MCC Community Standards

In 2007, the Association of American Colleges and Universities named MCC one of 18 institutions chosen to participate in the Core Commitments Leadership Consortium. These colleges and universities are leading the first phase of a national initiative, Core Commitments: Educating Students for Personal and Social Responsibility. The initiative seeks to embed personal and social responsibility objectives pervasively across the institution in both the curricular and co-curricular experiences as key educational outcomes for all students.

Middlesex takes this role seriously and has created an action plan with the goal being to create a college community that strives for excellence, respects diversity, contributes to the larger community, behaves in an ethical manner, and takes seriously the viewpoints of others.
 

Core Commitments Guiding Philosophy

• Student learning is the collective responsibility of all individuals and units responsible for the curriculum and co-curriculum;

• Education for personal and social responsibility, to be intentionally fostered in all students, must pervade the institution’s culture;

• Institutions must care about and unapologetically teach for personal and social responsibility;

• Ethical, civic and moral development must be closely tied to a substantive vision for student learning in the college years that is shared across constituent groups;  and

• These forms of learning are cumulative and build on prior knowledge and experience, and need to be assessed along the way.

Middlesex Community College seeks to foster a climate for academic achievement, personal growth and community engagement, based on a strong sense of mutual respect, integrity and social responsibility. As individuals, we are honorable and accountable for our own work and actions in all that we say, write and do. As a college, we support and promote the integrity and well-being of our community.

The college community supports and upholds the MCC Honor Code Rights and Responsibilities as set forth below:

Rights
• Quality education and support
• Freedom of inquiry and expression
• A civil and respectful learning and campus environment
• Fair and equal treatment, including due process
• Privacy and confidentiality of academic and personal information and concerns

Responsibilities
• Respecting the rights and dignity of others
• Reporting incidents or situations that threaten or impact the safety and well-being of the college community
• Knowledge of and compliance with individual course policies and procedures
• Knowledge of and compliance with college policies, procedures and authorities
• Compliance with federal, state and local laws

The college community disapproves of the following behaviors:

Academic Misconduct
• Cheating
• Receiving or giving unauthorized aid
• Plagiarizing
• Misrepresenting oneself or one’s work
• Lying, fabrication and falsification
• Aiding or encouraging the academic misconduct of others

Personal Misconduct
• Disrupting class or campus activities or environments
• Harassing or otherwise interfering with the safety, rights and freedoms of others
• Stealing from or accessory to theft from others or the college
• Misusing computer and network facilities
• Damaging, or unauthorized or inappropriately accessing records, equipment and facilities
• Using or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances on campus
• Unauthorized promotion or selling of goods, services or activities

MCC’s Honor Code applies in the classroom, on the college campuses, and at college-sponsored activities off campus.

A complete listing of College Policies, the Code of Conduct, the Disciplinary Process, and Student Grievance Procedures can be found in the Student Handbook, available online at www.middlesex.mass.edu/StudentHandbook (alternative formats available upon request).

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable aspects of academic freedom. That freedom depends upon appropriate opportunities and conditions in the classroom, on the campus and in the community. The responsibility to secure and respect general conditions conducive to teaching and learning is shared by all members of the academic community: students, faculty, administrators and staff. The college respects and defends the right to lawful exercise of free speech and assembly, so long as such rights are properly exercised and due regard for the rights of others is assured.

For complete Student Conduct Rules and Regulations, refer to the MCC Student Handbook, available online at www.middlesex.mass.edu/StudentHandbook (alternative formats available upon request).