Faculty Guidelines

Welcome to the Hickory Metro Higher Ed Center (HMHEC)! Our role at HMHEC is to provide you with technical and administrative support while you are working here. In order to provide you with the best service we can, there are things you can do to assist us and to help the Center run smoothly. HMHEC is designed as a state of the art educational facility to provide degree programs to serve the residents of the Greater Hickory area and surrounding counties. Classrooms are equipped with the latest educational technology. We hope that you will enjoy teaching at our facility.

• Animals - Only service animals are allowed in HMHEC.
• Breakout Rooms - If you require the use of an additional room during your class, please contact Ms. Ann Sperry 24-hours in advance to make a request. All classrooms will remain locked unless a session has been scheduled.
• Check-In/Check-out procedure - If you arrive at HMHEC before 6 pm, please let the receptionist at the Information Desk know that you are in the building. There may be messages for you, student homework or projects in your mailbox. Also, please let the evening staff know before you leave the building. This helps the staff know when classes are finished so they can store equipment and secure the rooms. This is especially important late in the evenings for both your safety and security.
• Children - As a general rule, HMHEC does not allow children in the facility. Supervised children may attend informational sessions, open houses, celebrations, and other public events. “Supervised” means that children may not be in the lobby, vending area, classrooms, or restrooms without an adult. In recognition that there may be some rare instances in which adult learners are unable to attend classes without bringing their children, faculty may choose to allow children in the classroom as long as they do not displace other students and they remain supervised at all times. The supervising adult is requested to sign-in at the front desk with their name, the name of the child and the classroom they will be visiting. In no circumstances will children be allowed in the NCIH classroom. Children are not allowed to use HMHEC computers or other equipment.
• Class Cancellation - In the event you need to cancel a class on short notice (illness, weather, etc), please contact Ms. Ann Sperry or the Information Desk at HMHEC as soon as possible so that the staff may attempt to relay the information to your students and post a sign on the classroom door.
• Computer labs - Students who are currently enrolled in classes held at HMHEC will have access to the computers in the lobby kiosk during regular operating hours. All HMHEC computers are to remain inside their assigned labs during class session and at all other times.
• Copies - HMHEC Staff will assist with making copies as time allows. To make a request for copies for a class, please complete the appropriate form at the Information Desk. Attach it to the originals and leave it at the Information Desk. These copies will be placed in your mailbox when completed and charged to your institution. There is a copier in the lobby area for students to use (.15 per copy).
• Eating in the classrooms - We strongly prefer that students eat in the common areas of HMHEC. Occasionally, instructors choose to shorten a class by teaching through a break and allowing students to eat during class. In these instances, the instructor is responsible for the room and should ensure that students clean up all drink and food trash. Under no circumstances are food and drinks allowed in the computer lab or any other room using the laptop computers. Faculty is responsible for ensuring this policy.
• Entering/Exiting the HMHEC - We require everyone to enter and exit through the main lobby. There are doors in the back of the building that may be used as exits only in case of an emergency. The back doors will be locked at all times for your safety. Please assist us in ensuring the security of the building by using the main lobby entrances only.
• Equipment Requests - At the time you reserved a room, you submitted a list of equipment needed. Any additional equipment needs may be requested by completing the appropriate form at the Information Desk. If you need to request additional equipment, you must make the request at least one week in advance. We will do our best to meet your request, if the equipment is available.
• Faculty Mailboxes - Mailboxes will be available near the faculty offices for all faculty members who are teaching classes at the HMHEC. Students may pick up returned homework, handouts and tests at the Information Desk. The HMHEC staff will put any messages for you in your box. Please be sure to check this box when you arrive at the HMHEC.
• Faculty Offices - HMHEC has a limited number of faculty offices available for you to meet with students. One office will be assigned to each college or university. Each office is equipped with a computer and telephone. The computers have internet access and a printer. If you would like to use an office, please contact Ms. Ann Sperry to make arrangements.
• First Aid - A First Aid kit is available at the Information Desk for your use. In the case of an emergency, contact the Information Desk during operating hours. In an emergency call 911 to reach the local emergency services. CVCC Security can be reached by calling 327-7000 ext. 4300.
• Food and Drinks - Food and drinks are not allowed in the computer lab and any room where there are laptop computers. Although we discourage food in any classrooms, if you allow for food or drinks in your classroom rather than taking a break, you will be responsible for leaving the room clean for the next class. Please bag all trash and place it in or next to the wastebasket. No alcoholic beverages are permitted in the Center or in the parking lot. Local catering information
• Furniture in Classrooms - If you rearrange any furniture in the classroom, please make sure to return the room to the original configuration before leaving the room. In the rooms that are wired for use with the laptops, you may not move the tables.
• Hours of Operation - The facility is generally open from 8 am until 10:00 pm Monday through Thursday, from 8 am until 5 pm on Friday, and from 8 am until 5 pm on Saturday when classes are scheduled. Early arrival or late departure must be arranged in advance with either Ms. Ann Sperry. Ms. Karen Summey or Ms. Pat Freeman. Receptionist/Administrative support will only be available between 8 am and 6 pm Monday – Thursday and from 8 am until 5 pm on Friday.
• Information Desk - The Information Desk in the front lobby is staffed from 8 am until 6 pm Monday through Thursday and from 8 am until 5 pm on Friday. For emergencies, technical assistance and other requests, please contact the staff at the Information Desk. The staff at the Information Desk will be happy to assist you while you are at HMHEC. During evening hours, please report problems or request assistance from the HMHEC evening staff.
• Library - Faculty and students at HMHEC will have access to the library facilities on the main campus of CVCC. Please contact the librarian there about reserved reading, etc. for your classes. The hours of operation for the CVCC library are Monday – Thursday 7:30 am until 9:30 pm and Friday 7:30 am until 4:30 pm.
• Parking - Since HMHEC is located on the East Campus of CVCC, each faculty member is asked to register your vehicle with Ms. Pat Freeman, Administrative Assistant for HMHEC. Parking permits (hangtags) are provided free of charge to faculty and students. Hickory Police can be reached at 328-5551 to report any accident or damage to your vehicle in the parking lot.
• Smart classroom - Most of the classrooms in HMHEC are equipped as “Smart Classrooms”. In each of these rooms, there is a mounted data projector, computer with internet access, DVD/VCR connected directly to the projector, hook-up for a laptop, ELMO, Interactive screen and speakers. All of this equipment is located in or connected to a sympodium with touch screen controls. Prior to your first class at HMHEC, our IT staff will provide you with an overview session on the use of the technology in Smart classrooms and computer labs. Additionally, we have provided an online tutorial to aid instructors in becoming familiar with the equipment.
• Smoking - HMHEC is a tobacco free facility.
• Technical Assistance - The IT staff provides technical assistance. No software can be loaded and no work can be saved to the hard drive of any of the computers at the HMHEC. Please contact the IT staff 30 days prior to your class to arrange for the installation of the necessary software. If you need technical assistance during a class, please contact the IT staff person on duty.
• Telephone Service - Faculty offices are equipped with telephones for local calls. Long distance phone calls can be placed using a calling card. Faculty may make long distance calls using a code that will be billed to your college or university.
• Vending Area - The vending machines are located to the right of the main lobby. If you lose money in one of the vending machines, please contact Ms. Pat Freeman or the evening staff person to request a refund from the vending company.
• Video Conferencing - IT staff will be available during all video conferencing classes. Please do not attempt to adjust any of the equipment without the assistance of the IT staff.
• Weather Cancellations - In the event that HMHEC closes due to weather conditions, closing information will be posted on the HMHEC web site and reported to the local radio and TV stations. You may call HMHEC for current information at 828.324.6966. Please do not assume the Center is open or closed when classes are cancelled at your main campus or at CVCC.
• White Boards - All classrooms are equipped with White Boards. Please make sure that all markers are designed for use on this surface. Additional markers will be available at the Information Desk for your use.