Classroom Children's Visitation Policy

Classroom Children’s Visitation Policy

I. Profile

The College values family life and recognizes that its students hold a variety of roles, including parent and caregiver. Occasionally, the fulfillment of these roles leads to challenges.  It is the College’s expectation that when students are scheduled to attend class, it is a student’s responsibility to arrange caregiving services for the children for whom they are responsible, and not engage in childcare during class time. It is understandable that in certain extraordinary situations it may not be possible for students to secure alternative child care arrangements.  In situations such as these, students are expected to confer with their faculty members to decide upon a course of action that are in the best interests of the students, children, and fellow classmates.

II. Definitions

A child is defined as an individual under the age of seventeen years who is not a matriculated student of the College.

III. Policy

  1. It is the policy of the College that, in lieu of other child care arrangements, minor children of students should not be present in a classroom, laboratory, performance or rehearsal space, art studio or other educational space. 
  2. Short-term exceptions may be permitted for true emergency situations or for brief periods of time if approved in advance by the supervising instructor.
  3. If such exceptions are approved, at all times minor, dependent children of students must remain under the direct supervision of the parent/guardian.
  4. Each instructor has the authority to determine if the presence of a child is disruptive to the class, and revoke the exception and request that the student and child leave the space.
  5. The routine or extended presence of friends and adult family members of College students in College classes is also not permitted. 
  6. Students as parents/guardians are responsible for the behavior of their children on campus.  Students whose children engage in any disruptive or destructive behavior may be referred for possible College conduct action. 
  7. This policy is not intended to prohibit appropriately supervised children from the campus when the purpose of their visit is to attend specified co-curricular or extra-curricular events.  The unsupervised presence of minor children on campus is strongly discouraged.
  8. To enforce the policy, classroom instructors and department chairpersons should first remind the student of the policy before contacting the Dean of Students for assistance.