2.20 Children on Campus and in Learning Environments Policy

I. Purpose

 Central Piedmont Community College is committed to maintaining safe, orderly, and effective educational and work environments. Children accompanying employees, students, or visitors must remain under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or other authorized responsible adult while on College property or while participating in College-sponsored classes, programs, services, or activities, including those conducted at approved off-campus locations. 

College facilities, classrooms, and activities are not intended to serve as alternatives to regular childcare arrangements. College employees are not responsible for providing childcare or ongoing supervision for children accompanying employees, students, or visitors. 

Children may not be left unattended on College property or at College-sponsored activities.

II. Guidelines

A. Responsibility for Children

The parent, guardians, or other responsible adult accompanying a child remains responsible for the supervision, care, safety, and conduct while on College property or at College-sponsored activities. For the purposes of this policy, a child is defined as any youth under the age of 16 who is not officially registered in a Central Piedmont class. The College assumes no responsibility or liability for children, nor for any accidents or injuries to children.

B. Children Accompanying Employees

Employees are expected to arrange for their personal childcare away from the worksite. Children may not routinely or repeatedly accompany employees to offices, classes, laboratories, work areas, or other College environments. In an unexpected or emergency circumstance, an employee must obtain approval from the employee’s supervisor before bringing a child to the workplace. Any approval must be limited and temporary and does not establish an ongoing childcare arrangement or an expectation of future approval. Sick children are not to be brought to campus.

C. Children Accompanying Students

Students are expected to make appropriate childcare arrangements that allow them to participate fully in their courses and other College activities. Children may not routinely or repeatedly accompany students to classes, laboratories, clinical settings, or other learning environments. Any limited exception is subject to applicable College procedures, safety requirements, facility restrictions, and the instructional and operational needs of the College. In the event of an emergency, an instructor may permit a child to accompany a student to a class session, subject to the College’s procedures and safety requirements. For purposes of this policy, an ‘emergency’ means a sudden and unforeseeable disruption of a student’s regular childcare arrangement, such as the unexpected illness of a caregiver or an unscheduled school or daycare closure. An emergency does not include the lack of regular childcare, difficulty or cost in obtaining childcare, or a foreseeable or recurring childcare gap such as a scheduled school holiday.

D. Children Accompanying Visitors or Individuals Receiving College Services

Visitors and individuals receiving College services are responsible for maintaining direct and appropriate supervision of any child accompanying them. The College may modify, delay, relocate, or refuse a service when a child would otherwise be left unattended or when the child’s presence:

1. Creates a health or safety concern;
2. Materially interferes with the delivery of College services;
3. Disrupts College operations; or
4. Conflicts with applicable College requirements or facility restrictions.

College employees are not responsible for supervising children while an individual receives College services. 

E. Restricted Environments

The College may prohibit or restrict the presence of children in any location or activity based on safety, health, instructional, legal, accreditation, contractual, or facility requirements. Restricted environments may include laboratories, clinical settings, shops, kitchens, construction areas, mechanical areas, athletic facilities, testing environments, and other specialized or potentially hazardous locations.

F. Violations

A violation of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary action.