4.6.1 The Rough Writer/Other Student Publications

As Adopted by the District Governing Board 11/13/2001

4.6.1 The Rough Writer and Other Student Publications Published Under Authority of Yavapai College

POLICY

All student publications, which are officially sponsored by Yavapai College, are established as open forums for student expression. Each publication shall provide an opportunity for free expression of ideas, with content to reflect all areas of student interest, including those, which may be controversial. All official student publications at Yavapai College will adhere to operational procedures for student publications at Yavapai College.

The operational procedures guarantee the right of free expression of student journalists, while establishing ethical operational standards. The operational procedures are not intended to abridge First Amendment rights of those who are connected with official Yavapai College publications. Rather, they are intended to support and maintain an educational environment wherein expectations and responsibilities are defined clearly to the satisfaction of all parties involved.

Date of Adoption: June 12, 1990

Effective Date: June 12, 1990

Date Revision Approved and Effective: November 13, 2001

_____________________________________

Dr. Ed Harris, Board Chair

_____________________________________

Dr. Kay Axell Dean, Board Secretary

_____________________________________

Tony Decker, Board Member

_____________________________________

Herald Harrington, Board Member

_____________________________________

Dan Main, Board Member

(back to top)

1. Publications Board

1. A Publications Board shall be established to provide guidance for all official student publications of Yavapai College. In no manner should the role or responsibility of the Publications Board be viewed as an attempt to exercise control over the content of student publications. Rather, the Publications Board shall provide advice and counsel for the orderly conduct of business for those student publications over which it has purview.
2. The Publications Board shall include one administrator and one staff member appointed by the College President; one Yavapai College alumnus (or one community member) appointed by the President; two faculty members appointed or elected by the Faculty Senate (one from the Prescott campus, the other from the Verde Valley campus), and two student members (one from the Prescott campus, the other from the Verde Valley campus) appointed by faculty recommendation. The President of the Yavapai College Faculty Senate (or the President=s designee) shall serve ex officio on the board, with voting privileges.
   1. The adviser for the Rough Writer shall be an ex officio non-voting member of the board.
3. The Publications Board will elect its own chairperson and recording secretary at its first fall meeting. The initial meeting of the Publications Board will be convened by the chair of the Faculty Senate or his designee; or, if appropriate and warranted, at the request of the adviser.
4. Appointments or election to the Publication Board are for one academic year unless otherwise specified by the person or group making that appointment or electing that individual. No person, however, may be named to the board for more than three consecutive years. Should a board member vacate a seat on the board, the person or group that made the initial appointment should name the replacement as quickly as possible.
5. The Publications Board should establish at its first fall meeting the dates for future meetings during the year. The board should meet no less than twice a semester and may meet more frequently as needed.

(back to top)

2. Duties of the Publications Board

A. The duties of the Publications Board shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. Review, recommend (modify if necessary) and approve an annual budget prepared by the adviser and the student staff.
2. Invite and interview applicants for student editor-in-chief and advertising/business manager positions on the Rough Writer.
3. Review annually the practices and procedures, which guide the editorial and business practice of the newspaper; and if warranted, make recommendations for the enhancement or improvement of those policies and practices.
4. Consult at least once annually with the student staff and the adviser to discuss the scope and balance of the editorial content of the newspaper to ensure the newspaper serves the entire Yavapai College constituency. This duty is an advise and consult function and in no way should be construed as interfering with the rights of student staff to determine newspaper content.
5. Receive and hear complaints/criticisms about the newspaper if those complaints/criticism are referred to the board by the student staff. Decisions regarding complaints/criticisms shall be made public through publication in the newspaper.
6. Resolve questions concerning termination of student staff member(s) if such termination is recommended by the adviser. The decision of the Publications Board shall be final.
7. Conduct annual evaluation of the adviser, with results of that evaluation to be shared with the adviser and with the adviser’s immediate supervisor.

(back to top)

3. Duties of the Adviser

A. Duties of the adviser shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. Advises the student newspaper, consistent with the principles of collegiate education, of sound management, and of professional journalism. Preferably, the adviser should have professional experience in newspaper journalism in order to serve as a qualified mentor for students.
2. Works in cooperation with the student editor(s), reporters, photographers and other staff members. Provides advice and instruction about the day-to-day assigning, reporting, editing and publishing of material for the student newspaper.
3. Provides professional advice regarding such matters as newspaper style (AP Stylebook), libel, and professional ethical behavior. Such advice is to be professional in tone and manner and not in any way to be construed as censorship or prior restraint.
4. Works in cooperation with the advertising/business manager in determining advertising practices and policy in accordance with approved and accepted collegiate advertising practices.
5. Reviews the budget annually and makes recommendations to the Publications Board concerning line-item allocations within the budget. Such recommendations should include but are not limited to student salaries and salary ranges, newspaper operations, circulation, professional travel, and equipment acquisition, upgrade and maintenance costs.
6. Recommends dismissal of student staff member(s) for causes of unprofessional or unethical conduct detrimental to the operation of the newspaper. Such recommendations shall be reviewed promptly by the Publications Board, which shall issue a final decision.

(back to top)

4. Duties of the Student Staff

A. The student staff may include but not necessarily be limited to an editor-in-chief, an advertising/business manager, a circulation manager, and section editors, writer-reporters, photographers-graphic arts staff, and publication design-layout staff.

1. Duties and responsibilities of the various staff members are to be defined and described in writing by the adviser, with the approval of the Publications Board. All students shall receive a written description of their duties and responsibilities.
2. Student staff will be compensated for their work on the student newspaper according to a salary schedule recommended by the adviser and approved by the Publications Board.
3. Student editorial staff will be responsible for the assigning of such stories and photographs that reflects the campus and the constituency of Yavapai College.
4. Student advertising/business staff shall supervise all sales, billing, and collections of advertising for the newspaper. All business and financial records are to be maintained by standard business practices as outlined by Yavapai College financial personnel.

5. Parliamentary Authority

A. The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the Publications Board in its deliberations. Further, all deliberations shall be congruent with State and Federal regulations and statutes.

6. Amendments to the Procedures

1. Suggested changes must be submitted in writing to the chair of the Publications Board.
2. The Publications Board chair shall present any recommended changes to the board at large at the next meeting. If the chair deems a special meeting is warranted to discuss such recommendations, the chair may convene a special meeting upon 48 hour notice to board members.
3. The Publications Board may approve amendments of any of the procedures by a majority vote of the board. Those amendments will then be submitted to the Yavapai College President. The President will then review the proposed amendments. The President must approve all amendments to the procedures and the President’s decision is final. Upon approval of amendments by the President, the amended procedures become effective immediately unless otherwise specified.

(back to top)