SCC Standard Course Policies

The College assigns each student a username and password providing access to the SCC Portal, online course management system, e-mail, and other online resources. Students have the ability to change this password to one of their own choosing and should not share it with anyone else.

Students will interact with instructors and other students through SCC e-mail and the college’s online course management system. These systems include privacy safeguards, and instructors will make every effort to maintain confidentiality of any personal communications with a student. However, due to the nature and technology of electronic communication, SCC is unable to guarantee the privacy and confidentiality of student e-mail messages. Students should use discretion in transmitting information that is sensitive in nature. Students always have the option to request a private appointment with instructors or advisors in person or by phone. Students should assume all participants in a course can read postings in the online course discussion forums or live chat tools. Students’ college e-mail addresses are available to other students in the class through the college e-mail system.

Online courses, by their nature, include links to websites not under control of the college and security procedures. Students should use care when accessing non-SCC websites and are encouraged to regularly update their browsers, operating systems, and security software.

While there are many informal situations in which people have neither the desire nor the right to prescribe how others ought to behave, a college class/lab environment requires a higher level of courtesy than many people exercise in ordinary public places.

In an educational environment, each instructor has the responsibility to maintain a class/lab environment conducive to student learning. Discussion of all views relevant to the subject matter is recognized as necessary to the education process, but students do not have a right to infringe on the freedom of instructors to teach or the right of other students to learn. The College encourages students to express their opinions and ideas in an orderly manner, since a free exchange of views enhances the learning process.

However, the College will not condone verbal combat or verbal abuse among students and instructors. Students are expected to comply with the Student Code. The instructor has an obligation to make students aware of rules for the class/lab and to inform students if they are violating these rules.

The instructor sets the standards of behavior acceptable in the classroom by announcing these standards early in the term. If a student behaves disruptively in class after the instructor has explained the unacceptability of such conduct, the instructor may dismiss the student for the remainder of that class period. The instructor shall initiate a discussion with the student to resolve the issue prior to the next class meeting. The faculty member should inform his/her department chair about the issue.

A further disruption by the student may result in a second dismissal and referral in writing by the faculty member to the vice president of student affairs copying the department chair using the SCC Student Referral Form. Student should refer to the SCC Student Planner and Handbook for complete information on the student code of conduct.

Spartanburg Community College, a higher education institution for adult learning, offers programs/courses designed for adult learners. It fosters a partnership between instructors with the desire to teach and students with the desire to learn. In order to create an appropriate environment for teaching and learning, students must show respect for their instructors and for their fellow students. In other words, students are to conduct themselves maturely as they work toward achieving serious goals in an institution of higher learning

Listed below are guidelines for class/lab behavior that the College has established to ensure that the learning environment is not compromised:

1. Conversation
Students should not carry on side conversations in class (or pass notes).

2. Other Activities
Students should not work on other activities while in class. This includes homework for other courses or other personal activities.

3. Internet
In classes where Internet access is provided, students may use the Internet for valid, academic purposes only. They may not access other sites unrelated to the course.

4. Sleep
Students may not sleep in class; they are expected to be attentive and focused.

5. Attitude
Students are expected to maintain a courteous/civil attitude in class. They may not use inappropriate or offensive language, verbal or non-verbal, to convey their attitude regarding the course, the instructor, assignments or fellow students. This includes, but is not limited to, making fun of others, disrupting class, shouting, slamming books, glaring, rolling eyes, speaking in a disrespectful tone of voice, or refusing to carry out assignments.

6. Profanity and Offensive Language
Students may not use profanity or offensive language in any public area (to include canteens/break areas) on campus.

7. Cell phones, pagers/beepers, MP3 Players, CD’s and Headphones
Students may not receive or send telephone calls or text messages during class. They are responsible for turning off cell phones and other electronic devices upon entering class. (An exception will be made for public service employees on call.)

8. Guests and Children
Students may not bring unregistered friends or children to class.

9. Food, Drink, Tobacco Products
Food and/or drink may be allowable in class at the discretion of the instructor; however, use in lab areas may be more restrictive. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that any trash is disposed of properly. No one may use tobacco products in any building at SCC. Smoking is allowed in designated areas only.

10. Physical Disruptions and/or Physical Altercation
No one may, under any circumstances, provoke or engage in physical altercations of any nature. This includes harassment, grandstanding or threats of any kind.

11. Individual Business
Students who need to speak privately with an instructor should not attempt to do so during the class period. Students are advised to make appointments with instructors during their scheduled office hours.

The guidelines listed above are not meant to be an exhaustive list. SCC developed this list to address some of the more commonly seen infractions. The College expects every student to conduct himself/herself in an appropriate manner. Violations will be referred to the vice president of student affairs for disciplinary action as deemed necessary.

Tips for Success

• Come to class/lab prepared to work. This includes bringing materials needed for class/lab (textbook, workbook, computer disks, writing materials, notebook, etc.)
• Take notes
• Complete assigned readings and other homework on time
• Contribute in class as appropriate
• Focus your attention on the subject at hand

The use of Spartanburg Community College’s website, e-mail service or course management software for creation and/or distribution of material not pertaining to course participation is prohibited and is grounds for dismissal according to College policy under “disruptive behavior.” Such actions, include, but are not limited to:

Inappropriate use of email and discussion boards for:

• Harassment
• Unlawful solicitation
• “Spamming”
• “Flaming”

Use of online editing tools within the course management software to:

• Create offensive material
• Link to inappropriate materials

Students are responsible for punctual and regular attendance in all classes, laboratories, clinicals, practica, internships, field trips and other class activities. When illness or other emergencies occur, the student is responsible for notifying instructors. Students should also inform the instructor in advance if they know they are going to miss class. Students must take responsibility for completing missed work if approved for late submission by instructors. Students should not expect that they will be allowed to make up work, such as quizzes or tests, after an absence. Instructors are not responsible for re-teaching materials students miss when they are absent. The College does not grant excused absences; therefore, students are urged to reserve their absences for emergencies.

Tardiness
Students are tardy if not in class at the time the class is scheduled to begin.. Students are expected to be in class the entire class time. They should not enter late or leave early. Rare exceptions may be made, particularly in emergency circumstances, but students should be prepared to explain their tardiness to the instructor after class. Likewise, students should explain before class any need to leave early.

Course syllabi and/or addenda, and, if applicable, program handbooks reflect attendance and tardiness policies.

Instructors are required to maintain attendance records. However, it is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from a course. A student who stops attending class and fails to initiate a withdrawal will remain on the class roster. A student who does not complete an assignment, test, or final exam in the course will receive a zero for each missing grade and the final course grade will be calculated accordingly.

Online Course Attendance
Students must have logged into and actively participated in the online course by the end of the drop/add period, as indicated by posting to an online discussion, submitting an assignment, taking an assessment, communicating with the instructor, or completing other activities as designated by the instructor. Students who fail to meet this attendance requirement by the end of the drop/add period will be dropped from the class by the instructor.
 
Absences for Religious Holidays
Students who are absent from class in order to observe religious holidays are responsible for the content of any activities missed and for the completion of assignments occurring during the period of absence. Students who anticipate their observance of religious holidays will cause them to be absent from class and do not wish such absences to penalize their status in class should adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Observance of religious holidays resulting in three or fewer consecutive absences. Discuss the situation with the instructor and provide written notice at least one week prior to the absence(s). Develop (in writing) an instructor-approved plan which outlines the makeup of activities and assignments.
2. Observance of religious holidays resulting in four or more consecutive absences. Discuss the situation with the instructor and provide the instructor with written notice within the first 10 days of the academic term. Develop (in writing) an instructor-approved plan which outlines the makeup of activities and assignments.

There are three types of withdrawals, BUT the process for assigning a grade remains the same.

Withdrawal from a Course
Students who withdraw from a course after the add/drop period receive a “W.” If they are receiving financial aid, they should contact the financial aid office prior to withdrawal from a course. Students may withdraw from a course through web advisor or by submitting a withdraw form to student records prior to the withdrawal deadlines established by the College (typically during the first 75% of the course). Faculty signatures are not required to withdraw from courses. A student or an instructor cannot initiate a withdrawal during the last 25 percent of the course except in extenuating circumstances, with documentation submitted to the Registrar who will review and request approvals as necessary.

Term Withdrawal
Occurs when all courses for that term are dropped.

Withdrawal from the College
Students who do not attend the College for three consecutive terms will be administratively withdrawn from the College by the student records office. Once a student has been withdrawn from the College, he/she must go through the admissions process to be re-instated. Once re-instated, he/she is required to meet program requirements under the catalog for the term in which he/she is re-instated.

The add/drop period is the first five instructional days of the fall, spring and full summer terms. The add/drop period for the FlexStart terms in the fall, spring, and summer terms is the first two-three (2 – 3) instructional days of the term, depending on the term.
 
During the add/drop period students may drop courses without academic penalty but students may add only courses that have not yet met. Enrollment in courses that have already met (including hybrid and online) is at the discretion of the department chair.

Students who register for a course but who do not attend a face-to-face class or log into and actively participate in an online course before the published deadline will be dropped from the course for not attending. No grade will be assigned for courses dropped for no attendance and a full refund of tuition and the enrollment fee will be processed. Courses dropped during the add/drop period will not appear on transcripts.

Students may be reinstated in a class at the discretion of the department chair.

Additional information about dropping and adding courses can be found at the SCC website Dropping and Adding Classes page.

SCC defines academic integrity as both the practice and commitment to defending academic honesty, personal responsibility, and respect for one's own and others' intellectual work. SCC expects every member of the College community to support, promote and enforce academic integrity, which is fundamental to the mission of the College.

All forms of academic misconduct including, but not limited to, cheating on tests, plagiarism, collusion, and falsification of information will call for discipline. Alleged violations will be handled according to the College procedures presented in the  SCC Student Planner and Handbook.

If a student believes that a grade was assigned in error, the student must request a review of the grade by the instructor within one term for which the grade was assigned.

Spartanburg Community College believes that a barrier-free learning environment is essential for students with disabilities to reach their potential to lead autonomous lives.

Spartanburg Community College is committed to providing such an environment. Students with a special need should contact contact:

SCC coordinator of Student Disability Services at

(864) 592-4818 or (864) 592-4748 for TDD 

P. Dan Hull Building, room E-30B.

Upon receiving appropriate documentation, an accommodation plan will be developed and instructors will be notified. Parking spaces designated for students who are physically disabled are conveniently located near each building.

If a student ever feels that there is something unreasonable or unfair in any course at Spartanburg Community College, it is the student’s responsibility to first discuss the matter in private with his or her instructor. If after meeting with the instructor, the student believes the matter to be unresolved, then he or she may request a meeting with the Department Chair. If, after meeting with the department chair, the student still believes that the issue has not been fully addressed, then he or she may request a meeting with the administrators listed below, in this order. Any concern MUST follow this chain of command.

• Instructor of Course
• Department Chair
• Dean
• Associate Vice President of Instruction
• Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Under certain circumstances it may be necessary to in initiate the formal grievance process. For more information, students should refer to Student Grievance Procedure in the SCC Student Planner and Handbook.

The instructor is available for help during posted hours and by appointment during other non-class hours. Each student is encouraged to seek assistance from the instructor. To further the educational process, the campus libraries and Tutorial Learning Centers (TLCs) are available for student use. Each resource provides qualified staff and up-to-date equipment and facilities to promote academic success. The TLC’s provide free one-on-one and group tutoring services without an appointment, computing resources, workshops, study aids, a quiet study room and other instructional support. The library provides information resources, individual and group study space, research assistance, information literacy instruction, and computing resources. Each facility provides free wireless access to the Internet. The Spartanburg Community College Library and TLC hours of operation are posted at each facility and on the college website.

The information technology resources provided by Spartanburg Community College (this includes, but is not limited to, computers, the SCC Local Area and Wide Area Networks, and the Internet) is for academic purposes. Use of these resources is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use can result in revocation or suspension of this privilege

Spartanburg Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin/ethnic origin, veteran status or disability in its admission policies, programs, activities or employment practices. The college complies with the provisions of Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Higher Education Amendments of 1986; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended; the South Carolina Human Affairs Law of 1972; and with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990; as well as the ADA Amendments of 2008 (ADAAA).

For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, students should contact Dr. DeAndre Howard, Dean of Student Engagement at howardd@sccsc.edu, located on the Giles Campus in the Dan L. Terhune Building. For any ADA concerns, please contact Josh Holmes, ADA Coordinator, at holmesj@sccsc.edu. Employees and prospective employees should contact Human Resources at (864) 592-4617, located on the Giles Campus in the James P. Ledbetter Building, room 210.