2016 – 2017 RVC COLLEGE CATALOG Welcome to Rock Valley College! On behalf of everyone at Rock Valley College, it is my pleasure to welcome you and to thank you for letting us play a part in your life’s journey. For more than 50 years RVC has been helping students like you continue on their path as they pursue higher education. No matter if your goal is to earn a certificate or an associate degree, or to gain the skills and experiences necessary to transition immediately into the workforce, or to transfer to a four-year institution, we are glad you have chosen Rock Valley College. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit our beautiful Main Campus in northeast Rockford, or any of our sites throughout the community. We have a long-standing commitment to provide world-class instruction in state-of-the-art facilities, to best prepare our learners. I am confident that you will find our instruction, staff, programs, and facilities to be of the highest quality. We challenge, support and inspire students to take the education, skills, and training they receive here and to use it to improve their lives and our community. Welcome to Rock Valley College. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon. Sincerely, Mike Mastroianni President, Rock Valley College President Mike Mastroianni - see more about the RVC Foundation’s “Give A Buck” Campaign on page 8. 1 2016 – 2017 RVC COLLEGE CATALOG CONTENTS Rock Valley College (RVC) Acronyms ....... Inside Front Cover Student Services ............................... 23-32 • Student Services ............................ 24-25 Welcome .......................................... 1-10 • Bookstore ...................................... 25 • Letter from the RVC President .................. 1 • Library ......................................... 26 • Contents ......................................... 2 • Tutoring Services ............................... 26 • Accreditation & Recognition, Vision Statement, • Campus Technology ........................... 27 Mission Statement, • RVC Alerts ..................................... 28 Core Values, • RVCPD ......................................... 28 General Education Statement of Philosophy, • Student Life .................................... 29 Institutional Student Learning Outcomes • Athletics ........................................ 30 Catalog Disclaimer .............................. 3 • Rights & Responsibilities .................... 30-32 • Board of Trustees, Nondiscrimination Clause, • Transitional Opportunities & Education: Sexual & Other Harassment Policy .............. 4 — Adult Education — Office of Employment & Grants/ • RVC Accreditation Agencies (List), Workforce Development .................... 32 Memberships, High Schools within College District No. 511 .... 5 Transfer Degrees .............................. 33-46 • Phone Directory ................................. 7 General Studies Degree ......................... 45 • Rock Valley College Foundation ................. 8 Career & Technical Education Programs ...... 47-94 • About the College: Stats, Social Media, Course Descriptions .......................... 95-164 — Intercollegiate Sports, and Current Facilities .... 9 — Key Dates/Historical Timeline ................ 10 Career & Technical Education/Outreach .. 165-168 Getting Started ................................ 11-22 Administration & Academic Affairs ......... 169-177 Administration ......................................... 169 • Admission ................................... 12-14 Academic Affairs • Records & Registration .......................... 15 – Deans .............................................. 169 • Tuition & Fees ............................... 16-17 – Faculty & Sciences Support Staff ............. 169-175 • Financial Aid ................................ 17-18 – Support Staff ...................................... 176 Emeritus Administration/Faculty/Staff ................ 177 • Academic Policies & Procedure ............. 19-20 • Grading ..................................... 20-21 Index ......................................... 178-179 • Graduation ..................................... 22 Maps – Campus Locations (in Rockford, Illinois) ....... 180 – Main Campus ............... Inside Back Cover 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61114-5699 | (815) 921-7821 • (800) 973-7821 | RockValleyCollege.edu 2 2016 – 2017 RVC COLLEGE CATALOG WELCOME Accreditation & Recognition General Education Rock Valley College is recognized by many national, regional, Statement of Philosophy and state agencies. The college is accredited by The Higher The General Education Program at Rock Valley College is Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and habits reflected in Association of Colleges and Schools. Rock Valley is recognized the lives of educated persons and basic to all professions so that by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and by the Illinois RVC students are capable of leading rewarding and responsible Community College Board (ICCB). lives as productive, global citizens. The General Education Program offers varied opportunities for students “to develop the breadth of knowledge and the expressive skills essential to more complex and in-depth learning throughout life” (adapted from Mission Statement the Illinois Articulation Initiative, 2000). With this philosophy as Rock Valley College empowers students and community through our focus, our general education courses are designed to help lifelong learning. students achieve the following learning outcomes. Vision Statement Rock Valley College empowers the community to grow as a Institutional Student Learning Outcomes society of learners through well-designed educational pathways, Rock Valley College students will demonstrate the following skills leading to further education, rewarding careers, cultural and characteristics: enrichment, and economic-technological development. • Analytic Reasoning: Students will form logical inferences, judgments, or conclusions from facts or premises related to topics encountered in the classroom, workplace, and daily life. Core Values • Communication: Students will exchange ideas effectively in a Learner-Centered Community variety of settings. Rock Valley College is dedicated to providing affordable lifelong • Global Awareness and Responsibility: Students will develop the learning opportunities that foster student success. knowledge and skills required to responsibly interact with social Mutual Respect and natural communities, both locally and globally. At all times, Rock Valley College upholds the dignity of each • Personal Responsibility: Students will accept responsibility individual by being ethical, respectful, fair, and courteous in for their personal and professional wellness and development, communications and actions. positioning themselves for life-long learning. Excellence Details about how students demonstrate these Rock Valley College maintains high expectations for teaching learning outcomes can be found at: and learning and holds itself accountable for promoting RockValleyCollege.edu/StudentLearningOutcomes. continuous improvement. Diversity Rock Valley College promotes, celebrates, and embraces differences, including cultural and ethnic diversity and diversity Catalog Disclaimer of thought. The information/content in this catalog is accurate as of Collaboration February 16, 2016 and is subject to change without prior notice Rock Valley College fosters innovative, enriching partnerships or obligation. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the within the college community and among others that serve information in this catalog and to keep informed as additions and the region. corrections are announced. Innovation Please check online for latest updates: Rock Valley College is a forward thinking institution that explores RockValleyCollege.edu/Catalog creative approaches for the future. Public Trust Rock Valley College honors and upholds its commitment to the community through integrity of actions and efficient use of resources. Mission & Vision Statements and Core Values Board Report #7228 Revised/Updated July 28, 2015 3 2016 – 2017 RVC COLLEGE CATALOG WELCOME Rock Valley College Board of Trustees* Ashley Burks Patrick Murphy Michael P. Dunn Jr. Bob Trojan Frank Haney Alexander Day, Student Trustee Lynn Kearney, Secretary Mike Mastroianni, President Katherine M. Kelly, Chair * Board as of January 26, 2016 Nondiscrimination Clause It is the policy of Rock Valley College to provide equal opportunity in its admissions, employment, and educational programs and activities consistent with federal and state law. Discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, order of protection status, sexual orientation, including but not limited to gender-related identity discrimination, veteran status, or unfavorable military discharge, use of lawful products while not at work, genetic information, or other legally protected categories. • Title IV Consumer Information Mr. James Heller, Director, Financial Aid (815) 921-4158 [email protected] • Title IX and Section 504/ADA Compliance Officer – Employees Ms. Jessica Jones, Vice President of Human Resources (815) 921-4755 [email protected] • Title IX Coordinator – Students Rick Daniels, M.S.Ed. Interim Dean of Students (815) 921-4187 [email protected] • Section 504 Coordinator – Students