General Information

NOTICE CONCERNING MATERIALS DESCRIBED IN THIS CATALOG: All provisions within this catalog are subject to change without notice.

While the College will make every effort to provide all described courses and programs, the final decision regarding availability will be determined by enrollment, available faculty, funds, and employer training needs.

Governance

Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology is a two-year technical/community college within Montana’s public university system. Central administrative control of the College is vested exclusively in the Montana Board of Regents. The Regents have full power, responsibility, and authority to supervise, coordinate, manage, and control the colleges and universities within the Montana University System.

Although a stand-alone institution for purposes of institutional accreditation, budget, personnel, and management, Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology has been affiliated with Montana State University since July 1, 1994.

Accreditation

Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, a regional postsecondary accrediting agency. Regional accreditation assures the quality of the educational experience and facilitates the transfer of credit to state and national colleges and universities.

In addition, the Dental Assistant, Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Technician, Health Information Technology, Medical Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Practical Nurse, Respiratory Care, and Surgical Technology programs are accredited and/or approved by their respective state and/or national agencies.

All educational programs offered by the College are approved by the Montana Board of Regents, United States Department of Education, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and Montana Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

Important College Regulations and Policies

COMPUTER & NETWORK USAGE POLICY
This college is pleased to offer students a wide variety of computer facilities, services, equipment, and software. Students are encouraged to use them within official guidelines. The Montana University System Board of Regents has implemented information technology policies that apply to all public institutions of higher education within the state of Montana. These policies may be reviewed at: www.bor.montana.edu/borpol/ bor1300/1304-1.htm. Additional college policies can be found at www.gfcmsu.edu Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in disciplinary action, including expulsion from the college and criminal prosecution.

• Access
  Students have access to computers on the MSU – Great Falls campus at several locations – in computer labs, the library, computer classrooms, and at the computer kiosks outside the bookstore. Students currently enrolled for classes also may have access to wireless networking but must first sign an agreement with the Information Technology Department when using personal computers for such use and comply with the Network Attached Device Policy and Standards. Students and non-students are welcome to use the computer kiosks, but are asked to share that resource with others who wish to use it. Similarly, students and non-students may use the research computers in the library to meet their informational needs. Computers in the library dedicated as computer lab workstations will require a current student identification card. Library computer workstations dedicated for research are available to the general public; however, priority for these machines will be given to students enrolled at the college. The library’s computers (both student lab workstations and research stations) may not be used for communicative or leisure purposes - for instance, personal email, chat rooms, blogging and online or personal gaming. Because access to computer labs and classrooms is purchased by students through their computer fees, computer labs and classrooms may be used only by students currently enrolled in classes, workshops, or seminars at the College. Students are allowed access to open computer-equipped classrooms when the building is open, Monday - Friday. On weekends, in the event of an overflow from the Library Computer Lab, a classroom may be unlocked for student use.
  
  
• Privacy of Information
  MSU – Great Falls campus computer systems and networks are public and subject to Montana State laws. Files of personal information, including programs, regardless of the medium on which they are stored or transmitted, may be considered public information and are stored on Great Falls College MSU computers. However, simply being able to access a file or other information does not imply permission to do so. The preservation of individual privacy is given high regard at this College, and students may not use electronic and other technological methods to infringe upon another’s privacy. No one should look at, copy, alter, or destroy any individual’s personal files without explicit permission from that individual, unless authorized by the Dean of the College in compliance with law or regulation.
  
  
• Libel, Slander, and Harassment
  No member of the College community may, under any circumstances, use Great Falls College MSU computers or networks to libel, slander, or harass any other person. Harassment includes intentionally using the computer to threaten or sexually harass another person; contact another person repeatedly regarding a matter for which one does not have a legal right to communicate once the recipient has provided reasonable notice that he or she desires such communication to cease; and/or disrupt or damage someone’s academic, research, administrative, or related pursuits.
  
  
• Responsible Use of Resources
  Students are responsible for knowing what information resources (including networks) are available, remembering that the members of the College community share them, and refraining from all acts that waste these resources or prevent others from using them. Details regarding available resources can be obtained by consulting with the Information Technology department.
  
  Students are discouraged from using campus computing and network services for non-academic purposes such as game playing and non-academic chat rooms. A student using a computer for non-academic matters must give it up when someone who wishes to use the computer for academic purposes is waiting.
  
  State law restricts the use of state facilities and equipment for personal gain or benefit. Computing facilities, services, and networks at MSU – Great Falls may not be used for compensated outside work or work for the benefit of organizations not related to MSU – Great Falls without written permission from the Dean. Electronic gambling, stock trading, or any other financial gain method conducted on College computers, services, or networks is forbidden. State law also restricts the use of College computer systems for political advocacy or for commercial advertising.
  
  
• System Security
  Students are prohibited from attempting to circumvent or subvert any security measures, degrade the performance of a computer system or network, or deprive authorized personnel of resources or access to any College computer system or network.

 

The following harmful activities are also prohibited: creating or propagating viruses; disrupting services; deleting or damaging files without proper authorization; intentionally destroying or damaging equipment, software, or data belonging to MSU – Great Falls or other users; and the like.

No software may be installed, copied, or used on College resources except as permitted by system administrators.

 

Crime Awareness and Campus Security
It is the policy and commitment of the College to afford its students, employees, and visitors a campus and educational environment that is as safe and free of crime as possible. Students, employees, and visitors contribute to overall campus safety by reporting criminal activity, by securing personal possessions, and by being aware of personal safety when entering or exiting the campus buildings. A brochure which provides campus crime prevention information as well as statistics on the incidence of campus crime is available from the Welcome Desk.

 

Drug-Free Campus Policy
In compliance with the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, Public Law 101-690, Great Falls College MSU is committed to a good faith effort to provide a drug-free campus. Therefore, the manufacturing, distribution, sale and/or abuse of illicit and/or prescription drugs, or the inappropriate use of alcohol at the College or in any activity affiliated with the College is prohibited. In addition, the College will enforce the Board of Regents’ policy, Section 503.1, of the Policy and Procedures Manual regarding alcoholic beverages. Students must comply with this policy as a condition of attendance. Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion and/or referral for prosecution. At the discretion of the Dean of the College of Technology, a student violating the policy may be required to satisfactorily complete a drug or alcohol abuse rehabilitation program as an alternative to expulsion or as a condition for readmission.

According to information provided by the U.S. Department of Education, drug and alcohol abuse may cause personal health problems, as well as interfere with work, school and daily living performance.

The Great Falls community has a number of excellent resources available to assist an individual who is having difficulty with drug and/or alcohol abuse. Student Central Advisors at the MSU - Great Falls College of Technology are familiar with community resources and are available to refer individuals for assistance and/or treatment to overcome the problem of drug or alcohol abuse. If an individual is reluctant to approach College personnel, information about assistance programs may be obtained by calling the Community Help Line--761-6010.

Equal Opportunity Policy
Great Falls College MSU is commited to the provision of equal opportunity for education, employment, and participation in all College programs and activities without regard to race, color, gender, marital status, disability, age, disadvantage, religion, political affiliation and/or national origin.

The College’s Equal Opportunity Officers are the Executive Director of Human Resources and the Assistant Dean of Student Services, 2100 16th Avenue South, Great Falls, MT 59405. Telephone: 406-771-4300.

Firearms, Munitions, Explosives
Possession, use, or threatened use of firearms, ammunition, explosives, chemicals, and/or any other weapons are prohibited. This applies to all campus locations, including campus grounds and parking facilities. Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal and/or referral for prosecution.

 

Sexual Harassment Policy
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender. Sexual harassment is a form of gender-based discrimination. Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology prohibits and will not tolerate sexual harassment on its premises, within any of its programs, services or other College-sponsored activities, or by anyone acting as an agent of the College.

Great Falls College MSU uses the definition of sexual harassment set forth by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which states:

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

Title IX extends these protections to include students. Other consumers and members of the general public who come into contact with the College or its agents are covered by this policy as well.

Any employee who believes her or she is experiencing sexual harassment should immediately contact the College’s Executive Director of Human Resources to discuss options for resolving the issue. Students should contact the Assistant Dean of Student Services and anyone else should contact the College’s Dean. Individuals are generally encouraged to attempt to resolve the issue informally by discussing their concerns with the alleged harasser, his or her supervisor, or both. However, the College recognizes that sexual harassment is a sensitive and potentially volatile issue, and if it is not feasible for the harassed individual to follow this recommended procedure, the appropriate agent should be contacted initially to begin an investigation. All complaints will be handled with discretion and information provided in the initial complaint and during the course of the investigation will remain as confidential as possible. The identity of both the complainant and the alleged harasser will be protected.

Any individual found to be guilty of violating the College’s sexual harassment policy will be subject to discipline commensurate with the nature of the offense. Disciplinary action up to and including termination (or dismissal in the case of a student, termination of a contract in the case of a contractual relationship, or restricted access to the College in the case of a member of the general public) may be implemented.

Individuals who submit complaints and/or participate in the investigation process are protected from retaliation due to their participation. Anyone engaging in retaliatory behavior will be in violation of the College’s sexual harassment policy, and therefore subject to appropriate disciplinary action as outlined above.

Great Falls College MSU is committed to providing and ensuring a safe, positive learning environment that is free from harassment. A complete version of this policy may be obtained from Human Resources or online at www.gfcmsu.edu