The Policy Manual is managed and updated by the Operations Committee and the Board of Governors. This manual serves as the definitive and comprehensive source for all official College policies. Below, you will find an abbreviated digital version of the Policy Manual.
For additional information on college policies and procedures, please refer to the relevant sections of our website, such as Admissions, Registration, and Student Support. Policies are also outlined in documents like the Faculty Handbook, provided to faculty at the start of their employment, and the Academic Calendar, available on the College website before each academic year. We strive to ensure consistency across all policy statements. In the event of any discrepancies between supplementary materials and this digital version of the Policy Manual, the content here shall be considered authoritative.
Introduction
Brighton College complies with all legislative statutes and regulations relevant to college operations.
Human Rights
The College abides by the Human Rights Code (BC) and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Authorization as a Designated Learning Institution
To apply for (or extend) a study permit, students require a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) or Confirmation of Enrolment letter (COE) from a designated learning institution. Brighton College is authorized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s International Student Program (ISP) as a Designated Learning Institution. Brighton College’s DLI# is O19257044542.
Additional information about these new regulations and a list of Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) list of Designated Learning Institutions is available at the following link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-institutions-list.asp
Degree Authorization Act
Brighton College is governed by the Degree Authorization Act, available at the following link:
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02024_01
Additional information on the authorization process for private degree-granting institutions is available here:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/post-secondary-education/institution-resources-administration/degree-authorization
Non-degree Programs
Non-degree programs (diploma and certificate programs) are governed by different provincial bodies; therefore, some policies (e.g., registration, refund policy) may differ for diploma and certificate courses. Students must check the Brighton College website for policies in these programs.
Introduction
This policy is intended to provide the college community with a shared sense of purpose. It describes Brighton College’s mission, core themes, and institutional learning outcomes.
Mission
Brighton College is dedicated to delivering high quality, innovative programs that develop students’ skills, provide access to education and services, foster individual success, and establish a strong academic foundation, which facilitate students’ further education and community opportunities.
Academic Goals
Institutional Learning Outcomes
Institutional Learning Outcomes Mission Statement
Brighton College welcomes all students with appropriate entrance qualifications. Brighton College believes graduates will have the knowledge, the professional skills, and the experience in teamwork and communication to further their academic program or to become valued employees in industry and, with further experience, respected industry leaders locally, nationally, and internationally.
Communication: Graduates will use written, oral, and visual communication effectively and appropriately. They will listen attentively and engage respectfully with others in and out of class.
Critical Thinking: Graduates will identify problems and evaluate accurate, credible, and reasonable sources of information to develop well informed, logical, and innovative solutions.
Global Citizenship: Graduates will understand and respect Indigenous ways of knowing and the value of diverse cultures and worldviews. They will use knowledge and skills gained to live as accountable, ethical, and contributing world citizens who value and defend environmental sustainability and social justice in their communities and globally.
Teamwork: Graduates will have worked effectively in groups and demonstrated strong interpersonal skills by respectfully motivating and supporting others and by collaborating across culturally diverse groups.
Information Literacy: Graduates will be able to access specific technology, library or media sources and evaluate content for credibility and accuracy. They will understand the ethical, social, and legal issues surrounding published, confidential, and proprietary sources and will be able to effectively integrate and produce new materials and accurately credit sources.
Specialized Skills and Application of Knowledge: Graduates will behave ethically and equitably, acting with integrity and taking responsibility for their actions. They are committed to being life-long learners, to engage in professional dialogue and practice, and to apply their knowledge and skills to solving problems in a fair, accountable, and conscientious manner.
Brighton College has committees with interlocking structures and functions that are responsible for completing tasks, making decisions, and generally overseeing the academic work of the college. The Board of Governors is the chief governing committee of the college. Responsibility for governing the college is assigned to the board by the owners of the college.
Membership
The Board of Governors consists of the president and members appointed by the owner; a representative may be appointed by the Brighton College Student Association.
The owner of the college appoints from five to 10 members to the board who serve at the pleasure of the owner. No more than 50 percent of board members may have a direct financial interest in the college. All members of the board are full voting members.
The student community may elect a representative to the board for a term of one year. The student’s participation in some discussions and decisions may be limited by the board majority, at its discretion.
Duties and Responsibilities
Develops and approves overall policy of the college, informed by the president and other sources; and gives direction to the president.
Duty to Avoid Conflict of Interest
Board members shall avoid all conflicts of interest. These may include ethical, legal, financial, professional, academic, or other conflicts of interest.
Administrators at Brighton College work in close collaboration to fulfill their respective responsibilities. This policy outlines the primary duties of most members of the administrative team.
President
The board selects and appoints a president for the MetroPointe campus. The President is the Chief Executive Officer and operates according to the directives of the board. The President has overall responsibility for the degree program’s academic departments, curriculum, faculty development and evaluation, planning, and management of resources. The President works with the Dean, the Director of Academic Affairs, and Division Coordinators on curriculum development and program assessment. The President oversees the Vice-President Operations, the Vice-President Administration, the Dean, and the Registrar.
Vice-President Operations
The Vice-President Operations oversees campus operations such as reception, facilities, security, communications, and information technology. The Vice-President Operations is also responsible for the various departments in the student affairs division, serves on the Operations Committee and on other committees as required.
Vice-President Administration
The Vice-President Administration oversees Brighton College’s web and online presence, human resources, finance, enrolment and student information services including the student portal myBC. The Vice-President Administration chairs the Scheduling Committee and serves on other committees as needed.
Dean
The Dean works with the Director of Academic Affairs and Division Coordinators on hiring, faculty performance, curriculum, professional development, program delivery, learning methodologies, annual course reviews, and learning resources. The Dean oversees the Director of Academic Affairs, is chair of the Education Committee, and serves on other committees as required.
Registrar
The Registrar reports directly to the President and oversees the Registrar’s Office including admissions, registration, student records, articulation, and scheduling. The Registrar serves on the Scheduling Committee and other committees as needed.
The committees are responsible for planning and overseeing the operation of the college.
Brighton Academic Standards Committee (BASC)
BASC has an important role in guiding the direction of Brighton College. BASC meets as needed, usually three times per year. This committee is composed of faculty from local universities and colleges as well as innovators and leaders in their field who represent and oversee subject areas taught in degree programs at Brighton College. The senior administration and directors are also members of this committee. BASC oversees the structure of degree programs, including admission standards, program requirements, delivery of courses, and graduation requirements. This committee discusses reports, considers information, makes recommendations, and sets policy. At these meetings, members normally detail activities in their area for the previous term and raise issues of concern.
Operations Committee
The Operations Committee meets every two weeks and makes decisions about the day-to-day and long –term operations of the college. This committee consists of the Vice-President Administration (chair), Director of Campus Operations and Student Affairs, and Vice-President Operations.
Education Committee
The Education Committee meets monthly to share concerns and create solutions. Themes of these meetings are subject-area related issues, as well as facility and equipment problems, expanding course delivery, BASC suggestions, grading and examination practices, professional development ideas, specific learning outcomes and general educational objectives. This committee is comprised of Brighton College division coordinators, the Dean (chair), Vice-President Operations, Registrar, Director of Operation and Student Affairs, and Director of Academic Affairs. The President and Vice-President Administration are also invited to meetings.
Scheduling Committee
The Vice-President Administration chairs this committee of stakeholders in scheduling courses and programs. It meets as necessary.
Changes to Policies and Procedure
Suggestions for new policy may be brought forward by any person or group within the College community at any time. Policies are reviewed on a five-year cycle.
New Policy
Proposals for new policy must be in writing, with accompanying rationale, and submitted to one of the governing bodies of the college (e.g., Operations Committee, Education Committee, Executive Committee, or the Brighton College Board of Governors), depending on the proposal. Steps for considering the proposal are:
All policy changes are presented to the board for information. The board may vary the policy.
Policy Review
In October of each year, the president publishes a list of policies due for review and invites feedback by a specified date.
Depending on the complexity of the proposed revision, the appropriate committee will determine a process for creating a draft of the proposed policy. The Education or Operations Committee examines the draft policy revision to ensure clarity, completeness, correctness of terminology, and consistency with other College policies.
The draft policy is considered by the president, revised as necessary, and brought to the board if necessary.
Superseded versions of policies are maintained by the Institutional Research and Assessment Office for consultative and historical purposes.
Brighton College is committed to ensuring that all members of the college community – students, faculty, staff, and visitors – can study and work in an environment of tolerance and mutual respect that is free from harassment and discrimination. The college recognizes the importance of high-quality teaching for the academic preparation of its students and accordingly requires that instructors be regularly evaluated by procedures that include provision for assessment by students.
The college does not assume responsibilities that naturally rest with adults. It is the policy of the college to rely on the good sense and experience of students for the preservation of ethical standards and appropriate modes of behaviour and dress.
Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, field trips, tutorials, and seminars.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments may be excluded from final examinations. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability should inform their instructors in a timely fashion.
The college reserves the right to limit attendance, and to limit the registration in, or to cancel or revise any of the courses listed. Enrolment is limited in all courses and admission does not guarantee that space will be available in any course or section. However, no student in a graduating year may be excluded from a course necessary to meet degree program requirements because of lack of space (this rule does not apply to elective courses or preferred sections of courses).
The college accepts no responsibility for the cancellation or discontinuance of any class or course of instruction which may be made necessary or desirable owing to an act of God, fire, riot, lock-out, stoppage of work or slow-down, labour disturbances, lack of funds, the operation of law or other causes of the kind.
It is the responsibility of college instructors to learn and continue to learn about their areas of expertise, and to provide their students with high-quality learning opportunities. In this context it is the responsibility of all instructors, administrators, staff, and students to encourage an environment of academic acceptance and trust; where ideas are welcome regardless of any quality of the originator such as race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age, and where ideas can be expressed and examined without fear of reprisal other than the give and take of honest debate. All participants, but particularly instructors, have a responsibility to avoid ad hominem comments, an overbearing attitude, denigration and/or ridicule in their discussions. All have a further responsibility to defend the right of others to express their ideas and opinions, without physical or moral censure. All have the responsibility to use accepted legal and ethical standards in the expression of ideas, avoiding proselytizing and propaganda.
Brighton College encourages but does not require or expect members of its faculty to engage in research. It does not maintain an Ethics Review Committee or research budgeting services. Nonetheless research does occur at the college; if necessary, the president will appoint an ethics committee. All research must be approved by the president and is categorized as either Internal Research or External Research.
Internal Research is conducted by Brighton College faculty and staff under the supervision of the president, a vice-president, or the dean. As a part of the approval process, the president ensures that the proposed research conforms to accepted standards of research and proper treatment of human subjects. Costs of internal research are borne entirely by the college. Results of such research are normally available only to faculty and staff of the college but may be made available externally with permission of the president.
External Research is research conducted using college facilities, faculty, staff, and/or students that is supervised and funded by people other than senior college administrators. Approval is a formal process that results in a written agreement. As part of the approval process, the president will ensure that the research is approved by an appropriate ethical and human rights committee, and that the funding is managed by a properly constituted authority. The process and extent of dissemination of results must be agreed upon before the research begins.
As part of its commitment to provide an effective educational program, the college fosters an environment that supports constructive evaluation and continuous improvement. Degree programs (and all courses in these programs) are systematically documented and reviewed by the college dean. Courses are reviewed at the end of every term; program goals are reviewed on a three-year rotating basis. An in-depth full program review is done at least once every five years.
The main purpose of program review is to verify the appropriateness and effectiveness of Brighton College programs, including curriculum, policies, and procedures. Review reports may make recommendations toward improving any aspects of the program and the evaluation process. This process assists the college with educational planning and provides an opportunity to link professional development to the needs of programs.
End-of-term Review
The college dean maintains a file for every course taught by the college, and these files are updated with the following information, at the end of every term that the course is taught:
The college dean reviews this information with the Education Committee. Any comments or recommendations from this review are entered into a report in the course file and forwarded to BASC.
Annual Course and Program Review
Academic Program Review
Brighton College conducts annual reviews of its academic programs. Information available to the review process will include at least the following:
In August of every year, the dean conducts an annual program review. This review is based on the collected term reviews and additional information:
The registrar provides a report on admissions information which includes:
The Vice-president Operations reports on:
Each of the operations reports includes a summary of the current holdings, a projection of requirements for the next year and the next five years, and a rationale for projected requirements.
The summary and recommendations of these course and program reviews form an important part of the college annual internal review, which is used in the preparation of the annual business plan for the college.
In-depth Program Evaluation
In-depth program evaluations may be conducted at any time by the Brighton Academic Standards Committee (BASC). However, at least once every five years, BASC undertakes a systematic and thorough review of the entire academic program at Brighton College. In some cases, these reviews are arranged to correspond with requirements for reporting to the Ministry of Advanced Education.
In each case, a special Program Review Committee (PRC, see 2.2.5) is struck to undertake the in-depth review. This committee consists of three members: the President (or a delegate) and two external reviewers determined by BASC. The Program Review Committee has access to all personnel, documents and records of the college, but will use the Annual Review documents of the last few years as a primary source of self-study information. The Program Review Committee will make a site visit at the college of not more than two days.
Self-Study
In addition to the annual review documents, the following information is collected for the In-depth review:
Program Review Committee (PRC) Mandate
In general, the task of the Program Review Committee is to assess the quality of academic programs and to comment on the programs in relation to the mission of the college. The PRC sets its own agenda and terms of reference; however, the In-depth program evaluation is expected to answer questions of the following nature:
Revisions
Proposals for improvements are prepared to respond to concerns of the PRC with a timeline for revisions and identification of any budgetary implications. The president considers these reports, implements the necessary changes, and provides a complete report to the board.
This policy concerning curriculum development and approval provides a rationale and framework for the creation, deletion, and revision of the curricular and pedagogical substance of courses. It outlines the procedure for creation and approval of curriculum guides and the application of these guides to form course outlines. Curriculum guides provide a summary of the curriculum for any course offered by the college. Course outlines are prepared by instructors to describe the instructor’s plans for that course. Syllabi reflect the information provided to students about the course at the beginning of each course that would not be in the course outlines (e.g., important dates, information about assignments, office hours, exams, etc.).
Authority
Curriculum development and review is the responsibility of the Brighton Academic Standards Committee (BASC). Courses are developed by faculty or, where external expertise is required, by non-faculty practitioners or academic specialists working under the direction of faculty. Curriculum guides are completed for every credit course offered by the college. All curriculum guides are reviewed by BASC to ensure that they are current. This review is indicated by a change to the date on the Curriculum Guides Document.
Instructors are required to prepare an up-to-date course outline based on the curriculum guide and a syllabus. These are posted online, or students are given a copy of these no later than the first day of classes.
Curriculum Development and Approval Process
Curriculum changes may be initiated by any administrator or member of faculty of the college, by the Education Committee, by the Brighton Academic Standards Committee, or by the Board. Two types of curriculum changes are identified: major changes and minor changes. Major changes include changes to programs, admission or graduation requirements; creation of new courses; deletion of old courses; or significant change to the content of an existing course. Minor changes include a change of recommended textbooks or materials, or minor updates to course content.
All changes are reviewed by the Education Committee and the Director of Academic Affairs and approved by the Brighton Academic Standards Committee (BASC).
Curriculum guides are documents prepared and approved by BASC. They are the college’s definition of each academic course. Curriculum guides are given to instructors of each course and are to be used as guides in creating their instructional materials and conducting the course. Deviations from the approved curriculum guide (such as textbook selection) must be approved by the appropriate member of BASC through the appropriate division coordinator.
Instructors use the curriculum guide when creating their course outline. The course outline is the description of the course that instructors give to students. Course outlines may vary with instructors or vary from term to term with the same instructor, but all must comply with the official curriculum guide.
Below is a list of each of the fields in the curriculum guide and advice on how to complete them. A sample curriculum guide template is in the Faculty Handbook, which is provided to faculty at the beginning of their employment at Brighton College.
Course Title
Every course must have a descriptive title. The title must be as descriptive as necessary to convey the intended content of the course, but every effort should be made to make the title as concise as possible.
Number of Credits
Students completing a degree at Brighton College must complete the required number of credits of courses work for that degree. The credit value assigned to each course indicates the contribution of the course toward that goal. Many courses will have a weight of three credits. This normally indicates that the student will attend three hours of instruction per week for one term, approximately 42 hours in total. Some courses will have a lecture component (three hours per week) and a laboratory component (an additional two to three hours per week). These courses may be given a weight of 4 credits. The number of credits for a particular course is determined by BASC.
Catalogue Description
This is the description of the course that will appear in the college’s course catalogue. As with the course title, it should fully describe the course, but it should be as concise as possible.
Prerequisites, Co-requisites, Preclusions
List the entry requirements and/or the course number of any course(s) that must be taken before taking this course (i.e., a prerequisite), or which must be taken jointly (i.e., a corequisite), or which are substantially similar in content and therefore preclude additional credit (i.e., a preclusion)
Hours per Week
Most courses consist of three hours of lecture per week. However, some courses also have seminar, lab and/or field trip components. Indicate the number of hours per week in the appropriate boxes and the total number of hours per week in the Total box. For a 15-week semester (14 weeks of class plus one exam week) there is one classroom hour of lecture per week per credit.
Duration
Currently, all courses at Brighton College are one term in length. Fall and Winter term are 14 weeks, Spring term is 10 or 14 weeks, depending on availability of a Summer Intensive term, which would be seven weeks in duration. Initially, degree programs will be two semesters per year; however, courses will be also offered in spring and possibly summer to accommodate students who prefer to take fewer than five courses per semester.
Articulation Targets
Students who do not complete all degree program courses at Brighton College may be able to receive transfer credit for individual courses at UBC, SFU, UVIC, UNBC or BC colleges. Use the BC Transfer Guide and/or consultation with relevant departments at these institutions to determine appropriate transfer credit.
Course Objectives / Learning Outcomes
“At the end of this course, students will be able to ….” Every course should have outcomes for the student. As a result of taking this course, students should expand their capabilities. Describe here the knowledge, skills, and capabilities that one would expect to find in students who have successfully completed this course.
Course Content (topics of instruction)
Lists the topics to be covered in the course. This list may also define the sequence in which the topics are to be covered.
Methods of Instruction
The methods of instruction of most courses will consist of lectures, discussions, assigned readings, project work, student presentations etc. Also describe required additional instructional techniques, such as cooperative learning, project-based learning, independent research, online activities, laboratory and/or field work.
Instructional Materials
List required or suggested textbooks, workbooks, A/V materials, or any other supporting materials that are required for this course. However, where possible, leave an opportunity for the instructor to exercise his or her special knowledge in preparing and teaching the course.
Assessment
Identify general assessment requirements. For example, it might be specified that the final exam must have a weight of not more than 40%, or that there must be a major project with a weight of at least 30%. Course evaluation is based on assignments, participation, quizzes, exams, projects etc. In special cases, the coordinator may approve assessment based on different criteria.
Consultations (Name and Affiliation)
In the process of approving this curriculum guide, several people must be consulted. This will likely include the College Dean, Registrar, Director of Academic Affairs, and the Division Coordinator. Consultations with experts at public institutions or in industry may be necessary. This list does not include the subject matter expert who is asked to provide the expert approval (see below).
Course Designer and Contact Information
Provide here the name of the course designer. This is usually the person who initially completes the curriculum guide form. Contact information (e-mail address and/or telephone number) is required so that those involved in the approval process can obtain background information as necessary by contacting the designer.
Expert Approval, Affiliation
Every course should be approved by an external subject-matter expert. This expert will be identified and contracted by the BASC.
College Approval Signature
The College Dean signs here to indicate that the curriculum guide is ready to be forwarded to BASC.
BASC Approval Signature
As Chair of BASC, the President signs to indicate that the curriculum guide has been approved by BASC and the course can be offered. The date of the BASC meeting when the curriculum guide was approved is entered on the form, and the completed form is sent to the Registrar for entry of the course into the catalogue and systems.
Effective Date
The course effectively becomes available to be offered by the college on this date. It is determined by BASC in consultation with the Registrar. This field is left intentionally blank until the course creation or revision is approved by BASC. In particular, the curriculum guide created for the purpose of revising an existing course must have this field blank to indicate that the revision has not yet been approved for implementation.
Instructors are required to prepare a course outline/syllabus for each course they teach; Division Coordinators provide the appropriate template for each course. The course outline/syllabus will normally contain at least the following information:
Instructors are asked to use the course outline/syllabus template for their course. This template includes the Brighton College Honour Code and attendance policy that all students are required to sign at the outset of class. Instructors should collect the students’ signatures after having reviewed the course syllabus with the class.
A proposal for a major curriculum change includes a Rationale, a Consultation Report, and Curriculum Guide(s) if necessary. The Rationale details the reasons for the recommended change and the Consultation Report lists the offices and people who have been consulted, with their recommendations.
Curriculum Guides become the new course descriptions if the change is approved.
The Rationale provides adequate reasons for the requested change. It may include an explanation of how the change is consistent with the college mission and strategic direction, the place and priority of the change to existing college programs, projections of the frequency of its being offered, comments on staffing, comparison with offerings at other colleges, and input from the appropriate industry(s).
The Consultation Report lists all people who have been consulted on this curriculum change with a summary of their recommendations (positive or negative). Notice must be given to relevant faculty members and administrators in the college, with a reasonable time to respond. Consultation must include:
Procedure for Changes to The Curriculum Guide
All new courses, major revisions and deletions of existing courses are approved according to the steps outlined below.
A minor revision includes the following:
A revised (and complete) Curriculum Guide incorporating the proposed changes is forwarded, along with the current Curriculum Guide and appropriate documentation, to the College Dean for review. The change is forwarded to BASC for any comments, and finally to the Registrar for updating of the Curriculum Guide and any changes required to systems, records, or publications.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes will be developed jointly by the Dean’s Office/Director of Academic Affairs and the Division Coordinators. The process will require input from faculty and students. The aim is to ensure that learning outcomes align with the program mission statement.
Brighton College has a focus on science, business, construction, and technology. Classrooms are computer-equipped, and instructors use technology in their teaching. Some courses may be offered in a traditional manner with small classes scheduled in classrooms, but other courses may have a field, laboratory or seminar component. All classes will be conducted using learner-centred pedagogy, in an interactive style. Courses in degree programs will be face-to-face initially but other options, such as synchronous and asynchronous modes of online instruction, may be considered in the future.
Lectures, labs, tutorials, seminars
Instruction is delivered in a variety of formats. Most classes are small, meaning that class meetings can readily switch between lecture, lab, tutorial, and seminar activities. Supporting instructional materials are frequently available on the internet and some courses or parts of courses may be available online. Methods of instruction depend upon the course, the needs of students and the requirements of instructors. Constructivist methods are encouraged, particularly student-directed research and presentations, cooperative learning, and project-based learning.
Instructional facilities
Classrooms have an instructor’s computer connected to the Internet and equipped with an in-class display system. Instruction and demonstration materials are prepared for presentation on the computer projector. These materials may be accessed from the Internet at the time of presentation and are available to students following class. Instructional materials are password protected, but instructors can develop and modify their instructional materials from any Internet-accessible location. Similarly, students may retrieve materials from computers at the college or any place with an Internet connection. Students also use the instructor’s computer to make presentations or provide demonstrations to the class.
Laboratories have the equipment needed for students to complete required activities. Facilities such as eye-wash stations, showers, and special hazardous materials storage spaces all conform to provincial standards. Laboratory-safety review for students in courses with labs occurs at the beginning of each semester.
The Office of the Registrar is one of the main points of contact between students and the college administration. The Office of the Registrar administers policy and procedure, and oversees many areas of the college administration, including admissions, course registration, registrar services, financial aid, transfer credit, grades, performance standards, academic records, etc.
Brighton College programs provide a broad range of course offerings balanced by in-depth study in specific disciplines. Since many students will continue their post-secondary studies, the requirements are flexible enough to enable students to plan their educational program carefully and to complete the required prerequisites for upper-level course work.
Programs Offered:
* The BCM and Associate Degree in Science are in the DQAB application process.
Brighton College provides admission to its programs for the greatest range of students possible. Where appropriate, however, access to programs and courses is restricted to students who satisfy established admission criteria at both general and program-specific levels.
General Admission Requirements>
There are program-specific requirements for degree programs outlined in the Academic Calendar and for diploma programs on the Brighton College website: https://brightoncollege.com/admissions/#requirements
Brighton College reserves the right to deny admission based on overall academic record and to limit enrolment by selecting those who will be admitted from among qualified applicants.
All applicants are required to submit a satisfactory record of academic history, so that the Admissions Office can make a reasonable determination for admissibility. Documents may be submitted in copy form at the time of application; however, a Registrar’s hold will be applied to the student file until required official documentation has been presented to Admissions. Students are strongly encouraged to submit their official documents at the time of application.
All application documents that are not in the English language must be accompanied by an English translation made by a licensed translator.
Brighton College is committed to giving students an opportunity to be successful in their academic studies. Full academic disclosure is a requirement of admission, and it is the responsibility of the student to provide a complete and official record of their educational history. Brighton College allows for the Admissions process to be completed based on unofficial or photocopied academic documentation (e.g., transcripts, test results, etc.). Applications are not considered complete, however, until all official copies of necessary supporting documentation have been provided.
All students submitting unofficial documentation at the time of admission must acknowledge during the online application process that official documents are required to be submitted before any official Brighton College documents can be ordered.
Documents submitted supporting applications become the college’s property and will not be returned to the student. International documentation, as deemed irreplaceable by the Office of the Registrar, may be returned to a student on submission of a Return of Irreplaceable Documentation request form within two years of their last term of study. Documents that are evidence in a case of misconduct will not be returned to the student under any circumstances.
Student records inactive for two years are digitally archived and all physical file documents destroyed.
Requests to exempt an applicant from an admissions policy or decision may be submitted by completing an Admissions Appeal form, available in person or online from the Office of the Registrar. Supporting evidence (medical notes, course outlines, etc.) must be attached.
Placement testing in English and Mathematics is available to students who are unable to meet admission and/or course requirements based on their previous educational history.
English Placement Test (EPT)
Students who choose to enroll in Brighton College without documentation of English proficiency are required to complete the English Placement Test (EPT). The result of this assessment will determine whether a student possesses adequate English language and writing skills for direct entry to university-level studies. Placement test results are valid for a period of two years from the date of sitting.
If the result of the EPT indicates that a student is not prepared for university-level study in the English language, they may be alternately admitted to the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. The EAP program is a full-time, integrated, intensive English and academic skills program designed to prepare students for college and university studies in the English language.
Applicants whose EPT results indicate insufficient literacy in the English language are not admissible to the college. If an admitted student is unable to commence studies due to the result of their EPT, they may defer the commencement of their studies. A student may rewrite the EPT once per semester (see policy: Placement Test Rewrites).
Note: Brighton College does not accept internal English placement or assessment tests written at other institutions.
Placement Test Rewrites
Students who have previously completed an English Placement test may sit for a rewrite once per term.
To rewrite a placement test, the following criteria must be observed by the student:
The Placement Testing officer will submit the results to the Office of the Registrar, who will make the necessary notation in the student’s file and provide a copy to the student’s Academic Advisor.
English is the language of instruction at Brighton College, and successful study depends heavily upon fluency in the English language, therefore, all applicants to Brighton College are expected to be proficient in the English language. and may satisfy the English proficiency requirement with a final grade of B or higher in BC English 12, or an accepted equivalent (as indicated in the Academic Calendar).
All admitted students register electronically using the student portal ‘myBC.’
Full-time status requires students to be taking at least 60% of the credit value for that semester.
FTE stands for full-time equivalent. Degree programs have variable credits per semester, so credit hours rather than number of courses are used to calculate FTE. A student taking a 4-credit course and two 3-credit courses in a 17-credit semester, would be taking 10 credits or 10/17 FTE.
Each course has an established number of hours per week in a 14-week term.
Examples are as follows:
Winter and Fall Terms:
| Category | Hours Per Week | Hours Per Term |
|---|---|---|
| 3-credit course | 3 | 42 plus exam time |
| 4-credit course | 4 | 56 plus exam time |
In Brighton College degree program classes, the instructor sets an attendance standard that does not exceed 70%. Failure to meet the standard may have various consequences as determined by the instructor, including not being able to write a final exam.
Regardless of program or course, any marks assigned for participation do not include attendance.
The attendance requirements outlined above are mandatory unless Brighton College grants a formal accommodation, which must be completed during the first three weeks of a semester (see section 4.3.3 of this document). For other attendance-related appeals, an appeal form, available from the front desk, must be completed and submitted to the Office of Student Affairs.
Cases of a difficult nature will be presented to the Director of Operations and Student Affairs for a final determination.
Attendance and Study Permits
International students on a study permit are required by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to maintain regular and continuous attendance. The Office of the Registrar is required by IRCC and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to report on the status of individual international student attendance on both an ad hoc and quarterly basis. Accordingly, all instructors (except those teaching asynchronous online courses) are required to keep daily class attendance records even if attendance is not an academic criterion in their course.
Student Lateness
Brighton College expects all students to be punctual when attending classes. Late policies for individual courses are determined by instructors.
Inability to Attend Class
Students who are unable to attend class, for whatever reason, should notify their instructor(s) as soon as possible.
Brighton College will become a participant in the BC Transfer System and will undergo the process of articulation and articulation updates through BCCAT’s Transfer Credit Evaluation System (TCES).
Articulation of our courses with other colleges and universities is important and we take our responsibilities to BCCAT, to other colleges and universities, and to our students very seriously. As a small private institution, our policy on articulation is guided by the following considerations:
As a Sending Institution
Where necessary Brighton College will undertake the responsibility of requesting transfer credit for applicable courses.
As a Receiving Institution
Where appropriate, Brighton College courses will be articulated directly with courses at the four major research institutions as well as other local universitas and colleges. If an articulation request is accepted by a major institution, we will automatically recognize the reciprocal articulation, accepting their course as equivalent to ours.
To process an articulation request, we require a course outline that has been issued by the sending institution and represents the standard curriculum of the course. A course outline created and used by a single instructor is not normally accepted for consideration. We use the term Curriculum Guide or Official Course Outline to describe this document. If the request is approved, it is then sent to the appropriate division coordinator for further review. The coordinator may choose to seek advice from continuing or sessional instructors within the division, or from BASC members. After careful consideration, the coordinator makes a recommendation with written comments.
Individual Student Requests
Individual students who apply for transfer credit will have their prior courses individually assessed. All credentials issued by BCCAT member institutions receive appropriate consideration. Credentials issued by non-BCCAT member institutions within Canada are also considered, provided that the institution is authorized to grant degrees. The same process of assessment outlined above is employed. In addition, careful records are kept documenting the outcome of each request and ensuring that in future similar requests are treated in the same manner.
Brighton College will participate in the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer (BCCAT) system for articulation of similar courses among institutions in British Columbia. It is our policy to compare our courses to the courses of other participating institutions and to recognize course to course equivalencies where appropriate.
The Brighton College policy on credit transfer includes the following specifications:
Unless otherwise noted, external credits granted may not exceed one half of the total credits required for the program. If wo courses are very similar students may only receive transfer credit for one of these courses. To receive optimal transfer credit, students should request a transfer credit review as part of the application for admission, or as part of a request submitted prior to the completion of 30 credits at Brighton.
International Credit Transfer
For courses completed outside of Canada, students may apply to transfer a maximum of five courses. The Dean’s Office will review the individual’s request and may require the student to take a proficiency test in order to grant this transfer credit.
International Course Evaluation Fee
A course evaluation fee is charged for the service of international course evaluation by Brighton College. The fee for this service is charged per international course submitted for evaluation, is non-transferable and non-refundable. Payment of the fee does not guarantee that transfer credit will be granted. It is the responsibility of the student to select which courses to submit for evaluation based on applicability to a degree program, and to ensure that course outlines contain the required information.
Unassigned credit is given for a course accepted as fulfilling a requirement but not matching a specific Brighton College course.
Applicability
Credit transfer cannot be used as a substitute for meeting all the credential requirements.
Each course accepted for transfer credit must satisfy at least one requirement for the degree credential.
Stale Dated Courses
Credit is not normally given for courses completed more than seven years in the past, nor can such a course be used to satisfy a prerequisite. A decision to not accept a course for credit can be appealed to the Registrar who will consult appropriate experts (instructors or BASC members) for a decision.
Minimum Grades
Courses accepted for credit or prerequisite must have been completed with a grade of minimum GPA 1.5.
Disclosure of Post-Secondary Studies
Unless they are disclosed at the time of admission, post-secondary courses completed prior to the date of admission to Brighton College are not eligible for transfer credit, however, they may be used to satisfy course prerequisites.
BCCAT-Transferable Courses
Transferability of courses with the BC Post-Secondary Transfer System is determined by articulation agreements between member institutions. Course transferability is viewable online using the BC Transfer Guide.
Students who wish to transfer credit from another BCCAT member institution are required to submit the following:
Where BCCAT articulations exist, transfer credit requests will normally be completed within two to four weeks from the date that all documentation was submitted. It is responsibility of the student to ensure that credit transfer/course evaluation requests are submitted at least four (4) weeks prior to the posted registration deadline.
When an equivalent course cannot be found using the BC Transfer Guide, Officers may refer to the Internal Transfer Credit Repository within myBC. This folder contains records of courses previously evaluated. If an equivalent course cannot be found using these two sources, the procedure for non-BCCAT transferable courses (see below) will apply.
Non-BCCAT Transferable Courses Completed within Canada
Students who wish their courses to be evaluated for transfer credit consideration are required to submit the following:
Once provided, the course outline and official transcript will be submitted to a subject area specialist/faculty member or to the dean for review. The Dean may also refer evaluation to the BASC member responsible for the subject area.
Where transfer credit is approved, the Admissions Officer will input the details into the student record and check off any prerequisites satisfied. A transfer articulation letter is created, signed by the Dean or Registrar, and placed into the student file. An additional copy may also be made available for pick up by the student.
Course evaluation requests will normally be completed within six to eight weeks from the date that all documentation was submitted. It is responsibility of the student to ensure that credit transfer/course evaluation requests are submitted at least eight (8) weeks prior to the posted registration deadline.
Non-BCCAT Transferable Courses Completed Outside of Canada
Students who wish their courses to be evaluated for transfer credit consideration are required to complete the following:
For more information about Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s policy, please refer to:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad-who.asp
Residency Requirement
The residency requirement for degree programs at Brighton College is ~ 50% (30 credits for an associate degree, ~ 64 credits for the BCM).
Brighton College recognizes transferability of courses from other designated institutions on a case-by-case basis along with life-and-work experiences prior to enrolling in a similar program at Brighton College.
Brighton College’s PLAR policy is not intended to be used to circumvent or replace the educational standards and/or requirements of another institution. Students should refer to receiving institutions PLAR policies for information on their equivalency granting procedures. In all cases, the acceptance of transfer credits rests with the receiving institution.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (includes applicable Red Seal Certificate holders)
Brighton College accepts courses taken at other institutions for credit toward its programs subject to:
It is our policy to compare our course(s) to the course(s) of an applicant’s former institution(s) and to ensure course-to-course equivalencies where appropriate.
Procedure
If you have other experience, work or training, submit, to the Registrar’s Office, a personal statement describing the length of the experience and giving details of how this would satisfy most, if not all, of the criteria regarding the knowledge and skills to be gained in that course. The final decision as to the granting of PLAR for a course or course is the responsibility of the Director of Academic Affairs, with input from the instructor as appropriate.
Applicants with Red Seal Certification such as carpenter, plumber, electrician, cabinetmaker, etc., and eight years of appropriate experience will be granted second year standing but must also complete three first-year courses (LIBS 120, APSC 151 and one of ECON 103 or 105). They will not be required to take STAT 200, or the second-year elective.
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts and course descriptions/outlines from your previous post-secondary institution(s) must be submitted to the Educational Advisor. A copy will be kept in the student’s file.
Official Course Descriptions
If you have previously attended a post-secondary institution and are seeking PLAR credit, you must send official detailed course descriptions. Acceptable types of course descriptions include:
If the above does not provide sufficient detail to allow the PLAR to be completed the student may be asked to provide additional documentation.
Life and Work Experience Recognition
The college limits life-and-work experience PLAR to certain selected courses. Students wishing to claim life-and work experience against a portion of new required courses must:
Recognition of prior learning does not waive any program admission requirements.
Appeals
Applications are screened carefully to ensure fairness; however, appeals against admission decisions can be sent in writing to the Registrar of Brighton College who may at his/her discretion convene a hearing and reconsider the decision.
Students may normally defer their acceptance to Brighton College for up to one academic year. Students wishing to extend their acceptance date must complete the Delay of Acceptance Form available from the Registrar’s Office. Students wishing to delay their acceptance beyond one year must apply by completing the Extension of Delay of Acceptance form, also available from the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar will decide with input from the Education Committee.
All students
Students may apply to interrupt their studies for up to one year, usually for financial, medical, or personal reasons. Students must complete the Application for Leave of Absence from Studies form available from the Registrar’s Office. Students wishing to extend their leave of absence beyond one year must apply by completing the Extension of Leave of Absence from Studies form, also available from the Registrar’s Office.
International students with study permit
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) policy, requires international students to have a permit to study in Canada and must comply with the terms of the permit throughout their studies. Foremost among the terms of a study permit is the requirement to be actively pursuing studies by maintaining continuous enrolment at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), without any unauthorized breaks in study.
By process of appeal to the college’s Registrar, study permit holders in good academic standing (e.g., not suspended or required to discontinue from Brighton College) may be eligible to take an authorized leave from studies under certain circumstances, and still be considered actively pursuing studies during the approved period. Authorized leave from studies may extend to a maximum of 150 days or one regular term.
Reasons for requesting authorized leave from studies could include (for example):
Students approved for authorized leave by Brighton College are not required to inform IRCC but must retain a letter of Confirmation of Authorized Leave for their own records (if proof of approval is requested by IRCC later). Students approved for authorized leave must return to full-time studies in the subsequent term and may not work during the authorized leave.
To request authorized leave from Brighton College for up to one regular term, students are required to:
Applicants will be contacted if more information is needed and notified of the decision within 10 business days. If approved, students will be provided with a Confirmation of Authorized Leave letter.
Brighton College’s Grading System is based on a percentage grade for most courses with some courses issuing separate theory and practical marks for a single course. The course passing grade is usually 50%; however, this may vary, and courses may be assigned a standing code instead of a percentage grade. The passing grade and means of assessment are part of the course design process and are outlined in the course syllabus.
The approved grades and standing codes for Brighton College are in the Academic Calendar and Faculty Handbook.
It is the responsibility of instructors to inform students of their ongoing progress in a course by entering unofficial marks for various graded components of a course (e.g., quizzes, tests, assignments, examinations, papers, etc.) using Canvas LMS. Instructors may post class marks for graded components of a course using lists showing student numbers in numeric order; however, student names must not be shown. If instructors intend to post marks in this manner, they must ensure that all students are advised prior to any grades being posted. Students may request that their grades not be posted, in which case the instructor must exclude the student from the posting.
All marks displayed within Canvas LMS or elsewhere (e.g., marks posted in the classroom) are considered informal and unofficial. Marks and/or grades are not official or permanent until they appear on the student’s permanent academic record (i.e., official transcript).
Final grades are due to be submitted by faculty, using myBC, according to the timelines specified in the table below. The due date may be adjusted at the discretion of the Registrar under certain conditions, for example statuary holidays.
The deadline to submit final grades, the procedure for submission, and the unlock code, are emailed to faculty by the Registrar at the start of the last week of classes.
| SUBMISSION OF FINAL GRADES | ||
|---|---|---|
| DESCRIPTION | FALL/WINTER TERMS (14 WKS) | SPRING/SUMMER TERMS, if offered (7-10 WKS) |
| FINAL GRADES DUE *UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED BY THE REGISTRAR |
7 calendar days after the final exam | 3 calendar days after the final exam |
The Registrar is the authority responsible for ensuring that the college’s grading policies and procedures are consistently adhered to. Following the final examination for a course, final grades are to be reviewed by the division coordinator and BASC member and then submitted by faculty via the myBC system to the Registrar for final approval.
If there are any errors detected in the data entry, the Registrar will make the necessary correction(s), in consultation with the Dean, division coordinator, and instructor. If there is a red flag detected in the instructor’s grading practices, the Registrar will decide whether to release the grades to students, or to withhold the grades pending further investigation and will notify the appropriate division coordinator by email (copy to the Dean) to inform them of the situation. It is then the responsibility of the division coordinator, under the guidance of the Dean’s Office, to investigate further or work with the instructor on future grading practices.
In the rare event of a grading anomaly or discrepancy, the Registrar may withhold the grades and initiate a review of grading practices in consultation with the appropriate division coordinator and the Dean. Once all final grades for a course are satisfactorily reviewed by the division coordinator and Registrar, they are published to the student’s permanent record.
The Registrar will proactively send reminders to any faculty who have not yet submitted grades one or two days ahead of the deadline. The final grade submission interface myBC closes automatically according to the deadline set by the Registrar in the system (normally 4:00 pm on the specified deadline). If an instructor has not submitted their grades by the due date (precisely), they will be unable to enter their grades using myBC and will instead need to email their grade sheet to the Registrar for manual entry. This is intentional, to keep the number of late submissions to a minimum. The Registrar will also email a firmly worded reminder to any late faculty, with a copy to the Dean and division coordinator.
On rare occasions, an instructor may experience an unforeseen circumstance (e.g., serious illness, injury, etc.) that prevents them from submitting their final grades by the due date. It is the instructor’s responsibility to notify their division coordinator and the Registrar as soon as possible, so that they can work out a resolution before the grades roll date. Normally, the resolution of such occurrences require that the Registrar enter a grade of DE for the whole class, in order to perform the grades roll. The true final grades can then be updated once the instructor is able.
Grades may be changed upon the instructor’s request, or as the result of a deferred or conflict exam. The Registrar has discretionary authority over grade change requests and may request the rationale for the change from the instructor to ensure that the grades are being changed due to entry or calculation error, and not as the result of grade bargaining by students.
Grade change requests are to be emailed to the Registrar by the instructor, along with the student’s name, ID number, course code, and final percentage score. The registrar will then make the requested change in myBC and reply to the instructor to confirm. It is the responsibility of the instructor to communicate about grade changes with their students.
The registrar is the only individual authorized to edit final grades at Brighton College.
The number of credits for each course is determined as a part of the course design and approval process. Most of our courses consist of about 40 lecture hours; the equivalent of 3 hours per week over the course of a fall or winter term, and these courses are normally assigned 3 credits. Some courses require additional tutorials or seminars (usually 1 hour per week) and/or labs (1 to 3 hours per week) and these courses may be assigned a credit value of 4 or more.
For each course included in the calculation of the GPA, the course Grade Point value is multiplied by the number of course credits. The resulting values are summed over all courses and the total is divided by the total number of credits. The result is the Grade Point average, or GPA.
To maintain satisfactory academic standing, students must maintain a minimum 1.50 GPA for each semester. Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 to graduate.
Notes:
Academic standing is reviewed following the release of final grades at the end of each term.
Applicants to the college who provide academic transcripts indicating poor academic performance, according to the college’s 1.50 minimum academic standard, will be admitted on Provisional Admission. These students are admissible to the college on Academic Probation and are subject to the conditions and restrictions of Academic Probation (see below).
A student is in good academic standing when their term GPA is above or equal to a minimum of 1.50 and they are not under Academic Alert, Probation, or Suspension.
A student is on academic warning if their term GPA is below a minimum of 1.50 with fewer than 15 credits attempted.
At the end of the Fall, Winter, and Spring terms, academic standing is calculated. All students who have a term or cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 are placed on academic warning.
Academic probation is a caution to students indicating that their continuation at the college is in jeopardy.
Students are placed on academic probation for three principal reasons:
Students are not subject to probation until they have completed at least 15 credits of academic coursework. Where a course has been repeated, the higher grade is used.
Academic probation is lifted, and the student is returned to good academic standing when the student has successfully completed the subsequent term with a term GPA of at least 1.50. A student on probation may not attempt more than 10 credits in a single term.
A student who meets the requirements for academic probation who is already on academic probation is normally suspended.
Students on academic suspension may be reinstated in good academic standing in one of two ways:
Students who are reinstated to the college are readmitted in good academic standing. If the term GPA in the subsequent term is below 1.50, the student will be placed on academic probation for the following semester without the accumulation of 15 academic credits.
The Registrar annually establishes and publishes key dates for the instructional year. This policy identifies requirements and provides parameters for the setting of key academic dates.
The college’s instructional year begins on the first day of September. This date is the effective start date of the yearly Academic Calendar, and any student services or student instructional related policy and procedure implementation.
The instructional year is divided into two regular terms.
| Term | Approximate Dates | Weeks of Instruction | Days of Exams | FollowingBreak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Term 1 | September 1st to December 15th | 14 | 7 | Winter Break ~ 3 weeks |
| Winter Term 2 | January 1st to April 15th |
14 | 7 | Spring Break ~ 2 weeks |
Courses may also be offered in Spring and Summer to accommodate students who prefer to take fewer than five courses each semester.
The start and end dates for courses and programs within the instructional year are published in the Academic Calendar and on the Brighton College website.
The Registrar ensures that the published dates within the instructional year include:
In preparing the instructional year calendar, the Registrar and President consider:
Examinations are intended to measure each student’s individual knowledge and competence on a particular body of instructional material. For this policy, the term exam is used to identify instructor-developed mid-term and final examinations used for student assessment in college courses. This excludes informal classroom testing, and externally developed tests regulated by agencies such as are used in many vocational programs.
The Director of Academic Affairs, the Dean, and BASC members monitor the rigour, quality, equivalency, and content of exams for all courses, and where necessary, seek additional assurance of the quality of the exam.
For every credit course offered, the Registrar schedules final exams in the examination period at the end of each semester. All mid- term and final course exams are:
A comprehensive and consistently updated list of all exam policies and procedures can be found in the Brighton College Invigilation Training package.
Examination Rules (In-person Examinations)
Students must complete their exam using only their own knowledge and ability, and the materials specifically allowed for use during the exam.
All instructors are expected to invigilate their own exam. If a class is large, it will be split for a final exam; an invigilator will be provided for the second classroom.
Invigilators supervise the exam process. It is their task to ensure that the rules are followed and that all students complete the exam in the required manner. If they observe any infraction of the rules, it is their responsibility to halt the exam for the student or students guilty of the infraction. Students are advised to avoid even the appearance of behaviour that is not permitted.
If there is any missing information on an exam, an invigilator will attempt to contact the instructor. If the instructor cannot be reached at the time, an invigilator will decide on behalf of the instructor.
Instructors and invigilators may answer procedural or clarification questions during the exam.
There are ten general exam rules which are clearly posted around each campus prior to the exam period and are included on the exam schedule. These rules should be included in course syllabi for quick reference and referred to several times throughout the term:
Examination Rules for Virtual Classrooms
Examination Time Conflicts
Student Affairs resolves any exam scheduling conflicts by making alternative arrangements with instructors in cases where a student has overlapping exams (i.e., a scheduled exam conflicts with another scheduled exam), or has more than two exams scheduled in one day. Students are responsible for identifying an exam conflict, and for reporting the conflict at least two calendar weeks before the scheduled exams. Alternate arrangements can be made for the student to write an examination at a different time or date.
Examination Deferral
See Student Appeals and Request for Exam Deferral Section 4.2.
Oral Re-Examinations
For information on oral re-examination, see the Academic Alerts Section (4.6.6).
Graduation refers to the process by which a student is conferred a credential upon completion of a program of study. Upon completion of program requirements, the Registrar determines eligibility for graduation.
To be eligible for graduation in a degree program, students must complete all program requirements with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (equivalent to a C average), calculated on all courses counting toward the degree requirements. The student must not be under suspension or have any unresolved holds at the time of degree conferral.
Students are encouraged to seek academic advising at regular intervals during their studies to ensure that they remain on track with program requirements.
Students may apply for graduation after the first day of class in their final (expected) term. Early applications for graduation will be held pending release of final grades at the end of term.
When a student has completed, or is about to complete, their final term of the program of study, they are eligible to apply for graduation.
Students who wish to apply for graduation will see Academic Advising to check requirements and prepare the application. Applications for graduation are then evaluated and credentials issued by the Office of the Registrar.
The procedure to apply for graduation is as follows:
The standard processing time for graduation is normally six weeks from the date that grades were released for the final course(s) of the program.
Applications for graduation can be made either:
The name printed on the degree will be the legal name of the graduate, as recorded in Brighton College’s central student information system, myBC. The name will appear in the form of Firstname Lastname. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the spelling of their name is accurate in the student portal prior to applying for graduation. If the legal name of the graduate has changed, a Change of Name request form must be submitted, along with supporting documentation, to the Office of the Registrar prior to graduation.
Some graduates require an additional degree parchment due to a request by an employer, if the original degree parchment has been lost or damaged, or if their legal name has changed. Graduates may order a duplicate or replacement degree parchment from the Office of the Registrar using a Document Order form, or it can be ordered via myBC (‘My Documents’ page). The cost per degree parchment is $25, and the processing time is approximately two weeks.
All students who successfully complete a degree program at Brighton College are eligible to participate in the convocation ceremony. Typically held twice per academic year in June and October, the convocation ceremony is an opportunity for graduates to share the celebration of their accomplishment with peers, family, and friends.
Invitations to the convocation ceremony are sent to all graduates of the preceding academic year, and an RSVP is required. Each graduate is welcome to invite up to two guests and may request permission to invite more than two guests, space permitting.
Each graduate will be dressed in the traditional cap and gown wardrobe prior to the ceremony and during the ceremony will be presented with their degree parchment in a hardcover folder. A reception may be provided for graduates, family, and friends following the event.
The passing of a student prior to completion of their credential is a sombre event, and the utmost care must be taken to honour the deceased and provide the family with an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of their loved one.
In times of mourning, it is helpful for the family and administrators to have clear guidance on how to deal with practical matters, such as the academic record.
Procedure
On notification of death, the Registrar will perform an assessment of the student’s academic record to determine if the student may be eligible to be awarded a posthumous credential. To be considered eligible for a posthumous credential, the deceased must have met the following minimum requirements:
If the deceased is eligible to be awarded a posthumous credential, the Registrar will communicate with the next of kin to offer the credential and explain how it might be received, with sensitivity to their wishes. If the next of kin wishes to receive the posthumous credential, the Registrar prepares the records and documentation, then informs the Director of Student Affairs, who commences communication with the next of kin regarding the convocation ceremony.
With respect to the convocation ceremony, the family of the deceased is invited to attend the next scheduled ceremony and given the option to identify one or two family members to cross the stage and receive the credential on behalf of the graduate. The family member(s) will symbolically carry the regalia of the student over their arm and receive the credential on their behalf.
A notation indicating that the credential has been issued posthumously is included on the transcript and convocation program but does not appear on the credential parchment.
*A posthumous credential may also be awarded to a student with a terminal illness according to the same criteria and procedure, if the student is unable to complete their studies and death is expected to occur imminently. Where possible, and in accordance with the wishes of the student and their family, a private ceremony may be arranged on campus, in the student’s home or hospital room. The credential may be presented to the student by any senior administrator known to the student (if possible) in full regalia.
Brighton College reserves the right to rescind a credential if an individual is subsequently found to have obtained the credential by dishonest or fraudulent means. This may include, but is not limited to, evidence of plagiarism, impersonation, falsified admission documentation, etc.
Procedure
The procedure for rescinding a credential is as follows:
The recommendation to rescind a credential is made by the Registrar, who coordinates with the Director of Student Affairs to arrange a disciplinary hearing. The hearing is presided over by the Registrar and attended by the President and the Director of Student Affairs. The student has the right to be represented by counsel at the hearing. If the student does not attend the hearing, is unable to disprove the evidence and/or presents no new information pertinent to the case, the hearing is adjourned.
Subsequently, the Registrar, President, and Director of Student Affairs deliberate about revocation of any course grades obtained by fraudulent means, as well as the rescinding of the credential. If a motion to rescind the credential is carried, the credential is voided immediately.
The Registrar notifies the student of the decision to revoke course grades and/or to rescind the credential and provides instructions for surrender of the physical documentation, including the credential parchment, which must be made within 10 business days.
The Registrar places a notation indicating that a credential has been rescinded on the student’s transcript. The registrar may also notify external bodies that the credential has been rescinded, including but not limited to, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), etc.
Once a student is registered in a course, they assume full financial responsibility. Course drop penalties are designed to prevent students from holding a space in the course, this preventing another student from registering in that course.
Refund for Course Drop/Withdrawal
Students who drop a course are eligible for a refund of tuition fees as follows:
Before the First Day of Term
After the First Day of Term
Drop or withdrawal from registered courses must be performed electronically using the myBC student information system prior to the published deadlines. The eligible refund amount is determined by the time and date of the drop and credited to the student’s myBC account immediately.
Overseas International Students (not yet arrived in Canada)
A Commitment fee is a lump sum deposit of fees equivalent to 15 credits, which is required to be paid by new international students prior to issuance of a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the purpose of applying for an initial study permit.
Commitment fees paid by new overseas international students are non-refundable and non-transferrable after an LOA has been issued unless the student is unable to commence studies due to refusal of an initial Study Permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In the event of an initial study permit refusal, students are eligible for a full refund of the Commitment Fee less the $200 application for admission fee and an administrative fee of $300.
New overseas international students are responsible for notifying the college of their study permit refusal prior to the add/drop deadline in that term.
Local International Students or Returning Students
A tuition deposit is a lump sum deposit of fees equivalent to at least 9 credits, which is required to be paid by continuing international students prior to issuance of another Letter of Acceptance (LOA), Confirmation of Enrolment (COE), or Confirmation of Continuing Studies Status (CCSS) for the purpose of applying for a study permit extension or restoration.
Tuition deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable after an LOA or COE has been issued unless the student is unable to continue studies due to refusal of a study permit extension or restoration of status from IRCC.
In the event of a refusal of a study permit extension or restoration of status from IRCC, non-registered students are eligible for a full refund of the tuition fee deposit less the $200 application for admission fee and a $300 administrative fee.
In the event of a refusal of a study permit extension or restoration of status from IRCC, registered students are required to notify the college, using the appropriate form, prior to the regular registration deadline. Refund eligibility follows the course add/drop provisions described above.
Term-based supplemental fees are fully refundable if the student drops all courses prior to the add/drop deadline.
Laboratory fees are fully refundable if the student drops the applicable lab science course(s) prior to the add/drop deadline.
Students who are unable to commence or continue studies due to exceptional circumstances may submit an appeal to the Student Financial Services department for a partial or full refund. Brighton College reserves the right to determine what an exceptional circumstance is and what supporting evidence must be submitted. The decision of the Refund Appeals committee is final.
Students who discontinue studies are expected to claim refundable funds within 24 months of discontinuation. Funds that are unclaimed by the end of 24 months from the last date of active enrolment will revert to the College.
Commitment Fee or Tuition Deposit Refund Request
The student must submit the following:
Tuition Refund Request (Excluding Commitment Fee and Tuition Deposit)
The student must submit the following:
The student must submit the following:
The Passport to Education Program recognizes and rewards student achievement in Grades 10 to 12 in a broad range of academic and non-academic areas according to guidelines set out by the Ministry of Education. The intent of the program is to motivate all students to study consistently during the years leading to graduation, and to encourage secondary school students to pursue further education through post-secondary institutions and job-training programs. Passport awards are used to further students’ post-secondary education and job training.
Redemption
Booklets (stamps) cannot be split up for redemption. The entire award will be redeemed when submitted. To redeem their accumulated stamps (Passport award), students must be registered, attending, and paying tuition in a program at an accredited and designated (approved for Canada Student Loans in BC) post-secondary institution. A qualifying educational program or course should last at least three consecutive weeks and require a student to spend no less than 10 hours per week on courses or work in the program. A one-day course is not an acceptable program. If a student attends an accredited and designated post-secondary institution in British Columbia, the passport award can be applied directly to the student’s tuition fees by the student giving it to the institution upon registration. The Ministry will then pay the institution, and the institution will put the monies towards the student’s outstanding tuition.
If a student has already paid all their tuition and/or is attending an accredited, designated post-secondary institution outside British Columbia, they should send a completed Redemption Form (from the website), the Passport to Education booklet (with stamps affixed), SIN, proof of registration at the post-secondary institution, proof of tuition fees paid (or a large portion paid). The tuition fees paid should be as close to matching the amount (or over) of the full Passport award. A current address to mail the cheque should be supplied for the Ministry to pay the student directly.
The Government of Canada program provides financial assistance to Status Indian and Inuit students who are enrolled in eligible post- secondary programs, which includes: community college and CEGEP diploma or certificate programs, undergraduate programs, and advanced or professional degree programs.
Eligible students must be Registered Status Indians (residing on or off-reserve) who have been residing in Canada for 12 consecutive months prior to the date of application for funding. Students must be enrolled in a certificate, diploma, or degree program in an eligible post-secondary education institution and must maintain continued satisfactory academic standing with that institution. Funding covers the cost of tuition, textbooks, and supplies.
Students awarded PSSSP funding must submit a Letter of Support issued by their band office before tuition fees are due.
If any of the above requirements are unclear, the Registrar may confirm by contacting the band office directly. https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100033682/1100100033683
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) provides financial assistance to First Nations students who are enrolled in eligible post-secondary programs. Students awarded PSSSP funding are required to submit a Letter of Support issued by their band office prior to the date that tuition fees are due.
For more information about the program and eligibility requirements, visit: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1100100033682/1531933580211
Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada are eligible to apply for educational funding from the province of British Columbia through StudentAid BC.
For more information about student loans through StudentAid BC, visit: https://studentaidbc.ca/
Eligibility Requirements
Split Enrolment
A student may apply to combine their studies at two eligible institutions by completing a Split Enrolment form from the Office of the Registrar. When applying for financial aid with split enrolment, the student will need to identify which institution is their ‘home institution’ and which is their ‘visiting institution.’ The home institution is the institution in which the student has been or is currently enrolled in the most courses, or where the student is completing a degree. The visiting institution is typically where a student is completing a few courses which they intend to transfer back to the home institution upon completion.
An authorized signature is required by the Financial Aid administrators of both institutions.
Deadline for Application:
To ensure funding will arrive in time for the beginning of the semester, applications for financial aid should be submitted at least one month prior to the start of classes. All applications must be submitted no later than six weeks prior to the term end date.
Apply online at https://studentaidbc.ca/
To better recognize academic excellence within each subject area in each major term, we have established a set of Academic Scholarships to be awarded to the strongest students within each discipline.
The selection criteria and other relevant information is as follows:
| Award Type | Academic Scholarship |
|---|---|
| Total value, per year | $15,000 |
| Number, frequency, and duration | Five scholarships, each worth $1500, are awarded each major term (i.e., not Summer), to continue each year until otherwise decided by the Operations Committee. The scholarships will be in the form of a tuition credit unless the student has no upcoming tuition payments (e.g., transferring in the subsequent term); in such cases, the student will be provided with a cheque for the scholarship amount. |
Selection Criteria: Each recipient must meet all the following criteria:
No student can win more than one academic scholarship in the same term.
There may be additional scholarships and bursaries available from internal and external sources. Check the Registrar’s Office for the list and application instructions.
Medical insurance coverage is mandatory for all residents of British Columbia. The college provides information and assistance by helping students to secure access to provincial healthcare or by connecting students with a suitable insurance provider.
Proof of medical insurance coverage is mandatory for all students prior to course registration and must be maintained while attending the college. All students are expected to maintain valid medical insurance for the duration of their studies.
The college is not liable for any medical or dental expenses. Students from outside British Columbia, particularly international students, must obtain Visitors to Canada medical insurance to provide them with coverage for the first 90 days upon arrival in Canada. This 90-day waiting period is required by the BC government to process the student’s application for BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) and is governed by the BC MSP Act. The BC MSP card becomes effective 90 days after arrival in BC and the temporary Visitors to Canada medical insurance expires accordingly. Students from other Canadian provinces must also obtain BC MSP and should check with their respective provincial medical services plan to verify what coverage would apply until they receive their new BC MSP card.
Medical insurance information, assistance, and application forms are available to be picked up from the Office of the Registrar.
Brighton College maintains systematic control of important records from their creation or receipt, through processing, distribution, organization, storage, and retrieval, to their ultimate disposition.
College records are created and maintained to ensure appropriate documentation of operating activities, and to meet operational, legal, regulatory, and fiscal requirements and in accordance with the Personal Information Privacy Act (PIPA) to provide public access to information and to protect personal information.
It is the responsibility of the College Registrar to ensure that student records are kept according to the following general principles:
All records created or retrieved by Brighton College are considered college property, including records related to the operation and administration of the college and records containing information concerning individual faculty, staff, and students.
The Registrar maintains an official academic record for all students attending Brighton College, which includes personal student information. Access to student records and information is administered by the Office of the Registrar.
The student’s physical record may include any or all the following:
The Student’s Electronic Record
The student electronic file is the primary student record. Information contained in this record is described in detail in Section (3.12.10).
Brighton College manages records throughout their life cycle, including the following phases:
Creation/Collection
Maintenance and Use
The college maintains its records with sufficient security to protect privacy and confidentiality, and permit disclosure or prevention of disclosure of records and information where appropriate.
Records Retention and Disposition
Brighton College affirms the importance of conducting its operations as far as possible in ways that are open to public scrutiny. Brighton College collects and maintains student information, and this information is maintained in a confidential manner in accordance with BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The college is committed to the protection of privacy and personal information of individuals who work and study at the college, and is governed by the following basic principles:
This policy provides general guidelines for access to confidential student information and recommendations for the protection and security of personal and other sensitive records and information regarding students.
Office of the Registrar Personnel
Personnel within the Office of the Registrar are custodians of student records and normally have full access to all student information; however, access is restricted to the information necessary for the performance of the duties of the employee. Non-authorized use or disclosure of student information is considered a serious offense and grounds for dismissal.
Education and Academic Advisors
Personnel within Education Advising and Academic Advising have access to the student’s academic record (i.e., transcript) including the address and telephone number, for the students that they advise.
Other Staff of the College
Faculty and administrative staff of the college who require information to serve the interest of a student may be permitted limited access to student records.
College executive officers have access to student records, including address and telephone.
Course instructors have access to student information directly related to their course(s), e.g., previously assigned marks or prerequisite requirements.
External Access
In accordance with Canadian Privacy laws, the college does not release student information to anyone other than the enrolled student without the student’s signed consent. Staff of the college are prohibited from sharing student information to the extent that they may not acknowledge whether an individual is enrolled at the college, or provide any information whatsoever, without the written consent of the student.
Parents, Spouse, Guardians
Personal information or academic records are released to parents, spouse, or guardians only with written approval from the student. Urgent requests for student information based on an apparent emergency are directed to the Registrar, or in their absence, an appropriate college official.
Written Consent
Government Agencies
Properly identified representatives from federal, provincial or local government agencies, (e.g., the Ministry of Advanced Education, Statistics Canada, HRDC, IRCC or CBSA may be given the following information if expressly requested:
Other Individuals or Organizations
Requests from other individuals or organizations require written approval from the student.
The college grants faculty, staff, and students at the college access to college records, subject to the terms and conditions of these guidelines and other applicable college policies, unless the college considers, upon reasonable grounds, that the request for access is frivolous or vexatious, or is exempt.
Students have the right to inspect their personal information records. Proper identification is required. A written request may be required for clarity or where the request is considered non-routine.
Students are normally not permitted to handle or examine original documents. Copies of 10 pages or less are provided free of charge. A charge may be made for copies above this number.
Conditions such as outstanding financial obligations to the institution, failure to return library books or materials, violations of non-academic regulations, or non-payment of the Emergency Student Loan Fund will normally result in withholding official academic records such as transcript, diploma, or certificate from a student.
Implementing Access Right
The right of access is normally implemented by making available, upon written request, a photocopy or other reproduction of the record in question. Providing records may be subject to prior payment of applicable fees.
Where a request for access pertains to a record containing material that is exempt from the general right of access together with material that is not exempt, the college shall make reasonable efforts to separate and disclose the non-exempt material.
Exemptions from the Access Right
In addition to those records that are not to be disclosed under college policies and guidelines, the college may refuse access to certain records where disclosure could be prejudicial to either the college or a member of the college. The following information is normally exempt:
The college collects and records personal information as needed for the proper administration of the college and its programs, or as required by the government. The college uses personal information only the purpose for which it was obtained or compiled, or for a consistent purpose, where the individual has identified that information and consented to its use.
The college discloses personal information to third parties only under specific conditions, described below under Access to Confidential Records and Information.
Correction Rights
Every individual has the right to request correction of the personal information where the individual believes there is an been an error or omission. The college attaches a notice of objection to the data if a correction was requested but not made.
The Registrar conducts an annual audit to ensure that all areas comply with the Records Management policy.
The audit review includes:
As a measure of academic achievement, transcripts are an important record of student accomplishment. Students have a right to recognition of their credentials, and the college has a corresponding responsibility to ensure that students have permanent access to their academic record. The transcript is a trusted document, and every effort must be made to avoid undermining that trust.
Brighton College ensures that student data integrity is constantly maintained and that student transcripts are available to students for at least 55 years from the time they graduate. College records are backed-up at an off-site and secure location at least weekly.
College records are maintained in a myBC system developed specifically for use by Brighton College. Student transcripts are also maintained as image data and backed up at a remote site at least weekly.
Transcript Information
All credentials are displayed on a single transcript, which reflects the entire academic experience of the student at Brighton College. The academic record is complete and historically accurate; notes and accomplishments are added, but changes are not made retroactively.
Transcript information includes the following:
Student information
The student’s name, contact information and student ID number.
Basis of Admission
Academic History
Institutional Information
Obtaining a Transcript
Students have access to their own records and may view or print their unofficial record using myBC.
Official transcripts can be obtained only through an application by the student to the Office of the Registrar, and requires payment of a transcript fee, as set by the Operations Committee. Official transcripts contain all the required information and are printed on security paper to prevent alteration. This paper contains several security features to prevent duplication or alteration. On application, the student may direct that his or her transcript be picked up at the college or mailed to a specified location. A note on the transcript indicates whether it was delivered to the student. Official transcripts are always provided in a sealed envelope.
Brighton College will sign an agreement with certified company which acts at Alternate Records Keeper, as described by the Ministry of Advanced Education through the Degree Quality Assessment Board. The agreement is reviewed every five years.
Permanent Student Records are backed up with the Alternate Records Keeper for the purpose of storage and security in the unlikely event that Brighton College becomes unable to operate due to a major disruption in operation and/or services.
The electronic record data is copied and submitted to the Alternate Records Keeper by the Registrar approximately four weeks following each of the three major terms, Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer if offered.
This electronic student record data includes:
If the Alternate Records Keeper becomes unwilling or unable to act as Alternate Records Keeper for Brighton College, Brighton College will immediately notify the Ministry of Advanced Education and seek a replacement Alternate Records Keeper.
The retention and archival of all records are the responsibility of the Registrar, who may delegate responsibility for receiving, creating, maintaining, archiving, and/or destroying records to suitable college officials.
In accordance with Brighton College’s Records Management Policy, physical student files and documents (e.g., student file documents, unclaimed documents, etc.) are archived or destroyed after a predetermined period of inactivity.
Each department at Brighton College handles its own records disposal procedures independently, and the Office of the Registrar organizes its own shredding service approximately once every two to three months or when the volume of material begins to exceed our capacity to store it. We do not normally allow other departments to add their own shredding, unless agreed to by special request.
Introduction
In the tragic event of the death of an actively enrolled student, Brighton College will:
Any information regarding the death of a student actively enrolled within the previous 12 months must be immediately reported to the college’s Registrar. The Registrar will be the main point of contact with the deceased student’s next of kin or executor, in accordance with BC law, and is responsible for coordinating the actions of the Response Team and preparing a package of information for the next of kin.
Response Team:
Roles and Responsibilities
Registrar
President
Vice-President of Operations and Student Affairs
If the deceased was an international student, the Vice-President of Operations and Student Affairs communicates with the assigned Enrolment Advisor, and discusses any special considerations related to the student’s homestay, agency, or other special circumstances. They will determine what needs may arise among the student body as a result of the death, most importantly Health and Wellness Services and may task the Student Association or Health and Wellness team to organize an honourary event or activity on campus, donate in the name of the student to a registered charity, etc.
Health and Wellness Counselling
If counselling services are required, they will be provided by referral at no expense to students or instructors. News of the student’s passing and bereavement services may be offered to the instructor/classmates, in accordance with privacy law and the wishes of the next of kin as communicated by the Registrar.
Director of Finance
Balances any fees outstanding to $0. Any outstanding supplemental fees (e.g., library fines, or other) will be nullified. Fully refunds any remaining tuition credit on the student account are fully refunded. Student Financial Services will make a refund to the payment method on file or arrange a wire/bank transfer to the next of kin. Alternatively, a bank draft may be issued to the next of kin (or executor), made payable to the “Estate of (student name).”
Director of Campus Operations
Determines if the deceased was assigned a locker on campus. If so, the contents are to be made available to the next of kin.
Human Resources Manager
Determines whether the student had been employed by the college as student worker. If the student had been employed by the college during the previous three fiscal years, Human Resources prepares income-related documents for the next of kin (e.g., T4A and/or T2202).
Once all personnel/departments have enacted their respective responsibilities, each is required to respond by the specified deadline and include any requested information and/or documentation (e.g., tax forms, banking information forms, etc.).
The registrar compiles all the information, forms, etc., along with a letter detailing written instructions, and sends these to the next of kin by email and letter mail.
It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the policies, procedures, and deadlines which are in effect at Brighton College. This information is printed in the Calendar and other publications. Questions regarding these matters may be directed to the student’s Academic Advisor, or to the Office of the Registrar.
For all matters, it is considered sufficient notice by the college to mail information to a student’s address as recorded in the student information system.
It is also the student’s responsibility to attend classes regularly, to keep work up-to-date, and to complete assignments as required. Final grades are based largely on complete assignments, tests, and class participation.
Students should ensure that they are available during the entire time set aside at the end of the term for formal examinations; Instructors are not obliged to schedule an alternate examination time to accommodate the student.
Brighton College explicitly incorporates the principles of natural justice in all student appeal policies and procedures. These principles safeguard fundamental rules of due process and fairness, including adequate notice, the right to be heard, and unbiased treatment.
Students who feel aggrieved regarding a decision relative to the academic alert may appeal the decision. The appeal would normally be made, in the first instance, to the person or committee responsible for the contested decision. Where the student is not satisfied that the appeal has been fairly heard or considered, or if they wish to appeal for an exception to college policy, a further appeal may be made.
Decisions regarding eligibility for admission and course registration, eligibility to order official documents, or to have irreplaceable documents returned are based on college policy and regulations. In the event of extenuating circumstances, a student may submit a request for policy exemption to the Registrar.
Procedure
Students who wish to appeal an admissions, records, or registration policy or procedure may do so by completing an Admissions, Records, and Registration Appeal form, available from the Registrar’s Office.
Students may submit a formal request to defer the date of a midterm or final examination when circumstances beyond their control prevent them from attending at the scheduled exam time. The request must be in writing and must be approved by the Office of Student Affairs.
Requests are granted only in exceptional circumstances, such as a death in the family or a medical emergency. Any requests arising from poor planning or inconvenience, such as booking a flight before the exam schedule is published or conflict with another activity, will not be approved.
The forms for requesting a Midterm Exam Deferral and Final Exam Deferral Form are available at the Office of Student Affairs.
Procedure
To request an exam deferral, students must:
Students are contacted about the outcome of their request once the information is assessed, and a decision is made by administration. Where requests are approved, students are given the time, date, and location of the rescheduled exam.
Students have the right to appeal grades for individual assessments while a course is in progress and to appeal the final grade for a course by requesting review of specific assessments.
Grounds for Denying or Proceeding with a Grade Appeal
Typically, a request for appeal may be denied on the following grounds:
Typically, an appeal may be pursued on the following grounds:
Grade Appeal Process
Step 1: Before pursuing the formal appeal process, all reasonable steps should be taken by the student to resolve a grade dispute by communicating with the instructor in a timely manner. Students are also advised to contact the Office of Student Affairs for advice.
Step 2: If the concern remains unresolved and the student chooses to proceed with a grade appeal, they complete the Grade Appeal Form available on the college website or from the Office of Student Affairs. The completed form must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs within 30 calendar days of grade availability. The form must be accompanied by:
Step 3: The Office of Student Affairs considers whether there are grounds for appeal. Where it is determined that the grounds for appeal are not met, the student is normally informed within five days from the date of appeal.
Where it is determined that the grounds for appeal are met, the review process is normally completed within 20 business days from the date of appeal:
The grade appeal process outlined above is final.
Late withdrawal may be granted only in unusual circumstances beyond the student’s control (e.g., severe illness, death of an immediate family member, etc.), which make it impossible for the student to complete the course.
Appeals brought forward under this policy are referred to the Registrar for disposition. If the request is granted, the notation ‘LW’ (Late Withdrawal) appears on the student’s transcript and the course is not counted in the calculation of GPA.
Procedure
Students who wish to request a late withdrawal from a course may do so by completing an Admissions and Registration Appeal form. The form must be accompanied by evidence (e.g., medical documents, travel itinerary, etc.).
Students who are not satisfied with the refund decision may appeal to the Office of Student Affairs, who will forward it to the financial services unit. The department manager will review the refund calculation and respond to students within 30 days of the appeal date.
Brighton College acknowledges and celebrates the academic achievements of its students. This policy describes college awards and related procedures.
Procedure
The Dean’s List and Honour Roll
The Dean’s List and Honour Roll recipients are evaluated based on the two major terms, Fall and Winter of each year. Recipients are notified by email of their award in the term following the one they during which were evaluated and selected.
Dean’s List Qualifications
Selection to the Dean’s List is based upon achievement of a 4.00 or higher GPA after completion of a minimum of 12 credits in the term being evaluated.
Honour Roll Qualifications
Selection to the Honour Roll is based upon achievement of a 3.50 to 3.99 GPA after completion of a minimum of 12 credits in the term being evaluated.
ID Cards
Students must have a verified photo in their myBC profile to be eligible to write final exams. Physical ID cards are required for in-person final exams and borrowing physical library materials. Students receive their ID cards from the library.
Lost or Stolen Cards
Lost or stolen cards should be reported to the library. To obtain a new card, a $25 replacement fee must be paid at the bookstore. Students must present the receipt at the library along with an approved form of government ID such as a Passport, BC identification Card/BC Driver’s License with a photo, or Permanent Residency Card.
Expired Cards
Enrolled students can request a new student ID if their old ID has expired. Reprints for expired cards are issued at no cost to students. To obtain a replacement for an expired card students must present their expired card to the library. Students are unable to write exams with an expired card.
The college warmly welcomes all students, including equity-deserving minorities and recognizes its moral and legal duty to contribute to the success of all students including non-traditional students in its programs (e.g., Indigenous, female, those with accessibility requirements). The goal is to remove barriers to learning, enabling students to access college services, programs, and facilities, and to encourage all students to be active members of the college community. This goal will be achieved by ensuring the college hires diverse employees, including academic advisors, and providing appropriate training. In addition, the WLC will be a safe and accommodating space for students to receive assistance in all aspects of their course needs. We will also establish scholarships and bursaries and a student-to-student mentorship program to facilitate support.
Students with specific needs will be accommodated in accordance with their needs, and in a manner consistent with academic policies and principles of natural justice, in accordance with the Human Rights Code (BC) and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These provisions will not lower the academic standards of the college and will not exempt the student from evaluation or from the need to meet essential learning outcomes.
Students who have needs that may affect their attendance or participation in class must establish their need for accommodation with the Director of Student Affairs by the end of the third week of the term. If the student does not notify the administration in time, accommodation may not be granted for the student during that term.
Each student applying for accommodation will be considered individually, on a case-by-case basis, with respect and confidentiality. Instructors will make provisions as mutually agreed upon by themselves and the student.
Examples of Accommodations offered by Brighton College include but are in no way limited to:
In the event that the college cannot satisfy the student’s needs, e.g., there is an issue that in the judgement of the Registrar presents a potential danger to that student or to other students, and/or cannot be managed with the resources available to the college, the student will not be able to enroll or enrollment will be withdrawn. If fees have been paid, they will be refunded according to the refund policy. In addition, the college will seek to find and will attempt to provide information concerning agencies and places where the student may find appropriate accommodation.
Brighton College acknowledges that losing a family member or close relative can impact a student emotionally and affect their academic standing. To promote student well-being, the college has developed the Bereavement Policy to grant emergency leave immediately following the death of a close relation. The intention of this policy is to allow time for students to deal with their grief and bereavement and/or attend funeral services. This policy is enacted using the Bereavement Leave Request Form, which can be accessed by students through the Office of Student Affairs.
Definitions
Bereavement leave – a short, planned absence from classes and academic responsibility.
Group work – when an assignment in a course involves the bereaved student and at least one other student in the course.
Missed academic work – assignments, quizzes or tests/exams that the student would otherwise be responsible for if not using the Bereavement Policy.
Significant relationships can include:
Consideration for bereavement leave may also be given if a family member is terminally ill or in palliative care. These instances will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Notification
Students using the Bereavement Policy must notify the Director of Student Affairs in writing, using the Bereavement Request Form to inform them that they will be requesting a leave. Notification must be made within one week of the death occurring (at the onset of the mourning period). Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.
The Director of Student Affairs or the Health and Wellness Counsellor, if applicable, will provide a written notice to the student’s instructors, regarding the student using the Bereavement Policy. The notice will remind instructors that it is the student’s right to make up missed work.
If the student is involved in group work/projects, the instructor will inform at least one group member that the student is taking an approved bereavement leave.
General Terms and Conditions
With the appropriate notification as described above, students who choose to use the Bereavement Policy will be permitted three to five consecutive days of absence from class (not including weekends or holidays). The length of time granted may be dependent on the nature of the course and based on the number of classes per term.
Travel days for attending funeral services or spending time with family may be granted with proof from the student that travel has been booked (i.e., an airline ticket in the student’s name). Students may have up to four more calendar days allowed for international travel. If more than four travel days are needed, this can be addressed on a case-by-case basis with the Director of Student Affairs, where applicable.
Faculty and staff should be sensitive to and accommodate the needs of the bereaved students. Students who miss days of school due to using the Bereavement Policy should be given the opportunity to make up any missed assignments/tests/exams and other required work from their instructors. Work assigned during that absence should not be subjected to grade penalties, given that they are completed in a reasonable amount of time, and all efforts should be made to accommodate extensions for assignments in progress (i.e., research/term papers and essays).
The student is responsible for communicating with the instructor to arrange to complete coursework, including tests and exams.
Proof of Death
Students using the Bereavement Policy must produce proof regarding the death of their loved one. Proof must be submitted to the Director of Student Affairs within two weeks (14 calendar days) of submitting their Bereavement Request Form. Failure to provide proof will result in unexcused absences. Providing false documents or misleading information is treated as academic dishonesty, which will be dealt with seriously by the college.
Documentation of death includes:
If any clarification is required between instructors and students in relation to the Bereavement Policy, the Director of Student Affairs will be responsible for handling student appeals and/or adjudicating the situation.
The college recognizes that grief impacts every student differently, and that some students may require more time to attend to their emotional health than the Bereavement Policy allows. Students should use their discretion about how to best address their academics through course drops or withdrawals. Counselling services are also available through the college for any student experiencing grief.
Brighton College respects every student’s religious observance. If a student must be absent from class or an examination because of a holiday, they must bring it to their instructors’ attention at least one week ahead of time to arrange satisfactory accommodation.
While on Brighton College premises or during activities or events hosted by Brighton College, all students are required to abide by the College’s Code of Conduct and must:
The above list sets out examples of prohibited conduct. It is intended to help students understand the type of conduct that will be subject to discipline and is not exhaustive. Students who violate the Code of Conduct will be subject to the procedures and discipline outlined below, which may include immediate dismissal from the institution.
Procedure:
If the student violates the terms and conditions established in Step 2, the student will be expelled from their studies at the college and the college refund policy will be strictly enforced.
As an educational institution providing academic preparation and university transfer courses recognized by other academic institutions, Brighton College is committed to maintaining the highest levels of academic integrity in all our courses. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of and comply with policies, procedures, and deadlines which are in effect at Brighton College. This information is printed in the Academic Calendar and other publications.
Academic misconduct that is subject to penalty includes, but is not limited to: plagiarism, cheating, submitting the same, or substantially the same essay, presentation, or assignment more than once, impersonating a candidate, submitting false records or information, falsifying or submitting false documents, attempting to engage in, or assisting others to engage in academic misconduct. For more information about how to avoid academic misconduct, consult the Writing and Learning Centre, librarians, or Office of the Registrar.
Disciplinary measures that may be imposed, singly or in combination, for academic misconduct include: a letter of reprimand, notation of discipline on the student’s record, a failing grade or mark of zero in the course, suspension or cancellation of any scholarships, bursaries or prizes, suspension from the college for a specified or indefinite period, revocation of a degree or other academic credentials dishonestly or improperly obtained and/or expulsion from the college.
Questions regarding these matters may be directed to the student’s instructor, the Writing and Learning Centre Manager, or the Office of the Registrar.
First Academic Alert
Students who receive their first Academic Alert will be given a chance to learn from their mistakes. They are required to attend a remediation workshop scheduled by the Writing and Learning Centre before an imposed deadline. If they do not attend the remediation workshop, they will be suspended for one full semester, which means they cannot register or take courses.
If students disagree with the academic alert, they have the right to file an appeal with the Education Committee. They will have to state their justification and provide evidence to prove they should not be charged with the Academic Alert and submit their paperwork to the campus where they are taking the course.
Second Academic Alert
Students will be given 10 calendar days to respond to the academic alert or file an appeal. After the deadline, if they do not appeal or if their appeal is unsuccessful, they are officially suspended for one full regular semester.
Third Academic Alert
Students who receive a third alert will be expelled from the college. Students will be contacted by the Director of Student Affairs and the Education Committee regarding their expulsion or for Academic Alert Type II.
Academic Alert Type II is introduced to give students who commit minor academic offences an opportunity to understand and learn from their errors. Type II are less serious Academic Alerts as deemed by the Writing and Learning Centre Manager after careful examination of the evidence and discussion with the instructor.
Students with a Type II alert are required to attend a remediation workshop. A Type II alert cannot be appealed as it does not go on the students’ record or affect their academic standing.
If students do not attend the remediation workshop, the Type II Alert reverts to a Standard Academic Alert that carries penalties, with suspension and expulsion as possible consequences.
Academic misconduct, such as plagiarism, cheating, and misrepresentation, normally results in academic discipline ranging from a reprimand or assigning a failing mark to suspension or expulsion. See the Student Academic Integrity Policy (section 4.6) for definitions of academic misconduct.
Non-academic misconduct, such as interfering with instruction or damaging property is normally dealt with as a restitution issue but can also result in suspension or expulsion. Some examples of non-academic misconduct include:
Students have a responsibility to avoid all forms of misconduct and to avoid the appearance of misconduct. For example, a student who exposes an exam paper for another to view may claim the act was accidental; yet, depending on the circumstances, this claim may not be accepted as proof of innocence.
The Office of Student Affairs will ensure that no student is treated unfairly, while further ensuring that all forms of misconduct are dealt with appropriately. If a student is accused of either academic or non-academic (behavioural) misconduct, they will also have the right to appeal through a form that may be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs.
Ignorance of misconduct policy or the appropriate standard of conduct is not accepted as a defense. The standards of evidence and proof of misconduct are determined by the Director of Student Affairs. An opportunity for appeal of disciplinary measures arising from misconduct is provided.
Disciplinary measures that may be imposed, singly or in combination, for academic misconduct or for non-academic misconduct include the following:
In general, a student who cheats on an assignment or test will be given a grade of zero for that assignment or test. The instructor may allow the student to make up the work.
All work submitted by students (including essays, examinations, tests, reports, presentations, problem sets, and tutorial assignments) may be reviewed by the college for authenticity and originality. By submitting work, students consent to their work undergoing such review and being retained in a database for comparison with other work submitted by students. The results of such review may be used in any college investigation or disciplinary proceedings.
The laying of criminal charges, or the commencement of civil proceedings, does not preclude the college commencing disciplinary proceedings or taking disciplinary measures against a student who has committed academic or non-academic misconduct.
Brighton College is responsible for developing awareness among students, instructors, and staff of the need for the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and responsibility. The Student Academic Integrity policy, presented here, is intended to provide additional information for students who are newcomers to post-secondary academia. This policy defines prohibited conduct such as plagiarism, cheating, and contract cheating.
The concept of academic integrity involves relying on one’s own work for academic success and progress, in accordance with college policies and procedures. All suspected contraventions of academic integrity will be investigated. There are two general ways to demonstrate a lack of academic integrity: plagiarism and cheating. Disciplinary action may vary depending on the situation.
Plagiarism occurs when an individual submits or presents the work of another person as their own. Scholarship quite properly rests upon examining and referring to the thoughts and writings of others. However, when excerpts are used in paragraphs or essays, the author must be acknowledged in the text, through footnotes, in endnotes, or in other accepted forms of academic citation.
Where collaborative work is permitted by the instructor, students must ensure that they comply with the instructor’s requirements for such collaboration. Students are responsible for ensuring that any work submitted does not constitute plagiarism. Students who are in any doubt as to what constitutes plagiarism should consult their instructor before handing in any assignments.
Examples of plagiarism include but are not limited to:
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, falsifying any material that is subject to academic evaluation; having in an exam any materials other than those permitted by the examiner; and using unauthorized means to complete an examination or receiving unauthorized assistance. Academic dishonesty also involves:
Contract academic dishonesty “occurs when a third party makes a contribution to the work of the student, such that there is reasonable doubt as to whose work the assessment represents” (Draper Newton, 2017, p.1):
Third party tutors are prohibited at Brighton College. The Writing and Learning Centre specialists and the Write Away service tutors are the only authorised tutors for all Brighton courses. Use of outside tutors, without the consent of a Brighton College instructor will result in an Academic Alert. It may also lead to suspension or permanent expulsion from the college.
Forms of advertising that promote contract academic dishonesty will be regarded as communication that disrupts the normal functions of the college and will be removed where possible.
If students are encountering difficulties in their courses, they should consult with their instructors during office hours, the Writing and Learning Centre, and/or the library for assistance.
Remediation workshops are facilitated by the academic integrity officer, under the supervision of the WLC coordinator and the WLC manager. Students who miss a Remediation Workshop are placed on a Registrar’s Hold which is removed once the workshop has been completed.
Instructors who suspect their students of academic dishonesty in assignments and exams, specifically in cases when students demonstrate higher results in final exams in comparison to previously submitted work in the course, should schedule a follow-up oral assessment with their students prior to issuing an academic alert.
Students who cannot orally replicate their written answers in a competent manner are determined to have committed an academic misconduct infraction and instructors should then file an academic alert.
Instructors may also issue an academic alert to students who do not respond to a request for a follow-up oral assessment or who do not appear for an oral re-examination. If a student files an academic appeal, the instructor will be required to assist the Office of Student Affairs by scheduling and conducting the oral assessment.
Brighton College acknowledges that instructors may proactively require students to demonstrate an understanding of honourable conduct.
Principles of Honourable Conduct
Students at Brighton College are members of an academic community that is expected to behave in a manner that commands the respect and trust of instructors, peers, and the college. The behavioural principles of honourable conduct include but are not limited to:
Instructors may expect students to demonstrate their understanding of these principles by completing a related quiz or by signing a related pledge.
The Office of Student Affairs at Brighton College strives to enable and empower students through equitable access to educational resources and services, supporting students in personal and professional development while maintaining an inclusive and positive environment. Themes are:
The Writing and Learning Centre (WLC) provides academic support services for both students and faculty at Brighton College. WLC services include free, ethical, in-person tutoring for all subject areas, campus-wide workshops, in-class workshops, in-house, and online resources to facilitate student success.
The Writing and Learning Centre works closely with instructors and librarians to ensure students understand all class material and the academic integrity policies of the college.
Student can book appointments for research (locating articles, using keywords, searching databases, etc.) and/or for academic writing (editing, grammar, or citation help). Two “no-shows” will result in the student being suspended from making an appointment for two weeks.
Student advocacy at Brighton College is designed to uphold and enforce the various policies and processes in place at the college as they relate to students and to advocate for students when they need help.
This means, in broad terms, assisting students encountering a barrier to their studies by reviewing exceptional circumstances at the level of the individual – this may arise in terms of appeals, accommodations, accessibility, complaints, and various other student interactions across departments within the college.
In upholding policy, Student support is also the touchstone for student conduct, both behavioural and academic, when necessary, suspensions and expulsions.
Brighton College students are eligible for up to three free, on-site, health and wellness counselling sessions each academic year. These sessions are designed to provide students with a safe, supportive, and confidential space in which to discuss issues that may be causing distress and personal struggle.
Some examples of common issues that are discussed with a Health and Wellness Counselor include:
In addition, the college provides workshops on topics such as stress management, body image, and healthy relationships. As well as providing referrals to off-campus resources for ongoing services.
This policy provides detailed procedures for offering extra-curricular events hosted by Brighton College’s Student Affairs Division.
Liability Waiver Forms
Where possible, for any events that involve physical and/or strenuous activity and which may result in bodily injury, Brighton College provides liability insurance for the purpose of student safety. In rare exceptions when liability insurance is not procured by the institution, a waiver form must be signed. Events that are less active (e.g., movie nights) will not require the signing of a waiver form. The following is a breakdown of the procedures regarding Student Affairs events.
Procedure
1. The Student Life Officer will conduct a risk assessment for any special activity, including consideration of:
2. An Extra-Curricular Event Authorization Form and Risk Assessment Checklist must be submitted to the Director of Student Affairs for approval.
3. Event leaders must inform students well in advance of the conditions for Category 1 and 2 events:
4. Event leaders will prepare a list of all participants and a contact number for each:
5. Students must complete the Participation in Event Category 1 – Student Waiver of Liability form or Participation in Event Category 2 – Student Waiver of Liability form. Students going on Category 2 events must also sign the Student Guide to Extra-Curricular Events Form.
6. If there is an indication of an injury on the trip, a full incident report must be documented and sent to the Director of Operations and Student Affairs.
Supplementary Information
During college-sponsored events, each student participant is expected to comply with all applicable policies, and each Brighton College event leader is expected to comply with all applicable duties and responsibilities. All participants must also obey all applicable provisions of the law where the event’s activities take place. All participants are individually responsible for their personal conduct while at the event, and the college has no obligation to intercede or undertake to protect them from the legal consequences of violations of law for which they may be responsible. Specifically:
The Student Engagement unit plays a vital role in creating and overseeing various events and opportunities designed to support the student population. This may include social, cultural, or academic support initiatives that are designed to increase the students’ likelihood of success. The college schedules several workshops per year on the topics of academic success and career readiness. Students can take advantage of free peer tutoring for academic success. The college also organizes a Convocation and Awards ceremony.
Career Services at Brighton College help students succeed at work during their time at the college and beyond. This unit provides workshops and programs, offers in-person support, and provides online resources to help students navigate their career.
Specifically, Career Advising helps students with:
All appointments are confidential. Students can work with us for one session or over multiple conversations if needed.
The Student Life Unit provides students with the opportunity to experience Canadian culture, the diverse cultures of other students, and opportunities to socialize and relax. The unit offers a variety of activities and clubs, such as the Brighton College Student Association (BCSA) meetings, a gaming club, a field trip event, health and wellness workshops, and more.
The Brighton College Student Association (BCSA) is a group of students united by a desire to make a positive and substantial difference in the lives of other students at Brighton College. The BCSA provides its members with regular and dynamic opportunities to get involved in event planning, budgeting, acquisition of resources for the student body, creating activities that help students positively engage with life in Canada, and helping their fellow students make new friends, create new connections, and enhance the student experience at Brighton College.
The Brighton College library plays a key role in achieving the educational directives of the college by serving as an information centre in which students engage in academic and social activities. Day-to-day operations and policy management are directly overseen by the librarian. The librarian reports to and receives approval for large scale projects from the Director of Operations and Student Affairs.
The library provides the highest level of resources (whether traditional or digital) and instructional services so students and faculty can perform research, study, and surf the web with confidence. Services are thus patron-oriented and are under constant re-evaluation to ensure they are up-to-date and responsive.
To fulfill its role in supporting the college’s educational mission, the library is committed to maintaining an environment conducive to study and research. To ensure a quiet, pleasant, safe, clean, and respectful atmosphere for all users, the library has established the following policies regarding the use of its facilities and collections. Policies shall apply to all users, regardless of their affiliation with the college.
The library is open and staffed by a librarian Monday through Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm. The librarian is available in person and online during these times to assist library patrons.
Brighton College library strives to achieve the educational directives of the college by providing an environment that is productive and conducive to individual and group learning. The following policies are in place to ensure that the library environment facilitates learning and collaboration.
Behaviour in the Library
Students must be mindful of their behaviour and how their behaviour can affect other students. Library staff have a right to ask students to leave the library at any time.
Disruptive Behaviour
Complaints of disruptive behaviour will be taken seriously, and the offending library user may be asked to leave. Behaviour that interferes with appropriate use, or interrupts the learning process for other patrons, exhibits a disregard for the dignity of others, will not be tolerated. Excessive noise, altercations, theft, vandalism, inappropriate sexual behavior, and harassment of any kind are forbidden.
Food and Drink
Noise
Quiet conversation is permitted in the library; loud conversations and offensive language are not permitted. Be aware of your surroundings and respectful of others in the library.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones to be set to silent or vibrate. Please do not have conversations on speaker phone while in the library. Phone conversations longer than one minute should be taken outside the library.
Library Materials Borrowing Policy
It is the responsibility of students, faculty, and staff to ensure proper use of library materials including books, films, AV equipment, etc. Users are asked to return un-shelved items to library staff if they do not know or remember where an item is shelved.
Borrowing
Students, faculty, and staff are permitted to borrow physical library materials. All library users are required to provide their photo ID and student number or staff email address when withdrawing books from the library. All users are responsible for all items on their library account. It is the user’s responsibility to check due dates.
Loan Periods
All library users are responsible for returning all items borrowed from the library on time and in good condition. The due date will either be communicated orally or when possible, a date stamp will be used. Students are allowed to renew books up to 2 times, however, if the book is recalled the student must return the book on its original due date.
| Item Type | Library Loan Periods |
|---|---|
| Non-Fiction | 21 Days |
| Fiction | 21 Days |
| Course Reserves (textbooks) | 7 days (or as directed by instructor) |
| Computer Set (CPU, Monitor, Keyboarding, Mouse) | 3 Months |
| Reference (dictionaries) | 24 Hours |
Course reserve textbooks:
Brighton College library has a collection of textbooks used in courses offered at the college. These textbooks are on designated shelves. They are available to all Brighton students free of charge. Please note the course reserves must be returned within seven (7) days, and the textbook must stay in the library for at least 24 hours before the borrower can take out the book again.
Holds and Recalls
Library users can place holds on items that are not currently on the shelves. To do this, library users will need to go to the catalogue and search for the item and select “place hold”. To complete the request, users will need to sign into their library account. When a user places a hold on an item that is already checked out by another user it is called a recall. Items that have been recalled cannot be renewed as someone else is waiting for the item.
Renewals
A renewal is when a library user has an item out on their account but would like to have the item past its original due date. Renewals are permitted when there is no one else officially waiting (on hold) for the item(s). Students can renew their items in person, by emailing the librarian (library@brightoncollege.com ), or by phone (604-416-0383).
Material Returned Late
All library items must be returned to the library on time. Any items that are late will result in fines. Unreturned overdue items may result in library or college services and privileges being revoked, based on administrative discretion. Students who have any monetary fines must settle the balance before graduation (they will not be able to order graduation documents or alumni cards). All items must be returned either to a library staff member directly or to the library return book bin at the circulation desk.
The following will not be accepted as a reason for disputing a fine on your account:
| Item Type | Library Loan Periods | Late Fee/Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Books | 21 Days | $2/day and max $50 per item |
| Course Reserves (textbooks) | 7 days (or as directed by instructor) | $10/day and max $50 per item |
| Computer Set (CPU, Monitor, Keyboarding, Mouse) | 3 Months | $5/day and max $800 per item |
| Reference (dictionaries) | 24 Hours | $2/day and max $50 per item |
Please be advised that by using Brighton College library computers, you are agreeing to adhere to the following library computer policies:
Access to the computing system will be given to students according to academic or operational need and may be revoked at the discretion of college administration. It is expected that users will not engage in activities harmful to the computing system, such as:
Violations of Brighton’s Computer Use policy may result in disciplinary actions including, but not limited to:
Course Reserves
All Brighton College instructors can place materials on reserve in the library. To submit a course reserve request, please email library@brightoncollege.com with the title of the item, course number and section, as well as length of the loan.
Item Requests and Course Budgets
The library welcomes recommendations for additional resources for the library collection to support courses offered at Brighton College. Each faculty member has a budget per course for supplementary materials. For further information please contact the library.
Brighton College adheres to Fair Dealing as outlined in the Canadian Copyright Act. Faculty must ensure that they are providing access to course readings ethically and legally. Links should not be provided to content that is obviously not shared legally or ethically. Students should not share or post course readings outside of Canvas without permission. In some instances, we can use other people’s work without having to obtain copyright permission – this is called Fair Dealing. Fair Dealing includes uses for:
Under Fair Dealing, instructors can copy or distribute a short excerpt of a copyright-protected work. A short excerpt is defined as:
Audiovisual Materials
The changes to copyright in the recent Copyright Modernization Act now allow instructors to show DVDs and television programs in the classroom and for educational purposes without the previously required licenses, though application for private institutions remains restricted by licensing. DVDs must be purchased copies, and they cannot be home-recorded, burnt, or rented video recordings.
Most major studios are already licensed through a public performance rights subscription. The licenses are with the two leading Canadian PPR licensing agencies, Audio Cine Films (ACF) and Criterion Pictures. Each agency represents several studios, and their license is a blanket license covering all or almost all films produced by the studio.
Between them the two agencies cover almost all the major US and Canadian studios and production companies, and many independent producers and foreign films. If you would like to show a video in the classroom, please consult the librarian to ensure the appropriate licensing is in place to support your instruction.
Please do not attempt to download or digitize any streaming content (such as YouTube videos) without consultation with the library. Requests of this nature will be handled on a case-by-case basis to ensure copyright is not violated.
YouTube videos (and other online videos) can be streamed and shown in classrooms if there is no explicit information on the video demanding copyright protection. If the video has been posted by the copyright owner (i.e., has not been reposted through a secondary YouTube member) and has no warnings to the contrary, instructors are allowed to play these streaming videos live in their classrooms. Please do not play or link to any material that you know, or suspect, has been illegally posted to a streaming site.
Students
For students, copyright is important when writing papers, making presentations, and accessing course readings. Students at Brighton College are subject to adhere to Canada’s Copyright Act and the college’s Copyright Policies when completing coursework or assignments including papers, projects, and presentations. Students will be subject to Fair Dealing exceptions when using copyright protected work in their assignments.
Students should note that instructors own copyright over their teaching materials (presentations, slides, exams, lectures and lecture notes), and students cannot copy these works without the instructor’s permission, unless under a Fair Dealing exception as outlined in the Copyright Act.
Students should also note that they own copyright for the materials they create while at Brighton College. As such, student presentations, projects, and assignments cannot be copied without students’ permission.
Brighton College Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with a high level of academic integrity. This means that students are expected to avoid plagiarism by citing their sources. Students can learn more about how to properly cite their sources from the Writing and Learning Centre.
At the end of each semester library staff are responsible for gathering all relevant archive materials and assembling them with the instructor-submitted archives packages. This should be completed within two weeks of the last day of the finals for that semester.
This process is dependent on the instructors submitting their course packages on time. Faculty will be given permission to the subject folder for their discipline and will have to upload all relevant materials (syllabus, assignments, exams, detailed grade breakdown) to their course folders. Library staff will compile documents into one pdf to create a digital archive. Library staff are also responsible for printing physical back-ups of complete archives for offsite storage.
All course archives must be submitted by faculty by 4:00 pm of the first Friday of the next semester. Any outstanding course archives must be reported as soon as possible to the dean, who will follow up with the affected instructors immediately.
Course archives will be submitted electronically by instructors via SharePoint. Instructors have access to their own personal course folder, where they can submit the required documents. If instructors have not submitted their course documents on time or have documents missing, they will be contacted via e-mail, and e-mails should be copied to the library.
At the end of each semester, library staff are responsible for gathering all unreturned work and storing this coursework in the college storage room. Faculty are expected to hand in their unreturned work to the library at the end of the semester. All unreturned student work for the past calendar year must stay in on-site storage, for ease of access. At the end of each semester, library staff will contact Facilities and ask that any materials older than one calendar year be moved to the secure shredding room or shredded on site.
To view exams or unreturned work, students fill out an exam viewing request. Students will have a window of seven days in which to view their exam. If they do not appear within the seven days, they must fill out another request. Students have 30 days to appeal their exam grades after the exam date.
Note that to view their exam, students must present their student ID to a library staff member. Library staff hold this ID until the student has finished viewing the exam. Students cannot have bags or backpacks, writing materials, phones, or computers when viewing the exam. Students are not allowed to view exams 30 minutes before opening or 30 minutes prior to the library closing.
Students viewing exams should be always in sight of library staff members.
Students who wish to appeal their grade are given their printed Exam Viewing request email, with the Exam notified and Exam viewed sections filled out.
Unreturned work, such as exams, must stay at the library unless a staff member requests the exam for the appeal process. Exams are not returned to students to take home. To appeal an exam, students will bring the printed request email to the Front Desk, where they ask for a grade appeal form.
If a staff member requests to take the exam away as part of the appeal process, library staff are to track this by printing off another exam viewing request email for that student and recording the name of the staff member the exam was given to and when it was handed to them.
Instructors are normally engaged to teach specific courses. It is the responsibility of college instructors to continue to learn about their areas of expertise, and to provide their students with high-quality learning opportunities. In this context it is the responsibility of all instructors, administrators, staff, and students to encourage an environment of academic acceptance and trust: where ideas are welcome regardless of any quality of the originator such as race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age; and where ideas can be expressed and examined without fear of reprisal other than the give and take of honest debate. All participants, but particularly instructors, have a responsibility to avoid such techniques as ad hominem comments, an overbearing attitude, denigration, or ridicule in their discussions. All have a further responsibility to defend the right of others to express their ideas and opinions without physical or moral censure. And all have the responsibility to use accepted ethical standards in the expression of ideas, avoiding proselytizing and propaganda.
The instructor is responsible for the following, for each course:
Office Hours. Instructors must be available to meet with students, out of class, at least one hour per week or by email appointment.
Division Meeting. Instructors are required to attend a division meeting once per term.
As employees of the college, instructors also have the following responsibilities:
Instructors have freedom to choose the content and methods of instruction used in the courses they teach within certain limits, especially for courses that are articulated, many through BCCAT, with corresponding courses at other colleges and universities. Many courses are arranged in a structure so that the knowledge gained in one course is expected to have been mastered as prerequisite to subsequent courses. We must respect these agreements and arrangements by ensuring that course content is presented within the guidelines specified in our official curriculum guides. Similarly, while instructors may choose among various methods of delivering instruction, they must also accept responsibility for using state-of-the-art methods.
Instructors must observe and respect the boundaries of the professional relationship between instructor and student in that these are relationships based on trust, given that the instructor has a supervisory role or may have influence over the student’s current or future academic activities or career. Any attempt to engage in personal relationships with current students is prohibited. Violation of this policy may result in discipline, up to and including termination.
It is the responsibility of college instructors to stay current in their areas of expertise, and to provide their students with high-quality learning opportunities. All instructors are expected to respect and encourage all students and to always demonstrate accepted ethical and moral behaviour.
Brighton College encourages all faculty to continue to develop their pedagogical practices as professional instructors and, where appropriate, to seek out further professional development in their fields of expertise. Opportunities for both in-house and external professional development are open to all faculty, depending on their type of faculty appointment. Expenses must be related to professional development activities that enhance the knowledge, performance, or career progression of college faculty. The funds may not be accessed for any other purposes.
General Requirements
Small Pro-D Grants:
Large Pro-D Grants
There are two options for large grants:
Additional Information on Small and Large Grants
Applicant Responsibilities
Faculty who receive small or large grants for self-directed professional development are obligated to prepare a related workshop for their division or to participate as a guest speaker at a Brighton College professional development day after their self-directed professional development activity is completed.
In-House Professional Development (PD) Days
At least twice during each academic year, a full-day workshop is scheduled to provide faculty and academic administrators an opportunity to discuss topics related to teaching, general education, curricular design, and other relevant issues. Suggestions for PD Day topics or speakers should be directed to division coordinators or the dean. Normally, a third annual PD Day is primarily devoted to division meetings and the discussion of discipline-specific matters.
As part of their obligations to the college, continuing faculty are required to contribute to the college community through service hours. Continuing faculty may fulfill their college service hours in several different ways, including but not limited to:
Instructors may contact their division coordinators or the Dean’s Office for further information.
This policy focuses on instructional assessment; Brighton College students are assessed in a fair and equitable manner that is clearly articulated and that complies with the current curriculum guides and course syllabi.
Specifically, assessment criteria, assignment due dates, grading scales, policies regarding penalties and allowances (e.g., assignment extensions), and other relevant information are outlined to students at the beginning of a course in a course syllabus. Each student has the right to a written (paper or electronic) syllabus at the beginning of the course, which states:
Major items in the syllabus must be altered after the first week of classes without the unanimous consent of the class and instructor.
Assessment
Brighton College faculty observe the following assessment practices:
Midterm Performance Report
A Midterm Performance Report is intended to inform students and instructors about potential student failure. Accordingly, a midterm report is due within a specified time each semester. Midterm reporting periods are collaboratively determined by the Registrar’s and Dean’s Offices. Procedural details are outlined for instructors in the Dean’s Office LMS course.
As noted above, to facilitate midterm reporting, a minimum of 30% of term marks are posted to the Canvas gradebook prior to the start of the midterm reporting period.
Students who are identified as at risk of failing, or who are already failing, are referred to the appropriate support services. Procedural details are outlined in the Dean’s Office LMS course.
Final Exams
Final examinations are intended to assess each student’s individual knowledge and competence on a particular body of instructional material. The rigour, quality, and content of final exams should be appropriate to the level of the course and program. Final exams are typically two to three hours in length.
Division coordinators, with the assistance of BASC members, monitor the rigour, quality, and content of final exams created by new sessional instructors. Final exams are reviewed in the same manner when instructors are teaching a course for the first time.
Brighton College retains the copyright over instructional materials created for the college using college resources, such as:
When an instructor, student or staff member independently develops materials, the instructor or student retains the full copyright. Instructors hold the copyright to all teaching materials (e.g., lecture notes, power point slides, texts, tests, and videos) they independently develop for use in teaching courses at Brighton College.
Where materials are owned by an instructor or a third party, then the user of the materials must ensure that the college has a right of use before using the materials at the college.
After the instructor stops teaching the course or the student has completed the course, the college can continue to use the materials, modify them, extend them, incorporate them into other instructional materials, and such similar uses for the normal activities of the college. The college will not sell or trade or otherwise profit from the transmission to any third party of any materials that are clearly owned by someone else, except with the express permission and agreement of the owner.
If an instructor creates or modifies any materials for the purpose of teaching at the college in a manner that results in the college owning the copyright of the materials, then the college grants the instructor a perpetual right of use of those materials. This applies to students (and staff if appropriate) as well.
The preceding is the normal position of the college, but other agreements can be made. Any agreement contrary to the above policy must be described in a written contract and signed by a senior representative of the college.
The Education Committee supports in-house professional development, including workshops and seminars. Through a collegial approach, the Instructional Support Centre, CTL, is intended to function as an active, well-used, and well-respected educational hub for all college instructors providing opportunities for academic discourse, consultations, professional development, and general instructional support. The CTL aims to facilitate faculty growth and development, inside and outside of the classroom, by acknowledging and sharing their instructors’ academic prowess while providing expertise and guidance.
A guest speaker remuneration is a pre-established amount paid to a person with expertise in a particular field to give a lecture for the college. The payee has no appointment with the college and is engaged for his or her expertise on a particular topic (rather than as a substitute for a continuing instructor).
All faculty can facilitate several guest lectures per academic year. Payments are made directly to the speaker and are up to an amount determined by the Dean’s Office (inclusive of all applicable taxes). Faculty require pre-approval to make use of this fund.
Upon completion of the event, the guest speaker must submit an invoice to the college. It is the guest speaker’s responsibility to report and remit the proper taxes to Canada Revenue Agency. Brighton College and its Associates shall have no responsibility or be held for any taxes the guest speaker may be levied by the Canada Revenue Agency. Travel costs including domestic and international travel as well as parking incurred by the guest speaker are not covered by the college.
Content and material presented by the guest speaker may only be recorded and shared with the presenter’s explicit, written consent prior to the guest lecture.
It is guest speaker’s responsibility to abide by copyright laws; the college will not be responsible for any copyright violations.
Procedure
Faculty members are evaluated on a regular and continuous basis, and by several different mechanisms, as discussed in more detail in this section of the Faculty Handbook. See below for a summary table of components used to evaluate faculty.
A course evaluation is distributed electronically at the end of every course asking students to comment anonymously on the instructor’s effectiveness, the course content, and College facilities.
College faculty members are required to undergo evaluative observation visits throughout their employment at the College on the following schedule:
Evaluative observation visits will be recorded using the standardized form generated and distributed by the Dean. This form will be included in the faculty member’s comprehensive evaluation binder to show competence and growth in teaching.
An additional visit should be conducted by a colleague of the faculty member’s choice and will serve as a formative evaluation, the purpose of which is to encourage reflective teaching by engaging both faculty members in a dialogue about areas of teaching strength and weakness. This dialogue need not be recorded formally. Instead, a brief summation of the visit, including dates and class outline, will serve as a record of this visit in the comprehensive evaluation binder. Important note: The purpose of this second visit is formative, not evaluative. As a result, no evaluative statements about the faculty member’s teaching need be made, and no such statements will be used in the final assessment of faculty members submitting for comprehensive evaluation.
To conduct any of the above-described peer observation visits, the faculty member must do the following:
This report will also be included in the faculty member’s comprehensive evaluation binder, alongside the formative summary report written by the faculty member’s chosen colleague.
All faculty members must conduct a self-evaluation annually once they have completed their first academic year at the College. This self-assessment applies to the faculty member’s performance during the past calendar year. Self- evaluations should include the following information, and the appropriate form can be obtained from the Dean’s Office:
The self-evaluation must be submitted to the division coordinator annually as part of the comprehensive evaluation process.
Each full-time faculty member, as part of a comprehensive evaluation, will be reviewed by the dean at the end of the 3rd contract year for continuing faculty, hereafter referred to as the “reporting period”.
At the end of the Winter term each year, the division coordinator will forward to the dean the following:
At the request of either the dean or the faculty member, the two will meet to discuss the results of the review provided by the dean. Both parties will document via signature the meeting occurrence and retain a copy of the signed and dated review. The review will be placed in the faculty member’s academic file. The dean must submit the results of the annual review to VP Academic’s office for review.
The purpose of the Brighton College Emergency Plan is to provide a framework for planning for, responding to, and recovering from an emergency at Brighton College. The Emergency Plan sets out guiding principles that will need to be applied to a particular emergency. It may be amended by the Director of Operations and Student Affairs as needed.
Priorities
In any emergency, college priorities are to:
Program Structure and Management
The Health, Safety and Risk Management Committee is responsible for coordinating the systems and processes for mitigating against, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies at Brighton College.
The Health, Safety and Risk Management Committee is comprised of the following staff:
Occupational Health and Safety Committee: Director of Campus operations (chair), science faculty member, science lab technician, custodian, health and wellness counselor, and human resources representative.
Emergency Plan
The plan provides for central responsibility for responding to all levels of emergencies from simple to complex. It also provides the flexibility to respond to an event as it escalates in severity.
The plan is based on the British Columbia Emergency Management Response System (BCERMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) and has been written to interface with the City of Burnaby’s Emergency Plan.
Concept of Response and Operations
When an event occurs, Campus Security, managers, and directors (i.e., Brighton College’s emergency first responders) make the initial evaluation.
Campus Emergency and Evacuation Guidelines
The type and urgency of the emergency situations directly affects how people will leave their building or area of campus. These are covered by the Evacuation Plan. In situations requiring immediate action, public safety responders (police, fire, ambulance) can also initiate an evacuation.
Off-campus Assistance and Mutual Aid
Brighton College may not have all the resources to effectively handle all potential emergencies. In certain circumstances, Brighton College will request outside assistance from 911 and/or the City of Burnaby and the property management if applicable.
Role of Employees and Students
All employees and students at Brighton College are expected to comply with the general safety requirements and emergency procedures, including evacuation procedures, of the college.
Amendments
This plan is a living document that will require amendment on a regular basis. Procedural amendments will be incorporated into the manual on an annual basis. The emergency planner will maintain a master record of amendments. Amendments will be controlled by showing the revision date contained in the footer of any revised page. Amendments will be distributed to everyone holding an authorized copy of the Emergency Plan.
A workplace emergency is an unforeseen situation that threatens employees, students, or the public; disrupts or shuts down school operations; or causes physical or environmental damage. Emergencies include but are not limited to the following:
This emergency action plan covers actions that need to be taken to protect employees, students and the college in the case of an emergency. Although this plan has been developed, it will be reviewed by the administration and selected employees at least once a year to assure that it continues to be relevant and appropriate. That annual review should include an examination of a wide variety of potential emergencies that could occur at the college.
Below are the methods to follow to report emergencies:
Assistance with Campus Security
Security for MetroPointe Burnaby Campus is provided by Paladin Security. Regular sweeps of the campus by a security guard will take place an hour after the last class to ensure that all staff and students have cleared the building. An alarm monitoring system will secure the building during non-business hours. The alarm system is monitored by Rose Security, a partner of Paladin security. Codes for the alarm system will be given to all full-time staff that require special entry into the building. Deactivation of the alarm system will be necessary weekday mornings and on weekends when classes are scheduled.
Contact Paladin Security at 604-677-8700, or the on-stie patroller at 604-689-4005. Paladin can lock doors, guard broken unlocked doors, investigate alarm intrusions, and should be there an intruder on site, Paladin will tell them to leave or call police.
Contact Rose Security at 604-540-7673. Rose Security monitors the alarms and if an alarm goes off, initiates Paladin’s response to contact College personnel (on their personal cell numbers) for further direction to send a guard to the site, or not. Rose Security can also maintain the alarm equipment should a battery be low or some other issue arises.
Emergencies concerning serious threats to life and safety should always be immediately reported to Emergency Services at 911.
Accident Reporting
When an incident results in serious injuries or property damage, care must be taken to leave everything as is, provided it is safe to do so. This may help in determining the cause and extent of the accident and may also facilitate inspection by insurance adjustors.
Report of Accident/Incident/Occupational Disease
Key Emergency Personnel Contacts
| Name | Title | Telephone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Concord/Paladin Security | Building Security, Burnaby campus | Call: 604-689-4005 |
Evacuation Policy and Procedure
Preamble
Protecting the health and safety of everyone in the facility should be the priority. In the event of a fire, an immediate evacuation to a predetermined area away from the facility is the best way to protect employees and students. In making evacuation decisions an important factor may be the type of building. Both Burnaby campuses are vulnerable to the effects of disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, or explosions.
Evacuation policy and procedures to be followed in an emergency are as follows:
Rules in an Emergency
In the case of an evacuation, employees should assemble at the front desk. Staff members are authorized to act as evacuation wardens to assist students and others in an evacuation and to account for personnel.
Introduction
The aim of this policy is to prevent fires and, in the event of a fire, to prevent injuries, loss of life, or damage to property. It is based on the applicable fire prevention codes and on Brighton College standards.
Implementation
Fire protection measures are implemented in the following areas:
Responsibilities
All members of Brighton College are responsible for respecting this policy and for familiarizing themselves with the locations of fire alarms and evacuation routes in the areas they occupy. All staff members are responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy and for referring matters requiring corrective measures to the appropriate parties.
Fire Protection Regulations
Suspected Fires
Anyone discovering smoke, a strong smell of burning, or a smell of an unusual nature, should immediately alert staff members of the college to assess the situation. If a staff member is not present and you have confirmed it is an emergency, pull the fire alarm, and call 911.
Evacuation for Fire
Exit plans are posted in the common hallway by the elevators. Students and staff should familiarize themselves with the proper exit routes from the building and safe gathering sites outside each campus. Currently, the safe gathering site is the fountain outside of MetroPointe Building (Corner of Kingsway and McKay).
Fire Procedure
Upon hearing the fire alarm (voice or bell), it is the responsibility of each instructor and each department head (or delegate) and each designated fire marshal for the campus, to ensure that the premises under their respective jurisdictions be evacuated quickly, calmly, and completely. Ensure that all doors are closed. Finally, everyone must leave the building, follow the instructions of the fire marshals, and stand well clear of entrances.
Firefighting should always be a secondary consideration to building evacuation. It should be attempted only if the fire in question can be extinguished with ready-to-hand and appropriate equipment and must not be done if there is any danger of blocking an evacuation route.
If a student or staff is injured in a work-related accident, they can complete the Worker’s Report of Injury Form and submit it to the Director of Operations and Student Affairs, who will then complete the Employer’s Report of Injury Form and send both forms to College Human Resources. A student is considered a “worker” while on Practicum or Co-op.
Human Resources will submit the forms to WCB to be processed through the Case Management phase.
In cases of severe weather conditions, (snowstorm, heavy snowfall, and windstorms which cause serious damage) all schools will follow the actions taken by the local school board. Staff and students may check the college website to find out if the campus will be closed.
The Director of Operations and Student Affairs must stay tuned to major radio stations or websites early in the morning to see if local schools are closed. If they are closed the Director of Operations and Student Affairs must contact the VP Administration who will make the final decision. If the decision is to close the campus the Director of Operations and Student Affairs will update the website. The Director of Operations and Student Affairs is also responsible for updating their campus voice mail reflecting the status of the school being open or closed.
Brighton College is committed to providing a clean, hazard-free, healthy, safe environment to work in, operating in accordance with the Worker’s Compensation Board guidelines. Employees and contractors are expected to take an active part in maintaining this environment. They should observe all posted safety rules, adhere to all safety instructions provided by their supervisor and use safety equipment where required.
Brighton College or the building management of each campus will provide all the safety equipment. Any problems with, or defects in equipment should be reported immediately to the administration. It is the employee’s responsibility to learn the location of all safety and emergency equipment and the appropriate safety contact phone numbers.
Workplaces should be kept neat, clean and orderly. Employees have a duty to comply with the safety rules of the college, assist in maintaining a hazard free environment, report any accidents, or injuries, including any breaches of safety, and to report any unsafe equipment, working conditions, process, or procedure at once to a supervisor. Any deliberate or ongoing safety violation or creation of hazard by an employee will be dealt with through disciplinary action by Brighton College, up to and including termination.
If an emergency involves serious injuries, all employees should be aware that treatment of a serious injury should begin within three to four minutes of the accident. Brighton College can call a local ambulance service so that transportation is readily available for emergencies. When a person is in medical or psychological distress, call 911 and Emergency Services will attend to the scene. Emergency Personnel will determine the care needed and if that person should be taken to hospital.
For information regarding first aid, or to receive basic first aid, see Reception.
Please note that Brighton College follows the health and safety plans as outlined by Work Safe BC. Policies and procedures can be found at: www.worksafebc.com
All Campuses will have a first-aid kit for minor medical incidences. All staff and Instructors will be advised of the location of the first-aid kit. First-aid equipment supplies, and facilities must be kept clean, dry and ready for use.
Below are the minimum contents of a first-aid kit required by Workers Compensation:
12 – 14 cm x 19 cm wound cleansing towelettes, individually packaged
30 – hand cleansing towelettes, individually packaged
50 – sterile adhesive dressings, assorted sizes, individually packaged
6 – 10 cm x 10 cm sterile gauze dressings, individually packaged
2 – 10 cm x 16.5 cm sterile pressure dressings with crepe ties
2 – 20 cm x 25 cm sterile abdominal dressings, individually packaged
4 – cotton triangular bandages, minimum length of base 1.25 m
2 – safety pins
1 – 14 cm stainless steel bandage scissors
1 – 11.5 cm stainless steel sliver forceps
6 – cotton tip applicators
1 – 2.5 cm x 4.5 m adhesive tape
1 – 7.5 cm x 4.5 m crepe roller bandage
1 – pocket mask with a one-way valve {a pocket mask is only required if the person is trained in its use)
6 – pairs of latex or waterproof gloves
1 – instruction card advising workers to report any injury to the employer for entry in the first aid records, and how a worker is to call for assistance.
Depending on the level of severity, ensure that an employee has called 911.
Have the receptionist locate the designated first-aid staff member. Major cuts, breathing problems and people suffering from chest pains are to be considered major medical emergencies. Please wait at the scene with the victim to monitor the victim’s condition and to offer the attendant relevant information and assistance.
If an x-ray is required due to a head injury or possible broken bones, the victim should not be moved, unless instructed by medical personnel.
All students should have up-to-date health insurance with them.
The Director of Operations and Student Affairs must schedule yearly inspections of the fire and safety equipment on site.
The fire drills are coordinated by the property management company.
Fire drill procedures are as follows:
Instructors will lead the class out of the building, following the escape route designated on the map posted at the campus. It is essential that instructors bring their attendance book with them.
If you are not teaching at the time of the alarm, please report to the front desk.
The Director of Operations and Student Affairs is responsible for checking all floors to ensure that no students are left behind. The Director of Operations and Student Affairs will ensure that all office and classroom doors are locked, and the premises are secure.
When you reach the designated safe place outdoors, check attendance according to the attendance book and then report to the Director of Operations and Student Affairs who will also be in the designated safe place.
Please remain with your class until permission is given by the Director of Operations and Student Affairs to return to the building.
Earthquakes happen without warning; therefore, life protecting actions must be taken at the first indication of the ground shaking. Even in the most severe earthquakes, buildings rarely collapse completely. Injury and even death are most often caused by the shattering and falling of window glass, ceiling plaster, lighting fixtures, chimneys, roof tiles, and signs. Drills should regularly simulate emergencies such as jammed doors, and blocked hallways and stairways.
The following are recommended drill procedures for an instructor and a class of students:
The campus is to be inspected regularly to ensure that all building and fire codes are being followed and that the college is providing a safe environment for all students and staff.
All students working with hazardous products or working in labs must be familiar with safety precautions and protocols. They must become familiar with labeling, precautionary measures, first aid, and spill cleanup of hazardous materials. Quizzes help to enforce these important concepts and help to prepare students to become safety conscious.
Guidelines for Instructors
All instructors teaching in labs must develop a safety quiz that includes all safety protocols and procedures that will be used in that semester. Safety study materials and a brief lecture outlining the importance of safety in the laboratory are compulsory. Different quizzes, which are specific to course material are required for different courses. All quizzes will test the general safety protocols which are to be always followed when in the lab.
Items that should be tested in the safety quiz include:
Division coordinators will have copies of lab safety quizzes to provide guidance to new instructors. Students who do not pass the safety quiz will not be allowed to participate in lab activities.
The law states that it is necessary to have Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available to all individuals who are using hazardous materials. MSDS sheets provide a wealth of information on things such as:
Through teaching and testing, students will become familiar with safety protocols and understand how to use and research chemicals that are unknown to them. The sheets also provide the rest of the campus with information on chemicals that are in the building, so they can become familiar with them.
Guidelines
Health and Safety Committee officers, instructors and the Director of Campus Operations are all responsible for making, maintaining, and updating all databases on campus. Copies of the MSDS sheets should be in all areas where chemicals can be found with at least one hardcopy version in each lab. Due to the large amount of paper needed to produce hardcopies, electronic copies will be used at the front desk and in the preparation room.
Chemical spills are a serious matter and must be handled with care, only by those qualified to cleanup a spill. The main purpose of these sheets is to collect data on how chemical spills are handled; they; document what was spilled and how it was cleaned. Data collected can show if safety procedures in the lab are being followed and can highlight improvements that need to be made to ensure the safety and security of the staff, students, school, and environment.
Guidelines
In the event of a spill of a hazardous material, any individual in the area should tell the instructor immediately. Procedure to follow are posted in each lab room. If spills become commonplace in the lab, the facilities manager will contact the rest of the health and safety committee as well as the instructor to implement a program that enforces organization and preventative measures in the lab.
Suspicious activities are those that pose a threat to the students, staff, or campus. All suspicious activities should be reported to supervisors who will record the incident to ensure that we can identify areas of concern and protentional solutions. Since most suspicious activities are unprecedented events, it is important that they are all documented and reviewed by management staff. It is a priority for Brighton College to ensure the security of all individuals on campus.
Janitorial Duties
The janitor on duty has an important role in maintaining a clean and healthy working environment for all staff and students. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the janitor is completing all tasks whether they are daily, weekly, or monthly. Checklists are to be completed by the janitor and reviewed by the facilities manager followed by a walkthrough of the campus with the janitor each week. Standards are kept very high and should be enforced by the facilities manager.
IT Request Form
Facilities and IT Request forms will be kept at the reception area, or in the college’s files, and are available to all employees to request or report on something that they feel are needed to be addressed in terms of facilities or IT throughout the campus.
Storage
Storage space must be handled as efficiently as possible. Organization of the storage room is necessary for all staff members to navigate through it quickly and easily. A storage inventory list simply states what items and in what quantity can be found in the designated storage areas.
Air Conditioning, Air Quality and Heating
To promote cleaner indoor air quality and prevent bacterial attack on HVAC systems, the air conditioning and quality of air should constantly be monitored. To ensure adequate temperature control and maximum efficiency of heating units, heaters are also subject to inspection and maintenance.
Lighting
Lights at the campus are kept on for long periods of time and tend to burn out at a fast rate. Turn off lights when the rooms are not in use. Campus lights have motion sensors and turn off automatically. Every room in the building must be properly lit for safety and to comply with fire regulations.
Toxic Waste Management
Labs that involve the use of chemicals that are either considered to be biohazards or are toxic to the environment cannot be flushed down the sink. Proper removal of these substances by a professional removal service is required.
Pest Management
Encountering pests is inevitable, especially considering that the campus lies within the heart of an urban centre. To maintain a healthy working environment for all students and staff, pests are to be removed professionally and in a humane manner. This includes mice, ants, flies, etc.
The College Acceptable Use Policy establishes guidelines for the use of college resources and is particularly concerned with proper use of electronic hardware (including computers, projectors, photocopiers), the college network and access system (including internet access, uploading, downloading, and e-mail), and software. An employee who becomes aware that College resources or facilities are being used inappropriately must immediately notify a college administrator. Violations of this policy can result in penalties ranging from suspension of privileges, suspension or expulsion from the college, disciplinary action, or legal action from the college or an outside party.
Staff members are not prohibited from using college resources for personal use but are expected to do so in a reasonable and responsible manner. For example, it is acceptable to use the telephone to make a personal appointment, but not for an extended personal chat. It is acceptable to use a college pen, but not to use the college as a source of computer paper for home use.
The college maintains a stock of various supplies ranging from paper, pens, and markers to coffee, plates, and cups. They must not be used for personal reasons.
The college maintains a variety of equipment, ranging from computers, photocopiers, and projectors, to microscopes, tables, and desks. Employees are asked to protect all equipment from abuse, misuse, or theft.
Employees must ensure that all software is used for the purpose intended, and not used for unrelated operations. Employees must avoid the introduction of unapproved software or malware that could damage or compromise college equipment or the network.
Brighton College maintains a connection to the internet, online storage, and database systems, and supports several software programs for accessing the network (including email programs and browsers). These facilities are provided for staff, students, and instructors for legitimate use in the normal business of the college. This includes limited personal use.
Here are some examples of inappropriate use:
The college maintains many databases and data sets in a variety of forms and on several computers and data storage devices. A significant portion of this data (such as student marks, employee personnel information, and college financial information) is confidential. In many cases there is a law prohibiting the use of this data for any purpose other than its intended use. The college further restricts data distribution business, personnel, or other reasons.
When using the college network, faculty and staff must consider the way they represent or portray the college. Employees are expected to adhere to accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
The college is not responsible for damage or loss of personal property on or off campus, whether it is used on behalf of the institution. Theft or damage to any college property must be reported immediately to the Director of Operations and Student Affairs or to another director.
The college is not responsible for any non-work-related injuries that may occur at home. It is the responsibility of staff and faculty to ensure that they follow safe work practices. If a work-related accident or injury occurs while the staff or faculty member is in a temporary work from home (WFH) arrangement, it is the employee’s responsibility to immediately report the incident to their supervisor/department head.
The following list includes, but is not limited to, guidelines to execute a self-assessment of the WFH workspace to ensure safe work practice:
Employees at Brighton College are expected to conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner, respect the rights and feelings of others, show courtesy to one another and work as a team. Any type of harassment or disrespectful behaviour will not be tolerated in the college’s working environment. Brighton College strives for a comfortable, friendly, team atmosphere for its employees and therefore expects its employees to respect the rights and feelings of others and to refrain from inappropriate behaviour while engaged in work-related activity.
Listed below are some of the types of behaviour and conduct the college considers inappropriate. This list contains examples and is not exhaustive:
The college does not normally permit any activity by employees on college premises that is not required as a part of the employee’s work for the college. Employees must not solicit, canvas, or promote activities unrelated to college operations, or distribute literature or attempt to sell goods to other employees without specific permission from a college administrator.
For this policy, the term “Smoking” refers to all substances that create smoke or vapour, such as tobacco, marijuana and vaping substances. Smoking is always prohibited in all college buildings. This prohibition includes both public spaces and private offices, both during and after working hours.
According to the BC smoking bylaw, smoking is permitted outside buildings if the smoker is six (6) meters or more from the entrance or opening into a building, however, Brighton College requires that students and employees of the college who smoke stand further than six meters away in order to ensure the smoke does not enter the college doors or cause a nuisance to neighbouring units in the building. When asked by college staff, students and/or employees, smokers must leave the property line or cross the street while smoking. If students and employees do not comply with Brighton College’s rules on smoking, consequences will apply which may lead to permanent removal from the college.
Managers and directors, or other persons in authority, are responsible for enforcing the college’s smoking policy for 1) all people inside the campus and 2) students and employees on the building property outside the campus.
Brighton College does not discriminate and provides reasonable accommodation for individuals with accessibility issues. The employee must provide the college with notice of a disability and provide any necessary verification of a disability-related need for accommodation.
Bullying and harassment include any inappropriate conduct or comment by an employee towards anyone that the employee knows or ought to know would cause that person to be humiliated or intimidated. Examples of conduct or comments that might constitute bullying and harassment include verbal aggression or insults, calling someone derogatory names, vandalizing personal belongings, and spreading malicious rumours.
It does not include reasonable action taken by a supervisor relating to the management and direction of workers or the place of employment. Discrimination includes the unusual treatment of any person due to any prejudice regarding any personal quality such as race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, or age.
Brighton College does not tolerate conduct that may constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination by any employee. All employees have the right to work in an environment free from this type of activity. Any employee found to be engaged in the conduct of bullying, harassment or discrimination will be subject to discipline and possible termination of employment.
Employees, especially management and supervisory employees, must be sensitive to acts of conduct that may be considered offensive by fellow employees or students and must refrain from engaging in such conduct.
Any employee, instructor, or student who feels that they have been bullied, harassed, or discriminated against must report their concerns to Human Resources (Office of Student Affairs for students) and to their immediate supervisor, or their supervisor’s supervisor if necessary, and initiate our complaint resolution process.
Any employee, instructor, or student who experiences adverse effects from being bullied, harassed, or discriminated against is encouraged to reach out to the college’s internal health and wellness counsellor or to seek medical attention from a doctor.
The college expects its employees to act ethically and with integrity. Among these obligations, employees must avoid ethical, legal, financial, or other conflicts of interest.
Conflict of interest has the effect or intention of advancing one’s own interest or the interests of others in a way detrimental to the interests or integrity of the college.
Conflict of interest and the appearance of conflict of interest must be avoided. Some conflict of interest can be avoided through disclosure, and in these cases potential conflicts must be reported to appropriate authorities. Some require both disclosure and prior approval and, in these cases, disclosure must be made, and approval received before commencement of the activity. And finally, some conflicts may arise which are prohibited. Members are expected to always conduct themselves with the highest ethical standards in a manner which will bear the closest scrutiny; they are responsible for seeking guidance from the appropriate source before embarking on activities which might be questionable.
This policy is meant to protect both the individual and the college. Administrators and people charged with significant responsibility will take immediate and appropriate action when they become aware of violations of the policy or its procedures.
The Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Agreement must be signed by employees when they sign their employment contract.
Brighton College manages a great deal of information that requires special care. Employees have a responsibility to keep this information private and secure. Some examples are:
Student information. All information regarding students (such as names, addresses, attendance, marks) must be always held as strictly confidential and must not be disclosed to anyone except in the approved manner and using the approved forms.
College business information. All College business information, other than marketing information, such as details concerning staff, courses, schedules, and related information is business-confidential and must not be disclosed outside the college without special permission.
College instructional information. All college instructional information such as details of courses, curriculum materials, instructional procedures, schedules, and related information is proprietary and must not be disclosed outside the college without special permission.
Brighton College is committed to dealing with complaints, grievances, and/or disputes in accordance with the principles of natural justice, in a manner that is fair, reasonable, and effective.
Individuals have a right to:
The college has an obligation to:
Procedure
Students consult the Office of Student Affairs for grievances and appeals (see section 4.2).
If a college employee has a complaint or grievance concerning work, including complaints of bullying, harassment or discrimination, they are encouraged to resolve the issue through informal discussion with their supervisor. Complaints or grievances must be reported as soon as possible after experiencing or witnessing an incident. This allows the complaint or grievance to be investigated and addressed promptly. In all cases, initial attempts at resolution should be made as close to the source of the difficulty as possible. If the problem remains unresolved, a more formal process may be engaged, as follows:
The Human Resources department is responsible for ensuring workplace investigation procedures are followed. Workers are expected to cooperate with investigators and provide any details of incidents they have experienced or witnessed. The Human Resources department will conduct investigations and provide a written report with conclusions to the Operations Committee.
Upon receiving the written report with conclusions, the Operations Committee will determine appropriate steps to resolve or address the complaint, including any appropriate corrective action, and, where appropriate, will take steps to prevent future incidents of bullying, harassment, or discrimination.
These reporting procedures are reviewed annually.
Sexual misconduct includes the following:
Brighton College strives to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students, staff, and faculty. As such, the College does not tolerate any form of sexual violence or misconduct and commits to follow up on all reported incidents.
General Principles
This policy is guided by the following principles:
Scope and Application
The policy is consistent with the requirements set out in the Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act for public institutions and with the Private Training Act Regulations for private institutions. The policy addresses sexual violence and misconduct involving students and the broader campus community. It is applicable to on-campus and off-campus events and online spaces.
Definitions
As defined by the Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act, sexual misconduct is a broad term that can include sexual assault, sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking, sexual exploitation, indecent exposure, voyeurism, the distribution of a sexually explicit photograph or video of a person without their consent, the attempt to commit an act of sexual misconduct, and the threat to commit an act of sexual misconduct.
Sexual violence refers to a spectrum of non-consensual sexual contact and behaviour. There are many different types of sexual violence, including sexual harassment and sexual assault. Sexual violence can be perpetrated by anyone: an acquaintance, a classmate, a teacher, family member, a colleague, a friend, a dating partner, an intimate partner, or a stranger (Ending Violence Association of BC, Campus Sexual Violence: Guidelines for a Comprehensive Response, May 2016).
Below are several definitions of importance:
Guidelines for Responding to Disclosures/Complaints and Reports of Sexual Misconduct
Brighton College will act in accordance with the principles of procedural fairness in dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct and is therefore committed to:
Further, Brighton College commits to treating all parties involved with dignity and respect and acknowledges the rights of the alleged perpetrators. The College is dedicated to fair investigative and adjudicative processes. Therefore, the alleged perpetrator will be provided:
While the alleged perpetrator must be provided procedural fairness, the College considers the circumstances and safety of the victim or survivor while making the alleged perpetrator aware of the disclosure, complaint, or report. It considers that intervention could result in further harm, particularly when no police report is filed.
Disclosures/Complaints of Sexual Misconduct
Brighton College recognizes that a disclosure/complaint is different than a report, and that a person may choose to disclose sexual misconduct without making a formal report. In these circumstances, a disclosure/complaint may not result in a report being made and, therefore, may not initiate a formal process. Brighton College will endeavour to provide appropriate support, including accommodations, based on a disclosure/complaint.
Receiving a Disclosure/Complaint of Sexual Misconduct
A person who has experienced sexual misconduct may choose to disclose this information to anyone in the campus community including another student, faculty, or staff member. As sexual misconduct is defined broadly, the approach and response to a disclosure/complaint may vary depending on the situation.
What to Do If You Receive a Disclosure/Complaint
Receiving disclosures of sexual misconduct can be distressing. If an individual receives a disclosure/complaint, the victim/survivor should be provided with information on available resources and support. This may include campus response teams, sexual assault crisis lines, etc. In receiving a disclosure/complaint, the most important thing is to be there for the individual in a supportive capacity. Members of the campus community should have access to basic information on how to provide a compassionate and supportive response. For example:
Reports of Sexual Misconduct
Reports of sexual misconduct may be filed by any member of the campus community and are investigated on an individual basis. Accordingly, the investigation process may vary in relation to the nature of the disclosure, complaint, or report (e.g., whether there has also been a report to law enforcement). Individuals who report have the right to withdraw the report, although the College may continue the investigation depending on the circumstances. The College also encourages those who have knowledge of or who have witnessed incidents of sexual misconduct to report immediately.
Reporting Options
An individual who discloses an allegation of sexual misconduct should be made aware that there are a range of reporting options available to them and that they may choose any of the options or any combination of the options, including:
It is also important to note that the individual may change their mind. For example, they may initially choose not to make a report but may later opt to make a police report. As noted above, victims of sexual misconduct may choose one or more of the criminal and non-criminal reporting options, depending on the incident that occurred and their own personal circumstances.
Non-Criminal Processes
Brighton College does not have a mandate to conduct a criminal investigation; however, the college does have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for students, faculty and staff. Therefore, the college may have to conduct a fact-finding investigation regardless of whether a particular incident results in a criminal investigation and/or charge.
If an individual wants to make a non-criminal report to the college, a designated official can explain the process. Depending on the individuals involved (students, administrators/staff or faculty), relevant investigative and/or disciplinary processes may already be set out in Student (Non-Academic) Codes of Conduct or workplace policies. Any non-criminal processes undertaken pursuant to the sexual misconduct policy must be fair and based on the principles of fundamental justice, and all parties involved must be treated with dignity and respect. These processes must comply with Human Rights legislation, by-laws and the Charter, where applicable.
Criminal Processes
If a victim is interested in criminal reporting options, law enforcement can provide information relating to filing a report, the investigative process and criminal charges.
Resources and Support Available
The College commits to providing information to the victim on the range of institutional support and services, including academic and non-academic accommodations to ensure their ongoing safety and success. Examples of this might include:
In addition, the College will provide information on education, training, awareness and prevention programs and provide a listing of internal and external (community-based) resources available to provide information and support. Many are listed on the Health & Wellness page on the Brighton College website.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Director of Operations and Student Affairs and/or the VP of Operations is responsible for ensuring investigation procedures are followed. All parties to the incident(s) are expected to cooperate with investigators and provide any details of incidents they have experienced or witnessed. If external investigators are hired, they will conduct investigations and provide a written report with conclusions to the Director of Operations and Student Affairs and/or the VP of Operations.
Follow-up
The victim and alleged perpetrator will be advised of the investigation findings by the Director of Operations and Student Affairs. Following an investigation, the Director of Operations and Student Affairs and/or the VP of Operations will review and revise College procedures to prevent any future bullying and harassment incidents. Appropriate corrective actions will be taken within a reasonable time.
Record-keeping Requirements
Brighton College expects that students and employees will keep written accounts of incidents to submit with any complaints. Brighton College will keep a written record of investigations, including the findings. To submit the written complaint, follow the Dispute Resolution Policy’s procedure steps and form.
Policy Review
The Sexual Misconduct Policy Act requires that policies of public post-secondary institutions be reviewed at least once every three years, or as directed by the Minister of Advanced Education. The three-year period begins on the date that Brighton College officially establishes its first sexual misconduct policy. Students must be consulted as part of the review, and the College may also wish to consider consulting the broader campus community.
