College Policies and Notices

Student Academic Honesty

All members of the academic community have a responsibility to ensure that scholastic honesty is maintained. Faculty have the responsibility of planning and supervising all academic work in order to encourage honest and individual effort, and of taking appropriate action if instances of academic dishonesty are discovered.

Honesty is primarily the responsibility of each student. The College considers cheating to be a voluntary act for which there may be reason, but for which there is no acceptable excuse.

Cheating and Plagiarism (Academic Dishonesty)

The term “Cheating” includes but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism
• Receiving or knowingly supplying unauthorized information
• Using unauthorized material or sources
• Changing an answer after work has been graded and presenting it as improperly graded
• Illegally accessing confidential information through a computer
• Taking an examination for another student or having another person take an examination for you
• Presenting another person’s work as your own
• Forging or altering registration or grade documents
• Submitting collectively developed work as your own, unless specifically allowed by the professor
• Other methods that misrepresent original and/or independent work

A professor who determines that a student has cheated may give the student a failing grade for the assignment and shall report the alleged academic dishonesty to the Student Life Office, which will maintain a record of the report and appropriate action under the provisions of the Administrative Procedures on Student Discipline (AP 5520).

Students are advised that allegations of dishonesty are serious, and can lead to disciplinary sanctions including suspension and expulsion. (BP 4290, AP 4290)

Plagiarism

“Plagiarism is a direct violation of intellectual and academic honesty. Although it exists in many forms, all plagiarism refers to the same act: representing somebody else’s words or ideas as one’s own. The most extreme forms of plagiarism are the use of material authored by another person or obtained from a commercial source, or the use of passages copied word for word without acknowledgment. Paraphrasing an author’s idea or quoting even limited portions of their text without proper citation is also an act of plagiarism. Even putting someone else’s ideas into one’s own words without acknowledgment may be plagiarism. In none of its forms can plagiarism be tolerated in an academic community. It may constitute grounds for a failing grade, probation, suspension, or expulsion.”

“One distinctive mark of an educated person is the ability to use language correctly and effectively to express ideas. Faculty assign written work for the purpose of helping students achieve that mark. Each instructor will outline specific criteria, but all expect students to present work that represents the student’s understanding of the subject in the student’s own words. It is seldom expected that student papers will be based entirely or even primarily on original ideas or original research.”

“Therefore, to incorporate the concepts of others may be appropriate with proper acknowledgment of sources, and to quote others directly by means of quotation marks and acknowledgments is proper. However, if a paper consists entirely of quotations and citations, the paper should be rewritten to show the student’s own understanding and expressive ability. The purpose of the written assignment (i.e., development of communication and analytic skills) should be kept in mind as each paper is prepared. It should not be evaded through plagiarism.”¹

¹

 Adopted, with permission of California State University, Los Angeles, from their policy printed in the 1987-88 General Catalog.

Notices

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Board of Trustees of Mt. San Antonio College has a commitment to establishing and maintaining a policy of equal educational and employment opportunities and prohibiting discrimination based on ethnic group identification, national origin, religion, age, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, race, color, protective hair styles and textures, immigration status, ancestry, medical condition, marital status, veteran/military status, or disability. This commitment applies to educational programs, activities, service, and employment practices (BP 3410, AP 3410).

Open Enrollment

All classes are open to all students who meet the course prerequisites and enrollment requirements, unless specifically exempted by statute. The College provides open access to all program offerings, opportunities, and support services without regard to sex, race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age over 40, marital status, physical or mental disability (including HIV and AIDS), sexual orientation, or Vietnam Era Veteran Status (BP 5052, AP 5052).

Department of Police and Campus Safety

In compliance with the Clery Act, the College publishes an annual security report which contains information regarding campus crime statistics. This information may also be found on the Mt. San Antonio College website by clicking on Police & Campus Safety, or by navigating to Police & Campus Safety directly. Copies of the annual report can be obtained from Department of Police & Campus Safety Department in Building 23. A Daily Crime Log is also available on the Department of Police and Campus Safety Website. The crime log is published bi-monthly in the student newspaper and Emergency Procedures are posted throughout the campus. (BP 3515, AP 3515)

Emergency Procedures

Students and staff should report serious crimes and emergencies, i.e., fire/medical, occurring on campus to the Department of Police & Campus Safety or call 911. When using an on-campus extension, call 9-911. Incidents may be reported to Police & Campus Safety by calling (909) 274-4555, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the event of an emergency, students and staff are requested to make a prompt and accurate report to the Department of Police & Campus Safety, located at the southeast portion of the campus off Bonita Drive in Building 23. (AP 3503)

Enforcement

The Mt. San Antonio College Department of Police & Campus Safety has the authority to enforce the Student Discipline Code of Conduct and the State of California Penal Code under Education Code Section 72330. The Mt. San Antonio College Board of Trustees has established the Department of Police & Campus Safety as a community college police department under Education Code Section 72330(a), which authorizes the governing board of a community college district to establish a community college police department under the supervision of a community college chief of police. Although a designated police department, the Mt. San Antonio College Department of Police & Campus Safety has a memorandum of understanding mandated by the “Crime Awareness and Campus Safety Act of 1990,” that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has jurisdiction to investigate all crimes occurring on Mt. San Antonio College Campus. (BP 3520, AP 3520)

Crime Prevention

The Department of Police & Campus Safety's primary responsibility is the safety and security of all members of the College community. Every effort is made to inform students and staff of criminal activity or any other concern that may be an immediate threat to the safety and security of those on campus. Information and workshops on crime prevention are made available to College students and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the campus community to act in ways that promote the safety of self, others, and the protection of District property. (AP 3500)

• ​You can now Text-a-Tip when you witness crimes or any suspicious behavior on campus. Text it to: (909) 610-9139

Campus Emergency Phone System

Mt. San Antonio College has installed a campus wide emergency phone system. This system is divided into two primary segments. The inner campus system consists of emergency phones that are placed on the outside of selected campus buildings and are identified by the familiar blue light affixed to the top of the phone housing.

The second segment of emergency phones consists of stand-alone emergency phone towers, located in open campus spaces, primarily in campus parking lots. These phone towers are identified by a blue light affixed to the top of the tower. Use of any of these emergency phones will connect the user to the Department of Police & Campus Safety during normal business hours, located in Building 23. During hours when the campus is closed, the Emergency phones will connect the user directly to a cell phone carried by Campus Safety Officers who are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (BP 3505, AP 3500, 3503).

Notice of Students’ Rights and Privacy Act

Students at Mt. San Antonio College are notified annually of their rights under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) within this section of the Catalog. More detailed information on student rights is available from http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html Following is a summary of the Mt. San Antonio College policy related to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), P.L. 93-380 (also referred to as the Buckley Amendment) and [Chapter 1297, Statutes of 1976, State of California.]:

1. type of information and material contained within the student’s educational record;
2. the official responsible for the maintenance of each type of record;
3. the procedure for student review and inspection of the educational record;
4. the procedure for challenging the contents of the educational record;
5. the charges to the student for reproducing copies of the record if requested;
6. the categories of information which the College has designated as Directory Information and to whom this information will be released unless the student objects and
7. the rights of a student to file a complaint with the

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C., 20202-5920

concerning alleged failure of the College to comply with the provisions of FERPA.

Access to Educational Records

All former and present students have the right to review and inspect their educational records in the Office of Admissions and Records provided they make a written request fifteen (15) days in advance. Such a review will be under the direct supervision of a classified or certificated employee in the Admissions and Records Office. Expressly exempted from the right of review and inspection are the following materials:

1. Financial records of the parents of the student(s).
2. Confidential letters and statements of recommendation maintained by the College on or before January 1, 1975, provided that such letters or statements are not used for purposes other than those for which they were specifically intended.
3. Records of instructional, supervisory, counseling, and administrative personnel which are in the sole possession of such personnel and are not accessible or revealed to any other person except a substitute.
4. Records of employees of Mt. San Antonio College, made and maintained in the normal course of business which relate exclusively to such person in that person’s capacity as an employee, are not available for use for any other purpose.
5. Records of students made and maintained by the Student Health Services, the College nurse, the College physician, and the College therapist, which are used in the treatment of students and are not available to anyone other than persons providing such treatment. However, such a record may be personally reviewed by a physician or other appropriate professional of the student’s choice.
6. Discipline File Records are made and maintained by the Student Life Office.  All reported violations of the Student Conduct Policy (BP 5500) are considered a discipline file. In accordance with Federal Law, the information contained a discipline file can be released to specific groups or individuals without consent. A discipline record is kept separate from and is not included on an academic transcript.

Release of Educational Records Information

1. Any release of a student’s educational records, with the exception listed below, must be made with the student’s written consent.
2. The College may release copies of or otherwise divulge material in the student’s educational records only to the official agencies, groups, officials, or individuals specifically mentioned below:
   1. College staff members; provided that such employees have a legitimate educational interest to inspect such a record.
   2. Representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States, the Secretary of Education, and administrative head of an educational agency, state education officials, and the United States Office of Civil Rights, where such information is necessary to audit a program.
   3. Accrediting organizations in order to carry out their accrediting functions.
   4. Organizations conducting studies on behalf of the institution.
   5.  Officials of other schools or school systems in which the student seeks or intends to enroll subject to the rights of students.
   6. Agencies or organizations in connection with a student’s application for financial aid.
   7. Organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, educational agencies or institutions for the purpose of developing, validating, and administering predictive tests, administering student aid programs, and improving instruction, if such studies are conducted in such a manner as will not permit the personal identification of students or their parents by persons other than representatives of such organizations and such information will be destroyed when no longer needed for the purpose for which it is compiled.
   8. Appropriate persons in connection with an emergency if the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other persons.
   9. Courts or other agencies in compliance with a subpoena or judicial order. A reasonable effort will be made to notify the student in advance of the compliance by the College.
3. Directory Information
   1. “Directory Information” means a student’s name, community of residence, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous public or private school attended by the student.
   2. Any student desiring to withhold “Directory Information” may file a written request with the Dean, Enrollment Management, within fifteen (15) days of the opening day of each semester or session that the student does not want such information released.
   3. The College reserves the right to limit or deny the release of specific categories of directory information based upon a determination of the best interests of the student(s).

Students may file a complaint with the United States Department of Education regarding alleged institutional FERPA violations.

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

The 1996 Solomon Amendment

The 1996 Solomon Amendment is federal law that compels institutions that receive federal funding to provide (upon request) directory information, plus address, phone number, date and place of birth, level of education, degrees received, prior military experience, and/or the most recent previous educational institutions enrolled in by the student for the purposes of federal military recruitment.

Transfer of Information to Third Parties

Educational records or personal information transferred to other institutions or agencies will not be transferred to a third party without the written consent of the student (AP 5040).

Student Right-to-Know Transfer Rates

In compliance with the Student-Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-542), it is the policy of the Mt. San Antonio Community College District and Mt. San Antonio College to make available its completion and transfer rates to all current and prospective students. For this calculation, a fall cohort of all certificate-, degree-, and transfer-seeking first-time, full-time students are tracked over a three- year period. These rates do not represent the success rates of the entire student population at Mt. San Antonio College, nor do they account for student outcomes occurring after this three-year tracking period.

A Completer is a student who attained a certificate or degree or became “transfer-prepared” during a three-year period. Students who are “transfer-prepared” have completed 60 transferable units with a GPA
of 2.0 or better. Transfer students are those who transferred to another postsecondary institution (UC, CSU or another California Community College) prior to attaining a degree, certificate, or becoming “transfer-prepared” during a five-semester period. For up-to-date rates please refer to http://srtk.cccco.edu/index.asp

Standards of Conduct

(BP 5500) Adopted 6/23/04
Copies of the Standards of Conduct Policy can be obtained at Board Policies & Administrative Procedures 

The College President/CEO shall establish procedures for the imposition of discipline on students in accordance with the requirements for due process of the federal and State law and regulations.

The procedures shall clearly define the conduct that is subject to discipline, and shall identify potential disciplinary actions, including but not limited to the removal, suspension, or expulsion of a student.

The Board shall consider any recommendation from the College President/CEO for expulsion. The Board shall consider an expulsion recommendation in closed session unless the student requests that the matter be considered in a public meeting. Final action by the Board on the expulsion shall be taken at a public meeting.

The procedures shall be made widely available to students through the College catalog and other means.

The following conduct shall constitute good cause for discipline, including but not limited to the removal, suspension, or expulsion of a student:

1. Causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical injury to another person.
2. Possession, sale or otherwise furnishing any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object, including but not limited to any facsimile firearm, knife, or explosive, unless, in the case of possession of any object of this type, the student has obtained written permission to possess the item from a College employee, which is concurred with by the College President/CEO.
3. Unlawful possession, use, sale, offer to sell, or furnishing, or being under the influence of, any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the California Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind; or unlawful possession of, or offering, arranging, or negotiating the sale of any drug paraphernalia, as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 11014.5.
4. Committing or attempting to commit robbery or extortion.
5. Causing or attempting to cause damage to College property or to private property on campus.
6. Stealing or attempting to steal College property or private property on campus, or knowingly receiving stolen College property or private property on campus.
7. Willful or persistent smoking in any area where smoking has been prohibited by law or by regulation of the College.
8. Committing sexual harassment as defined by law or by College policies and procedures.
9. Engaging in harassing or discriminatory behavior based on disability, gender, gender identify, gender expression, marital status, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law.
10. Engaging in intimidating conduct or bullying against another student through words or actions.
11. Willful misconduct that results in injury or death to a student or to College personnel or which results in cutting, defacing, or other injury to any real or personal property owned by the College or on campus.
12. Disruptive behavior, willful disobedience, habitual profanity or vulgarity, or the open and persistent defiance of the authority of, or persistent abuse of, College personnel.
13. Cheating, plagiarism (including plagiarism in a student publication), or engaging in other academic dishonesty.
14. Dishonesty, forgery, alteration, or misuse of College documents, records, or identification; or knowingly furnishing false information to the College.
15. Unauthorized entry upon or use of College facilities.
16. Lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct on College-owned or controlled property, or at College-sponsored or supervised functions.
17. Engaging in expression which is obscene, libelous, or slanderous; or which so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on College premises, or the violation of lawful College administrative procedures, or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the College.
18. Persistent, serious misconduct where other means of correction have failed to bring about proper conduct.
19. Unauthorized preparation, giving, selling, transfer, distribution, or publication, for any commercial purpose, of any contemporaneous recording of an academic presentation in a classroom or equivalent site of instruction, including but not limited to handwritten or typewritten class notes, except as permitted by any College policy or Administrative Procedure.
20. Harassment of students and/or College employees that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
21. Violation of College rules and regulations including those concerning affiliate clubs and organizations, the use of College facilities, the posting and distribution of written materials, and College safety procedures.