Children on Campus
000.260 CHILDREN ON CAMPUS POLICY
Wenatchee Valley College is committed to the health and safety of its workforce, students and visitors, including children visitors.
As an institution of higher education, the college provides educational and support services primarily to adult learners. Under certain circumstances and under the auspices of special programs, students under the age of 18 also attend classes and/or participate in programs or activities on college property.
The college is a public facility of the state of Washington, available to its students as well as to the general public who may wish to use its facilities, learn about its services and programs or attend functions at the college. Citizens have the right to use the facilities of the college and to visit the college during normal business hours of operation.
The college recognizes that children often appropriately accompany adults during visits to the college. Children, however, need at all times to be under the supervision of a responsible adult and it is the adult’s responsibility to ensure that the children behave appropriately. It is inappropriate for a parent/guardian to ask members of the college community—faculty, staff or students—to assume these responsibilities, unless he or she is leaving the child in a college program sanctioned for children.
Children without supervision or with supervision imposed upon college employees or students, may disrupt the educational process or work setting, and possibly create a safety hazard for the children themselves or for others.
This policy, together with its accompanying procedure, is intended to help ensure the safety and security of children visitors to the college and to safeguard the educational and work environments of the college.
This policy pertains to all employees and persons, who visit the college, participate in classes, and/or programs, events or other activities on college property.
Approved by the president’s cabinet: 10/23/12
Adopted by the board of trustees: 3/20/13
Last reviewed: __/__/__
Policy contact: Administrative services
Related policies and procedures
300.920 Classroom Access Policy
1000.260 Children on Campus Procedure
1000.260 CHILDREN ON CAMPUS PROCEDURE
Security and safety of children visitors to the college requires the cooperation of employees, students and/or the parent/guardian of the children.
This procedure pertains to all employees and persons who visit the college, participate in classes, and/or programs, events or other activities on college property.
A. DEFINITION OF CHILD
For purposes of these procedures and pursuant to RCW 13.34.030–the Juvenile Court Act, RCW 74.13.020–Child Welfare Services, and RCW 26.28.010–Age of Majority, a child is any individual under the age of 18. At WVC, the exception to the “any individual under the age of 18” is the 16 to 18 year old student who has applied for admission and registered for classes through Running Start or after graduating from high school.
B. PROCEDURES
In order to help safeguard child visitors and the educational and work environments
of the college, the following procedures have been developed:
- Students shall not bring children to their classes. Exceptions may be granted on an emergency basis for a specified and limited period of time by their instructor. Under such circumstances, the student is solely responsible for the child.
- Employees shall not have children present at their workplace (e.g., office, classroom, shop, etc.) in lieu of other childcare arrangements, during the employee’s working hours. Exceptions may be granted on an emergency basis for a specified and limited period of time by the employee’s supervisor. Under such circumstances, the employee accompanying the child is solely responsible for the child.
- Even in lieu of exceptions, instructors, staff, and administrators may ask that children leave if they are disruptive to the learning or working environment or if safety is an issue.
- The college offers certain programs and activities targeted towards children and/or specialized programs designed for children. The college provides supervision for children enrolled in these programs and activities. The college does not supervise children outside of such programs or activities; and neither the college, or its employees, agents, nor students may accept responsibility to do so on behalf of the college.
- Children, even if accompanied by an adult, are not allowed in areas where dangerous equipment is operated and/or where chemicals, cleaning products, solvents or any hazardous products are stored or used.
- Children with a contagious illness may not be brought to the workplace under any circumstances.
- No employee, student, or visitor to the college shall leave a child unattended at the college, including in campus buildings, on campus grounds or in a vehicle. Nor shall a child be left with a college employee or student unless that child is enrolled in an authorized program of the college.
C. ENFORCEMENT
- Parents/guardians of children in violation of this procedure will be asked to remove the child from college property.
- The parent/guardian of an unaccompanied child may be contacted and requested to return to the child.
- Children without supervision may be asked to leave college property, referred to campus security, or referred to the local police, depending on their age, behavior and other circumstances.Violation of this procedure by students may result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the college.
- Violation of this procedure by employees may result in disciplinary action, consistent with college and contractual disciplinary procedures.
Approved by the president’s cabinet: 10/23/12
Presented to the board of trustees: 3/20/13
Last reviewed: __/__/__
Procedure contact: Administrative Services
Related policies and procedures
000.260 Children on Campus Policy
300.920 Classroom Access Policy