Upon registration at Raritan Valley Community College, all students become members of the College community with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that go with such membership. The student is expected to make satisfactory educational progress, to respect the rights of others, and to know and follow the policies and regulations developed by the College community for the good of the total membership.
Student Code of Conduct
One of the core values of Raritan Valley Community College is an environment of mutual respect, responsibility and collaboration. The Code of Student Conduct is written to identify expectations of behavior for all members of the community. The Code rules apply to all RVCC students regardless of matriculation status or location, whether on College-owned or controlled property or at a College-sponsored or supervised function.
Upon admission to Raritan Valley Community College, a student assumes responsibility for becoming familiar with and abiding by the general rules of academic and social conduct described in the Student Handbook. Violation of any of these may lead to a failing grade for an assignment or course, disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, and/or other appropriate authorized penalties.
College Hours
The College designates two hours each week as College hours for College community activities and events: Tuesday and Thursday, 12-1:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to use this free time to participate in extracurricular activities, which include student government meetings, club meetings, intramural sports, College committees, and other College-sponsored functions.
Organizations
Student Government
The Raritan Valley Community College Student Association (RVCCSA) represents all students. It serves as the voice of the student body and has a serious responsibility to the students and College at-large, particularly in the area of communication. The organization is governed by elected student officers and representatives based on criteria established in its constitution.
The student government is also involved in the process of distributing student activity funds to student clubs. These clubs and organizations prepare budgets to fund a variety of student activities, such as concerts, films, publications, dances, seminars, trips and community service programs.
Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is a prestigious international honor society for community college students. Its membership is made up of RVCC students who have completed 12 credits with at least a 3.50 G.P.A., who are interested in community involvement, academic achievement and social activities.
“The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa shall be to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students. To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa shall provide opportunity for the development of leadership and service, for an intellectual climate for exchange of ideas and ideals, for lively fellowship for scholars, and for stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence.”
Student Life
The classroom experience is only one segment of the available education at Raritan Valley Community College. The cultural, recreational and governmental activities and functions at the College are equally important. By sharing in these activities, students have the opportunity to develop many personal and career skills.
Student activities at Raritan Valley Community College develop according to student interest. While the selection, planning and administration of these activities depends on the interest, time, organization, and effort of the students, assistance is provided by the Office of Student Life & Civic Engagement. Groups of students interested in forming a student organization should consult with the Student Life Office located in the College Center, in Room C206.
Clubs
Clubs and organizations are encouraged and supported by the College in offering opportunities for community outreach and service. Examples include annual career development programs for minority high school students; hosting well-known guest speakers on campus; and sponsoring food and clothing drives for disaster victims. Clubs and organizations are encouraged to work collaboratively with each other in sponsoring programs.
Alliance - provides an opportunity for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students to express ideas, voice opinions and exchange information.
Alpha Beta Gamma® - recognizes and encourages scholarship among business, computer science and communications majors at two-year colleges. The society is a member of The Association of College Honor Societies and has initiated 65,500 members. Alpha Beta Gamma® is an International Business Honor Society that was established in 1970. The Delta Omicron chapter was chartered at RVCC in 2006.
Business Club - explores modern business practices.
Campus Crusade for Christ - includes Bible study, discussion, prayer, fellowship, and community outreach.
Club Unity - encourages campus-wide appreciation of African Americans, their contributions and history.
Education Club - promotes teaching as a profession.
Game Developers Club - seeks to promote friendly competition in video, card and board games. Through the club, gamers can make new friends with similar interests, try a variety of new games, and learn more about the gaming world.
International Club - encourages campus-wide appreciation of students of diverse cultural backgrounds, their contributions and history.
Orgullo Latino/Latin Pride Club - provides campus-wide awareness and appreciation of Hispanic Americans, their contributions and history. Provides outreach programs to encourage Hispanic high school students in our local communities to seek post-secondary education.
Paralegal Club - fosters interest in a paralegal career and seeks to provide educational and skill-building opportunities for its members.
Performing Artists Club - promotes greater understanding of the performing arts and organizes cultural and social activities related to performing arts issues and themes. Students meet to discuss common interests, concerns, networking and other valuable information.
Raritan Environmental Action League (R.E.A.L.) - raises awareness about environmental issues on campus and in our communities, and actively works to make them better places to live and work. Current projects include an organic garden; campus greening and sustainability; EcoWeek, which features an eco-buffet, fair-trade fashion show and vendor market fair, campus clean-ups, beach sweep and other events during the week of Earth Day; as well as films, speakers, and other events throughout the school year.
The Record, the student newspaper - when available, provides members of the College community with news pertaining to the College. Members participate in all aspects of newspaper production.
Rotaract Club - fosters leadership and responsible citizenship, encourages high ethical standards in business, and promotes international understanding and peace. The RVCC Rotaract club is affiliated with The Rotary International, an international service organization for men and women ages 18- 30.
Social Justice Club - raises awareness about contemporary issues of social justice on the international, national, and local level. The goal of the club is to encourage discussion and dialogue about issues.
Student Nurses Association - encourages interest in nursing as a career and seeks to provide educational and skill-building opportunities for its members.
Athletics
Raritan Valley Community College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (Region XIX) and the Garden State Athletic Conference. The College is presently engaged in varsity competition in golf, baseball, basketball, softball and soccer.
Raritan Valley Community College has been represented at the state and national levels in many sports, enabling students to compete for athletic scholarships at four-year colleges and universities.
Raritan Valley Community College presently offers athletic scholarships to athletes who participate in NJCAA Division II programs, including Women’s Basketball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Softball and Men’s Baseball.
Students are also encouraged to use the fitness lab, pool, track and gymnasium during their leisure time. Athletic facilities are free to students with a valid ID card.
In an effort to promote athletics among youth, the College sponsors a variety of summer athletic camps.
To contact athletics, email rvccathletics@raritanval.edu, call (908) 218-8868 or fax (908) 575-9458.
Services
College Center
The College Center provides members of the College community with a place to relax, socialize, hold meetings or study. Lounge areas and meeting rooms are dispersed throughout the building. The Center includes the dining hall, the Bookstore, Game Room, the Student Enrollment Center, Transfer and Career Services, the Corporate and Continuing Education offices, Finance and Student Activities. Special areas include an atrium, an outdoor amphitheater and offices of student organizations.
Bookstore
The Golden Lion Bookstore is located on the lower level of the College Center. The store sells new and used textbooks, study aids, computer supplies, clothing, assorted gift items, greeting cards, snacks and magazines. The bookstore can also be found online at http://bookstore.raritanval.edu. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and personal checks are accepted.
Textbook Refund Policy
- A sales receipt is required for all refunds and exchanges.
- Returns are accepted within five working days of the date on the receipt.
- Refunds will be given for the first 10 days of the semester if a class has been dropped (Drop/Add form required) and the receipt is dated within one month of the start of the current semester. Standard policy in effect thereafter.
- Exchanges will be granted until the 10th day of the semester with a recent receipt.
- If a book has been written in, contains highlighting or is damaged in any way, only a 75% refund will be given.
- Shrink-wrapped packages must be returned with all materials that came in the package. No refund will be given for packages missing items.
- Software included in textbooks must not have been loaded and must have original seal. Internet codes must not have been used and must have original seal.
- Refunds will be made in the same form of tender as the purchase: cash for cash (if cash is not available, as is common before 10:30 a.m., a choice will be given between check refund or a refund to credit card), credit cards to credit card account, check purchase by check issued from the Finance Office within 10 days of the refund.
Textbook Buybacks
The Golden Lion Bookstore has six scheduled textbook buybacks during the year in February, May, July, August, October and December during final exams. Dates and times are posted in the bookstore, around the campus and on the bookstore’s website.
Parking
All students are responsible for knowing Raritan Valley Community College’s vehicle and parking regulations. See College Map for student parking locations.
Parking on the Raritan Valley Community College campus is at the owner’s risk. The College has no responsibility for injury or property damage sustained on its premises.
Parking and driving anywhere on the RVCC campus is a privilege and not a right. The presence of a vehicle on campus is an agreement by the driver to abide by these regulations. The driver acknowledges that RVCC is in no way liable for personal injury, property damage, or loss of parts or contents of her/his vehicle.
Vehicles must park within designated parking spaces only. Do not park in roadways, on lawns, grass medians, in unauthorized areas, loading areas, overnight (12 a.m. to 6 a.m.), curbside, in yellow stripped areas, crosswalks, designated visitors lot or any other area that is deemed by the College as inappropriate. Vehicles in these locations are deemed to be illegally parked and are subject to towing. Towing and any storage charges will be at the owner’s expense. Transportation is not provided to retrieve towed vehicles. Students dropping off or picking up papers, personal items, etc., are required to park in designated student parking areas, not the Visitors Lot.
Parking next to a vehicle which straddles a dividing line does not justify the second vehicle’s violation. Lack of an available parking space in an approved parking area is not a valid excuse for parking in any unauthorized locations.
Adhere to posted speed limits. The speed limit on campus roadways is 25 miles per hour. Within parking lots, the speed limit is 15 miles per hour. Drivers must yield to all pedestrians in crosswalks and should remain aware of pedestrians walking in parking lots. Drivers must adhere to any temporary parking or vehicular traffic regulations established by the College.
Under New Jersey law, a person with a disability may obtain either a special license plate or vehicle parking placard that provides special parking privileges. To park in a designated handicapped parking area on campus, your vehicle must display handicap license plates or the parking placard. Temporary parking placards can be issued by a Police Department to a person who has temporarily lost mobility, as certified by a physician. Parking placards must be displayed in full view.
Food Services
Hot meals, fast food, snacks and vending machine services are provided on the upper level of the College Center in the dining hall. Service is offered Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m to 6:30 p.m. and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., when classes are in session. Vending machine services are available throughout the campus.
A snack bar featuring nationally branded coffee is available on the ground floor of Somerset Hall by the Mannheimer Welcome Center. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Children’s Campus
The Children’s Campus is open 12 months a year, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Located near Parking Lot #4, the Center accepts children age 3 months through age 5 years. After-kindergarten care is also available. Priority for registration is given first to RVCC students and employees. Children from the surrounding communities are accepted on a space available basis once the priority registration period for each semester has been concluded. Drop-in care is available as space permits to regularly enrolled children.
The Center offers a stimulating learning experience for young children. Curriculum is designed to provide even the youngest babies with a stimulating and nurturing atmosphere.
For more information, call 908-231-8807 or visit www.raritanval.edu.
Housing and Transportation
Housing and transportation are not provided by the College.
Identification Cards
All students are required to have a valid Raritan Valley Community College Identification Card with them at all times and present it to a College official when requested. The card is used for identification in various College facilities and for many services, as well as student activities. The ID’s can be obtained and validated at the Student Life Office and the Library. The schedule of times is posted in the Student Life Center, or students may call the Center for additional information at (908) 218-8873. The student ID card has a bar-code affixed. This barcode is a necessity for use of the College library and the public libraries in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties. RVCC athletic facilities are available to students with a valid ID card depending on availability. The Theatre at RVCC offers discounted tickets to students with a valid ID card.
Mannheimer Welcome Center
The Mannheimer Welcome Center provides information and gives directions. Other areas for current information are bulletin boards, video display screens, the RVCC website, College publications, and The Record.
Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
An Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is available on campus by the Mannheimer Welcome Center.
Safety and Health Regulations
Raritan Valley Community College cooperates with all local regulatory and enforcement agencies. A prompt and safe evacuation is required when a fire alarm is sounded. When an alarm sounds all occupants must evacuate immediately. Do not assume an alarm is false. All occupants must evacuate to designated evacuation areas along the exterior of the campus. Do not evacuate to the interior courtyard area of the campus. Once an evacuation occurs, do not reenter a building until approved by a Fire or College official.
RVCC is a smoke-free campus. Smoking is prohibited on campus, except in parking lots located 50 feet or more from a building. Fines will be imposed for those who violate the smoke-free policy. Subsequent offenses may also result in disciplinary action.
Animals are not permitted on College property with the exception of animals used by individuals with physical impairments that require their assistance. A service or guide dog trainer, while engaged in the actual process and activities of service dogs or guide dogs, shall have the same rights and privileges with respect to access to public facilities and the same responsibilities as are applicable to a person with a disability (Civil Rights Title 10:5-29.3).
Emergency Notification
Raritan Valley Community College utilizes the Blackboard Connect-ED communication service in order to notify students, faculty and staff about actions to take in the event of inclement weather or an emergency.
The multi-modal emergency notification service enables campus leaders and security professionals to contact students, faculty and staff with time-sensitive information and updates within minutes through phone calls, text messages or e-mail. The system enables RVCC students and personnel to be contacted on campus, en route to campus, at home or at work. Students should sign up for this service through the Lion’s Den Campus Closing tab.
Delayed Openings
If the College announces a delayed opening, all offices and classes will be closed until the announced delayed opening time.
When a delayed opening impacts the start time for a class, if there is at least an hour of instructional time left from the delayed opening time, the class will begin at the delayed opening time and conclude at the regularly scheduled ending time.
If a class is scheduled to start before the delayed opening time and there is less than an hour from the delayed opening time to the regularly scheduled ending time of the class, the class will be canceled.
All other classes will meet at regularly scheduled times after the delayed opening time. |