College Catalog 2024-25

LCC Catalog and Student Handbook

The information contained in this catalog is true and accurate at the time of printing. Nothing in this Catalog or Student Handbook is intended to create (nor shall be construed as creating) an expressed or implied contract. The College reserves the right to modify, change, delete, or add to, as it deems appropriate, the policies, procedures, and other general information in this Catalog or Student Handbook.  All information (including the academic calendar, admission and graduation requirements, course offerings and course descriptions, and statements of tuition and fees) is subject to change without notice or obligation.  Any changes made after official publication will be noted in the appropriate section by date of change. 

Notice of Nondiscrimination 

The State of Colorado and Lamar Community College believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado and Lamar Community College is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law as required by Title VI, Title IX, Section 503 & 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, VEVRAA, Age Discrimination Act, and Title II of the ADA. Inquiries may be directed to: Human Resources Director, Lamar Community College, 2401 S. Main Street, Lamar, CO  81052, or 719.336.1572 or LCC.HR.Staff@lamarcc.edu.

For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact our Title IX Compliance/Equal Opportunity Coordinator, The Director of Human Resources at Lamar Community College, 2401 S. Main Street, Lamar, CO  81052, or 719.336.1572 or LCC.HR.Staff@lamarcc.edu and state law, or the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education Board Policies 3-120 and 4-120. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its employment practices or educational programs and activities. Lamar Community College will take appropriate steps to ensure that the lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in vocational education programs.

The College has designated the Director of Human Resources as its AFFIRMATIVE ACTION (AA), OFFICER, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY (EO) OFFICER, 504 COORDINATOR, AND TITLE IX COORDINATOR with the responsibility to coordinate its civil rights compliance activities and grievance procedures. If you have any questions, please contact the DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES at 719.336.1572, EOandTitleIX@lamarcc.edu, or 2401 S Main St, Lamar, CO 81052.

You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Region VIII, Federal Office Building, 1244 North Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204, telephone 303.844.3417.

All LCC customers have access to services, programs, and activities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

Special needs requests may be directed to:

Lamar Community College’s Special Populations Coordinator

2401 South Main Street

 Lamar, CO 81052

719.336.1533

Prohibition Against Enrollment in State Supported Institutions of Higher Education of Persons Convicted of Rioting Offenses.

Under Colorado law, no person shall be enrolled in a state-supported institution of higher education for a period of twelve months following the date of a guilty verdict, guilty plea, no contest plea, or a deferred judgment and sentence for inciting riot, arming rioters, or engaging in a riot.

Gainful Employment Disclosure Information

Beginning July 1, 2011, the US Department of Education has each college disclose a variety of information for any financial aid eligible program that “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.”  Gainful employment information for each of LCC’s Title IV-eligible certificate programs can be found on each certificate program’s webpage. 

For additional information regarding the data provided and what it means to students, please feel free to contact Financial Aid and Student Services at 719.336.1590 or Aid@lamarcc.edu.

For more information regarding Gainful Employment disclosure requirements, see Consumer Information Disclosure  in this catalog.

SHARED GOVERNANCE  PROCEDURE

Lamar Community College Mission: We Enrich Lives Through Learning.

Application 

This procedure applies to Shared Governance at the Colleges within the Colorado Community College System (CCCS or System). REFERENCE(S): Board Policy (BP) 2-50, Shared Governance; Board Policy (BP) 2-30, State Faculty Advisory Council and Faculty Shared Governance; BP 4-25, State Student Advisory Council.

Statement of Purpose

Shared governance is a joint responsibility amongst the Board, Chancellor, College Presidents, Faculty, Instructors, System Office and College Staff, and Students. Shared Governance is a fundamental framework for decision-making that fosters collaboration and inclusivity among various internal stakeholders and recognizes the expertise of each internal stakeholder group within CCCS and its Colleges. 

The Chancellor delegates responsibility to the College Presidents to implement a shared governance structure at their respective institutions that aligns with the principles outlined within this procedure.  This procedure prescribes a flexible approach for the adoption of a shared governance framework at Lamar Community College. This framework is done in consultation with internal stakeholders and in alignment with LCC specific needs, values, and goals. 

Formally established in 2024, this Shared Governance Procedure was instituted to declare our formal mechanism for promoting shared governance, intended to serve as a guide to promoting an orderly management of business and communication for the institution.  It is intended to be used to further the work of the LCC Mission, Vision, and Values, and should be updated as needed to reflect the current needs of the College.  The College is also guided in this process by the Higher Learning Commission Criterion 5. Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning:

5.A. Through its administrative structures and collaborative processes, the institution’s leadership demonstrates that it is effective and enables the institution to fulfill its mission.

• Shared governance at the institution engages its internal constituencies-including its governing board, administration, faculty, staff and students-through planning, policies and procedures.
• The institution’s administration uses data to reach informed decisions in the best interests of the institution and its constituents.
• The institution’s administration ensures that faculty and, when appropriate, staff and students are involved in setting academic requirements, policy, and processes through effective collaborative structures.

Principles

Equitable Distribution of Responsibility:

Participation within LCC shall be fair and reflective of the expertise and duties of each stakeholder group. Shared Governance seeks to avoid centralization of all recommendations and decisions and promotes a culture of openness and collaboration. This principle will keep in mind the authority bestowed upon the College Presidents to ensure operational decision-making authority remains intact.

Inclusivity:

LCC Shared Governance embraces diversity of thought, background, and experience. It recognizes the value of including perspectives from all stakeholders, ensuring that decisions are informed by a comprehensive understanding of the college and community’s needs and aspirations. 

Transparency:

To ensure transparent communication, which fosters trust within LCC, pertinent information related to decision-making process, outcomes, and the rationale behind decisions shall be communicated or made available to relevant internal stakeholders. 

Accountability:

Accountability fosters collaboration between and within each stakeholder group identified by the Board, Chancellor, College Presidents, and their leadership teams; it requires shared responsibility for the collective success of that constituency group, but also is responsible to maintain alignment with the Board’s, Chancellor’s, and College’s strategic objectives, mission, values and goals. This approach encourages active participation and cooperation, urging stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue and contribute to the formulation of effective suggestions. In instances where decision-making authority is delegated, stakeholders are held accountable for transparently communicating their decision to the broader college community, in partnership with College leadership. By upholding accountability as a guiding principle, Shared Governance not only establishes a framework for inclusive decision-making but also reinforces a culture of integrity and commitment to the institution and System’s broader purpose. 

Shared Governance Exceptions:

Certain decisions may fall outside the scope of Shared Governance due to factors such as confidentiality requirements dictated by law, regulations, policies, or rules. Additionally, decisions that fall under the direct authority of the College President, as outlined in Board Policy and System Procedures are also excluded from the expectations of the Shared Governance framework. 

This approach recognizes the need for discretion and the acknowledgment that some decisions may need to be made confidentially or swiftly by individuals with specific authority because of legal, policy, or executive reasons. 

Continuous Improvement:

Shared Governance is an evolving process that encourages continuous improvement. Regular assessments of the collaborative decision-making model are expected to be conducted, and adjustments made based on feedback from various internal stakeholders and changing organizational needs. 

Implementation

Committees, Councils, and/or Task groups:

The discretion and authority of the College President play a pivotal role in determining the composition and focus of these groups, allowing for flexibility and adaptability to the evolving needs of the College community.  Through this structured approach, the College can foster a culture of inclusivity, responsiveness, and collaborative decision-making, and ultimately enhances the overall effectiveness of its governance. 

To proactively address issues related to specific categories of employees or students within the College, an effective organizational structure has been established as part of our Shared Governance through the following committees:

• President Leadership Council - Compromised of faculty, students, administrators, and classified staff from all areas of the College.
• College-wide Conversation Day  - Includes all college employees.
• President’s Updates
• Two Annual All Employee Meetings
• Faculty Senate
• Executive President Team
• Extended Executive President Team
• College committees, including the Academic Review Committee, BIT, CART, Employee Engagement Committee, Curriculum Committee, Learning Assessment Committee, and other channels of involvement, such as divisions and departments meetings, Student Government, and Student Athletes Council. These committees all include a cross sectional classification of staff.

Academic Shared Governance:

Specific attention will be dedicated to faculty shared governance that aligns with the Board’s and College’s strategic plans, and generally accepted standards within the academic community. Academic topic areas that are subject to academic shared governance include but are not limited to: currency and sufficiency of curriculum and instruction, setting academic requirements, classroom learning environments, grading, program reviews, outcome assessment, faculty and instructor qualifications, sabbatical programs, adequacy of resources for instructional support, and changes with policies and procedures that impact their status and tenure with the College. 

At Lamar Community College, the Faculty Senate is given an opportunity to provide input to the designated decision-maker, as it pertains to academic shared governance.  Recognizing the need for colleges to remain agile in academic decision-making, at times these processes will be initiated by the President with subsequent faculty input, while at other times faculty will make recommendations, subject to the endorsement of the President. At the System level, the State Faculty Advisory Committee (SFAC) will be involved in, and advisory to, decision-making that impacts policies, procedures, and college and system changes that impact faculty. 

Revising this Procedure

LCC and CCCS reserves the right to change any provision or requirement of this procedure at any time and the change shall become effective immediately.

Approved on August 16, 2024

Accreditation, memberships, and affiliations

Accredited by
Higher Learning Commission

Approved by
Colorado Community College System
Colorado Commission on Higher Education

Approved by
State Approving Agency for the Training
of Veterans and Eligible Persons

Member of
American Association of Community Colleges
American Technical Education Association
National Community College Hispanic Council
National Junior College Athletic Association
National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association