Policies and Contacts

Odessa College is dedicated to providing a safe and nondiscriminatory educational environment for every member of our community. as mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Texas Education Code Section 51.982. These laws prohibit discrimination based on sex, which includes sexual harassment, sexual violence, and any forms of sex discrimination. Title IX prohibits discrimination against a student based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. Also, the law prohibits a school, college, or university from applying any rule related to a student’s parental, familial, or marital status that treats students differently based on their gender.

We recognize the importance of safety and respect in promoting an effective learning atmosphere. If you, are someone you are aware of, have encountered any form of sexual misconduct, including but not limited to sexual harassment, assault, dating or domestic violence, or stalking, there is Odessa College support that is readily available. The college urges anyone affected to seek assistance and report such incidents. CLICK HERE to report.

In addition, Texas Education Code Section 51.982 states that an institution of higher education may not require a pregnant or parenting student, solely because of the student’s status or due to issues related to the student’s pregnancy or parenting, to: (1) take a leave of absence or withdraw from the student’s certificate or degree program; (2) limit the student’s studies; (3) participate in an alternative program; (4) change the student’s major, degree, or certificate program; or (5) refrain from joining or cease participating in any course, activity, or program at the institution.

In accordance with these laws, Odessa College is committed to:

Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Students

Odessa College does not discriminate against or exclude students from its education programs or activities, including classes and extracurricular activities, because of pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom, according to Title IX. Reasonable accommodations, modifications, and support services will be provided to pregnant and parenting students to assist them in their educational journey. For more information, contact cares@odessa.edu or visit our website.

Reporting Mechanisms

Any form of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, violence, or discrimination against pregnant or parenting students, should be reported to the Odessa College Title IX Coordinator. The coordinator will provide details on rights, resources, and resolution procedures.

Resources and Support

Students who have experienced sex discrimination, including pregnant or parenting students, have access to a range of support resources such as counseling, health services, and academic support.

For more information or assistance, please contact the Odessa College Title IX Coordinator, Kim McKay, or visit our Title IX website.

• All ECHS and OC instruction will be conducted behind locked doors.
• One-on-one student conferences or student tutoring in instructional classrooms is considered instruction. Instructors are encouraged to conference or tutor students in open/common learning support spaces. Instructors may choose to conference or tutor in a locked classroom, provided cameras record the session and are stored for conduct or criminal investigations. 
• Classroom doors cannot be propped open during instruction.
• ECHS and OC instructors will open classroom doors between blocks and during passing periods as follows:
• 7:50 am – 8 am o 9:20 am – 9:30 am 
  
  • 10:50 am – 11 am 
  • 12:20 pm – 12:30 pm 
  • 1:50 pm – 2 pm o 3:20 pm – 3:30 pm 
  • 4:50 pm – 5 pm o 6:20 pm – 6:30 pm 
  • 7:50 pm – 8 pm
• College building entrances and exits will remain open during the instructional day.
• Employees (both ECHS and OC) will receive keys or proximity card access as appropriate and per instructional assignments, including offices, classrooms, labs, and learning support spaces. 
• ECHS employees assigned to classrooms will receive classroom keys. 
• OC employees will not receive keys to assigned classrooms, Rather, OCPD will revise morning duty orders to open, not unlock, college classroom doors each morning during instructional terms. 
• ECHS and OC will further develop and implement standards for tardy students, campus visitors, etc. The standards may vary by program and classroom location. As a matter of practice, dismissing ECHS students due to tardiness is discouraged. Excessive ECHS student tardiness should be reported directly to the ECHS principals via email: OCTECHS Karl Miller karl.miller@ectorcountyisd.org and OCA James Ramage james.ramage@ectorcountyisd.org.

Enforcement 

• OCPD will audit current camera placement and make recommendations to ensure that ECHS and college entrances/exits are adequately covered. The cameras will not be used for live surveillance; however, the recordings may be used during conduct and criminal investigations. 
• OCPD and the OC Safety Committee will conduct random audits of classroom doors throughout the term. Employees who are found not in compliance will be reported to their respective Vice President. 
• ECISD will conduct weekly audits, and reporting will follow the ECISD safety/security protocol.

Employees who need classroom doors opened or locked should immediately contact the on-call OCPD officer via text or phone at 432-238-6334. Employees who observe threatening or criminal behavior should call 911

Students are encouraged to:

• Log in to Blackboard and communicate with your faculty daily
• Study and complete assignments in a timely manner
• Ask questions along the way
• Stay tuned to their OC email and the Odessa College webpage for additional information or other changes that may be announced.

Any student who has difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day and believes this may affect their performance in this course, is urged to contact the Wrangler Food Pantry at foodpantry@odessa.edu or 432-335-6861. If you are a distance student, there might be a food pantry in your community to help. Visit West Texas Food Pantry to find community partner agencies and view the mobile food pantry schedule. The Wrangler Food Pantry is an equal opportunity food provider.

The following are examples of academic dishonesty: 

Cheating shall be defined as: 

• Copying from another student’s test paper, using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test. 
• Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test without permission from the test administrator. 
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test.
• The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the unadministered test. 
• Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for oneself, to take a test. 
• Bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an unadministered test.
• Posting exam or essay questions to social media websites and messaging/chat features, creating, sharing exam questions and answers in virtual course group using instant messaging, text messaging, or using a camera phone, and working as a group in an in-person or online/remote course when the instructional expectations for the assignment ask for the completion to be done individually.
• Unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students or impersonating another student.

Plagiarism shall be defined as 

• The appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means, other individuals' work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work.
• Using technological applications, such as artificial intelligence (AI) tools, to create content for course work without an instructor’s written expectation or not include appropriate citations for use.

A student must check the course syllabus/ assignment expectations to determine if the use of AI tools are part of the course(s) requirement or expectations.

Collusion shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for the fulfillment of course requirements.

• Students are given an individual assignment to complete, but one or more students work together to complete the work, and submit it as the work of an individual.
• Collusion is different from group work, students are given permission by the instructor to work together on an assignment.

Violations to Academic honesty within a course may be documented by the instructor and can be shared and reported to the department chair, and Dean or Vice President of Student Services & Enrollment Management, the Executive Director of Student Life/Chief Conduct Officer and will go through a disciplinary process.

Odessa College utilizes Honorlock as an assessment integrity platform. The purpose of the system is to support academic integrity during any course assessment. The secured platform service locks the browser on a computer when students are testing in Blackboard. In addition, Honorlock has a monitoring system that limits access to video sessions and associated data. A monitoring component requires students to show their examination environments with a webcam during an online exam. Both services of Honorlock prevent printing, copying, going to another URL, or accessing other applications during an assessment. Unless otherwise determined by the program, online courses at Odessa College use Honorlock. The college utilizes the platform and secure exam settings to mitigate potential academic integrity violations.

Odessa College permits students to choose their exam locations, whether that is at a campus or personal environment. Once you have enrolled in the course, you agree to allow your activity and surrounding workspace to be recorded by video and audio and then analyzed by the Honorlock. 

• Honorlock Terms of Use
• Quick Start Guide to Honorlock
• Honorlock Security and Privacy Information

As an Odessa College student, you can take online assessments in a personal environment such as your home, or you may take your exams on the main campus at the Learning Resource Center or Testing Center. 

The following are guidelines to support your success in an online test-taking environment.

• Follow all assessment instructions provided by your instructor. You may be asked to clear your testing area of any external materials (e.g., paper, books, or other materials).
• Choose a location where you will not be interrupted or distracted.
• Turn off all other electronic devices (e.g., phones, computers, tablets, etc.).
• Take your exam in a well-lit room and make sure your computer or tablet is on a solid surface
• Give yourself sufficient time to complete your assessment. 

 

• Odessa College Learning Resource Center
• Odessa College Testing Center

Odessa College is committed to creating a learning environment that meets the need of its students. If you have previous accommodations or experience any learning barriers, please discuss your concerns with the instructor. In addition to speaking to your instructor, please contact the Office of Student Accommodations at 432-335-6697.

You are expected to have access to a computer for this course. If you do not own a computer, there are computers accessible to you in the Learning Resource Center (LRC) student computer lab. For further information on computer labs, please visit the LRC Odessa College Learning Resource Center.

You are expected to have daily access to the internet and your Odessa College email. As an Odessa College student, you should use your OC email to email your professors or any other OC official and check it regularly for official college communications. Once again, you may visit the LRC to access the internet and computers. In addition, in response to COVID19, the college permits students to access college Wi-Fi from campus parking lots.

*This course has a mandatory tutoring or supplemental instruction session connected to the course. These sessions are to ensure your success as an Odessa College Student. In addition, Odessa College’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) offers various resources to assist all students with their academic success. As students, you have academic support resources available to you at no charge. The LRC is in the Murray Fly building and offers course-specific tutoring, academic skills workshops, and a writing lab. Please visit the LRC page for more information.

Students wishing to drop a non-developmental course may do so online using WebAdvisor, at the Wrangler Express, or Registrar’s Office. A student wishing to drop a developmental course or withdraw from college should obtain a drop or withdrawal form from the Wrangler Express or the Registrar’s Office. Students are encouraged to consult with instructors prior to dropping a class. Students may not completely withdraw from the college by using the Web. Students must drop a class or withdraw from college before the official withdrawal date stated in the class schedule. 

Students who are part of the Armed Forces Reserves may withdraw with a full refund if the withdrawal is due to their being ordered into active duty. A copy of the students’ orders must be presented to the Registrar’s Office at the time of the withdrawal. For details, please contact the Office of the Registrar. No longer attending class does not automatically constitute withdrawal from that class, nor does a student’s notification to an instructor that the student wishes to be dropped. Failure of a student to complete the drop/withdrawal process will result in a grade of “F.” 

• Odessa College Student Handbook
• Odessa College Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Odessa College Registrar

Odessa College is committed to supporting your success both inside and outside the classroom. The Office of Student Support Services offers free mental health counseling, basic needs assistance (including emergency aid and referrals to community resources), and access to the Wrangler Food Pantry, which provides groceries, hygiene products, and fresh produce grown right on campus.

CLICK HERE  for counseling services or email cares@odessa.edu for pantry and basic needs support.

As a student, I understand that I am responsible for keeping up with the course. To help with this, I will

• identify alternative computer and internet access in case my primary computer crashes or my internet service is unavailable;
• recognize that the college provides free wi-fi and computer labs during regular campus hours to help me with accessing my course; and,
• understand that my instructor does not have to accept my technical issues as a legitimate reason for late or missing work if my equipment or service is unreliable.

As a student, I understand that it is my responsibility to communicate quickly with the instructor any issue or emergency that will impact my involvement with or performance in the class. This includes, but is not limited to

• getting “kicked off” of the system during tests or quizzes;
• having trouble submitting assignments; and
• dealing with a traumatic personal event.

As a student, I understand that it is my responsibility to understand course material and requirements and to keep up with the course calendar. While my instructor is available for help and clarification, I will

• seek out help from my instructor and/or from tutors;
• ask questions if I don’t understand; and
• access my course several times during the week to keep up with assignments and announcements.

As a student, I understand that I will have the opportunity to provide feedback on my experience in this course through an end-of-course Student Evaluation of Instruction (SEI).

As an instructor, I understand the importance of clear, timely communication with my students. In order to maintain sufficient communication, I will

• provide my contact information at the beginning of the syllabus;
• respond to all messages within 24 hours if received Monday through Thursday, and within 48 hours if received Friday through Sunday; and,
• notify students of any extended times that I will be unavailable and provide them with alternative contact information (for me or for my supervisor) in case of during the time I am unavailable.

As an instructor, I understand that my students will work to the best of their abilities to fulfill the course requirements. In order to help them in this area, I will

• provide clear information about grading policies and assignment requirements in the course syllabus, and
• communicate any changes to assignments and/or to the course calendar to students as quickly as possible.

As an instructor, I will provide regular, timely feedback to students about their performance in the course. To keep students informed about their progress, I will

• post grades for discussion postings within 3 to 5 days of the discussion thread closing.
• provide grades and feedback for all assignments within 3 to 5 days of the due date and at least 3 days before the next major assignment is due, whichever comes first.

 

As an instructor, I understand the importance of clear, timely communication with my students. In order to maintain sufficient communication, I will

• provide my contact information at the beginning of the syllabus;
• respond to all messages within 24 hours if received Monday through Thursday, and within 48 hours if received Friday through Sunday; and,
• notify students of any extended times that I will be unavailable and provide them with alternative contact information (for me or for my supervisor) in case of during the time I am unavailable.

As an instructor, I understand that my students will work to the best of their abilities to fulfill the course requirements. In order to help them in this area, I will

• provide clear information about grading policies and assignment requirements in the course syllabus, and
• communicate any changes to assignments and/or to the course calendar to students as quickly as possible.

As an instructor, I will provide regular, timely feedback to students about their performance in the course. To keep students informed about their progress, I will

• post grades for discussion postings within 3 to 5 days of the discussion thread closing.
• provide grades and feedback for all assignments within 3 to 5 days of the due date and at least 3 days before the next major assignment is due, whichever comes first.

The work submitted for this course must be original work prepared by the student enrolled in this course.

Cell phones must be placed on either vibrate or silent mode and are to be accessed in emergency cases only. The use of laptops or any other digital device is permitted in order to facilitate learning.

For online submissions, the electronic recording of the time on Blackboard will be considered the time of assignment submission. Take necessary steps to ensure that your assignments are submitted on “Blackboard” time. Back-up and/or additional copies of all assignments submitted is encouraged. Computers/printers are available to OC students in the LRC; therefore, not having access to a computer due to technical issues (crash; corrupted files) will not be considered as an acceptable reason for not completing assignments. If there is a loss of server connection with Odessa College due to maintenance, then an email will be sent to students with pertinent information and status reports. Assignments submitted electronically need to follow the file-type requirements provided by the instructor.

As a student, I understand when communicating online with my instructor and/or fellow classmates I will:

• Respect the privacy of my classmates and what they share in class
• Be respectful of everyone. I will make sure the words I post are also words I would share face to face.
• Understand that we may disagree but that is all part of the learning process
• Understand that my words and actions need to be appropriate as this is a college classroom
• Be aware that typing in all capital letters indicates shouting
• Be careful with humor and sarcasm as they can easily be misunderstood
• Check my writing prior to posting to ensure there are no typing or grammatical errors.
• Be careful not to overuse acronyms (LOL, etc.) and emoticons (smiles).

Face-to-face and hybrid students are expected to attend class regularly. Web students are expected to check in to their course in Blackboard regularly (at least twice weekly).

To establish enrollment and comply with federal and state regulations, students must log in to Blackboard and complete a first-week assignment. Failure to complete the assignment will result in being reported as “not attending,” which may affect your financial aid eligibility and could lead to being administratively dropped from the course.

It is the responsibility of the student to keep track of assignment submissions and grades. At any point, you are welcome to meet with the instructor to discuss your academic progress. Contact the instructor to schedule an appointment.

General Course Requirements

1. Attend class and participate.
2. Contribute and cooperate with civility.
3. Submit assignments on time. Contact instructor if extenuating circumstances prevent you from submitting assignments on time.

An ‘Incomplete’ grade may be given only if:

1. The student has passed all completed work
2. If he/she has completed a minimum of 75% of the required coursework. A grade of an “I” will only be assigned when the conditions for completions have been discussed and agreed upon by the instructor and the student.
3. An Incomplete form is submitted