Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance on a test, exam, or assignment.

Examples include: Copying from the exam of another student in the class or allowing another student to copy from your exam or paper. Obtaining, through theft or otherwise, a copy of the exam prior to the date of the test or using a cheat sheet. Unauthorized collaboration on an assignment.

Presenting the work of others written, oral, or creative as if it were one’s own.

Examples include: Heavily paraphrasing or presenting ideas drawn from an uncited source, submitting purchased or borrowed papers or works produced by another as one’s own or allowing others to submit your work as their own.

Actively or passively misleading an instructor or other College official regarding one’s academic performance.

Examples include: Forging or falsifying academic documents or records. Misrepresenting one’s academic performance, history, or achievements in order to gain advantage. Failing to give a truthful answer when questioned about an academic infraction or purposefully providing false information in order to gain an advantage; e.g., a false excuse to take a make-up exam, to submit a late assignment, or to be excused from a class. Knowingly providing false information for another also constitutes a misrepresentation of the truth.

Using information (other than common knowledge or known facts) obtained electronically without properly documenting or citing sources, or purposely presenting such information as one’s own is a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy. The works and ideas of others presented electronically are subject to the same copyright protection as written or recorded text.

The College maintains that regular class attendance is essential to student learning, retention of knowledge, and interactive experiences. It is the responsibility of the student to attend classes regularly and to keep up coursework. Faculty may take class participation into account when grading and list an attendance policy in the syllabus. It is the student’s responsibility to be knowledgeable of the attendance policies of each course.

Virginia Business College offers both seat-based instruction and online course delivery methods. The online courses allow for students to realize their educational goals through the reduction of barriers of time, place, and space. Online courses earn the same credit and maintain the same quality and standards as traditional classroom courses. Successful online learners are highly motivated individuals who are determined and confident of their academic abilities. Moreover, they are comfortable working in an independent learning environment while actively participating in the learning process. Students enrolling in online courses pay regular tuition and fees, have access to all students services, and study under the college’s rules and regulations. Students considering an online course should be comfortable using e-mail, word processing, and internet browsers.

Virginia Business College defines a grievance as any claim raised by a student alleging violations of VBC’s policies or procedures including, but not limited to, inappropriate, discriminatory, harassing, or violent conduct by a faculty member, staff member, other student, or any other individual present on campus. Virginia Business College takes the concerns and grievances of its students seriously and will provide a prompt response to all written complaints. Students will be treated fairly and expeditiously without fear of coercion, harassment, intimidation, or retaliation from the College or its employees as a result of the grievance. Students are encouraged to address the issue directly with the student, faculty member, staff member, or senior administration involved in order to seek resolution prior to filing a formal written student complaint. It is the goal of VBC that written grievances will be resolved within a period not to exceed 30 days; however, the time period for resolving grievances will depend largely on the facts and circumstances at issue and may be expanded where necessary and appropriate to reach a resolution. VBC’’s Grievance Policy is not intended to replace those policies and procedures pertaining to grade appeals or academic integrity violations.

If you would like to request the Student Grievance Form, please contact the Office of Student Affairs.

If the College fails to resolve the complaint to the student’s satisfaction, students have the right to contact the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. To submit a complaint to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, visit their website at www.schev.edu and complete the Student Complaint Form.

Any student who believes he/she has received an unfair grade may appeal the grade/decision. A grade appeal should be initiated within 30 days from the date the grade was issued. The appeal should be in writing. The grade appeal process is as follows: 

1. Appeal to the instructor. Upon receiving the written grade appeal, the instructor will review and/or investigate the claim and respond to the appeal, in writing, within five college working days. If the students feels that the issue is still unresolved, the student can appeal to the next level (Dean of Instruction) within five days after receiving the decision.
2. Appeal to the Dean of Instruction. Upon receiving an appeal, the Dean of Instruction will review and/or investigate the matter. The Dean will respond to the appeal, in writing, within five college working days. If the student feels the issue is still unresolved, the student can appeal to the next level (Vice President for Instruction and Student Services) within five days after receiving the decision.

1. Appeal to the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services. Upon receiving an appeal, the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services will review and/or investigate the matter. The Vice President will respond to the appeal, in writing within five college working days. The decision of the Vice President is final.

Note: Grade appeals should be moved forward in a timely manner. However, in the event a student appeals a grade that prevents progression in a program, the student will be allowed to enroll and attend the following semester pending the outcome of the appeal.

Virginia Business College allows transfer of credit for students from accredited post-secondary institutions and military schools provided the courses represent collegiate course work and meet the following conditions:

1. The course is required for graduation at Virginia Business College.
2. The course was passed with a “C” or better.
3. The course closely parallels the content and competencies of the course it replaces at Virginia Business College.

Following guidelines approved the various academic departments, transfer credit is awarded. The awarding of military credit is based on recommendations in the Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services, published by the American Council on Education. A maximum of 50 percent of degree requirements is transferrable from all sources.

Transfer credit courses are not used in the computation of the student’s grade point average in his/her program at Virginia Business College. A candidate for a degree must take a minimum of 30 percent of his/her major courses (excluding credit by exam) at Virginia Business College.

In order for a degree to be awarded from the Virginia Business college, a minimum of 30 percent of the course work must be taken at the College. Furthermore, 30 percent of the courses must come from the major courses in the degree.

Based on some unique experience, students who believe they are competent in a course may ask the department head for credit by exam (CE). A nonrefundable $100 fee will be charged and students will be given credit for the course if they respond correctly to at least 85 percent of the items on the test. A student may challenge a particular course only once. If students do not respond correctly to at 85 percent of the items on the test, they must register for the course, pay tuition, and complete the requirements for the course in order to receive credit. A maximum of 30 percent of the student’s program of study may be awarded on this basis.

When students enroll and pay for tuition for a course and then decide to challenge the course by requesting a credit by exam, they must complete the credit by exam prior to the end of the drop/add period. Exceptions to this procedure must be approved by the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services.