Concordia University 2014-2015 Adult Learner Handbook
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Concordia University 2014-2015 Adult Learner Handbook WELCOME On behalf of the faculty and administration of Concordia University, Nebraska we welcome you to our community. Our students are important to us and we want your time at Concordia University to be a positive experience. Enjoy your time together in classes and celebrate the relationships that you build here. When you can, please be a part of our on-campus as well as our off-campus community; come to our plays, games, recitals, presentations, and forums. In order to assist you in becoming familiar with our community, these materials have been prepared for you. Blessings on your studies, Dr. Jenny Mueller-Roebke, Provost Table of Contents SECTION ONE: ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, NEBRASKA Contact Information for Academic Programs Key to Building Codes……………………………………………… Email Format………………………………………………………… Main Switchboard…………………………………………………… Professional/Technical and Support Staff………………………... Administration……………………………………………………….. Undergraduate Department Chairs……………………………….. College of Graduate Studies Program Directors………………… Computing Services………………………………………………… Campus Security……………………………………………………. Lincoln Campus……………………………………………………... Seward Campus…………………………………………………….. Who We Are………………………………………………………………… 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 SECTION TWO: GETTING STARTED Identification Cards……………………………………………………….. Electronic Access…………………………………………………………. Portal……………………………………………………………………….. Email……………………………………………………………………….. Banner System……………………………………………………………. Blackboard Learning Management System……………………………. Computer Use……………………………………………………………… Computer Requirements..………………………………………………… Help Desk………………………………………………………………..… Registration Information …………………………………………………. Tuition Payment Options…………………………………………………. EETP – Enhancing Excellence in Teaching Programs……………….. Changing Academic Programs…………………………………….……. 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 8 8 SECTION THREE: INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR COURSES Semester/Term Length…………………………………………………… 9 What is a “Syllabus”? ……………………………………………….……. 9 Course Guides……………………………………………………….……. 9 Reading and Homework………………………………………….…… 9 Course Participation…………………………………………………… 10 Communicating with Professors and Advisor………………….…. 10 SECTION FOUR: CAMPUS INFORMATION AND RESOURCES Academic Advising………………………………………………………. Academic Resource Center…………………………………………….. Writing Assistance……………………………………………………….. Bookstore…………………………………………………………………. Career Services Office…………………………………………………… Counseling Services…………………………………………….……….. CUNE Alert……………………………………………………….……….. Library……………………………………………………………………… Parking and Directions to Campuses………………………………….. 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 13 14 SECTION FIVE: GRADING AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES Academic Misconduct……………………………………………………. Grading…………………………………………………………………….. Grade Change…………………………………………………………….. Grievances………………………………………………………………… Instructor/Course Evaluations by Students……………………………. Independent Studies……………………………………………………… Graduation Information…………………………………………………… 15 15 16 16 16 16 16 SECTION SEVEN: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) ……………….. Unlawful Harassment Policy……………………………………………… Computer Requirements………………………………………………….. University Photography and Video Policy………………………………. Newspaper Information…………………………………………………… 17 17 17 17 17 Appendix A: Relevant Policies and Procedures Academic Dishonesty Policy……………………………………………… Americans with Disability Act…………………………………………….. Change of Grade……………………………………………….…………. Confidential Crime Reporting………………………………….…………. Crime Statistics Disclosure……………………………………………….. Copyright Guidelines………………………………………………………. Daily Crime Log……………………………………………………………. Discrimination……………………………………………………………… Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) …………………… Grade and Time Requirements………………………………………….. Grievance Procedure……………………………………………………… Discrimination Complaints………………………………………………… Harassment………………………………………………………………… Policy on Incomplete Work……………………………………………….. Liability Disclaimer………………………………………………………… Office of Civil Rights………………………………………………………. Sex Offender Registry…………………………………………………….. Student Appeals…………………………………………………………… Timely Warnings…………………………………………………………… Title IX………………………………………………………………………. 19 20 20 21 21 21 26 26 26 31 31 32 32 34 34 35 35 35 36 36 Appendix B: General Course Policies and Procedures……………………….. 37 Appendix C: Consumer Information………………………………………………. 38 SECTION ONE: ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY NEBRASKA Contact Information for Academic Programs Key to Building Codes BAC Brommer Art Center B&G Buildings & Grounds F Founders Hall WALZ Walz Human Performance Complex JCC Janzow Campus Center JH Jesse Hall L Link Library LC MC PE SC TLEC W Lincoln Campus (Fallbrook) Music Center Physical Education Bldg. Science Hall Thom Leadership Education Center Weller Hall Email Format The email address format for Concordia University: 1. Faculty/staff: Firstname.Lastname@cune.edu (example Jane.Doe@cune.edu ) 2. Student: Firstname.Lastname@cune.org (example Jane.Doe@cune.org ) Main Switchboard: 800-535-5494 or (402) 643-3651 College of Graduate Studies and Adult Education: 888-505-2863 Online Student Services: 888-662-0875, studentservices@online.cune.edu Professional/Technical Staff and Support Staff Bruick, Jan TLEC-202B (402) 643-7304 Administrative Assistant, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, and Dean, College of Graduate Studies & Adult Education Dugan, Holli Distance Librarian L-110 (402) 643-7382 Groeteke, Jodi Manager, Enrollment LC-203 (402) 643-6530 Hoppe, Angel L-142 (402) 643-7377 Coordinator, Academic Guidance and ADA Landrey, Bethany L-143 (402) 643-7187 Coordinator, Academic Resource Center Jensen, Sue LC-203 University Graduate Registrar (402) 327-6520 Johnson, Bonnie JH-115 (402) 643-7455 Administrative Assistant, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences Krenzke, Bernita TLEC-214-A (402) 643-7475 Administrative Assistant, Dean, College of Education Marschman, Jan W-106 (402) 643-7230 Administrative Assistant, University Registrar Perlewitz, Barbara Instructional Design (262) 285-3513 Siffring, Ed SCI-210 Banner Systems Analyst (402) 643-7450 Stehlik, Donna W-106 Director, Student Financial Services (888) 505-2863 Vogt, Alexandra LC-203 Coordinator, Enrollment (402) 643-6540 Wassenmiller, Angie TLEC-202D (402) 643-7308 Director, Classroom Innovation and Online Education Webster, Theresa JCC-204 504/ADA Compliance Officer (402) 643-7374 Woodruff, Brad W-106 University Undergraduate Registrar (402) 643-7203 Administration Provost, Jenny Mueller-Roebke, Ph.D. Dean, College of Arts and Science, Brent Royuk, Ph.D. Dean, College of Education, Nancy Elwell, Ph.D. Associate Dean, College of Education, Ron Bork Dean, College of Graduate Studies, Adult Education–Thad Warren,Ph.D Coordinator, Graduate Education - Robert Smallfoot, Ph.D. W-104 JH-232 TLEC-202 TLEC-214A TLEC-202A TLEC-206C (402) 643-7374 (402) 643-7496 (402) 643-7337 (402) 643-7475 (402) 643-7476 (402) 643-7294 Undergraduate Department Chairs Art - Don Robson, MFA Business – Andrew Langewisch, Ph.D. English, Comm. and Theatre – Bruce Creed, Ph.D. Health & Human Performance – Nolan Harms, M.S.... Math & Computer Science – Ed Reinke, Ph.D. Music – Kurt von Kampen, Ph.D Natural Science – Joseph Gubanyi, Ph.D. Social Science – Joel Helmer, Ph.D. Theology - Paul Holtorf, Ph.D. BAC-107 JH-104 JH-201… WALZ-109A JH-206 MC-116 SC-101 JH-219 JH-228 (402) 643-7498 (402) 643-7303 (402) 643-7309 (402) 643-7295 (402) 643-7418 (402) 643-7378 (402) 643-7316 (402) 643-7302 (402) 643-7495 JH-101A (402) 643-7430 (262) 285-3513 (402) 327-6520 (402) 643-7474 (402) 643-7294 (402) 643-7218 (402) 643-7481 (402) 643-7436 (402) 643-7436 (402) 643-7372 (402) 643-7205 (402) 643-7248 (402) 643-7295 College of Graduate Studies Program Directors Business Administration – Jonathon Moberly, JD Curriculum & Instruction – Barb Perlewitz, M.Ed. Degree Completion – Sue Jensen, M.S. Early Childhood Education – Annette Oliver, M.Ed. Educational Administration – Robert Smallfoot, Ph.D. Educational Core Courses – Judy Preuss, Ph.D. English Language Learning – Vicki Anderson, Ph.D.. Family Life – Kevin Kohnke, D.Min. & Ph.D. Human Services, Gerontology – Kevin Kohnke, D.Min.Ph.D Literacy/Reading Specialist – Kathleen Wheeler, Ed.D. Public Health – Jennifer Janousek, Ph.D RN to BSN – Heidi Gubanyi, RN, MSN Special Education – Torri Lienemann, Ph.D Computing Services: cuonlinelms@cune.edu -2- LC-203 TLEC-103A TLEC-206C TLEC-204A TLEC-204C TLEC-206B TLEC-206B TLEC-204B WALZ-109B TLEC-202C TLEC-204A Campus Security--Seward Campus: (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) 402-643-7415 (after 5 p.m.) 402-643-3033 Lincoln Campus: 570 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 203, Lincoln, NE 68521 (8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.) 888-505-2863 The administrative offices at Fallbrook in Lincoln are open Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:00 pm. Seward Campus: 800 N. Columbia Ave., Seward, NE 68434 (8:00 a.m.- 5 p.m.) 402-643-3651 The administrative offices in Seward are open Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:00 pm. Who We Are Concordia University Nebraska, one of 10 schools in the Concordia University System, is an institution of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). We are a vibrant and intellectually lively learning community, committed to the highest ideals of both Christian education and scholarly pursuit. We work, learn, and teach together, striving to fulfill our mission: Equipping men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. -3- SECTION TWO: GETTING STARTED Identification Cards Student identification cards will automatically be sent to the enrolled student by their Student Services Representative/Advisor. Students can inquire about the status or request a replacement card by sending an email to: studentservices@online.cune.edu. Electronic Access Username and Password: In order to access your cune.org email account, our Banner Self-Service administrative system and our Blackboard Learning Management System you will need a CUNE username and password. New students select their password as they complete the online admission application. When the student’s accounts are created they receive an email that contains their CUNE username. Students use their CUNE username and password to access all Concordia information resources, including the portal, the Blackboard Learning Management System and email. To reset a password go to http://cuneaccounts.cune.edu/ and follow the directions carefully. Portal Concordia has installed a portal to facilitate sharing information resources with students, faculty and staff. The portal is available at http://connectCUNE.cune.edu/. The portal will give you access to a great deal of information, both personal and institutional as well as access to email, Blackboard and Banner Self-Service. After logging in with your CUNE username and password you will find links to Blackboard and cune.org email on the Home tab and to Banner Self-Service and Blackboard on the Academic Life tab. Visit http://connectcune.cune.edu to log in to the portal. Portal information is organized under “Tabs”. When you log in you will be in the “Home” tab with easy access to links for Blackboard and email. Other tabs include links to Banner Self-Service and to a variety of useful documents. Email Most official communication on Concordia’s campus is disseminated via email using Concordia-assigned email accounts. Concordia students are expected to use their official cune.org email account to manage communication with instructors and other students. You may access your cune.org email account on the Home tab in Concordia’s connectCUNE portal, http://connectCUNE.cune.edu, or directly by selecting “Email” at http://www.cune.org/. Connecting to CUNE.org email 1. On the ConnectCUNE Portal homepage under “Quick Links” – click on CUNE ORG website 2. Enter your CUNE Username. Typically the username is firstname.lastname but there may be some digits after the last name for some users. You were given your correct username when your account was created. Note that there is a dot between the first name and last name. -4- 3. Enter your password—your password is the same password as your portal password and Concordia e-mail account password. You selected your password when you filled out the online application. Note that the password is case sensitive. Banner System The Banner system contains grades and other student information. Connecting to Banner 1. On the connectCUNE Portal, click on the Academic Life Page. 2. Click on Banner Self-Serve. Blackboard Learning Management System Blackboard is our online Learning Management System (LMS) for course delivery. You may access Blackboard through a link on the Home tab in Concordia’s connectCUNE portal. Before you can access the connectCUNE portal and Blackboard you will need a username and password. See the Section Two: Getting Started—Electronic Access. Detailed information about Blackboard can be found in the Resources section of your Blackboard course. The most common problems faculty and students have in using Blackboard are: 1. Popup blockers. Disable popup blockers on your computer before using Blackboard. 2. Security levels in firewalls and browsers must allow cookies. 3. An outdated version of Java. Visit www.java.com to download and install the latest version of Java on your computer. Connecting to Blackboard 1. Log in to the portal. 2. Select the Blackboard link in the Quick Links channel on either the Home tab or the Graduate tab and then log in to Blackboard using your CUNE username and password. This is the same username and password you used to enter the portal. Note that the password is case-sensitive. Courses All courses are found on Blackboard. You normally will see your courses available on the day classes are scheduled to start when you log in to Blackboard. If your course is not showing up in Blackboard, contact Student Services at 888662-0875 or email studentservices@online.cune.edu. The basic website format and available tools are the same for all courses; however, individual instructors structure each course to provide optimum delivery. Instructors may not use all resources for every class. Chats: The only time a student MUST be logged on at a specific time is during required chats or WebEx sessions. o Some instructors do not require chats. o Some instructors require chats and have a specific time that students need to log on and participate in course discussion. o If chats are required, it is the responsibility of the student to access the chat room BEFORE the scheduled time to ensure that access can be gained. -5- Each class has specific requirements (assignments, discussions, etc.) that must be completed weekto-week; it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the tools and requirements of each course. o Read the requirements for each course carefully. All course material is available in Blackboard. Computer Use The OpenOffice suite of programs, which includes a word processor and other tools, is available at http://www.OpenOffice.org. This may be of some interest to those who want or need a free alternative to Microsoft Office, as all products created in OpenOffice can be saved in Microsoft formats. As is true for personal computer equipment and operating systems, faculty and students are responsible for knowing how to use the software packages they select. Concordia expects students who enroll in our graduate programs, knowing that they are online and Internet-based, to have or to acquire the electronic communication skills and equipment that are a prerequisite for success in the online environment. Computer Requirements To function effectively in classes, especially in online environments, you will need to ensure that you are using a browser that is supported by Blackboard. The four primary supported browsers are Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, and Chrome. You can learn more about supported browsers by clicking on the Blackboard Supported Browsers link in the portal. See also Section Six : Additional Information in this document for further details. Computer Use Access to the campus network and Internet is available to current students from user labs located at the Seward and Lincoln (Fallbrook) campuses. Lab computers come equipped with access to ConnectCUNE Portal, Blackboard, and CUNE email in addition to regular Internet access. Access to wireless Internet for personal computers may be obtained by registering your computer at http://www.cune.org under “Internet Access.” This will be the only website that is accessible until your personal computer is registered. It is expected that students will adhere to all policies and laws related to computer use. See the Computer Use section in Appendix A. Help Desk Before contacting the help desk on issues related to difficulty with Blackboard, check the most common problems, including popup blockers and using the right username and password. Check that you are using a supported browser by clicking on the Blackboard Supported Browsers link in the portal. Concordia’s IT staff has set up a Help Desk to assist professors and students in dealing with technical computer problems. Historically, most difficulties have fallen into a handful of common categories with relatively easy fixes. Please contact cuonlinelms@cune.edu for Blackboard issues. Potential answers to library access issues may be found at http://wp.cune.edu/libraryresearchhelp > Distance Learning (http://wp.cune.edu/libraryresearchhelp/#distance). Registration Information Your Student Services Representative/Advisor will contact you regarding your initial class registration. After your initial registration, you will work with your Student Services Representative/Advisor to prepare a program of completion and to determine how your program will handle subsequent registrations. -6- Tuition Payment Options For tuition payment options for graduate: http://www.cune.edu/resources/docs/FinAid/Graduate-FinancialForms.pdf. For financial options for degree completion: http://www.cune.edu/resources/docs/FinAid/DCPFinancial-Forms.pdf. Financial aid application can be made at this link: http://www.cune.edu/etal/fafgradadult/. (See section on Registration as it relates to your program of study. A program of study form may be required in order to assist in your financial aid packaging.) Checking Your Student Account Information View your student account on Banner Web: Simply log on to the connectCUNE portal using the same login as your Concordia email. Click on the “Graduate or DCP” tab. Click on “Banner Self-Service” then on “Student” Click “Student Accounts.” You can then view your current balance or credit on your account by clicking Account Detail by Term--this will show your account information for this term. Your account will reflect all tuition charges and any payments received as of day you view your account Financial Aid Options Students seeking Federal financial aid to assist in the payment of their education must file a FAFSA form each year for consideration at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students must be accepted in a degree program at Concordia University and be at least half-time. A Financial Aid Award Letter will be provided to the student upon determination. The student must accept the awards and the Terms and Conditions prior to processing and payment of awarded aid. Missing information will delay payment. The Financial Aid Office must check enrollment status and class attendance before disbursing aid to a student’s account. Class attendance is considered engagement in course-related academic activity. Refund of credit balances If the disbursement of Direct Stafford Loan creates a credit balance in your student account, the balance will be automatically refunded to you within 14 days of the date the university received the disbursement and it was credited to your account. The University does not maintain credit on account for future academic terms. Method of refund Checks: Mailed to your address listed in Banner Self-Serve; Personal Information. Contact the Graduate Office to up-date your address. Direct Deposit: Complete and return the Direct Deposit Authorization Form found on the connectCUNE portal under General Information - Financial – Direct Deposit Authorization Form on the Graduate or DCP tab or by following the following link: http://estrada.cune.edu/deptweb/grad/Direct_deposit_form.pdf. The form must be received 10 days prior to any refund being issued in this manner. Once you enroll in Direct Deposit, all future credit balances will be refunded in this manner until you notify the accounting department of any changes. -7- Understanding your Financial Responsibility The student should understand it is your responsibility to insure that sufficient funds are budgeted for future expenses at Concordia University and that those financial obligations are paid by the established due date. If you wish to use any of the excess funds for future charges, you may do so by writing a personal check to Concordia University, and remitting to: Concordia University, Nebraska Student Financial Services 800 North Columbia, Weller 106 Seward NE 68434 EETP – Enhancing Excellence in Teaching Program This is a Nebraska state grant for select Nebraska-resident students in education programs available in select years. If funding is available: Access the NDE web page with the EETP program information and application documents http://www.education.ne.gov/neteachered/eta/index.htm. For Concordia University, Nebraska Information or Questions Contact: Dr. Ron Bork 402-643-7475 Ron.Bork@cune.edu Applications and associated paperwork must be sent to Concordia University, Nebraska. Send Paper, Email, or Fax Applications To: Dr. Ron Bork 800 N Columbia Avenue Seward, NE 68434 Ron.Bork@cune.edu Fax 402-643-3328 to Dr. Bork’s attention Deadline for submission of application to Concordia University, Nebraska is: May 14 Paperwork is sent to NDE by June 1. Applicants who receive grants will be notified by NDE. Changing Academic Programs If a student wishes to transfer from one program to another (e.g. from Family Life to Gerontology), he or she must inform the Student Services Representative/Advisor of his or her decision. The student will work with his or her Student Services Representative/Advisor to process these changes. Please note that all admission procedures for the new program must be followed. Even though a student has been admitted to one graduate program, he or she is not guaranteed admission to or transfer to another program in the Graduate College. It should also be noted that courses that transferred in for one program may not necessarily transfer in for another program. -8- SECTION THREE: YOUR COURSES Semester/Term Length Adult Education and Graduate Terms Sessions last eight weeks in the master’s level graduate programs. One hour of graduate academic credit represents approximately 5-8 hours of instruction or instructional activities per week or 40-60 hours of instruction or instructional activities over the course of an academic module or term. Instruction and instructional activities may include but are not limited to: lecture, discussion and activities, readings, written or spoken projects, internships, practicum, labs, lab prep, review sessions, mediated discussion, media presentations (e.g. videos, podcasts), or simulations. What is a “Syllabus”? Concordia University, Nebraska uses the term syllabus to refer to the official document that instructors and program directors use as a basis for designing a course. That document includes the official course title, credit hours, goals/objectives, methodologies, and resources proposed through academic departments. Instructors must use this document as a basis for their student “course guides”. Sometimes, the terms “syllabus” and “course guide” will be used interchangeably, but technically, the student document is the “course guide” (see below). Course Guides Course guides are generally structured as follows: I. Guidelines and Policies a. Concordia University, Nebraska Mission Statement b. Online Expectations c. Instructor Expectations d. General Policies II. Course Description and Goals III. Required Course Materials a. Required Textbooks b. Other Required Materials IV. Course Design, Assignments, and Grading Scale V. Library Information VI. Learning Disabilities & Accommodations VII. Objectives and Performance Indicators If your course guide differs significantly from this format, please ask your instructor for clarification as relates to missing information. Reading and Homework Reading is an important component of a college education. Most student learning will take place outside of the classroom. In reading based courses, graduate students should anticipate as much as 100 pages of reading per week. In online classes, a student should anticipate two hours of work away from his/her computer for every hour of online presentation. -9- Class Participation Course Guide and Materials Instructors anticipate that you will read all materials provided to you. It is critical that you read the course guide and assignments at the beginning of the term and regularly refer to these documents as you go through the semester. Attendance Federal Financial Aid regulations, which Concordia observes for all students, require that students regularly participate in courses in which they are enrolled. All students must log into the course management system (Blackboard) and participate in academic activities regularly. Students must use the Concordia Blackboard and e-mail messaging systems to contact instructors and Student Services Representative/Advisor. Students who are unable to participate regularly in their course for any reason should contact their instructor and their Student Services Representative/Advisor. Students who intend to withdraw from a course or program should notify their instructor and Student Services Representative/Advisor. A student who is a non-participant/non-attendee in the first two weeks of class may be considered a “no show” and may be administratively dropped from the class. This drop constitutes a change in registration and is not entered into the student’s official grade transcript. A 100% tuition refund will be issued to the student’s account. Students will be notified by mail of an administrative drop. Communicating with Professors and Advisor Prompt and timely communication with colleagues is common courtesy; it is also critical to your academic success. Please check your Blackboard course as well as your Concordia email often—at least once each day during the weeks your course is in progress. Concordia students are expected to use their official cune.org email account to manage communication with faculty and other students. In addition, online instructors regularly make use of the announcements feature in Blackboard to “check in” with students, address weekly learning objectives, remind students about due dates, etc. Please read and note the content of these announcements. For online and adult education programs, courses run eight weeks in length. Given this compressed time frame, communication and time-management are imperative. In the case of most adult learners, students work at full-time jobs and have family or personal responsibilities. Students should plan his/her life schedule such that he/she has designated study times and should seek information in advance when faced with unclear assignments or course expectations. If a student expects to be away from your computer for a few days (e.g., for a professional conference) or if a student must leave unexpectedly (e.g., a family emergency), please inform the instructor and Student Services Representative/Advisor as far ahead of time as feasible and make appropriate plans for make-up work. Decisions regarding make-up and/or late work are left to the discretion of the instructor. - 10 - SECTION FOUR: CAMPUS INFORMATION AND RESOURCES Academic Advising If you have questions related to academic programming or your program of study, please contact your Student Services Representative/Advisor. If you can’t locate your Student Services Representative/Advisor, please call the general line at 888-662-0875 or email studentservices@online.cune.edu. Academic Resource Center (ARC) Graduate students seeking assistance with homework, test preparation, time management, or study skills are invited to contact the ARC for assistance at academicresourcecenter@cune.edu Writing Assistance Graduate students seeking assistance with writing assignments and papers may contact the Writing Center. Tutors assist with any stage of the writing process—gathering ideas, conducting research, drafting, revising and editing. Tutors do not provide proofreading services; instead, they discuss techniques and share resources that will help students improve as writers. You may submit papers to the Writing Center through email (except on weekends) at barbara.snow@cune.edu Here are some links to additional resources for writing helps: 1. APA Documentation for Academic Papers: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ 2. Improving Your Writing: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/679/01/ 3. Avoiding Plagiarism: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/ Bookstore Textbooks: You will be directed by your Student Services Representative/Advisor as to any textbook needs. Books can be sold in our online bookstore: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/cu-nebraska.htm Bookstore: For all non-textbook needs, you will find a link to the bookstore web site on the Student Life tab in Concordia’s connectCUNE portal. Career Services Office Career Services assists students through the employment process as they complete their college coursework. These offices help with career development, resume building, interview skills, internship opportunities, and the LCMS calling process. Students can access the Career Services Offices via the Student Life Tab of the CUNE portal. Counseling Services The Counseling Office located in the Janzow Campus Center provides short-term counseling services on an outpatient basis to enrolled Concordia University students. Graduate students may access services on the Seward Campus or at the Lincoln Campus. These basic services include: Personal and mental health counseling Consultation Crisis/emergency intervention Wellness and mental health education Referral assistance - 11 - Because the Counseling Office provides short-term outpatient counseling services, students who request or require long term, or more intensive or specialized mental health treatment, will be referred to appropriate community-based counseling services located off-campus. Students who require or request medical or psychiatric care will also be referred to community-based services. Some of these providers are located in Seward, Nebraska while others--for psychiatric hospitalization and partial hospitalization--are located in Lincoln, Nebraska which is 25 miles away from Seward. For students from other locations, the counseling office will work with you to identify appropriate services in your area. Eligibility and Fees Concordia University students seeking counseling services will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, gender, color, national origin, religion, disability, or age. All services are provided free of charge. Students are responsible for any expenses incurred when they use off-campus mental health, medical or psychiatric services. No-Show and Late Cancellation Policy The Counseling Office requests that students who cannot make their appointments cancel or reschedule their appointments at least 24 hours in advance. Confidentiality Effective counseling requires that clients have assurances about the privacy of their personal health information. Concordia University’s Counseling Office staff is committed to treating and using the protected health information of clients responsibly and in accordance with ethical guidelines and state and federal laws. The Counseling Office’s Notice of Health Information Practices describes the personal information our office collects on clients and how and when we use or disclose that information. It describes a client’s rights as they relate to that individual’s protected health information. Our Notice has been in effect since April 14, 2003 and applies to all protected health information as defined by federal law. Our Notice is posted in the Counseling Office and copies of the Notice are available upon request. Students and others wanting additional information about the Counseling Office’s privacy practices, may contact the University Privacy Officer, Dina Critel-Rathje at 402-643-7398, Janzow Campus Center, Rm. 204, Concordia University Counseling Office, 800 N. Columbia Ave. Seward, Nebraska, 68434. How to Reach Us or To Make an Appointment: Please call us at 402-643-7398, or e-mail us at CounselingOffice@cune.edu or stop by the Counseling Office, Janzow Campus Center in Seward. Learn more about our counseling services by visiting student services on the Graduate Tab of your portal. CUNE Alert CUNE Alert is a service of Connect-ED®. This service allows Concordia’s administration and security to reach students, faculty and staff with information during unforeseen events or emergencies through voice, email and text messaging. During critical situations, the university can use the system to reach students, faculty and staff with pertinent information and provide details on appropriate response. Students will be contacted through university e-mail. This emergency notification system is tested annually. Emergency evacuation procedures are found at http://www.cune.edu/safetyplan Chapter 24, section 9. Students will be given the opportunity to provide other information (cell phone number, and/or other numbers where they may be reached, and/or an alternate e-mail address) if they wish to participate with more contacts points on line or when they come to campus in the fall. For more information please visit http://www.cune.edu/cunealert. - 12 - Library Link Library is located on northwest corner of the Seward campus, just off of Columbia Avenue. Through the library, you have access to extensive print and digital resources, such as full text journal articles, multimedia resources, electronic reserves, hard copies of journals and, of course, many books. Link Library is also part of a statewide borrowing agreement with most Nebraska college and university libraries. If your class is away from the Seward campus, please contact Link Library for assistance in locating a library in your area. When off-campus, log in to access Link Library resources through the library website: www.cune.edu/library. Librarians The librarians can help you find readings for your classes, either through books or electronic journal articles. Whether or not you are in Seward, please do not hesitate to contact us at the numbers listed below. The library is open Sunday 1pm-midnight; Mon-Thurs 8am-midnight; Fri 8am-5pm; Sat 1pm-5pm. These hours can change on breaks and holidays, so check the website before traveling for a visit. The library staff is here to help students succeed, and we are happy to provide one-on-one assistance. Find our contact information at: http://www.cune.edu/librarystaff. Distance Librarian: Circulation/General Information: Reference & Instruction Librarian: Interlibrary Loan: (402) 643-7382 or 800-535-5494 ext.7382 (402) 643-7254 or 800-535-5494 ext.7254 (402) 643-7256 or 800-535-5494 ext.7256 (402) 643-7255 or 800-535-5494 ext.7255 Databases - Access to Articles The library subscribes to numerous article databases including LexisNexis, Communication and Mass Media Complete, Academic Search Premier, Family & Society Studies Worldwide, and many more. If you need a specific journal, use Journal Finder to see how we can access it, or to browse journal titles in your subject area. Journal Finder also provides access to thousands of open access (free) scholarly journals available on the Web. Films and Multimedia Link Library can also help you find films to use in the classroom, at home or online. We have a sizable video collection available for checkout. We also subscribe to Films on Demand, an online service that provides streaming documentaries right to your computer. Access Films on Demand through the “Articles and Databases” page of the library website. Interlibrary Loan If Concordia University does not have the items you need, you can request them via our interlibrary loan service. Many databases provide direct links to request articles, or you can submit article requests through our website at: www.cune.edu/libraryILL. Interlibrary loan service is free for adult learners. We do pass on to you any fees from the lending library, though these are rare. On the form you may indicate the maximum fee you are willing to pay for each item you request. Do not hesitate to call our interlibrary loan department (402643-7255) with any questions about this service. If you don’t know whom to ask, simply send your question to library@cune.edu. We’re here to help! - 13 - Directions to Seward and Lincoln Campuses Driving Directions Seward Campus From I-80: Take the Seward exit. Go north on Hwy. 15, 6 miles to the first stop light and turn right. Turn left at Columbia Avenue. From U.S. 34: Turn north on Columbia Avenue. From Hwy. 15 North: Proceed south on Hwy. 15 to Hillcrest Avenue and turn left at the Concordia sign. Turn right at Columbia Avenue. Lincoln Campus The campus is located at 570 Fallbrook Blvd; near Hwy 34 and Fletcher. For campus maps see the website: http://www.cune.edu/about/maps/. - 14 - SECTION FIVE: GRADING AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES Academic Misconduct Academic dishonesty is a serious offense that will result in serious penalties which may include course failure or expulsion from Concordia University. You should read and familiarize yourself with the entirety of the Academic Dishonesty Policy (See Academic Dishonesty Policy in Appendix A). Students who do not read and seek clarification of the policy are not exempt from the policy. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and lying. Plagiarism occurs when students use the work, research, ideas, or words of any other person or source without proper citation or credit. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: Submitting the same or similar work of a classmate, paraphrasing someone else’s idea without attributing, quoting without using quotation marks and citing the source, taking information from the Internet without quoting or citing sources. Cheating includes but is not limited to: Using unauthorized materials such as notes, books, or electronic devices during an exam or assignment, inappropriate consultation with a classmate, copying answers from another student, studying from an old exam or assignment that was not allowed to be circulated, and accepting answer keys or exams that have been stolen or obtained under false pretense. Fabrication includes but is not limited to: Citation of nonexistent sources, attributing an idea to a source that is not contained therein, invention of data. Lying includes but is not limited to: Requests for special consideration from the instructor based on false information, fabrication of a medical or other emergency as an excuse for needing more time to work on an assignment or for missing an exam, claiming falsely to have completed or turned in an assignment, and falsely reporting an ethics violation by another student. Grading Grading information is included in the course guide from your instructor. Final grades will be posted and available in Banner Self-Service. (See also Section Two: Username and Password, Banner System, and Blackboard.) Incomplete Work A student may be given a grade of “Incomplete” when, in the judgment of the instructor, abnormal circumstances prevent that student from completing the course requirements. An incomplete is to be removed within 30 days after the last day a course meets. If the student’s ability to complete the course within the 30-day extension is compromised by ongoing abnormal circumstances, an additional 30-day extension may be granted by the instructor in consultation with the Program Director and Dean of Graduate Studies & Adult Education. Audit (AU) An audited course is one in which the student participates but does not garner credit for the course. The conditions of participation must be determined in advance of the course and jointly between the instructor and the student. The code “AU” on Grade Roster is assigned by the Registrar’s Office. - 15 - Withdrawal (WD) The code “W” on the Registrar’s Grade Roster form indicates that a student officially withdrew from the course. The “W” is assigned only by the Registrar’s Office. Students not attending, but not withdrawn officially, receive an “F” for the course. In order to withdraw from a course or the program, you must complete a withdrawal form available by contacting the Student Services Representative/Advisor. Good Standing In order to remain a student in good standing and to meet select financial aid requirements, students must maintain progress toward graduation in terms of grade point average and credits earned. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress in their program may be subject to probation and/or dismissal. (See section on Grade and Time Requirements in Appendix A.) Grade Change If an instructor makes an error in computing a final grade, please contact the instructor for a correction. If you are unable to do so, please contact the Student Services Representative/Advisor for assistance. Only the course instructor can change a grade. Students may appeal the grade an instructor gives through the appropriate mechanisms of the university. (See Student Appeals in Appendix A.) Grievances When human beings work together, disputes will sometimes arise. In general, we recommend resolving disagreements one-on-one. In cases in which this is impossible, please see the Grievance Procedures in Appendix A. Instructor/Course Evaluations by Students Instructors and course contents are evaluated at the end of each course by students. Each program and each department have specific expectations for the end of the semester evaluation but all courses should have a procedure for evaluation and it should be a part of the course. These evaluations help us maintain high standards of teaching and learning, thus we ask that you complete these evaluations in a timely way. Professors may also conduct mid-semester evaluations. These are usually informal requests for feedback. For example, the professor may want to ask students to anonymously write down two things they like about the class and two things they would like changed or do a more structured approach similar to an end of the year evaluation. Independent Studies An independent study course is a regular course taken independently through study and consultation with an instructor. The rationale for enrolling in an independent study course shall be presented by the student to the Program Director who will confer with the Graduate Dean and the supervising instructor. Procedures to be followed in the study as well as a target date for completion of the independent study shall be submitted by the student in consultation with the supervising instructor and the Graduate Dean. Graduation Information Each May, Concordia University, Nebraska hosts a commencement ceremony for its degree granted graduating students. Students who graduate at the end of the summer or fall terms are encouraged to participate in the ceremony no matter when their diploma is granted to them. Please see the graduation information link here for more information: www.cune.edu/graduation. Students are required to fill out an application for graduation at the completion of their program. The graduation application is available at the connectCUNE Portal. - 16 - SECTION SIX: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (Student Privacy) The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act grants students select privacy rights. Concordia University, Nebraska seeks to protect those rights in our classrooms and offices. See the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act section in Appendix A of this document for complete information. Unlawful Harassment Policy Concordia University believes that every student and employee has the right to work, learn, and live in a productive climate, free of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Accordingly, unlawful harassment of any kind by supervisors or colleagues will not be tolerated. In addition, Concordia University will protect employees, to the extent possible, from reported unlawful harassment by students and other non-employees in the workplace. See Appendix A of this document for details of this policy. Computer Requirements To function effectively in classes, especially in online environments, we recommend that: You are running a computer with a current operating system that is patched up to the most recent update. You are running the latest version of whichever web browser you are using. A current version of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is installed. You invest in a broadband Internet connection (e.g., DSL, Cable modem). While a 56 Kbs connection might be barely adequate for students in some courses, you may find such a connection frustrating and unduly time-consuming. See also Section Two: Computer Use and Blackboard in this document for further details. University Photography and Video Policy Concordia University, Nebraska reserves the right to photograph and/or videotape students, faculty, staff and guests while on university property, during university-sponsored events or during activities where they are representing the university. These images and audio may be used in the student yearbook or by Concordia for promotional purposes, including use in university magazines, newspapers, press releases, booklets, brochures, pamphlets, newsletters, advertisements, the university website and associated sites, and other news or promotional materials. Newspaper Information Concordia University, Nebraska will periodically send out electronic press releases related to program events or student achievements. While we do not control what the papers publish, we do send releases for consideration. Concordia University, Nebraska uses Merit Pages to publicize student achievements—such as making the dean’s list or graduation. Merit Pages allows us to send news items to students’ hometown newspapers and also publishes these news stories online at http://cune.meritpages.com. News is sent to all newspapers within a radius of the student’s or hometown newspaper’s ZIP code included in the student database. When the University issues news stories about students’ accomplishments, a Merit profile page is created for each student, and he/she receives an email with a link to view his/her story online. Students can then share their achievements with friends and family through social media. - 17 - Merit Pages profiles also serve to recognize students, encourage them to continue achieving and stay active at the university, while creating a positive, professional online persona for them to share with employers. Even after graduation, alumni can access their Merit Pages accounts and add work experience and achievements. If you have any questions about Merit Pages or University publicity, please contact Marketing@cune.edu. - 18 - Appendix A: Relevant Policies and Procedures Academic Dishonesty Policy 1. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense that will result in serious penalties which may include course failure or expulsion from Concordia University. 2. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and lying. a. Plagiarism occurs when students use the work, research, ideas, or words of any other person or source without proper citation or credit. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: Submitting the same or similar work of a classmate, paraphrasing someone else’s idea without attributing, quoting without using quotation marks and citing the source, taking information from the Internet without quoting or citing sources. b. Cheating includes but is not limited to: Using unauthorized materials such as notes, books, or electronic devices during an exam or assignment, inappropriate consultation with a classmate, copying answers from another student, studying from an old exam or assignment that was not allowed to be circulated, and accepting answer keys or exams that have been stolen or obtained under false pretense. c. Fabrication includes but is not limited to: Citation of nonexistent sources, attributing an idea to a source that is not contained therein, invention of data. d. Lying includes but is not limited to: Requests for special consideration from the instructor based on false information, fabrication of a medical or other emergency as an excuse for needing more time to work on an assignment or for missing an exam, claiming falsely to have completed or turned in an assignment, and falsely reporting an ethics violation by another student. 3. Professors may require students to submit their work through plagiarism detection software programs. 4. Professors may have a plagiarism or academic dishonesty policy that is unique to a specific course and all professors should iterate the university statement on academic dishonesty in course guides. However, whether or not the professor has stated a policy, he or she has the right to take action in cases of academic dishonesty. By accepting a syllabus and seeking credit for a course, a student accepts that the professor or the university has the right to fail them in a course or remove them from a program because of the academic dishonesty. 5. Students found to have committed academic dishonesty are subject to any penalties applied by the professor as well as any institutional penalties that may be exacted. In other words, both the instructor and the university may enforce sanctions. 6. All parties involved in academic dishonesty are considered equally guilty. Students sharing course materials with other students or doing work for other students are as guilty as the students who claimed or used the work or course material. 7. When academic dishonesty occurs, professors are required to report the case and any penalties incurred to the Program Director, who may then notify the Dean of the Graduate College and the Provost’s office. Each will review the case. If either the Dean of the Graduate College or the Provost’s office determines that additional sanctions are appropriate, the university may enforce penalties independent of or in addition to the professor. Multiple incidents of plagiarism or other academic dishonesty may be immediate grounds for dismissal from the university. 8. If it is discovered after a course is completed that a student has earned credit through dishonest means, then the Graduate Council will appoint a committee to review the situation and recommend action. Recommended actions may include, but are not limited to, requiring work to be resubmitted and/or altering grades. Altering of grades may result in a student’s degree being rescinded. - 19 - Americans with Disability Act Equal Access to Education: Concordia University, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, does not discriminate in the recruitment, admission, or treatment of students. Students with documented disabilities are legally entitled to request reasonable modifications, accommodations, or auxiliary aids that will enable them to participate in and benefit from all postsecondary programs and activities. Who Qualifies? The ADA and the Rehabilitation Act define an individual with a disability as a person who: 1. Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of that person 2. Has a record of such impairment, or 3. Is regarded as having such an impairment. Activating the ADA HelpDesk link (cuonline@cune.edu) Please inform the ADA/504 Compliance Officer of your circumstances and request a meeting to discuss any special emergency response accommodations needed. A student with a disability who wants to receive accommodations should, as a first step, contact Concordia’s ADA/504 Compliance Officer and identify himself/herself as having a disability, indicating what accommodations he/she is seeking. The student will then be asked to provide proper and sufficient documentation of the disability. Change of Grade Any changes in a course grade after completion of the course shall be limited to instances where an error was made in the determination of a grade. Any discrepancy regarding a final quarter or semester grade must be handled with the instructor. Only the instructor of the course can change a grade under normal circumstances. Grade changes are due to the Registrar’s office within 60 days from the date the grade is posted. Due Process If a student and instructor cannot resolve the issue of a grade change: 1. The student may submit an appeal to the respective Program Director, Department Chair, or in the case that the Program Director or Department Chair is the course instructor, with the Dean of the College offering the course, within 30 days of the date the grade is posted by the Registrar. 2. If the Program Director, Department Chair, (or Dean) judges that the student’s case has merit, an Appeals Committee will be assembled consisting of the Program Director or Department Chair, the Dean, and the Provost. In the case that the Program Director or Department Chair is the instructor, the Dean will appoint an appropriate faculty member as a substitute. 3. The Appeals Committee will meet individually with both the course instructor and the student before rendering a judgment as to the action that should be taken regarding the final grade. 4. Once a judgment is made, the course instructor and the student will be notified by the Program Director, Department Chair, (or Dean). The decision of the Appeals Committee is final. If the course instructor is unable to change a grade due to incapacitation or other circumstances the Program Director or Department Chair may change a grade. - 20 - Confidential Crime Reporting The University Chaplain and Counselors in Concordia’s Counseling Office, when acting as such, are not considered to be a campus security authority and are not required to report crimes for inclusion into the annual disclosure of crime statistics. As a matter of policy, they are encouraged, if and when they deem it appropriate, to inform persons being counseled of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary basis for inclusion into the annual crime statistics. Crime Statistics Disclosure Concordia University is required by law to provide a report of annual crime statistics to the public and the U.S. Department of Education. This report must address crimes of aggravated assault, arson, burglary, manslaughter, motor vehicle theft, murder, robbery, and sex offenses. Also, alcohol, drug, and weapons offenses whether reported to local law enforcement or referred for campus disciplinary action through the Student Life office, must be reported. The University Student Information Compliance Officer prepares this report to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. The full text of this report can be located on our website at www.cune.edu/rtk and in hard copy in the Student Life Office. You will also be able to connect to our site via the CUNE home page at www.cune.edu. This report is prepared in cooperation with the local law enforcement agencies surrounding our main campus and alternative sites, and campus security. Each entity provides updated information on their educational efforts and programs to comply with the Act. Each year an e-mail notification is made to all enrolled students that provide the web site to access this report. Faculty and staff receive similar notification with their pay check. Campus crime, arrest and referral statistics include those reported to campus security authorities, which includes: campus security, Director of Student Life, Director of Student Health Center, Director of Counseling Services and designated campus officials who have significant responsibilities for student and campus activities (including but not limited to directors, deans, department heads, advisors to students/student organizations, athletic representativees, resident assistants and resident coordinators), and local law enforcement agencies. Concordia University Copyright Compliance Policy The purpose of the Concordia University Copyright Compliance Policy is to provide a summary of U.S. copyright law as it relates to the use of copyright-protected works in the classroom, library and elsewhere at Concordia, and to provide guidelines and procedures for obtaining copyright permission to use these works. U.S. copyright law contains many gray areas, and the goal of this policy is to provide Concordia administrators, faculty, librarians, students, employees, and others with a standard approach for addressing complex copyright issues. This policy covers classroom issues such as photocopying, online and distance education, and course packs. It also covers library uses for print and electronic reserves and ILL. This policy provides practical advice and procedures on copyright-related matters; however, it is not a substitute for legal advice, and proper legal advice should be obtained when necessary. Concordia’s copyright officer, the director of library services, may be able to assist you with any questions about copyright issues. The copyright officer may be reached at 402-643-7358 or via e-mail at copyright@cune.edu. What is copyright? Copyright is an area of law that provides creators and distributors of creative works with an incentive to share their works by granting them the right to be compensated when others use those works in certain ways. - 21 - Specific rights are granted to the creators of creative works in the U.S. Copyright Act (title 17, U.S. Code). If you are not a copyright holder for a particular work, as determined by the law, you must ordinarily obtain copyright permission prior to reusing or reproducing that work. However, there are some specific exceptions in the Copyright Act for certain academic uses, and permission is never required for certain other actions, such as reading or borrowing original literary works or photographs from a library collection. What is protected by copyright? The rights granted by the Copyright Act are intended to benefit "authors" of "original works of authorship", including literary, dramatic, musical, architectural, cartographic, choreographic, pantomimic, pictorial, graphic, sculptural and audiovisual creations. This means that virtually any creative work that you may come across—including books, magazines, journals, newsletters, maps, charts, photographs, graphic materials, and other printed materials; unpublished materials, such as analysts' and consultants' reports; and non-print materials, including electronic content, computer programs and other software, sound recordings, motion pictures, video files, sculptures, and other artistic works—is almost certainly protected by copyright. Among the exclusive rights granted to those "authors" are the rights to reproduce, distribute, publicly perform and publicly display their works. These rights provide copyright holders control over the use of their creations and an ability to benefit, monetarily and otherwise, from the use of their works. Copyright also protects the right to "make a derivative work," such as a movie from a book; the right to include a work in a collective work, such as publishing an article in a book or journal; and the rights of attribution and integrity for "authors" of certain works of visual art. Copyright law does not protect ideas, data or facts. In the U.S., the general rule of copyright duration for a work created on or after January 1, 1978 is the author's life plus 70 years after the author's death. This is often referred to as "life-plus-70". Works created by companies or other types of organizations generally have a copyright term of 95 years. For more information on copyright duration, visit http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#hlc. Fair Use A provision for fair use is found in the Copyright Act at Section 107. Under the fair use provision, a reproduction of someone else's copyright-protected work is likely to be considered fair if it is used for one of the following purposes: criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. If the reproduction is for one of these purposes, a determination as to whether the reproduction is fair use must be made based upon four factors: 1. 2. 3. 4. The purpose and character of use (principally, whether for commercial or nonprofit educational use); The nature of the copyright-protected work; The amount and substantiality of the portion used; and The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyright-protected work. Fair use is an ambiguous concept. The law does not state exactly what uses of a copyrighted work will be considered fair uses which do not require obtaining permission. As such, individuals who are not lawyers may often need to be interpreters of the law in everyday circumstances, and answers as to how much reproduction may be considered fair use often remain unclear. Ultimately, each potential case of fair use must be evaluated on its own merits. To avoid confusion and minimize the risk of copyright infringement, Concordia interprets the following situations as fair use: Quotation of short passages in a scholarly or technical work for illustration or clarification of the author's observations. - 22 - Reproduction of material for classroom use where the reproduction is unexpected and spontaneous – for example, where an article in the morning's paper is directly relevant to that day's class topic. This would generally cover one-time use in only one semester. Use of short portions of a work to create a parody. A summary or review of an address or article, which may include quotations of short passages of the copyright-protected work. If your use does not meet the above criteria and the work is protected by copyright, you probably need to obtain permission from the copyright holder or its agent to use the work. Types of use. Classroom Handouts If the handout is a new work for which you could not reasonably be expected to obtain permission in a timely manner and the decision to use the work was spontaneous, you may use that work without obtaining permission. However, if the handout is planned in advance, repeated from semester to semester, or involves works that have existed long enough that one could reasonably be expected to obtain copyright permission in advance, you must obtain copyright permission to use the work. Course Packs All articles, chapters and other individual works in any print or electronic course pack require copyright permission. Copyright permission for course packs is usually granted by the academic period (e.g.: semester, quarter, etc.). To reuse a course pack in subsequent academic periods, you need to obtain permission again. Many copyright holders provide time-sensitive permission because their own rights may be time-sensitive and could be transferred to different copyright holders at any time. When ordering course packs it is important to clarify who will obtain permission for the course pack– the copy center, the faculty member or a member of the administrative staff. Deferring responsibility for copyright permission will not provide you protection against a claim of copyright infringement. Reserves If the Concordia library owns a copy of a publication, the library may place that copy on reserve without obtaining copyright permission. If the library wishes to reproduce additional copies of a work and place them on reserve for students to review, in either paper or electronic format, the library must obtain copyright permission. Photocopying in the Library It is permissible to photocopy copyright-protected works in the Concordia library without obtaining permission from the copyright owner, under the following circumstances: Library user requests for articles and short excerpt At the request of a library user or another library on behalf of a library user, the Concordia library may make one reproduction of an article from a periodical or a small part of any other work. The reproduction must become the property of the library user, and the library must have no reason to believe that the reproduction will be used for purposes other than private study, scholarship and research. As recommended by Section 108 of the Copyright Act, the library must display the register's notice at the place library users make their reproduction requests to the library. - 23 - Archival reproductions of unpublished works. Up to three reproductions of any unpublished work may be made for preservation or security or for deposit for research use in another library or archive. This may be a photocopy or digital reproduction. If it is a digital reproduction, the reproduction may not be made available to the public outside the library or archive premises. Prior to receiving any of the three reproductions permitted under this provision from another library or archive, the Concordia library or archive must make a reasonable effort to purchase a new replacement at a fair price. The reproducing library or archive must also own the work in its collection. Replacement of lost, damaged or obsolete copies. The Concordia library may make up to three reproductions, including digital reproductions, of a published work that is lost, stolen, damaged, deteriorating or stored in an obsolete format. Any digital reproductions must be kept within the confines of the library (that is, available on its computer but not placed on a public network.) Library user requests for entire works. One reproduction of an entire book or periodical may be made by your library at a library user's request, or by another library on behalf of a library user upon certain conditions being met. These conditions include the library determining after reasonable investigation that an authorized reproduction cannot be obtained at a reasonable price. Once made, the reproduction must become the property of the library user. The library must have no reason to believe that the reproduction will be used by the user for purposes other than private study, scholarship and research, and the library must display the register's notice at the place library users make their reproduction requests to the library. Photocopying by Students Photocopying by students is subject to a fair use analysis as well. A single photocopy of a portion of a copyright-protected work, such as a copy of an article from a scientific journal made for research, may be made without permission. Photocopying all the assignments from a book recommended for purchase by the instructor, making multiple copies of articles or book chapters for distribution to classmates, or copying material from consumable workbooks, all require permission. Interlibrary Loans The Concordia library may participate in interlibrary loans (ILL) without obtaining permission provided that the "aggregate quantities" of articles or items received by the patron do not substitute for a periodical subscription or purchase of a work. Concordia follows the CONTU guidelines for defining "aggregate quantities." The CONTU guidelines state that requesting and receiving more than five articles from a single periodical within a calendar year or a total of six or more copies of articles published within five years prior to the date of request would be too many under CONTU. If the articles or items being copied have been obtained through a digital license, you must check the license to see under what terms and conditions, if any, interlibrary loan is permitted. Distance Education and Course Management Systems In 2002, the Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act became law and expanded the latitude universities have for the performance and display of copyright-protected materials in a distance education environment, including through the use of Course Management Systems (CMS). - 24 - The copyright requirements for TEACH and CMS postings are similar to those of classroom handouts, but extend the traditional rules for those handouts to the digital transmission of materials to distance education students. If the use is spontaneous and will not be repeated, copyright permission is not required; however, the content may not remain posted for extended periods of time. If the use is planned, repeated or involves works that have existed long enough that one could reasonably expect to receive a response to a request for copyright permission, you must obtain copyright permission. Copyright and Foreign Works The U.S. is a member of the leading international copyright treaty, the Berne Convention. As such, when Concordia uses a copyright-protected work from another country, the protections provided to works by U.S. copyright law automatically apply to the use of that work as well (assuming the use takes place in the U.S.). How to Obtain Copyright Permission Permission to use copyright-protected materials, when required, should be obtained prior to using those materials. It is best to obtain permission in writing (by letter or email) and to ensure that the Concordia copyright officer has a copy of each permission notice. (Send to copyright@cune.edu.) The time to obtain permission may vary and, where possible, it is recommended to start the permissions procedure at least six months prior to the time that you wish to use the materials. If you need a quicker permission, let the copyright owner know this and he/she may be able to get back to you more quickly. Fact Finding Questions Once you have identified the materials you want to use and determined that copyright permission is required, you must locate the copyright holder. If the copyright holder is not listed on the work, locating the appropriate person or entity to grant permission may take some investigative and creative work. The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress (www.loc.gov) may be of assistance in locating a copyright owner if the work is registered. Note, however, that copyright is automatically granted to all works upon their being written down; registration with the Copyright Office is not required. The primary method for obtaining permission to use a work is to contact the copyright holder directly. Concordia’s copyright officer can help with this process. Any time permission is obtained for a specific use of a copyrighted work, give a copy of that written permission (letter or email) to the campus copyright officer for institutional files. Information in a Permission Request The copyright holder or its agent will require the following information in order to provide you with permission: Title of the material Creator/author of the material Publisher of the material Description of material ISBN or ISSN, if applicable Date of publication, if applicable Purpose for which you wish to reproduce the item (research, commercial, educational, etc.) How the material is to be reproduced (e.g., photocopied, digitized) Where the reproduced material will be used or will appear and for how long - 25 - Reporting Suspected Infringements If you suspect that anyone at Concordia, including a student, is using any copyright-protected material without the permission of the copyright holder, immediately report this to the Director of Library Services, Concordia’s copyright officer, at 402-643-7358 or copyright@cune.edu. Review and Interpretation of Policies This Policy will be reviewed at least every five years, and updated if necessary. For interpretation of this policy contact the Director of Library Services, who is Concordia’s copyright officer, at 402-643-7358 or copyright@cune.edu. Daily Crime Log A daily crime log, as required by the Clery Act through the U.S. Department of Education, is available during business hours at Buildings and Grounds in the Maintenance Building in Seward. The daily crime log compiles all crimes reported to campus security during the most recent 60-day period. It is available within two business days upon request. Discrimination Concordia University, Nebraska is committed to preventing unlawful discrimination and harassment. (See Grievance and Harassment Procedures for more information.) Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) Annual Notification The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, 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 University receives a request for access. a. A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. 2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. a. A student who wishes to ask the University to amend a record should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student believes should be changed, and specify why he or she believes it should be changed. b. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested, the University will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s 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 provide written consent before the University discloses personally identifiable information from the student's education records, except for “directory information” and to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. a. The University discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, - 26 - academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, clinical facility, NRC, Chartwells, IKON, Harris Connect, ARAMARK, Alumni/Development/Recruiting/Marketing electronic web e-mail community management organizations); a person serving on the Board of Regents; 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. b. 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 responsibilities for the University. c. Upon request, the University also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. 4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University 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 20202-5901 Disclosure of Education Records 1. Without prior consent of the student Concordia University has adopted a practice concerning access to student files in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The following information is intended to clarify this practice relative to procedures for granting access to information, the kind of information available, and under what circumstances information is made available. a. Directory Information: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requires that Concordia University, Nebraska, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your education records. However, Concordia University, Nebraska may disclose appropriately designated "directory information" without written consent, unless you have advised the University to the contrary in accordance with University procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow Concordia University, Nebraska to include this type of information from your education records in certain school publications. If you do not want Concordia University, Nebraska to disclose directory information from your education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the Registrar’s office. Concordia University, Nebraska has designated the following information as directory information: Student’s name Participation in officially recognized activities and sports Address Telephone listing Weight and height of members of athletic teams Email address Photograph Degrees, honors, and awards received Date and place of birth Major field of study Dates of attendance Grade level Enrollment status The most recent educational agency or institution attended - 27 - b. University Officials of Concordia University University officials with legitimate educational interests in the student's education records are allowed access to student education records. "University official with a legitimate educational interest" is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has a contract or affiliation (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, clinical facility, NRC, Chartwells, IKON, Harris Connect, ARAMARK, Alumni/Development/Recruiting/Marketing electronic web e-mail community management organizations); a member of Board of Regents; or a person assisting another University official in performing his or her tasks who needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Declaration of University official with a legitimate educational interest. Concordia University, Nebraska’s College of Education is required by the Nebraska Department of Education to provide prospective educators (University students who have been accepted into the professional education program) opportunities to develop and demonstrate competencies as reflective practitioners who continually evaluate the effects of their choices and actions on others and understand the professional requirements of ethical and professional performance. Additionally, the by-laws of the Constitution of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod require that the faculty of Concordia University, Nebraska, as an authorized syndical institution, must declare that candidates are qualified and recommended for the office of ministry for which an individual aspires. Accordingly, the College of Education must be satisfied that individuals graduating from the College meet all personal, professional and theological requirements of a LCMS Commissioned Minister-Teacher. In order to comply with the aforementioned responsibilities, it is determined that the College of Education has legitimate educational interests in an applicant’s educational records. It is understood that the act of applying to the College of Education allows the College of Education, through its designees, to obtain all educational records, including grades and conduct reports, pertaining to the student. This legitimate educational interest is in effect upon application to the College and continues until the student graduates or withdraws from the College of Education. The Dean of the College of Education makes a determination of full admission to the teacher education program based on the criteria outlined in the Teacher Education Handbook (Teacher Education Admission and Retention). If students are denied admission to the program or are removed from the program they have the right of appeal. If students wish to appeal a denied admission or a removal from the program, they must follow the appeals process as outlined in this catalog. Any student who is not satisfied with the decision of the appeals may appeal directly to the President of Concordia University. c. Other Institutions The University may release a student's education records to officials of other educational institutions in which that student seeks or intends to enroll or is enrolled. d. Audit or Evaluation of Federal or State education programs Authorized representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States, the Attorney General of the United States, the Secretary of Education and state and local educational authorities may have access to student records in connection with the audit and evaluation of Federal or State supported education programs, or in connection with the enforcement of Federal law which relates to such programs. - 28 - e. Financial Aid The University may release a student's education records to persons or organizations in connection with that student's application for, or receipt of, financial aid, to the extent necessary for such purposes as determining eligibility, amount, conditions, and enforcement of terms or conditions of such financial aid. f. State and local officials pursuant to statute concerning juvenile justice The University may release education records to state and local officials that are authorized by statute to access student education records to efficiently serve the student. g. Organizations conducting studies The University may release education records to organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, educational agencies or institutions for the purpose of developing, validating, or administering predictive tests, administering student aid programs, and improving instruction, if such studies are conducted in a manner which will not permit the personal identification of students and/or their parents by individuals other than representatives of the organization, and when the information will be destroyed when no longer needed for the purposes for which the study was conducted. The term "organizations" includes, but is not limited to, Federal, State, and local agencies, and independent organizations. h. Accrediting Organizations The University may release education records to accrediting organizations in order to carry out their accrediting functions. i. Judicial order or subpoena Information concerning a student shall be released in response to a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. The University will make reasonable efforts to notify the student of an order or subpoena before complying with it, except that the University shall not notify a student of a subpoena if it is from a federal grand jury or is for law enforcement purposes, and it provides that the University shall not disclose to any person the existence or contents of the subpoena or any information furnished in response to the subpoena. Education records may be disclosed to the U. S. Attorney General or his or her designee in response to an ex parte order concerning an authorized investigation or prosecution of domestic or international terrorism, without prior notice to the student. j. Health and Safety The University may disclose student information to persons in an emergency in order to protect the health and safety of the student or others in the University community. 2. Disciplinary Hearing Results Disclosure to Victims: The University may disclose to an alleged victim of any crime of violence (as that term is defined in Chapter 1, Section 16 of Title 18, United States Code), or a non-forcible sex offense, the final results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by the University against the alleged perpetrator of such crime or offense with respect to such crime or offense, regardless of whether the alleged perpetrator was found responsible for violating the University's rules or policies with respect to such crime or offense. Disclosure to Third Parties: The University may disclose the final results of any disciplinary proceeding against a student who is an alleged perpetrator of any crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense (as those terms are defined in 34 C.F.R. 99.39), if the student is found responsible on or after October 7, 1998, for violating the University's rules or policies with respect to such crime or offense. Such disclosure shall include only the name of the student, the violation committed, and any - 29 - sanction imposed by the University on that student. Such disclosure may include the name of any other student, such as a victim or witness, only with the written consent of that other student. 3. Disclosure to the Student The student has the right, on request to the appropriate University official, to review all materials that are in the student's education records, except: Financial information submitted by the student's parents; Confidential letters and recommendations associated with admissions, employment or job placement, or honors, to which the student has waived rights of inspection and review (the University is not required to permit students to inspect and review confidential letters and recommendations placed in their files prior to January 1, 1975, provided those letters were collected under established policies of confidentiality and were used only for the purposes for which they were collected); Education records containing information about more than one student, in which case the University will permit access only to that part of the record that pertains to the inquiring student. o Student education records are maintained at several locations on campus. Student Services has been designated as the official custodian of records. Requests for access to specific student records should be made to the University office or agency concerned with the particular record. Requests for assistance in locating individual student records should be directed in writing to the particular custodian of records. The following offices shall make available the personal records of a student within 45 days of receiving the student’s request and required fees: Academic (including transcripts) Student Personnel Placement Student Teaching Financial Aid Accounts Admission and Status in Academic Program Health Records Registrar/Advisor Student Services Director of Synodical Placement/Director of Career Services Coordinator of Student Teaching Office of Financial Aid, Business Office Program Director Director of the Health Center Official copies of academic records or transcripts will not be released for students who have a delinquent financial obligation or financial "hold" at the University. 4. Disclosure with Prior Consent of the Student With the student's prior consent, the University will release personally identifiable student information in education records or allow access to those records. Such consent must be written, signed and dated, and must specify the records to be disclosed, the party to whom the records are to be disclosed, and the purpose of the disclosure. Record of Disclosures The University will maintain with the student's education records a record for each disclosure request and each disclosure made, except disclosures: To the student himself or herself; Pursuant to the written consent of the student; To University officials with legitimate educational interests; Pursuant to a law enforcement subpoena when the issuing court or other issuing agency has ordered that the existence or the contents of the subpoena or the information - 30 - furnished in response to the subpoena not be disclosed or the order is concerning an authorized investigation or prosecution of domestic or international terrorism; or Of directory information. GRADE AND TIME REQUIREMENTS The program must be completed within seven calendar years, beginning with the first course enrolled in the student’s graduate program. The Graduate Dean, in consultation with the Provost Office, upon recommendation of the student’s Student Services Representative/Advisor and the Program Director, may approve exceptions to the seven-year limit. For purposes of financial aid, Concordia considers graduate students to be making satisfactory progress toward their degree when they maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00, successfully complete 67% of their attempted hours, and complete their degree within seven years. Eligibility for federal student loans is limited to seven years of full/half time enrollment. Full-time enrollment is defined as 6 hours per term. Half-time enrollment is defined as at least 3 hours per term. Credit in 500/600 level courses, taken within this institution, will be accepted only for courses in which a grade of C or higher was earned. Depending on the admission policy of the program, a student may be allowed credit for work completed at the graduate level prior to enrolling at Concordia University. Students are encouraged to apply for transfer credits prior to registration. The applicant must provide official transcripts from a regionally accredited college or university documenting the completed work and the grades obtained for this work. These grades must meet the Concordia admission standards. 1. Students will be expected to document the course content either through a copy of the catalog description of the course or a course syllabus. 2. Undergraduate courses will not transfer for graduate courses and will not count towards a master’s degree. 3. In order for a course to transfer to Concordia, its number of graduate credits for a course taken at another university must be equal to or greater than the number of credits of a comparable course at Concordia, e.g., a two-credit course cannot transfer in for a three-credit course. Courses in which the student received lower than a 3.0 (B) will not be considered for transfer. 4. A maximum of 25% of the credits required in any given program may be accepted by transfer from an appropriately approved and accredited institution. Upon recommendation from the Graduate Registrar and appropriate certification officer, the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies may accept additional coursework. Students taking graduate courses as undergraduate students must receive prior approval by the Graduate College Dean who shall also make a determination of the official date of admission into a graduate program . Grievance Procedure 1. Report your concerns to the appropriate institutional supervisor or administrator. Individuals filing complaints of discrimination should contact the appropriate institutional supervisor or administrator. Typically, this will be the Student Services Representative/Advisor; however, students may in some cases find the need to contact the Program Director. When reporting a complaint of discrimination the student should be prepared to furnish a signed complaint with specific dates, names and facts. All such complaints will be treated in a confidential manner to the extent feasible while permitting Concordia University, Nebraska to thoroughly investigate the complaint and take appropriate actions. - 31 - 2. Appeal to the appropriate identified institutional official or appropriate Federal office for compliance with discrimination law. If concerns of discrimination are not satisfactorily addressed through Concordia University, Nebraska grievance procedure, individuals can request a review of the situation to the identified institutional officer. Individuals always have the right to file a complaint or appeal with the appropriate Federal office. Student discrimination involving Section 504 Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact Theresa Webster, ADA/504 compliance officer, Theresa.Webster@cune.edu. Student discrimination involving Title IX should contact Dina Critel-Rathje, Title IX Coordinator, Dina.CritelRathje@cune.edu. Student discrimination involving age, race or nationality should contact: Gene Brooks, Associate VP for Student Affairs, Gene.Brooks@cune.edu. Discrimination Complaints Purpose and Jurisdiction of the Discrimination Complaint Procedure The process for filing discrimination complaints is restricted to complaints of discrimination as outlined in the federal anti-discrimination statutes, the state and local laws against discrimination, and the University antidiscrimination policies and regulations. This includes discrimination because of race, color, age, sex, national origin, marital status or disability. The federal acts include: Title IX which is designed to eliminate (with certain exceptions) discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, whether or not such program or activity is offered or sponsored by an educational institution as defined in this part. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is designed to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities. Age Discrimination Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance. The discrimination complaint process is internal to the University and applies to incidents that take place at the University and its affiliated off-site locations and/or activities, or are related to University operations. Individuals who may utilize this complaint process are limited to individuals applying for enrollment to the University, enrolled students and users of the University. The aggrieved party is referred to as the complainant, while the person alleged to have engaged in discriminatory conduct is referred to as the respondent. Students are encouraged to file complaints with the University in a timely manner. Students are encouraged to utilize the internal complaint process provided by the University (See Grievance Procedure). An aggrieved student has the right to pursue other remedies outside the internal process. Harassment Concordia University believes that every student has the right to work, learn, and live in an environment which is not hostile, offensive, or threatening. The mission of Concordia cannot be reconciled with any form of abusive behavior. Any behavior which creates a climate of fear and distrust will not be tolerated. - 32 - In addition, Concordia University believes that all members of the campus community shall hold one another in appropriate esteem and respect. They shall do everything within their power to discourage any language or behavior that promotes sexual or racial harassment. The Concordia community not only condemns physical and/or verbal abuse and racial and sexual harassment, but upholds the dignity and integrity, personal and collective, of all individuals. Any form of illegal discrimination or any harassment by an employee, an applicant, or a student is contrary to Concordia University’s policy and subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the institution or termination of employment. Definitions Harassment: Verbal, visual or physical abuse because of a person’s race, color, age, sex, national origin, marital status, or disability, or any other conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment constitute harassment. Racial Harassment: Racial harassment is acting out of racist beliefs and includes but is not limited to the following: a. Racism is exhibited when an institution, individual, or group bases actions, discussion, or policies on a person’s race and makes prejudicial judgments in order to gain power or control. b. Racism occurs when a person or group is denied access to the full exercise of the rights other accorded within a society or this University because of the race of national origin of that individual or group. c. Racial harassment is any verbal or physical conduct intended or not, directed at the race or national origin of an individual or group which has the effect of creating hostile or offensive environment. Verbal harassment may, for example, take the form of name-calling, racial slurs, epithets or “jokes” that demean or belittle a person’s color, culture, or history. Physical harassment occurs when a person’s body, possessions, or dwelling place are threatened or violated. d. What is not racial harassment? The statements of opinion or ideas, expressed in an academic environment such as classroom discussion, may not be considered racial harassment. Where there is no evidence that a person is trying to create a hostile environment in an academic setting, the University’s racial harassment policy is not violated. The formation of a racial harassment policy does not preclude academic freedom. Sexual harassment: Sexual harassment is: unwelcomed, gender-based verbal, written or physical behavior that is severe, persistent or pervasive and which creates a hostile environment and/or interferes with, denies or limits a person’s ability to benefit from Concordia University, Nebraska’s educational programs/activities and is based on real or reasonably perceived power differentials (quid pro quo) or retaliation. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcomed sexual flirtations, advances or propositions, requests for sexual favors , other verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature, verbal abuse of a sexual nature, unnecessary touching of an individual, graphic or verbal comments about an individual’s body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, a display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures, sexually explicit or offensive jokes, physical assault, stalking or any other conduct where the conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or study or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work or study environment. - 33 - No supervisor, employee, or student shall indicate in any manner, either explicitly or implicitly, that an applicant’s or student’s refusal to submit to sexual advances will adversely affect that student’s academic career. Similarly, no employee or student shall promise, imply, or grant any preferential treatment in return for an employee, applicant or student engaging in any sexual conduct. Procedures Allegations of harassment, violence or abuse will be handled with maximum regard for health and safety, confidentiality, and protection of the rights of all persons involved. Harassment, violence or abuse is contrary to Concordia University student code of conduct and will result in student discipline. The disciplinary process is outlined in Section 2.00. Policy on Incompletes A student may be given a grade of “Incomplete” when, in the judgment of the instructor, abnormal circumstances prevent that student from completing the course requirements. An incomplete is to be removed within 30 days after the last day a course meets. If the student’s ability to complete the course within the 30-day extension is compromised by ongoing abnormal circumstances, an additional 30-day extension may be granted by the instructor in consultation with the Program Director and Dean of Graduate Studies & Adult Education. An incomplete that is not removed prior to deadlines above will be recorded as a “Failure.” Incompletes are removed when the instructor files a “Grade Change Form” with the Registrar. Theses, independent studies, and projects are exceptions to the policies above. These ordinarily must be finished within one calendar year. The Program Director is to provide opportunity for students to remove incompletes in the absence of the instructor. Liability Disclaimer Concordia University disclaims liability for any injuries to or property damages suffered by a student regardless of cause. This liability disclaimer applies to, but is not limited to, the following: Any injury sustained on property owned by or under the control of the University to include classrooms, structures, buildings, public areas and grounds, vehicles, etc. Any injury or damage incurred while attending a classroom or related activity, whether for credit or non-credit, and regardless of cause. Any injury or damage suffered in intercollegiate, intramural, contest or event (athletic or otherwise) as a participant, spectator, or other, this includes transit to or from. Any injury or damage resulting from fire, theft, the elements, or by other cause. Any injury or damage as a result of any act or omission by any University personnel (faculty, staff, employee, officer, trustee), student, or contractor. Students accept the foregoing disclaimer and agree to be bound thereby upon admission, readmission, or continued enrollment with Concordia University. Any student is bound to follow all of the University’s rules and regulations, and is subject to the jurisdiction of the University with regard to violations of such rules and regulations. Concordia University students who fail to read this handbook will not be excused from compliance with the policies and requirements herein. - 34 - Office of Civil Rights (OCR) The mission of the Office for Civil Rights is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. The Office for Civil Rights enforces several Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance from the Department of Education. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin is prohibited by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; sex discrimination is prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; discrimination on the basis of disability is prohibited by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and age discrimination is prohibited by the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. These civil rights laws enforced by OCR extend to all state education agencies, elementary and secondary school systems, colleges and universities, vocational schools, proprietary schools, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, libraries, and museums that receive U.S. Department of Education funds. Areas covered may include, but are not limited to: admissions, recruitment, financial aid, academic programs, student treatment and services, counseling and guidance, discipline, classroom assignment, grading, vocational education, recreation, physical education, athletics, housing, and employment. A complaint of discrimination can be filed by anyone who believes that an education institution that receives Federal financial assistance has discriminated against someone on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination, but may complain on behalf of another person or group. (Also see Section on Harassment) Sex Offender Registry Nebraska State Statute 29-4002 declares that sex offenders present a high risk to commit repeat offenses and that efforts of law enforcement agencies to protect their communities, conduct investigations, and quickly apprehend sex offenders are impaired by the lack of available information about individuals who have pleaded guilty to or have been found guilty of sex offenses and who live in their jurisdiction. Because of that, the legislature determined that state policy should assist efforts of local law enforcement agencies to protect their communities by requiring sex offenders to register with local law enforcement agencies as provided by the Sex Offender Registration Act. Information can be found at www.nsp.state.ne.us/sor/. This information is to be used to provide public notice and information about a registrant so a community can develop constructive plans to prepare themselves and their family. Sex Offenders have “always” been in our communities. The notification process will remove their ability to act secretly. Sex offender registry information shall not be used to retaliate against the registrants, their families, or their employers in any way. Vandalism, verbal or written threats of harm are illegal and will result in arrest and prosecution. Student Appeals Policy Students have the right to pursue an appeal during the time of their program. The following lines of appeal have been designed to assure students that they have been treated in keeping with the purpose and the policies of Concordia University. All appeals must be submitted in writing and addressed to the designated administrative officer within five business days after the student has been notified of the decision. The written appeal should state the basis on which the appeal is being made and should contain specific information. - 35 - Appeals must be submitted in writing and should be directed to one of the following administrators (in the order listed) within five business days based on a student’s notification of a decision a student wishes to dispute: Relating to course work, grades, or academic dishonesty: course instructor, program director, Graduate Dean, Provost Student academic records: Registrar, Provost Financial matters: Student Financial Services, Chief Financial Officer Program requirements: Program Director, Graduate Dean, Provost The decisions of the Provost and the Chief Financial Officer may be appealed to the University President, whose decision is final. All final appeals to the President must be submitted within five business days after the student has been notified of the decision. Timely Warnings In the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, that, in the judgment of the Concordia University Cabinet and/or their designee in consultation with campus security and the Student Life Office, constitutes a serious or continuing threat, a campus wide timely warning will be issued. The warning will be issued through the college email system to students, faculty, and staff. Title IX Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. The U.S. Department of Education gives grants of financial assistance to schools and colleges. The Title IX regulation describes the conduct that violates Title IX. Examples of the types of discrimination that are covered under Title IX include sexual harassment, the failure to provide equal opportunity in athletics, and discrimination based on pregnancy. The Title IX regulation is enforced by OCR and is in the code of federal regulations at 34 CFR Part 106. Title IX prohibits retaliation for filing an OCR complaint or for advocating for a right protected by Title IX. Title IX also prohibits employment discrimination, but employment discrimination complaints filed with OCR are generally referred to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In order to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX Concordia University has identified Theresa Webster as its Title IX Coordinator. The coordinators responsibilities include investigation complains communicated to the recipient alleging noncompliance with Title IX. Student issues involving Section 504 Rehabilitation Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act-Compliance Officer:Theresa Webster. - 36 - Appendix B: General Course Policies and Procedures Concordia University, Nebraska College of Graduate Studies Course Guide/Syllabus Statements Course Workload In the face-to-face, online, and hybrid classrooms at Concordia University, Nebraska, course workload occurs through student-to-instructor interaction, student-to-student interaction, Blackboard activities, contact with course-specific content, assignments, research, assigned readings, and other activities. Students can expect to devote a minimum of 45 hours of work for each 1-credit hour, as mandated by the U.S. Department of Education. Course Participation Federal Financial Aid regulations, which Concordia observes for all students, require that students regularly participate in courses in which they are enrolled. All students must log into the course management system (Blackboard) and participate in academic activities regularly. Students must use the Concordia Blackboard and e-mail messaging systems to contact instructors and advisors. Students who are unable to participate regularly in their course for any reason should contact their instructor and their advisor. Students who intend to withdraw from a course or a program should notify their instructor and Student Services Representative/Advisor. Academic Integrity At Concordia University Nebraska, we are guided in all of our work by the values of academic integrity: honesty, trust, fairness, responsibility, and respect. As a student, you are required to demonstrate these values in all of the work you do. Participating in a behavior that violates academic integrity (e.g., plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, multiple submissions, cheating on examinations, or fabricating information) will result in your being sanctioned. Violations may subject you to disciplinary action including the following: receiving a failing grade on an assignment or examination, receiving a failing grade for the course, and/or being suspended from the university. ADA Students with a documented disability, who need reasonable accommodations, should contact ADA & Academic Resource Center (ARC) located in Link Library to arrange an appointment to discuss their individual needs. Students are also encouraged to notify their instructors immediately about any disabilityrelated academic needs they may have. To contact the ADA & Academic Guidance Coordinator, Bethany Landrey, please call 402-643-7187 ADA or 800-535-5494 ext. 7187 or e-mail Bethany.Landrey@cune.edu. Emergency Information In inclement weather, check your e-mail, Blackboard, and the Concordia website (www.cune.edu) for information. Your instructor may utilize Blackboard to make-up course time, so please check Blackboard if a class is cancelled. In the event of an emergency while you are in a face-to-face class, follow the instructions of your instructor, ensure you are in a safe location, and, after you are in a safe location, check in with your instructor before leaving so that he or she can account for all students. Also, if you have not already done so, please update emergency contact information in “Banner Self-Service” on the connectCUNE portal (http://connect.cune.edu). - 37 - Appendix C: Consumer Information Consumer information guide All institutions participating in federal financial aid programs are required to notify enrolled and potential students and current and prospective employees regarding available consumer information. This page has been created to fulfill Concordia University, Nebraska compliance with the disclosure requirements under Title IV. Title IV requires institutions participating in financial aid programs to disclose specified information to all prospective and existing students. Below is a list of the disclosure requirements, and links to pages that contain the actual information or where to obtain the information. Notice of Availability of Institutional and Financial Aid Information Student Financial Services Contact Information for Assistance in Obtaining Institutional or Financial Aid Information Student Financial Services • Office: W-106 • FinAid@cune.edu • 402-643-7270 Student Financial Aid Information Student Financial Services Notice of Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations Student Handbook Privacy of Student Records −Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Student Handbook Consumer Information on College Navigator Website Listing for Concordia University, Nebraska at the College Navigator Website Facilities and Services Available to Students with Disabilities ADA resources at Concordia Student Body Diversity Listing for Concordia University, Nebraska at the College Navigator Website Price of Attendance Undergrad Cost • Grad Student Cost • Adult Ed Student Cost Textbook information, by course Concordia Bookstore Net Price Calculator Net Price Calculator Refund Policy, Requirements for Withdrawal and Return of Title IV Financial Aid Undergraduate: Policy for the return of financial aid received through Title IV funds Graduate and Degree Completion Program: Policy for the return of financial aid received through Title IV funds Code of conduct for education loans Undergraduate: Code of conduct statement Graduate and DCP: Code of conduct statement - 38 - Textbook Information Concordia Bookstore Academic Program (Educational Programs, Instructional Facilities, and Faculty) Academics at Concordia • Faculty List • Campus Maps • Buildings and Grounds Transfer of Credit Policies and Articulation Agreements Transfering credits to Concordia and credit by exam Institutional and Program Accreditation, Approval, or Licensure Accreditation Copyright Infringement Policies and Sanctions (Including Computer Use and File Sharing) Student Handbook Teacher Preparation Program Report Report submitted to and available from the Federal Department of Education Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program Student Handbook • Employee Handbook Vaccinations Policy Student Health Center (Medical History Form) Security Report (Including Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures), Timely Warnings, and Crime Log Student right-to-know information and Campus Security Act • Campus security and safety Security Report − Missing Person Notification Policy Student Handbook Fire Safety Report and Fire Log Fire Safety Report Information for Crime Victims about Disciplinary Proceedings Student Handbook Retention Rate Listing for Concordia University, Nebraska at the College Navigator Website Completion/ Graduation and Transfer-out Rates (Including Disaggregated Completion/ Graduation Rates) Listing for Concordia University, Nebraska at the College Navigator Website Completion/ Graduation and Transfer-out Rates for Students Receiving Athletically Related Student Aid (Including Disaggregated Completion/ Graduation Rates) Provided to prospective student athletes and others at time offer is made of athletically related student aid Placement in Employment Career and placement - 39 - Job Placement Rates Career and placement The Gainful Employment Disclosure offers relevant information about the Director of Christian Education Specialist program (graduate) and Gerontology Certificate program (undergraduate) offered by Concordia University, Nebraska Gainful Employment Disclosure Types of Graduate and Professional Education in Which the Institution's Graduates Enroll Student graduate school acceptances as stated in the latest Commencement Program Intercollegiate Athletic Program Participation Rates and Financial Support Data (Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act) This information is reported to the Department of Education and is available through the OPE Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool Website. Voter Registration Forms Current students: Links for students Entrance Counseling for Student Loan Borrowers Loan counseling Exit Counseling for Student Loan Borrowers Loan counseling - 40 -
