Subject: Expulsion/Denial of Entry of Students to Class
Effective Date: 1-1-97

A faculty member may expel a student from a class or lab for the balance of that class or lab period if the student engages in behavior that is disruptive, refuses to obey a lawful directive of the faculty member is determined to be engaging in any form of academic dishonesty, or fails to comply with the published dress code or other rules of the college or for any of the reasons listed under the section Denial of Entry to Class which follows. If the student refuses to leave when requested, the faculty member is to call campus security personnel and have the student removed. Unless it should be necessary to protect himself or his students, the faculty member should not make any effort or threat to physically remove the student.

If the faculty member desires that the expulsion extend beyond that class period or that it be permanent (student dropped from class) the faculty member must make such request to the Vice President for Academic Affairs prior to the beginning of the next meeting of that class. If the Vice President of Academic Affairs concurs, the student is to be notified in writing of the period of his suspension or of his dismissal and notified of procedures by which he may appeal.

Denial of Entry to Class

A faculty member may deny a student entry to class for the following reasons:

Authority to Issue Order Denying Students Admission to Class

Except as outlined above, only the president, vice presidents and campus directors may authorize any order or request to deny students admission to class. All notices shall carry the name of the person authorized to deny admission.

Subject: Inclement Weather
Effective Date: 11-1-96

Definition: Inclement weather generally refers to cold and icy or other hazardous conditions severe enough to make it impractical or dangerous to hold classes or require employees to report for duty.

Decision Process and Principles

Decisions to close parts or all of college operations will be made as soon as practical in order to give students and employees sufficient notice of closure. The goal of early notice will be balanced against the risk of making a premature decision to close that subsequently might prove to have been unnecessary. Decision on and the timing of closing for different campuses may not be the same. The major consideration will be the safety of all students and employees. Secondary consideration will be given to limiting any negative impact on the education process.

The President of the college will make decisions relative to the closure of the college. Insofar as practical, he will seek weather and road information from area sources and consider the announced or contemplated closing by other area institutions and agencies. He will also consult with appropriate college staff to determine any special circumstances or impact a closure would have on college programs and activities, e.g., night, weekend, and off-campus classes, athletic events, testing, conferences and other special events.

At the discretion of the President, and after consultation, the Vice President of the Brazos County Campuses may be assigned the task of making closure decisions for Brazos County. In the absence of the President, the Executive Vice President will make closure decisions after consulting with other appropriate staff.

Distribution of Inclement Weather Decision:

Brenham Campus and Off-Campus Teaching Sites

When the decision is made to dismiss classes and not require some or all groups of employees to work, those employees will not be required to make-up the work missed. Employees required to work during inclement weather will be considered to be fulfilling normal duties and hours. Employees who are required to work, but fail to report because of hazardous roads or other conditions, may elect to make up the time or use personal leave or vacation time for work missed. If time is not made up or leave or vacation time is not available, the employee must forfeit pay.

Employees Responsibilities in the Event of Closures

When the President makes a decision to have classes and/or directs employees to report to work, it is the policy and expectation of the college that each employee and student has the individual right and responsibility to determine whether he or she can safely drive to the college. Employees who make a determination not to report to work shall come under the provisions of the Make-Up Policy section of this policy. Students who miss class are responsible for making arrangements with their instructors for any work missed.

SUBJECT: Support for Travel to Professional Meetings
Effective Date: 9-1-87 (Rev. 10-14-93)

Blinn College encourages its full-time professional employees to attend and participate in appropriate professional meeting and activities that are related to their duties and responsibilities. The college will provide funding and released time from duty as outlined below. Funding and released time is not normally provided for part-time employees. Employees attending meetings as a part of their regular duties or at the request of the administration are not subject to these guidelines.

While funds and released time are being provided for each professional employee, the use of these funds and released time is always subject to approval by the employee's supervisor and the administration. The standard trip ticket procedure must be followed. The President of the college may alter or waive any provision of this policy when he judges it to be in the best interest of the college.

Funding

Each professional employee will be allotted $400.00 per year to attend professional meetings. These funds may be applied to registration fees, transportation, lodging and meals. The standard travel allowances shall be applied and Blinn vehicles must be used for transportation unless other forms of transportation are approved in advance. The employee may elect to use all of the funds on a single meeting or spread them out over several meetings. Any expenses in excess of the allotted and/or approved amount will be the responsibility of the employee. The allotted funds may not be pooled, accumulated, or transferred to any other employee or budget account. Funding for attendance at the annual TJCTA convention will be part of this yearly allottment. Currently all faculty must complete a Professional Development Grant Form to obtain funding.

All requests for reimbursement must be submitted on the college's Travel Expense Account form and are subject to the standard documentation and approval guidelines.

Released Time

Full-time faculty members may be released from their teaching duties up to 2 days per contract year to attend professional meetings. Faculty members may be released an additional 1 day per year but will have their salary reduced by the cost of substitutes taking their classes for that additional day. Employees away from duty in excess of those outlined above will have their salary reduced by a prorated amount based on the number of duty days for which they are employed. Released time for faculty members is subject to approval by the division chairperson, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the President of the college. Released time may not be pooled, accumulated or transferred.

Non-teaching professional employees may be released up to 1/4 day for each month of their contract. Any released time in excess of that amount shall be considered a special case subject to conditions established by the President of the college. Released time for non-teaching professional employees is subject to approval by the employee's immediate supervisor, the appropriate vice president and the President of the college.

Special Support For Program Participants and Offices

Full-time faculty and professional staff presenting programs at significant meetings of professional and/or governmental organizations or serving as officers of such organizations may, at the discretion of the President of the college, receive full or partial funding for such participation. The importance of the organization and the frequency of participation in such activities shall be factors in the decision to approve or not approve support. Both the organization and meeting must be related to the employee's duties at the college.

Employees must secure written permission from the appropriate supervisor, vice-president, and the President of the college, to be a program participant or to serve as an officer prior to obligating themselves to such activities. Otherwise, the employee may be denied both financial support and time away from the job. Employees must disclose any compensation or other financial support received from participation or in their capacity as an officer. College support will be reduced by a like amount. The college will not support any employee activity which is commercial in nature or for which compensation or travel is a primary motivation.

Part-time and adjunct faculty may receive partial support on a case-by-case basis.

SUBJECT: Travel Reimbursement
Effective Date: July 1, 1999 (Rev. 9-22-08)

Blinn College will provide reimbursement for approved travel as outlined below. All employees are encouraged to keep travel expenses at the lowest practical level. All requests for reimbursement must be submitted to the Business Office on the official Employee Expense Form.

Meals

Reimbursement for meals shall be for out-of-town meals only. Reimbursement for meals shall be $45.00 per day for administrators, faculty and staff and $30.00 per day for students.

Tips for meals shall constitute a part of the maximum allowance. Charges for alcoholic beverages will not be reimbursed.

The maximum meal allowances may be exceeded when the employee is attending a banquet as a part of the approved travel or with the advance approval of the President of the college. Such extra-cost meals should be identified in advance when submitting purchase requisitions and/or trip tickets for travel and receipts are required.

Receipts for individual meals are required. Receipts for group meals (2 or more persons) must be submitted with names of those in the group.

Faculty and staff members who, on their own time, represent the college on evening student recruiting trips will be paid $20.00 per day. This payment is to cover one cost of the meal and the taxes that will be due on this benefit.

Hotel

All employees are encouraged to seek the most economical housing that is appropriate to the nature and location of the meeting or event being attended. If the Blinn employee shares a room with a family member who is not a Blinn employee, the college will pay up to the single occupant rate. This rate must be shown on the hotel receipt. The employee is responsible for the additional charges. No reimbursement is made for lodging in private homes.

Reimbursement for hotel rates shall be subject to the allowable or budgeted amount and approved through the purchase order - trip ticket process. No reimbursement shall be made for state sales tax, movies, personal phone calls or other personal expenses charged to the room. An original hotel receipt must always be submitted, credit card receipts are not acceptable.

Vehicles

Employees are required to use a college vehicle for approved travel whenever such vehicle is available. When a personal vehicle is used, the reimbursement rate shall be found at www.window.state.tx.us.

The use of a rental car must be approved in advance through the purchase requisition - trip ticket process when authorized to rent a vehicle, buy only physical damage insurance coverage on the rental vehicle.

Air Travel

Flights for Individuals

A trip ticket must be completed and submitted for approval.

The person making the request should give a copy of the approved ticket to the purchasing director, who assigns a purchase order number and selects the travel agency.

The requester contacts the selected agency to book the flight, using the assigned purchase order number. The requester is responsible for all correct flight information, for arranging delivery of tickets, and for notifying the purchasing director of the correct amount of the purchase order.

If this procedure is not followed, the requester may be personally liable for the cost of the ticket.

Flights for Groups

A trip ticket must be completed and submitted for approval.

The person making the request should give a copy of the approved ticket to the purchasing director.

The purchasing director, after obtaining price quotations from at least two agencies, books the flight based on requester information. The purchasing director notifies the requester about the arrangements.

If this procedure is not followed, the requester may be personally liable for the cost of the tickets.

All requests should be made in a timely manner.

Incidental Expenses

Parking: Reimbursement will be made for necessary parking fees. Receipts must be submitted for hotel (overnight) and airport parking fees. The employee should seek the most reasonable and practical parking rates. Charges for valet and premium parking services will not be reimbursed if other parking was available.

Personal: Charges for personal expenses such as newspapers, gifts, traffic tickets, coffee breaks, personal phone calls, and entertainment will not be reimbursed. Any expense incurred by the employee by virtue of extending the travel period for personal pleasure (such as staying over an extra day on a weekend) shall be paid entirely by the employee. Tips for personal services such as baggage handling shall not be reimbursed.

Vehicle Repairs: Charges for emergency repairs to Blinn vehicles will be reimbursed. If practical, the employee should contact the Director of Transportation or the Vice President for Business Services before authorizing major repairs. If possible, have the repair station charge the repairs to Blinn. If not possible, the employee should make personal payment and obtain a receipt for reimbursement.