Student Conduct

 Each student is responsible for conforming to local, state, and federal laws and for behaving in a manner consistent with the best interest of the College and of the student body. Listed below are the rights and responsibilities of MATC students. The realization of both rights and responsibilities, through the efforts of all MATC employees and students, promotes the mission of Mountainland Applied Technology College.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights

1. Learning Environment Rights
   1. Students have a right to support and assistance from MATC in maintaining a climate conducive to thinking and learning.
   2. Instruction should reflect consideration for the dignity of students and their rights as persons.
   3. Students are entitled to academic freedom and autonomy in their intellectual pursuits and development.
   4. Students have a right to be treated with courtesy and respect.
2. Business Procedure Rights
   1. Students have the right to be reasonably informed about the full cost of tuition, lab fees, etc., and about available financial aid programs, attendance obligations, procedures, loan repayment schedules, consequences of non-payment, etc.
   2. Students have a the right of reasonable access to and the use of MATC services and programs such as securing financial aid, counseling, academic advisement, career planning and placement, etc.
3. Classroom Rights
   1. Students are free to take reasonable exception to the data, processes, or views offered in programs. At the same time students are responsible for meeting standards of competence performance established for each program.
   2. Students have a right to reasonable notice of the general content of the program, what will be required of them, and the criteria upon which their performance will be evaluated.
   3. Students have a right to have their performance evaluated promptly, conscientiously, without prejudice or favoritism, and consistently with the criteria stated at the beginning of the program.
   4. Students have the right as well as the responsibility to participate in procedures for evaluating the teaching effectiveness of faculty.
4. Right to Freedom of Expression
   1. Students have a right to examine and communicate ideas by any lawful means.
   2. Students will not be subject to academic or behavioral sanctions because of their constitutionally protected exercise of freedom of association, assembly, expression and the press.
      
5. Right to Freedom from Sexual Harassment
   1. MATC’s sexual harassment policy and definition is located in the Student Catalog, page 27.
6. Right to Freedom from Discrimination
   1. MATC policy prohibits discrimination, harassment or prejudicial treatment of a student because of his/her race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or status as an individual with a disability, or as a disabled veteran.
7. Right to Privacy and to Inspect Public Records
   1. Students have a right to protection against unauthorized disclosures of confidential information contained in their student records.
   2. Students have a right to examine and challenge information contained in their student records.
8. Right to Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities
9. Right to Due Process
   1. Students have a right to due process in any proceeding involving the possibility of substantial sanctions. This includes a right to be heard, a right to decision and review by impartial persons or bodies, and a right to adequate notice.
10. Right to be secure in their persons, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Student Responsibilities

MATC students are responsible to regulate their own conduct and respect the rights of others. Rules, policies, and regulations of the faculty and administration are to be respected. The conduct of a student attending MATC should be in compliance with what will be expected in the workplace.
Violation to conduct standards include, but are not limited to,:

1. theft or knowingly possessing stolen property, equipment, materials, services, or data,
2. disruptive behavior,
3. possession or use of firearms, explosives, or other dangerous substances,
4. vandalism or threats of actual damage to property or physical harm to others,
5. possession, sale, transfer, or use of illegal drugs or alcohol,
6. smoking in unauthorized locations on campus in violation of state law, MATC, or public health regulations,
7. appearance under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs,
8. harassment or abuse against members of a particular race, ethnic, religious, or cultural group including sexual harassment,
9. disorderly, lewd, indecent, defamatory, or obscene conduct or expression including possession of, use of an MATC computer to search for or view, or the distribution of pornography on any MATC campus,
10. reckless or intentional use of invasive software such as viruses and WORMS destructive to hardware, software, or data files,
11. initiating or causing to be initiated any intentionally false report or warning,
    
12. leaving children unattended on MATC property or allowing them to create a disruption on MATC property
13. Any form of academic dishonesty
14. Failing to meet contractual obligations with MATC
15. Knowingly violating terms of any disciplinary sanction
16. Intentionally furnishing false information, including false identification
17. Forging, altering, misusing, or mutilating MATC documents, records, identification, educational materials, or other MATC property
18. Influencing or attempting to influence the academic or any administrative process through explicit or implied bribery, threats, sexual behavior, etc.
19. Unauthorized entry upon or use of MATC facilities, equipment, materials, data, properties, or services
20. Violating parking regulations or other misuse of a vehicle which violates the law or MATC policy
21. Refusing to respond to reasonable requests and directions from MATC or local government officials while in the performance of their duties
    Drug and Alcohol Free Environment
    MATC shall provide for a safe and productive work and educational environment that is free from the effects of possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol. Drug and alcohol abuse prevention information is disseminated to all employees and is available to current and prospective students.

MATC Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted in any indoor area of all MATC campuses.

Sexual Harassment Policy

MATC will not tolerate sexual harassment. Violations of this policy by administrators, faculty, staff, and students will be regarded as unprofessional and uncivil conduct, and violators may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action ranging from written or verbal reprimand to dismissal or expulsion.
For purposes of this policy, sexual harassment is defined as including but not limited to un-welcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, repeated derogatory sexist remarks, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed toward an employee or student.

Sexual harassment includes but is not limited to:

1. making un-welcomed written (e.g., suggestive or obscene letters, notes, invitations), or verbal (e.g., sexually demeaning comments); sexually explicit statements, questions, slurs, jokes, anecdotes, or epithets)
2. making un-welcomed physical (e.g., sexual assault, touching, impeding or blocking movement), and / or visual (e.g., leering, gestures, display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons, or posters) advances with sexual overtones
3. expressions of sexual interest after being informed that the interest is unwelcome
4. reprisals, threats of reprisal, or implied threats of reprisal following a negative response to sexual advances or following a sexual harassment complaint.

Satisfactory Progress

1. Students must maintain satisfactory progress toward the successful completion of their stated technical goal by monthly progress at a rate that will allow the student to complete the program in 1.5 times the total hours of the program.

Attendance Policy

1. A student must notify the instructor when he/she is absent. Ten consecutive days of absences results in automatic withdrawal. Regular attendance in a program is as important as showing up for work every day.

Suspension / Probation / Dismissal

1. The instructor and student are encouraged to engage in a constructive problem solving discussion to resolve any conduct or program issues. The instructor has the responsibility to advise the student that further issues may lead to disciplinary action. The student may be referred to an MATC counselor for further discussion and may be placed on probation as a result of this conference. Terms of probation are determined by the Program Director in accordance with MATC and department policy.
2. Problems occurring while a student is under probationary status may result in termination. If the Program Director determines a need, an additional conference will be scheduled during the probationary period.
3. Instructors can recommend probation or suspension and may physically remove any student who is a clear and present danger to himself / herself or others. This action must be documented fully and immediately. Any student who believes actions taken are unfair or otherwise prejudicial may appeal under the grievance procedures stated below.

Appeals and Grievance Procedures

In the course of technical training at MATC, the student shall have the opportunity for contesting any action, grading, or evaluation made by the administration, faculty, or staff of MATC in an appeal / grievance hearing, if so desired.

1. Definition: An appeal / grievance is a claim or charge of injustice or discrimination based upon an event or condition that affects the welfare or conditions of an individual student or group of students.
2. Appeal / Grievance Criteria
   1. The grievance must be filed in writing within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of the circumstance upon which it is based.
   2. It must specifically identify the policy, procedure, or status violated, misinterpreted, or inequitably applied.
   3. It must furnish sufficient background concerning the alleged violation, misinterpretation, or inequitable applications to identify persons, actions, and/or omissions that lead to the allegation.
3. Procedures
   1. Informal: Should a student or parent believe there is cause for grievance, he/she should discuss the grievance with the person(s) involved (including: instructor, student, Student Services staff, etc.) in an effort to resolve the grievance mutually and informally.
   2. Formal: If attempts to resolve the grievance informally are unsuccessful, the student or parent should file a written, dated, and signed grievance within ninety (90) days of the occurrence with the Vice President for Student Services. The Vice President for Student Services will present the complaint to the appeal/grievance committee for a hearing. The committee shall review the student’s/parent’s statements, the manager’s statement and recommendations, investigate the allegations, review evidence, and develop its own conclusions. The committee will notify the grievant in writing of their decision. Students who feel their grievance or complaints have not been satisfactorily resolved can appeal to the Council on Occupational Education (COE), 41 Perimeter Center East, NE, Suite 640, Atlanta, GA 30346, 800.917.2081 or 770.396.3898.