Section 6: Regulatory Requirements and College Campus Policies

This section includes policies that are required by the Federal Government, our accrediting agencies, and policies that are unique to the MCC Campus.

6.1 Discrimination

MCC provides equal educational and employment opportunities. Meridian Community College admits students of any race, color, gender, national or ethnic origin, religious preference, age, marital status, or disability to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available by the College. MCC is guided by the principle that persons shall not be treated differently because of race, gender, age, creed, color, marital status, disability, or ethnic or national origin.

MCC selects recipients of scholarships, awards, and honors without regard to race, gender, age, creed, color, marital status, disability, and ethnic or national origin.

6.2 Sexual Harassment Policy

6.2.1 Policy

It is the policy of Meridian Community College, in keeping with efforts to establish an environment in which the dignity and worth of all members of the institutional community are respected, that sexual harassment of students and employees at Meridian Community College is unacceptable conduct and will not be tolerated. Sexual harassment may involve the behavior of a person of either sex against a person of the opposite or same sex, when that behavior falls within the definition outlined below.

6.2.2 Scope of policy

This policy applies to all administrators, faculty, staff, agents, and students at all times and places in any connection with MCC. This policy applies for and to those who do business with the College. The terms “employee” or “employment” include, but are not limited to, administrators, faculty, staff, agents, and contractors.

6.2.3 Definition

Sexual harassment of employees and students at Meridian Community College is defined as any unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when:

1. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment.
2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting that individual.
3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or educational experience, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment.

Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to:

• request for dates with a student by faculty when that student is in his/her class or is his/her advisee
• persistent requests for a date by any person
• continued expression of sexual interest after being informed that the interest is unwelcome
• unconsented or unwelcome physical contact
• demeaning nude or semi-nude posters, photos, cartoons, sketches or graffiti in the workplace or public place
• unwelcome nonverbal contact, such as leering, posturing, or gesturing at another person
• gender-based comments or statements that are demeaning, humiliating, suggestive, insulting, vulgar, or lewd
• harassment by nonemployees, such as visitors, vendors, or business affiliates of the College
• failure by College employees to provide assistance to persons of one gender that is usual and customarily provided to persons of the other gender
• retaliation in any form or manner for complaints about harassment or for requests that harassing conduct stop or for assisting a person with a complaint of harassment
• physical interference with job performance or educational activity.

6.2.4 Procedure for Complaints by Students Regarding Sexual Harassment

Students who feel that they have been sexually harassed under the above definition and wish for further information or assistance in filing a complaint should contact the Dean of Student Services with a written report of the complaint setting forth the facts involved.

6.2.5 Procedure for Complaints by College Employees

The employee who has a complaint against another employee may present it in writing to Human Resource Director who investigates by interviewing the alleged harasser, the appropriate supervisor, and any witnesses, obtaining statements from all concerned. The Human Resource Director negotiates a settlement among the parties or, absent a consensus, calls a formal hearing by an ad hoc committee composed of all officers of the college which determines the result of the complaint. Both or either party to the dispute has 72 hours in which to appeal in writing the settlement or hearing result, to be directed to the President of the College. The decision of the President is final.

6.2.6 Disciplinary Actions

In the event of the determination of harassment, discipline may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:

• oral reprimand
• written reprimand
• suspension (with or without pay)
• termination or expulsion.

Discipline for students shall be determined by the Dean of Student Services. Final discipline for employees shall be determined by the President of the College. A determination of sexual harassment under this policy shall be placed in the harasser’s personnel file. Harassment is also a violation of state and federal laws and the harasser may be charged by appropriate agencies.

Harassment of employees or students by third parties is not acceptable. MCC will do whatever it reasonably can to stop such harassment.

6.2.7 Training and Prevention

Training for all employees shall be the responsibility of the Department of Human Resources, which reports to the Assistant to the President for Finance/CFO.

New employees will be required to attend a sexual harassment seminar as part of new employee orientation. Training will be provided periodically for all employees. This will be the responsibility of our Human Resource Department.

6.2.8 First Day Handout Statement

The following statement must appear on every (each) instructor’s first day handouts.

“Meridian Community College is committed to creating and maintaining a community in which students and employees can learn and work together in an atmosphere free of the threat of sexual assault. Every member of the college community should be aware that the College considers personal physical safety of students and employees to be a minimal prerequisite for the establishment of a quality learning environment. MCC views any form of sexual misconduct (including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking) as a serious offense, and such behavior is prohibited by state law and by college policy. The complete sexual misconduct policy is located on Eaglenet and in the MCC Catalog.”

6.3 Sexual Misconduct Policy

Meridian Community College is committed to creating and maintaining a community in which students and employees can learn and work together in an atmosphere free of the threat of sexual assault. Every member of the college community should be aware that the College considers personal physical safety of students and employees to be a minimal prerequisite for the establishment of a quality learning environment.

MCC views any form of sexual misconduct (including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking) as a serious offense, and such behavior is prohibited by state law and by college policy. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities. The College will investigate reports of violations of sexual misconduct in an impartial, prompt, and equitable manner. Reporting an incident is a separate step from choosing to prosecute. We are concerned with the victim’s welfare and want to ensure that the appropriate treatment and support is provided. When a person files a report with the Campus Police, they are not obligated to continue with legal proceedings or college disciplinary action. Prosecution of individuals for crimes they commit, whether by state or federal prosecutors, is independent of and in addition to the charges or disciplinary proceedings instituted by the College. The Title IX coordinator (or designee) oversees the College’s investigation and response to incidents of Title IX violations. Compliance with Title IX is coordinated by Mr. Derek Mosley, Social Science Instructor, Smith Hall 109, 910 Highway 19 North, Meridian, MS 39307. Phone: 601-553-3453, Fax: 601-484-8635, email: dmosley@meridiancc.edu.

A student also has the right to file a formal complaint by contacting the United States Department of Education:

Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202.1100
Customer Service Hotline: 800-421-3481 TDD: 877-521-2172
Email: OCR@ed.gov Website: www.ed.gov/ocr

6.3.1 Types of Sexual Misconduct

1. Sexual Assault: An offense that meets the definition of rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape as used in the FBI’s UCR program.
2. Sex Offenses: Any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.
   1. Rape- The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.
   2. Fondling - The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental incapacity.
   3. Incest - Sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.
   4. Statutory Rape - Sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.

• Consent is defined as agreeing to do or allow something. It may be given by words or actions, so long as those words or actions create clear, mutually understood permission to engage in (and the conditions of) sexual activity. Silence does not necessarily constitute consent, and past consent of sexual activities does not imply ongoing future consent. A person who is unable to consent includes, but is not limited to, any person under the legal age of consent, anyone who is physically helpless, or anyone who is mentally incapacitated. A physically helpless person is considered to be one who is unconscious or for any other reason unable to communicate unwillingness to engage in any act. A mentally incapacitated person may be one who is under the influence of alcohol or a drug, or who is mentally incapable of understanding the implications and consequences of any act.

3. Domestic Violence: A felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed

• by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;
• by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;
• by a person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner;
• by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred;
• by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

4. Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim.
   1. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
   2. For the purposes of this definition, dating violence includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse.
   3. Dating violence does not include acts covered under the definition of domestic violence.
   4. Any incident meeting this definition is considered a crime for the purposes of Clery Act reporting.
5. Stalking: Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to
   1. Fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or
   2. Suffer substantial emotional distress.
   3. For the purposes of this definition:

• Course of conduct means two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property.
• Reasonable person means a reasonable person under similar circumstances and with similar identities to the victim.
• Substantial emotional distress means significant mental suffering or anguish that may, but does not necessarily, require medical or other professional treatment or counseling.
• Any incident meeting this definition is considered a crime for the purposes of Clery Act reporting.

6.3.2 Reporting Sexual Assault and Receiving Assistance

The Title IX Coordinator (or designee) is available to help anyone who reports a violation of the sexual misconduct policy. The Coordinator can provide assistance and information regarding crisis intervention, assessment, and referral for the victim and the accused. The Coordinator, along with other members of student services, are responsible for coordinating prevention education efforts on campus.

Individuals may report violations of sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator by phone, email, or written notice. Employees of the college should report violations to the Human Resources Coordinator located in the Business Office of Hardin Hall.

When a student or employee reports to the institution that the student or employee has been a victim of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, whether the offense occurred on or off- campus, the College will provide the student or employee with a copy of the MCC Sexual Assault policy which contains written explanations of the student’s or employee’s rights and options.

A student may choose to use the College disciplinary process in cases involving another student, whether the incident occurred on- or off-campus. An individual has the right not to report if they choose. If the reporting student requests confidentiality or requests that the complaint not be pursued, the Coordinator will take all reasonable steps to investigate the complaint and respond consistently with the student’s request as long as doing so does not prevent the College from responding effectively. The College will take all reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality of the victim and other necessary parties. Publicly available record keeping, including Clery Act reporting and disclosures, will not contain personally identifying information about the victim. The College will also maintain as confidential any accommodations or protective measures provided to the victim, to the extent that maintaining such confidentiality would not impair the ability of the institution to provide the accommodations or protective measures. The Coordinator will inform the student that confidentiality cannot be assured.

If the reporting student insists that he/she remains anonymous in the investigation, the Coordinator will inform the student that such a request will limit the College’s ability to respond to the complaint. The Coordinator will evaluate the request in the context of the College’s responsibility to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students. When reasonably available, the College can provide assistance in changing academic, living, transportation, working arrangements, and other protective measures, if requested with the Coordinator, regardless of whether the victim chooses to report the crime to campus or local police and regardless of whether the incident occurred on or off campus.

Any college employee receiving a report of sexual assault involving a student should refer the matter to the Title IX Coordinator. The Coordinator will discuss options and resources with the person reporting the sexual assault and with the student.

Where applicable, MCC will enforce orders of protection, “no contact” orders, restraining orders, or similar lawful orders issued by criminal, civil, or tribal courts or by the institution.

MCC maintains relationships with various institutions which offer confidential services to assist victims of sexual violence. A few of those institutions are the Care Lodge, Weems Mental Health, Psychology Associates, and Wesley House. These institutions provide services such as counseling, health, mental health and victim advocacy. See the contact information below for off campus resources.

Care Lodge
24 Hour Hotline 601-693-4673
Community Service 601-482-8719
Domestic Violence Shelter 601-483-8436
www.carelodge.com

Wesley House - Meridian, MS
www.wesleyhousemeridian.org

Weems Community Mental Health Center
1415 College Drive
Meridian, MS 39307
601-483-4821

Anderson Regional Medical Center
2124 14th Street
Meridian, MS 39301
(ER) 601-553-6111

Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence
www.mcadv.org

Wesley House
1520 8th Avenue
Meridian, MS 39307
601-485-4736

Psychology Associates
5004 Highway 39 North
Meridian, MS 39307
601-693-8307

Rush Foundation Hospital
1314 19th Avenue
Meridian, MS 39301
(ER) 601-703-9260

Clery Center for Security on Campus
www.clerycenter.org

6.3.3 Reporting a Sexual Misconduct Violation

Procedures for reporting a sexual misconduct violation:

1. A person should go to a safe place as soon as possible.
2. The person should also try to preserve all physical evidence. If a person is reporting a sexual assault that has occurred within the previous 72 hours, it may be possible to collect trace evidence of the offense. This evidence is important particularly if a person wishes to prosecute the offender. Do not shower or bathe, wash hands, use the toilet, change clothing, or wash clothing or bedding. If the victim changed clothes, please place all of the clothing that was worn at the time of the incident in a paper (not plastic) bag.
3. Seek medical attention. A medical examination will provide any necessary treatment and collect important evidence. MCC police are available to transport sexual assault victims to any local hospital of the victim’s choice where a rape examination may be conducted. See the local hospitals listed above.
4. A person may report the incident to the Title IX Coordinator or Campus Police, and/or local law enforcement.
5. Call MCC Campus Police. (It is the victim’s decision whether to involve the police in an incident. Deciding not to involve the police does not prevent the victim from seeking assistance from the Title IX Coordinator.) To report an incident that has just occurred, or to report an incident at a later date, call MCC Campus Police at 601-484-8620 or 601-934-0072. Campus Police will assist the victim in notifying local law enforcement if the victim chooses to do so.

Reporting an incident to the MCC Campus Police

• helps identify and apprehend the alleged assailant;
• helps maintain future options regarding criminal prosecution, College disciplinary action, and/or civil action against the perpetrator; and
• may protect the victim and others from future assaults by the same assailant.

When an incident is reported, an MCC police officer will complete an incident report. An investigator will be summoned to begin an investigation into the offense. This process is important if the victim wishes to bring criminal charges at this or a later time. The victim will be asked questions about the incident and asked to identify any witnesses and what happened before and after the incident. Generally, the MCC Campus Police works to safeguard the identity of the victim.

6. Call off-campus police. A person can call 911, the Meridian Police Department (601-485-1893), or the Lauderdale County Sherriff’s Department (601-482-9898).
7. Seek counseling or other support. A victim who wishes to speak to someone confidentially is encouraged to contact one of the resources listed in the chart above.

6.3.4 Disciplinary Process

In responding to reports of sexual assault, the College will support and protect the persons involved and protect the College community. Interim measures such as campus escorts, academic changes, employment or housing modifications, or interim suspension may be provided to any person involved in an incident.

A charge of sexual assault against an individual will be handled by the Office of the Dean of Student Services under the normal College disciplinary processes. The Dean, or Associate Dean, will conduct a prompt, fair, and impartial process from the initial investigation to the final result. The Dean, or Associate Dean, of Student Services has the discretion to suspend a student accused of sexual assault, pending the completion of the investigation. Upon completion of any necessary investigation, the Dean, or Associate Dean, of Student Services will formally notify the accused student of the charge(s).

Investigations involving any type of reported sexual assault will be conducted by officials who, at a minimum, receive annual training on the issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking along with how to conduct an investigation and hearing process that protects the safety of the victims and promotes accountability.

Both the person filing a complaint and the person accused of a violation of the policy on sexual assault has certain rights in the College disciplinary process. The standard of evidence in sexual misconduct violations is a preponderance of the evidence.

The person filing a complaint has the right to:

• Be present whenever the accused student is present in the disciplinary process;
• Be accompanied by a representative of their choice;
• Be present when (or if) disciplinary action is announced to the accused;
• Make a formal statement, orally or in writing, prior to consideration of any penalty to be imposed on the offender;
• Be notified, at the same time as the offender, of any penalty being imposed;
• Be notified of any appeals filed by the offender, and to respond to any new evidence presented as the basis for any appeal; and
• Be notified, at the same time as the accused, of the result of any appeals.

Both the accuser and the accused have the same opportunities to have others present during any institutional disciplinary proceeding, including the opportunity to be accompanied to any related meeting or proceeding by the advisor of their choice.

Both the accuser and the accused will be simultaneously notified, in writing, of the result of any disciplinary proceeding that arises from an allegation of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Both the accuser and the accused have the right to appeal the result of the institutional disciplinary proceeding.

Both parties will be notified when the results become final and any change to those results.

See the MCC College Catalog for the Disciplinary Process for Students and for the Student Appeals Procedure.

6.3.5 Retaliation

Retaliation against a person who has in good faith filed, supported or participated in an investigation of a complaint of any type of discrimination, harassment or sexual misconduct as defined above is prohibited. Retaliation includes but is not limited to, ostracizing the person, pressuring the person to drop or not support the complaint, or adversely altering that person’s educational, living, or work environment. Students accused of retaliation will be subjected to the procedures of the MCC Disciplinary Process.

6.3.6 Sanctions

The sanctions for students found guilty of sexual assault under this policy range from a minimum of suspension for one year to a maximum of permanent expulsion. Any student suspended under this policy must, as a condition of reentering the College, submit to the Dean of Student Services proof of successful completion of counseling by a licensed mental health professional and the results of a psychological evaluation.

6.3.7 Education Programs

MCC has contracted with a company to provide online, interactive sexual misconduct education for students and employees. Each module provides information related to sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, sexual harassment, bystander intervention and links to federal and state laws. Other topics related to healthy relationships, the importance of consent and being a good communicator, and the many ways a student can help create the safe, positive campus to be a part of are also discussed.

During the academic year, local agencies such as the Care Lodge and Wesley House provide programs and services to our students and employees relating to domestic violence. The Care Lodge also hosts a conference on Domestic Violence which is attended by various employees.

6.4 Academic Freedom

An atmosphere of freedom must prevail at Meridian Community College so that the institution may fulfill its academic obligations to the students and the community. Academic freedom of the faculty in the presentation and discussion of subject matter and in the pursuit of research must be maintained.

Academic freedom does not mean academic license; with freedom comes responsibility. Since the teacher is a representative of Meridian Community College on and off campus, it is his/her duty and responsibility to exercise appropriate restraint, to show respect for the opinion of others, and at all times to be accurate.

No limitation shall be placed on the teacher’s freedom in the presentation and the discussion of the subject in the classroom, but s/he should be careful not to introduce controversial issues that have no relation to the subject. When controversial issues are discussed, tact should be exercised.

The individual teacher must be free to make his/her own professional judgments regarding the selection of materials and the methods used to obtain the goals prescribed by the curriculum.

The faculty member must be mindful that the public may judge the teaching profession as well as Meridian Community College by his/her statements and actions.

It is expected that all faculty members maintain the utmost integrity in all dealings and respect the established moral standards of the institution and the community.

The teacher shall be free to offer, through official committee channels or to the appropriate authorities, criticism designed for the improvement of the School.

Institutional harmony is based upon mutual loyalty and respect. It is the responsibility of the faculty member in interactions with students to exercise good judgment in his/her comments about other teachers, administrators, courses or departments, or other students.

6.4.1 Policy for Appeal for Infringement of Academic Freedom

One of the major concerns of the Faculty Senate is the protection of an individual instructor’s academic freedom. When there is a question concerning the violation of academic freedom, the Meridian Community College Faculty Senate shall appoint an advisory committee whose duty shall be fact finding. This committee is not a permanent committee. An appropriate committee should be appointed for each specific case; it will be composed of members most familiar with the subject area involved. This advisory committee will report the facts to the Faculty Senate. The Faculty Senate will then make recommendations to the President. In most cases the Faculty Senate will not take action until a request is made by a teacher. However, in unusual cases or incidents the Faculty Senate is free to make an appropriate investigation. The Faculty Senate will be concerned with outside charges only when the President of the College brings them to the attention of the Faculty Senate. All complaints or charges shall be presented to the Faculty Senate in written form.

6.5 Intellectual Property Rights

Meridian Community College recognizes Intellectual Property as creations of the mind, both artistic and commercial. This includes, but is not limited to musical, literary, and artistic works; teaching and classroom materials, such as handouts, laboratory manuals, study guides, and lecture notes; software; web pages; multi-media presentation; and online course “shells”.

6.5.1 Faculty & Staff

Meridian Community College retains ownership of Intellectual Property created by employees, as well as any proceeds derived from the creation, when the work was created using college resources and during time compensated by the College. Ownership of the work may be transferred to the creator at the discretion of the Board of Trustees at the recommendation of the College president. To request a transfer of ownership, the creator should file a Transfer of Ownership form with the President’s office.

6.5.2 Students

Any Intellectual Property created by a student of MCC, as well as any proceeds derived from the creation, belongs to the student.

6.6 Grievance Process for the General Public

The purpose of the grievance process for the general public is to provide a process for businesses, industries, employers and members of the general public to resolve grievances with the college in an orderly and amicable fashion.

6.6.1 Definitions - Grievance and Expression of Concern

A grievance is a difference or dispute of (1) an institutional nature or (2) involving one or more members of the general public or the various communities of interest of the college and one or more members of the college’s staff or faculty. A grievance, in contrast to an “expression of concern,” is a dispute that rises to the level of a person representing him- or herself or a business mailing a certified letter of complaint to the president’s office and requesting a written response.

A “concern” may be made known to the college by telephone call, e-mail or regular (non-certified) letter and will be responded to at the departmental level similarly, i.e., a telephone conversation, exchange of e-mails or face-to-face meeting with the relevant college faculty/staff and/or their supervisors. When an expression of concern cannot be resolved informally through the aforementioned methodologies, the complaining party is advised by college representatives of the requirement to mail a written certified letter to the president to initiate a formal grievance.

6.6.2 Grievance Procedure

Whenever a certified grievance letter is received by the president, he/she is charged by the Board of Trustees to initiate an internal investigation into the matter and respond in writing to the complaining party within 14 business days. If the president’s response is not deemed satisfactory by the complaining party, that person is required to notify the president’s office within 5 business days, else the matter is considered to have been successfully resolved. If the complaining party notifies the president’s office within the aforementioned 5 business days of his/her dissatisfaction with the president’s response, then he or she has the option of requesting an audience with the college Board of Trustees at its next regularly scheduled meeting. An audience before the Board is considered to be the college’s final internal remedy to resolve the grievance. Any further response from the college beyond an audience with the Board of Trustees will be conducted through the college attorney.

To reiterate, the intent of this policy is to amicably (1) address any expression of concern at the lowest level of administration possible and (2) to resolve any written grievances at the presidential level, while assuring the complaining party - should it become necessary - of his/her right to be heard by the Board of Trustees as a final internal effort at resolution. Copies of the grievance, all related correspondence, and the president’s decision will be placed on file and retained in the president’s office for a period of five (5) years.

6.7 College Communications

The Office of College Communications maintains visual and identity standards. Policies for websites, digital platforms, and social medial are outlined below. Additional standards policies can be found at www.meridiancc.edu/templates. These additional policies include printed items, special events, signage, and email signatures.

6.7.1 Websites

The purpose of the MCC website is to project the image of the College nationally and internationally across the Internet and to provide its audience with fast, intuitive access to College information. The audience of the MCC website includes current and prospective students, their parents, faculty and staff, alumni, researchers, businesses and visitors from other institutions.

Internet Domain Name: Our Internet domain, meridiancc.edu, has significant equity in the higher education marketplace and among our various audiences. Purchase, use, and promotion of alternative domains for official MCC content are not authorized. Doing so can cause confusion, splinter search results and dilute the strength of the MCC presence on the Internet. There is only one exception to this provision at this time, which is mcceagles.com.

6.7.1.1 Webpage Standards

Official Meridian Community College websites, similar to printed publications, will adhere to graphic standards that have been created to produce visual harmony throughout the school’s web presence while respecting the individuality of divisions. Our website should only use the required colors (or gradients in between those colors), fonts and logos that are laid out in our College’s visual and identity standards. It can, however, use logos to act as links to other pages and partnerships, but only as directed.

Primary institutional pages are webpages for the College, departments, and divisions (both academic and administrative) as well as transitional pages, which link directly from the home page. Secondary institutional pages are all pages below the index home page of a department or administrative unit’s webpages.

Non-institutional pages are not hosted on the College web server and are discouraged. Non-institutional pages include those pages that are maintained by faculty, staff, or students who are acting primarily as individuals rather than as spokespeople for the College and must contain the word “unofficial” and declare that they are not a part of the MCC website.

6.7.1.2 Privacy Policy

It is the policy of Meridian Community College that personal information about citizens will be collected through our website, only to the extent necessary to provide the service or benefit desired; that only appropriate information will be collected; that the citizen shall understand the reason the information is collected and be able to examine their personal record which is maintained by a public body.

6.7.1.2.1 What the Privacy Policy Covers

The Privacy Policy covers Meridian Community College’s treatment of personally identifiable information that MCC collects when you are on the MCC site and use MCC’s online services. This policy does not apply to the practices of companies that MCC does not own or control or to people that MCC does not employ or manage.

6.7.1.2.2 Information Collection and Use

MCC collects personally identifiable information when you register for certain MCC web services. MCC may also receive personally identifiable information from our business partners. When you apply for an online service with MCC, we ask for your name, email address, birth date, gender, phone, zip code, occupation, curriculum, industry, and comments.

MCC may also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, MCC cookie information and the page you requested.

• MCC uses the information for two general purposes:
  • to fulfill your requests for certain services and
  • to contact you with information and new services.
• MCC will not share, sell or rent personal identifiable information to anyone.
• MCC will send personal identifiable information about you to other companies or people when:
  • We have your consent to share the information;
  • We need to share your information to provide the product or service you have requested;
  • We need to send the information to companies who work on behalf of MCC to provide a product or service to you. (Unless we tell you differently, these companies do not have any right to use personal identifiable information we provide to them beyond what is necessary to assist us.); and
  • We respond to subpoenas, court orders and legal processes.

6.7.1.2.3 Cookies

MCC does not currently use cookies, but may set and access MCC cookies on your computer.

• A cookie is a small amount of data, which often includes an anonymous unique identifier, which is sent to your browser from a website’s computers and stored on your computer’s hard drive.
  • Each web site can send its own cookie to your browser if your browser’s preferences allow it, but (to protect your privacy) your browser only permits a web site to access the cookies it has already sent to you, not the cookies sent to you by other sites.
• Choices About Cookies - You can configure your browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, or notify you when a cookie is set. (Each browser is different, so check the “Help” menu of your browser to learn how to change your cookie preferences.)

6.7.1.2.4 Security

In certain areas MCC uses standard email or databases to store data transmissions.

6.7.1.2.5 Changes to this Privacy Policy

MCC may edit this policy from time to time. If we make any substantial changes, we will notify you by posting an announcement on our pages.

6.7.1.3 Accessibility Statement

It is the policy of Meridian Community College to maintain and promote equal employment and educational opportunity without regard to race, color, sex or age (except where sex or age is a bona fide occupational qualification), religion, disability, national origin or other non-merit factors. This includes access to electronic information and services. If this is not possible, reasonable accommodations must be made to provide these services or materials in an alternative format in a timely manner to ensure compliance with federal and state laws. For more information please see Disability Support Services.

Disclaimer: Meridian Community College provides its website, catalog, handbooks and any other printed materials or electronic media for your general guidance. All print and electronic materials attempt to present information as up-to-date as possible. This does not, however, preclude the possibility of changes taking place prior to the publication of updated materials. When such changes happen, they will be publicized through normal channels as quickly as possible. Prospective and current students should consult an advisor or other college representative when making academic or financial decisions regarding their education. Links or references to other materials and websites provided are also for information purposes only and do not constitute the College’s endorsement of products or services referenced.

6.7.2 Social Media Policy

Meridian Community College recognizes and embraces the power of social media, and the opportunity those tools provide to communicate with the MCC community, including students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and other interested parties. Social media at, or concerning, MCC is governed by the same laws, policies, etiquette, and rules of conduct that apply to all other activities at the College. To help you identify and avoid potential issues, we have compiled these guidelines.

6.7.2.1 Definition

Social media includes, but is not limited to, websites, blogs, chat rooms, and bulletin boards; social networks such as Facebook, Flickr, Google+, Instagram, Snapchat, Myspace, Pinterest, and Twitter; video sharing sites such as YouTube; and email.

6.7.2.2 MCC-Affiliated Social Media Accounts

The official social media accounts of MCC are established and maintained on behalf of the institution by College Communications and MCC Athletics. These departments manage several social networking sites as branding and engagement tools including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

6.7.2.3 Advertising and Promotion on Social Media

Advertising on some social media sites is available. Please contact College Communications if you are interested in advertising on Facebook or another social networking site specifically for an event or program.

6.7.2.4 Existing Social Media Accounts (Prior to August 2019)

If students or alumni have already created social media accounts, please make the College Communications aware. It may be requested that those pages either be deleted or merged with our main institutional accounts. If the account remains active, we will ask them to change the name of the group to something that more accurately reflects their relationship to the program. The owner of such a site should also include a statement saying that this is an unofficial social media account.

6.7.2.5 Personal Social Media Accounts

MCC is aware that members of the MCC community may wish to express their personal ideas and opinions through private social media not administered by the College. Employees are encouraged to share College news and events that are a matter of public record. Linking straight to the information source is an effective way to help promote the mission of MCC and build community awareness. MCC does reserve the right to address social media activity causing damage to the College, our employees, and our students.

6.7.2.6 Hashtags

A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#), used on social media websites and applications, especially Twitter, to identify messages on a specific topic. Official College hashtags are #mcc, #mcceagles, #findyourwings, #whereeaglesoar, and #theviewfromthetop. College Communications will vary, add to, and discontinue use of hashtags based on marketing campaigns. They will be used to promote the college in all forms of social media.

6.7.2.7 Guidelines for Creating and Using Social Media Accounts

Social media is a powerful tool Meridian Community College can use to tell its story, share information and promote its programs and events. Before you decide to create a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account for your program or club, make sure you have the time to devote to site maintenance and administration once it’s launched. Anyone considering creating a social media site should consider the following questions:

• What are the goals of creating such a site?
• Who will be the intended audience(s) for this site?
• What messages do we want to share on this site?
• Who will write the messages for the site?
• Who will update the site?
• How often do you plan to post content to the site?

Additionally, various departments, student groups, and clubs may maintain social networking sites, with the approval of MCC’s College Communications, that promote civil discussion of topics related to MCC and its constituents. These include sites administered on behalf of (a) MCC as an institution; (b) individual programs or departments; (c) members of the faculty, in connection with a specific course; or (d) student organizations. As the department charged with compliance and oversight, MCC’s College Communications requires full administrative access to each account. Unauthorized use of the MCC name, logo, or trademarks without the express permission of an authorized official of the College is strictly prohibited.

All main social media accounts will be named: MCC or Meridiancc. MCC and the particular entity (department, organization, club, etc.) represented must be clearly identified in the username and site title (For example, Twitter names should begin with MCC, i.e., MCCPTK, MCCBSU, MCCFCA, or MeridianccPTK, MeridianccBSU, MeridianccFCA), and have a completed social media application on file with College Communications.

6.7.2.8 Site Administrators

Primary site administrators will be identified for each site, must be employees of Meridian Community College, and are ultimately responsible for the relevant site. The primary site administrator must approve all secondary site administrators.

The primary site administrator is responsible for the site’s activity, i.e., regular content updates, accuracy and corrections, if needed. He or she will also monitor the site activity frequently and respond to comments as needed to maintain decorum.

Secondary site administrators are those who the primary administrator affords administrative access. (For example, each recruiter would have administrative access to the Recruiting Facebook page, but the Director of Recruiting is considered the primary administrator). Secondary site administrators can include students who are under faculty or staff supervision.

Any site administrator who uses social media as a representative of MCC agrees to abide by the following:

• Posts on social media sites should protect the College’s institutional voice by remaining professional in tone and in good taste. Content will respect the College, its students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater community. Statements on social media that cause disruption to MCC operations, or impede the College’s pursuit of its mission, may result in disciplinary action.
• Any and all College-affiliated social media usage should promote and advance the institution. If you become aware of objectionable content posted on an MCC social media site or an unaffiliated site, notify College Communications promptly. Do not reply on behalf of the College.
• Do not share confidential and/or proprietary information about the College or information about students, faculty or staff that violates Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) laws or the College’s privacy policy.
• Observe applicable copyright laws. Even information that is widely available to the public (such as text, photographs, or other material posted on the Internet) may be subject to copyright restrictions. Avoid posting trademarked content such as logos, names, brands, symbols and designs without permission from the trademark owner.
• Content on college-affiliated social networking sites must be updated at least twice monthly. Individual department heads or advisors may require more frequent updates.
• A site administrator contacted by the news media should refer the media representative to the director of Public Information or the College President.
• Don’t copy and paste content from official MCC social media accounts to another account. Instead, direct followers back to the originating MCC account by providing a link. This will facilitate efforts to analyze social media traffic and engagement (e.g. “likes” and comments).
• Do not use any MCC social media sites, networks, equipment or peripherals for unauthorized commercial purposes.
• MCC faculty members who utilize a social medium as a means of student participation in a course should provide a practical and appropriate alternative for students who may be unable or reluctant to utilize that social medium (for example, some students may not be comfortable opening a Facebook account).

6.7.2.9 To obtain a MCC Approved Social Media Account

To obtain an approved MCC social media account, see the procedure outlined in Visual and Identity Standards, published by College Communications. The document can be found at

6.7.2.10 Stagnant Accounts

College Communications will review sites periodically to be certain these guidelines are being followed and that sites remain active. If social media sites become inactive or do not follow guidelines established, College Communications will ask that they be discontinued. College Communications reserves the right to disable or temporarily unpublish Meridian Community College social media accounts that are dormant (no posts, no activity) for more than SIX months, as such stagnancy reflects poorly on the College.

Failure to comply with the guidelines outlined in the social media policy and procedure can result in suspension or termination of your account. If you have questions or need more information, contact College Communications at collegecommunications@meridiancc.edu.

A social media application form can be found at meridiancc.edu/socialapp.

6.7.3 Request for Interviews

The College president is the official spokesperson of the College. No person is authorized to act as an official spokesperson for the College or present themselves as speaking for the College without the prior authorization of the College president or the Office of College Communications. College Communications is responsible for MCC’s media relations, including responding to calls from the media and reporters, as well as addressing questions regarding College activities, events, and issues.

All media inquiries and guest appearances on local media talk shows should be directed to the Director of Public Information in College Communications at 601.484-8689 to arrange for providing information and scheduling interviews and responses as necessary.

All media inquiries about athletic students should be directed the Athletic Director at 601.484.8707 or the Sports Information Director at 601.484.8828.

All press releases (print, audio, and/or video) must be submitted to the media by the Director of Public Information or the Sports Information Director. Individuals/departments can request that news releases and announcements concerning College personnel, departments, programs, events, and activities be sent to the media; requests should be submitted to the Director of Public Information with appropriate advance notice.

Please see the publication Visual and Identity Standards at www.meridiancc.edu/templates for additional College Communications policies.

6.7.4 Emergency Media Relations

The President and the Office of College Communications have the primary responsibility for releasing information to the news media. Major incidents and emergencies may draw interest from local or national media. It is of utmost importance that only accurate information is released by the Office of College Communications. Incorrect or incomplete information could be detrimental to the College, its employees, and its students. Refer all news media inquiries to the Office of College Communications at 601.484.8689. If the Office of College Communications cannot be reached, other contacts should be (in order):

• Leia Hill, Vice President for Institutional Advancement; Executive Director of the Foundation, at 601.484.8612 or 601.938.0106.
• Deanna Smith, Dean of Students, at 601.484.8895 or 601.917.7097.
• Sander Atkinson, Assistant Dean of Students, 601.484.8707 or 601.479.3907.
• Dr. Tom Huebner, President, at 601.484.8619.                                                                                                                         (Revised 08/10/2021)

6.8 Network Policies and Procedures

The purpose of the MCC Information Network is to support the overall educational mission of the College, in accordance with School policies. Access to the network and its resources is a privilege. Network users must at all times respect the rights of others and the integrity of the network.

This policy governs the use of all computers; computer-based networks; wireless devices, whether owned by the College or the individual; and related hardware and software at Meridian Community College. Under federal statutes and the sections of the Mississippi Code that regulates the use of these resources, the College is required to ensure that this equipment and software are used properly and for the purpose for which state funds were expended. The intent of this policy is to allow maximum freedom of use while still complying with state and federal law, College policy and a productive work environment.

6.8.1 Scope

This policy applies to all College faculty, staff, administrators, students, and visitors who utilize the resources of the College network. It covers all computing hardware, network infrastructure, routers, switches, hubs, servers, wireless devices, and all types of software identified as “supported by the College.”

Also included are the following categories of data systems: the administrative and student information system and data which have been collected or generated by the College. Not covered is data which is generated, stored, and used by students or employees for their own purposes nor software or data which the College does not support, even though such may be stored on College hardware and/or used by individual departments.

6.8.2 User Responsibilities

Network Security - Network access is controlled by passwords, and the level of access granted is determined by a user’s job-related requirements. Passwords must not be logically identifiable with the user, must be changed periodically as required by the system, and must not be shared with anyone else.

Ethical Use - The network, including the Internet and Email, is for official College use only and must not be used for personal business, profit-making ventures, political activities, or to harass or offend anyone. This includes the use of Email, messaging services and social networking sites (such as Facebook and Twitter). Users will not access, view, or alter any data that is outside their scope of responsibility unless authorized to do so by a supervisor or instructor.

Security - The College makes every effort to protect the network from intrusion from within and without. All attempts to “hack’ into the network constitute a serious offense and will be dealt with appropriately. All suspected attempts to violate network security must be reported to the Department of Information Technology. Meridian Community College will comply with all legal requests made by federal, state, and local authorities in pursuit of criminal violators. If necessary, MCC will monitor any correspondence, Internet activity, telephone records, or data stored on or created by the College’s resources. Users of this network cannot attempt to bypass security by using someone else’s login credentials. In addition, instructors will not allow students access to their workstations. Users with access to sensitive and secure information such as financial data, social security numbers, and other personal information must take all precautions necessary to protect this data. Terminals should never be left unattended or information displayed where others can observe. If such sensitive data is taken off-campus - on a laptop or portable drive - it is the user’s responsibility to ensure the confidentiality of the information.

Copyrighted and Intellectual Property- Users may use only legally obtained and licensed software on the College’s computers. In addition users are strictly prohibited from downloading, storing, or making available to others materials that are governed by copyright laws or would be considered the intellectual property of someone else - e.g. music, videos, and books.

Access to the Internet - The College provides Internet access through the College network to all employees having a network account, as well as, to students through computer labs and in certain situations, the public at large. Note that, on-line gaming is not allowed due to its disproportionate use of network resources. Excessive use of the telephone or the Internet, unless specifically job-related, hurts productivity and job-performance. Supervisors have the right to investigate any such activity they deem as excessive. The College does not allow access to sites which are considered objectionable (for example, pornographic or adult sites), and it is a violation of College policy to use the Internet for political purposes, for illegal activity, for profit-making ventures, or for the harassment of individuals or organizations. This includes the use of Email, messaging services and social networking sites (such as Facebook and Twitter). Users should be aware that all Internet activity is logged and that this information is monitored on a regular basis. Any effort to bypass the School’s web filter or conceal the user’s identity (through the use of spoofing, anonymizers, proxy servers, etc.) is a violation of School policy and subject to sanctions.

Email - An Email account is provided for each employee who has a network account and to students through Eaglenet. As with Internet access, Email is intended only for official College business and not for illegal activity, for personal profit making ventures, for political purposes, or to harass any person or organization. This includes the use of Email, messaging services and social networking sites (such as Facebook and Twitter). Spamming or phishing is specifically forbidden. Email is, by definition, public and is subject to review by college officials without prior notification. Users are responsible for maintaining their email accounts and removing old messages.

Unauthorized Software and Equipment - Users will not download or install any unauthorized software on a computer nor will they connect any electronic device to the network without the approval of the Department of Information Technology.

Compliance - Every user of the network is required to read, agree to, and comply with the Network Policies and Procedures document.

6.8.2.1 MCC Distribution Lists

Email distributions lists are meant to facilitate resource sharing and communication. This method of communication is cost-effective as well as a means to reduce the amount of paperwork disseminated through other established means, such as campus mail.

The MCC email distribution list is for information relative to college-related and operations only, and should be used to inform faculty, staff, and students about activities, events or policies that relate to the College’s educational services. Distribution lists are not intended to be used for personal, political or commercial gain.

All campus and groups of employees and students email distribution lists will be established and maintained by the Institutional Technology Department. Specific offices and individuals will be authorized to post to these lists (refer to Appendix A for current lists and authorized individuals and offices).

Individuals may create convenience distribution lists for groups and organizations using the Outlook address book with prior approval from a supervisor and ITD. The group creator is responsible for all posted information, and the email sender is responsible for all replies, responses, and complaints. Messages should be a one-time event or announcement, and not an on-going activity or deadline. Campus email distribution lists are not to be made available to non-college entities.

NOTE: Content in a public group can be seen by anybody in your organization, and anybody in your organization is able to join the group. Content in a private group can only be seen by the members of the group and people who want to join a provate group have to be approved by the group owner. 

6.8.3 Sanctions

Employees - An employee found guilty of violating the terms of the MCC Network Policies and Procedures is subject to sanctions. If misuse of the network by an employee threatens the stability of the network, the Director of Telecommunications will suspend network privileges immediately. Additional sanctions could include reprimand by the appropriate supervisor, dismissal, criminal prosecution or any other sanction as outlined in the MCC Policy and Procedure Manual.

Students - a student found guilty of misuse of the network is subject to loss of network privileges, criminal prosecution, or any other disciplinary action described in the MCC Catalog.

Public - A member of the public found guilty of misuse of the network is subject to loss of network privileges and/or criminal prosecution.

6.9 Information Security Policy

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that all financial institutions establish policies and procedures for safeguarding customer financial information. This mandate requires that Educational Entities, as financial institutions, must comply with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). This legislation is composed of several parts, including: the Privacy Rule and the Safeguards Rule. The FTC has ruled that being in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) satisfies the privacy requirement of the GLBA. However, there is no similar exception for the Safeguards Rule. Meridian Community College must comply with the Safeguards Rule.

Note: Meridian Community College is in compliance with FERPA. For more information on FERPA compliance, please refer to the Academic Information section of the College’s Academic Catalog. (Revised, December 2022)

6.9.1 Objectives

The Safeguards Rule requires that all financial institutions develop an information security program designed to protect customer information. In particular the following elements are addressed:

• Ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information
• Protect against any anticipated threats to the security or integrity of such records
• Protect against unauthorized access to, or use of, such records or information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer

6.9.2 Guidelines

In order to better protect the confidentiality of our customer data, Meridian Community College will implement the following procedures:

• All employees, including student workers, will be trained on how to best protect the confidentiality of secure data. This will include security of their office, security of their terminal, password protection, shredding of documents, and familiarity with all relevant policies and procedures.
• Stored data will be kept under lock and key with access limited to the appropriate personnel. Access to terminals with secure data will be protected at all times. Current data will be handled in such a manner that only authorized personnel will have access. Passwords will be strong (difficult to guess), protected, and updated at scheduled intervals. All users will have to log in to the network with their own credentials and access to data will be limited by their level of clearance.
• The integrity of the network will be protected at all times. A firewall will be in place and monitored for potential intruders. Anti-virus software will be kept up to date. Security patches for software will be kept up to date on all machines. All access points into the network will be constantly monitored for suspicious activity. Critical data will be backed up and stored in a secure location off site.
• Covered data will only be transmitted through secure channels (never through transportable media.) All machines will be formatted before disposal to ensure that no secure data remains on them.

6.9.3 Consequences of Noncompliance

Any suspicious activity will be reported to the Security Office and the Telecommunications department, who will then take the appropriate action. Violators will be subject to sanctions including but not limited to prosecution and termination.

6.10 MCC Email Retention Policy

6.10.1 Introduction

Records management is defined by Mississippi law as “the application of management techniques to the creation, utilization, maintenance, retention, preservation and disposal of records undertaken to reduce costs and improve efficiency of record-keeping. Records management includes management of filing and microfilm equipment and supplies, filing and information retrieval systems, historical documentation, micrographics, records system scheduling and vital records protection.” (Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated, §25-59-3)

As defined in “The Public Records Act - Title 25, Chapter 61, Mississippi Code of 1972- CHAPTER 61. PUBLIC RECORDS”, public records shall mean all books, records, papers, accounts, letters, maps, photographs, films, cards, tapes, recordings or reproductions thereof, and any other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been used, being in use, or prepared, possessed or retained for use in the conduct, transaction or performance of any business, transaction, work, duty or function of any public body, or required to be maintained by any public body.

As defined in the “Mississippi’s Uniform Electronic Transactions Act”, an electronic record is a record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means. Examples of electronic records commonly generated and stored by state government agencies include desktop files, email, databases, and digital images.

Records retention and disposal (including electronic records) are governed by the “STATE OF MISSISSIPPI - RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULES FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES - GENERAL SCHEDULES.” All users who are delegated the responsibility of records retention and disposal are required to be familiar with this schedule and to follow its guidelines. Meridian Community College (MCC) will adhere to the stated guidelines of this document as a minimum standard when evaluating documents for retention and /or disposal.

6.10.2 Scope

This policy applies to all MCC employees, contractors, consultants, and other workers including all personnel affiliated with third parties using MCC’s email system. These users are responsible for reading, understanding, and complying with this policy.

6.10.3 Provisions

Email services are available for faculty and staff to conduct and communicate College business. Email services are provided only while a user is employed by MCC. Once the employee leaves MCC, they will immediately lose access to their email, network drives, and files stored on their PC. The contents of the mailbox will be retained for a year. Upon completion of this retention period, the supervisor will evaluate the contents of the mailbox and the files on the user’s PC to determine what data needs to be retained and what should be disposed of.

Email services are available for students to support learning and for communication by and between MCC and themselves. The services are provided only while a student is enrolled in the College and once a student’s electronic services are terminated, they may no longer access the contents of their mailboxes or the files stored on their network drives.
All records (created, received, or maintained) by MCC are the property of the College. Authorized MCC officials including the Director of Telecommunications may access email, voice mail or other user accounts without the consent of the assigned user when there is a reasonable basis to do so. Reasons for this inquiry include but are not limited to: requests from a user’s supervisor, requests from administration, requests from a legal authority, or due to some suspicious activity by the user. If a user is determined to be using MCC resources in a manner that violates the “MCC NETWORK POLICIES AND PROCEDURES” guidelines, the user’s account will be immediately disabled and the matter will be referred to administration and, if necessary the proper legal authorities.

Email is subject to the same records retention rules that apply to other documents and must be retained in accordance with MCC records retention schedules. Email is one of many methods of communicating information and does not in and of itself constitute a public record under the “Public Records Act”. However, information transmitted by email may become a public record if it is made or received in the transaction of public business by a state agency. The following examples of email messages, including messages with attachments, that are public records include: policies and directives, correspondence related to official business, meeting agendas or minutes, official reports, or material that has legal or historic value. If information transmitted by email meets the definition of a “public record” then it may not be deleted or otherwise disposed of except in accordance with a records retention schedule. The retention requirement associated with any document is determined by its content, not the method of delivery. All employees are required to follow the MCC retention schedule, as well as any applicable federal regulations.

Because email messages can be sent and forwarded to multiple people, copies of the messages may exist in various areas of MCC. In most cases, the author, or originator, of the email message is the legal custodian and is responsible for maintaining the “record” copy. However, in cases in which the recipient has altered the message (made changes, added attachments, etc.), or when the message is coming from outside MCC (and therefore not documented anywhere within MCC); the recipient is the one responsible for retaining the message.

MCC routinely backs up the information residing on the email server’s hard drives. However, these backups are not done for archival purposes or to meet the requirements of the “Public Records Act”, but as a safety measure in the event of a system failure or unlawful tampering. The email systems administrators are not the legal custodians of messages that may be included in the backups. MCC’s email servers provide the mechanisms to deliver and archive email messages, but the legal responsibility for retention and archiving rests with the legal custodians.

MCC classifies electronic data into three categories:

• Official Records - This includes documents that have critical or lasting value to the College. Examples include: documents that constitute a “public record”, financial records, personnel records, legal records. These types of documents will be stored in a repository provided by the College for this purpose and will be retained or disposed of according to the MCC Schedule of Retention and Disposal. An employee should consult their supervisor if they have a question about whether or not a document falls into this classification.
• Important Records - These are records that the user believes are important but which do not fall into the official records category. These records should be transferred to a different medium and maintained by the user. The user is responsible for the security and retention of these documents.
• Transitory Records - These records have no permanent value to the College and must be disposed of by the user as soon as possible.

When the legal custodian of an email leaves the employment of MCC it is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure all public records remaining on the computer and in the email account are retained or disposed of in compliance with MCC’s approved records retention and disposition schedule.

6.10.4 Sanctions

If a user is determined to be in violation of this policy, sanctions could include suspension of network privileges, official reprimand, dismissal, or criminal prosecution.

6.11 Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Program

Red Flag Overview, Summary of Law and Regulation: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Bank Regulatory Agencies, and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) have issued regulations (the Red Flags Rules) requiring financial institutions and creditors to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs, as part of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) Act of 2003. The programs must be in place and must provide for the identification, detection, and response to patterns, practices, or specific activities - known as “Red Flags” - that could indicate identity theft.

The purpose of this document is to establish an Identity Theft Prevention Program in compliance with Sections 114 and 315 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) of 2003, an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) pursuant to U.S.C. 1681s(a)(1) to protect existing consumers, reduce risk from identity fraud, and minimize potential damage from fraudulent new accounts with the least possible impact on business operations.

The college has in place procedures to ensure compliance with the program which shall include reasonable steps to:

• Identify relevant Red Flags for the covered accounts that the College offers or maintains and incorporate those Red Flags into the Program;
• Detect Red Flags that have been incorporated into the Program;
• Respond appropriately to any Red Flags that are detected to prevent and mitigate identity theft; and
• Ensure that the Program is updated periodically to reflect changes in risks to customers and to the safety and soundness of the financial institution.

6.11.1 Definitions

Identity Theft - Fraud committed or attempted using the identifying information of another person without authority.

Red Flag - A pattern, practice, or specific activity that indicates the possible existence of identity theft.

Covered Account - includes all student accounts or loans that are administered by the College and involve multiple payments or transactions.

Program Administrator - the individual designated with the primary responsibility for oversight of the Program

Identifying Information - is any name or number that may be used alone or in conjunction with any other information to identify a specific person.

Scope-Covered Accounts - Meridian Community College has identified the following types of covered accounts which are administered by the school.

1. Refund of credit balances to students and employees
2. Deferment of tuition payments.

Identifying Information

Personally identifiable information includes but is not limited to the following sensitive information whether stored electronic or in printed format:

1. Consumer information

• First, middle, or last name
• Address
• Telephone or wireless numbers
• Social security number
• Date of birth
• Government -issued identification number
• Maiden name
• Student ID number
• Alien registration number
• Government passport number
• Other ID number assigned by Meridian Community College

2. Credit card information

• Credit card number (in whole or in part)
• Credit card expiration date
• Cardholder name
• Cardholder address

3. Payroll Information

• Paychecks
• Paystubs
• Benefit information and account numbers

6.11.2 Identification of Relevant Red Flags

The FTC, in Supplement A to Appendix J, has identified twenty six Red Flags that the College may consider incorporating into its Program in connection with covered accounts, see below:

Alerts, Notifications or Warnings from a Consumer Reporting Agency

1. A fraud or active duty alert is included with a consumer report.
2. A consumer reporting agency provides a notice of credit freeze in response to a request for a consumer report.
3. A consumer reporting agency provides a notice of address discrepancy.
4. A consumer report indicates a pattern of activity that is inconsistent with the history and usual pattern of activity of an applicant or customer.

Suspicious Documents

5. Documents provided for identification appear to have been altered or forged.
6. The photograph or physical description on the identification is not consistent with the appearance of the applicant or customer presenting the identification.
7. Other information on the identification is not consistent with information provided by the person opening a new covered account or customer presenting the identification.
8. Other information on the identification is not consistent with readily accessible information that is on file with the College.
9. An application appears to have been altered or forged, or gives the appearance of having been destroyed and reassembled.

Suspicious Personal Identifying Information

10. Personal identifying information provided is inconsistent when compared against external information sources used by the College.
11. Personal identifying information provided by the customer is not consistent with other personal identifying information provided by the customer.
12. Personal identifying information provided is associated with known fraudulent activity as indicated by internal or third-party sources used by the College.
13. Personal identifying information provided is of a type commonly associated with fraudulent activity as indicated by internal or third-party sources used by the College.
14. The social security number provided is the same as or similar to the account number or telephone number submitted by an unusually large number of other persons opening accounts or other customers.
15. The address or telephone number provided is the same as or similar to the account number or telephone number submitted by an unusually large number of other persons opening accounts or other customers.
16. The person opening the covered account or the customer fails to provide all required personal identifying information on an application or in response to notification that the application is incomplete.
17. Personal identifying information is not consistent with personal identifying information that is on file with the College.
18. If the College uses a challenge question, the customer cannot provide authenticating information beyond that which generally would be available from a wallet or consumer report.

Unusual Use of or Suspicious Activity Related to the Covered Account

19. Shortly following the notice of a change of address for a covered account, the College receives a request for a new, additional, or replacement card or a cell phone, or the addition of authorized users on the account.
20. A new revolving credit account is used in a manner that is not consistent with established patterns of activity on the account.
21. A covered account is used in a manner that is not consistent with established patterns of activity on the account.
22. A covered account that has been inactive for a reasonably lengthy period of time is used.
23. Mail sent to the customer is returned repeatedly as undeliverable although transactions continue to be conducted in connection with the account.
24. The College is notified that the customer is not receiving paper account statements.
25. The College is notified of unauthorized charges or transactions in connection with a customer’s account.

Notice from Customers, Victims of Identity Theft, Law Enforcement Authorities, or Other Persons Regarding Possible Identity Theft in connection with Covered Accounts

26. The College is notified by a customer, a victim of identity theft, a law enforcement authority, or any other person that it has opened a fraudulent account for a person engaged in identity theft.

6.11.3 Detecting Red Flags

Procedures for detecting Red Flags are critical to ensure confidence with our students, customers, staff, and faculty. The College policies developed for safeguarding information and those regulations required by law must be strictly adhered to, such as: the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA), and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). To help prevent Identity Theft, the College will implement specific methods of protocols appropriate to meet the requirements of the Program. The methods may apply to new accounts, existing accounts or both. Below are some examples of procedures in obtaining identifiable information and monitoring current customer accounts:

1. Before updating or making any changes to a customer, employee, or students file (electronic or paper), verifiable information must be obtained for authenticity such as: name, address, date of birth, residential or business address, social security number, driver’s license, insurance information, salary confirmation, or other identification.
2. Ensure that picture ID matches the appearance of the individual presenting the identification.
3. Scrutinize documents provided to verify that they do not appear altered or forged.
4. Verify information provided with data that is on file (electronic or paper) at the College.
5. If mail addressed to the customer is returned twice as undeliverable even through transactions continue to take place on the account, contact the customer by phone or email.
6. Notify contact by campus email if their account has an address change or returned mail.
7. Verify changes in banking information given for billing and payment purposes.
8. Notify management if a student or customer is not receiving mail sent by the College and the student has not initiated a change in address.
9. Contact the Assistant to the President for Finance/CFO if the College is notified by a customer, a victim of identity theft, a law enforcement authority, or any other person that it has opened, discovered, or manipulated a fraudulent account for a person engaged in identity theft.

6.11.4 Preventing and Mitigating Identity Theft

The Program shall provide for appropriate responses to detected red flags and mitigate identity theft. The response shall be commensurate with the degree of risk posed. Once potentially fraudulent activity is detected, an employee must quickly gather all related documentation and notify administration. The information must be promptly evaluated to determine if the event/transaction was fraudulent or authentic.

One or more of the following steps, depending on the degree of risk posed by the red flag should be taken:

1. Continue to monitor a covered account for evidence of identity theft;
2. Contact the student, applicant, or employee;
3. Change any passwords, security codes, or other security devices that permit access to covered accounts;
4. Provide the student with a new student identification number, the employee or customer with a new account number;
5. Notify the Assistant to the President for Finance/CFO for determination of the appropriate steps(s) to take;
6. Notify law enforcement;
7. File or assist in filing a Suspicious Activities Report (“SAR”); or
8. Determine that no response is warranted under the particular circumstances.

6.11.5 Service Provider Agreements

Meridian Community College shall take steps to ensure that the activity of a service provider is conducted in accordance with reasonable policies and procedure designed to detect, prevent and mitigate the risk of identity theft whenever the organization engages a service provider to perform an activity in connection with one or more covered accounts.

6.11.6 Oversight

Responsibility for developing, implementing and updating the Program lies with an Identity Theft Committee for Meridian Community College. The Committee is headed by the Assistant to the President for Finance/CFO who can be reached at 601-484-8690. The Program Administrator will be responsible for ensuring appropriate training of Meridian Community College staff on the Program, for reviewing any staff reports regarding the detection of Red Flags, and the steps for preventing and mitigating Identity Theft, determining which steps of prevention and mitigation should be taken in particular circumstances and considering periodic changes to the Program.

6.11.7 Staff Training and Reports

Meridian Community College staff responsible for implementing the Program shall be trained either by, or under the direction of, the Program Administrator in the detection of Red Flags and the responsible steps to be taken when a Red Flag is detected.

6.11.8 Program Updates

The Committee will review and update this Program at least annually to reflect changes in risks to students and employees and the soundness of Meridian Community College from Identity Theft. In doing so, the Committee will consider Meridian Community College’s experiences with Identity Theft situations, changes in Identity Theft methods, changes in Identity Theft detection and prevention methods, and changes in Meridian Community College’s business arrangements with other entities. After considering these factors, the Program Administrator will determine whether changes to the Program, including the listing of Red Flags, are warranted. If warranted, the Program Administrator shall update the Program.

6.11.9 Assisting Victims of Identity Theft

To assist victims of identity theft, the following actions should be taken:

• Suggest that the customer contact the fraud department of each of the three major credit bureaus and request that the credit bureaus place a “fraud alert” and a “victim’s” statement in the customer’s credit file. The fraud alert puts creditors on notice that the customer has been the victim of fraud and the victim’s statement asks creditors not to open additional accounts without first contacting the customer. The following are the phone numbers of the three national credit bureaus:
  • Equifax (800)525-6285
  • Experian (888)397-3742
  • Trans Union (800)680-7289
• Suggest the customer request from the credit bureaus a free credit report. Credit bureaus must provide a free credit report if the customer believes the report is inaccurate due to fraud.
• Suggest the customer contact all financial institutions and creditors where the customer has accounts. If there is evidence that the account has been the target of Identity Theft, the customer should request that they restrict access to the customer’s account, change any passwords, or close the account altogether.
• Suggest the customer file a police report to document the crime.
• Suggest the customer contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Hotline at (877)ID-THEFT (438-4338). The FTC puts the information into a secure consumer fraud database and shares it with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The customer can also be referred to www.consumer.gov/idtheft. These resources can provide the customer with step-by-step assistance in handling identity theft.

6.12 Requests for College Records

All requests to inspect or receive copies of public records held by Meridian Community College should be made in writing to the president of Meridian Community College. For purposes of this policy public records are defined in Senate Bill 2448 of the 1983 regular session of Mississippi Legislature. Such requests must clearly indicate the specified record requested and the name and address of the individual requesting the record.

Meridian Community College shall make the specified record available during normal business hours or produce a copy of the record within 14 working days from the date of the request or furnish a written denial detailing specified reasons for the denial.

There will be calculated a reasonable fee to cover the cost of searching, reviewing, copying or other expenses involved in complying with the request. The fee for copying will be no less than $ .25 per page reproduced. The charge for gathering, reviewing, copying, and/or producing the information requested will be assessed at the rate of no less than $20 per hour for each college employee involved in the process.

These charges shall be made payable in advance and shall be based on an estimate of actual cost. In the event a lower actual cost results, a refund will be made. If the actual cost exceeds the estimate, the balance shall be due prior to receiving copies of the record. Copies of the request or denial shall be on file in the president’s office for at least three years.

6.13 Pet Policy

Meridian Community College is responsible for assuring the health and safety of all employees, students, and guests. In keeping with this objective, MCC does not permit pets to be brought on campus unless authorized by the appropriate dean or vice president for a preapproved instructional purpose. Animals may pose a threat of infection and may cause allergic reactions in others. Some employees and/or students may feel threatened or be distracted by the presence of animals, particularly dogs. MCC does allow an exclusion for those faculty/staff members who are living on campus. The faculty/staff member will have to meet the guidelines set forth in the Housing Application and Apendix A; the College does reserve the right to deny approval of a pet. (Revised 12/12/2023).

An employee, student, or guest who requires the help of a service animal will be permitted to bring a service animal on campus, provided that the animal’s presence does not create a danger to others and does not impose an undue hardship upon the institution. The Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended (“ADAAA”) governs the use of service animals by individuals with disabilities. See 42 U.S.C. §12,101 et seq. The Fair Housing Act governs the use of emotional support/assistance animals by individuals with disabilities in housing. See 42 U.S.C. §3601.

6.14 Policy on Bicycle Use on Campus

The following policies on bicycle usage on campus is designed to insure the safety of cyclist and pedestrians on MCC’s campus.

1. Cyclists should use extreme caution and slow down or walk their bicycles when interacting with pedestrians. Cyclists should not use sidewalks and walkways when pedestrians are present.
2. Automobiles are not required by law nor equipped with the reaction time to stop for bikes shooting across crosswalks. It is best for bicyclists wishing to use crosswalks to walk their bicycle through the crosswalk as a pedestrian.
3. Bicycles using campus roadways operate with the same rules as automobiles.
4. Bicyclists are strongly encouraged to wear safety equipment while on campus (including helmets) as well as properly maintain the mechanical aspects of their bike for the safest riding experience possible.
5. Bike Rack use on campus is mandatory. We are asking all bike riders to assist the college by not locking bikes in such a way that they block sidewalks or handicap access to buildings. Furthermore, we ask bike riders to refrain from locking bikes to campus trees or foliage, light poles or other freestanding posts or any railings or any other freestanding structures (except bike racks). Keep in mind we have students with disabilities who require accessible pathways and specific access to buildings and we are required by law to protect this access.
6. MCC is not responsible for loss or damage to bicycles.
7. Bikes locked or left anywhere else besides a bike rack are subject to the lock being cut and the bike impounded by Campus Police.

(Adopted, February 2017)

6.15 Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy

The following policy pertains only to sexual harassment as defined by Title IX Section 106.30.

According to Title IX Section 106.30, sexual harassment means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:

1. An employee of the recipient conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the recipient on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
2. Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient’s education program or activity; or
3. ”Sexual assault” as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v), ”dating violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(10), ”domestic violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(8), or ”stalking” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(30).Conduct definition

Statement of Policy

It is the policy of MCC, in keeping with efforts to establish an environment in which the dignity and worth of all members of the institutional community are respected, that sexual harassment of students and employees at MCC is unacceptable conduct and will not be tolerated. Sexual harassment may involve the behavior of a person of either sex against a person of the opposite or same sex, when that behavior falls within the definition set forth in Title IX § 106.30. The application of this policy is in no way directed at inhibiting academic freedom or 1st Amendment freedoms.

Presumption of Responsibly

Throughout training, investigations, and proceedings, it is assumed a respondent is not responsible for actions and/or damages alleged until a finding of responsibility has been determined.

Equity

Meridian Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion or age in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities.

Applicability/Jurisdiction - This policy only applies to individuals and activities located in the United States that are related to a Meridian Community College program.

Title IX Coordinator

The Title IX coordinator (or designee) oversees the College’s investigation and response to incidents of Title IX violations. Meridian Community College has designated the following employee as the Title IX Coordinator.

Mr. Derek Mosley
Social Science Instructor
Ivy-Scaggs Hall, Room 216
910 Highway 19 North Meridian, MS 39307
Phone: 601.553.3453; Fax: 601.484.8635
Email: dmosley@meridiancc.edu.

Definitions:

Actual knowledge: Means notice of sexual harassment or allegations of sexual harassment to a recipient’s Title IX Coordinator or any official of the recipient who has authority to institute corrective measures on behalf of the recipient, or to any employee of an elementary and secondary school. Imputation of knowledge based solely on vicarious liability or constructive notice is insufficient to constitute actual knowledge. This standard is not met when the only official of the recipient with actual knowledge is the respondent. The mere ability or obligation to report sexual harassment or to inform a student about how to report sexual harassment, or having been trained to do so, does not qualify an individual as one who has authority to institute corrective measures on behalf of the recipient. ”Notice” as used in this paragraph includes, but is not limited to, a report of sexual harassment to the Title IX Coordinator as described in § 106.8(a).

Advisor: The complainant and respondent may each choose and be accompanied to any meeting or hearing related to these Procedures by an Advisor, who may provide support during such meeting or hearing. During meetings and interviews, the Advisor may quietly confer or pass notes with the party in a nondisruptive manner. The Advisor may not intervene in a meeting or interview, or address the Investigator. Consistent with the institution’s obligation to promptly resolve sexual misconduct complaints, the institution reserves the right to proceed with any meeting or interview, regardless of the availability of the party’s selected Advisor.

Complainant: An individual who is alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment.

Consent: Agreeing to do or allow something. It may be given by words or actions, so long as those words or actions create clear, mutually understood permission to engage in (and the conditions of) sexual activity. Silence does not necessarily constitute consent, and past consent of sexual activities does not imply ongoing future consent. A person who is unable to consent includes, but is not limited to, any person under the legal age of consent, anyone who is physically helpless, or anyone who is mentally incapacitated. A physically helpless person is considered to be one who is unconscious or for any other reason unable to communicate unwillingness to engage in any act. A mentally incapacitated person may be one who is under the influence of alcohol or a drug, or who is mentally incapable of understanding the implications and consequences of any act.

Dating Violence: Means violence committed by a person

1. Who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and
2. Where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors:
   1. The length of the relationship
   2. The type of relationship
   3. The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship

Decision Maker(s): Individual(s) who will determine the sanctions and remedies for parties.

Domestic Violence: A felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed

1. By current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;
2. By a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;
3. By a person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitate with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner;
4. By a person similarly situated to a spouse or victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime or violence occurred;
5. By any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from the person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

Formal Complaint: A document filed by a complainant or signed by the Title IX Coordinator alleging sexual harassment against a respondent and requesting that the recipient investigate the allegation of sexual harassment. At the time of filing a formal complaint, a complainant must be participating in or attempting to participate in the education program or activity of the recipient with which the formal complaint is filed. A formal complaint may be filed with the Title IX Coordinator in person, by mail, or by electronic mail, by using the contact information required to be listed for the Title IX Coordinator under § 106.8(a), and by any additional method designated by the recipient. As used in this paragraph, the phrase ”document filed by a complainant” means a document or electronic submission (such as by electronic mail or through an online portal provided for this purpose by the recipient) that contains the complainant’s physical or digital signature, or otherwise indicates that the complainant is the person filing the formal complaint. Where the Title IX Coordinator signs a formal complaint, the Title IX Coordinator is not a complainant or otherwise a party under this part or under § 106.45, and must comply with the requirements of this part, including § 106.45(b)(1)(iii).

Investigator: An individual who acts as a neutral party in the investigation and provides a detailed, unbiased report regarding the findings of the investigation.

Postsecondary Institution: An institution of graduate higher education as defined in § 106.2(l), an institution of undergraduate higher education as defined in § 106.2(m), an institution of professional education as defined in § 106.2(n), or an institution of vocational education as defined in § 106.2(o).

Respondent: An individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment.

Retaliation: Retaliation against a person who has in good faith filed, supported or participated in an investigation of a complaint of any type of discrimination, harassment or sexual misconduct as defined above is prohibited. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, ostracizing the person, pressuring the person to drop or not support the complaint, or adversely altering that person’s educational, living, or work environment. Students accused of retaliation will be subjected to the procedures of the MCC Disciplinary Process.

Sexual Assault: An offense classified as a forcible or non-forcible sex offense under the uniform crime reporting system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Stalking: The term “stalking” means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to;

1. Fear for his or her safety or the safety of others; or
2. Suffer substantial emotional distress.

Standard of evidence: The standard of evidence in Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy is a preponderance of the evidence.

Supportive Measures: Non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge to the complainant or the respondent before or after the filing of a formal complaint or where no formal complaint has been filed. Such measures are designed to restore or preserve equal access to the recipient’s education program or activity without unreasonably burdening the other party, including measures designed to protect the safety of all parties or the recipient’s educational environment, or deter sexual harassment. Supportive measures may include counseling, extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments, modifications of work or class schedules, campus escort services, mutual restrictions on contact between the parties, changes in work or housing locations, leaves of absence, increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus, and other similar measures. The recipient must maintain as confidential any supportive measures provided to the complainant or respondent, to the extent that maintaining such confidentiality would not impair the ability of the recipient to provide the supportive measures. The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the effective implementation of supportive measures.

Grievance Procedures:

Both the person filing a complaint and the person accused of a violation of the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy has certain rights in the College disciplinary process. The standard of evidence in Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy is a preponderance of the evidence.

Access to resources: Resources are listed in the Sexual Misconduct Policy. That policy is found in the MCC Catalog, MCC website, and MCC Policy & Procedure Manual.

Hearing: A live hearing will be utilized to make a determination of responsibility regarding an allegation under the Sexual Harassment Policy. Technology may be utilized during the live hearing in consideration of safety and/or social distancing. Before the hearing, parties will be given notice of the specific allegation or allegations, evidence to be presented, date, time, location or electronic access information, and any other information deemed appropriate by a college administrator, Title IX Coordinator, or Decision Maker(s).

Access to advisor: Each party (Complainant and Respondent) must have an Advisor present for the live hearing.

Decision Maker(s): will be designated by administration and/or the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator may be present for the live hearing, but cannot be a Decision Maker or Advisor.

During the Hearing: The Decision Maker(s) will moderate the proceeding. The Complainant, Respondent, and witnesses will have an opportunity to offer input as to the specifics of the alleged sexual harassment. The structure of the hearing will be conducted as follows:

• Advisors ask questions only after each question is approved by the Decision Maker(s).
• The other party’s advisor may cross-examine the individual after initial questioning. As with the initial questioning, cross-examination questions must also be approved by the Decision Maker(s).
• After all questioning and items have been introduced for consideration, the Decision Maker(s) will decide if the Respondent is responsible concerning the allegation of sexual harassment. After the decision, the parties will be informed by the Vice President for Engagement (or designee) within five business days of the decision.

Appeal(s):

Student: In the event a student wishes to appeal the decision from the Title IX Sexual Harassment hearing, refer to the MCC Catalog for the Student Appeals procedure.

Employee: In the event an employee wishes to appeal the decision from the Title IX Sexual Harassment hearing, refer to the MCC Policy & Procedure Manual for the employee appeal process.

(Policy Approved 08/19/2020)

(Revised 08/10/2021)

6.16 Substantive Change Policy

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Meridian Community College (the College) is compliant with the substantive change requirements of the Southern Association of Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) as outlined in Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement.

According to SACSCOC, a substantive change is a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution. Examples of substantive changes include:

• Any change in the established mission or objectives of the institution;
• Any change in legal status, form of control, or ownership of the institution;
• The addition of courses or programs that represent a significant departure, either in content or method of delivery, from those that were offered when the institution was last evaluated;
• The addition of courses or programs of study at a degree or credential level different from that which is included in the institution’s current accreditation or reaffirmation;
• A change from clock hours to credit hours;
• A substantial increase in the number of clock or credit hours awarded for successful completion of a program;
• The establishment of an additional location geographically apart from the main campus at which the institution offers at least 50% of an educational program;
• The establishment of a branch campus;
• Closing a program, off-campus site, branch campus, or institution;
• Entering into a collaborative academic arrangement that includes only the initiation of a dual or joint academic program with another institution, acquiring another institution or program, or location of another institution;
• Adding a permanent location at a site where the institution is conducting a teach-out program for a closed institution;
• Entering into a contract by which an entity not eligible for Title IV funding offers 25% or more of one or more of the accredited institution’s programs.

Substantive changes must be reviewed and approved by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees between decennial reviews.

The following steps will be used by faculty/staff members, divisions, and units of the College when determining and reporting substantive change:

1. Faculty members, program directors, division chairs, deans, etc., considering a change such as those identified in the bulleted list above, must notify the SACSCOC Liaison immediately of the proposed change for further guidance. If the SACSCOC Liaison becomes aware of a potential change through other avenues, the SACSCOC Liaison will immediately contact the faculty/staff, division, or unit involved to obtain more information and provide guidance related to the next steps.
2. If the proposed change deals with additions/deletions/modifications of courses or programs, faculty members, program directors, division chairs, deans, or others will complete the curriculum request form available in Eaglenet.
3. The proposed addition/deletion/modification form must be routed and approved by the division chair; Dean or Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Associate Vice President of Nursing and Healthcare Education, or Dean of Workforce Education; and the College-wide Curriculum Committee if adding/deleting/modifying a program or area of study before submission to the SACSCOC Liaison for review.
4. If the proposed change deals with a matter other than additions/deletions/modifications of courses or programs, deans, vice presidents, or others will send the proposed substantive change to the SACSCOC Liaison in writing.
5. The SACSCOC Liaison will determine if the proposed change fits the definition of a substantive change as outlined in the SACSCOC substantive change policy. If any changes are considered substantive, the SACSCOC Liaison will determine the specific procedure for reporting the change to SACSCOC and notify the appropriate faculty/staff member, division, or unit of the College.
6. The SACSCOC Liaison will work with the faculty/staff member, division, or unit involved to gather the data and documentation necessary to complete the specific procedure as required by SACSCOC. If a prospectus is required, the SACSCOC Liaison will work with appropriate parties to meet the submission deadline of January 1 for fall implementation or July 1 for spring implementation.
7. The SACSCOC Liaison will work with the president for final approval and to notify the Commission in writing of the proposed substantive change.
8. The President of Meridian Community College (or SACSCOC Liaison, at the request of the President) will request approval for substantive changes from SACSCOC prior to implementation.
9. All documentation, including correspondence with SACSCOC, will be kept on file in the office of the SACSCOC Liaison. (Board Approved, 09/15/2020)

6.17 Professional Licensure Disclosure Policy

Background- Meridian Community College (MCC) offers several programs leading to professional licensure within the State of Mississippi. States vary in what professions they require to be licensed and how licensure functions. Some states require an individual to graduate from an approved program. Others require an individual to “meet [the] certification requirements of a national organization”. A specific amount of training can also be required as well as passage of an exam based on a state requisite exam score. Often, licensed professionals must complete continuing education on an annual basis (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2018).

State Authorization- MCC is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) which allows us to provide distance learning programs (both online and in the form of supervised field experiences) and coursework to residents of states other than Mississippi. NC-SARA membership, however, does not grant reciprocity or exempt us from state professional licensing requirements. As a result, licensing requirements in Mississippi may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain a license in any other state.

Location- Per 34 CFR 668.43(c)(3)(ii), institutions must provide the Department of Education with the institutional determination of where the student is located upon request. To achieve this, an institution must establish policies or procedures to consistently determine where students are located. Institutions must determine where a student is located both at the time of enrollment in an institution and after receiving information provided by the student indicating that the student’s location has changed.

For purposes of this policy, the student location is the State where the enrolled student resides and is based on the permanent home address entered into MCC’s Banner Student Information System. For a prospective student, this is the State of the prospective student’s residency at the time the student has applied for admission, intends to enroll, and then is entered into the MCC Fireworks CRM system. For students whose permanent address does not include a U.S. State or territory (e.g., students living outside the United States), their location will be considered the State of Mississippi. The student location designation will remain in effect unless and until a student changes the U.S. State or territory listed in the student’s permanent address using MCC’s Student Change Request Form in MCC’s Eaglenet. Once a student enters a new U.S. State or territory, the College will consider that date of entry as the effective date of a student’s revised location for the purposes of this policy. All other college policies that determine Mississippi residence for the purpose of tuition assessment will not be superseded by this policy. 

MCC collects location information from students as part of the registration process wherein students are asked to provide their physical address.

Relocation- Relocating during the course of a program to another state may impact the student’s enrollment in the program, meet the state licensure requirements, and/or continue to receive financial aid funding.

Students: Prior to considering relocation, please contact your program director or program advisor at MCC to discuss authorization and licensure eligibility requirements. Upon relocation, please complete the MCC Student Change Request Form on the MCC website and contact your program director to receive written notification about authorization and licensure eligibility requirements for your current state of residence.

International Students- Prior to enrolling in any program at MCC, prospective students living and/or working outside of the United States should confirm with the appropriate certifying agency whether successful completion of any degree program at MCC will meet the credentialing requirements of the country in which they intend to seek employment as to certain types of employment or for advanced/specialized educational programs.

Responsibility of Students- Students should review the specific academic requirements for the program in which they are enrolling, including those related to practicum/internship as well as pre-qualifications for licensure such as the need for a criminal background check. We highly recommend that students contact the applicable licensure board(s) in their state of residence or in the state where they intend to obtain a license before beginning an academic program that results in licensure and prior to beginning any internship/practicum. Many licensure boards require more than successful degree completion to obtain a license. Please be advised that state laws, regulations, and policies may change at any time. Changes in requirements can impact the program’s ability to meet the educational requirements for licensure. It is the responsibility of the student completing the licensure program to check with the licensing board(s) in the student’s state of residence or in the state in which the student intends to obtain a license for the most recent information and requirements. MCC shall not be held liable if the student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction or cannot obtain a practicum/internship location.

General Professional Licensure Disclosure - The curricula for programs customarily leading to licensure at MCC have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in Mississippi as well as preparing students to apply for licensure exams in the State of Mississippi. The licensure board in each state is responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure/certification for its state. Students who intend to return or move to any state other than Mississippi need to review the professional licensure disclosures pertaining to their program and consult with the state professional licensing board. The state professional licensing board makes the ultimate decision as to whether or not an individual will be eligible to sit for licensure based on the rules and regulations in place at the time the individual submits an application for licensure.

Per Federal Regulation 34 CFR 668.43(aq)(5)(v), there are three categories for professional licensure disclosures for each state (for these purposes, states include the District of Columbia and US territories, as defined in 34 CFR §600.2):

• Meets Licensure Requirements
• Does Not Meet Licensure Requirements
• No Determination Made

Direct Disclosure -Prior to prospective student enrollment in a program that leads to professional licensure, students are advised if the program meets the student’s home state professional licensure/certification pre-education requirements per 34 CFR 668.43 (c) .

If a student moves to a different state before completing the course work for a program of study at MCC that leads to professional licensure, the student must notify the program director in writing using the MCC Student Change Request Form in Eaglenet.

If the director of the program leading to professional licensure/certification determines the program of study at MCC does not meet the requirements for a state in which an enrolled student is currently located, the student must be notified in writing via email within 14 days of the determination.

MCC Programs Customarily Leading to Professional Licensure/Certification

• Associated Degree Nursing
• Commercial Truck Driving
• Cosmetology/Cosmetology Teacher Training
• Dental Assisting
• Dental Hygiene
• Emergency Medical Science Paramedic Technology
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Health Care Assistant
• Medical Assisting Technology
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Pharmacy Tech
• Phlebotomy
• Physical Therapy Assistant
• Practical Nursing
• Radiologic Technology
• Respiratory Care Technology
• Surgical Technology

Professional Licensure Disclosure Procedure

• Policy and procedure related to professional licensure disclosures for programs at MCC which lead to professional licensure/certification will be found on the MCC website as well as in the MCC Catalog and MCC Policy and Procedure Manual.
• Disclosure information will be published with program information on the MCC website.
• The professional licensure disclosure policy and procedure will be reviewed at least annually by a committee composed of Dean for Institutional Effectiveness, Dean of Workforce Education, Associate Vice President of Nursing and Healthcare Education, Associate Dean of Advising, Retention & Student Services, Director of Admissions, Associate Vice President for Technology, Director of Workforce Grants & Development
• The Associate Vice President for Technology and the Dean for Institutional Effectiveness will work with the Mississippi Community College Board to update disclosure information to align with State licensure requirements at least annually.
• Updated disclosure forms will be sent to the appropriate supervisor and the Dean for Institutional Effectiveness.
• The Dean for Institutional Effectiveness will submit updated disclosure forms to the MCC Webmaster and the Associate Dean of Advising, Retention, & Student Success.
• MCC advisors will give a prospective student a written professional licensure/certification disclosure form for their prospective program of interest.
• Upon receipt of an MCC Student Change Request Form, the information will be updated by a member of Admissions or Advising and Retention. If a change in location by state is entered, Banner will generate an email to the student’s MCC email account with the notification statement. Banner will also generate a report to the designated contact in the Workforce Solutions Office if the student is in one of the programs of study at MCC that leads to professional licensure/certification.
• If at any time the coordinator of a program leading to professional licensure/certification determines the program of study at MCC does not meet the requirements for a state in which an enrolled student is currently located, the students must be notified in writing via email within 14 days of the determination.
• If a student relocates to another state at any time after enrolling in a program leading to professional licensure/certification,

1. The student must notify the College and the program director by completing the MCC Student Change Form located in Eaglenet.
2. The Workforce Solutions office must notify the student in writing via email within 14 days about its determination if the program of study will meet professional licensure/certification standard in the student’s current location.                                                                                                                                                                      (Board approved 11/10/2020) (Revised 06/12/2022) (Revised 09/12/2023)

6.18 Prohibition Against Inducements, Commission and High-Pressure Recruitment Tactics for Service Members

Purpose: To ban certain inducements, commissions and high-pressure recruitment tactics intended to secure the enrollment of current military service members.

Definitions: The term “service member” means a member of the “uniformed services,” consisting of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Services. 

Prohibition Against Inducements, Commission and High-Pressure Recruitment Tactics: Meridian Community College (MCC) must abide by the Department of Defense (DOD) guidelines banning certain inducements, commissions and high-pressure recruitment tactics intended to secure the enrollment of current military service members. 

MCC must not provide any inducements to any individual or entity to secure the enrollment of current military service members or obtain military-provided tuition assistance. Inducements include any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, transportation, lodging, meals, or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimis amount. 

MCC must also refrain from providing any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.

Lastly, MCC must prohibit the use of high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more total), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing military service member enrollments. 

Any violoation of these guidelines or procedures by MCC staff or faculty could lead to MCC taking disciplinary action as prescribed by the employee code of conduct.     

(Approved by Board of Trustees, 08/08/2023)

6.19 Survey Policy 

Surveys are used often at Meridian Community College (MCC) as tools for assessment and improvement of programs and services and to solicit input from various stakeholder groups. This policy ensures that surveys are designed appropriately and conducted in a manner that provides maximum benefit to campus constituencies while minimizing redundancy and frequency. This policy applies to any person, department, or program wishing to conduct surveys at MCC. All surveys at MCC must be conducted in an ethical and responsible manner. Generally, surveys are conducted by or in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

Types of surveys that must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness prior to being implemented include:

• Surveys that would be administered to employees in more than one department or division
• Surveys that would be administered broadly to students, faculty, or staff college-wide or to alumni of the College
• Requests from external (non-MCC) parties to survey MCC students, faculty, and/or staff
• Surveys for which contact information is needed from IR (Institutional Research), HR (Human Resources), Technology Services, etc.
• Surveys that request participants’ personal identifiable information (PII)

Types of Surveys not subject to this policy include: 

• Student evaluation of teaching surveys conducted by the College
• Surveys by faculty as part of their instruction of students currently enrolled in their class(es)
• Surveys focused on a small, defined population with which the survey sponsor has an academic relationship
• Feedback forms used for registration or to assess workshops or events
• Polls designed to coordinate meeting times

A copy of all approved surveys, datasets and associated reports not generated by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness must be provided to the office electronically for retention in a survey archive.

These policies and procedures have been established in order to ensure that surveys are methodologically sound and of good quality, as well as to minimize survey fatigue and collection of duplicate data, ensure appropriate distribution and use of survey results, and maintain a thorough and accessible record of survey tools and findings.

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness has access to applications for web-based surveys and will provide consultation and assistance to faculty and staff who want to conduct surveys online or by other methods.

(Approved by the Board of Trustees 09/12/2023)