Board of Trustees Approved Policies
Academic Program Advisory Committee
Each academic cluster or program may form an APAC of external experts to provide non-legislative, unpaid advice on curriculum quality, relevance, innovation, community connection, and funding opportunities.
Academic Progression
In an effort to increase the ability of students to reach their educational goals, the College has established academic milestones to monitor the continuum of progression toward graduation.
Academic Readiness
Montgomery County Community College requires that students demonstrate academic readiness upon admission. If academic readiness cannot be demonstrated, then students will need to complete courses and/or services which are intended to prepare them for success.
Academic Renewal
Academic Renewal affords current students who have compiled an unsuccessful academic record in the past the opportunity to restart their educational experience.
Acceptable Use of Technology
This policy preserves the stability and security of the College’s information technology resources, protects the College from inappropriate use, and ensures reasonable accessibility to technology resources for the College’s academic community. The policy also governs the access and use of all College technology and data, including any device that accesses or uses the College’s network or data.
Admissions
The College provides accessible and affordable educational opportunities to all who apply. The Admissions Policy is intended to support the success of applicants as they enroll at the College.
Anti-Hazing
Montgomery County Community College (“the College”) does not tolerate hazing in any form. Any member of the College community found responsible for violating this Anti-hazing Policy may face disciplinary action from the College, and also may face civil and criminal penalties under state law, including the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-hazing Law.
Clean Air Zone
Montgomery County Community College, as an educational institution has a responsibility to its employees, students and visitors to provide a safe and healthy working and learning environment. The College recognizes the risks associated with smoking, as research shows that tobacco use, including smoking and secondhand smoke, causes a significant health hazard.
Comprehensive Grading (Student Assessment)
A comprehensive, institutional policy regarding grading fosters alignment with these endeavors, while ensuring compliance with Federal Title IV guidelines. Grades are assigned by the instructor and can only be changed through instructor-initiated grade change or established College processes, such as the Grade Appeal Policy.
Copyright Ownership
Everyone associated with the College is encouraged to engage in the free exchange and expression of ideas, to explore new frontiers of scholarship and to expand the boundaries of knowledge. This Copyright Policy of the College is intended to promote these goals.
Credit Hour
The purpose of this policy is to provide documentation regarding Montgomery County Community College's (the College) procedure for determining credit hours awarded for seated, online, hybrid and other formats pertaining to its programs and coursework as outlined in MSCHE's publication, Verification of Compliance with Accreditation-Relevant Federal Regulations.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention
Recognizing that alcohol and drug abuse pose a direct threat to this commitment, the College is committed to assuring a drug and alcohol free environment for all of its employees and students.
Emergency Notification
This policy is established by Montgomery County Community College in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act, (the Clery Act) to provide emergency response and notification guidelines for our campuses.
Grade Appeal
In the interest of due process, the College provides an appeal process for a student who believes that a recorded final grade does not accurately reflect his/her academic performance in a course. This policy is applicable for both credit and non-credit offerings.
IT Security
The purpose of this policy is to enable the College to help protect all College data, ensure Availability and Integrity of technology required to run the College (networks, applications, data warehouses, etc.), and to comply with laws and regulations governing data privacy and protection.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
The primary purpose of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to ensure that the College follows federal and other external constituents’ guidelines and standards for conducting research on human subjects.
Invention and Patent
The College desires, with this Invention and Patent Policy, to ensure that any Inventions resulting from the research and scholarship pursued at the College are developed, disseminated, marketed and commercialized for the mutual benefit of the inventor, the College and the public.
Maintenance of Police Academy Firearms
Montgomery County Community College is committed to maintaining the inventory of weapons utilized in the Municipal Police Academy, along with ammunition for those weapons, in a condition of the utmost possible security. A strict system of control over the weapons and ammunition is paramount in the achievement of the security necessary to prevent loss, misuse and/or theft.
Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting
To ensure the safety of all minor children while participating in any educational program or activity at Montgomery County Community College (the College).
Megan's Law Notification
The College complies with the community notification requirements regarding certain individuals convicted of sexually violent offenses pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act, 42 Pa.C.S, §§ 9791, et seq., commonly known as Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law.
Non-Discrimination
MCCC is committed to the premise that all individuals have a right to learn and work in an environment that is safe, productive, respectful, and free from discrimination or retaliation. The College takes seriously all allegations of discrimination or retaliation and will take appropriate action in response to any credible allegations.
Posting
The scope of this policy is defined as printed, non-printed, and digital materials including, but not limited to the following: flyers, posters, pictures, table tents, lawn signs, banners, and sidewalk chalking, through these internal channels: designated on-campus locations, Montco Connect, Axis Slides, and internal College-wide emails.
Procurement Policies
These procurement policies are intended to comply with all applicable laws and procurement regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, specifically those outlined in Chapter 35 of the Pennsylvania Code and the Community College Act of 1963, as well as those set forth by the OMB Uniform Guidance: Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (“Omni/Super Circular” 2C.F.R.200), when applicable.
Regulation of On-Campus Credit Card Marketing to Students
In compliance with Act 35 of 2023, 24 Pa. Stat. §23-2302-A, the College establishes time, place, and manner requirements governing the marketing of credit cards to students on campus.
Services for Students with Disabilities
Montgomery County Community College (the College) welcomes eligible students with disabilities and endorses the principles of nondiscrimination and reasonable accommodation as described in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504) and, the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Sexual Harassment
It is the purpose of this policy to provide a definition of sexual harassment, outline the scope of prohibited behaviors under the law of sexual harassment, provide guidance on how to proceed in allegations of sexual harassment and provide notice of the possible consequences of a finding of sexual harassment, on the part of any member of this College community, excluding students.
Social Media Policy
The following standards apply to all social media¹ accounts created by the College’s Boards2, employees, and students which include registered student organizations3, academic departments, affinity groups, or any other department or division for official business purposes of the College. All accounts must comply with the College’s social media guidelines and graphic identity guidelines as well as any applicable federal or state laws and College policies.
Student Academic Code of Ethics
The College cultivates an environment that fosters critical thinking and learning, and in order to safeguard the integrity of the institution, students are expected to follow the policies of the College. Students who practice academic honesty demonstrate respect for the educational process and support the accomplishments of fellow students, while upholding the College’s reputation.
Student Code of Conduct
The primary purpose of the Student Code of Conduct is to guide students to understand their responsibilities in regard to appropriate behavior and respect for others in the College community.
Student Fundraising and Solicitation
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for student-related fundraising and solicitation activities. Student-related entities include, but are not limited to, student organizations, athletic teams, and academic classes.
Student Government Association Constitution
The primary purpose of this organization is to act as a liaison to the College community on behalf of the student body. Our responsibility is to listen to and, when appropriate, act upon the suggestions and concerns expressed by the student body, to foster recognition of student rights and the College’s responsibilities to the students, and to act in the students’ best interests when participating in the development of College policies.
Student Withdrawal for Military Activation or Reassignment
The College recognizes that you may be called to active duty, specialized training, or for disaster and civil relief efforts at a moment's notice. This policy is in place for students fulfilling their military responsibilities that may come with minimal notice during an academic term/session [pursuant to PA House Bill No. 1460]. This policy does NOT pertain to active and inactive duty training (ie. basic training, scheduled training, etc).
Student, Employee, Patient Occupational Exposure Plan
Montgomery County Community College recognizes its responsibility to provide a safe workplace/learning/healthcare environment for students/employees/patients. Current standards of medical/dental practice require a specific plan with written protocols addressing student/employee/patient exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
Timely Warnings
Montgomery County Community College (the College), as a recipient of federal Title IV student financial aid funds, is required to adhere to provisions of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policies and Campus Crime Statistics, commonly referred to as the Clery Act. One provision of the Clery Act is that all postsecondary institutions receiving federal Title IV student financial aid funds must issue timely warnings to the campus community under certain circumstances.
Transfer of Credit
Montgomery County Community College evaluates and awards academic credit for appropriate prior learning that is equivalent to the College’s courses and learning outcomes in order to assist students in the achievement of their educational goals.
Travel and Business Related Expenses
The purpose of the Travel and Business Related Expenses policy is to provide guidelines to employees for allowable expenses incurred during travel on official College business, and the requirements concerning the approval and documentation of these expenses.
Use of the College Facilities
The policy provides guidance in identifying and prioritizing the appropriate use of college facilities.
Weapons on Campus
The President and the Board of Trustees of the College are responsible to provide a safe and secure educational environment. Accordingly, the College adopts the following policy addressing the possession of deadly or offensive weapons.
Whistleblower
The purpose of this policy is to deter and detect illegal, dishonest or unethical activity by establishing a confidential channel of communication by which employees can report activity that they reasonably consider to be illegal, dishonest, unethical, or in violation of College policies.