Graduate & Professional Studies
Student handbook

 

Lake Usage

Catch and release fishing is permitted in the campus lake by members of the campus community.  Swimming in the lake is not permitted under any circumstances.  No floatation devices or watercraft are allowed.

Liability

King College disclaims liability for any injuries, including death, damages, or loss, regardless of severity or cause, suffered by a student.  This liability disclaimer applies to, but is not limited to, the following:

• Any loss of or damage to personal property owned by students.
  
• Any injuries, including death, damages, or loss, regardless of severity, sustained on property owned by or under the control of King College.  This includes classrooms, residential units, structures, buildings, public areas and grounds, vehicles, etc.
  
• Any injuries, including death, damages, or loss, regardless of severity, resulting from fire, theft, the elements or other causes.
  
• Any injuries, including death, damages, or loss, regardless of severity, as a result of an act or omission by any King College agent, servant, employee, student, officer, trustee, faculty, or other representative.
  
• Any injuries, including death or damage, suffered in intercollegiate or intramural events (athletic or otherwise) as a participant, spectator, or other.  This also includes transit to or from an event.
  

Students accept the foregoing disclaimer and agree to be bound thereby upon admission, readmission, or continued enrollment with King College.  Any student enrolled in or attending classes at King College is bound to follow all of the College’s rules and regulations, and is subject to the jurisdiction of the College with regard to violations of such rules and regulations.  King College students who fail to read this handbook will not be excused from compliance with the policies and requirements herein.

Lost and Found

Articles found anywhere on the campus should be brought to the Student Affairs Office or the Security Office for safekeeping until claimed by the owner. Articles not claimed will be discarded.

Lying

Lying is defined as intentionally giving false information.  Examples include: written or oral communication given to college officials, faculty members or honor council.

Offensive Language

Violations include, but are not limited to, lewd, obscene, or vulgar language or expression that is contrary to the mission and vision of the college.

Payment Policy

All accounts must be either paid in full or payment arrangements made before the first day of class, which would include any previous account balance. Payment arrangements consist of the deferred payment plan with Nelnet Business Solutions (NBS), employer reimbursement, secured student financial aid, or a combination of these options. If all necessary paperwork has not been completed in the Financial Aid office, any unsecured financial aid award will be removed three weeks prior to the first day of the semester.  Failure to pay the full balance or make satisfactory payment arrangements within the first week of the semester will result in cancellation of registration for the semester.

Students who are eligible for the employer reimbursement option must submit the King College Promissory Note to the Business Office by the first day of each semester. King College also requires a letter from the employer stating reimbursement eligibility and specified amount, or a copy of their company policy.

If there is an anticipated balance remaining on the student account after employer reimbursement, that balance must be paid in advance or the student must be enrolled in the NBS payment plan.

Students are responsible

Payment from the employer reimbursement is due to King College within three weeks after the end of each course or a hold will be placed on the student account. If a student fails to make the required payment before the last class of the following course, registration for the next course will be cancelled. The student may also lose the privilege of signing the King College Promissory Note in the future. King College reserves the right to contact the employer for payment status of the reimbursement.  Students are responsible for all charges on the student account, including all fees and fines. The College reserves the right to refer uncollected account balances to a collection agency.   If a period of 60 days passes without any activity on an account with an unpaid balance, a 30 day notice letter is sent to the student.  After the 30 days the account is placed in collections.  The student will be responsible for any attorney fees and/or costs associated with the collection of the unpaid balance. A delinquent account may be reported to major credit bureaus.

Students are Responsible

Payment from the employer reimbursement is due to King College within three weeks after the end of each course or a hold will be placed on the student account. If a student fails to make the required payment before the last class of the following course, registration for the next course will be cancelled. The student may also lose the privilege of signing the King College Promissory Note in the future. King College reserves the right to contact the employer for payment status of the reimbursement.  Students are responsible for all charges on the student account, including all fees and fines. The College reserves the right to refer uncollected account balances to a collection agency.   If a period of 120 days passes without any activity on an account with an unpaid balance, the College may refer the account to a collection agency. The student will be responsible for any attorney fees and/or costs associated with the collection of the unpaid balance. A delinquent account may be reported to major credit bureaus.

Parking

All vehicles must be registered with the Security Office and must display a parking permit which must be obtained within one week of arriving on campus. No student residing on or off campus may have more than one vehicle on campus at any time. Security officers enforce traffic and parking regulations. King College is private property and reserves the right to have unauthorized vehicles, abandoned vehicles or vehicles operated in violation of King College rules and regulations towed from the campus property at the owner's expense. Situations which may warrant towing of vehicles include, but are not limited to, the following: vehicle causing a safety hazard, obstructing traffic, blocking a fire hydrant, parking in a fire lane, parking in handicapped spaces, parking on yellow curbs, parking in loading zones or abandoned vehicles.

A “Parking Rules and Regulations” brochure is available in the Campus Security Office located in the basement of Parks Hall, the Student Affairs Office, or online in the Security section of the Current Students page.

Records and Rights of Access

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA),  also known as the Buckley Amendment, 20 United States Code Section 1232g, affords students (and parents of students under the age of 18) 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 College receives a request for access. 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 College 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 College 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 student who wishes to ask the College to amend a record should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested, the College 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 College discloses personally identifiable information from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. (The disclosure of Directory Information does not require prior consent.) The College 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 College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using College employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; 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. 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 College. Upon request, the College 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 College 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

Directory Information

The College may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, the College must tell eligible students about directory information and allow eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the College not disclose directory information about them.

Disclosure of Law Enforcement Unit Records

FERPA excludes from its definition of “education records” records created and maintained by a campus law enforcement unit for a law enforcement purpose.  Accordingly, investigative reports, security incident reports, and other records created and maintained by campus law enforcement units may be disclosed to law enforcement and others without student consent as defined by King College Security Department policy.

FERPA defines "Law enforcement unit" as “any individual, office, department, division, or other component of an educational agency or institution, such as a unit of commissioned police officers or non-commissioned security guards, that is officials authorized or designated by that agency or institution to: enforce any local, State, or Federal law, or refer to appropriate authorities a matter for enforcement of any local, State, or Federal law again any individual or organization other than the agency or institution itself; and maintain the physical security and safety of the agency or institution. For this purpose the King College Security Department is designated the law enforcement unit for King College.

NOTE: For further information regarding FERPA, please consult the King College website at http://www.king.edu/aboutus/RightToKnow/FERPA.asp.
Department is designated the law enforcement unit for King College.

Searches on College Property

King College will make reasonable efforts to respect the privacy of individuals within the campus community. However, King College campuses are private property and in the interest of the safety and security, the college maintains the right to search any part of King College property, including but not limited to residence hall rooms, classrooms, offices, vehicles, locker rooms or any container belonging to or in the possession of students, visitors, faculty, staff, or volunteers who are on King College property. The college also retains the same right to search an individual’s person if there is reason to believe that the person is in possession of a weapon, illegal drugs, possession of stolen property, is in violation of local, state, or federal laws related to public safety, or otherwise presents a danger to the safety of that person or others . The college retains the right to seize and retain any items that violate local, state or federal laws or any King College regulation.  Any illegal items seized will be immediately turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Sexual Assault

Refer to the Relationship Misconduct Policy in this handbook.

Sexual Harassment

Refer to the Relationship Misconduct Policy in this handbook.

Solicitation

Bulletin boards are available across the campus for the purpose of displaying announcements and posters.  All announcements or posters for non-college sponsored events must be approved by the Student Affairs Office before being posted. Materials that have not been approved may be removed at the discretion of the Student Affairs Office. Anyone who posts materials of any nature is responsible for removal of the materials at the proper time.  In addition to posters and materials, all solicitation requests must receive approval from the Vice President for Student Affairs or Associate Dean of Students in advance of the solicitation activity.  Solicitation in the Residence Halls is restricted unless approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs. 

Student ID Card

Student Identification Cards are issued to all full-time and part-time students at registration, or at any later time necessary by the Student Affairs Office. This card has various purposes and it is vital that students keep up with this card at all times.

Uses for the Student ID card include the following:

• General security identification purposes which include complying with requests to identify oneself to a college official, security personnel, or law enforcement officer acting in performance of their duties.
• Identification needed for any activity such as attending athletic events, social events, picking up packages in the Bookstore, picking up checks and other important documents in the Business Office.
• Use of King Library resources
• Access to purchased meal plan accounts in the Dining Hall and King’s Den (see ARAMARK section for meal plan prices)
• Accessing the outside doors of King College campus buildings (Bristol location).

It is against college policy to allow any other person to use your student ID card.  Students who violate this policy may be referred to the student judicial process.  King College Student ID Card must be turned in to the Registrar Office, Student Affairs Office or Student Services Coordinator if a student must withdraw or is removed from the college for any reason.  Replacement cards may be obtained in the Student Affairs Office at a cost of $25.00.

Student Inquiry Process

If students feel they have been treated unfairly or have questions or concerns regarding any aspect of the College, they should contact their Student Services Coordinator for direction.

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the many study abroad programs offered by the college. King College students are eligible to participate in programs with a number of universities, institutes, and consortia around the world. For a complete list of opportunities contact the Dean of the Faculty and the Study Abroad Office. The college also sponsors regular study trips, usually during May Term, led by faculty and staff. These include study programs to Italy, France, England, the Middle East, Greece and Turkey, generally lasting three to six weeks.  Students who participate in these programs represent the college as ambassadors and are bound by the college’s code of honor and its policies. Faculty/Staff leaders of such programs have discretion in applying the policies of the college in the context of the culture of the country being visited.

Tobacco Products

Smoking is prohibited in all campus buildings.

Violations of the Law

A King College student who violates local, state, or federal law on or off campus may be subject to judicial action by the college.  Students are expected to report criminal charges and/or being arrested to the Associate Dean of Students within 72 hours of being arrested and/or criminally charged.  The college’s proceedings are separate from civil litigation or criminal arrest and prosecution; and may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following civil or criminal proceedings.  Rulings associated with the honor code and other campus policies are not linked to decisions related to legal matters and may differ in outcome.

Weapons on Campus

The possession and/or use of weapons on school property is strictly prohibited.  In addition to firearms, ammunition and knives, weapons include but are not limited to: air rifles, BB guns, or any weapon which is a reproduction of a firearm; razors and razor blades, except those used solely for personal shaving; and any sharp pointed instrument, except unaltered nail files, clips, and tools used solely for preparation of food, instruction and maintenance.  It is an offense for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, with the intent to go armed, any firearm, explosive, explosive weapon, bowie knife, hawk bill knife, ice pick, dagger, slingshot, switchblade knife, blackjack, knuckles or any other weapon of like kind not solely for instructional or school-sanctioned ceremonial purposes.  Weapons used for educational purposes must be approved by the Director of Security, Dean of the Faculty or Vice President for Business Operations.

The carrying of a weapon on college property is a violation of King College Policy and state and federal law.  Carrying a weapon on campus will result in campus discipline and the offender may be referred to local law enforcement for criminal charges.

Nothing in this section shall apply to law enforcement officers and/or security officers approved by the college in compliance with state and federal law.

King College students are responsible for guests who accompany them to campus.  This includes immediately reporting any weapons violation to Campus Security.

Felony State law prescribes a maximum penalty of six (6) years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000) for carrying weapons on school property.

Withdrawal from the College

The Graduate & Professional Studies Student Withdrawal Policy can be found in the Graduate & Professional Studies Bulletin.

WITHDRAWAL FROM A COURSE

To withdraw from a Graduate & Professional Studies course, students must submit the “Change of Schedule” form to King College. The “Change of Schedule” form may be obtained from the Student Support Specialist or the Graduate & Professional Studies Connection site on Blackboard. The date the form is received by King College is the official withdrawal date from the course. There is a $15 fee for schedule changes.

Tuition charges & Financial Aid will be adjusted for course withdrawals through the Last Day to Change a Class without a $15.00 Fee. Please refer to the academic calendar on the King College website.

After that date, no adjustments to tuition and aid will be made. In extreme circumstances, the student may formally appeal in writing to the Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies for an exemption to this policy.