Workforce Development
April 2016
Welcome to Alamance Community College!
It is important to us that your experience as a Workforce Development student at Alamance Community College be a positive one and that, as an ACC student, you represent yourself in a manner that brings credit to you and to your college. We encourage you to spend your time learning all you can while here, whether you are completing your high school requirements, acquiring or improving job skills, or taking classes based on personal interest.
At the same time, we are required to make you aware of the rules and regulations that govern student behavior at ACC. That's the primary purpose of this Workforce Development Student Handbook. At the very least, we encourage you to thumb through the section on "Student Rules, Regulations, and General Information" and to read those parts that may affect you. You are required to follow the rules and regulations whether you read them or not, so it should be important to you to know something about your rights and responsibilities at ACC.
No one will work harder than ACC's faculty and staff to ensure that your experience at ACC is productive. We want you to be successful. We want to make sure you get what you need while you're here. Let us know how we can help.
Gary Saunders, Vice President of Workforce Development
Alamance Community College
Alamance Community College Vision, Mission, Goals, and Values
VISION
Creating a premier educational gateway to economic and cultural vitality.
MISSION
To provide the educational programs and services of a comprehensive community college that respond to our diverse community needs and empower lifelong learners to participate in a global society.
GOALS
Promote student learning, access, and success through continuous improvement and innovation of our educational programs and services. Advance workforce and economic development of the community. Utilize physical, financial, and human resources in an accountable and effective way.
CORE VALUES
· Collaboration
We foster partnerships, connections and collegiality.
· Diversity
We reflect in our employees and processes the cultural awareness and inclusion embraced by the communities and individuals we serve.
· Excellence
We exceed stakeholder expectations with unwavering commitment to high quality.
· Integrity
We support our actions and reactions with a pledge that everything we do is consistent, ethical, honest, transparent and with demonstrated accountability.
· Learning
We are committed to continuous improvement as individuals and as an organization.
· Stewardship
We are committed to the optimal and sustainable use of our human, fiscal, and physical resources.
· Success
We facilitate student achievement by providing quality services that support educational programs taught by highly competent faculty.
Table of Contents
Welcome 2
ACC Mission & Purpose 3
Student Rules, Regulations, and General Information
Academic Skills Lab (Main Campus) 6
Acceptable Use Policy for Computer Workstations 6
Accidents see "Emergencies/First Aid"
Appeals & Due Process see "Student Rights/Responsibilities"
Assessment Center (Main Campus) 6
Attendance 7
Bookstore (Main Campus) 7
Calendar 8
Campus Security see "Security"
Cell Phone see "Telephone"
Certificate of Completion 8
Change of Student Information (Address, Phone) 8
Children on Campus 8
Communicable Disease see “Infectious/Communicable Disease”
Computers see "Acceptable Use Policy…" & "Use of Personal Computer Software"
Conduct, Student see "Student Rights/Responsibilities"
Costs see "Fees"
Counseling 8
Disability Access Services 8
Discrimination see "Nondiscrimination Statement"
Disease see "Communicable Diseases Policy"
Diversity see "Statement of Diversity Policy"
Dress Code 9
Drug/Alcohol Policies 9
Eating in the Classroom see "Food & Drink"
Emergencies/First Aid 9
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act 10
Fees 10
Financial Aid 11
First Aid see "Emergencies/First Aid"
Food & Drink 11
Fund-Raising Activities 11
GED and HiSET (High School Equivalency) Testing 11
Grades 11
Graduation (Adult High School and High School Equivalency) 12
Handicap Access see "Disability Access Services"
Holidays see "Calendar"
Inclement Weather 12
Infectious/Communicable Diseases 12
Insurance 13
Internet see "Acceptable Use Policy…" & "Use of Personal Computer Software"
Learning Resources Center (Main Campus) 13
Library see "Learning Resources Center"
Loitering Policy 13
Minors 13
Nondiscrimination Statement 13
Parking 14
Placement Tests 14
Records/Transcripts see "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act"
Refunds 14
Registration 14
Returned Check Fees see "Fees"
Security 15
Sexual Misconduct Policy 15
Smoking 18
Solicitation 18
Statement of Diversity Policy 18
Student Grievance Procedures see "Student Rights/Responsibilities"
Student Rights/Responsibilities 18
Suspension see "Student Rights/Responsibilities"
Telephone 23
Transcripts see "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act"
Transfer (from One Course to Another) 23
Use of Personal Computer Software 23
Weapons 23
Weather see "Inclement Weather"
Staff
Workforce Development Staff 24
Student Rules, Regulations, and General Information
Academic Skills Lab (Main Campus)
The Academic Skills Lab provides an open computer lab and tutorial services for individuals and groups. The lab provides access to and assistance with educational software designed to enable both curriculum and Workforce Development students to meet their course, degree, transfer, or career needs.
Acceptable Use Policy for Computer Workstations
General Principles
1. Access to resources on the campus network and the Internet is provided to support the research, educational, and administrative purposes of the College. All who use these services will do so responsibly, respecting the rights of other users, the integrity of the physical facilities, and all applicable laws and regulations.
2. Computer workstations and the campus network may be monitored to ensure that use is consistent with the mission of the College and with the purposes for which they are intended.
Responsible Use
1. Demonstrating common sense and courtesy by limiting online time and printing time to a maximum of one hour where workstations are shared.
2. Complying with all software license agreements and copyrights.
3. Refraining from the transmission or display of material that would be considered threatening, obscene, or harassing by the average person or by community standards.
4. Adhering to all College policies and all regulations in the Workforce Development Student Handbook related to the use of College computers.
5. Avoiding the use of College computer workstations for any profit-making activity.
6. Adhering to the acceptable use policies of any outside networks to which a user might connect.
7. Respecting the integrity of data contained on and the operation/maintenance of the networks.
Failure to comply with these statements of responsible use may result in disciplinary action and/or legal prosecution.
Assessment Center (Main Campus, Literacy Building)
The Assessment Center provides a variety of testing and other assessment services:
1. GED and HiSET High School Equivalency tests
2. Placement pre-assessments and ongoing assessments for the following Academic and Career Readiness programs: Adult Basic Education and ABLE, Adult High School, College Placement Test Preparation, English as a Second Language, and High School Equivalency Preparation.
Students requiring special assistance or accommodations during testing are required to notify the Coordinator of Special Needs and Counseling Services ahead of time.
The Assessment Process for Academic & Career Readiness
Adult Education programs at ACC:
• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
• Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE)
• Career College
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• ASE (Adult Secondary Education – includes Adult High School and High School Equivalency preparation such as GED, HiSET and TASC)
• Placement Test Preparation (preparing students for the college placement test)
What assessments are available for Academic and Career Readiness students?
• TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education)
• BEST Literacy (Basic English Skills Test)
• CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems)
All assessments are given to determine eligibility for adult education programs, to place learners at appropriate levels of instruction, to diagnose learners’ strengths and weaknesses, to monitor progress, and to certify learner mastery at specific levels of instruction. The assessment is timed and required for all individuals seeking enrollment into adult education programs available at ACC. The assessment will be used to appropriately place a student in classes based on the assessment results. ACC offers the assessment free-of-charge.
What academic areas does the assessment cover?
• TABE assessments may be given in the following areas: reading, math (computation and applied) and language. A locator is given to identify the proper level and form of the TABE assessment to be given. TABE is NRS approved for ABLE/ABE/ASE students. TABE is available computer, paper, large print and braille.
• BEST Literacy is a competency-based assessment that uses a variety of functional literacy tasks to measure adult English language learners’ ability to read and write in English. BEST Literacy is approved for ESL students.
• CASAS assessments may be given in the following areas: reading, math, and writing. This assessment is used exclusively in ESL at ACC.
When can I take the assessment?
Appointments are required for an assessment. Assessments may be individual and/or in groups.
Post-testing Requirements:
All students in programs funded by the North Carolina Community College System must be tested twice annually with an approved assessment. All students must demonstrate an increased score on an NRS –approved standardized assessment within a two year period, or their continued participation in Academic & Career Readiness will be subject to review.
Attendance
Regular class attendance is essential to academic progress, and students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. However, it is recognized that special circumstances such as death of a relative, serious illness, or personal emergencies may cause a student to be absent.
Absence from class for any reason does not relieve students from the responsibility for the performance of any part of their work. The student is responsible for initiating any request to make up work missed.
In Academic and Career Readiness classes, students who have four consecutive absences will be dropped. They may be re-admitted by the Assessment Specialist with the permission of the instructor. Students who are denied re-admission have the right to appeal the decision starting with the appropriate Academic and Career Readiness program coordinator for ABE, ABLE, AHS, ESL, or HSE. [For more information on the appeals process, see "Student Rights/Responsibilities."]
In Workforce Development non-Academic and Career Readiness classes, the College's general policy is to drop students who have four consecutive absences. In specific Workforce Development courses--typically those involving certification--more stringent attendance requirements may be followed, usually at the mandate of an outside certifying agency. Students must meet the attendance requirements as established by the instructor.
Students may be re-admitted by permission of the instructor. Students who are denied re-admission have the right to appeal the decision starting with the appropriate Workforce Development director. [For more information on the appeals process, see "Student Rights/Responsibilities." For information regarding the relationship of attendance to certification, see "Certificate of Completion."]
Bookstore (Main Campus)
A privately owned college bookstore is located on the main campus. It stocks a variety of student supplies such as pens, notebooks, pencils, etc.
For those Workforce Development courses that require books and supplies, the instructor will inform students on the first day of class whether those items are available in the Bookstore or in the classroom (as a convenience to students).
Calendar
Workforce Development does not operate on the same "Academic Calendar" or semester schedule as that published in the college catalog for the curriculum/credit/degree division of the College. Workforce Development classes may start and stop at any time. The published course schedule lists the beginning and ending dates of each Workforce Development course except Academic and Career Readiness. Some courses are added as needed throughout the semester and may not be published.
Workforce Development does observe the same holidays as the rest of the College:
· New Year’s Day January 1 (or the first weekday if January 1 is a Sa or Su)
· Martin Luther King Day 3rd Monday in January
· Easter varies: Friday in late March to mid-April
· Memorial Day Last Monday in May
· Independence Day July 4
· Labor Day 1st Monday in September
· Thanksgiving 4th Thursday & Friday in November
· Christmas varies: usually starts around December 22
NOTE: The College closes at noon on Fridays during Summer Term.
Certificate of Completion
A certificate of completion is given only when requested by the student or instructor or when mandated by an outside agency for certification purposes. For a classroom course, the minimum attendance to be eligible for a certificate is typically 80%. However, some professional certification courses may have a higher standard of attendance plus other requirements. For an online course, students must score at least 80% on their final exam to be eligible for a certificate.
Change of Student Information (Address, Phone)
Students should notify the Workforce Development Office or their Academic & Career Readiness Instructor when they have changes in their basic information such as changes of address or phone number. Completing the Address Change Form or presenting a valid ID allows the College to contact the student in case of an emergency and to send official documents to the correct address.
Children on Campus
Children of faculty, staff, or students are not permitted in classrooms, labs, or shops while instruction is being delivered. Similarly, children of faculty, staff, or students are not to be left unattended in any College facilities at any time.
Counseling
Counseling services related to career development, educational objectives, personal concerns, and program choice are available to all students and prospective students at Alamance Community College. Students may utilize these services as they plan and/or consider changes in their educational objectives.
Counselors are located in the Student Success office on the main campus. They are available to provide information on career choice and development, employment opportunities, student policies, and personal issues. Testing for aptitude and interest is available when appropriate.
Students are encouraged to consult a counselor at any time they have a personal problem that may influence their educational progress. Counselors will arrange conferences to discuss the problem and to provide needed assistance. Assistance in referral to other agencies will be provided when appropriate.