Nondiscrimination Statement
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities and does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge Community College also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment.
Student Complaint Policy
The student complaint procedure provides students a fair and equitable process to present an issue which they feel warrants action regarding their right to secure educational benefits and services without regard to non-merit factors including but not limited to such things as race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age, status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors.
This policy applies to all students in matters relating to other students, faculty, administrators and staff at all College locations. A student who has a concern with a staff member or College department should attempt to resolve the complaint in an informal manner. If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached informally, the student may appeal in writing by submitting a formal complaint form.
Students dissatisfied with a grade should follow procedures outlined in the grade appeal process located in the College catalog.
Concerns regarding code of conduct, academic honesty, threats to campus safety, and/or sexual harassment should be reported via See Something Say Something
Students submitting a tuition appeal for an exceptional case should follow procedures outlined in the Tuition Appeal for Exceptional Cases Process.
Formal Complaint Procedures:
- The student must complete and submit a formal complaint form within ten (10) business days of their initial attempt to resolve the matter informally. The College will not entertain complaints that are submitted anonymously, via email, or facsimile transmission or are submitted on behalf of someone else.
- Formal complaints will be logged and forwarded to the appropriate administrator for further action.
- Upon receiving a formal complaint form, the appropriate administrator will arrange a conference with the student to discuss the issue within ten (10) business days. After the conference, the administrator will render his/her decision, in writing, to the student and the College employee involved.
- If a satisfactory resolution is not reached as a result of the conference, the student may appeal within five (5) business days to the Provost or Vice President. The Provost or Vice President will review the complaint form and any supporting documentation and render a decision, in writing, within five (5) business days. The decision of the Provost or Vice President shall be final.
- All formal complaint documentation is housed in the Office of the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs.
The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA) is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia. This office investigates complaints of GIBill® beneficiaries. Complaints should initially follow the school complaint policy and if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact the SAA office at saa@dvs.virginia.gov.
Laurel Ridge Community College Campus Police is committed to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for all students, employees, visitors and community members. They strive to provide courteous and professional service while remaining vigilant to protect the life and property of those who come to Laurel Ridge Community College’s campus locations. Campus police officers may exercise the powers and duties conferred by law upon police officers of cities, towns, or counties according to Va. Code § 23-234 including, but not limited to, enforcing criminal and traffic law of the Code of Virginia, making arrests, issuing traffic summonses and conducting criminal investigations. Campus police officers are required to comply with the standards set forth by the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
Police will assist with emergencies, evacuations, and drills, as well as vehicle battery recharge and escorts to parking lots. Laurel Ridge Community College’s Security Officers are certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services as Campus Security Officers. They are also trained and certified in CPR and with the use of an AED (automatic emergency defibrillator).
Safety rules are established to protect the individual from injury or death and must be observed at all times. Posted speed limits, traffic patterns and fire access lane regulations are rigidly enforced. Personal attention and care is required by all students for their own safety and the safety of others whether in the classrooms, halls, laboratories, libraries, lounges or parking areas. Specific safety precautions and the exercise of common sense and courtesy are key elements of the College safety program.
For the latest emergency closing information, please sign up for Laurel Ridge Community College Alert at http://alert.laurelridge.edu, visit the College’s website or call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines at 800-906-5322. Regardless of the emergency closing announcement-all students and employees should use good judgment as to whether or not it is safe to travel. These communication vehicles are updated first in the event of emergency closings. In addition, because Laurel Ridge Community College has complete control over these two communication methods, messages are guaranteed to be accurate and up to date. This same guarantee cannot be applied to messages heard on local radio and television stations.
Fire/Ambulance-Local Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company-911.
Campus Police is responsible for all items turned into Lost and Found. All items turned into Lost and Found will be kept for 120 days. At that time, all unclaimed property will be disposed of according to established procedures. Unclaimed textbooks will be resold to the Bookstore and monies will be donated to the Laurel Ridge Community College Educational Foundation. Textbooks that are outdated will be donated to charity. Other unclaimed items will be disposed of by donation to nonprofit agencies including, but not limited to, the Lion’s Club, Children’s Center, Goodwill, and Salvation Army. If you have lost or found an item, please see a member of the Campus Police Department.
Students are required to display a Parking Permit on their vehicles parked on campus. Students may be fined for failure to display a Parking Permit, as a secondary offense if another violation is issued. Permits will be issued by Campus Police upon payment of parking maintenance fees. For more detailed information on parking go to www.laurelridge.edu/police.
A student ID card is a student’s official Laurel Ridge Community College identification. Student activity fees cover the first card issued; however, there is a $20 charge for a replacement card.
Student ID Cards will be processed at the Police Desk located near the Welcome Center entrance during the following days and times at both the Middletown and Fauquier Campuses.
All applicants must present the following to secure a student id:
- Student ID number
- Copy of current class schedule
- Another form of Identification - Driver’s License, Passport, Military/Gov’t ID, or any two of the following (birth certificate, social security card, voter registration card)
When the College issues a delayed opening or day class cancellation announcement, please check the website or call the emergency closing announcement telephone line before leaving home and before you are scheduled to arrive on campus. This may prevent a wasted trip to campus in the event that the College’s closing status changes in the same day.
Do I need a parking pass?
Parking decals are required and are available from Campus Police. A form with vehicle information and contact information will be required when a parking permit is issued.
I locked my keys in my car. Can you help?
In an emergency (child in the car, engine running, or an animal in the vehicle with extreme weather conditions) the vehicle may be unlocked by campus police personnel.
What hours is the College open?
Laurel Ridge Community College is open Monday - Friday, 6 a.m.-11 p.m., and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The College is closed on state approved holidays and during holiday break, as posted by the Human Resource Office (days vary).
Does Campus Police accept assignments from students when professors are not present?
Campus Police personnel will accept assignments, papers, or projects at the campus police desk after a drop off form is completed. This form is available through Student Success at each reception desk.
Does Campus Police offer escorts to the parking lot after dark?
Yes, a Police or Security Officer will escort you to your car at any time, by calling 868-SAFE (7233).
Students are encouraged to report concerns about something they have observed or heard that cause concern about a student, impact the safety of the college environment or disrupt the delivery of the educational process, by submitting a See Something, Say Something report.
Laurel Ridge Community College has a threat assessment management (TAM) team that proactively identifies and objectively assess potential threats to campus security. The team provides rapid response and management of situations that may pose a threat to the safety and well-being of the campus community.
For emergency situations, students should call 911. For non-emergency reporting, students should report situations through See Something, Say Something. Once a report is filed, TAM will meet to discuss the situation and can take appropriate actions needed to keep the campus safe, including ordering the removal of students from college property if warranted.
If actions are taken against a student which disrupt the student’s educational process, the student will be given an opportunity to appeal that decision to the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs. The student has ten (10) calendar days from receipt of the TAM letter to appeal the TAM decision. An appeal may be initiated on one or more of the following:
- Inaccurate information gathered by the team, or new information that might affect the outcome of the decision
- Arbitrary or capricious action by the TAM
- Violation of due process or procedures as outlined by the policy
Appeal information will be sent to the TAM chair. If new information or evidence is presented by the student, this information will be sent to the TAM for review and consideration within ten (10) calendar days. TAM may reverse or change previous decisions based on this new information. If the TAM does not reverse or change its decision, the appeal will be forwarded to the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs for her or his final determination on the appeal.
Appeals claiming arbitrary or capricious action by the TAM or violation of due process will be immediately forwarded to the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs who will uphold, amend, or reverse the TAM decision within ten calendar days of her or his receipt of the appeal. As part of the student’s appeal process, the student may request a conference by phone or in-person with the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs. This conference must be held within ten (10) calendar days of the College’s receipt of the appeal letter, and if in-person, will be held at an off-campus location. The purpose of this conference is to allow the student to present any evidence or testimony on their behalf.
In all cases, the student must be notified in writing of the outcome of their appeal within ten (10) calendar days of the College’s receipt of the student’s appeal. The only exception to this time frame is when both the College and student agree to extend the time frame by mutual consent.
The mission of the Student Support Team (SST) is to 1) assist students whose behavior may present a harm to self, more than others; 2) assist students facing issues like anxiety, depression and/or struggle with diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health issues; substance abuse and domestic violence 3) provide referrals to students, faculty and staff to campus and/or community resources.
The goals of the SST are to:
- Provide a referral system for members of the Laurel Ridge Community College community to refer students of concern.
- Gather input from multiple sources, providing more comprehensive data for analysis.
- Assess potential disruption, potential for self-harm and referral to helpful resources utilizing a specific, objective process for evaluation and intervention.
- Minimize or eliminate disruption to the teaching-learning process, the community and college operations through early intervention and support.
The SST utilizes a protocol to ensure that concerning student behavior, mental health issues or incidents are addressed appropriately. When a referral is submitted through the See Something Say Something online form, SST team members receive the report. The SST convenes immediately to assess the situation and develop an appropriate response for emergency and non-emergency situations through its meeting.
If you have an immediate emergency, such as: A suicide threat, homicidal or threatening behavior, self-injury needing immediate medical attention, severe impairment due to drugs or alcohol, highly erratic or unusual behavior that indicates very unpredictable behavior and/or an inability to care for themselves please first, dial 911 then contact campus police at: 868-SAFE (7233) for the Middletown campus and Luray/Page County Center or 540-351-1555 at the Fauquier campus, in person at the Campus Police Desk or by sending an e-mail to safe@lfcc.edu.
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