FCC Academic Catalog 2016-2017

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2016/2017 fcc catalog
2. The appeal hearing shall be closed to the public
and will be recorded or transcribed.
3. The student and the responding party
(instructor or designee) shall be in attendance
at the appeal hearing.
4. Representation by legal counsel is not allowed
in the appeal hearing. However, the student or
faculty member may have a College Support
Person of his/her choice.
5. Appeal hearings before the Student Grievance
Committee shall not be subject to the formal
rules of evidence. The Student Grievance
Committee will make its own determination by
a preponderance of the evidence. In all cases,
the hearing shall be conducted in a fair and
impartial manner.
6. The Student Grievance Committee will either
affirm or reject the course grade appeal of
the student and inform the student and the
responding party in writing within five (5)
workdays of the appeal hearing. The decision of
the Student Grievance Committee shall be final.
V. Non-Grade Complaints
A. If possible, students should attempt to resolve
non-grade issues informally with the employee
in question. After attempting unsuccessfully
to resolve a non-grade issue informally with a
College employee, a student may issue a written
complaint regarding an action or decision
by a College employee that he/she believes
is improper, unfair, or is a deviation from a
policy or practice unrelated to discrimination
or sexual misconduct. The student’s written
complaint should present any and all evidence
that a substantial error has occurred. Substantial
evidence of error is defined as:
1. The action performed by a College
employee toward a student represented a
substantial or unreasonable departure from
approved College Policy or Procedure; or
2. The action set unreasonable standards
different from those which were applied
by the College to other students in similar
situations.
The student’s written complaint must be
submitted on the Student Non-Grade Complaint
Form )
to the Office of the Vice President for Learning
Support, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD
21702, Suite 319 of Jefferson Hall, lhildebrand@
within ten (10) workdays of the
action taken against the student.
B. Responding Party
The Office of the Vice President for Learning
Support will refer the Student Non-Grade
Complaint Form to the appropriate supervisor
and Senior Leader of the employee or office
which is the responding party in the complaint.
Within ten (10) workdays, the appropriate
supervisor will investigate the complaint and will
respond in writing to the student.
C. Appeal to the Senior Leader
A student may appeal the action or response of
the supervisor. The appeal must be requested
by using the Student Non-Grade Complaint
Form )
again, this time by checking the box on the
form requesting an appeal of the supervisor’s
response from an original complaint. The
Student Non-Grade Complaint Form requesting
an appeal should be submitted to the Office of
the Vice President for Learning Support, 7932
Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702, Suite
319 of Jefferson Hall, lhildebrand@frederick.
edu, within ten (10) workdays of the supervisor’s
response. The Office of the Vice President for
Learning Support will refer the appeal request
to the appropriate Senior Leader. The Senior
Leader will respond to the student’s request for
an appeal within ten (10) workdays of the date
of the request for an appeal. The action of the
Senior Leader will be final.
D. Notification
The Senior Leader will provide the student and
the responding party with the final decision
regarding the complaint.
Course Participation and
Attendance
To maintain the highest quality of academic work,
participation in all course activities is necessary.
Students who are unable to participate in a given
course activity remain responsible for completing all
requirements of the course.
Procedures
A. To maintain the highest quality of academic work,
participation in all course activities is necessary.
Students who are unable to participate in a given
course activity remain responsible for completing
all requirements of the course.
B. Guided by the following principles, the instructor
articulates and publishes a class participation
policy for each course.
1. The course level class participation policy is
designed to support the learning process.
2. The course level class participation policy is
designed within the framework of approved class
formats such as online, hybrid and face-to-face
classes.
3. To maintain the highest quality of academic
work, the course level class participation
policy encourages and expects the student to
participate fully in all course activities.
4. In case of serious illness, emergency, religious
holidays, or participation in official college
functions, students remain responsible for
completing the requirements of the course.
5. If ‘Class Participation’ affects the grade of
the student, the course syllabus identifies
measurable units of class participation in course
activities.
6. If face-to-face participation components cannot
be met due to serious illness, emergency,
religious holidays, or participation in official
college functions, the instructor may explore
make-up opportunities in different class
participation formats as warranted.
Inclement Weather Policy
I. Philosophy and Scope
The President of Frederick Community College (“FCC”
or the“College”) or his/her designee will decide when
classes are to be cancelled, or when the College is
to be closed because of inclement weather or other
emergency conditions.
The President will consult with the Chief of
Operations when considering a decision to close
or delay the opening of the College. The Chief of
Operations will gather and communicate to the
President the information necessary to make an
informed decision related to College operations.
II. Definitions for the Purpose of this Policy
and Procedures
A. “Inclement weather” refers to weather that
is normally considered to be related to snow or ice
storms, but may include extreme cold temperatures
or weather warnings for hurricane or tornado activity.
B. “Emergency conditions”refers to conditions
that, in the determination of the President and Chief
of Operations, may put the College community at risk.
C. “College closing” is the closing of all buildings
and offices, cancellation of all classes (credit and
non-credit), and the cancellation of all scheduled
non-academic activities and events at both the
main campus (including the Carl and Norma Miller
Children’s Center) and the Monroe Center (unless
otherwise noted in the closing announcement).
Online courses shall proceed whenever possible
during inclement weather closings or delays.
D.“Essential Personnel” refers to those
employees designated as essential to the operation of
the College even when the College is closed. Essential
personnel employees are either designated by their
job description or by their supervisor, as needed.