Introduction

This Policy Manual has been adopted by the North Harris Montgomery Community College Board of Trustees to articulate the policies applicable at each of its five colleges (Lone Star College-North Harris, Lone Star College-Kingwood, Lone Star College–Montgomery, Lone Star College–CyFair and Lone Star College–Tomball) and the District office. The policies are issued for three reasons:

• First, as a public community college district, the District is required by State and Federal law to have in place specific policies.
• Second, the District seeks to provide guidance to employees, students and visitors about its standards, expectations and goals; and
• Third, these policies are issued to encourage consistency in core educational and management practices at each of the four colleges and the District.

The policy manual was initially submitted to the Board for its consideration after more than two years of work by numerous committees and working groups. The manual was adopted by unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees on March 21, 1996. Since March of 1996, the Board has taken formal action to adopt some new policies and to revise policies originally adopted.

The official version of the District's policy manual is the copy that is maintained in the office of the Chancellor. Although hard copies of the manual will be available at each college president's office and in the libraries, these hard copies will not necessarily contain all the changes approved by the Board. The District will also maintain an online version of the policy on the District's homepage that will be updated as policies are changed.

All policies contained in this Manual are effective as of the date enacted by the Board, regardless of whether updated versions are readily available. Policies are binding on all members of the board of trustees, officers, employees, students and visitors to the District.

This 2001 copy of the Manual replaces all previous District policy manuals and handbooks. To the extent that any procedure is inconsistent with this Policy Manual, the Policy Manual shall control. To the extent that any policy in this Manual is inconsistent with State or Federal law, the State or Federal law shall control. The District and each college is responsible for making faculty, staff and student handbooks, procedures and administrative practice consistent with the policies contained in this Manual. The online version of the policy manual will be revised each year to provide "hot links" to related procedures.

Decisions to change, amend or delete local policies contained in this Manual require the approval of a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees at a duly constituted public meeting of the Board of Trustees. The Board does not act to adopt or revise the legally referenced policies.

Nothing contained in this policy constitutes an employment contract or an offer to contract with any employee. Nothing contained in this Manual changes the employment at will status of any employee, nor creates any additional rights, remedies at law or expectations of continued employment.

If you have any questions about District policies or the policy manual, please contact the Office of General Counsel at 832.813.6508.

Content issues: policy@lonestar.edu