This page is maintained by Dr. Frank E. Stapper
Last Revised April 6, 2004

STUDENTS' RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

STUDENT PARTICIPATION
The Social Work Program fully supports students rights and responsibilities in formulating and modifying policies affecting academic and student affairs. Social work students are encouraged to be full participants in the rights and responsibilities provided them at Northeastern State University as outlined in the NSU Catalog. The program also encourages, and will facilitate, students organizing in their interests. To further the goal of student participation in the development of Social Work Department policies, student liaisons and student representatives will be selected as follows:

FACULTY MEETINGS
A student from the Tahlequah campus and a student from the Broken Arrow campus will be elected by the social work club (NASSW) to function as liaisons between social work students and social work faculty. Social work faculty may choose to select additional student(s) to serve as student liaisons. The liaison(s) will be non-voting participants at social work department faculty meetings and will have a scheduled time on the agenda to share concerns and information from student organizations and the student body. 

SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT ADVISORY BOARD
A junior level student from each campus will be elected by the social work club (NASSW) to be the student representative on the Social Work Department Advisory Board and will be a full participant in board activities.

GRADE APPEAL
Students have the right to appeal grades or other academic matters.  These policies are published in the University Catalog (section V, Academic Information).  An appeal of any grade must be processed within four months of the date that the grade was given.  Students contact the dean of the college in which the grade was given for a copy of the grade appeals process.

ACADEMIC FORGIVENESS
*Repeated Courses - Students may repeat up to a maximum of four courses or eighteen credit hours, but not to exceed 18 hours, of course work (from all institutions) for which the original grade earned was a D or F.

*Academic Reprieve - Three years must have elapsed between the period in which the grades were earned and the request is made.  Prior to requesting the reprieve, the student must have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours with a grade of C or better from NSU with no grades of D or F (from any institution) after the requested reprieved semester(s) and a GPA of 2.0 at NSU, excluding activity or performance courses.  Only one academic reprieve is allowed during a student's academic career.  Once an academic reprieve is granted, a student cannot later ask that it be rescinded.

Inquire about Academic Forgiveness at the Office of Admissions and Records.

NSU POLICY ON TOBACCO USE IN PUBLIC PLACES
All buildings owned or operated by NSU will be free from tobacco as noted below.
Building is defined for the purpose of this policy as an enclosed, indoor area owned or operated by NSU and used by the general public, serving as a place of work for University employees, or a meeting place for a public body (as defined in the open Meeting Act OS 25  304), including but not limited to -- office, classrooms, restrooms, laboratories, libraries, auditoriums, arenas, theaters, performance/exhibit halls, museums, meeting rooms, cafeterias and restaurants or public conveyances (including elevators, trolleys and buses.)

Tobacco Usage means use of smoking or smokeless tobacco products, including the carrying by a person of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or other lighted smoking device and the consumption of any other tobacco products.

Signs will be posted at all entrances to University buildings stating that the buildings are tobacco free.  Faculty, staff, or students within the building may ask any person smoking or using smokeless tobacco products in the building to refrain.

The above does not apply to
*    Any housing or residence facility owned or operated by the University, except those specifically designated as tobacco free areas.
*    Space leased to others
 *   Outdoor areas unless specifically designated as tobacco free areas.
*    Gable Field Stadium

Tobacco products will not be sold on University property.  Account sponsors or their designees will disseminate this policy to all employees within their area of responsibility.  Concerns regarding this policy or its implementation should be directed through normal supervisory channels for resolution.

MENTAL HEALTH
In mental health cases requiring administrative action students are referred to the Office of Student Affairs.  Whenever a question arises concerning the physical, emotional or mental fitness of a person to enroll or remain enrolled at Northeastern, the University may require that person, as a condition for admission or retention, submit to whatever diagnostic examination the University may specify.  These examinations must be paid for by the student or the student may be temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the specified examination.  Refusal by the student to submit to the examination or an unfavorable report from the examiner may be cause for denial for admission or retention.  In all cases covered by this policy, the University reserves the right to exercise the final judgment with respect to the admission or retention of the person whose fitness has been questioned.

NONDISCRIMINATION AND HUMAN DIVERSITY
The Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges in compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 402 of the Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, Americans with Disabilities Act, and other Federal laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.  This includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and education services.

Northeastern State University (NSU) strongly supports the fundamental belief and commitment to the principles of equality and opportunity for all people. A grievance procedure has been created to resolve complaints concerning these regulations. An outline of the procedure is available in the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Student Affairs. The Director of the Office of Human Resources has been designated as the Affirmative Action Compliance Officer and 504 Coordinator.

The Social Work Department at Northeastern State University makes specific and continuous efforts to provide a learning context in which respect for all persons and understanding of diversity (including age, class, color, culture,disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation) are practiced.  Social work education builds upon professional practice and values; therefore, the NSU Social Work Department provides a learning context that is nondiscriminatory and reflects the profession's fundamental tenets. The learning context, the educational program (including faculty, staff, and student composition; selection of agencies and their clientele as field education settings; composition of program advisory or field committees; resource allocation; program leadership; speakers series, seminars, and special programs; research and other initiatives) and the curriculum model understanding of and respect for diversity.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
Northeastern State University is committed to providing access to the university for all individuals with disabilities.  Student Affairs works to ensure a climate of understanding, access, awareness, rights, and interests of students with disabilities.  All efforts are directed toward the full integration of each student into all aspects of university life.

Under university policy, federal and state laws, Aqualified students with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodation that will allow them access to programs, jobs, services and activities unless the accommodation would pose an undue hardship on the institution. 

It is the student's responsibility to request assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) through the office of Student Affairs prior to enrollment or at the start of a new semester.  Students must meet the federal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) to have a qualified disability which are as follows:  A cognitive, physical, or emotional impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as working or learning.

Students must also be able to provide valid documentation from an appropriate professional or agency that (1) states the disability(ies) and methods used to arrive at diagnosis, (2) describes the diagnostic criteria and/or instruments used, (3) and in the case of a learning disability ADD, or ADHD, is reasonably current and describes the current functional limitations.  Finally, any student requesting accommodation must submit a written request to the Office of Student Affairs.  This procedure can be found in its entirety in that office.

Faculty are expected to make reasonable accommodations for students with qualified disabilities and shall notify students of this policy through their course syllabi.  It is the responsibility of each student with a disability to notify the university of such disability and to make a request for an accommodation prior to enrollment.  Requests should be filed through the Office of Student Affairs.  If a student informs the faculty member at the beginning of the semester of a disability and a mutually acceptable arrangement can be made at that point no further action is required.  If desirable the faculty member can refer the student to the Office of Student Affairs which will verify the need for an accommodation and will communicate its recommendations to the course instructor.

SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY
Northeastern State University will not tolerate nor condone any form of sexual misconduct, physical, mental or emotional in nature.  This includes, but is not limited to, rape (including `date or acquaintance' rape), sexual assault or sexual harassment.  In instances where University policy prohibiting sexual misconduct have been violated, the University will pursue disciplinary action.  Students may elect to pursue the concern through the state criminal justice system as well as the University's student conduct system.  If the University has reason to believe that sexual misconduct has occurred, the University's sanctions may include warnings, probation, restrictions, suspension or expulsion.

Sexual assault is defined as having sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without the consent of that person. 

Consent is defined as positive cooperation due to an exercise of free will.  Persons consenting must act freely, voluntarily and have knowledge of the act or transaction involved.  Consent will not be implied from silence, passivity, nor from a state of intoxication or unconsciousness.  Lack of consent is implied if the victim is incapable of giving consent because of mental, developmental, or physical ability, or lack of legal age in giving consent.  Lack of consent is implied if the threat of violence is used or due to an imbalance of power held by the perpetrator over the victim.

See NSU Catalog for Procedure for Reporting Sexual Assaults.       

See Social Work Field Practicum Manual for sexual harassment policy regarding social work practicum.

DISCIPLINARY POLICIES OF NSU
The disciplinary policies of NSU are carried out in conformity with the Student Disciplinary Regulations adopted by the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges.

The act of registration is considered a pledge on the part of the student to abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the administration and faculty.

The University reserves the right to place on probation, suspend or expel from the institution any student who willfully violates any rule or regulation of the University or laws of the State of Oklahoma.  Students who are placed on probation for delinquent scholarship or unsatisfactory conduct may not be permitted to represent the University in any intercollegiate activity, musical program or other University sponsored activity.  SEE STUDENT DISCIPLINARY REGULATIONS IN NSU CATALOG

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
This institution, in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other Federal Laws and Regulations; does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, ethnic or national origin, handicaps, status as a veteran, or political or sexual orientation in any of its policies, practices or procedures.  This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services.  In addition, the university will not tolerate any behavior, verbal or physical conduct, by any administrator, supervisor, faculty or staff member which constitutes sexual harassment of a student.

A committee, consisting of faculty members and students, has been created to consider any complaints by students concerning these regulations.  An outline of the grievance procedure is on file in the office of Personnel Services, the office of the Dean of Student Affairs, and the Social Work Department office.