College Policies
Every stage of your BCFE journey is guided by policies and procedures. These policies serve to protect you and inform you of your rights and responsibilities. You should broadly familiarise yourself with these documents.
Those policies are summarised in alphabetical order with a link to the full policy under each summary.
Access to Education for All
This policy aims to underpin BCFE’s commitment to a learning environment in which all BCFE’s students have equal opportunity to take full advantage of pursuing their further education while accessing courses in the college. BCFE is committed to providing additional and reasonable accommodations that will help to remove potential barriers that could prevent some students from equitable participation in their studies while in BCFE. The college strives to ensure no student is disadvantaged over another while pursuing their studies in BCFE and that their achievement can be compared fairly to the achievement of their peers. BCFE offers equity of access to its courses regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, learning difficulty, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background. BCFE is committed to ensuring that equity, diversity, respect, and inclusion are firmly at the forefront of access to education for all in BCFE.
Administration of Medication
This policy has been prepared with reference to best practice in managing chronic health conditions as prepared by the Asthma Society of Ireland, Diabetes Federation of Ireland, Brainwave the Irish Epilepsy Association and Anaphylaxis Ireland. This policy aims to meet the needs of students, who require administration of essential medications during the college day, in compliance with legislation and in line with best practice. This policy also seeks to protect BCFE representatives by ensuring that any involvement in medication administration complies with legislation and best practice guidelines.
Administration of Medication policy document (TBA)
Admissions
This policy clarifies the procedure involved in applying to undertake a course in BCFE and the steps that must be taken before you become a fully registered student. It also outlines the application procedure you must follow to defer, delay course completion, repeat or apply to complete the second year of your course.
Assessment Malpractice
This policy sets out clear definitions of both academic integrity and plagiarism and outlines how you can ensure that the evidence you submit for assessment meets the standard. Academic integrity is ‘the expectation that teachers, students, researchers, and all members of the academic community act with honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Academic integrity is a fundamental principle that should underpin all academic activity in BCFE. Breaching academic integrity is known as ‘academic misconduct’. Plagiarism is an example of ‘academic misconduct’ and this means using the work of others without acknowledging the original source.
Attendance, Retention and Fitness to Practice Policy
Attendance, Retention and Fitness to Practice Policy: As a registered fulltime student, you must participate fully on your course. Full attendance is desirable for your sequential learning and award success whether you are in-class or online. Each class builds on the knowledge, skills, and competencies of the previous class. Vital information about subject assessment, course and college activities are delivered in class and unless you attend you will miss this information. Your course in BCFE will train you for the workplace, and in the workplace, absenteeism will not be tolerated.
Students undertaking a programme in BCFE must have the skills, knowledge, health and character necessary to undertake and complete a programme effectively. This is defined as a students’ fitness to practice as part of a programme. These requirements are especially important in programmes that involve contact with the general public, patients, children and vulnerable adults.
BCFE is aware that students can face considerable challenges when they commence a course of study. The aim of this policy is to encourage and support students to complete their course. This includes providing course induction, supports (where applicable) and providing options to assist students in completing their award. Students will be asked to complete the Student Participation form. This form identifies how you can successfully participate in your course of study in BCFE to achieve your full award. This form brings together all aspect of college life and clearly lays out the standards expected of you during your time in BCFE.
BCFE monitors subject and daily attendance. Students who are not attending specific subjects could run the risk of not having assessments accepted and students who are not attending the daily timetable will be deemed to have opted out of the course. In general, a minimum of 75% attendance is required in all subjects.
It is a legal requirement that BCFE monitors and records your attendance. BCFE uses a software programme called VSware to do so. Every teacher is required to complete attendance at each class. BCFE is then obliged to report this attendance to SUSI, the Department of Employment and Social Protection (DEASP) or SOLAS for Traineeship allowances upon request. Poor attendance will therefore affect your grant, DEASP allowance or Traineeship allowance.
Those students who provide a medical certificate will be marked accordingly on VSware, however those students who are on long term sick leave will have their position on the course reviewed after 1 month and could be asked to withdraw for academic reasons.
Attendance policy document (TBA)
CCTV
BCFE, as a constituent college of City of Dublin ETB, is bound by its CCTV Policy. This policy supplements the CCTV privacy notice in BCFE and the City of Dublin ETB Data Protection Policy. This policy outlines the reasons why CCTV is used and what CCTV data is collected.
Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behaviour that BCFE expects of you. You should familiarise yourself with these expectations as understanding your responsibilities will help you to make the most of your experience and gives you the opportunity to contribute to a positive learning environment for others while you are a student in BCFE. The primary aim of this Code of Conduct is to create an inclusive learning environment. BCFE upholds to administer this Code of Conduct fairly and consistently and is required to record all incidents on individual student profiles where necessary. All students are given every opportunity to engage with students supports (internal and external referral) throughout the entire process.
Child Protection Safeguarding Statement and Procedures
Recognising that there are some students under the age of 18 attending BCFE, and that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of college life; BCFE policies, procedures, practices and activities will adhere fully to the principles and requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements.
Child Protection Safeguarding Statement and Procedures policy document
Complaint Procedure
A procedure for processing complaints made by parents/guardians of students OR adult student(s) currently enrolled in a City of Dublin ETB school/centre against a staff member employed by City of Dublin ETB. This procedure outlines the informal and formal approaches to resolution that must be undertaken.
Complaints Procedure: Staff & Students
A procedure for processing complaints made by parents/guardians of students OR adult student(s) currently enrolled in a City of Dublin ETB school/centre against a staff member employed by City of Dublin ETB is available below. This procedure outlines the informal and formal approaches to resolution that must be undertaken.
Complaints Procedure: Staff & Students policy document
Complaints Procedure: Students & Students
This policy is to provide a system which allows students participating in BCFE courses to make complaints in respect of students who are also attending BCFE. The purpose of this policy is to establish a protocol for dealing with complaints. It is BCFE’s policy to keep a record of all complaints received for a fixed period, in accordance with City of Dublin Record Retention Schedule, and to endeavour to respond to complaints as quickly as possible. This procedure applies to all students in BCFE.
Complaints Procedure: Students & Students policy document (TBA)
Computer Usage
City of Dublin ETB has developed a clear and comprehensive policy in relation to ICT usage. As a student in BCFE you will
- receive a @bcfe.ie email address,
- have access to ICT equipment, and
- you may have a device on loan such as a laptop.
This policy governs use of that equipment and ICT access and especially refers to email, the internet, use of social media, software, mobile devices and displaying material of an obscene or offensive nature.
Critical Incident
This policy aims to protect and provide support to the entire community in the event of a Critical Incident. Most incidents are managed on a day-to-day basis with a natural informed response. However, situations may arise of an overwhelming nature which require an exceptional, planned and coordinated response. Therefore, a Critical Incident is defined as any incident or sequence of events that overwhelms the normal coping mechanism of the college. Within BCFE there is a Critical Incident Management Plan and a Critical Incident Team in place to respond to and support the entire college community.
Critical Incident policy document (TBA)
Data Processing Policy
This City of Dublin ETB policy clearly sets out BCFE’s approach to Data Protection, Data Processing and GDPR. This policy outlines BCFE’s responsibilities regarding the capture, retention and sharing of your data.
Dignity and Respect Policy
BCFE is committed to promoting dignity and respect and facilitating the right of you and every other member of BCFE’s community to study and work in an environment, real or online, which is free from bullying, harassment, or discrimination.
This policy aims to:
- Clearly establish that BCFE does not tolerate any form of bullying, harassment, or discrimination.
- Raise awareness of the prevention of bullying, harassment, or discrimination.
- Empower you as a student to ensure that your rights are respected and to also have responsibility for your own actions, ensuring they do not infringe others’ rights
- Clearly outline the steps you must take if you feel that you are being bullied, harassed, intimidated, or discriminated against. These steps include informal and formal approaches to resolution and will uphold the rights of both the complainant and the person against whom the allegation is made.
- Use existing policies and procedures, wherever appropriate to ensure that problems can be addressed effectively and quickly.
Gender Identity and Expression
BCFE is committed to providing a welcoming, gender-inclusive working and learning environment where every member of the campus community will be treated with respect and dignity irrespective of their gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.
Changing recorded name and/or gender
As you know, students must provide proof of identity at registration and this is then matched to official SOLAS, DEASP and DFHERIS records. If you wish to change your gender and/or your name/email address on official BCFE’s systems and Certification the following documents are needed.
- Gender Marker, check your document Certificate for Gender Change
- Deed Pole for Name change
You will also need to alert your Course Co-ordinator to your preferred name. This will be recorded on BCFE’s Student Management Database Systems (VSware) beside your birth name. This is so that BCFE staff can respect your preferred name.
Life Drawing Protocols
Life Drawing plays an important role in the development of students’ drawing skills across the majority of programmes being run in the Art department of BCFE. The life drawing protocols outlines the procedures, protocols and responsibilities of all participants involved in the life drawing classes.
Out of College Activities Policy
BCFE provides students with opportunities to participate and engage in a range of Out of College Activities (OCAs) such as social, sporting, educational, training, and cultural activities. OCA’s provide significant learning opportunities to complement the classroom learning experience. This policy governs all aspects of OCAs.
Smoking or tobacco products and use of electronic cigarettes
Smoking or tobacco products and use of electronic cigarettes: BCFE’s campus is designated as a no smoking and no vaping campus. This means that you cannot smoke tobacco products or electronic cigarettes in any of the three buildings, in the front of the buildings, in the car park or in the environs of either building. As you know the smoking of tobacco products on BCFE premises is prohibited under the Tabacco Smoking (Prohibition) Regulations 2003. This was extended in 2023, by City of Dublin ETB, to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes and all other electronic smoking and vaping products on BCFE’s campus. The college, in line with the 2003 Regulations, has designated places for staff and students to smoke and vape.
Smoking or tobacco products and use of electronic cigarettes policy document