Meeting & Agendas

Decisions/Actions: Mervin Jones motioned to approve minutes, the initial motion was made by Emily Olson, seconded by Jo Ann followed by Angela Smith and all Committee approved.

Emily: Need to review the proposed Academic Integrity & Disciplinary Procedures AR. The language needs to be consistent across different ARs. A subcommittee will continue to review the existing work and make changes and recommendations as needed. LMC: Will forward an email to Emily in reference to student withdrawals. This is to help the AR committee.

Mervin: Looking for input on the topic Angela: Expresses her views on the topic and understands that there are currently no major consequences for such violations. LMC: Sees more dishonesty in dual credit students. Mervin: Agrees with Angela and LMC. There is a need to be a bit more structured in our approach towards dishonest students. Jo Ann: Honor code can be a good thing. Basically, there should be consequences for dishonesty. Eileen: Students should input in creating an Honor Code policy. Mervin: An Honor Code will help prepare students for their future. Eileen: Asks what is the difference between Honor Code and Student Conduct Code? Mervin: Defines the differences. Jonathan: Informed the committee of Texas State University’s honor code. And he provided the links in reference to their honor code policies: Texas State and UT Austin universities Honor Code - http://mycatalog.txstate.edu/graduate/academic-grading-policies/honor-code/, https://provost.utexas.edu/initiatives/new-honor-code-updated-2023/

Mervin: ACC does not have a dress code? Dr. Tate: Brings forward an example at RRC campus how inappropriately dressed students can be disruptive for a class. Mervin: Agrees with Dr. Tate on the disruptiveness of inappropriate dress. Eileen: Some departments have uniforms. The safety of students should be considered. She shared the link for Harper college: https://www.harpercollege.edu/catalog/handbook/policies/academic/student_dress.php#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20formal%20dress,be%20worn%20in%20the%20buildings . Any student whose dress disrupts the educational process may be subject to the Student Code of Conduct and asked to leave campus in the interim. Mervin: Agrees with Eileen on uniforms. Uniforms can be suggested through the handbook. Dr. Tamez: Questions implementation due to it being a violation of freedom of expression. Unless the dress code is through the program guidelines, ACC should not address this matter. Jo Ann: Other Community Colleges have dress code guidelines. For the safety of our students we should consider implementing a dress code. Their Policy & Procedure Statements are written well with examples. I think we should bring this forth for more discussions. The number of crimes at ACC are rising. Mervin: In general there can be disruptiveness for improper dress. We will research. Safety is a big concern. Emily: Bring a dress code in through other departments. Emily shared FY 2024 “SHARED GOVERNANCE MEETING SCHEDULE” link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13zIaLNu3E3FeeOqiNKmYkzAKTrVbnQHd/view, also shared the link for “FACULTY DEVELOPMENT & EVALUATION COMMITTEE”: https://infohub.austincc.edu/shared-governance/shared-governance-councils-committees/academic-student-affairs-council/faculty-development-evaluation-committee/

Mervin: Students would like to evaluate their faculty members prior to course withdrawals. Dr. Tate: Informs committee about the course evaluations available on blackboard. LMC: We need to bring other parties into this discussion. ACC is trying to address these concerns and is coming up with new questions on the new evaluations. Angela: Few students do the evaluations since the evaluation has gone to electronic. Eileen: Faculty should ask students to do the evaluations. Email being a method for response. Susan: committee formed for evaluation already. Students should be coached through evaluation. I like the idea of the Honor Code, to remind students that being a good citizen is a responsibility they personally carry. Mervin: Are there any questions on this topic or on any other topics? Dr. Tate: The Code of conduct has a section that states the accused has the right to know the name of the accuser. For safety reasons, is this a good idea? Should our committee revise the code of conduct policy about revealing the name of the accuser? Patty: References to a case in which the name of the accuser has to be given. Patty provided in the text: Dixon v. Alabama (1961) [Due Process is Real]. Alabama State College expelled nine black students for participating in a civil rights demonstration at the Montgomery County Courthouse. They sat at a lunch counter and were refused service. The students sued based on a violation of the due process rights. ► Plaintiffs attended the 2010 ASCA Conference. ► 5th circuit said that due process requires notice and some opportunity for hearing before a student at a tax-supported school is expelled ► 1. Given notice with specific charges ► 2. Given names of witnesses and a statement of their testimony ► 3. A chance to respond to allegations with witnesses ► 4. A report with the results and findings should be given to the student ► 5. Students at private institutions have a contractual relationship w/school. Students at a public institution are protected by the due process clause.

Thank everyone for their participation and time.

Meeting Adjourned: 12:10 pm

Next Meeting Date: May 10, 2024

Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Location: Zoom