EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK - Transforming Lives. | LaGrange College | www

31 Pages·2011·0.16 MB·English

by  Phyllis Whitney

EMPLOYEE
HANDBOOK

Revised July, 2011
LAGRANGE COLLEGE
EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK

This Handbook replaces and supersedes any previous employee handbook published and issued
by the College. The recipient is responsible for reading and understanding its contents,
including any updates.

ISSUED TO: ____________________________________________________

I hereby acknowledge that I received a copy of the LaGrange College Employee Handbook and
will read and comply with the provisions contained therein.

______________________________________ ________________________________
Signature Date

A signed copy of this page will be placed in the employee’s personnel file.
pg. 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Purpose of Handbook 5

Mission Statement 6

Organization and Administration 7
Accreditation and Degrees 7
Board of Trustees 7
Leadership Council 8
President 8
Cabinet 8
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost 9
Vice President for Finance & Operations 9
Vice President for Advancement 10
Vice President for Enrollment Management 10
Vice President for Spiritual Life & Church Relations 10
Institutional Planning Council 10
Administrative Council 11
Staff Council 11

Policies and Procedures
Absences 12
Academic Calendar 12
Americans with Disabilities Act 12
Bereavement Leave 13
Bookstore 13
Budget Cycle 13
Campus Mail 14
Cell Phone Acquisition 14
Cell Phone and Pager Usage 14
College Publications 14
Confidentiality of Records 15
Conflicts of Interest 15
Copy Center 15
Dental Insurance 15
Drug-Free Workplace 15
Emergencies or Crimes on Campus 16
Employee Classification 16
Employee Identification Cards 16
pg. 2
Employee Records 16
Facilities Scheduling 16
Family Medical Leave (FMLA) 17
Flexible Benefits Plan “Cafeteria Plan” Section 125 17
Food Services 17
Fund Raising Activities 17
Health Insurance 17
Hiring Process 18
Holidays 18
Jury Duty 18
Keys 18
Leave of Absence 19
Library 19
Life Insurance 19
Loan Funds 19
Long-Term Disability Insurance 19
Maintenance, Housekeeping, and Grounds 20
Maternity/Paternity Leave 20
Military Leave 20
Natatorium 20
Non-Discrimination Statement 20
Office Hours 20
Office Supplies 21
Other Employment 21
Overtime and Compensatory Time Off 21
Parking 21
Payment of Salaries 21
Personal Use of Telephones, Computers, Copiers, Etc. 22
Personal Appearance and Dress Code 22
Posting and Promotion 23
Probationary Period 23
Promotions and Transfers 23
Rest Periods 24
Retirement Plans 24
Salary Increments 24
Security 25
Sexual Harassment 25
Shared Sick Leave 28
Sick Leave 28
Smoking Policy 28
Staff Evaluations 28
Travel 28
Tuition Remission for Employees and Dependents 29
Vacation 29
pg. 3
Weight Rooms 30
Weapons 30
Workers’ Compensation 30
Workplace Safety 30

pg. 4
Purpose of the Handbook

The LaGrange College Staff Handbook provides information concerning the College’s organizational
structure and the procedures the College has adopted to carry out its mission. The Staff Handbook
contains general statements of College policy, but should not be read as including the specific details of
each policy. It is not intended to be all-inclusive, and should not be interpreted as forming an express or
implied contract or promise that the policies discussed in it will be applied in all cases. LaGrange
College reserves the right to interpret, change, alter, suspend and cancel all policies and practices without
advance notice. The College will periodically update the Staff Handbook, but there will be times when
policy will change before material in the Staff Handbook is revised.

Nothing contained in the Staff Handbook should be construed as a contract or guarantee of continued
employment. All staff employees of the College are hired on an at-will basis for no specific term of
employment, and the College reserves the right to terminate the relationship at any time.

The College is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person may be unlawfully discriminated
against in employment because of race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national
orientation, disability or veteran status.

The office of Human Resources is responsible for revision of the Staff Handbook and for the
interpretation of statements made in it.
pg. 5
Mission Statement

LaGrange College challenges the minds and inspires the souls of its students. Founded in 1831 and
committed to its relationship with the United Methodist Church and its Wesleyan and liberal arts
traditions, the college supports students in their search for truth. An ethical and caring community
valuing civility, diversity, service and excellence, LaGrange College prepares students to become
successful, responsible citizens who aspire to lives of integrity and moral courage.

LaGrange College challenges the minds and inspires the souls of its students.
• Through an interdisciplinary, broad-based general education curriculum (for undergraduates), rigorous
study in the major disciplines, innovative learning opportunities and integrative co-curricular programs,
LaGrange College students encounter experiences that challenge and inspire them to develop
intellectually, socially, and spiritually.

Founded in 1831 and committed to its relationship with the United Methodist Church and its Wesleyan
and liberal arts traditions, the college supports students in their search for truth.
• The oldest private college in the state of Georgia, the institution has been affiliated with the United
Methodist Church for more than 150 years.
• Firmly rooted in the Christian faith and grounded in the Wesleyan and liberal arts traditions, both of
which are devoted to the unfettered pursuit of truth, the college encourages students to deepen their
understanding of their faith and empowers them to engage in free intellectual inquiry.
• Welcoming students from widely diverse backgrounds and a variety of faith traditions, the college
fosters an environment of hospitality and humility and is committed to the ideals of religious and
academic freedom.

An ethical and caring community valuing civility, diversity, service and excellence, LaGrange College
prepares students to become successful, responsible citizens who aspire to lives of integrity and moral
courage.
• Understanding the necessity of informed thought directed toward responsible decision making, the
academic programs of the college provide opportunities for students to grow in their ability to
communicate effectively, to encounter the world with critical insight, and to approach problems and
opportunities with creativity.
• Committed to the success of students as members of the college community and as alumni, the
institution encourages students to see life and work as deeply related and to engage themselves in rich
opportunities for meaningful service.
• Aware of the global nature of 21st -century learning and living, the college provides multiple
opportunities for students to experience distant cultures and diverse peoples through study-away options,
language study, internships, and a wide exposure to cultural-enrichment events – all in the context of
academic study and action that foster responsible, sustainable stewardship.

(This mission statement was approved by the faculty and the Board of Trustees in 2010.)

pg. 6
Organization and Administration

Accreditation and Degrees

LaGrange College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: Telephone number
404-679-4501) to award the degrees of Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music,
Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Nursing,
Master of Education and Master of Arts in Teaching.

LaGrange College is also approved by the United Methodist University Senate. It has
membership in the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the
Georgia Independent Colleges Association.

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which confers professional certificates upon
College graduates meeting requirements in early childhood, middle grades or secondary
education, has awarded highest approval to LaGrange College's program of teacher education.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing.

The undergraduate in business administration is accredited by the Association of Collegiate
Business Schools and Programs.

Board of Trustees

Ultimate authority for LaGrange College is vested in a board of trustees. The membership is self-
perpetuating, all nominees being confirmed by the North Georgia Conference of The United
Methodist Church before becoming active. The Provost, Vice President for Finance and
Operations, Vice President for Spiritual Life, Vice President for Advancement, Vice President
for Enrollment Management, and a tenured faculty member, elected by the faculty for a three-
year term, serve as consultants to the Board of Trustees. The elected faculty member cannot
succeed himself/herself.

The Board of Trustees establishes the basic policies of the College, but does not participate in
administrative management. It sets the budget and provides funds for capital development by
gifts and solicitations, planning for long-range campus development and administering
investments. The board operates under a charter and by-laws and meets semiannually during the
fall and spring.

The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees meets three times per year with called
meetings scheduled as necessary. The following standing committees meet on call: Finance
Committee, Buildings and Grounds subcommittee, Development subcommittee, Investment
subcommittee, Education Committee, Enrollment subcommittee, Academic Affairs
pg. 7
subcommittee, and Student Affairs subcommittee.

Leadership Council

The Leadership Council is an advocacy, service-oriented group of friends of the College whose
primary purpose is to assist in developing resources for the College.
Members of the Leadership Council are selected by the Leadership Council membership.

President

The President is the principal executive officer of the College, responsible to the Board of
Trustees. The President presides over official meetings of the faculty, administration and
student body. The President's duties also involve relations with various constituencies on and
off campus, including other members of the administration, faculty, staff and student body, as
well as with the United Methodist Church, educational associations, parents, alumni and the
general public. The President has a major responsibility in institutional development and
finance. The President sets the agenda for sessions of the Executive Committee and the Board
of Trustees. The President has the final responsibility for the implementation of College policy,
the selection and continuance of all personnel, and College operation. The President may
dismiss students for breach of College conduct codes or failure to meet academic standards.
The President confers College degrees and serves as ex officio vice chairman of the Board of
Trustees.

The original 1831 charter (under which the College still operates) stipulates that the Trustees
appoint a principal (president) who "shall have the right and power to appoint assistants, (to)
prescribe a course of studies, to make and enforce all such laws as the internal policy of the
institute may require, (to) establish a rate of tuition, (to) adjust expenses, and (to) adopt such
regulations as the good of the institution may require."

Cabinet

The President is the principal executive officer of the College, responsible to the Board of
Trustees. Other members of the Cabinet responsible directly to the President include the Provost,
Vice President for Finance and Operations, Vice President for Spiritual Life, Vice President for
Advancement, and Vice President for Enrollment Management. The Cabinet typically meets
weekly.

pg. 8
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost is a faculty member and serves as chair of
the faculty. The Provost is ordinarily called on by the President to preside over faculty meetings.
The Provost also presides over sessions of the Academic Advisory Council.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost has a major responsibility in the selection
of the faculty members in consultation with appropriate members of the faculty. The Provost
sets the annual calendar and supervises the scheduling of preschool planning sessions and
academic orientation of students. The Provost has the responsibility for assigning faculty
members and determining teaching responsibilities, consistent with the approved curriculum of
the College. He/she is responsible for the academic part of a student's orientation to the College
and for the implementation of a faculty advising program for students. The Provost is
responsible, with the Academic Advisory Council, for the academic information in the LaGrange
College Bulletin and is the editor of the Bulletin although the Provost may hire a member of the
faculty to assist with these editorial duties. The Provost also works with appropriate committees
of the faculty in reviewing and evaluating curricula. The Provost cooperates with other
personnel in the establishment of special committees and is responsible for special programs of
an academic nature. He/she is the chief counselor to the members of the faculty who are
responsible to the Provost for effective performance in keeping with the aims of the College.
The Provost has the ultimate responsibility to see that students meet the academic requirements
of the institution for admission, advancement and graduation. The Provost recommends the
dismissal of students for failure to meet academic standards. The academic status of any student
is determined by the Provost. The Provost serves as a consultant to the Board of Trustees and is
responsible for affecting a program for faculty development.

The Vice President and Provost is also responsible for the quality of student life outside the
classroom. This includes housing, health services and recreation activities, including counseling,
discipline, cultural enrichment opportunities and support services including career planning and
placement and retention. The Vice President supervises the Dean of Students.

The Dean of Students supervises the counselors, the resident staff, and student officers and
representatives. The Dean of Students acts as student advocate and serves as a liaison between
students and members of the faculty, administration and staff. The Provost and Dean of Students
give special attention to the retention of students with the aim of helping the College to increase
significantly its persistence rate. The Dean of Students is responsible for the production of the
Student Handbook and Panther Planner.

Vice President for Finance & Operations

The Vice President for Finance & Operations is the chief financial officer, serves as Treasurer of
the Board of Trustees, and is responsible for the business, financial, human resources, physical
pg. 9