Personal Responsibilities
Every library patron has personal responsibility for reporting any misuse of Vernon College's telecommunications facilities to the Information Technology Office (552-6291, ext 2242) or to any faculty or staff member. Misuse includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Sharing of passwords or dial-in access account information;
- Invasion of privacy of the users;
- Unauthorized access to data belonging to other users;
- Downloading or uploading pornographic material (see point 3);
- Unethical or illegal solicitation;
- Using abusive or otherwise objectionable language in either public or private messages;
- Downloading any software (i.e., newer versions of Netscape, American Online Instant Message, games, add- ins for Netscape, etc.) to the hard drive of a Vernon College computer; and
- Changing the homepage setup and/or any other settings in Netscape.
Inappropriate Network Use
Vernon College's network may not be used for any of the following:
- Commercial advertising;
- Lobbying for votes;
- Encouraging the use of illegal substances;
- Accessing, downloading, or uploading pornographic or inappropriate material (see point #3 );
- Sending messages, E-Mail, or files that are racist, sexist, and/or contain obscenities;
- Sending inflammatory messages;
- Sending a message with someone else's name on it;
- Sending a large number of personal messages from computers on campus;
- Knowingly placing a computer virus on the network; or
- Placing unlawful information on the network.
Policy on Pornography
Vernon College's computers are not to be used for knowingly accessing, downloading, or uploading sexually explicit graphics and information in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards. However, material which has specific instructional uses at Vernon College is excluded from this statement. For example, nursing and biology students may need access to graphics and text dealing with human anatomy or sexuality even though some community members will consider such graphics sexually explicit and offensive. This statement is not meant to limit academic freedom in any way. Those students in MCOT 1106 who use dial-in access from their home computers must take responsibility for preventing persons under the age of 18 from accessing unsuitable material. This can not be the responsibility of Vernon College.
Network Security
Security is a high priority in the Vernon College system. Any user who identifies a security problem is required to report it immediately to Information Technology. The problem should never be demonstrated to any person outside of Information Technology.
Electronic Mail
Right to privacy regarding the contents of E-Mail has already been debated in the courts. Think of E-Mail as being very similar to a postcard. It may pass through a lot of points where it can be read before it reaches its destination. Also, remember that when an E-Mail message is sent or received, a copy of it may be stored on the hard disk of a server remote from your computer. Regular backups are made of these hard disks. Even after an E-Mail message has has been deleted, it is very possible for it to still exist in a readable form on some computer. Vernon College will retain the right to examine E-Mail when some compelling reason exists to do so.
Web Pages
Web pages may be designed by students as part of classroom instructions. These pages will only be put on the Vernon College web server for students in Introduction to Internet and Intermediate Internet classes.
Security of Personal Information
Students should be aware that not all INTERNET sites are secure. If students choose to transmit personal information such as credit cards numbers while using Vernon College's telecommunications facilities, they do so at their own risk. Vernon College can not be responsible for any problems which occur.
All Wright Library Patrons are obligated
Any use of the Vernon College telecommunications resources will constitute agreement to abide to these policies. Failure to adhere to the guidelines could result in being prohibited from any further use.
1970 marked the beginning of Vernon College. Throughout this decade the College continued to grow and more students enrolled in both on- and off-campus courses. On January 20, 1970, a majority of the citizens of Wilbarger County voted to create the Wilbarger County Junior College District. Following that decision, Vernon Regional Junior College was established and on April 9, 1970, the newly elected Board of Trustees appointed Dr. David L. Norton as the College’s first president. Campus construction began in May 1971, and included an Academic Science Center, Administration-Fine Arts Center, Applied Arts Center, Library, and Student Center. The following year, on September 5, 1972, classes met for the first time on the Vernon campus with a total of 608 students. On August 1, 1974, Dr. Jim M. Williams became the College’s second president. In the fall semester of that year, combined on- and off-campus enrollment exceeded 800 students. During the 1975-76 academic year, the College expanded its services to include a learning center on Sheppard Air Force Base. During this year, enrollment in credit courses, both on- and off-campus, rose to a level of 1,199. The scope of the Vocational Nursing Program was enlarged during the 1976-77 academic year with the assumption of the Bethania School of Vocational Nursing in Wichita Falls. In August 1976 the Physical Education Center was dedicated in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas A. King longtime benefactors of Vernon College.
Growth and changes continued during the 1980s. In August 1980 a Student Residence Center, designed to house 128 students, opened for occupancy. Further expansion of program offerings in the Wichita Falls area was accomplished through absorption of an existing proprietary school that was renamed the Vernon College Technical Center and the integration of the nursing program from the Wichita Falls Independent School District. On March 22, 1982, Dr. Joe Mills took over the leadership of the College as the third president. That fall, the College fielded its first intercollegiate rodeo team. During 1983-84, the Department of Cosmetology and the Career Development Center (previously known as the North Texas Skills Center) were established in Wichita Falls. On the Vernon campus, the Chaparral Center was completed, and the Pease River farm purchased through a state land trade. The following academic year, 1984-85, Vernon College reached a record credit enrollment of 1,863 and a record continuing education enrollment of 7,056 registrations. A Vocational Nursing Program opened in Seymour, and the Board of Trustees established a college foundation and approved an agreement to allow construction of the Red River Valley Museum on the Vernon campus. In February 1987 the College played its first intercollegiate baseball game on the Vernon campus. During May of that year, the new Natatorium was opened in the King Physical Education Center. A newly constructed Athletic Dormitory opened to house 28 athletes in August 1988. In October, Trustees voted to add women’s volleyball as a varsity sport, effective with the fall 1989 semester. In May 1989 Vernon College moved all Wichita Falls programs to one centralized location—Century City Center. Since the College opened its doors 38 years ago, many individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations have made an investment in our students through the creation of endowed and annual scholarships. As of this year, more than 100 scholarship funds are available to help students pursue their educational dreams.VERNON COLLEGE PHILOSOPHY: Vernon College is a constantly evolving institution, dedicated primarily to effective teaching and regional enhancement. With this dedication to teaching and to the community, the College encourages open inquiry, personal and social responsibility, critical thinking, and life-long learning for students, faculty, and other individuals within its service area. The College takes as its guiding educational principle the proposition that, insofar as available resources permit, instruction should be adapted to student needs. This principle requires both flexibility in instructional strategies and maintenance of high academic standards. Strong programs of assessment and accountability complement this educational principle. VC accepts the charge of providing a college atmosphere free of bias, in which students can exercise initiative and personal judgment, leading to a greater awareness of personal self-worth. It strives to provide every student with opportunities to develop the tools necessary to become a contributing, productive member of society.
Vision
VERNON COLLEGE VISION: Vernon College will promote a culture of success for our students and communities through learner-centered quality instructional programs and exemplary services.
Values
VERNON COLLEGE VALUES: Vernon College promotes a culture of success through our shared values and commitment to:
Accessibility
Accountability
Building Relationships
Diversity
Inclusion
Innovation
Leadership
Quality
Student Success
Teamwork
Our values define who we are and guide us in conducting our business every day. Our values are our morals – what is important to us at our college.
Mission
VERNON COLLEGE MISSION The mission of Vernon College is teaching, learning, and leading. Vernon College is a comprehensive community college that integrates education with opportunity through our instructional programs and student support services by means of traditional and distance learning modes. Therefore, to fulfill its mission, the College will provide access, within its available resources, to:
Career technical/workforce programs up to two years in length leading to associate degrees or certificates;
Career technical/workforce programs leading directly to employment in semi-skilled and skilled occupations;
Freshman and sophomore courses in arts and sciences, including the curricula leading to associate and baccalaureate degrees;
Ongoing adult education programs for occupational upgrading or personal enrichment;
Compensatory education programs designed to fulfill the commitment of an admissions policy allowing the enrollment of disadvantaged students; ;
A continuing program of counseling and guidance designed to assist students in achieving their individual educational goals;
Career technical/workforce development programs designed to meet local and statewide needs;
Support services for educational programs and college-related activities;
Adult literacy and other basic skills programs for adults; and
Other pr