The Independence Junior College is guided by the hand book of policies for Secondary Schools for 2000, revised 2010.

  GUIDELINES

1. Students are expected to be in class on time.

2. All assignments are due on the date assigned by the instructor.

3. If an instructor is not present at the beginning of class, students should report it to the office after waiting at least fifteen minutes.

4. No food/drink is allowed during the class period.

5. Cell phone usage is to be determined at the discretion of the teacher.

6. Students will be expected to adopt a dress code which is compatible with modesty and good taste while on campus.  Footwear is to be worn at all times.   Students are required to wear shirts/ blouses with sleeves. Clothing which shows skin in the navel area, back area, and cleavage/chest is not permitted. Caps and sunglasses are only to be worn outside of class.

7. Politically associated attire is not to be worn on campus.

8. Male students are not allowed to wear earrings while on campus.

9. Students are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that reflects their commitment to a life of excellence and responsibility.

RULES/REGULATIONS

10. The Independence Junior College fully subscribes to the Criminal Code of Belize and The Board of Governors reserves the right to dismiss any student who engages in what the Board may deem as inappropriate and unacceptable behavior.

11. Meetings or business involving Junior College students and which pertain to the College are NOT to be carried out without permission from the Dean or Assistant Dean.

12. The College expects of its students a high degree of integrity in all phases of school life, but especially where a student evaluation is concerned. Any student caught cheating in any test or examination will received an “F” for the course and may be expelled from the College.

13. POLICY ON STEALING AND LOST ITEMS

1. Students who are caught stealing or handling stolen goods:

(a)     On first offence will be suspended (3-5 days) and will be referred to the counselor.

(b)     On second offence the student will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee and may be asked to withdraw.

1. Any lost and found article(s) should be turned in to the office. Any missing property, which may have been stolen, should be reported to the Administration.

1. Students are not to bring expensive jewelry, equipment or large sums of money to school. Each student is responsible for the care of his/her personal belongings. Neither the course teacher nor the school will take responsibility for any lost items or lost money.

14. DRUG POLICIES

The school recognizes the hardship created by drugs and alcohol at the individual and community levels.  In so doing we unite to provide a drug free environment, safe for student growth and learning.

While we recognize the need for compassionate treatment of those addicted and seeking help, we also uphold the policy of not using drugs/alcohol any time while on campus or at any off-campus school event.  In accordance with this we will maintain a NO TOLERANCE policy toward drug and alcohol use.

15. CIGARETTES

Students are not allowed to smoke on campus during regular class time.  The following applies if caught smoking or in possession of cigarettes:

• On the first offence the student will be encouraged to attend counseling sessions with academic advisor or counselor at the school.
• On second offence the act will be documented and student will be encouraged to attend counseling.
• On third offense the student will be referred to the disciplinary committee and may result in a suspension or the student may be asked to withdraw. If the student withdraws from school he/she must seek professional help.  The student may be allowed to return to school on the following school year if he/she desists from the habit.

16. ALCOHOL
17. Students are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages on campus or other events specified by management.
18. Students caught consuming/aiding/abetting or in possession of alcohol will be referred immediately to the Disciplinary Committee and may be suspended during the investigation of the violation and deliberation. (Maximum of 5 days)

The student will be encouraged to attend counseling sessions in school or to an outside agency.

1. On second offence the act will be documented and student will be encouraged to attend counseling and it may also lead to a recommendation for expulsion
2. On third offence, the student will be referred back to the Disciplinary Committee and the student may be asked to withdraw from school and to seek professional help. The student may be allowed to return on the completion of his rehabilitation the following school year.

17. ILLICIT DRUGS

Illicit Drugs refers to marijuana, crack, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, etc or any other un-prescribed drug.

1. Students at no time should possess, aid and abet and/or use illegal drugs such as crack cocaine, marijuana, heroine, morphine, ecstasy or any other un-prescribed drugs on campus. This may warrant recommendation for expulsion and will be reported to the proper authorities.

1. Any student who is found in possession of or under the influence of any illicit drugs shall be suspended from school for five school days. The Student may also be referred to the Disciplinary Committee and may be asked to withdraw to seek rehabilitation. The matter will also be reported to the Police Department.

NOTE: Should a family refuse the recommended professional treatment the matter will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee and may result in the student being asked to withdraw from school and or a recommendation for dismissal/expulsion.

18. ANTI BULLYING & SEXUAL HARRASSMENT POLICY

All staff, pupils and parents should be aware of the negative effects that bullying and sexual harassment can have on individuals and the school in general, and should work towards ensuring that students can work in an environment without fear.  Bullying and sexual harassment is unacceptable in this school and will NOT be tolerated. 

We therefore take a strong stance against bullying and sexual harassment of any type, since it indicates a lack of appreciation for the feelings of others.  Bullying and sexual harassment can cause deep distress, to the extent of victims refusing to attend school or even in extreme cases attempting to committing suicide.

Bullying and sexual harassment is behavior by an individual or group, repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally.  Four main types of bullying and sexual harassment may be identified: Physical, Verbal, Emotional and Cyber.

A student who violates this policy (after various intervention procedures followed by teachers) shall be subject to the following disciplinary procedures:

FIRST OFFENSE – Documented warning by Dean and parent/guardian notification for students under the age of 18.

SECOND OFFENSE – Documented warning by Dean and parent/guardian notification for students under the age of 18, loss of school privileges, counseling by the school counselor

THIRD OFFENSE/REPEATED OFFENSE – Immediate referral to the Disciplinary Committee for deliberation and decision. Repeated Offense will be submitted to the disciplinary committee for FINAL recommendation.  The Disciplinary committee may ask for the student to withdraw or recommend dismissal/expulsion.

EXTREME OFFENSE: Documented warning by Dean and  Parent/guardian conference (for students below the age of 18)  and DIRECT referral to the disciplinary committee for FINAL recommendation.  The Disciplinary committee may ask for the student to withdraw or recommend dismissal/expulsion.

19. GROSS MISCONDUCT

The following offenses are considered very serious and will be dealt with accordingly by the administration. It is also at the discretion of the Administration to forward the cases to the proper Authorities. In the case of police intervention the matter becomes a criminal proceeding and is therefore out of the jurisdiction of the school. During the period of police investigation, the student will be excluded from school until the investigation is completed.

First time offenders may be dealt with internally by the school’s administration.  The following are matters that may be referred to the police.

1. Use of/possession/knowledge of or dealing in drugs.
2. Drunkenness possession/knowledge or alcohol consumption
3. Possessing and using dangerous weapons.
4. Vandalism and theft:  willful damage/destruction or stealing of other people’s property.
5. Truancy: Missing school without parental knowledge and consent.
6. Sexual Harassment
7. Sexual assault
8. Aggravated Assault
9. Harm

Students are not allowed to break criminal laws. If they are found guilty by the court, they may face expulsion.

20. SCHOOL TRIPS End of year class trips:

• May be considered for an overnight depending on itinerary of events.
• An administrator/HOD must accompany all trips.
• There should be 1 teacher for every 10 students.

Educational Trips:

• May be considered for an overnight depending on itinerary of events which must be related to the subject curriculum.
• An administrator/HOD must accompany the trip.
• If students are taken in the vicinity of water, a certified lifeguard must accompany the trip.
• There should be 1 teacher for every 10 students, except in the case of aquatic trips there should be 1 teacher for every 8 students.

Sports related trips:

• Only students who are players may go on an overnight sporting trip.
• One teacher to every 10 students must accompany the players.
• An administrator must accompany the trip.

NOTE: An administrator must accompany all overnight trips. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES A student/parent has the right to lodge a grievance against a fellow student and/member of staff/faculty.

• The grievance must be submitted as a formal written grievance to the Assistant Dean.
• The Assistant Dean will then collect all the relevant information within 10 school days for submission to the Grievance Committee.
• The Grievance Committee through the Office of the Assistant Dean will inform the person of proceedings to be initiated against them within 10 school days upon receipt of material from the Office of the Assistant Dean.
• The individual may be required to meet the Grievance Committee to defend him/herself and is entitled to a minimum of one witness to speak on his/her behalf.
• The Grievance Committee will deliberate and the decision will be conveyed to the individual within 5 school days after the person has been informed about the initiation of Grievance action proceedings.
• The proceedings will be documented and placed on the individual’s file.
• The decision of the Grievance Committee may be appealed to the Board of Management via submission of a formal request to the Secretary of the Board of Management.

The Grievance Committee is comprised of: Dean, Assistant Dean, the Head of the Programme of the individual against whom action is being taken and/or 2 other Heads of Programme.