176 rasmussen.edu | 888-5-RASMUSSEN ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES 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 the University Policy Appeal Committee. Decisions made by the University Policy Appeal Committee are final. 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 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. Conduct and Dismissal Students are expected to conduct themselves with the same standards of behavior as are expected in the workplace and in the community at large. The University reserves the right to suspend or dismiss any students whose conduct is detrimental to the educational environment. A student dismissed from the University because of misconduct may not reenroll. Conduct/Dismissal guidelines for School of Nursing students or students enrolled in select School of Health Sciences programs can be found in each programmatic handbook provided at programmatic orientation. This includes, but is not limited to, conduct: • By students, faculty, or staff that is detrimental within the classroom environment. • That interferes with the well-being of the fellow students or faculty and staff members. • That causes damage to the appearance or structure of the University facility or its equipment. • By students who deliberately falsify, alter, invent student records, or engage in other activities to gain an unfair advantage. • By students who otherwise display conduct detrimental to their own academic progress or ultimate success in the field for which they are being educated. ALL CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY ADDENDUM • Florida Campus Students: Florida Campus students and personnel are expected to abide by the Safety in Private Spaces Act. Should an individual be found in violation of this Act, and refuse to depart when asked to do so by Rasmussen personnel, then law enforcement will be notified. All students and personnel have the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General alleging that the institution has failed to meet the minimum requirements for restrooms and changing facilities if they so determine. Students, employees, and guests using Rasmussen networks to access the internet are prohibited from viewing inappropriate material or visiting sites which have been identified as facilitating the violation of copyright/intellectual property protections or other suspicious/illegal activity. Prohibited material could include pornographic images, illegal file sharing programs (such as the illegal downloading and sharing of music), or other violations of the Rasmussen University Acceptable Use Policy. Violations will result in the loss of network use privileges and possibly other penalties, up to and including dismissal. Dress Code Rasmussen University encourages students to dress as if they were going to work and to start acquiring a wardrobe suitable for employment after graduation. Several programs, including those in our School of Nursing and our School of Health Sciences, have stringent dress codes and professional appearance requirements. Standards are specified in the applicable program handbooks. In some cases, failure to meet the required standard may impact a student’s ability to participate in an externship, practicum or clinical experience, and may ultimately impact the student’s grade. Please consult the handbook specific to your program or see your Program Coordinator/Director or Dean of Nursing/Nurse Administrator for details. Drug-Free School and Workplace In accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (34 CFR Part 85), Rasmussen University campuses are hereby declared a drug-free university and workplace. For more information visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention website at www.edc.org/. Students are prohibited from the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance or alcohol anywhere on property belonging to the University including but not limited to grounds, parking areas, or anywhere within the building(s); or while participating in university-related activities including but not limited to externships, practicum, or clinical experiences. Students who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. As a condition of enrollment, students must abide by the terms of this policy or the University will take one or more of the following actions within 30 days with respect to any student who violates this policy: 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 University will make a good faith effort to maintain a drug-free university through implementation of the preceding policy and will establish and maintain a drug-free and alcohol awareness program. https://guides. rasmussen.edu/studentsuccessguide/drugprevention. Upon enrollment and on an annual basis, students will receive a copy of the Rasmussen University 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 also their ability to
