Contract for the Learning & Development Phase
The Core Values of Year Up
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Respect and value others
Build trust; be honest
Engage and embrace diversity
Be accountable
Strive to learn
Work hard and have fun
Year Up trusts that you will hold these values at the heart of all your work and studies during
your time with us.
The Purposes of This Contract
This contract has three main purposes:
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First, it ensures that every student knows the rules and understands that rule
enforcement is predictable and fair.
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Second, it ensures that all students are working positively towards a common set of
goals.
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Third, it is set up as a tool for learning the expected minimum standards of
professional behavior. Each student is held accountable for his/her actions and faces
consequences for his/her behavior.
Point System
The contract works on a point system. You will start with 200 points. Points will be deducted
for infractions of this contract. You will gain points for each week with no infractions and
perfect attendance (a week is defined as Monday to Friday). Contract infractions, rewards,
and point totals will be read at each feedback session. At the staff’s discretion, you will
have fired yourself from Year Up if your point total drops to (or below) zero points.
Stipend
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You will receive a daily stipend (paid biweekly) for every day that you attend Year Up.
For every point you lose as a result of a contract infraction, your stipend will decrease
by one dollar.
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Gaining points does not directly increase the stipend, but it does move you closer to
receiving rewards (See Rewards section).
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If you are not present for at least half the morning, you will not receive a stipend for
the morning. If you are not present for at least the afternoon, you will not receive a
stipend for the afternoon.
Rewards
Rewards: If you act throughout the week in a manner consistent with the goals of Year Up,
as evidenced by earning no infractions of this contract, and if you are present at Year Up
every day of the workweek, you will earn 15 points. You will also have the opportunity to
earn other rewards based on your performance including but not limited to dinners, gift
certificates, and special events.
Contacting Year Up
Main number: (312) 726-5300 (Roxy: ext.4516; Dan: ext.4509)
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Summary of Expectations and Consequences
Expectation
Arriving and
leaving on time
and notification of
lateness
Description
You are expected to be on time and
prepared to start each class or
activity at its scheduled start time
and at the end of breaks. You are
also expected to remain until the
scheduled end time.
Consequence of not
meeting expectation
With notification: lose 15
points
Without notification: lose 25
points
Absence with notification: no
stipend, plus:
Regular
attendance and
notification of
absences
You are expected to attend Year Up
regularly. Proper notification (see
Procedures) is expected if you will
not be attending.
Attending less than half the
scheduled hours will be considered
an absence.
Day 1-3
days
Day 4-6
points
Day 7-9
points
Over 10
points
missed days: Leave
missed days: lose 25
missed days: lose 35
days missed: lose 45
Absence without notification:
no stipend, plus:
Day 1-6 missed days: lose 50
points
Day 7-9 missed days: lose 60
points
Over 10 days missed: lose 70
points
Business dress
You are expected to wear business
attire during all activities at Year Up.
(See Student Handbook.)
Lose 15 points
Appropriate use of
Year Up
computers
You are expected to follow the
Computer Acceptable Use Policy (see
Student Handbook).
Lose 15 points
Appropriate use of
electronic devices
You are expected to use your cell
phone and other electronic devices
appropriately (see Student
Handbook).
Lose 15 points
Complete
assignments on
time
You are expected to turn in all
assignments for classes by the due
date, unless other arrangements
have been made in advance with
the instructor.
Lose 15 points
Attend all planned
meetings
When you have a scheduled meeting,
you are expected to honor the
commitment. If unable, due to
circumstances beyond your control,
you should make alternate
arrangements in advance with the
other individual(s) involved.
Lose 15 points
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Follow site norms
/ policies and
procedures of site
norms
When you are on the site, you are
expected to follow the procedures for
the site.
Lose 15 points and will be
recorded as a core value
infraction
Respect the law
At Year Up, you are expected to
avoid engaging in theft, vandalism,
sexual harassment (see Student
Handbook), drug/alcohol possession
or use, weapon possession, fighting,
piracy, and other illegal activities.
At the discretion of the Year
Up staff, penalties up to and
including being fired from the
program.
Respect the core
values of Year Up
In addition to the expectations
above, you are expected to behave
in a manner consistent with the core
values of Year Up.
At the discretion of the Year
Up staff, loss of 15, 25, or 50
points.
You are expected to earn C’s or
higher in all courses and to pass the
internship readiness assessment.
At the discretion of the Year
Up Staff, penalties for not
passing the Internship
Readiness Assessment or
passing all classes is being
fired from the program.
Demonstrate
internship
readiness
Note: If you miss three consecutive class days without notifying Year Up of your
absence, it will be assumed that you have quit the program.
You must pass all your classes with a C or higher and pass the Internship
Readiness Assessment (IRA) to proceed onto the Internship Phase. Failure to do so
will result in exiting the program.
Leave Days
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You will have 3 “Leave Days” for this phase of the program, which you may use for
days that you are sick, days a child may be sick, or for personal appointments that
can’t be scheduled during Wednesday afternoons. Please use leave days very wisely
as you want to save time for unexpected situations that arise.
Leave days may be taken in half day increments (Wednesday counts as a half day).
You will not receive a stipend for any leave days taken as well as for any other times
that you are absent.
If you use more than your allotted leave days, it will count as an additional absence.
(If you only have a half-day left and take a full day off, you will lose 15 points as well
as no paid stipend.) Full missed days over 3 days will result in an infraction of the
proposed scale:
o
o
o
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Day 4-6 missed days (including leave days) – Minus 25 points each
Day 7-9 missed days (including leave days) – Minus 35 points each
Over 10 days missed (including leave days) – Minus 45 points each
At the discretion of the Year Up staff, and with appropriate documentation, you may
be granted an “excused absence” in certain extreme circumstances. Some possible
“extreme circumstances” include: medical emergency, death in the immediate family,
jury duty, severe illness.
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Procedures
Arriving late in the morning
If you expect to be late to Year Up, call Year Up before 8:30 at (312) 726-5300 ext.4516
for Roxy’s LC or ext.4509 for Dan’s LC. If no one answers the call, leave a message
including your name and how late you expect to be. If you find yourself running much later
than you said, call again. If you fail to contact your LC Leader (i.e. call your advisor instead),
it may be considered a late without proper notification.
Scheduling absences in advance
If you plan to use a half or full leave day (or an additional absence), notify your advisor
and Learning Community Leader at least 24 hours in advance. Once your advisor has
been notified, send e-mail to all instructors whose classes you will miss asking them
what you should do to make up missed work.
Last-minute absences
If you have to be absent at the last minute (e.g. you wake up sick or have to take your child
to the doctor for a fever), call Year Up before 8:30. If no one answers the call, leave a
message with your Learning Community Leader including your name, an indication that
you are taking a leave day, and a way for Year Up staff to contact you.
If you have scheduled meetings, presentations, or group projects, contact the other person
or people involved and make other arrangements. If an assignment is due, consider emailing, faxing, or bringing it in so that it is submitted on time. Please refer to the Late
Assignments Policy on their syllabus for further information.
Returning from an absence
If you miss any time at Year Up, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Talk
to your classmates and your instructor(s) to learn about key points covered,
assignments given, and handouts provided.
Next steps after firing yourself
If you fire yourself from Year Up by reaching zero points or below, you will be required to
meet with the staff to have an exit interview. During this time, the staff will help you
determine next steps and create an action plan should you desire to reapply to future
classes.
5
Student
Handbook
2013 – 2014
6
Year Up’s Core Values
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Respect and value others.
Build trust; be honest.
Engage and embrace diversity.
Be accountable.
Strive to learn.
Work hard and have fun.
The importance of the values
At Year Up, all of us, staff and students, are expected to behave in a manner
consistent with these values. We believe that an atmosphere of respect,
trust, accountability, hard work, fun, and learning is critical to creating an
environment in which young adults can learn, grow, and ultimately succeed.
The Year Up program is based on the values listed above therefore; Year Up
does not fire students from the program. Each student chooses to enter
the Year Up program by agreeing to and signing the Student Contract,
Student Handbook, and in a later phase, the Apprenticeship Contract. Those
documents clearly set the expectations and standards of professional
behavior needed to successfully advance to the apprenticeship phase (as all
apprenticeships are earned) and later graduate from the Year Up program.
Students can fire themselves from the Year Up program if they continually fail
to meet the expectations laid out in the contract resulting in a loss of all
points, are responsible for a serious violation of Year Ups values, and not
academically or professionally ready to advance to the Apprenticeship phase
of the program.
The values in action
While it is not possible to create a comprehensive list of behaviors that are
consistent or inconsistent with the core values, below are a few examples:
Respect and Value others:
 Helping out a classmate, staff member, or co-worker in need with or
without being asked
 Speaking in a respectful tone
 Treating fellow students, staff, corporate partners, etc. with respect in
conversation and interactions
 Listening to understand others points of view and welcomes other
points of view when presenting ideas
 Waiting to engaging in potentially disruptive activities, such as ruffling
through your backpack/purse or applying lotion until after class.
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Build Trust; Be Honest:
 Admitting to and apologizing for one’s mistakes
 Giving and receiving feedback using the feedback guidelines
 Kindly confronting any actions among peers that are not consistent with
the Year Up values
 Acting honestly when dealing with others
Engage and Embrace Diversity:
 Believe that everyone has the right to equal opportunity - regardless of
their identity.
 Believe that diverse groups in educational and work settings can
generate more creative, effective, and innovative thinking and action.
 Believe in the value our cultural differences bring to our individual
potential and collective work
Be Accountable:
 Following the professional standards set by the Contract, Student
Handbook, Site Norms, and staff members during Learning &
Development Phase of the program
 Learning and following the professional and dress code standards set by
your apprenticeship
 Cleaning/straightening up after oneself
 Adhering to professional standards before 8:30 AM, during break, and
after 3:30 PM if using Year Up facilities
 Overcoming challenges and obstacles in order to achieve professional
goals & objectives
Strive to Learn:
 Taking steps to change behavior that has been identified as an obstacle
to your success
 Actively addressing personal strengths and weaknesses
 Actively seeking opportunities to build personal skills, knowledge, and
expertise
 Looking for opportunities to encourage peers and help them improve
 Asking managers and co-workers for additional work when you have
completed assigned tasks early.
Work hard and Have Fun:
 Engaging in friendly competition that is intended to push people to
excel
 Putting in the effort to get a job/assignment done on time
 Taking leadership and incorporating “fun” into Year Up activities
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Behavior inconsistent with the values:
 Being disruptive in class, particularly after the instructor has already
brought the disruption to your attention
 Continuing a pattern of being late (or missing assignments, etc.)
without demonstrating that you are taking steps to break the pattern
 Yelling at or threatening a fellow student, staff member, or co-worker
 Making jokes at someone else’s expense, whether in front of him/her or
behind his/her back
 Using language that is inappropriate for a professional workplace
and/or that is likely to offend others
 Blaming others for your mistakes, behavior, or lack of success
 Refusing to work with a classmate
 Sleeping or nodding off in class, guest speaker meetings, or feedback.
 Not following site norms (eating, chewing gum, in non-designated
areas)
 Being unprepared for class (missing textbook, assignment, pen,
notebook, etc.)
 Leaving behind food and drinks in break room and kitchen and a
disorderly environment
General Classroom/Site Norms
This is a list of class room behaviors based on the core values that are expected in
order to create an environment that fosters learning & growth among Year Up young
adults. These are in addition to the Classroom and Site Norms on the last page of
this handbook.
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Show respect for others and their opinions.
Be an active learner. Take notes, listen attentively, ask/answer questions,
participate in group activities.
Use learning periods wisely. Refrain from discussing personal matters and
distracting others during learning times.
Use your breaks. Demonstrate respect by remaining in the classroom during
instruction when your attention and participation are both needed and
expected.
The dress code must be adhered to as soon as you enter the Year Up site and
at all times throughout the day.
Gum-chewing is strictly prohibited throughout the site.
These norms are consistent with Year Up values and a learning environment that
provides high support and high expectations.
Workplace/Internship Norms
When you start your internship, it is important to understand the culture and
procedures of that environment. It is your responsibility to adhere to the policies,
procedures, and cultural norms of that environment such as the dress code,
computer use policy, holiday schedule, etc.
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Dress Code
Overview
A big part of preparing you for your internships—and for the jobs you will get
afterwards—is preparing you to “walk the walk and talk the talk” and, essentially, to
dress not only for the job you have but for the job you would like to have. When
you start your internship you will be held responsible for adhering to their dress code
policy. During the Learning & Development phase of this program, we try to model
a version of business dress that, hopefully, will become second nature when it
comes to dressing for the workplace.
Year Up Chicago General Guidelines:
 Blatant facial and tongue piercings must not be exposed as they are not
acceptable in the workplace; however, piercings can be kept open by wearing
small clear plastic retainer, jewelry with a small, discrete clear stone (e.g.
diamonds) or by keeping them covered. In addition, no new visible piercings
are acceptable and must not be worn.
 Tattoos on arms, legs, and chest must always remain covered by clothing;
bandages are not considered a professional way to do so. In general, other
visible tattoos (neck, hand, feet, etc.) should remain concealed at all times
but will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
 Bright or fluorescent colors should be used in moderation and are generally
more acceptable for shirts. When choosing an outfit, a bright colored shirt
should be paired with a neutral bottom (beige, white, black, grey, brown, and
navy).
 Undergarments must not be displayed or visible at any time while standing or
sitting (boxers, briefs, colored bras under light-colored shirts, etc).
 Appropriately sized clothing should be worn at all times. Clothing should
never be excessively tight, baggy or long. If students are confused about
what type of clothing works best for their specific body type, they are
encouraged to seek assistance from a member of the Year Up staff.
 When entering the site, students should immediately proceed to the break
room to remove all outerwear (jackets, scarves, gloves, hats, outdoor vests,
boots, sweatshirts, rain gear, casual shoes, sunglasses). Outerwear should
remain off until a student is preparing to leave the site and leaving the site
should occur promptly after outerwear is put on - this applies to when a
student arrives early, stays late, and during all break times.
 No clothing with garment tags should be worn.
The following are some basic tips on how to dress for success:
 Keep your clothes ironed and stain-free
 Some fabrics and materials are appropriate in certain seasons:
Summer = linen, light cotton; Winter = heavy wool
 Avoid mixing too many different textures
 Wear clothes and dress shoes that are comfortable for day-long wear (while
heels may look nice, they are not always the most comfortable choice)
 Business dress is usually clean, modest, and conservative.
 Clothes that can be (and are) ironed, or clothes that look ironed but are
“wrinkle resistant” are appropriate.
 Except for sweaters and certain blouses, shirts should be tucked in.
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Layering (wearing a sweater over a dress shirt, for example) can be helpful in
dealing with changes in temperature.
Women’s Clothes
Pants
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Design should be simple and clean.
Pants should be neither too tight nor too baggy.
No bright colored pants should be worn.
Pants may not be denim or denim-like in appearance.
No corduroy or cargo pants may be worn.
No skinny leg pants, leggings or jeggings may be worn (exception—leggings
are ok if worn under a skirt in the winter but only if worn with boots.
Pants at or below the mid-calf are acceptable. No capris (ending at the knee)
or gaucho pants (billowy pants) are allowed.
Skirts/Dresses
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Knee-length, calf-length, or ankle-length are all appropriate. Knee-length is
considered a skirt that ends right above the knee and does not rise up on the
thigh more than three inches when sitting.
Skirts may not be skin tight.
No short skirts or mini skirts are permitted.
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Slits should be conservative and should not extend above mid thigh.
Dresses should abide by the same guidelines as skirts, pants, and blouses.
Shirts/Blouses
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Shirts and blouses must be long enough to extend past the waistline.
Solid, stripes, or other simple patterns are acceptable.
Cleavage should not be exposed. Be mindful of this when bending over as
well.
Sheer blouses that are see-through are not appropriate.
Camisoles or plain colored tank tops should be worn under low cut shirts or
cardigans when needed.
Spaghetti straps and tank tops should be covered at all time.
Top of shoulders should be covered at all time.
Jewelry
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Bottom earrings may not be more than 2 inches in length.
Simple jewelry is appropriate.
No more than three bracelets/bangles per arm are permitted.
No more than 2 pairs of earrings per ear are permitted; top pair must be a
stud.
No plastic jewelry should be worn.
Makeup, Nails and Hair(should look natural, be well-kept and simple)
 No bright colors as makeup; earth toned colors are appropriate
 Hair must have a natural color to one’s skin tone– no bright red, bright
blonde, or colors unnatural to hair.
Nails
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Length must be at an appropriate to perform job function
Clean
Even Length
If your nails are painted, you should not have multiple colors; Avoid bright
colors and stick to more neutral tones; Designs or variations in color should
be limited to only one finger per hand and be simple
Designs should be approved by Learning Community Leader prior to applying
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Shoes/Boots
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4 inch heel or less is permitted.
Boots should be clean with simple and straight lines.
No thongs or sandals are permitted.
Shoes must have a back; sling backs are acceptable.
No cork or wooden wedges should be worn.
Three toe maximum for open toe shoes.
Boots which rise above the knee are not permitted.
Hardware or adornment on boots should be kept to a minimum.
No weather boots should be worn once you are in the site. (i.e. Uggs, or snow
boots)
No slouchy leg boots are to be worn. Slouchy boots trend toward more casual.
What is considered a “slouchy” boot can sometimes be vague. Please check
with your LC Leader before wearing any boot that could be considered
borderline.
What Not to Wear
The following are items that are not appropriate at Year Up or in many business
casual environments:
 Mini-skirts
 Anything skin-tight
 Denim skirts
 Any shirt, pants, or skirts with
 Jeans
logos or other writing (a small
 Cargo pants
logo near the pocket is usually
 Low-cut tops
fine)
 T-shirts
 Footless Leggings
 Halter or tank tops
 Hooded sweatshirts (hooded
 Tops that end above the
office sweaters are appropriate)
waistline
 Casual boots
 Sneakers or skimmers (TOMS)
 Flashy jewelry (earrings longer
 Shorts
than 2 inches, multiple bangles,
 Flip-flops
etc.)
 Hats, scarves, or other head
coverings (except for religious
purposes)
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Men’s Clothes
Pants
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Neutral color pants should be worn (i.e., black, navy, blue, brown, khaki).
Muted or single pattern are acceptable (subtle pin stripes, etc).
Pants must be an appropriate fit to body (not too baggy or not too tight) –
tailored fit.
Belts must be worn if pants have belt loops (must wear dress belts, i.e. no
larger belt buckles).
Belts should be black or brown and leather in material.
Pants should have “1 break or no break” on the crease.
Shirts
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Collared & Buttoned down oxford shirts are required.
Buttons must be buttoned except for the top button.
No snaps are permissible on shirts (only closing buttons)
Shirts or sweaters with shoulder loops or other additional accessories are
considered casual and are not allowed
When layering, one must wear a muted color undershirt without large visible
logos, graphics, etc. which can be seen.
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Dress sweaters are permitted on site. A dress sweater tends to be woven
and do not have large logos or patches. Fleeces are not considered
professional dress.
When wearing a dress sweater, you must wear a collared shirt underneath.
Sweaters cannot extend beyond the ends of the pockets.
On multi-colored shirts, collars and cuffs must be neutral.
Shoes
 Closed-toe black or brown dress shoes with a dress sole are required.
 Laces must match shoes (no-multi-colored or sneaker laces).
 Lace up or slip on dress boots are acceptable.
Accessories
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If you wear a tie, it must be tightened up to your neck.
No earrings are permitted.
Watches or wrist accessories should fit under suit jacket, sweater, shirt.
If you wear a necklace, it must be worn under the shirt.
Dress socks should be worn in neutral colors (i.e., no athletic/casual socks).
Any additional jewelry or accessories should be limited (i.e. LIVESTRONG
bracelets, etc)
Grooming
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Nails
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Hair & facial hair should be clean & neat & trimmed
No accessories on hair (beads, comb. Etc.)
Length must be at an appropriate to perform job function
Clean
Even Length
Additional Rules
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No visible messaging on accessories
No sagging of pants, wear on waist line
What Not to Wear
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Du-rags, hats, or other head coverings (except for religious purposes)
Untucked shirts
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T-shirts or tank tops
Baggy pants
Cargo pants
Jeans
Shorts
Sneakers or boat shoes
Shirts with shoulder loops or details
Any shirt or pants with a big logo or other writing (a small logo near the
pocket is usually fine)
Earrings
Hooded sweatshirts
Timberlands, hiking boots, or other similar shoes
General Hygiene and Personal Grooming
Students are expected to be well groomed and maintain a personal environment that
upholds the professional standards of Year Up. This includes but is not limited to:
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Maintaining a clean site, including restrooms, break areas, lockers, kitchen,
and classrooms
Managing body odor
Maintaining neatly groomed hair
Maintaining neat and trimmed facial hair
Dressing in clean and neat (professional) clothing
Limiting excessively strong perfume, body spray, lotion, and other fragrant
products
Maintaining neat and clean nails
Managing oral hygiene
Academic & Professional Honesty
Year Up follows strict guidelines for academic & professional honesty. Students are
expected to adhere to the following guidelines during both the Learning & Development
and Internship phases of the program:
Students are expected to maintain integrity in all academic work. They
will not attempt to get grades by any means other than honest
academic effort. All work must be completed by individual students
except for group projects. It is not permissible to hand in the same
work for different courses without the express permission and
agreement of instructors involved.
Plagiarism is the appropriation of another’s work and passing off as
one’s own the product of the mind and language of another. The
student will not plagiarize or copy the work of any other person and
will properly acknowledge the use of any outside resources.
Timesheets are documents that reflect the exact amount of hours a
student works during their internship each week. Students are
expected to document their time worked on a timesheet and have
their internship manager approve it. It is not permissible to
misrepresent the time worked during the internship for any reason.
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Some examples of what is considered an act of academic dishonesty include:
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Copying code or a phrase, paragraph, page, or paper from a book, magazine, or
website
Copying information from another source and changing just a few words
Rewriting information from any outside source without saying where the
information comes from
Using an outside source as a reference in your assignment without acknowledging
where your information comes from
Writing an assignment (or part of an assignment) with a classmate when you are
both supposed to create individual assignments
Submitting the same work to two different instructors or twice for the same
assignment (unless you have received permission from all instructors involved)
Giving or receiving assistance on a quiz, assignment, test, or other evaluation on
which you are expected to work alone
Some examples of what is considered an act of professional dishonesty include:
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Documenting and getting paid for time on timesheet that you did not work
Lying to Internship manager about work you completed without completing the
work yourself
Documenting and getting paid for a holiday that you did not work because your
company office was closed
Note: The term “source” refers to any and all media—web sites, song lyrics, books,
magazine articles, television shows, etc.
Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
Year Up has discrimination and sexual harassment guidelines that are in accordance with
corporate and other work settings. The following summarizes our policy on sexual
harassment:
Conduct that subjects a person to offensive or unsafe treatment and
any implicit or explicit sexual conduct that diminishes, offends, or
abuses another member of the Year Up community will not be
tolerated. Sexual harassment and harassment based on race, color,
national origin, citizenship, religion, marital status, gender, sexual
identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran’s status,
pregnancy, disability, age, or any other legally protected status are
recognized as violations of law and are strictly prohibited at Year Up.
The summary legal definition of sexual harassment is broad, including
sexually oriented conduct that is not welcome and is perceived as
hostile, offensive, intimidating, or humiliating. Such conduct may
constitute sexual harassment, depending upon the circumstances,
including the severity of the conduct and its pervasiveness.
Examples of sexual harassment include:
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Displaying revealing pictures on your computer desktop or anywhere else at work
or school
Visiting pornography web sites or otherwise viewing pornographic material at Year
Up
Touching a coworker or classmate in a way that makes him/her uncomfortable or
that might be considered a “public display of affection”
Singing songs or playing music that has inappropriate language or that has lyrics
about sex, sexuality, or sexual preference
Making comments that indicate a staff member, coworker, or classmate is “hot,”
“sexy,” “fine,” etc.
Staring at someone’s legs, chest, rear end, etc.
Talking about sex or stating generalizations about a particular gender or sexual
preference while you are at the office or around coworkers or classmates
In addition to sexual harassment, it is inappropriate to express or exercise judgment
about people or groups based on race, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin,
naturalization status, marital status, physical condition, age, or any other trait listed in the
paragraphs above.
Everyone has the right to go to school or work and expect to find a safe environment. At
Year Up, we value working together in a safe space for people to share their opinions and
ideas and know that they have been listened to, valued, respected, and considered fairly.
Drug Policy
As part of its efforts to prepare students for the high expectations of the professional
world, Year Up has zero tolerance for the use of illegal drugs during the program. This
policy provides a way to ensure that students have an opportunity to meet these high
expectations and to access the support they need to make positive decisions.
All admitted students undergo a drug screen during a pre-orientation session before the
start of the program, or very early into the program. In addition to these mandated
screens, Year Up reserves the right to ask any student to undergo a drug test at any point
during the program.
Violence Policy
Year Up has a strong commitment to the health, safety and welfare of our staff, students,
and partners. As a result, we have violence/threat of violence guidelines that are in place
to maintain our commitment of a safe and secure workplace below:
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Year Up has a zero tolerance policy for site or workplace violence. Acts or threats
of physical violence, including intimidation, harassment, property damage, theft, or
coercion that involve or affect the workplace or that occur on Organization premises
or during Year Up business will not be tolerated.
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Year up also has zero tolerance for the use or possession of weapons on the Year
Up site or anywhere the Year Up community is being represented. The term
“weapons” means any firearm or object that has been designed with the intent to
harm another person or property or any object which has been designated through
misuse to inflict harm to another person or property.
Examples of violent or threats of violent behavior include:
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Threatening to physically harm another person by telling them to “watch their
back”.
Intimidating another classmate by using criticism, isolation, gossip, or withholding
essential information from them.
Harassment such as, continuous jokes or comments about a classmate or coworker’s appearance or personal circumstance.
Inappropriate questioning, jokes, or threatening gestures about racial or ethnic
origin.
Stealing property such as a coat, cell phone, lap top, or even office/company
supplies.
Bringing a knife, blade, or weapon to an evening sponsored Year Up event/student
party.
Violations of this policy are very serious and may result with the student firing themselves
from the program. Year Up may also report incidents of workplace violence to the
appropriate law enforcement authorities. Any person who becomes aware of an act or
threat of workplace violence should immediately report this information to his or her
advisor or to Learning Community Leader.
Security Policy
Year Up seeks to maintain a secure environment for all of its employees, students and
visitors, and to safeguard property and confidential information. The following
summarizes our guidelines on security.
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Year Up cannot provide insurance for (or reimbursements of damaged or stolen)
personal belongings that are brought to the Year Up site. Accordingly, students
bring personal property to the Year Up site at their own risk and should safeguard
their belongings.
Security and loss prevention is a responsibility all staff and students share. Year Up
expects the cooperation of all staff and students in maintaining a secure
environment by abiding by all implemented security measures, and by immediately
reporting any security concerns.
Desks, files, lockers, electronic storage, including e-mail and voice mail, are
provided for utilization by staff and students, but remain the property of Year Up at
all times. Therefore, they, as well as any articles found within them, or any other
property on the premises, can be inspected by any agent of Year Up at any time,
with or without prior notice and/or in the staff member or student’s absence.
Year Up reserves the right to require that staff, students and visitors entering or
leaving our premises permit the inspection of anything brought to or from the
premises, including, but not limited to, purses, bags, brief cases, packages,
clothing, back packs, and vehicles.
These policies are established for the protection of, and in the best interests of Year Up,
our staff, and students.
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Computer and Electronic Device Acceptable Use Policy
System Security and Integrity
You may not download or install any software or data without permission from your
instructor. This includes:
 Wallpapers
 Screen savers
 Instant message clients
 Music or videos
 Any other software or data
You are also encouraged to avoid clicking on pop-up or banner ads, as these can be entry
points for adware, spyware, and viruses.
You are expected to place all Year Up laptops and chargers in the designated area when
finished.
You are also expected to log off after use at every Year Up computer.
Personal Safety
Please do not post or e-mail your name, address, phone number, social security number,
or other personal information to any person or place not directly affiliated with Year Up.
You are expected to report to a staff member any inappropriate e-mail message or other
communication you receive while using Year Up systems.
Representation of Year Up
Every e-mail you send and every post you make to a web site using Year Up accounts and
systems represents the organization. Please communicate online in a respectful manner.
Do not use profane, discriminatory, or threatening language. This includes
communications within your site, between Year Up sites, and outside the organization.
You are expected to report to a staff member any inappropriate e-mail message or other
communication you receive while using Year Up systems.
Respect for Privacy
Do not forward or repost a message that was sent to you without receiving permission
from the original author. Do not post information about another person without his or her
permission.
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Illegal Activities
You may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any computer system beyond your
authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another person’s account or
access another person’s files or e-mail.
You may not make a deliberate attempt to disrupt the computer system or destroy data
by spreading a virus or by any other means.
You may not use the system to engage in any other illegal activity.
Limitation of Liability
Year Up makes no guarantee that the functions or services provided by Year Up will be
error-free or without defect. Year Up will not be responsible for any damages you may
suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of services. Year Up is not
responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on
Year Up systems. Year Up will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through
the unauthorized use of its systems.
Accidents/Emergencies
Students injured while on Year Up worksite or during other Year Up sponsored activities,
regardless of the severity of the injury, must immediately report the injury to their Learning
Community Leader and file an accident report. Student and staff cooperation in completing
the necessary medical forms and accident reports is essential, as the Organization may be
required to submit documentation about an injury or illness to appropriate agencies. A
neglected injury can become a serious problem if not treated promptly. If the injury is of a
serious nature, arrangements will be made to transport the injured student to the nearest
medical facility for treatment.
In the event of an emergency which warrants evacuation, staff and students should leave
the building using the nearest available exit and assemble with each department in the
designated area outside the building. The appropriate staff will explain the details of the
evacuation plan.
Resources
Advisors
Your advisor is the staff member assigned to work with you closely throughout your
experience at Year Up. You may go to your advisor with any issues or concerns you have,
whether or not they are directly related to Year Up. You will be expected to meet with
your advisor regularly to discuss your progress through the program.
Mentors
Your mentor is a member of the community who has volunteered his/her time to work one
on one with you. The purpose of mentors is to support and assist you in becoming a
successful professional. Mentors can be very helpful in networking, reviewing your
resume, and assisting you in overcoming challenges and providing additional
opportunities. You are expected to regularly communicate with your mentor and to visit
with him/her periodically.
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YEAR UP CHICAGO MEETING AND SITE NORMS
2013 - 2014
In order to further prepare you for internship, the following norms have been
established for the site. Not adhering to these expectations results in earning a 15 point
core value infraction.
Food
 Students may eat during break times and lunch in ONLY the kitchen and feedback space.
 There should be no eating, drinking or chewing gum in or during any class or group session
except for water in a bottle.
 Water in a bottle may be consumed throughout the site, but only when closed and in a spillproof container with a lid.
Smoking and Gathering
 It is unlawful to smoke anywhere in the building.
 Students may smoke and/or gather during breaks but may do so only outside in the
designated smoking area which is in the alley east of the building, just past the no smoking
sign.
 Students should be sure to deposit their cigarette butts in the receptacles provided.
Music
 No audible music is to be played onsite* at any time, unless otherwise specified by staff.
(Audible means any music that can be heard by anybody else and includes music that can
be heard from earbuds).
 Headphones are not permitted at any time.
 Students may use earbuds in the Year Up site, during breaks and lunch and in the
designated eating areas ONLY.
Elevator Norms & Entering the Site
 No hats or hoods – these should be removed before entering the Year Up office
 No texting once you enter the Year Up offices with the exception of the kitchen, LCD or LCR
during lunch and breaks
 No ear buds or headphones
 No talking on your cell phone
 No eating
 No cursing
 You are expected to use the provided keycard to enter the site; not doing so adds additional
work for others
 You must communicate if your key card is lost/stolen so it can be replaced
 Let people get off the elevator before you try to get on
 Do not pack onto an elevator – you don’t want to get too cramped
 Do not hold the door open for an extended period of time—the elevators have been known
to freeze up when this is done. People can always catch the next elevator.
 Do be a positive representative for Year Up—you never know who you’re going to meet!
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Electronic Devices
 During class time, you may use the Year Up computers, e-mail system, and related
equipment and software for educational purposes only. The term “educational purposes”
includes:
o Class assignments and projects
o Communication with staff, mentors, and group project team members
o Development of skills related to your work at Year Up
 During lunch, break time, before classes, and after classes, you may use computers for
personal use. Prohibited personal use includes:
o Pornography
o Downloading software
o Live streaming videos, music, etc. (example: YouTube, Pandora, ESPN3, any
embedded videos)
o Staff has the right to prohibit websites at their discretion
 If students must use electronic devices (this includes cell phones, iPods etc.), they must do
so either in the kitchen or feedback space during breaks and lunch or offsite.
 Electronic devices must be silenced or turned off while on site except when in use in
kitchen, feedback space, and off-site during lunch and break times.
 Earbuds, and Bluetooth devices should not be visible except in the designated areas during
lunch and break times. Designated areas during lunch and break for earbuds are classrooms
(while working on school material), feedback space, and kitchen.
 Personal tablets and laptops may be used at instructor and staff discretion and must adhere
to the computer policy.
Dress Code
 Outdoor clothing/ accessories such as jackets, hoodies, hats and sunglasses must not be
worn inside the Year Up suite. (Students will be given the freedom to change shoes and
jackets immediately after arriving or immediately before leaving).
 Even in the summer time, it can get cold in the building. Students and staff are expected to
wear appropriate office sweaters that align with the dress code if they need them.
 The dress code must be honored when students reach Year Up doors and maintained as
long as students are on site, including breaks and lunch time.
 All jackets must be hung up in the designated area and all personal belongings must be
placed in designated locker areas.
 Students must refer to the Student Handbook section on Dress code.
Year Up Ambassadorship
 When on site, Year Up students are ambassadors and representatives of the program at all
times and must, through language and action, convey professionalism and courtesy. This
includes outside the building, in the lobby, and in the elevators and hallways.
 When off site during business hours or while wearing Year Up clothing or paraphernalia,
students are representing the program and are held to the same expectations as outlined
above.
Promptness/Leaving During Class/Group Sessions
 Class will begin and end at the scheduled time. You must be in your seats at the beginning
of class and prepared with all materials for that class.
 Students must remain in class and group sessions (including guest speaker,
advising time, Feedback Friday, etc.) for the duration of the session and should
not get up and leave the room
 Students may feed parking meters during break and lunch times, not during
class.
*The Year Up “site” is defined as starting at the rotating door in the lobby*
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