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Syllabus Policies

SVCC believes in the importance of attending and being on time for scheduled classes. This reflects the personal responsibility required of each citizen in work, social, and community settings. If students must miss a scheduled class or be late, it is their responsibility to notify instructors. Please refer to the course syllabus for specific attendance policies for each course.

To be in attendance in an online course you need to be actively completing course activities throughout the semester. Simply logging in to your online course is not sufficient to show you are actively completing the course. If you are not actively working in the course, you may be dropped from the course, especially on the tenth day of the semester and at mid-terms. Evidence of active pursuit of course completion may include: replying to discussions, completing quizzes, submitting assignments, and emailing your instructor.

SVCC believes that graded material must be turned in on or before the deadline that is set by the instructor. Failure to turn in work as scheduled may result in a zero or some other penalty indicated by the instructor. Please refer to the course syllabus for specific grading and make-up policies for each course.

SVCC believes that all students should feel free to participate fully during their own learning experience; however, impolite or distracting behavior detracts from the learning experience of others and has no place in the classroom. Therefore, respectful, considerate, and active participation is expected in all classrooms and school settings. In addition, students should be receptive to instructor feedback and new ideas.

SVCC understands that sometimes it is impossible to complete a course due to an unforeseeable circumstance. With instructor approval, the incomplete grade (I grade) allows a student to make-up a major exam or project after the semester has officially ended. The Incomplete grade is not designed to be used in place of a Withdrawal (W grade) and is only used at the discretion and approval of your instructor and the college's Academic Deans. The instructor and the student must complete an incomplete contract that the instructor will provide to you.

SVCC has a college wide withdrawal policy. Students not following the policies found within this syllabus are subject to withdrawal at any time by their instructor. Please refer to the course syllabus for specific grading and make-up policies for each course.

Students who are caught cheating or having plagiarized will be subject to disciplinary action including academic expulsion. Please refer to the course syllabus for specific cheating and plagiarism policies for each course

Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws

Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the filesharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement. Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys' fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.

For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office.

Students should turn off all electronic devices while in the classroom unless they have the consent of the instructor. Electronic items include, but are not limited to cell phones, laptops, tablets, MP3 players, voice and video recorders. Students violating this policy may face college disciplinary action. Also, students are subject to the SVCC Acceptable Use of Technology Policy. Any violations of that would be handled at the institutional level.

Sauk Valley Community College is an institution dedicated to continuous instructional improvement. As part of our assessment efforts, it is necessary for us to collect and analyze course-level data. Data drawn from students' work for the purposes of institutional assessment will be collected and posted in aggregate, and will not identify individual students. Your continued support in our on-going effort to provide quality instructional services at SVCC is appreciated.

The College policy on student records complies with the "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act". This Act is designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for correction of incorrect or misleading data through formal and informal hearings. A copy of the Act or questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Dean of Student Services, (815) 835-6305.

If you have a disability or suspect that you have one and want to request a classroom accommodation, it is your responsibility to contact the Disability Support Office. Reasonable accommodations will be made after verification from the Coordinator of Disability Support located in Room 1F27 in the Student Services Center, or by calling (815) 835-6220.

All classes at Sauk Valley Community College may be recorded for a variety of reasons to include compliance with the American with Disabilities Act in providing reasonable accommodations to person with disabilities. By enrolling in this course, students hereby consent to recording of classes.

Our College is committed to fostering a safe, productive learning environment.  Title IX and our College Policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.

Sexual misconduct - including harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, exploitation, and stalking - is prohibited at our College.

Our College encourages anyone experiencing sexual misconduct to talk to someone about what happened, so they can get the support they need and our College can respond appropriately.

If you wish to speak confidentially about an incident of sexual misconduct, please contact one of the confidential resources located in the Student Services Center: Academic Advising, TRIO, or Disability Support Office (DSO).

If you wish to report sexual misconduct or have questions about College policies and procedures regarding sexual misconduct, please contact our College's Title IX Coordinator, Mike Stevenson, phone 815-835-6234.

Our College is legally obligated to investigate all reports of sexual misconduct, and therefore it cannot guarantee the confidentiality of a report, but will consider a request for confidentiality and respect it to the extent possible.

As a professor, I am also legally required to report incidents of sexual misconduct that come to my attention through any source (verbal or written) and thus cannot guarantee confidentiality.  I must provide our Title IX coordinator with relevant details such as the names of those individuals involved in the incident.

Sauk Valley Community College is committed to providing and maintaining an environment for faculty, staff, and students that is drug-free, healthy, safe, and secure. To this purpose, and in compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (Public Law 101-226), the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-690) and the Illinois Drug Free Workplace Act of 1986 (PA 86-1459) the College has implemented policies and procedures to prevent the unlawful use of controlled substances and abuse of alcohol by students and employees. SVCC recognizes violations of its drug and alcohol policy as serious breaches of the College's standards and policies while also recognizing drug and alcohol dependence as illnesses for which treatment is available. SVCC provides full information regarding policies related to drug and alcohol abuse along with treatment and recovery resources available in the Sauk Valley area.

SVCC students, employees, and visitors should be able to pursue their education, work and other activities in a safe, non-threatening campus environment. As such, violence, threats, and intimidation will not be tolerated. The College has adopted procedures to respond to and address conduct that violates this policy. We urge all students, employees and visitors to report any threatening behavior to SVCC Security or to other employees.

Any student who faces challenges affording groceries or accessing enough food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, is urged to contact a Sauk employee for support. The SVCC Foundation Office (Room 3K10) provides an open-access food pantry available to all students. SVCC maintains a list of additional community resources that may provide additional support.

SVCC provides a virtual health and well-being platform that is available 24/7 for all current SVCC for-credit students enrolled in on-campus, online, and hybrid deliveries. Services include:

  • MedicalNow: On-demand support for common health issues, including cold, flu, and allergies.
  • TalkNow: 24/7, on-demand emotional support to talk about anything, including anxiety, relationships, depression, and school-related stressors.
  • Scheduled Medical: Choose the day, time, and medical provider that best works for you.
  • Scheduled Counseling: Choose the day, time, and mental health provider that works best for you. (6 visits per year)
  • Psychiatry: Appointments are available through campus counseling referral.
  • Self-Care Content: Visit the Explore page within TimelyCare for guided self-care content.
  • Basic Needs Support: Access to free or reduced-cost community resources, including food and housing assistance, transit support, childcare, and finances.

Download the app at: timelycare.com/SVCC. If you have questions, please contact the Counseling department at 815-835-6204.

Students needing assistance with personal/emotional concerns or crisis situations can access confidential Mental Health Counseling Services with an SVCC licensed therapist. Counseling services are free for Sauk students (not billed to insurance nor to the student). To access counseling services, fill out the confidential “Personal Counseling Request” form or call the secure, confidential line at 815-835-6204.