Student Handbook 2016 - 2017

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Mission Statement

Our Mission

West Georgia Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, supports student success, economic development, and the community by providing a skilled workforce through the delivery of relevant education and training opportunities.

Our Vision

We envision West Georgia Technical College as a model of innovation and excellence in technical education, recognized as an outstanding pathway to rewarding careers.

Our Role and Scope

West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) is a public, two-year, multi-campus technical college that provides quality education and promotes workforce development in the West Georgia region.

An open-access institution of higher education, the college serves traditional and nontraditional curriculum students who have a wide variety of educational goals, from personal enrichment to career development to university transfer. To help students meet their goals, WGTC offers associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates.

The curriculum includes programs in health sciences, trade and technology, business, and public service. WGTC students draw on knowledge from a broad range of disciplines to develop the communication and critical thinking skills that are fundamental to lifelong learning.

WGTC further promotes adult education and economic development through GED classes, ESL classes, continuing education courses, and corporate training for business and industry.

WGTC is committed to being accessible and responsive to community needs. To foster student success, WGTC provides quality education on many levels and comprehensive student support services. In addition to traditional instruction, WGTC’s flexible course offerings and alternative delivery methods, including online instruction, enable more members of the community to pursue higher education.

Our Core Values

  • Integrity
  • Professionalism
  • Student Success
  • Academic Excellence

Student Rights

West Georgia Technical College promotes a climate of academic integrity, critical inquiry, strong work ethic, intellectual freedom, and freedom of individual thought and expression consistent with the rights of others. The College protects the rights of its educational mission, vision, and purpose. Students have the right to the following:

  1. To be in an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and to attend WGTC educational programs, courses, offerings and activities on campus or any activity sponsored by WGTC off campus in accordance with WGTC policies and procedures.
  2. To obtain the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities in order to acquire skill competencies and obtain employment by participating in programs, courses, offerings and activities in accordance with WGTC policies and procedures.
  3. To develop intellectual, personal and social values.
  4. To due process procedures.
  5. To participate in institutional decision making in accordance with WGTC policies and procedures.
  6. To participate in approved student organizations in accordance with WGTC policies and procedures.
  7. To privacy as outlined in the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

General Education Outcomes

West Georgia Technical College stands committed to its mission to focus on the development of academic and technical competence; critical thinking skills; social, personal, and intellectual values; and an understanding of society. In recognition of the growing complexity of society and the workplace, West Georgia Technical College has identified general education outcomes expected of each graduate of its credit programs. These general education outcomes reflect the breadth and balance necessary for success in a global society and provide the foundation for students’ lifelong learning experiences. West Georgia’s general education outcomes are intended to foster the development of effective communication skills, mathematical reasoning skills, critical thinking abilities, information literacy, and respect for diversity that are vital for students’ success in today’s workplace and society. General education outcomes provide the tools to help students understand, in a critical and independent way, the issues and structures in which we are immersed and to develop learning skills that will equip students for a productive life in the 21st century.

  • Apply appropriate reading, writing, speaking, or listening skills to express ideas, and opinions.
  • Use everyday mathematical concepts and basic mathematical tools to obtain or convey information.
  • Develop critical thinking and reasoning skills for problem solving.
  • Individually or as a member of a group, use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.
  • Demonstrate ability to work effectively with people who have ideas, beliefs, attitudes, and/or behaviors that are different from his or her own.

Student Warranty

West Georgia Technical College provides a guarantee of quality to all graduates of diploma or degree programs. To demonstrate confidence in and commitment to quality technical education programs which are relevant, current, and responsive to the stated expectations of Georgia's businesses and industries, the Board of the Technical College System of Georgia will warrant every graduate from programs offering a diploma or associate degree according to the following stipulations:

  • This warranty guarantees the graduate has demonstrated the knowledge and skills and can perform each competency as identified in the industry-validated Standard and Program Guide; any program graduate who is determined to lack such competence shall be retrained at no cost to the employer or employee for tuition or instruction fees.
  • Any claim against the warranty will be based upon an agreement between the employer and the college graduate that the individual could not perform one or more of the competencies contained in the industry-validated Standard and Program Guide.
  • This warranty is included as a part of the original tuition cost at all state technical colleges in Georgia and is applicable to graduates of any diploma or degree program who entered the program subsequent to the mandated standards implementation date.
  • This warranty will remain in effect for two consecutive years following the date of graduation and will be honored by any state technical college which offers the same program.
  • This warranty shall be issued in writing to each graduate who enters a diploma or degree program subsequent to the mandated standards implementation date beginning in the fall quarter, 1989.

WGTC Non-Discrimination Policy and Reporting Procedure

West Georgia Technical College is in compliance with the rules and regulations for the administration of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; Public Law 83-318, as amended by Section 3 of Public Law 93-568; Title VI, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and Public Law 101-336, The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The Technical College System of Georgia and its constituent Technical Colleges do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era, spouse of military member or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). This nondiscrimination policy encompasses the operation of all technical college-administered programs, programs financed by the federal government including any Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) Title I financed programs, educational programs and activities, including admissions, scholarships and loans , student life, and athletics. It also encompasses the recruitment and employment of personnel and contracting for goods and services. The Technical College System and Technical Colleges shall promote the realization of equal opportunity through a positive continuing program of specific practices designed to ensure the full realization of equal opportunity.

West Georgia Technical College is adamantly opposed to inappropriate workplace behavior, including unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, and will take effective measures to stop such behaviors. Since the College can take action to stop such behavior only if it is aware of such activities, it is crucial that employees seek assistance. Please seek assistance if you feel that you have been personally harassed, discriminated against, or have been retaliated against.

Reporting Procedure  

The following procedure is to be used in reporting and settling grievances in regard to Unlawful Harassment and Discrimination

  1. All persons are encouraged to report events of unlawful harassment, discrimination, and/or unlawful retaliation against themselves or others. A student may attempt to resolve any issue arising under this policy informally.
    1. Complaints alleging action of a discriminatory nature shall be addressed, in writing, by telephone, or in person; to the appropriate coordinator listed below.
      • In regard to Race or Gender discrimination: Equity/Title IX Coordinator, 678.664.0532, Vice President for Student Affairs
      • In regard to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 678.664.0533, Vice President of Administrative Services

        Allegations or suspicions of unlawful harassment or unlawful retaliation may be reported by the complainant to any college employee, the President of the technical college, Legal Services at (404) 679-1605, the Commissioner’s Office at (404) 679-1601, the Deputy Commissioner’s Office at (404) 679-1706, or by email at UnlawfulHarassment@dtae.org.

    2. Such reports can initially be expressed in writing, by telephone, or in person; however, the report will ultimately be required to be in writing.
    3. After an allegation is made to a department employee that employee shall report the allegation to the President, or his designee, as soon as possible, not to exceed 48 hours.
  2. Instructors/administrators who have reason to believe that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation may exist shall immediately inform their President or one of the persons listed above in 1(a).
  3. The reporting individual should keep the information confidential unless release is approved, or unless final action has been approved pursuant to this procedure.
  4. An affected President may suspend, transfer or reassign personnel or students involved, in order to prevent possible further harassment, discrimination, retaliation or to facilitate the investigation. In emergency situations of a severe nature a President or their designee may take appropriate actions to protect the complainant/alleged victim and/or to deter the alleged violator from any further harassment of the complainant/alleged victim. If the alleged harasser is an employee, the affected President shall report all actions of this nature and any subsequent change in status or assignment to the Human Resources Director.
  5. Unless otherwise authorized by the Commissioner in writing, no disciplinary action shall be taken against the alleged violator until an investigation has been completed, a written report has been issued and action has been taken in accordance with this procedure.
  6. Any allegation of unlawful harassment, discrimination, or retaliation may be referred by the President of a technical college to the Executive Director, Legal Services for investigation by the Compliance Officer. Investigations by the Compliance Officer may be done in conjunction with the local investigator at the President’s request.

Investigation

  1. All complaints of unlawful harassment, discrimination or unlawful retaliation shall be investigated thoroughly.
  2. If a complaint does not specify facts sufficient to allege unlawful harassment or retaliation as prohibited by this procedure, the local investigator may determine that the allegations shall not be investigated. This will be done with joint approval by the local investigator and President. This decision will be made within 5 business days of receiving the complaint. Immediately following the decision, notice will be given to the complainant, and the complainant shall have the same rights of appeal as set forth below.
  3. Where a complaint is investigated, the investigation shall commence within 5 business days of receipt of the complaint.
  4. Investigations will be conducted by gathering relevant information and interviewing appropriate witnesses. All witnesses provided by the complainant will be interviewed.
  5. The process from initial complaint to completed investigation should take no longer than 60 days. If additional time is needed, the complainant will be informed.
  6. The local investigator/Compliance Officer who conducts the investigation will present facts in a written report to the President.
  7. Reports concerning the unlawful harassment, discrimination, or retaliation of students will be processed and handled confidentially to the extent permitted by law.

Review and Disposition

  1. After reviewing the final report, the President shall make a recommendation, based on a preponderance of the evidence, as to whether the facts support a finding that unlawful harassment, discrimination, or unlawful retaliation has occurred. The President shall make this recommendation within 5 business days of receipt of the completed investigation.
  2. If the recommendation is that the facts do not support a finding of unlawful harassment, discrimination, or unlawful retaliation, and it is determined that no action should be taken, then the matter can be closed.
  3. If the recommendation is that the facts do support a finding of unlawful harassment, discrimination, unlawful retaliation, or a policy violation, appropriate sanctions will be recommended and taken pursuant to the applicable disciplinary procedure (either student or employee).
  4. The investigator will provide written notice to the complaining party and subject that the investigation is complete. Notice should be given within 5 business days, provided that if a disciplinary action is to be initiated, no parties will be notified until all disciplinary actions are served.

Appeal by Complainant

  1. If the complainant wishes to appeal the recommendation by the President that the facts do not support a finding of unlawful harassment and/or discrimination, the complainant may do so in writing within 5 business days of receiving notice of the President’s recommendation.
  2. The complainant must send the appeal by regular mail, facsimile, or email to the following:

    Executive Director, Legal Services
    1800 Century Place NE, Suite 400
    Atlanta, Georgia 30345-4304
    (404) 679-1615 (facsimile)
    UnlawfulHarassment@dtae.org

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