NEW MEXICO JUNIOR COLLEGE Student Handbook The New Mexico Junior College (NMJC) Student Handbook is intended to supplement the material in the current New Mexico Junior College Catalog. Students are responsible for acquainting themselves with the policies and procedures outlined in the Student Handbook, Catalog, and official emails, as well as other official publications. The codes and policies within the Student Handbook set forth the rights and responsibilities of NMJC students; outlines the standards for conduct; provides the types of interim measures and sanctions which may be imposed for a violation; provides a prompt and fair fact-finding hearing, as well as an objective review process if students elect to appeal the outcome of the fact-finding hearing. The authority to enact and to enforce regulations of the College is vested in the Board of Trustees. The responsibility for enforcing regulations and imposing penalties is delegated to the President and any college officials the President may designate. The Office of the Vice President for Student Services is the principal agency for the administration of student discipline Questions concerning the policies and procedures in the NMJC Student Handbook should be directed to: Office of the Dean of Students Ben Alexander Student Learning Center New Mexico Junior College 1 Thunderbird Circle Hobbs, NM 88240 Policies in the NMJC Student Handbook are subject to change. 1 New Mexico Junior College 1Thunderbird Circle Hobbs, NM 88240 575.392.4510 www.nmjc.edu No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefit of, or be subject to discrimination, under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by New Mexico Junior College on any basis prohibited by applicable law, including, but not limited to, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies related to students: Vice President for Student Services, New Mexico Junior College, 1 Thunderbird Circle, Hobbs, New Mexico 88240, (575)492-2761 Students who have disabilities and need assistance should contact Student Accessibility Services, Ben Alexander Student Learning Center, 575.492.2577. Please check the NMJC World Wide Web Home Page at http://www.nmjc.edu for periodic updates and most current information. Published Fall 2019 for the 2019-2020 academic year. 2 Table of Contents Section I General Information Communications to Students ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5 College Name, Documents, and Records …………………………………………………………………………………………………6 Copyright Policy for Students ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6 Disciplinary Authority ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6 Emergency Contact Information ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7 Free Speech …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7 Food and Drinks in the Classroom …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7 Hazing Policy for Students ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy ………………………………………………………………………………………7 Liability ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9 Notice of Non-discrimination and Equal Opportunity ……………………………………………………………………………..9 NMJC Complaint Policy and Process ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..10 Photo/Video Release Form ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11 Public Information and Advertising ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….12 Racial Harassment Policy ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………12 Smoking/Use of Tobacco ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………12 Solicitation on Campus ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….13 Students with Contagious Diseases ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….13 Voter Registration …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13 Section II Campus Safety, Transportation, Traffic, and Parking Annual Fire Safety Report ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..13 Campus Security/Public Safety ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14 Crime Awareness ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….14 Missing Student Notification Procedures ………………………………………………………………………………………………15 Safety Technology …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………17 Student/Critical Incident Information ……………………………………………………………………………………………………17 3 CARE Team ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19 Transportation, Traffic, and Parking ………………………………………………………………………………………………………20 Section III Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities of Students Rights and Responsibilities of Students …………………………………………………………………………………………………22 Core Values and Behavioral Expectations ……………………………………………………………………………………………..23 Student Code of Conduct ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………24 Section IV Academic Policy Academic Integrity ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..35 Section V Alcohol and Drug Policy Drug Free Schools and Communities Act ………………………………………………………………………………………………37 Amnesty for Alcohol and Drug Emergencies …………………………………………………………………………………………40 Consequences of Abuse Associated with the Use of Drugs and Alcohol ………………………………………………..42 Self-Assessment: An Alcohol and Drug Abuse Questionnaire ………………………………………………………………..44 Drug and Alcohol Addiction Resources ………………………………………………………………………………………………….45 Section VI Student Life Campus Housing ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………57 Food Service …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………54 Intramural Activities ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..55 Performing Arts …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….55 Student Clubs & Organizations ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..55 Student Travel ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………57 Section VII Service and Assistance Animals on Campus Service and Assistance Animals …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….57 Assistance Animal Policy and Agreement for Campus Housing ……………………………………………………………..59 Reasonable Accommodation Procedures for Campus Housing ……………………………………………………………..66 Section VIII Title IX Policy: Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Discrimination ....……………………………………………………………..69 What Can You Do About Sexual Violence? …………….……………………………………………………………………………124 Section IX New Mexico Junior College Map ……….………………………………………………………………………………………………128 4 Section I General Information Communications to Students NMJC provides an email address to all registered students and uses email as an official means of sending information to students. NMJC email shall be considered an appropriate delivery method for official communication by NMJC with students unless otherwise prohibited by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations. Official communications include reminders of important dates such as deadlines to pay tuition and fees, to apply for graduation, disciplinary notices etc. Student Responsibilities • Students are responsible for checking their official student e-mail regularly (at least twice a week). • Students must be aware of mailbox capacity and insure there is sufficient space in their accounts. • Students must recognize that certain communications may be time-critical. • Students may forward e-mail from their NMJC account to another e-mail account at their own risk. • Students will not be held responsible for college e-mail system malfunctions that limit their access to time critical information. College Responsibilities • The Computer Services Department is responsible for creating and maintaining e-mail accounts. • The content of e-mail communications is the responsibility of the originating department. • The College will not use e-mail to transmit sensitive or confidential information. • Students should report problems with their student e-mail accounts or Internet to the Computer Services Department by emailing [email protected] or by calling (575) 492- 2500. Related Policies and/or Information • Student Records Policy (in accordance to confidentiality and privacy of records) can be found in the NMJC Catalog www.nmjc.edu/aboutnmjc/catalog.asp and NMJC Student Handbook www.nmjc.edu/resource_service/student_handbook/index.aspx. • The Computer Usage Policy www.nmjc.edu/resource_service/library/Library_policies.aspx. College Name, Documents, and Records The use of the College’s name by any person or organization in connection with any program or activity or any unauthorized use of College documents, records, or seal is prohibited without the prior written permission from the Office of the President. 5 Copyright Policy for Students The unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, is against federal copyright laws. 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. Violators of civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages not less than $750 or more than $30,000 per work infringed. “Willful” copyright infringement carries a civil penalty up to $150,000 per work infringed and a criminal penalty of imprisonment up to five years and fines up to $250,000 per offense. See Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. For more information, see the U.S. Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov, especially their FAQ’s at www.copyright.gov/help/faq. Copyright infringement, including