College Policies and Statement on Academic Freedom

Statement on Academic Freedom

The San Mateo County Community College District is dedicated to maintaining a climate of academic freedom encouraging the sharing and cultivation of a wide variety of viewpoints. Academic freedom expresses our belief in inquiry, informed debate and the search for truth; academic freedom is necessary in order to provide students with a variety of ideas, to encourage them to engage in critical thinking and to help them understand conflicting opinions.

Academic freedom encompasses the freedom to study, teach, and express ideas, including unpopular or controversial ones, without censorship or political restraint. Academic freedom, rather than being a license to do or say whatever one wishes, requires professional competence, open inquiry and rigorous attention to the pursuit of truth.

The District’s faculty have the right to express their informed opinions which relate, directly or indirectly, to their professional activities, whether these opinions are expressed in the classroom, elsewhere on campus or at college-related functions. In a search for truth and in a context of reasoned academic debate, students also have the right to express their opinions and to question those presented by others.

Employment by the District does not in any way restrict or limit the First Amendment rights enjoyed by faculty as members of their communities. Faculty members are free to speak and write publicly on any issue, as long as they do not indicate they are speaking for the institution.

Protecting academic freedom is the responsibility of the college community. Therefore, in a climate of openness and mutual respect, free from distortion and doctrinal obligation, the District protects and encourages the exchange of ideas, including unpopular ones, which are presented in a spirit of free and open dialogue and constructive debate.

Privacy Rights of Students

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act requires educational institutions to provide access to students’ official educational records; provide opportunity for a hearing to challenge such records on certain grounds; obtain written consent of the student before releasing certain information; and extend these rights to all students of the college.

The Act provides that the College may release certain types of “Directory Information” unless the student submits a request in writing to the Dean of Enrollment Services that certain or all such information not be released without his/her consent. Currently enrolled students may request that “Directory Information” be withheld by notifying the Dean of Enrollment Services in writing each term or semester.

External entities have access to only the following directory information (1) student’s name and city of residence; (2) email address; (3) participation in recognized activities and sports; (4) dates of enrollment; (5) degrees and awards received; (6) the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended; and (7) height and weight of members of athletic teams.

Appropriate college personnel as noted in No. 3 above have access to full address information.

The Federal Solomon Act requires colleges to release full directory information (including address) to U.S. Armed Forces.

A copy of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Sec. 438, P.L. 93-380) is available in the Office of Admissions & Records, Administration Building, Room 210, during normal business hours.

Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act

In order to make Cañada College a safe and pleasant environment for students and employees, the College has established procedures in compliance with the Student Right-to-Know (SRTK) and Campus Security Act (Federal Public Law 101-542). Persons seeking information concerning Cañada College law enforcement procedures, crime prevention efforts, and crime statistics should contact the Public Safety Office, Building 9, Room 151, (650) 306-3420.

The Act also requires institutions to make available the completion or graduation rate of certificate or degree-seeking full-time students. A paper copy of this information may be obtained at the Admissions and Records Office, Building 9, (650) 738-4251.

More information about SRTK may be found on the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office website at http://srtk.cccco.edu/index.asp.
As part of our reporting under the Campus Security Act, the college is required to report any crimes committed on campus. During the year 2008, Cañada had 3 burglaries.

Student Conduct

Students enrolled in the Colleges of the District are expected to conduct themselves as responsible citizens and in a manner compatible with the District and College function as an educational institution. Students are also subject to civil authority and to the specific regulations established by each College in the District. Violators shall be subject to disciplinary action, including possible cancellation of registration, and may be denied future admission to the Colleges of the San Mateo County Community College District. A list of actions which are prohibited and may lead to appropriate disciplinary action is contained in the College Catalog, which is available for review in College offices and for free in the Cañada Bookstore. For further information concerning any aspect of student conduct, students should contact the Office of the Vice President, Student Services (Bldg 8, Room 209, 650-306-3234).

Academic Integrity Policy (Cheating and Plagiarism)

As members of the college community, students at Cañada are expected to demonstrate integrity ion all academic endeavors. Students are evaluated on their own merits, so they should protect academic integrity at Cañada College and be proud of their achievements.

General principles of academic integrity include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others and to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. Faculty, with the full support of the college, have the right to take standards of academic integrity into account when assigning grades. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles.

Any act which gains or is intended to gain an unfair academic advantage or which compromises the integrity of the academic standards of the college may be considered an act of academic dishonesty.

Cheating and Plagiarism are violations of the Academic Integrity Policy and the Student Conduct Code and will result in appropriate disciplinary action.

Students seeding further information concerning these guidelines should contact the Office of the Vice President, Student Services, Building 9, room 209 or see the College Catalog.

Attendance Regulations

Regular attendance in class and laboratory sessions is an obligation assumed by each student at the time of his/her registration. When a student fails to attend class, he/she misses the content of the session, and course continuity is lessened. When failure to attend class places a student’s success in jeopardy, the instructor may drop the student from the class.

Total hours of absence which exceed twice the number of hours a class meets in a week define “excessive absence” as used by many instructors in dropping students for nonattendance. Instructors may, however, utilize stricter attendance requirements.

Absence due to participation in college-sponsored activities may be considered excused when the student informs and receives permission from the instructor in advance of the absence and makes up all work missed.

A student dropped from any class for nonattendance may appeal in writing to the Division Dean within five College calendar days of such a drop if the student thinks the absences should be excused, and reinstatement in class can be justified. Students may, with the permission of the instructor, remain in class while their appeal is being reviewed. A recommendation regarding the appeal will be forwarded to the instructor whose decision is final.

Emergency Leave of Absence

A student who finds it necessary to withdraw from all enrolled courses at any time after registration must obtain a petition for semester leave of absence. This petition may be obtained from the Health Center if the emergency is of a medical nature. A petition for non-medical emergency leave of absence may be obtained from the Admissions and Records Office. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the petition process. The leave of absence shall only be used when verified circumstances beyond the student’s control force a complete withdrawal from all courses. Withdrawals resulting from an approved leave will not be included in the determination of the student’s academic progress.

A student absent 5 days or more with a medical problem should notify his/her instructor(s).

Student Grievances and Appeals

Students are encouraged to pursue their academic studies and become involved in other sponsored activities that promote their intellectual growth and personal development. The College is committed to the concept that, in the pursuit of these ends, the student should be free of unfair and improper actions on the part of any member of the academic community. If, at any time, a student feels that he/she has been subject to unjust actions, or denied his/her rights, redress can be sought through the filing of an appeal or grievance. Detailed information is provided in the Student Handbook which is available in the Student Activities Office. For further information concerning any aspect of student grievances or rights of appeal, students should contact the Vice President of Student Services at (650) 306-3234.

Most complaints, grievances or disciplinary matters should be resolved at the campus level. This is the quickest and most successful way of resolving issues involving a California Community College (CCC). You are encouraged to work through the campus complaint process. See the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office website for additional resources in resolving issues.

Policy of Non-discrimination

Cañada College is committed to equal opportunity regardless of age, gender, marital status, disability, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or other similar factors, for admission to the College, enrollment in classes, student services, financial aid, and employment in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (45CRF 86), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

It is important that students, staff, and all others associated with the College understand the importance of reporting concerns about possible violations of this policy. The College’s commitment to equal opportunity demands full investigation of possible violations and an opportunity for a fair and impartial hearing on any matter relating to these laws and policies.

Any person seeking information concerning these laws and policies or claiming grievance because of alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact the Vice President of Student Services, Building 9, room 209, (650) 306-3232.

All grievances will be reviewed in terms of Title VI and Title IX law, and persons involved will be advised of the provisions of the law and their legal rights. If normal channels are not available or fail to meet legal requirements, the necessary action will be initiated.

Inquiries regarding Federal laws and regulations concerning nondiscrimination in education or the District’s compliance with those provisions may also be directed to:
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
50 United Nations Plaza, Room 239
San Francisco, CA 94102

Policy on Americans with Disabilities Act

The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), PL 101-336, is to extend to people with disabilities civil rights similar to those now available on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and religion through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in private sector employment, services rendered by state and local governments, places of public accommodation, transportation, and telecommunications relay services. The ADA says that no covered entity shall discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability because of the disability of such individual in regard to job application procedures; the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees; employee compensation; job training; and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.

Major employment provisions of the ADA require equal opportunity in selection, testing, and hiring of qualified applicants with disabilities (applicants with disabilities may request that special accommodations be made in order to complete these processes); equal treatment in promotion and benefits; reasonable accommodation for applicants and workers with disabilities when such accommodations would not impose “undue hardship”; and prohibits discrimination against workers with disabilities. (This provision is similar to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973).

Employers may require that an individual not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others; may not make pre-employment inquiries about an applicant’s disability or conduct pre-employment medical exams; and may conduct a test for illegal drug use and prohibit all workplace use of illegal drugs and alcohol.

If you need further information or if there are any problems or complaints on campus regarding compliance, please contact the Vice President of Student Services.

Policy on Sexual Harassment

District and Cañada College to prohibit, in any and all forms, the sexual harassment of its students and staff. Sexual harassment of students by other students or staff, and/or the harassment of staff by students or other staff is considered intolerable behavior that will be investigated and acted upon immediately.

Students or staff claiming grievance because of alleged violations of this policy should contact the Vice-Chancellor of Human Resources and Employee Relations, (650) 358-6767.

Policy on Smoking

It is the policy of San Mateo County Community College District to provide a safe learning and working environment for both students and employees. It is recognized that smoke from cigarettes, pipes and/or cigars is hazardous to health; therefore, it is the intent of the District to provide a smoke-free environment to the greatest extent possible. To achieve this goal, smoking at Cañada College will be limited to parking lots only, with the exception of Parking Lot 4.

1. Smoking is prohibited on campus except in parking lots, not including Parking Lot 4.
2. Cañada managers are responsible for publicizing the policy to students, employees and visitors, and are responsible for the posting of signs. Notification about the policy on smoking will be included in employee and student publications, newsletters and in other written materials as appropriate. In addition, materials which are used to publicize District public events will include policy notification to the general public.
3. To assist in the implementation of this policy, the District will provide education and training in the areas of smoking dangers and smoking cessation. Contact the Cañada Health Center at (650) 306-3309 for more information.
4. It is the responsibility of all students and employees to observe the policy and guidelines on smoking. Failure to comply with the policy on smoking will be treated in the same manner as other violations of District Rules and Regulations and may result in disciplinary action.
5. It is the responsibility of College and Cañada managers to enforce the policy on smoking. Disputes over the interpretation of the policy or complaints about individuals violating the policy should be brought to the attention of the person’s supervisor, the Vice-President of Student Services at the College level, or the Vice-Chancellor of Human Resources and Employee Relations in the District Office. When the evidence is non-persuasive on either side, such disputes will be settled in favor of the nonsmoker(s) in recognition of the policy of the District to provide a smoke-free environment. Such disputes shall be settled at the lowest management level.
6. This policy does not supersede more restrictive policies which may be in force in compliance with State or Federal regulations.

Policy on Drug-Free Campus

The San Mateo County Community College District and Cañada College, in compliance with the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, prohibits the use, possession, sale or distribution of alcohol, narcotics, dangerous or illegal drugs or other controlled substances, as defined in California statutes, on District or College property, or at any function sponsored by the District or College. Students are expected to conduct themselves as responsible citizens and in a manner compatible with the community college function as an educational institution. Students are subject to civil authority and to all District and College rules and regulations.

Students found to be in violation of the drug-free campus policy by manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possessing, or using controlled substances, as defined in California statues, on any District property will be subject to disciplinary procedures up to and including possible cancellation of registration.

Persons seeking further information concerning this policy or the health risks and effects associated with alcohol and narcotics or other dangerous or illegal drugs, should contact the College Health Center.

Directory Information

Federal and State laws provide that the College may release certain types of "Directory Information" unless the student submits a request, in writing, to the Records Officer that certain or all such information is not to be released without his/her consent. "Directory Information" in the San Mateo County Community College District includes: student's name and city of residence, participation in recognized activities and sports, dates of enrollment, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended, height and weight of members of athletic teams, student photographs and email addresses.