ACADEMIC FREEDOM
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 program director, or if necessary, the Dean of the associated school.
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 ensure 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.
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.
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 DURING INSTRUCTION
While York College recognizes the competing demands for students’ attention during instructional time, the college empowers faculty to enforce engagement requirements regarding students’ engagement during live instruction including students’ use of the camera and microphone.
STATE AUTHORIZATION RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT (SARA)
SARA is a voluntary, interstate reciprocity agreement that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education. Member states recognize participating institutions that are authorized in other member states. Participating institutions must obtain approval from the home state only, rather than every other state. Institutional participation is voluntary and limited to accredited degree-granting institutions. SARA establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs.
Effective January 1, 2017, Pennsylvania was accepted as a SARA member state and joined the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). For more information on NC-SARA, visit https://nc-sara.org/about-nc-sara/. For a directory of SARA participating institutions, click here.
STUDENT COMPLAINTS
A student has the right to file a complaint or grievance. Students must first file a complaint directly with York College of Pennsylvania, following the College procedures outlined in the course catalog. The College will ensure that all student concerns and complaints are addressed fairly and resolved promptly.
Only appeals relating to consumer protection laws may be submitted to the state in efforts to seek a resolution. Appeals and complaints should be addressed to the:
Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity
Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
607 South Drive, 3rd Floor | Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-783-6786 | RA-HigherEducation@pa.gov
Complaint procedures are available on their website.
Solicitation on campus or through YCP communication outlets (i.e., YCP email, Canvas) by organizations not associated with the College is prohibited. Student involvement in any commercial enterprise must receive specific approval from the Director of Graduate and Professional Programs. YCP organizations must receive permission from the Office of Student Activities and Organizations to solicit to the campus community, on campus and online. Additionally, York College of Pennsylvania prohibits any marketing of credit cards on campus.
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