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VIII. POLICIES WHICH PROMOTE AN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY

Academic Freedom Policy

Beth-El College provides nursing and health science education for the community and southern Colorado.  This mission can best be accomplished in an atmosphere of free inquiry and discussion, referred to as academic freedom.

Academic freedom is defined as the freedom to discover, inquire, publish, teach, speak, assemble, and communicate without constraints from college authority.  Only the scientific principles of inquiry shall provide control over this process.  The best insurance against academic error is the widest exposure to differing and conflicting opinions.

Students are guaranteed the freedom to study and discuss in an open accepting academic setting while conforming to the standards of conduct operating within Beth-El College.

Students and faculty should be evaluated on their performance without reference to religious, social or political views.

Faculty must present accurate information and indicate that they are not speaking for the College when they are speaking or writing as citizens.  Although faculty are guaranteed freedom from College censorship, it is important that they realize that the public may judge them as representing their profession or Beth-El College.

Class Attendance Credit for Attendance at CSNA Convention

To assist students to achieve the program objectives promoting professionalism, class attendance credit for one clinical/practicum day will be given to those students who choose to attend the Colorado Student Nurses' Association convention held in February of each year.  Each course will determine how students attending the convention will demonstrate learning achieved through this experience. However, students are ultimately accountable for meeting individual course objectives.  Other professional organizational meetings (such as A Day at the Capital) are included in this policy with instructor approval.

It is the student's responsibility to notify the clinical/practicum instructor in advance that the student will be absent from the clinical/practicum practicum. This clinical/practicum day will be during the week of the convention unless otherwise agreed upon by the student and clinical/practicum instructor.

Disability Statement

Students with disabilities are to provide their letters of certification and accommodation within the first two weeks of class. Disability Services Office is part of Student Support Services and may be reached at 719-262-3354.

Professional Interactions and Confidentiality

The student is expected to maintain all relationships with persons in the clinical/practicum/practicum area on a professional level. Disclosure of information concerning patients' health status or personal lives is a breach of professional ethics. any information related to the patient or family is considered confidential. Be cautious not to discuss clinical/practicum issues in public places. The patient's name must be obliterated on all printed documents copied by the student.

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Attendance Policy

Adult learners are expected to make decisions which will facilitate the learning process for themselves as individuals.  Attendance at class is not required but is expected.  In some cases class attendance may be a requirement of a specific course, especially if group participation is an expected outcome for learning to occur.  

Attendance at clinical/practicum is a requirement.  clinical/practicum experience, which includes clinical/practicum practice, seminars and skills laboratory, is seen as that part of the educational process wherein you integrate and utilize theoretical knowledge, synthesize and create new knowledge, and combines these in a dynamic, individualistic way in the rendering of patient care.  Although the student is essentially a learner, the learning is coupled with responsibility -- not only to self, but also to the patient, co-workers, and fellow students.  Because you have an obligation to others as well as self, you may not unilaterally decide to be absent from any clinical/practicum experience.  Excused absences are the mutual decision of faculty and student; and faculty will decide place, time and extent of make up.

Students with unexcused absences from clinical/practicum (failure to notify instructor or clinical/practicum unit) may be placed on probation (first time) or dismissed from the college (second time).

Students who are ill are expected to seek appropriate care.  Students are expected to notify instructors and assigned clinical/practicum areas at least one hour before clinical/practicum or before the beginning of a required class meeting (e.g., seminar, examination) of their illness.  For scheduled examinations, failure to give notification to the school instructor by the appropriate time may result in no credit (0) for the exam.

It is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor and make arrangements for return to clinical/practicum and the required make-up time.  The instructor may request written medical approval before allowing you to return to clinical/practicum.  Agency and time limitations may restrict make up scheduling and tuition will be charged for make up time required.  Passing of a course requires attainment of terminal course objectives as evaluated by the faculty.

Prolonged illness or multiple absences may prevent attainment of terminal course objectives resulting in an incomplete failing (IF) or incomplete withdrawal (IW) grade for the course.  A record of absences for clinical/practicum will be maintained by the course faculty.  Instructors may use their own discretion in dealing with absences and tardiness.

Minor Children Prohibited in Classroom, Lab and Clinical Sites

Cellular Phones, Pagers and Electronic Devices

Academic and Professional Conduct Committee Policies and Procedures

The Academic and Professional Conduct Committee will be appointed by the Dean of Beth El College of Nursing and Health Sciences.  The committee will have one faculty member from each of the three Beth El departments, as well as one alternate.  The committee will serve to hear academic dishonesty and professional standards misconduct cases, and appeals by either student or faculty.  The committee serves as an advisory board to the Dean.  The Dean makes the final decisions regarding outcome of cases.

The Academic and Professional Conduct Committee makes recommendations to the Dean based on the Academic Honor Code and the Professional Behaviors Standards.  The committee recognizes the importance of high ethical standards and conduct in the health care professions.  The committee has the authority to make recommendations ranging from “repeal of the charge” to “program dismissal of the student.”

Process Policy for Allegations of Academic or Professional Conduct Issues:

1.      Student is charged with an allegation of academic honor violation or professional behavior standard misconduct by a faculty member or student.

2.      Faculty or student submits the charge in writing to the student’s appropriate department chair within 5 University working days.  All parties involved will receive a copy of the charge(s).

3.      The student charged and the faculty who initiated the charge meet with the department chair to discuss the allegation and possible consequences within 30 working days.

4.      If the allegation is substantiated, consequences/resolution will be determined and enforced by the faculty and department chair.

5.      If the above process does not result in resolution of the issues, then the student or faculty member may appeal the decision to the Dean who will submit case for review by the Academic and Professional Conduct Committee. The Dean makes the final ruling on the case.

Policy Approved by Beth El Faculty Organization, August 23, 2004

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