Students Rights and Responsibilities

College Policies and Federal Laws

Access/Services for Students with Disabilities

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (section 504) and the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) provide that “no otherwise qualified disabled individual in the United States… shall, solely on the basis of disability, be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by any institution receiving federal financial assistance.” This regulation requires that Doane programs be accessible to the disabled, but it does not require that every building or part of a building be accessible. Thus, it may be necessary to reschedule classes to accessible classrooms or take other steps to open some of the programs to students with mobility impairments.

1. Students interested in services related to a disability should notify the university of any special circumstances that would affect their ability to compete equally in the university environment. To assist the university in providing services, documentation of such disabilities must be provided by qualified professionals upon request.
2. While students are encouraged to self-identify at the earliest possible time, they can access services at any time by initiating the process described in number one above.
3. To initiate this process, students are encouraged to contact any of the following offices before arriving on campus classes so their needs can be anticipated, reviewed and accommodated: Academic Support Center, Enrollment Team, or Academic Advising.

For further information, refer to Federal Disclosure Information.  See Student Handbook for grievance procedure.

Access to College Records FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Acts of 1974 (commonly referred to as “FERPA” or the “Buckley Amendment”) is designed to protect the confidentiality of students’ educational records and to give students access to their records to assure accuracy. FERPA outlines four rights with respect to students Education Records. They are

1. Access to Education Records: Students have the right to inspect and review their Education Records within 45 days of the day the College receives a written request for access, anytime after their matriculation.
2. Request for Amendment of Education Records: Students have the right to request amendment of Education Records if they believe the records are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights.
3. Disclosure of Education Records: This right protects confidentiality of student records and requires the student’s signature to release academic records, such as transcripts. Some exceptions exist such as school officials who’ve been determined to have a legitimate educational interest, or information determined to be directory information. Examples of directory information include name, addresses, email, telephone numbers, major and/or minor fields of study, degree sought, expected date of completion of degree requirements and graduation, degrees conferred, awards and honors (e.g. Dean’s list), full or part time enrollment status, dates of attendance, or photograph.
4. Compliance: Students have the right to submit complaints concerning the College’s compliance with the requirement of FERPA to the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5920, or to the email address: ferpa@ed.gov.

For more information on FERPA, or to view the entire FERPA policy, please visit the Registrar’s web page or office.

Anti-harassment Policy

The Anti-harassment policy is found in the Employee Handbook.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

The State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and program.  It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state.  Nebraska is a member of SARA, and Doane University is a participating institution in SARA.

Complaints can be sent to SARA@doane.edu.  In the event that a complaint cannot be resolved at the University level, a student may contact the Nebraska state portal agency.

State Portal Agency Contact
Kathleen L. Fimple, Ph.D., Acad. Program Officer
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Ed.
P.O. Box 95005
Lincoln, NE 68509-5005
1.402.471.0030
kathleen.fimple@nebraska.gov

If you are not a resident of the State of Nebraska, you have the option of filing a complaint with your state licensing authority or with the Higher Learning Commission.

Title IX Policy Statement

It is the policy of Doane University not to discriminate on the basis of gender in its educational programs, activities, or employment policies as required by Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments.

Inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX may be directed to the Director of Human Resources, Doane University, 1014 Boswell Avenue, Crete, NE 68333 or to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D.C., 20202.

Verification of Student Identity

To meet federal guidelines, Doane requires all electronic coursework be submitted through Black Board or Doane e-mail. Blackboard requires students to login each time using their Doane login ID and password. All coursework e-mail correspondence is done using Doane assigned e-mail accounts. When student accounts are set up, the password is mailed to the student’s permanent address via US mail. Students can change their password via the web at any time to maintain their security.

Drug Free Policy

The university prohibits smoking inside the classrooms or in the building. In compliance with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986, as amended in 1989, Doane University explicitly prohibits unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and/or alcohol by students or employees on the premises or as part of any of its activities. Beverage alcohol may only be used in conjunction with specifically authorized functions by those of legal drinking age.

There are applicable legal sanctions in Nebraska for unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.