Student Rights and Responsibilities
Policy Statement
It is the policy of the Board of Trustees that students at Northwest Indian College enjoy particular rights, including the right of academic freedom and the right of due process, that are considered important for achieving educational goals. At the same time, NWIC students are required to fulfill certain responsibilities and expectations. Enrollment at the Northwest Indian College (NWIC) carries with it the expectation of being a responsible member of the campus community. Each student must be aware of his/her responsibilities. Upon enrollment at NWIC, students are expected to maintain an atmosphere conducive to education and scholarship by respecting the personal safety and individual rights of all NWIC community members. Student conduct must be in accordance with accepted standards of social behavior and the policies of NWIC.
Code of Conduct
Northwest Indian College has established a student code of conduct, in line with the mission and values of the institution. NWIC maintains the responsibility to hold our students accountable to violations of the code of conduct.
Student Rights
Students have the right to:
• Pursue appropriate educational objectives from among the college’s curricula, programs, and services.
• Be protected from academic evaluation which is arbitrary, prejudiced, or capricious, but are responsible for meeting the standards of academic performance established by each of their instructors.
• A learning environment which is free from unlawful discrimination, inappropriate and disrespectful conduct, and sexual harassment.
• Free speech protections. However, freedom of speech and academic freedom are not limitless and do not protect speech or expressive conduct that violates tribal, federal or state anti-discrimination laws.
Student Responsibilities
Students’ responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Familiarity with and adherence to the NWIC Policies and procedures
• Contribution to an atmosphere conducive to learning.
• Respect for the diversity of all people and the rights of others in the NWIC community.
• Responsibility to meet their financial obligations, including payment of tuition.
• Conducting research while following the context and framework for Indigenous Research
• Honest reporting of illegal activities or violations of college policies to appropriate staff.
• Informing NWIC of current address and telephone number.
• Attend classes regularly, inform instructors of absences, and follow course attendance policies.
• Checking NWIC email and on-campus mailboxes for NWIC related mail.
• Cooperation with school administration during the investigation of a policy violation.
• Students seeking Financial Aid must annually read and adhere to all policies set forth in the Financial Aid Handbook.
Prohibited Conduct
• Assault, reckless endangerment, intimidation, stalking, interference upon another person, bullying and harassment, cyber stalking, cyber bullying or any other technology-based violence.
• Any form of recording others unknowingly, including voyeurism.
• Hazing or requiring or encouraging hazing. Hazing is defined as the practice or rituals or other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group.
• Disorderly or abusive behavior which interferes with the rights of others or obstructs or disrupts teaching, research, or administrative functions.
• Failure of student to follow instructor, staff, or administrator directions thereby infringing upon the rights and privileges of other students.
• Any assembly or other act which materially and substantially interferes with vehicular or pedestrian traffic, classes, hearings, meetings, the educational and administrative functions of the college, or the private rights and privileges of others.
• Filing a formal complaint falsely accusing another student, college employee or Board member.
• Falsely setting off or otherwise tampering with any emergency safety equipment, alarm, security cameras or other device established for the safety of facilities.
• Engaging individuals in unwelcome sexual advances, sexual assault, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature where such behavior offends the recipient, causes discomfort or humiliation, or interferes with his/her job or school performance.
• Failure to inform or report to college officials of a convicted felon record and/or Registration as a Sex Offender in any jurisdiction. Must report to the VP of Instruction and Distance Learning.
• Slander and defamation of character (in person or any electronic form) of the college, students or staff that causes discomfort to the learning or working environment.
• Theft of property on the college campuses or facilities.
• Malicious mischief, intentional or negligent damage to or destruction of any college facility or other public or private real estate or personal property.
• Unauthorized use or alteration of college equipment and supplies.
• Entering any administrative or other employee office or any locked or otherwise closed college facility or student apartment at any time without permission of the college employee or other appropriate staff member, or apartment tenant.
• Submitting to a faculty member any work product that the student fraudulently represents to the faculty member as the student’s work.
• Forging or falsely tendering any records or instruments.
• Refusal to provide identification in appropriate circumstances or providing false identification.
• Smoking beyond designated smoking areas.
• Using, possessing, distributing, or being noticeably under the influence of any narcotic or controlled substance including but not limited to all forms marijuana, behavior altering substances, and the misuse of prescription drugs.
• Being under the influence, possessing, providing, selling or consuming any form of alcoholic beverage on college property.
• Possession or threat of use of firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or other dangerous weapons, instruments, or substances that can be used to inflict bodily harm or to damage real or personal property, except for authorized College purposes or law enforcement officers.
• Violations of any NWIC policy.
• Failing to follow authorized college personnel or emergency official directions or instructions during an emergency situation.
• Failing to follow health and safety guidelines and procedures.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty in connection with any Northwest Indian College activity threatens personal, academic and institutional integrity and is not tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes; cheating, plagiarism, and knowingly furnishing any false information to the College. In addition, any commitment of the acts of cheating, lying, and deceit in any form such as the use of substitutes for taking exams, plagiarism, and copying during an examination is prohibited. Knowingly helping someone to commit dishonest acts is also in itself dishonest. The following are more specific examples of academic dishonesty:
• Substituting in a course for another student or having another substitute for you in a course
• Having someone else write a paper and submitting it as one’s own work
• Giving or receiving answers by use of signals during an exam
• Copying with or without the other person’s knowledge during an exam
• Doing class assignments for someone else
• Plagiarizing published material, class assignments, or lab reports
• Turning in a paper that has been purchased from a commercial research firm or obtained from the internet
• Padding items of a bibliography
• Obtaining an unauthorized copy of a test in advance of its scheduled administration
• Using unauthorized notes during an exam
• Collaborating with other students on assignments when it is not allowed
• Obtaining a test from the exam site, completing and submitting it later
• Altering answers on a scored test and submitting it for a re-grade
• Accessing and altering grade records
• Stealing class assignments from other students and submitting them as one’s own
• Fabricating data
• Destroying or stealing the work of other students
• Plagiarism is a type of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism occurs when a person falsely presents written course work as his or her own product. This is most likely to occur in the following ways: Submitting the exact text of someone else without the use of quotation marks and without giving proper credit to the author.
• Presenting ideas or using the material of someone else even when it is in the student’s own words, without giving appropriate acknowledgment
• Submitting an assignment written by someone else but representing it as the student’s own work.
Sanctions
Sanctions, which include but are not limited to the following listed below, may be imposed upon a student found violating the Student Conduct Code. Violation of any NWIC policy, procedure, or rule will result in a sanction by NWIC in a manner which it, in its sole discretion, believes necessary to maintain a healthy and safe environment conducive to learning. More than one sanction may be imposed for any single violation.
1. Verbal Warning: A verbal warning is given for less serious offenses without the initiation of formal procedures.
2. Written Warning: A written warning is given to a student that his/her behavior is unacceptable by NWIC standards and any repeated violations will warrant further sanctions which may include but are not limited to any of the sanctions listed in this section.
3. Compensation: A student whose actions damage, deface, or destroy any NWIC property may be required to restore the property by replacement or by monetary reimbursement. Compensation may be in addition to other sanctions imposed.
4. Referral to Counseling Services: Any NWIC employee may recommend a student for counseling services through the Dean of Student Affairs.
5. Community Service: A student may be required to perform a designated number of hours of community service in addition to other sanctions or as a single penalty for a policy violation. The number of hours will be determined on an individual basis, relative to the type and severity of the infraction.
6. Suspension: The Dean of Student Affairs, Dean of Academics and Distance Learning, or VP of Instruction and Student Affairs may require the separation of a student from NWIC for a specified length of time and may require other possible requirements before reconsidering return upon reapplication. Suspension includes restriction from representing the college or attending any NWIC event or meeting. College suspension is generally imposed when a student’s misconduct is of a serious nature.
7. Expulsion: A student may be permanently separated from the college. A student who has been expelled is not eligible for readmission.
Matters of an academic nature (plagiarism, academic dishonesty, classroom behavior, etc.) will be handled by the Dean of Academics or his/her designee. Violations which rise to a criminal level (such as theft, possession of illegal substances, etc.) will be reported to the proper authorities. NWIC will not serve as a haven or refuge for violators of the law. Per FERPA regulations, directory information may be given to law enforcement officers.
Violations of the NWIC Sexual Harassment Policy must be reported and will be investigated and sanctioned under the provisions of the NWIC Title IX Policy.
Emergency or Immediate Suspension
In the case of reports of incidents involving serious threat or harm to individuals or college or personal property, immediate suspension from NWIC campuses and premise may be imposed. Reports to law enforcement authorities for investigation shall be made as necessary and appropriate.
Northwest Indian College reserves the right to remove any student from the college or college property, reserves the right to remove or restrict any student from NWIC campus housing and reserves the right to prohibit any non-student from campus for any appropriate reason.
A student who feels any sanction was unfair, excessive, or was not in consideration of other key evidence or factors has the right to file an appeal in accordance with the Student Grievance Policy.