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ASL-English Interpreter Handbook

Professionalism

As employees of GCCCD, interpreters are expected to behave in a professional manner appropriate to the post-secondary, educational setting, and in accordance with the guidelines established by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Code of Professional Conduct / Standard Practices. 

  • Interpreters are required to wear appropriate clothing for the assignment in which they are interpreting. Please do not wear distracting  jewelry, bright/flashy nail polish, distracting face piercings or have distracting tatoo's. Professional attire is solid color shirts/blouses that contrast well with skin tone - avoid prints, plaids or any visually "loud" patterns/colors. For more formal events, please wear formal attire (i.e., shirt, tie, slacks, jacket; skirt/jacket).
  • Do NOT participate in an Exercise Science & Wellness (ESW) class unless authorized by the Interpreter Coordinator in advance. Some ESW classes (e.g. Swimming Aerobics, etc.) may benefit from interpreter participation because of the visual enhancement for the student. This arrangement is up to the Interpreter Coordinator, the DHH student, and the instructor. Even with all parties in agreement, please use discretion and keep professional boundaries.
  • Please follow the same safety requirements for enrolled students when working in any classroom lab or field trip environment (e.g. closed-toed shoes, safety glasses etc.).
  • Interpreters must be punctual. Please arrive early to set up a chair and to communicate any necessary information (e.g. communication with student/instructor, and/or team interpreter) for class. Please use professional discretion when accepting early morning or late night assignments if you know this may cause tardiness.
  • Be courteous and respectful towards instructors, to all students in the class, and to your interpreting team. Introduce yourself to the instructor and explain your role as the ASL Interpreter briefly. Understand most instructors are not aware they will have a DHH student in their class until they meet the Interpreter. Ask permission to borrow any armless-chairs in the front of the classroom. Should a conflict with the instructor, student, or team arise that cannot be resolved, please contact the Interpreter Coordinator as soon as possible.
  • All Interpreters are responsible to know and understand GCCCD's policy on Sexual Harassment (GCCCD Policy 3430) at the following link: GCCCD Policy 3430
  • Interpreters enrolled as a student in a GCCCD class cannot work in the same class as an employee.
  • Do not solicit students for work by encouraging or pressuring students to request you for future assignments. Some DHH students have reported being asked by interpreters about future class enrollments. Conversations of this nature are considered highly unprofessional and unacceptable. This behavior could result in the loss of future interpreting work at Grossmont College.
  • Know your limitations and use discretion when balancing your schedule. Use caution when accepting overlapping assignments at multiple campuses. Allow for adequate travel time to re-energize. A tired, late Interpreter is a disservice to the DHH student. Use discretion when accepting back-to-back classes all day at Grossmont College as well.
Last Updated: 03/26/2019
  • GCCCD
  • Grossmont
  • Cuyamaca
A Member of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District