What the College Expects of You

Students are expected to act in a way that respects the educational mission of the College.

Each student is responsible for abiding by the code. Violating College policy or any section of the Code of Conduct while participating in an off-campus, College-sponsored event may be considered the same as an on-campus violation. Any student who violates a local, state or federal law, on or off campus, may also be subject to College discipline.

Each student is expected to be familiar with all published College policies.

The Code of Student Conduct is a set of rules that applies to every student enrolled at the college, including students who are:

  • Part-time
  • Full-time
  • On-campus
  • Off-campus
  • Taking online courses

Code of Conduct and Student Guide

College of the Mainland identifies unacceptable student behavior in the Code of Conduct found in the Student Handbook.

Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the behaviors identified in the Code of Conduct and to allow it to inform their everyday decision-making both in and out of the classroom.

The Student Guide to General College of the Mainland Policies and Rules will provide further information regarding COM’s policy.

Student Complaints

College of the Mainland is committed to providing an educational climate that is conducive to the personal and professional development of each individual. To ensure our commitment, the College has developed procedures for students to address their concerns within the college community. A student who has an unresolved disagreement with a faculty or staff member, another student, a student group, or dissatisfaction with the service received may initiate a complaint without prejudicing his or her status with the College.

How do I bring forward a complaint?

  • Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation - The college prohibits discrimination, including harassment, against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic information, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, including gender identity and gender expression, or any other basis prohibited by law. Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of College District policy. See FFDA (Local) - Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Sex and Sexual Violence, and FFDB (Local) - Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Other Characteristics.
  • Financial Aid Probation Appeals - The Financial Aid Probation Appeal Policy is addressed under the Financial Aid section of the Student Handbook.
  • Grade Appeals - Student grade appeals are addressed under the Grade Appeal section of the Student Handbook.
  • Non-Academic Complaints not related to financial aid eligibility, challenges to existing policies, or those pertaining to academic or grading matters. See FLD (Local) and FLD (Exhibit)
  • Filing an appeal to a previous decision. See FLD (Local) and FLD (Exhibit)
  • Student disciplinary action procedures are found in FMA (Regulation).

For assistance in determining the correct procedure to follow or to identify the appropriate dean or supervisor for informal resolution, students can contact the Dean of Students at 409-933-8712.

Should students feel their complaint has not been resolved adequately, they have the right to complain in writing or by telephone to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) regarding the College’s management of Title IX, HEA programs or its advertising, or promoting of its educational programs. Correspondence should be addressed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, P.O. Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711 or by telephone at 512-427-6101. Current, former, and prospective students may initiate a complaint with THECB after exhausting the College’s complaint/appeal process.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) publishes a Complaint Procedures Against SACSCOC or Its Accredited Institutions. Students, employees or others may initiate a complaint of alleged violations of SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation, the Core Requirements, and policies or procedures, as well as address possible violations of an institution’s own policies and procedures. Refer to the SACSCOC policy statement for details on this process.

Students may also contact the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights by telephone at 214-661-9600, by fax at 214-661-9587, TDD: 800-877-8339 or email: OCR.Dallas@ed.gov. By mail: Dallas Office, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, Dallas, Texas 75201-6810.

Forms