General Information

OUR MISSION

Hinds Community College is committed to moving people and communities forward by helping develop their purpose, passion and profession.

OUR VISION

Hinds Community College will be a catalyst to create a competitive economy and a compelling culture for Mississippi.

OUR VALUES

Hinds Community College aspires to the following IDEALS:
Integrity
Diversity
Excellence
Accountability
Leadership
Stewardship

2025-2026 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
(click link to see on webstie www.hindscc.edu/academic-calendar)

College Office Hours

Normal College office hours, except during holidays, are Monday through Thursday from
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Extended office hours will be available in August and January to provide additional support during peak enrollment times. The following offices will be open during the extended office hours: Admissions, Business Office, Advising, Financial Aid, Student Housing, Veterans Services, Student Accessibility Center and Enrollment Services.

Communication- Purpose of the Handbook:

To communicate student rights and responsibilities
The tradition of excellence of Hinds Community College depends largely on the ability of each student to meet challenges and to avail him/herself of the many opportunities provided during the school year.
The purpose of the Handbook is to acquaint the various members of the College community with the activities, policies, organizations, services, and regulations of the College. Each student, faculty, and staff member should become familiar with the contents of the Handbook and is responsible for complying with the policies and regulations within. This Handbook, the College Catalog, and the College website provide students with information that define a student’s rights and responsibilities. Vital information and regulations are also provided within department service descriptions of the Handbook. Thus a student may want to become aware of information within all sections of this publication. Valuable information is also provided on the College website. The Student Handbook and College Catalog are available on the College website, www.hindscc.edu
This handbook is compiled and published through the cooperative efforts of members of the student body, student government, faculty, administration and student services personnel. The handbook is edited by the Dean of Students and other administration throughout the college.

Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act

(Further Amended in 1992, 1998, and 2000 and renamed for Jeanne Clery. Formerly TITLE II OF PUBLIC LAW 101-542 CRIME AWARENESS AND CAMPUS SECURITY ACT OF 1990 that amended The Higher Education Act of 1965)

HINDS DESIGNATED TITLE IX COORDINATOR
Dean of Students & Title IX Coordinator
P.O. Box 1100 Raymond, MS 39154
Phone: 601-857-3250
Email: TitleIX@hindscc.edu

CRIME AWARENESS AND CAMPUS SAFETY STATEMENT
HINDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE: CLAIBORNE, COPIAH, HINDS, RANKIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, MISSISSIPPI
CRIME & EMERGENCY REPORTING POLICY
Hinds Community College is committed to providing a safe environment for all our students, faculty, staff and visitors. It takes everyone in the Hinds community to help keep our campuses and facilities safe, if you see something suspicious you should report it to Campus Police Department. Please familiarize yourself with the process for summoning help in case of an emergency and for reporting an incident. When calling, please remain on the line to ensure call takers have the correct location and understand the nature of the incident.

CAMPUS POLICE/SECURITY RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES
The Campus Police Department will initiate an immediate response to any reported emergency. If circumstances require expertise or assets beyond the Campus Police abilities, the Campus Police will immediately notify and request assistance from local law enforcement or other emergency services via telephone or radio.
The Hinds Community College Campus Police Department oversees campus security on all Hinds Community College campuses. On all campuses security is provided by state-certified police officers and supplemented with contract security on the Vicksburg, Rankin and Greenfield Road campuses.
Hinds Community College, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act provides public access to campus crime statistics information on the college website at www.hindscc.edu/offices/campus-police/

HOW TO REPORT EMERGENCIES
In the event of an emergency, members of the College community (except those at the Utica Campus who should always call Campus Police first) are instructed to first call:
Campus phone=9911 Cellular phone=911
Please note when calling 911 from a mobile device, the call will be routed to the local E911 dispatch center and you should remain on the line and provide the dispatcher your name, specific location, and the nature of the emergency. As soon as it is safe to do so, the person reporting should call and report the incident to the Campus Police at the appropriate number at the locations listed below. Hinds Alert is available for all students, faculty and staff. Please download the app for your cell phone and manage your account at www.hindscc.edu/emergency/hinds-alert:
 

Lost and Found

Hinds Campus Police maintains a temporary “Lost and Found” on each campus it staffs. If you have found an item on a HCC campus that is staffed by HCC PD, please contact the Campus Police on that campus to turn it in. Campus Police on the commuter campuses (JATC, NAH, Vicksburg-Warren and Rankin) and the Utica campus will periodically transport found property to the Raymond campus to be stored. Items not collected within 365 days will be disposed of as permitted by college policy and state or local law.

DRUG/ALCOHOL EFFECTS, CONSEQUENCES AND LAWS
The College’s current Alcohol and Drug Information publication describes the symptoms, effects, state law and penalties, as well as, federal laws and penalties. The document is available on the College’s Website at www.hindscc.edu/offices/campus-police/

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT POLICY AND SANCTIONS
Hinds Community College prohibits illegal copyright infringement, including unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material and unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing. The institution reserves the right not to accept any copied material in compliance with copyright laws. Students are responsible for complying with copyright law and applicable licenses that apply to software, files, documents, messages and other material they wish to download, copy, or transmit. Students found in violation of Copyright Infringement Policies are subject to student conduct actions, with sanctions ranging from probation to expulsion.
Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. This policy includes peer-to peer file sharing content, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority, which constitutes an infringement.

SUMMARY OF PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS
Penalties for copyright infringement, including but not limited to unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material and unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, may be subject to civil and criminal penalties. Anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at no less than $750 and no more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov (Reference: Title17, United States Code, sections 504 and 505)

General Information and Services Directory

Damage or Loss of Personal Property

The College does not assume any legal obligation to pay for the loss of or the damage to the student’s personal property if such loss or damage occurs in its building(s) or on its ground(s) prior to, during, or subsequent to the period of the contract, semester or term. The student or parent(s) are encouraged to carry appropriate insurance to cover such losses.

College Emergency Procedures

Emergencies either man-made or natural can occur at any time and for any reason. Hinds Community College strives to keep our students, faculty, staff, and visitors safe at all times. Hinds Community College’s Emergency Alert System is called Hinds Alert. Hinds Alert uses SMS/Voice messages, Emails, and the Hinds Alert Website (www.hindscc.edu/emergency/Hinds-alert) to communicate vital information to let students and staff know when there is an emergency on or around campus and what they need to do to be safe. Hinds Alert is the accurate source for emergency information for Hinds Community College. To receive alerts subscribe to www.hindscc.edu/emergency/Hinds-alert. Subscribers to this service can have alerts sent directly to their cellular device. The cellular number you use to register for Hinds Alert text messaging will not be published in a directory or used for any other purpose. It will be used for alerts and for periodic testing of the Hinds Alert system. Emergency plans for each campus are also available on this site. More information about Hinds Alert and can be found at www.hindscc.edu/emergency/hinds-alert and information about the emergency procedures not covered here can be found at www.hindscc.edu/emergency/emergency-action-guides

Emergency College Closing/ Class Cancelation Procedures

Only the President or his/her designee shall have the authority to cancel classes/work or adjust the times at which they end or resume.
A particular campus, all campuses, or other locations where classes are taught at Hinds Community College will close when the safety and well-being of the student body is in jeopardy. There may be times when one campus is closed and others will be open.
Faculty, staff, and students should not call administrators or public safety. The college community will be notified via Hinds Alert if there is a closure announcement. In the absence of any announcement, the college community should assume the college is operating on its normal schedule. All students, faculty and staff would be expected to report to classes and work. Students not reporting to class will be counted absent and employees not reporting to work will have to take a personal day of leave.
In the event of an emergency closing, classes and activities will be cancelled and the closure will be announced.

Delayed Opening
In the event that a DELAYED OPENING occurs in the middle of a class period, students and faculty are advised that if your class has one hour or longer of instruction / lab / studio time remaining – your class WILL meet. For example, your class meets from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. There is a noon Delayed Opening. Your class WILL meet for the remainder of the class period from noon to 1:45 p.m.
However, if your class has less than one hour of instruction / lab / studio time remaining – your class will NOT meet. For example, your class meets from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. There is a 10 a.m. Delayed Opening. Your class will NOT meet.

Early Dismissal
In the event that an EARLY DISMISSAL occurs in the middle of a class period, students and faculty are advised that if your class has one hour or longer of instruction / lab / studio time before the Early Dismissal – your class WILL meet. For example, your class meets from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. There is a 3 p.m. Early Dismissal. Your class WILL meet from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
However, if your class has less than one hour of instruction/lab/studio time before the Early Dismissal – your class will NOT meet. For example, your class meets from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. There is a 1 p.m. Early Dismissal. Your class will NOT meet.

Required Identification in Case of Emergency

All faculty, staff, and students MUST wear their college issued photo identification visible in the front of one’s body when on campus. The I.D. must be presented when requested; use of such identification will facilitate the necessary information to the proper authority in the event of an emergency.

Medical Emergencies

(See HCC Emergency Response Plan)

In case of serious illness or injury:
1. Campus Directive: Medical Emergencies
a. Contact the Department of Public Safety and Campus Police or Call 911, if there is a life-threatening emergency.
b. Emergencies of a medical nature may involve more than one victim. Your actions during the crucial first minutes following serious injury can save lives.
c. As a general rule, persons holding a proper certification should only administer first aid. When a person’s life is in danger, however, use whatever knowledge you have and do whatever you can to preserve that life.

The following actions should be prioritized until help arrives:
a. Remain calm while reassuring the victim.
b. Stay with the victim and, if possible, have someone else call for help.
c. Check victims for emergency medical ID tags and/or medications. When medical help arrives, turn this information over to them.
d. Do not give food or liquids - An unconscious or semi-conscious victim cannot swallow and could suffocate.

2. Emergency First Aid Kits
First aid kits and supplies are located in designated locations on HCC Campuses. The HCC Department of Public Safety and Campus Police has been trained in first aid administration, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and in Automated External Defibrillator (AED) usage. In the event of a medical emergency, the Department of Public Safety and Campus Police will request an ambulance.

Fire and Explosion