Academic Appeals
The College maintains an Academic Appeals Committee, appointed each year by the President. Committee membership includes both faculty and students. The committee reviews cases that cannot be satisfactorily resolved in the normal student-instructor classroom relationship, as well as cases in which college policy or procedure creates conflicts which cannot be resolved through informal means.
Students are entitled to full due process before this committee, and a student who feels that there are circumstances in a situation which warrant an academic appeals hearing may petition the Academic Appeals Committee to review the facts pertaining to the situation.
Students should contact the Vice President for Student Services for an explanation of the process and/or forms to begin the appeal.
Academic Honesty
Academic Integrity is a vital element of any learning community. NPC faculty hold themselves to the highest standards in this regard and expects their students to do the same. Students who compromise the integrity of academic inquiry are subject to disciplinary action on the part of the College. Please refer to the NPC catalog for consequences for violation of academic honesty.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
It is the intent of NPC to work toward full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and to make their facilities accessible to students, staff and visitors and to make the various instructional programs accessible to all people, or to provide reasonable accommodations according to the law. It is the policy of NPC that no individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, and advantages or accommodations at the College.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment of students is illegal in accordance with section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and/or Title IX of the Elementary/ Secondary Act of 1972.
The College is committed to providing an environment of study and work free from sexual harassment. Sexual harassment of students is prohibited in and out of the classroom and in the evaluation of students' academic performance.
Unwelcome sexual advances toward any student should be reported to the Vice President for Student Services. Counselors, instructors, and any other employees who know of such situations are instructed to help students get such complaints to the Human Relations Coordinator, if assistance is needed. The student should follow the procedural guidelines established in the NPC Sexual Harassment Policy.
Student Records Privacy Rights
A student's academic record is confidential and will not be released to unauthorized persons without written approval from the student. The following items are considered public information and may be made available upon inquiry unless the student requests nondisclosure for the enrollment period: name, address, e-mail address, phone number, place and date of birth, citizenship status, number of academic hours completed, academic major, full-time or part-time status, academic and nonacademic honors, other academic institutions attended, degree obtained and date conferred, campus activities, leadership positions, and dates of attendance.
NPC complies fully with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 which was designated to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearing. Students also have the right to file complaints with The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act office concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the Act.
Question concerning FERPA may be directed to the Registrar's Office.
Duty to Report Child Abuse, Maltreatment or Neglect
It is the statutory duty of certified school district employees who have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment to directly and personally report these suspicions to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline, by calling 1-800-482-5964. Failure to report suspected child abuse, maltreatment or neglect by calling the Hotline can lead to criminal prosecution and individual civil liability of the person who has this duty. Notification of local or state law enforcement does not satisfy the duty to report; only notification by means of the Child Abuse Hotline discharges this duty.
The duty to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment is a direct and personal duty, and cannot be assigned or delegated to another person. There is no duty to investigate, confirm or substantiate statements a student may have made which form the basis of the reasonable cause to believe that the student may have been abused or subjected to maltreatment by another person; however, a person with a duty to report may find it helpful to make a limited inquiry to assist in the formation of a belief that child abuse, maltreatment or neglect has occurred, or to rule out such a belief. Employees and volunteers who call the Child Abuse Hotline in good faith are immune from civil liability and criminal prosecution.
By law, no school district or school district employee may prohibit or restrict an employee or volunteer from directly reporting suspected child abuse or maltreatment, or require that any person notify or seek permission from any person before making a report to the Child Abuse Hotline.
