University Policies

Attendance: 

It is expected that students carefully review the College policy on Attendance and notify instructors of any concerns at the beginning of the semester or as soon as possible. Students are expected to attend all meetings of courses for which they are registered beginning with the first day of the semester (or first class). Students are expected to attend in person unless they have received an approved accommodation to attend remotely due to a medical condition or disability through Student Accessibility Services. Students are expected to know the university’s academic calendar. Students should avoid making personal travel or other plans that require them to miss classes during the semester or final exams. Students, as well as the instructors, offer an important contribution to the courses by their presence and participation. 

Students with Disabilities:

Nazareth University is committed to supporting the diverse learning needs of our community. Students are encouraged to meet with instructors at the beginning of the course to express anticipated learning questions and barriers. Please set a meeting with your instructor during office hours at the beginning of the semester. Students are encouraged to connect with the course instructor as soon as possible should any concerns arise during the semester to allow for timely problem solving.

If you are seeking disability accommodations, or you think you may have a disability, contact Student Accessibility Services to begin the process of seeking official accommodations. Learn more about SAS here: https://www2.naz.edu/student-accessibility-services/ 

It is the student’s responsibility to share their approved Nazareth University accommodation letter with their instructor to apply their accommodations in each course. 

Medical Absences:

If a student will be absent from class for 3 or more consecutive days, the student (or the student’s medical provider) must notify the Office of Student Success (OSS). OSS will send a “notification of absence” alert through the FlyerSuccess System to notify instructors. When the student has indicated absence is due to an illness or injury of any kind, the notice will only indicate “illness” or “injury” as the reason. It will not provide additional details surrounding the absence. As is the case with any extended absence, it is the student’s responsibility to work with the instructor to make up missed work. Refer to the course-specific attendance policy instructors have developed for each course for additional details. If a student will be out for fewer than 3 days, they are asked to simply communicate with the instructor directly and no official notification will be sent.

Health and Safety:

While not required, and to protect the health and safety of the entire Nazareth community, Nazareth encourages students, faculty and staff to stay up-to-date with vaccines and boosters to protect against COVID-19. To view current guidelines for the COVID-19 vaccine, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html

Further, in order to prevent infectious spread of respiratory illness and out of respect for your fellow classmates and instructors, Nazareth strongly encourages use of masks indoors when exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. This includes fever, nasal congestion, excessive sneezing, sore throat, and/or cough.

Religious Observance and Fasting Accommodations:

Nazareth University respects the diversity of religious holy day/holidays by providing reasonable accommodations for students who may be unable to fully participate in class, clinics, exams, rehearsals, labs, student teaching, or other assignments due to observation of a significant/major religious holiday.

Students who are unable to participate in any class, examination, or assignment due to religious holy day/holiday requirements shall not be penalized, provided the instructor has been notified via email at least two weeks prior to the absence. Some accommodations may include travel time home for students who do not live locally.

Accommodations for obligatory religious fasting (e.g., Ramadan): Reasonable accommodations for religious fasting will be offered when possible. Such accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• Allowing the student to take an exam or final exam before the fasting period begins (if possible)

• Allowing the student to take an exam or final exam at a different time during the day

Regardless of the reason for absence, it is the responsibility of the student to make up all missed work to the satisfaction of the instructor. Students must meet deadlines for course requirements during the period of absence unless the student makes alternate arrangements with the instructor prior to the original due date.

Please contact the Center for Spiritually with questions: http://www.naz.edu/center-for-spirituality/

Snow days:

In the event the University is closed unexpectedly because of weather or other unplanned reasons, the instructor has the option to continue continue class through virtual delivery.

Academic Integrity:

Academic Integrity is defined as “honest and responsible scholarship” (University of Oklahoma, 2018) and is further characterized by the five values designated by the International Center for Academic Integrity: “honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility” (International Center for Academic Integrity, 2014, p. 16). Nazareth University shares the Center’s preference for an academic, supportive, and promotive approach to academic integrity rather than one focused mainly on violation detection and disciplinary consequence.

Nazareth recognizes the interdependence among these five values. Trust of instructors follows fair treatment of students. Trust among scholars at all levels depends on honesty, and respect is earned when we hold ourselves as responsible as we expect others to hold themselves. In these ways, academic freedom is earned with academic integrity.

In addition to modeling academic integrity, it is often the responsibility of faculty to teach students the importance of academic honesty as well as the procedures for recognizing the work of others. So informed, students are then responsible for holding themselves to the same standards. Course instructors are familiar with their students, with their own disciplines’ conventions, and with their own coverage of those conventions at any given point in the semester. Therefore, instructors are best situated initially to assess the nature and extent of violations of academically honest practice. This begins with distinguishing errors due to insufficient education on the one hand, and deliberate violations on the other.

For information on the full policy and for information on the procedure to be followed in the event that an instructor believes a violation of academically honest practice may have occurred, visit the “Academic Integrity” section in the undergraduate catalog or graduate catalog.

Generative AI:

Generative AI programs (e.g., ChatGPT) may be useful tools for assisting with various tasks; however, be aware that material generated by these programs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise problematic. You may not submit any work generated by an AI program as your own.  Any plagiarism or other form of cheating using AI will be considered a violation of Nazareth University's Academic Integrity policy.

Class Recording:

Nazareth University has equipped multiple instructional classrooms with lecture recording equipment which can digitally capture lectures and presentations. Lecture recording is primarily intended to extend virtual accessibility of the lecture experience to students who have registered for a specific course for a specific period of time.

Whether the course is fully in-person or fully online, class sessions may be recorded at the instructor’s discretion. Student access to digital records of classes is also determined by the instructor for each course. Student access to the recordings should be linked through the password-protected learning management system (Moodle).

Students must not independently record class sessions without instructor permission. Doing so may be considered a violation of academic integrity. Please visit our Echo360 and Zoom sites for additional information about student privacy and Nazareth’s recording policies.

Intellectual Property:  

In accordance with the Nazareth University Policy on Intellectual Property, faculty ordinarily own the copyright of course and scholarship materials. Therefore, it is only the faculty member who may reproduce, distribute, or display (post/upload) course materials. Students may not reproduce, distribute, or display (post/upload) course materials without the express, written permission of the faculty member.

Sexual Assault and Misconduct: 

Nazareth University is committed to fostering a climate free from sexual harassment, including sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and to providing options, support, and assistance to members of our community affected by various forms of sexual misconduct. If you have been subjected to sexual misconduct, we encourage you to report the incident(s) to someone who can help. If you report an incident of sexual misconduct, including verbal, visual and/or physical harassment, sexual violence, dating or domestic violence, and/or stalking to a faculty or staff member, they must notify our Title IX Coordinator via titleix@naz.edu or 585-389-2026. The Title IX, or a Deputy Title IX, Coordinator will contact you to learn about what happened, ask for your preference about what to do next, discuss available supportive measures and connect you to appropriate resources. For more information about your options, please go to: www.naz.edu/titleix. You may choose to speak confidentially with certain individuals on campus and in the community who can also connect you with support services, as well as discuss options for addressing sexual misconduct. A list of these resources can be found in the Sexual Misconduct Policy and the Nazareth University Policy on Title IX Sex Discrimination: Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Title IX Sexual Harassment, both of which are available online at: www.naz.edu/titleix. 

Diversity Statement:

Nazareth University embraces a society that is both diverse and inclusive, and values both respect for the person and freedom of speech. Respect for the dignity of all people is an essential part of the University’s tradition, mission, and vision for the future as we advance a socially just and equitable community. The University promotes civility and denounces acts of hatred, violence, and/or intolerance. As your instructor, it is my goal that students from a breadth of diverse backgrounds, identities, and perspectives be recognized and respected, that students’ learning needs be addressed, and that the diversity students bring to this class in all its forms and intersections be viewed as a resource, strength, and value in the pursuit of academic excellence. Your suggestions toward co-creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment are welcomed and encouraged in order to improve the effectiveness of this course for you and the other students.

Non-Discrimination Policy: 

It is the policy of Nazareth University not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, carrier status, genetic predisposition, or any other protected status in the admission of students to the University; in any of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the University; in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other programs administered by the University; or in the employment practices of the University. Inquiries concerning the application of this policy prescribed by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 may be directed to the Director of Human Resources, Nazareth University, 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618-3790, (585) 389-2060. The Director of Human Resources has been named to coordinate the responsibilities under Title IX and Section 504.

Computing Code of Conduct - Rules of Conduct:  

The institutional policy regarding verification and protection of student identity for all students (online/distance education courses included) is the Nazareth University Computing Code of Conduct. The first three rules within the Rules of Conduct specifically reference the secure identity of a student registered and participating in a distance education course or program, as their registration and participation in an online course is directly linked to the use of their MyNaz student account to access and complete coursework through our institute’s learning management system (Moodle).

Please refer to the University’s Graduate Catalog, Computing Code of Conduct, Student Handbook, and CSD Graduate Handbook for additional information on specific policies.