For detailed information on policies related to the federal compliance issues listed below and others, please visit the SAU website: https://www.arbor.edu/policies/student-right-to-know/.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Spring Arbor University does not discriminate illegally based on sex, race, color, national origin, or disability in admissions or employment, and complies with Title IX (with legal exemptions), Sec. 504, and Title VI.
Credit Hour Policy
Spring Arbor University defines a credit hour for federal financial aid purposes as a unit that denotes the approximate and reasonable amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes for a course, verified by evidence of student achievement. Each credit hour awarded represents the equivalent to at least one of the following measures:
- One credit hour represents the equivalent to one clock hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two clock hours of course-related work completed outside of instructional time for approximately 15 weeks. Equivalent work is required for modular or accelerated courses with reduced seat time and for other academic activities leading to the awarding of credit hours, such as laboratory work, studio work, and other similar academic coursework.
- Practica and internships require approximately 40 clock hours of documented work in the field along with other academic requirements for each credit hour awarded.
- Courses that do not require classroom or direct faculty instruction as specified in paragraph (1) must meet at least one of the following criteria for credit hour consideration.
- The course materials and rigor are equivalent to the face-to-face version of the course as determined by the department.
- The course content and rigor have been evaluated and approved by the department and/or college and have been deemed eligible for the awarding of the designated number of credit hour units.
Departments and instructors are encouraged to use the Credit Hour Assumptions Worksheet when creating course curriculum to ensure time and work expected for learning outcomes is approximately equivalent to one of the criteria listed above.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 was developed to protect the privacy of education records, establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings.
Under FERPA, eligible students have the right to have access to education records, the right to seek to have the records amended when there is an inaccuracy (not for grade changes), the right to have control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) from the records (except in certain circumstances specified in the FERPA regulations), and the right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-8520. The term “education record” is defined as those records that contain information directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution.
FERPA protects PII from being released without the student’s consent except for school officials with a legitimate educational interest and other exceptions defined by the Act. School officials include employees of the University and persons, agencies, or organizations working in an official capacity on behalf of the University, including volunteers. Legitimate educational interest is defined as a need for PII in order to effectively complete the assigned duties of a school official’s position or role as determined by University managers of PII. Students may give consent for the University to release PII to third parties other than school officials and entities covered in the Act by completing the FERPA waiver in the student portal.
FERPA permits the University to release, without student consent, directory information. Directory information includes the student’s name, address (including email), telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most previous educational agency or institution attended. Students have the right to restrict the institution from releasing directory information. If students choose to restrict such release, they need to activate a Directory Information Hold on the SAU student portal. Questions concerning the FERPA may be directed to: Office of Registration and Records, Spring Arbor University, 106 E. Main Street, Spring Arbor, MI 49283.
Students with Disabilities
The Academic Support Center (ASC) provides various equipment and services to aid students with disabilities, and the ASC staff is trained to personally help meet the needs of students. More information about services provided by ASC can be found on the University’s website.
Title IX - Sexual Discrimination
Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” Information about the University’s Title IX grievance procedures can be found on the SAU website.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illegal Drug Use Policies
The U.S. Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989 provides that each institution of higher education receiving any form of federal financial assistance (including student loans or grants) must adopt a policy regarding the unlawful use, possession, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by its students and employees and implement a prevention program. Information about these policies is found on the website.
Sexual Misconduct Policies
In accordance with federal regulations, the University has published policies related to sexual misconduct on the website.
Formal Complaints
Formal complaint policies and processes for issues other than grade appeal, student housing, or student accountability may found at https://www.arbor.edu/about-spring-arbor-university/complaint-resolutions/.
Copyright Policies
The U.S. copyright law (Title XVII, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for or later uses a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
Military Leave of Absence Policy
Military Leave of Absence Eligibility
Only members of the U.S. military are eligible for leave of absence under this policy. Members of other countries’ militaries are not eligible. Unless notice is precluded by military necessity, students will be eligible for consideration for a military leave of absence after submitting a Military Leave of Absence Request form to the SAU Office of the Registration and Records. If the student is unable to submit this form due to deployment time frames or security issues, an appropriate officer of the Armed Forces or an official of the Department of Defense may also notify the Office of Registration and Records in writing ([email protected]). Orders for military deployment or active duty service should accompany requests for a military leave of absence (scan and attach to an email, or fax to 517-750-6534).
Military Leave of Absence Regulations
A military leave of absence allows U.S. military personnel who are students at Spring Arbor University to be readmitted and resume studies in the same degree program in which they are enrolled at the time of the leave request, meaning they will not be responsible for completing new program requirements that may be implemented during the leave period. If the curriculum has changed, suitable substitutions will be allowed. If the interrupted program has been discontinued during the leave of absence period, the institution will allow previous courses to substitute in an active program of study within the same discipline and within reason, according to discipline-related regulations and sound academic judgment. Students granted a military leave of absence will be given a refund of tuition and fees paid out-of-pocket for any unfinished coursework during the semester in which their studies are interrupted. Any funds paid toward earned credit will not be refunded. If applicable, housing and meal plan refunds will be prorated for the time remaining in the semester in which studies are interrupted. Refunds do not mean students will not owe the school any money for the semester, especially if the student used federal loans. Students requesting a military leave of absence from the University who received financial aid should contact the Office of Financial Aid to determine their financial responsibility to the University.
Students returning from military leave of absence will have guaranteed enrollment for the semester in which they return if the student is granted readmission under this policy (see readmission section below).
Military Leave of Absence Readmission
The cumulative length of the absence and all previous absences from the University for serving in the U.S. military cannot exceed five years, including the time the student spent performing military service and any recovery time for injuries sustained during military service. Veterans seeking admission to a different program are not eligible for readmission under this policy unless the original program of study is no longer offered at the University. If the program is no longer offered, the student must enroll in a replacement program or a program that is in the same field of study as the original program. Veterans who received a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge are not eligible for readmission under this policy.
Students qualify for leave-of-absence readmission after a period of at least 90 consecutive days serving in voluntary or involuntary active duty in the United States Armed Forces (including service by a member of the National Guard or Reserve on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty under federal authority). To be readmitted, students must submit 1) an application for readmission through the Office of Admissions, and 2) a Return from Military Leave of Absence form to the Office of Registration and Records no later than the admission application deadline for the upcoming term. Documentation of military separation or discharge must accompany the Return from Military Leave of Absence form via email attachment or fax to 517-750-6534. The registrar’s office will notify the Office of Admissions of the student’s intent to return under this policy.
Students who were not in academic, student conduct, or financial good standing with SAU before the leave of absence may not be readmitted, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
|