Student Policies and Procedures

General Statement

Through enrollment at Temple College, the student signifies that he/she recognizes the authority of the College in governing his/her actions in relation to the College, and he/she automatically agrees to abide by any regulation concerning students and/or student organizations set up by the College or its representatives.

Food and Drinks

There are certain locations across the Temple College where food and drink are restricted or expressly prohibited.  Signs indicating these restrictions will be posted at all such locations.

Professors may enforce stricter policy standards than those outlined below. These policies must be established in the course syllabus.

Food and drinks that disrupt student learning are not allowed. These include, but are not limited to, foods that are messy, noisy, or strongly aromatic. Drinks can be either (1) in plastic containers with a screw on lid or (2) in leak-proof, re-sealable, non-disposable containers with screw on, snap on, or locking lids.

Students are responsible for leaving classrooms in good order by properly disposing of and/or recycling all food and drink related waste. Professors may revoke food and drink privileges if students fail to comply with any of the above requirements. 

Classes held at off-site facilities (TBI, EWCHEC-Taylor, EWCHEC-Hutto, and ISDs) are subject to the food and drink policies of the institutions governing those locations.

Instructor’s Unplanned Absence

In the unlikely event that an instructor is absent from class, students are required to wait for at least 15 minutes. If, after that time, the instructor has not arrived, class members may be excused for the remainder of the period without penalty. However, students are strongly encouraged to report the absence to the appropriate department chair, division director, or to the Vice President, Academic Affairs to ensure that the reason for the absence is effectively addressed and resolved.

Attendance/Participation Policy

Learners are subject to being dropped from their courses due to a lack of regular attendance. Most classes at Temple College have regularly scheduled/assigned meeting times, while others are taught in a distance education format via the Internet. As outlined by the U.S. Education Department, all learners shall engage in academically related activities in order to be eligible for federal (Title IV) student aid and counted as attending class. All instructors of record shall verify their course rosters to verify the current status of the learners within their course sections. Academically related activities for a traditional class include, but are not limited to:

1. Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students.
2. Submitting an academic assignment.
3. Taking an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction.
4. Attending a study group that is assigned by the college.
5. Participating in an online discussion about academic matters.
6. Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

In a distance education context, documenting that a learner has logged in to an online class is not sufficient, by itself, to demonstrate academic attendance by the learner. A school must demonstrate that a learner participated in class or was otherwise engaged in an academically related activity.

Academically related activities for online courses include, but are not limited to:

1. Submission of an academic assignment.
2. Submission of an exam/quiz.
3. Documented participation in an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction.
4. A posting by the learner showing the student’s participation in an online study group that is assigned by the institution.
5. A posting by the learner in a discussion forum showing the learner’s participation in an online discussion about academic matters.
6. An e-mail from the student or other documentation showing the student initiated contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

For classes that have regularly scheduled/assigned meeting times, regular attendance implies that learners are expected to be physically present in the classroom during those regularly scheduled/assigned times, regardless of the method by which the assigned work for the class is completed. A lack of regular attendance is defined in the following two ways:

1. At the beginning of each term, a lack of attendance includes:
   1. 16 week terms – no attendance by the 5th day of the term, including Fridays.1*
   2. 11-week terms – no attendance by the 4th day of the term, including Fridays.1*
   3. 8-week terms – no attendance by the 2nd day of the term.2*
   4. 6-week terms – no attendance by the 2nd day of the term.2*
   5. Internet/Hybrid courses – Failure to engage in academically related activities in the online course. Temple College’s content management system is D2L and/or the course software as prescribed by the faculty member prior to the class day specified above based on the length of the term for the course in which the learner is enrolled.
      1. Requires attendance during the first week of the term
      2. If your class does not meet every day, you must attend the first class to satisfy the initial attendance requirement.

* Learners unable to attend class during the specified times listed above must contact their instructor via e-mail prior to the start of classes for that term to avoid being dropped for non-attendance.

1. Once initial attendance at the beginning of the term has been satisfied:

Regular and punctual class attendance is expected at Temple College. A lack of regular attendance is defined as missing the equivalent of two weeks of instruction in a 16-week semester (the equivalent amount of time may be fewer class periods in shorter terms). Attendance includes the completion of assignments by the faculty member’s posted deadlines. Failure to adhere to the attendance/participation policy may result in being dropped from the course.

Faculty members will maintain an official record of attendance for each course primarily for the purpose of remaining in compliance with federal financial aid regulations. Attendance requirements for some programs may be more stringent than the general policy discussed above as required by program specific accreditation agencies and/or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

Learners representing the College in sponsored activities related to credit courses or intercollegiate athletics will not be counted absent or penalized for work missed during their absences; however, they are expected to communicate their absence to their faculty members – in advance – and make arrangements for class work that may be missed or due upon return to campus. Faculty/staff sponsoring college related activities will be responsible for notifying the faculty and the Vice President, Educational Services of planned absences (including a list of participating learners and the dates that they will be absent) one instructional week prior to the event. This policy also applies to high school learners taking dual credit courses who must attend ISD-scheduled activities. Learners who expect to be absent because of religious holy days should contact the Vice President, Educational Services for details concerning Texas Education Code 51.911.

Learners who do not show up for final exams may be issued a grade of “F” for the course.

Reinstatement

Adhering to the Temple College attendance/participation policy is mandatory. Learners can be dropped from courses for excessive absences. Therefore, it is critical that a learner communicate with his/her faculty member(s) each time he/she is absent from class.

Reinstatement to classes at Temple College is initiated only for the purposes of correcting an institutional error. Learners who (1) are dropped by faculty for non-attendance, or (2) initiate a drop on their own are not eligible for reinstatement.

Cell Phone and Other Personal Devices

Use of cell phone and other personal devices must be conducted outside Temple College’s classrooms, laboratories, testing areas, and the library unless used for academic purposes and approved by the faculty member teaching the class or person responsible for the appropriate area. Violations of the Cell Phone and Other Personal Devices policy will be addressed through the Disruptive Behavior policy.

Disruptive Behavior

Disruptive behavior or violence have no place in education. It is imperative that the College provides an atmosphere conducive to learning, which enables the faculty to teach and permits students to engage in advancement of knowledge. Behaviors in class and other learning environments such as sleeping in class, belligerent attitude, ignoring instructor’s directions, (e.g. not participating in class group activities), talking at inappropriate times, use of unauthorized personal devices (e.g. gaming, browsing the Internet, texting, listening to music, etc.) and other behaviors as outlined under the Student Rights and Responsibilities: Student Conduct section of the Student Handbook may be considered disruptive behavior and may lead to the student being asked to leave the classroom. Failure to comply may result in a faculty member requesting that the campus police remove the student from the classroom.

After the first in class disruptive behavior incident, the faculty member should hold a conference with the student detailing the disruptive behavior and the actions necessary for the learner to remain in class. If the student agrees to the conditions outlined by the faculty member, a conference form detailing the conditions will be sent to the student and to the department chair. If the student violates the conditions stated on the form, the instructor can request that the Vice President of Educational Services remove the student from the class roll. If the student wishes to appeal removal from the classroom, they must follow the Disciplinary Proceedings policy outlined in the Student Handbook at http://templejc.edu/.

Behaviors outside of class such as being loud and disruptive, using wheeled devices (e.g. skateboards, hoverboards, rollerblades, scooters, bicycles, etc.) on the College premises in such a manner as to constitute a safety hazard or cause damage to College or personal property, belligerent attitude, etc. may also be considered disruptive behavior. Operation of wheeled devices, other than those medically approved, are prohibited inside any College building.

Any person who creates an interruption of the normal function of the College may be asked to leave the area and could be subject to disciplinary action. Failure to comply with such a request may be reported to the Vice President of Educational Services. Repeated or severe violations will be handled through the College Discipline and Penalties: Discipline Procedure policy. Further, any conduct jeopardizing the health, safety, State, Federal or local criminal statutes or civil rights of others on campus shall be grounds for possible disciplinary action and/or arrest by local law enforcement officers.