University Policies (A-H)

Academic Policies

For a full listing, consult the University Bulletin at http://bulletin.dom.edu/.

Academic Integrity Policy

Students of the university must conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. Failure to maintain academic integrity will not be tolerated. The following definitions of plagiarism, cheating and academic dishonesty are provided for understanding and clarity.

Definitions of Plagiarism, Cheating, and Academic Dishonesty

Student plagiarism is the presentation of the writing or thinking of another as the student’s own. In written or oral work a student may make fair use of quotations, ideas, images, etc., that appear in others’ work only if the student gives appropriate credit to the original authors, thinkers, owners, or creators of that work. This includes material found on the internet and in electronic databases.

Cheating entails the use of unauthorized or prohibited aids in accomplishing assigned academic tasks. Obtaining unauthorized help on examinations, using prohibited notes on closed-note examinations, and depending on others for the writing of essays or the creation of other assigned work are all forms of cheating.

Academic dishonesty may also include other acts intended to misrepresent the authorship of academic work or to undermine the integrity of the classroom or of grades assigned for academic work. Deliberate acts threatening the integrity of library materials or the smooth operation of laboratories are among possible acts of academic dishonesty.

Sanctions for Violations of Academic Integrity

If an instructor determines that a student has violated the academic integrity policy, the instructor may choose to impose a sanction, ranging from refusal to accept a work project to a grade of F for the assignment or a grade of F for the course. When a sanction has been imposed, the instructor will inform the student in writing. The instructor must also inform the student that she/he has the right to appeal this sanction and refer the student to the academic appeals process described in the bulletin. The instructor will send a copy of this letter to the Office of the Dean of the college in which the course was offered. The dean will note whether a student, in her or his academic course work, has committed multiple violations of the academic integrity policy over time. In such cases, the dean may impose further sanctions, including warning/reprimand, failure of a course, suspension, or expulsion, with written notification to the student and instructor when appropriate. The student may appeal the dean’s sanction to the committee (within the appropriate college or school) responsible for overseeing educational policies.

Academic Appeals Process

Any disagreement with regard to academic procedure, including individual cases of alleged violation of academic integrity and final grades, should be first taken up with the instructor. If this does not settle the matter satisfactorily, the matter should be taken up with the department chair or school director, whichever is appropriate. If the issue cannot be resolved at the department level or with the school director, it should then be presented to the dean of the college/school in which the course was offered. If the issue is still not resolved, the student has the right to present the issue in writing to the committee of that dean’s college or school responsible for overseeing educational policies. The committee will request a written response from the instructor and may, at its discretion, seek further clarifications from the student, instructor, and/or dean. The committee will evaluate the student’s appeal and vote to approve or deny it. A written response will be sent directly to the student presenting the appeal, including grade adjustments if appropriate, with a copy to the faculty member. In the event of a successful appeal of an alleged violation of academic integrity, the original letter of notification from the instructor will be expunged from the dean’s file. Students wishing to file an appeal based on fall courses must do so no later than the end of the subsequent spring semester. Students wishing to file an appeal based on spring or summer courses must do so no later than the end of the subsequent fall semester.

Declining Performance, Probation, and Dismissal

To ensure students get the needed academic assistance when they are struggling, students who are not on probation, but have a semester grade point average below 2.0, will be encouraged to take advantage of the academic resources the university offers. If a student has a semester grade point average below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters and is not on probation, he or she will be required to:

Meet with an advisor in the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences office twice in a semester.
Complete an Academic Recovery Plan and Academic Preparation Plan.
Students are placed on probation if their Dominican cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00, at which point students are not in good academic standing. While on Academic Probation, students are required to:
Register for ID 102 - Strategies for Academic Success (3 credit hours).
Students who have a cumulative GPA of 1.67 or higher may register for a maximum of four additional courses.
Students who have a cumulative GPA below 1.67 may register for a maximum of three additional courses.
Meet with an advisor in the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences Office on a monthly basis.
Complete an Academic Recovery Plan and Academic Preparation Plan.
Attend Scholars Hour

Normally, students are dismissed if they have earned no credits by the end of their first semester or are on probation for two semesters. Students who have been dismissed must wait at least one semester before applying for readmission. Other restrictions may apply. Further details are available in the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office. Neither the university nor any of its officers shall be under any liability whatsoever for the actions of probation or dismissal.

Repeating Courses

A student who has previously passed a Dominican course may repeat that course only once. If a passing grade is earned in the repeated course, the credit will be posted for the term in which the course was repeated and deducted from the totals for the term in which the course was previously passed. Both grades will remain in the student’s record and be posted to the student’s transcript; if both grades are C or higher, both will be calculated into the cumulative grade point average. A student may repeat at Dominican a course he or she previously failed at Dominican until the student passes the course, at which time the above policy comes into effect.

The policy for grades below C is covered below as part of the Grade Forgiveness policy.

Grade Forgiveness

If a student repeats at Dominican a course in which a C-, D, or F grade was previously received in a course taken at Dominican, each grade will remain in the student’s record and be posted to the student’s transcript, but only the most recent grade will be counted in calculating the cumulative grade point average.

Satisfactory Progress

Full-time students are expected to maintain an average rate of progress during each academic year of 12 earned credit hours per semester of registration. The university reserves the right to deny further full-time enrollment to a student who falls below this standard. Neither the university nor any of its officers shall be under any liability whatsoever for such denial. While 12 hours per semester are necessary for satisfactory progress, a student taking no more than 12 hours per semester will need more than ten semesters to complete the 124 hours required for a degree.

Withdrawal

Students who wish to withdraw from the university must inform the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office in person or in writing. No refund is given for unauthorized withdrawal. Upon notification that the student has withdrawn from the university, grades of W will be recorded for all courses from which the student withdrew. When the student accounts office has received notice of withdrawal from the advising office, refunds, if appropriate, will be made in keeping with the schedule outlined on the page.

Alcohol and Drug Policy

Drug Free Campus/Workplace Policy Statement

The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act mandates that institutions of higher education adopt and implement a policy designed to prevent the unlawful possession, use, dispensation or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by faculty, staff and students and, provide certification to the Department of Education that such a policy is in place. The university has developed this policy not only in response to this federal anti-drug legislation, but also to provide a healthy environment by preventing the use of illegal drugs or the abuse of alcohol within the university community.

Any faculty, staff or student who violates this policy or does not cooperate with the university in its attempts to maintain a drug-free environment will face disciplinary action up to and including termination/expulsion from the university. Such persons also may be required, as a condition of continuing their relationship with the university, to enroll in substance-abuse counseling and/or a treatment program at their own expense. Individuals violating any town ordinances, state criminal laws or federal laws relating to alcohol or drug use also risk fines and imprisonment.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with resources available in the area for substance-abuse counseling and treatment. In addition, the counseling services in the Wellness Center are available to assist students with substance-related problems. In emergency situations, faculty and staff may also request their assistance in the identification of referral services. The Wellness Center respects the confidential nature of information shared by participants in its programs. If questions arise related to any of these guidelines or policies, please direct them to the appropriate university department.

This policy applies to all Dominican University faculty, staff and students..

In compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, Dominican University is committed to the maintenance of a drug-free workplace and is committed to rigorous enforcement of applicable laws and policies to support those trying to cope with drug-related problems.
Dominican University is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in compliance with applicable laws. The unlawful possession, use, distribution, dispensation, sale or manufacture of controlled substances is prohibited on university premises. Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment and or expulsion from the university in the case of students. .
The illegal or improper use of controlled substances can: seriously injure the health of others: adversely impair the performance of responsibilities: and endanger the safety and well-being of fellow employees, students and members of the general public. It is therefore the policy of Dominican University to discourage the use of controlled substances by its faculty, staff and students at any time. Faculty and staff seeking resources for substance abuse issues may confidentially contact Human Resources. Students can contact the Wellness Center for confidential support and resources. .
An employee of Dominican University will notify his/her supervisor if he/she is convicted of a criminal drug offense involving the workplace within five days of conviction (this includes student workers). Such conviction will be grounds for mandatory evaluation and possible treatment for a substance abuse disorder, and for disciplinary action up to and including termination. In the event any such conviction involves an employee working on a federal contract or grant, the University will notify the granting or contracting federal agency within 10 days of receiving notice of a conviction.
This statement and its requirements are promulgated in accordance with the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 enacted by the U.S. Congress. The university will continue its effort to maintain a drug-free environment by adhering to the above policy and by providing on-going drug awareness programs.
Failure to comply with the foregoing rules will be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination. The terms of this policy statement are conditions of employment at the university.

ALCOHOL POLICY

Alcohol is not allowed in public areas of the university. This includes, but is not limited to, classrooms, lounges, parking lots, library, etc.
The purchasing or selling of alcohol is never allowed, unless the event has been approved by the Dean of Students
No one under the age of 21 is allowed to possess or consume alcohol.
Any alcohol that is possessed by a minor, and/or is present during any policy violation, may be confiscated and/or emptied.
Excessive drinking and intoxication will not be tolerated. Members of the community who choose to drink will be held fully responsible for their behavior while under the influence of alcohol. Loss of control due to intoxication in no way excuses or justifies violation of state law, university regulations or the rights of others.
Any violation of state laws regarding alcohol will be considered grounds for university disciplinary action.

Any event sponsored by a university department, organization or group at which alcohol will be served or consumed must be registered with the office of the Dean of Students. A checklist assuring all standards have been adhered to will be filled out by the hosting/sponsoring department or division and approved by the office of the Dean of Students.

The hosting/sponsoring department or division of the event is responsible for all aspects of the event including, but not limited to, the following standards:

Registering and purchasing all liquor licenses in compliance with local, state and federal laws.
Hiring of sufficient security personnel.
Supervision of underage persons to ensure there is not underage consumption of alcohol (i.e., carding). No one under the age of 21 is allowed to serve, possess or consume alcohol.
Completing and submitting all facilities reservation and set-up forms.
Removal and disposal of all unused alcohol.
Any and all costs for insurance or damage to university property.
No kegs, beer bongs, party balls or other common containers of alcohol are allowed, unless advance written notice is made by the appropriate university official and approved by the Dean of Students.

RESIDENCE HALLS

Only those ages 21 or older may possess or consume alcohol, and this is permissible only in the residence halls room of those that are 21 or over. Both residents and visitors in the room where alcohol is being consumed must be 21 or over.
Those who are 21 or older are prohibited from giving alcohol to minors.
No one under 21 may be present in a residence hall room where alcohol is being consumed, unless it is a host student’s roommate.
Anyone of legal drinking age bringing alcohol into the residence hall must cover it.
Common-source containers (kegs, etc.) are not allowed, and will be confiscated and not returned.
Students may not display empty containers, including but not limited to, shot glasses, wine bottles, etc. Students are not allowed to display alcohol promotions or advertisements.

DRUG POLICY

The unlawful use, possession, manufacturing, selling, and/or distribution of illicit drugs are strictly prohibited at Dominican University. Students, who illegally use, sell, create, possess, distribute or provide controlled substances will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the student code of conduct. Any drug or drug paraphernalia will be confiscated from the student and not returned. This includes, but is not limited to, roach clips, scales, bowls, baggies, hookahs, bongs, etc. When adjudicating any case involving drugs, physical evidence of drug use is not required for a finding of responsibility in a case. Scent or smell of drug use, or other behaviors and/or observations made by students and/or university officials and personnel, may be used in determining the outcome.

Bookstore

Return Policy

Non-textbook items in resalable condition may be refunded or exchanged within 30 days of purchase with original receipt. Clothing must have original tag attached.
Electronics may be returned if in original unopened condition.
Textbooks in resalable condition may be refunded with receipt by date listed in the bookstore, after the date within two business days of purchase thereafter.
Textbooks purchased during or after mid-term exams are non-returnable, but may be sold back to the bookstore at any time.
Upon proof of dropping a course or course cancellation, Stepan Bookstore will accept textbook returns until the end of the official drop/add period. Rental textbooks must be checked-in by the last day of finals.

Please note:

Original receipt and photo ID are required for all refunds/exchanges.
All shrink-wrapped books must remain unopened, all supplemental materials must be present and unopened, and all materials must be in original condition.
Coursepacks, exam review books and magazines are non-returnable.
Students are not allowed to use parents’ credit cards unless the parent is present. Parents may purchase textbooks or gift cards for their students online at www.stepanstore.com.

Copyright

Definition of copyright: The U.S. Copyright Office defines copyright as: a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States for “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, architectural, cartographic, choreographic, pantomimic, pictorial, graphic, sculptural and audiovisual creations.” “Copyright” literally means the right to copy but has come to mean that body of exclusive rights granted by law to copyright owners for protection of their work. Copyright protection does not extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, title, principle, or discovery, though these may be protected by a patent. Similarly, names, titles, short phrases, slogans, familiar symbols, mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, coloring, and listings of contents or ingredients are not subject to copyright, though they may be protected by a trademark. For more information please consult: http://copyright.gov/title17/circ92.pdf

Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504-505.

Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.

For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at http://www.copyright.gov/.

In addition to potential civil and criminal penalties, unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including (but not limited to) unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, constitutes a violation of University policy, and may result in disciplinary action by the University, up to and including termination/dismissal for employees and dismissal/expulsion for students.

Students must follow the copyright guidelines when doing research, publishing, or presenting material in a classroom or public setting. You should also note the following:

Cite where you obtained your material. Even for PowerPoint presentations (and especially for Prezi presentations on the web), it is important to indicate where you obtained your material. Just because it’s “on the web” does not mean it is free from copyright. Fair use—while definitely in your favor as a student—does not mean “free to copy,” especially when it is an entire work.

If using photographic material, limit your photos/illustrations to material with a Creative Commons license. Both Flickr and Google Images allow you to limit searches using their advanced searches to materials with a Creative Commons license.

Information regarding Fair Use for students is available in the Fair Use & TEACH Act Resources tab of this guide.

It is likewise important to realize that your work as a student is protected by copyright. Any work you author is automatically copyrighted—whether you filed for copyright or not. While parts of your work may be used under fair use guidelines, other reproduction requires your approval.

Detection services such as Turnitin do NOT violate your copyright, as decided in 2009 by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Drones and Hover Boards

Due to safety concerns hover boards and drones are banned from all Dominican University properties and buildings. Hover boards include but are not limited to self-balancing scooters, hands free segways & electric powered skateboards. The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) is currently investigating several Hover board related incidents and considers this a high priority.

Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles, similar to remote controlled model airplanes, many with camera/video capabilities: the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is in the process of regulating these products.

Facilities Use

Students must abide by the posted hours and purpose for facilities and buildings.

Only recognized student organizations and groups may reserve university facilities for events and activities.

Gambling

Students are expected to abide by the federal laws and the laws of the State of Illinois prohibiting illegal gambling, including online gaming. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to, betting on, wagering on, or selling pools on any university athletic event; possessing on one’s person or premises (e.g., room, residence unit, car) any card, book or other device for registering bets; knowingly permitting the use of one’s premises or one’s telephone or other electronic communications device for illegal gambling; knowingly receiving or delivering a letter, package or parcel related to illegal gambling; offering, soliciting or accepting a bribe to influence the outcome of an athletic event; and, involvement in bookmaking or wagering pools with respect to sporting events.

Guest Responsibility and Visitation

Students and student organizations are responsible for the behavior of their guest(s) while they are on property owned or controlled by the university or in attendance at its sponsored events. The host student or student organization assumes full responsibility for the guest compliance with all prescribed university policies and procedures, including those specific to residence hall visitation.

Residence hall students are allowed to have guests under the following policy:
The visitation policy allows for 24-hour visitation on all floors in the residence halls. All guests must check-in and comply with the guest policy. Main campus students must register as guests at Aquinas Hall, and Aquinas students must check in as guests when visiting the main campus. All non-DU guests must present a government issued picture ID. Dominican University commuter students must present their Student IDs. The host student must escort his/her guest(s) at all times. Guests under 16 years of age are exempt from showing ID, but must be checked-in. University officials, members of law enforcement and/or other approved personnel are allowed in the residence halls without checking in or having a host.

The 24-hour visitation policy has several conditions:
• A resident must have the agreement of his/her roommate in order to host a guest.
• No cohabitation is allowed. Individuals not assigned to the room may not live in the room. Members of the opposite sex are not allowed to “live” or stay as overnight guests.
• Guests may stay in the residence halls for a maximum of three nights per three-week period. Residents and guests abusing this policy will forfeit the privilege of having guests.
• No one under the age of 12 is allowed in the residence halls after 8 p.m. and before 8 a.m.
• Residents must acquaint their guests with all university and residence hall policies. Residents will be held responsible for the actions of their guests and/or anyone checked in under their name.
• Residents must escort their guests at all times, including when guest is leaving the residence halls and checking out. This includes escorting guests in and out of the building. Guests who are not escorted by their hosts may be asked to leave the hall. A resident student may have no more than three guests at one time.

Hazing

All acts of hazing by any individual student, athletic team and university registered student club or organization and any of its members or alumni are prohibited. Students are entitled to be treated with consideration and respect, and no individual may perform an act that is likely to cause physical or psychological harm or social ostracism to any other person within the university community. Accordingly, the following behavior is expressly forbidden as hazing when related to the admission, initiation, pledging, joining or any other group-affiliation activity:

Physical abuse (on or off campus), including but not limited to paddling, slapping, kicking, choking, scratching and exposure to extreme (i.e. cold or hot) water temperatures, the consumption of disgusting and/or dangerous concoctions;
Causing excessive mental stress, including but not limited to placing prospective members of an organization or group in ambiguous situations which lead to confusion and emotional stress, sleep deprivation;
Verbal abuse, including but not limited to shouting, screaming or use of derogatory, profane or obscene language; or
Subservience, including but not limited to any activity which promotes a class system within organizations or activities which facilitate inappropriate levels of authority over students.

This list is not exhaustive and any student or organization found to be involved in any hazing activity will face conduct action. Violation of this policy exists irrespective of the voluntary or consensual participation in the hazing activity by the person being hazed.

Health Insurance

All F1 or J1 Visa holders must be covered by health insurance that meets federal guidelines (ACA).