Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Office of Accessibility and Disability Support

Northwestern State University and the Office of Accessibility and Disability Support (OADS) are committed to making students with disabilities full participants in university programs, services, and activities through its compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. For further information the services offered through the OADS, please refer to page 47 in the 2021-2022 University Catalog, or visit: https://www.nsula.edu/disabilitysupport/

Student Academic Honesty Statement

If knowledge is to be properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from deceit and misrepresentation, which are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution. Northwestern State University expects students to fulfill academic requirements independently and with integrity. Academic integrity is founded on values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating or deception in any form, plagiarism (including duplicity), misuse of resources, falsification, and facilitating another student’s academic dishonesty. Acts of academic dishonesty violate the ethical principles of the University community and compromise work completed by others. For violations of academic honesty, a student may receive a grade of zero on the assignment and/or a grade of F in the class and will be referred to the Office of Accountability & Student Conduct to create a disciplinary record and/or receive any additional sanctions. For further information on Academic Honesty, please refer to pages 35-36 of the 2021-2022 University Catalog. For a comprehensive description of Academic Infractions, refer to Article 4 Section 1 of the Student Handbook which includes: 

1.1 Cheating or deception in any form: Misrepresenting one’s mastery of course content or experiential learning as a requirement for a course (i.e., internship, field work, practicum, service-learning, student teaching, clinical experience, etc.).

1.2 Plagiarism (including duplicity): Misrepresenting another’s words, ideas, phrases, sentences, or data as one’s own; the failure to properly acknowledge source material with citations and references; or the submission for credit substantially unchanged work in more than one course.

1.3 Misuse of resources: Acquiring or distributing, without permission, any academic material, which includes stealing, selling, posting, buying, blackmailing, or otherwise accessing or sharing any content used to fulfill academic requirements.

1.4 Falsification: Submitting false information to deceive, including substituting for another person, or permitting another person to substitute for oneself, using another’s identification, or forging proctor information.

1.5 Facilitating another student’s academic dishonesty: Collaborating, conspiring, or cooperating to fulfill academic requirements so as to misrepresent individual effort and knowledge.

Sexual Harassment & Assault

Northwestern State University is committed to eliminating sexual misconduct in our community, advocating for students who have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment, and respecting the rights of both complainants and respondents. Northwestern State prohibits discrimination and sexual misconduct on the basis of sex, which includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and coercion. NSU also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This policy includes protection for women, men, and all members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Reporting and Assistance: NSU strongly advocates reporting sex discrimination, sexual assault, intimate-partner violence, or sexual harassment. If a student discloses an incident, they will learn options for assistance, such as health and wellbeing counseling, residence and class accommodations, and options for filing complaints or criminal charges. Disclosure to University personnel will not obligate the complainant to file a grievance or criminal charge, nor will it subject the complainant to scrutiny or judgmental opinions.

Students have two options:

1. Reporting to the Title IX Coordinator, Christie Price (318) 357-5570 or University Police (318) 357-5431. For emergencies or a 24/7 Confidential Advisor, please call University Police.

2. Confidential Disclosure to Campus Counselor or Confidential Advisor (318) 357-5621

For a comprehensive list of parish-wide resources for assistance, please visit https://www.nsula.edu/notalone/.

Confidentiality: All reporting of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct is treated as confidential to the greatest extent possible; the privacy of all individuals involved is important to Northwestern State University.  In most situations, only individuals involved in the resolution of the situation will have access to the information about the case.  If there is a risk of the alleged perpetrator committing additional crimes, if a student is in immediate danger, or if there has been expressed intent to harm others, or other risks such as involvement of a weapon or the age of the students involved, the University may determine that it is necessary to compromise the level of privacy provided.

For more information and assistance in case of sexual assault or harassment, please see Title IX Coordinator’s NSU: Not Alone webpage: https://www.nsula.edu/notalone/.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. NSU is committed to equal opportunity for student success by providing access to educational programs, tuition assistance, and social and recreational activities for all students without regard to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy or parenting status, veteran status, or retirement status. Student complaints or inquiries related to Title IX should be directed to the Director of Student Advocacy/Title IX Coordinator, Christie Price, (318-357-5570 or pricec@nsula.edu), located in room #308 of the Friedman Student Union.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Northwestern State University defines diversity as including, but not limited to differences in age, gender identity and expression, religion, language, sexuality, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, mental and physical abilities, and geographic background. In our mission to understand our differences, we also hope to realize our commonalities and recognize how all these parts of our identities shape each of our experiences of the world. We are dedicated to fostering a community based on empathy, thoughtful dialogue, personal growth, and action.

Social Media

Every Northwestern State University student is encouraged to help create an environment that promotes learning, dignity, and mutual respect for everyone in classrooms and on social media. Students should be aware of their association with and responsibilities to NSU while using social media, whether on official NSU sites or in personal communication. Students must also keep in mind that once digital content is created, they have very little control over how that content is shared or how permanent it becomes, and so the impact of statements and the online persona must be considered, especially in regard to potential classmates and employers. Students should exercise their freedom of speech to communicate online with respect, which includes adhering to the Student Code of Conduct and reading and responding carefully to others in order to understand their point-of-view. Students must take responsibility for their words and criticism should be constructive, respect diversity, and show tolerance of differences. Students should make it clear that they are stating an opinion and not acting as an official representative of NSU when using social media for personal communication. When that may seem unclear, it may be useful to use a disclaimer such as, “views and opinion expressed are my own and do not reflect those of NSU.”

Classroom Civility

Northwestern State University students, faculty, and staff are expected to create an environment that promotes academic excellence, personal dignity, mutual respect, and individual responsibility in both face-to-face and electronic educational settings regardless of the content of the ideas and opinions being shared. Our diverse backgrounds as individuals combined with ideas and concepts being taught and discussed require that we demonstrate respect for ideas and opinions that may differ from our own. It is part of the educational process to think critically about our own reactions, beliefs, and opinions, and examine why we hold them. Students who use inappropriate language, are verbally abusive, display defiance or disrespect to others, or behave aggressively toward others, speak at inappropriate times, take frequent breaks, interrupt the class by coming to class late or leaving early, engage in loud or distracting behaviors, use cell phones or other noise-making electronic devices like watches with alarms, listen to music on headphones, or play with computers or hand held games during the class period may be asked to leave the class and may be subjected to disciplinary action. The instructor of a course may deem additional behaviors or actions inappropriate; these actions or behaviors will be outlined in the course syllabus. Students who are online and make others feel unwelcome, disrespected, harassed, use inappropriate language, are verbally abusive, or display defiance or disrespect to others may also be subjected to disciplinary action under the Northwestern State

University Student Code of Conduct and Sanctions (Article VII Sanctions). Copies of the infractions and sanctions are available on the NSU website at NSU Student Handbook.

Attendance

Class attendance is an obligation and a privilege. All students are expected to attend their enrolled classes. Students in professional degree programs (e.g., Nursing, Allied Health, Education) are required to meet the minimum number of attendance or clinical hours each semester in each course. Failure to attend classes or clinical hours may jeopardize the students’ scholastic standing in their courses and may lead to suspension from the University.

Students are responsible for all class activities missed during their absences or tardiness, whether excused or unexcused. In the case of planned absence, students are responsible for anticipating such conflicts and discussing them with their instructors in advance, preferably at the beginning of the semester. In the case of unplanned absence, students shall submit documentation to their instructors upon their return to the respective class. In the case of long-term absences due to quarantine, medical treatments, military orders, or other situations, students must contact their instructors at the beginning of the period of absence to discuss a plan for completing the semester. Students tardy for a class meeting should resolve the matter with their instructors at the end of the class period during which the tardiness occurred.

Course instructors are required to state expectations regarding class attendance during the first week of classes in writing to the students and must maintain a permanent attendance record for each class. Instructors may establish grading policies that incorporate attendance requirements, including policies and penalties for class absence, tardy attendance, make-up work, and late coursework. Instructors may excuse an absence for documented illness and doctor appointments, personal and family issues, and other similar situations at their discretion pursuant to the class attendance policy and shall excuse absences for official University-excused activities reported by University personnel, for religious observances supported by students’ religious beliefs, for official military orders and for first responder orders during emergencies, scheduled court appearances, and jury duty. The instructor may treat the tardiness as an absence pursuant to the class attendance policy.

Acceptance of make-up work and penalties for late work are determined by instructors’ discretion pursuant to the written attendance policy for the course. For students with excessive unexcused absences (ten percent or more of the total class meetings), instructors may complete the Non-Attendance Report of Grade Form and submit it to the academic dean of the course recommending that the student be dropped from the roster of that class. A grade of “F” shall be given if a student has unsatisfactory academic performance in the course and may be given if the student has five or more unexcused absences for MWF classes, four or more unexcused absences for MW or TR classes, two or more unexcused absences from classes that meet for three hours one time a week (Monday-Saturday), and two or more weeks of unexcused absences from Internet classes.

Official University-excused absences shall be sanctioned by the academic dean, dean of students, or the athletic director or the dean or director designee. Course instructors shall be notified in advance when students are participating in official University activities.

*Updated August 9, 2021