The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Western Iowa Tech Community College complies with the provisions of the Federal Family educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (“FERPA”). Under the Act, each student has the right to inspect and review their student records and request the amendment of inaccurate or misleading student records or request the amendment of student records to ensure they are not otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights.
FERPA also covers other information about student records that the College maintains, including, but not limited to, who has access to them, and for what purposes access is granted. Generally, FERPA allows the College to release personally identifiable information contained in student records with the student’s consent and without the student’s consent in some circumstances. FERPA also permits the College to release “directory information” without the student’s consent. Directory information consists of: Student name, student address and telephone number, date and place of birth, major/field of study, level of education, dates of attendance, degrees and honors earned and dates, and the most recent educational agency or institution attended prior to enrollment at the College.
Students who wish to restrict access to their records may do so in the Admissions Office. This same office can provide WITCC policy statements and guidelines for access or restricting of access to student records.
If a student feels the College has failed to comply with any provision of FERPA or its regulations, the student may file a complaint with the:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Reauthorization of Higher Education Act of 1998 includes the following requirements:
- Campus Safety is required to create and maintain a log of criminal incidents that are reported and make that log open to the public.
- The outcome of any campus disciplinary proceeding in which students have been accused of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense may be released to the public.
- The College may disclose to parents or legal guardian of a student, information regarding a violation of any federal, state or local law, or of any rule or policy of the institution governing the use or possession of alcohol or uncontrolled substance. This applies to any student under the age of 21 that the institution determines has committed a disciplinary violation with respect to such use or possession.
Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Americans With Disabilities Act Compliance
WITCC complies with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, amended act 2008, as well as other applicable federal, state, and local laws.
The person charged with monitoring and coordinating Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action matters, as well as compliance with the aforementioned laws is Jackie Plendl, Equal Employment Opportunity Administrator/ADA Coordinator. She is located in the Kiser Building, Room A242 or may be contacted by phone at (712) 274-8733, Ext. 1406.
Sexual and Gender Harassment
WITCC is pledged to maintain an environment conducive to work and study for staff and students. That environment must be free of sexual and gender harassment and all forms of sexual intimidation and exploitation. Such behavior, including (1) suggestions that academic reprisals or rewards will follow refusal or granting of sexual favors or (2) behavior which creates an intimidating or hostile academic environment constitutes gross misconduct and will not be tolerated.
Complaints regarding sexual and gender harassment can be directed to the Sexual Harassment Conciliator. She is located in Room A242 or may be contacted by phone at (712) 274-8733, ext. 1406.
Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of Western Iowa Tech Community College not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, actual or potential parent, family or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by federal and civil rights regulations.
If you have questions or complaints, please reference Board Policies at www.witcc.edu/board or call 712.317.3304 and/or email jackie.plendl@witcc.edu (employees) or call 712.317.3227 and/or email tawnya.beermann@witcc.edu (students) or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, phone number (312) 730-1560, fax 312.730.1576, TDD 800.877.8339; email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.
Individuals using assistive technology (such as a screen reader, Braille reader, etc.) who experience difficulty accessing information on this web site, should send an email to the Webmaster at webmaster@witcc.edu. The e-mail should include the nature of the accessibility problem and the individual’s e-mail address for a response. If the accessibility problem involves a particular Web page, the message should include the URL (Web address) of the page. We will contact individuals having accessibility problems within three business days to assist them and to provide them with the information being sought.
Discipline
Students are to maintain orderly conduct that is consistent with an educational environment. An instructor may remove a student from class for disciplinary/code of conduct related reasons. The violation is then reported to the Judicial Hearing Officer for review and action. The Judicial Hearing Officer is designated by the Dean of Students as the first point of contact, and has authority to act on any violation and take whatever action is deemed appropriate. The Judicial Hearing Officer will review all complaints and may dismiss the allegations, make an administrative disposition, or conduct a formal hearing. Possible disciplinary actions, procedures for disciplinary due process, and a list of potential sanctions and/or fines can be found in the Student Handbook or in the Catalog under Student’s Rights and Responsibilities .
SANCTIONS AND/OR FINES GUIDELINES
Below is an itemized list of fines and sanctions for specific violations of the Campus Code of Conduct Policies. It is important to note that College Administration reserves the right to sanction the student(s) involved in an incident on a case-by-case basis depending on the severity of the infraction.
Additional charges can be assessed to cover damage, repairs, and cleaning, and/or increasing the fine amount according to the number of offenses the student has. Furthermore, new items may be added at the discretion of the College Administration.
ALCOHOL
- Possession of Alcohol or Alcohol Container in Unit and/or Premises
- 1st Offense: Up to $100 and/or Termination of Occupancy & Dining Agreement
- 2nd Offense: Up to $200 and/or Termination of Occupancy & Dining Agreement
SMOKING
- Up to $100 first offense
- Up to $200 second offense
- (Additional expenses will be charged to remove smoke odor from walls and carpet, including repainting costs.)
DRUGS
- Possession of Illegal Drugs: $100 and up to Termination of Occupancy & Dining Agreement
- Possession of Illegal Drug Paraphernalia: $100 and up to Termination of Occupancy & Dining
Agreement
MISCELLANEOUS
- Burning Candles and/or Incense: $20
- Closet Doors Removed $20
- Dirty Unit: $25 per resident
- Disorderly Conduct: $75
- Excessive Cleaning: $25/hour
- Failure to Report Inappropriate Conduct: $75
- Holes in Doors, Walls, or Ceilings (minimum): $20 and repair cost
- Improper Check-out: $25/day, up to five (5) days, then the deposit is retained
- Lock Change for Unit: $50 per lock
- Lock Change for Mailbox: $10
- Lost or Damaged Key Bundle: $150
- Parking Permit Sticker: $25 after the first provided permit (FREE)
- Possession of Fireworks: Up to $100 and/or Termination of Housing Contract
- Possession of Weapon(s): Up to $100 and/or Termination of Housing Contract
- Storage of Excessive Amounts of Empty Beverage Containers: $10 per resident
- Temporary Parking Permit not returned: $10 charge each time
- Unauthorized Animals Kept: Up to $100 and cleaning cost
- Unauthorized Guest: $50, non-resident issued a trespass notice from housing.
- Unauthorized Sharing or Use of an Access Code: $100
- Unauthorized Unit Alterations: Up to $100 per person and repair cost
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