General Disclosures

Annual Security Report Information

Berkshire Community College (hereinafter referred to as BCC), in compliance with the requirements of the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 under Public Law 101-542, Title II, and with its philosophy of establishing and maintaining an environment of learning and a supportive climate in which to conduct the business and mission of the college, provides information regarding crime statistics and campus security policies and procedures.

 

The following information:

• Crime awareness and prevention programming
• Crime statistics for BCC property and surrounding areas
• Emergency procedures and policies
• Facilities access
• Mandated public disclosures
• Policy Against Sexual Violence

is published separately in the “Annual Security Report.” This report may be accessed online through our website: www.berkshirecc.edu/safety or you may request a paper copy to be mailed to you by calling the Student Affairs office at 413-236-1602.

Audited Financial Statement

The ,pst current audited financial statements are available at the Public Records section of the BCC website. A copy of the College’s most recent audited financial statement may be obtained for review from the office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance, or the College Business Office.

Campus Crime Disclosures

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 USC 1092(a) and (f)), commonly known as the Clery Act, BCC files with the federal government and publishes an Annual Security Report that includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security and safety matters.

The report is available at www.berkshirecc.edu/clery. A printed copy of the report is available at the offices of Public Safety and Student Affairs. Students may have a copy of the report mailed to them by contacting Public Safety at 413-236-1010.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

It is the policy of Berkshire Community College to acknowledge and abide by all applicable intellectual property laws, including but not limited to federal copyright law, Title 17 of the U.S. Code as amended at http://www.copyright.gov/title17. All individuals employed, enrolled, and/or using the facilities or resources of the College are expected to do the same.

 

Copyright is defined as the exclusive right of an author to reproduce and create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, sell, lend or rent original works of authorship that are fixed in a tangible medium (print, audiovisual, online, and other media) which are not in the Public Domain and are thus protected under United States Copyright Law Title 17 of the U.S. Code.

 

It is the responsibility of all faculty, staff, students and anyone using facilities or resources of the College to read, understand, and follow the BCC Copyright and Intellectual Property Policy. Please go to http://www.berkshirecc.edu/Copyright to read the complete policy, related information, and summary of infringement penalties.

 

Definition of BCC Credit Hour Policy

BCC policy is consistent with the federal definition of the credit hour. That is, one credit hour represents one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out- of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester. An equivalent amount of work is required for one credit of laboratory work, internships, studio work, and the like.

Disclosure of Institutional Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates

Berkshire Community College is pleased to provide the following information regarding the institution’s graduation/completion and transfer-out rates. This information is provided in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The rates reflect the graduation and transfer-out status of students who enrolled during the Fall 2015 semester and for whom 150% of the normal time-to-completion has elapsed.

During the fall semester 2015, 269 first-time, full-time, certificate or degree-seeking undergraduate students entered BCC. After three years (as of August 31, 2018), 19% of these students had graduated from the institution or completed their programs and 23% had transferred to other higher education institutions prior to formal graduation from BCC.

Questions related to this information should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The GDPR is a regulation on data protection and privacy for individuals within the European Union and the European Economic Area. It also addresses the export of personal data outside these areas. The GDPR aims to give control to citizens and residents over their personal data. Berkshire Community College processes personal information provided within information requests and admission applications.

Police Investigations

The Massachusetts State Police is responsible for investigating all actions or incidences on campus that may have potential criminal implications. BCC Campus Security and BCC administrators will assist the State Police with the investigation. An incident report detailing the investigation will be prepared by BCC Campus Security and forwarded to the Vice President of Administration and Finance.

 

For any incident that involves a student, the Dean of Student Affairs, Beth Wallace ext. 1601, (or his/her designee) is responsible for making contact with the student and, in conjunction with Campus Security, arranging for a confidential area for the student to be questioned by the State Police. The Dean (or his/her designee) may be present, if so requested by the student, during any questioning by the State Police to make sure that the student's rights are upheld. In all cases involving a student, any related incident reports will be forwarded to the Dean of Student Affairs.

Recruitment and Hiring

• Consistent monitoring of curriculum needs of the institution
• Clear understanding of the fiscal needs of the institution

The Office of Human Resources shall administer the recruitment and hiring process in compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations. The President shall be the college's appointing authority and, in the case of faculty or professional staff, the President's recommendation to hire is submitted via monthly personnel actions to the Board of Trustees for approval before a person may be officially appointed to the position.

Snow Days Delays and Cancellations

Solicitations

Recognized on-campus clubs and/or organizations who have received prior approval from the Director of Student Engagement are the only groups allowed to use the campus property for donations or sales. No individual or commercial ventures may solicit donations, or sell goods, on campus for personal or commercial gain. BCC clubs/organizations who wish to use campus property for such purpose must see the Director of Student Engagement for approval. Materials produced for the promotion of an event must bear the name of the sponsoring club and/or organization. Credit card and Bank solicitations are prohibited.

Student Right-To-Know

Each student entering Berkshire Community College has distinct educational, career, and personal goals. Although the majority of full and part-time students enroll in either a certificate or associate degree program, students may take a specific class or group of classes to acquire additional skills, or for personal enrichment. BCC remains flexible enough in both its programming and scheduling to address the needs of each student.

This section contains the primary policies and regulations that apply to all members of the college community. However, this information is not intended to be a statement of the College’s contractual undertakings. A complete list of detailed policies and procedures is contained in the BCC Student Policy Guide that is made available annually to all students. Copies of the Guide may be obtained from the Office of the Dean for Student Affairs or online at the Student Policy Guide.

Student Right to Know Disclosure (PDF)

Use of Public Buildings for Political Activity

Using any part of a public building for political campaign purposes is prohibited, unless equal access is provided to any group wishing to use it, under the same terms and conditions as all other groups. Under no circumstances may any political fundraising go on in a public building or any part of any building occupied for a state, county, or municipal purpose.

Weapons