Student Handbook

WELCOME

The entire UniTec Career Center staff takes this opportunity to welcome students and visitors and wishes each success in his or her pursuit of satisfying educational and career goals.  Visitors are requested to check in at the main office reception area for appropriate information.

PHILOSOPHY

The belief at the UniTec Career Center is that the skills needed to become employable can be learned from educational programs designed for that purpose.  All efforts are dedicated to the goal of preparing the graduate to be competent in entry level job skills for his/her chosen career.  That goal includes both technical and social skills to be successful in obtaining, holding and growing on the job.  It is further essential that all activities for students will be directed toward satisfying the expectations by business and industry of their employees.

GOALS

1. Provide career programs at the secondary and adult levels equal to labor market demands.
2. Participating special needs supportive services for individuals participating in career education.
3. Provide an administrative structure which supports the continued delivery and improvement of career education for the service delivery area.
4. Provide personnel and placement to support career instructional program efforts.
5. Provide personnel improvement activities and opportunities to promote delivery of career education.
6. Provide equal access to programs, services, and activities of all individuals regardless of their race, color, age, national origin, sex, or handicapping condition.
7. Provide academic integration as it relates to the career.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT UNITEC

The UniTec Career Center has established a reputation for excellence and competence in the field of career and technical education since 1943.  The major functions of the UniTec Career Center are to provide knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for entry and progression in the occupational area of the student’s choice.  A well developed program of testing and guidance, in cooperation with participating school districts, small classes, and excellent student-teacher relationships support the school philosophy that each student shall be treated as an individual.  All classes at UniTec are open to female and male enrollment.  The school primarily serves a population of over 70,000 in a four county area: St. Francois, Madison, Ste. Genevieve, and Washington.

Seven participating schools send secondary students to the day programs.  Those schools are Bismarck, Central, Farmington, Fredericktown, North County, Potosi and West County.

COMPUTERIZED ACADEMIC LABORATORY

All students have access to the Computerized Academic Laboratory (CAL Lab) for the purpose of upgrading and enhancing their academic potential.  The laboratory consists of 20 networked computer stations with access to a wide range of software.

FACULTY

The UniTec instructors are qualified specialists with extensive experience in the skills they are teaching.  They are licensed by the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  Through required continuing education and industry contact they keep up with the latest developments in their fields.  Practical industry standards and conditions are maintained in all courses.

ADVISORY COMMITTEES

To insure current relevant and quality training, the UniTec Career Center maintains a continual dialogue with the employment community through Occupational Advisory Committees.  They are selected because of their concern for the specific area of occupational competence under consideration.  Additionally, an Administrative and General Advisory Committee serves the school.  As a student you may be asked to serve on a committee.

ACCREDITATION

The UniTec Career Center is accredited with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and is one of the centers established as part of the Missouri network technical education and career centers of Missouri.

ADMISSION

Students interested in the UniTec Career Center or wishing to enroll should contact their home school counselors.  Each home school has enrollment criteria for their student enrollees.

 

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

As a part of the regular curriculum at the UniTec Career Center, the school is affiliated with the SkillsUSA student organization.

COUNSELING

The major objective of the school is to place graduates in the area of their career choice.  Some of the techniques taught for employment preparation are form completion, resume preparation, job interview, and self presentation.  UniTec Career Center has a counselor for the purpose of assisting students with their counseling needs.

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

DROPPING OR CHANGING A PROGRAM

Normally, students are considered to be enrolled for the entire year if they have been accepted for admission.  The administration realizes it is sometimes necessary for students to drop programs or to change to other programs.  These program changes should be made during the first ten school days of the year.

STUDENT DRIVING PROCEDURES

The Advisory Board of the UniTec Career Center has a policy concerning transportation of students to and from school.  The policy is that all students attending the UniTec Career Center will be furnished transportation by the cooperating school district and students are not to drive vehicles or ride in any other form of transportation without proper approval.  Students who do have legitimate reasons to drive must be granted permission by the UniTec Director who will issue a driving permit.  Students who need to drive and/or ride in vehicles to UniTec for purposes such as doctor’s appointments, home school requests, work, etc…those driving permits will be issued by the home school Principal at his/her discretion.

In the event that this policy is broken by any student the first offense will result in a one to three day suspension from the UniTec Career Center.  Any additional offense will be in accordance with the discipline policy.

Also, during the school year your UniTec class will take short bus trips to sites and for tours of industry.  By signing your Student Information Card, this gives permission to be transported on bus trips that begin and end during the regular school day.

LEAVING SCHOOL DURING CLASS HOURS

Students are not to leave the building during regular class periods without parental permission and checking out through the Director’s office.

ATTENDANCE

Salary to the employee and profit to the employer lost through absenteeism can never be recovered.  The same applies to class attendance. A day of missed instruction may be lost forever.  Progress in a course, including attendance habits, become a part of the permanent record.  Attendance is one item of information most often requested by prospective employers when they contact instructors or the job placement office for reference.  Attendance will be a major factor in a student’s letter grade. 

The attendance policy at UniTec Career Center is in conjunction with the individual student’s home school policy.  However, it should be noted that a student might fail if he/she has missed more than six (6) days in a semester without justification.

TARDINESS

Tardiness is also an important factor in determining employee responsibility.  Any student missing more than 30 minutes of the class period may be counted absent for the day.  See discipline guidelines for consequences.

CARE OF CLASSROOM AND SHOP AREAS

Each student is expected to help keep his/her own personal work area clean as well as the total classroom and shop area.  Do your part to keep the school in good appearance and the equipment in a good state of repair.

TEXTBOOKS, SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

Textbooks and most instructional supplies will be provided by the UniTec Career Center.  All texts, reference materials, hand tools, etc., checked out to a student must be returned to the instructor.  Any lost or damaged item must be paid for upon completion or withdrawal from the course.  Until all items are returned, grades and credits will not be awarded.

EARTHQUAKE, FIRE AND SEVERE STORM PROCEDURES

Earthquake, fire and tornado drills will be held periodically during the year.

Fire or other emergencies that require leaving the building will be signified by a slow whoop tone.  Everyone should evacuate the building according to the guidelines for emergency situations that are posted throughout the building.

Severe storm procedures- personnel should exit the classrooms and/or laboratories into the corridors and take a prone position next to the wall, clear of all exits.  Severe storm warnings will be signified by a pulsed tone.

In the event of practice drills, you will be notified over the intercom when to return to class.  A continuous ringing of the bell is an all-clear signal.  Fire drills and severe storm drills will be conducted without previous notification.  Be sure to maintain orderly evacuation at all times and during practice, orderly re-entrance into the building and/or classroom.

As an alternative method of notification, should a power failure occur, a hand held air horn should be used to warn occupants of the building.

APPEARANCE AND ATTIRE

Clothing must be without suggestive slogans, words, symbols, and/or graphics.  Clothing judged to be in bad taste is not to be worn.  No items with beer, liquor, or cigarette logos are to be worn.  This includes bags or hats.

Hats or other head gear are not to be worn in the building.

Clothing that is considered to be distracting or unsafe is not to be worn.

Failure to comply with the dress code will be considered insubordination.

In addition, students are required to wear clothing and protective eye and face shields appropriate to the occupational task for which they are being trained.

SAFETY

The students must wear safety glasses while participating in lab learning situations.  The safety glasses are to be worn in all appropriate work areas for the safety and protection of the student.  Students will not be allowed to participate in shop activities if they do not observe safety practices and wear appropriate clothing.

FOOD AND DRINKS

At the appropriate times, students are allowed to purchase soda, food and snacks in the multi-purpose room.  STUDENTS SHOULD NOT purchase sodas after the bell rings to dismiss them to class.  STUDENTS ARE NOT TO BRING IN DRINKS in cups or open containers from the outside.  Students will be asked to dispose of any drinks brought in from the outside.  Failure to comply will be considered insubordination.

CHANGE FOR VENDING MACHINES

Students are responsible for providing their own change for use in the vending machine.  A change machine is provided for student use.  Students are not to go to the office to get change.

 

ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES

Students are to report all injuries or illnesses immediately to their instructor; then, if deemed necessary to the office.  Ill or injured students must receive permission from the office before calling parents or leaving the premises.  If a student needs emergency hospital or medical aid, the school will notify the parent.  If the parent or guardian cannot be reached, information given by parents on the student information card will be followed.

STUDENT INSURANCE

While the UniTec Career Center has an excellent history in students not being injured while in attendance, it does happen.  Therefore, it is important that your son/daughter have adequate medical insurance that would cover needed medical services in the event they are involved in an accident while in attendance at UniTec.

PLEASE NOTE that UniTec Career Center does not provide medical insurance on the students enrolled.  This is the responsibility of each enrollee.

FIELD TRIPS

For field trips that extend beyond the normal school day, an additional parent permission form will be required by the teacher.

TELEPHONE CALLS

Students will not be called from class to accept phone calls unless they are of an emergency nature.  Only messages from parents or home school personnel will be passed on by the office secretaries. Students are to use the phone in the office with permission for emergencies only.

CELL PHONES/CAMERA PHONES

Cell phones and camera phones are not to be used at school as they present possible disruption of the educational process and a threat to student’s confidentiality and privacy.

LOCKERS

Lockers are issued to students in laboratory classes at the beginning of the year by class instructors.  Your locker should be kept locked at all times.  Each student is responsible for keeping their assigned locker clean both inside and outside.

LOST AND FOUND

Articles found in and around the school should be turned in to the office where the owners may claim their property after identification.
CARE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY

Each student is responsible for his/her personal property.  Large sums of money, expensive jewelry, CD players, tape players, radios and etc. should be left at home.  If an article is lost, the student should check with the instructor and the office.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

Students at the Career Center are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which is considerate of the rights of others and which will not impair the educational mission of the school.  Misconduct for which students are subject to discipline falls into, but is not limited by these areas:

1. All forms of dishonesty: cheating, stealing, plagiarism, forgery, alteration of improper use of school records or materials.
2. Physical abuse of any person on school property or at functions under supervision of the school.
3. Intentional obstruction or disruption of teaching, administration, disciplinary proceedings or other school activities.
4. Conduct which threatens or endangers the health and safety of any persons who are present at supervised functions on school property or off school property.
5. Unauthorized use of school facilities or equipment.
6. Breaking any UniTec Career Center student policies.

 

ACCEPTABLE INTERNET AND COMPUTER USE

This policy is in place to identify safe use of computers and the Internet for the student’s safety and for the proper use and maintenance of the school’s computers.  This comprehensive Internet and Computer Use Agreement are on file in the main office and in the computer lab.  A copy is available to everyone.  The agreement outlines acceptable and unacceptable use of computers and the Internet and identifies the consequences of violating acceptable use of the Internet and computers.  Parents will be informed of any violations and the students will not be allowed computer privileges for a length of time depending upon the extent of unacceptable use as outlined in the Agreement.

DEFINITIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR DISCIPLINE

*Any discipline situation not listed here will be handled at the discretion of the administrator.

SUSPENSION

Any student suspended from the home school is automatically suspended from the Career Center program.  Any student suspended by the UniTec Career Center administration may have ISS or OSS at the discretion of the home school administration.

The UniTec Career Center has an established suspension procedure policy which briefly involves the following process:  The student and the cooperating school principal will be notified both verbally and in writing as to the reason and length of suspension.

GRADING STANDARDS

Grades shall reflect the total performance of the student.  Factors such as shop performance, related classroom performance, attitude and attendance will be considered.  Grades are issued each 9 (nine) weeks.  Semester grades become a part of the student’s permanent record.

Letter grades are defined as follows:

97-100   A                   81-84   B-                   65-68   D+       Withheld   W
93-96     A-                 77-80   C+                   61-64   D
89-92     B+                73-76   C                     60        D-
85-88     B                   69-72  C-                    0-59     F

PROGRESS REPORTS

Instructors may send progress reports at any time they believe there is a need.  Progress reports may be complimentary of the student’s performance or they may outline deficiencies that need to be corrected by the student.

BREAKS

The use of breaks is a privilege granted by your instructor.  Students are not to be in the multi-purpose room unless accompanied by their instructor.  Students are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the facility.

STUDENT DUE PROCESS RIGHTS

Any student accused of an action and threatened with punishment for that action has a right to due process as guaranteed by RSMO 1084 Section 167.171.  Such procedures involve the following sequences:

1. The pupil shall be given oral or written notice of the charges against them.
2. If the pupil denies the charges, they shall be given an oral or written explanation of the facts which form the basis of the proposed suspension
3. The pupil shall be given the opportunity to present their version of the incident.
4. Appeal the UniTec Career Center Administrator’s decision to the cooperating high school principal; this must be done within one (1) day of the infraction.
5. The pupil may then appeal that decision to the UniTec Career Center’s Advisory Board.  This must be done within three (3) days of the appeal made to the high school principal and must be in writing.
6. The pupil may then make appeal to their local board of education and request a hearing; this must be done in writing and within three (3) days after the appeal hearing of the Advisory Board.
7. In the event of a suspension for more than ten (10) days, where the pupil gives notice that they wish to appeal the suspension to the board, the suspension shall be stayed until the board renders its decision, unless in the judgment of the Advisory Board, the pupil’s presence poses a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disrupting the academic process, in which case the pupil may be immediately removed from school, and the notice and hearing shall follow as soon as possible.

THREATS OF VIOLENCE

Due to the tragic events that have taken place recently in America’s public schools, students are being advised and warned about certain situations.

It is a Federal Offense to make any kind of statement concerning the use of a firearm, weapon, bomb, etc. for the destruction of property or loss of life or injury to individuals.
All threats or statements, no matter how insignificant, will be taken seriously and will be dealt with severely.

The Safe Schools Act requires all statements like these be referred to the Police and Juvenile Office and be subjected to disciplinary action by the school that will include suspension from school for a minimum of 10 days and possibly a longer period.  All referrals will be presented to the Administration Board of UniTec Career Center for their review and possible action.

The intent of this is to make everyone aware of the seriousness of making these types of comments.  Understand that this is a very serious topic.

The excuse that “I was kidding” is a statement you may have to explain in court!

MISSOURI SAFE SCHOOLS ACT

The Missouri Safe Schools Act was enacted in 1996 for the purpose of providing safer schools with stiffer penalties for violations.

The Safe Schools Act requires school administrators to report acts of violence to teachers and other school district employees with a need to know.

School Administrators are required to report, as soon as reasonably practical, to the appropriate law enforcement agency any of the following felonies, and any act if committed by an adult would be one of the following felonies:

1. First degree murder
2. Second degree murder
3. Kidnapping
4. First degree assault
5. Forcible rape
6. Forcible sodomy
7. Burglary in the first degree
8. Burglary in the second degree
9. Robbery in the first degree
10. Distribution of drugs
11. Distribution of drugs to a minor
12. Arson in the first degree
13. Voluntary manslaughter
14. Involuntary manslaughter
15. Second degree assault
16. Sexual assault
17. Felonious restraint
18. Property damage in the first degree
19. The possession of a weapon under Chapter 571 RSMo, committed on school property, including but not limited to actions on any school bus in service on behalf of the district or while involved in school activities.

 

For the purpose of this section the term “weapon” shall mean firearm as defined under 18 U.S.C 921 and the following items, as defined in Section 571.010, RSMo: a blackjack, a concealable firearm, an explosive weapon, a firearm, a firearm silencer, a gas gun, a knife, knuckles, a machine gun, a projectile weapon, a rifle, a shotgun, a spring gun, or a switchblade knife. This definition shall include the weapons defined in this subsection but may also include other weapons.

Act of Violence shall be defined as, but not limited to, exertion of physical force by a student with the intent to do serious bodily harm to another person while on school property, including a school bus in service on behalf of the district, or while involved in school activities.

The Safe Schools Act contains the following consequences for failure to obey the standards of conduct set forth in the act: “The policy shall provide for a suspension for a period of not less than one year, or expulsion, for a student who is determined to have brought a weapon to school in violation of district policy, except that (1) The Superintendent, or in a school district with no high school, the principal of the school which such child attends may modify such suspension on a case-by-case basis; and (2) This section shall not prevent the school district from providing educational services in an alternative setting to a student suspended under the provisions of this section.

NON DISCRIMINATION POLICY

UniTec Career Center has taken necessary steps to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended: and Title IX of the 1972 Education Act, as Amended.

It is the policy at UniTec Career Center not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, sex, physical condition, or national origin in its educational programs, activities, admission or employment policies as required by the above-listed laws.  Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended; and Title IX of the 1972 Education Act, as Amended, may be directed to the Superintendent, North County R-1 Schools, 300 Berry Road, Bonne Terre, MO 63628, telephone 573-358-2247, or to the Director of Civil Rights, Department of Education or Health and Welfare, Washington, D.C.

Pursuant to 45 C.F.R.P.86.8, UniTec Career Center has adopted “Due Process”/Grievance procedures for students and employees.

Revised 2006-07

 

PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND STUDENTS MUST SIGN THE STUDENT INFORMATION CARD AND RETURN BACK TO UNITEC.

 

Link to Student Information Card