Student Conduct
Vermont Technical College students have a strong sense of educational purpose, cooperative spirit, and a willingness to live comfortably within the college community without losing their sense of individuality. Still, there are many adjustments that students must make to pursue a college education successfully and, at times, students need guidance in making decisions about college, their personal lives, or their overall objectives.
To help students with such decisions, the college faculty and staff stand ready to offer assistance, ranging from friendly advice to consideration of more serious problems. In some cases, we rely on community resources to augment existing campus services.
Guidelines and regulations on student conduct are published in the Student Handbook. These exist to aid students in making the transition to college life and to outline some of the characteristics a student needs to fit comfortably into campus life. These regulations are subject to change by the posting of notices on campus bulletin boards and the college web site.
All students are expected to exhibit satisfactory conduct at all times and the college reserves the right to take action, up to and including dismissal, against students whose behavior violates college regulations. In all instances of disciplinary action, the college is committed to providing the student an opportunity for due process. As an institution of higher education, the college expects its students to follow behavioral standards above those of the population in general.
In support of this concept, Vermont Technical College believes that gaining maturity is a fundamental ingredient of education and that self-reliance and self-discipline are two qualities the college tries to instill in its students.
Residential Living Mission Statement
The members of the Residential Living staff strive to promote student development on a comprehensive scale through programming, and are dedicated to encouraging students to take pride in themselves and the pursuit of a positive college experience. These staff members assist students to assume responsibility for their actions and choices.
Hall directors and resident assistants support students as they prepare themselves for future challenges by helping them to understand their limitations and to know their potential through the exploration of personal, academic, and vocational interests. Students are guided as they develop personal integrity and respect for others through an examination of individual values and goals with relation to today's changing society.
Residence Hall Occupancy
It is a condition of enrollment at Vermont Technical College that all full-time students who are not living in the immediate area (30 mile radius) of the college with their immediate families live in college housing for the first two years of enrollment. Exceptions may be made by the Director of Student Life based upon consideration of an individual's special case. In all cases of exception, written application for permission to live off campus should be made to the Director of Student Life. The written application should contain full reasons for the request and must be accompanied by documentation to support that request. The burden for providing documentation rests with the student. Application for release does not imply automatic permission to reside off campus. Students are advised not to sign contracts or leases on non-college housing until they have been formally notified of their release from the requirement.
Dining Hall
It is a condition of admission to Vermont Technical College that students living in residence halls on campus purchase a meal plan.
Students who do not live on campus are welcome to purchase a meal plan. They may also pay at the door of the dining hall for individual meals or may purchase one of three commuter meal plans at the food service office.
Care of College Property
The college provides a well-equipped and well-maintained educational plant for use by the students enrolled in its courses. The plant is an expensive one, and the students are expected to be as careful of it as is humanly possible. Students will be required to pay for property which is damaged through their negligence or carelessness. In the event of damage caused by a group, charges will be apportioned among members of the group. Vermont Technical College students are responsible for on-campus damage caused by their guests.
Student Automobiles
Students living on or off the Randolph Center campus are permitted to have one motor vehicle on campus, and all motor vehicles must be registered at the campus Public Safety Office within two business days of their arrival on campus. Public Safety will issue a parking permit for a nominal charge.
Rules for operation and parking of motor vehicles on campus are printed in the Student Handbook and must be observed.
All students must advise the college of any change of state registration number, change of motor vehicle, or change of insurance coverage. The local residential address of the student must also be provided. We also advise that a local or cell phone number be provided so that the owner can be notified in cases where lights are left on or there is an accident.
Regulations for the Williston campus and all nursing sites are available through the site directors at those sites.
Student Health
Students attending Vermont Technical College must maintain personal health insurance coverage. Proof of such coverage must be furnished prior to registration. In cases where a student is not covered under his/her own or family's policy, s/he will be required to purchase the basic health policy offered through the college.
The Randolph Center campus maintains an on-campus Health Center where a nurse practitioner is on campus two mornings during the week for consultation, referrals, and seeing students who may be ill.
In case of accidents, injury, or serious illness, students may be admitted to the Gifford Medical Center in Randolph at the request of one of the area doctors. In such cases, the student's insurance company pays for the expense incurred within the limits of the policy.
The college employs a part-time drug and alcohol counselor who is available to assist students with concerns related to substance abuse. Students can receive help with stress, relationship problems, homesickness, adjustment issues, substance use and abuse, and referral to outside agencies.
Vermont Tech maintains a close relationship with local community mental health agencies for emergency services and consultation. Community mental health services are available to provide counseling services for students in crisis and on a referral basis.
All students, regardless of age, are required to have a completed medical history form on file in the Health Center, including an up-to-date immunization record (as required by state law) and either a chest X-ray or PPD skin test for tuberculosis. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of registration. Prior to initial registration, students will receive the required medical history form from the Admissions Office.
The college reserves the right to exclude from classes and/or campus activities, or send home any student who, in the judgment of college authorities, is not medically qualified to carry on the regular duties required of Vermont Technical College students. Students returning to the college from medical leave must present a statement from the appropriate professional clinician that they are able to return to continue their studies and, if necessary, provide evidence that appropriate arrangements for follow-up treatment have been made.
The college also believes that physical activity is an integral component of student health and encourages students to use available facilities for fitness-related activities.
The college has exerted and will continue to exert every effort to avoid accidents, but incorporates the following statements as part of the understanding between itself and its students:
"The Vermont State Colleges, its officers, agents, and employees, assume no liability, expressed or implied, for the results of sickness or accidents involving personal injury to any student, whether in connection with the college instruction program wherever conducted, or incidents or other activities on the college properties or elsewhere. Filing of an application carries with it approval and consent with respect to the college policy governing accidents or illness as herein set forth."
Athletics and SHAPE
The Vermont Technical College Department of Athletics, located in the Student Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) building, maintains a variety of varsity sports programs.
At the national level, Vermont Tech competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). At the regional level, the college competes in the Sunrise Conference (NAIA) and Yankee Small College Conference (USCAA). It is a requirement for participation in intercollegiate sports that a student maintain an acceptable level of academic performance. This standard is set forth in college Policy 311 and is available on the Blackboard portal.
Intercollegiate sports are: men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's volleyball, men's baseball, and co-ed intercollegiate competition in golf and cross country. Intramural and club sports compete in soccer, flag football, hockey, basketball, volleyball, softball, bowling, and tennis, although these vary from year to year depending on student interest.
Student Government and Activities
The Student Council supports a variety of clubs, including the student radio station, WVTC-FM.
Student chapters of professional organizations include the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Instrumentation Society of America, American Society of Civil Engineers, National Association of Veterinary Technology of America, and the American Institute of Architects. Additionally, clubs are also available related to varied student interests such as: music, computers, gaming, and alternative energy.
The Director of Student Life, in conjunction with the Campus Activities Team, is responsible for campus-wide programs. In addition, there are a variety of off-campus trips, such as professional sporting events or holiday shopping in Boston or Montreal or night skiing at Bolton Valley or Stowe. Tickets are also made available to concerts and other cultural events. The Director serves as a resource person to all student organizations and their advisors. S/he is able to assist organizations to function more effectively.
Emergency Loans
A student who needs money for a short-term emergency may borrow up to $100. Loans must be repaid within 30 days or, in any case, prior to the student's terminating Vermont Technical College enrollment. A service fee is charged for these loans. Applications are available from the Dean of the College on the Randolph Center campus or from the Site Director.