2013-2014 Student Handbook

Accreditation

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is accredited by the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation and by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

The Commission on Colleges may be contacted only if there is evidence that Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is significantly non-compliant with a requirement or standard. Accreditation standards are located at http://www.sacscoc.org/principles.asp.

The following programs hold specialized professional accreditation:

ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING — Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, State of Mississippi. National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, Telephone number 404-975-5000.

AUTO COLLISION REPAIR TECHNOLOGY – National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence/National Automotive Technicians Education Foundations (ASE/NATEF), 101 Blue Seal Drive, Suite 101, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, Telephone number 703-669-6650.

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY – National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence/National Automotive Technicians Education Foundations (ASE/NATEF), 101 Blue Seal Drive, Suite 101, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, Telephone number 703-669-6650.

EMS-PARAMEDIC — (CAAHEP) Commission of Allied Health Programs and (JRC-EMS) Joint Review Committee on Emergency Medical Services, 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970, Chicago, IL 0601-2208.

FUNERAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY — American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 3414 Ashland Avenue, Suite G, St. Joseph, MO 64506, Telephone number 816-233-3747. Website www.abfse.org

MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY (NAACLS) — National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 5600 N River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, Telephone number 773-714-8880.

PRACTICAL NURSING — Department of Education-Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior College, State of Mississippi. National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) — 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, Telephone number 404-975-5000.

RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY — The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiological Technology, 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, Telephone number 312-704-5300.

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY (CAAHEP) — Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL7 33756, Telephone number 727-210-2350.

The following technical programs are accredited by The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE): Computer Networking Technology, Computer Programming Technology, Computer Servicing Technology, Construction Management Technology, Database Administration Technology, Drafting and Design Technology, Electronics Technology, Golf/Recreational Turf Management Technology, Graphic Design Technology, Network Security Technology, Telecommunications Technology, Process Operations Technology -Petrochemical Refining, and Web Development Technology. The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE), 3300 Washtenaw Avenue, Suite 220, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-4200, Telephone number 734-677-0720.

Compliance Policy

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunities in all its activities, programs, and employment. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, age, or qualified disability. The College complies with non-discriminatory regulations under Title VI and Title IX. All inquiries concerning discrimination should be directed to District Office: Glen Moore, Jennifer Leimer (alternate); Jackson County Campus: Yolanda Mayberry, Bobby Ghosal (alternate); Perkinston Campus: Tracy Wilson, Michelle Sekul (alternate); Jefferson Davis Campus: Stacy Carmichael, Larry Miller (alternate); Keesler Center: Dana Requet, Beverly Clark(alternate); George County Center: Suzan Bounds, Will Overstreet (alternate); West Harrison County Center: Stacy Carmichael, Larry Miller (alternate); Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center: Tracy Wilson, Becky Layton (alt); Navy Base: Alrie Poillion, Beverly Clark (alternate)

Drug-Free Workplace Policy

In compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, as revised by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, Public Law 101-226, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is required to notify employees and students that the unlawful manufacturing, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance or alcohol is prohibited in the college environment.

The college has adopted and implemented an educational, assistance, and referral program for students and employees.

Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Information regarding disabilities, voluntarily given or inadvertently received, will not adversely affect any admission decision.

If you require special services because of a disability, notify the ADA Coordinator at Central Office, Dr. Michael Heindl or the Dean of Student Services/Administrative Dean at the campus/center on which you expect to enroll. This voluntary self-identification allows Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to prepare appropriate support services to facilitate your learning.

Student Right-To-Know and Campus Security Act

In compliance with the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, Public Law 101-542, November 8, 1990, as amended 1993, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College provides statistical data on its graduates and the Campus Security Report. For further information, contact the Dean of Student Services on each campus.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and its subsequent revisions deal with educational records of students. The purpose of the law is to define who may or may not have access to student records. The law allows students and parents of dependent students, as defined by the IRS, access to the individual student’s educational records.

MGCCC will release directory information on students to any interested member of the public unless the student requests that it be withheld. Requests by the student to withhold directory information must be made to the campus Dean of Student Services. Directory information is defined as follows: (1) the student’s name; (2) address; (3) telephone number; (4) date and place of birth; (5) major; (6) participation in officially recognized activities and sports; (7) weight and height of athletic team members; (8) dates of attendance; (9) degrees and awards received; (10) previous educational institutions attended, and (11) other similar information.

Except as provided by law, data released to sources outside the college will be in aggregate form and no personally identifiable information will be made available.

Further information concerning provisions of the Act may be obtained from the campus Dean of Student Services or the Administrative Dean of College Centers. Additional information can be found in Statement No. 714 of the Policies and Procedures Manual located at: http://www.mgccc.edu/Documents/MGCCC_PP.pdf.

Information contained in this publication is subject to change without prior notice. Information contained herein shall not constitute a binding agreement on the part of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.