GRCC Campus Policies

GRCC Campus Policies

Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit discrimination with respect to individuals with disabilities. Any student, employee or staff who believes he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of disability should immediately bring the problem to the attention of the person(s) so designated under this procedure.

Grand Rapids Community College is committed to providing appropriate accommodations for students and staff with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

GRCC’s Disability Support Services provides academic support to qualified students with documented disabilities. Any student requesting an academic accommodation must schedule a meeting with Disability Support Services and provide documentation of disability and to complete the appropriate paperwork.
 

• GRCC, through Disability Support Services, has the responsibility to provide every qualified student with a disability the following:
• Equal access to educational and co-curricular programs, services, activities, and facilities available throughout the college.
• Reasonable and effective accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids, determined on a case-by-case basis.
• Confidentiality of academic and disability information, except as required by law or with the written permission of the student.

Faculty or staff requiring accommodations should discuss their needs with their supervisor and/or Human Resources Generalist. The Office of the General Counsel and/or the Director of Accessibility will serve as a resource to all parties during this process. In most cases, the employee will be asked to submit documentation of the qualifying disability and requested accommodations in writing. Documentation of the qualifying disability should be from the medical practitioner who diagnosed the disability or who is providing care related to the disability. In reviewing requests for ADA accommodations, every effort will be made to keep all communications confidential.

ADA Coordinators

The following coordinators have been designated to carry out responsibilities under the ADA:

1. Director of Equal Opportunity Compliance; Mable Engle, (616) 234-2120
2. Disability Support Services Coordinator, Room 368, Student Center, (616) 234-4142.
3. Director of Facilities, 225 Bostwick Avenue NE, (616) 234-3950

Annual Security Report

A copy of the GRCC’s Annual Security Report (ASR) is available for review.  This report is required by the federal law and contains statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain non-campus buildings or property owned and controlled by GRCC; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.  The ASR also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual misconduct, emergency procedures, and other matters.  This report is available online at annual-security-report. You can also request a hard copy by visiting the GRCC Police. If you would like to receive a printed copy of the ASR, you can stop by the GRCC Police Department at 25 Lyon Street NE or you can request a copy be mailed to you by calling (616) 234-4012. 

Children in the Classroom and on Campus

1. Classroom Policy
GRCC prohibits bringing children to class and/or leaving them unattended on campus, such as halls, the library, the student center, or computer labs.

2. Campus Policy
Children accompanying visitors, employees, or students of Grand Rapids Community College must be under the constant supervision of a responsible adult while on GRCC property or on the site of any approved off-campus class or other GRCC event.

Children in the Classroom & on Campus Policy

Comprehensive Outcomes/Student Right to Know Reporting

Institutional Graduation/Completion and Transfer-out Rates

Grand Rapids Community College is pleased to provide the following information regarding the college’s graduation/completion and transfer-out rates. The information is provided in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, as amended. Complete student outcomes data can be seen at our website and are updated annually. See: About Us-Student Consumer Information-Student Outcomes at Completion and Transfer-out Rates. 

Questions about GRCC’s Student Outcomes data should be directed to:

Mark Champion, Information Analyst
Institutional Research and Planning
mchampio@grcc.edu

Concealed Weapons Policy

Possession or use of firearms, explosives or weapons or anything that is intended to be construed as a weapon is not permitted on College property.

Weapons Policy

Consumer Information

Consumer Information may be obtained through the website at studentconsumerinformation

Copyright

“Copyright is a constitutionally conceived property right, which is designed to promote the progress of science and the useful arts by securing for an author the benefits of his or her original work of authorship for a limited time. This statute balances the author’s interest against the public interest in dissemination and reproduction of information” (as stated in the GRCC Copyright Policy). This means that unless you wrote it, painted it, created it, etc., it is against the law for you to claim any part of an article, Web site, sculpture, movie, dance, etc., as your own work. If you want to use some part of another person’s work, you must give him/her credit for that content. In some cases, you must get permission from the copyright holder.

Copyright Policy

Criminal Background Checks

While the college does not run criminal background checks on all students, we have a number of secondary admission processes, program requirements, practicum experiences and/or involvement opportunities that will require a background check for admission/acceptance.

Criminal Background Check Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity

(616) 234-3169 or (616) 234-2120

Grand Rapids Community College creates an inclusive learning and working environment that recognizes the value and dignity of each person.

It is the policy and practice of GRCC to provide equal educational and employment opportunities regardless of age, race, color, religion, marital status, sex/gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, height, weight, national origin, disability, political affiliation, familial status, veteran status or genetics in all programs, activities, services, employment and advancement including admissions to, access to, treatment in, or compensation in employment as required by state and federal law.

GRCC is committed to reviewing all aspects of GRCC programs, activities, services and employment, including recruitment, selection, retention and promotion to identify and eliminate barriers in order to prevent discrimination on the basis of the listed protected characteristics.

The college will not tolerate any form of retaliation against any person for bringing charges of discrimination or participating in an investigation.

Ethics Concerns

The Ethics Monitoring System has been designed to provide students, staff, and members of the community with multiple means of reporting concerns regarding possible ethics violations. Every person has a responsibility to report facts giving rise to possible ethics violations to enable the college to conduct a prompt investigation and implement a timely and appropriate response. Examples of ethics concerns include but are not limited to the following:

• Use of college position or college resources for personal gain

• Actions that place the college at risk

• Plagiarism

• Fraud

• Sexual Harassment

• Retaliation

• Intimidation

• Misuse of College Resources

• Gross Misrepresentation

• Discrimination

• Bullying

GRCC is committed to investigate and resolve all complaints. Any student may file a complaint. Complaints will be dealt with in confidence unless the circumstances are such that a formal investigation is required.

To report ethics concerns: 

·        Contact the GRCC Ethics Hotline at (616) 234-3169

·        Report information to the Human Resources Department (ext. 3971)

·        Report the incident to Campus Police (ext. 4010)

·        Report incidents regarding students to any of the above or the Student Conduct Office (ext. 3449)

·        Send a written statement of facts to the Office of the General Counsel

·        Contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Office (ext. 2120)

GRCC Ethics Monitoring System Brochure

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Notification to Students of Rights

Policy Statement

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law protecting the privacy of student education records. Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) is subject to federal regulations under FERPA and is committed to student privacy and access to their educational records as defined under the law.

Privacy and Access to Student Records (FERPA)

GRCC provides information to students on their rights under FERPA on their website at grcc.edu/privacy and in the Catalog. In addition, GRCC mails a postcard to all enrolled students in the Fall and Winter academic semester which includes the web address where students may navigate to review their rights. A student may request a paper copy of their rights under FERPA from Student Records.

Harassment Policy

The College is committed to providing an academic and work environment that respects the dignity of individuals and groups. All forms of unlawful harassment are contrary to basic standards of acceptable conduct between individuals. For purposes of this policy, harassment means unlawful conduct related to a protected status which is prohibited under state and federal law or College Policy. Harassment is prohibited by state and federal law, as well as this policy, and will not be tolerated.

The College shall be free of all forms of harassment in all of its educational programs and activities. All employees and students have the right to learn and work in an environment free from harassment.

This policy applies to all aspects of the academic and work environment including, but not limited to, classroom conditions, grades, academic standing, employment opportunities, scholarships, recommendations, disciplinary actions, and participation in any community college activity. In addition, this policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, disciplinary action, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, training opportunities and compensation.

Harassment Policy

Late Semester Hardship Withdrawal

Right to Use Photographs

Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) reserves the right to use photographs and video, taken either in class or on the GRCC campus, of GRCC students and/or their art, in perpetuity for the purposes of instruction, advertising and promotion of GRCC and its programs. Students, or parents of students who are minors, who do not wish to comply with this policy must notify the Student Records Office in writing when they register.

Sexual Misconduct

Members of the college community, guests and visitors have the right to be free from all forms of gender and sex-based discrimination, examples of which include acts of sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual exploitation and stalking. All members of the campus community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. This policy prohibits any sexual activity that does not have the clear consent of all parties involved.

GRCC will provide appropriate programming to promote the awareness of sexual misconduct for all employees and incoming students. This program will include information regarding safe and positive options for bystander intervention and information on risk reduction.

Sexual Misconduct Policy

Service Animals

GRCC will abide by applicable state and federal laws related to allowing Service Animals on campus. GRCC will allow Service Animals who meet Service Animal Training Requirements to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. GRCC will appropriately modify any policies, practices, or procedures which may prevent an individual from utilizing a Service Animal, unless to do so would fundamentally alter the nature of the service or program GRCC is providing or would be a violation of a legitimate safety requirement. GRCC will respect the privacy of individuals using Service Animals, and will limit inquiry to the Permissible Questions described in the policy.

Service Animal Policy

Student Code of Conduct

Policy Statement

Students attending GRCC are responsible for adhering to GRCC’s Student Code of Conduct, rules and regulations, college policies and for compliance with all local, state and federal laws.

Code of Conduct Policy

The mission of the Student Code of Conduct Office is to promote and maintain a civil learning environment by holding students accountable to the expectations of the College. Through the management of the Code of Conduct, we educate students in support of their success in order to foster a respectful community.

GRCC expects students to be responsible, respectful, civil adults and the Code of Conduct exists to help maintain the learning environment on campus.

All enrolled students are held responsible for the Code of Conduct. We suggest all students make themselves familiar with these expectations.

Student Email Policy

Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) provides an email service for all students to use. Upon enrollment, GRCC students are required to use this college issued account for all GRCC email correspondences (sending and receiving). This email account will be used for official notification by the college related to matters such as, but not limited to, financial aid, registration, and payments. The college will not respond to emails that are sent from current students’ personal email accounts.

Student Email Policy

Tobacco Free Environment

Effective November 20, 2008, Grand Rapids Community College became Tobacco Free. GRCC is committed to protecting the health of students, staff, faculty and guests by prohibiting the use and/or sale of tobacco products on all GRCC properties. No person shall use, chew, smoke or sell tobacco products at any time or in any place on GRCC properties, including sidewalks within the boundaries of any GRCC campus. This policy shall extend to all properties owned, operated, leased or maintained by GRCC, including all Regional Centers, M-TEC properties, Learning Corner properties, the McCabe-Marlowe House, parking lots and ramps, including inside personal vehicles and Grand Rapids Community College vehicles. Tobacco products include tobacco used for any purpose including but not limited to: cigar, cigarette, and pipe smoking, and smokeless tobacco. Students shall not use, chew, smoke or sell tobacco products at any time while subject to the jurisdiction of the GRCC Student Code of Conduct.

Transgender Equal Opportunity

GRCC is committed to a College culture that respects and values all students and employees, and fosters understanding of gender identity within the College community. All students and employees will adhere to procedures established in connection with this policy to ensure a safe working and learning environment, free of discrimination and harassment, which promotes the educational and social well being of transgender students and employees.

Transgender Equal Opportunity Policy

Preferred Name

A preferred name may be used by a student who prefers to use a name other than their legal name throughout their time at GRCC. If you need to submit a preferred name change request, per GRCC’s Transgender Equal Opportunity policy, you should complete the GRCC Preferred First Name Change Request form and submit it to the Student Records Office.