2016-2017 CATALOG AND STUDENT HANDBOOK ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND COLLEGE POLICIES 1. Web Browser Requirements: The following web browsers are formally supported and tested: • With PCs running Windows OS: – Firefox – Internet Explorer version 8, 9 or 10; • With Macs running OS X: – Firefox – Safari 5 or 6.0.x Desktop or laptop computers are preferred. Mobile devices may only work with limited functionality. 2. Cookies Must Be Enabled on Your Browser A cookie is a small file that is placed on your computer by the server. Cookies are a very common Internet technology used by many websites, such as Amazon or eBay. Your browser has a setting that allows you to control whether you allow cookies or not. Since cookies are so common, your browser probably already has cookies enabled. If you are unsure whether your browser is set up properly, please call the Personal Support Center. 3. Required Plug-ins Flash Your courses may include images or animations that require the Flash plug-in. If you do not have Flash installed, or have difficulty viewing the animations, you may load the most current version of the Flash plug-in here: get.adobe.com/flashplayer/. Shockwave Your courses may include images or animations that require the Shockwave plug-in. If you do not have Shockwave installed, or have difficulty viewing the animations, you may load the most current version of the Shockwave plug-in here: get.adobe.com/shockwave. Acrobat Reader Your courses may include .pdf files, which require the Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Acrobat is not installed on your computer, please download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader: get.adobe.com/reader/. Microsoft PowerPoint Your courses may include Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. If you do not have PowerPoint installed on your computer, you may use the free PowerPoint viewer to view the course materials. Download the free PowerPoint viewer here: microsoft. com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13. Microsoft Word Your courses require the use of Microsoft Word to turn in written assignments. If you do not have Word, please contact your instructor. Microsoft Excel Your courses may require Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software. If you do not have Excel, please contact your instructor. ZIP File Compression Utility Your courses may require the use of a compression utility, like 7-Zip, to create a “zipped” file (i.e. filename.zip). If you do not have a compression utility installed on your computer, you may download a free copy of 7-Zip here: 7-zip.org. If your computer is running Windows XP, or newer, there is a compression utility already built in. For help “zipping” and “unzipping” files using the Windows compression tools, please view the demonstrations at: content.learntoday.info/ course_files/techinfo/techinfo_ols.html. Circulation Policy Library Mission and Introduction Rasmussen College Library System, in accordance with the mission of the College, is rooted in a tradition of student support and driven by a desire for academic excellence. The library is passionate about empowering the college community and cultivating lifelong learners who are prepared to thrive in a diverse and digital society. In support of this mission we: • Extend our resources and services to all students and employees of the College; • Empower students to access information independently in the changing world of technology; • Support faculty by providing professional development and instructional partnerships; • Engage in responsive collection development by collaborating with faculty to select resources; and • Provide direction and recommendations to help guide our users to the resources and online tools that will work best for their learning. This circulation policy supports the library mission by ensuring that library materials are available to members of the Rasmussen College community and other library users on an equitable basis. Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the Dean and/or Associate Dean of Library on a case-by-case basis if need is demonstrated. Borrowing Materials: General The following persons are permitted to check out materials owned by our library system: • Rasmussen College students and alumni in good financial standing with the College • Rasmussen College faculty and staff in good standing with the library • Consortia patrons in good standing with the library A patron in good standing with the library is defined as a person who has no overdue items and owes no fees toward damaged or lost items. A library user is responsible for any items checked out in his or her name. Rasmussen College retains the right to deny borrowing privileges to any person in violation of this or any other library policy. Loan Periods Loan periods vary depending on the database and content. eBooks from the databases can be checked out and used offline for up to 7 calendar days. Digital materials are loaned for 21 calendar days from the Cloud Library and may be renewed up to two times if there are no outstanding holds on the material. Library materials must be returned to the library on or before the end of the loan period; if they are not returned by the user, the system will automatically recall the material. Fees and Restriction of Borrower Privileges Users will receive a reminder 2 days in advance of an item’s due date. Following the grace period (5 days for circulating items; 10 hours for special materials), items are considered overdue and borrower privileges will be restricted until items are returned or fees are paid for lost materials. After 30 days past the end of the grace period, the material is considered lost. The library reserves the right to charge for replacement costs. Replacement costs are assessed per each individual item. The library will charge $55.00, or the cost of replacing the item plus a $5.00 processing fee. In the event that a library material is returned damaged, the borrower will be assessed a fee to repair or replace the damaged item. In the event that an irreplaceable item is damaged, the library will assess a $55.00 fee. Rasmussen College cannot override fines incurred at other libraries, including fines for Interlibrary Loan items lost or returned late. Library fees are assessed through the Department of Student Financial Services. Rasmussen College reserves the right to withhold the release of academic information, and other records, pending settlement of any amount due to the College. Non-Discrimination Policy Rasmussen is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees and all applicants for employment. For us, this is the only acceptable way to operate our College. Rasmussen employment practices conform both with the letter and spirit of federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding non-discrimination in employment, compensation, and benefits. Anti-Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy It is Rasmussen College’s policy and responsibility to provide our employees and students an environment that is free from harassment. Rasmussen College expressly prohibits harassment of employees or students on the basis of gender. Harassment undermines our College community morale and our commitment to treat each other with dignity and respect. This policy is related to and is in conformity with the Equal Opportunity Policy of Rasmussen College to recruit, employ, retain, and promote employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or other disability, military or veteran status, or receipt of public assistance. Prompt investigation of allegations will be made on a confidential basis to ascertain the veracity of complaints and appropriate corrective action will be taken. An Executive Vice President or President will be notified of all allegations. This will ensure a prompt, consistent, and appropriate investigation. It is a violation of policy for any member of our College community to engage in sexual harassment and it is a violation of policy for any member of the College community to take action against an individual for reporting sexual harassment. This policy covers actions of all students and employees, whether co-worker, manager or by any other persons doing business with or for Rasmussen. Informal and Formal Complaints Members of this College community who believe they have been sexually harassed or have been the victim of sexual assault may properly turn for assistance to the Campus Director, Regional Vice President, Executive Vice President or President. Whether or not a person consults with a school official, he/she has the option of making an informal or formal complaint according to the procedures outlined below. No retaliatory actions may be taken against any person because he/she makes such a complaint or against any member of the College community who serves as an advisor or advocate for any party in any such complaint. No retaliatory actions may be taken against any member of the College community merely because he/she is or has been the object of such a complaint. Informal Resolution Early efforts to control a potentially harassing situation are very important. 1. Sometimes sexual harassment can be stopped by telling the person directly that you are uncomfortable with his or her behavior and would like it to stop. 2. Writing a letter to the person or talking to the person’s supervisor can also be effective. 3. Go to a sexual harassment/violence information center or discuss the matter with a friend. 4. Talk to others who might also be victims of harassment. 5. Any employee, faculty member, staff member, or student is encouraged to discuss incidents of possible sexual harassment with the Campus Director, Regional Vice President, or College President. A Campus Director contacted by a person who may have been subjected to sexual harassment will give advice and guidance on both informal and formal procedures for solving the problem. During the informal inquiry process, all information will be kept confidential to as great a degree as legally possible. No specific circumstances, including the names of the people involved, will be reported to anyone else, except the President, Executive Vice President and the Human Resources Director and Corporate Counsel, without the written permission of the person making the complaint. However, if, in the course of the inquiry Rasmussen College finds that the circumstances warrant a formal investigation, it will be necessary to inform the person complained against. Incidents should be reported within 30 days. At any time during the procedures, both the person bringing a complaint and the person against whom the complaint is made may have a representative present in discussions with the Campus Director. Resolutions and Informal Complaints Anyone in the Rasmussen College community may discuss an informal complaint with the Campus Director, Regional Vice President, Executive Vice President or President. 1. If the person who discusses an informal complaint with an advisor is willing to be identified to others but not the person against whom the informal complaint is made, the College will make record of the circumstances and will provide guidance about various ways to resolve the problem or avoid future occurrences. While the confidentiality of the information received, the privacy of the individuals involved, and the wishes of the complaining person regarding action by the College cannot be guaranteed in every instance, they will be protected to as great a degree as is legally possible. The expressed wishes of the complaining person for confidentiality will be considered in the context of the College’s obligation to act upon the charge and the right of the charged party to obtain information.In most cases, however, confidentiality will be strictly maintained by the College and those involved in the investigation. 2. If the person bringing the complaint is willing to be identified to the person against whom the complaint is made and wishes to attempt resolution of the problem, the College will make a confidential record of the circumstances (signed by the complainant) and suggest and/or undertake appropriate discussions with the persons involved. 3. When a number of people report incidents of sexual harassment that have occurred in a public context (for instance, offensive sexual remarks in a classroom lecture) or when the College receives repeated complaints from different people that an individual has engaged in other forms of sexual harassment, the College may inform the person complained against without revealing the identity of the complaints. Definitions Sexual harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when: 1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic advancement, 2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment, 888-5-RASMUSSEN 111 INFORMATION AND COLLEGE POLICIES ACADEMIC
