Campus Policies

in which race, religion, sexual orientation or national origin is used or implied in a manner that make another person uncomfortable in the work or educatinal environment or that would interfere with another person’s ability to perform his or her job. Examples of racial, religious, sexual orientation, or national origin harassment include jokes that include reference to race, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin; the display or use of objects or pictures that adversely reflect on a person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin; or use of language that is offensive due to a persons’s race, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for employees and under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for students. Sexual harassment is also illegal under Missouri State Law and prohibited by Avila University. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when:

•. Submission to the conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment; or

•. Submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as the basis for an employment decision affecting the harassed employee; or

•. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with the employee’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment; or

•. Submission to the conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a condition of a student’s participation in a school program or activity, or the basis for an educational decision affecting a student; or

•. Such conduct is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it affects a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an education program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment.

Prohibited acts of sexual harassment can take a variety of forms, ranging from off-color jokes to subtle pressure for sexual activity to physical assault. It is not possible to identify each and every act that may constitute sexual harassment. Examples of conduct that may constitute sexual harassment are:

• Repeated or unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, propositions, touching, remarks, or requests for sexual favors;

• Repeated verbal abuse of a sexual nature;

• Graphic verbal comments about a person’s body;

• Sexually degrading words used to describe a person;

• The display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures;

• Unwelcome questions or comments about private sexual matters;

• Slurs, “off color” jokes, or degrading comments related to gender;

• Demeaning, discourteous conduct, or negative stereotyping; or

• A sexual relationship with a subordinate or a student.

No Retaliation

It is strictly against University policy to retaliate against anyone who reports or assists in making a complaint of prohibited harassment. Retaliation is contrary to this policy statement and may result in discipline up to and including termination for employees and dismissal for students. Anyone who feels that retaliatory action has been taken because of his or her report or assistance in making a complaint of prohibited harassment should immediately bring the matter to the University’s attention as described below.

How To Report Instances of Harassment or Retaliation

The University cannot resolve matters that are not brought to its attention. Any student or employee, regardless of position, who has a complaint of or who witnesses harassment or retaliation at work by anyone, including instructors, students, supervisors, managers, employees or even non-employees, has a responsibility to immediately bring the matter to the University’s attention. If the complaint or observation involves someone in the employee’s direct line of command, or if the employee is uncomfortable discussing the matter with his or her direct supervisor, the employee is urged to go to another supervisor, a University Vice President, or to the Director of Human Resources. If the complaint or observation involves a student, the report should go to the Vice President for Academic Affairs or the Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs. Student-to-student harassment complaints may be referred to the disciplinary system in the school’s Code of Conduct for the appropriate investigation and resolution of such complaints.

How the University Will Investigate Complaints

The University will thoroughly and promptly investigate all claims of harassment or retaliation. If an investigation confirms that harassment or retaliation has occurred, the University will take prompt, corrective action, as is appropriate. Complaints of harassment and retaliation will be kept as confidential as possible.

Avila University’s Commitment to an Effective No Harassment Policy

If you feel that the University has not met its obligations under this policy, you should contact the Department of Human Resources.

Drug and Alcohol Use

Avila University recognizes that the misuse of alcohol and other drugs pose major health problems, are potential safety and security problems, can adversely affect academic and job performance, and can generally inhibit the educational development of students. The University is committed to complying with the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act Amendments of 1989. As a result of this commitment, Avila University has established regulations forbidding the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of illicit drugs and alcohol on University premises or property or as part of any University activity. These reglations shall assure that the University is in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local statutes, regulations, and ordinances. The regulations and the entire drug and substance use policy are available in the Student Affairs Office.

Tobacco Use

Smoking, and the use of smokeless tobacco products, is prohibited in all buildings on campus. Members of the Avila community and their guests must exercise courtesy at all times in the use of smoking and smokeless tobacco products outside the buildings. Disposal of smoking and smokeless tobacco materials should be made in the nearest outdoor receptacle provided for that purpose.

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Avila complies with the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. This Act, as it applies to institutions of higher learning, ensures that students have access to certain records that pertain to them and that unauthorized persons do not have access to such records. Copies are available upon request to the Registration and Student Records Office.

Student Right-to-Know Act

Avila complies with the provisions of the Student Right-to-Know Act of 1990. This Act requires institutions of higher learning who receive Title IV student financial assistance to be responsible for calculating completion of persistence rates, and making them available to current or prospective students through “appropriate publications and mailings.” Requests for copies can be directed to the Registrar.

Crime Awareness and Campus Security

Avila complies with the provisions of the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990. It is committed to assisting all members of the Avila community in providing for their own safety and security. The annual security compliance document is available on the Avila University web site at http: //www.avila.edu/info/security/index.htm.

If you would like to receive a booklet called “Crime Awareness and Campus Security Policies,” which contains this information, you can stop by the Student Affairs Office in the Marian Center Building any weekday between 8 AM and 5 PM or you can request that a copy be mailed to you by calling (816) 501-3627.

The web site contains information on campus security and personal safety, including crime prevention, university police law-enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, disciplinary procedures, and other important matters about security on campus. It also contains statistics for the three previous calendar years on reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Avila University, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

Information Technology, Student User’s Agreement

The primary purpose of the information technology system on the Avila University campus is for educational related activities. Usage of any part of the Avila University campus system implies agreement to all of the following.

System Integrity

1. Ultimate responsibility for proper use and misuse of the system (including all computers, software, related equipment and the network) lies with each individual user.

2. Actions taken by users that deliberately deny authorized persons access to any aspect of the system are improper.

3. Actions taken by users that interfere with or alter the integrity of the University’s equipment or software are improper.

4. Intentional actions taken by users that place onto any Avila equipment any icons, or screensavers or items of a nature that would be considered offensive are improper.

Privacy and Civil Rights

1. The University respects every individual’s right to privacy in the electronic forum and prohibits users of University technology including computers and users of personally owned computers linked via University telecommunications equipment to other systems from violating such rights. This includes, but is not limited to, attempts to read another person’s electronic mail, to access another’s files, to access electronic records containing information concerning another person, use of another person’s e-mail account, and use of another person’s password.

2. Accounts are not to be shared by multiple users.

3. Fraudulent, harassing, nuisance, threatening, offensive or obscene messages and/or materials are not to be displayed, sent with or stored onto any Avila equipment, or displayed with private equipment in any public forum.

1. Avila University purchases or licenses the use of copies of computer software from a variety of outside companies. The University does not own the copyright to this software or its related documentation. Users may not reproduce any portion for use on another computer without permission from Information Technology Services. Permission is granted only if it complies with the University’s licensing or receives permission from the software developer.

2. Copyright with regards to traditional written materials applies to works in electronic forms. Users must comply with all copyright rules and regulations according to the U.S. Copyright Law.

3. Software may not be loaded and/or saved onto any Avila University equipment without written permission from the Director of Information Technology Services.

4. Observances or other information regarding misuse of software or related documentation must be reported to the Vice-President of Student Affairs.

Courtesy

1. Users must observe basic technology courtesy with regards to other users. This includes, but is not limited to, refraining from excessive use of paper, refraining from making electronic mass mailings for non-University business use, and refraining from using University-owned computers or other technology for personal monetary gain.

2. The primary purpose of University-owned computers on the campus is for educational purposes. Users needing the computers for academic purposes will have priority over users playing games, in chat rooms, sending personal e-mails or other personal uses.

Enforcement

Avila University reserves the right to monitor and record usage of network resources if a violation of policies has been observed, reported or there is a reasonable basis to suspect improper use. Information gained in this way may be used in disciplinary and/or criminal proceedings. Violations of this policy will be reported to the Vice President of Student Affairs. The above listed items of prescribed conduct are not intended to be all inclusive. Any behavior that is contrary to the ethical use of Avila computer technology will be subject to disciplinary action.

Abuses of any part of this technology policy may result in any of the following:

1. Warning to the user.

2. Short-term to long-term suspension of privileges to use the equipment or have access to the technology system.

3. Temporary or permanent suspension from Avila University, or any of the possible sanctions listed per the Code of Student Conduct.

4. Notification of law enforcement agencies.

5. The pursuit of appropriate civil and/or criminal remedies by Avila University in addition to any internal disciplinary actions taken by the University.

Copyrighted Materials and Licensed Software

Reproduction of copyrighted materials that have not been placed in the public domain or of software that has not been distributed as freeware, without the consent of the copyright holder is prohibited as set forth in the laws governing copyright. Violation of U.S. copyright laws can lead to civil damages as well as criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, and is prohibited by Avila University.

Avila University purchases and licenses the use of computer software from a variety of outside companies. Avila University does not own the copyright to this software or its related documentation and, unless authorized by the software developer, does not have the right to reproduce it for use on more than one computer. Avila University employees and students may use the software on local area networks or on multiple machines only in accordance with the license agreement. Avila University employees and students may not make, acquire or use unauthorized copies of computer software.

Education Pass Rates

Information on the pass rates for the Education major, including the Praxis exams, are available on the Avila University web site at www.Avila.edu.