Oct 04, 2024  
2023-24 Academic Catalog 
    
2023-24 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Statements and Disclosures



Statement of Nondiscrimination

Springfield Technical Community College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, national origin, sexual orientation, age, religion, or disability in its educational programs or in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs or activities as required by Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX, Educational Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and regulations promulgated there under 34 C.F.R. Part 100 (Title VI), 34 C.F.R. Part 104 (Section 504) 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX), and M.G.L. c516. All inquiries concerning application of the above should be directed to the Affirmative Action Officer and Title IX Coordinator; or Vannoch Sin, ADA/504 Coordinator at vsin@stcc.edu or 413-755-4667.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Springfield Technical Community College advises applicants, participants, and the public that it does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or treatment in, or employment in its programs, services, and activities.

Any employee or student who believes he/she has been a victim of discrimination due to a disability please contact Kathryn C. Senie, J.D., Ed. D, Director of Compliance, Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator, ADA Coordinator at kcsenie@stcc.edu or 413-755-5642, Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons (B19) room 153.

STCC is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the College will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Kathryn C. Senie, J.D., Ed. D, Director of Compliance, Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator, ADA Coordinator at kcsenie@stcc.edu or 413-755-5642, Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons (B19) room 153.

A student or student applicant seeking a reasonable accommodation for a disability may contact the College’s Disability Services Office. All requests for an accommodation are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Individuals seeking accommodations should be prepared to submit current medical documentation for review in the accommodation process.

A College employee assigned the responsibility for maintaining the College’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Alleged violations of the ADA or Section 504 shall be subject to the Affirmative Action Policy’s Complaint Procedure as administered by the Affirmative Action Officer. Members of the general public or employees who need accommodations, please contact Kathryn C. Senie, J.D., Ed. D, Director of Compliance, Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator, ADA Coordinator at kcsenie@stcc.edu or 413-755-5642, Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons (B19) room 153 at least two weeks in advance.

Student Right to Know Disclosure

Notice is hereby given that all Student Right-to-Know information (Public Law 101-542) and all Equity in Athletics information (Public Law 103-382) are available to current or prospective students from the Office of the Registrar and will be provided upon request.  The College’s Student Right to Know Graduation Rate statement can be found here.

Campus Safety Disclosure

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with the Student Right-to-Know Act (Title II of Public Law 101-542), the Annual Campus Security Report from Springfield Technical Community College is available from the STCC Campus Police Department website at https://www.stcc.edu/campus-life/safety/police/crime-statistics/. To request a hard copy, please contact the STCC Chief of Police at 755-4220.

Policy in Support of Pluralism

Students, faculty, staff and visitors must be free from conduct that has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s academic or professional performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or demeaning educational or employment environment. The College has a policy of unequivocal condemnation of ethnic, religious, cultural, or racial intolerance, whether it is based on the aforementioned, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.

Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. Sexual harassment of a student, an employee, or any other person in the College community is unacceptable, impermissible, and intolerable, not only because it is against the law, but because it is contrary to the mission of the College.

What is Title IX?

Title IX is a federal law that protects students and campus employees from discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities which receive federal financial assistance. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in all College programs and activities, including, but not limited to: student services, academic programs, class assignment, grading, athletics, admissions, recreation, recruiting, financial aid, counseling and guidance, discipline, housing, and employment.

Sexual harassment, sexual violence including dating and domestic violence and stalking are forms of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX and the College Affirmative Action policy. If you are a victim of any one of the above types of misconduct or criminal acts, you have the right to ask the College to investigate and provide prompt relief.

Kathryn C. Senie, J.D., Ed. D

Director of Compliance

Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator

ADA Coordinator

Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons (B19), room 153

413-755-5642

kcsenie@stcc.edu

Community Notification of Where to Access Sex Offender Information

In accordance with federal law, Springfield Technical Community College is required to advise the campus community where information concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. Information concerning Level 2 and Level 3 offenders is available to the general public by contacting the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board, located at PO Box 4547, Salem, MA 01970-4547, (978) 740-6400, or the Springfield Police Department, located on Pearl Street in Springfield. Level 2 and Level 3 offender information is also available online at www.mass.gov/sorb


If you have any questions regarding access to sex offender information, please feel free to contact the STCC Chief of Police, located in Building 9, 755-4220 or 755-4444.

Accreditation

Springfield Technical Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).  (Prior to August 2018, the College was accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.) Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:

New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514
781-425- 7785
E-Mail: info@neche.org

General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) statement

This Data Protection Statement (“policy statement”) provides information about why personal information is being requested from you and how it will be used by Springfield Technical Community College.  This policy statement is provided in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations (“GDPR”) issued by the European Union (“EU”) and effective on May 25, 2018.  The GDPR protects the personal information of EU citizens and residents and provides a single set of rules for international businesses and organizations, including institutions of higher education that process this data.  The GDPR applies exclusively to the processing of “personal information” that is obtained from you while you are physically located in an EU member state, regardless of your nationality or citizenship.  The GDPR does not apply to personal information obtained from you when you are located outside of the EU.     

 

1. What is “personal information?”

“Personal information” means any information which relates to or identifies you as an individual including, but are not limited to, name, email, phone numbers, IP address, photo, and educational, financial, employment-related, and health data.

 

2. What does it mean to “process” personal information?

Processing is any operation performed on personal information, such as collecting, destroying, recording, organizing, storing, altering, or disclosing.

 

3. What personal information will be processed?

The College will process the information you provide when you request additional information from the College and/or submit your admission application together with the supporting documents requested to complete your application.

 

4. What is the purpose and legal basis of the processing?

The College will process your personal information for the purposes of identifying you, processing your request for information or application for admission, verifying the information provided, reaching an admission decision, and communicating that outcome and/or other feedback.  The College may also process your information for the following statutory obligations, contractual necessity and/or public interest purposes:

  • To confirm immigration status;
  • For affirmative action and equal opportunity monitoring;
  • To prevent or detect fraud or other criminal activity;
  • To confirm elementary and secondary education record;
  • To assist in providing reasonable accommodations for a disability;
  • To provide information as required by applicable law; and
  • For research and statistical purposes, but only in a non-identifiable, aggregate format.

Admission decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are not the result of automated decision-making.

 

5. Who will process my personal information?

For the purposes stated above, during the admission process your personal information will be processed by and shared with the following:

  • Admissions Office;
  • Student Financial Services Office;
  • Student Services Office;
  • Registrar’s Office;
  • Disability Services if an accommodation is requested;
  • Institutional Research;
  • Student and Exchange Visitor Program Designated Official;
  • Governmental bodies when required by law;
  • State authorities in order to perform one or more statutory duties; and
  • Third-parties providing specific services to, or on behalf of, the College.

 

The College may subsequently identify other departments or external parties who will process your personal information as you progress through the application process.

 

6. How is my personal information used if I am accepted?

Once you are accepted and begin attending the College your personal information is no longer covered by the GDPR.  As a student at the College, your personal information shall be processed in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”), a U.S. federal law.  To learn about your rights under FERPA, please visit the College website. If your acceptance to the College is for an on-line course or program only, and you remain in an EU member state while participating in the course or program, the GDPR shall continue to apply to the processing of your personal information.

 

7. How can I access my personal information?

You have the right to access the personal information that is held about you by the College.  You also have the right to ask the College to correct any inaccurate personal information it holds about you.  In order to access your personal information, please contact the Registrar’s office at 413-755-4321.

 

8. How long is my personal information kept?

The College shall retain and store personal information in accordance with applicable U.S. state and federal law.  If you are accepted, your personal information will be kept as part of your student record for the duration of your studies and, where applicable, a prescribed period of time thereafter.  If you are unsuccessful, your information will be normally kept for at least 7 years after the completion of the application process.

 

9. Who can I contact if I have any questions?

If you have any questions about this policy statement, the College’s compliance with the GDPR, or the processing of your personal information, please contact the Dean of Students Office at 413-755-4078.

 

10. How do I report a complaint?

If you are not happy with the way your information is being handled, or with the response received from the College, it is recommended that you contact the Dean of Students Office at 413-755-4078 for further assistance.  If the College fails to adequately address your concerns, you also have a right to file a complaint with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education at:

http://www.mass.edu/forstufam/complaints/complaints.asp.

 

11. Policy Statement updates?

This policy statement was issued on May, 2018.  It will be reviewed as necessary and at least annually.  Any changes to the policy will be posted on the College’s website.