2016-2017 CATALOG AND STUDENT HANDBOOK ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND COLLEGE POLICIES Students are prohibited from the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance or alcohol anywhere on property belonging to the College including but not limited to grounds, parking areas, or anywhere within the building(s); or while participating in College-related activities including but not limited to clinical, externship, or practicum experiences. Students who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion or termination of enrollment. As a condition of enrollment, students must abide by the terms of this policy or the College will take one or more of the following actions within 30 days with respect to any student who violates this policy by: 1. Reporting the violation to law enforcement officials. 2. Taking appropriate disciplinary action against such student, up to and including expulsion or termination of enrollment. 3. Requiring such student to participate in a substance abuse rehabilitation program approved for such purposes by a federal, state, local health, law enforcement, or other appropriate agency. In compliance with the law, the College will make a good faith effort to maintain a drug-free College through implementation of the preceding policy and will establish and maintain a drug-free and alcohol awareness program. Upon enrollment and on an annual basis, students will receive a copy of the Rasmussen College Drug-Free Schools and Workplace policy, list of applicable sanctions under federal, state, or local laws, description of health risks, list of drug and alcohol programs that are available, and list of imposed disciplinary sanctions for students. The federal government has taken a number of legal steps to curb drug abuse and distribution. These anti-drug laws affect several areas of our lives. For instance, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides public housing funds, has the authority to evict residents found to be involved in drug related crimes on or near the public housing premises. Businesses with federal contracts are subject to a loss of those contracts if they do not promote a drug-free environment. In our particular situation, students involved with drugs could lose their eligibility for financial aid. Further, they could also be denied other federal benefits, disability, retirement, health, welfare, and Social Security. Finally, a record of a felony or conviction in a drug-related crime may prevent a person from entering certain career fields. Drugs and alcohol are highly addictive and injurious to the person and can cause harmful effects to virtually every aspect of a person’s life, e.g., relationships, family, job, school, physical, and emotional health. People who use drugs and alcohol may lose their sense of responsibility, become restless, irritable, paranoid, depressed, inattentive, anxious, or experience sexual indifference, loss of physical coordination and appetite, go into a coma, experience convulsions, or even death. Persons who use drugs and alcohol not only face health risks, but their ability to function in their personal and professional lives can be impaired as well. Some examples of this are a hangover, or a feeling of being “burnt out,” being preoccupied with plans for the next drink or “high”, or slowed reflexes that can be especially dangerous while driving. There are danger signals that could indicate when someone is in trouble with drugs or alcohol: • inability to get along with family or friends • uncharacteristic temper flare-ups • increased “secret” type behavior • abrupt changes in mood or attitude • resistance to discipline at home or school • getting into a “slump” at work or school • increased borrowing of money • a complete set of new friends We recommend that any person observing any of the above changes in any student of Rasmussen College immediately notify the Academic Dean or Campus Director. Drug Abuse Policy Rasmussen College is committed to providing a safe, drug-free environment for its students and employees, based on our concern for the safety, health and welfare of our students and their families, as well as our employees and the community. The organization also wishes to protect its business from unnecessary financial loss due to drug or other intoxicant use among its students and employees. Consistent with this commitment, Rasmussen College strictly prohibits: 1. The presence of students or employees on campus or off campus at activities sponsored by the College, while under the influence of intoxicants, drugs or any other controlled substances. 2. The use, manufacturing, furnishing, possession, transfer, or trafficking of intoxicants, illegal drugs, or controlled substances in any amount, in any manner, or at any time on Rasmussen College campuses or off campus at activities sponsored and controlled by the College. Rasmussen College has the right to: 1. Discipline students, including dismissal, for felony convictions regarding illegal use, possession or trafficking of drugs. 2. Take disciplinary action against students who violate this policy. Students may also be suspended pending outcome of an investigation regarding compliance with this policy. Tobacco Use Policy Smoking and tobacco use is prohibited at all facilities owned, leased and/or controlled by Rasmussen College, including campuses, office buildings and grounds. This includes, but is not limited to, common work areas, classrooms, labs, elevators, hallways, restrooms, employee lounges, student lounges, library, parking lots, plazas, courtyards, entrance and exit ways, and any other areas of the campus grounds. This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students and visitors. This policy does not apply to areas of multi-tenant buildings that the proprietor has designated a public area for smoking. Similarly, this policy does not apply to off-site events controlled or sponsored by the College where site management has designated an area for smoking. For purposes of this policy, “tobacco use” means the personal use or consumption of any tobacco product, whether lit or not, including the use and display of an electronic cigarette or other device intended to simulate smoking. Prohibited tobacco products include smokeless tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless pouches, or any other form of loose-leaf, smokeless tobacco; and the use of unlit cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco. Smoking is defined as inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying in hand any lit tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, and any other tobacco products. Personal possession of tobacco products inside a pocket, handbag or other storage container where the product is not visible is allowed. Anyone found to be in violation of the Tobacco Use Policy will be subject to discipline in accordance with the applicable conduct and discipline policy. Visitors may be asked to leave the premises. Weapons Policy Rasmussen College prohibits the possession of weapons of any kind inside campus buildings. Prohibited items include but are not limited to firearms, BB/pellet guns, slingshots, paint guns, arrows, swords and knives other than cooking utensils and utility/pocket knives with a blade length of 3 inches or less. Prohibited items include weapons that are loaded or unloaded, functioning or non- functioning, and anything that could be perceived as a weapon, including toys and weapons used for decorative, display and/or simulation purposes. This policy applies to all staff, faculty, students and visitors with the exception of licensed peace officers and law enforcement/security agents as allowed by applicable statute. The approved storage and use of weapons for training purposes as part of a School of Justice Studies program is permitted. This policy includes both campus buildings and offsite events sponsored and controlled by the College including graduation ceremonies, internships, and clinical sites. This policy does not include Rasmussen College parking lots, where weapons are allowed to be stored in private vehicles unless prohibited by a separate parking facility owner or operator. Rasmussen policy defers to agency/site-specific rules regarding School of Justice Studies training facilities. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Amended 10/01 to include the USA Patriot Act The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include: 1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the institution receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, business office, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The institution will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. 2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the institution to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the Campus Director, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the institution decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the institution will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing. 3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the institution in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the institution has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. 4. The right to disclose – without the written consent or knowledge of the student or parent – personally identifiable information from the student’s education records to the Attorney General of the United States or to his/her designee in response to an ex parte order in connection with the investigation or prosecution of terrorism crimes specified in sections 2332b(g)(5)(B) and 2331 of title 18, U.S. Code. In addition, the institution is not required to record the disclosure of such information in the student’s file. Further, if the institution has provided this information in good faith in compliance with an ex parte order issued under the amendment it is not liable to any person for the disclosure of this information. 5. The right to disclose – without the written consent or knowledge of the student or parent – information from a student’s education records in order to comply with a “lawfully issued subpoena or court order” in three contexts. a. Grand Jury Subpoenas – The institution may disclose education records to the entity or persons designated in a Federal 888-5-RASMUSSEN 113 Grand Jury Subpoena. In addition, the court may order the institution not to disclose to anyone the existence or context of the subpoena or the institution’s response. b. Law Enforcement Subpoenas – The institution may disclose education records to the entity or persons designated in any other subpoena issued for a law enforcement purpose. As with Federal Grand Jury Subpoenas, the issuing court or agency may, for good cause shown, order the institution not to disclose to anyone the existence or contents of the subpoena or the institution’s response. Notification requirements nor recordation requirements apply. c. All Other Subpoenas – The institution may disclose information pursuant to any other court order or lawfully issued subpoena only if the school makes a reasonable effort to notify the parent or eligible student of the order or subpoena in advance of compliance, so that the parent of student may seek protective action. The institution will record all requests for information from a standard court order or subpoena. 6. The Right to Disclose – without the written consent or knowledge of the student or parent – information in education records to “appropriate parties in connection with an emergency, if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals.” Imminent danger of student or others must be present. 7. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20202-4605. Educational Records Definition A student’s education records are defined as files, materials, or documents that contain information directly related to the student and are maintained by the Institution. Access to a student’s education records is afforded to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records, such as for purposes of recording grades, attendance, advising, and determining financial aid eligibility. Directory Information Directory Information is that information which may be unconditionally released without the consent of the student unless the student has specifically requested that the information not be released. The school requires that such requests be made in writing to the Campus Director within fifteen (15) days after the student starts classes. Directory Information includes: Student’s name, date of birth, address(es); Rasmussen College issued student email address; course of study; extracurricular activities; degrees and/or awards received; last school attended; dean’s list or equivalent; attendance status (full-time, part-time) and dates of attendance (the period of time a student attends or attended Rasmussen College not to include specific daily records of attendance). Students may restrict the release of Directory Information except to school officials with legitimate educational interests and others as outlined above. To do so, a student must make the request in writing to the Business Office. Once filed this becomes a permanent part of the student’s record until the student instructs the institution, in writing, to have the request removed. INFORMATION AND COLLEGE POLICIES ACADEMIC
