Academic Freedom and Responsibility
All members of the College community have a right to free academic inquiry and expression. Neither acts of discrimination nor claims of alleged discrimination shall be used to abridge that right. All students are encouraged to participate in College academics without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, handicap or social affiliation.
Students are free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for meeting the standards of any course of study in which they may be enrolled. Members of the faculty are solely responsible for establishing and maintaining the academic standards of the courses they teach. Students who strongly believe they have been evaluated unreasonably or with prejudice are free to bring the matter to the attention of the appropriate department chair, or if necessary, the Provost.
Behaviors or actions which disrupt the teaching and learning environment will not be tolerated. Any such behaviors will be addressed by the faculty member and/or the academic administration and may result in the temporary or permanent removal from the class/course.
Freedom of Association and Expression
Students shall be free to express their interests and develop new interests as members of the academic community. They shall also be free to organize or join organizations that promote common interests and ideas provided that these interests and ideas do not interfere with normal College operations. Accordingly, all student organizations, including those affiliated with an external organization, shall be opened to all students without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, handicap or social affiliations.
Students and student organizations shall be free to discuss all questions of interest to them publicly and privately. Students and student organizations shall also be allowed to invite and hear any guest speaker of their choice. The views of the organization and/or guests are not always the views of the administration, faculty, staff and the student association as a whole. Events sponsored by organizations must adhere to all College policies and not allow for activities that would discriminate or offend any person(s) according to social and ethical standards. Any behaviors or actions that would disrupt or interfere with any College-sponsored event will not be tolerated. Any such inappropriate behaviors will be confronted and addressed by campus security and will be referred, as appropriate, to the College judicial system.
While student forums are a means to air and express student concerns to the faculty and administration, they are also a means to formulate student opinion on issues on the campus and in the world at large. These forums consist of, but are not limited to, the College radio station, WVYC, and the Spartan newspaper.
As citizens, students have the same rights and freedoms as other citizens who are not related to the College whereas, faculty members and administration shall insure that institutional powers are not misused to deny or inhibit the rights of citizenship, whether on or off campus. Students who violate local, state or federal laws may incur penalties prescribed by civil authorities. Students should be aware that individual or organizational behavior reflects on the College’s image.
Student Identification Cards
Student ID photo cards are required of all full-time and part-time students. Each student receives their first ID card for free during their first semester at the College. It is a four-year card and is necessary for use of the library, computer center, dining hall, student activities, the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center, athletic events, some residence facilities, identification purposes, etc. Carry it with you when on campus.
Student ID cards are to be presented or given to any College faculty, staff, or administrator upon request. Student ID cards are non-transferable. Students who provide their ID card to others may be found in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Your ID card may be obtained during Orientation and the College’s opening days. In order to receive an ID card, or a replacement ID card, a student must present another form of picture ID and a printed College document bearing the name, address and student ID number.
To replace a lost, stolen, or broken card, students must pay a replacement fee. The first replacement will cost $10, the second replacement will cost $20, and the third (or more) will cost $30. Photo IDs are taken weekly during the academic year at the Campus Safety Office, located in Manor Northeast. In the event that a card is lost or stolen, the student should access their flex card account immediately (http://www.ycp.edu/flex/) to deactivate the card. Deactivating the card will prevent anyone from drawing any funds placed on the account. Once the card has been replaced, the student should again access their flex card account to reactivate the card. Once replaced, a lost or stolen card will no longer work and if found, should be brought to the Campus Safety Office for proper disposal.
Student Participation in Governance
As members of the academic community, students shall be free, individually and collectively, to express their beliefs on issues of institutional policy or matters of interest to the general student body and administration. The Student Senate shall be the representative body through which these expressions shall be made, as stated by The Constitution and By-Laws of the Student Senate.
Student Activity Fee & Student Association
All full-time students pay an activity fee which is used to support all Office of Student Activities and Orientation programming, as well as student organizations and the Student Senate. The Student Association is the term given to designate the full-time student body, that is, those who pay the activity fee. Part-time students may pay the activity fee at the Business Office during the College’s billing period(s) and become members of the Student Association, thereby becoming eligible for the same Student Activity Fund privileges as full-time students, including voting in all student elections.
Usage of Student Photos
York College reserves the right to publish any photograph taken on College property or at a College-sponsored event without the expressed written permission of those persons pictured in the photograph. Photographs may be published in print or electronic media sources produced, used, or contracted by York College for an unspecified amount of time. Photographs may be used in materials including but not limited to the following: view books, catalogs, handbooks, newsletters, magazines, television promotions, videos, and the York College website. Any student who does not want to be pictured in College materials may contact the Office of Communications in writing.
Disciplinary Problems in the Classroom
The student code of conduct indicates that students who disrupt the teaching and learning environment are subject to disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from a course for disruptive behavior. Faculty who experience difficulty with a student should notify the student in writing of their concern and warn the student that they are subject to expulsion from their course. Copies of this correspondence should be sent to the Offices of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. If the problem continues, the faculty member may notify the student that they are no longer permitted to attend.
Guidelines for Human and Animal Research
York College subscribes to the ethical and appropriate treatment of animal and human subjects during research. All research or class projects involving human subjects and/or research with animals which involves any non-observational manipulation which is done by York College faculty or students, or is done using the facilities of the College, will be subject to review. The Institutional Review Board will review all research using human subjects and will provide application materials and research guidelines to the faculty (and students) on an annual basis.
Use of Personal Technology in the Classroom
While York College recognizes students’ need for educational and emergency-related technological devices such as laptops, PDA’s, mobile devices, etc. using them unethically or recreationally during class time is never appropriate. The College recognizes and supports faculty members’ authority to regulate in their classrooms student use of all electronic devices.
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