College Policies Relating to Students

Student Rights and Responsibilities

As an academic community, H. Councill Trenholm State Community College exists for the pursuit of quality and excellence in education for the development of students as scholars and citizens, and ultimately, for the well-being of all communities. Free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the attainment of these goals.

The institution’s responsibility for creating and maintaining an atmosphere conducive to these freedoms is shared by the President, administrative personnel, faculty, staff, and students.

The college community accepts its responsibilities to develop policies and procedures to safeguard these freedoms within the framework of the institution’s policies and bylaws. As integral members of the college community, students exercise responsibility while developing their capacity for critical thinking and engaging in a sustained and independent search for excellence. Students are expected at all times to exercise their freedoms in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights and freedoms of others. Students shall not be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process, except in cases of emergency determined by the President, Dean of Student Affairs and Information Services, or Coordinator of Safety & Security to immediately remove students who have been engaged in an act that compromises the safety or health of themselves or others until due process can be afforded. The student has the right to complete a student infraction form if he/she feels wronged by a party of H. Councill Trenholm State Community College. Although every student has rights and freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, these cannot be enjoyed, exercised, or protected in a community, which lacks order and stability. It is, therefore, each student’s responsibility to adhere to standards of conduct as prescribed by the institution, and by local, state, and federal laws. Each student is entitled to the essential rights common to all institutions of post-secondary education which include the following:

Student Participation in Institutional Governance

As constituents of the college community, students (individually and collectively) are free to identify and address issues relative to institutional policy and matters of general interest to the student body. The H. Councill Trenholm State Community College Student Government Association represents students in institutional governance. Students are engaged in the policy materialization process through their respective government clubs, organizations, and associations, and are invited to recommend additional policies for consideration and adoption.

Citizenship

Students at H. Councill Trenholm State Community College are both private citizens and members of the college community. As U.S. citizens, students enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and right of petition that other citizens enjoy. As members of the college community, they are expected to follow institutional rules and regulations outlined in the Code of Conduct and in the Student Handbook. Faculty members and administrative officials ensure that institutional powers are not employed to inhibit the intellectual and personal development of students exercising their rights both on and off the campus.

Speech and Expression

Students will be free to discuss questions of interest and to express opinion. Public expression of students or student organizations reflects the views of those making the statement and not necessarily those of the college community. The institution retains the right to provide an educational environment that is safe and orderly for students, faculty, and staff.

Freedom of Inquiry and Expression

Students and chartered student organizations are free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately in a responsible way. They are free to support causes by orderly means including any means of peaceful assembly or advocacy, which do not infringe upon the rights or freedoms of others.

Guest Speakers

In accordance with the Campus Speakers Policy, chartered student organizations may invite persons of their own choosing for campus appearances. Such invitations must be submitted to the Dean of Student Services for review and approval before arrangements for the campus visit are finalized with the guest. Guest appearances must not interfere with the college’s regular instructional, research, and service activities and programs. Except for ceremonial occasions, invited speakers should be prepared to participate in reasonable public activities. Such public discussions may include classroom visits, attendance at receptions and related functions, media appearances, and participation in community activities, programs and projects. Invited speakers are accorded the full courtesy and protection appropriate to a college community. Individuals or groups who engage in actions designed to obstruct or in any way to prevent the presentation are subject to discipline and financial responsibility, in the event of damage to property or person. The institutional control of campus facilities and the integrity of the academic environment are not to be used as a device of censorship. Sponsorship of guest speakers does not imply approval or endorsement of the views expressed, either by the sponsoring organization or the college.

Off-Campus Speakers

The freedom of speech and assembly guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States

The constitution shall be enjoyed by the students and faculty of H. Councill Trenholm State Community College. Free discussion of subjects of either a controversial or non-controversial nature shall not be curtailed. However, there is no absolute right to assemble or to make or hear a speech at any time or place regardless of the circumstances, content of speech, the purpose of assembly, or probable consequences of such meeting or speech. Any chartered organization sponsoring outside speakers is responsible for inappropriate speeches made by outside speakers, and will be held under the disciplinary code as outlined in the manual for clubs and organizations.

Assembly and Demonstration

Students are free to organize and to associate for the promotion of their common interests. Assembly and Demonstration (just as Speech and Expression) within the public places of the college are permitted, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. All student assemblies have to be approved by the Dean of Student Affairs and Information Services or his designee. Such restrictions are provided for the maintenance of order and are applicable to local, state laws. The Dean of Student Affairs and Information Services designates areas for assembly and demonstration. Persons or groups engaged in these activities must adhere to regulations governing the use of the designated areas.

Publication and Distribution

Students are free to publish and to distribute their ideas in the form of newspapers, newsletters, leaflets, flyers, handbills, and the like, subject to time, place, and manner restrictions. Publications are disseminated in the designated free expression area(s) on the campus or identified areas by the Dean of Student Affairs and Information Services. All must have prior approval by the Dean of Student Affairs and Information Services before dissemination or disciplinary actions will be taken under the Student Code of Conduct.

Student Media

Student publications will maintain their integrity of purpose as vehicles of free inquiry and free expression in a college community. The editorial freedom of students, editors, and managers involves the corresponding obligation to be governed by the cannons of responsible journalism. These entail the responsibility to avoid libel, undocumented allegations, techniques of harassment and innuendo, and so forth. At the same time, the following provisions safeguard editorial freedom. Student publications are free of censorship and advance approval of copy.

The Trenholm Times- The Trenholm Times is a student-guided newspaper publication in which students’ accomplishments, editorials, and services are highlighted on a semester basis. Students interested in the newspaper staff or writing an editorial should contact the Director of the Student Success Center, Building F on the Trenholm Campus.

Withdrawal Procedures

Withdrawal Policy

A grade of "W" is assigned to a student who officially withdraws from the College.  Students may withdraw from their classes prior to the last two weeks of the semester. The date a student may withdraw from a course is included in the Academic Calendar for each term and is listed as the "Last Day to Withdraw."  It is the student's responsibility to become familiar with the Academic Calendar to know the exact date to withdraw.  A student who officially withdraws from the College will receive a grade of "W."  A grade of "W" earns zero quality points.  If a student never attended or the class is canceled, the class will be deleted, and no grade will be assigned.  However, a grade of "F" will be assigned to students who fail to satisfactorily complete the requirements of a course or who voluntarily discontinue class attendance and fail to follow the College's official withdrawal procedure.

Students considering withdrawing from classes after receiving Title IV Aid should contact the financial aid department before withdrawing in order to discuss their withdrawal options.  Additionally, financial aid recipients who completely withdraw from all classes before 60% of the semester has passed are subject to repaying a portion of any grant funds received.

** Official Withdrawal is defined as a student who completes the official withdrawal form located on the Student Forms page of the Trenholm State website at https://www.trenholmstate.edu/current-students/student-forms/.

Withdrawal Process

Students withdrawing from a course after registration ends must withdraw from a course by the published last date to withdraw from classes as noted on the College calendar. A grade of “W” will be assigned for withdrawals submitted before the published deadline.

Students withdrawing from the College must complete a withdrawal form to drop all courses for which they are registered. A grade of “W” will be assigned for withdrawals submitted before the published deadline.

Withdrawal Prior to the Start of Classes

A student who withdraws from classes prior to the first day of class will be refunded the total tuition and other institutional charges. The first-class day is not the first day of the student’s class; it is the first day of the semester.

Official Withdrawal – Total Withdrawal

Students who wish to totally withdraw from the College must complete the official withdrawal form located on the Student Forms page of the Trenholm State website (https://www.trenholmstate.edu/current-students/student-forms/). Students who submit the form prior to the first day of classes for the semester/term will be refunded the total amount of tuition and other refundable fees. The “first day of class” is the first day classes are offered within any term configuration, including, but not limited to, full terms, split terms, mini-terms, and weekend terms. Students who submit the form on or after the first day of classes, but prior to the end of the third week of classes will be refunded according to the withdrawal date, as follows:

Total Withdrawal before the official first day of class
100% refund
Total Withdrawal during the first week
75% refund
Total Withdrawal during the second week
50% refund
Total Withdrawal during the third week
25% refund
Total Withdrawal after the end of the third week
NO REFUND

An administrative fee not to exceed 5% of tuition and other refundable institutional charges shall be assessed for each withdrawal within the period beginning the first day of class and ending at the end of the third week of class. The first official day of classes is indicated on the College calendar as the day classes begin. There is only one first day of class. This day may not be the first day on which all individual courses begin. The calendar also indicates the last day to drop/add. For calculating refunds during the fall and spring sixteen-week terms, a “week” is defined as seven calendar days, i.e., the first day of class running seven calendar days (inclusive of Saturday and Sunday). Refunds of shorter than sixteen weeks, such as summer semesters and mini terms, will reflect a prorated week based on the number of days in the term.

Example:

Classes begin June 14; the student withdraws on June 17.
Fourth day = 75% Refund Due.

Tuition/fees paid:	$648.00
	X   .75
	$486.00
Administrative Fee	-$32.40
Round to nearest dollar:	$453.60
Refund amount: (round to nearest dollar)	$454.00

Once the withdrawal has been processed, the student will not be allowed to register again during the term of withdrawal. The withdrawn grade of “W” will be assigned for classes in which students officially withdraw from the end of the drop/add period to the withdrawal deadline. A grade of “W” means officially withdrawal from a course or from the College within a period designated by Trenholm State. Credit hours will not be calculated into the grade-point average. If a student stops attending or participating in class assignments without officially withdrawing from the class or the College, a failing grade of “F” will be assigned.