STUDENT SERVICES

Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities

Okaloosa-Walton Community College serves all persons legally out of grades K-12 without regard to age, color, creed, handicap, marital status, national origin, race, religion, or sex. However, the college reserves the right to deny admission to any program for applicants categorized in the section on ¨Controlled Admissions¨ in this college catalog. By applying for admission to Okaloosa-Walton Community College, the student agrees upon enrollment to abide by college policies and regulations published in its policy statements, current catalog, official manuals, and publications. Students are expected to be committed to the common good of the college community and to comply with local, state and federal law.

Each member of the college community is expected to participate seriously and purposefully in college life. While the freedom to express ideas and beliefs will be respected, conduct and behavior that result in the defacement of property, intimidation of others, or the disruption of any college activity will not be tolerated or permitted and will be subject to penalty. Instructors explain classroom requirements, and students are expected to assume full responsibility for their actions. 

Classroom Activity, Behavior, and Attendance. The college recognizes that a thoughtful and reasoned search for truth can be conducted only in an atmosphere free of intimidation and coercion. Students are expected to respect the rights and welfare of all members of the college community and to exercise common sense, good taste, and applied reason when testing their knowledge.

Students are free to take reasonable exception to data and views offered in the classroom and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for satisfying the requirements of any course for which they are enrolled. So long as it is consistent with the goals and established policies of the college, the instructor has final authority in all matters relating to course content, grading practices, and classroom procedures.

Grades. Because the awarding of course grades is the responsibility of the instructor, it is essential that faculty members keep students informed of their progress in each course. A student has a right to a course grade that represents the instructor's professional judgment of the student's performance in the course, without personal prejudice. An instructor has a right to expect that the work presented for evaluation or submitted as classroom projects are that of the student acting alone without benefit of any aids or practices that are generally considered academically dishonest.

If a student believes that he/she has not been graded fairly in a course, an informal appeal may be made to the instructor. If a complaint is not resolved to the student's satisfaction, an appeal without prejudice to the student's position may be made to the department or division chairperson. The next level of appeal is to the Vice President for Instruction who may, if it is deemed advisable, refer the matter to an ad hoc hearing committee to assist in evaluating the appeal. Any further appeal may be made to the President, whose decision shall be final.

A student has a right to protection against the improper disclosure of information concerning grades, beliefs, or character which an instructor acquires in the course of the professional association with the student. An instructor has a right to deal with what is perceived to be academic dishonesty and such behavior may result in disciplinary action.

Attendance. Students are expected to attend all of their scheduled classes. The effect of absences upon grades is determined by the instructor who may recommend to the Vice President for Instruction a withdrawal grade whenever absences become excessive. Three consecutive day class absences, two consecutive evening class absences, or three absences in a month will be reported to the Registrar's Office as excessive. Further, each time a student has been tardy three times to a class, it will count as one absence.

Behavior. An instructor has the obligation to maintain order in the classroom to preserve the integrity of the learning environment. If the instructor feels that the behavior of a student is disturbing or otherwise interfering with instruction, then the student may be asked to leave the class. The student may be allowed to return to the next class meeting after consultation with the instructor. The instructor may have further consultation with the department chair and the Vice President for Instruction to determine if dismissal should be recommended. The student may appeal a dismissal decision to the President, whose ruling will be final. Furthermore, disruptive behavior may result in additional disciplinary action.