Catalog 2010 - 2012 201 Community College Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70806 225.216.8000 / 1.800.601.4558 imagine what you can do! www.mybrcc.edu Baton Rouge Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Baton Rouge Community College. CATALOG POLICY This catalog is designed to provide students with vital information about Baton Rouge Community College. Each student is responsible for knowing the informa- tion appearing in this catalog. Failure to read the regulations is not an excuse for noncompliance. Rules and regulations described in this catalog have been adopted by the faculty and administration. Should a student find that extenuating circumstances might justify the waiver of a particular college regulation, the student may file a petition with the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs in accordance with established proce- dures. This catalog is not intended to be a complete statement of all procedures, policies, rules, and regulations. The college reserves the right to change, without notice, any academic or other requirements, course offerings, content, programs, proce- dures, rules and regulations or fees as needed. The provisions of the catalog are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between the student and the col- lege. However, students are governed by the catalog in effect at the time of their admission to the college. The College The Mission The mission of Baton Rouge Community College is to identify and meet the educational and workforce needs of our community through innovative, accessible, and dynamic programs. Vision Baton Rouge Community College aspires to be the leader in providing world-class educational opportunities for our community. World class is: • Excellence in teaching • Access for all, and • A sustaining resource for the economic development for the state of Louisiana. Core Values INTEGRITY • Promote the highest level of ethical behavior and professionalism. • Commit to a sense of honesty and fairness. DIVERSITY/RESPECT • Acknowledge the dignity, the equality and the value of every individual. • Encourage individual differences of opinions, thoughts, and ideas. TEAMWORK/RESPONSIBILITY • Promote excellence and quality in programs and services. • Provide opportunities to work together to further excellence, efficiency and growth. ACCESSIBILITY • Provide and open environment that promotes equal opportunities. • Maintain a safe, barrier-free environment. 3 Governance Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Stephen Smith Shriever Board Chair Vincent St. Blanc Franklin First Vice Chair Michael Murphy Bogalusa Second Vice Chair Edwards Barham ..........................................Oak Ridge Helen Bridges Carter ................................Greensburg Tommy Clark ................................................Bossier City Keith Gamble ............................................... Shreveport Brett Mellington .............................................Lafayette Woody Ogé ......................................................Avondale Dan Packer .................................................New Orleans Paul Price ........................................................Winnsboro F. “Mike” Stone ..........................................New Orleans Deni Grissette .......................................................Sunset Allen Scott Terrill ........................................Bossier City Stephen Toups .........................................Baton Rouge Student Member Brock Dubois ...................................................Abbeville Anna Hernandez ...............................................Sulphur 1 Chancellor’s Message As an institution that strives for excellence, we recognize that quality is an at- tribute of that standard. Quality demands adherence to robust criteria in order to be of significant worth. Quality demands examination and revision where necessary, to keep pace with the requirements of a rapidly changing world. Quality demands flexibility in order to meet the needs of a diverse population with widely varying ideas and goals. It is for these reasons that we are excited to present our updated catalog: it is a reflection of our commitment to both quality and excellence. We not only have new courses and programs of study; we have also revised our existing programs to ensure their educational rigor and value to our students in pursuit of academic, career, or lifelong learning goals. This catalog is also a reflection of our responsibility as a member of our state, national, and world community. We continue to work alongside our partners in education, business, and industry to ensure that the education we provide our students is well-suited to the demands of their future path – wherever it may take them. An integral part of our tradition is recognizing the diversity of the students we serve. We understand that not only do different people have different goals – they also take differing paths to accomplish those goals. Our programs and curricula are continually being examined to ensure that they provide students flexibility both in obtaining the education they need and in utilizing it to achieve their objectives. Our educational philosophy is based on the invitation to explore new possibili- ties – to “imagine what you can do.” We are excited to continue the tradition of providing a foundation for our students to launch into their dreams…and we encourage you to join us! Myrtle E. B. Dorsey, Ph.D. Chancellor, Baton Rouge Community College 2 Innovation, Evolution, Revolution The Story of Baton Rouge Community College Baton Rouge Community College BRCC established a strong academic (BRCC) was born from a 1994 De- foundation by instituting several segregation Settlement Agreement degree programs: Liberal Arts, between Louisiana and the U.S. General Studies, and Science (includ- Department of Justice in an effort ing two Applied Sciences programs). to eliminate remnants of a dual-race The college enhanced its available system in the state’s post-secondary programs with concentrations that educational structure. The college of- would better serve specific career ficially opened its doors on August 20, educational needs of students. The 1998, expecting an estimated enroll- college’s establishment of robust and ment of 700 students. Instead, faculty diverse academic curricula enabled and staff were shocked to find almost it to pursue and obtain full accredita- triple that number – 1,866 enrollees – tion from the Southern Association of waiting. Colleges and Schools (SACS) in 2004. An associate-degree nursing program The first year was only the begin- was established in 2007, and addi- ning. By 1999, BRCC, described by the tional consideration is being given to Baton Rouge Advocate as “bursting fields such as interpreter preparation, at the seams,” found itself on a razor’s radiation therapy, construction man- edge, racing to meet the needs of an agement, and even biotechnology. ever-growing, widely varying student population: traditional, non-tradi- As an adaptable institution largely un- tional, special-needs, first-generation, burdened by tradition, BRCC has been and continuing-education students able to explore unique opportunities – all reflecting the diverse residents in fields such as film and animation, within the eight-parish area it served. video-game design, studio arts, and The college’s wild success enabled entertainment technology. The it to secure alternative financing to college has also been able to establish accomplish the quick construction a convention of using and adapting of additional facilities as demand cutting-edge equipment and pro- skyrocketed. cesses to increase teacher effective- 4 ness, enhance teaching practices, and growing statewide, national, and strengthen learning and knowledge international representation. Despite retention. the College’s incredible growth and its continual development, its mission is BRCC’s 2009 fall enrollment exceeded unchanged: To exhibit excellence in 8,104 students. The college is already teaching, allow access for all, and be a looking to the future, with a plan sustaining resource in the economic that will result in the construction of development of the state of Louisiana. new buildings and the capacity to These principles guide Baton Rouge service 10,000 students, projected to Community College as it continues occur in 2012. Originally designated to expand, develop, and evolve in as- to serve its local eight-parish area, suming its rightful place as an BRCC has found itself evolving into academic capital of learning for the a major center of education, with a 21st century. diverse student body that reflects Myrtle E.B. Dorsey, Ph.D., Chancellor, BRCC Bradley Ebersole, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, BRCC Maxine Rogers, Former Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, BRCC Brodrick Hampton, Writer/Editor (Public Relations), BRCC 5 Table of Contents Governance ........................................................................................ 1 Chancellor’s Message ........................................................................ 2 The College Mission ....................................................................................................................................3 Vision .......................................................................................................................................3