Children on Campus - Student Services Policy - 80130

Minor children are welcome on Germanna Community College campuses, centers, and properties when under the direct and active supervision of a parent, guardian, or responsible adult. This policy is not intended to replace a regular childcare plan. For support and assistance, parent students should contact the Child Care Assistance Programs at childcare@germanna.edu.

Enrolled parent students are welcome to bring their minor children to campus. While on campus, parent students will provide direct oversight of their minor children in child-friendly spaces on campus.

Minor children are welcome to accompany their parents to the Family Study and Learning Room in the Fredericksburg Area Campus Library, campus dining facilities, the Campus Bookstore, and interior/exterior seating areas.

When parent students bring their minor children to campus, they may not request faculty or staff to watch their children, nor can faculty or staff offer to supervise minor children on campus.

For the safety of our parent students, their minor children, and the Germanna Community, minor children may not accompany their parents to the following areas:

• Classrooms
• Testing Centers
• Academic Centers for Excellence
• Laboratories or laboratory preparation areas
• Scientific, technical, and maintenance workspaces
• Areas that contain hazardous chemicals, machinery, or equipment
• Commercial kitchens and other food preparation areas
• Other areas may be identified as unsuitable for children because of a risk assessment. Supervisors of the respective areas are required to inform staff and students of requirements or restrictions.

Parent students who do not comply with this policy and procedures will be documented via the Incident Report system and reported to the Dean of Student Development for student conduct. The parent student must meet with the Dean of Student Development and may face disciplinary action if found responsible for violating this policy and/or procedures.

When bringing minor children to campus, parent students must report to the Welcome Center to check in and to receive a badge that will list their minor child’s name and age and the name and cell phone number of the parent student, and the name and phone number of an emergency contact.

Parent Student Responsibilities:

• Report to the Welcome Center as soon as they arrive on campus with their minor children to obtain an identifying badge.
• Always provide direct oversight of their minor children. Minor children and their parent student will be in the same room while on campus.
• Parent students will not request staff, faculty, or other students to watch their children while they are on campus.
• Escort their minor children to public spaces on campus and remain with them while they are there.
• Accept responsibility for the conduct of their minor child while on campus.
• Monitor and modify their minor children’s behavior while on campus.
• Accept the disciplinary action imposed by the Dean of Student Development for non-compliance to this policy and any other Germanna Community College policies related to student conduct.

Minor Children Responsibilities:

• Always remain with their parent student.
• Always wear an identifying badge provided by the Welcome Center.
• Participate in family-friendly activities and events on campus.
• Treat all Germanna people, property, and resources with care.

Germanna Faculty and Staff Responsibilities:

• Report any unattended minor children on campus to the College Police Department.
• Decline to supervise minor children for parent students.
• Report spaces that are not safe for children to the Dean of Student Development office.

Welcome Center Responsibilities:

• Maintain a log of minor children on campus, including their name, age, parent student’s name, Germanna Student ID number, phone number, emergency contact, and their location on campus.
• Provide a copy of this Children on Campus policy to all parent students who check in with their minor children at the Welcome Center.

Child Care Assistance Programs Responsibilities:

• Annually evaluate the Children on Campus policy. Provide data collected to the Dean of Student Development.
• Meet annually with the College Police Department regarding campus safety and any recommended updates to this policy.
• Order identifying badges for minor children on campus. Ensure that the Welcome Center is adequately supplied with identifying badges.
• Assess areas on campus that are appropriate for minor children.

Dean of Student Development Responsibilities:

• Report outcomes of the Children on Campus policy to key stakeholders.
• Provide a consequence plan for parent students who do not adhere to the Children on Campus policy.
• Meet with parent students who have not complied with this policy.

Germanna Community College provides support, resources, and specialized services for parent students through Child Care Assistance Programs. The Child Care Assistance Programs team facilitates the administration of two grant programs for parent students: (1) Child Care Access Means Parents In Schools (CCAMPIS) and (2) College Attainment for Parent Students (CAPS). These grant programs provide wholistic student support services.

Germanna Community College provides the Family Study and Learning Room in the Fredericksburg Area Campus Library as a safe and welcoming space for minor children under the supervision of their parent student, while the parent student studies. It is equipped with technology for parent students to remotely access their classes and study. The Family Study and Learning Room is also equipped with books and toys for minor children. Parent students may check out an iPad (only to be used in the Family Study and Learning Room) from the front desk that their minor children can use to play games, watch movies, or complete their homework. (The Parent Student and their minor children are responsible for returning the room to proper order.) This approved space has been identified as a space for minor children and parent students.

The Family Study and Learning Room is available on a first-come first served basis to parent students. Therefore, availability cannot be guaranteed.

Campus: All buildings, facilities, and other property owned or controlled by Germanna Community College, including but not limited to classrooms, administrative buildings, parking lots, facilities, and vehicles.

Parent Student: An enrolled student who has legal responsibility for a minor child or children. 

Guardian: An adult (aged 18 and older) who has legal responsibility for a minor child or children.

Responsible Adult: An adult (aged 18 and older) who accepts full responsibility for a minor child or children while on campus.

Minor: A person aged 17 years and under who is not enrolled at Germanna Community College.

Direct Supervision: Minor children must always be in the same room as their parent student. Parent students are expected to have an unimpeded view of their minor children while on Germanna Community College’s campus.

• Children under the age of 9 should be no further than two arm’s length distance and within parental view while on campus.
• Children ages 10 – 17 are to remain in the same physical space as their parent, guardian, or responsible adult while on campus and within view.

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Dean of Student Development

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