2023–2024 CATALOG AND STUDENT HANDBOOK ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES 175 ALL CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY ADDENDUM Final Grade Appeals Policy Academic appeals are for final grades in a course. They are based on the student’s belief that the final grade reflects a computational or clerical error or does not align with the expectations of the course syllabus. Final grade appeals must be submitted in writing and describe the discrepancy that impacts the accuracy of the final grade. Grade appeals will not be considered for the following circumstances: individual assignments, final grades posted more than 90 days ago, and grade appeals not submitted in writing, either by email or letter. Grade appeals will not be considered for students whose degrees have been conferred. Requests to re-take an exam(s) or re-submit assignments are not considered part of the final grade appeal and must be addressed between the student and the faculty member before the end of the term/quarter. • Since the grading process involves the instructor’s assessment of the student’s academic performance, the only issue under consideration for final grade appeal is whether the student can provide clear evidence that the assignment of the grade was a result of a calculation error or does not align with the expectations of the course syllabus. • Grades submitted by faculty at the end of each quarter are not subject to revision on the basis of additional work or a new examination. Grade disputes may not be filed for sanctions imposed under the academic integrity or student conduct policy. • Decisions made by the School Dean, Associate Dean or Nurse Administrator are final. Final Grade Appeal Process 1. Final grades appeals are expected to be no later than Friday at 4PM CT / 5PM ET prior to the start of the subsequent term/quarter. After this deadline, all grades are considered final. 2. Final grade appeals must be submitted to the School Dean, Associate Dean or Nurse Administrator. To appeal to the School Dean, Associate Dean or Nurse Administrator, a student should contact their Student Advisor to receive the electronic form required to submit this request. The School Dean, Associate Dean or Nurse Administrator will review the appeal and respond to the student, via the student’s Rasmussen email, by end of day Friday of the first week of the term/ quarter. Decisions made by the School Dean, Associate Dean or Nurse Administrator leader are final. Policy Exceptions Policy Requests for policy exceptions due to extenuating circumstances outside of the student’s control must be submitted no later than Friday at 4PM CT / 5PM ET prior to the start of the subsequent term/quarter. A request is initiated by contacting their Student Advisor who will assign it to the School Dean, Associate Dean or Nurse Administrator. Policy Exceptions Process 1. Requests for policy exceptions due to extenuating circumstances outside of the student’s control with information provided about the need for the request must be submitted to the School Dean, Associate Dean or Nurse Administrator no later than Friday at 4PM CT / 5PM ET prior to the start of the subsequent term / quarter. 2. These requests may include, but are not limited to, the repeating course policy and re-entry policy. 3. The School Dean, Associate Dean or Nurse Administrator will review the request and provide a decision to the student’s Rasmussen e-mail, by the end of day, Friday of the first week of the term/quarter. 4. Students may appeal the decision of the School Dean, Associate Dean or Nurse Administrator to a Policy Appeal Committee of the University. 5. Approved exceptions and appeals are valid in the quarter immediately following the appeal decision or the next quarter in which the course is offered, whichever comes first. Grievance Policy: Rasmussen University broadly recognizes the rights of students and others who have dealings with the University to present a complaint through the impartial procedures of a grievance. Students should first follow the Final Grade Appeals Policy when appealing a final grade or the Policy Exceptions Policy to request an exception to a University policy; however, in some cases, appeals are escalated to or start from a grievance, and in some cases, students pursue both avenues. For any situation involving sexual misconduct or gender-based discrimination, please reference the Title IX and Policy Against Sexual Misconduct section of the catalog. For purposes of this policy, the following terms are defined: “complainant” is the aggrieved person or entity that has dealings with the University; “grievance” is an UNIVERSITY POLICIES expressed feeling of dissatisfaction held by a complainant regarding an action taken by the University or by members of the University community; “student” means a current student. No retaliatory action may be made by the University or any of its representatives against those who file an academic appeal or grievance, participate in the resolution process, or are the subject of the matter. The University will investigate and attempt to resolve each grievance made under this policy, and associated allegations of retaliation. Grievance Procedure The following grievance procedure should be followed by the complainant: 1. The complainant should first make a reasonable effort to resolve the grievance directly with the person or entity they feel caused their complaint (without placing themselves in harm). 2. If a grievance cannot be resolved by a complainant’s initial reasonable effort, or if the grievance has not been resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction, a request for further action should be made in a detailed writing to the Campus Executive Director within 10 business days of the grievance. The Campus Executive Director will initiate an investigation within 10 business days of receiving the written grievance and will then attempt to resolve the matter and will issue a decision to the complainant. 3. If a complainant desires to further appeal a decision, a written statement must be submitted to the University Grievance Officer within 15 business days of the Campus Executive Director’s decision. A response will be given within 30 business days. A record of each grievance and academic appeal, including its nature and disposition, shall be maintained, for all programs, by the University. Complainants and students may also contact the authorities listed in the State Contact Information for Student Complaints section of this catalog. Accommodations Policy Update this section as denoted with red text: The mission of Rasmussen University in disability services is to create an accessible university community where students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the educational experience. Rasmussen University recognizes its obligation under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and commits to the success of its students and faculty by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability and requiring reasonable accommodations to qualified disabled students in all programs and activities. Students with disabilities do not have to self-disclose or register with the University’s Accommodations Officers, although the University encourages them to do so. Students seeking academic accommodations or adjustments must contact an Accommodations Officer to facilitate such services. Further information regarding Accommodations can be found at https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-life/disability- services/. Accreditation and Licensing A. Accreditation Rasmussen University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, 800-621-7440 or 312-263-0456 The Health Information Management accreditor of Rasmussen University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The University’s accreditation for the Baccalaureate degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2025. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at 312-235-3255; or by email at [email protected]. The Health Information Management accreditor of Rasmussen University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The University’s accreditation for the Associate degree in Health Information Technician has been reaffirmed through 2025. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at [email protected] The Medical Assisting Diploma program at the Central Pasco, Fort Myers, Ocala and Tampa/Brandon campuses in Florida; the Aurora/Naperville, Rockford, and Romeoville/Joliet campuses in Illinois; the Bloomington, Eagan, Hennepin/Anoka, Mankato, and St. Cloud campuses in Minnesota, and the Green Bay campus in Wisconsin are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 730, North Bethesda, MD 20852, (301) 291-7550.
