2015 – 2016 Bridge Student Handbook TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome from the President........................4 THIS HANDBOOK BELONGS TO: Academic Calendar......................................5 About this Handbook..................................7 Name:_______________________________________ Address:______________________________________ City/State/Zip:_________________________________ Phone:_______________________________________ E-mail:_______________________________________ This Bridge to Clemson Handbook contains information about Bridge Program, Tri-County, and Clemson policies, resources and services. Have a great academic year! Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Student Communication Policy..................7 Bridge Program Academic Policies and Procedures..............8 Bridge Residential Community Policies and Procedures & Student Codes of Conduct....................12 Involvement Opportunities for Bridge Students..........................................22 Services and Programs Available to Bridge Students..........................................23 Transitioning from Tri-County to Clemson .............................27 Withdrawing from Tri-County and/or Bridge..........................29 Calendar....................................................30 @tctcedu @BridgeToClemson @BridgeToClemson Tri-County Resources................................58 WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Bridge to Clemson Students: Welcome! We are pleased you have chosen the Bridge to Clemson program at Tri-County Technical College as your first step in pursuing a degree from Clemson University. Our goal is to provide you with an outstanding educational experience that will prepare you for a successful sophomore-year transition to Clemson. You are a member of our tenth Bridge class—a milestone we are thrilled to reach! Entering the tenth year of the program, we have a proven record of success. Students who meet the Bridge requirements and transfer to Clemson for their sophomore year graduate at approximately the same rate as the traditional Clemson freshman. So, we are confident we are providing a strong foundation for Bridge students. Through this partnership with Clemson, we have created a wealth of programs and services to assist you. You truly have the best of both worlds because you have access to services from both institutions: advisors, tutoring services, career planning, and transfer counseling. We hope that you will celebrate this year with us by taking advantage of all that we have to offer to enrich your educational experience. Famed author George Bernard Shaw once said, “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” We encourage you to use your time in the Bridge program to create yourself as a successful, well-rounded college student by getting involved in the many activities that are offered. Whether it is attending our festivals, serving as a member of the Student Government Association, or participating in one of our many other student clubs, you will have ample opportunities to hone your creation! We wish you the same success that many others before you have experienced in the Bridge to Clemson program. As your president, I promise to do all I can to assist you on the journey ahead. Best wishes, Ronnie L. Booth, President Tri-County Technical College 4 Check Important Dates Fall 2015 Enrollment Calendar revised: 01/29/15 EVENT/DEADLINE Advising for Currently Enrolled Students for Fall 2015 Registration Opens for Currently Enrolled Students for Fall 2015 Enrollment Process Begins for New, Returning, & Transfer Students for Fall 2015 Registration Opens for Transient and Non-Degree Students for Fall 2015 Financial Aid Priority Date Residency Priority Date Admissions Priority Date Payment Due; Student Schedules Deleted for Nonpayment ________________________ Payment Plans Enroll online by Auguest 1: $0 down and 4 payments (August - November) After August 1: 25% down and 3 payments (September - November) Eligible Senior Citizens May Register for Fall 2015 Tuition-Free Courses Last Day To Register (ALL STUDENTS) DATE Monday, Feb 23 - Friday, Mar 13 Monday, Mar 23 - Friday, Mar 27 Tuesday, Mar 24 Tuesday, Mar 31 Includes orientation, advising and registration for classes Monday, Apr 20 Friday, Jul 3 Students with incomplete files after Jul 3 must make payment arrangements prior to Aug 11. See “Payment Due” details below. Tuesday, Aug 4 In order for residency status to be evaluated before the tuition due date, the residency packet must be submitted to the residency officer (190 Miller Hall, Pendleton Campus) no later than Aug 4. Applications submitted after Aug 4 through the last day of classes will still be considered. However, the student must pay out-of-state tuition prior to Aug 11. If instate residency is then granted, the student will receive a refund of the tuition difference. Friday, Aug 7 To be admitted, Admissions must receive before the close of business: application, available at tctc.edu/apply; application fee of $30; and Compass writing, reading, and math scores within the last three years or proof of college credit-level English and math courses with minimum grades of “C.” Transient, non-degree, and Session C students may be admitted past this date on a case-by-case basis. Tuesday, Aug 11 Students will lose their schedules if payment arrangements are not made by this date. Between Aug 12 and Aug 17, payment for additional credit hours or schedule changes must be paid by Aug 17 6:30p.m. After Aug 17, payment for additional credit hours or schedule changes must be paid by Aug 21 2:00pm. Students with incomplete financial aid files must enroll in the college’s payment plan by the payment due date or pay in full by cash, check or credit card. Students may pay online under Step 6 of the eTC Get Set tab. Students re-registering for classes due to schedules cancelled for nonpayment will be assessed a registration fee of $40. This fee does not apply to schedule changes (adds and/ or drops) made during this time. Friday, Aug 7 - Friday, Aug 14 Friday, Aug 14, 2:00pm Transient, non-degree, and Session C students may register past this date on a case-bycase basis. 2015 ACADEMIC CALENDARS (SUMMER & FALL) SUBJECT TO CHANGE, FIND UPDATED VERSIONS ON THE ETC MESSAGE CENTER TAB. 5 Fall 2015 Academic Calendar SESSION DATES Session A: Monday, Aug 17 - Monday, Dec 7 Session B: Monday, Aug 17 - Wednesday, Sep 30 Session C: Wednesday, Oct 14 - Wednesday, Dec 2 Session I: Monday, Aug 17 - Monday, Oct 5 DEADLINE/EVENT Session J: Wednesday, Oct 7 - Tuesday, Dec 1 Session F: Monday, Aug 17 - Tuesday, Sep 15 Session G: Monday, Sep 21 - Thursday, Oct 22 Session H: Wednesday, Oct 28 - Tuesday, Dec 1 DATE First day of class (Sessions A/B/I/F) Aug 17 (Mon) Last day to add classes (Session F) Aug 17 (Mon) Last day to drop classes (Session F) revised: 01/29/15 DEADLINE/EVENT DATE Last day to drop classes (Session J) Oct 9 (Fri) 6:30pm Fall Break Oct 12 (M) - 13 (T) Aug 17 (Mon) 6:30pm First day of class (Session C) Oct 14 (Wed) Last day to add classes (Session B/I) Aug 18 (Tue) 6:30pm Last day to add classes (Session C) Oct 15 (Thu) Last day to add classes (Session A) Aug 19 (Wed) 6:30pm Spring: Registration Opens for Currently Enrolled Students Oct 16 (Fri) Last day to drop classes (Session B/I) Aug 19 (Wed) 6:30pm Fall 2015 Incomplete Grades (Session F) Oct 16 (Fri) Last day to drop classes (Session A) Aug 21 (Fri) 2:00pm Last day to drop classes (Session C) Oct 16 (Fri) Last day to withdraw from classes (Session F) Sep 3 (Thu) 6:30pm Last day to withdraw from classes (Session A) Oct 19 (Mon) Labor Day (College Closed) Sep 7 (Mon) Last day to withdraw from classes (Session B) Sep 11 (Fri) Last day to withdraw from classes (Session I) Sep 14 (Mon) Last day of class (Session F) 2:00pm 2:00pm 6:30pm Last day of classes (Session G) Oct 21 (Wed) 2:00pm Exams (Session G) Oct 22 (Thu) 6:30pm Grades due (Session G) Oct 26 (Mon) Sep 14 (Mon) Spring: Enrollment Process begins for New, Returning, and Transfer Students Oct 26 (Mon) Summer 2015 Incomplete Grade (Sessions A/C) Sep 14 (Mon) Spring Graduation Application Deadline Oct 26 (Mon) Exams (Session F) Sep 15 (Tue) First day of class (Session H) Oct 28 (Wed) Grades due (Session F) Sep 17 (Thu) Last day to add classes (Session H) Oct 28 (Wed) 6:30pm First day of class (Session G) Sep 21 (Mon) Last day to drop classes (Session H) Oct 28 (Wed) 6:30pm Last day to add classes (Session G) Sep 21 (Mon) Fall 2015 Incomplete Grades (Session I) Nov 3 (Tue) Last day to drop classes (Session G) Sep 21 (Mon) Last day to withdraw from classes (Session C/J) Nov 9 (Mon) Exams (Session B) 29 Sep (Tue) 30 Sep (Wed) Spring: Registration Opens for Transient and Non-Degree Students Nov 11 (Wed) Last day of class (Session I) Oct 1 (Thu) Last day to withdraw from classes (Session H) Nov 13 (Fri) Grades due (Session B) Oct 2 (Fri) Spring: Advising for Currently Enrolled Students begins 9:00am Last day of class (Session A/C/H/J) Nov 24 (Tue) Oct 5 (Mon) Fall 2015 Incomplete Grades (Session G) Nov 25 (Wed) Exams (Session I) Oct 5 (Mon) Exams (Session H/J) Dec 1 (Tue) Grades due (Session I) Oct 6 (Tue) 9:00am Exams (Session A) Dec 1 (Tue) Dec 7 (Mon) Last day to withdraw from classes (Session G) Oct 6 (Tue) 6:30pm Exams (Session C) Dec 1 (Tue) Dec 2 (Wed) Grades due (Session A/C/H/J) Dec 9 (Wed) Faculty/Staff Professional Development Day (No Classes) Dec 14 (Mon) First day of class (Session J) Oct 7 (Wed) Last day to add classes (Session J) Oct 8 (Thu) 6 9:00am 6:30pm 9:00am 6:30pm 2:00pm 9:00am 2015 ACADEMIC CALENDARS (SUMMER & FALL) SUBJECT TO CHANGE, FIND UPDATED VERSIONS ON THE ETC MESSAGE CENTER TAB. ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK Welcome to the Bridge to Clemson (Bridge) program. Bridge is a unique freshman-year program designed to 1) prepare you academically for your continued education at Clemson University (Clemson) and 2) connect you to Clemson services and programs while enrolled at Tri-County Technical College (Tri-County). The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with 1) Bridge-specific information, policies, and procedures not included in the Tri-County catalog, Clemson Undergraduate Announcements, and/or the Clemson Student Code of Conduct as well as 2) more detailed information regarding Bridge academic standards, programs and services. Please read this handbook thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the expectations and policies applicable to you and the services available to you as a Bridge student. As a Bridge student, you need to be aware of the unique Bridge-specific policies and procedures that, in addition to the TriCounty and Clemson policies and procedures, also apply to you. You are expected to comply with all Tri-County, Clemson, and Bridge policies and procedures during your Bridge year. Please read and become familiar with the Tri-County catalog. The catalog can be found online at http://tctc.catalog.acalog.com/. It covers all Tri-County policies pertaining to students and also provides information on financial aid, academic policies and procedures, academic support, counseling services, and student life. The Student Code for South Carolina Technical Colleges is included in Appendix 3 of the Tri-County catalog; this Code applies to all Tri-County students, including Bridge students. Furthermore, please take the time to review Clemson’s Undergraduate Announcements, Student Handbook (www. clemson.edu/administration/student-affairs/student-handbook/), and Student Code of Conduct (www.clemson.edu/ administration/student-affairs/student-handbook/code-of-conduct/student-conduct.html). Bridge students are subject to Clemson academic regulations and student policies and procedures. Please note that when you completed the Bridge enrollment form, you gave permission to Tri-County and Clemson to release your enrollment status, academic standing, transcript, student conduct records, and any other educational records to the other institution. You also confirmed that, as a participant in the Bridge program, you understand that you are subject to both institutions’ student code of conduct. This handbook contains detailed information about student services available to you during your Bridge year. You may participate in any activities and services offered to Tri-County students, as well as many of the Clemson services and programs. Best wishes for a successful Bridge year! Remember to use this handbook, the Tri-County and Clemson catalogs, and all of the other resources available to you as a Tri-County and Bridge student. Collectively, these resources will provide you with the information you need for a successful freshman year and subsequent transfer to Clemson. If you have a question and do not know who to ask, a good place to start is the contact information listed inside the front cover of this handbook. Please know Bridge staff are here to assist you as you pursue your educational goals. POLICY FOR COMMUNICATING WITH BRIDGE STUDENTS Tri-County and Clemson faculty and staff, including Bridge Program staff, use email to send official communications. The policy of both Tri-County and Clemson is to send official communication to students’ official @tctc.edu and @clemson.edu addresses only. Please check your Tri-County and Clemson email accounts daily. Failure to check your email on a daily basis may result in your missing vital information from faculty and staff. Furthermore, we discourage you from forwarding your email to a third party address as there may be space limitations that prevent your receiving important messages if the mailbox becomes full. 7 BRIDGE PROGRAM ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Bridge Academic Standards for Admission to Clemson At the conclusion of the spring semester and each summer session, the Clemson transfer admission staff reviews each Bridge student’s Tri-County transcript to determine eligibility for admission to Clemson. As part of the review, a Bridgespecific summary of earned credit hours and grade point average (GPA) is calculated for each student. This summary is used to determine whether or not the student has met the minimum Bridge academic standards required for admission to Clemson. To meet the minimum Bridge academic standards, you must earn 1) 30 Bridge-eligible credit hours at Tri-County with a grade of C or better and 2) a 2.5 GPA on all Bridge-eligible credit hours attempted. These standards must be met by the conclusion of the final Tri-County summer session of your Bridge year. Furthermore, the required 30 credit hours and 2.5 GPA at Tri-County must be earned after high school graduation. Bridge-eligible credit hours are defined as credit hours that are earned from 1) any Tri-County course that transfers to Clemson or 2) the two selected nontransferable LIFE scholarship-eligible courses, MAT 101 and MAT 102. MAT 101 and MAT 102 are the only nontransferable LIFE scholarship-eligible Tri-County courses that count in the calculation of a student’s Bridge earned credit hours and GPA. Any credits earned in MAT 101 and/or MAT 102 will not transfer to Clemson. In order for a student to transfer any credits earned in a Tri-County course to Clemson, the following conditions must be met: 1) the course must have an established Clemson equivalent (specific course or transfer elective) and 2) the student must earn a grade of C or higher in the course. Calculation of Bridge Earned Credit Hours and GPA The following criteria are applied in the calculation of a student’s Bridge earned credit hours and Bridge GPA: 1) The course work included in the calculation of a student’s Bridge earned credit hours is limited to courses: a) listed in the 1) Bridge Student Academic Guide for Tri-County/Clemson Course Equivalencies, Clemson General Education Requirements, LIFE Scholarship Requirements and Tri-County/Clemson Academic Policies and Resources (Student Academic Guide) and/or 2) Clemson Transfer Credit Equivalency List (TCEL) as transferring to Clemson (as a course-for-course equivalent or transfer elective) or the two selected nontransferable LIFE scholarship-eligible courses (MAT 101 and MAT 102 only) in which the student enrolled; and b) which the student completed during the Bridge year (defined as one or more of the summer sessions immediately following high school graduation, fall semester, spring semester, and one or more of the summer sessions following the spring semester). Any credit hours awarded by Tri-County to a student during the Bridge year for a transferable course as the result of a passing score on a Tri-County exemption exam will count in the calculation of credit hours earned; and c) in which a student earned a grade of C or higher or a grade of E (exemption). 2) The course work included in the calculation of the student’s Bridge grade point average is limited to courses: a) listed in the Student Academic Guide and/or the TCEL as transferring to Clemson (as a course-for-course equivalent or transfer elective) or as the two selected nontransferable LIFE scholarship-eligible courses (MAT 101 and MAT 102 only) that the student attempted and for which the student earned a grade; and 8 b) which the student enrolled in during the Bridge year (defined as one or more of the summer sessions immediately following high school graduation, fall semester, spring semester, and one or more of the summer sessions following the spring semester). 3) If, during the Bridge year, a Bridge student chooses to repeat a Tri-County course that is transferable and/or one of the selected nontransferable, LIFE scholarship-eligible courses (MAT 101 and MAT 102 only), the highest grade earned in the course is used in the calculation of the student’s Bridge GPA. Credit hours earned for the same course are only awarded once. 4) Earned credits not included in the calculation of a student’s Bridge earned credit hours are: a) any credits earned at any two-year or four-year college or university prior to high school graduation (including at Tri-County); or b) any credits earned in any courses Clemson has designated as nontransferable (NCT) with the exception of the two selected nontransferable, LIFE scholarship-eligible courses (MAT 101 and MAT 102 only) or c) any credits Clemson may award on the basis of AP and/or IB examination scores; or d) credits earned during the Bridge year for any course(s) in which a grade of D was earned; or e) any duplicate credits awarded for the same Clemson course. Included in calculation of Bridge 30 earned credit hours Included in calculation of Bridge 2.5 earned GPA Transferable (Clemson equivalent or transfer elective) or the two selected nontransferable LIFE scholarship-eligible courses (MAT 101 and MAT 102 only) courses attempted at TCTC during Bridge year and a grade of C or higher earned Yes Yes Transferable (Clemson equivalent or transfer elective) or the two selected nontransferable LIFE scholarship-eligible courses (MAT 101 or MAT 102 only) attempted at TCTC during Bridge year and a grade of D earned No Yes Transferable (Clemson equivalent or elective) or the two selected nontransferable LIFE scholarship-eligible courses (MAT 101 or MAT 102 only) attempted at TCTC during Bridge year and a grade of F earned No Yes Nontransferable (NCT) courses (except MAT 101 and MAT 102 only) attempted at TCTC during Bridge year and any grade earned No No Use the highest grade earned for any transferable and/or the two selected nontransferable LIFE scholarship-eligible (MAT 101 AND MAT 102 only) course(s) repeated at TCTC during Bridge year Yes Yes (Credits earned only once for the same course) (Only highest grade calculated in GPA) Transferable and nontransferable courses completed at TCTC and/or other institution(s) prior to high school graduation and a grade of C or higher earned No No Credit hours awarded based on AP and/or IB examination scores that Clemson may accept No No 9 Attending Summer School to Meet Bridge Academic Standards Students who do not meet the Bridge academic standards at the conclusion of the spring semester have the option of enrolling in Tri-County summer school courses in order to meet the standards by the conclusion of Tri-County’s final summer session. While attending summer school is an option, students are strongly encouraged to meet the Bridge academic standards at the conclusion of the spring semester in order to ensure a timely and smooth sophomore-year transition to Clemson with regard to fall course registration and financial aid processing. For more information about attending summer school to meet Bridge academic standards, please review the “Transitioning from Tri-County to Clemson” section on page 27. Admission Appeal Process The Bridge admission appeal process is the means by which Bridge students who do not meet the Bridge academic standards may request a second review of their freshman-year academic credentials. Appeals are reviewed once a year-immediately after the conclusion of the final Tri-County summer school session. Appeals are considered and reviewed only for students who meet all of the following criteria: 1) earned 30 or more credits in transferable and/or selected nontransferable LIFE scholarship-eligible courses (MAT 101 and MAT 102 only) at the conclusion of the final Tri-County summer school session. Credits earned during any Tri-County summer session must be from transferable courses; and 2) earned a grade of C or higher in 30 or more credits in transferable or selected LIFE scholarship-eligible courses (MAT 101 and MAT 102 only); and 3) earned a cumulative Bridge GPA of 2.4 or higher; and 4) completed at least one transferable mathematics course (MAT 101 and MAT 102 do not meet this requirement), one transferable natural science with laboratory course, and one transferable English course. To initiate the appeals process, a student must submit a: 1) letter to the Clemson Office of Undergraduate Admissions stating why the appeal should be granted; and 2) letter of support from Clemson’s Director of Bridge to Clemson and Transfer Programs. Appeals submitted without this letter of support will not be considered. Appeals are reviewed only at the conclusion of the final Tri-County summer school session. Transferability of Coursework The Student Academic Guide is distributed to all students at orientation. It contains important information pertaining to 1) Tri-County courses that count toward meeting the Bridge academic standards; 2) Tri-County mathematics course placement policies; 3) Tri-County courses that satisfy Clemson general education requirements; 4) Clemson Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credit policies; 5) LIFE Scholarship eligibility requirements; and 6) Clemson and Tri-County academic advising and student success resources. The Student Academic Guide can be accessed online at www.tctc.edu/clemsonbridge. Please be advised that some transferable courses may not satisfy course requirements for a particular Clemson degree program. Furthermore, freshman-year course requirements vary by degree program. To make satisfactory progress towards completing the requirements for your intended Clemson academic program, you are strongly encouraged to enroll only in equivalent Tri-County courses appropriate for your intended academic program. Becoming knowledgeable about course equivalencies, Clemson program-specific requirements, and Bridge academic standards is your responsibility. Please limit your enrollment to courses listed in the Student Academic Guide. Refrain from enrolling in courses that do not transfer to Clemson. With the exception of 10 the two selected nontransferable LIFE scholarship-eligible courses (MAT 101 and MAT 102 only), any credits and grades earned at Tri-County in nontransferable courses other than MAT 101 and MAT 102 will not count toward meeting the Bridge academic standards. Before enrolling in any course, complete the following steps: 1) review and identify the freshman-year ( and, in some cases, sophomore-year) courses required for the Clemson academic program you plan to pursue as outlined in Clemson’s Undergraduate Announcements; 2) determine whether any college-level credits you earned through AP, IB and/or dual enrollment will satisfy any course requirements for your intended academic program; 3) review the Student Academic Guide to identify the equivalent Tri-County courses for the Clemson courses you are required to complete; 4) review the Tri County course descriptions in the Tri-County catalog to determine if there are any minimum COMPASS score requirements or any mandatory prerequisite courses for the Tri-County courses you need to complete to make progress in your intended Clemson academic program; and 5) ensure that each identified Tri-County course is 1) transferable and 2) satisfies a general education and/or programspecific requirement for your intended Clemson academic program. For the most current list of transferable Tri-County courses and their corresponding Clemson course equivalents, visit www.clemson.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transferring-credits/tcel.html. Dual Enrollment, AP, and IB Credits Official transcripts for any dual-enrollment courses and official AP/IB exam score reports must be sent to Tri-County so that you can enroll in the appropriate Tri-County courses during your Bridge year. Clemson will also require an official transcript and official score reports if you want any transferable dual enrollment, AP, and/or IB credits to get posted to your Clemson student record. Life Scholarship-Eligible Courses There are two nontransferable courses, MAT 101 and MAT 102, for which the grades and credits earned in these courses count in the calculation of a student’s LIFE scholarship eligibility, including at Clemson. For this reason, these courses are also included in the calculation of a student’s Bridge-specific earned credit hours and GPA. Nontransferable courses other than MAT 101 and MAT 102 are not included in the calculation of a student’s 1) LIFE scholarship eligibility and 2) Bridgespecific GPA and credit hours earned summary. While LIFE scholarship eligibility is calculated for in-state students only, credits and grades earned for MAT 101 and/or MAT 102 are included in the calculation of a student’s Bridge-specific earned credit hours and GPA regardless of a student’s residency status. Exemption Credit If, through the Tri-County exemption examination process, Tri-County awards you credit for a Tri-County course, these credits count in the calculation of your total Bridge earned credit hours provided that 1) the course for which the credits were awarded transfers to Clemson and 2) the credits were awarded after high school graduation. Repeating a Course If you choose to repeat any course while enrolled at Tri-County, you will only receive credit for the same course once. Only the highest grade you earned in the course will be calculated in your GPA. For example, if you earn a D in a three-credit course in the fall semester and repeat the same course in the spring semester and earn a C, the C will be calculated in your GPA and you will earn only three credit hours for the course. You may therefore need to take an additional three-credit course in the spring semester to earn the 30 credit hours required to meet the Bridge academic standards. 11 Calculating Your Bridge-Specific GPA There is a worksheet on the Bridge website that can assist you in calculating the credit hours and GPA you will need to earn to meet the Bridge academic standards. This worksheet can be accessed at www.tctc.edu/clemsonbridge. While your academic advisor can assist you with calculating your projected Bridge earned credit hours and GPA, you are ultimately responsible for knowing the total number of credit hours and quality points you need to earn at Tri-County to meet the Bridge academic standards so that you are eligible to enroll at Clemson for the subsequent fall semester. Changing Your Academic Program During your Bridge year, you may change your intended Clemson academic program (excluding the academic programs listed below) by completing a Bridge change-of-academic program form. Due to enrollment limitations, some Clemson academic programs are not available to Bridge students during their Bridge year. Students interested in one of the academic programs listed below need to request a change-of-academic program application from the appropriate department after enrolling at Clemson. It is important to note that the opportunity to change into one of these academic programs upon enrollment at Clemson cannot be guaranteed. The academic programs not available to Bridge students include communication studies, early childhood education, elementary education, health science, nursing, production studies (audio), professional golf management, secondary education (history), special education, and sports communication. ACADEMIC ADVISING AND COURSE REGISTRATION Each Bridge student is assigned a Tri-County academic advisor. You must meet with your Tri-County advisor before you can register for spring semester or summer session classes at Tri-County. To find your assigned Tri-County advisor, go to the “Get Set” tab in eTC and click on the “Identify my academic advisor” link. To ensure that your meetings with your assigned advisor are as productive as possible, you are encouraged to take the time to review and familiarize yourself with the requirements for your intended Clemson academic program and the corresponding Tri-County/Clemson course equivalencies. Specific information about spring course advising and registration dates and procedures is emailed to all students. In addition to your assigned Tri-County advisor, Clemson academic advisors and Clemson Bridge staff are also available to meet with you. Clemson academic advisors are full-time professional academic advisors. You are encouraged to get to know your Clemson academic advisor. You will have the opportunity to meet your advisor at different Bridge events during the academic year, including MAJOR night in the fall semester. Take note of the e-mail announcements you receive about the advisor visits to Tri-County and Highpointe. Clemson advisors can answer questions for you about the requirements for your intended degree program and serve as an additional resource person for you. Drop-in advising is offered for students each week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. At a drop-in advising session, you can meet with a Clemson Bridge staff member to get your questions about Bridge requirements and policies answered. During drop-in advising, staff can also assist you with changing your academic program and discussing course options. No appointment is required. The schedule for drop-in advising will be emailed to students on a weekly basis. BRIDGE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SPECIFIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Community living is one of the most important experiences for a first-year college student. Bridge students live at Highpointe of Clemson (Highpointe) located approximately four miles from Tri-County’s campus and two miles from Clemson’s campus. The Bridge residential experience is designed to augment the academic environment and provide students with a healthy living and learning environment that is conducive to academic inquiry, a productive community life, and thoughtful study and discourse. 12 The residential life staff are a significant resource of community life and are essential in facilitating this healthy living and learning environment. The Bridge residential staff consists of: Resident Assistants (RA): RAs are upper-class Clemson students who live throughout the Bridge community and serve as a resource and guide for students. They are also present to assist with transition issues, roommate conflicts, and policy enforcement. Resident Directors (RD): RDs are Clemson graduate students who live on-site at Highpointe and provide supervision and support to the RAs and residents. Professional Staff: The on-site Coordinator of Student Life (CSL) oversees the day-to-day operations of the Bridge residential component. The Coordinator of Community Standards (CCS) serves as the primary administrator of the TriCounty and Bridge student conduct process. The residential life staff are available to help you with any problems or concerns you may have related to housing or residential life. A member of the residential life staff (RD or an RA) will be on duty to assist with any emergency situations during evening and weekend hours when classes are in session. A community exists on the basis of shared expectations and principles. Within Bridge, members of the community are expected to uphold and abide by certain standards of conduct that form the basis of Bridge residential policies and procedures. Each member of the Bridge community bears responsibility for their conduct and the conduct of any guests or visitors they have permitted on Highpointe property. When members of the community fail to uphold the established standards of behavior, conduct proceedings are initiated to assert and uphold Bridge policies and procedures. The student conduct process within Tri-County and the Bridge Program is committed to an educational and developmental process that balances the interests of individual students with the interests of Tri-County, Clemson, and Bridge, in addition to the needs of the residential community. As all students have the right to expect an environment that is conducive to study, sleep, and socialization, it is necessary to have policies and procedures in place that serve as standards for appropriate community behavior in addition to other existing Tri-County and Clemson policies. The standards of conduct noted in these sections primarily relate to residential rules and regulations. However, please be aware that the conduct and policies listed in the Tri-County Catalog and Clemson Student Code of Conduct also apply to the Bridge residential community. Assignment of Space: Bridge administration reserves the right to require an assignment location change or cancel a lease agreement for a student’s failure to meet academic requirements or failure to comply with all Tri-County or Bridge policies and regulations. When deemed necessary, Bridge administration reserves the right to require a resident to move to a different housing assignment for reasons such as, but not limited to, maintenance or closure of an area, crisis or emergency situations, roommate conflicts, behavioral issues, or occupancy management needs. Room change requests must be pre-approved by Bridge staff. Failure to secure written permission prior to changing units and/ or roommates may result in a fine being assessed and/or other disciplinary action. Break Leave: Residents are required to leave Highpointe property for the entire winter break and for the entire spring break. No resident may re-enter Highpointe for any reason at any time during these breaks. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements to leave Highpointe in advance for the break regardless of extenuating circumstances. No exceptions will be made to this policy. Bridge and Highpointe may each conduct health, safety, and maintenance inspections during these breaks, including preventative maintenance services, including but not limited to, annual fire extinguisher inspections, quarterly pest control, and HVAC filter changes. 13 Fines: Highpointe management reserves the right to assess fines in the event of damage and/or as a penalty for the violation of any Highpointe policy or regulation. Any assessed fines or charges not paid within the specified time period will be subject to additional penalties. Gate: Security staff at the 24-hour security gate will regulate traffic at the entrance of Highpointe when classes are in session. All guests are required to present identification upon request to the gate staff when entering the property. Residents are required to present identification upon request when using the visitor’s entrance. Residents and guests should have identification on their person at all times while on the property. Highpointe of Clemson, LLC Requirements: Highpointe management requires the following behavior and expectations within the Bridge residential community: Hallways/Breezeways: The outside hallways should be kept free of any obstructions that would hamper emergency response to a unit. The hallways may not be used as storage for bikes, furniture, etc. Maintenance: Residents should immediately report any and all maintenance issues or damage. When left unaddressed, they may become more costly to repair and/or create further damage. Grease should never be deposited into the sinks, toilets, or ground. Allow grease to thoroughly cool, place it in a sealed container, and then dispose of it by placing it in the waste compactor. Damage to plumbing or landscaping due to improper grease disposal will result in fines. Parking/Vehicles: All vehicles must be parked in a marked and designated parking spot. Parking in the “No Parking Zones,” fire lanes, landscaping or in a handicap parking space without a permit is prohibited. Boats, trailers of any type, mobile homes, and commercial vehicles are not permitted. Vehicles that cannot operate on their own are not permitted. Unlicensed vehicles are not permitted. No vehicle washing or maintenance shall be done on the premises. The speed limit within the community is 15 MPH. Reckless driving (i.e. speeding, tire squealing, etc.) and/or driving over landscaped areas, sidewalks/curbs, fields or grass will not be tolerated. Management reserves the right to have vehicles towed at owners’ expense if found to be illegally or improperly parked without any prior notification to owner. Fines and fees for damage caused by such driving will be the responsibility of the party/parties involved. Students engaging in such behavior will also be subject to disciplinary action. Mail: All mail will be delivered to the mail kiosk located outside the clubhouse. Students should regularly empty mailboxes of all accumulated mail and properly dispose of unwanted items. Property Loss and/or Personal Injury: Residents acknowledge that property management, owner, Bridge, and TriCounty do not provide insurance for personal injury or for personal property located in the apartment or otherwise stored or located at Highpointe. Residents are encouraged to obtain insurance on such property for protection against theft, loss, or other casualty. Residency Requirement: All Bridge students are required to live in the Bridge residential community at Highpointe unless they have received an approved housing waiver to commute from their family’s primary home in Anderson, Oconee, or Pickens County. While residing in Highpointe, Bridge students are expected to maintain full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours) at Tri-County. Any student who drops below full-time enrollment may be required to complete a behavioral and academic success contract. Failure to maintain the terms of that contract or maintain satisfactory academic progress could result in disciplinary action, including dismissal from Bridge housing, permanent or interim. If student withdraws or is dismissed from Bridge, Bridge housing, or Tri-County, student must vacate Bridge housing at Highpointe. Withdrawal from Bridge and dismissal from Bridge/Tri-County does not waive a student’s financial obligation to pay the total housing costs for the full academic year, per the lease. 14 Responsibility for Common Areas/Property: Residents are expected to take every precaution to assure that communal property is not abused or damaged. Responsibility for Information: Residents are responsible for knowing and understanding all policy and procedural information disseminated through the Bridge office. Responsibility for the Room/Apartment: Each resident is responsible for all items and behavior occurring within his/her assigned room/apartment. Furthermore, each resident is responsible for the upkeep of the room and for providing all cleaning supplies. Residents are responsible for removing waste materials in a proper manner, cleaning their rooms, and maintaining sanitary and safe conditions that are acceptable to Highpointe and Bridge staff. The physical structure of the apartment and room may not be altered in any way, including painting or changing/adding door lock mechanisms. When students arrange furniture, it should be arranged in a way that does not create an obstacle that would make it difficult for fire or other personnel to enter or leave their room or apartment. An Apartment Condition Report (ACR) will be completed by Highpointe staff and will be on file in the Bridge office. You may review the ACR for your apartment and add any comments within 48 hours of moving in. At check-out, residents will be responsible for any condition not noted on the ACR. The resident is responsible for the condition of the assigned space and shall reimburse Highpointe for all damage to the space or damage to or loss of fixtures, furnishings, or properties furnished under the lease agreement. Damage in the living room or common space of the apartment will be split among all residents assigned to the apartment unless one or more residents take responsibility for the damage. When occupancy is terminated, residents must follow proper check-out procedures. A Highpointe staff member will inspect the area and assess for any damages. Any resident vacating housing without following this procedure will be charged an improper checkout fee and forfeit all right of appeals for any associated damage assessments. Right of Entry: Bridge and/or Highpointe staff may enter rooms or apartments when any of the following conditions apply, as specified in the Highpointe lease: • Reasonable suspicion that life or property may be in danger • Reasonable suspicion that Tri-County, Clemson and/or Bridge policies and/or state/federal laws are being violated • Periodic health and safety inspections • Routine maintenance Security: All students are urged to lock their windows and doors. Protection against criminal or wrongful actions is not within the power of property management or owner, Bridge, Tri-County and security personnel. Students are encouraged to pursue personal and apartment insurance to protect themselves even with security provided. Student Conflict: The Bridge community is an opportunity for residents to learn how to appropriately address and resolve conflict and other concerns. Students are expected to attempt to resolve conflicts with roommates and other residents. If these attempts are not successful, the student should contact the Resident Assistant. If a situation cannot be resolved through these steps, the Resident Director or Coordinator of Student Life can assist with the process. All resolutions must be adhered to by the students involved 15 STUDENT CODES OF CONDUCT Tri-County The Student Code for South Carolina Technical Colleges applies to all Tri-County students and can be found in the Appendix of the Tri-County catalog. Student conduct policies, disciplinary procedures and sanctions, and Tri-County procedures for hearings and appeals can be found in Appendices 1, 3, and 4. The Code can be found at http://www.tctc. edu/Student_Life_and_Services/Student_Records/College_Catalog.xml. The Code also includes information regarding the general rights of students, student government and organizations, and proscribed conduct. The Code applies to all Bridge students while on the Tri-County campus, while participating in Tri-County-sponsored events and activities, and while living in Bridge-designated housing. You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with this Code. Clemson The Clemson Student Code of Conduct applies to all Bridge students both while on the Clemson campus and beyond. The Code can be found at www.clemson.edu/administration/student-affairs/student-handbook/code-of-conduct/index.html. If the Student Code for South Carolina Technical Colleges does not apply, the student is still subject to the Clemson Student Code of Conduct and may be adjudicated under its provisions. You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with this Code. BRIDGE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY STANDARDS In an attempt to create an environment where learning and daily life can proceed without disruption, it is necessary to establish community standards and policies specifically designed for the unique atmosphere of the Bridge residential community. Each resident assumes responsibility for their own actions and assumes a shared responsibility for the community. This residential community environment should be orderly, peaceful, and free of disturbances that would impede an individual’s academic, personal, and social development or interfere with the educational process of Bridge or Tri-County. Respect for the rights of personal safety, individual liberties, and the rights of others are essential expectations for students. Bridge and Tri-County expects that students take personal responsibility for their actions and behave with dignity and honesty. In accordance with the Tri-County Student Code, the following are community standards and policies for the Bridge residential community. For additional information regarding Student Code violations please reference Appendix 1, 3, and 4 of the 2015-2016 Tri-County Catalog. Section I: Jurisdiction Per the Student Code for South Carolina Technical Colleges, the “code applies to behavior on college property, at college-sponsored activities and events, and to off-campus behavior that adversely affects the college and/or the college community.” The Bridge Coordinator of Community Standards, Tri-County Chief Student Services Officer, and/or their designee(s), will determine when the College will take action for violations of the Tri-County Student Conduct of Code, Bridge residential policies and procedures, federal, state and/or local law, statutes, or ordinances. Highpointe and the Home Owners Association (HOA) may additionally act upon lease and violations through warnings, notices, fines, etc. Bridge residential policies and procedures may also be applied to behavior conducted online, via e-mail or other electronic mediums. In addition, Bridge policies and procedures also apply to guests of the Bridge community while on Highpointe property. Section II: Policies Governed by the Tri-County Student Code with Residential Application In accordance with the Tri-County Student Code, the following violations are listed to clarify their application to residential community living. (For additional information regarding Student Code violations please reference Appendix 1, 3, and 4 of the 2015-2016 Tri-County Catalog.) 16 A. Conduct that Impacts the Community and/or Violates the Health and Safety of an Individual 1. Alcohol: Use, consumption, possession, display, distribution, and manufacture of alcohol or alcohol paraphernalia in the Bridge residential community, regardless of age, for all residents and guests within the Bridge residential area/ designated apartments as well as any area of Highpointe property. Being in the presence of alcohol, regardless of intent to consume, is also a violation. This includes participation in drinking games such as beer pong, water pong or any activity where the purpose is to consume alcohol. Violations of other Bridge policies in conjunction with the Alcohol policy can result in more severe disciplinary sanctions. 2. Dangerous Objects/ Weapons: The possession, storage or use of firearms, airsoft guns, pellet guns, bow and arrows, knives with blades longer than three (3) inches or any other weapon whether or not lawfully possessed is prohibited. In addition, explosives, fireworks, dangerous chemical mixtures, and propelled missiles or similar items are prohibited. 3. Disorderly Conduct: Disruptive, lewd or indecent conduct regardless of intent, which breaches the peace, and or safety of the community. 4. Drugs: Use, possession, distribution, manufacture, or being knowingly in the presence of narcotics or other controlled substances except as expressly permitted by law. 5. Drug Paraphernalia: Any items that can be utilized for or are designed for the use of drugs (bowls, bongs, hookahs, etc.) are not allowed within Bridge designated apartments. Any items that are fashioned for the purpose of drug use will also be considered a violation of this policy. 6. Reckless Endangerment: Taking any action that creates a substantial risk that bodily harm could result to any person and or the community. These include but are not limited to: a. Objects or people on window or balcony ledges b. Use of any weapon for any purpose c. Throwing objects towards people or property d. Use of fireworks or any flammable/dangerous material e. Reckless Driving on Tri-County or Highpointe Property including but not limited to speeding, parking in unauthorized parking spaces, or any act that can be deemed dangerous while operating a motor vehicle f. No sitting or climbing on windows and balcony railings g. No throwing, tossing, or dropping items out of balconies h. No placing any objects outside of windows or balconies i. No hanging, jumping on, or scaling from balconies j. Removal of window screens k. Tampering, altering, modifying; smoke detectors, alarms, or equipment 7. Theft: Theft includes but is not limited to: a. Attempted or actual theft of personal property belonging to any member of the community. b. The unauthorized possession of stolen property, Tri-County college property, Bridge property, or Highpointe property. 17 Section III: Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment The South Carolina Technical College System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sex or disability in educational programs and activities as required by Title IX. Any questions regarding Title IX may be referred to Tri-County’s Title IX Coordinator or to the Office of Civil Rights. Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence refer to physical, written or verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, coercion, or any physical sexual act perpetuated against a person’s will, or when a person is incapable of giving consent. Cases of alleged acts of sexual harassment or sexual violence will be adjudicated through the Student Code Procedures for Addressing Alleged Acts of Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment as found in Appendix 4 of the Tri-County 2015-2016 Catalog. Section IV: Bridge Residential Policies A. Conduct that Impacts Community and Community Development 1. Non-Resident Apartment Guest Policy: The roommate’s reasonable expectation of privacy, sleep and study takes precedence over the privilege of a resident to host a guest. The host must have approval from his/her roommates to have a guest. Guests who are not approved by all residents of an apartment may be asked to leave Highpointe or the apartment by a resident of the apartment or a staff member. a. Overnight Guest Policy: Guests of the apartment (any Bridge or Non-Bridge persons) who stay overnight must be agreed upon by all roommates. Guests may not stay for more than 72 hours (3 consecutive days) and/or more than 10 total nights in a semester. Co-habitation is strictly forbidden; only residents assigned to a room or apartment may live there. The Bridge Program administration reserves the right to restrict, alter or terminate visitation privileges when it is determined that these privileges are being abused or are not in the best interest of the residents and/or community. b. Conduct of Guests: Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guests at all times. Additionally, residents must accompany their guests at all times and be present for the duration of their guests’ visit. It is the responsibility of the host to make sure that guests understand and abide by all Bridge, Tri-County, and Highpointe policies. If a guest violates any policies, the hosting resident, as well as the guest, may be subject to disciplinary action. Guests must present proper identification upon request by a Bridge or Highpointe staff member. Any guest that does present proper identification will not be allowed on property. c. Guest Lists: Each Resident is required to submit a list of pre-approved guests to the guard house the first week in the Fall Semester. 2. Unauthorized Access: Upon arrival to Highpointe, you will be issued keys and a gate reader. To ensure the safety of the community, possession, duplication, or use of keys to any apartment or room that is not assigned to you is prohibited. This includes gate readers used for access to Highpointe. Residents will be responsible for the cost of any lost keys or gate readers. 3. Solicitation and Posting: All selling and soliciting of any kind on Highpointe Property. In addition the advertising of any activity or event in common areas that is not specifically approved by the Bridge Residential Life Office. 4. Noise: All students are expected to respect the privacy of others and be mindful students may be found in violation for noise levels that: a. Can be clearly heard outside of one’s apartment or excessive noise in common spaces of the apartment and clubhouse. b. Infringe on the rights of others to reasonable peace and quiet. 5. Pets: Pets are not allowed in Bridge apartments with the exception of non-poisonous fish in a ten-gallon tank or smaller. 18 B. Conduct Associated with Personal Responsibility and Integrity 1. Failure to Comply: Failure to comply with reasonable and lawful requests or directives of Tri-County or Bridge staff and security personnel acting in performance of their duties. Students should make every attempt to respectfully comply with reasonable requests and directives of Tri-County, Bridge, and Highpointe staff and security personnel. 2. Identification: Failure to produce proper identification to any Tri-County or Bridge staff and security personnel in the performance of his/her official duties. All students and guests are required to carry their Tri-County Student ID, TigerOne Card, or State license/ identification card at all times. Residents and guests are required to present proper identification upon request. C. Regulations Specific to Bridge Apartments at Highpointe 1. Bicycles/Motorcycles: Bicycles may be stored under the stairs in each building as long as they do not protrude into the walkway. Motorcycle owners must protect pavement from kickstand puncture marks during warm weather. Under no circumstances are motorcycles or mopeds to be parked in an apartment, the hallway, or on stairways, balconies, or patios. Bicycles and motorcycles in violation will be removed at owner’s expense without notice. 2. Clubhouse/Pool: The pool is open till 11pm seasonally and is for use of Bridge students and invited guests. No glass is permitted in or around the pool area. Guests cannot use the Clubhouse or any other facility on property without being accompanied by the host resident. 3. Display of Objects: The display of flags, banners, signs, or other objects from ceilings, windows, doors, patios, and balconies. 4. Electrical Equipment: Residents may not alter or repair any electrical equipment or fixture provided. Defects in electrical equipment or wiring should be reported to Highpointe. If more than two appliances or two appliances with a cumulative wattage of more than 1500 watts are plugged into a single wall outlet, a U.L. approved power strip with a built-in circuit breaker should be used. 5. Furniture/ Appliances: Mini fridges are not permitted in the apartment common space and should only be stored in bedrooms. 6. Grills: Use and possession of charcoal grills on Highpointe property. Students are allowed to use gas or electric grills but must store propane cylinders outside. 7. Highpointe Home Owners Association (HOA) Rules and Regulations and Lease Policies: While living at Highpointe, students are bound by the Home Owners Association of Highpointe policies as well as the Bridge policies and procedures. The HOA inspects the property and may fine residents for violations or misconduct. 8. Recreation Areas: Sporting activities (football, Frisbee, baseball, basketball, golf, etc.) in apartments or parking areas. Residents should use the open green space located below the clubhouse for all recreational activities. 9. Skateboarding/Long Boarding: Skateboarding and Longboarding on Highpointe property. 10. Trash: Trash must be disposed of properly within the dumpsters provided by Highpointe. Under no circumstances may trash be left in hallways, stairs, and balconies/patios or on the dumpster pad. Highpointe property management will assess fines for trash improperly disposed. The disposal of large items or furniture on Highpointe property is prohibited. 11. Smoking Policy: Smoking tobacco, including e-cigarettes within Bridge apartments or breezeways. Cigarette butts should be disposed of properly and not thrown into flower beds or shrubs. 12. Prohibited Items: The following list is a compilation of prohibited items. This is not an exhaustive list and Bridge 19 reserves the right to make additions based upon current needs of the community. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: a. Weapons b. Lava Lamps c. Medusa Lamps d. Halogen Lamps e. Extension cords that do not meet fire safety regulations f. Air Condition Units (window and floor) g. Auxiliary Heating Devices h. Hot Plates i. Any appliance, furniture, or equipment that has been recalled due to safety regulations j. Water Beds k. Charcoal Grills l. Hookahs (use or display) m. Candles n. Incense o. Fireworks p. Open flame devices of any kind q. Hammocks hanging from any part of an apartment balcony 13. Other Policies: Bridge reserves the right to prohibit any items deemed to be harmful, unadvisable, or not in the best interest of the residents or community. These policies shall be communicated to the residents and community in a timely manner and will become an extension or addenda to current policy. Residents are required to know and comply with all policies and regulations that become addenda to these policies. Section V: Disciplinary Action, Sanctioning, and Procedures A. Disciplinary Action, Sanctioning, and Appellate Procedures Residents who violate the terms and conditions of the lease agreement or violate Bridge, Tri-County Student Code of Conduct, and/or Clemson Student Code of Conduct policies are subject to disciplinary action. For additional information regarding Student Code violations, disciplinary action, and appellate procedures, please reference Appendix 1, 3, and 4 of the 2015-2016 Tri-County Catalog. In accordance with the Student Code, the following sanctions may apply: 1. Reprimand: An official notice that the student has violated Bridge, Highpointe, and/or Tri-County policies and that subsequent violations may result in further sanctions. 2. Restitution: Compensation for damage to Bridge, Highpointe, Tri-County, and/or personal property. This may also include labor and maintenance costs to repair damaged property. Restitution is a repayment for labor costs and/or the value of property destroyed, damaged, consumed or stolen. 20 3. Special Conditions: Completion of a variety of educational activities, relating to the nature of the offense, may be imposed. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following: a. Action plans: Students may be required to complete an action plan with Bridge or Tri-County staff. b. Community Service: Students may be required to complete a specified number of community service hours with a recognized and approved charitable organization. c. Confiscation: Illegal prohibited items will be confiscated and destroyed or disposed of by Bridge or Tri-County staff and/or law enforcement. Legal prohibited items may be returned to the owner at the discretion of the Coordinator of Community Standards. If granted, students will receive written notice to retrieve confiscated items and will have (5) five instructional week days to retrieve confiscated items. Items not retrieved during that period will be disposed of. d. Educational Program: Requirement to attend, present, or participate in a program related to the particular violation. e. Essay or Research Papers: Students may be required to complete a typed paper with a specified topic related to the nature of the offense and/or elements discussed during the adjudication process. f. Letters of Apology: Students may be required to complete a letter of apology regarding the nature of the incident and/or behavior. g. Loss of Privileges: Students may lose specified privileges for a designated period of time. h. Mandated Counseling Assessment: Attendance in mandated counseling and compliance with any recommendations made by Clemson University’s Redfern/Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). i. Substance Awareness and Education Programs: Requirement to attend, present, or participate in a program related to the particular violation, specifically substance awareness and education. 4. Reassignment of Space: Reassignment to another Bridge apartment. 5. Interim Suspension: A student may be temporarily suspended from Highpointe and/or Tri-County property before the initiation of disciplinary procedures. In accordance with the Tri-County Student Code, interim suspension may only be imposed when there is reason to believe that the continued presence of the accused student poses a substantial and immediate threat to the student or to others or poses a serious threat of disruption of, or interference with, the normal operations of the college. 6. Disciplinary Probation: The student is put on official notice that, should further violation(s) occur during the probationary period, the student may face suspension, dismissal or expulsion. During the probationary period, the student will be permitted to stay in his/her Bridge apartment unless specified by the Bridge Coordinator of Community Standards, Tri-County Chief Student Services Officer, and/or their designee(s). 7. Bridge to Clemson Program Dismissal: The student is dismissed and removed from Bridge. This sanction includes an indefinite revocation of housing and ban from the Bridge residential community and Highpointe property for residential students, as a violation of the lease. This sanction may be enforced with a legal trespass notice. 8. Tri-County Suspension: Suspension from Tri-County for a period of time, after which a student is eligible to return only after satisfying any conditions of the suspension. During the suspension, a student may not return to Highpointe or any Tri-County campuses unless prior permission has been granted by the Tri-County Chief Student Services Officer and/or their designee(s). 21 9. Tri-County Expulsion: Permanent separation from Tri-County. The student will immediately vacate his/her Bridge apartment. An expelled student may not return to Highpointe or any Tri-County campuses unless prior permission has been granted by the Tri-County Chief Student Services Officer and/or their designee(s). GETTING INVOLVED IN CAMPUS ACTIVITIES Getting involved in campus life can add to the richness of your college experience. You are strongly encouraged to explore the campus involvement opportunities available to you at both Tri-County and Clemson. BRIDGE-SPECIFIC INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES Bridge Leadership Council Bridge Leadership Council (BLC) is a programming and event planning body that is very similar to a student council or student government. BLC members plan fun and meaningful events to help students transition to and get involved in the college community. Past events include study breaks, building competitions, dances, movie nights, bonfire nights, pool parties, and the very popular Thanks for Giving dinner. BLC is completely student run. Elections are held at the beginning of the year for the President, Activities Coordinator, Treasurer, and Building Representative positions. Holding a leadership position provides a great opportunity for students looking to get involved during their college career. All students, elected or not, are welcome to get involved, plan events, and serve on committees. There are endless opportunities to make an impact and get involved! Talk to your RA and attend an info session to get more information. OrgSync OrgSync is Clemson’s online portal that connects Bridge students to Clemson student organizations. Through OrgSync, you can look for clubs and organizations in which you would like to get involved. Log in and register to set up a profile at www.orgsync.com. INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT TRI-COUNTY As a Bridge student, you may participate in all organizations and extracurricular activities open to Tri-County students. Keep in touch with announcements and upcoming Tri-County events on the eTC portal. A list of Tri-County student organizations can be found at www.tctc.edu/Content/Student_Life_and_Services/Campus_Life/Student_Organizations.xml. INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT CLEMSON As a Bridge student, you can participate in many Clemson activities and organizations. Intramurals All Bridge students are eligible to participate in Clemson’s intramural sports program. You may join a team with Clemson students or form your own team with other Bridge students. To register for a Clemson intramural team, you need your Clemson username, email address and student ID number. All students must present their TigerOne card (student ID card) at all intramural contests. For more information about intramurals, visit www.clemson.edu/studentaffairs/campusrec/ or call (864) 656-2315. Fike Recreation Center Bridge students also have access to the 200,000-square-foot Fike Recreation Center, Swann Fitness Center, Sloan Tennis 22 Center, and several other outdoor athletic facilities. You must present your TigerOne card to use these facilities. For more information about Fike Recreation Center, visit www.clemson.edu/studentaffairs/campusrec/ or call (864) 656-2315. Clemson Student Clubs and Organizations at Clemson Bridge students may join most Clemson clubs or organizations as an associate/affiliate member, provided the organization’s constitution allows associate/affiliate membership status. These organizations include service, professional, sports, religious and special interest clubs. You must wait until your sophomore year when you are officially enrolled at Clemson to join any of the following Clemson organizations and/or teams: 1) Clemson undergraduate student government; 2) nationally affiliated social fraternities and sororities; 3) cheerleading squads; 4) Rally Cats; and 5) athletic teams competing in NCAAsanctioned competition. Performing Arts Groups You may participate in Clemson performing arts and musical groups such as Tiger Band, Pep Band, and choral groups. Some performing arts groups require that students pass an audition. Contact the director of the band or choral group you are interested in joining for more information. Tri-County courses that transfer to Clemson are available to students who participate in Clemson band and/or choral groups. Army or Air Force ROTC Membership in Clemson’s Army or Air Force regiments is open to interested Bridge students. Visit www.clemson.edu/cbbs/ departments/air-rotc/ or www.clemson.edu/cbbs/departments/army-rotc/ for more information. Tri-County courses that transfer to Clemson are available for students who participate in Clemson Army or Airforce ROTC. Clemson Athletic Events/Tickets With the exception of football and men’s basketball games, Bridge students can attend any sports events at Clemson by showing their TigerOne card. As a Bridge student, you may purchase season football tickets or single-game tickets for most football and basketball games at a reduced rate. Contact the Clemson Ticket Office (864-656-2118) for more information. Indicate that you are a Bridge student. SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO BRIDGE STUDENTS Your academic success is of paramount importance to both Tri-County and Clemson. Therefore, both institutions provide free academic success services and programs designed to foster student academic success. Taking advantage of these resources will help you have a successful year. Disability Services at Tri-County Tri-County is dedicated to providing full access to programs and services to students with disabilities through the provision of reasonable and effective accommodations that promote student independence. The Disability Services Coordinator coordinates all disabilities-related services and serves as a resource for students, parents, faculty, and staff. If you think that you may have a disability but have never been tested, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator. The Coordinator can assist you with identifying helpful resources. Although Tri-County provides assistance in identifying appropriate testing, Tri-County does not endorse any specific agency or practitioner. The Disability Services Office is located in the Student Center, Office 155. Visit www.tctc.edu/Student_Life_and_Services/Disabilities_Services.xml for more information. Tutoring Center at Tri-County The Tutoring Center is open to all Tri-County students, including those enrolled in online classes. The Tutoring Center is available to students who need tutoring in mathematics or science or who could benefit from using supplementary 23 materials in those disciplines. Materials include instructional CDs and videotapes, textbooks, solution manuals, and computer software. The Lab also offers graphing calculator assistance. Students can also get help with writing assignments for any class, use the computers in the Center for research and word processing, or study in the Center between classes. Students may make appointments for tutoring by 1) coming to the Tutoring Center, 2) calling 646-1367, or 3) emailing tutoringcenter@tctc.edu. Appointments are not required, but appointments take precedence over drop-ins. Hours for the Tutoring Center change each semester. For a current schedule of the Tutoring Center hours, visit tctc.edu/Content/Student_ Life_and_Services/Academic_Assistance/Tutoring.xml Supplemental Instruction at Bridge Student Success Center Supplemental instruction (SI) is provided for historically difficult first-year courses such as biology, chemistry, calculus, and physics. Clemson upper-class students serve as SI leaders. These students previously earned an A in the course and now provide students with guidance related to the topics and material covered in class. If you are enrolled in an SI-supported course, consider attending SI. The schedule for supplemental instruction is emailed to students on a regular basis and is available in the Bridge student center at Highpointe. Weekly Drop-In Advising at Tri-County and Highpointe Clemson Bridge advisors hold office hours at Tri-County and Highpointe on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week. Clemson Bridge advisors can answer your Bridge-related questions, assist you with changing your degree program, and discuss course options. The specific days and times are announced via weekly email reminders sent to all Bridge students. The schedule for drop-in advising will be emailed to students on a weekly basis. Academic Success Center at Clemson The Academic Success Center (864-656-6452), located on Clemson’s campus, provides comprehensive academic success services such as tutoring and academic skills workshops. Visit www.clemson.edu/asc/ for more information about the services offered through the Academic Success Center. Cooper Library at Clemson In addition to Tri-County’s library, Bridge students can also access all of the services available to undergraduate students at Clemson’s Cooper Library. You can check out books and other materials from the Clemson library with your TigerOne card. Visit www.lib.clemson.edu/ for more information about Cooper Library. Transportation and Parking at Tri-County and Clemson While classes are in session, transportation is provided Monday through Friday between Highpointe, Tri-County, and Clemson. Detailed transit information is provided to all Bridge students at the start of the fall semester and is posted on the Bridge website at www.tctc.edu/clemsonbridge. If you wish to drive your car to Clemson and/or Tri-County, you must obtain a parking decal. To obtain a Tri-County parking decal, 1) pay the parking fee in the bookstore and 2) take your paid receipt, a valid driver’s license, a copy of your vehicle registration, and a printed copy of your class schedule to the Campus Safety Office, 138 Pickens Hall. Display the decal according to directions provided by the Campus Safety Office. Tri-County parking decals expire at the end of the summer term. Visit www.tctc.edu/About_TCTC/Campus_Safety.xml for more information. To obtain a Clemson commuter parking decal, visit www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campus-services/parking/parkingpermits/ students.html or the Clemson parking services office on the ground floor of the University Union. Display the decal according to directions provided by the Parking Services office. Clemson parking decals expire on August 15 each year. Please be advised that if you park a vehicle at Tri-County and/or Clemson, you must comply with all Tri-County and Clemson parking policies. 24 Health Care Services at Clemson Bridge students have access to all of the health care services delivered by Clemson’s Redfern Health Center (RHC). RHC is an integrated outpatient facility comprised of four divisions: Medical Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Health Promotion, and Healthy Campus. MyHealth-e, a web-based portal found at www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campus-services/redfern/point-n-click.html, is also available to Bridge students. Enter your Clemson username and password to access MyHealth-e to: • sign up for text message appointment reminders; • view/print your bill; and • send a secure message to the Redfern insurance office, nurse clinic, or women’s clinic. Access “Messages” from the left navigation menu after logging into MyHealth-e. If you send a secure message, you should periodically log into MyHealth-e to check for a reply. Redfern Health Center accepts private insurance for the pharmacy only. Itemized receipts are provided at checkout for other health care services. If you need health insurance, Clemson offers a student health insurance plan at competitive premiums. For more information about the Student Health Plan go to www.clemson.edu/redfern and view the section “Insurance and Billing.” You may also contact the Student Insurance Office at (864) 656-3561. All Clemson and Bridge students are required to submit a copy of their official immunization record to the Redfern Health Center no later than July 1. The official immunization record must include documentation of the following vaccines/ screenings: • MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella): for students born after 1956, two doses required after 12 months of age; • TDAP (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis); single dose required for all students age 64 or younger as of January 1, 2015; • Meningococcal vaccine; dose of conjugate vaccine (Menactra, Menveo) required after 16th birthday for all students age 21 or younger as of January 1, 2015. (If initial dose received before 16th birthday, booster is required.) Students must present proof of vaccination, or may sign a waiver declining the vaccination; and • Tuberculin (TB) test; Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) is required of any student who has resided or traveled outside of the U.S. for more than two weeks within the last 5 years in a country where tuberculosis is endemic or of any student who has other TB risk factors. To see a list of countries considered to be high risk, please go to www.clemson. edu/campus-life/campus-services/redfern/immunization.html. A copy of the immunization documentation form and information about submission of the official immunization record are available at www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campus-services/redfern/immunization.html If you fail to complete the Redfern immunization requirements, your privileges to use Clemson facilities and services such as Fike Recreation Center and your Clemson email account may be revoked. Additionally, you will not be admitted to Clemson until Redfern Health Center staff verifies that you have satisfied the immunization requirements, even if you have met the Bridge academic standards. Career Exploration and Planning at Clemson The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), located on the 3rd floor of the Hendrix Student Center, offers interest inventories, resume reviews, search assistance, mock interviews, career fairs and other services to help students identify and pursue their career aspirations. You can drop by the Center any afternoon for a quick chat with a career counselor, or you can schedule an appointment for a more in-depth discussion. For a list of services and opportunities the Center provides, visit http://career.clemson.edu. 25 Clemson Student Id (XID#), Username, Email Address and Password All Bridge students are assigned a unique Clemson 1) student ID number (XID #), 2) username, and 3) email address that they use beginning their Bridge year until they graduate from Clemson. In order to access your Clemson username, you must first complete the Clemson username activation process. The Clemson admission office sent instructions for activating your Clemson username to the email address you provided on your Clemson freshman admission application. To activate your Clemson Username, go to http://mysername.clemson.edu. You will need to provide the following information: 1) your Clemson ID (XID) - Provided in your admissions decision letter (example format C12345678) 2) your Clemson Username Activation code: provided in the email sent by the Admissions office Once you have activated your Clemson Username and set-up your password, please close your browser completely. Then, reopen the browser and login to the iRoar portal at: http://iroar.clemson.edu/ Any time you wish to access a Clemson password-protected site such as Redfern Health Center, the laptop purchasing page, Org Sync, or TigerStripe, you need to enter your Clemson username and password. If you have problems with your Clemson username and/or password, contact the CCIT customer support center at 864-656-3494. You also have use of a Clemson email account. Your official Clemson email address is username@clemson.edu. In partnership with Google, Clemson offers students Google Apps for Education accounts. This account has already been created with your Clemson username. All you need to do is set up your account and password. Instructions for setting up your Google Apps for Education email account can be found here: https://www.clemson.edu/ ccit/email_accounts/email/google/setup.html If you’d like to opt out of using Google Apps for Education and instead use another email service, instructions on how to do that are here: http://www.clemson.edu/ccit/help_support/new_to_cu/#Email If you wish to forward your Clemson email to your Tri-County email address, go to www.clemson.edu/email_forwarding. Bridge Student Identification Card The TigerOne card is a Clemson University identity tool as well as your official student ID card. It is the property of Clemson University. The card should be in your possession at all times and presented upon request to any Clemson, TriCounty and/or Bridge official. The TigerOne card is non-transferable and may not be altered in any way. The TigerOne card is more than just an ID card. The card is used in a variety of ways including as a personal TigerStripe declining balance card, for meal plan access, for Fike Recreation Center access, for Library access, for Academic Success Center access, and for sporting events access. Clemson Meal Plans/Tigerstripe As a Bridge student, you have the option to participate in a meal plan at Tri-County or at Clemson. Tri-County offers a MondayFriday meal plan for breakfast and lunch. Clemson Home offers several meal plan options in the residential dining halls and Paw Points that can be used at other on-campus dining locations. The recommended meal plan for Bridge students who wish to purchase a meal plan is the commuter plan. This plan allows you to eat a specified number of meals each week during the semester at Clemson House, Harcombe and/or Schilletter Dining Halls. If you wish to purchase a meal plan, you must go in person to the TigerOne Card office in 111 Hendrix Student Center at Clemson to open a meal plan account. If you have questions about Clemson Home’s meal plan options, please visit www.clemson.edu/housing-dining. You also have the option to open a TigerStripe account. Any funds you deposit in your TigerStripe account will be loaded on to your TigerOne card. Your TigerOne card then functions as a personal debit card at the Tri-County Campus Store and 26 College Café, Clemson, and local-area participating businesses and restaurants. For additional information about how to open a TigerStripe account and where TigerStripe is accepted, read the “Meal Plans/Tiger Stripe” section on www.clemson. edu/campus-life/campus-services/tigerone/. TRANSITIONING FROM TRI-COUNTY TO CLEMSON Review of Bridge Students’ Tri County Transcripts and Conduct Records At the conclusion of the spring semester and each summer session, the Clemson transfer admission staff reviews each Bridge student’s Tri-County transcript to determine eligibility for admission to Clemson. Additionally, because Clemson is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all members of the Clemson community, the conduct record of all incoming freshmen and transfer students, including Bridge students, is reviewed to determine whether or not the student is in compliance with Clemson’s community standards. The application of a Bridge student who was found responsible for significant violations of Tri-County, Bridge Program, and/or Clemson policies, as well as any local, state or federal laws during the Bridge year is subject to further review. The student’s conduct record is used in the review process to make a determination regarding the student’s admission status. Meeting Bridge Standards at the Conclusion of the Spring Semester Bridge students who meet the Bridge academic standards at the conclusion of the spring semester are guaranteed admission to Clemson for the subsequent fall semester. If you meet the Bridge academic standards at the conclusion of the spring semester, you can expect to receive official written notification of your Clemson admission status in mid- to late May. Information about registering for a Clemson orientation session is included in the acceptance letter sent by Clemson to admitted students. Not Meeting Bridge Academic Standards at the Conclusion of the Spring Semester Students who do not meet the Bridge academic standards at the conclusion of the spring semester can remain eligible for admission to Clemson for the subsequent fall semester by enrolling in summer school courses at Tri-County. If you meet the Bridge academic standards by the conclusion of Tri-County’s final summer school session, you are guaranteed admission to Clemson for the fall semester and are not required to reapply for admission to Clemson. In order to register for Tri-County summer school courses, you must first meet with your Tri-County advisor during the spring semester advising and registration period. Summer school advising and registration dates can be found on the TriCounty academic calendar at www.tctc.edu/Content/Student_Life_and_Services/Student_Records/Academic_Calendar.xml. If you require summer school housing, housing is available at Clemson during most Tri-County summer sessions. Living in Clemson summer housing allows students to take advantage of helpful Clemson resources including the Cooper Library, the Academic Success Center and the CAT bus. Students wishing to reside at Highpointe during the summer should work directly with Highpointe property management to determine if a unit is available for the summer and to sign a new lease for the summer. Please note that your academic-year lease with Highpointe terminates at the conclusion of the spring semester. Bridge students who are eligible for admission to Clemson at the conclusion any Tri-County summer session are notified in writing. A letter is sent to the mailing address or email address provided on the student’s Clemson admission application. The letter also contains information about registering for one of the required Clemson transfer orientation sessions held in June, July and August. A student cannot register for orientation until after he/she is officially admitted to Clemson. If you meet the Bridge academic standards at the conclusion of Tri-County’s MayTerm, you can attend one of the Clemson transfer orientation sessions held in late June or in July. If you meet the Bridge academic standards at the conclusion of any other Tri-County summer session, you can attend the Clemson transfer orientation session held in June, July or August (depending on when you meet the Bridge academic standards). 27 Not Meeting Bridge Academic Standards at the Conclusion of Summer School Students who do not meet the Bridge academic standards at the conclusion of the final summer school session may apply for transfer admission to Clemson for a future term of enrollment beginning with the spring semester following the Bridge year. If you do not meet the Bridge academic requirements by the conclusion of Tri-County’s final summer session, please contact the Clemson admission office for more information about applying for transfer admission for the spring 2017 semester. Your Intended Clemson Academic Program Students who meet the Bridge academic standards are admitted to Clemson in the academic program 1) as recorded on their Clemson Bridge invitation letter or 2) in to which they changed during their Bridge year. If, after being admitted to Clemson, you wish to change your academic program, you may request a change by 1) visiting the Admissions help desk during the transfer orientation session you attend or 2) by sending your request in writing to cuadmissions@clemson.edu. If you wish to change your academic program after you begin enrollment at Clemson in August, you must request a change of academic program with the appropriate department. It is important to note that the opportunity to change into one of the limited enrollment academic programs cannot be guaranteed to any Clemson and/or Bridge student. Transferring AP/IB and Dual Enrollment Credits To Clemson The Clemson admission office coordinates the process of transferring college-level credit for all admitted Clemson students, including Bridge students. If you wish to transfer any AP, IB and/or dual-enrollment credits you earned prior to your Bridge year to Clemson, you must arrange to have your AP or IB score reports and/or an official transcript sent directly to the Clemson admission office. After the admission office reviews your records, all transferrable credits get posted to your Clemson student record. Registering for Fall Semester Courses at Clemson In order to register for Clemson courses, you must first be officially admitted to Clemson. Furthermore, new students register for fall semester courses during a Clemson orientation session. Every admitted student is required to attend a Clemson orientation session. At orientation, students meet with a Clemson advisor and register for fall semester courses. Therefore, you must do the following to register for Clemson courses: 1) meet the Bridge academic and conduct standards; 2) be officially admitted to Clemson; 3) register for a Clemson orientation session; and 4) attend a Clemson orientation session. To register for a Clemson orientation session, you must be admitted to Clemson. Registration for Clemson On-Campus Housing for Sophomore Year In the spring semester, via email messages and student interest meetings, Bridge students are notified about the Clemson on-campus housing application process. If you are interested in living in Clemson on-campus housing for your sophomore year, you are strongly encouraged to attend one of the interest meetings. For more information about Clemson Home, please visit clemson.edu/housing-dining. Registration for Summer Courses at Clemson (Applicable only for Bridge students admitted to Clemson) Each year, a small percentage of Bridge students request to enroll in summer school at Clemson. If you meet the Bridge academic standards by the conclusion of the spring semester, you may enroll in Clemson summer school courses (excluding Maymester) after you are officially admitted to Clemson. If you wish to enroll in summer school at Clemson, please contact a Bridge Program staff member or call the Clemson admission office at 864-656-2287 at the conclusion of the spring semester to request that your Clemson entry term be changed from fall to summer. Information about registering for Clemson summer school courses is sent electronically to students during the spring semester. 28 Registration for Summer Courses at Another College or University (Applicable only for Bridge students admitted to Clemson) The Clemson transfer credit award process begins with you requesting that an official transcript from the institution you attended be sent to the Clemson Admissions Office, 105 Sikes Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634. Once the transcript is received by the Clemson admission office, your course work is reviewed. Only course work completed with a grade of C or better is evaluated for transfer to Clemson. Any course work you complete at another institution that is determined to be transferable is posted to your Clemson student record after you enroll at Clemson. Withdrawal from Tri-County and/or Bridge We hope that you and every other Bridge student succeeds during your Bridge year. Unfortunately, circumstances – such as illness, making unwise decisions, or a change in career goals – may require a student to withdraw from Bridge and/or Tri-County. If you need to withdraw from Tri-County, please meet with Tri-County’s Bridge Coordinator of Academic Support to initiate your withdrawal process. Students who withdraw from the Bridge Program at any time during the academic year (fall, spring or summer) are not eligible to reapply for transfer admission to Clemson for the fall semester immediately following the Bridge year but may apply for transfer admission to Clemson for a future term of enrollment beginning with the spring semester following the Bridge year. Please Ask for Help This handbook is intended to familiarize you with the expectations and policies applicable to you and with the services available to you as a Bridge student. Remember to use the Tri-County and Clemson catalogs and all of the other resources available to you as a TriCounty and Bridge student. If you have any questions about Bridge or about Tri-County or Clemson, in general, please ask. If you have a question and don’t know who to ask, the contact information listed below is a good place to start. Bridge staff are here to help. Contact information can be found on the inside front cover of this handbook. CALENDAR If you are admitted to Clemson after the conclusion of the spring semester, you may attend summer school at another college or university. It is your responsibility to confirm that any course(s) you wish to complete at another college or university will transfer to Clemson. Please review the Clemson Transfer Course Equivalency List (TCEL) to ensure the transferability of any course(s) in which you plan to enroll. The TCEL can be accessed at virtual.clemson.edu/groups/ tcel/. Students wishing to enroll in summer school at another college or university should contact a Bridge staff member at Clemson. Some colleges and universities require documentation from Clemson that course work completed in the summer will transfer Clemson. See a Bridge staff member at Clemson for any required documentation. 29 June 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 1 2 3 7 8 9 10 14 15 16 17 21 22 23 24 28 29 30 USE USECOLLEGE COLLEGERESOURCES: RESOURCES: Notes THURSDAY 4 FRIDAY 5 SATURDAY 6 11 12 13 18 19 20 25 26 27 Checkout outthe theLibrary, Library, Open OpenComputer ComputerLabs, Labs,Tutoring TutoringCenter Centerand and Check more. Educational Educational&&academic academicresources resourcesare arehere herefor foryou! you! more. July 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 1 Redfern Immunization Forms Deadline 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 22 26 27 28 29 Make connections with other BE ON TIME FOR CLASS: students in your classes. Notes THURSDAY 2 FRIDAY 3 SATURDAY 4 9 10 11 16 17 18 23 24 25 30 31 During the first week or two of classes, get to know at least one new person in Walking in late means you’ve missed important each of your classes. This technique expands your networkinformation, of friends — plus itand distracts both the instructor and your classmates. contacts are important if you do have to miss a class. August 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 2 3 4 5 9 10 11 12 16 17 Opening Meeting (1-4pm) TCTC Classes Begin @Bridge Student Success Center CU Welcome Week Events Bridge Convocation @ 4:30 pm Tillman Hall President’s Picnic @ 5pm President’s House 18 CU Welcome Week Events 19 CU Welcome Week Events 23 24 25 26 30 31 DON’T BE GO TO CLASS: INTIMIDATED BY COLLEGE: Notes THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 6 7 8 13 Bridge Residential Life Move-In 14 Bridge Residential Life Move-In 15 Bridge Residential Life Move-In Welcome Event @ Highpointe 20 BLC Pancake Breakfast & Moonlight Bingo 21 CU Welcome Week Events 22 CU Welcome Week Events CU Welcome Week Events 27 28 29 The bureaucracy of higher education be overwhelming, but Class attendance really does can correlate with your staff and facultyAttend are here toregularly help. Ask your & let us assist. grade. andquestions pay attention. September 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 1 2 6 7 Labor Day - TCTC Closed 8 9 13 CU Family Weekend 14 15 16 20 21 22 23 27 28 MANADATORY Bridge Meetings 29 MANADATORY Bridge Meetings 30 MANADATORY Bridge Meetings Make withCLASS: other BE ONconnections TIME FOR students in your classes. Notes THURSDAY 3 FRIDAY 4 Clemson First Friday Parade SATURDAY 5 FB vs. Wofford 10 11 CU Family Weekend 12 CU Family Weekend FB vs. Appalachian State 17 FB @ Louisville 18 19 24 25 26 Upcoming Events: • Student Organization Fair • Major Exploration Events • Bridge Leadership Council During the first week or two of classes, get to know at least one new person in Walking in late means you’ve missed important information, each of your classes. This technique expands your network of friends — plus itand distracts both the instructor and your classmates. contacts are important if you do have to miss a class. (BLC) Elections • Bridge Residential Life Inspections • Aspire Workshops October 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 4 5 TCTC Spring 2016 Advising Begins 6 7 11 12 Fall Break - CU & TCTC Closed 13 Fall Break - CU & TCTC Closed 14 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 28 Meet Your Instructors Notes THURSDAY FRIDAY 1 MANADATORY Bridge Meetings 2 MANADATORY Bridge Meetings SATURDAY 3 FB vs. Notre Dame 8 9 10 FB vs. Georgia Tech 15 16 TCTC Spring 2016 Registration Begins 17 FB vs. Boston College (Homecoming) CU Tigerama 22 23 24 FB @ Miami 29 30 31 FB @ NC State Upcoming Events: • Student Success & Involvement Panel • Bridge Residential Life Inspections Take Takeadvantage advantageof ofscheduled scheduledoffice officehours. hours. • TCTC Spring 2016 Advising & Registration • Aspire Workshops November 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 1 2 3 4 8 9 10 11 15 16 17 18 22 23 24 Last Day of Classes 25 No TCTC Classes 29 30 No TCTC Classes Get Get Involved Involved on on Campus Campus Notes THURSDAY 5 FRIDAY 6 SATURDAY 7 FB vs. FSU 12 13 14 FB @ Syracuse 19 Thanks-for-Giving Dinner 20 21 FB vs. Wake Forest 26 Thanksgiving TCTC & CU Closed 27 TCTC & CU Closed 28 FB @ USC Consider Consider joining joining aa club club or or organization organization to to make make new new friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected. friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected. December 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 1 TCTC Exams 2 TCTC Exams 6 7 TCTC Exams 8 Bridge Residential Life Closed (noon) 9 13 14 15 16 20 21 CU Closed 22 CU Closed 23 CU Closed 27 28 TCTC Closed 29 TCTC Closed 30 TCTC Closed Get Organized! Notes THURSDAY 3 TCTC Exams FRIDAY 4 TCTC Exams SATURDAY 5 10 11 12 17 18 19 24 CU & TCTC Closed 25 CU & TCTC Closed 26 31 TCTC Closed Refer Referoften oftentotoyour yourclass classsyllabus, syllabus,use useyour yourplanner, planner, and andkeep keeptrack trackofofassignments assignmentsand anddue duedates. dates. Upcoming Events: • Winter Break Inspections January 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 3 4 5 6 10 Bridge Residential Community Opens (2 pm) 11 TCTC Classes Begins 12 13 17 18 MLK Day 19 20 26 27 TCTC Closed 24 25 31 GO TO CLASS: DO YOUR WORK: Notes THURSDAY FRIDAY 1 CU & TCTC Closed SATURDAY 2 7 8 9 14 15 16 21 22 23 28 29 30 Class attendance really does correlate with your Do your homework and assignments and turn grade. Attend regularly and pay attention. them in on time. Avoid getting behind. Upcoming Events: • CU in Year 2 February 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 1 2 3 7 8 9 10 14 15 16 17 21 22 23 24 28 29 Participate Participate in in Class Class Discussions: Discussions: Notes THURSDAY 4 FRIDAY 5 SATURDAY 6 11 12 13 18 19 20 25 26 27 Upcoming Events: • Transitions Student Panel Answer questions. Ask questions. Speak up! Answer questions. Ask questions. Speak up! • TCTC Summer/Fall 2016 Advising • Bridge Residential Life Inspections March 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 1 MANDATORY Bridge Meetings 2 MANDATORY Bridge Meetings 6 7 8 9 13 Bridge Residential Community Closed 14 Bridge Residential Community Closed 15 Bridge Residential Community Closed 16 Bridge Residential Community Closed TCTC & CU Spring Break TCTC & CU Spring Break TCTC & CU Spring Break 20 Bridge Residential Community Opens (2pm) 21 22 23 27 28 29 30 CONTRIBUTE TO GROUP WORK: Notes THURSDAY 3 MANDATORY Bridge Meetings FRIDAY 4 MANDATORY Bridge Meetings SATURDAY 5 10 11 Bridge Residential Community Closes (5pm) 12 Bridge Residential Community Closed 17 Bridge Residential Community Closed 18 Bridge Residential Community Closed TCTC & CU Spring Break TCTC & CU Spring Break 19 Bridge Residential Community Closed 24 25 26 31 Upcoming Events: • TCTC Summer/Fall 2016 If If you’re you’re assigned assigned to to aa team team for for aa collaborative collaborative project, project, do your part. Contribute to the success of your do your part. Contribute to the success of your team! team! Registration • Spring Break Inspections • “All In” Event April 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 3 4 5 6 MANDATORY Bridge Residential MANDATORY Bridge Residential MANDATORY Bridge Residential Life Closing Meeting Life Closing Meeting Life Closing Meeting 10 11 12 13 17 18 19 20 24 25 26 Last Day of TCTC Classes 27 TCTC Exams DO YOUR WORK: Notes THURSDAY FRIDAY 1 SATURDAY 2 7 8 9 MANDATORY Bridge Residential MANDATORY Bridge Residential Life Closing Meeting Life Closing Meeting 14 15 16 21 22 23 28 TCTC Exams 29 TCTC Exams 30 Do Doyour yourhomework homeworkand andassignments assignmentsand andturn turn them themin inon ontime. time.Avoid Avoidgetting gettingbehind. behind. Upcoming Events: • Spring Fest May 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 1 2 TCTC Exams 3 TCTC Exams 4 Bridge Residential Life Community Closed (5pm) 8 9 10 11 15 16 17 18 22 23 24 25 29 30 31 DON’T BE INTIMIDATED DO YOUR WORK: BY COLLEGE: Notes THURSDAY 5 FRIDAY 6 SATURDAY 7 12 13 14 19 20 21 26 27 28 The bureaucracy of higher education can be overwhelming, Do your homework and assignments and turnbut staff and faculty heretime. to help. Ask your questions & let us assist. themare in on Avoid getting behind. June 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 1 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 22 26 27 28 29 ASKASK FOR FOR HELP:HELP: Notes THURSDAY 2 FRIDAY 3 SATURDAY 4 9 10 11 16 17 18 23 24 25 30 Talk Talkwith withyour yourinstructors instructorsduring during posted postedoffice officehours hoursearly earlyin inthe the semester semesterto toobtain obtainguidance guidanceon onextra extrahelp helpyou youmight mightneed. need. July 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 3 4 5 6 10 11 12 13 17 18 19 20 24 25 26 27 31 Get ASKOrganized! FOR HELP: Notes THURSDAY FRIDAY 1 SATURDAY 2 7 8 9 14 15 16 21 22 23 28 29 30 ofteninstructors to your class syllabus, your planner, TalkRefer with your during posteduse office hours early in the and keep trackguidance of assignments and due dates.need. semester to obtain on extra help you might Visit the Campus Store in the Student Center on the Pendleton Campus for a great selection in textbooks, tablets, apparel, and supplies. We are committed to providing the best selection of college gear at an exceptional value! Campus Store information is also located on the eTC Get Set tab, #7. Follow Us on Facebook! Enjoy exclusive offers and discounts on textbooks, e-books, tablets, laptops, and more! Get informed about special dates and offers! Buy local! Stay connected! Phone: 864-646-1824 REMEMBER: you can use remaining financial aid funds 10 days prior to the first day of classes. 58 Obtain Financial Aid Applying for Financial Aid As a general rule, everyone who applies for admission to the College should apply for financial aid. Financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply early and if additional documentation is required, provide it in a timely fashion. • Obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov if you’ve never filled out the FAFSA previously or if you no longer have your PIN. • If your parent’s information is required on your FAFSA, both you and your parent must obtain a PIN to electronically sign forms. • Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) PRIOR TO EACH ACADEMIC YEAR. Log on to www.fafsa.gov to get started. Tri-County’s school code is 004926. Tracking Your Financial Aid The College’s Financial Aid Office uses TCTC email and eTC, a secure web-based portal, for all official TCTC communications, information, and resources. Use the “My Dashboard” tab on eTC to: • view Financial Aid Requirements - red flags indicate ourstanding documents • follow financial aid processing without calling Financial Aid or coming to campus • print, complete, and submit documents to the Financial Aid Office nnccee,, ssisista s ta a id s a a l id ia a c l n a ia n c IfIfyyoouunneeeeddfifinan OOfffficicee:: AAid l id ia c l n a ia c in n F a e in the F ccoonnta taccttth rrHHaallll115500,, le il M le , il s u M p , s m u a p C tonn Cam leto PPeennddle @@tctctctc.e.edduu.. aaid n id fi , 0 n 5 fi , 6 0 -1 5 6 6 4 -1 6 886644--646 • view your Student Bill & Schedule • pay close attention to deadlines posted on website Keeping Your Financial Aid Financial aid programs have requirements you’ll need to meet in order to keep the aid you receive. Your money can be taken away. Don’t let this happen to you. Follow these guidelines and always contact us if you aren’t sure of where you stand. • Keep your grades up and stay on course. To achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), according to Federal Guidelines, ALL three (3) requirements must be met to remain in good standing. ✦✦ Grade Point Average (GPA): Students are required to maintain an institutional GPA of 2.0. ✦✦ Completion Rate: Students are required to maintain a 67% cumulative completion rate. ✦✦ Maximum Attempted Hours: Students are required to complete their degree/diploma/certificate within 150% of the required hours for their program of study. Example: a student enrolled in a 60 credit hour program is eligible until 90 credit hours are attempted (60 x 1.5 = 90). • Talk with Career Services early in your educational journey to ensure you are pursuing the program that’s best for you. • Complete your courses. Withdrawing from courses will likely result in you owing money back to the College or the Department of Education. If you have an emergency that requires you to withdraw from a course, contact an expert in financial aid FIRST to determine the impact on your financial aid. Recipients of Pell grants, SEOG grants, Stafford loans, and others, who withdraw from classes before completing 60% of the term, who stop attending all classes, or who fail to pass any of their classes may be federally obligated to pay back these funds. • If you’re struggling, seek help early. The College offers free tutoring services; access to free, confidential counseling through REACH; and other services to help you succeed. Understanding the Long-Term Impact of Financial Aid If you have any plans to buy a home, purchase a car, make online purchases or even travel, you’ll need access to credit. Managing your credit effectively is one of the most important things you can do as you move forward in life. Your credit score is a complicated formula, but it basically lets lenders know your credit worthiness. Credit scores range from 300-850; higher scores can lead to a lender letting you borrow 59 larger amounts at better interest rates. The best way to achieve a high credit score is to pay your bills, including student loan payments, promptly. Consistent payments on installment loans quickly establish a track record of good credit. Negative information, such as late payments, can impact your ability to make large purchases (home, car) or even get a job. Most negative information stays on your credit report for seven years. Check your credit report regularly to ensure it is accurate. Federal Student Aid To apply for federal student aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov. Pell Grant - based on financial need. To qualify, you must be deemed eligible by the U.S. Department of Education. Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) - supplements certain Pell Grant recipients. To receive priority consideration, complete all application requirements by the April 1st priority deadline. Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) - On- and off-campus part-time employment in jobs related to the student’s course of study. FWS provides valuable job experience and the ‘soft skills’ employers look for when hiring. Most programs of study offer day and evening classes, so our students may work while attending college. Student Loans - designed to supplement other forms of financial assistance. Benefits include deferred and income-based repayment. Loans are awarded within US Department of Education limits. Grants, Scholarships, and FWS are awarded before student loans. Parent Loans (PLUS) - available to parents for dependent students’ educational expenses . The parent is the borrower and responsible for repayment (credit check required). Loans are awarded within US Department of Education limits. Grants, Scholarships, and FWS are awarded before parent loans. Student and Plus Loans require students to maintain SAP standards. SC Student Assistance Programs To apply for SC student assistance, first complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov. South Carolina Need-Based Grant - designed to supplement Pell Grant for SC’s neediest students who meet all SC-established criteria. First come, first served. South Carolina Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA) - Most residents of South Carolina who are enrolled for 6 credit hours or more are eligible for LTA amounts that may pay a little more than half of tuition. LTA eligibility does not require financial need. SC Scholarship Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence Scholarship (LIFE) - may pay as much as $5,000 per academic year toward the cost of tuition, fees, and books to eligible students. The scholarship is available for fall and spring semesters. Eligibility requirements are available online at www.che.sc.gov. Private Student Assistance Grant and scholarship aid is available from a multitude of private sources, including corporations, foundations, unions, trade associations, businesses, churches, synagogues, civic clubs, and community groups. Eligibility is determined by the donors. Ask your high school guidance department, local library, newspaper, and the personnel office of your employer or your parents’ employer. Good search engines for private sources are www.fastweb.com, nerdwallet.com, collegeresourcenetwork.com. TCTC’s Career Services Office provides information and referrals for non-Federal Work-Study part-time jobs, both on and off campus. Alternative student loans are available from private lenders. TCTC does not recommend or endorse lenders. 60 Learn eTC Your eTC Password If you are having any trouble logging into eTC, please contact the TCTC Service Desk at 864-646-1779 or servicedesk@tctc.edu. Navigating eTC 1.Many computers across campus use the eTC login page as their home page. If you’re accessing eTC through a personal computer, simply visit http://etc.tctc.edu . 2.Once logged in, you’re directed to the welcome screen. Take note of the e-mail icon beside the red arrow. This directs you to your TCTC e-mail account, which you will need to use to correspond with your teachers and other faculty. 3.Under the Message Center tab, you will find a calendar of upcoming events taking place at the college. In addition, the directories feature allows you to search for instructor and student e-mail addresses. 61 4.The My Dashboard tab is the best place to track your financial aid status. The “Personal Info” box displays your information as the college has it on record and shows your T-number. This tab also has information about your transcripts, billing, and class schedule. 5.The Get Ready tab provides information on the COMPASS test and has a link to the online SmarterMeasure assessment. 6.The Get Set tab provides resources to prepare for your upcoming semester at Tri-County. Here you will find links for class registration, financial aid, Degree Works, Business Office (paying online), and the Campus Store . 7.The Get Connected tab provides you with connections to academic resources and student life. Here, you can access Starfish, which is used to make appointments with services around campus like the Tutoring Center, Disability Services, and Career Services. 62 8.The Learn tab provides a portal to Blackboard, which is used in most of your classes for things like turning in assignments and communications with the instructor. This tab provides links to the Tutoring Center, academic advising, and the library homepage. Check your attendance by clicking the “My Attendance Records” link. 9.The last tab on the eTC page is Succeed! This tab provides information about your final grades and transferring, as well as tools like Degree Works and Career Coach. o t o g , n i g o l To u d e . c t c t . C T e http:// WITH THESE TIPS, YOU’RE WELL ON YOUR WAY TO NAVIGATING ETC! 63 Get Advised Your Role As you get ready to meet with your advisor, be prepared to talk through the factors that could affect your schedule. Allowing time to study and take care of yourself are equally essential to student success. For example, keep in mind travel time between work, school, and home; time to care for family members; time for homework and study groups; and other outside factors. By thinking through your various time commitments, you and your advisor will be able to plan a schedule that sets you on the path to success. • Be able to clarify your personal values, abilities, interests, and goals. • Be an active learner by participating fully in the advising process. • Ask questions if you don’t understand an issue or have a concern. • Follow through with the actions identified in each advising session. • Accept personal responsibility for all decisions. TCTC Roles While you’re at Tri-County, you’ll benefit from faculty advisors. Here’s what you can expect: • Advises you on the courses you need to complete your established educational plan, after your initial semester at TCTC • Assists with any updates you need to make in your educational plan • Serves as a mentor in your division as you work toward your goals • Discusses educational transactions, such as adding/dropping courses and making course substitutions • Assists with your next steps, such as transferring or job placement • Works with your student success coach as part of your overall success team 64 Change Your Class Schedule Drop 1. Click on the eTC Get Set tab, #4 Register for Classes, Drop or Withdraw from Class link. 2. Select the Drop Course option on the pull down menu for the course you wish to drop and select Submit Changes. Withdraw 1. Click on the eTC Get Set tab, #4 Register for Classes, Drop or Withdraw from Class link. 2. Select the Student Withdrawal option on the pull-down menu for the course from which you wish to withdraw and select Submit Changes. NOTE: If withdrawing from all courses, a “Withdrawal from College” form must be completed and signed by a Financial Aid Counselor and submitted to Student Records for processing. REMEMBER: Drop periods are the first 5 instructional days of a 14-week semester. Drop periods are prorated for terms of varying lengths. Withdraw periods occur after the end of the drop period until the 60% completion date of the session for which the class is offered. Courses that are dropped do not appear on your academic transcript but withdrawn classes receive grades of “W.” Grades of “W” are not used in GPA calculations but may impact your financial aid status. Check the academic calendar for the exact drop and withdrawal dates. 65 Register for Classes Select Your Courses During your advising appointment, your academic advisor will recommend courses for the next semester. Once you meet with your advisor, you will be able to build your class schedule using Course Scheduler. When selecting your schedule, make sure to carefully consider all of your personal obligations, such as work, family, and travel time. 1. Go to the eTC Get Set tab, #4 Register for Classes, Course Scheduler link. 2. Select your preferred campus. 3. If needed, update Course Status, Term, and Parts of Term by selecting the drop-down arrow. 4. Select the courses you want to take by clicking on the “Add Classes” button. 5. Option: Click on the “Add Break” button to indicate times that you do not want to take classes. 6. Click “Generate Schedules” to view available scheduling options: 1. Week at a glance: mouse over the magnifying glass. 2. Compare schedules: check multiple boxes and click “Compare.” 3. Detailed schedule information: click “View.” Register for Classes: 1. O nce you have reviewed your scheduling options using Course Scheduler (see above section for instructions), select “View” next to the schedule you want. Then click “Send to Cart” (top middle of the page) and click “OK” if “Message from webpage” displays. 2. If the registration period has already started for the next term, click “Register” when the Schedule Planner Registration Cart displays. If the registration period has not yet started, your preferred schedule will be saved in your registration cart. As soon as the registration periods begins, go to the eTC Get Set tab, #4 Register for Classes, and click on the Course Scheduler Registration Cart link. Select the term and then click “Register.” 3. After registering for classes, go to the eTC My Dashboard tab and click on the Bill & Schedule red button to check your class schedule and billing statement for the next term. t procedures s li it a w & n io rmat istration info g e r l a 4 Register n # io it : d b a t Ad t e S t the eTC Ge n o d e t a F) link. If c D lo (P s n are io t c u str ase egistration In R , s e s s la ssistance, ple a C d e for e n u o y nd h. rrors occur a e n io t success coac a r t t n is e g d u re t s r o isor r cademic adv a r u o y Campus Mille t n o c t a t le n d n co e P : ords du. Student Rec t c a t n o c , r O istrar@tctc.e g e r , 0 0 6 1 64-646Hall 190, 8 66 Pay Your Tuition Payment Options • Avoid the lines and pay online on the eTC Get Set tab #6. • Pay in person at the cashier’s office on the Anderson, Easley, or Pendleton Campuses. At the Pendleton Campus, the cashier’s office is open Monday -Friday and is located in Miller Hall 171. The Easley Campus office is open Tuesday and Wednesday. The Anderson Campus office is open on Monday and Thursday. • Pay by mail by sending to TCTC Business Office, PO Box 587, Pendleton, SC 29670. • Pay using your Visa, Discover, MasterCard, or American Express by calling 646-1802, 260-6701, 220-8895, or toll-free within the 864 area code at 866-269-5677, Ext. 1802. • Pay using the flexible Automatic Payment Plan option ✦✦ Enroll online on the eTC Get Set tab #6 ✦✦ $25 enrollment fee per semester ✦✦ Monthly payments come from your credit card or debit card on the 5th of the month; biweekly payments come from your credit card or debit card on the 5th and the 20th of the month No interest Understand Refund Procedure Refund Information If you are owed a refund from the College from overpayment or other circumstances, it will be handled through Higher One, a third party processor. You must select your refund preference in order for a refund to generate or process. Failure to choose a refund preference or update your student address on your student account will result in a delay of processing the student refund. Refund preferences include: Open and use a Higher One checking account and TCTC Access card. Benefits include: • Higher One’s flagship account, designed to be used for free (if used as a credit transaction) • Fully functioning FDIC-Insured Checking Account • No minimum balance requirements, no monthly fees • Swipe & Sign (use as a credit transaction only) • Withdraw cash from Higher One ATMs – one available at the Pendleton Campus and one at the Easley Campus • Fee schedules available within one click on TCTC Access Card web site. • Money available in two to three business days during the college’s schedule refund timeline Have your refund deposited into your existing bank account. • Provide your bank information to Higher One • Print and sign the form • Mail or fax form to Higher One • Money available in two to three business days during the college’s schedule refund timeline. Receive a paper check in the mail. • Paper check mailed via US Mail from Higher One • Money in five to seven business days during the college’s scheduled refund timeline You can check the status of your refund online at www.TCTCAccessCard.com. 67 Get Your Student ID and Parking Decal Student ID Cards • TCTC ID cards are mandatory and required for checking out books in the library, using computer labs, and using financial aid in the Campus Store. • You must provide a photo ID and current class schedule to obtain a Student ID. • Student IDs are available through the Campus Store year round on the Pendleton Campus and at the Campus Safety Offices on the Anderson and Easley Campuses. • The initial card is free of charge. Replacement cards are $5 each. Parking Decals • Parking decals are mandatory and required for students, faculty, and staff who drive to any TCTC campus. • Parking decals are $30 (you may register up to 2 vehicles). Pay on eTC Get Set tab #6 or at the Campus Store. • You will need to provide: »» A valid driver’s license or TCTC student ID »» Copy of vehicle registration »» Current student schedule »» Paid receipt for decal fee • Your decal is to be displayed according to the directions provided by Campus Safety. • All parking decals expire at the end of the Summer term. New decal renewals begin in August of each year. • If you must temporarily drive a different vehicle, you can write on a piece of paper “Borrowed Car” and include your decal number. Place the paper on your dashboard in a visible location. 68 Park on Campus Parking Zones Visitor Parking Visitor parking may not be used by students or college employees. Student Parking Students may park in any spaces marked with white lines (unless marked for special parking). Employee Parking Employees use spaces marked with green lines or areas posted with signs indicating Faculty/Staff parking only. Handicap Parking • Handicap parking is strictly enforced. Persons parking in these zones should display appropriate state-issued tags or placards. • Under special circumstances you may obtain a temporary handicap parking permit, which will be valid for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days. These will only be given to students, faculty, and staff who provide Campus Safety with documentation from a physician or medical facility. Parking & Traffic Violations • Traffic violation tickets will be issued for any violation of the traffic laws of South Carolina and violations of TCTC’s traffic regulations. • Students who fail to pay traffic citations will not be allowed to register for classes, obtain a transcript of grades, or receive a diploma. Parking and traffic citations may be appealed by submitting a Ticket Appeals Request to the Director of Campus Safety within seven (7) days of the citation date. Vehicle Security • Although we continuously watch for suspicious activities, we cannot always be certain such activities will be observed. Please do not leave valuables in sight. TCTC does not guarantee the safety of parked motor vehicles or their contents and is not responsible for the loss or damage to any parked vehicle or its contents. • The Campus Safety staff is here for your benefit and safety. • Services provided by Campus Safety include: »» Jump starting your vehicle if your car will not start. »» Unlocking your vehicle if you lock yourself out. COUNT RI- T • Due to liability and safety issues we DO NOT change tires or perform vehicle repairs. COLLE AL »» Transporting you to gas station if your car is out of gas. ECHNIC YT GE »» Escorting you to your vehicle at night if necessary. 69 Learning Communities What are learning communities? 105 learning L O C a in s of student Almost 83% es the next ss la c g in k a t ts ntinued 3% of studen community co 6 n a h t ss le pared to ity. semester com arning commun le 5 0 1 L O aC not enrolled in ked learning n li a in s t n e of stud r in Almost 75% f C or highe o e d a r g a d rne compared to community ea s e ss la c d e pt attem in a learning ALL of their d e ll o r n e t o n students only 63% of community. Learning communities are courses that provide you with a community environment made up of your peers. Learning communities increase your ability to accomplish your academic and personal goals, along with providing you with a network to form friendships that can help you adjust to the College environment academically and socially. Why should I enroll in a learning community? College is completely different from high school. A learning community can give you a "leg up" on becoming part of the College community and knowing the difference between College customs and rules and high school customs and rules. Also, you will learn skills, habits, and attitudes that are necessary tools to succeed at TCTC and in life. You will have a community of friends learning alongside you. And, last but not least, it's fun! What TOOLS will you need to build a successful college career? SmarterMeasure: Learn more about yourself by identifying strengths and weaknesses - on the Get Ready tab in eTC Degree Works: Track your progress toward the completion of your degree - on the Get Set tab in eTC. Starfish: Connect with your advisor, success coach, instructors, and tutors to track your success - in Blackboard or on the Get Connected tab in eTC. Questions? Contact Lou Ann Martin at lmartin4@tctc.edu or 646-1372. 70 Use APPs Overview of Blackboard Blackboard is the system used to access online courses and supplemental materials for some face-to-face classes. How-to videos Login Area Blackboard can be accessed in several ways: 1.Direct access: http://bb.tctc.edu (This is the preferred method of access.) Service Desk Contct Info Blackboard Maintenance Schedule and Announcements 2.From the eTC login page (an alternative method) 3.From the Learn tab within eTC When you access Blackboard, the first page you will see is the login page: Once you successfully log in, you will see a page similar to this: Things to remember: • Your log in credentials (user name and password) are the same as for eTC. • The Blackboard system requires maintenance during the semester, and a schedule of maintenance dates is available through a link on the login page. Blackboard may not be available during some maintenance periods. Clicking on a course name will take you into the course. Each course may be laid out differently but there is always a navigation menu on the left, with selected content on the right. • If you have problems using Blackboard, contact the Service Desk by phone (864-646-1779) or by email (servicedesk@tctc. edu) or by submitting a ticket on the eTC Get Connected tab under My Services. • Video tutorials on how to use Blackboard are available here: http://ondemand.blackboard. com/students.htm • Final grades are not available in Blackboard but are under the View Grades sections on the eTC Learn and Succeed! tabs. 71 Use APPs MyLabsPlus Many math instructors use MyLabsPlus as part of their courses. There are numerous valuable resources available in MLP to help you learn. For instance, you will find the electronic version of your text, videos and animations that you can view, sample homework problems to practice, as well as online assistance with how to work these problems. It is a great tool to aid in your learning. Go to your school’s Blackboard site and log in with your username and password. DegreeWorks How can you stay on track toward completing your degree if you can’t see where you’re going? Degree Works, our degree audit system, will help show you the way! By referring to your Degree Works account regularly, you will be able to monitor your progress, identify requirements you still need to meet, and find courses you still need to complete. You and/or your advisor can also create a plan for you to follow. Links to Degree Works can be found on the Get Set and Succeed! tabs in eTC. Starfish Starfish is designed to help you connect to resources at TCTC. It is also an early alert system that your instructors may use to caution you about academic concerns in your classes. Through Starfish, you can make appointments with instructors, your faculty advisor, your success coach, the Tutoring Center, and any other service or individual with posted office hours. You can get to your Starfish account by clicking on the Login to Starfish button on the Get Connected tab or by using the link in Blackboard. Career Coach Many students choose a major and make plans for future employment without actually knowing very much about the local job opportunities in the profession they are choosing. Career Coach is a tool that help you investigate job availability in the upstate, identify skills related to those jobs, and develop realistic wage expectations. Career Coach is located on the eTC Succeed! tab. 72 CAREER COACH TCTC Programs | Salary Info | Jobs Outlook Investigate College Resources Career Services - Miller Hall Tutoring Center - Student Center • Personalized career planning, goal setting, and job-search strategies • Personal one-on-one help from qualified tutors • Seminars and workshops on interviewing, résumé writing, and other employability skills • Assistance with writing assignments in all subject areas • Excellent career information resources • Local job listings for part-time and full-time work • Free tutoring in math and science courses • Supplemental materials (CDs, textbooks, calculators, software, etc.) • Co-op placements • Resource materials available on MLA and APA formats, grammar, lab reports, etc. • Information on local and regional employers • Assistance with graphing calculators • Available during regular College hours on the Pendleton Campus, Miller Hall 140. Call 864-646-1577 to check for Anderson and Easley Campus availability. • Pendleton: Visit SC 109, 646-1367, tutoringcenter@tctc.edu Anderson: Call 260-6700 · Easley: Call 220-8888 Library - Ruby Hicks • Online or individual training on how to use the library • Ability to research your assignments on campus or online • Access to millions of resources (print, electronic) through interlibrary loans Student Records - Miller Hall • Experienced staff to assist with registration, drop/add, and withdrawals • Enrollment verifications, transcript requests, transfer credit, and grades • Confidentiality of records (FERPA) • Expert research librarians • Assistance with online services in eTC • Study rooms • Graduation • Magazines and other fun stuff to read • Pendleton Campus, Miller Hall, Room 190, 646-1600 registrar@tctc.edu • Must have student ID to check out materials • Online at http://library.tctc.edu • Pendleton: Ruby Hicks Library and Administration Building, 646-1750; Anderson Campus: 260-6700; Easley Campus: 220-8888 Open Computer Labs - See Below • Staff assistance available when labs are open • Assistive technology available in many subjects Disability Services - Student Center • Pendleton Campus: Pickens Hall 140 and Fulp Hall 301, Monday –Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. & Friday 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. • Intake services (by appointment) • Anderson Campus 130, Monday – Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. & Friday 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. • Evaluation of documentation • Provision of academic accommodations • Academic counseling, self-advocacy • Easley Campus 122, Monday – Thursday 8 am. – 6 p.m. & Friday 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. • Assistive technology and training • Service Desk available to assist (646-1779 or servicedesk@tctc.edu) • You must schedule an appointment to connect with Disability Services. Call 646-1564. • Labs are closed during breaks and holidays. 73 Student Life & Counseling Services at TCTC Contact Student Life and Counseling Services for assistance with: *Motivational Counseling *Academic Suspension Counseling *Assistance with Financial Aid Appeals/ Satisfactory Academic Progress Counseling *Assistance to Address a Personal Issue or Concern that Impacts Your Academics *Student Organizations *Student Activities *Assistance with Goal-Setting/Personal Plans *Student Government *Community Agency Resources and Referrals *Printed resources and information (emergency assistance, food, shelter, rent assistance, etc.) To make an appointment, call 646-646-1569 or 646-1605 or come by the Pendleton Campus Student Center, Suite 155. REACH Student Assistance Program We offer a free, confidential, 24/7 professional counseling service to Tri-County students to help you manage: •personal concerns •depression •spiritual counseling •emotional issues •demands of daily & family obligations •anxiety •and more! •academic stress •grief & loss counseling •anger issues Twenty-four hour access to live support is available by phone e-mail, SMS text, or eSessionCONNECTSM technology, which allows instant access to online counseling. Resources are available on one website. Log on with the College’s username and password, and navigate through articles, links, interactive content, self searches, self-assessments and more. TOLL-FREE: 1-855-691-4941 WEBSITE: http://reachworklifepowerflexweb.com 74 USER NAME: REACH-TCTC PASSWORD: Student The College Café is located in the Student Center on the Pendleton Campus. You’ll find great food at a reasonable price and a comfortable atmosphere in which to enjoy it all. The Café is a convenient place to gather with friends, take study breaks, and relax and unwind. Vending machines are available on Anderson and Easley campuses. You can use your financial aid to purchase a meal plan if you sign up within the first three weeks of each semester. Or, you may purchase meal plans with check, cash, or credit card any time during the semester. A minimum of $75 is required to sign up for the College Café Meal Plan. Please note that meal plan purchases are nonrefundable. 75 Get Connected Student Government Association The Officers of the Student Government Association (SGA) welcome you to Tri-County Technical College and encourage you to make SGA a part of your College experience. • SGA is the voice of the student in College decision making. • SGA sponsors FREE events and coordinates community service projects throughout the year. • Every student is automatically a member. • Meetings and activities are posted on eTC (Message Center and Get Connected tabs), as well as on campus bulletin boards, Facebook, and Twitter. • Located on the Pendleton Campus, Student Center, Room 140 • Available by phone at 646-1307 or by e-mail at sga@tctc.edu Student Organizations Whether you want to meet new people, expand your horizons, or just have a little fun, TCTC offers something for everyone. Check out the details on the eTC Get Connected tab. Multicultural Services Cultural activities to enrich your campus experience through music, food, and friends. Events are free and are open to all. • Multicultural Events, such as “Get Connected,” “Fall Bash,” and “Showcase Your Talent” are generally held during the Activity Period on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:20-2:20 p.m., but some are held off campus and during evening hours. Refer to the College Activities Calendar and the eTC Get Connected tab for more information. 76 Develop Study Strategies CRAM NOT: LEARN TO SAY NO: Cramming does not work. It commits information to your short-term memory. Balance your social time with your study time. Time-Management STUDY IN STAGES: Study, but not more than two hours at a time. Take a break to let your mind think about other things. Upon returning to studying, take a couple of minutes to mentally review what you’ve just covered before heading to the next topic. PRIORITIZE: List what you need to study each day. Prioritize and set time aside for the studying you need to do, and stick to your plan. ome More S y d u t S & y Study, Stud ACE: D A STUDY SP ORING REALIZE TUT IC: IF CAN BE TERR FIN ds. and cushy be Avoid chairs o a chair r n the edge of o it S ur nd to keep yo n as you u o ro so a s a lk y, a rl w a n e e ev Get help d. academically. le gg ru st ind stimulate to m n r begi te n e C s a Tutoring The College ha CLEAR YOUR to help you! : STUDY SPACE as the ur study area h o y LISTEN TO re su e B USIC: lers, etc., you’ll SOOTHING M aper, pencils, ru ep the area p but ke usic in the need to study, Play soothing m ance your of clutter. enh neat and clear background to concentration. 77 Learn Academic Terms Academic Standing: Warning – students previously in Good Standing who fall below the minimum institutional 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement will be placed on Warning for the next term of enrollment. Students who achieve 2.0 institutional GPAs at the end of the Warning term are placed back in Good Standing. Probation – Students on Warning Standing for the preceding semester and whose institutional GPAs do not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement will be placed on Probation for the next term of enrollment. Students who achieve 2.0 institutional GPAs at the end of Probation term are placed back in Good Standing. Suspension – Students whose institutional GPAs do not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement at the end of the probation term will be placed on Suspension and will not be permitted to register for the following academic term. Catalog – publication that provides information on all Tri-County policies and procedures, campus resources, program requirements, and course descriptions. The catalog is available online on the eTC Get Set tab, #3. Co-requisite – course that must be taken at the same time as another course. Credit – each course is worth 1-5 credits (most are 3). The amount of credit is based on the number of hours you spend in class and/ or lab each week for the course. Drop & Add Period – students interested in changing their schedules after classes have started may do so online via eTC. Students may add classes during the first three instructional days and may drop classes during the first five instructional days of a 14-week semester. Students who wish to change sections of the same course or move from certain upper and lower English or math courses will be allowed to do so throughout the drop period. Add and drop periods are prorated for terms of varying lengths. Pre-requisite – course that must be taken before another course. SAP – Satisfactory Academic Progress is a Financial Aid term that applies to the minimum standards that students must meet: (1) 2.0 cumulative GPA, (2) 67% completion rate of attempted courses, and (3) degree completion within 150% of the credits required for the degree. Syllabus – Outline or summary of policies and expectations for a course. May include a schedule of test dates or important due dates, the course grading policy, the professor’s contact information, and a summary of course topics. Serves as a contract between student and professor. Term – Portion of an academic year during which classes are held. The College’s academic year is divided into 3 terms: fall semester, spring semester, and summer term. Term calendars are located on the eTC Message Center tab. Withdrawn (W) – A student may withdraw from a course with a grade of “W” after the drop/add period but prior to the completion of 60% of the session for which the class is offered. A grade of “W” is not used in GPA calculations, earns no credit, and generates no grade points. 78 79 80