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Hutchinson

 

Community College

 

 

Power Dragon

 

Faculty Handbook

Policies and Procedures

 
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JOINING THE INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT

HutchCC Mission Statement

Expanding the tradition of excellence in higher education through learning and collaboration.

HutchCC Vision Statement

Hutchinson Community College will be the premier, two-year Kansas educational institution, delivering accessible opportunities for learning, growth and improved quality of life.

HutchCC Values

  • Teaching and Learning – HutchCC empowers students and other stakeholders to develop abilities, talents, and skills while assessing outcomes, celebrating achievements, and encouraging lifelong learning.
  • Integrity and Social Responsibility– HutchCC contributes to the public good by demonstrating responsible institutional citizenship and treating people and organizations with equity, civility, and respect.
  • Service and Collaboration – HutchCC provides a dynamic environment of active internal and external partnerships embracing the potential for innovation.
  • Diversity and Inclusion – HutchCC celebrates the uniqueness of individuals, ideas, and forms of expression by supporting and listening to students and stakeholders.
  • Tradition and Responsiveness – HutchCC respects tradition while examining future-focused trends to predict how conditions will change, develop innovations, and meet the mission-driven needs of our students and stakeholders.
  • Leadership and Stewardship – HutchCC fosters the development of and provides opportunities for leadership within the institution and community while undertaking responsible management of resources.

Accreditation

Hutchinson Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

For More Visit: The Higher Learning Commission

 

Program Accreditation

Allied Health Department

Health Information Management (AAS)
Commission on the Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
200 E. Randolph Street, Suite 5100
Chicago, IL 60601
Action Letter
Next Review: Reviewed Annually

Health Information - Emphasis in Cancer Registry Management - AAS and Certificate
1330 Braddock Place, Suite 520
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-299-6640
Next Review: June 2024

Nursing - Associate Degree (ADN)
The associate degree nursing program at Hutchinson Community College at Hutchinson Campus, located in Hutchinson, KS is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE
Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA  30326
404-975-5000

http://www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate degree nursing program is continuing accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at

Initial Accreditation:                                      May 1985
Date of most recent Commission Action:  July 2017
Date of Last Visit:                                            February 1-3, 2017
Next Site Visit:                                                  Spring 2025

Kansas State Board of Nursing
900 SW Jackson St., Room 1051
Topeka, KS  66612
785-296-4924

Nursing - Practical Nursing (LPN)

The practical nursing program at Hutchinson Community College at the McPherson, KS campus is approved by:

Kansas State Board of Nursing
900 SW Jackson St., Room 1051
Topeka, KS  66612
785-296-4924

The most recent approval decision made by the KSBN for the practical nursing program is continuing approval. 

Initial Accreditation:                                      May 1996
Date of most recent Commission Action:  July 2017
Date of Last Visit:                                            February 1-3, 2017
Next Site Visit:                                                  Spring 2025

 

Physical Therapist Assistant
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22305-3085
703-706-3245
E-mail:  accreditation@apta.org
Website:  http://www.capteonline.org
Action Letter
Next Review: Spring 2026
 

Radiologic Technology
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
312-704-5300
E-mail: mail@jrcert.org
Action Letter
Next Review: 2024

Respiratory Care
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care

264 Precision Blvd
Telford, TN  37690
817-283-2835

The Hutchinson Community College CoARC program number 200598, Associate Applied Science Degree located in Hutchinson, KS is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). 

Action Letter
Next Review: 2033

Surgical Technologist
Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL  33775
727-210-2350

Accreditation Review Committee on Education for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting
19751 East Mainstreet, Suite #339
Parker, CO  80138
303-694-9262
Action Letter
Next Review: 2024

Public Safety Department

Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic
Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org


Action Letter 
Next Review:2029

CoAEMSP
8301 Lakeview Parkway, STE 111-312
Rowlett, TX  75088
Phone:  214-703-8445
www.coaemsp.org
 

 

Board of Trustees Listing 2024

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

NAME

HOME

OFFICE

TERM EXPIRES

Terry Bisbee
Chair
107 Thunderbird Drive
Hutchinson, KS 67502
620-259-6018 cell
Retired
tlbisbee@cs.com
2027

Rod Calhoun
 

424 W 1st Ave.
Hutchinson, KS 67501
620-665-8941
316-644-0445 cell

Retired
Rcalhoun3@cox.net

2025

David Marshall8020 N. Plum St.
Hutchinson, KS 67502
620-662-6277
First National Bank Hutchinson
saltcityroadrunner@gmail.com
2027

Todd Miller
 

3219 Inverness
Hutchinson, KS 67502
620-662-5556
620-899-0110 cell

Home Instead Senior Care
1515 N. Lorraine St., Ste. C
Hutchinson, KS 67501
todd.miller@homeinstead.com

2025

Mo Penny

709 Dull Knife
Hutchinson, KS 67502
620-694-0292

Retired
mopenny42@gmail.com

2027

Bob Snyder
Vice Chair 

510 S. Walnut
South Hutchinson, KS 67505
620-663-7512
620-694-0412
Retired
duckman1@cox.net
2027
Jan Young

611 E. 39th
Hutchinson, KS 67502
620-921-5971

USD 308
youngj@usd308.com
2025

 

Governance

Hutchinson Community College Leadership teams are comprised of:

President's Council

  • President – Dr. Carter File
  • Vice President of Academic Affairs – Dr. Tricia Paramore
  • Vice President of Student Services – Mr. Christopher Lau
  • Vice President of Finance and Operations – Ms. Julie Blanton
  • Vice President of Workforce Development & Outreach – Mr. Bryce McFarland

President's Staff

  • Administrative Assistant -- Ms. Becky Rogers
  • Athletic Director -- Mr. Josh Gooch
  • Director, Marketing and Public Relations -- Mr. Denny Stoecklein
  • Director, Volunteer Center -- Ms. Leah Chandler
  • Endowment /Alumni Executive Director -- Ms. Cindy Keast
  • Research Coordinator -- Mr. Rex Cheever


Academic Affairs

  • Agriculture, Business, Computer Science & Technology – Ms. Jillene Cunningham and Mr. Sheldon Stewart
  • Allied Health and Nursing – Ms. Alison Casebolt and Ms. Lisa Davies
  • Fine Arts and Humanities -- Ms. Frances Johannsen and Ms. Kimberly Ivancovich
  • Math, Science, Social Science – Ms. Erin Beavers and Ms. Michelle Carey
  • Public Safety – Mr. Cliff Moore
  • Online Education - Dr. Rhonda Corwin
  • Adult Education - Ms. Justine Salgado
  • Rimmer Support Services - Mr. Bradley Fenwick
  • Honors - Dr. Ryan Diehl
  • Assessment - Jess Fortner

 

Business & Industry and Community Outreach

  • Outreach – Ms. Kristie Torgerson
  • Workforce Development – Mr. Dave Mullins

 

Student Services

  • Admissions – Mr. Corbin Strobel
  • Counseling – Mr. Christopher Lau
  • Disability Services – Ms. Lisa Jolliff
  • Enrollment Management and Advising - Brea Turner
  • Equity and Compliance – Bernadett Dillon
  • Financial Aid – Mr. Nathan Buche
  • Registrar and Records – Ms. Christina Long
  • Residential Life – Ms. Dana Hinshaw

 

Finance and Operations

  • Accounting – Ms. Karla Taylor
  • Campus Store – Ms. Lynita Ummel
  • Human Resources -- Mr. Brooks Mantooth
  • Maintenance/Plant Facilities – Mr. Don Rose
  • Student Billing System – Ms. Anita Biel

 

Committees and Task Forces

Shared governance occurs through numerous HutchCC committees/task forces comprised of faculty, staff, administrators, and students. The institution sustains 6 major committees who meet regularly to discuss academic, service, and operational advancements and process improvements.

 

Institutional Committees

  • Advising Committee
  • Curriculum Committee
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • Regulatory Compliance & Due Process
  • Skill Enhancement and Employee Development
  • Teaching & Learning

 

Advisory Committees with Business & Industry Members

Each technical program (faculty, staff, administrators, students) meets (at least) twice annually with Advisory Committees. Advisory Committees are comprised of professionals from business & industry, human resource specialists, applied technicians from various fields, past graduates who now serve in the workforce, etc. Agendas focus on analysis of industry trends, curriculum/program reviews, enrollment/degree completion and/or credentials/licensure rates, job placement, industry needs for training and education, and departmental activities and events.  

Organizational Chart - Academic Affairs

  • Vice President of Academic Affairs
    • Adm Asst to VP of Academic Affairs
      • Adult Education Coordinator
        • 14 Staff Members
      • Curriculum/Program Improvement Coordinator
      • Employment Manager - Part Time Faculty
      • Director of Online Education
        • 4 Staff Members
      • Director of Rimmer Support Services
        • 6 Staff Members
      • Grant Writer
      • Dept. I Allied Health & Nursing
        • 15 Administrators & 18 Faculty
        • 5 Adm Assistants
      • Dept. II Agriculture, Business, Computers & Technology
        • 9 Administrators & 22 Faculty
        • 3 Adm Assistants
      • Dept. III Fine Arts & Humanities
        • 26 Faculty
        • 1 Adm Assistant
        • Production Manager, Stringer Fine Arts Center
      • Dept. IV Natural Science, Social Science & Mathematics
        • 1 Administrator & 26 Faculty
        • 1 Adm. Assistant
        • 1 Lab Technician
      • Dept. V Public Safety
        • 3 Administrators & 7 Faculty
        • 2 Adm Assistants

      Organizational Chart - Student Services

      • Vice President of Student Services
        • Administrative Assistant to the VP of Student Services
        • Coordinator of Accessibility Services
        • Director of Admissions
        • College Registrar
        • Director of Residence Life and Student Activities
        • Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships
        • Director of Enrollment Management & Advising Services
        • Coordinator of Counseling and Social Work Services
        • Esports Head Coach

      Organizational Chart - Finance & Operations

      • Vice President of Finance & Operations
        • Administrative Assistant to VP of Finance & Operations
        • Director of Facilities
        • Director of Human Resources
        • Campus Store/Central Store Supply Mgr.
        • Accountant
        • Director of Accounting Services - Treasurer
        • Child Care Center Coordinator
        • Chief Information Officer
        • Grant Compliance Manager

      Organizational Chart - Workforce Development & Outreach

      • Vice President of Workforce Development & Outreach
        • Adm. Asst. to VP of Workforce Development & Outreach
        • Director of Business & Industry
        • Executive Director of Outreach

      Organizational Chart - Information Technology Services

      • Chief Information Officer
        • Director of IT
          • Systems Support Manager
            • Systems Support Analysts
          • CSOC Team Lead
            • Cybersecurity Analysts
          • Infrastructure Team
            • Network Administrators
            • Infrastructure Technicians
          • Audio Visual Analyst
        • IT Systems Analyst – PT
        • DevOps Team Lead
          • Software Engineers
        • IT Project Manager – PT
          • IT Project Technologist – PT
        • Digital Media Analyst
        • Live Event Media Coordinator
        • Media Production Analyst
        • ITS Admin

      Academic Calendar - 2023-2024

      Academic Calendar - 2023-2024

      Academic Calendar - 2024-2025

      Academic Calendar - 2024-2025

      Academic Calendar - 2025-2026

      Academic Calendar - 2025-2026

      GETTING STARTED -- EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

      Contracts and Compensation

      Full-time contracts are based on the Master Agreement, Article VIII. A hiring schedule for new full-time teaching faculty is published in the Master Agreement, Article IX.A. Appendix C. Adjunct faculty working conditions are also identified in the Master Agreement.

      Adjunct faculty and part-time faculty are issued contracts on a semester by semester basis if sufficient enrollment justifies offering a course.  The Vice President of Academic Affairs or designee determines sufficient enrollment.  Course assignments are not guaranteed each semester; assignments are based on enrollment and the schedule.  Should the class be cancelled, part-time faculty receive cancellation pay for preparation and/or meeting with the class the first session regardless of enrollment (fall and spring semesters).  Each compensation contract contains specified dates of employment, a description of the class assignment, and exact compensation. 

      Contracts for all faculty are sent through campus mail or US mail for signature after the first Board of Trustees meeting of the semester.  Faculty must sign and return the contract within 7-10 days.  Once returned to the Human Resources Office, a copy of the signed contract will be sent to each faculty member through HutchCC email.

      In general all payroll will be direct deposit unless other arrangements are made with Human Resources.

      For questions concerning paychecks or contracts, please contact Brooks Mantooth, Human Resources Director, at 620-665-3497 or mantoothb@hutchcc.edu, or Jolene Williamson, Payroll Specialist, at 620-665-3504 or williamsonj@hutchcc.edu.

      Employee Benefit Scholarship

      The Employee Benefit Scholarship is available to the following people:

      (Faculty and Adjunct Faculty, please refer to the Master Agreement)

      • Full time (as defined under Flexible Benefit Plan terms) employees, their spouses, and eligible children. (Employee must be employed during the semester the benefit is granted and must have completed the Employee Benefit Scholarship form while still employed.)
      • Retired full time employees and their children or the children of deceased full time employees who were employed for ten (10) years of continuous service. The children must have been eligible for the benefit at the time the full time employee retired or is deceased.  

      An eligible child is age 23 or younger.

      Employees who use the benefit must take the course(s) outside of their work schedule.

      The scholarship applies to any credit bearing course offered by HutchCC, regardless of location or delivery method.

      Exception:  If the course is eligible for Excel in CTE funding, it is not eligible for the scholarship.

      The scholarship does not apply to non-credit classes, i. e. motorcycle safety or CDL training.

      Each qualified individual is eligible for a scholarship for up to thirty-six (36) credit hours each academic year - fall, spring and summer semesters.  The scholarship covers tuition only.  (Student fees are not assessed for those enrolled as staff/ family.)  The employee or family member is responsible for the purchase of required textbooks and payment of course specific fees. Course fees can be found in the cost section of the college catalog.

      To receive the scholarship, the employee must:

      • Request the Employee Benefit Scholarship Request form from Human Resources: HRinfo@hutchcc.edu  
        • The form must be completed each time courses are added.
        • The form can be submitted as early as one month prior to the beginning of the semester.
        • If the form is submitted after classes have begun, there may be a delay in applying the scholarship to the student's bill. 
        • If the form is submitted after the first disbursement of financial aid for the semester, the scholarship request may be denied.
        • If the form is submitted after the end of the term, the scholarship request will be denied.

      Students who receive the Employee Benefit Scholarship will also receive an IRS Tax Form 1098T for the applicable tax year.  For questions regarding how to report the information on the form, please contact your accountant or tax advisor. 

       

      FAQ

      Is this scholarship per family, or per individual?  It is provided per individual.  For example, assume an employee, spouse, and 18 year old child each take up to thirty-six credit hours. The scholarship would cover thirty-six credit hours for the employee, thirty-six credit hours for the spouse, and thirty-six credit hours for the child.  The maximum benefit any individual may receive per academic year is thirty-six (36) hours.

      How do I know if the benefit has been applied to the student's bill?  The student can see the benefit listed as an award in the Financial Aid section under the Finances tab in the student's DragonZone account.

      If my child is in high school and is taking a college course, may he/she receive the scholarship?  The employee's child will be awarded the scholarship for the approved high school class unless it is a class eligible for Excel in CTE funding.  Later, that same class can also be counted as credit hours for the Step Ahead scholarship.

      If my child doesn't live with me, may he/she still receive the scholarship?  Yes, we will honor the scholarship regardless of the child's address.

      May step-children receive the scholarship?  Yes, as long as they meet the age criteria.

      Electronic Communication Policy

      Purpose

      To maximize the benefits of electronic communication for Hutchinson Community College and its employees, while protecting HutchCC and its administration, faculty and students from liability and/or performance challenges caused by the improper or unauthorized use of the systems made available to facilitate the business of an institution of higher learning.

      Company Property

      As a productivity tool, HutchCC provides and encourages the use of electronic communications (including but not limited to voice mail, electronic mail, messaging systems, social media, and digital documents). HutchCC encourages the appropriate use of these forms of communication, as defined in this and other HutchCC policies, to further its mission and vision.

      HutchCC electronic communications remain the property of Hutchinson Community College.  Electronic communication use that violates the law, rights of others, or HutchCC codes of conduct, regulations, or policies is a serious abuse.  Such actions may subject an individual to termination of account privileges and/or appropriate disciplinary and/or legal action.

      Authorized Usage

      HutchCC encourages employees to communicate electronically whenever possible. Electronic communications may replace paper communication unless prohibited by federal or state law, including regulatory guidance as appropriate.   

      HutchCC’s electronic communications systems must be used solely to facilitate the business of the institution.

      HutchCC employees (faculty and administration) are forbidden from using HutchCC electronic communication systems for private business activities, personal purposes, or amusement and entertainment activities.

      HutchCC employees are reminded that the use of HutchCC resources, including electronic communications, should never create either the appearance or the reality of inappropriate use. Inappropriate use may result in loss of access privileges and disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

      Official HutchCC communications must originate from a HutchCC managed system or account. Any communication originating from a source other than HutchCC will not be considered official communication. 

      HutchCC employees and students are expected to check their electronic communications on a frequent and consistent basis in order to stay current with HutchCC and/or faculty-student related communications. 

      HutchCC employees and students will not be held responsible for an interruption in their ability to access electronic messages due to a HutchCC system-related problem that prevents the timely delivery or access to the electronic message (power outages, system viruses, etc.).

      Examples of official HutchCC communications include, but are not limited to:

      • Enrollment information
      • Academic progress notifications
      • Financial statements and other financial information
      • Library overdue notices
      • Policy announcements
      • Notification of official disciplinary hearings

      Proper Usage

      HutchCC faculty may determine how electronic communication will be used in their classes, but must specify their requirements in the Instructor Sheet.  

      HutchCC student and campus organizations recognized by Student Services may use electronic communication to notify students and employees of meetings, events, and fund-raising activities.

      Prohibited Usage

      HutchCC employees (administration and faculty) are strictly prohibited from using HutchCC computers, e-mail systems, and Internet access accounts for personal reasons or for any improper purpose.

      HutchCC e-mail may not be used to sign up for non-HutchCC work related systems access or recovery, or as the username for such systems.

      Some specific examples of prohibited uses include, but are not limited to:

      • Transmitting, retrieving, downloading, or storing messages or images that are offensive, derogatory, off-color, sexual in content, or otherwise inappropriate in a higher learning environment.
      • Making threatening or harassing statements to another employee, or to a vendor, student, or other outside party.
      • Transmitting, retrieving, downloading, or storing messages or images related to any status protected under federal, state and local laws.
      • Transmitting, retrieving, downloading, or storing personal health information without the written consent of the person. The Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) prohibits the dissemination of personal health information without the written consent of the person.
      • Communicating confidential HutchCC information to individuals inside or outside the institution or to other organizations, without specific authorization from management to do so.
      • Sending or receiving confidential or copyrighted materials without prior authorization.
      • Soliciting personal business opportunities, or personal advertising.
      • Supporting partisan political candidates, political party fundraising, or political causes
      • Gambling, or playing electronic games.
      • Sharing HutchCC student email addresses without the student’s permission.

      Individuals who wish to use HutchCC electronic communication in support of external organizations (e.g., charities) must secure written or email approval of the President.

      User Passwords

      Regardless of the circumstances, individual passwords must never be shared or revealed to anyone else besides the authorized user.

      User Identity

      Misrepresenting, obscuring, suppressing, or replacing a user’s identity on an electronic communications system is forbidden. The user’s name, electronic mail address, organizational affiliation, and related information included with electronic messages or postings must reflect the actual originator of the messages or postings.

      No Expectation of Privacy

      HutchCC employees (administration and faculty) should expect that all information created, transmitted, downloaded, received or stored in HutchCC computers, or other electronic devices may be accessed by the institution at any time, without prior notice.

      HutchCC employees should not assume that they have an expectation of privacy or confidentiality in such messages or information (whether or not such messages or information is password protected), or that deleted messages are necessarily removed from the system.

      Monitoring Use

      HutchCC may monitor and collect data about electronic communications and Internet use.

      Handling Information About Security

      HutchCC employees must promptly report all information security alerts, warnings, suspected vulnerabilities, and the like to the Cybersecurity Operations Center (CSOC).

      HutchCC employees are prohibited from utilizing HutchCC systems to forward such information to others, whether internal or external to the institution.

      Public Representations

      HutchCC restricts the use of broadcast electronic communications, which are defined as electronic communications broadcast to large segments of the HutchCC community, such as but not limited to all employees, a particular group of employees (e.g., all faulty, all staff), all students, or all HutchCC email account holders.  Subjects that are not appropriate for broadcast electronic communications include but are not limited to:

      • Personal notices, e.g., items for sale, lost or found;
      • Messages of a commercial, political, or lobbying nature; or
      • Messages that solicit support (financial or otherwise) for charity, personal gain, or special causes not connected with an official HutchCC effort.

      Broadcast electronic communications containing attachments are discouraged because of the burden on HutchCC’s system resources.

      Students are not authorized to send broadcast electronic communications.

      HutchCC employees may send broadcast electronic communications only with (1) advance approval from the President’s Office, the Vice Presidents’ Offices, the Chief Information Officer, the Director of Human Resources, the Coordinator of Equity and Compliance, or the Director of Marketing and Public Relations, and (2) for mission-related matters pertinent to the functioning of HutchCC or emergency messages.  If the broadcast electronic communication is directed to students, the employee must obtain the prior written or email approval of the President or one of the Vice Presidents.  

      Employment Checklist

      All new faculty must have the following items on file with Human Resources before they will be given login rights and access to HutchCC computing.

      Employment Application
      Official Transcripts
      Resume
      I-9 (Immigration) Form and copies of required supporting documents
      Signed Loyalty Oath
      W4 document
      K4 document or Out-of-State Withholding Form
      403b Plan Highlights Form
      Direct Deposit Form
      KPERS Questionnaire (Part-Time Instructors)
      Parking Permit (on file in Human Resources)

      Employee ID Card

      All faculty may obtain a HutchCC Employee ID Card in Hutchinson (lower level of Parker Student Union), Newton Outreach Center, or McPherson Outreach Center.

      Mileage Reimbursement

      Part-time faculty who drive more than 10 miles one way to teach a class may be issued a mileage amount for the semester.  This amount will be issued along with the part-time faculty teaching agreement.  If a faculty member qualifies for mileage, they should contact the Outreach Coordinator or Department Chairperson for additional information.

      Procedure for Faculty Development Leading to Salary Advancement

      Full-time Faculty

      1. Faculty Member completes the Application for Approval of Faculty Development and the Faculty Development Rubric, submitting the completed forms to the appropriate Department Chairperson for preapproval. 
      2. The Department Chairperson reviews the application and rubric and submits a recommendation (with the application and rubric) to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
      3. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will make a recommendation to the College President. 
      4. Upon successful completion of the preapproved coursework or work experience, the faculty member will submit an official transcript or work experience summary from work supervisor to the Human Resources Office.

       

      Part-time Faculty

      1. The faculty member will complete the Part-time Faculty Development Application and Rubric and submit it to the appropriate Department Chairperson for approval. 
      2. The Department Chairperson will review the application and rubric and submit a recommendation (along with application and rubric) to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
      3. Upon completion, the faculty member should attach the Faculty Development Log and documentation (transcripts, certifications, certificates of completion, etc.) to the Department Chairperson.
      4. Human Resources will receive the entire package once the faculty member has accumulated 18 hours of approved faculty development and taught 36 hours at HutchCC.

      Professional Development

      Professional Development opportunities for faculty occur in sessions offered at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. Department meetings are also considered professional development as are advisor trainings, LearningZone trainings, Bridge trainings, computer support trainings, and other institutional service training to keep faculty members up-to-date with changes and system improvements.   

      For part-time faculty, certain graduate/college courses or specialized training and seminars may be approved to meet a portion of the faculty development hours for part-time faculty.  Prior approval by the Department Chairperson is required.  To request prior approval for professional development hours, complete the part-time faculty development application form.  Submit this form to the Department Chairperson. 

      At least six hours of the faculty development time must be from Hutchinson Community College professional development activities.  During semesters when not teaching for Hutchinson Community College, part-time faculty may participate in professional development activities and may also receive credit for external faculty development.

       

      TEACHING & LEARNING

      Academic Honesty and Appeal Policy & Procedure

      Education requires integrity and respect for HutchCC's institutional values. HutchCC students are required to maintain honesty through a "responsible acquisition, discovery, and application of knowledge" in all academic pursuits. Preserving and upholding academic honesty is the responsibility of HutchCC students, faculty, administrators and staff.

      I. Student Responsibilities

      All HutchCC students are required to:

      • Submit all work in all courses without cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, dissimulation, forgery, sabotage, or academic dishonesty as defined below.
      • Provide all academic records such as transcripts and test scores that are free of forgery.
      • Refrain from participating in the academic dishonesty of any person.
      • Use only authorized notes and student aids.
      • Use technology appropriately, including refraining from submitting AI (Artificial Intelligence)-generated work without express written consent from your instructor.
      • Protect the security of passwords/login/privacy/electronic files, and maintain sole individual access for any online course information.

      II. Definition of Academic Dishonesty

      • Academic dishonesty is any intentional act, or attempted act, of cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, dissimulation, forgery, or sabotage in academic work.
      • Cheating includes using unauthorized materials of any kind, whether hard copies, online, or electronic, such as unapproved study aids in any academic work, copying another student's work, using an unauthorized "cheat sheet" or device, or purchasing or acquiring an essay online or from another student.
      • Fabrication is the invention or falsification of any information or citation in any academic work, such as making up a source, providing an incorrect citation, or misquoting a source.
      • Plagiarism is the representation of words, ideas and other works that are not the student's own as being original to the student. A non-inclusive list of examples includes work completed by someone else, work generated by an external entity (such as AI), omitting a citation for work used from another source, or borrowing the sequence of ideas, arrangement of material, and/or pattern of thought of work not produced by the student, even though it may be expressed in the student's own words.
      • Dissimulation is the obscuring of a student's own actions with the intention of deceiving others in any academic work, such as fabricating excuses for absences or missed assignments, or feigning attendance.
      • Forgery of academic documents is the unauthorized altering, falsification, misrepresentation, or construction of any academic document, such as changing transcripts, changing grades on papers or on exams which have been returned, forging signatures, manipulating a digital file of academic work, or plagiarizing a translation.
      • Sabotage is any obstruction or attempted obstruction of the academic work of another student, such as impersonating another student, stealing or ruining another student's academic work.
      • Aiding and abetting academic dishonesty is considered as knowingly facilitating any act defined above.
      • Academic honesty violations can also include the omission or falsification of any information on an application for any HutchCC academic program.

      III. Sanctions for Academic Dishonesty

      Students who violate the Academic Honesty Policy may be subject to academic or administrative consequences.

      Instructor Sanctions for Violation:

      Students suspected of violating the Academic Honesty Policy may be charged in writing by their instructor and any of the following may apply:

      • Assign Avoiding Plagiarism Bridge Module
      • Receiving written warning that could lead to more severe sanction if a second offense occurs
      • Revising the assignment/work in question for partial credit
      • Voiding work in question without opportunity for make-up
      • Reducing the grade for work in question
      • Lowering the final course grade
      • Failing the work in question

      Institutional Sanctions for Violation:

      Students charged with academic dishonesty, particularly in instances of repeated violations, may further be subjected to an investigation and any of the following may apply:

      • Instructor recommendation to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) to dismiss the student from the course in which the dishonesty occurs
      • Instructor recommendation to the VPAA to dismiss student from the course in which the dishonesty occurs with a grade of 'F." Student will not be allowed to take a 'W' for the course
      • Instructor recommendation to the VPAA that the student be suspended and/or dismissed from the program
      • Student barred from course/program for a set period of time or permanently
      • May be recommended by the instructor (after documented repeated offenses) to the VPAA that the student be placed on probation, suspended and/or dismissed from the institution.

      IV. Procedure

      • Instructor will communicate in writing via the student's HutchCC email account and/or LearningZone email account to the student suspected of violating the Academic Honesty Policy.  That communication may include sanction(s). Department Chair will notify the student's academic advisor upon receipt of the Academic Honesty Violation Form.
      • For each violation, the instructor will submit a completed Academic Honesty Violation Form to the Department Chair. Department Chair will notify the student's academic advisor upon receipt of the Academic Honesty Violation form.
      • Should the instructor choose to pursue institutional sanctions, the instructor shall notify the student in writing via the student's HutchCC email account.  Instructor shall also submit a completed Academic Honesty Violation Form and all prior completed forms regarding said student to the Department Chair and the office of the VPAA with recommendation to proceed with specific Institutional Sanctions. Department Chair will notify the student's academic advisor upon receipt of the Academic Honesty Violation Form.
      • The decision of the VPAA on Institutional Sanction is final. The VPAA will notify the student's academic advisor of any institutional sanctions.

      V. Due Process Rights

      Students charged with violations of academic honesty have the right of appeal and are assured of due process through the Academic Honesty Appeal process.

      Academic Honesty Appeal Process

      I. Due Process Rights: Students charged with violations of academic honesty have the right of appeal and are assured of due process through the Academic Honesty Appeal process.

      • If an instructor has recommended course or program dismissal, the student may continue in coursework (providing there are no threatening or security behavioral issues) until appeal processes are concluded. However, if an issue has been documented at a partnership location (e.g., clinical sites, secondary institutions, correctional or military facilities), then the student is no longer eligible to continue participation in internships, apprenticeships, and/or clinical-based practice. For clinical sites, this sanction is immediate.

      II. Process

      If the student disagrees with the charge of a violation of academic honesty, the student has the right to due process as described in the Academic Honesty Appeal process below:

      • If the matter is not resolved upon communicating with the instructor about the violation, the student shall, within five business days of the issuance of the written notice of violation, submit a completed Academic Honesty Appeal Form and supporting documentation to the appropriate department chairperson to initiate an Academic Honesty Appeal.
      • Within two business days of receiving the student's completed Academic Honesty Appeal Form, the Department Chair and VPAA will review and the VPAA will render a decision.
      • Within two business days, a response will be sent to the student's HutchCC email address. The VPAA's decision is final.

      Accident Reporting

      The HutchCC Security Office provides basic information about how the college and its employees can work together for a safer and more secure educational environment.  Questions about campus security and/or campus safety should be addressed to the Office of Plant Facilities and Campus Security at 620-665-3590, located in the Office Technologies Building.  Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Offices are closed during college-recognized holidays.  HutchCC Security Officers work with HutchCC students and employees to make sure the campus is as safe as possible for students, faculty, and staff.

      Attendance Policy

      HutchCC expects all students to attend and interact substantively across all delivery methods in all classes in which they are enrolled; however, if students must be absent, they should make arrangements in advance of the absence with their instructors. When students are absent as official college representatives, their absence is excused; however, the student must make arrangements in advance with the instructor to complete all work missed. 

      Instructors are expected to keep a record of their students’ class attendance. Instructors may withdraw students from classes before the last date to withdraw, which is equivalent to 80% of the class, if students have been officially warned in DragonZone that their attendance has been irregular not related to Covid-19 attendance issues.  After a student has been officially warned that his/her attendance has been irregular, if irregular attendance continues, an instructor may withdraw the student from the class resulting in the grade of “W” and the last day the student attended the class will be recorded. If the instructor chooses not to withdraw the student, the earned grade will be issued.

      Irregular attendance is defined as missing 15% of the class or a percentage less than 15% as determined by the instructor.  The irregular attendance policy and the last date to withdraw will be published on each instructor sheet.

      Attendance is defined by HutchCC as:

      For Face-to-Face Classes

      • Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students
      • Engaging in class discussion
      • Participating in classroom activities and assignments

      For Online Classes

      • Regularly submitting academic assignments
      • Taking exams, completing interactive tutorials, and/or participating in computer assisted instruction
      • Participating in online discussions about academic matters

      For Hybrid Classes

      Face-to-face and online class attendance definitions will be applied

      Academic activity does NOT include:

      • Logging into an online class without active participation
      • Academic counseling or advising

      Certifying the Roster

      Rosters are certified electronically (through DragonZone or LearningZone) after the refund period for a course has ended and prior to the certification date listed on the course roster. The certification roster verifies that the student attended at least once and that the student is still enrolled in the course. HutchCC funding is dependent on these verifications.

      If the student has NEVER attended class or logged in online, then remove that student before certifying the roster.

      Leave the student enrolled if:

      1. They have ever signed-in to an online class
      2. They have ever attended one class session

      Add the student if they have been attending the class and are not already on the roster.

      To certify your roster, click on the “I Certify” button at the bottom of the screen.  Do this by the Cert Date listed at the top of the roster.  VERY IMPORTANT!

      Classrooms Usage

      Rearranging desks and tables

      Classroom furniture arrangements must be maintained based on mandates by the State Fire Marshall.  If there is a need to temporarily adjust the furniture arrangement in a classroom, it must be moved back to the original configuration at the end of the class period. 

      Communicating with Students about the Course and their Progress

      Instructors should check HutchCC email regularly (24 hours) and keep their HutchCC email calendar up-to-date. (If you need/want to forward your HutchCC (which is our official form of communication) to your personal email account, please follow the guidance below).  

                      Forwarding HutchCC Official Email

      Full-time employees can set it up two different ways, using

      • the “client” which is installed on HutchCC computers, or
      • web interface which can be accessed from any computer or mobile device on DragonZone.

      Part time employees can only set it up using the web interface on DragonZone.

      Copying Materials

      The Central Printing Center procedure for copying materials is located on the college internal website, HCC WebServices.  Copy requests should be submitted using the website by selecting the “Facility” link and then selecting the “Central Printing” option. Steps to complete copy work submissions are explained as you progress through questions on the screen. The use of the website allows for more efficient copying and reduces costs to the department. 

      Copy work should be submitted to the Central Printing at least 24 hours in advance of the needed time.  The Copy Center will work with the intent of returning all copy work to you as soon as possible.  The rates charged are as follows.  The Copy Center will furnish all paper.

      All copies made on small departmental copies is $.05 per copy, per side

      *A 25% discount on the website submission costs will be applied if the printing is double sided.

      Course Syllabus, Instructor Sheet, and Course Outline

      A standardized Syllabus for each Hutchinson Community College course is on file in the Office of Academic Affairs and can be found online in DragonZone under the tab Employee/Academic Course Options, and searched by course number.  The course Syllabus does not change without notification and approval of the HutchCC Curriculum Committee.  It is to be strictly adhered to in meeting course outcomes, and course content. Each section of each course must be taught from this standard Syllabus as it is the HutchCC contract with the student. All Syllabi are also approved by the Kansas Board of Regents/Technical Education Authority on behalf of the state of Kansas.  If an instructor does not have a copy of the Syllabus for his/her course,they may contact the appropriate Department Chairperson or Outreach Coordinator for direction.  Departmental Syllabi may not be altered in any way.

      Faculty Instructor Sheet templates (including the course calendar) are found on DragonZone Employee/Academic Sections.  The Instructor Sheet can also be found in LearningZone.

      An Instructor Sheet is completed electronically for each course section. An Instructor Sheet is critical to convey to students expectations about procedures that guide each class, and institutional policies that govern all courses.

      • Some fields are automatically filled from information on the master course schedule.
      • Instructors should be very clear about their expectations for the students in terms of a) Attendance b) Late work c) Make up work/tests If these options are allowed-- be VERY CLEAR about parameters regarding deadlines for turning in late work and/or make-up work/tests. 
      • The instructor contact information should be checked for accuracy and instructors should check email/phone messages at least every 48 hours. 
      • Remember that the HutchCC email account is the official form of communication between institution/instructor/student, so it should be used by both instructor and student.  (Forward email from your HutchCC account to your personal account if needed; but make sure you are receiving student emails forwarded from your official HutchCC email account.)
      • A federal compliance statement for Title IX is a requirement and automatically included on the Instructor Sheet.
      • The Course Calendar is instructor-created—the Course Calendar lists what the instructor will do (tentative calendar for semester) and is required on all Instructor Sheets.
      • Methods of Assessment help students understand how they will be graded in the course.  This section is to include a breakdown of how the grade will be determined (based on points or percentages) and is required on all Instructor Sheets.  Please note that attendance is not a method of assessment so should not be used in calculating the course grade. 

       

      Final Examinations

      All classes must meet at the time and place designated by the final examination schedule unless an exception is approved in writing by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

      Food and Beverages in Classrooms

      Food and beverages will be allowed in classrooms at the discretion of the instructors unless otherwise posted. Posted areas are as follows: Library and Learning Resources Center; all computer laboratories; red carpet areas in the Stringer Fine Arts Center; Science Hall laboratories; and the broadcasting laboratories in Building 12.

      Finals, Grading, Assessment of Outcomes

      The Final Exam Adjusted Calendar may be found by accessing the following link:  www.hutchcc.edu/calendar.  Final exam times will be used for all face-to-face classes; evening class instructors may choose to use the final exam time for a final exam or an additional class time but the course must meet; off-campus finals will be given during last week of class.

      • Final grades
        • Post grades by going to DragonZone, select term and course section, grade posting, import from LearningZone to enter grades for each student.  At the bottom of the page click the box to post grades.
        • Click the "save" button when you are ready to do the final submission. When grades have been submitted, a green box will appear stating "Final Grading Complete".  The instructor will receive a confirmation email when grades have been submitted. 
        • Grades are due by the posted date or the day after the class officially ends.
      • Grade of “Incomplete”
        • For a grade of “Incomplete” to be given to a student, the student must request the incomplete AND the student must be making a passing grade in the course at the time the coursework was interrupted by a significant life event. 
        • A form and a contract must be completed by the instructor.  The form may be requested from the Department Chairperson.
        • When a faculty member enters an “I” grade, they will receive an email warning that they have 48 hours to submit the completed and signed “Incomplete Contract” to the Department Chairperson for approval or the grade will automatically convert to an F. 
      • Grade changes
        • Once final grades are submitted, a grade change may occur only if the grade was calculated incorrectly/arbitrarily/capriciously.  A Grade Change Form may be requested from the Department Chairperson.  The instructor will complete the form and submit it to the Department Chaiperson for approval.  Upon approval, the Department Chairperson will forward it to Records. 
        • All grade change forms must be seen and approved by the appropriate Department Chairperson. 
        • If a student grade is changed because the faculty member has allowed the student additional time to complete work -- this is not considered a grade change, instead it is considered an “Incomplete” (the student should have initiated an Incomplete request and provided valid reasoning for that request).
        • A grade change is only for grades where there are errors (miscalculation or incorrect evaluation of work) and evidence showing these reasons must accompany the grade change request. 
      • Reporting course outcomes
        • Course outcomes may be reported throughout the semester or at the end of semester, but this reporting must be completed by the time final grades are posted.
        • Course Outcome Reporting may be accessed in LearningZone or in DragonZone, select term and course section, outcomes reporting.  .

      Assessment of Student Learning

      Each course at HutchCC uses a Master syllabus approved by the Department, Curriculum Committee, Representative Assembly, and Board of Trustees. Each syllabus states measurable course outcomes and competencies that must be taught in the course. The listed assessment instruments are the minimum required. An instructor has the ability to use more instruments at their discretion. Common syllabi allow for course consistency across the institution regardless of the delivery modality or location.

      Instructors use evaluation tools to determine grades. It is important not to confuse evaluation with assessment. Assessment focuses on the examination of how students learn, what they learn, and at what level they learn it. Assessment is a formative process of analysis while evaluation is summative, focusing on the end product of scores, points, and/or grades.

      HutchCC faculty report the number enrolled at the time the assessment instrument was given, the number of completers, the number of achievers, and any notes about the assessment instrument. “Completers” are defined as those who completed the assessment instrument, and “achievers” are defined as those who successfully completed the assessment instrument.

      The information for each instructor is placed in a spreadsheet and returned to them allowing the instructor to easily compare semester to semester progress made in improving student learning and also to make adjustments based upon data.  Assessment information is required for both the Higher Learning Commission and various program accreditations, Kansas Board of Regents system reporting, and internal HutchCC program reviews.

      To review HutchCC assessment activities, including information about program reviews and institution-wide assessment, please see www.hutchcc.edu/assessment.

      Grades and Grade Reports

      Grades of A, B, C, D, F (Failure), I (Incomplete) and P (Pass) and designations of R (Re-enrollment), W (Withdrawal) and Credit/No Credit are used.  Final course grades are made available online through HutchCC’s virtual campus. At their discretion, college officials may send students other reports.

      Incomplete Grades
      Instructors may give a student a grade of Incomplete (I) under the following conditions:

      1. The student must initiate the request prior to the time final course grades are submitted to Records.
      2. The request must be made because of an emergency, illness or otherwise unavoidable life-event.
      3. The instructor must agree to the request before a grade of incomplete can be submitted.
      4. A written contract between the instructor and student, signed by both, will document the work required and date needed to complete course work.
      5. If a student does not complete the course requirements within the timeframe established by the instructor, a grade of "F" will be recorded on the student's transcript at the end of the following semester.

      Grade of "R" - Re-enrollment
      A student who earns a grade of "R" has demonstrated satisfactory progress towards completion of, but has not met, all of the competencies needed to pass the designated developmental course as determined by the instructor.  (See course list below)  A student may not receive a grade of "R" for the same course more than twice.

      • EN 098 Basic English
      • LC 098 Study Strategies
      • MA 097 Essential Principles of Math
      • Other developmental courses (0xx level) may be added as deemed appropriate by the department chair

      Incomplete Grades

      If extenuating circumstances develop beyond a student’s control (e.g., death in immediate family, life-threatening illness, emergency, catastrophic conditions), an instructor may choose to post a grade of “I” and prepare a written contract to assist a student in finishing a course.

      A grade of Incomplete (I) will only be awarded under the following conditions:

      • The student must initiate the request prior to the time final course grades are submitted to Records.
      • The request must be made because of an emergency, illness or otherwise unavoidable life-event.
      • The instructor must agree to the request before a grade of incomplete (I) can be submitted.
      • A written contract between the instructor and student, signed by both, will document the work required and date needed to complete course work.
      • The contract will be filed in the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

      If a student does not complete the course requirements within the following semester, the grade of “I” will automatically convert to a grade of "F" on the student's transcript.

      Instructional Supplies

      General instructional supplies, such as pens, grade books, planning books, markers, etc. are available from the departmental secretary for the department in which you teach on campus, or at the location where you teach (Newton/McPherson). Electronic materials may be available in the LearningZone. Contact OnlineEd@hutchcc.edu for additional information on what may be available for your course and for training in LearningZone.

      Irregular Attendance Warning/Instructor Initiated Withdrawal of a Student

      If a student has missed several classes consecutively, HutchCC faculty may send an Irregular Attendance Warning. This warning clarifies with the student the potential for “administrative withdrawal.” 

      • Find “Irregular Attendance Warning” on Web Services, Faculty Tab, Warn/Withdraw. 
      • Open the Irregular Attendance Warning, save to your computer, then fill it out. 
      • Faculty member will complete the Irregular Attendance Warning and email it to  Records@hutchcc.edu from their HutchCC email account.    
      • The Records Office will notify the student and the student’s advisor via email that the student’s attendance has been irregular.

      An Instructor Initiated Withdrawal may be submitted if a student continues to miss class after the warning has been sent.  Per the instructors policy as noted in the Instructor Sheet, the instructor may withdraw the student from the class. 

      • Find this form on Web Services, Faculty Tab, Warn/Withdraw. 
      • Open the Instructor Withdrawal, save to your computer, then fill it out. 
      • Faculty member will complete the Instructor Withdrawal and email it to Records@hutchcc.edu from their HutchCC email account. 
      • The Records Office will notify the student and the student’s advisor via email that the student has been withdrawn from the course. 

      NOTE:  The instructor must send the Irregular Attendance Warning at least 1 week prior to sending an Instructor Withdrawal.

      Online and Hybrid Master Course Shells

      In LearningZone, a Master course shell has been developed by faculty for each course HutchCC offers in both a fully online and/or hybrid format. These Master Course shells will be followed in content, schedule, gradebook, and assignments to ensure students receive the same consistent content and competencies regardless of delivery modality.

      Proctoring (online courses only)

      Some online courses require proctored exams. Faculty should have updated links in the online classroom detailing the proctor guidelines and local availability to schedule proctored exams. Proctoring services, located in Rimmer Learning Center, are made available only for fully online courses. Testing should occur in the classroom for hybrid courses with in-person meeting dates.

      Rosters -- Class Lists

      Accessing course rosters/lists can be found in DragonZone under "Academics" and then select "Sections."  Under the Sections tab you can navigate to "My Sectiors" or find your course by searching by the course number, course name, or your last name.  Each Roster/Class list will contain the photo, name, student id, and email for the students enrolled in the course.  By selecting "Section Details" in the upper right corner of the screen each Roster/Class list will contain the start/end date for the course, meeting times/days, and location.  All classes should start on the start date and end on the end date.

      Roster options:

      • Print the roster (upper right corner of screen “nine small grey squares”)
      • Make a spreadsheet of the roster by clicking on “nine small grey squares”
      • Email all students in the course at one time by clicking “Message” at top of page
      • Look at who has/has not “confirmed their intent” to be part of your class

      Class Sizes -- Every effort will be made to maintain a class size conducive to proper learning.  The instructor and department chairperson make recommendations to the appropriate vice president concerning class size for individual classes; the appropriate vice president makes the final determination regarding class size.  In lab sections, the number of students enrolled is fixed by the number of stations in the assigned room.  If the number of students in a lab section exceeds the number accommodated by fixed stations in the assigned room, temporary stations will be made available to the extent physically possible for students until such time as students change schedules resulting in enough stations for each student. 

      Schedules

      All face-to-face classes are scheduled to meet certain days and times.  The instructor is to meet the class during those times.

      If an instructor must miss class for some reason, he/she is to contact either the Department Chair or the appropriate site coordinator ASAP to let them know and efforts should be made by the instructor to find a substitute. The Office of Academic Affairs should also be notified by full-time faculty teaching at any of the Hutchinson locations (Plum Street, 3rd street, 4th Street, 9th Street) so that an appropriate substitute can be located to fulfill the missed class lesson/assignments.    

      After appropriate notifications mentioned above, if an instructor must miss class and the class is canceled, the instructor should also email all students in the course to inform them of the cancellation and give them an assignment to work on in lieu of having that class period.

      Closing-Weather Related

      In the event the college is closed and/or classes are canceled, the information will usually be available by 6:00 a.m. for day classes and 4:00 p.m. for evening classes:

      • Via television on channels KSN-3, KAKE-10 and KWCH-12
      • Via radio stations KWBW 1450 AM, KHUT 102.9 FM, and Radio Kansas 90.1 FM (the official Hutchinson Community College radio station)
      • Via running banner announcement on the HutchCC main home page and Web Services
      • Emergency text messaging is available for your cell phone.  Faculty can sign up for the text alert in Web Services under the Employee/My Profile tab. 

      Cancellation of class information will apply to all sites (HutchCC’s main campus, Building 12, Cosmetology, Davis Hall, Fire Science, Peel Center, South Campus, Newton Center, McPherson Center, and all high school locations) unless otherwise stated.

      Student Responsibilities

      Students at Hutchinson Community College are expected to conduct themselves as self-respecting, educated men and women in accordance with the laws of the nation, state and community, as well as the academic community. Hutchinson Community College affirms the principle of intellectual freedom in scholarly activity, the right of each member of the community to be treated with respect and dignity and the right to learn. This affirmation imposes a duty not to infringe upon the rights of others. Within its sphere of responsibilities, the college will afford students proper procedural safeguards to resolve matters in dispute. Those students who willfully violate college standards must expect to face disciplinary action on the part of the institution.

      Students at Hutchinson Community College have the following responsibilities:

      1. Provide the necessary documents for admission to the college.
      2. Observe all regulations of the college.
      3. Consult their advisors on academic careers, curriculum planning and changes in their programs.
      4. Attend all meetings of each class in which they are enrolled from the first class meeting and be aware of and comply with the instructor's attendance policy as outlined in the instructor sheet.
      5. Prepare for each class meeting as instructed and be an active participant in the class.
      6. Answer promptly all written notices from advisors, faculty, vice presidents and other college officials.
      7. Upon completion of requirements, file an application for graduation with the Records Office.
      8. Enroll in only those courses for which the stated prerequisite(s) -- if there are any -- have been satisfactorily met. Failure to comply with prerequisites may result in administrative withdrawal.
      9. Be aware of and comply with the policy and procedures for college or course withdrawal.
      10. Be aware of and comply with the academic honesty policy.
      11. Use the appropriate channels in appealing any academic actions which the students believe are unfair.

       

      Textbooks

      Anyone may view the Textbook Management System, but only HutchCC Department Chairpersons can enter information in the master list. To adopt a textbook, the title and ordering information must be entered into the master list of textbooks. When recommending a textbook, the 14 digit ISBN number is used from the STUDENT edition of the text. This number begins with 978. If the edition of a textbook is changed, HutchCC Department Chairpersons retire the current edition and enter the new information into the master course list.

      In an effort to reduce costs faculty, are required to adopt a textbook for a minimum of 9 terms. If the text cannot be used for 9 terms (e.g., currency of information, out-of-print, books are unavailable), a change in text may impact whether a book will be covered by a book scholarship.

      Visitors Policy

      Visitors (individuals who are not officially enrolled or employed by HutchCC) are welcome on Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) campuses and properties.

      HutchCC seeks to provide an environment that is conducive to study and work and, therefore, HutchCC will take reasonable steps to protect the student and work environment of HutchCC. HutchCC is also concerned with the health, safety, and liability issues associated with children on HutchCC properties.

      Visitor Expectations

      Visitors on campus are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with all federal and state laws and regulations, and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with all HutchCC Policies and Procedures. Any violations of these laws and/or policies and procedures could result in corrective action taken by HutchCC.

      Child-Age Campus Visitors

      Parents/guardians are responsible for the behavior of their children on HutchCC campuses and properties. Parents/guardians are required to provide reasonable supervision for their children in accordance with all federal and state laws and regulations, and all HutchCC Policies and Procedures. Children with an illness that prevents them from going to a childcare facility or from attending school should not be brought to HutchCC campuses. Parents/guardians whose children engage in any disruptive or destructive behavior may be referred for possible College conduct action.

      Classroom Visitors

      Only registered students are allowed in the HutchCC classrooms during official class periods. College employees on official business, along with their guests, are allowed to visit HutchCC classrooms upon approval from the instructor. Any other exceptions must be approved by the instructor and appropriate supervisor and/or their designee. If the instructor, in their discretion, and/or a registered student find(s) the non-registered person's presence in their classroom disruptive, the instructor may ask the non-registered person to leave for the remainder of the class period and the disruption shall be communicated to the appropriate supervisor and/or their designee.

      Office or Workspace Visitors

      Visitors in offices or workplaces should conform to expected office norms. If a visitor does not conform to office norms, such that the visitor's presence is deemed disruptive or potentially disruptive to the productivity of the employees, an appropriate College employee should ask the visitor to leave the area and the disruption should be documented.

       

       

      ASSISTING WITH STUDENT NEEDS

      Academic Advising

      Academic advising services are provided to current and prospective students who are undecided or interested in General Studies curriculum, and to students who have declared a college major. Professional academic advisors are available to assist undeclared students in setting practical and realistic academic goals.  Academic advisors help students interpret academic assessment results, enrollment restrictions, course selection, degree options, transfer information, and related academic guidance information.  Students who have declared a college major are advised by advisors from their academic departments.

      Students may contact one of the following offices to speak to a General Studies Advisor:

      The Student Success Center – Hutchinson Campus: (620) 665-3377

      McPherson Center: (620) 245-0202

      Newton Center: (316) 283-7000

      Students with a declared major may contact the department chair of their academic department to speak to a departmental advisor.

      Accessibility Services

      The Accessibility Services Office, located in the Parker Student Union, provides and coordinates services to students with disabilities, promotes equal educational opportunities, and provides equal access to all institutional programs and services. Accommodations are provided on an individualized, as-needed basis. Students requesting accommodations must provide current documentation regarding the nature of his or her disability and the need for accommodation. Examples of accommodations include exam accommodations, note-taking, sign language interpreting, and the use of special equipment.

      Hutchinson Community College encourages students to be as independent as possible on campus and to use those services which help maximize learning. So that services are in place on the first class day, early contact with the Accessibility Services Office for students with disabilities is encouraged.

      Business Office

      The Business Office at Hutchinson Community College is responsible for all of the financial transactions and record keeping for the institution. The Business Office is committed to professional and courteous service to students, faculty, staff and vendors and strives to be organized and efficient. The Business Office can assist with all account billing and payment information, and works with students to provide convenient payment options, including the FACTS payment plan.

      Crisis Support Services

      You should seek emergency help immediately if a student is talking about direct harm to self or others or acting in a bizarre or disruptive manner. The following list of phone numbers represents local support options in case of an emergency.

      Emergency Phone Numbers

      • 911 and Campus Security Emergency Line 620-665-3379
      • The Mental Health Crisis Hotline 1-800-794-0163 or 620-694-1099
      • Student Success Center 620-665-3377

      Recognizing and Assisting Students in Distress

      Faculty and staff are in good positions to recognize students who are in distress. The HutchCC Counseling staff wants to support your efforts by providing this practical information about how to identify distressed students and to make referrals to Counseling Services or other crisis support services. Things to look for include but are not limited to:

      Marked Changes in Academic Performance or Behavior

      • Uncharacteristically poor performance and preparation
      • Dramatic change in attendance (absences or tardiness)
      • Repeated requests for special consideration especially when this represents a change from previous functioning
      • Extremes in avoiding or dominating discussions
      • Excessively anxious when called upon
      • Disruptive classroom behavior
      • Intense emotion or inappropriate responses

      Behavioral or Interpersonal Problems

      • Asking instructor for help with personal problems
      • Complaints from other students
      • Hyperactivity or very rapid speech
      • Tearfulness
      • Irritability or angry outbursts
      • Problems with roommate or family
      • Change in personal hygiene or dress
      • Dramatic weight loss or gain
      • Disjointed thoughts

      References to Suicide, Homicide, or Death

      • Expressed thoughts of helplessness or hopelessness
      • Overt references to suicide
      • Isolation from friends or family
      • References to suicide or homicide in verbal statements or writing

      What Can You Do?

      • TALK...to the student in private when both of you have the time and are not rushed or preoccupied. Privacy will help minimize embarrassment and defensiveness.
      • LISTEN...in a sensitive, nonthreatening way. Discuss your observations in behavioral, nonjudgmental terms. For example, “I’ve noticed you’ve been absent from class lately and I’m concerned.”
      • COMMUNICATE...understanding by repeating back the essence of what the student has told you. Try to include both content and feelings (“It sounds like you’re not accustomed to such a big campus and you’re feeling left out of things.”) Let the student talk.
      • GIVE HOPE...assure the student that help is available. Help the student identify options for action and explore the possible consequences.
      • MAINTAIN...clear and consistent boundaries and expectations. Be frank with the student about the limits on your ability to help him or her.
      • REFER...when:
        • the problem is more serious than you feel comfortable handling.
        • you have helped as much as you can and further assistance is needed.

      Making a Counseling Referral

      Presenting yourself as knowledgeable about campus services can ease a student’s discomfort about seeking help. Here are some suggestions for non-crisis and crisis situations:

      Non-Crisis Referrals:

      1. Encourage students to contact the Student Success Center directly to schedule a counseling intake appointment by calling 620-665-3377.
      2. Offer to let the student call from your office or offer to walk over with the student if you believe they need extra support.

      Crisis Referrals:

      • If a student is in crisis during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) call the Student Success Center at 620-665-3377 and ask to speak to a crisis counselor. When campus counseling services are not available refer students to The Mental Health Crisis Hotline 1-800-794-0163 or 620-694-1099. If the student or another person is in imminent danger, or when you believe a student is out of control, call 911 and the Campus Security Emergency Line 620-665-3379.
      • Providing a description of the situation will help determine the appropriate actions to take.

      Advisors should FOLLOW-UP with students after the referral was made. Be aware that counselors in the Student Success Center work within ethical limits of confidentiality and WE CANNOT give information about the student or specifics about the situation without written permission. WE CAN answer your general questions about making referrals, offer you information about psychological concerns and problems in general, and take information from you about the student.

       

      Student Employment

      Hutchinson Community College provides services for students seeking part-time employment to help offset educational, living, and social expenses. HutchCC has two categories of jobs: college work-study program jobs and campus payroll jobs.  Contact the Financial Aid Department for college work-study eligibility, the available jobs can be found on Career Zone. Financial Aid is located in the Parker Student Union. More information can be found through the HutchCC website for each Department.

      Math Lab/Writing Lab

      Rimmer Learning Resource Center provides free drop-in tutoring services for HutchCC students in the Math and Writing Labs whenever the building is open. Students should go to the front desk for writing tutoring and Room 109 for math tutoring. Students should come prepared with specific questions about their class assignments. Online tutoring for math and writing is also available for HutchCC students by emailing tutors@hutchcc.edu or submitting questions on the public forums in LearningZone. Students can access the LearningZone forums by going to:  https://www.hutchcc.edu/rlrc-tutoring

      Tutors will try to respond within an hour when Rimmer Learning Resource Center is open. Furthermore, Students can schedule an online tutoring appointment via Zoom by contacting Rimmer Learning Resource Center or filling out a form available in the Tutoring Services section of the webpage:  https://www.hutchcc.edu/rlrc-tutoring

      Student Financial Assistance

      Federal Student Financial Aid

      Hutchinson Community College is committed to providing clear and understandable information regarding the student financial aid process as well as timely and accurate financial assistance to all eligible students.

      Visit the Hutchinson Community College Web site for detailed information about the following:

      1. How to apply for financial aid
      2. Who qualifies for aid
      3. What types of aid are available
      4. Who to talk to about financial aid

      Institutional Scholarships

      Hutchinson Community College offers a variety of scholarships that are as diverse as our student body.  Whether you are a full time or part time student, seeking vocational training or looking to transfer to a university, we have a scholarship that you may qualify for. Scholarships are designed to recognize and reward students for academic performance, participation in activities and leadership abilities.

      The application dateline is February 15th and can be found on the Hutchinson Community College website along with a list of scholarships offered.

      Employment

      Hutchinson Community College provides services for students seeking part-time employment to help offset educational, living, and social expenses. HutchCC has two categories of jobs: college work-study program jobs and campus payroll jobs.  Contact the Financial Aid Department, located in the Parker Student Union, for college work-study eligibility. More information can be found through the HutchCC website.

      Service for Veterans

      The veteran’s representative, whose office is located in the Parker Student Union in the Financial Aid Office, serves as liaison with the Veterans Administration and provides services for veterans who are attending or wish to attend Hutchinson Community College. Students receiving VA benefits are responsible for payment of their tuition and fees.

      The Kansas State Approving Agency recognizes Hutchinson Community College as qualified to provide college level education under all laws providing veterans' benefits. Veterans enrolling in the college are subject to the same regulations and policies as non-veteran students.

      Hutchinson Community College complies with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, and will not impose any penalty upon eligible students if they are unable to meet their financial obligations due to delayed payment of benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

      Credits from special schools of the military services and courses completed through study of the U.S. Armed Forces Institute and/or a transcript of in-service training are considered for possible conversion to college credits using the American Council on Education evaluation guides.  A currently enrolled student may apply for military service credit through the Records Office by presenting an official copy of their military transcript.

      Student Success Center Services

      Career Counseling and Testing

      HutchCC counselors assist current and prospective students through the process of exploring career options, gathering personal and occupational information, and making sound career decisions.  Counselors assist students in the career decision-making process using a variety of assessments including interest and personality inventories and work values questionnaires.  Interactive computer systems are also available, allowing students to work independently exploring their interests, values, and abilities relative to the career choice process.

      Interested persons should schedule an appointment with a college counselor to determine which assessments would be most appropriate.  To schedule an appointment call (620) 665-3377.  There is a charge for career assessment testing for individuals who are not currently enrolled at the college.  There are no testing charges for currently registered HutchCC students.

      Social Work Services

      Social work services, located in Parker Student Union, provide resourcing for various student needs. Resources may be shared related to college supports, financial services, rent assistance, mental health symptoms, substance abuse issues, and other needs. Beyond immediate resourcing, students may set up ongoing appointments to work towards their own goals in various areas of life and process progress and any further needs.  To schedule an appointment call (620) 665-3377.

      Personal Counseling

      Professional counselors provide a confidential and empathetic environment in which students may seek assistance with the many varied and complicated issues facing them.  Personal counseling services are designed to assist students with emotional and behavioral problems that may interfere with the successful attainment of college goals.  Typical counseling needs among college students include stress and anxiety issues, alcohol and drug abuse, loneliness, eating and sleeping disorders, and relationship problems.  Students in need of long-term or clinical psychological treatment are referred to outside agencies and services.

      The Student Success Center – Hutchinson Campus

      Counselors are available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday and evenings by appointment.

      To schedule an appointment call (620) 665-3377.

      McPherson Center: (620) 245-0202

      Newton Center: (316) 283-7000

      An informational brochure is available.

      Tutoring

      Rimmer Learning Resource Center (RLRC) is designed to promote student success, retention, and graduation.  HutchCC faculty and staff encourage students to take advantage of the center’s resources and services which include FREE tutoring with CRLA-certified tutors (College of Reading and Learning Assistance).  Math and writing drop-in tutoring is available both face-to-face and online during all open hours.  Tutoring is also offered by appointment, face-to-face or online, for all subject areas. 

      ALIGNING WITH POLICIES

      Academic Appeal

      PURPOSE

      The academic appeal procedure is designed to offer a means to resolve disagreements related to the interpretation of academic and/or selective admissions program policies. A student may request in writing (through the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs) a hearing before the Academic Appeal Committee.

      NOTE: Academic dismissal from the institution, based on grade point average (GPA) per the Academic Standing, Probation, Dismissal and Reinstatement Policy (#1003), may not be appealed.

      If a department or program has recommended course or program dismissal, the student may continue in coursework (providing there are no threatening or security behavioral issues) until appeal processes are concluded. However, if an issue has been documented at a partnership location (e.g., clinical sites, secondary institutions, correctional or military facilities), then the student is no longer eligible to continue participation in internships, apprenticeships, and or clinical-based practice. For clinical sites, this sanction is immediate. 

      The College President or the President’s designee may immediately suspend a student in the event that it is reasonably determined that a student’s continued presence on campus poses a significant danger to either the student or to others or if there is reasonable cause to believe that such an interim suspension is required to protect lives or property and to ensure the maintenance of order. (Section C. Emergency Suspension, Standards of Conduct for Students Policy)

      LEVEL 1 –ACADEMIC APPEAL COMMITTEE

      DOCUMENTATION OF ISSUE

      Documented evidence of said policy violation must be provided by the student in regard to the academic issue (this includes correspondence, course notes, grading/testing, procedural variances, etc.).

      The appeal (containing documented evidence) must be received by the Vice President of Academic Affairs' office within 10 business days after the event. The student will be notified by email at least three business days prior to the hearing with the Academic Appeal Committee. The notice will state the time, date, and place of the hearing. The hearing will be held within 10 business days of receipt of the request for appeal. If the student appeals and fails to present during a live appearance (in person or through an electronic medium) for the scheduled appeal hearing, the committee will dismiss the appeal. There will be no further opportunity for appeal. The Academic Appeal Committee is appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and consists of administrators, faculty and students. Five members of the committee, selected from these three groups, with at least one member from each group, will hear the student appeal. An audio recording of the proceedings will be made.

      TIMELINE

      The hearing will occur within 10 business days of the appeal being received by the college. A business day is defined as a day the college is open for business. The student will be requested to appear at the hearing, each party/group shall have the right to have an advisor present (including an attorney) at the party's own expense. Although each party has the right to have an advisor present, the advisor may not speak for the student or the college.

      OUTCOME

      The outcome or decision will be communicated to the student, college faculty/administrators and the Vice President of Academic Affairs within 5 business days of the hearing.

      LEVEL 2—INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW

      ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION

      The Level 2 Institutional Appeal Review is not intended to be a full re-hearing of the original appeal. A summary of NEW EVIDENCE that was unknown or unavailable during the original hearing which could substantially impact the original finding or sanction must be included in order to request an additional hearing. This evidence must be provided before the appeal date will be scheduled ONLY NEW documented evidence of said policy violation will be accepted from the student in regard to the academic issue (this includes additional correspondence, course notes, grading/testing, procedural variances, etc.) to provide causal evidence in the case.

      If the decision of the Academic Appeal Committee requires further clarification by the student, the follow-up appeal (including new/unpresented evidence) must be received by the Vice President of Academic Affairs' office within 10 business days. The student will be notified by email at least three business days prior to the hearing with the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The notice will state the time, date, and place of the hearing. The hearing will be held within 10 business days of receipt of the request for appeal. If the student appeals and fails to present during a live appearance (in person or through an electronic medium) for the scheduled appeal hearing, the appeal will be dismissed. A business day is defined as a day the college is open for business. Each party shall have the right to have an advisor present (including an attorney) at the party's own expense. Although each party has the right to have an advisor present, the advisor may not speak for the student or the college.  An audio recording of the proceedings will be made. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will consult with the President about the recommended outcome before the final decision is rendered. This decision will be final.

      OUTCOME 

      The outcome or decision will be communicated to the student and college faculty/administrators within 5- business days of the hearing.

      Alcohol & Drug Policy and Prevention Program

      Standards of Conduct

      In compliance with the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-690) and the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-226), Hutchinson Community College (“HutchCC” or “the College”) prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance or abuse of alcohol (as defined in these Acts) by a student or employee on college property or at any college event or activity.

      Student or employee violations of federal, state, and/or local drug and alcohol laws, including underage drinking laws, or HutchCC policies will be handled in accordance with applicable law enforcement and/or HutchCC disciplinary procedures. In Kansas, the legal drinking age is 21; however, no alcohol is allowed on HutchCC property or property controlled by HutchCC without prior written approval of the HutchCC Board of Trustees.

      Residence halls, student clubs and organizations, and athletic teams, may impose additional restrictions.

      Student Sanctions

      Students who violate this policy are subject to the HutchCC Disciplinary Policy (Policy 1047) and the sanctions included in that policy. Violations of this policy by students will be reported to the Vice President of Student Services and, when appropriate, to law enforcement officials.

      Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations

      A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for FSA funds. The student self certifies in applying for aid that they are eligible; the College is not required to confirm this unless the College has conflicting information.

      Convictions only count against a student for aid eligibility purposes (FAFSA question 23c) if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Federal Student Aid—they do not count if the offense was not during such a period, unless the student was denied federal benefits for drug trafficking by a federal or state judge (see drug abuse hold sidebar, next page). Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record does not count, nor does one received when they were a juvenile, unless they were tried as an adult.

      The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for FSA funds, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses. (A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.)

      Period of Ineligibility
       Possession of Illegal DrugsSale of Illegal Drugs
      1st offense 1 year from date of conviction2 years from date of conviction
      2nd offense2 years from date of convictionIndefinite period
      3+ offensesIndefinite period 

      If the student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period. Schools must provide each student who becomes ineligible for FSA funds due to a drug conviction a clear and conspicuous written notice of their loss of eligibility and the methods whereby they can become eligible again.

      A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when they successfully complete a qualified drug rehabilitation program or passes two unannounced drug tests given by such a program. Further drug convictions will make them ineligible again.

      Students denied eligibility for an indefinite period can regain it after successfully completing a rehabilitation program (as described below), passing two unannounced drug tests from such a program, or if a conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record. In such cases, the nature and dates of the remaining convictions will determine when the student regains eligibility. It is the student’s responsibility to certify to Financial Aid that they have successfully completed the rehabilitation program; as with the conviction question on the FAFSA, the College is not required to confirm the reported information unless the College has conflicting information.

      When a student regains eligibility during the award year, the College may award Pell grant, TEACH, and Campus-based aid for the current payment period and Direct loans for the period of enrollment.

      Standards for a qualified drug rehabilitation program

      A qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests and satisfy at least one of the following requirements:

      • Be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a federal, state, or local government program.

      • Be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally-or state-licensed insurance company.

      • Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court.

      • Be administered or recognized by a federally- or state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor.

      If the College is counseling a student who will need to enter such a program, the student should be advised of these requirements. If a student certifies that they have successfully completed a drug rehabilitation program, but the College has reason to believe that the program does not meet the requirements, the College must then find out if requirements are met before paying the student any FSA funds.

      Employee Sanctions

      As a condition of employment, employees of HutchCC who violate this policy will be reported to the Director of Human Resources and, when appropriate, to law enforcement officials. Employees of HutchCC who violate this policy will be subject to one or more of the following disciplinary actions:

      • Placement on probationary status.
      • Short-term suspension with pay.
      • Short-term suspension without pay.
      • Long-term suspension without pay.
      • Required participation in a drug and alcohol education treatment, counseling, or rehabilitation program.
      • Termination of employment.
      • Or other actions determined appropriate by the Director of Human Resources.

      Employees who violate this policy will be afforded a hearing in accordance with current policies relating to employee discipline. Nothing in this policy is intended to diminish the right of the college to take any other disciplinary action permitted or authorized by HutchCC policies or the negotiated agreement.

      If it is determined that an employee should complete a drug or alcohol education or rehabilitation program as a condition of continued employment, payment of the costs of any such program will be the employee’s responsibility. Employees convicted of a violation of a criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace are required to notify HutchCC of the conviction no later than five calendar days of the conviction. After receiving the notification from the employee, HutchCC must provide notice of the conviction, including position title and affected grants, to the U.S. Department of Education’s Director of Grants and Contracts Service.

      Distribution

      This policy will be distributed annually to all employees and all students.

      The policy and related procedures will be reviewed and updated biennially by the Regulatory Compliance and Due Process Committee. The Director of Financial Aid may make minor modifications to policy if Federal Regulations warrant such revisions.

      Consequences of the Use, Misuse, and Abuse of Drugs and Alcohol

      Health Consequences

      Students and employees of HutchCC should be aware that the following health risks have been associated with the use, misuse and abuse of drugs and alcohol:

      • Alcohol: Birth defects, ulcers and gastritis, liver damage, heart disease, cancer, and brain damage.
      • Anabolic Steroids: Acne, cancer, heart disease, liver disease, sterility, jaundice, and kidney stones.
      • Cocaine/Stimulants: Increased blood pressure, blurred vision, sleeplessness, anxiety, irregular heartbeat, and death.
      • Hallucinogens: Increased body temperature, increased heart rate, blood pressure, sleeplessness and tremors.
      • Marijuana: Irritation of the lungs, emphysema, increased heart rate, reduced short term memory, and cancer.
      • Opiates/Narcotics: Decreased heart rate, nausea, cold, moist skin, bluish in color, and slowed breathing.
      • Sedatives: Slowed body function, drowsiness, convulsions, and coma.

      Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications: Risks associated with the nonmedical use, abuse or misuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications are dependent upon the particular medication and may include any of the risks described above.

      Students and employees should note that the above listing is not intended as all inclusive.

      Workplace Consequences

      The negative impact of substance abuse by employees in the workplace can be; increased risk of accidents, lower productivity, increased insurance costs, increased institutional costs, increased absenteeism. Loss of jobs and loss of life may result from substance abuse on the job.

      Legal Consequences

      Local, state, and federal laws provide for a variety of legal sanctions and penalties for the possession, distribution, misuse and abuse of controlled substances, pharmaceutical products, prescriptions, over-the counter medications, and alcohol.

      The Federal Controlled Substances Act provides penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment and fines up to $25,000 for unlawful distribution or possession with intent to distribute narcotics. For unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a person is subject to up to one year of imprisonment and fines up to $5,000. Any person who unlawfully distributes a controlled substance to a person under twenty-one years of age may be punished by up to twice the term of imprisonment and fine otherwise authorized by law.

      Kansas law provides that any person who violates the criminal statutes on controlled substances by possessing, offering for sale, distributing, or manufacturing opiates and narcotics, such as cocaine and heroin, shall be guilty of a Class C felony. For a conviction of a Class C felony, the court may sentence a person to a term of imprisonment of a minimum of three to five years, a maximum of 10 to 20 years, and a fine of up to $15,000. Unlawful possession of a depressant, stimulant or hallucinogenic drug is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, with a penalty of up to a year in jail and a fine of $2,500.

      Under Kansas law, persons under 21 years of age may be subject to minimum fines of $200 for possessing, consuming, obtaining, purchasing or attempting to obtain or purchase alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverages. Persons convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are subject to severe fines, imprisonment, and other penalties.

      The most recent & complete Federal Trafficking Penalties are available online.

      Counseling, Treatment, and Rehabilitation

      Drug and alcohol counseling and treatment programs are available to students and employees on a national, state, and local basis. The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website maintains a substance abuse treatment locator.

      Alcohol assessments and personal counseling are available to currently enrolled students and employees through the HutchCC Student Success Center (620) 665-3377. Additional counseling information and resources are available online. The Student Success Center maintains a list of local treatment facilities and this is available for students and employees to pick upon request.

      Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Prevention Information

      The following web sites provide additional drug and alcohol abuse and prevention information:

      Above the Influence was originally created as part of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, a program of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Above the Influence has since transitioned away from federal oversight and is now a program of the non-profit Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.

      The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) has been a valuable resource for millions of people struggling with alcoholism and addiction.

      The It Matters website and related educational campaigns are sponsored by the Behavioral Health Services Commission at the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).

      The mission of the National Institute on Drug Abuse is to advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health.

      The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is one of the 27 institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIAAA supports and conducts research on the impact of alcohol use on human health and well-being.

      Concealed Carry

      POLICY PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to describe how concealed handguns may be carried on the campus of Hutchinson Community College (the “College”) in accordance with Kansas law, specifically the personal and family protection act, K.S.A 75-7c01 et seq., as amended (the “Act”)


      APPLIES TO: Everyone on Campus


      DEFINITIONS: Concealed Carry Defined. Individuals who carry a handgun on or in any building located on the grounds of the College and any building leased by the College must carry it concealed at all times. Individuals who choose to carry a concealed handgun are responsible for doing so in strict compliance with the Act, other applicable Kansas laws and regulations and with the College policies.


      With respect to this policy, a concealed handgun shall remain at all times within the person’s exclusive control except when used for personal or family protection in accordance with applicable law.


      Geographic Applicability. This policy is applicable only within the geographic limits of the campus of the College and within locations owned or leased by the College that are not part of the College campus, provided that such locations are located within the State of Kansas. The owners of facilities leased or used on a temporary basis by the College and who may lawfully exclude or permit firearms at their premises (concealed or otherwise) may choose at their sole discretion to exclude or permit concealed firearms from their property, notwithstanding use by the College.


      Campus Gun Free Locations with Adequate Security Measures. Each location within the geographic applicability of this policy designated as gun free with “adequate security measures,” as defined by Kansas law, will be identified with appropriate signs in accordance with Kansas law. There are no College locations that currently are designated as gun free with permanent adequate security measures. The College may from time to time designate a specific location as gun free and use adequate security measures as defined and required by law. Appropriate notice will be given of any such designation.


      Prohibitions. Open carry of firearms by any means is prohibited. The carrying of any rifle, shotgun, or other long gun by any means is prohibited. The carrying of any firearm, concealed or otherwise, is prohibited in any location or under any circumstances prohibited by the applicable federal or state law.


      Restrictions to the Carrying of a Concealed Firearm Pursuant to Kansas Law: Kansas law states that the only type of firearm that an individual can carry while concealed is a handgun. Nothing in this policy is intended to replace municipal, state or federal law regarding weapons, firearms, explosives and other hazardous objects or substances or be inconsistent with the rights afforded a lawfully commissioned peace officer. Restrictions applicable to concealed carrying of a handgun under Kansas law include but are not limited to the following:

      • An individual in possession of a concealed handgun must be at least 21 years of age [K.S.A. 21-6302(a)(4)];
      • A firearm cannot be carried by an individual under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both, to such a degree as to render the individual incapable of safely operating the firearm [K.S.A. 21-6332];
      • A firearm cannot be carried by an individual who is both addicted to and an unlawful user of a controlled substance [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(10)];
      • A firearm cannot be carried by an individual who is or has been a mentally ill person subject to involuntary commitment [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(13)];
      • A firearm cannot be carried by an individual with an alcohol or substance abuse problem subject to involuntary commitment [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(13)];
      • A firearm cannot be carried by an individual who has been convicted of a felony crime [K.S.A. 21-6304];
      • An automatic firearm cannot be carried [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(5)];
      • A cartridge which can be fired by a handgun and which has a plastic-coated bullet with a core of less than 60% lead by weight is illegal [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(6)];
      • Suppressors and silencers cannot be used with a firearm [K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(4)]; and,
      • Firearms cannot be fired in the corporate limits of a city or at a dwelling, or at a structure or vehicle in which people are present, except in self-defense [K.S.A. 21-6308, 6308a].


      Violations of any of such restrictions may constitute a criminal offense under applicable Kansas law. Persons who violate any provision of this policy or applicable Kansas law shall be subject to the disciplinary actions in accordance with the policies and procedures of the College. Violations also may be reported to appropriate law enforcement agencies.

      Conflict of Interest Policy

      Definition: A potential conflict of interest occurs when a divergence between private interests and professional obligations to the College exists such that an independent observer might reasonably question whether the individual’s professional actions or decisions are determined by considerations of personal benefit, gain or advantage.

      Conflict of Interest/General:

      Employees of Hutchinson Community College have an obligation to avoid activities or situations which may result in a conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict of interest. HutchCC is an institution of public trust; all employees must respect that status and conduct their affairs in ways that will not compromise the integrity of the College.

      College employees must not use their position to influence outside organizations or individuals for the direct financial, personal, or professional benefit of themselves, members of their families or others with whom there is a personal relationship. An employee’s actions or decisions made in the course of College activities should not be determined by consideration of personal gain.

      College employees not covered by the Master Agreement should not engage in any type of outside business activity during normal College work hours as determined by the employee’s supervisor.

      Per Article V, Section D, Paragraph 3 of the Master Agreement, as to College employees covered by the Master Agreement, “A full-time faculty member shall not be excused to engage in remunerative activities during the school day except with the consent of the president or his/her designee.”

      College employees shall faithfully discharge their responsibilities and shall refrain from knowingly engaging in any outside matters of financial interest incompatible with the impartial, objective, and effective performance of their responsibilities.

      No employee shall realize personal gain in any form which would influence improperly the conduct of their College responsibilities.

      As to College employees covered by the Master Agreement, the Master Agreement Article V, Section N, Paragraph 1 states “Professional employees are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of his/her other academic duties. Access to facilities and funds for research shall be at the discretion of the department chairperson and appropriate vice president. Research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the president and the board of trustees of the institution.”

      No college employee shall use property for personal economic or personal political gain without prior written approval by the president or his designee. No college employee shall use college funds or position for personal economic or personal political gain.

      A College employee, who is concerned that a conflict may exist, or who is uncertain as to the impact or appearance of his/her activities, should consult his/her supervisor prior to engaging in the activity.

      Use of Confidential Information:

      College employees shall not use confidential information about the College and/or college employees obtained by reason of their employment with intent to cause financial gain for themselves or unfair advantage for themselves or another person.

      Outside Business Interests of College Employees:

      A College employee’s outside employment or business activity and interest must not interfere with the employee’s or any other employee’s regular responsibilities nor represent a conflict of interest.

      Occasional use of the electronic bulletin board found at HCCWeb Services to post personal items for sale, to promote charitable sales (for example, PTO, Girl Scouts, etc.) and to post items of interest to the general campus community is acceptable..

      Use of College name and logo:

      No College employee may use the name of the College or any of its graphic identification symbols in printed materials intended to endorse or promote individual enterprises or to otherwise enhance private gain or for endorsement of any external activities without prior written approval from the office of Marketing and Public Relations. An employee may list their institutional affiliation in professional books, articles, and monographs they author or edit and in connection with professional workshops they conduct or presentations they make.

      Failure to follow this policy will result in appropriate action.

      Copyright Policy

      PURPOSE

      The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA requires Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) to have processes in place to effectively combat the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material and, to the extent practicable, offer alternatives to illegal downloading or peer-to-peer distribution of intellectual property.

      Copyright infringement constitutes a violation of Institutional policy and may create potential liability for both civil and criminal actions. Action on the part of the Institution as a matter of policy does not remedy a user against possible legal actions from the content owner or possible actions on the part of law enforcement.

      I. POLICY STATEMENT

      Copyright infringement of any kind is not permitted at HutchCC and may subject violators to criminal and civil penalties as well as termination of employment or dismissal from the College. This policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff of HutchCC as well as any other individual who may act on behalf of the College or in an official capacity.

      II. DEFINITION

      Copyright infringement is defined as the copying, distribution or sharing of copyrighted works (including music, videos, and digital copies of textbooks) without permission and may be referred to as "pirating," or, in the electronic context of peer-to-peer networks, "illegal file sharing." Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without the permission of the copyright holder constitutes infringement.

      III. COPYRIGHT NOTICE - WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS

      The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United State Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproduction of copyrighted material.

      Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." Additionally, the work cannot be digital material such as "a musical work, a pictorial, graphic or sculptural work, or a motion picture or other audiovisual work other than an audiovisual work dealing with news." Materials may be used for limited educational purposes (in class). If a user makes a request for, or uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

      IV. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT PLAN OF ACTION

      Pursuant to certain amendments to the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), HutchCC has adopted a plan to combat copyright infringement. This plan details the technology-based deterrent used by HutchCC to reduce illegal fire sharing, the mechanisms for informing the community about inappropriate use, the procedures for handling unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material and the procedures for periodically reviewing plan effectiveness.

      As part of its efforts to combat illegal fire sharing, HutchCC endeavors to educate and inform its community about copyright infringement. To that end, users of the College network must agree to be bound by the IT Acceptable Use Policy. The College publishes the Student Handbook, which contains the Copyright Policy and penalties for violations. The Copyright Policy is maintained on the public website. 

      During Success Seminar & College Orientation coursework, Orientation instructors provide the Copyright Policy in addition to other educational materials to students. Topical articles and issues are sent periodically via email to the College community. John F. Kennedy Library staff are trained on copyright law and College policy so as to assist students with issues. Finally, a notice about copyright infringement and the associated penalties are also included in the College Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

      V. PENALTIES FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

      The unauthorized copying, sharing or distribution of copyrighted material is strictly prohibited. It is a violation of federal law, the Copyright Act, and of the Student Code of Conduct. Students who infringe a copyright are subject to disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct, up to and including expulsion. Employees may be subject to disciplinary action ranging in severity from a warning to including termination of employment.

      In addition, penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or "statutory" damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For "willful" infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorney fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504 and 505.

      Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.

      HutchCC provides this information to all students in its annual Higher Education Act notice, as well as to all students and employees in its Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

      VI. RESOURCES

         Alternatives to illegal downloading and file sharing:

      Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Policy and Procedures

      Hutchinson Community College

      Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Policy & Procedures[1]

      Overview:

      Hutchinson Community College (“the College”) affirms its commitment to promote the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational enterprise. All policies are subject to resolution using the College’s Equity Grievance Process, as detailed below. The Equity Grievance Process is applicable regardless of the status of the parties involved, who may be members or non-members of the campus community, students, student organizations, faculty, administrators, and/or staff. The College reserves the right to act on incidents occurring on-campus or off-campus when the off-campus conduct could have an on-campus impact or impact on the educational mission of the College.

      The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance serves as the Title IX/Equity/Affirmative Action Coordinator and ADA/504 Coordinator and oversees implementation of the College’s Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Plan, disability compliance, and the College’s policy on equal opportunity, harassment, and nondiscrimination. Reports of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation should be made to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance (or deputy/deputies) promptly, but there is no time limitation on the filing of grievances as long as the accused individual remains subject to the College’s jurisdiction. All reports are acted upon promptly while every effort is made by the College to preserve the privacy of reports. Anonymous reports may also be filed online, if such mechanisms are available, by using the designated reporting form. Reporting is addressed more specifically in Section VIII below. Reports of discrimination by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance should be reported to the College President.

      This policy applies to behaviors that take place on the campus, at college-sponsored events, and may also apply off-campus and to actions online when the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance determines that the off-campus conduct affects a substantial College interest. A substantial College interest is defined to include the following:

      • Any action that constitutes criminal offense as defined by federal or Kansas state law. This includes, but is not limited to, single or repeat violations of any local, state, or federal law committed in the municipality where the College is located;
      • Any situation where it appears that the accused individual may present a danger or threat to the health or safety of self or others;
      • Any situation that significantly impinges upon the rights, property, or achievements of self or others or significantly breaches the peace and/or causes social disorder; and/or
      • Any situation that is detrimental to the educational interests of the College.
      • Any online postings or other electronic communication by students, including cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, cyber-harassment, etc. occurring completely outside of the College’s control (e.g., not on College networks, websites, or between College email accounts) will only be subject to this policy when those online behaviors can be shown to cause a substantial on-campus disruption. Otherwise, such communications are considered speech protected by the 1st Amendment.

      Off-campus discriminatory or harassing speech by employees may be regulated by the College only when such speech is made in an employee’s official or work-related capacity.

      Inquiries about this policy and procedure may be made internally to

      Equity & Compliance
      Phone: (620) 665-3512
      Email: equity@hutchcc.edu

      Inquiries may be made externally to[2]

      Office for Civil Rights (OCR)U.S. Department of Education
      400 Maryland Avenue, SW
      Washington, DC 20202-1100
      Phone (Customer Service Hotline): (800) 421-3481
      Fax: (202) 453-6012 
      TDD#: (877) 521-2172
      Email: OCR@ed.gov
      Web: http://www.ed.gov/ocr
       

      Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for Region VII
      U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
      601 East 12th Street - Room 353
      Kansas City, MO 64106
      Phone: (800) 368-1019
      Fax: (816) 426-3686
      TDD: (800) 537-7697 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
      Contact: http://www.eeoc.gov/contact/

      The Kansas Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
      Contact: www.khrc.net

       

      I.   College Policy on Nondiscrimination

      Hutchinson Community College adheres to all federal and state civil rights laws banning discrimination in public institutions of higher education. The College will not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student, or applicant for admission on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, religion, age, ancestry, disability, military status, or veteran status (including special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or recently separated veteran), domestic victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies.

      This policy covers nondiscrimination in employment and in access to educational opportunities. Therefore, any member of the campus community, guest, or visitor who acts to deny, deprive, or limit the educational, employment, residential and/or social access, benefits, and/or opportunities of any member of the campus community on the basis of their actual or perceived membership in the protected classes listed above is in violation of the College policy on nondiscrimination. When brought to the attention of the College, any such discrimination will be appropriately remedied by the College according to the procedures below.

      II.   College Policy on Accommodation of Disabilities

      Hutchinson Community College is committed to full compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibit discrimination against qualified persons with disabilities, as well as other federal and state laws pertaining to individuals with disabilities. Under the ADA and its amendments, a person has a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. The ADA also protects individuals who have a record of a substantially limiting impairment or who are regarded as disabled by the institution whether qualified or not. A substantial impairment is one that significantly limits or restricts a major life activity such as hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, performing manual tasks, walking, caring for oneself, learning, reading, concentrating, or thinking.

      The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, in cooperation with the Coordinator of Accessibility Services and the Director of Human Resources, has been designated as the ADA/504 Coordinator responsible for coordinating efforts to comply with these disability laws, including investigation of any grievance alleging noncompliance.

      A.   Students with Disabilities

      The College is committed to providing qualified students with disabilities with reasonable accommodations and support needed to ensure equal access to the academic programs and activities of the College.

      All accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. A student requesting any accommodation should first contact the Coordinator of Accessibility Services who coordinates services for students with disabilities. The coordinator reviews documentation provided by the student and, in consultation with the student, determines which accommodations are appropriate to the student’s particular needs and academic programs.

      B.   Employees with Disabilities

      Pursuant to the ADA, the College will provide reasonable accommodation(s) to all qualified employees with known disabilities, where their disability affects the performance of their essential job functions, except where doing so would be unduly disruptive or would result in undue hardship.

      An employee with a disability is responsible for requesting an accommodation in writing to the Director of Human Resources and provide appropriate documentation. The Director of Human Resources, in cooperation with the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, will work with the employee’s supervisor to identify which essential functions of the position are affected by the employee’s disability and what reasonable accommodations could enable the employee to perform those duties.

      III.   College Policy on Discriminatory Harassment

      Students, staff, administrators, and faculty are entitled to a working environment and educational environment free of discriminatory harassment. The College’s harassment policy is not meant to inhibit or prohibit educational content or discussions inside or outside of the classroom that include germane but controversial or sensitive subject matters protected by academic freedom. The sections below describe the specific forms of legally prohibited harassment that are also prohibited under College policy.ted by academic freedom. The sections below describe the specific forms of legally prohibited harassment that are also prohibited under College policy.

      A.   Discriminatory and Bias-Related Harassment

      Harassment constitutes a form of discrimination that is prohibited by law. The College will remedy all forms of harassment when reported, whether or not the harassment rises to the level of creating a hostile environment. When harassment rises to the level of creating a hostile environment, the College may also impose sanctions on the harasser.[3] The College’s harassment policy explicitly prohibits any form of harassment, defined as unwelcome conduct on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a protected class, by any member or group of the community.

      A hostile environment may be created by oral, written, graphic, or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent/pervasive, and objectively offensive that it interferes with, limits, or denies the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from educational programs or activities or employment access, benefits or opportunities. [4]

      Offensive conduct and/or harassment that does not rise to the level of discrimination or that is of a generic nature not on the basis of a protected status may not result in the imposition of discipline under this College policy but will be addressed through civil confrontation, remedial actions, education, effective conflict resolution mechanisms, and/or interventions/sanctions outlined in the College’s Standards of Conduct for Students. For assistance with conflict resolution techniques, employees should contact the Director of Human Resources, and students should contact the Vice President of Student Services.

      The College condemns and will not tolerate discriminatory harassment against any employee, student, visitor, or guest on the basis of any status protected by college policy or law.

      B.   Sexual Harassment

      Both the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the State of Kansas regard sexual harassment as a form of sex/gender discrimination and, therefore, as an unlawful discriminatory practice. The College has adopted the following definition of sexual harassment, in order to address the special environment of an academic community, which consists not only of employer and employee but also of students as well. [5] Sexual harassment is unwelcome, sexual or gender-based verbal, written, online, and/or physical conduct. [6]

      Anyone experiencing sexual harassment in any College program is encouraged to report it immediately to the College’s Coordinator of Equity & Compliance.

      Sexual harassment creates a hostile environment, and may be disciplined when it is sufficiently severe, persistent/pervasive, and objectively offensive that it

      • has the effect of unreasonably interfering with, denying or limiting employment opportunities or the ability to participate in or benefit from the university’s educational, social and/or residential program, and is
      • based on power differentials (quid pro quo[7]), the creation of a hostile environment or retaliation.[8]

      C.   Sexual Misconduct

      State law defines various violent and/or non-consensual sexual acts as crimes. Additionally, the College has defined categories of sexual misconduct, as stated below, for which action under this policy may be imposed. The College uses the term “sexual misconduct” to address behaviors like rape and sexual assault. The use of this term is not intended to diminish or minimize a victim’s experience but is instead a recognition that the College has no authority to determine that a crime occurred. The  College does not view sexual misconduct as a lesser form of misconduct than rape or sexual assault. Generally speaking, the College considers Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse violations to be the most serious and therefore typically imposes the most severe sanctions, including suspension or expulsion for students and termination for employees. However, the College reserves the right to impose any level of sanction, ranging from a reprimand up to and including suspension or expulsion/termination, for any act of sexual misconduct or other gender-based offenses, including intimate partner or relationship (dating and/or domestic) violence, non-consensual sexual contact and stalking based on the facts and circumstances of the particular grievance. Acts of sexual misconduct may be committed by any person upon any other person, regardless of the sex, gender, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity of those involved. Violations include:

      1.   Sexual Harassment (as defined in section B above)

      2.   Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse[9]

      Defined as

      • any sexual penetration or intercourse (anal, oral, or vaginal)
      • however slight
      • with any object
      • by a person upon another person
      • that is without consent and/or by force.[10]

      Sexual penetration includes vaginal or anal penetration by a penis, tongue, finger, or object, or oral copulation by mouth to genital contact or genital to mouth contact.

      3.   Non-Consensual Sexual Contact

      Defined as

      • any intentional sexual touching
      • however slight
      • with any object
      • by a person upon another person
      • that is without consent and/or by force.

      Sexual touching includes any bodily contact with the breasts, groin, genitals, mouth, or other bodily orifice of another individual, or any other bodily contact in a sexual manner.

      4.   Sexual Exploitation

      Sexual Exploitation refers to a situation in which a person takes non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another, and situations in which the conduct does not fall within the definitions of Sexual Harassment, Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse or Non-Consensual Sexual Contact. Examples of sexual exploitation include but are not limited to

      • Invasion of sexual privacy;
      • Sexual voyeurism (such as watching a person undressing, using the bathroom, or engaged in sexual acts without the consent of the person observed);
      • Taking pictures or video or audio recording another in a sexual act, or in any other private activity without the consent of all involved in the activity, or exceeding the boundaries of consent (such as allowing another person to hide in a closet and observe sexual activity, or disseminating sexual pictures without the photographed person’s consent);
      • Prostitution;
      • Prostituting another student or employee;
      • Engaging in sexual activity with another person while knowingly infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted disease (STD) and without informing the other person of the infection;
      • Administering alcohol or drugs (such as “date rape” drugs[11]) to another person without his or her knowledge or consent;
      • Exposing one’s genitals in non-consensual circumstances; inducing another to expose their genitals;
      • Sexually-based stalking and/or bullying may also be forms of sexual exploitation.

      5.   Consent[12]

      Consent is knowing, voluntary, and clear permission by word or action to engage in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Consent is active, not passive. Since individuals may experience the same interaction in different ways, it is the responsibility of each party to make certain that the other has consented before engaging in the activity. For consent to be valid, there must be a clear expression in words or actions that the other individual consented to that specific sexual conduct. Silence—without actions demonstrating permission—cannot be assumed to show consent.

      Additionally, there is a difference between seduction and coercion. Coercing someone into sexual activity violates this policy in the same way as physically forcing someone into sex. Coercion happens when someone is pressured unreasonably for sex.

      A person cannot consent if he or she is unable to understand what is happening or is disoriented, helpless, asleep, or unconscious for any reason, including due to alcohol or other drugs. An individual who engages in sexual activity when the individual knows, or should know, that the other person is physically or mentally incapacitated has violated this policy.

      Because alcohol or other drug use can place the capacity to consent in question, sober sex is less likely to raise such questions. It is not an excuse that the individual responding party of sexual misconduct was intoxicated and, therefore, did not realize the incapacity of the other. Incapacitation is defined as a state where someone cannot make rational, reasonable decisions because s/he lacks the capacity to give knowing consent (e.g., to understand the “who, what, when, where, why or how” of her/his sexual interaction). This policy also covers a person whose incapacity results from mental disability, involuntary physical restraint and/or from the taking of incapacitating drugs.

      Consent to some sexual contact (such as kissing or fondling) cannot be presumed to be consent for other sexual activity (such as intercourse). A current or previous dating relationship is not sufficient to constitute consent. Likewise, consent to engage in sexual activity with one person does not imply consent to engage in sexual activity with another. The existence of consent is based on the totality of the circumstances, including the context in which the alleged incident occurred and any similar previous patterns that may be evidenced. Silence or the absence of resistance alone is not consent. A person can withdraw consent at any time during sexual activity by expressing in words or actions that he or she no longer wants the act to continue, and, if that happens, the other person must stop immediately. Under this policy, “No” always means “No,” and “Yes” may not always mean “Yes.” Anything but a clear, knowing, and voluntary consent to any sexual activity is equivalent to a “No.”

      In the State of Kansas, a minor (meaning a person under the age of 17 years) cannot consent to sexual activity. This means that sexual contact by an adult with a person younger than 17 years old is a crime, as well as a violation of this policy, even if the minor wanted to engage in the act.

      D.   Sexual Misconduct Scenarios:

      1.   Situation:

      Amanda and Bill meet at a party. They spend the evening dancing and getting to know each other. Bill convinces Amanda to come up to his room. From 11:00pm until 3:00am, Bill uses every line he can think of to convince Amanda to have sex with him, but she adamantly refuses. He keeps after her and begins to question her religious convictions, and accuses her of being “a prude.” Finally, it seems to Bill that her resolve is weakening, and he convinces her to give him a “hand job” (hand to genital contact). Amanda would never have done it but for Bill’s incessant advances. He feels he successfully seduced her and that she wanted to do it all along but was playing shy and hard to get. Why else would she have come up to his room alone after the party? If she really didn’t want it, she could have left.

      ·Bill is responsible for violating the College’s non-consensual or forced sexual contact policy. It is likely that a College hearing board would find that the degree and duration of the pressure Bill applied to Amanda are unreasonable. Bill coerced Amanda into performing unwanted sexual touching upon him. Where sexual activity is coerced, it is forced. Consent is not effective when forced. Sex without effective consent is sexual misconduct.

      2.   Situation:

      Mark is a sophomore at the college. Beth is a freshman. Mark comes to Beth’s dorm room with some mutual friends to watch a movie. Mark and Beth, who have never met before, are attracted to each other. After the movie, everyone leaves, and Mark and Beth are alone. They “hit it off” and are soon becoming more intimate. They start to make out. Mark verbally expresses his desire to have sex with Beth. Beth, who was abused by a baby-sitter when she was five and has not had any sexual relations since, is shocked at how quickly things are progressing.  As Mark takes her by the wrist over to the bed, lays her down, undresses her, and begins to have intercourse with her, Beth has a severe flashback to her childhood trauma. She wants to tell Mark to stop but cannot. Beth is stiff and unresponsive during the intercourse.

      ·Mark would be held responsible in this scenario for non-consensual sexual intercourse. It is the duty of the sexual initiator, Mark, to make sure that he has mutually understandable consent to engage in sex. Though consent need not be verbal, it is the clearest form of consent. Here, Mark had no verbal or non-verbal mutually understandable indication from Beth that she consented to sexual intercourse. Of course, wherever possible, students should attempt to be as clear as possible as to whether or not sexual contact is desired, but students must be aware that for psychological reasons, or because of alcohol or drug use, one’s partner may not be in a positive position to provide as clear an indication as the policy requires. As the policy makes clear, consent must be actively, not passively, given.

      3.   Situation:

      Kevin and Amy are at a party. Kevin is not sure how much Amy has been drinking, but he is pretty sure it’s a lot. After the party, he walks Amy to her room, and Amy “comes on” to Kevin, initiating sexual activity. Kevin asks her if she is really up to this, and Amy says, “Yes.” Clothes go flying, and they end up in Amy’s bed. Suddenly, Amy runs for the bathroom. When she returns, her face is pale, and Kevin thinks she may have thrown up. Amy gets back into bed, and they begin to have sexual intercourse. Kevin is having a good time, though he can’t help but notice that Amy seems pretty groggy and passive, and he thinks Amy may have even passed out briefly during the sex, but he does not let that stop him. When Kevin runs into Amy the next day, he thanks her for the wild night. Amy remembers nothing and decides to make a complaint.

      ·This is a violation of the non-consensual sexual intercourse policy. Kevin should have known that Amy was incapable of making a rational, reasonable decision about sex. Even if Amy seemed to consent, Kevin was well aware that Amy had consumed a large amount of alcohol, and Kevin thought Amy was physically ill and knew that she passed out during sex. Kevin should be held accountable for taking advantage of Amy in her condition. This is not the level of respectful conduct expected of students.

      E.   Sexual Misconduct—Risk Reduction Tips

      Risk reduction tips can often take a victim-blaming tone, even unintentionally. With no intention to victim-blame and with recognition that only those who commit sexual misconduct are responsible for those actions, these suggestions may nevertheless help one reduce their risk experiencing a non-consensual sexual act. Below, suggestions to avoid committing a non-consensual sexual act are also offered:

      • If you have limits, make them known as early as possible.
      • Tell a sexual aggressor “NO” clearly and firmly.
      • Try to remove yourself from the physical presence of a sexual aggressor.
      • Find someone nearby and ask for help.
      • Take affirmative responsibility for your alcohol intake/drug use and acknowledge that alcohol/drugs lower your sexual inhibitions and may make you vulnerable to someone who views a drunk or high person as a sexual opportunity.
      • Take care of your friends and ask that they take care of you. Real friends will challenge you if you are about to make a mistake. Respect them when they do.

      If you find yourself in the position of being the initiator of sexual behavior, you owe sexual respect to your potential partner. These suggestions may help you to reduce your risk for being accused of sexual misconduct:

      • Clearly communicate your intentions to your sexual partner and give them a chance to clearly relate their intentions to you.
      • Understand and respect personal boundaries.
      • DO NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS about consent, about someone’s sexual availability, about whether they are attracted to you, about how far you can “go” or about whether they are physically and/or mentally able to consent. If there are any questions or ambiguity, then you DO NOT have consent.
      • Mixed messages from your partner are a clear indication that you should stop, defuse any sexual tension, and communicate better. You may be misreading them. S/he may not have figured out how far s/he wants to go with you yet. You must respect the timeline for sexual behaviors with which s/he is comfortable.
      • Do not take advantage of someone’s drunkenness or drugged state, even if s/he did it to her/himself.
      • Realize that your potential partner could be intimidated by or fearful of you. You may have a power advantage simply because of your gender or size. Do not abuse that power.
      • Understand that consent to some form of sexual behavior does not automatically imply consent to any other forms of sexual behavior.
      • Silence and passivity cannot be interpreted as an indication of consent. Read your potential partner carefully, paying attention to verbal and non-verbal communication and body language.

      IV.   College Policy Expectations with Respect to Consensual Relationships

      There are inherent risks in any romantic or sexual relationship between individuals in unequal positions (such as faculty and student, supervisor and employee, coach and player). These relationships may be less consensual than perceived by the individual whose position confers power. The relationship also may be viewed in different ways by each of the parties, particularly in retrospect. Furthermore, circumstances may change, and conduct that was previously welcome may become unwelcome. Even when both parties have consented at the outset to a romantic or sexual involvement, this past consent may not remove grounds for a later charge of a violation of applicable sections of this policy. The College does not wish to interfere with private choices regarding personal relationships when these relationships do not interfere with the goals and policies of the College. For the personal protection of members of this community, relationships in which power differentials are inherent (faculty-student, staff-student, administrator-student, supervisor-subordinate) are generally discouraged.

      Consensual romantic or sexual relationships in which one party maintains a direct supervisory or evaluative role over the other party are unethical. Therefore, persons with direct supervisory or evaluative responsibilities who are involved in such relationships, including supervision in an athletic, academic, or classroom setting, must bring those relationships to the timely attention of their supervisor or department chairperson, and will likely result in the necessity to remove the employee from the supervisory or evaluative responsibilities, or shift a party out of being supervised or evaluated by someone with whom they have established a consensual relationship. This includes RAs and students over whom they have direct responsibility. While no relationships are prohibited by this policy, failure to self-report such relationships to a supervisor as required can result in disciplinary action for an employee.

      V.   Other Civil Rights Offenses, When the Act Is Based Upon the Status of a Protected Class

      • Threatening or causing physical harm, extreme verbal abuse, or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person on the basis of her/his actual or perceived membership in a protected class
      • Discrimination, defined as actions that deprive other members of the community of educational or employment access, benefits, or opportunities on the basis of their actual or perceived membership in a protected class
      • Intimidation, defined as implied threats or acts that cause an unreasonable fear of harm in another on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a protected class
      • Hazing, defined as acts likely to cause physical or psychological harm or social ostracism to any person within the College community, when related to the admission, initiation, pledging, joining, or any other group-affiliation activity on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a protected class; hazing is also illegal under Kansas State law[13] and prohibited by College policy
      • Bullying, defined as repeated and/or severe aggressive behavior likely to intimidate or intentionally hurt, control or diminish another person, physically or mentally on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a protected class
      • Violence between those in an intimate relationship to each other on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a protected class (which includes romantic relationships, dating[14], domestic[15], and/or relationship violence)[16]
      • Stalking[17], defined as a course of conduct directed at a specific person on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a protected class that is unwelcome and would cause a reasonable person to feel fear[18]
      • Any other College rules, when a violation is motivated by the actual or perceived membership of the victim on the basis of sex or gender or in a protected class, may be pursued using this policy and process. 

      Sanctions for the above-listed “Other Civil Rights Behaviors” behaviors range from reprimand up through and including expulsion (students) or termination of employment.

      VI.   Retaliation

      Retaliation is defined as any adverse action taken against a person participating in a protected activity because of their participation in that protected activity. Retaliation against an individual for alleging harassment, for supporting a party bringing a grievance, or for assisting in providing information relevant to a claim of harassment is a serious violation of College policy and will be treated as another possible instance of harassment or discrimination. Acts of alleged retaliation should be reported immediately to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance and will be promptly investigated. The College is prepared to take appropriate steps to protect individuals who fear that they may be subjected to retaliation.

      VII.   Remedial Action

      The College will implement initial remedial and responsive and/or protective actions upon notice of alleged harassment, retaliation, and/or discrimination. Such actions could include but are not limited to: no contact orders, providing counseling and/or medial services, academic support, living arrangement adjustments, providing a campus escort, academic or work schedule and assignment accommodations, safety planning, referral to campus and community support resources.

      The College will take additional prompt remedial and/or disciplinary action with respect to any member of the community, guest, or visitor who has been found to engage in harassing or discriminatory behavior or retaliation. Procedures for handling reported incidents are fully described below. Deliberately false and/or malicious accusations of harassment, as opposed to grievances which, even if erroneous, are made in good faith, are just as serious an offense as harassment and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

      VIII.   Confidentiality and Reporting of Offenses Under This Policy

      College officials, depending on their roles at the College, have varying reporting responsibilities and abilities to maintain confidentiality. In order to make informed choices, one should be aware of confidentiality and mandatory reporting requirements when consulting campus resources. On campus, some resources may maintain confidentiality, offering options and advice without any obligation to inform an outside agency or individual unless you have requested information to be shared. Other resources exist for you to report crimes and policy violations and these resources are required to take action when you report victimization to them. Some resources on campus fall in the middle of these two extremes; neither the College, nor the law, requires them to divulge private information that is shared with them, except in rare circumstances but yet must share general, non-identifiable information with designated officials. The following describes the three reporting options at the College:

      A.   Privileged & Confidential Reporting

      If a reporting party would like the details of an incident to be kept confidential, the reporting party may speak with one of the College’s professional, licensed counselors who provide mental-health counseling to members of the school community (and including those who act in that role under the supervision of a licensed counselor), off-campus local rape and/or domestic violence counselors ( https://www.brighthouseks.org/) and/or local or state assistance agencies. [19] Such individuals will maintain confidentiality and are not required to report any information about an incident to the College’s Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, or other College officials, without the reporting party’s permission except in extreme cases of immediacy of threat or danger or abuse of a minor. Campus counselors are available to help free of charge and can be seen on an emergency basis during normal business hours. These College employees will submit anonymous statistical information for Clery Act purposes unless they believe it would be harmful to their client. A person bringing a grievance who initially requests confidentiality may later decide to wave such a request in order to file a formal complaint with the College or may choose to report the incident to local law enforcement and thus have the incident fully investigated.

      Persons wishing to speak with one of the College’s licensed counselors, should contact the Student Success Center (http://www.hutchcc.edu/student-success-center/personal-counseling) or call 620-665-3377 during regular business hours.

      B.   Private & Limited Reporting

      Those desiring to report misconduct may seek advice from certain resources who are not required to initially tell anyone else your private, personally identifiable information unless there is a pattern of abuse, cause for fear for your safety or the safety of others. These are resources who the College has not specifically designated as “responsible employees[20] for purposes of putting the institution on notice and for whom mandatory reporting is required, other than in the stated limited circumstances. For instance, individuals who work or volunteer in the College’s Student Health Services (HASHS), including the front desk staff and students, can generally talk to a victim without revealing any personally identifiable information about an incident to the College. While maintaining a victim’s confidentiality, these individuals or their office should report the nature, date, time, and general location of an incident to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. This limited reporting helps keep the College informed of the general extent and nature of sexual misconduct on and off campus and allows the institution to track patterns, evaluate the scope of the problem, and formulate appropriate campus-wide responses. Before reporting any   information to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, these individuals will consult with the victim to ensure that no personally identifying details are shared.

      The employees (or categories of employees) listed below are designated as “responsible employees” under College policy and are required to report alleged incidents brought to their attention to the College’s Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. A responsible employee must report all relevant details about the alleged incident shared by the reporting party—including the names of the reporting party, the alleged perpetrator(s) (responding party), any witnesses, and any other relevant information, including the date, time, and specific location of the alleged incident.

      If the reporting party wants to tell the responsible employee what happened but also maintain confidentiality, the employee should tell the reporting party that the College will consider the request but that s/he cannot guarantee the College will be able to honor it. Responsible employees will not pressure a reporting party to request confidentiality but will honor and support the reporting party’s wishes, including for the College to fully investigate an incident. By the same token, responsible employees will not pressure a reporting party to make a full report if the reporting party is not ready to do so.

      The College recognizes the following faculty, staff, and employee positions as responsible employees for which mandatory reporting, as outlined in the above policy, is mandatory:

      • Members of the College Board of Trustees
      • President of the College
      • Vice Presidents
      • Directors (including Executive, Associate, and Assistant)
      • Coordinators
      • Academic Advisors
      • Coaches (including Head, Associate, Assistant, and Volunteer)
      • Athletic Trainers
      • Department Chairpersons
      • Faculty/Instructors (including both full-time, adjunct, and part-time)
      • Staff members with a formal supervisory role of either students or staff
      • Residence Administrators

      If a reporting party is unsure of a College official’s duties and ability to maintain privacy and/or confidentiality, ask her/him before discussing the incident of concern with her/him. S/he will be able to explain and help a reporting party to make decisions about who is in the best position to help. All resources, except those specifically exempted from doing so, are instructed to share limited incident reports with their supervisors and/or the College’s Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. If personally identifiable information is shared, it will be shared with as few people as possible and all efforts will be made to protect privacy to the greatest possible extent.

      C.   Formal Reporting Options

      A party bringing a grievance(s) is encouraged to speak to the College’s Coordinator of Equity & Compliance or a member of the College’s Equity Grievance Panel (see membership list below) to make formal reports of incidents of sexual misconduct. A party bringing a grievance(s) has the right, and can expect, to have grievances taken seriously by the College when formally reported and to have those incidents affords privacy to the reporter, and only a small group of officials who need to know will be told. Information will be shared as necessary with investigators, witnesses and the responding party. The circle of people with this knowledge will be kept as tight as possible to preserve a party bringing a grievance’s rights and privacy. Additionally safe and anonymous reports, which do not trigger investigations, can be made by victims and/or third parties using an online reporting form, if such mechanism is available, by using the designated reporting form.

      D.   Weighing Requests for Confidentiality in Reports Disclosed to Responsible Employees

      If a reporting party discloses an incident to a responsible employee but wishes to maintain confidentiality or requests that no investigation into a particular incident be conducted or disciplinary action be taken, the College must weigh that request against the College’s obligation to provide a safe, non-discriminatory environment for all individuals, including the reporting party.

      If the College honors the request for confidentiality, a reporting party must understand that the College’s ability to meaningfully investigate the incident and pursue disciplinary action against the alleged perpetrator(s) may be limited. Although rare, there are times when the College may not be able to honor a reporting party’s request in order to provide a safe, non-discriminatory environment for all individuals.

      The College has designated the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance to evaluate requests for confidentiality once a responsible employee is on notice of alleged misconduct. When weighing a reporting party’s request for confidentiality or that no investigation or disciplinary action be pursued, the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will consider a range of factors, including the following:

      • The increased risk that the alleged perpetrator will commit additional acts of misconduct or other violence, such as
        • whether there have been other misconduct complaints about the same alleged perpetrator;
        • whether the alleged perpetrator has a history of arrests or records from a prior school indicating a history of violence;
        • whether the alleged perpetrator threatened sexual violence or other violence against the reporting party or others;
      • Whether the sexual violence was perpetrated with a weapon;
      • Whether the reporting party is a minor;
      • Whether the College possesses other means to obtain relevant evidence of the sexual misconduct (e.g., security cameras or personnel, physical evidence);
      • Whether the reporting party’s report reveals a pattern of perpetration (e.g., via illicit use of drugs or alcohol) at a given location or by a particular group.

      The presence of one or more of these factors could lead the College to investigate and, if appropriate, pursue disciplinary action. If none of these factors is present, the College will likely respect the reporting party’s request for confidentiality.

      If the College determines that it cannot maintain a reporting party’s confidentiality, the College will inform the victim prior to starting an investigation and will, to the extent possible, only share information with people responsible for handling the College’s response.

      The College will remain ever mindful of the reporting party’s well-being and will take ongoing measures to protect the reporting party from retaliation or harm and work with the reporting party to create a safety plan. Retaliation against the reporting party, whether by students or College employees, will not be tolerated. The College will also

      • assist the reporting party in accessing other available victim advocacy, academic support, counseling, disability, health or mental health services, and legal assistance both on and off campus;
      • provide other security and support, which could include issuing a no-contact order, helping arrange a change of living or working arrangements or course schedules (including for the alleged perpetrator pending the outcome of an investigation) or adjustments for assignments or tests; and
      • inform the reporting party of the right to report a crime local law enforcement—and provide the reporting party with assistance if the victim wishes to do so.

      The College may not require a reporting party to participate in any investigation or disciplinary proceeding.

      Because the College is under a continuing obligation to address the issue of sexual misconduct campus-wide, reports of sexual misconduct (including non-identifying reports) will also prompt the College to consider broader remedial action—such as increased monitoring, supervision or security at location where the reported sexual misconduct occurred; increasing education and prevention efforts, including to targeted population groups; conducting climate assessments; and/or revisiting its policies and practices.

      If the College determines that it can respect a reporting party’s request for confidentiality, the College will also take immediate action as necessary to protect and assist the reporting party.

      IX.   Federal Statistical Reporting and Timely Warning Obligations

      Certain campus officials have a duty to report sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking for federal statistical purposes (Clery Act). All personally identifiable information is kept confidential, but statistical information must be shared with campus law enforcement regarding the type of incident and its general location (on or off-campus, in the surrounding area, but no addresses are given) for publication in the College’s Annual Security Report. This report helps to provide the community with a clear picture of the extent and nature of campus crime, to ensure greater community safety. Mandated federal reporters include student/conduct affairs, campus security, local police, coaches, athletic directors, residence life staff, student activities staff, human resource staff, advisors to student organizations, and any other official with significant responsibility for student and campus activities. The information to be shared includes the date, the location of the incident (using Clery location categories) and the Clery crime category. This reporting protects the identity of the victim and may be done anonymously.

      Victims of sexual misconduct should be aware that College administrators must issue timely warnings for incidents reported to them that pose a substantial threat of bodily harm or danger to members of the campus community. The College will make every effort to ensure that a victim’s name and other identifying information is not disclosed while still providing enough information for community members to make safety decisions in light of the potential danger.

      X.   Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Reporting

      The following are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the College’s sexual misconduct policy and procedures.

      • Does information about a complaint remain private?

      The privacy of all parties to a complaint of sexual misconduct must be respected, except insofar as it interferes with the College’s obligation to fully investigate allegations of sexual misconduct. Where privacy is not strictly kept, it will still be tightly controlled on a need-to-know basis. Dissemination of information and/or written materials to persons not involved in the complaint procedure is not permitted. Violations of the privacy of the complainant or the accused individual may lead to conduct action by the College.

      In all complaints of sexual misconduct, all parties will be informed of the outcome. In some instances, the administration also may choose to make a brief public announcement of the nature of the violation and the action taken, without using the name or identifiable information of the alleged victim. Certain college administrators are informed of the outcome within the bounds of student privacy (e.g., the President of the College, Vice President of Student Services, Campus Security Officer). If there is a report of an act of alleged sexual misconduct to a conduct officer of the College and there is evidence that a felony has occurred, local police will be notified. This does not mean charges will be automatically filed or that a victim must speak with the police, but the institution is legally required to notify law enforcement authorities. The institution also must statistically report the occurrence on campus of major violent crimes, including certain sex offenses, in an annual report of campus crime statistics. This statistical report does not include personally identifiable information.

      • Will my parents be told?

      No, not unless you tell them or unless you are a minor. Whether you are the complainant or the accused individual, the College’s primary relationship is to the student and not the parent. However, in the event of major medical, disciplinary, or academic jeopardy, students are encouraged to inform their parents. College officials will directly inform parents when requested to do so by a student, in a life-threatening situation, or if an accused individual has signed the permission form at registration which allows such communication.

      • Will the accused individual know my identity?

      Yes, if you file a formal complaint. Sexual misconduct is a serious offense and the accused individual has the right to know the identity of the complainant/alleged victim. If there is a hearing, the College does provide options for questioning without confrontation, including closed-circuit testimony, Skype, using a room divider or using separate hearing rooms.

      • Do I have to name the perpetrator?

      Yes, if you want formal disciplinary action to be taken against the alleged perpetrator. No, if you choose to respond informally and do not file a formal complaint (but you should consult the reporting policy above to better understand the college’s legal obligations depending on what information you share with different college officials). Victims should be aware that not identifying the perpetrator may limit the institution’s ability to respond comprehensively.

      • What do I do if I am accused of sexual misconduct?

      DO NOT contact the alleged victim. You may immediately want to contact someone who can act as your advocate (advisor); anyone may serve as your advocate. You may also contact the Student Services Office or the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, which can explain the college’s procedures for addressing sexual misconduct complaints. You may also want to talk to one of the college’s confidential counselors or seek other community assistance.

      • Will I (as a victim) have to pay for counseling/or medical care?

      Not typically, if the institution provides these services already. If a victim is accessing community and non-institutional services, payment for these will be subject to state/local laws, insurance requirements, etc. In this state, victims may be ineligible for state-based assistance if they were engaged in any illegal activity during the assault or if they fail to cooperate with criminal prosecution.

      • What about legal advice?

      Victims of criminal sexual assault need not retain a private attorney to pursue prosecution because representation will be handled by the District Attorney’s (Prosecutor’s) office. You may want to retain an attorney if you are the accused individual or are considering filing a civil action. The accused individual may retain counsel at their own expense if they determine that they need legal advice about criminal prosecution.

      • What about changing residence hall rooms?

      If you want to move, you may request a room change. Room changes under these circumstances are considered emergencies. It is typically institutional policy that in emergency room changes, the student is moved to the first available suitable room. If you want the accused individual to move and believe that you have been the victim of sexual misconduct, you must be willing to pursue a formal or informal college complaint. No contact orders can be imposed and room changes for the accused individual can usually be arranged quickly. Other accommodations available to you might include

      • Assistance from college support staff in completing the relocation;
      • Arranging to dissolve a housing contract and pro-rating a refund;
      • Assistance with or rescheduling an academic assignment (paper, exams, etc.);
      • Taking an incomplete in a class;
      • Assistance with transferring class sections;
      • Temporary withdrawal;
      • Assistance with alternative course completion options;
      • Other accommodations for safety as necessary.
      • What should I do about preserving evidence of a sexual assault?

      Police are in the best position to secure evidence of a crime. Physical evidence of a criminal sexual assault must be collected from the alleged victim’s person within 120 hours, though evidence can often be obtained from towels, sheets, clothes, etc. for much longer periods of time. If you believe you have been a victim of a criminal sexual assault, you should go to the Hospital Emergency Room before washing yourself or your clothing. The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (a specifically trained nurse) at the hospital is usually on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (call the Emergency Room if you first want to speak to the nurse; ER will refer you). A victim advocate from the institution can also accompany you to the hospital and law enforcement or campus security can provide transportation. If a victim goes to the hospital, local police will be called, but s/he is not obligated to talk to the police or to pursue prosecution. Having the evidence collected in this manner will help to keep all options available to a victim but will not obligate him or her to any course of action. Collecting evidence can assist the authorities in pursuing criminal charges, should the victim decide later to exercise it.

      For the Victim: the hospital staff will collect evidence, check for injuries, address pregnancy concerns and address the possibility of exposure to sexually transmitted infections. If you have changed clothing since the assault, bring the clothing you had on at the time of the assault with you to the hospital in a clean sanitary container such as a clean paper grocery bag or wrapped in a clean sheet (plastic containers do not breath, and may render evidence useless). If you have not changed clothes, bring a change of clothes with you to the hospital if possible, as they will likely keep the clothes you are wearing as evidence. You can take a support person with you to the hospital, and they can accompany you through the exam if you want. Do not disturb the crime scene—leave all sheets, towels, etc. that may bear evidence for the police to collect.

      • Will a victim be sanctioned when reporting a sexual misconduct policy violation if s/he has illegally used drugs or alcohol?

      No. The severity of the infraction will determine the nature of the College’s response, but whenever possible the College will respond educationally rather than punitively to the illegal use of drugs and/or alcohol. The seriousness of sexual misconduct is a major concern and the College does not want any of the circumstances (e.g., drug or alcohol use) to inhibit the reporting of sexual misconduct.

      • Will the use of drugs or alcohol affect the outcome of a sexual misconduct complaint?

      The use of alcohol and/or drugs by either party will not diminish the accused individual’s responsibility. On the other hand, alcohol and/or drug use is likely to affect the complainant’s memory and, therefore, may affect the outcome of the complaint. A person bringing a complaint of sexual misconduct must either remember the alleged incident or have sufficient circumstantial evidence, physical evidence, and/or witnesses to prove her/his complaint. If the complainant does not remember the circumstances of the alleged incident, it may not be possible to impose sanctions on the accused without further corroborating information. Use of alcohol and/or other drugs will never excuse a violation by an accused individual.

      • Will either party’s prior use of drugs and/or alcohol be a factor when reporting sexual misconduct?

      Not unless there is a compelling reason to believe that prior use or abuse is relevant to the present complaint.

      • What should I do if I am uncertain about what happened?

      If you believe that you have experienced sexual misconduct but are unsure of whether it was a violation of the institution’s sexual misconduct policy, you should contact the College’s Coordinator of Equity & Compliance or the College’s counseling office. The College provides non-legal advocates (advisors) who can help you to define and clarify the event(s) and advise you of your options.

      Equity Grievance Process for Resolving Grievances of Harassment, SEXUAL MISCONDUCT and OTHER FORMS OF Discrimination

      The College will act on any formal or informal grievance or notice of violation of the policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination, that is received by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, his or her deputies (if/when applicable), a member of the Equity Grievance Panel, a member of the administration, or a responsible employee (as designated by College policy).

      The procedures described below will apply to all grievances involving students, staff or faculty members. Redress and requests for responsive actions for grievances brought involving non-members of the community are also covered by these procedures.

      I.   Equity Grievance Panel (EGP)

      A.   Membership Roles

      Members of the EGP are announced in an annual distribution of this policy to campus, prospective students, their parents and prospective employees. The list of members and a description of the panel can be found at www.hutchcc.edu. Members of the EGP are trained in all aspects of the grievance process and can serve in any of the following roles at the direction of the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance

      • To provide sensitive intake and initial counseling of grievances
      • To serve in a mediation role in conflict resolution
      • To investigate grievances
      • To act as advocates (advisors) to those involved in grievances
      • To serve on hearing panels for grievances
      • To serve on appeal panels for grievances

      EGP members also recommend proactive policies and serve in an educative role for the community. The President, in consultation with the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, appoints the panel which reports to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. EGP members receive annual training organized by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, including a review of College policies and procedures, so that they are able to provide accurate information to members of the community. All EGP members are required to attend this annual training.

      B.Membership

      The Equity Grievance Panel includes

      • At least 2 Co-chairs: one representative from Human Resources and one from Student Services, etc.
      • One Administrative Hearing Officer who is an ex officio member and serves as Chair of grievance panel hearings for grievances involving student responding parties such as the Vice President of Student Services or her/his designee
      • At least 2 members of academic affairs administrators and/or faculty
      • At least 2 members of the administration
      • At least 2 members of the staff
      • At least 1 representative from Campus Security and/or Campus Facilities
      • At least 1 representative from Human Resource
      • At least 1 representative from Athletics

      Panel members are usually appointed to three-year terms. Appointments to the EGP should be made with attention to representation of groups protected by the     harassment and non-discrimination policy. Individuals who are interested in serving       on the EGP are encouraged to contact the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance.

      II.   Filing a grievance

      Any member of the community, guest or visitor who believes that the policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination has been violated should contact the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance or a member of the EGP. It is also possible for employees to notify a supervisor, or for students to notify an administrative advisor or faculty member, or any member of the community may contact Campus Security. These individuals will in turn notify the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. The College website may also include a reporting form, if available, which may serve to initiate a grievance.

      All employees receiving reports of a potential violation of College policy are expected to promptly contact the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, within 24 hours of becoming aware of a report or incident. All initial contacts will be treated with the maximum possible privacy; specific information on any grievances received by any party will be reported to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, but, subject to the College’s obligation to redress violations, every effort will be made to maintain the privacy of those initiating a report of a grievance. In all cases, the College will give consideration to the party bringing a grievance with respect to how the grievance is pursued, but reserves the right, when necessary to protect the community, to investigate and pursue a resolution when an alleged victim chooses not to initiate or participate in a formal grievance.

      III.   Grievance Intake

      Following receipt of notice of a grievance, the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance [21] will, promptly assign an EGP panel member to work as an advocate (advisor) to the person who reported the grievance or, if so desired by the party bringing a grievance, the party bringing a grievance may choose from the EGP pool (or choose a non-trained advocate from outside the pool, if preferred, or proceed without an advocate). Normally, within two business days, an initial determination is made whether a policy violation may have occurred and/or whether conflict resolution might be appropriate. If the grievance does not appear to allege a policy violation or if conflict resolution is desired by the party bringing a grievance and appears appropriate given the nature of the alleged behavior, then the grievance does not proceed to investigation.

      A full investigation will necessarily be pursued if there is evidence of a pattern of misconduct or a perceived threat of further harm to the community or any of its members.  The College aims to complete all investigations within a 60 business day time period, which can be extended as necessary for appropriate cause by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance with notice to the parties.

      In campus investigations and hearings, legal terms like “guilt,” “innocence,” and “burdens of proof” are not applicable, but the College never assumes a student is in violation of College policy. Campus investigations and hearings are conducted to take into account the totality of all evidence available from all relevant sources.

      The College reserves the right to take whatever measures it deems necessary in response to an allegation of sexual misconduct in order to protect students’ rights and personal safety. Such measures include, but are not limited to, modification of living arrangements, interim suspension from campus pending a hearing, and reporting the matter to local law enforcement. Not all forms of harassment of misconduct will be deemed to be equally serious offenses, and the College reserves the right to impose different sanctions, ranging from verbal warning to expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense. The College will consider the concerns and rights of both the party bringing a grievance and the respondent (person accused of misconduct).

      IV.   Investigation

      If a party bringing a grievance wishes to pursue a formal grievance or if the College, based on the alleged policy violation, wishes to pursue a formal grievance, then the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance appoints EGP members to conduct the investigation, usually within two business days of determining that a grievance should proceed. Investigation of grievances brought directly by those alleging harm should be completed expeditiously, normally within 10 business days of notice to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. The investigation may take longer when initial grievances fail to provide direct first-hand information. The College may undertake a short delay (3-10 days, to allow evidence collection) when criminal charges on the basis of the same behaviors that invoke this process are being investigated. College action will not be altered or precluded on the grounds that civil or criminal charges involving the same incident have been filed or that charges have been dismissed or reduced. All investigations will be thorough, reliable, and impartial, and will entail interviews with all relevant parties and witnesses, obtaining available evidence and identifying sources of expert information if necessary.

      V.   Interim Remedies

      If, in the judgment of the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, the safety or well-being of any member(s) of the campus community may be jeopardized by the presence on-campus of the accused individual or the ongoing activity of a student organization whose behavior is in question, the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance (or designee) may provide interim remedies intended to address the short-term effects of harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation, i.e., to redress harm to the alleged victim and the community and to prevent further violations. These remedies may include referral to counseling and health services or to the Employee Assistance Program (if available), education to the community, altering the housing situation of an accused student or resident employee (or the alleged victim, if desired), altering work arrangements for employees, providing campus escorts, implementing contact limitations between the parties, offering adjustments to academic deadlines, course schedules, etc.

      The College may interim suspend a student, employee, or organization pending the completion of EGP investigation and procedures. In all cases in which an interim suspension is imposed, the student, employee, or student organization will be given the opportunity to meet with the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance prior to such suspension being imposed, or as soon thereafter as reasonably possible, to show cause why the suspension should not be implemented. The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance has sole discretion to implement or stay an interim suspension under the policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination, and to determine its conditions and duration. Violation of an interim suspension under this policy will be grounds for expulsion or termination.

      During an interim suspension or administrative leave, a student or employee may be denied access to College housing and/or the College campus/facilities/events. As determined by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance (or designee), this restriction includes classes and/or all other College activities or privileges for which the student might otherwise be eligible. At the discretion of Coordinator of Equity & Compliance (or designee), alternative coursework options may be pursued to ensure as minimal an impact as possible on the accused student.

      VI.   Grievance Resolution

      During or upon the completion of investigation, the investigators will meet with the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. Based on that meeting, the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will make a decision on whether there is reasonable cause to proceed with the grievance. If the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance decides that no policy violation has occurred or that the preponderance of evidence (i.e., whether it is more likely than not that the accused individual committed each alleged violation) does not support a finding of a policy violation, then the process will end unless the party bringing a grievance requests that the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance makes an extraordinary determination to re-open the investigation or to forward the matter for a hearing. This decision lies in the sole discretion of the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. If there is reasonable cause, the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will direct the investigation to continue, or if there is a preponderance of evidence of a violation, then the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance may recommend conflict resolution, a resolution without a hearing, or a formal hearing, based on the below criteria.

         A. Conflict Resolution

      Conflict resolution is often used for less serious, yet inappropriate, behaviors and is encouraged as an alternative to the formal hearing process to resolve conflicts. The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will determine if conflict resolution is appropriate, based on the willingness of the parties, the nature of the conduct at issue and the susceptibility of the conduct to conflict resolution. In a conflict resolution meeting, an EGP member will facilitate a dialogue with the parties to an effective resolution, if possible. Sanctions are not possible as the result of a conflict resolution process, though the parties may agree to appropriate remedies. The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will keep records of any resolution that is reached, and failure to abide by the accord can result in appropriate responsive actions.

      Conflict resolution will not be the primary resolution mechanism used to address grievances of sexual misconduct or violent behavior of any kind or in other cases of serious violations of policy, though it may be made available after the formal process is completed should the parties and the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance believe that it could be beneficial. It is not necessary to pursue conflict resolution first in order to make a formal EGP grievance, and anyone participating in conflict resolution can stop that process at any time and request a formal hearing.

      B.   Resolution Without a Hearing

      Resolution without a hearing can be pursued for any behavior that falls within the policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination, at any time during the process. The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will provide written notification of a grievance to any member of the College community who is accused of an offense of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance [together with the investigator(s)] will meet with the responding individual to explain the finding(s) of the investigation. Once informed, the responding party may choose to admit responsibility for all or part of the alleged policy violations at any point in the process. If so, the Coordinator of Equity& Compliance will render a finding that the individual is in violation of College policy for the admitted conduct, and will normally proceed to convene a formal hearing on any remaining disputed violations. For admitted violations, the appropriate Co-chair of the EGP will recommend an appropriate sanction or responsive action. If the sanction/responsive action is accepted by both the party bringing a grievance and responding party, the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will implement it, and act promptly and effectively to remedy the effects of the admitted conduct upon the victim and the community. If either party rejects the sanction/responsive action, an EGP hearing will be held on the sanction/responsive action only, according to the EGP procedures below, except in the case of at-will employees for whom findings and responsive actions will be determined by the Director of Human Resources, in cooperation with the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, based on the results of the investigation.

      C.   Formal Hearing

      For any grievances that are not appropriate for conflict resolution and which are not resolved without a hearing, the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will initiate a formal hearing or for employees for whom no hearing process is available and will refer her/his findings to the Director of Human Resources for joint implementation.

      VII.   Formal EGP Procedure

      A.   Hearing Panels

      The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will appoint a non-voting panel Chair (one of the EGP co-chairs [or their designee]; the Administrative Hearing Officer [or her/his designee]), depending on whether the responding party is a faculty member, other employee, or student, and three members of the EGP to the hearing panel, none of whom have been previously involved with the grievance. EGP members who served as investigators will be witnesses in the hearing of the grievance and therefore may not serve as hearing panel members. Hearing panels may include both faculty and non-faculty employees with a least one faculty or academic affairs employee selected in a grievance involving a faculty member. No member of the panel may be a practicing attorney. The panel will meet at times determined by the Chair.

      B.   Notification of Charges

      At least one week prior to the hearing, or as far in advance as is reasonably possible if an accelerated hearing is scheduled with the consent of the parties, the EGP Co-chair will send a letter to the parties with the following information. Once mailed, emailed, and/or received in-person, notice will be presumptively delivered. The letter will contain

      • A description of the alleged violation(s), a description of the applicable procedures, and a statement of the potential sanctions/responsive actions that could result.
      • The time, date, and location of the hearing and a reminder that attendance is mandatory, superseding all other campus activities. If any party does not appear at the scheduled hearing, the hearing will be held in their absence. For compelling reasons, the Co-chair may reschedule the hearing.
      • The parties may have the assistance of an EGP panel member, or other advocate (advisor), at the hearing. Typically, advocates are members of the campus community, but the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance may grant permission for an outside advocate upon request. The advocate may not make a presentation or represent the party bringing a grievance or responding party during the hearing. The parties to the hearing are expected to ask and respond to questions on their own behalf, without representation by their advocate. The advocate may consult with the party quietly or in writing, or outside the hearing during breaks, but may not speak on behalf of the advisee to the panel.
      • Hearings for possible violations that occur near or after the end of an academic term will be held immediately after the end of the term or during the summer, as needed, to meet the resolution timeline followed by the College and remain within the 60-day goal for resolution.

      C.   Hearing Procedures

      EGP Hearings will be convened, usually within one to two weeks of the completion of the investigation, and will be conducted in private. The EGP has the authority to hear all collateral misconduct, meaning that it hears all allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, but also may hear any additional alleged policy violations that have occurred in concert with the discrimination, harassment or retaliation, even though those collateral allegations may not specifically fall within EGP jurisdiction. Accordingly, investigations should be conducted with as wide a scope as necessary.

      Participants will include the non-voting Chair, the three members of the panel, the investigator(s) who conducted the investigation on the grievance, the party bringing a grievance and responding party(ies) (or three organizational representatives in a case where an organization is charged), advocates (advisors) to the parties, and any called witnesses. The Chair will exchange the names of witnesses the College intends to call, all pertinent documentary evidence and any written findings from the investigators between the parties at least two business days prior to the hearing. In addition, the parties will be given a list of the names of each of the EGP panel members at least two business days in advance of the hearing. Should either (any) party object to any panelist, s/he must raise all objections, in writing, to the Chair immediately. Panel members will only be unseated if the Chair concludes that their bias precludes an impartial hearing of the grievance. Additionally, any panelist or Chair who feels s/he cannot make an objective determination must recuse himself or herself from the proceedings when notified of the identity of the parties and all witnesses in advance of the hearing.

      The Chair, in consultation with the parties and investigators, may decide in advance of the hearing that certain witnesses do not need to be physically present if their testimony can be adequately summarized by the investigator(s) during the hearing. All parties will have ample opportunity to present facts and arguments in full and question all present witnesses during the hearing, though formal cross-examination is not used between the parties. If alternative questioning mechanisms are desired (screens, Skype, questions directed through the Chair, etc.), the parties should request them from the Chair at least two business days prior to the hearing.

      Once the procedures are explained and the participants are introduced, the investigator will present the report of the investigation first and be subject to questioning by the parties and the EGP. The investigator(s) will be present during the entire hearing process but will only be present during deliberations at the request of the Chair. The findings of the investigation are not binding on the panel, though any undisputed conclusions of the investigation report will not be revisited, except as necessary to determine sanctions/responsive actions. Once the investigator(s) is/are questioned, the EGP will permit questioning of and by the parties and of any present witness. Questions may be directed through the panel at the discretion of the Chair.

      Formal rules of evidence will not apply. Any evidence that the panel believes is relevant and credible may be considered, including history and pattern evidence. The Chair will address any evidentiary concerns prior to and/or during the hearing, may exclude irrelevant or immaterial evidence and may ask the panel to disregard evidence lacking in credibility. The Chair will determine all questions of procedure and evidence. Anyone appearing at the hearing to provide information will respond to questions on her/his own behalf.

      Unless the Chair determines it is appropriate, no one will present information or raise questions concerning (1) incidents not directly related to the possible violation, unless they show a pattern, or (2) the sexual history of or the character of the victim/party bringing a grievance.

      There will be no observers in the hearing. The Chair may allow witnesses who have relevant information to appear at a portion of the hearing in order to respond to specific questions from the panel or the parties involved. The panel does not hear from character witnesses but will accept up to two letters supporting the character of the individuals involved.

      In hearings involving more than one accused individual or in which two parties bringing a grievances have accused the same individual of substantially similar conduct, the standard procedure will be to hear the grievances jointly; however, the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance may permit the hearing pertinent to each responding party to be conducted separately. In joint hearings, separate determinations of responsibility will be made for each responding party.

      Proceedings are private. All persons present at any time during the hearing are expected to maintain the privacy of the proceedings, subject to College consequences for failure to do so. While the contents of the hearing are private, the parties have discretion to share their own experiences if they so choose and should discuss doing so with their advocates.

      Hearings are recorded for purposes of review in the event of an appeal. EGP members, the parties and/or the persons who initiated the action, and appropriate administrative officers of the College will be allowed to listen to the recording in a location determined by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance or designee. No person will be given or be allowed to make a copy of the recording without permission of the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. Persons given access to the recording will be required to sign an agreement confirming that they will protect the privacy of the information contained in the recording.

      D.   Decisions

      The EGP will deliberate in closed session to determine whether the responding party is responsible or not responsible for the violation(s) in question. The panel will base its determination on a preponderance of the evidence (i.e., whether it is more likely than not that the accused individual committed each alleged violation). If an individual responding party or organization is found responsible by a majority of the panel, the panel will recommend appropriate sanctions to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance.

      The Chair will prepare a written deliberation report and deliver it to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance, detailing the finding, how each member voted, the information cited by the panel in support of its recommendation and any information the hearing panel excluded from its consideration and why. The report should conclude with any recommended sanctions. This report should not exceed two pages in length and must be submitted to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance within two (2) days of the end of deliberations.

      The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will inform the responding party and the party bringing a grievance of the final determination within 2-3 business days of the hearing, without significant time delay between notifications. Notification will be made in writing and may be delivered by one or more of the following methods: in person, mailed to the local or permanent address of the parties as indicated in official College records, or emailed to the parties’ College-issued email account. Once mailed, emailed, and/or received in-person, notice will be presumptively delivered.

      E.   Sanctions

      Sanctions or responsive actions will be determined by the EGP. Factors considered when determining a sanction/responsive action may include

      • The nature, severity of, and circumstances surrounding the violation
      • An individual’s disciplinary history
      • Previous grievances or allegations involving similar conduct
      • Any other information deemed relevant by the EGP
      • The need for sanctions/responsive actions to bring an end to the discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation
      • The need for sanctions/responsive actions to prevent the future recurrence of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation
      • The need to remedy the effects of the discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation on the victim and the community

      1.   Examples of Possible Student Sanctions

      The following are the usual sanctions that may be imposed upon students or organizations singly or in combination:

      • Warning: A formal statement that the behavior was unacceptable and a warning that further infractions of any College policy, procedure or directive will result in more severe sanctions/responsive actions. Probation: A written reprimand for violation of the Code of Student Conduct, providing for more severe disciplinary sanctions in the event that the student or organization is found in viola­tion of any College policy, procedure or directive within a specified period of time. Terms of the probation will be specified and may include denial of specified social privileges, exclusion from co-­curricular activities, non-contact orders and/or other measures deemed appropriate.
      • Suspension: Termination of student status for a definite period of time not to exceed two years, and/or until specific criteria are met. Students who return from suspension are automatically placed on probation through the remainder of their tenure at the College. This sanction may be noted as a Conduct Suspension on the student’s official transcript.
      • Expulsion: Permanent termination of student status, revocation of rights to be on campus for any reason or attend College-sponsored events. This sanction may be noted as a Conduct Expulsion on the student’s official transcript.
      • Withholding Diploma. The College may withhold a student's diploma for a specified period of time and/or deny a student participation in commencement activities if the student has a grievance pending or as a sanction if the student is found responsible for an alleged violation.
      • Revocation of Degree. The College reserves the right to revoke a degree awarded from the College for fraud, misrepresentation or other violation of College policies, procedures or directives in obtaining the degree, or for other serious violations committed by a student prior to graduation.
      • Organizational Sanctions. Deactivation, de-recognition, loss of all privileges (including University registration), for a specified period of time.
      • Other Actions: In addition to or in place of the above sanctions, the College may assign any other sanctions as deemed appropriate.

      2.   Employee Sanctions

      Responsive actions for an employee who has engaged in harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation include warning, required counseling, demotion, suspension with pay, suspension without pay, and/or termination.

      F.   Withdrawal or Resignation While Charges Pending

      Students: The College does not permit a student to withdraw if that student has a grievance pending for violation of the policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination, or for charges under the Code of Student Conduct. Should a student decide to leave and not participate in the investigation and/or hearing, the process will nonetheless proceed in the student’s absence to a reasonable resolution and that student will not be permitted to return to College unless all sanctions have been satisfied.

      Employees: Should an employee resign while charges are pending, the records of the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will reflect that status, as will College responses to any future inquiries regarding employment references for that individual. The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will act to promptly and effectively remedy the effects of the conduct upon the victim and the community.

      G.   Appeals

      All requests for appeal considerations must be submitted in writing to the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance within three business days of the delivery of the written finding of the EGP.

      A three-member panel of the EGP designated by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance who was not involved in the grievance previously will consider all appeal requests. Any party may appeal, but appeals are limited to the following:

      • A procedural error or omission occurred that significantly impacted the outcome of the hearing (e.g., substantiated bias, material deviation from established procedures, etc.).
      • To consider new evidence, unknown or unavailable during the original hearing or investigation, that could substantially impact the original finding or sanction. A summary of this new evidence and its potential impact must be included.
      • The sanctions fall outside the range of sanctions the College has designated for this offense.

      The appeals panel of the EGP will review the appeal request(s). The original finding and sanction/responsive actions will stand if the appeal is not timely or is not based on the grounds listed above, and such a decision is final. When any party requests an appeal, the other party (parties) will be notified and joined in the appeal. The party requesting appeal must show that the grounds for an appeal request have been met, and the other party or parties may show the grounds have not been met, or that additional grounds are met. The original finding and sanction are presumed to have been decided reasonably and appropriately.

      Where the EGP appeals panel finds that at least one of the grounds is met, and proceeds, additional principles governing the hearing of appeals include the following:

      • Appeals decisions by the EGP panel are to be deferential to the original decision, making changes to the finding only where there is clear error and to the sanction/responsive action only if there is a compelling justification to do so.
      • Appeals are not intended to be full rehearings of the grievance. In most cases, appeals are confined to a review of the written documentation or record of the original hearing, and pertinent documentation regarding the grounds for appeal. Appeals granted based on new evidence should normally be remanded to the original hearing panel for reconsideration. Other appeals may be remanded at the discretion of the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance or heard by the three-member panel of the EGP.
      • Sanctions imposed are implemented immediately unless the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance or designee stays their implementation in extraordinary circumstances, pending the outcome of the appeal.
      • The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will normally, after conferring with the EGP appeals panel, render a written decision on the appeal to all parties within 2-3 business days from hearing of the appeal.
      • All parties should be informed of whether the grounds for an appeal are accepted and the results of the appeal decision.
      • Once an appeal is decided, the outcome is final; further appeals are not permitted.

      H.   Failure to Complete Sanctions/Comply with Responsive Actions

      All responding parties are expected to comply with conduct sanctions/responsive/corrective actions within the time frame specified by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. Failure to follow through on conduct sanctions/responsive/corrective actions by the date specified, whether by refusal, neglect, or any other reason, may result in additional sanctions/responsive/corrective actions and/or suspension, expulsion, and/or termination from the College and may be noted on a student’s official transcript. A suspension will only be lifted when compliance is achieved to the satisfaction of the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance.

      I.   Records

      In implementing this policy, records of all grievances, resolutions, and hearings will be kept by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance indefinitely in the Coordinator’s designated database and/or filing system.

      J.   Statement of the Rights of a Party Bringing a Grievance

      • To be treated with respect by College officials.
      • To take advantage of campus support resources (such as counseling services, the Hutchinson Area Student Health Services for students, or EAP services for employees [if such program is available]).
      • To experience a safe living, educational, and work environment.
      • To have an advocate (advisor), if desired, during this process.
      • To refuse to have an allegation resolved through conflict resolution procedures.
      • To receive amnesty for minor student misconduct (such as alcohol or drug violations) that is ancillary to the incident.
      • To be free from retaliation.
      • To have grievances heard in substantial accordance with these procedures.
      • To full participation of the injured party in any EGP process whether the injured party is serving as the party bringing a grievance or the College is serving as party bringing a grievance.
      • To be informed in writing of the outcome/resolution of the grievance, sanctions where permissible, and the rationale for the outcome where permissible. 
      • Refer to law enforcement and have assistance.
      • Housing and living accommodations.
      • No contacts.

      K.   Statement of the Rights of the Responding Party

      • To be treated with respect by College officials.
      • To take advantage of campus support resources (such as counseling services, the Hutchinson Area Student Health Services for students, or EAP services for employees [if such program is available]).
      • To have an advocate (advisor), if desired, during this process.
      • To refuse to have an allegation resolved through conflict resolution procedures.
      • To have grievances heard in substantial accordance with these procedures.
      • To be informed of the outcome/resolution of the grievance and the rationale for the outcome in writing. 

      VIII.   Revision

      These policies and procedures will be reviewed and updated annually by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance. The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance may make minor modifications to procedure that do not materially jeopardize the fairness owed to any party. However, the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance may also vary procedures materially with notice (on the institutional web site, with appropriate date of effect identified) upon determining that changes to law or regulation require policy or procedural alterations not reflected in this policy and procedure. Procedures in effect at the time of its implementation will apply. Policy in effect at the time of the offense will apply even if the policy is changed subsequently, unless the parties consent to be bound by the current policy.

      This policy and procedure was originally approved by the Board of Trustees on January 15, 2015.

       

       

      [1]USE AND ADAPTATION OF THIS MODEL WITH CITATION TO THE NCHERM GROUP/ATIXA IS PERMITTED THROUGH A LICENSE TO HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (HUTCHINSON, KS). ALL OTHER RIGHTS RESERVED. ©2013. THE NCHERM GROUP, LLC/ATIXA

      [2]Specific requirements and time frames may exist for filing complaints with these agencies.

      [3]The determination of whether an environment is “hostile” must be based on all of the circumstances. These circumstances could include

      • The frequency of conduct;
      • The nature and severity of the conduct;
      • Whether the conduct was physically threatening;
      • Whether the conduct was humiliating;
      • The effect of the conduct on the complainant’s mental or emotional state;
      • Whether the conduct was directed at more than one person;
      • Whether the conduct arose in the context of other discriminatory conduct;
      • Whether the conduct unreasonably interfered with the complainant’s educational work performance;
      • Whether the statement is a mere utterance of an epithet which engenders offense in an employee or student, or offends by mere discourtesy or rudeness;
      • Whether the speech or conduct deserves the protections of academic freedom or the 1st Amendment.

      [4]This definition of hostile environment is based on Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 1994: Department Of Education Office For Civil Rights, Racial Incidents And Harassment Against Students At Educational Institutions Investigative Guidance. The document is available at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/race394.html.

      [5]Also of relevance is the Office of Civil Rights 2001 statement on sexual harassment, “Revised Sexual Harassment Guidance: Harassment Of Students By School Employees, Other Students, Or Third Parties, Title IX,” which can be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/shguide.pdf.

      [6]Some examples of possible Sexual Harassment include

      • A professor insists that a student have sex with him/her in exchange for a good grade. This is harassment regardless of whether the student accedes to the request.
      • A student repeatedly sends sexually oriented jokes around on an email list s/he created, even when asked to stop, causing one recipient to avoid the sender on campus and in the residence hall in which they both live.
      • Explicit sexual pictures are displayed in a professor’s office or on the exterior of a residence hall door.
      • Two supervisors frequently “rate” several employees’ bodies and sex appeal, commenting suggestively about their clothing and appearance.
      • A professor engages students in her class in discussions about their past sexual experiences, yet the conversation is not in any way germane to the subject matter of the class. She probes for explicit details, and demands that students answer her, though they are clearly uncomfortable and hesitant.
      • An ex-girlfriend widely spreads false stories about her sex life with her former boyfriend to the clear discomfort of the boyfriend, turning him into a social pariah on campus.
      • Male students take to calling a particular brunette student “Monica” because of her resemblance to Monica Lewinsky. Soon, everyone adopts this nickname for her, and she is the target of relentless remarks about cigars, the president, “sexual relations,” and Weight Watchers.
      • A student grabbed another student by the hair, then grabbed her breast and put his mouth on it. While this is sexual harassment, it is also a form of sexual violence.

      [7]Quid pro quo sexual harassment exists when there are

      1. unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature; and
      2. submission or rejections of such conduct results in adverse educational or employment action.

      [8]Retaliatory harassment is any adverse employment or educational action taken against a person because of the person’s participation in a complaint or investigation of discrimination or sexual misconduct.

      [9]The state definition of rape (sexual assault), as outlined by K.S.A. 44-1131 or any crime defined in chapter 21 article 55 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, is provided below and is applicable to criminal prosecutions for rape (sexual assault) in Kansas, but may differ from the definition used on campus to address policy violations.

      Rape is

      1. knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse with a victim who does not consent to the sexual intercourse under any of the following circumstances:
        1. when the victim is overcome by force or fear; or
        2. when the victim is unconscious or physically powerless;
      2. knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse with a victim when the victim is incapable of giving consent because of mental deficiency or disease, or when the victim is incapable of giving consent because of the effect of any alcoholic liquor, narcotic, drug or other substance, which condition was known by the offender or was reasonably apparent to the offender;
      3. sexual intercourse with a child who is under 14 years of age;
      4. sexual intercourse with a victim when the victim's consent was obtained through a knowing misrepresentation made by the offender that the sexual intercourse was a medically or therapeutically necessary procedure; or
      5. sexual intercourse with a victim when the victim's consent was obtained through a knowing misrepresentation made by the offender that the sexual intercourse was a legally required procedure within the scope of the offender's authority.

      [10]Force is the use of physical violence and/or imposing on someone physically to gain sexual access. Force also includes threats, intimidation (implied threats) and coercion that overcome resistance or produce consent.

      • Coercion is unreasonable pressure for sexual activity. Coercive behavior differs from seductive behavior based on the type of pressures someone uses to get consent from another. When someone makes clear to you that they do not want sex, that they want to stop, or that they do not want to go past a certain point of sexual interaction, continued pressure beyond that point can be coercive.
      • Note: There is no requirement that a party resists the sexual advance or request, but resistance is a clear demonstration of non-consent. The presence of force is not demonstrated by the absence of resistance. Sexual activity that is forced is by definition non-consensual but non-consensual sexual activity is not by definition forced.

      [11]Possession, use and/or distribution of any of these substances, including, but not limited to, Rohypnol, Ketomine, GHB, Burundanga, etc., is prohibited, and administering one of these drugs to another student is a violation of this policy. More information about these drugs can be found at http:www.911rape.org/

      [12]The state meaning of ‘consent’ (or the inability to provide it) is implied through the related state definition of rape (and/or sexual assault), as outlined by K.S.A. 44-1131, K.S.A. 21-5501, and/or in chapter 21 article 55 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated. Such a definition may differ from the definition used on campus to address policy violations. [See earlier footnote for the definition of rape (and/or sexual assault)].

      [13]The state meaning of ‘hazing,” as outlined by K.S.A. 21-5418 or any crime defined in chapter 21 article 54 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, is provided below. Such a definition may differ from the definition used on campus to address policy violations.

      Hazing is recklessly coercing, demanding or encouraging another person to perform, as a condition of membership in a social or fraternal organization, any act which could reasonably be expected to result in great bodily harm, disfigurement or death or which is done in a manner whereby great bodily harm, disfigurement or death could be inflicted.

      [14]The federal definition of dating violence, as outlined by 42 U.S.C. § 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and subsequent amendments thereof, and for which the College is required to both track and disclose incidents of in its Annual Security Report (ASR), is applicable to criminal prosecutions for, but may differ from the definition used on campus to address policy violations.

      Dating Violence means violence committed by a person

      • who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and
      • where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors
        • the length of the relationship;
        • the type of relationship; and
        • the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.

      [15]The state definition of domestic violence (domestic battery), as outlined by K.S.A. 21-5414 or any crime defined in chapter 21 article 54 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, is provided below and is applicable to criminal prosecutions for domestic violence in Kansas, but may differ from the definition used on campus to address policy violations.

      Domestic Violence is

      1. knowingly or recklessly causing bodily harm by a family or household member against a family or household member; or
      2. knowingly causing physical contact with a family or household member by a family or household member when done in a rude, insulting or angry manner.
      • "Family or household member" means persons 18 years of age or older who are spouses, former spouses, parents or stepparents, and children or stepchildren, and persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past, and persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or who have lived together at any time. "Family or household member" also includes a man and woman if the woman is pregnant and the man is alleged to be the father, regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time.

      Furthermore, the federal definition of domestic violence, as outlined by 42 U.S.C. § 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and subsequent amendments thereof, and for which the College is required to both track and disclose incidents of in its Annual Security Report (ASR), is also applicable.

      Domestic Violence means a felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by

      • a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim,
      • a person with whom the victim shares a child in common,
      • a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner,
      • a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or
      • any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.

      [16]Relevant Examples:

      • Employee A has been in an intimate relationship with Employee B for over a year; Employee A punches Employee B in the face during an argument (Dating Violence).
      • Student A has been in an intimate relationship with Student B for over a year; Students A & B live together. During an argument, Student A shoves Student B to the ground (Domestic Violence).

      [17]The state definition of stalking is, as outlined by K.S.A. 21-5427 or any crime defined in chapter 21 article 54 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, is provided below and is applicable to criminal prosecutions for stalking in Kansas, but may differ from the definition used on campus to address policy violations.

      Stalking is

      1. recklessly engaging in a course of conduct targeted at a specific person which would cause a reasonable person in the circumstances of the targeted person to fear for such person's safety, or the safety of a member of such person's immediate family and the targeted person is actually placed in such fear;
      2. engaging in a course of conduct targeted at a specific person with knowledge that the course of conduct will place the targeted person in fear for such person's safety or the safety of a member of such person's immediate family.

      Furthermore, the federal definition of stalking, as outlined by 42 U.S.C. § 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and subsequent amendments thereof, and for which the College is required to both track and disclose incidents of in its Annual Security Report (ASR), is also applicable.

      Stalking means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to

      • fear for his or her safety or the safety of others; or
      • suffer substantial emotional distress.

      [18]Relevant Examples:

      • Employee A recently ended an intimate relationship with Employee B. For the past three weeks, B has been sending A 100 text messages per day and waits by A’s car at the end of each day to beg and plead with her to take him back. When she refuses, he loses control, makes threatening gestures, and tells her she will regret this. Employee A indicates she is fearful of what B might do to her (Stalking).
      • Joe is a student on campus who has always been fascinated by women who dye their hair. One day, he notices Mary Lou, whose hair is dyed a very bright purple. He follows her home to see where she lives and begins to track her history, actions, and movements online. His fascination increases to the point where he follows her frequently on campus, takes pictures of her without her permission, and spies through her window at night with a long-range camera lens. He wants to have her beautiful purple hair for his own so that he can stroke it whenever he wants.

      [19]While these off-campus counselors and agencies may maintain a victim’s confidentiality vis-à-vis the College, they may have reporting or other obligations under state law.

      [20]A “responsible employee” is a College employee who has the authority to redress sexual harassment or sexual misconduct, who has the duty to report incidents of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct, or who a student could reasonable believe to have this authority or duty. A responsible employee should work to ensure that the reporting party understands the employee’s obligations.

      [21]If circumstances require, the President of the College or Coordinator of Equity & Compliance may designate another person to oversee the process below, should a grievance be made against the Coordinator or the Coordinator be otherwise unavailable or unable to fulfill her/his duties.

      Faculty Absence/Class Cancellation

      It is important that classes meet according to the assigned schedule, and for the full class period in order to meet Kansas Board of Regents regulations. If an instructor is unable to hold a class due to illness, emergency, or scheduled absence, the instructor is to take the following steps:

      • Contact your Department Chair(s)/Associate Director of Outreach and the Office of Academic Affairs at least one hour prior to the start of the first class whenever possible so that students can be notified.
      • Efforts should be made by the instructor in cooperation with the Department Chair(s)/Associate Director of Outreach to arrange for a professional employee to substitute for scheduled absences.
      • If a class must be canceled, the Vice President of Academic Affairs office will post on-campus notices, and the Associate Director of Outreach will post off-campus notices.
      • Instructors who will be absent should notify students through Learning Zone prior to the start of class.  If the instructor is unable to notify students in a timely manner, the Department Chair(s)/Associate Director of Outreach should notify students as soon as possible.
      • Classes must have the assigned instructor or a professional employee (preferably another instructor) acting as a substitute in order to hold class.
      • Please do not cancel a class and assign an alternate assignment, or send students to alternate locations without notifying the Vice President of Academic Affairs office and the Department Chair(s)/Associate Director of Outreach.
      • Upon his/her return, the instructor will be expected to file a Leave Request/Report Form in Bamboo.
      • Sub pay form will be submitted by the Department Chair(s)/Associate Director of Outreach to Human Resources. 

      Please note: HutchCC is the responsible entity to our federal/state /accreditation regulators for any and all activity in each and every class, section, and course.

      • If a long-term substitute instructor is needed, they must meet professional qualifications in the specific discipline.
      • If an instructor is chronically absent during a semester (i.e. absent the equivalent of 10% of a class), a consultation is needed between the instructor and Department Chair(s)/Associate Director of Outreach to develop an action plan in the event of additional absences.

      Faculty Code of Ethics

      Believing in the worth and dignity of each human being, the professional educator recognizes the importance of pursuing truth, striving toward excellence, nurturing democratic citizenship and safeguarding the freedom to learn and to teach.  HutchCC guarantees equal educational opportunity for all.

      Hutchinson Community College Faculty are expected to comply with all local, state, and federal laws, and represent the institution in a professional manner.  Further, all faculty members must comply with policies and procedures adopted by the college.

      Conduct that is detrimental to the college may result in disciplinary measures up to and including termination of employment.

      Appropriate conduct includes, but is not limited to: fulfilling responsibilities to each Student, the College, and the Profession.

      Responsibilities to Each Student: 

      • Appropriately manage confidential information
      • Create, support and maintain an effective learning environment.
      • Embody for students the characteristics of honesty, diplomacy, tact and fairness
      • Fulfill the roles of mentor & advocate for students in a professional relationship.  A professional relationship is one where the educator maintains a position of teacher/student authority while expressing concern, empathy and encouragement for students
      • Provide professional education services in a lawful, nondiscriminatory manner

      Responsibilities to Hutchinson Community College:
       

      • Appropriately use funds, personnel, property and equipment committed to the individual’s charge
      • Manifest an active role in college and community relations
      • Fulfill reporting requirements in a timely and accurate manner
      • Conduct college business through established procedures
      • Honor college agreements and commitments
      • Respect the values and traditions of diverse cultures represented within the college and the communities served
      • Use HutchCC social media sites responsibly, transparently and primarily for purposes of recruiting, teaching and learning

      Responsibilities to the Profession:

      • Demonstrate conduct that follows generally recognized standards
      • Abide by the terms detailed in the HutchCC Master Agreement
      • Maintain appropriate knowledge and skills for the position
      • Provide accurate information to legitimate authorities and agencies
      • Encourage and support colleagues in developing and maintaining high standards
      • Treat people with dignity and respect
      • Be transparent regarding potential conflicts of interest
      • Maintain academic honesty and integrity

      Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

      Definitions

      For the purpose of this policy, Hutchinson Community College has used the following definitions of terms:

      1. College - In all subsequent instances, Hutchinson Community College and Area Vocational School is referred to as Hutchinson Community College or HutchCC
      2. Student - any person who attends or has attended HutchCC.
      3. Education Records - any record (in handwriting, print, tapes, film or other medium) maintained by HutchCC or an agent of the college which is directly related to a student, except the following:
        1. A personal record kept by a staff member, if it is kept in the sole possession of the maker of the record and is not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute for the maker of the record.
        2. An employment record of an individual whose employment is not contingent on the fact that he or she is a student, provided the record is used only in relation to the individual's employment.
        3. A record maintained by HutchCC, if the record is maintained solely for law enforcement purposes and is revealed only to law enforcement agencies of the same jurisdiction, and the unit does not have access to education records maintained by the college.
        4. Records maintained by the Student Health Clinic, if the records are used only for treatment of a student and made available only to those persons providing the treatment.
        5. Alumni records which contain information about a student after he or she is no longer in attendance at the college and which do not relate to the person as a student.

      Annual Notification

      Students will be notified of their rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act annually by publication in the college catalog.

      Procedure to Inspect Education Records

      Students may inspect and review their education records upon request to the appropriate record custodian. Students should request of the record custodian or an appropriate college staff person to make arrangements for access as promptly as possible for inspection of the records. Access to the record may be granted immediately if the student can verify his or her identity using acceptable identification (student i.d., driver's license). If it is not possible to view the record immediately, the student should submit to the record custodian or appropriate college staff person a written request which identifies as precisely as possible the record or records he or she wishes to inspect. Access must be given in 30 days or less from the receipt of the request.

      Right of the College to Refuse Access

      HutchCC reserves the right to refuse to permit a student to inspect the following records:

      1. The financial statement of the student's parents.
      2. Those records which are excluded from the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act definition of education records.

      Refusal to Provide Copies

      HutchCC reserves the right to deny transcripts or copies of records not required to be made available by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act in any of the following situations:

      1. The student has an unpaid financial obligation to the college.
      2. The student has not submitted paperwork required by the institution to complete his or her educational file.

      Fees for Copies of Records

      The fee for copies of the student's educational records, excluding HutchCC transcripts, will be $.75 per page.

      Disclosure of Educational Records

      HutchCC will disclose information from a student's education records only with the written consent of the student, except the following:

      1. To officials of another institution in which the student seeks or intends to enroll.
      2. To school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records.

        A school official is one of the following:
        1. A person employed by the college in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position.
        2. A person elected to the Board of Trustees.
        3. A person employed by or under contract to the college to perform a special task, such as an attorney or an auditor.

        A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official is doing one of the following:
        1. Performing a task that is specified in his or her position description or by a contract agreement.
        2. Performing a task related to a student's education.
        3. Performing a task related to the discipline of a student.

      3. To certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, the Comptroller General and state and local educational authorities in connection with certain state or federally supported educational programs.
      4. In connection with a student's financial aid, as necessary to determine the eligibility, amount or conditions of the financial aid or to enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
      5. If required by a state law requiring disclosure that was adopted before Nov. 19, 1974.
      6. To organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the college.
      7. To accrediting organizations to carry out their functions.
      8. To parents of an eligible student who claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
      9. To comply with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena.
      10. To appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency.
      11. To an alleged victim of any crime of violence of the results of any institutional disciplinary proceeding against the alleged perpetrator of that crime with respect to that crime.
      12. Hutchinson Community College will disclose grade and attendance information of secondary school students concurrently enrolled in both the secondary school and HutchCC, who have been given permission from their secondary school to attend Hutchinson Community College.

      Record of Requests for Disclosure

      HutchCC will maintain a record of requests for information from a student's education records for a period of six months for the following:

      1. Requests made by or disclosure was made to a party with written consent. Only the following requests and/or disclosures will become a permanent part of the student's education record:
      2. Disclosure to the parent (either custodial or non-custodial) of an eligible student.
      3. Disclosure in response to a lawfully issued court order or subpoena.
      4. Disclosure for external research where individual students have been identified.
      5. Disclosure in response to an emergency.

      Directory Information

      HutchCC has designated the following items as Directory Information:

      1. Student name.
      2. Date and place of birth.
      3. Major (curriculum of study).
      4. Participation in official school activities.
      5. Dates of attendance.
      6. Degrees and awards received.
      7. Class schedule.
      8. Previous educational institutions attended.
      9. Legal and local address mailing
      10. Photographs taken by the college.
      11. Hometown and high school
      12. Height and weight of athletes.
      13. HutchCC E-mail Address

      The college may disclose any of the above items without prior written consent, unless the student has submitted a written request to the college's Privacy Officer asking to have directory information withheld.

      Correction of Education Records

      Students have the right to ask to have records corrected that they believe are inaccurate, misleading or in violation of their privacy rights. Following are the procedures for the correction of records:

      1. A student must ask the registrar to amend a record. In doing so, the student should identify the part of the records he or she wants changed and specify why he or she believes it is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of his or her privacy rights.
      2. HutchCC may comply with the request, or it may decide not to comply. If it decides not to comply, HutchCC will notify the student of the decision and advise him or her of his or her right to a hearing to challenge the information believed to inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student's rights.
      3. Upon request, HutchCC will arrange for a hearing and notify the student of the date, place and time of the hearing.
      4. The hearing will be conducted by a hearing officer who is a disinterested party; however, the hearing officer may be an official of the institution. The student will be afforded a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relative to the issues raised in the original request to amend the student's education records. The student may be assisted by one or more individuals, including an attorney.
      5. HutchCC will prepare a written decision based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing. The decision will include a summary of the evidence presented and the reason for the decision.
      6. If HutchCC decides that the challenged information is accurate, is not misleading or is not in violation of the student's right of privacy, it will notify the student that he or she has a right to place in the record a statement commenting on the challenged information and/or a statement setting forth reasons for disagreeing with the decision.
      7. The statement will be maintained as part of the student's education records as long as the contest portion is maintained. If HutchCC discloses the contested portion of the record, it must also disclose the statement.
      8. If HutchCC decides that the information is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of the student's right of privacy, it will amend the record and notify the student in writing.

      Filing a Complaint

      A student may file a written complaint with the Department of Education regarding an alleged violation under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act at the following address:

      1. Family Policy Compliance Office
      2. U.S. Department of Education
      3. 400 Maryland Avenue, SW
      4. Washington D.C. 20202-4605

      Types, Custodians, and Locations of Educational Records

      1. Admission Records
          1. - Director of Admissions Office
          2. - Parker Student Union - First Floor

      2. Cumulative Academic Records (Current students and students who withdrew or graduated after 1986)
        1. Registrar
          1. - Registrar's Office
          2. - Parker Student Union - First Floor and Lower Level

      3. Cumulative Academic Records (Former students who withdrew or graduated prior to 1986)
        1. Registrar
          1. - College Archives
          2. - Parker Student Union - Lower Level

      4. Financial Records
        1. Vice President of Finance
          1. - Business Office
          2. - Parker Student Union - First Floor

      5. Placement Records
        1. Director of Personnel
          1. - Personnel Office
          2. - Parker Student Union - First Floor

      6. Progress Records
        1. Instructor
          1. - Faculty Offices

      Fundraising and Gift Solicitation Policy

      The Hutchinson Community College Endowment Association (HCCEA) is a private non-profit fundraising arm of the College. It shall be the responsibility of the HCCEA to serve as the central coordinating department for all fundraising programs and solicitation of funds from private individuals, foundations, businesses, corporations and organizations to benefit HutchCC. All proposed external gift solicitations shall be coordinated through the HCCEA and brought forth to the College President for approval. Fundraising, gift solicitations, sponsorships and disbursement procedures are as follows.

      1. The purpose of coordinating all private fundraising activities through one office is as follows:

      • a. To provide continuity in building understanding and support for the College wide funding needs
      • b. To avoid conflict and duplication of effort in the fundraising contact program
      • c .To maximize the contribution from each potential donor and to make certain each donor is appropriately thanked and stewarded

      2. Individuals, groups, department or administrative units seeking to solicit any gifts, contributions, donations, in-kind gifts or sponsorships in the name of HutchCC will submit a HutchCC Endowment Association Fundraising Proposal Form to the Endowment Association.

      3. Upon completion of the form, please return to the Endowment Office. The Director of the Endowment will collect the forms and share with the College President. Once the form has been reviewed and determination of approval has been made, requestor will be notified.

      4. Include names of individuals or businesses you plan to solicit with the Request for Fundraising Activity form. This will assist in helping to avoid conflict/duplication of donor.

      5. The most important thing is to coordinate with the Endowment Office. HCCEA and the Athletic Department have many programs and projects running at the same time. By working together, we can all be more successful.

      6. All gifts received through fundraising efforts shall be delivered to the Endowment Office. Gifts will be deposited in the appropriate account.

      7. Disbursement of funds will require an Endowment requisition (not College PO) and an invoice or other documentation be sent to Endowment Office for approval by the Director according to Endowment policies and procedures.

      8. No gifts obtained through fundraising or gifts solicitation which violates tax laws, jeopardizes the 501(c)(3) tax status of the Endowment Association, or jeopardizes entitlement subsidies benefiting the College’s funding operations will be accepted.

      9. All marketing material, including t-shirt designs, must be approved in advance by the HutchCC Marketing Department.

      10. For additional questions please contact Cindy Keast at 620-665-3565 or email her at keastc@hutchcc.edu.

      Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

      Hutchinson Community College is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of health information for the campus community including students, faculty, and staff. Federal law gives individuals rights over their health information and sets rules and limits regarding who can look at and receive health information. This applies to all forms of individuals' protected health information, whether electronic, written, or oral. Health information should not be disclosed or confirmed to anyone without prior written consent from the student or employee. Failure to adhere to state and federal law or Hutchinson Community College policies and procedures will result in disciplinary and or legal action.  

      Hutchinson Community College may use and disclose medical information without prior written consent for treatment and to support the college’s health care operations. Examples of this may include sending medical information to specialists or using patient data to improve treatment methods. The college may also release information to the sports information staff and members of the media regarding athletic participation. 

      Students or employees may inspect and review their health records upon request. Request to inspect health records should be directed to the record custodian or an appropriate college staff person to make arrangements for access as promptly as possible. Access to the record may be granted immediately if the student can verify his or her identity using acceptable identification (student i.d., driver's license). If it is not possible to view the record immediately, the student should submit a written request to the record custodian or appropriate college staff person. Access must be given within 30 days from the receipt of the request

      Students or employees may inspect and review their health records upon request. Request to inspect health records should be directed to the record custodian or an appropriate college staff person to make arrangements for access as promptly as possible. Access to the record may be granted immediately if the student can verify his or her identity using acceptable identification (student i.d., driver's license). If it is not possible to view the record immediately, the student should submit a written request to the record custodian or appropriate college staff person. Access must be given within 30 days from the receipt of the request.   

      If students or employees believe their HIPAA-rights have been violated, they may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Health Information Privacy complaints can be filed electronically by visiting:   Health Information Privacy Complaint Form Package - PDF.  

      Medical Record Custodians:

      Accessibility Services

      Athletics

      Child Care Center

      Director of Financial Aid

      Director of Residence Life

      Food Service

      Human Resources

      Registrar

      Selective Admissions Program

      Student Success Center

      Institutional Document Repository Policy

      All Hutchinson Community College institutionally approved policies and procedures shall reside in the official centralized repository referred to as DragonDocs.

      Institutional Documents Repository Procedure

      Introduction:

      DragonDocs is the central authoritative repository for HutchCC documents (see Institutional Document Repository policy). This document outlines the procedure for entering and maintaining accurate information inside of DragonDocs.

       

      Entry on Final Approval:

      Documents are entered into DragonDocs only upon final approval.

       

      Document Levels:

      All institutional documents fall under one of four final approval levels.

       

      Level 1: Indicates Board policy manual; requiring board approval.

       

      Level 2: Indicates Board approved but not in the board policy manual.

       

      Level 3: Indicates Representative Assembly approval. 

       

      Level 4: Indicates divisional then President’s Council approval.

       

      Document Editors:

      Changes to level 1-2 documents will be the responsibility of the Vice President of Finance and Operations, who may delegate the clerical editing task. Level 3 documents will be entered by the secretary of the final approval body. Level 4 documents will be entered by a designee of that division’s vice-president. All DragonDocs editors will be trained and certified so institutional documents can maintain integrity, meet standards of ethical conduct for accreditation purposes, and provide consistency of format.

       

      Metadata:

      All DragonDocs documents contain metadata to further describe the document. The following template should be used to outline the metadata:

       

      Title:

                                

      A short description of the document

      Content Type:

       

      Typically a “Policy” or a “Procedure”

      Level:

       

      1-4 see levels above

      Review Date:

       

      A future date that the document should be reviewed

      Division:

       

       - The VP level (President, Academic Affairs, Student Services, Finance & Operations, Workforce Development & Outreach, or Information Technology Services) – must be one.

      Reviewer:

       

       - The recognized committee, council, or department responsible for review

      Historian:

       

       - The person (typically a HutchCC employee) with knowledge of the historical context of the document.

      Effective Date:

       

      The date the document takes effect.

      Handbooks:

       

      The DragonDocs defined handbooks that the document is to be included in (if any).

       

      When documents are approved, the metadata will also be approved.

       

      Substantive Content:

      New versions of DragonDocs documents are approved and created when substantive content in the document changes. Non-substantive content is defined as grammatical, spelling, demographic, nomenclature, or metadata in nature.  Non-substantive content not otherwise included in the definition must be approved by a member of President’s Council.  All other changes are substantive. Non-substantive content changes are updated by the appropriate editor, without creating a new version of the document, and are reported to Representative Assembly as an information item.  New versions of DragonDocs documents are approved and created when substantive content in the document changes.   

       

      Disputes:

      A task force under IE will be called by the Institution-Wide Council (IWC) or President’s Council as needed to research institutional document discrepancies. Findings and recommendations will go to either IWC or President’s Council.

       

      Handbooks:

      Handbooks are an assembly of institutional documents. Each handbook will have a HutchCC employee assigned who is responsible for assembly of the handbook. The assembly process (adding documents to a handbook and deciding their order) is done through DragonDocs. Handbooks may be extracted/downloaded and reformatted (i.e. margins, marketing photos, pagination, and fonts) for publishing purposes, but the content cannot be altered.  Additional content cannot be added, changed, or removed, and must accurately reflect the authoritative content of documents in DragonDocs. The extracted/downloaded/reformatted handbooks must reference DragonDocs as the HutchCC official centralized repository.

       

      Forms:

      Forms will be stored in a linkable forms repository outside of DragonDocs. Forms that are included in handbooks or referenced in DragonDocs will be linked to the forms repository.

       

      IT Acceptable Use Policy

      Purpose:

      All users of the Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) computer system - defined as a computer, hand held/cell phones, computer system, computer network, computer software, computer program, data base, or any part thereof owned and controlled by HutchCC - hereby agree to abide by the procedures and policies of HutchCC and the State and Federal laws.

      Outlined in this policy are expected standards of conduct on the use of the HutchCC computer system and the disciplinary actions taken for not adhering to those standards.

      Mission and Rights:

      HutchCC owns a variety of computing systems that are provided for the use of HutchCC students, faculty, and staff in support of the educational programs of the college. All computer use shall be consistent with the mission and goals of HutchCC.

      Unauthorized commercial uses of the HutchCC computer system are prohibited.

      All users are responsible for seeing that the computing facilities are used in an effective, efficient, ethical, and lawful manner.

      HutchCC reserves all rights, including termination of service without notice, to the computing resources that it owns and operates.

      This policy shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights of HutchCC, nor shall it conflict with applicable laws.

      Computer User Names and Passwords:

      It is the responsibility of all HutchCC users to maintain and protect their user names and passwords. HutchCC users are solely responsible for all computing operations executed under their user names.

      Sharing a user name and/or password with others is prohibited.

      Disguising an identity to acquire a user name falsely is prohibited.

      Users may not, under any circumstances (except for system administrators), transfer or confer computer information privileges to other individuals.

      Electronic accounts that remain inactive for six months will be disabled.

      System Resources:

      Users are responsible for maintaining an environment in which resources are shared equitably between users.

      Any attempt to deprive other authorized users of resources or access to any HutchCC computer is prohibited.

      Any attempt to gain access to unauthorized computer resources is prohibited.

      Any unauthorized modification or destruction of computer resources is prohibited.

      The willful introduction of malicious software, such as computer "viruses" is prohibited.

      Harassment:

      HutchCC's Harassment Policy applies with full force and effect to any use of the HutchCC computer system. Harassment of any kind is prohibited. No messages with derogatory or inflammatory remarks about any individual or group's race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical or mental attribute, age, gender, and/or sexual preference will be transmitted. A user who violates this policy shall bear full responsibility for his or her actions. Further, by their use of HutchCC's computer system, users agree that individuals who transmit such remarks shall bear sole responsibility for their actions.

      All users have the right to be free from any conduct connected with the use of HutchCC's computing systems that discriminates against any person on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, disability, age, gender, and/or sexual preference. Discriminatory conduct includes, but is not limited to, written or graphic conduct that satisfies the following conditions:

      Harasses, denigrates, or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group based on that person's race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, gender, and/or sexual preference; and

      Has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile, intimidating, or offensive environment.

      Users agree that HutchCC's role in managing this system is only as an information carrier and that they will never consider transmission through this system as an endorsement of said transmission by HutchCC.

      Internet Access, including Internet II and other private networks:

      The purpose of allowing or providing internet access through HutchCC's computer system is to facilitate communications and research in support of the public purpose, mission, vision, and value statements at HutchCC. Users have the responsibility to act consistent with and to enhance the public purpose of HutchCC including the mission, vision, and value statements of HutchCC.

      Within these purposes, users must comply with the following guidelines for using the internet through the HutchCC computer system:

      1. Users accessing the internet are representing HutchCC. All communications should be for or related to the purposes, mission, vision, and value statements of HutchCC;
      2. Users are responsible for ensuring that the internet is used in an effective, ethical, and lawful manner;
      3. Users are responsible for the content of all text, audio, or images placed or sent over the internet. Messages that are inconsistent with the HutchCC Acceptable Use are prohibited, including but not limited to, fraudulent, harassing, or obscene messages;
      4. All messages communicated on the HutchCC computer system should have the user's name attached. No messages will be transmitted under an assumed name;
      5. Information published on the internet through the HutchCC computer system should not violate or infringe upon the rights of others;
      6. Any network traffic that originates at HutchCC and moves to other networks must conform with any applicable policies of those subsequent networks.
      7. HutchCC reserves the right to restrict access to internet or any other outside network.

      Unacceptable uses:

      1. Uses that violate any local, state, or federal statute;
      2. Uses that interfere with the user's duties and responsibilities to HutchCC;
      3. Downloading software that does not follow the procedures outlined in HutchCC's Software Acquisition Process;
      4. Accessing, uploading, downloading, or distributing any text, graphic, video, or audio clip that is obscene, sexually explicit, profane, or harassing in nature;
      5. Accessing, uploading, downloading, or distributing any test, text, graphic, video, or audio clip that is for personal financial gain;
      6. Uses that interfere with or disrupt any network services - disruptions include, but are not limited to, introducing malicious software, such as computer viruses, and unauthorized entry into any other machine or system (hacking);
      7. Uses that violate any other provisions of the HutchCC Acceptable Use Policy and/or the HutchCC Conflict of Interest policy.

      Software Licensing, Copyright and Unauthorized Distribution:

      Computer software protected by copyright shall not be copied from, into, or by means of HutchCC computing facilities, except as permitted by law or by the contract with the owner of the copyright.

      HutchCC may not duplicate any software or related documentation for use either on HutchCC premises or elsewhere unless HutchCC is expressly authorized to do so by agreement with the licenser. Unauthorized duplication of software may subject the user to both civil and criminal penalties under the United States Copyright Act.

      HutchCC computers are organization-owned assets and must be kept both software legal and virus free. Only software approved through the software acquisition/standardization procedures may be used on HutchCC machines. Software purchased outside of this procedure is not permitted to be loaded on HutchCC computers.

      Generally, institution-owned software is not licensed for home use; however, some software companies permit home use under certain circumstances. If software is needed for home use, and is not covered in its license agreement, a separate license should be purchased and recorded as an institution-owned asset in the software register. Before taking any software home, please check with the software manager.

      Assume that all software is bound by copyright.

      Any unauthorized release of printed or computer-based information is prohibited.

      Disclaimers:

      While reasonable attempts have been made to ensure the privacy of users' electronic information, this in no way guarantees that electronic information is private. The HutchCC computing system is not necessarily secure.

      System administrators will respect users' privacy to the extent possible and will not examine electronic information except when investigating an apparent violation, investigating systems resource over-utilization or abuse, performing preventive maintenance, forwarding misdelivered messages, or closing an account.

      Students who reside within the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) system are subject to additional account restrictions, relinquishing account access, and account activity monitoring by authorized HutchCC personnel.

      Violations:

      Any violation of this policy or applicable laws will result in disciplinary actions by the proper authorities.

      Any user's privileges may be suspended immediately upon the discovery of a possible violation of this policy.

      Such suspected violations will be confidentially reported to the appropriate college official(s).

      Violations of these policies will be dealt with in the same manner as violations of other HutchCC policies and may result in disciplinary review or termination of employment.

      Appendixes:

      A. Electronic Communication Policy

      B. Software Acquisition/Standardization Procedure

      C. Social Networking Policy

      Lactation Policy

      Hutchinson Community College acknowledges the worksite accommodation law in the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted in March 2010, which amends the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore provides breastfeeding employees the following lactation accommodations.  Students will be provided these accommodations as well.

      Lactation Accommodation Provisions

      Reasonable Time to Express Milk at Work

      Employees and students shall be provided reasonable time to express milk while at work for up to three years following the child’s birth each time the employee has need to express milk. Employees should use usual break and meal periods for expressing milk, when possible. If additional time is needed beyond the provided breaks, employees may use personal leave or may make up the time as negotiated with their supervisors.

      A Private Area for Milk Expression

      Employees and students will be provided with a private place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, to express breast milk. The rooms are listed at the end of this policy. 

      No employee shall be discriminated against for breastfeeding or expressing milk during the work period, and reasonable efforts will be made to assist employees in meeting their infant feeding goals while at work.

      Any act found to be intentional that invades a nursing mother’s privacy shall be treated as a disciplinary offense and reported to the appropriate supervisor.

      Employer Responsibilities

      Hutchinson Community College will:

      • Maintain the cleanliness of the room or location set aside for the use of employees and students expressing breast milk while on campus.
      • Notify employees returning to work following the birth of a child of their rights under the national worksite lactation accommodation law in the U.S. Patient Affordable Care Act. This notice may either be provided individually to affected employees or to all employees through college communications.

      Employee/Student Responsibilities

      Breastfeeding persons utilizing lactation support services will:

      • Give supervisors advance notice of the need for lactation accommodations, preferably prior to their return to work or school following the birth of the child. This will allow supervisors the opportunity to establish a location and work out scheduling issues. 
      • Maintain the designated area by wiping the pump (if provided) and surfaces with microbial wipes so the area is clean for the next user.

      Students may inquire at the Information Counter, main floor of the Parker Student Union, about locations and contact persons.

      PROPOSED LACTATION LOCATIONS (Additional locations will be included when identified)

      STRINGER FINE ARTS – Dressing Room # 148 or #147 – Contact Secretary – 620.665.3503

      SHEARS TECHNOLOGY CENTER – Conference Room # 107 – Contact Secretary – 620.728.8104

      LOCKMAN HALL/PARKER STUDENT UNION – Human Resource Conference Room – Contact Placement Specialist – 620.665.3495

      RIMMER LEARNING CENTER – Room 115 – Contact Administrative Assistant - 620.728.8125 (available M-TH evenings and Sundays during academic year)

      NEWTON AXTELL CENTER – Conference Room - Contact Secretary – 316.283.7000

      McPHERSON CENTER – Workforce Development Room # 117 – Contact Secretary – 620.245.0202

      PIONEER BUILDING/SOUTH CAMPUS – Dispatch Room – Contact Secretary - 620.728.4406

      FIRE SCIENCE – Contact Administrative Assistant – 620.728.4460

      BUILDING 12 – Audio Lab – Contact Secretary – 620.665.3349

      DAVIS HALL/PEEL CENTER – Rm 223 – Contact Secretary – 620.665.4930

      SCIENCE HALL -  Conference Rm A – Contact Secretary – 620.665.3533

      Non-Discrimination of Individuals with Disabilities Policy

      I. POLICY STATEMENT

      The Administration, Faculty, and Staff of Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) are committed to providing equal education, employment opportunity, and full participation for all individuals with disabilities.

      HutchCC recognizes its responsibility to provide equal access to opportunity, full inclusion, and integration for persons with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended in 2008. It is HutchCC's policy that "no otherwise qualified" person with a disability be excluded from participating in any HutchCC program or activity, be denied the benefits of any HutchCC program or activity, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination with regard to any HutchCC program or activity.

      Prospective and current students with disabilities requesting accommodations must do so by contacting the Coordinator of Accessibility Services at 620-665-3554, or by emailing AccessibilityServices@hutchcc.edu.

      Prospective and current employees with disabilities requesting accommodations must do so by contacting the Director of Human Resources at 620-665-3497, or by emailing hrinfo@hutchcc.edu.

      Patrons with disabilities attending HutchCC sponsored functions requesting accommodations must contact the President's Office at 620-665-3505 at least 10 days prior to the event.

      II. DEFINITIONS

      1. Disability means, with respect to an individual:
        1. a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the person's major life activities; or
        2. a history of such an impairment; or
        3. being regarded as having such an impairment
      2. Qualified Individual with a Disability is someone who (with or without accommodations) meets the essential eligibility requirements for participating in programs, services, and activities provided by the college.
      3. Accommodations means adjustments including reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices; environmental adjustments such as the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers; or auxiliary aids and services. Examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to: alternative testing, extended time, scribe services, sign language interpreting, reduced distraction environment, brailled material, recorded lectures, and computer-assisted instruction.
      4. Essential Eligibility Requirement means the academic or other technical standards required for admission to or participation in the college's programs, services, or activities which an individual must be able to meet with or without accommodation.
      5. Individual means any person applying for admission to or participation in a program, service, or activity of the College.

      III. RESPONSIBILITIES

      1. Hutchinson Community College Administration:
        1. shall designate a person or office (The Office of Accessibility Services located in the Parker Student Union) to coordinate its efforts to comply with and fulfill its responsibilities under Title II of the ADAAA and Section 504 and to investigate any complaints alleging the institution's non-compliance with Title II of the ADA and Section 504.
        2. shall maintain and require academic and technical standards in their individual programs.
        3. shall designate a person or persons (The Office of Accessibility Services located in the Parker Student Union) to coordinate student requests for accommodations, assess provided documentation, determine appropriate accommodations, and assist students with notification of accommodations to their instructors.
        4. shall provide students, faculty, and staff with information regarding disabilities, accommodations, and assistive technology.
        5. shall provide a student an opportunity to appeal decisions made by the Office of Accessibility Services if the individual feels that he/she has been denied equal access to a HutchCC program or activity because of a disability.
        6. shall make available information regarding policies and procedures to students with disabilities.
      2. The Office of Accessibility Services
        1. shall serve as a clearinghouse for all Accessibility Services requests and documentation and maintain appropriate confidentiality of documentation and communication concerning students with disabilities.
        2. shall develop appropriate accommodations that will provide a student with disabilities equal access to the campus, courses, programs, and all college related activities.
        3. shall assist students with transition from high school to college.
        4. shall assist faculty who are providing accommodations.
        5. shall use the student interview, Application for Accessibility Services, disability documentation, and course requirements to make appropriate accommodation determinations.
      3. The Student
        1. shall be responsible for self-identifying to the Office of Accessibility Services.
        2. shall complete and turn in an Application for Accessibility Services.
        3. shall provide appropriate documentation to support the need for accommodations.
        4. shall meet with the Office of Accessibility Services either in person, on-line, or on the phone each semester to set up accommodations.
        5. shall communicate with his/her instructor(s) regarding the accommodations needed to provide equal access to the course.
        6. shall return a signed copy of the Letter of Accommodation to the Office of Accessibility Services each semester.
      4. The Faculty
        1. shall use accessibility guidelines when developing classroom material.
        2. shall provide approved accommodations for students with disabilities with support from the Office of Accessibility Services.
        3. shall supply required tests, handouts, and notes to the Office of Accessibility Services as warranted so they can be formatted for student use.
      5. The Employee
        1. shall self-identify to the Human Resources Office.
        2. shall provide documentation as requested by the Human Resources Office.
      6. The Human Resources Office
        1. shall provide reasonable accommodations as warranted.
        2. shall evaluate all requests individually.

       

       

      Possession of Weapons

      To the extent allowed by law and except as otherwise provided herein, all College properties and facilities shall be weapons-free. Each entrance to each building and facility owned or operated by the College shall be posted in accordance with K.S.A. 2007 Supp. 75-7c10, 75-7c11, K.A.R. 16-11-7, K.S.A. 21-4218 and K.A.R. 1-49-11,
      and amendments thereto.


      Additional signs may be posted as appropriate. Notice of this policy shall also be included in the College employee and student handbooks, student housing contracts and the College administrative policies and procedures.


      Nothing is this Policy shall be construed to prohibit possession of weapons on property and facilities owned or operated by the College (1) as necessary for the conduct of Board approved academic programs or College approved activities or practices, or (2) by College security officers while acting within the scope of their employment or (3) by employees of the college who are also commissioned law enforcement officers.


      For the purpose of this policy, the term “weapon” means:

      1. any object or device which will, is designed to, or may be readily converted to expel bullet, shot or shell by the action of an explosive or other propellant;
      2. any handgun, pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun or other firearm of any nature, including concealed weapons licensed pursuant to the Personal and Family Protection Act, and amendments thereto;
      3. any BB gun, pellet gun, air/C’O2 gun, stun gun or blow gun;
      4. any explosive, incendiary or poison gas (A) bomb, (B) mine, (C)grenade, (D)rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, or (E) missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than ¼ ounce;
      5. any incendiary or explosive material, liquid, solid or mixture equipped with a fuse, wick or other detonating device;
      6. any tear gas bomb or smoke bomb; however, personal self-defense items containing mace or pepper spray shall not be deemed to be a weapon for the purposes of this  policy;
      7. any knife, commonly referred to as a switch-blade, which has a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife, or any knife having a blade that opens or falls or is ejected into position by the force of gravity or by an outward, downward or centrifugal thrust or movement,
      8. any straight-blade knife of four inches or more such as a dagger, dirk, knife or stiletto; except that an ordinary pocket knife or culinary knife designed for and used solely in the preparation or service of food shall not be construed to be a weapon for the purposes of this policy;
      9. any martial arts weapon such as nunchucks or throwing stars; or
      10. any longbow, crossbow and arrows or other projectile that could cause serious harm to any person.

      Students Attending Off Campus Locations

      Hutchinson Community College offers affiliated programs through courses, academic and vocational programs, internships, clinical placements, and other educational experiences at off campus locations.  Students who participate in any activity sponsored by the college at an off campus location are required to follow all rules and regulations of the host site, as well as abiding by college policies while engaged in the activity.  

      Students who violate regulations of the host site are subject to academic and/or behavioral discipline by the college.  Students who are dismissed from a site that houses a required portion of an academic or technical program are subject to dismissal from the program.  If an affiliated program dismisses a student, the college must have written approval from the site administrator before permitting the student's return to the site.

      LOCATING RESOURCES

      Behavioral Intervention Team Policy

      The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) at Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) exists to provide a structured, positive method for addressing student behaviors that impact the HutchCC community and may involve health and/or safety issues. The BIT strives to eliminate "fragmented care," to manage each case individually, and to initiate appropriate intervention without resorting to punitive measures.

      BIT Members

      BIT membership consists of the Coordinator of Advising, Career Development, and Counseling Services who will serve as the BIT Chair. In the Coordinator's absence, the Vice President of Student Services will serve as Chair. Other members of the BIT include the Vice President of Student Services, the Residence Halls Director, the Registrar, and the Designated Title IX Officer.

      Emergency Protocol

      In the event of an emergency, BIT members will be contacted by calling their office phone numbers and/or via text message through HutchCC's Emergency Alert System. This system can only be activated by the President of HutchCC or the President's designee.

      If the emergency is more appropriate for the Crisis Team, the Chair of the BIT will notify the Chair of the Crisis Team. At this point, the BIT will default to the Crisis Team to handle the emergency.

      If an emergency warrants immediate notification of the HutchCC Campus, the Chair of the BIT will, with the President of HutchCC's approval, contact ITS to activate the Emergency Alert System.

      Discipline

      After reviewing reports to the BIT, the team may take any of the following actions:

      • Continue to observe student behavior
      • Report concerns to appropriate parties (e.g. instructors)
      • Mandate counseling referral
      • Mandate agency referral
      • Coordinate with other agencies
      • Notify emergency contact (e.g. next of kin, parent, etc.)
      • Alert appropriate authorities (911)
      • Enact college emergency plan
      • Suspension

      If the BIT reasonably determines that a student's continued presence on campus poses a significant danger to either the student or to others or if there is reasonable cause to believe that an interim suspension is required to protect lives or property and to ensure the maintenance of order, the BIT may recommend to the President of HutchCC the student be temporarily suspended.

      Cell Phone Alert

      Both faculty and students can enroll to receive important emergency alerts via DragonZone.

      To enroll, log in to your DragonZone account. Click “My Profile” and then select “Notifications” from the “Profile Options” menu in the top right-hand corner of the “My Profile” window. Scroll down to the “ALERTS” section and click the + to expand each type of alert. Click to check the phone number you would like to use for alerts.

      To verify that you have successfully enrolled in alerts, click the “TEST ALERT” button. You should receive a text message that reads “(HUTCHCC ALERT!) This is a test of the HutchCC Emergency Alert System.”

      DragonZone

      DragonZone is the main web site and mobile app for credentialed access to information and services for all HutchCC users; including faculty, staff, and students. It is the main entry point of electronic information, automated systems, communication, and collaboration. HutchCC is currently in the middle of a migration process; moving HutchCC Web Services functionality to DragonZone for employees. Over time HutchCC Web Services will cease to exist.

      DragonZone Logo

      Accessible -- DragonZone is responsively designed and can be accessed on any device (computer, tablet, or smart phone) by browsing to http://dz.hutchcc.edu or by downloading the DragonZone app from the Google or Apple app stores.

      Integrated --It is anticipated that all HutchCC external information systems will be integrated within the DragonZone framework. For example, HutchCC’s learning management system LearningZone, integrates with, and is accessible through, DragonZone. In order to get into LearningZone, one must log into DragonZone. DragonZone contains a centralized message notification system called the “message center”, which notifies students when they have messages from HutchCC messaging systems. For example, students will be alerted to course messages sent by faculty through LearningZone via the DragonZone message center.

      Customizable-- DragonZone contains a “my links” feature which allows users to customize their home page to include the features and functions that are most applicable to their role at HutchCC.  As new features are added to DragonZone, they will become selectable as a “my link” option. Each DragonZone user can decide which links are most important to them.

      Student:

      Operational -- Although the migration from HutchCC Web Services to DragonZone is still in process for employees, DragonZone is completely operational for students. Through DragonZone, students can check their course schedule, order textbooks, receive their grades, view their transcript, check on degree progress, view their bill and set up payment plans, review their financial aid, download their 1098-T form, register a vehicle for parking, search an employee directory, take advantage of online library services, view and search for HutchCC events, and get involved in student clubs and organizations.

      Alerts -- HutchCC emergency alert system is integrated with DragonZone. When important alerts go out to the HutchCC community a red banner will appear at the top of DragonZone, viewable from all DragonZone pages.  In the future, DragonZone will contain the ability to alert users of important information applicable to them. For example, alerting students of things they must do to receive financial aid, or alerting employees that time cards are due.

      Role Based --DragonZone is a role based system that automatically adapts the features and information presented based upon the role of the person logged in. Current DragonZone roles include students, employees, and guardians. Other planned roles to come in the future include high school staff (for concurrent classes), employers (for job placement), and vendors (for purchasing and electronic payment).

       

      Information Technology Services

      The HutchCC Information Technology Services (ITS) department is responsible for the care and upkeep of college computing systems and infrastructure, including security of systems and data. ITS provides support to students, faculty, and administration.

      The ITS department is committed to efficient and effective operation of academic and administrative information systems while supporting the multiple infrastructure, hardware and software platforms owned by the institution.

      ITS has offices and support staff located in Lockman Hall, the Parker Student Union, and the McPherson and Newton outreach locations. The ITS leadership office is in Lockman Hall, suite 106. The ITS Helpdesk office is in Lockman Hall room 110.

      The HutchCC ITS Helpdesk can be reached via the Helpdesk page in DragonZone. Submit a help request or call (620) 665-3524 for urgent requests. Normal ITS Helpdesk operating hours during the fall and spring semesters are 7:30 am to 7:30 pm Monday – Thursday, and 7:30 am to 5:00 pm on Friday with extended hours at the beginning and end of each semester. The ITS Helpdesk is available during the summer Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

      IT Acceptable Use Policy: Each HutchCC employee is bound to follow the IT Acceptable Use Policy (Ref #1045). The policy can be found in DragonDocs.

      Electronic Communication Policy: Each HutchCC employee is bound to follow the Electronic Communication Policy (Ref #1055). The policy can be found in DragonDocs.

      Appendixes:

      Software Acquisition/Standardization Procedure (Ref #1056)

      Social Networking Policy (Ref #1057)

      ITS Helpdesk Service Level Agreement

      JFK Library Services

      Located in the lower level of Rimmer Learning Resources Center, John F. Kennedy Library provides research assistance and instructional services to students, faculty, and staff including interlibrary loan services, course related instruction, course reserves, and research and reference services. JFK Library’s primary role is to support the curricular needs of Hutchinson Community College programs. The library’s secondary role is to support the diverse interests of students and to provide professional resources for faculty and administrators. Community users are also welcome to enjoy the library.

      Access

      Library resources, including access to the online catalog and research databases, can be found on the Library Services page in DragonZone, located under Resources. Information can also be found on the library’s public website.

      Circulation, Interlibrary Loan, and Reserves

      To check out materials from the library, please bring a photo ID. Books may be checked out for three weeks and audiovisual materials may be checked out for 1 week. Faculty are allowed multiple renewals of items.

      Items not available through JFK Library may be requested through interlibrary loan. Please allow 5-7 days for physical materials (e.g. print books, DVDs, and CDs) and 2-3 days for electronic materials such as journal articles. Ebooks are generally not eligible for interlibrary loan due to publisher licensing.

      Reserve materials are items that instructors may set aside for only their students to use, such as extra copies of textbooks, readings, films shown in class, or lab materials. These items may be owned by the library or may be provided by the instructor. To place materials on reserve, please bring the item(s) to the circulation desk and include your name, the course number and name, and your desired checkout period: 2 hours, 1 day, or 1 week. Please allow library staff two days to process the items and place them on reserve. Direct students to go to the circulation desk to checkout reserve materials.

      Instruction Services

      Library staff is available to instruct students on access and use of the online catalog and research databases. Instruction can be tailored to specific classes and assignments and may also include finding and critically evaluating sources, developing search terms, and creating research strategies. Instructors may also reserve the library’s computer lab and work space for research work days and request staff to be on hand to assist students. Please schedule instruction sessions and work days as soon as possible.

      Faculty may request subject bibliographies and research guides that include materials available in JFK Library and relevant research databases. Due to staff availability, please allow 3-4 weeks for completion.

      Collection Development

      JFK Library staff encourages faculty to be involved in the selection and weeding of materials to keep our collection relevant and responsive to student needs and to support program requirements. Faculty may submit recommendations to staff and may also be asked to review items being considered for withdrawal.

      Additional Resources

      Library FAQ page in Help and Resources module in LearningZone

      Library Tutorial Videos

      JFK Library Facebook Page

      Mail Procedures

      Outgoing mail is processed twice daily.  Pick-up times are approximately 2:40 and 4:40 pm.  Please be sure your account number appears on all outgoing mail.  Mail may be left at the mailroom window.  If you need to do a bulk mailing, please check with the mailroom staff for procedure and cost.

      Maps/Site Addresses

      Information/maps on HutchCC’s Main Campus, McPherson, Newton, Building 12, Cosmetology, Davis Hall, Peel Center, Fire Science Center, StartUp Hutch, Sports Arena and South Campus can be found by accessing the following link:  https://www.hutchcc.edu/map

      Online Education

      The Online Education team (located in Lockman Hall Rm 113) provides students an opportunity to complete their degree by supporting flexible (anytime, anywhere) learning opportunities.  Currently online, hybrid and web-supported courses are available for students. Staff assists faculty in instructional design and the integration of technology into each course of study.

      Internet or online courses, which HutchCC began offering in 1998, allow busy students the most opportunity to schedule their time for learning. HutchCC now offers accredited Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees by distance learning. The full range of online courses appears in the Class Schedule, along with all other courses and is also available in DragonZone https://dz.hutchcc.edu/sections

      Course learning materials consist of online material, textbooks, and software as required by the academic department. Online classes are delivered using a course management system branded as LearningZone. An ongoing schedule of training opportunities in the latest instructional technology applications is available through Online Education. Staff are available for individualized training with departments and/or individuals.

      Instructional Design –Online Education provides a range of faculty services to aid with instructional technology in the face-to-face, online, hybrid, and web-supported classroom. Labs are devoted to faculty use, equipped with special software for various needs including Adobe Acrobat Professional, Camtasia, Dreamweaver, Photoshop and video and audio editing software. A site license for Respondus Test Creator is available for download and installation to all faculty and staff computers. The staff within Online Education may also assist with:

      • Development of online, web-supported and hybrid classes and learning materials
      • Group training throughout the year on use of new technology in teaching and learning
      • Meetings with individuals for one-on-one training and consulting
      • Assistance to instructors with computer applications for creating learning activities, alternative assessments, blogs, wikis, podcasts, multimedia presentations and other cutting edge techniques and methods for instruction

      PLEASE NOTE: Faculty should advise students who take online classes that they must have access to a high speed internet connection, access to a computer and basic computer skills.

      The Online Education Office can be found by accessing the following link: https://www.hutchcc.edu/online-education

      Special Events

      Dillon Lecture Series

      Information on the Dillon Lecture Series may be found by accessing: 

      http://www.hutchcc.edu/dillon-lecture-series

      Student-sponsored activities

      With more than 80 different organizations on campus, students can find something to be involved in and feel passionate about.  Through unlimited opportunities with volunteer organizations, clubs, social organizations and faith-based groups, students can practice leadership skills, and make life-long friends.  Information on student-sponsored activities may be found by accessing the following link:  http://www.hutchcc.edu/student-life/clubs-and-organizations

      Sporting Events

      Information on athletic activities may be found by accessing the following link: www.bluedragonsports.com

      Student Code of Conduct

      I. Student Code of Conduct

      When students enroll at Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC), they assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the College's mission and function as an educational institution. The Student Code of Conduct has been approved by the governing board of HutchCC and will apply on College property, any College sponsored or sanctioned activities, and any off-campus behavior which reflects on the mission of the College. Each student is expected to be fully acquainted with all published policies, rules, and regulations of the College. Students are also expected to comply with all federal, state, and local laws.

      For a student who is found to have committed an offense and who previously has been found in violation of the Hutchinson Community College Code of Conduct, the previous offense will be considered during the disciplinary process.

      The standard of evidence used to determine responsibility is a "preponderance" of evidence (i.e. is it more likely than not a violation has occurred). This determination is based on the greater weight of the evidence and does not require a standard beyond a reasonable doubt.

      Misconduct or prohibited behavior includes, but is not limited to:

      1. Alcoholic Beverages

           a. Use, possession, sale, delivery, manufacture, or distribution of alcoholic beverages.

           b. Storage of alcohol in any amount or possession of alcohol containers.

      2. Narcotics or Drugs

           a, Use, possession, sale, delivery, manufacture, and/or cultivation or distribution whether usable or not of any narcotic, drug, illicit drug, medicine prescribed to someone else, chemical compound, synthetic drug, or other controlled substances.

           b. Possession of drug-related paraphernalia.

           c. Possession of any item that may not in itself be an illegal drug but presented to be a drug and passed off as a drug.

           d.  Improper use of products for purposes of altering mood or state of being. This includes the misuse of legal products as inhalants.

      3. Flammable Materials/Arson

           a. Use or possession of flammable materials, including incendiary devices, and/or other dangerous materials or substances used to ignite, spread, or intensify flames for fire. Attempting to ignite and/or the action of igniting College facilities, and/or personal property either by intent or through reckless behavior which results in damage to College and/or student property.

      4. Firearms, Weapons and Explosives

           a. Violation of the Possession of Weapons policy (Policy Number 1134) and/or Concealed Carry policy (Policy Number 1552).

      5. Theft, Damage, or Unauthorized Use

           a. Attempted or actual theft of property or services of the College, other College students, other members of the College community, or campus visitors.

           b. Possession of property known to be stolen or belonging to another person without the owner’s permission.

           c. Unauthorized use of facility, equipment, lab or resource, including unauthorized use of communication systems.

           d. Attempted or actual damage to property owned or leased by the College, by College students, members of the College community, or campus visitors.

           e.  Attempted or actual unauthorized use of a credit card, debit card, student identification card, cell phone, personal identification number, test number, account information, and/or personal check.

           f. Misuse of, or attempted misuse of, or actual damage to, or defacing of property owned or leased by the College, by College students, members of the College community, or campus visitors.

           g. Tampering with security camera systems.

           h. Tampering with automated door systems

      6. Violation of the Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Policy and Procedure (Policy Number 1089)

                          Statement Regarding Sexual Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct 

      HutchCC neither tolerates nor condones any form of sexual discrimination - including, but not limited to rape, "date or acquaintance" rape, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, or sexual harassment. In accordance with federal and state regulations regarding sexual discrimination, the College has established an official policy and procedure which is both independent from the Student Code of Conduct and application to students, faculty, and staff, to investigate, and adjudicate such prohibited behavior. The Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Policy and Procedures (Policy Number 1089) is available in the College Catalog and in the Student Handbook.

      7. Actions against Members of the College Community Not Included in the Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Policy and Procedures (Policy Number 1089)

           a. Intentional or reckless conduct which endangers the health or safety of self or others.

           b. Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, stalking, and/or coercion.

           c. Behavior that disrupts the normal operation of the College, including its students, faculty and or staff.

           d. Deliberate constraint or incapacitation of another, without that person’s knowledge or consent.

           e. Excessive pressure, threats or any form of conduct, coercive tactics or unwanted mental coercion techniques used to retain or recruit a student for membership in an organization.

           f. Passive or covert behavior may also be regarded as quite disruptive. Examples of passive yet disruptive behaviors include students whose poor personal hygiene so seriously offends the sensibilities of roommates/classmates and instructors that the classroom becomes an academic/residential environment that is no longer tenable.

           g. Failure to register as a sex offender with the Coordinator of Equity and Compliance in accordance with college policy.

           h. Gambling, wagering, gaming, or bookmaking as defined by federal, state, and/or local laws is prohibited on College premises or while using College equipment or other services.

           i. Hazing (i.e. any intentional, knowing or reckless act directed against a student by one person acting alone or by more than one person, occurring on or off the premises, that endangers the mental and/or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging or associating with, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, seeking and/or maintaining membership in any organization whose membership consists of students). Consent and/or acquiescence by a student(s) subjected to hazing is not considered a reasonable defense in a disciplinary proceeding.

      8. Fire Safety, False Alarms, or Terroristic Threats

           a. Intentional sounding of a false fire alarm, falsely reporting an emergency or terroristic threat in any form, issuing a bomb threat, constructing mock explosive devices, destruction or activation of fire sprinklers, filing false police reports, improperly possessing, tampering with, or destroying fire equipment or emergency signs on College premises.

           b. Failure to evacuate the building immediately upon the sound of an alarm or to follow specific evacuation and safety procedures. Exceeding designated fire code capacity of a room/facility.

           c. Exceeding designated fire code capacity of a room/facility.

           d. Misusing or tampering with fire safety equipment (e.g. alarm pull stations, smoke detectors, or fire extinguishers), or removal of doors, door closures, exit signs, or emergency exits.

            e. Initiating, communicating, or circulating a false report of a present, past, or future bombing, fire, offense, or other emergency that would cause action by an agency services agency.

           f. Placing a person in fear of imminent, serious bodily injury.

           g. Preventing or interrupting the occupation of a building, room, vehicle, or other mode of transportation.

           h. Posting any statement on social media that could be considered a threat against the college community or an individual.

      9. Financial Irresponsibility

           a. Failure to meet financial obligations owed to the College, or components owned or operated by the College, including, but not limited to, the writing of checks from accounts with insufficient funds.

      10. Financial Transactions with the College

           a. A student who owes a debt or has an outstanding financial obligation to the College may be denied admission or readmission to the College, and have their official transcript, grades, diplomas, and degrees to which they otherwise would be entitled, withheld until the debt or obligation is paid or met.

           b. A student with a past due unpaid balance is considered to have a delinquent status. Delinquent accounts may be turned over to a collection agency, potentially affecting students’ personal credit ratings. Students with delinquent accounts are responsible for any charges associated with the collection of such delinquent accounts.

      11. Unauthorized Entry, Possession, or Use

           a. Unauthorized entry into or use of College premises or equipment.

           b. Unauthorized possession, use, duplication, production, or manufacture of any key or unlocking device, College Identification Card, or access code for use in College premises or equipment.

           c. Unauthorized use of the College name, logos, registered marks, and/or symbols of the College.

           d. Unauthorized use of the College’s name to advertise or promote events or activities in a manner that suggests sponsorship and/or recognition by the College.

           e. Accessing campus roofs or window ledges.

           f. Removing or damaging window screens in the Residence Halls.

      12. Violation of College Parking Services

           a. Violation of the Traffic Regulations policy (Policy Number 1200).

           b. Obstruction of the free flow of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic on College premises or at College-sponsored or College-supervised functions.

      13. Failure to Comply

           a. Failure to comply with the reasonable directives or requests of a College official acting in the performance of their duties.

           b. Failure to present student identification on request or identify oneself to any College official acting in the performance of their duties.

           c.  Failure to comply with the reasonable directives of an institutional official (e.g., resident assistants and security personnel) acting in the performance of their duties (includes loitering upon College property after being warned to leave by a person in charge).

           d. Violation of College regulations and policies, including residential life policies, housing contracts, or motor vehicle regulations.

            e. Obstruction of an investigation being conducted by the College administration/security/police and/or other law enforcement officers while conducting official business on Campus by a student/visitor.

      14. Violation of the Anti-Tobacco/Smoking Policy (Policy Number 1063).

      15. Providing False Information or Misuse of Records

           a. Knowingly furnishing false information to the College, or to a College official in the performance of their duties, either verbally or through forgery or alteration.

           b. Failure to provide requested information to the College or to a College official in the performance or their duties

           c. Misuse, alteration, forgery, or misrepresentation of any College Document, form, records, or instrument of identification.

           d. Possession or use of any form or false identification.

           e. Failure to report felonies on an application for admission or housing application, if requested.

      16. Ball Playing, Skateboards, Rollerblades, Scooters, Bicycles, or Similar Devices

           a. Ball playing, the use of skateboards, rollerblades, hover boards, scooters, bicycles, or other similar devices in College buildings or on College premises in such a manner as to constitute a safety hazard or cause damage to College or personal property.

      17. Violation of Federal, State, and/or Local Law

           a. Misconduct which constitutes a violation of any provisions of federal, state, and/or local laws.

      18. Violation of Published College Policies, Rules, or Regulations

           a. Violation of any published College policies, rules, or regulations that govern student or student organization behavior.

           b. Violating a published College policy governing residence life or breaching a Housing and Residential Life contract.

      19. Abuse of the Discipline System

           a. Failure of a student to comply with or respond to a notification to appear, during any stage of an investigation or disciplinary proceeding. Failure to appear will not prevent the designated disciplinary officer from proceeding with an investigation of disciplinary action.

           b. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information in disciplinary proceedings.

           c. Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a disciplinary proceeding.

           d. Filing an allegation known to be without merit or cause.

           e. Discouraging or attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in or use of the disciplinary system.

           f. Influencing or attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a disciplinary body prior to and/or during the disciplinary proceeding.

           g. Harm, threat of harm, or intimidation, either verbally, physically, or written, of a member of a disciplinary body prior to, during, and/or after disciplinary proceedings.

           h. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the discipline system.

           i. Aiding, abetting, conspiring, or being an accessory to any act prohibited by this code is to be considered the same as a violation.

           j. Retaliation against any person or group who files grievances or provides evidence, testimony, or allegations in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

           k. Failure to comply with the sanctions, conditions, and/or restrictions imposed under the Student Code of Conduct by a designated disciplinary officer or College official.

           l. Failure to maintain a current legal mailing address in the DragonZone or giving a false or fictitious address to an institutional representative.

      20. Guests

           a, Students may be responsible for the behavior or guests, including any violations of the Student Code of Conduct (e.g., guests bring alcohol onto campus).

           b. Persons visiting who have been evicted and/or advised of criminal trespass from the residence halls/campus for any reason following eviction/trespassing.

      21. Possession of a Pet on Campus

           a. Other than a service/emotional support animal, pets are not allowed in campus housing without prior approval from the Director of Residence Life.

           b. Other than service animals, pets are not allowed in campus buildings without prior approval from the Vice President of Student Services.

      22. Entry without Permission

           a. Entering any private room, locked building, or common area without following security procedures or obtaining appropriate permission is prohibited.

      23. Complicity

           a, Attempting, aiding, abetting, conspiring, hiring, or being an accessory to any act prohibited by the Student Code of Conduct shall be considered to the same extent as completed violations.

      24. Disorderly Conduct/Breach of Peace

           a. Engaging in conduct on College premises or at College-sanctioned events, which a reasonable person would believe to be violent, abusive, indecent, obscene, profane, unreasonably loud, or disorderly, and which has a tendency to disturb the peace.

           b. Engaging in conduct on College premises or at College-sanctioned events which a reasonable person would believe to be maliciously disturbing, threatening, or insolent, and which has the tendency to cause a disturbance of the peace.

           c. Engaging in conduct that aids and abets another in a disturbance of the peace to the College or to a College-sanctioned event.

      25. Ethical or Professional code violation

           a. Violation of licensure board rules and regulations, state and federal laws, and/or other applicable regulatory or privileges issues: as defined by the student’s program or professional association or licensure board, as may be applicable to the student(s), or applicable laws and regulations.

      26. Photographing, Recording, or Spying

           a. Secretly viewing, with or without a device, another person without that person’s consent in any location where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, or in a manner that violates a reasonable expectation of privacy. This does not apply to lawful security or surveillance filming or recording that is authorized by law enforcement or the College.

      27. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

           a. The use of any unmanned aerial vehicle (i.e. drones) is prohibited on campus. Students seeking exemptions for the use of such devices in teaching or research may apply to the Vice President of Student Services.

       

      II. Campus Disorder or Unrest

      The following policies will be followed in case of campus disorders or student unrest or in the event any building or portion thereof is seized or occupied unlawfully.

      The College President (or in the President's absence, the President's designee) will be notified immediately of any such activity. No other action shall be taken on behalf of the College until such notification has been made. Only the President (or in the President's absence, the President's designee) is authorized to call for assistance from law enforcement officials.

      No conference will be held between any College official and the parties involved in such activities so long as any violence is taking place on the campus or while any building or portion thereof is being occupied by such parties, or while such parties bar other persons from such building, or portion thereof, thereby preventing the orderly conduct of school activities.

      The College reserves the right to pursue civil, criminal, and college disciplinary remedies against any person involved in such activity.

       

      III. Emergency Suspension (Danger to Self or Others)

      The College President or the President's designee may immediately suspend a student in the event that it is reasonably determined that a student's continued presence on campus poses a significant danger to either the student or to others or if there is reasonable cause to believe that such an interim suspension is required to protect lives or property and to ensure the maintenance of order.

       

      IV. Additional Campus Disciplinary Action

      If a crime is committed on campus (including but not limited to murder, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, or motor vehicle theft), the occurrence shall be reported to the proper authorities by calling 911 and should also be reported to Campus Safety (620-665-3379). Campus staff will consult with police agencies and any other applicable College official investigating the case, when appropriate, and will assist the victim as necessary in accordance with College policy and federal and state laws and regulations.

       

      V. Disclosure of Disciplinary Information

      1. Upon written request, the College will disclose to the alleged victim of a violent act or a sexual assault, the result of any disciplinary hearing conducted by the College. In the event that the alleged victim is deceased, the College will disclose the results of any hearing conducted to the student's next of kin upon written request.
      2. In the event that a disciplinary investigation or action yields information upon which the College reasonably concludes that a crime may be committed or that an individual represents a danger to the individual or to others, the College may disclose information to appropriate parties without the student’s consent.

      Teaching & Learning Resource Center

      Located in Lockman Hall 101, the Teaching and Learning Resource Center houses books, articles/activities, newsletters, and other resources to improve and enhance teaching and learning. All materials are available to check out. A listing of resources is available in the LearningZone Virtual Faculty Lounge.

      Timely Warnings, Emergency Notifications, & Campus Alerts Procedure - Office of Equity & Compliance

      Purpose:

      Hutchinson Community College is committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and positive environment for all campus community members. In the event of a substantiated serious safety concern, the College has established procedures to provide prompt notification of a confirmed situation impacting the campus community and to provide instructions for responsive action when needed. These procedures, in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (The Clery Act), provide guidance for issuing Timely Warnings, Emergency Notifications, and Campus Alerts using the HutchCC Emergency Alert System (EAS). They are integrated into the HutchCC Campus Emergency Plan Handbook and apply only to the HutchCC EAS.

      The College may use additional communication methods as part of a broader incident response strategy, when appropriate, such as postings on social media, contacting the local media for immediate distribution, printing and posting notifications in relevant campus locations, and/or use of pre-recorded messages on the College’s telephone answering system.

      Anyone with information regarding criminal activity or a safety-related incident that may warrant a Timely Warning, Emergency Notification, or Campus Alert should immediately report the circumstances to the HutchCC Campus Security at (620) 665-3379.

      The College has communicated with local law enforcement, asking them to notify the College if it receives reports or information warranting such messages.

      Definitions:

      HutchCC EAS:

      The HutchCC EAS is an institution-wide, multi-modal communication network (e.g., e-mail, text, web-alerts, audio messages). The use of the HutchCC EAS provides for rapid dissemination of time-sensitive information to enhance the safety and security of the campus community during an emergency and to relay timely information to community members.


      All College employees and students may opt into the text messages segment of the HutchCC EAS system through their DragonZone account, the official information management portal of the College. Students and employees are encouraged to update their contact information through DragonZone. The Information Technology Services Department (ITS), in coordination with designated members of the HutchCC Crisis Management Team, has overall management responsibility for the HutchCC EAS.


      Emergency Notification (Clery Act Requirement):

      An alert issued to the campus community triggered by an event that is currently occurring or imminently threatening.

      HutchCC will initiate Emergency Notification procedures for any significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on campus that represents an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees. Possible examples of incidents which could trigger an Emergency Notification include, but are not limited to:

      • building fire or an approaching forest fire
      • approaching tornado or other extreme weather
      • armed intruder
      • bomb threat
      • outbreak of meningitis, norovirus, or other serious illness
      • gas leak
      • terrorist incident
      • explosion
      • civil unrest or rioting
      • nearby chemical or hazardous waste spill

      Timely Warning (Clery Act Requirement):

      An alert issued to the campus community triggered by Clery Act crimes that have already occurred but represent an ongoing threat.

      The College will initiate Timely Warning procedures when the following criteria have been met:

      1. when a crime is reported to Campus Security, a Campus Security Authority (CSA), or law enforcement authority;
      2. the crime was committed or believed to have been committed on the College’s Clery Act geography (on campus property, public property immediately adjacent to campus property, or on non-campus property controlled or owned by the College);
      3. the crime is a designated Clery Act crime (see below); and
      4. the crime is considered by College officials to represent a serious or continuing threat to students and employees.

      Clery Act crimes are:

      • murder/non-negligent manslaughter
      • negligent manslaughter
      • sexual assault (sex offenses--rape, fondling, incest, statutory rape)
      • robbery
      • aggravated assault
      • burglary
      • motor vehicle theft
      • arson
      • hate crimes (a criminal offense that manifests evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s bias against the victim due to their actual or perceived race, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, or disability) for the above offenses, as well as for:
        • larceny-theft
        • simple assault
        • intimidation
        • destruction, damage, or vandalism to property
      • Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) offenses (dating violence, domestic violence, stalking)
      • arrests and referrals for disciplinary action for the following violations of law (drug abuse, liquor law, weapons law--carrying, possession, etc.)    

      Timely Warnings are only issued in response to reported occurrences of crimes specified in the Clery Act. Other dangers that pose a serious or continuing threat to the campus community, such as a kidnapping on campus or patterns of larcenies or vandalism, may be instead addressed through a Public Safety Alert. All Timely Warnings and Campus Alerts will be determined and issued on a case-by-case basis.

      Campus Alert—Public Safety (Informational Notification):

      A notification issued to the campus community that does not meet the criteria for either an Emergency Notification or Timely Warning, but may be of significant safety interest to the campus community.

      The College may elect to broadcast a Public Safety Alert for incidents that include, but are not limited to:

      • crimes occurring off campus that may have an impact on student or employee security interests
      • violent crimes in which the perpetrator or suspect has been apprehended or is known not to be on campus
      • situations that may generate significant interest across the campus community
      • information which may aid the prevention of similar crimes
      • requests seeking information which may aid in the investigation of a crime

      Campus Alert—Adverse Weather (Informational Notification):

      A notification issued to the campus community when projected or existing severe or adverse weather conditions may impact College operations requiring delays or cancellation of classes or events and/or the closure of a College facility, site, or campus (see Cancellations and Closings, Policy 1039).

      Procedures

      Emergency Notification:

      In compliance with the Clery Act, Emergency Notifications will be broadcast when the College receives a confirmed report from a cognizant authority (i.e., a law enforcement authority, campus security official, or CSA), that a significant emergency or a dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students, employees, or visitors is occurring on campus.

      The College President or designee will, without delay and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and broadcast the notification, unless issuing a notification will, in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond, or otherwise mitigate the emergency. Emergency Notifications will include a description of the emergency and instructions to the campus community for taking protective action. When the threat no longer exists, an “all clear” alert will be broadcast. If an Emergency Notification is issued, there is no need to issue a Timely Warning.

      The College President or designee has the authority to broadcast Emergency Notifications to the College community using the HutchCC EAS. When appropriate, Emergency Notifications may also be broadcast through other communication methods (e.g., web pages, press releases, printed and/or social media).

      After an Emergency Notification has been issued, the College President or designee will consider whether a follow-up notification needs to be communicated to the campus community about the situation. If it is determined that a follow-up notification is necessary, it will be made in the manner described above.

      Timely Warning:

      In compliance with the Clery Act, Timely Warnings will be broadcast when a report of a Clery Act crime is received by a CSA, Campus Security, or law enforcement and, in the judgment of the institution, the crime at issue poses a serious or continuing threat to the campus community. The intent of a Timely Warning is to enable people to protect themselves and/or their property. Timely Warnings will be issued without delay, taking into account the safety of the community, as soon as pertinent information is available.

      The College President or designee will determine the content and broadcast the Timely Warnings using the HutchCC EAS in a manner that is “timely” and will aid in the prevention of similar crimes, unless issuing a warning will, in the professional judgment of response authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the threat.

      The decision whether or not to issue a Timely Warning will be decided by the College President or designee on a case-by-case basis in light of all available facts surrounding the reported crime. The factors used when analyzing whether a reported crime presents a serious or continuing threat to the campus community include, but are not limited to:

      • How much time has passed between the incident and the report?
      • Has the perpetrator been apprehended?
      • Were there multiple perpetrators working together?
      • Was the incident violent in nature?
      • Were date rape rugs or other substances used to facilitate the crime?
      • Was a weapon used during the commission of the crime?
      • Does the incident appear to be an isolated incident with specifically targeted victims(s)?
      • Is there a pattern of similar incidents? (e.g., the same or similar crimes occurring in a short period of time; a particular group being targeted on multiple occasions; etc.)
      • Are there other aggravating circumstances or predatory behaviors at issue suggesting that a threat/ongoing danger exists?
      • Are there enough details available to determine whether a threat/ongoing danger exists?

      Generally, the Timely Warning will specify the type of reported crime, the time and location that the reported crime occurred, a clear description of what occurred, and information to the campus community regarding the steps to take to protect oneself and avoid becoming a victim. The College does not identify the victim, by name or identifying information, in a Timely Warning. A description of a subject in a criminal incident will only be included if there is a sufficient amount of detail to describe the individual. If the only known descriptors are sex and race, those descriptors would not be included in the Timely Warning.

      The College will not issue a Timely Warning Notice if the subject has been apprehended and the threat of imminent danger to the campus community has thus been mitigated. Further, a Timely Warning may not be issued if the report was not filed with Campus Security, a CSA, or local law enforcement in a manner that would allow the issuance of a “timely” notice to the campus community.

      The College President or designee has the authority to broadcast Timely Warnings to the College community using the HutchCC EAS. When appropriate, Timely Warnings may also be broadcast through other communication methods (e.g., web pages, press releases, printed and/or social media).

      After a Timely Warning has been issued, the College President or designee will consider whether a follow-up warning needs to be communicated to the campus community about the situation. If it is determined that a follow-up warning is necessary, it will be made in the manner described above.

      Campus Alert—Public Safety (Informational Notification):

      Public Safety Alerts will be broadcast when a reported crime or emergency does not meet the criteria for other alerts, but, in the judgment of the College President or designee the campus community should be notified about an incident. The decision whether or not to issue a Public Safety Alert will be decided on a case-by-case basis in light of all available facts surrounding the reported situation.

      Public Safety Alerts provide information about the incident and safety tips so that community members can take steps to protect themselves or their property and to aid in the prevention of similar crimes. The College President or designee will determine the content and broadcast the Public Safety Alert using the HutchCC EAS. Additional Public Safety Alerts may be produced to provide updated information or to announce the arrest or identification of a suspect or the resolution of an incident. The College does not identify the victim, by name or identifying information, in a Public Safety Alert.

      The College President or designee has the authority to broadcast Public Safety Alerts (Informational Notification) to the College community using the HutchCC EAS. When appropriate, Public Safety Alerts may also be broadcast through other communication methods (e.g., web pages, press releases, printed and/or social media).

      After a Public Safety Alert has been issued, the College President or designee will consider whether a follow-up alert needs to be communicated to the campus community about the situation. If it is determined that a follow-up alert is necessary, it will be made in the manner described above.

      Campus Alert—Adverse Weather (Informational Notification):

      Adverse Weather Alerts will be broadcast when significant severe weather conditions exist that may have an impact on College operations and when the College President or designee makes a decision to close or delay opening a College facility. The Coordinator of Campus Safety monitors weather conditions and makes recommendations to the College President or designee for taking appropriate actions in the event of a weather related emergency (see Cancellations and Closings, Policy 1039). The College President or designee has the authority to close or delay opening a College facility. When a designee makes a decision to close or delay opening a College facility, they will notify the President’s Office and the Campus Security Office.

      The College President or designee has the authority to broadcast an Adverse Weather Alert (Informational Notification) and to notify the College community of approved closures or delays using the HutchCC EAS. When appropriate, Adverse Weather Alerts may also be broadcast through other communication methods (e.g., web pages, press releases, printed and/or social media).

      After an Adverse Weather Alert has been issued, the College President or designee will consider whether a follow-up alert needs to be communicated to the campus community about the situation. If it is determined that a follow-up alert is necessary, it will be made in the manner described above.

      HutchCC EAS Testing:

      The Chief Information Officer or designee will test the HutchCC EAS on an annual basis. Test messages may be broadcast using a single mode or may combine multiple modes of the system. Test messages will clearly state that there is no actual threat or emergency and that the purpose of the notification is to test the system and/or response plans and capabilities. To the extent possible, system tests will be combined with emergency response drills and may include follow-up assessment and review.

      Contact Information:

      If you have any questions regarding Timely Warnings, Emergency Notifications, or Campus Alerts please contact:


      Coordinator of Equity & Compliance
      1300 N. Plum
      Hutchinson, KS 67501
      Phone: (620) 728-8163
      Email:
      equity@hutchcc.edu


      Coordinator of Campus Safety
      1300 N. Plum
      Hutchinson, KS 67501
      Phone: (620) 665-3379
      Email:
      safety@hutchcc.edu

       

      Director of Marketing & Public Relations
      1300 N. Plum
      Hutchinson, KS 67501
      Email:  marketing@hutchcc.edu

       

      CONTACTING SITES/DEPARTMENTS

      Campus Safety Information and Crime Reporting Procedures

      I. Introduction

      At Hutchinson Community College, campus safety and security is a shared responsibility. All campus community members and visitors should be situationally aware of their surroundings. Being alert to one’s surroundings and using reason and caution daily activities, while on campus property, provides a degree of personal protection from crime.

      HutchCC Campus Security personnel work with students and employees to make the campus as safe a place as possible for the entire campus community.

      Campus Security Personnel are available 24 hours a day during the school year by calling (620) 665-3379 or 3379 from a HutchCC telephone.

      Questions about campus safety and security should be addressed to the Campus Security Office, located in the Office Technologies Building on Main Campus, at (620) 665-3379 or by email at safety@hutchcc.edu. Office hours are 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. The Campus Security Office is closed during recognized Holidays.

      II. Enforcement Activity of Campus Security Personnel

      The security philosophy of HutchCC is to provide assistance, observation, and support. Campus Security personnel do not carry firearms and are not sworn law enforcement officials, and, as such, do not possess the authority to make arrests.

      The Campus Security Office, which provides security-related patrols and services at all Main Campus buildings and properties, maintains a highly professional working relationship with state and local law enforcement agencies with jurisdictional authority at all HutchCC locations. Campus Security personnel work closely with members of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies without the use of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). These working relationships are maintained through periodic communications among agency administrators and frequent contacts between line officers and investigators cooperating on specific cases.

      Campus Security does not provide regular patrols or services at HutchCC-Fort Riley, HutchCC-McPherson, HuchCC-Newton, HutchCC-South, or any other HutchCC owned, operated, or controlled property not affiliated with Main Campus.

      III. Reporting Crimes and Other Emergencies

      Main Campus – Any emergency, criminal action, or suspected criminal activity observed on or near Main Campus should be immediately reported to local law enforcement by dialing 911 and then to Campus Security (620) 665-3379.

      HutchCC-Fort Riley – Any emergency, criminal action, or suspected criminal activity observed on or near the HutchCC-Fort Riley location should be immediately reported to local law enforcement by dialing 911 or by contacting the 97th Military Police Battalion (785) 239-2117.

      HutchCC-McPherson – Any emergency, criminal action, or suspected criminal activity observed on or near the HutchCC-McPherson location should be immediately reported to local law enforcement by dialing 911.

      HutchCC-Newton – Any emergency, criminal action, or suspected criminal activity observed on or near the HutchCC-Newton location should be immediately reported to local law enforcement by dialing 911.

      HutchCC-South – Any emergency, criminal action, or suspected criminal activity observed on or near the HutchCC-South location should be immediately reported to local law enforcement by dialing 911.

      Any off-campus emergency, criminal action, or suspected criminal activity that is observed should be immediately reported to local law enforcement by dialing 911.

      The College does not regularly monitor or record, through local law enforcement agencies, criminal activity of students engaged at off-campus locations, nor does the College officially recognize any student organizations with off-campus housing facilities.

      IV. Voluntary Confidential Crime Reporting

      Persons desiring to voluntarily and confidentially report a crime to the College—including Campus Security—may do so through the HutchCC online reporting portal, called TIPS. The TIPS reporting portal is intended for non-emergency reporting situations. It may be accessed via the TIPS button or icon, located in the footer of the College public homepage, on the “Campus Safety & Compliance” webpage, or through a related URL disseminated to students and employees each semester via the Announcements tab of DragonZone. Additionally, the TIPS platform may be accessed directly here.

      Individuals may also choose to file a confidential tip or report of a crime directly to law enforcement through both the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s tip line, 1-800-KS-Crime (57-27463), and the related KBI reporting website.

      V. Prompt and Accurate Reporting of All Crimes

      HutchCC supports a violence-free campus. Prevention, deterrence, and response to violence are of the utmost importance. Campus Security personnel encourage the prompt reporting of all crimes and suspicious activities. Such reporting of crimes is promoted through various printed and online safety-related materials provided to students and employees and through targeted trainings.

      If a crime victim does not wish to report to law enforcement authorities, however, a report may be made to Campus Security (620) 665-3379 or a Campus Security Authority (CSA). A CSA is any official with a significant responsibility for student and campus activity, a campus security officer, or individuals who are responsible for campus security or have been designated to receive crime reports.

      Crime victims also maintain the right to decline to report an incident to law enforcement if or when such an offer to do so is made by Campus Security personnel or a CSA. Each person identified by the College as a CSA should submit reportable offenses to Campus Security as they occur throughout the year.

      CSAs play an integral role in the reporting process aimed at supporting victims and protecting the overall campus community. CSAs are not responsible for determining if a crime took place, convincing the victim to contact law enforcement, investigating the alleged crime, or finding and/or arresting the perpetrator.

      In addition to Campus Security personnel, CSAs include the following College officials:

      • College President
      • All Vice Presidents
      • Chief Information Officer
      • Coordinator of Equity & Compliance (aka Title IX Coordinator)
      • All Directors
      • All Coordinators
      • All Department Chairpersons
      • All Academic Advisors
      • All Residence Life Staff, including Resident Assistants (RAs)
      • All Coaches
      • All Employee Advisors to Student Clubs or Organizations
      • Members of the Board of Trustees

      The list of CSAs is subject to modification and is not intended to be all inclusive, due to changes in responsibilities within the College and varying job titles across campuses.

      Although exempt from the reporting requirements, HutchCC professional licensed mental health counselors—whose primary responsibility is to provide care to students—are encouraged, but are not required, to discuss options with their clients for reporting crimes on a voluntary, confidential basis for inclusion in the College’s annual disclosure of crime statistics.

      An individual who desires to confidentially report a crime without such information being shared to local law enforcement, Campus Security, or a CSA may speak voluntarily with one of the HutchCC menthal health counselors. Counselors, who have legally protected confidentiality, are available for counseling and assistance during regular business hours in the Student Success Center (620) 665-3377 on Main Campus, as well as during regular business hours at the HutchCC-McPherson location (620) 245-0202 and the HutchCC-Newton location (316) 283-7000. Such services are also available on an “as arranged” basis at HutchCC-Fort Riley, through coordination with the Student Success Center’s Coordinator of Guidance & Counseling. Although counseling services are not available at HutchCC-South, students may access such services through Main Campus.

      Information shared with HutchCC mental health counselors will remain confidential and will not be shared without expressed, written permission of the individual seeking services.

      VI. Disclosure of Disposition to a Crime Victim

      When a student or employee reports to the College that they have been a victim of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking in the College’s programs and activities, whether the offense occurred on or off campus, the College will provide the student or employee a written explanation of their rights and options for resolving the allegations via the HutchCC “Guide on Sexual Misconduct: Campus Policies & Procedures, Victim Services, and Resources.” The document, which is separate and distinct from the College’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, details reporting and response information and both links to and summarizes the institution’s related disciplinary procedures. In addition to regular, campus-wide distribution, this document is also provided on an individual basis to any person who reports an incident of sexual misconduct to HutchCC. It is also made publicly available through the HutchCC Campus Safety and Compliance webpage. Similar content is further provided to both students and employees in the resources tabs contained within their respective online prevention education training programs.

      Under the HutchCC Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Policy and Procedures (Policy 1089), the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance will notify the reporting party and the Responding party simultaneously in writing of the investigation and formal resolution outcome regarding incidents of discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, gender-based violence, or the crimes of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, or domestic violence.

      Additionally, the College will, as per the Disciplinary Proceedings Student Code of Conduct (Policy 1047), disclose to the alleged victim of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, the report on the results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by the College against a student who is the alleged perpetrator of such a crime or offense. In circumstances in which the victim is deceased, the College will notify the individual’s emergency contact and/or next of kin of the outcome.

      VII. Current Policies for Securing and Restricting Access

      General Access

      Most non-residential campus facilities located on Main Campus are open to the public during regular, publicly posted hours of operation. Typically, such hours are from 7:00am to 10:00pm. If the hours of a facility differ from normal operating hours, a sign posted at the main entrance of the facility indicates the hours of access. Facilities staff members regularly lock exterior building doors after evening classes and activities have concluded. On weekdays, facilities staff unlock Main Campus exterior building doors and typically assist specific academic departments by unlocking designated classrooms. Similarly, for scheduled weekend events and activities on Main Campus, facilities staff unlock the specific exterior building doors and relevant classrooms and then lock them once such events and activities have concluded.

      HutchCC-Fort Riley offices and classrooms are not generally open to the public, as the facility is located within the Fort Riley military installation and is thus secured and patrolled by military police personnel separate and independent from the College.

      The HutchCC-McPherson and HutchCC-Newton locations are open to the public during regular, publicly posted hours of operation. Typically, such hours are 8:00am to 9:00pm Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm on Friday, and from 8:30am to 1:00pm on selected Saturdays. Designated staff members at these locations are responsible for both locking and unlocking exterior building doors in preparation for and upon conclusion of normal hours.

      The HutchCC-South facilities are not generally open to the public and are instead intended for use only by the students and employees of the specific programs operating from that location or upon special arrangement. Designated staff members from those specific programs are responsible for both locking and unlocking exterior doors of their respective building(s).

      The HutchCC Community Services and Use of College Facilities Policy (Policy 1186) outlines the College’s commitment to life-long learning and the HutchCC Board of Trustees’ belief that the resources and facilities of the College should be made available to all citizens of the community. The Board recognizes, however, that its first priority must be the educational program for college students and, as such, that the institution has first priority in use. Under this policy, and the related Use of College Facilities and Property (Policy 1137), the College President develops the administrative procedures that enhance, encourage, and coordinate community use of facilities with regular use.

      The HutchCC Facilities Use Procedure details the processes by which the College facilities and classrooms may be reserved and utilized by outside entities. The same document also describes the general administrative regulations, standards, emergency procedures, fee structure, and reservation request forms for such use. Those persons or groups utilizing College facilities may be required to contact Campus Security for security needs.

      Further guidance regarding the specific rental and use of the Hutchinson Sports Arena is provided by the HutchCC Hutchinson Sports Arena Rental Procedure.

      The HutchCC Requesting Keys Policy (Policy 1631) explains how College keys are issued and the necessary procedures to be followed if a key is lost or stolen. Official records regarding key creation, assignment, and management is maintained by the Facilities Office through a designated, internal website.

      Residence Hall Access

      As further detailed in the Residence Life Handbook, access to HutchCC residence halls is restricted. Residence halls are equipped with an electronic door system that automatically locks and unlocks the doors at specific times. To gain authorized access into the residence halls, individuals must swipe their security card (HutchCC Student Identification Card) in the designated card reader. Student identification cards only provide access into the residence hall in which a student resides.

      The College residence halls are open to authorized visitors of the opposite gender during the designated times listed below:

      • Monday through Thursday: daily from 11:00am until 11:59pm
      • Friday through Sunday: 11:00am (Friday) until 11:59pm (Sunday)

      Guests of the same gender may visit the residence halls at any time; however, guests are asked to limit their stay to no more than two (2) consecutive nights. Guests who are not immediate family members must be at least 18 years of age in order to be admitted to the residence halls. High school students who are not immediate family members are not permitted to enter the residence halls unless accompanied by a HutchCC staff member.

      Parking and Athletic Facilities Access

      College controlled parking facilities on or adjacent to Main Campus are restricted to vehicles with valid parking permits and are patrolled on a regular basis by Campus Security personnel.

      College controlled athletic facilities and events are restricted to paying customers, students with current student identification cards, and employees with an All Sports Ticket. Access during athletic events is controlled and security is provided as needed and required.

      Any unauthorized person(s) found using HutchCC property and/or equipment or behaving in a manner that is not conducive to the maintenance of a proper educational environment will be asked to leave the campus at once. If there is a repeat offense or if such a person(s) refuses the request, local law enforcement officers may be called to campus to issue a trespassing citation.

      VIII. Current Policies for Publicizing Security Efforts

      The Coordinator of Campus Safety offers information on campus safety and campus crime prevention. A standing subcommittee — the HutchCC Safety and Security Subcommittee — makes recommendations for improving campus safety and preventing campus crime. This committee (consisting of both students and employees) seeks college-wide involvement in its activities. The Coordinator of Campus Safety is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the HutchCC security efforts. This person reports to and receives directions from the Director of Facilities, who in turn receives recommendations from the HutchCC Safety and Security Subcommittee.

      Programs to Inform Employees and Students About Campus Security

      The HutchCC Facilities Office, Campus Security Office, Office of Equity & Compliance, Office of Human Resources, and other offices conduct training and orientation sessions for students and employees on an ad hoc basis, along with periodic awareness events, and public service announcements. Students are provided safety information on an annual basis as part of the HutchCC Student Handbook. Residence Life staff members provide personal safety and residence hall safety information to residents, when necessary, as part of regular floor meetings.

      The HutchCC Student Success Center, the Student Services Office, and the Office of Equity & Compliance provide numerous harm-reduction presentations and educational materials throughout the year for the college community. Presentation topics include alcohol and drug abuse, hazing, sexual misconduct, relationship violence, and stalking.

      A common theme found in HutchCC safety awareness content is that all college community members are responsible for their own security and the security of others.

      In addition to periodic safety and awareness trainings, safety information is shared regularly to the HutchCC community through brochures, the public website, intranet, and emails, and public service announcements. The HutchCC “Campus Safety and Compliance” webpage provides access to the College’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, policies, procedures, contact information, and general safety tips.

       

      IX. Protecting Yourself From Campus Crime

      The following information presents ideas and instructions that can aid in preventing possible criminal activity and assault:

      Important Contact Information

      • Remember, you may always call 911
      • Know the emergency phone number for Campus Safety, (620) 665-3379, and program it into your personal phone
      • Ensure that you have subscribed to the HutchCC Emergency Alert System (EAS) through your DragonZone account profile

      General Campus Safety Tips

      • Familiarize yourself with the layout of the campus
      • Stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you; avoid walking while using electronic devices, as they may distract from nearby activity
      • Keep your phone charged
      • Plan the safest route to your destination; choose well-lighted pathways and sidewalks
      • Share your course schedule with family and/or trusted friends and provide them your phone number
      • At night, stick to well-lighted areas whenever possible and avoid alleyways or short-cuts through isolated areas
      • Travel in groups and, when possible, avoid going out alone at night
      • Tell a friend or roommate where you are going and what time you expect to return
      • Carry your purse close to your body and keep a firm grip on it; carry your wallet in an inside coat pocket or your front pant pocket
      • Use a backpack for books or carry them in a bag that can be dropped or thrown if necessary
      • Keep your keys separate from your purse or backpack
      • Never loan keys to others
      • When suspicious of being followed, walk or run to an occupied building or area where people are present; be prepared to call Campus Safety or local law enforcement or to yell or scream if necessary
      • See something … Say Something! If you observe something that look suspicious, contact Campus Safety and explain the situation; if unsure whether it is suspicious, but it doesn’t “feel right,” then it is probably is suspicious. Trust your instincts!

      Residence Hall Safety Tips

      • Always lock your door, even when you’re sleeping or just going down the hall
      • Do not allow strangers to enter your room or building
      • Do not open your door unless you can identify the person seeking entry
      • Do not prop any exterior door open to allow unescorted visitors into the residence hall
      • Report lost or stolen room keys immediately to the residence life staff
      • Report any malfunctioning locks, doors, or windows to residence life staff
      • Tell a roommate or friend if you are planning to be away overnight or for a few days
      • Utilize your individual room safe to secure valuables
      • Do not leave your identification, keys, wallets, checkbook, debit/credit card(s), or other valuables in open view
      • Get to know your Residence Assistant (RA), residence life staff, and neighbors

      Office Safety Tips

      • Regularly review important locations (e.g. emergency exits, fire extinguishers, AED devices, severe weather shelters)
      • Be prepared to contact Campus Safety in the event a customer, student, or visitor becomes angry or violent. Ensure your desk phone or cell phone is programmed with the Campus Safety number. Contact local law enforcement if the incident escalates or presents danger to your life or that of another person.

      Motor Vehicle Safety Tips

      • Keep your vehicle locked at all times
      • Keep all items out of sight, especially valuables
      • Park in well-lighted areas

      X. Campus Crime Statistics and Annual Security Report

      In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the College publishes its Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASR) on or before October 1 for the preceding calendar year. The Office of Equity & Compliance, the Campus Security Office, and the Facilities Office jointly prepare the report. Crime statistics documented within the ASR are reported to and may be examined at the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security website.

      The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance and the Coordinator of Campus Safety, working in collaboration with relevant campus officials and law enforcement agencies, author the ASR based upon:

      • information collected by and solicited from local law enforcement
      • information provided and maintained by the Campus Security Office
      • information gathered from Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) and
      • institutional policies and procedures approved by relevant committees, Representative Assembly, and, when appropriate, the College Board of Trustees.

      Crime statistics for the ASR are collected from Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) and the HutchCC Daily Crime log, and are solicited jointly by the Coordinators of Equity & Compliance and Campus Safety from all law enforcement agencies in Harvey County, McPherson County, and Reno County, as well as Fort Riley Military Police, that have or share law enforcement jurisdiction for College locations and other College property.

      The Vice President of Student Services and the Director of Residence Life provide the authors with disciplinary statistics for the report concerning alcohol, drug, and weapon violations of the Disciplinary Proceedings Policy (Policy 1047) and the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance provides statistics regarding reported incidents of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking incidents alleged to have occurred within the Clery Act Geography of the College.

      Each year, an email notification is sent to all students and employees providing the weblink to the ASR; the report is also made available in both printable and downloadable form via the HutchCC public website. Additionally, members of the public, including the media, may obtain paper copies, by request, through the Office of Equity & Compliance or the Campus Security Office.

      Prospective students are provided access to this ASR or its related weblink by the Office of Admissions through its official homepage and online student application. Prospective employees are provided access to this ASR or its related weblink by the Office of Human Resources through its official homepage and online employee application.

      For purposes of compiling the ASR and reporting campus crime statistics, as required under the Clery Act, HutchCC reports all reported incidents for the following:

      Criminal Offenses

      • Murder and Non-Negligent Manslaughter
      • Negligent Manslaughter
      • Rape
      • Fondling
      • Incest
      • Statutory Rape
      • Robbery
      • Aggravated Assault
      • Burglary
      • Motor Vehicle Theft
      • Arson

      Hate Crime Offenses

      A Hate Crime is a criminal offense that manifests evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s bias against the victim. Any of the aforementioned criminal offenses reported to local law enforcement, Campus Security, or a CSA is counted as a hate crime.

      Although there are many possible categories of bias, only the following eight categories are reported under the Clery Act: race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, and disability.

      In addition to the Hate Crime offenses, four additional categories of offenses are reported as Clery Act offenses if (and only if) they are Hate Crimes:

      • Larceny-Theft
      • Simple Assault
      • Intimidation
      • Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property

      Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Offenses

      • Dating Violence
      • Domestic Violence
      • Stalking

      Arrests and Disciplinary Referrals

      In accordance with the Clery Act, the College must also report arrests and referrals for disciplinary action for liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons law violations. However, referrals based solely on College policy, where there is no alleged violation of the law, are not counted. A referral for disciplinary action is defined as the referral of any person to any official who initiates a disciplinary action of which a record is established and which may result in the imposition of a sanction.

      The following College policies specifically address prohibitions regarding liquor, drugs, and weapons:

      Crime Statistics Geography

      The HutchCC Office of Equity & Compliance, in conjunction with the Campus Security Office, compiles annual crime statistics for any of the above-referenced Clery Act incidents which occur or were reported to have occurred at:

      • Any building or property owned or controlled by HutchCC within the same reasonable contiguous geographic area and used by the College in direct support of, or in a manner related to, its educational purposes, including residence halls;
      • Any building or property that is within or reasonably contiguous to campus, that is owned by HutchCC but controlled by another person, is frequently used by students, and supports institutional purposes (such as a food or other retail vendor);
      • Any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the institution;
      • Any building or property owned or controlled by the institution that is used in direct support of, or in relation to, the institution’s educational purposes, is frequently used by students, and is not within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the institution;
      • All public property, including thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking facilities, that is within the campus, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

       

      XI. Campus Housing Fire Statistics and Annual Fire Safety Report

      Overview

      The Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act requires academic institutions to produce an annual fire safety report. This law specifically requires colleges and universities that maintain on-campus housing facilities to compile an annual fire safety report that gives students, parents, and the public current information about fires in on-campus housing. Colleges are also required to maintain a fire log that captures specific information about fires that occur in on-campus housing. The log is required to include the date, time, and cause of each fire as well the number of injuries requiring treatment, the number of deaths, and the value of property damage associated with each fire.

      The HutchCC Offices of Equity & Compliance, Facilities, Residence Life, and Campus Security jointly prepare this report to comply with that law. As such, all currently enrolled students, employees, and all prospective students and prospective employees of the College are entitled to request and receive a copy of its Annual Campus Fire Safety Report, which is disseminated in conjunction with its Annual Security Report. The HutchCC Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASR) is published each year on or before October 1 by the Coordinator of Equity & Compliance.

      The Coordinator of Equity & Compliance and the Coordinator of Campus Safety, working in collaboration with relevant campus officials, author the ASR based upon:

      • information provided and maintained by Campus Security
      • information provided and maintained by the Campus Facilities Office
      • information provided and maintained by the Director of Residence Life
      • institutional policies and procedures approved by relevant committees, Representative Assembly, and, when appropriate, the College Board of Trustees.

      Notification

      The ASR is published each year on or before October 1. Each year, an email notification is sent to all students and employees providing the weblink to the ASR; the report is also made available in both printable and downloadable form via the HutchCC public website. Additionally, members of the public, including the media, may obtain paper copies, by request, through the Office of Equity & Compliance or the Campus Security Office.

      Prospective students are provided access to this ASR or its related weblink by the Office of Admissions through its official homepage and online student application. Prospective employees are provided access to this ASR or its related weblink by the Office of Human Resources through its official homepage and online employee application.

      Fire Log

      The HutchCC Campus Security Office, in cooperation with the Facilities Office, the Residence Life Office, and the Office of Equity & Compliance, maintains a fire log for Main Campus. Main Campus is the only HutchCC location which maintains on-campus student housing and includes information about fires at the College. The log includes the following information:

      • Date the fire was reported
      • Nature of the fire
      • Date and time the fire occurred
      • General location of the fire
      • Cause of the fire
      • Number of injuries caused by the fire requiring treatment
      • Number of deaths caused by the fire
      • Value of property damage associated with the fire

      Fire log entries include all fires reported to Campus Security for the required geographic locations.

      An entry, an addition to an entry, or a change in the disposition of a reported fire, must be recorded within two business days of the reporting of the information to the HutchCC Campus Security Office. Also, log entries older than 60 days can be obtained by request within two (2) business days of request.

      The fire log for the most recent 60-day period is open to public inspection, free of charge and upon request, during normal business hours. Anyone may have access to the log, whether or not they are associated with the College, including media. Any portion of the log that is older than 60 days will be made available within two business days of a request for public inspection.

      Anyone with information warranting inclusion in the fire log or annual fire safety report should report such information to any of the following College officials:

      • Coordinator of Campus Safety – (620) 665-3379
      • Director of Facilities – (620) 665-3590
      • Director of Residence Life – (620) 665-3436
      • Coordinator of Equity & Compliance – (620) 728-8163

      College Owned & Controlled Student Housing

      The College owns and operates two residence Halls, Elland Hall & Suites and Kent Hall, at its Main Campus location. Each residence hall maintains a comprehensive fire alarm system which is monitored 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Additionally, the College also owns and operates two single-story apartment-style residences, Dragons’ Landing #1 and Dragons’ Landing #2, at its Main Campus location. Each apartment-style residence maintains a fire alarm system which is monitored 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

      HutchCC-Fort Riley, HutchCC-McPherson, HutchCC-Newton, and HutchCC-South do not have on-campus housing.

      XII. Referenced & Related HutchCC Policies and Procedures

      •  

       

      Department Locations

      Departments/Location Phone Numbers
      Ade-Wifco (Welding) – 613 East 14th620-665-3502
      Assessment Center – Parker Student Union620-665-3359
      Academic Affairs – Lockman Hall 101620-665-3507
      Admissions – Parker Student Union620-665-3501
      Adult Learning Center – Lockman Hall 003620-665-8004
      Blue Cross & Blue Shield Customer Service800-432-3990
      Business & Industry – Industrial Technology Building620-665-3559
      Business Office – Parker Student Union620-665-3364
      Cafeteria (Great Western Dining) – Parker Student Union
      Snack Bar
      620-665-3406
      620-665-3407
      Campus Store – Parker Student Union620-665-3326
      Collegian – Shears Technology 207620-665-3427
      Coordinator of Cultural Activities – Lockman Hall Waldo Auditorium620-665-3459
      Dept. I-Allied Health – 815 North Walnut (Davis Hall)620-665-4930
      Dept. II-Agriculture, Business, Computers & Technology620-665-3349
      Dept. III-Fine Arts & Humanities620-665-3503
      Dept. IV-Natural Science, Social Science & Mathematics620-665-3533
      Dept. V-Public Safety620-728-4407
      Dillon Lecture Series – Lockman Hall 116620-665-3505
      HutchCC Child Care Center – 512 East 15th620-665-3598
      Endowment/Alumni Association – Lockman Hall 114620-665-3348
      Financial Aid – Parker Student Union620-665-3568
      Greenhouse620-491-0629
      Human Resources – Parker Student Union620-665-3495
      Information Center – Parker Student Union620-665-3500
      Information Technology Services – Lockman Hall 110620-665-3524
      Instructional Design and Virtual Learning – Lockman Hall 113620-728-8124
      Institutional Research – Lockman Hall 126620-665-3382
      John F. Kennedy Library620-665-3418
      Kansas Small Mine Safety – 4939 S. Lulu Ct., Wichita, KS  67216620-665-4991
      KPERS888-275-5737
      Maintenance/Facilities – Office Technology Building620-665-3590
      Marketing and Public Information – Lockman Hall 114620-665-3526
      McPherson LPN Center – 2208 Plaza East Place, McPherson, KS620-245-6214
      McPherson Center – 2208 Plaza East Place, McPherson, KS620-245-0202
      Newton Center – 203 E. Broadway316-283-7000
      Peel Center – 1 East 9th620-694-2456
      President’s Office – Lockman Hall 116620-665-3505
        
      Radio Kansas – 815 North Walnut (Davis Hall)800-723-4657
      Records Office – Parker Student Union620-728-8176
      Resident Life – 1501/1521 North Ford620-665-3322
      Rimmer Learning Resource Center620-665-3449
      SecurityEMERGENCY ONLY
      Non-Emergency
      620-665-3379
      620-665-3590
      Sports Arena/Athletic Office620-665-3530
      StartUp Hutch – 1 East 9th620-665-8468
      Stringer Fine Arts Center – 600 East 11th620-665-3503
      Student Success Center – Parker Student Union620-665-3377
      Volunteer Center – 815 North Walnut620-665-4960
      Work Force Development & Outreach – Shears Technology620-665-3550

       

      Emergency Numbers

      Should someone need to contact a faculty member for a personal emergency and they are unable to reach your cellphone, then the centers may be contacted directly.

      • Newton:  If you are teaching at the Newton Center or the Newton High School, you may be reached in emergencies at 316-283-7000. Additionally, someone can enter the building to locate you or call 911.
      • McPherson:  If you are teaching at the McPherson Center, you may be reached in emergencies at 620-245-0202. Additionally, someone can enter the building to locate you or call 911.

      Employee Directory

      The employee directory may be found by accessing:  https://dz.hutchcc.edu/directory

      APPENDIXES

      Bloom's Taxonomy

       

      BLOOM’S REVISED TAXONOMY

       

      Level

      Verbs & Sample Objectives

      Discussion Questions

      Remember

      Be able to recall information such as dates, events, places, ideas, definitions, formulas, and theories.

      Arrange, Define, Describe, Detail, Draw, Duplicate, Identify, Indicate, Inventory, Label, List, Locate, Match, Name, Outline, Pick, Point, Pronounce, Quote, Recall, Recite, Recognize, Record, Relate, Repeat, Reproduce, Restate, State, Underline

      • Label the parts of the heart.
      • Outline the steps in the writing process.
      • Recite the Gettysburg Address.
      • Who was…?
      • What is…?
      • When was…?

      Understand

      Be able to grasp the meaning of the information, express it in own words, and/or cite examples.

      Classify, Confirm, Contrast, Convert, Decipher, Defend, Designate, Differentiate, Equate, Estimate, Examine, Express, Extend, Extrapolate, Generalize, Give Examples, Group, Infer, Interpret, Order, Paraphrase, Predict, Rephrase, Rewrite, Sort, Specify, Substitute, Tell, Translate

      • Defend your position about flat taxes.
      • Give an example of an adjective.
      • Specify the role of project management in an organization.
      • Can you name…?
      • What is an example of…?
      • Where does…differ from…?

      Apply

      Be able to apply knowledge or skills to new situations. Use information and knowledge to solve a problem, answer a question, or perform another task.

      Add, Allocate, Alter, Apply, Calculate, Change, Choose, Complete, Compute, Conduct, Coordinate, Demonstrate, Determine, Direct, Discover, Divide, Dramatize, Draw, Employ, Formulate, Gather, Graph, Make, Manipulate, Model, Multiply, Operate, Perform, Present, Provide, Recount, Report, Schedule, Show, Sketch, Subtract, Use, Utilize

      • Choose criteria to assess change readiness.
      • Demonstrate the proper technique for drawing blood.
      • Graph the results of the market analysis.
      • How does…explain…?
      • Examine the graph and tell me…?
      • Which events led to…?

      Analyze

      Be able to break down knowledge into parts and show and explain the relationships among the parts.

      Analyze, Appraise, Associate, Break Down, Criticize, Discern, Diagram, Discriminate, Dissect, Distinguish, Elect, Establish, Explain, Expound, Illustrate, Inspect, Profile, Question, Refute, Separate, Simplify, Subdivide, Summarize, Test

      • Explain the ramifications of sexual harassment in the workplace.
      • Appraise potential suppliers according to organizational needs.
      • Distinguish between ethical & unethical behavior.
      • What is the relationship between…and…?
      • What caused…?
      • How does…apply to…?
      • Why does…work?
      • How does…relate to…?
      • What distinctions can be made about…and…?

      Evaluate

      Be able to judge or assess the value of material and methods for a given purpose.

      Argue, Assess, Attack, Compare and Contrast, Conclude, Critique, Debate, Decide, Deduce, Diagnose, Evaluate, Forecast, Improve, Judge, Justify, Measure, Prioritize, Prove, Rank, Rate, Recommend, Resolve, Revise, Select, Solve, Support, Value, Verify, Weigh

      • Support the value of diversity in a project team.
      • Recommend course of action for comprehensive organizational change.
      • Resolve ethical issues that plague researchers conducting experiments on animals.
      • How does…meet criteria for…?
      • What judgments can you make about…?
      • Can you compare and contrast…criteria for…?
      • Is there a better solution to…?

      Create

      Be able to pull together parts of knowledge to form a new whole and build relationships for new situations.

      Assemble, Assimilate, Categorize, Collect, Combine, Compile, Compose, Condense, Construct, Create, Design, Derive, Develop, Devise, Elaborate, Expand, Generate, Guide, Hypothesize, Integrate, Invent, Manage, Modify, Organize, Plan, Prepare, Prescribe, Produce, Propose, Rearrange, Reconstruct, Reorganize, Rework, Set Up, Synthesize, Theorize, Transform, Write

      • Devise a plan to deal with violence in your community.
      • Design an instructional unit to meet the needs of online students.
      • Modify the training process for a business or organization.
      • What would happen if…?
      • Can you compile the data to…?
      • How can we solve…?
      • How many ways can you…?
      • What hypotheses can you make?
      • Why?

      Table adapted from: Anderson, L.W., & Krathwohl, D.R. (2001). A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing, abridged edition. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. (retrieved from: ctle.utah.edu)

      Classroom Assessment Techniques

      Often referred to as CATS, Classroom Assessment Techniques are useful and simple tools to assess student learning taking place through non-graded in-class activities. Classroom Assessment Techniques: A Handbook for College Teachers (1993) by Angelo and Cross provides many examples that may assist an instructor. Every HutchCC Department has a copy of this book for faculty use. Additional copies are located in the Teaching and Learning Resource Center.
       

      10 Classroom Assessment Techniques

      1. Approximate Analogies
        • Making analogies helps students to connect the familiar with the unfamiliar. Creative thinking is utilized as students apply the new information they are learning to prior life knowledge. Instructors can gauge student understanding of a concept by looking at the analogy using the format “A is to B as X is to Y.” With a short “A is to B” prompt from the instructor, in as little as two words, students show how effectively they are able to make connections as they complete “as X is to Y.”  
      1. Categorizing Grid
        • The categorizing grid is a graphic organizer assessment that is quick to develop and quick to administer in any course of any size. The instructor can learn how well students are learning information by observing how they sort items into categories, deciding what goes with what. Its versatility allows it to be used as an assessment, a teaching tool, and as a study tool for the student.
      1. Mini Quizzes
        • Short quizzes take some time for the instructor to develop, but provide the instructor and student information on how well the students are able to discern fully correct statements from almost correct statements. “Grading” these quizzes in class gives an opportunity for students to get immediate feedback, discuss options with the class, and correct incorrect assumptions before students have too long to learn something incorrectly.
      1. Student Generated Test Questions
        • With this CAT, students focus on how well they understand concepts by writing possible test questions and showing the solution/answer. The instructor can then determine what students find to be the most important/memorable topics and can then assess level of difficulty, if students are avoiding certain topics, if students “get” the main idea of the lesson, and if the solution/answer is correct.
      1. The Jigsaw Classroom
        • Instructors circulate around the room during this group activity to determine student level of understanding. A topic/lesson is divided into 4 modules.  Students are numbered off 1-2-3-4 and assigned a module for which they are to become experts. All 1s gather together, all 4s, etc., to help each other become experts, then groups of 1-2-3-4 reconvene to teach their module to others in the group.
      1. In Class Polling
        • This CAT is helpful to assess students' awareness of attitudes and values and can be used for any type of poll. Using polleverywhere.com, the instructor can ask questions of students who report anonymously to the poll. This can generate a way to engage and evaluate student responses, and customize future lessons to students' needs and interests. It focuses on how students think about course-related issues. It can be used to review for any type of evaluation in any course of any size.
      1. Background Knowledge Probe
        • The Background Knowledge Probe CAT is used to help the instructor prepare for a course/unit/lesson/new topic by asking students for general information about their level of preparation. Instructors keep knowledge questions short and simple. Analysis of student responses about their prior understanding helps the instructor determine the most effective starting point and at what level to begin instruction.
      1. Empty Outline
        • Do students seem to have a hard time taking notes in your class?  Deciding what important information to write down? The empty outline guides students in their note taking and can help teach students what information is important in any class lecture/unit. This is another versatile CAT that can help improve not only content knowledge but also listening and note taking skills.
      1. One Sentence Summary
        • This quick CAT helps the instructor gauge student understanding of key points and helps students practice their writing skills by filling in “Who did what to whom, when, where, how, and why?” It can be used for any information that can be presented in declarative form, such as events, facts, processes or reactions.  One sentence summaries can become great discussion posts for online classes.
      1. Ticket out the Door
        • Do students need incentive to pay attention in class? Immediate application of learning is one benefit of this CAT. After covering a topic in class, reserve 10-15 minutes at the end of class to show a related problem/topic. Students have that time to work through the problem (showing all of the steps) and present the solution to the instructor. If it’s right, they have their ticket out the door. If it’s incorrect, they go back to the desk to fix their work.