REVISIONS OF REGULATIONS OR POLICIES Any changes in regulations or policies adopted by the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees or the administration of Skyline College will be considered an official ruling and will supersede any regulation or policy on the same subject which appears in this Catalog and/or other official publications, provided that the new regulation or policy has been officially announced and posted.

PRIVACY RIGHTS OF STUDENTS
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the Student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Dean of Enrollment Services, a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College Official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the record(s) may be inspected.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the Dean of Enrollment Services for the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right of a hearing.

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The Act provides that the College may release certain types of "Directory Information" unless the student submits a request in writing to the Dean of Enrollment Services that certain or all such information not be released without his/her consent. Currently enrolled students may request that "Directory Information" be withheld by notifying the Dean of Enrollment Services in writing each term or semester. Only the following "Directory Information" at the College is available to external entities: (1) student’s name and city of residence, (2) participation in recognized activities and sports, (3) dates of enrollment, (4) degrees and awards received, (5) the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended, and (6) height and weight of members of athletic teams. Appropriate College personnel as noted in #3 will have access to full address information. The Solomon Act requires colleges to release full directory information to the U.S. Armed Forces. A copy of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Sec. 438, P.L. 93-380) is available in the Office of Admissions & Records, Building 2, Student Services Center, during normal business hours or on the web.

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STUDENT RIGHT-TO-KNOW (SRTK) and CAMPUS SECURITY ACT
SRTK

In order to make Skyline College a safe and pleasant environment for students and employees, the College has established procedures in compliance with the Student Right-to-Know (SRTK) and Campus Security Act (Federal Public Law 101-542). Persons seeking information concerning Skyline College law enforcement procedures, crime prevention efforts, and crime statistics should contact the College Security Office, Building 2, Room 2319, (650) 738-4301, or online.

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HOLDS ON STUDENT RECORDS
A hold will be placed on a student’s record by the Office of Admissions and Records for fees and any other financial obligations owed to Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and/or Skyline College. Students are advised to check WebSMART for holds that have been placed on their records. A student’s educational records will not be released, including transcripts, while an outstanding balance remains on their account.

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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Student Handbook
Academic dishonesty defrauds all those who depend upon the integrity of the College, its courses and its degrees and certificates. The college community has the responsibility to make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct. Academic dishonesty occurs when a student attempts to show possession of a level of knowledge or skill which he or she does not possess. The two most common kinds of academic dishonesty are ''cheating'' and ''plagiarism.'' Cheating is the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain academic work through the use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent acts. Plagiarism is representing the work of someone else as his/her own and submitting it to fulfill academic requirements.It is the student's responsibility to know what constitutes academic dishonesty. If a student is unclear about a specific situation, he/she should speak to the professor. The following list includes, but is not limited to, some of the activities which exemplify academic dishonesty:

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Cheating:

• Copying, in part or in whole, from someone else's test.

• Submitting work presented previously in another course, if contrary to the rules of either course.

• Altering or interfering with grading.

• Using or consulting any sources or materials not authorized by the professor during an examination.

• Committing other acts which defraud or misrepresent one's own academic work.

Plagiarism:

• Incorporating the ideas, words, sentences, paragraphs, or parts of another person's writing, without giving appropriate credit, and representing the product as your own work.

• Representing another's artistic/scholarly works (such as musical compositions, computer programs, photographs, paintings, drawings, or sculptures) as your own.

• Submitting a paper purchased from a research or term paper service.

Other specific examples of academic dishonesty:

• Purposely allowing another student to copy from your paper during a test.

• Giving your homework, term paper or other academic work to another student to plagiarize.

• Having another person submit any work in your name.

• Lying to an instructor or college official to improve your grade.

• Altering graded work after it has been returned, when submitting the work for regrading without the instructor's permission.

• Removing tests or examinations from the classroom without the approval of the instructor.

• Stealing tests or examinations

• Having your work corrected work for spelling or grammar (if contrary to the rules of the course).

• Forging signatures on drop/add slips or altering other college documents.

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Consequences of Academic Dishonesty
Grievance & Appeals
Academic sanctions may be applied in cases of academic dishonesty. Depending on the seriousness of the infraction, you may: Receive a failing grade on a test, paper, or examination. Have your course grade lowered, or possibly fail the course.Under the standards of Academic Sanctions, you may be subject to: A warning Temporary exclusion from an activity or class Censure Disciplinary probation Suspension ExpulsionThe Dean of Admissions and Records maintains a record of students who have engaged in academic dishonesty. This information is used to identify and discipline students who have been reported for academic dishonesty more than once.Student Appeals:
In all instances, a student who has been subject to an academic or administrative sanction has the right to appeal the decision of the professor or administrator in accordance with established college due process procedures.

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ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS
The more class sessions students miss, the greater the chances that grades may suffer. Regular attendance in class and laboratory sessions is an obligation assumed by every student at the time of registration. Regular attendance affords the student the opportunity to acquire the content of the specific session and, over the length of the course, the continuity of the professor’s plan for the presentation of the subject matter in the course.

It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw when absences have been excessive. Absence means non-attendance for whatever reason. It is the prerogative of the professor to determine when absences are excessive. A guideline used by many professors to determine when absences are considered excessive is when the student has been absent twice the number of clock hours that the class meets during a week, or a pro-rata value designed to relate to shorter than semester length courses or practicum intensive programs. This is strictly a guideline and will vary with each professor depending on the subject matter of the course or laboratory. The professor may drop a student from a course if absences, in the opinion of the professor, have placed the student’s success in jeopardy.

If the student believes that there were extenuating circumstances related to the absences which resulted in being dropped from a course, the student may petition the Academic Standards and Policies Committee within five academic calendar days. The petition must contain an explanation of the absences, progress in the course to date, and justification for reinstatement. If the absences were due to illness, the petition must include a physician’s written confirmation or a confirmation from the College Health Center. A student submitting a petition may, with the permission of the professor, remain in class until the decision of the Academic Standards and Policies Committee is reached. After considering the petition, the Committee will make a recommendation to the professor. In all cases, the decision of the professor is final.

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CONDUCT
Student Handbook
Students enrolled in Skyline College are expected to conduct themselves as responsible citizens, in a manner compatible with the District and College function as an educational institution. Students are also subject to civil authority and to the specific regulations established by each college in the District. Violators shall be subject to disciplinary action, including possible cancellation of registration, and may be denied future admission to the Colleges of the San Mateo County Community College District. Each student has the obligation to know and uphold College Rules and Regulations as detailed in the Student Handbook.

Social or other functions which have been approved by the appropriate administrative office may use the name of the College and are thereby identified as College functions and become subject to the same high standards of conduct and of supervision, whether conducted on or off the campus. Social or other functions for which no patrons are listed from the membership of the faculty are not College functions. No off-campus organizations may use the college name or imply college sponsorship in any publicity or other information.

Any student may be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension and/or expulsion, if his/her actions on campus, in class, or at any college sanctioned activity or event off campys, are disruptive or are in violation of College rules and regulations. In cases involving disciplinary action, the student will have access to established appeals procedures.

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TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Students who will be absent for more than one week should notify their professors. If the cause of the absence is due to health reasons, the College Nurse should also be notified.

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EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE/ WITHDRAWAL FROM COLLEGE
College Policy permits the granting of a leave of absence to students who find it necessary to withdraw from all of their courses for reasons involving extenuating circumstances. For the purpose of this policy, only cases of verified accident, illness or other extraordinary circumstances, beyond the control of the student, will be considered.1. A petition for an Official Leave of Absence may be filed at any time during the semester. Circumstances warranting the leave must be verified and/or documented, where applicable.
2. After 75% of the semester has passed, all petitions for an Official Leave of Absence, along with all supporting documentation, must be reviewed by the Academic Standards and Policies Committee to determine eligibility. Students will be notified within seven calendar days of the Committee's decision.
3. Students who have completed a short course or completed units in a variable unit course prior to the effective date of the Leave of Absence will be issued those units and will be liable for any appplicable fees.
4. Courses for which a student receives a ''W'' as a result of receiving an Official Leave of Absence will not be included in the computation of academic progress.Petitions for an Official Leave of Absence are not granted automatically and must be filed, along with all supporting documentation, to avoid the possibility of receiving penalty grades.

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STUDENT GRIEVANCES AND APPEALS
Student Handbook
Students are encouraged to pursue their academic studies and become involved in other sponsored activities that promote their intellectual growth and personal development. The College is committed to the concept that, in the pursuit of these ends, the student should be free of unfair and improper actions on the part of any member of the academic community. If, at any time, a student feels that he/she has been subject to unjust actions, or denied his/her rights, redress can be sought through the filing of an appeal or grievance. Detailed information is provided in the Student Handbook which is available in the Student Activities Office. For further information concerning any aspect of student grievances or rights of appeal, students should contact the Dean of Enrollment Services in Building 2, or call 738-4238.

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FINES
Fines are assessed for failure to comply promptly with library regulations, and students are also required to pay for careless or unnecessary damage to college property. Students who are delinquent in their financial obligations to the College may not receive grade reports or other records of their work until such delinquencies have been adjusted to the satisfaction of the College authorities. Future admission/registration may be denied until these delinquencies are removed.

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NON-DISTRICT SPONSORED TRANSPORTATION
Some classes may be conducted off campus. Unless you are specifically advised otherwise, you are responsible for arranging for your own transportation to and from the class site. Although the district may assist in coordinating the transportation and/or recommended travel times, route or caravaning, be advised that the district assumes no liability or responsibility for the transportation, and any person driving a personal vehicle is not an agent of the district.

FIELD TRIP/EXCURSION GUIDELINES
Throughout the semester/school year, the district may sponsor voluntary off-campus extracurricular field trips/excursions. If you choose to participate, be advised that pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Subchapter 5, Section 55450, you have agreed to hold the District, its officers, agents, and employees harmless from any and all liability or claims which may arise out of or in connection with your participation in the activity.

POLICY ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT
It is the policy of the San Mateo County Community College District and Skyline College to prohibit, in any and all forms, the sexual harassment of its students and staff. Sexual harassment of students by other students or staff, and/or the harassment of staff by students or other staff, is considered intolerable behavior that will be investigated and acted upon immediately.

Students or staff seeking further information concerning this policy or claiming grievance because of alleged violations of this policy should contact the Vice President of Student Services, Building 1, Room 1315, (650) 738-4333.

Additional redress: In addition to and concurrently with the filing of a written grievance, a student has the right to file a complaint or charges with other appropriate governmental agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office of Civil Rights, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges, or State or Federal Court.

POLICY ON DRUG-FREE CAMPUS
Student Handbook
Skyline College, in compliance with the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, prohibits the use, possession, sale or distribution of alcohol, narcotics, dangerous or illegal drugs or other controlled substances, as defined in California statutes, on District or College property or at any function sponsored by the District or Colleges. Students are expected to conduct themselves as responsible citizens and in a manner compatible with the Community College function as an educational institution. Students are subject to civil authority and to all District and College rules and regulations. Students found to be in violation of the drug-free campus policy by manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possessing or using controlled substances, as defined in California statutes, on any district property will be subject to disciplinary measures up to and including possible cancellation of registration. The College Health Center will provide information pertaining to the health risks and effects associated with alcohol and narcotics or other dangerous or illegal drugs. Students may be referred to various outside agencies for enrollment in a drug recovery program.

POLICY ON SMOKING
Student Handbook
In order to provide a safe and healthy learning and working environment for students, employees, and the general public; and to comply with state law (AB846), smoking is prohibited in all indoor locations. Smoking outside of buildings and other outdoor locations is also prohibited, except in designated smoking areas only. Designated smoking areas are identified and clearly marked in various locations on campus. Students, employees, and the general public are expected to adhere to the College’s smoking policy. Violation of the policy could lead to disciplinary action. For a copy of Skyline College’s Smoking Policy and Guidelines, and a map of designated smoking areas, please contact the Student Activities Office at (650) 738-4275.

POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS

The policy of San Mateo County Community College District is to provide an educational and employment environment in which no person shall be unlawfully denied full and equal access to, the benefits of, or be unlawfully subjected to discrimination on the basis of ethnic group identification, national origin, religion, age, sex, race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability in any program or activity that is administered by, funded directly by, or that receives any financial assistance from the State Chancellor or Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.

The policy of the District is also to provide an educational and employment environment free from unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or communications constituting sexual harassment. Employees, students, or other persons acting on behalf of the District who engage in unlawful discrimination as defined in this policy or by state or federal law may be subject to discipline, up to and including discharge, expulsion, or termination of contract.

In so providing, San Mateo County Community College District hereby implements the provisions of California Government Code sections 11135 through 11139.5, the Sex Equity in Education Act (Ed. Code, § 66250 et seq.), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. § 12100 et seq.) and the Age Discrimination Act (42 U.S.C. § 6101)*.

The Officer designated by the District to receive and investigate staff and student complaints of unlawful discrimination is the Vice Chancellor, Human Resources and Employee Relations, at (650) 358-6767.

Authority: Cal. Code Regs., tit. 5, § 59300; Gov. Code, §§ 11135-11139.5; Ed. Code, § 66250 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. § 2000d; 20 U.S.C. § 1681; 29 U.S.C. § 794; 42 U.S.C. § 12100 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. § 6101.

*If the federal statutes cited above would result in broader protection of the civil rights of individuals then that broader protection or coverage shall be deemed incorporated by reference into, and shall prevail over conflicting provisions of Title 5, section 59300, as cited in the Model Policy.