OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

Washington Adventist University admits students of any race, gender, age, disability, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender, age, disability, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Washington Adventist University welcomes applications from all students whose principles and interests are in harmony with the policies and principles expressed in this Academic Catalog.

The university administration, working in conjunction with faculty, students and staff, assumes responsibility for interpreting these policies and principles in light of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s religious and moral heritage.

In compliance with Title IX regulations, the university has developed local enforcement procedures for the prompt and equitable resolution of both student and employee complaints.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Washington Adventist University is committed to providing access to learning opportunities for students with disabilities who meet the standard criteria for admission.

It is the responsibility of the student to provide current documentation (no more than three years old) from a licensed professional.  The documentation must include the nature of the disability the need for services and clearly describe the kinds of accommodations recommended by the licensed professional.

The student must complete and submit the Request for Disability Accommodation form four weeks prior to the start of the semester.  Please contact the Betty Howard Center for Student Success for additional information or to request the form.

COLLEGE STANDARDS AND STUDENT CONDUCT

As set forth in the university’s Statement of Mission, Washington Adventist University aims to develop the talent of its students and to instill in them the value of Christian service and excellence and to help them become “moral leaders in communities throughout the world.”

An environment hospitable to these goals requires students at the university to embrace certain moral standards and abide by certain rules of conduct.  The WAU Student Handbook describes student life and services in detail and sets forth the policies and standards students are expected to honor.  All students are asked to become familiar with the contents of the handbook before enrolling.

Because admission to WAU is a privilege, not a right, students must choose before enrolling whether they wish to accept the principles and standards of the university.  By enrolling at WAU, students indicate their commitment to honor and abide by the university policies and regulations as long as they are students of the university.

After enrollment, students who are out of harmony with the mission, governance and standards of the university and who are not willing to comply voluntarily with these standards can expect dismissal from the university.

FREEDOM FROM HARRASSMENT

Sexual harassment at WAU will not be tolerated.  WAU adheres to the Guidelines for Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964) administered by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regarding sexual harassment.  Definition of the guidelines, as well as the specific policy and procedures for reporting implicit or explicit sexual harassment, are outlined in detail in the Student Handbook.

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT | FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. ß 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.  Each educational agency or institution shall annually notify students currently in attendance, of their rights under FERPA.

Annual notification of these rights typically occurs by August 31 of the fall semester at Washington Adventist University.  The annual notice is provided in published documentation, such as in the Academic Catalog, videos, and PowerPoint presentations.  In addition, the notification can be sent electronically.

A copy of the annual notice will be also published on WAU’s website at two distinct locations:

• Academic Catalog
• Student Consumer Information page

Students have the right to inspect, amend, provide written consent and file a complaint, in regards to their records: Under FERPA, a school must provide a student with an opportunity to inspect and review his/her education records within 45 days following its receipt of a request.

Right to Inspect

Students have the right to inspect and review their education records kept by any office of the university.  Students wishing to review their records must submit a written request to the administrator responsible for the record.  Students may obtain from the Office of the Registrar more detailed information about the privacy act and university policies concerning it.

Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for eligible students to review the records.  Schools may charge a fee for copies.  Pictures of records are not permitted.

Right to Amend

Students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading.

Students wishing to amend their records must submit a written request to the administrator responsible for the record.  If the school decides not to amend the record, the eligible student then has the right to request a formal hearing at the direction of the provost.

After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

Right to Provide Written Consent

Students have the right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

There are a few criteria where FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent:

• Schools are permitted to disclose directory information, although students may choose to restrict this information.
• School officials may disclose or have access to student information if it is considered to be for legitimate educational interest.
• Other schools to which a student is transferring;
• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
• Accrediting organizations;*
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
• State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific state law.

*At Washington Adventist University additional information is sent to accreditors and their subsidiaries (i.e., Seventh-day Adventist Conferences) for those who have declared they are Seventh-day Adventist.

Note: For the purpose of this notice, only the first two criteria above will be clarified further below.

Directory Information

WAU has instituted the policy to share directory information to a third party without the written consent of the student.  Students may opt to restrict the release of their directory information to the public by filling out a Privacy Code request form in the registrar’s office.

It is important to understand that if a student asks that their directory information be made private this does not mean that a school official, within the university, who has demonstrated legitimate education interest is precluded from using the information to perform that official’s job duties.

The university considers the following to be directory information:

• Student name
• Address
• Telephone number
• School email address
• Marital status
• Fields of study
• Registration status
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees and awards received
• Previous educational institution attended
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

Personally identifiable information, including grade reports, will not be released to parents/guardians of dependent students unless a student specifically requests in writing that this be done.  FERPA Release Forms are available in the Office of the Registrar.

Legitimate Educational Interest

According to FERPA, an educational agency or institution may disclose personally identifiable information from an education record of a student, without their written consent required, if the disclosure meets one or more of the following conditions:

Washington Adventist University in concert with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. ß 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) has the policy that university school officials may obtain educational records of students as long as it constitutes a legitimate educational interest.

Federal guidelines do allow the university to share academic information with school officials who have a legitimate educational interest such as personnel employed by the university, contractor, consultant and other parties the university has outsourced for service on behalf of the university.

At WAU, a university school official is defined as anyone employed, contracted, or has an official relationship at the university.

A legitimate educational interest is defined as someone the institution has employed, contracted, consulted with, or has an official relationship with the university and would need to access specific student records and information to perform their designated job functions.  The university may limit the access granted of student records and information based upon if it meets the criteria of a legitimate educational interest.

Right to File a Complaint

Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Washington Adventist University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Contact:

Student Privacy Policy Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

RIGHTS OF PETITION

Students who believe they have valid reasons for requesting an exemption from, or an exception to, an academic, social, financial or housing policy may submit a written petition to the appropriate committee.

This petition must clearly state the request and must give supporting reasons.  A petition must have the signature of the student’s respective department chair or sponsor, indicating that the student has consulted with him or her concerning the matter and has that person’s endorsement or recommendation.

The chair of the committee will notify the student of the committee’s decision.  Committees do not approve student requests retroactively.

Information concerning petitions may be obtained as follows: