Attendance
While individual instructor policies may vary, punctual and regular attendance is expected. This includes asynchronous online sections where student attendance is documented by completion of required online activities by published weekly deadlines. Check your course syllabus for your instructor’s attendance policy. Instructors are required to submit Never Attended Forms immediately after the census date (15%) of each session if a student has never attended their course. When absence from a class becomes necessary, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor prior to the absence whenever possible. The student is responsible for the subsequent completion of all coursework missed during an absence. Frequent absences may result in administrative withdrawal from a class and the termination or reduction of veterans’ benefits and other programs of financial assistance.
Students With Disabilities
Scope
This policy covers appropriate Instruction Accommodation Plans (IAPs) for students with documented disabilities as mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (as amended).
Definitions
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (as amended) guarantees that no qualified individual shall by reason of disability be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of college.
Instructional Accommodation Plan (IAP) - a plan developed with the SAS professional counselor to provide appropriate accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (as amended).
Policy
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Consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (as amended), the college guarantees that no qualified individual shall by reason of disability be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of college.
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Each qualified person shall receive appropriate, reasonable accommodations upon request to ensure full and equal access to educational opportunities, programs, and activities. Further, reasonable accommodations must be instituted in institutional programs and departmental policies in order to ensure full educational opportunities for all students. The intent of these accommodations is not to alter the academic standards of the college, but to allow the unique needs of students to be met. This policy applies to all credit and non-credit classes offered at the college.
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It is the responsibility of a student with a disability to self-identify and provide appropriate documentation, if requested, to support reasonable accommodations to Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at either the Chester or Midlothian campuses.
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Per Virginia Community College System (VCCS) policy, to provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations to the students with disabilities who seek them, the college requires documentation from a qualified professional that includes a full clinical description and current functional limitations. This documentation should also include-
- Information about the methodology used to make a diagnosis,
- Specific results of the assessments used,
- Summary data, and
- Specific assessment scores based on adult norms where having such additional information will assist the SAS professional counselor in engaging in a deliberative and collaborative decision-making process that considers each student’s unique situation and experience, but not where requesting such information becomes overly burdensome to the student.
Procedures
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Once a student with a disability self-identifies, it is the responsibility of the SAS professional counselor charged with the review of disability documentation to consult with the student and prepare a specific Instructional Accommodation Plan (IAP), providing the student with copies of their IAP to present to the student’s instructors.
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Requests for IAPs will be processed by the SAS professional counselor in a timely fashion; however, the college reserves the right to take up to thirty (30) days from the initial intake appointment during which time the disability disclosure is made to develop and provide the appropriate accommodations. A student with a disability who requires assistance should contact Student Accessibility Services at least thirty (30) days prior to the need for accommodations.
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Faculty are required to comply immediately with the IAP and only provide the accommodations that are authorized. Upon receipt of the IAP, faculty should meet privately with the student, as soon as possible, to discuss the accommodations and should maintain and respect student privacy. Faculty should contact Student Accessibility Services with any questions or concerns regarding the IAP or if they need support in providing the approved accommodations.
Appeal
To appeal the decision of the SAS professional counselor regarding the approval or implementation of accommodations, students should follow the Student Grievance Policy. Please see the Student Grievance Policy (19.19.15) in the Student Handbook.
Disability Services/Accessibility Services
Brightpoint Community College has an institutional commitment to serving students with disabilities and to assisting those students in pursuit of their education beyond high school. To support this commitment:
- The college has designated a counselor as a student accessibility services specialist at each campus.
- The college’s campuses and physical environment are fully accessible.
Support services available include:
- Testing accommodations to include placement testing
- Instructional accommodations plans
- Consultation services for faculty and staff
- Assistance with registration
- Career counseling
- Books in alternate format
- Assistive technology
- Free access to Kurzweil 3000, an educational technology tool that reading assistance, comprehension support, and support for improving writing and test-taking skills
Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals
Service Animals
Service Animal: a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind; alerting people who are deaf; pulling a wheelchair; alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure; reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications; calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack; or performing other duties. Service Animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as Service Animals under the ADA.
The student (handler) or individual (handler) is not required to register a service animal with the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office nor may the college require documentation for review by the SAS office before the dog is allowed on campus. An individual with a service animal is not required to obtain permission to bring the service dog on campus. Service dogs are not designated on the student’s Instructional Accommodation Plan (IAP). Students who have service animals may or may not have other accommodations.
When a student appears with a service animal, the college may ask only two questions:
1.) Is the dog required because of a disability?
2.) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
These are the only two questions that may be asked. The college may not inquire as to the nature of the student’s disability. The college may not attempt to verify or confirm that the animal performs the service indicated by the student (handler).
The student (handler) or individual (handler) is expected to maintain control of the animal at all times. If the presence of a service animal causes a disruption, please call the SAS office on either campus as soon as possible to enlist their assistance in resolving the matter.
If there are any other problems or concerns about having a service animal present-i.e. allergies or fear of the animal-please contact one of the SAS professional counselors on either campus as soon as possible for their assistance in resolving the matter.
Emotional Support Animal (ESA)
Emotional Support Animal (ESA): an animal that provides emotional or other support that mitigates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. An ESA is not a Service Animal and thus not entitled to the same privileges as a Service Animal. For example, the companionship of a dog may reduce the anxiety level of a war veteran empowering the veteran to attend college. ESAs are not trained to perform a specific task.
Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are not service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Brightpoint Community College (Brightpoint) may deny ESA/pets on campus. Brightpoint shall treat any ESA request as an accommodation request under ADA guidelines and determine whether it is reasonable. As with all accommodation requests, the Brightpoint SAS office will engage in an interactive process with the student making the request.
An individual who wishes to bring an ESA to campus must obtain approval through the SAS office on either campus and, if approved, the ESA accommodation must be listed on the student’s Instructional Accommodation Plan (IAP). The IAP must be presented to the instructor before the ESA will be allowed in the classroom.
As with a service animal, the student (handler) is expected to maintain control of the ESA at all times. If the presence of the animal causes a disruption, or if there are other concerns, contact the SAS office at either campus as soon as possible for assistance in resolving the matter.
See Student Accessibility Services for additional information.
Differences between high school and college
As students make the transition from high school to college, it is important to recognize the significant differences between the two education levels.
By law, Virginia public high schools guarantee all students an education through age 21 or graduation with a regular diploma. Schools are required to screen and evaluate students who may have a disability. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) shall be developed for any student identified as having a disability, and schools shall provide appropriate fundamental services and accommodations to meet that student’s needs.
While they are not guaranteed an education at a college, students cannot be discriminated against. Colleges are not obligated to screen or evaluate students for possible disabilities. Students are responsible for providing documentation, when requested, to the college’s Student Accessibility Services office, and the college shall provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities.
Taking a lead role
Self-advocacy is key for any student entering college. Students are encouraged to articulate their needs. Doing so will help students gain confidence, assist them in taking responsibility for their college choices, and help them realistically plan for their futures. Family members can help with the transition by offering support and encouragement.
The student’s obligations
A student with a disability has an obligation to:
- Identify and disclose their need for accommodations to the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) professional counselor. Students should submit the SAS Intake Form to initiate their request for accommodations;
- If needed, provide documentation that supports the request for accommodations at least 30 days prior to the need for accommodations;
- Communicate with the SAS professional counselor to complete an intake interview.
- Provide their instructional accommodation plan (IAP), which outlines accommodations established through the intake, to faculty and staff to initiate use of accommodations.
- If disability-related support or assistance is needed, contact the SAS professional counselor.
To initiate Student Accessibility Services, please fill out the SAS Intake Form.
Once your SAS Intake form has been submitted, a professional counselor will contact you to schedule an intake. If you need assistance filling out the form, please contact one of the SAS offices listed below.
Testing Services Provided by Student Accessibility Services
To request a reservation to take a proctored test with Brightpoint Testing Center using your accommodations, please schedule via Navigate. Students taking online courses can schedule via the Distant Education Testing Portal.
Contacts for Student Accessibility Services:
Chester Campus
Heather Atkinson
hatkinson@jbrightpoint.edu
Professional Counselor and Student Accessibility Support Specialist
Chester Campus, Moyar Hall, Room M112a
804-706-5165
Hours of availability by phone and email: Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm
Midlothian Campus
Dr. Mark Miller
mmiller01@brightpoint.edu
Professional Counselor and Student Accessibility Support Specialist
Midlothian Campus, Eliades Hall, Room E110c
804-594-1561
Hours of availability by phone and email: Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm
The College’s obligation
Under Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the college has an obligation to provide reasonable accommodations in order to afford the student an equal opportunity to participate in the college’s programs, courses and activities.
Final Examinations
All students are expected to take their final examinations at the scheduled time. No exceptions will be made for a student without the permission of the division dean. The exam times are published in SIS, on the web site, and in course syllabi.
Great Expectations Program
The Great Expectations Program helps foster youth gain access to a community college education and transition successfully from the foster care system to living independently. Individuals eligible for the program include foster youth between the ages of 17 and 24 who are or were affiliated with the Virginia Foster Care System, youth adopted after the age of 13, or special needs adoptions. The program provides assistance with the financial aid process, monitoring of academic progress and assistance with accessing college support services. Professional tutoring and a mentoring program are also available for eligible students. To learn more about the Great Expectations Program, go to www.brightpoint.edu/greatexpectations.
Libraries
The Libraries welcome Brightpoint students on campus and online. Libraries on both campuses have computers for student use, laptops, Chromebooks, calculators and hotspots for loan, and tables for private study. All library computers have MS Office software and are networked for printing and high-speed internet. Wi-fi is available.
The library web site is the student’s gateway to the digital and print resources necessary for their coursework. Library staff are glad to assist students with their assignments and help with technical problems. The libraries provide access to over 400,000 books, eBooks, DVDs and streaming videos that can be accessed through the library website. More than 160 subscription databases are available for academic work. These products permit access to the full text of thousands of digital magazines, journals, and newspapers as well as collections of streaming media, audio files and reference sources. Students may access the subscription databases both on and off campus, and on their own devices. Ask a Librarian, a 24/7 chat reference service, is always available on the Library website at https://www.brightpoint.edu/library.
The Chester Campus Library is located on the second floor of Moyar Hall. The Midlothian Campus Library is located on the second floor of Hamel Hall.
The Library schedule is posted on the library website: https://www.brightpoint.edu/library. Hours vary during breaks and holiday periods; changes are posted on the web site and in the libraries.
Student conduct in the Library is governed by college’s policies and computer use is in accordance with the VCCS Computer Ethics Policy. Both policies can be found in this Catalog and in the Student Handbook.
Library contact information:
Chester: (804) 706-5195
Midlothian: (804) 594-1519
Early Alert
The college provides an early alert system that encourages faculty to identify students who are at risk of not succeeding academically. Those students are informed about specific concerns via email and possibly by phone, if apropriate. Through our Retention Coaches, students are offered support, strategies for learning success, and referrals to campus resources.
Help Hub
The Help Hub is a one-stop source for information and connection to student support and services. HelpHub representatives serve as Tier I student support. Tyler experts are available to get you started, help you where you are or on campus, and get you the answers you need. Contact us with questions about advising, admissions and records, financial aid and student accounts, or for technical support. The Help Hub provides student password support for access to MyBrightpoint and can offer directional support to guide students to services and information in their accounts or on campus. Students may to the Help Hubs on either campus in room T115 in Trailblazer Hall at the Midlothian campus, room M101 in Moyar hall at the Chester campus or reach out to the Help Hub by texting 804-476-0401, calling 804-796-4000, or emailing helphub@brightpoint.edu.
Testing Center
The college operates Testing Centers on both the Chester and Midlothian campuses. The Chester Testing Center is located in Moyar building, 135A and the Midlothian Testing Center is in Trailblazer Hall, T215. At the centers, students are able to take various types of proctored tests, including placement, Accuplacer, Certiport, TEAS, and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Placement tests may be taken by students entering the college for the first time and by home-schooled/high school students wanting to enroll in concurrent and dual enrollment coursework. A select number of online tests are proctored in the Testing Centers for students taking online courses at Brightpoint, as well as other community colleges in Virginia.
For testing support in courses, students will be directed by their instructor on how to setup and appointment with the testing center. Should students have any questions about tests that are offered or how to schedule an appointment, they can always email the Testing Center at testing@brightpoint.edu or call:
Tutoring & Learning Support
Academic Resource Centers/Tutoring
The Academic Resource Center (ARC) is a free tutoring service available at the college to support students in their coursework and their pursuit of academic success. The ARC is composed of both a STEM Center and a Writing Center which offer a wide variety of tutoring options, including in-person, virtual, and asynchronous assistance. Students can find in-person tutoring on both campuses located in Moyar Hall, Room 222 on the Chester campus, and in Eliades Hall, Room 117 on the Midlothian campus.
The centers are staffed by skilled student tutors, professional tutors, and teaching faculty. In addition to course-specific content, the ARC can also help students with writing and composition, including creative writing and non-academic writing such as scholarship applications. Furthermore, the ARC can help students develop study skills, organizational skills, and preparation skills for success. Should students have any questions about services or seeking academic support, they can email the ARC at arc@brightpoint.edu or call 804-594-1542.
Online Learning Support
Canvas is an online learning management system (LMS) used by the college. Students who are unsure if online learning is a good fit can try it out through the Online Test Drive. This orientation course covers the skills required to be successful as an online learner, an introduction to the Canvas learning environment, and an overview of online academic and student support services as well. Visit the Brightpoint Online Learning page to learn more.
Student technical support is offered by the college for educational technologies such as:
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Gmail/Google
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Canvas
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Office365
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Zoom
For live student technical support or assistance with any of these tools, please visit the Help Hub. Should you have a request specific to Canvas outside of the Help Hub’s normal operating hours, feel free to contact Canvas directly using any of the following methods:
Veterans Services
The Military & Veterans Education Office (MVEO) helps connect active duty military, eligible veterans, reservists/guardsman, disabled veterans (with service-connected disabilities) and dependents to a world of opportunity through U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Educational benefits and related services. Brightpoint support services include:
- Tutoring in the Academic Resource Center
- Disabilities Support Services
- Career Services
- Student Information Center
- Student Veterans Organization
Chester Campus:
Moyar Hall, M132a; 804-706-5031 or 804-706-5213
Midlothian Campus:
Trailblazer Hall T115j; 804-594-1582
Advising Throughout Your College Career
Don’t navigate the college experience alone. Our Welcome Center staff and New Student Navigators help brand new students get enrolled in their first semester. Students who are placed into a major are also assigned a faculty member who can help them during the remainder of their time at Brightpoint Community College.
You can find your faculty advisor’s name and contact information in your myBrightpoint account. Emails, phone calls, and office visits are all great ways to touch base with your advisor.
Your advisor can assist you:
- Your first semester - The semester you select a major you should touch base with your faculty advisor to get to know them and talk about your goals and plans.
- Before you register each semester - Each semester before you register, contact your faculty advisor to talk about course. They will review your transcript and the courses you’ve taken to be sure you are on track.
- Whenever you need help - Faculty advisors are also great resources if you are having trouble or are unsure of next steps. Their role is to help you through the college experience, explore career options, and help with transfer.
Career Services
Brightpoint Career Services assists students, alumni and community members in understanding their career-related interests, individual values and strengths. They guide students through selecting a major and career, conducting a job or internship search, creating résumés and cover letters, building an online presence, assisting with interview preparation and career readiness, and networking/informational interviews. They also build relationships with quality employers and connect them to Brightpoint talent through on-campus recruiting, career fairs and job and internship posts in our database. To make an appointment or find out more about Brightpoint Career Services please email the Career and Internship Coordinator at careers@brightpoint.edu or call 804-706-5166.
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