2023-2024 Surry Community College Catalog 
  
    May 09, 2024  
2023-2024 Surry Community College Catalog

Student Support Services



Academic Assistance

Students whose placement test scores indicate a need for more background preparation and other students who are looking for refresher courses are offered space in developmental studies classes. Academic Assistance enables these students to gain the necessary skills to become successful college students. The Academic Support Center has student tutors and professional staff available for individualized instruction in reading, English, mathematics, and many other subjects.

Academic Support Center

The Academic Support Center (ASC), located on the second floor of the library, offers free tutoring for students enrolled at SCC. The Academic Support Center exists to improve and expand learning through student tutoring. The Center is committed to helping students take command of their learning by thinking through course material.

Students needing a tutor may sign up by contacting the ASC at asc@surry.edu, online at https://library.surry.edu/asc, or by calling 336‑386‑3460. Availabilities may vary depending on times and subject matter. A list of times is available on the ASC website. Students may sign-up for one session or continual help during the semester. Online tutoring sessions are available through Microsoft Teams for distance education students and students at SCC campuses and centers. The Tutor.com link in Moodle course pages provides 24/7 online tutoring for most courses. All sessions are provided free of charge.

Students wishing to become tutors must demonstrate proficiency in the subject area. They must also submit faculty referrals, complete an application and interview process, and pass a transcript review. Upon selection, tutors are given an orientation and are required to attend training sessions. Tutors are compensated for their services.

Computer Resources

Surry Community College has computer labs that are available for use by students in the Learning Resources Center (Library, first floor). The labs are available for computer classes, computer-related classes, and for computer-assisted instruction. Printers, scanners, and fax are available and wireless Internet access is also available for class and research use.

Accessibility Services

The Office of Accessibility Services provides equal access to programs and services and promotes equal opportunities for students with disabilities, through the provision of reasonable accommodations, resources, and services. Accessibility Services is in compliance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students may contact the Director of Accessibility Services at 336‑386‑3443 or brackenl@surry.edu. A comprehensive description of Accessibility Support Services is provided in MyKnightLife under Services>Accessibility Services. Students with hearing difficulties may call 1-800-735‑2962 (TTY) or 1-800-735-8262 (voice).

Request Services

Surry Community College is committed to making the educational opportunities it offers reasonable and accessible to all qualified students with disabilities. Students seeking assistance or accommodations are responsible for making their disability known to the Director of Accessibility Services in the R-Building. Reasonable accommodations are not retroactive and must be requested each semester. If the student hasn’t made a request for services or reasonable accommodations in a timely manner prior to enrollment, SCC cannot assure that all appropriate accommodations can be accomplished prior to the first class.

Self-Advocacy

Students have the opportunity to voluntarily self-identify with the college as having a disability or special need. Students can self-identify to the Office of Accessibility Services located in R-building or contact the Student Services Office.

Note: Identifying yourself as having a disability to an individual professor, school, friend or department other than the Student Services Office IS NOT considered an official notification to the College.

Documentation

Services of a disability or special need are provided based on documentation provided by the student. The student must provide information about a substantial limitation to one or more major life activities, specifically as it applies to meeting the demands of the college life, in and/or out of the classroom. Acceptable documentation of a disability or special need may include Medical report, physician’s statement, psychological evaluation, psycho educational evaluation, or other professional evaluations which verify the need for reasonable accommodations or modifications. The documentation should be current. IEP’s and 504 Plans, although providing historical evidence of services and accommodations, are generally not considered sufficient to make a student eligible for services. Please note that students will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If no current documentation is available, it is the responsibility of the student to have new documentation prepared.

Resources

When possible, SCC will rely on the resources available from community agencies such as the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Services for the Blind and Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and others which provide educational auxiliary aids. The college is not required to, and cannot provide personal attendants, individually prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study, or other devices or services of a personal nature.

Service Animals

Surry Community College seeks to accommodate persons with disabilities who demonstrate the necessity of a service animal. The College is also mindful of the health and safety interests of its general community. The SCC Service Animal Guidelines are aimed at meeting these concerns. Success requires the cooperation of all students, staff and faculty. No animals are allowed in SCC buildings except those defined as Service Animals. For further information, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services at 336‑386‑3443.

Resolution Process for Disability-Related Issues

The College will make every effort to resolve the issue through informal means. The student should report problems in a timely manner and should provide clear, detailed information.

Students who are dissatisfied with accommodations should follow these steps in seeking remedy:

  1. Report the problem to the Director of Accessibility Services, 336‑386‑3443, brackenl@surry.edu.
  2. If the problem is not resolved at the Director’s level, contact the Senior VP for Academic and Student Affairs, 336‑386‑3382, holderc@surry.edu

The Senior VP for Academic and Student Affairs will meet with the Accessibility Services Director and the student in an appeal conference. The VP for Academic and Student Affairs shall determine at his/her sole discretion whether or not any other person(s) are to be present at this conference. Following a review of the evidence as well as information obtained during the conference and through the investigation process, the Senior VP shall issue a written decision within ten (10) business days following completion of the conference.

If the student is dissatisfied with the decision of the Senior VP for Academic and Student Affairs, s/he may appeal to the Office of the President. The appeal request must be made in writing. At the hearing, the appellant may be represented by counsel at his or her expense and present evidence as to why the decision of the Senior Vice President should be reversed or modified. Following a review of the evidence, as well as the information obtained in the investigation process and conclusions derived therefrom, the President shall issue a decision within fourteen (14) business days following the completion of the hearing. The decision of the President shall be final.

Library & Technology Help Desk

The Library, housed on the first floor of the “R” Building, provides print and electronic materials to supplement classroom instruction and support lifelong learning in the Surry Community College service area. The collection includes approximately 30,000 printed books, over 200,000 e-books, 2,400 audiovisual items, and 80 current print magazine and newspaper titles.

The Library web page at https://library.surry.edu contains essential information, citation help, 24/7 chat, and access to the full catalog of books, e-books, newspaper and magazine articles, streaming videos, and more. All current students have access to library materials from on and off-campus. Research assistance and inter-library loan services are available at the Library as well as through e­mail at library@surry.edu or through the 24/7 chat link on the Library website. Instructional sessions in using library services and resources are available for individuals, small groups, or classes. A local history and genealogy research collection is available on the second floor of the Library.

In addition, the Student Technology Center and Help Desk is available in the library and is open for student use of computers, printers, scanners, and wireless internet. Students who need technical assistance may visit the Help Desk during library hours or contact 336‑386‑3434, helpdesk@surry.edu, or through a Microsoft Teams Live Session.

The Library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 pm on Friday when classes are in session. During summer sessions and between semesters the Library operates on a limited schedule. Check the Library website for exceptions to the normal hours. The Library is open to the general public. Local residents 16 years old and up may apply for a library card and receive limited borrowing privileges.

Voter Registration Services

Throughout the academic year, voter registration opportunities will be made available in the “R” building, 2nd floor, Room 224. For additional information, contact the Director of Accessibility Services, 336‑386‑3443, brackenl@surry.edu.

Students’ Role In Decision-Making

The college trustees, administrative staff, and faculty are involved constantly in making decisions which affect students. Because students’ ideas and concerns are highly valued, every effort is made to solicit student input for the decision-making process. Student representatives are found on the Appeals Council, Diversity Council, IAT, and the Board of Trustees. Guidelines for appointment to these groups can be found in the Inter-Club Council/Student Government Association Bylaws.

Student Responsibilities

All programs establish certain academic requirements that must be met before an academic award is granted. Advisors, department chairpersons, and deans are available to help the student understand and arrange to meet these requirements, but the student is responsible for fulfilling them. If at the end of a student’s course of study, the requirements for graduation have not been satisfied, the respective certificate, degree, or diploma will not be granted. For this reason, it is important for each student to acquaint himself or herself with all academic requirements throughout his or her college career and to be responsible for completing all such requirements.

  1. Students are responsible for:
    1. Being aware of and abiding by institutional rules, regulations, and policies;
    2. Maintaining individual honor in their academic pursuits by neither participating in nor condoning acts of academic dishonesty;
    3. Maintaining the standards of academic performance established by each course in which they are enrolled;
    4. Learning the content and demonstrating the competencies of any course of study in which they are enrolled;
    5. Maintaining in each course the standard of classroom conduct deemed by the institution to be conducive to the learning process;
    6. Complying with procedures governing tardiness and absences explained in each course syllabus;
    7. Reviewing periodically their institutional academic record for completeness and accuracy;
    8. Conducting themselves in an appropriate manner while on campus or while functioning as a representative of Surry Community College;
    9. Conducting the business of student clubs and associations in a fair and equitable manner; and
    10. Adhering to and complying with prescribed institutional grievance procedures.

Posthumous Recognition of a Student

When a currently enrolled student dies prior to completing degree requirements, the accomplishments of the student may be recognized posthumously as a gesture of benevolence to the student’s family.

Posthumous Degree - awarded when a deceased student was nearing completion of a degree, diploma, or certificate program.

Requirements:

  • The student was currently enrolled at SCC at the time of death.
  • The student completed at least 75% of the required courses
  • The student was in good academic and financial standing with the College.

A member of the College’s faculty or staff, or a family member of the deceased student may request consideration for posthumous recognition. The request should be made in writing to the Vice President of Student Services. Written permission from the family of the student must be submitted with the request. The request will be evaluated to determine whether the deceased student meets the requirements for a posthumous degree.

Once eligibility is verified, the request will be submitted to the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs for recommendation of approval to the President. At the President’s discretion, a formal request for approval will be presented to the SCC Board of Trustees.

The awarding of a posthumous degree will not be posted on the student’s official transcript. Posthumous recognition will be awarded to the deceased student at a time and place to be determined by the College administration.

Release of Students’ Pictures

SCC uses pictures of college activities and students for public information and advertising purposes. Students who do not want to appear in such photographs should notify the Office of Student Services in writing.