Su’Coy CLC Student Code of Conduct

The Code applies to every enrolled student from enrollment to completion, withdrawal or dismissal.

School premises means the whole of 4584 Beech Road, Temple Hills, Maryland: classrooms, workshop, restrooms, parking areas and outdoor storage, including space and stock used by Su’Coy Heating & AC. It also covers School vehicles, Su’Coy Heating & AC vans used for training, field-training sites, and School online channels and group chats.

Visitors must follow Section 20.

• Treat everyone with respect: students, staff, customers and visitors.
• Follow reasonable instructions from School staff, especially safety instructions.
• Show up on time, prepared, and fit to work safely.
• Report hazards, injuries, damage and serious incidents right away.
• Be honest in your work, your exams and any investigation.

You may ask questions, disagree respectfully and complain through Section 15. Doing so is never misconduct.

You must not threaten, intimidate, curse at, insult or harass any staff member, or pressure anyone to change a grade, attendance record or decision. Repeatedly disrupting class after being told to stop is a violation.

You must not hit, push, fight, restrain or threaten anyone, or encourage others to.

Weapons means firearms, ammunition, explosives, and knives or other objects carried or used to threaten or injure. Trade tools used for their intended purpose are not weapons: utility knives, tubing cutters, screwdrivers, torches and similar tools. Weapons are banned on premises and at all School activities, except where Maryland law requires otherwise. A no-weapons notice is posted at each entrance.

While on premises or at any School activity, you must not possess, use, sell, share or be under the influence of:

• alcohol;
• cannabis in any form, even though it is legal for adults in Maryland; or
• any illegal drug, or any prescription drug not prescribed to you.

If you take prescribed medication that could affect your ability to work safely, tell the Safety Lead privately before practical work. We keep it confidential.

If staff reasonably believe you are under the influence, you will be removed from the workshop for the rest of the day. That removal is a safety step, not a finding. Any discipline follows Section 16.

You must not bully, harass, stalk or discriminate against anyone. This includes unwanted sexual comments, advances or touching; sharing intimate images; online harassment connected to the School; and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status or genetic information.

These rules apply to staff toward students as well. If your complaint is about an instructor, the Director or the owner, you may report directly to the Outside Reporting Contact in Section 2. We will not let the person complained about investigate or decide the complaint.

You must not:

• operate equipment, do electrical work, or handle refrigerants or pressurized systems without instructor authorization and supervision;
• bypass safety switches, guards, interlocks or lockout/tagout;
• use torches, cutting equipment, power tools or ladders unsafely;
• engage in horseplay anywhere in the workshop;
• use damaged tools or keep working after spotting an unsafe condition; or
• take tools, equipment or refrigerant without permission.

Refrigerant venting. Knowingly releasing refrigerant into the air is illegal under the federal Clean Air Act. It is a Level 3 violation and must be reported to the Safety Lead immediately, whether deliberate or accidental.

Smoking and vaping. No smoking or vaping indoors, and none within [25] feet of refrigerant, gas or flammable storage. Mildly flammable A2L refrigerants and brazing torches make this a fire risk.

An instructor may stop your work or remove you from a practical at any time for safety. A safety stop is not discipline.

Wear the PPE the instructor specifies for each task: safety glasses, gloves, closed-toe work boots, and hearing protection where required. No loose clothing, dangling jewelry or untied long hair near tools or machinery. The School provides items as stated in the catalog.

If you arrive without required PPE, you will sit out that task. The time counts as an absence for that session and must be made up under Section 11.

You must not cheat, copy, use unauthorized materials, sign in for someone else, falsify attendance, or misrepresent practical skills.

The School proctors the EPA Section 608 exam on site for in-class examinations. Exam misconduct will be reported to that organization and may void your result.

• You must attend at least 80% of scheduled hours to complete a program.
• Arriving more than [15] minutes late, or leaving early without permission, counts as half an absence.
• Missed practical sessions must be made up before the final assessment, at a time set by the Lead Instructor. Make-up sessions are free for up to 5 sessions.
• More than 4 unexcused absences leads to a meeting with the Director and may lead to dismissal under Section 10 of the Terms of Service.
• Tell the Lead Instructor before class if you will be absent.

You must not take, hide or keep School, Su’Coy Heating & AC, customer or classmate property, or enter restricted areas, offices, stock rooms or systems without permission. Tools are checked out and in through the tool log described in the Property Damage and Equipment Responsibility Agreement.

Maryland law makes it a crime to record a private conversation without everyone’s consent. You must not record audio or video, or take photos, in class, the workshop, or at customer sites without instructor permission. You must not post classmates’, staff’s or customers’ images or information without their permission.

The School uses video cameras in the classes. They do record audio; signs are posted. There are no cameras in restrooms or changing areas.

Nothing here stops you from reporting a safety concern, filing a complaint, or contacting a regulator.

At customer sites you must:

• follow the supervising technician’s instructions;
• observe only, unless you hold a Maryland HVACR apprentice license and a licensed Master or Journey licensee is on site directing you;
• not enter rooms, open cabinets or handle property beyond what the job needs;
• not photograph the home or share customer information;
• not quote prices, promise work or speak for the School or Su’Coy Heating & AC; and
• report any injury or damage immediately.

Report to any of: the Lead Instructor, the Director, the Safety Lead, or (for complaints about staff or the owner) the Outside Reporting Contact. You can report in person, by phone at (301) 901-7732, by email to sucoyclc1@gmail.com, or in writing. Include what happened, when, where, who was involved, and any witnesses.

For an emergency, call 911 first.

We will not punish anyone for a good-faith report or for taking part in an investigation. Retaliation is a Level 3 violation. Knowingly making a false report is a violation; a report that cannot be proven is not.

Level 1 responses may be given on the spot by the Lead Instructor without these steps. Findings are based on whether it is more likely than not that the violation happened.

The levels are a guide, not automatic penalties. We consider how serious the conduct was, whether it was repeated, and any explanation you give.

Interim suspension. For Level 4 conduct, or where someone’s safety is at immediate risk, the Director may suspend you and bar you from the premises immediately, pending the process in Section 16. You still receive notice and the chance to respond. If no violation is found, the suspension is removed from your record.

During a suspension, missed hours must be made up under Section 11 before you can complete. No tuition is refunded for suspension days. If you are dismissed, refunds follow Section 5 of the Terms of Service.

You may appeal a Level 2, 3 or 4 decision by writing to the Appeals Reviewer at sucoyclc1@gmail.com within 3 business days. Say why the decision was wrong: the facts were mistaken, the process was not followed, the outcome was too severe, or there is new information.

The Appeals Reviewer decides within 5 business days and may confirm, change or overturn the decision. That decision is final within the School. An interim suspension stays in place during an appeal.

Disciplinary records are kept for 2 years, are confidential, and are shared only with people who need them or as the law requires.

Visitors must sign in and follow staff instructions. No guests or children are allowed in the workshop. The School may ask any visitor to leave.

We may update this Code and will give students written notice of changes at least [7] days before they take effect, except for urgent safety changes.