2024-2025 Student Handbook 
    
    Dec 07, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Handbook

Student Policies


          

CAMPUS POSTING POLICIES

Unless context specifies a different meaning:
1) “Sign” is defined as any printed material 8.5” x 11” or smaller including, but not limited to decals, photographs, posters, placards, index cards, notebook paper, handbills, brochures, announcements, and advertisements. A “properly posted” sign is one which has been displayed in accordance with posting regulations.
2) “Poster” is defined as a sign constructed of foam core board measuring 18” x 24”.
3) “Banner” is defined as any sign larger than 18” x 24” and constructed of heavy outdoor vinyl.
4) “Posting” is defined as any means for publicly displaying a sign other than carrying by hand.
5) “Authorizing Official” means the Dean of Student Life and Wellness or his or her designee.

APPROVAL REQUIRED

1) All signs must be approved and stamped with an expiration date by the Authorizing Official prior to posting. Posting period for signs may not normally exceed 30 days. Persons or organizations that post are responsible for removal of the signs within 24 hours after the expiration date. Persons or organizations that habitually fail to remove their signs within 24 hours following the expiration date may lose posting privileges.
2) All signs and/or items should be submitted to the UA-PTC Student Life Office on the Main Campus or at the Student Services Office at the South Campus.
3) Only currently enrolled students, registered student organizations, college employees, recognized employee organizations, college departments, contracted vendors, non-profit organizations, government agencies and persons previously approved by the Office of Student Life and Leadership may post a sign on college property. Only authorized college departments or offices may post a banner.
4) Improperly posted signs will be removed and discarded without notice. Persons or organizations responsible for improperly posted signs are subject to disciplinary action.
5) All bulletin boards are under the jurisdiction of the Dean of Student Life and Wellness. Bulletin boards that are labeled “For Official Use Only” are under the jurisdiction of the college department or student organization that maintains the bulletin board. (No sign may be posted on an official bulletin board without the permission of the department or organization that maintains it).


SIZE/LOCATION RESTRICTIONS

1) Signs must be posted only on bulletin boards. Only thumbtacks or pushpins may be used to attach signs to bulletin boards. Stapled signs are not allowed and will be removed immediately.
2) Signs must not be posted so as to overlap or conceal other properly posted signs. Properly posted signs may not be removed without permission from the Authorizing Official or the person or organization authorized to post the sign.
3) There will be a maximum of one sign per announcement/event/topic per bulletin board.
4) Display stands may only be used to display posters, and approval for poster display must come from the Authorizing Official. Postings on glass and wall surfaces are not allowed.


POSTERS

1) Posters may only be posted by registered student organizations or college departments and are to advertise special events only. Weekly meetings or reoccurring events may not be advertised using posters. All posters must contain the date and time of the event.
2) Posters may be displayed in the brick flowerbed in the promenade on the Main Campus. Posters may be displayed at Little Rock-South at either of the main entrances using the grassy areas.
3) Posters must be professionally made and must be attached to a display stand.
4) Only one event at a time may be displayed using a poster in the flower bed. Each registered student organization or campus department can display two posters per event, one on each side of the flower bed.
5) Two posters per event may be displayed at Little Rock-South, one per area specified.
6) Requests for displaying a poster must go through the Office of Student Life and Wellness and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Posters may be displayed for a minimum of one (1) day up to a maximum of seven (7) days. The organization or department sponsoring the event is responsible for the placement of the poster. Posters must be removed within 24 hours following the conclusion of the event, and the sponsoring organization or department is responsible for poster removal.
7) The UA - Pulaski Technical College logo may not be used on posters without prior approval from the Public Relations and Marketing Department.

BANNERS

1) Banners are to be hung on the fence at the entrance of Main Campus. Banners may not be displayed at Little Rock-South.
2) One banner at a time may be displayed on the fence.
3) Requests to display banners must go through the Dean of Student Life and Wellness and will be accepted on a first-come, first- served basis. Requests to display banners must be received at least one week before the banner is to be displayed. Failure to give a week’s notice may result in the banner request being denied since it is imperative that Physical Plant has enough notice to post the banner.
4) The Dean of Student Life and Wellness will communicate with Physical Plant to have the banner posted and removed within 48 hours of the conclusion of the event.
5) The office or department is responsible for delivering the banner to the Student Life and Leadership Office so that she/he may coordinate the placement of the banner with Physical Plant.
6) Banners may be displayed for a maximum of seven (7) days. Additional display time may be requested but may not exceed 14 days.
7) Banners must be designed and approved by the Public Relations and Marketing Department. Banners that are hung on individual group tables for events such as Fall Fest and Spring Fling are exempt from the banner policy. During these events, groups may choose to decorate their tables with their organizational banners. The banners must be attached to the table and removed as soon as the event is over. This ensures that clean-up for the event goes quickly and smoothly. Any banner left attached to a table following these events will be kept in the Student Life Office for 48 hours. If the banner is not picked up within the 48 hours, it will be discarded.
8) Banners must be sponsored by an official college department or office. Banners may only be used to advertise college-wide special events and programs and may not be used to advertise reoccurring or weekly events.


CONTENT RESTRICTIONS

1) All signs, posters, and banners must be in English or contain an English translation of non-English language passages.
2) All signs, posters, and banners must include the name of the responsible organization or individual posting it.
3) No sign, poster or banner may be posted that contains material that is obscene, vulgar or libelous, that promotes academic dishonesty, that is intended or likely to produce or incite imminent lawless action, that denigrates any individual or group because of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability, or that is in violation of public laws or ordinances. Please note that the security of signs, posters, and banners cannot be guaranteed. There is always the possibility of weather damage or vandalism. UA - Pulaski Technical College is not responsible for
damaged or missing postings.


CAMPUS SAFETY AND SECURITY POLICY

Public Law 101-542, the Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act, as amended by Public Law 10226, the Higher Education Technical Amendments Act of 1991, requires that campus crime statistics be made available to all current students and employees, and to any applicant for enrollment or employment upon request. Any incident of criminal actions or emergency that occurs on campus must be reported to a college administrator or a member of the college’s Police and Public Safety staff. Refer to the UA - Pulaski Technical College website (Daily Crime Log (uaptc.edu)) for the current year’s campus crime statistics or obtain a copy from campus police.

During the hours when the college is not open, the college’s Police and Public Safety Department personnel maintain safety and monitor the college’s electronic security system. The college’s Police and Public Safety Department personnel meet all state-mandated training requirements and report all criminal violations to the proper authorities.


CAMPUS VISITORS’ POLICY

Classrooms and laboratories are restricted to currently enrolled students only. Visitors are not allowed in any classroom or laboratory where a scheduled course is being taught. The only exceptions to this policy are visitors that are being escorted by college officials or those that are being escorted by the Office of Admissions for the purpose of a college tour. UA - Pulaski Technical College encourages prospective students, parents, community members, and groups seeking additional information about the college to schedule a campus tour. To schedule a tour, call the Admissions Office. While anyone may visit the campus at any time, it would be beneficial for prospective students to have an escort who is able to answer questions about the college. Members of the news media must be escorted at all times by a Public Relations and Marketing staff
member.

UA - Pulaski Technical College makes every effort to provide a family-friendly environment for the campus community. Participation in the family-oriented events offered by the College is encouraged. Offices, workspaces, and classrooms, however, are not designed with the safety and well-being of children in mind. At no time are children allowed in the classroom during times when scheduled courses are being taught. Additionally, when it is necessary to bring children to campus, they may never be left
unattended. At all times, children remain the sole responsibility of the parent. The parent shall not ask any other student, employee, or person to supervise the child while on campus. Children may not be present at any time in areas that contain machinery or equipment that may be hazardous, labs in areas such as science, welding, culinary, and allied health, or in vehicles owned by the college.


CODE OF COMPUTING PRACTICES


UA - Pulaski Technical College is committed to intellectual and academic freedom in connection with its computing and network resources. Computers and networks can provide access to resources on and off campus, including the ability to communicate with other users worldwide. Such open access is a privilege, much like access to books in the library, and requires that individual users act responsibly. Use of computing and network resources should always be legal and ethical, reflect academic honesty and show restraint in the consumption of shared resources. It should demonstrate respect for intellectual property, ownership of data, system security mechanisms, the right to personal privacy and the right of individuals to freedom from intimidation and harassment.

The complete text of the UA - Pulaski Technical College Code of Computing Practices is located on the college’s website at code-of-computing-practices.pdf (uaptc.edu). For more information, contact the Dean of Student Life and Wellness or the Chief Information Officer.


EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS POLICIES

In the event of a tornado warning, all students should go into an interior hallway in the lowest level of the building, away from glass windows and doors. Recommended shelter areas are marked with yellow signs that read “Recommended Shelter”. In the event of a fire, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to exit the building in an orderly fashion to a designated location. Evacuation plans are available for each building/department, and students should become familiar with these procedures.


FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS OF SPEECH AND ASSEMBLY

The freedoms of speech and assembly are protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As an academic community, UA - Pulaski Technical College is supportive of free expression of ideas by college students, faculty and staff. College officials may limit free speech if that speech disrupts normal campus functions, interferes with the rights of others, or engages in the destruction of property. College officials may limit free speech if that speech endangers the safety of faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

All students and groups are subject to the policies and procedures listed in the Code of Student Conduct, including the section on Prohibited Conduct.

Members of the Campus Community should make a reservation to engage in an expressive activity at a Campus Forum at least 3 days in advance of any planned use. Members of the Campus Community must make a reservation for a large-scale event and receive prior approval from the Student Life and Wellness Office at least 3 days in advance of any planned use of a Campus Forum area. Members of the Campus Community, however, may spontaneously and contemporaneously assemble, speak, and distribute literature at Campus Forum without receiving prior approval, but otherwise subject to the provisions of UAPTC Policy 501: Freedom of Expression.

Non-members of the Campus Community must make a reservation and receive prior approval from the Dean of Student Life and Wellness at least 3 days in advance of any planned use of an Outdoor Area of Campus. Non-members of the Campus Community may not use indoor areas unless authorized pursuant to the campus policy on facility use.


GAINFUL ENTERPRISE AND SOLICITATION

No person is permitted to engage in gainful enterprise or solicitation on the campus without permission of the Dean of Student Life and Wellness. Persons wishing to solicit funds, sell printed matter, products, services, or other items, distribute commercial literature of any kind, or post or distribute advertising material dealing with commercial items or services must secure approval in advance from the Dean of Student Life and Wellness. Activities related to the sales of goods and/or services must be confined to areas designated by the Dean of Student Life and Wellness. The above activities must be sponsored by the college, a recognized student organization, or college-related organization. In addition, the individuals engaged in such posting, selling or soliciting must be
currently enrolled UA - Pulaski Technical College students or employees of the college, or duly approved agents authorized to distribute material(s) or solicit sales on behalf of the college or a recognized college organization. Newspapers may be sold or distributed only in racks provided by the publisher in locations designated by the Dean of Student Life and Wellness.

In accordance with Arkansas Code Annotated 4-104-201 to 204, UA - Pulaski Technical College prohibits the offering of gifts or any other promotional incentives to anyone less than 21 years of age through direct face-to-face contact in order to entice the person to apply for a credit card.


INCLEMENT WEATHER

In the event that the weather is so severe that the college administration believes that life and property may be in danger, the chancellor of the college may cancel classes until weather conditions improve. When such a decision is made, the news media will be notified. Students should listen for such announcements on Little Rock radio and television stations and college social media channels.

Students may also choose to receive text message alerts from the college by registering using the link on the following webpage: RAVE Emergency Alert Sign-Up (uaptc.edu). If there is no announcement, students should assume the college is open.

Because UA - Pulaski Technical College is a commuter campus, inclement weather has a greater adverse impact than on a residential campus. The effects fall unevenly on individual students as road conditions and circumstances vary. Thus, individual decisions are required when hazardous weather conditions exist, but the college is officially open.


STUDENT RECORD POLICY

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 was designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal or formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the act. Questions concerning the act should be referred to the Registrar. Each request will be granted within a reasonable period of time that does not interrupt the normal work of the office. Students who believe that the records are inaccurate or misleading will be given an opportunity to present their views and facts to a person who has no direct interest in the records. Copies of records will be
provided upon written request.

Data from student records cannot be released without the student’s consent in writing. Exceptions to this policy include information that is considered directory information and disclosure to the
following:
1) UA - Pulaski Technical College personnel with a legitimate educational interest. This includes, but is not limited to. Registrar’s staff, Academic Advisors, Financial Aid staff, Information Services staff, and others who are accessing records in the course of their official work in order to perform their assigned duties.
2) Federal, State, and local officials as specified by law.
3) Research and accreditation representatives that are authorized by UA-PTC. This includes, but is not limited to the Higher Learning Commission, Arkansas State Board of Nursing, American Culinary Federation Education Foundation, and other programmatic accrediting agencies.

Directory information may be given to any inquirer. The following is considered directory information at UA - Pulaski Technical College: Student name, Address, Telephone, E-mail address, Dates of attendance, Degrees received, Program of study, Full- or part-time status, Date of birth, Honors and awards.

Currently enrolled UA - Pulaski Technical College students may withhold disclosure of directory information under FERPA. To withhold information, notification can be given at the time of registration to the Registrar. UA - Pulaski Technical College assumes that failure on the part of any student to request the withholding of directory information indicates approval for disclosure. UA - PTC reserves the right to deny requests for student directory information.


SUBSTANCE AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY

The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, Public Law 101-226, requires that, as a condition of receiving funds or any other form of financial assistance under a federal program, an institution must certify that it has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees.

The policy of UA - Pulaski Technical College clearly establishes that use, possession or sale of illicit drugs and alcohol on college premises or at institutional functions will not be tolerated. Therefore, UA - Pulaski Technical College has implemented the following drug prevention steps:
1) An information center has been set up by the Office of Counseling Services to maximize student access to resources.
2) Counseling Services may be visited or contacted for information, counseling or referral concerning substance abuse.
3) Student Life and Wellness sponsors events that promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles.
4) Instructors will incorporate drug and alcohol prevention materials into their classes when appropriate.