Code of Conduct and Honor Code

A student who believes his/her academic efforts have not been justly evaluated has the right to be heard. The problem may be the result of exchanges with the instructor, occurrences within the class, or the content of a written evaluation. All grievances should be initiated within the quarter the alleged violation has occurred.

1. A student who is unsure whether or not his/her grievance falls under this description should consult the ADAA.
2. Once it is determined that the grievance is academic in nature, every effort should be made to resolve the problem informally. To accomplish this, the student is encouraged to talk directly with the faculty member. (In exceptional circumstances where a dispute cannot or should not be addressed informally, this step may be omitted.)
3. If informal efforts are unsatisfactory or unsuccessful, a formal grievance may be filed with the RDP dean’s office. The grievance should be in writing and include the name of the respondent and a description of the specific incident(s) forming the basis of the grievance, an outline of the informal steps taken to resolve the matter, and reference to the desired outcome(s) if appropriate. The formal grievance should be presented no later than 30 days after the student has knowledge of the problem.
4. The ADAA will investigate and decide how the problem should be resolved. The ADAA will make a recommendation to the RDP dean who will render a decision.
5. The RDP dean’s decision may be appealed in writing to the College president, who will make a ruling within 15 days of receipt of the appeal.
6. If the student complaint cannot be resolved after exhausting the Institution’s grievance
   procedure, the student may file a complaint with the Arizona State Board for
   Private Post Secondary Education. The student may contact the State Board for
   further details. The State Board address is: 1400 W. Washington, Room 260, Phoenix, AZ 85007, (602) 542-5709, Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education

The On-Campus Undergraduate Programs dean, the associate dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA), or Vice President of Student Life are responsible for responding to violations of the Honor Conscience and/or Rules of Conduct, and for any conduct related to academic integrity. The respective College administrator will:

1. Contact person(s) involved to determine whether there is cause to conduct an investigation.
2. Practice due process and due diligence when evaluating all information.
3. Decide to investigate further based on the information collected or issue a sanction.
4. Allow the student to appeal the sanction in writing to the president with in 15 days of receiving the sanction. The president’s decision in the matter is final.

In compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (Public Law 101-226)and HEOA Sec. 120(a)(2)(B)-(C) amended effective 8/14/08, the following policies and sanctions are enforced by Prescott College:

State and Federal laws, as well as College policy, prohibit the use of illegal drugs. Possession of illegal substances and drug paraphernalia is prohibited. No illegal drugs may be possessed or used by any participant, student or employee on campus, in a course or field course, field trip, college sponsored event, or in campus housing. Students found responsible for possession or use of any illegal substances, including in campus residence facilities, may be subject to immediate judicial action which may include dismissal from the College and College Housing without refund.

Possession of alcohol or alcohol paraphernalia is prohibited. No alcohol shall be consumed by any student or instructor during any activity required for a course or field course, or at any time that a course is in a remote field setting. Course participants at Prescott College field stations shall comply strictly with all local laws relating to the consumption of alcohol. Group food money and College funds may not be used for the purchase of alcohol.

Students found responsible for possession or use of alcohol in or around campus residence facilities may be subject to immediate judicial action which may include dismissal from the College and College Housing without refund.

The abuse of alcohol as demonstrated by excessive consumption and resulting in intoxication by employees or students on any occasion that involves college sponsorship, on or off campus, or at any time on campus property or facilities could result in sanctions against both the participating employees and students. It is expected that the faculty, staff and/or other course leaders provide a safe and comfortable environment for all students participating in a course or event.

Arizona law has an underage drinking statute (A.R.S. 4-244.40, effective 8/31/02) stating that no person under the age of 21 years is to have any spirituous liquor (i.e. beer, wine, hard alcohol) in their body. This is a Class 2 Misdemeanor with penalties of a $750.00 fine and up to four months in jail.

Non-compliance with the drug and alcohol policy is grounds for dismissal from a course and may result in loss of course credit without tuition refund, enforced alcohol and drug use evaluation, and/or suspension or expulsion from the College (for students) and probation, suspension of work without pay, and’/or dismissal from the College (for faculty, instructors, course leaders). Students must consider possible sanctions and their impact on their financial aid.

Counseling and referrals for treatment, rehabilitation, and re-entry programs is available for students through Counseling Services located in the Office of Student Life. Employees may access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, and re-entry programs. Information about the health risks of drugs and alcohol are available from the offices of Student Life and Human Resources.

Drug and alcohol-related violations and fatalities are reported in accordance with HEA requirements and can be found in the section containing the Annual Crime Statistics. Programs and the consistent enforcement of sanctions are reviewed regularly by the College.

Procedures for Reporting Student Grievances (Academic and Non-Academic)

Students may file a grievance in response to any perceived infringement of their rights, whether the perceived infringement is of their rights according to federal law, their rights as students according to College policies, or simply their personal rights to fair and humane treatment. Prescott College is committed to handling all grievances in a prompt and equitable manner.

Grievances fall into two categories: academic and nonacademic.
• Academic grievances might include conflicts over course evaluations, learning contracts, or grades, but could concern any academic matter in which a student believes he/she has been treated unfairly or unreasonably. Students who believe they have grounds for an academic grievance should contact the Dean of the Limited-Residency Programs.
• Nonacademic grievances might concern any instance of perceived mistreatment. Examples include, but are not limited to, sexual harassment or discrimination based on race, age, disability, sexual preference, or any other unprofessional and/or illegal conduct on the part of a College community member. Students who believe they have grounds for a nonacademic grievance should contact either the Dean of the Limited-Residency Programs or the Associate Dean for Student Success and Library Services.

Academic Grievance Procedures
A student who believes his/her academic efforts have not been justly evaluated has the right to be heard. The problem may be the result of exchanges with the instructor, occurrences within the class, or the content of a written evaluation. All grievances should be initiated within the semester the alleged violation occurred. The following are the steps to take:

1. A student who is unsure whether his/her grievance falls under this description should consult with the Dean of the Limited-Residency Programs.
2. Once it is determined that the grievance is academic in nature, every effort should be made to resolve the problem informally. To accomplish this, the student is encouraged to talk directly with the faculty member or mentor. (In exceptional circumstances where a dispute cannot or should not be addressed informally, this step may be omitted.)
3. If informal efforts are unsatisfactory or unsuccessful, a formal grievance may be filed with the Dean of the Limited-Residency Programs. The grievance should be in writing and should include the name of the respondent and a description of the specific incident(s) forming the basis of the grievance, an outline of the informal steps taken to resolve the matter, and reference to the desired outcome(s) if appropriate. The formal grievance should be presented no later than 30 days after the student has knowledge of the problem.
4. The complainant has a right to present witnesses or testimony if they so choose.
5. The dean will investigate and decide how the problem should be resolved and will render a decision in a written summary to the student and the relevant faculty member or mentor.
6. The dean’s decision may be appealed in writing to Paul Burkhardt, the Provost, who will make a ruling within 15 days of receipt of the appeal.
7. If the complaint cannot be resolved after exhausting the institution’s grievance procedure, the student may file a complaint with the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. The student must contact the State Board for further details. The State Board address is 1400 W. Washington Street, Room 260, Phoenix, AZ 85007, phone # 602-542-5709, website address: www.azppse.gov

Nonacademic Grievance Procedures
Non-academic grievances fall into 2 categories: I) general non-academic grievances and II) sexual harassment grievances, which include sexual violence. Title IX regulations cover sexual harassment/sexual violence.

I. General Non-Academic Grievance:

1. A student who is unsure whether his/her grievance falls under the non-academic description should consult with the Dean of the Limited-Residency Programs, or the Associate Dean for Student Success and Library Services. For issues dealing with sexual harassment, the student should follow the Sexual Harassment Grievance procedure. Once it is determined the grievance is nonacademic in nature, every effort should be made to resolve the problem informally. (If for any reason a dispute cannot or should not be addressed informally, this step may be omitted.)
2. If informal efforts are unsatisfactory or inappropriate, a formal grievance can be filed with the Associate Dean for Student Success and Library Services. The grievance must be in writing and must include the name of the respondent and a description of the specific incident(s) concerning the grievance, an outline of the informal steps taken to resolve the matter, and the reference to the desired outcome(s) if appropriate. The formal grievance should be filed within 30 days after the student has knowledge of the problem.
3. The associate dean, in consultation with the On-Campus Bachelor of Arts Program dean and/or another appropriate College official(s) will determine if an investigation is appropriate.
4. Any investigation will be conducted by the Associate Dean for Student Success and Library Services; he may include other relevant College officials in the process.
5. The complainant has a right to present witnesses or testimony if they so choose.
6. Based on the investigation, the associate dean will render a decision in a written summary sent to both parties.
7. The student may appeal this decision to Kristin Woolever, the President, who will make a ruling within 15 days of receipt of the appeal. This ends the College appeals process.
8. If the complaint cannot be resolved after exhausting the institution’s grievance procedure, the student may file a complaint with the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. The student must contact the State Board for further details. The State Board address is 1400 W. Washington Street, Room 260, Phoenix, AZ 85007, phone # 602-542-5709, website address: Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education

II. Sexual Harassment Grievance

A member of the community who believes that he or she may have been the victim of sexual harassment or sexual violence should consult with one of the sexual harassment officers (listed below) or officially file a complaint. The College will respond to any report or complaint, formal or informal, of sexual harassment in a prompt and equitable manner. Allegations of sexual harassment must be made in good faith. It is prohibited to knowingly make false or malicious complaints.

Legally, if the College knows or reasonably should know about possible sexual harassment or sexual violence, it must promptly investigate to determine what occurred and then take appropriate steps to resolve the situation, and prevent it from reoccurring.

Filing a Report of Sexual Harassment

A member of the community who believes that he or she may have been the victim of sexual harassment or sexual violence should consult with, or file a complaint with Lisa Lundberg, the Title IX Coordinator, or one of the sexual harassment deputy coordinators (listed below). The College will respond to any report or complaint, formal or informal, of sexual harassment in a prompt and equitable manner. Allegations of sexual harassment must be made in good faith. The following administrators serve as deputy sexual harassment officers:

• Academic Dean(s)
• Associate Dean(s)
• Risk Management Officer(s)
• Co-Directors of Human Resources
• Housing Director

The Title IX Coordinator, or one of the deputy coordinators, will be responsible for taking the report, asking questions of clarification, and may take notes. Together, they will explore the options available for resolving the matter. If the College knows about possible sexual harassment or sexual violence, it will promptly investigate to determine what occurred and then take appropriate steps to resolve the situation, even if the alleged victim does not want to file a complaint or does not request that the College take any action upon their behalf. The individual also has the right to file a criminal complaint. The College’s investigation will be completely separate from any criminal investigation. It is possible that, due to the “preponderance of evidence” clause mandated by Title IX regulations (April 2011), there could be different outcomes from the different investigations.

Rights of Complainant

Every complainant of sexual harassment has the following rights:

• The right to a prompt and equitable resolution
• The right to present his or her case. This includes the right to adequate, reliable, and impartial investigation of complaints and the right to have an equal opportunity to present witnesses and other evidence.
• The right to file a criminal complaint.
• The right not to be retaliated against for bringing forward a complaint (this also includes any witnesses or participants).
• The right for the complaint to be decided using a preponderance of the evidence standard (i.e., it is more likely than not that sexual harassment or violence occurred).
• The right to end any informal process at any time and begin the formal stage of the complaint process. Mediation is not appropriate in cases involving allegations of sexual assault.
• The right to be notified, in writing, of the outcome of the complaint. The Clery Act requires that both parties be informed of the outcome, including sanction information, of any institutional proceeding alleging a sex offense.
• The right to appeal the verdict. Appeals will be directed to the Kristin Woolever, the President.
• Individuals with complaints of this nature also always have the right to file a formal complaint with the United States Department Education: Office for Civil Rights (OCR), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, Customer Service Hotline #: (800) 421-3481, Email: OCR@ed.gov

Rights of Accused

Anyone accused of sexual misconduct will have the following rights:

• The right to a prompt and equitable resolution.
• The right to present his or her case in response to the accusations. This includes the right to adequate, reliable, and impartial investigation of the complaint(s) and the right to have an equal opportunity to present witnesses and other evidence.
• The right for the complaint to be decided using a preponderance of evidence.
• The right to be notified, in writing, of the outcome of the complaint. The Clery Act requires that both parties be informed of the outcome, including sanction information of any institutional proceeding alleging a sex offense.
• The right to appeal the verdict directly to the President.

Filing a Complaint of Sexual Harassment

Members of the community who believe that they have experienced sexual harassment (as prohibited by Policy 802.0 Section VIII) should report this conduct immediately to the Title IX Coordinator, Lisa Lundberg, or to one of the sexual harassment officers listed above. Ideally, a report would be filed within 30 days of the incident. However, Prescott College is sensitive to the emotional components of sexual harassment and will allow a reasonable time frame.

Once notified of the alleged incident, Prescott College will investigate in an equitable and timely manner. The time it will take to reach an outcome from the College’s investigation will vary depending upon the complexity of the incident(s). However, a typical resolution should be determined within 60 days of the first filing of the report.

The following procedure will be used to respond to a complaint of harassment:

1. A student who is unsure whether his/her grievance falls under sexual harassment should consult with the Title IX Coordinator or the Associate Dean for Student Success and Library Services. Once it is determined the grievance is nonacademic in nature and relates to sexual harassment, every effort should be made to resolve the problem informally if it is appropriate.
2. If informal efforts are unsatisfactory or inappropriate, a formal grievance can be filed with the Associate Dean for Student Success and Library Services. The grievance must be in writing and must include the name of the respondent and a description of the specific incident(s) concerning the grievance, an outline of the informal steps taken to resolve the matter, and the reference to the desired outcome(s) if appropriate. The formal grievance should be filed within 30 days after the student has knowledge of the problem. When necessary, a sexual harassment officer can take the statement and prepare a written copy.
3. The associate dean, in consultation with the On-Campus Bachelor of Arts Program dean and/or another appropriate College official(s) will determine if an investigation is appropriate.
4. Any investigation will be conducted by the Associate Dean for Student Success and Library Services; he may include other relevant College officials in the process. It is the responsibility of the College to conduct a fair, equitable, and timely investigation.
5. The complainant has a right to present witnesses or testimony if they so choose.
6. Based on the investigation, the associate dean will render a decision in a written summary sent to both parties. If the complaint is found to be valid, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. No retaliation will be taken against any member of the community reporting suspected harassment in good faith.
7. The student may appeal this decision to Kristin Woolever, the President, who will make a ruling within 15 days of receipt of the appeal. This ends the College appeals process.
8. If the complaint cannot be resolved after exhausting the institution’s grievance procedure, the student may file a complaint with the United States Department Education: Office for Civil Rights (OCR), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, Customer Service Hotline #: (800) 421-3481, Email: OCR@ed.gov

Confidentiality

Certain information concerning sexual harassment will need to be disclosed to be in compliance with The Clery Act and Title IX. Nevertheless, the College shall protect the confidentiality of the identities of and statements made by individuals (parties and witnesses) involved in a report of sexual harassment to the extent permitted by law and to the extent that continued protection does not interfere with the College’s ability to fully investigate allegations of misconduct brought to its attention and to take corrective action. Information will be disclosed strictly on a need to know basis to select employees.

Community life and a successful experience at Prescott College depends on the commitment of each member of the community to a sense of responsibility for oneself and to other people. This commitment is represented by the Honor Conscience, which is an unwritten commitment to act with honesty, integrity and respect.

It is the responsibility of each individual in the College community to act with honesty, integrity and respect in personal, social and academic relationships, and with consideration and concern for the entire Prescott College community and its members.

Prescott College has not decreed an exhaustive set of rules since these may actually inhibit the development of self-regulation. Only the most necessary rules are made explicit (see below). All members of the Prescott College community are expected to act according to the Honor Conscience.

While we believe in allowing students to develop their own self-guidance and regulation, should a student fail to do so, and exhibit behavior(s) that display disrespect for the Honor Conscience, the College will hold such students responsible for their behavior.

Rules for Honoring Campus and Community

1. Prescott College prohibits dogs or other animals in College buildings or to be left unattended in vehicles parked on campus. Dogs and other animals are allowed in outdoor common areas of campus, provided they are under owner control, i.e. on a leash of reasonable length, and do not pose a hazard or threat to others. Dogs and other pets may not be left unattended at any time. The College recognizes the importance of service dogs to those individuals who require their assistance and welcomes these animals in all areas of campus.
2. Demonstrate respect for Prescott College and others by keeping bikes outside of buildings and parked in the proper location
3. Respect your body and the environment by not smoking. Smoking is allowed in designated areas and must be 50 feet from a doorway or window. Dispose of your cigarette butt in a container-not on the ground.
4. Be considerate of fellow students, faculty, and staff by finding alternate parking for your vehicles while out in the field. Space is limited and those working and studying on campus need the space.
5. Help build a positive reputation for Prescott College with the Prescott community by using crosswalks and traffic signals while on foot.
6. Do your part to save the planet’s energy by closing doors, turning off lights, and turning down the heat and air conditioning in College buildings.
7. Preserve our environment by using recycle bins and trash cans and picking up after those who don't. "Leave no trace," is our ethic.
8. All weapons are prohibited. Do not bring weapons of any kind to campus.
9. Cooperate with the Prescott College community by getting all postings approved by the Student Life Office.