Dec 03, 2024  
2020-2021 Arapahoe Community College Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Arapahoe Community College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Legal Notices



As a recipient of Federal Title IV funds, Arapahoe Community College (ACC) is required to collect, publish and disseminate certain information to students, prospective students and employees. The College will also provide a copy of this information including a full report of the institution’s graduation rate and the Annual Security Report if requested. Nothing in this Catalog is intended to create (nor shall be construed as creating) an expressed or implied contract. The College reserves the right to modify, change, delete, or add to, as it deems appropriate, the policies, procedures, and other general information in this Catalog.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Requests for academic accommodations can be made by contacting the Disability Access Services Office in M2710 at 303.797.5937.

Accommodations for student activities and events will be provided upon request. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in a student activity should notify Student Life located in the Dean of Students Office in M2720 (303.797.5668) at least three working days prior to the event.

Inquiries or specific complaints of alleged disability-related discrimination or harassment should contact the Human Resources Director (303.797.5715) or the Associate Dean of Equity and Compliance (303.797.5674), Arapahoe Community College, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) - Notice of Non-Discrimination

Arapahoe Community College prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment including those that violate federal and state law or the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education Board Policies 3-120 and 4-120.  The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its employment practices or educational programs and activities.  The College will take appropriate steps to ensure that the lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in vocational education programs. Additionally, CTE opportunities at the College will be offered without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, and disability.

Arapahoe Community College offers a wide variety of CTE programs including, but certainly not limited to, Accounting, Computer Information Systems / Networking, Health Information Management, Law Enforcement, Nursing, Project Management, and Web Design.  Individuals interested in applying for a CTE program can apply for admission at www.arapahoe.edu/apply.  Note that some CTE programs have specific admissions criteria, in addition to the College’s general admissions criteria. For a full list of CTE programs and admissions criteria, visit our catalog.

The College has a designated Angela Williams with the responsibility to coordinate the College’s civil rights compliance activities and grievance procedures under Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
If you have any questions, please contact Angela Williams at 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO  80120, telephone 303.797.5715, email EOandTitleIXCoordinator@arapahoe.edu.

Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program

The Law

Arapahoe Community College is a state system community college governed by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. Board Policy requires the College to comply with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Amendments of 1989 (PL 101 226 in Federal law). A copy of this law is on file in the Human Resources Office for your reference. The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program includes:

Code of Conduct

Use, being under the influence, manufacturing, possession, cultivating, distribution, purchase, or sale of alcohol and/or drugs (illegal and/or dangerous or controlled substance) and/or alcohol/drug paraphernalia while on college owned or college controlled property, and/or at any function authorized or supervised by the college and/or in state owned or leased vehicles.

Note: Although possession and use of marijuana consistent with the requirements of the Colorado Constitution is no longer a crime in the State of Colorado, the possession and use of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Consistent with federal law, including the Controlled Substances Act and the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, the use and/or possession of marijuana continues to be prohibited while a student is on college owned or college controlled property, and/or any function authorized or supervised by the college and/or in state owned or leased vehicles.

Legal Sanctions

There are legal sanctions for violations of the Code of Conduct. Any student convicted of the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, use or abuse of illicit drugs or alcohol is subject to criminal penalties under local, state or federal law. These penalties range in severity from a fine of $100 to $8,000,000 and/or imprisonment. The exact penalty assessed depends upon the nature and severity of the individual offense.

College Penalties

The College will issue sanctions against students who violate the Code of Conduct. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action under student disciplinary policies. Sanctions include, but are not limited to, probation, suspension or expulsion from the College or probation, suspension or termination of employment; and referral to authorities for prosecution, as appropriate.

Health Risks

Many health risks are associated with drug and alcohol abuse. Risks include: malnutrition, brain damage, heart disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, mental illness, death, low birth-weight babies, and babies with drug addictions. Personal relationships, family dynamics, ability to work and study are also at risk.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program information and counseling resources are through the Student Life Office and Human Resources.

Illegal Substances

A controlled substances schedule is on file in the Student Life Office, located in the Dean of Students Office (Room M2720). Illegally possessing, using, distributing or manufacturing any narcotic, dangerous drug or controlled substance as classified by federal, state, and local laws or appearing on campus while under the influence of any illegally-obtained narcotic, dangerous or controlled substance is a crime and violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

Amendment 64 Information

In November 2012, Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 to the Colorado Constitution. This amendment changed Colorado law to allow people 21 or over to cultivate, consume and possess limited amounts of marijuana in private, not in public. In light of the public nature of our campuses, any marijuana use or possession on campus would run contrary to this restriction. This amendment does not alter existing policies at Arapahoe Community College prohibiting the possession, use, and distribution of marijuana by students, employees, and all visitors on College
property.

Referral Resources

Referrals for counseling, treatment, rehabilitation and re-entry programs are available through the Dean of Students Office for students and the Human Resources Office for employees. Individuals may also search online for private and community-based programs as well as telephone directory listings found under “Alcoholism Treatment” and “Drug Abuse Information and Treatment.” For more information, contact Student Life Office at 303.797.5668 or Human Resources at 303.797.5741.

Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA)

In accordance with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) of 2003, Arapahoe Community College adheres to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Red Flag Rule (A Red Flag is any pattern, practice, or specific activity that indicates the possible existence of identity theft.), which implements Section 114 of the FACTA and to the Colorado Community College System’s Identity Theft Prevention and Detection Program, which is intended to prevent, detect and mitigate identity theft in connection with establishing new covered accounts or an existing covered account held by the Colorado Community College System (System or CCCS) or one of its thirteen (13) community colleges, and to provide for continued administration of the Program. If a transaction is deemed fraudulent, appropriate action will occur. Action may include, but is not limited to, cancelling of the transaction, notifying and cooperating with law enforcement, reporting to the Student Code of Conduct Office, and notifying the affected parties. For more information on FACTA, Red Flag Rules, and Identity Theft Consumer Information, please see the links provided below.

Federal Trade Commission Statute (https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/statutes/fair-accurate-credit-transactions-act-2003)
Red Flag Rules (https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/privacy-and-security/red-flags-rule)
Identity Theft Consumer Information (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft)

Graduation and Retention Information

In accordance with Title I of Public Law 101-542, information about graduation rates is available on the ACC Website or from the Office of Institutional Research; additional graduation data is also available at the Colorado Department of Higher Education Website.

Grievance and Appeal Procedures

If you are taking any Arapahoe Community College courses, and you have a complaint about your experience with Arapahoe Community College, you have two options:

  1. You can follow Arapahoe Community College’s process for student complaints, which is located here (https://www.arapahoe.edu/campus-life/student-handbook) or you may also contact the Higher Learning Commission (http://www.ncahlc.org/) which is Arapahoe Community College’s accrediting agency.
  2. If you are residing outside of Colorado while attending Arapahoe Community College, in many cases you can file a complaint in the state where you are residing. The following link can provide you with state agencies that manage the student complaint process http://www.sheeo.org.

Before exercising either of the above options, students should be aware that most, if not all, external complaint processes require the student exhaust all of the institution’s internal complaint procedures prior to considering the review of a grievance.

Institutional Accreditation

Arapahoe Community College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Commission can be reached at 312.263.0456 or by accessing the Website at www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org. The College operates under the jurisdiction of the Community Colleges of Colorado. ACC students regularly transfer credits to state colleges and universities within Colorado. Transfer information is available in the Academic Advising Office, Room AM2010.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act

The Clery Act Disclosure is accessible on the ACC Website: http://www.arapahoe.edu/cleryact. Hard copies also available through the Campus Police Department, Room M2600.

Sexual assault protocols and victims’ rights provisions are described on the ACC website at https://www.arapahoe.edu/node/480. Victims are encouraged to report. Help is available. Sex offender information is available at Colorado’s Convicted Sex Offender website: http://sor.state.co.us.

Open police logs are available at the Campus Police Department.

The Campus Police Department will immediately notify the campus community upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or staff.

To report crimes, violations, accidents, suspicious persons and incidents to the Campus Police Department, dial extension 5800 from any campus phone or 303.797.5800 from an external phone line. If there is no immediate answer, dial 9-911 from an on-campus phone or 911 from an external line or cell phone.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Arapahoe Community College prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment including those that violate federal and state law or the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education Board Policies 3-120 or 4-120. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its employment practices or educational programs and activities. Arapahoe Community College will take appropriate steps to ensure that the lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in vocational education programs.

The College has designated Angela Williams, Human Resources Director, as its Affirmative Action Officer/Equal Opportunity Coordinator/Title IX Coordinator with the responsibility to coordinate its civil rights compliance activities and grievance procedures. For information, contact Angela Williams, Human Resources Director at 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120, telephone 303.797.5715.

You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Region VIII, Federal Office Building, 1244 North Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204, telephone (303) 844-3417.

Public Information and the Security of Your Student Records (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 restricts the release of student information to the public without the consent of the student, except for directory information. Directory information includes name, number of credits currently taking or completed, dates of enrollment, major, degrees earned and honors earned. The Solomon Amendment requires institutions receiving federal funds to provide additional directory information that includes address and phone numbers of enrolled students to the US Military. If a student does not wish the College to release the directory information, a Confidential Hold form must be completed and returned to the Records & Enrollment Services Office. A student who has requested restricted release of information cannot perform any personal business with ACC over the phone or via email. These students must conduct all of their business in person.

Sex Offender Registry

Information concerning persons who are required by Colorado law to register as sex offenders may be obtained from the Littleton Police Department, Records Division, 2255 West Berry Avenue, Littleton, CO 80165, 303.795.3880, or the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department, Records Division, 13101 E. Bronco Pkwy. Blvd., Centennial, CO 80112, 303.795.4780. The Colorado Convicted Sex Offender Website is http://sor.state.co.us.

Smoking Policy

Smoking, including vapor cigarettes, is prohibited in all College buildings as directed by the Governor’s Executive Order D0036 90.

State Authorization

Arapahoe Community College is currently working cooperatively with higher education authorities in all states and other U.S. jurisdictions to ensure compliance with state authorization requirements that govern the offering of courses in those states, including complaint processes. Arapahoe Community College is a participating SARA institution; for more information on the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), please visit their website.

Currently Arapahoe Community College has approval to offer courses in the following states:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Arapahoe Community College is currently NOT authorized to offer courses in the following states:
Massachusetts

If you are not an on-campus student at Arapahoe Community College and plan to enroll in distance classes, please check the information provided above to verify that your state has either authorized or exempted our college to offer such classes or programs to you as a resident of that state.

If you reside in an “unauthorized” state and plan to take distance education classes, please note that we are not authorized or exempted to offer distance education classes or programs to you as a resident of an “unauthorized” state.  If you have questions or concerns, please contact Darcy Briggs at darcy.briggs@arapahoe.edu.

Student Right-To-Know

In accordance with Title I of Public Law 101-542, information about graduation rates is available on the ACC Website or from the Office of Institutional Research; additional graduation data is also available at the Colorado Department of Higher Education Website.

U.S. Communicable Diseases

On the basis of current information from the American College Health Association, the National Centers for Disease Control and the Colorado Department of Health, there are numerous reportable communicable diseases (i.e., measles, Rubella, Varicalla, Hepatitis) which can infect individuals through various methods of contact and can represent a public health threat to the campus community. Accordingly, exclusion from campus academic, social or cultural activities of those individuals who can infect other individuals may be appropriate.

Voter Registration Information

ACC fully supports and advocates that students and staff register to vote. Voter Registration forms are available in Student Life located within the Dean of Students Office M2720, Student Access Services in in M2710, and the Colorado Secretary of State website at http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/main.html.

Use of College Buildings and Property

The primary purpose of the facilities at Arapahoe Community College (ACC) is to carry out the educational mission of the College. As a public institution, ACC also seeks to reach out and be accessible to the larger community. ACC has the right to establish reasonable regulations regarding use of college property.

To the extent that space is available, ACC welcomes community groups and organizations to utilize the facilities for purposes compatible with the Colleges’ mission. Any group that uses ACC’s facilities is expected to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and follow the policy as discussed below. Further, these gatherings shall not disrupt normal college functions, endanger the health or safety of any person present, or damage college property.