Regulations (pg 2)

  Catalog 2000-2001
 
Attendance Requirement For Law Enforcement and Corrections Certificate Programs
Students enrolled in law enforcement and corrections certificate programs are required to attend the full number of hours of each course. Unexcused absences and absences when the work is not made up result in students being dropped from the course.
Absences approved by the Training Center Director for illnesses, subpoenas, and emergencies are permitted or excused; however, students must make up all missed time and work. Submit requests for authorized absences to the course coordinator or Center Director. Trainees returning from any absences are required to submit a written notice to the appropriate training center staff detailing the total time absent from class, as well as the time returned to class.

Honors
Students graduating with a PCC GPA (courses attempted at PCC, only) of 3.5 or higher, plus an overall GPA of 3.5 "Graduate with Academic Honors." Students graduating with a PCC GPA of 4.0, plus an overall GPA of 4.0 "Graduate with Highest Academic Honors." These distinctions are part of your permanent record and appear on your diploma and your official transcript.

Withdrawal Policy
You may officially withdraw from a course(s) during any given term provided you follow appropriate policy and procedure.
Following the conclusion of the Drop/Add period, you may officially withdraw without penalty from any course provided you submit the appropriate forms to Student Services no later than the deadline published in the term schedule booklet. The published deadline reflects the midpoint in the course based upon the course's scheduled duration.
Under the Forgiveness Policy, you are allowed only three attempts in any one course, one initial enrollment and two repeats. In certain circumstances, you may petition to repeat a credit course beyond the three attempts. In college prep courses, only three attempts are allowed. You should be aware that repeating courses may result in a higher fee. In college prep courses you may petition for reduction of this fee. See an academic advisor for details. Although all course attempts appear on your transcript, only the grade earned in the most recent attempt is calculated in your GPA. You are not allowed to withdraw from your third course attempt. If you stop attending class, a grade other than a "W" is assigned and posted.
Prior to repeating a course, consult the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, repeating a course has on your financial aid status.
Note: Other institutions you eventually may transfer to do not necessarily have the same grade forgiveness policy as PCC and may recalculate your GPA or reassess your eligibility for financial aid. In addition, limited access programs at the college (Nursing, for example) have program specific academic standards which address course withdrawals for students enrolled in these programs. Please see the appropriate Division or Department Director for these standards.

Class Attendences
Class attendance is a critical part of the teaching-learning process. Students are expected to arrange their schedules in
a manner enabling regular and prompt class attendance.
Specific written and binding policies are distributed to students by each instructor during the first week of classes.

Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating or plagiarism is not tolerated and results in appropriate disciplinary action authorized by Board of Trustees Rule 4.01. The complete rule covering cheating or plagiarism is available in Student Services.
Cheating 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.
Plagiarism includes failure to use quotation marks or other conventional markings around material quoted from any printed source. Plagiarism also includes paraphrasing a specific passage from a specific source without accurately indicating that source. Plagiarism further includes letting another person compose or rewrite a student assignment.
The following terms are identified as examples of cheating and plagiarism by the faculty and students at Polk Community College:
  • asking for information from another student during a test situation
  • copying answers from another's paper during a test situation
  • knowingly letting someone copy from your paper during a test situation
  • using sources other than those permitted by the instructor in a test situation
  • copying material exactly or essentially from outside sources omitting appropriate documentation
  • copying or falsifying a report of a laboratory, clinical project, or assignment without doing the required work
  • changing answers on a returned, graded test in an effort to get the grade revised.

Graduation Requirements
Students completing college transfer programs receive the Associate in Arts Degree, and are certified as completing general education requirements. NOTE: Some technical courses cannot be used as electives in the A.A. degree programs, nor do College Prep courses apply toward graduation. See an Advisor for information regarding degree requirements and applicable courses. A.A. degree candidates also are required to achieve passing scores on all sections of the CLAST, or meet the CLAST alternatives.
Students completing occupational/technical programs receive the Associate in Science Degree. Students in A.S. Health-Related programs must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all discipline-specific courses. College prep courses do not apply toward A.S. degree requirements.
All students planning to graduate must meet with an Advisor and apply for graduation in Student Services no later than the deadline published in the term schedule booklet.
Polk Community College graduation requirements:
  •  completion of all admissions requirements including the submission of all necessary transcripts and other documents
  • completion of the required semester credit hours (minimum 60) in a prescribed program of study
  • PCC and overall GPAs of 2.0 or higher
  • completion of a minimum of 15 academic credit hours "in residence" during the sophomore year
  • discharge all financial obligations.

All graduates are invited to participate in the formal graduation ceremony held at the end of Terms I and II (Fall and Spring). Summer graduates are invited to participate in the Fall ceremony.

Petitions
Students who feel College regulations are not interpreted or applied fairly may petition the Admissions and Petitions Committee. The Committee reviews each individual written request and makes a recommendation to the President for final disposition. Information about the petitioning process is available from Academic Advisors.

Conduct, Discipline And Due Process
Students at Polk Community College are expected to act in a responsible manner supporting and enhancing the educational process. PCC has a tradition of excellent conduct by its students, and the degree of responsibility they exhibit is a reflection of the educational atmosphere of the college. Although the vast majority of students are never affected, when acts of unacceptable conduct occur they are dealt with in a manner supporting our educational purpose.
The Board of Trustees defines unacceptable conduct, including sexual misconduct, sets forth the penalties and disciplinary procedures which apply when violations occur, and describes the due process requirements used. A brochure summarizing the Board Rule is available in Student Services.
The Dean of Student Services is responsible for the administration of Discipline and Due Process. Any person may refer a student, a student group, or student organization suspected of unacceptable conduct to the Dean of Student Services for investigation and action. Cases of cheating are referred to the appropriate instructor. The focus of disciplinary proceedings is the guilt or innocence of those accused of unacceptable conduct.

Sexual Misconduct
PCC is particularly sensitive to sexual misconduct as an important part of the "Student Conduct, Discipline, and Due Process Rule." Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to the following:
  •  Sexual Harassment. Unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature from any person when such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance, study habits and/or educational experiences, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or study environment
  • Sexual Assault. Any act, or attempted act, as defined in Florida Law (Section 794.011, Florida Statutes)
  • Public Indecency. Exposing one's body in such a manner that another party reasonably could be offended, or sexual conduct where another party reasonably could be offended.
    Victims of sexual misconduct are encouraged and assisted in referring or filing charges. An advocate is provided in all cases to assist victims. The College notifies appropriate law enforcement officials in any assault case alleged to have occurred on college owned or controlled property, immediately adjacent property, or during a college-sponsored activity involving students, employees, or volunteers of the college. PCC proceeds with the discipline process in addition to notifying law enforcement officials.


Drug-Free Policy
Because the likelihood of success is so dramatically reduced for students on drugs, we are determined to have drug-free campuses. Illegal use of drugs or alcohol is not tolerated on either PCC campus or at any PCC-sponsored event off campus. (DBOT Rules 4.01 and 2.25)
Certain limited access programs have additional procedures regarding the use of drugs and alcohol. Various opportunities exist at PCC to educate students about the realities of drug and alcohol abuse. A major unit in the Wellness Concepts course (HLP1081) deals with substance abuse. In addition, special seminars, workshops, and discussion opportunities are scheduled.
PCC requires all applicants for admission to commit to obeying the law and refrain from illegal drug and alcohol activity on our campuses and at all college events.
Students who illegally use drugs or alcohol on either PCC campus or at a PCC-sponsored event off campus are suspended. Those students can apply for readmission consideration only after becoming drug-free and after completing at least one semester of suspension.
Students selling or manufacturing illegal drugs on either PCC campus or at a PCC-sponsored event off campus are expelled. Students can apply for readmission consideration only after completing at least one full year of expulsion.
The College is responsible for referring for prosecution anyone engaging in illegal drug or controlled substance/
alcohol activity on our campuses or at our events.
Students convicted of any drug offense must report it to Student Services within five days. Students may contact the same office for an explanation of appeal rights for each step of the disciplinary process.
Readmission is granted to suspended or expelled students only when they provide proof they are drug-free after drug rehabilitation or some other method. The Admissions and Petitions Committee, consisting of students and staff, reviews the proof and recommends to the President who authorizes readmission when appropriate.

Information Technology Acces/Use Policy
All individuals who employ information technology resources provided by Polk Community College (this includes but is not limited to telephones, computers, the PCC local area and wide area networks and the Internet) must use these resources for academic purposes only. Use of Polk Community College computing and network resources is a privilege and not a right. Inappropriate use can result in suspension or revocation of privileges.
Inappropriate use can include but is not limited to the following:
1. The intentional sending or retrieval of obscene, slanderous and/or harassing messages/materials.
2. The unauthorized access (or attempted access) of any networked computer system.
3. Violation of copyright including unauthorized copying or modifying files.
4. Use of networked resources for academic plagiarism.
5. Any use for commercial purposes.
6. Posting or downloading non-academic and/or inappropriate material to Usenet.
7. Participation in network activities that place a strain on computer resources.
8. Using IRC (internet-relay chat) resources for non-academic purposes.
9. Playing games for non-academic purposes.
10. Any other behavior deemed inappropriate in the PCC Student Code of Discipline.
11. Unauthorized installation of software on PCC hardware.
Violation of these terms will result in notification of the appropriate administrative authorities as outlined in the PCC Student Conduct, Discipline and Due Process policy. This could include the Polk Community College administration, state and federal agencies.


Children On Campus
PCC has no facilities or services to accommodate young children while adults are attending class or conducting business on campus. In fairness to others, and in recognition of limited facilities and services, we request your cooperation in not bringing young children to class or other service areas.

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