TCAT

14:04:00 TCAT Live Work

Purpose and Scope: The goal of each occupational training program is to provide appropriate instruction to students for the development of specific skills and competencies in a chosen profession. Instructional projects or “live work” projects serve to advance the mastery of identified competencies and build the self-confidence of students.
An instructional project or “live work” is work performed by students that produces a specific product, delivers a personal service, or completes maintenance or repair.
1. Examples of instructional projects include providing barbering, cosmetology, massage or skin care services to patrons; repairing brakes on a vehicle; diagnosing, repairing, and/or maintaining a heating or cooling unit; repairing structural damage on an automobile; and replacing computer components. For example, students enrolled in allied health programs obtain real-world experiences as they render services to health care providers through clinical affiliation agreements.
Relevance to Training: All instructional projects must provide a learning experience for the student. In the planning and development of instructional projects, considerations must be given to student skill levels, time allocations, training schedules, costs, collection of appropriate fees, and College liability or risks associated with the projects.
Types of Projects and General Guidelines: A distinction must be made between College instructional projects and individual “live work” projects.
1. College projects are those secured by the College and assigned to students by instructors as part of the educational process. An example of a College project would be assigning students enrolled in the Computer Operations Technology program to install or upgrade virus software on all campus computers. College projects may also result in a product, which may be reused or sold by the College.
2. Individual projects are those involving personal service to the provider or those projects returned to the provider after services are rendered by the students.
College Projects: The Executive Vice President for the Technical College (TCAT) at Chattanooga State is responsible for the authorization of all College projects. The TCAT shall bear the cost of parts, supplies and materials needed for the College project. Where applicable, solicitation and acceptance of projects shall be subject to the Chattanooga State gift Policy No.10:00:00 and TBR Policy No. 4:01:04:00 relative to the solicitation and acceptance of gifts. The sale of any completed College project must be in accordance with TBR Policy No. 4:02:20:00 relative to the disposal of surplus property.
Individual Projects: The Instructor is responsible for selecting and scheduling individual projects. Selection of projects must be based upon their potential to contribute to the educational process. Each project must have specific training objectives for the student participant. The sources of individual projects may include the following:
1. Students of Chattanooga State
2. Faculty and Staff of Chattanooga State
3. Tennessee Board of Regents Personnel
4. Charitable Organizations
5. Civic Groups
6. Governmental agencies or other non-profit organizations
The Executive Vice President for the Technical College may authorize other projects in the event appropriate projects are not available from the above sources.
An instructor should give priority to an enrolled student with a project that has educational benefit.
Instructional live work projects may be conducted on- or off-campus to enhance learning and skill development as an integral part of an approved program curriculum. Live work conducted for student experiences must be conducted during actual training schedules.
Any occupational program, once approved, may offer live work projects for student skill development. Once approved, instructors must follow the TCAT Chattanooga State live work policy.
No work may be performed on a project that has not been authorized by appropriate College officials (instructor, department head, dean and/or Executive Vice President for the Technical College (TCAT).
Before work begins on a project, the approved TCAT Work Order form must be completed and approved as outlined in this policy.
Liability and Ethical Practices
1. Live work will not be conducted to compete with private enterprise. Instructors should not accept live work if it is considered to be in direct competition with local businesses and has an adverse impact on their operation.
2. Neither the College, College employees or students will receive economic profit from live work, nor may any person use College facilities or equipment for live work projects for personal gain or profit.
3. Live work may be performed only when tasks to be performed are within student’s competency levels.
4. Instructors are responsible for following all regulations which detail the appropriateness of the project, time allocations to complete the project, estimated cost, assessment of applicable fees or charges for work, and release of College liability.
5. Collection of fees for health and beauty related services will be handled by designated TCAT employees in the Student Services Department and in the division office. Instructors, unless authorized to do so by the Bursar’s Office, are prohibited from accepting fee payment.
6. TCAT employees shall not guarantee or be held responsible for the quality of the workmanship performed by students.
7. The project owner or recipient of the services will be required to sign an agreement which outlines the services and releases the College from any liability involved with the live work project. The work order must be filled out completely and signed by the project owner before any services/work can begin on the project.
8. The owner of the project is responsible for providing parts, supplies and/or materials for individual projects in a timely manner. The College may recommend sources where parts, supplies and materials may be acquired. The College should avoid recommending sole sources except in cases where other sources are not readily available.
9. If a project cannot be completed within 30 days of acceptance, the project is not to be accepted.
10. The owner that leaves a project at the TCAT for more than 15 days after notification of completion or for needed parts, will be sent a certified letter, return receipt, stating that the customer has an additional 30 days to pick up the project after which, the project will be considered a donation to the TCAT.
11. The TCAT must take all necessary steps to ensure that instructional projects are managed in a way so as to minimize or eliminate the risk of harm to patrons, students and employees and protect the institution from legal liability arising out of the projects.
12. State vehicles may not be used in live work projects, only College projects which are funded through the general operating budget.
13. Work for an instructor in a program where the work is to be performed, must have his/her supervisor sign their approval on the work order form before work begins.
Processing Work Orders: An approved work order form must be completed prior to initiating work on any individual project. An original of the agreement form shall be retained by the instructor and a copy provided to the project owner or patron. STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The project owner will discuss the proposed request for services with the appropriate Instructor.
  1. Upon acceptance of a proposed project, the instructor will verify that a work order form contains the required information. Appendix A.
2. The instructor and/or assigned student will review the work order with the project owner. The project owner will sign the work order acknowledging his/her responsibility to provide needed materials and that work will be performed by students.
3. For health and beauty services, the fee schedule shall be made available to patrons prior to completion of the signed work order. Appendices B & C. Service fees will be assessed and collected at the completion of the work. Payment will be made through the Student Services office personnel. Instructors or students will not collect fees.
4. If the project owner is an instructor in the program where the work is to be performed, supervisor approval must be obtained.
5. The Instructor/student will complete a tag of ownership (if applicable) to identify the project and the owner. The tag must indicate the work order number. Appendix D.
6. Upon determination that parts or supplies are needed to complete the project, the instructor or the student to whom the project has been assigned will provide the project owner with a detailed list of materials. The project owner will be responsible for procuring all materials needed for completion of the project.
7. Upon completion of the project, the instructor reviews the project with the assigned student to verify that the project has been completed. After receiving instructor approval, the student to whom the project has been assigned or the instructor will notify the project owner to pick up the property.
  1. Instructors will log every work order on the program’s Work Order Activity Log form. Appendix E.