Program Guidelines and Policies

All students enrolled in career bridge and pathway programs are expected to adhere to the following guidelines and policies.

Academic Integrity
All students are expected to do their own work. Plagiarism is defined as:

  • Submitting another’s published or unpublished work, in whole, in part, or in paraphrase, as one’s own without fully and properly crediting the author with footnotes, citations or bibliographical reference
  • Submitting as one’s own, original work, material obtained from an individual or agency without reference to the person or agency as the source of the material
  • Submitting as one’s own, original work, material that has been produced through unacknowledged collaboration with others without release in writing from collaborators
  • The use of AI in writing

There is software that accurately detects all forms of plagiarism. If it is discovered that a student did not submit their own work, a meeting will be scheduled with the Director to ensure comprehension of and future adherence to the policy. On the first occasion, the student will get a 0 on the assignment. On the second occasion, the student will be suspended for the remainder of the term. They are permitted to try again the following term. On the third occasion, the student will be dismissed from the program; their record will reflect their actions.

Attendance
COCD strictly enforces the attendance policy and procedures outlined below:

  • Students must attend class on time every day; in Zoom, students should already be in class with their camera on before the official class start time
  • A student who is 1 second to 10 minutes late to class is considered late regardless of the reason; 3 late arrivals is counted as 1 absence.
  • More than 10 minutes late is counted as 1 absence.
  • Excessive absences damage student outcomes.
  • Students will be given a warning after 3 and 5 absences; they will be required to meet with the Program Director, discuss the reasons for their absences, and sign an Attendance Contract to show they understand and agree to all of the policies
  • Students who miss a total of 7 days will be dropped. A meeting with the Education Director will be scheduled for consideration of allowing the student to start again at the beginning of the next term.

We understand that situations arise that prevent students from attending: (urgent) medical appointments, the death of a family member, etc. That is why a generous 7 absences are permitted, no questions asked.

Students are expected to proactively communicate with their instructor, and make up any and all work missed while absent in order to move forward. Teachers do not “reteach” lessons. If a student is absent, they can come to their teacher’s office hours after reading the lesson (and watching any related video content) with smart, pointed questions about the content.

Inappropriate question example: “Please teach me about the present perfect tense.”

Appropriate question example: “I understood the reading material on the present perfect, but can you help me with Practice A, #2?”

This policy instills several life skills that are mandatory in the workplace: showing up, being on time, being results-oriented, and proactive, along with professional communication.

Group Work
Some of the assignments are done in pairs or in small groups. Students are expected to appropriately participate and take responsibility for a percentage of the assignment. Furthermore, students are expected to communicate to decide among themselves who fulfills what component (when appropriate). This activity builds self-efficacy, and develops work-place skills. Everybody has different strengths, and has to learn to moderate their own tendencies to complete group tasks. For example, if you are often shy, speak up. If you often lead, great but don’t dominate; leaders make space for other points of view. The goal is for If you have a group member who does not contribute or behaves inappropriately, please let me know PRIVATELY and I will meet with that student.

I expect all students to be RESPECTFUL during all group work. This means interacting appropriately, doing your share of the work, responding respectfully to views you may disagree with, and listening to others as they speak.

Phone Use
NO using phones in class, not for AI, not for translation, not to text or look at social media. We all have families. You may look at your phone during breaks. Then, the phone returns out of sight. If there is an emergency, please take your phone out into the hall at those times, briefly. We will not review what you missed. If a message is common, day-to-day, call a person during the scheduled break times.

Smoking
No smoking, vaping or use of any type of electric cigarette is permitted inside the building. Use of these devices is restricted to outside, 15 feet from any entrance.

COCD Level-Passing Policy
Students must receive a GREEN in all four classes to be eligible to advance to the next level. If a student receives a RED in one or more classes, the student must repeat the level. If a student receives a YELLOW in one or more classes, the student must meet with the Education Director to determine appropriate level placement for the following term.

A student will receive a GREEN in the class if the student comes to class on a regular basis on time, prepared, and ready to actively and fully participate and contribute to discussions. The student must complete all Goal Driven Assignments (GDA) 100%, on time, and at a quality level that is reflective of the student’s current COCD level and the student’s own potential as identified by the COCD Team members.

A student will receive a YELLOW in the class if the student neither comes to class on a regular basis on time, is not prepared, nor ready to actively and fully participate and contribute to discussions. The student must complete all Goal Driven Assignments (GDA) 100%, on time, and at a quality level that is reflective of the student’s current COCD level and the student’s own potential as identified by the COCD Team members.

A student will receive a RED in the class if the student misses more than 5 days, does not come to class on a regular basis on time, is not prepared, or is not ready to actively and fully participate and contribute to discussions.The student attempts to submit incomplete or late Goal Driven Assignments (GDA) or at a quality level that is not reflective of the student’s current COCD level and the student’s own potential as identified by the COCD Team members.

COCD Change-of-Level Policy
A student’s initial level placement is determined through an evaluation of the initial assessment of all four skill sets (Discipline-specific Terminology; Graphs, Statistical Information and Mathematical Foundations; Industry Communication Norms; Workplace Expectations) during Mandatory Orientation. COCD considers the student’s submitted assessment scores as a basis for preliminary placement, but this does not guarantee placement in the projected placement level indicated by that language assessment score. The student must prove that he or she has the necessary English language skills to perform at the projected placement level.

Process:

  1. If a student wishes to request a change of level, he or she must write a letter to the Education Director explaining his or her request and include evidence (GDA assignments, graded assessments, etc.) to support the request of a change of level. Do not make an appointment with the Education Director until a letter has been submitted and evidence has been collected.
  2. After the student attends the meeting with the Education Director, the student’s instructors will be contacted to monitor his or her performance for a week (5 class days) and will be asked to make a recommendation.
  3. The Education Director will review the evidence and has the right to ask for and collect additional evidence from the student and the student’s current level COCD instructors.
  4. If evidence collected suggests a level change might be warranted, the Education Director will change the student’s level. The change will only happen after the Education Director holds a level-change consultation with the student.
  5. If the decision is to move the student to a different level, the student will be contacted and plans will be made for the change.

*No level changes will occur after the third week of classes has been completed unless mitigating circumstances warrant a level change.