheating, which is defined as the giving or taking of any information or material with the intent of wrongfully aiding oneself or another in academic work considered in the determination of a course grade or the outcome of a standardized assessment;

plagiarism, which is defined as the act of stealing or passing off as one’s own work the words, ideas or conclusions of another as if the work submitted were the product of one’s own thinking rather than an idea or product derived from another source; or

any other form of inappropriate behavior which may include, but is not limited to falsifying records or data, lying, unauthorized copying, tampering, abusing or otherwise unethically using computer or other stored information, and any other act or misconduct which may reasonably be deemed to be a part of this heading.

Following discussion with the student, the faculty member may take one or more of the following actions:

Verbally warn the student that continuation or repetition of misconduct of this nature may be a cause for further disciplinary action.

Require the student to retake the test or rewrite the assignment

Require the student to withdraw from the course

Fail the student for the assignment

Fail the student for the course

Refer the student to the Campus Dean of Student Success for possible suspension or dismissal.

Any student alleged to have committed any act of academic dishonesty as defined herein, shall be entitled to due process as defined in District Board of Trustees Rule 6Hx7-2.18 (http://www1.fccj.org/policies/boardrules/2-18.doc), prior to the administration of disciplinary action including suspension and dismissal.

Student Discipline

Violations of published laws, ordinances, or rules and regulations should be reported to the appropriate supervisor. Prior to any disciplinary actions taken, students are entitled to procedural due process. This means that students shall be provided reasonable notice of the charges, a general time frame for resolution, and an opportunity to present their side of the controversy.

Disciplinary action, unless otherwise provided by law, may include fines, the withholding of diplomas, certificates or transcripts (pending compliance with rules or payment of fines), restitution, warning, and/or the imposition of probation, suspension or permanent dismissal.

The College President, Executive Vice President, Campus President or an appropriate designated College officer may, without a hearing, temporarily order the removal from College property of individuals charged with a suspendible offense that is deemed to present a clear and present danger to the welfare of the College. Students ordered removed will be required to remain off College property until a hearing is provided regarding the matter. In the event of the temporary removal, a written notice of a hearing to be held within 10 days of the date of the letter will be mailed (certified mail, return upon receipt requested) to the individual.

The following violations of the code of conduct are outlined in the District Board of Trustees Rules 6Hx7-11.1 (http://www1.fccj.org/policies/boardrules/11-1.doc).

Any act or behavior on the part of the student, which tends to interfere with or otherwise disturb the orderly conduct, processes, functions and/or interests of the College, is expressly prohibited.

Such acts or behavior may include but are not limited to consumption of alcoholic beverages on campus or at a College function, illegal use or possession of drugs or narcotics, cheating in any form, sexual harassment, the use of indecent or abusive language, gambling, hazing as defined in Chapter 240.326, Florida Statutes, vandalism or destruction of property, falsification of records or statements to the College, unauthorized use of the College name, lewd or indecent conduct, violence against any member or guest of the College community, theft or willful destruction of College property or of the property of members of the College, interference with the freedom of movement of any member or guest of the College, obstruction of the normal processes and activities of the College community, deliberate interference with the rights of others, violation of a federal or state law, a county or city ordinance, repeated offenses of a less serious nature or any other offense reasonably deemed to be contrary to the best interest of the College.

All alleged student violations of the Board of Trustees Rules of the College are referred to the Office of Student Success on the appropriate campus. Any administrator, faculty member, guest of the College, law enforcement official or student may allege a violation against any student.

The Student Success Office on each campus will represent the Associate Vice President of Student Success in matters of student rights and responsibilities to ensure fair treatment of students, adherence to principles of due process and the timely resolution of all matters.

Guidelines for procedural due process are available in the Office of Student Success on each campus. Students who have questions or are in need of assistance should contact the Office of Student Success on their respective campus.

Final Examinations

Each faculty member who teaches a college credit course must administer a final examination during the exam time set aside by the College for each term or, at the professor’s discretion, must provide other appropriate instructional activity during the specified times in lieu of a final examination (APM 09-1102 http://www1.fccj.org/policies/apms/vol_IX/09-1102.doc). The final examination schedule will be developed and distributed College-wide each term by the Registrar and posted in the faculty Artemis portal. Each examination period for the fall, spring and summer sixteen (16) week term will be designated to meet for a two-hour block of time. The examination period for all remaining sessions less than sixteen weeks (and weekend only classes) will be scheduled the last class meeting.

Any student, who is scheduled for four examinations in one day, will be permitted to reschedule one of the four examinations. The student must request a rescheduled exam through the appropriate Campus President. The Campus President will notify the instructor concerned if a final examination is to be rescheduled consistent with this reschedule provision.

Grading Systems

Florida Community College at Jacksonville’s grading system is designed to evaluate the performance of students as fairly and equitably as possible.

College Credit Grading System

Letter grades will be assigned for courses as follows.

A = Excellent
B = Good
C = Average
D = Poor
F = Failure
FN=Failure due to attendance

NP = No credit earned in course (discontinued as of Fall term, 2003).
W = Withdrawal
I = Incomplete
X = Audit

Course Audits

Students may elect to audit a college credit course by completing the audit form. Students may not change from credit to audit or from audit to credit after the drop deadline. A grade of "X" will be assigned for all courses taken in audit status.

No credit will be awarded and fees for college credit courses taken on an audit basis are the same as those taken on a college credit basis.

Courses taken for audit do not count as hours enrolled for the following areas: veteran certification, financial aid awards, social security certification, international student enrollment requirements or early admission program enrollment requirements.

Academic Misconduct

Cheating will not be tolerated. The faculty member’s responsibilities in this regard are outlined in detail in Appendix B—Academic Misconduct. The adjunct faculty member, upon discovering that a student has committed an act of academic misconduct, has the authority to initiate academic misconduct proceedings against the student.

Adult Studies Grading System

Letter grades will be assigned for courses as follows.

S = Satisfactory*
NG = No grade**
W = Withdrawal

*This grade may only be awarded to a student who has successfully completed the requirements for the course.
**A student registered in an adult basic education class who has not successfully completed the requirements within one term will receive an NG (no grade).

Postsecondary Adult Vocational Programs Grading System

The grading system is designed to evaluate the performance of a student as fairly and equitably as possible. Several postsecondary programs assign only S, U, W grades or I. Letter grades will be assigned for courses as follows.

A — Excellent
B — Good
C — Average
D — Poor
F — Failure
S — Satisfactory
U — Unsatisfactory
I — Incomplete
W — Withdrawal

GED Grading System

The grading system is designed to evaluate the performance of students as fairly and equitably as possible. Letter grades will be assigned for courses as follows:

S = Satisfactory*
NG = No grade
W = Withdrawal

*This grade may only be awarded to a student who has successfully passed the appropriate portion(s) of the General Educational Development diploma.

Adult High School Grading System

The grading system is designed to evaluate the performance of students as fairly and equitably as possible. Letter grades will be assigned for courses as follows:

A = 90 percent - 100 percent
B = 80 percent -   89 percent
C = 70 percent -   79 percent
D = 60 percent -   69 percent
F = below 60 percent
I = Incomplete
NG = No grade*
W = Withdrawal
S = Satisfactory**

*A student registered in a high school class who has not completed all of the course requirements will receive an NG (no grade).

**This grade may be awarded only to a college preparatory student who has completed the requirements for the course.

Incomplete Grade ("I")

The primary use of the "I" grade is to permit a student to complete academic work that s/he was unable to complete during an academic term, due to reasonable non-academic grounds. The issuance of the "I" grade is the decision of the course instructor. The course instructor may ask the student to furnish documentation verifying the grounds for the student’s request for an "I" grade. The course instructor is not obligated to issue an "I" grade.

In order to be eligible for an "I" grade the student must be passing the course at the time of the request, and have completed a minimum of 70% of the course work. The "I" grade shall remain in effect no longer than one calendar year from the date of the request for an "I" grade. The student and course instructor shall mutually agree upon the required course work necessary to earn a grade in the course and remove the "I" grade. Upon successful completion of the required course work, the course instructor will initiate a "change of grade form" with the new grade earned to replace the "I" grade. If the required course work is not successfully completed within the one calendar year, the "I" grade will automatically convert to an "F" grade. Students cannot reregister for the courses in which they receive an "I" grade.

Grade Forgiveness Policy

The forgiveness policy allows students to repeat a course in an attempt to improve the grade. Students can ONLY repeat a course where a grade of D, F or NP was earned and can only repeat that course twice. Students cannot repeat a course where a grade of A, B or C was earned. Except for grades of W, NP, X or I, the grade received as a result of their last attempt will be the grade computed in the grade point average. However, all courses attempted will appear on the transcript. The forgiveness policy does not apply to courses repeated after the term in which the A.A. degree is awarded. If students do repeat a course, there is no guarantee that a transferring institution, public or private, will accept the grade in the computation of the grade point average. Also, some forms of financial aid will not cover repeat courses.

Grade Changes

Once a grade of A, B, C, D, NP or F in a course has been reported to the registrar, it may be changed only:

upon recommendation of the professor who assigned the grade with approval of the appropriate Associate Dean , Faculty Program Coordinator, or Program Manager; or

upon recommendation by the appropriate Associate Dean, Faculty Program Coordinator, or Program Manager and approved by the Campus Instructional Dean when the professor who assigned the grade is no longer a member of the faculty.

Withdrawals

Students officially withdrawing from college credit courses will receive the grade of W (withdrawal). Except for those students enrolled in college prep courses*, students may withdraw without penalty from any course prior to the midpoint in the semester as shown in the College calendar. Students will be allowed only two withdrawals per course. After receiving two withdrawals, students will receive a grade of A, B, C, D, or F for that course.

*Withdrawal from a college prep class after the drop deadline constitutes one of two attempts to successfully exit that course. After the second attempt, students will be advised into the appropriate Adult Studies course or alternative remediation.

Standards of Progress

Noncredit Standards

In order to maintain eligibility for state and federal aid or veteran benefits, noncredit students must achieve satisfactory progress toward educational goals by receiving a satisfactory institutional evaluation at the end of the term. Grades of S or SI are considered satisfactory. Non-college credit students must maintain satisfactory attendance as specified by their professors. If satisfactory attendance is not maintained, financial aid and/or veterans’ benefits will be discontinued.

Adult High School Standards

FCCJ is dedicated to providing students with a high quality educational experience in an environment supportive of intellectual and personal development. The Adult High School Standards of Academic Progress were formulated to help assure quality and to clearly communicate the department’s minimum expectations of reasonable academic progress for our students. All students enrolled in an Adult High School course at FCCJ must meet the minimum requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress. A thorough review of these standards will be presented to each student during the orientation/ enrollment process.

In order to maintain satisfactory academic progress, students must maintain the following minimum standards each term they are enrolled:

Full-term enrollment	Completion requirement
1-3 courses	minimum 1 course
4-6 courses	minimum 2 courses

(NG, W, and I grades count as enrollments and non-completions.)

Students who do not meet the standard outlined above will initially be placed on academic warning. Students who are placed on warning or probation may avoid being placed into the next stage of the standard (i.e., probation or suspension) by maintaining the standard for the next term.

President’s List/ Dean’s List

Students who achieve academic excellence during a term are recognized by being placed on the College President’s or Dean’s lists. This is done at the completion of the fall and spring terms and in August for the summer terms. The criteria of eligibility for each list are listed below.

College President’s List

To qualify, students must have:

a minimum enrollment of at least three credit hours (excluding college preparatory classes);

a minimum of 12 credit hours earned at FCCJ (excludes transfer work);

an FCCJ cumulative GPA of 2.5;

a term GPA of 3.75-4.0 with no grade of I, NP, or W; and

Must be making satisfactory academic progress (see standards for student success).

Dean’s List

To qualify, students must have:

a minimum enrollment of at least three credit hours, (excluding college preparatory classes);

a minimum of 12 credit hours earned at FCCJ (excludes transfer work);

an FCCJ cumulative GPA of 2.5;

a term GPA of 3.5-3.74 with no grade of I, NP, or W; and

must be making satisfactory academic progress (see standards for student success).

Student Privacy

Pursuant to Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, students and their parents are advised of certain practices and procedures at Florida Community College at Jacksonville that relate to student records. Once students reach the age of 18 or are enrolled in a postsecondary program, parents no longer have any rights to student information under this act unless students give written consent to release the information to their parents or the parents provide evidence that students are dependents of the parents as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

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

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

The following records are maintained in students’ files: application for admission, transcripts from other colleges, academic history records and general correspondence. The following information about individual students is classified as "directory information" and will be released upon request to any person. Individual students or parents (if eligible) have a right to submit a request in writing to the custodian of student records that all or any part of the directory information NOT be released. The request to withhold directory information must be submitted annually.

name

address

major field of study

dates of attendance

degrees or awards received

All FCCJ faculty and staff are required to uphold the security, confidentiality and integrity of student records and to follow all relevant statutes in these regards.

Gordon Rule

Writing and Mathematics Requirements (State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.30 Ñ Gordon Rule):

The state of Florida requires that all students pursuing an Associate in Arts degree or other students planning to enter the upper division at a state university complete coursework that includes a specified amount of writing (24,000 words) and mathematics.

Writing: Florida Community College at Jacksonville has distributed the writing requirement throughout its general education core as follows: 12,000 words shall be completed in the two English composition courses from section A of communications, ENC 1101 English Composition I and ENC 1102 English Composition II; 3,000 words in one oral communications course from section B of communications; 7,000 words in two humanities courses (either two courses from section A or one course from section A and one course from section B); and 2,000 words in social sciences (any one course from section A). In all writing courses, a grade of C or better is required to meet the AA/AS degree requirements.

Mathematics: Students must complete six semester hours of mathematics coursework at the level of College Algebra or higher. For the purposes of this rule, a grade of C or higher shall be considered successful completion.

Religious Observances

The College shall reasonably accommodate the religious observances, practices and beliefs of individual students in regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and work assignments. Students who have a concern regarding the College’s implementation and/or interpretation of this rule shall have the right to formalize that concern through the general student appeal process.

It is the responsibility of students to notify instructors in writing in advance of absences to observe religious holy days in their own faith. Upon such reasonable notification, such absences shall be excused without penalty.

Students shall be responsible for material covered during the period of observance and shall be provided a reasonable time to complete make up assignments.

The College and its faculty, as appropriate, shall schedule major class assignments, major examinations and official ceremonies on other than major religious holy days whenever possible.

****Faculty Resources

Textbooks And Materials

Faculty members who wish to order textbooks and other instructional materials required to be purchased by their students must secure an appropriate adoption order form from the on-campus bookstore or their immediate supervisor. This form must be approved by the supervisor and forwarding to the campus bookstore.

Ordering adoption deadlines each year are April 15^th for Fall Term, October 15^th for Winter Term and February 15^th for Summer Term. These deadlines must be observed to ensure both availability of texts when the term begins as well as maximizing the value of students selling used texts. The bookstore will pay students, by contract, 50% of the retail cost of a used text being sold during “buy back” only if there is a need and the next semester’s textbooks have been timely adopted. Students purchasing used texts by contract save 25% in cost.

Textbooks to be used for a non-sequential, college credit course shall be selected by each faculty member from a list of textbooks agreed upon by the faculty who teach that course. The list of textbooks shall be developed by the respective departments on the individual campus and shall be reviewed as appropriate. A single textbook, or series of related textbooks, shall be used in each sequential college credit course, with the selection to occur by the professors on the individual campus who teach that course. The textbook selection will be reviewed as appropriate, and faculty may choose supplemental textbooks and materials as they deem appropriate.

A faculty member who requires a desk copy of a selected textbook or supplemental book must complete a request for textbook desk copy form that is supplied by the immediate supervisor. All desk copies are the property of FCCJ.

The bookstore, by contract, has the ability to obtain copyright clearances, pay appropriate royalties and locally print at FCCJ custom academic textbooks for faculty that can be spiral or tape bound. These custom academic textbooks can be cost effective, as they contain only selected chapters from multiple texts and/or faculty developed syllabus, course outlines and material.

Faculty are requested, where possible, to consider requiring publishers to assign separate ISBN numbers for texts, CD’s and Web passwords rather than “ bundling” the materials. Such bundling, in many cases, blocks the bookstore’s ability to “buy back” used textbooks from our students. This results in causing the selling students to lose 50% of their investment, and the next student a 25% premium to buy new text bundles. This is due to the fact that, without separate ISBN numbers, the bookstore can not “rebuild” a bundle as some CD’s and Web passwords can only by used by the initial student.

College System Access with Faculty ID and PW

As an FCCJ adjunct faculty member, you have a number of computing systems that allow you to enhance learning with technology. These resources include:

FCCJ Faculty E-mail account https://owa.fccj.edu

ARTEMIS https://artemis.fccj.edu/employee/

Faculty Web site on FCCJ server space http://www.fccj.edu/current/fac_staffweb/index.html

Artemis

ARTEMIS (Academic Resource Technology & Education Management Information System) is the College's primary interface, or portal, for faculty and students to conduct normal business. The system is Web-based and user friendly. It provides the following functions and links:

college calendar

college catalog

class schedules and rosters

instructor schedules

final exam schedule

class-specific URLs to syllabi or other online resources

grade input calendar

non-attendance and final grade processing

ARTEMIS may be accessed via the Web at https://artemis.fccj.edu/employee/. Due to the need for privacy and for the protection of sensitive information and transactions, ARTEMIS provides secure transactions and communications for faculty accessing instructor schedules, class rosters, and class-specific URLs to syllabi or other online resources. Because of the portal nature of ARTEMIS, each individual's view and access (what information they can see or actions they can invoke) is unique.

ARTEMIS is continuously being refined and improved. Although ARTEMIS is designed to be extremely intuitive and user friendly, there may still be occasions where assistance is required. Support is available by contacting the Learner Support Center (College-wide help desk) operated by Open Campus at extension 3151 while inside the College, and at (904) 632-3151 when calling from outside the College's phone system.

Libraries

FCCJ’s libraries, located on each of the four campuses and at the Nassau and Deerwood Centers, offer a full range of services to students and faculty. Materials are available in print, audiovisual, and computer-based formats. The libraries have Internet access (http://www.fccj.edu/library/) and more than 60 online reference databases. The online state-wide catalog includes indexes of the 28 community college libraries and the state university libraries (LINCC). Librarians and staff are available to assist patrons in the use of these materials. Materials can be accessed through LINCC, Intercampus Loan, and Interlibrary Loan. Telecourse materials, conference rooms, copiers and media production services are also available.

The LINCC Network

LINCC, a program of the State Board of Community Colleges, connects Florida's community college libraries to each other and to the world. The College Center for Library Automation (CCLA) operates the Library Information Network for Community Colleges (LINCC), an automated information system that connects Florida's 28 community colleges and their associated 63 campus libraries. LINCC contains information about the collections of each Library and provides a gateway to important literature and information sources in all subject areas. This world of electronic information is available to Florida's nearly one million community college students and faculty. LINCC may also be accessed online http://www.fccj.edu/library/.

Borrowing and Reserving Materials

Faculty members may check out Library materials for the regular loan period. Certain materials may be checked out for the term with the approval of the campus Library. The libraries reserve the right to recall material when necessary. Prior to the end of each term, faculty and staff will be notified of outstanding materials, and all materials must be returned at the end of the term during which they were checked out. Replacement costs will be charged for lost materials.

Faculty members who have made special arrangements may have materials placed on reserve. Reserve materials are circulated for a period less than the regular loan period. Arrangements should be made a minimum of three days in advance before releasing the reserve list to students. Faculty and students may check out all audiovisual software for classroom use or for viewing in the Learning Resource Center.

Instruction by Librarians

Instruction by librarians at each of the campus libraries is available for faculty and students. These sessions afford students the opportunity to learn the arrangement of the Library, the varied services available, and the materials available and how to use them. Check with a librarian at the appropriate Library to schedule classes.

Telecourses

Florida Community College at Jacksonville delivers college credit courses to homes, jobs, campuses and other convenient sites through telecourses. The telecourse airing schedule is specified in each course syllabus. Telecourse students may go to a campus for an initial meeting or to take exams. Telecourse students have the option of taking tests on campus with their professor or at alternate test sites. Telecourse content and college credit hours are equivalent to on-campus courses. Each course is a combination of televised lessons, study guide and textbook readings, written assignments, faculty interaction and testing. For information contact the Distance Learning Office at 997-2654.

Online Courses

For students with many demands on their time, FCCJ offers another alternative to on-campus college credit courses. Students can access the Internet for a variety of courses, such as English composition, sociology, psychology and others. Students follow the professor’s online syllabus and lectures, read assigned text material, may participate in online discussions with their instructor and fellow students, complete and deliver research papers, and take tests. Students may contact professors and staff via e-mail. For additional information, visit the Distance Learning Web page at www.distancelearning.org or call for distance learning advising at the Learner Support Center, 904-646-2300.

World Wide Ready courses offered as “online” require no time and place bound meetings. i.e. everything is available to the student without his or her attendance on the FCCJ campus. Some other FCCJ courses identified in the student schedule may require some time and place bound meetings. Students need to contact the course instructor and read the class schedule carefully to learn the requirements for each course. FCCJ is moving in the direction of identifying “online” courses as only those that require no time and place bound commitments by the students.

Professional Development

Florida Community College University

Florida Community College University (FCCU) offers courses and programs to all FCCJ faculty and staff. These specially designed programs are intended to enhance the job performance and career growth of all College personnel.

Courses may vary by term, but current courses offered are

· Technology Workshops

· Teaching Online

· Personal Leadership

· Coaching Others for Success

· Linking Performance to Strategic Goals

· Supervisor Training

In addition, workshops covering a wide variety of topics are offered throughout the year. Consult The Office of Professional Development Website at http://www.fccj.edu/friends/strategicres/profdev/index.html, or call (904) 632-3114.

Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning

The Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning is a 9 member, faculty-driven body dedicated to promoting, enhancing and honoring teaching and learning. It is physically located at the Downtown Campus. At the campus level, the Center is represented by campus-based steering committees chaired by members of the college- wide Steering committee. Faculty members from each discipline on the campus are invited to serve. Budgets are provided to support planned activities. Those activities include workshops, seminars, awards, and mini-grants to support classroom research and innovative learning strategies. The Center also sponsors the International Conference on College Teaching and Learning each spring. The College provides funds to support all full- and part-time faculty who wish to attend. Further information about the Center may be found on its Website at www.teachlearncenter.org, and specific information about the current year’s international conference may be found at www.teachlearn.org.

Southeastern Center for Cooperative Learning

The Southeastern Center for Cooperative Learning was established to provide an on-going effort to promote, research, explore and disseminate the practices, theories and strategies of cooperative learning within FCCJ and to other institutions. The Center, a branch of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, is located at Downtown Campus. Training seminars are held at a variety of locations. The Southeastern Center works to provide a "model" center to be adapted to other educational institutions.

In July of 1996 the FCCJ Board of Trustees gave approval to institutionalize the Center and fund its activities from the College’s operating budget. The Southeastern Center for Cooperative Learning provides multiple levels of cooperative learning and training, follow-up support, and research on the impact of cooperative learning on teaching and learning.

Applied Center for Instructional Design (ACID)

The Applied Center for Instructional Design (ACID) is an extensive resource for FCCJ faculty who wish to develop or improve online, traditional, or hybrid courses. Individual assistance is available from information technology experts and instructional designers. Help is available in every aspect of the creation and delivery of top-quality courseware. It is physically located in the Martin Center for College Services.

Mission: The Mission of the Applied Center for Instructional Design is to facilitate the development of extremely high quality courseware and to assist faculty in the development of skills related to courseware design, development, and delivery through one-to-one projects.

Services:

Resource brokering: Connecting you with experts to help you achieve your instructional goals

Course design: Creating effective technology-enhanced and distance-learning courseware utilizing your existing course content

Ancillary materials preparation: Converting conventional teaching materials, including photographs and visual aids, into archived digital images for instructional use

One-on-one help with online courses: Providing assistance on a one-on-one basis with digital-technology experts and/or instructional designers

Enhance current online courses: Developing ways to present an existing online or hybrid course more effectively

Improve the delivery of content: Augmenting your current course content using the latest technology

Course packaging: Helping you to improve the look, consistency and feel of your course

Pedagogy of online instruction: Supplying new teaching strategies and learning activities for the distance-learning environment

Software Supported by the ACID

•WebCT	•BlackBoard
•FrontPage	•Macromedia Flash
•Macromedia Director	•Macromedia Authorware
•Macromedia Dreamweaver	•PowerPoint
•Adobe Premiere	•Adobe LiveMotion
•Adobe InDesign	•Photoshop
•Adobe AfterEffects	•Classroom Performance System (CPS)

Hardware Supported by the ACID

•Video cameras	• Video editing suite
• PC’s and Macs	• Scanners and printers
• CD burners	• DVD burners

For further information about ACID, visit http://acid.fccj.edu.

Computer Labs

There are one or more open computer laboratories on each campus for use by FCCJ students enrolled in courses requiring computer-based assignments outside of class. These labs are heavily utilized by students taking courses with lab assignments, but are available to all students.

Learner Support Center

Currently, the LSC is located at the Deerwood Center in Room E-1500. It may be reached by e-mail or by phone at (904) 632-3151. Support is provided 78 hours per week to faculty, staff and students, wherever they may be. Current hours of operation are:

Monday-Thursday, 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. ET

Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

APPENDIX A

Academic Freedom and Responsibility

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

As citizens of the United States, members of this academic community enjoy the same basic freedoms, rights and responsibilities as all other citizens of this nation.

As teachers, members of this academic community should experience those freedoms and exercise those responsibilities related to the educational process. In order for this to take place, teachers should be free to research, to publish findings in the spirit of free inquiry, and to exercise academic responsibility in the classroom in examining and discussing subjects in a spirit of freedom and with a sense of direction.

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

APPENDIX B

Due Process Procedures

Academic Dishonesty, Discipline, etc.

These procedures contain regulations for dealing with alleged student violations of College standards of conduct in a manner consistent with the requirements of due process. It also contains descriptions of the standards of conduct to which students must adhere and the penalties which may be imposed for the violation of those standards.

Attendance at FCCJ is a privilege and in order to maintain the College ideals of scholarship, character and a commitment to excellence, the right is reserved by the College to establish rules and regulations to further these ideals which require student compliance for the welfare of the College community. These rules and regulations are found in Board Rule 6Hx7-11.1. It is the intent of the College that students understand that individual rights involve associated responsibilities and that individual rights must be viewed in relationship to the health, safety and welfare of the College community.

Students enrolled in any degree, diploma or certificate program are subject to federal and state laws, respective county and city ordinances and all rules and regulations of the College.

Student Academic Dishonesty Procedure

Academic dishonesty is considered a serious offense and is expressly prohibited. THIS POLICY INCLUDES ALL COURSE ASSESSMENT, RELATED ASSIGNMENTS AND ALL STANDARDIZED TESTS (e.g. CPT, CLAST, CAT). Such dishonesty includes:

any other form of inappropriate behavior which may include but is not limited to falsifying records or data, lying, unauthorized copying, tampering, abusing or otherwise unethically using computer or other stored information, and any other act or misconduct which may reasonably be deemed to be a part of this heading.

Any student alleged to have committed any act of academic dishonesty as defined herein, shall be entitled to due process as defined in District Board of Trustees Rule 6Hx7-2.18, prior to the administration of disciplinary action including suspension and dismissal.

Student Discipline Procedures

Violations of published laws, ordinances or rules and regulations may subject violators to appropriate disciplinary action by the College authorities.

Prior to any disciplinary actions taken, students are entitled to procedural due process. This means that students shall be provided:

reasonable notice of the charges,

a general time frame for resolution, and

an opportunity to present their side of the controversy.

The College President, vice president, campus president or an appropriate designated College officer may without a hearing temporarily order the removal from College property of individuals charged with a suspendible offense that is deemed to present a clear and present danger to the welfare of the College. Students ordered removed will be required to remain off College property until a hearing is provided regarding the matter. In the event of the temporary removal, a written notice of a hearing to be held within 10 days of the date of the letter will be mailed (certified mail, return upon receipt requested) to the individual.

The following violations of the code of conduct are outlined in the District Board of Trustees Rules.

Any act or behavior on the part of the student which tends to interfere with or otherwise disturb the orderly conduct, processes, functions and/or interests of the College is expressly prohibited.

All alleged student violations of the Board of Trustees Rules of the College are referred to the office of the campus student affairs dean. Any administrator, faculty member, guest of the College, law enforcement official or student may allege a violation against any student.

The student affairs deans on each campus will represent the associate vice president of student affairs in matters of student rights and responsibilities to ensure fair treatment of students, adherence to principles of due process and the timely resolution of all matters.

Guidelines for procedural due process are available in the campus dean of student affairs office. Students who have questions or are in need of assistance should contact the student affairs dean on their respective campus.

Student Appeals

Every reasonable attempt should be made to informally resolve any dispute between students and the College at the level at which the dispute arises. Recognizing that such matters cannot always be resolved informally, FCCJ provides a formal process through which students can appeal the application of certain College rules and regulations and the assignment of final grades. In all cases, it is the intent of the College to assure the fair and equitable treatment of students.

Students wishing to initiate a formal appeal should contact the campus dean of student affairs office. That office will provide the information and guidance necessary to initiate a student appeal.

Suspension, Termination or Cancellation of Enrollment

The College reserves the right to suspend, terminate or retroactively cancel the enrollment of students for disciplinary reasons.

Grievance Procedures

Grievance procedures are provided for students who believe that they have been unlawfully discriminated against, unfairly treated or sexually harassed.

Note: Appeals handled through the student appeals process are excluded from the grievance process.

Procedures

Such grievances shall be handled as follows:

Complaints against College employees shall first be directed to the employee alleged to have caused the complaint within six months following the alleged incident. In the case of alleged sexual harassment, students shall first discuss the complaint with the campus dean of student affairs. (If appropriate, the dean may designate another individual to discuss the matter with students.)

If the complaint cannot be resolved informally, then students shall present a formal grievance in writing to the campus dean of student affairs. This shall be done within 15 working days following verbal response from the College staff involved.

The campus dean of student affairs shall conduct a preliminary investigation and resolve the concern, if possible. If the charge is of a serious nature, the campus dean of student affairs will discuss the charge with the campus president and, if appropriate, the College counsel. Depending on the nature of the charge, the campus president will, after consultation with College counsel and the associate director of human resources, establish a process for resolving the issue. Care will be taken to guarantee that the matter is resolved equitably and that the due process rights of those involved are protected.

The recommendation resulting from the review process shall be submitted to the College President, who will render a final decision in a timely manner.

Student Appeals Procedures:

Florida Community College is committed to prompt and fair resolution of students concerns. The Student Appeals Procedure is the vehicle to resolving issues through mediation. The purpose of this procedure is to resolve student grievances pertaining to academic issues or other issues resulting from actions of faculty, staff and administrative members.

A student who feels he/she has a grievance should first seek to resolve the complaints by discussion with the specific faculty, staff or administrative member involved. A demonstration of good faith by all parties in attempting to resolve complaints should be paramount. If this fails to resolve the issue, the student may file a formal grievance. A student may discontinue the grievance process anytime.

Student Grievances MUST be filed on the campus where the alleged violation/dispute occurred.

Students having grievances should utilize the following guidelines:

Academic Grievance

An academic grievance relates to a complaint about a course or a program of study. Student academic grievances should first be referred to the campus Dean for Student Success or his/her designee. The campus Dean for Student Success or his/her designee, shall guide the student through the grievance process.

Step 1 - Informal Procedure

A student who has a complaint is first expected to resolve the complaint informally. The student should discuss his/her problem with the faculty or staff members involved and try to reach a mutually agreeable solution no later than the first fifteen (15) class days of the academic term immediately following the term in which the alleged grievance occurred. Grievances submitted after that date will not be considered. Upon notification of a complaint by the student, the faculty or staff member must meet with the student to discuss the complaint within ten (10) class days. In the event the faculty member refuses to meet with the student, the student shall meet with the appropriate Department Head. If the Department Head refuses to meet with the student, the grievance process will immediately move to the “Formal Procedure,” Step 2.

Step 2 - Formal Procedure

A formal grievance must be filed within ten (10) class days from the time of the conclusion of the Informal Procedure (Step 1),

The student will submit his/her grievance, in writing to the Dean of Liberal Arts or Workforce Development. Upon receipt of the grievance, the Dean will review the facts of the grievance and may conduct further inquiry. The Dean has ten (10) class days after receipt of the grievance to notify the student of his/her decision in writing.

If the Dean does not render a decision satisfactory to the student, the student may file a written appeal to the Campus Executive Dean within ten (10) class days of the Dean’s decision. The Executive Dean will submit the grievance to the Campus Appeals Committee within ten (10) class days, for consideration.

The following rules will apply:

The Campus Appeals Committee shall hear the case and forward its decision to the Campus President.

The hearing will be conducted by the Committee in an informal and expeditious manner.

The Committee will be provided with all prior relevant documents from both sides and may request additional information and/or seek further witnesses.

Only committee members, parties to the action and their advisors, selected by the student filing the grievance or the faculty member against whom the grievance is being filed, (drawn from among the student, faculty, and staff of the College) and witnesses testifying before the Committee shall be permitted in the hearing.

At the hearing, the student, the defendant, and witnesses for each party may testify, and may be questioned by committee members. The student and faculty/staff involved may ask questions only through the Committee, which will decide whether the questions are appropriate.

The Committee is empowered to rule on procedural matters and relevance of witnesses and/or evidence.

All hearings will begin within ten (10) class days from the time the Committee receives the grievance from the Executive Dean.

A tape recording or other record of the hearing shall be preserved for reference and review until the case has been finally resolved.

The Campus Appeals Committee shall arrive at a decision after all evidence has been heard and the parties have been dismissed. Only committee members who have been present for the entire hearing may vote on the case.

A majority vote of qualified members shall constitute a judgment.

The Campus Appeals Committee shall render a decision and forward the decision on to the Campus President. The Campus President shall review the decision of the Committee. The Campus President may accept, repeal, or amend the decision according to his/her best judgment. The actions of the Campus President shall occur within ten (10) class days of receipt of the decision by the Campus Appeals Committee. The decision of the Campus President cannot be appealed and is final.

Other Student Grievances

Any problem that occurs outside of a problem with a course(s) which is not related to the student’s program of study constitutes “non-academic grievances.” This includes financial aid concerns. Student non-academic grievances should first be referred to the Campus Dean for Student Success or his/her designee. The campus Dean for Student Success or his/her designee shall guide the student through the informal and formal grievance process. In the event the campus Dean for Student Success is a party of the student grievance, the campus Executive Dean shall appoint another professional staff member to serve as a guide for the informal and formal grievance process.

Step 1 - Informal Procedure

A student who has a complaint is first expected to resolve the complaint informally. The student should discuss his/her problem with the faculty, staff member, or student(s) involved and try to reach a mutually agreeable solution no later than the first fifteen (15) class days of the academic term immediately following the term in which the alleged grievance occurred. Grievances submitted after that date will not be considered. Upon notification of a complaint by the student, the faculty or staff member must meet with the student to discuss the complaint within ten (10) class days. In the event the faculty or staff member refuses to meet with the student, the student shall meet with the appropriate Department Head. If the Department Head refuses to meet with the student, the grievance process will immediately move to the “Formal Procedure,” Step 2.

Step 2 - Formal Procedure

A formal grievance must be filed within ten (10) class days from the time of the conclusion of the Informal Procedure (Step 1).

The student will submit his/her grievance in writing to the Campus Dean for Student Success. Upon receipt of the grievance, the Campus Dean for Student Success will review the facts of the grievance and may conduct further inquiry. The Dean has ten (10) class days after receipt of the grievance to notify the student of his/her decision in writing.

APPENDIX C

Sexual Harassment

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

Definition — 6Hx7–1.3 Definitions — 1.3

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

submission of such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or course progress,

submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment or course decisions affecting that individual, or

such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or educational experience, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work or educational environment.

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

Procedures for Addressing Alleged Discrimination, Unfair or Inequitable Treatment or Sexual Harassment

Grievances relating to alleged discrimination, unfair or inequitable treatment or sexual harassment shall be handled as follows:

Students having a complaint against College employees shall first direct their complaint to the employee, unless the complaint is of such a nature that the student is uncomfortable discussing the matter with the College employee. All student complaints should be communicated within three (3) months following the alleged incident. To initiate the formal grievance process, in the case of alleged sexual harassment, the student shall discuss the complaint with the campus dean of student success or the director of equal access/equal opportunity (equity coordinator). (If appropriate, the dean or director may designate another individual to discuss the matter with the student.)

If the complaint cannot be resolved informally, then the student shall present a formal grievance in writing to the campus dean of student success or the director of equal access/equal opportunity (equity coordinator). This shall be done within fifteen (15) class days after the alleged incident is reported to the dean or director.

The campus dean of student success or the director of equal access/equal opportunity (equity coordinator) shall conduct a preliminary investigation and resolve the concern, if possible. If the charge is deemed to merit further review, the campus dean of student success or director of equal access/equal opportunity (equity coordinator) will discuss the charge with the campus president and, if appropriate, the general counsel. Depending on the nature of the charge, the campus president will consult with the general counsel, and the executive vice president for instruction and student success. The matter will be resolved through procedures outlined in APM 02–1701 (Due Process for Career Employees) or APM 02–1702 (Due Process for Instructional, Professional and Administrative Personnel), whichever is appropriate.

The recommendation resulting from the review process shall be submitted to the College president, who will render a final decision in a timely manner.