COLLEGE POLICIES
  1. Campus Operations: Health & Safety Protocols
    Operational areas of ACC campuses and centers are fully open and accessible through all public entrances. While some health & safety protocols are no longer mandatory, the college encourages its staff, faculty, and students to be mindful of the well-being of all individuals on campus. If you feel sick, feverish, or unwell, please do not come to campus.

    Some important things to remember:

    • If you have not done so, ACC encourages all students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available throughout the community. Visit www.vaccines.gov/ to find a vaccine location near you.
    • If you are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms, please get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible before returning to an ACC facility. Testing is now widely available.
    • If you test positive, please report it on the ACC self-reporting tool located here.
    • ACC continues to welcome face masks on campus. Per CDC guidelines, face masks remain a good way to protect yourself from COVID-19. The college cannot mandate indoor masking, but is encouraging it during this spike in cases as a result of the Delta variant.
    • The college asks that we all continue to respect the personal space of others. We are encouraging 3 feet of social distancing.
    • Please be sure to carry your student, faculty, or staff ID badge at all times while on campus.

    Because of the everchanging situation, please go to ACC’s Covid website at https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus?ref=audiencemenu for the latest updates and guidance.

  2. Statement on Academic Integrity
    Austin Community College values academic integrity in the educational process. Acts of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic mission of the institution. The potential consequences of fraudulent credentials raise additional concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of higher learning to certify students' academic achievements, and expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and skills of their graduates. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, falsifying documents, or the inappropriate use of the college’s information technology resources. Further information is available at https://www.austincc.edu/about-acc/academic-integrity-and-disciplinary-process

  3. Student Rights & Responsibilities
    Students at ACC have the same rights and protections under the Constitution of the United States. These rights include freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition and association. As members of the community, students have the right to express their own views, but must also take responsibility for according the same rights to others and not interfere or disrupt the learning environment. Students are entitled to fair treatment, are expected to act consistently with the values of the college, and obey local, state and federal laws. www.austincc.edu/srr.

    As a student of Austin Community College you are expected to abide by the Student Standards of Conduct. https://www.austincc.edu/students/students-rights-and-responsibilities/student-standards-of-conduct

  4. Senate Bill 212 and Title IX Reporting Requirements
    Under Senate Bill 212 (SB 212), the faculty and all College employees are required to report any information concerning incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking committed by or against an ACC student or employee. Federal Title IX law and College policy also require reporting incidents of sex- and gender-based discrimination and sexual misconduct. This means faculty and non-clinical counseling staff cannot keep confidential information about any such incidents that you share with them.

    If you would like to talk with someone confidentiality, please contact the District Clinical Counseling Team who can connect you with a clinical counselor on any ACC campus: (512) 223-2616, or to schedule online: https://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling . While students are not required to report, they are encouraged to contact the Compliance Office for resources and options: Charlene Buckley, District Title IX Officer, (512) 223-7964; compliance@austincc.edu .

    If a student makes a report to a faculty member, the faculty member will contact the District Title IX Officer for follow-up.

  5. Student Complaints
    A defined process applies to complaints about an instructor or other college employee. You are encouraged to discuss concerns and complaints with college personnel and should expect a timely and appropriate response. When possible, students should first address their concerns through informal conferences with those immediately involved; formal due process is available when informal resolution cannot be achieved.
    Student complaints may include (but are not limited to) issues regarding classroom instruction, college services and offices on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or disability.
    Further information about the complaints process, including the form used to submit complaints, is available at: >http://www.austincc.edu/students/students-rights-and-responsibilities/student-complaint-procedures

  6. Statement on Privacy
    The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects confidentiality of students’ educational records. Grades cannot be provided by faculty over the phone, by e-mail, or to a fellow student.
    All grades in this course will be posted on Blackboard. Only the student and the instructor have access to these grades.

  7. Recording Policy
    To ensure compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), student recording of class lectures or other activities is generally prohibited without the explicit written permission of the instructor and notification of other students enrolled in the class section. Exceptions are made for approved accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

    Recording of lectures and other class activities may be made by faculty to facilitate instruction, especially for classes taught remotely through Blackboard Collaborate or another platform. Participation in such activities implies consent for the student to be recorded during the instructional activity. Such recordings are intended for educational and academic purposes only.
  8. Safety Statement
    Health and safety are of paramount importance in classrooms, laboratories, and field activities. Students are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Emergency Procedures posters and Campus Safety Plans are posted in each classroom and should be reviewed at the beginning of each semester. All incidents (injuries/illness/fire/property damage/near miss) should be immediately reported to the course instructor. Additional information about safety procedures and how to sign up to be notified in case of an emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency
    Everyone is expected to conduct themselves professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual may be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity and will be referred to the Dean of Student Services for disciplinary action.
    In the event of disruption of normal classroom activities due to an emergency situation or an illness outbreak, the format for this course may be modified to enable completion of the course. In that event, students will be provided an addendum to the class syllabus that will supersede the original version.

  9. Use of ACC email
    All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account.  Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account. Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. Information about ACC email accounts, including instructions for accessing it, are available at: http://www.austincc.edu/help/accmail/questions-and-answers

  10. Campus Carry
    The Austin Community College District concealed handgun policy ensures compliance with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code (also known as the Campus Carry Law), while maintaining ACC’s commitment to provide a safe environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Beginning August 1, 2017, individuals who are licensed to carry (LTC) may do so on campus premises except in locations and at activities prohibited by state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy. In addition, concealed weapons are not allowed on ACC-sponsored field trips where the school owns or has chartered or leased vehicles for transportation.
    It is the responsibility of license holders to conceal their handguns at all times. Persons who see a handgun on campus are asked to contact the ACC Police Department by dialing 222 from a campus phone or 512-223-7999. Please refer to the concealed handgun policy online at http://austincc.edu/campuscarry

  11. Discrimination Prohibited
    The College seeks to maintain an educational environment free from any form of discrimination or harassment including but not limited to discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
    Faculty at the College are required to report concerns regarding sexual misconduct (including all forms of sexual harassment and sex and gender-based discrimination) to the Manager of Title IX/Title VI/ADA Compliance. Licensed clinical counselors are available across the District and serve as confidential resources for students.
    Additional information about Title VI, Title IX, and ADA compliance can be found in the ACC Compliance Resource Guide available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o55xINAWNvTYgI-fs-JbDyuaMFDNvAjz/view

  12. Use of the Testing Center
    All testing is currently online for this course. While campuses are closed, exams for courses will be online tests that students can take from home. For more information about online testing at ACC, visit the Online Testing resource page: https://www.austincc.edu/academic-and-career-programs/acconline/testing.

    For Fall, 2021, the Testing Centers will allow only limited in person testing and testing time will be limited to the standard class time, typically one and one-half hours.
      Specifically, only the following will be allowed in the Testing Centers:
    • Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Testing: All approved SAS testing
    • Assessments Tests: Institutionally approved assessment tests (e.g., TSIA or TABE)
    • Placement Tests: Placement tests (e.g., ALEKS)
    • Make-Up Exams (for students who missed the original test): Make-up testing is available for all lecture courses but will be limited to no more than 25% of students enrolled in each section for each of four tests
    • Programs incorporating industry certification exams: Such programs (e.g., Microsoft, Adobe, etc.) may utilize the ACC Business Assessment Center for the industry certification exams (BACT) at HLC or RRC

  13. Student Support Services
    The success of our students is paramount, and ACC offers a variety of support services to help, as well as providing numerous opportunities for community engagement and personal growth.
    1. Student Support
      ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services. Information on these campus services and resources is available at http://www.austincc.edu/students. A comprehensive array of student support services is available online at: https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/remote-student-support.

    2. Student Accessibiliity Services
      Austin Community College (ACC) is committed to providing a supportive, accessible, and inclusive learning environment for all students. Each campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of each semester they are enrolled, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed. Students who have received approval for accommodations from SAS for this course must provide the instructor with the legal document titled “Notice of Approved Accommodations (NAA)” from SAS. Until the instructor receives the NAA from the student accommodations should not be provided. Once the NAA is received, accommodations must be provided. Accommodations are not retroactive, so it is in the student’s best interest to deliver the NAA on the first day of class. Please contact SAS@austincc.edu for more information.

      Additional information about Student Accessibility Services is available at https://www.austincc.edu/offices/student-accessibility-services-and-assistive-technology

    3. Academic Support
      ACC offers academic support services on all of its campuses. These services, which include online tutoring, academic coaching, and supplemental instruction, are free to enrolled ACC students. Tutors are available in a variety of subjects ranging from accounting to pharmacology. Students may receive these services on both a drop-in and referral basis.

      An online tutor request can be made here:
      https://de.austincc.edu/bbsupport/online-tutoring-request/.

      Additional tutoring information can be found here:
      https://www.austincc.edu/onlinetutoring.

    4. Library Services
      ACC Library Services will be offering both in-person and extensive online services for Fall 2021, with research and assignment assistance available in-person during limited hours of service. Although all college services are subject to change this fall, plans include ACC students signing up for study space and use of computers at open libraries, extensive online instruction in classes, online reference assistance 24/7 and reference with ACC faculty librarians. In addition, currently enrolled students, faculty and staff can access Library Services online (also 24/7) via the ACC Library website and by using their ACCeID to access all online materials (ebooks, articles from library databases, and streaming videos). ACC Libraries offer these services in numerous ways such as: "Get Help from a Faculty Librarian: the 24/7 Ask a Librarian chat service," an online form for in-depth research Q and A sessions, one-on-one video appointments, email, and phone (voicemail is monitored regularly).
    5. Student Organizations
      ACC has over seventy student organizations, offering a variety of cultural, academic, vocational, and social opportunities. They provide a chance to meet with other students who have the same interests, engage in service-learning, participate in intramural sports, gain valuable field experience related to career goals, and much else. Student Life coordinates many of these activities, and additional information is available at http://sites.austincc.edu/sl/.

    6. Personal Support
      Resources to support students are available at every campus. To learn more, ask your professor or visit the campus Support Center. All resources and services are free and confidential. Some examples include, among others: Mental health counseling services are available throughout the ACC Student Services District to address personal and or mental health concerns: http://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling .

      If you are struggling with a mental health or personal crisis, call one of the following numbers to connect with resources for help. However if you are afraid that you might hurt yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately.

      Free Crisis Hotline Numbers:
      • Austin / Travis County 24 hour Crisis & Suicide hotline: 512-472-HELP (4357)
      • The Williamson County 24 hour Crisis hotline: 1-800-841-1255
      • Bastrop County Family Crisis Center hotline: 1-888-311-7755
      • Hays County 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660
      • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
      • Crisis Text Line: Text "home" to 741741
      • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
      • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline:1-800-950-NAMI (6264)