91猎奇

PREFACE

91猎奇 welcomes you to its instructional staff. Through you, the mission, values, general education philosophy, and policies of the College are extended and personified. You are charged with educating our most important resource 鈥� the students.

This handbook has been prepared for you to supplement the Board of Trustees Statement of Policy, the , the , and other official College publications for the convenience of staff members and the smooth operation of the College. Every instructor is responsible for knowing the contents of this handbook. Questions regarding policy/procedure should be referred to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, 501-760-4154, or the appropriate academic dean.

All official revisions or additions will be shared with you at the appropriate time by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. This will ensure that your handbook is up-to-date with regard to policies and procedures.

WELCOME

Dear Faculty,

Hello everyone and welcome back to school! I hope you all had a great summer and are feeling refreshed and ready for another fall semester. I want to thank you for the crucial role you play in getting our students ready for the next stage of their lives. This faculty鈥檚 teaching prowess, as well as the care and compassion you show our students, is what defines 91猎奇. You are the key to putting our mission statement into practice.

As we kick off this new year, let us focus on our students' achievements AND making 91猎奇 a better workplace for you. Changes in leadership and organization happen occasionally, but the goal always remains the same. My primary job is to deliver the best quality educational opportunities to our community and create the best possible working environment for our faculty and staff. As we move forward, please know that we will always listen to faculty to better improve our campus culture and how we serve our students. There is much we can accomplish if we all work together.

The faculty handbook has important info and is a go-to resource to help with your work. New faculty, make sure you familiarize yourself with 91猎奇鈥檚 policies. Returning faculty, I recommend you take another look to stay updated with its guidelines. These policies help us stay consistent, transparent, and fair in serving our students the best we can. And, if conditions or processes change and we need to update policies, feel free to make suggestions.

Here鈥檚 to a great year, with new challenges and new opportunities! I have faith in your service, your professionalism, and your collaboration鈥攍et鈥檚 make this a fantastic year for our students and for you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Chuck Argo

Vice President of Academic Affairs

91猎奇 BASICS

COLLEGE MISSION, VALUES, AND VISION

Our Mission

Learning is our focus; student success is our goal.

Our Vision

We aspire to be the leading comprehensive community college, dedicated to fostering student success through robust educational pathways while cultivating impactful partnerships within our community.

Our Values

• Access 鈥� assist students in achieving their goals by creating a learning community that is accessible, convenient, and affordable.
• Excellence - develop innovative solutions and programs to foster competitive scholars and partners.
• Accountability 鈥� act responsibly and grow professionally by demonstrating ethical, honest behavior.
• Collaboration 鈥� facilitate partnerships that enhance learning, drive problem-solving, promote economic growth, and elevate quality of life.
• Respect 鈥� create a culture of kindness that recognizes the dignity and inherent worth of all individuals.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF FACULTY 鈥� Policy 5.000

5.000 Responsibilities of Faculty | 91猎奇

Acceptance of a faculty teaching appointment at 91猎奇 entails acceptance of the responsibilities and obligations of professional behavior. Just as the College guards the rights of each faculty member as an academician, a faculty member must guard against using his or her position for personal or non-professional benefit.

Professional, college-level teaching is the primary duty and function of each faculty member. Unprofessional conduct could include, but is not limited to, professional negligence, excessive absenteeism, insubordination, fiscal negligence, inappropriate relationships with students, and ineffective teaching and classroom management. Each faculty member will meet class regularly and punctually, conducting each class in an effective, professional manner. Faculty members will assess student learning, measure the effectiveness of those assessments, and take appropriate action to improve student learning based on those assessments or as directed by their supervisor(s). Faculty members are required to participate in professional development (see 91猎奇 Board Policy 5.130 Professional Growth and Development | 91猎奇) and are required to utilize the campus learning management system for recording attendance, maintaining grade books, encouraging information literacy, and sharing course syllabi.

In addition, each faculty member is expected to remain current in areas or in disciplines taught, as well as in trends, issues, and problems in higher education. Faculty should model professionalism in accordance with the standards of their discipline in ethics, attire, and communication. Faculty members are expected to assume institutional responsibilities such as serving on college committees, participating in faculty development and in-service programs, actively supporting both college and student activities, and participating in annual commencement exercises unless excused by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. All faculty members are also expected to assume divisional responsibilities as assigned by their direct supervisor and attend division meetings when called.

Above all, faculty members must be committed to the concept of the comprehensive community college and to the mission, philosophy, goals, and objectives of 91猎奇, as identified by the Board of Trustees.

Faculty will be held responsible by their immediate supervisor via the performance review process. Performance review of full-time faculty will be conducted annually and may consist of peer evaluation, student evaluation, instructional assessment review, self-evaluation, and supervisory performance review. The faculty performance review will be in compliance with Arkansas Code 6-63-104 and approved by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM 鈥� Policy 5.2000

5.200 Academic Freedom | 91猎奇

91猎奇's Board of Trustees and administration ascribes to the following statement from the American Association of University Professors (AAUP):

"Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the institution.

Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject. Limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims of the institution should be clearly stated in writing at the time of the appointment.

College and university teachers are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from nstitutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence, they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution."

The above statement, while guaranteeing academic freedom, outlines the obligation of faculty and staff not to use their position with the College to advance their personal opinion or philosophy, or to espouse a particular viewpoint to the extent of excluding conflicting viewpoints.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - 91猎奇 affirms and actively promotes the right of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and employment without regard to any protected basis, including race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression or any other consideration not directly and substantively related to effective performance.

FACULTY ESSENTIALS

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

The 91猎奇 Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff believe that certain professional responsibilities must be accepted and adhered to by all employees. The faculty member must realize:

1. The function and purposes of the College and accept the mission, educational philosophy, and objectives of the community college and teach to those ends.
2. The tremendous influence which faculty may have upon the minds of the students.
3. The subject matter should be presented in as unbiased and objective manner as possible in order to stimulate and initiate critical thinking.
4. That students have the inherent right to develop their own ideas and impressions based upon their knowledge and experiences and should not be condemned, openly or privately, for private or personal beliefs.
5. That high ethical standards, both personal and projected, leave lasting impressions upon the minds of the students and community at large.
6. That the institution is often judged by the personal acts and activities of its employees.

ROLE OF THE DEANS AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS DIRECTORS

The Dean of Instruction, the Dean of Curriculum and Assessment, and the Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences collaborate closely in Academic Affairs.

Dean of Instruction

The Dean of Instruction serves as a direct report to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The Dean of Instruction鈥檚 job is to ensure that the faculty have the resources and support needed to fulfill the instructional mission of the College. The Dean of Instruction typically operates at an institutional level and is thereby responsible for communicating institutional policy to the faculty through the Academic Programs Directors (APD). They are responsible for the leadership, planning, marketing, and budgeting of the academic units of the College. Likewise, they are ultimately responsible for collaborating with the Dean of Curriculum and Assessment and Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences to coordinate quality assurance, accreditation, and general compliance of their academic units. They coordinate these efforts with the Academic Programs Directors depending upon the academic units they serve.

Dean of Curriculum and Assessment

The Dean of Curriculum and Assessment serves as a direct report to the VPAA. The Dean of Curriculum and Assessment鈥檚 job is to communicate policy and procedural expectations to academic services and other campus faculty and staff through new faculty orientation and professional development as needed. They are responsible for the leadership, planning, marketing, and budgeting of academic services. The Dean of Curriculum and Assessment also assists the Dean of Instruction with annual faculty performance reviews and oversees the online review committee that annually audits courses to ensure compliance. They also maintain the college catalog and academic publications. In addition, they are responsible for accreditation, assessment, and compliance of academic programs.

Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences

The Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences serves as a direct report to the VPAA. The Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences鈥� job is to ensure that faculty have the resources and support needed to fulfill the mission of the College. They are responsible for the leadership, planning, budgeting, and evaluation of the nursing and health science faculty. They are also responsible for maintaining program accreditation, compliance, and assessment.

Academic Programs Directors

The Academic Programs Directors are the direct supervisors of faculty for the Lab Science & Pre-Engineering, Liberal Arts, Business & Education, and Trade Technology & Computer Science programs. As such, the Academic Programs Directors are tasked with monitoring and coordinating faculty work, reporting to the Dean of Instruction and the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and maintaining lines of communication within and beyond the academic division. The Academic Programs Directors are also responsible for coordinating quality assurance, accreditation, and compliance efforts, ensuring faculty report assessment data to the Dean of Curriculum and Assessment. The Academic Programs Directors are often required by the VPAA鈥檚 office to oversee search committees for faculty positions, make recommendations for staffing needs, assist faculty with the provision of effective instruction, coordinate assessment activities for the division, and give input to administration across the campus in matters related to divisional interests.

Academic Programs Directors meet regularly with the Dean of Instruction to coordinate instruction and affect policies related to student academic success. The Dean of Instruction, along with the Academic Programs Directors and the divisional administrative assistant, monitors the divisional budget and supervises the purchases of instructional materials and office supplies. Procedures vary by division regarding requesting purchases, so check with your divisional administrative assistant for details.

CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT

The Curriculum and Assessment Committee (CAC) is a standing college committee that provides an operational framework for the development and evaluation of the academic courses, programs, and outcomes of the curriculum in accordance with the mission, purposes, and objectives of the College. To carry out its designed purpose, the CAC requires adherence to stated guidelines for curriculum development and evaluation.

The CAC is comprised of voting members, mentored members, and ex-officio members and meets a minimum of two (2) scheduled meetings per semester during each academic year. Meetings are held at 2:30 pm on the second Wednesday of the scheduled months.

Every faculty member should speak with his or her dean or Academic Programs Director about the specific expectations for instructional assessment and adhere to the campus practices set forth by the CAC. (For more information on assessment at 91猎奇, visit Assessment at 91猎奇 | 91猎奇. The CAC bylaws can be found in the Faculty Resources SharePoint in the CAC folder.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

1. Keep your contact information updated with the division administrative assistant, Human Resources, and the 91猎奇 Emergency Contact List.
2. Familiarize yourself with policies on academic integrity, no-show students, and withdrawing students from your class. Your dean or Academic Programs Director will be happy to assist you with any questions you have about these policies. Policies may also be found on the 91猎奇 website at Board Policy.
3. In case of illness or other personal matters before or during class that necessitates your absence, notify the Academic Programs Director or the division administrative assistant. For evening classes, if you are unable to reach the division or in case of an emergency, contact security at 501-760-4293 or 501-276-5663. Please try to reach someone personally when possible.
4. An is provided on the 91猎奇 website and contains the official College calendar and other general information of interest to you.
5. Information regarding mid-term and final grade rosters will be given to you by your Academic Programs Director. Deadlines for completion of grade reporting are firm. Mid-term and final grades are recorded and posted through the 91猎奇 Faculty Center in OASIS/PeopleSoft. If problems develop or are anticipated, contact the Academic Programs Director or the division's administrative assistant.
6. Full-time faculty are expected to work 40 hours per week. Fifteen of those hours, at a minimum, should be direct instruction and ten hours, at a minimum, should be office hours. Office hours should be posted and shared with your supervisor and administrative assistant. The remaining time should be dedicated to fulfilling the responsibilities of the faculty as put forth in Board Policy 5.00. These activities may include, but are not limited to, preparing for instruction through course planning, grading, community service, and service to the College.
7. There is an expectation from the Vice President of Academic Affairs that all email and voicemail will be responded to within 24 hours, Monday through Friday, excluding scheduled holidays and breaks.

GENERAL CLASSROOM PROCEDURES

1. Meet each class at the scheduled time and place, and for the amount of time specified in the course schedule. Prior approval by the appropriate academic dean and by the Vice President for Academic Affairs is necessary for a semester change in time or place. Field trips, make-up classes, or any additional class meetings scheduled at other than officially published dates and times may be held when prior administrative permission has been granted to the instructor and when all students have been notified in advance and are able to attend.
2. All faculty are required to use the Learning Management System (LMS) in all their courses. At a minimum, the LMS must be used to provide students with timely and accurate grades, linkages to library resources, a record of student attendance using the appropriate LMS-based attendance software, a current syllabus, and links to student surveys, especially end-of-course student surveys. Online courses should adhere to the located in SharePoint under Faculty Resources.
3. Attendance should be taken each time a class meets and updated in the LMS. For online classes, attendance should be noted in the LMS weekly.
4. Provide students with feedback on grades and assignments in a timely manner. Faculty response times to students must be stated in the syllabus and will include response times for email, voicemail, and graded assignments. If there is a delay in grading, faculty should post in the LMS explaining the delay and when students can expect to view their grades. There is an expectation from the Vice President of Academic Affairs that all email and voicemail will be responded to within 24 hours, Monday through Friday, excluding scheduled holidays and breaks.

First Class Meeting Guidelines

1. Take roll and identify the names of all students in class who are not on your class roster. Follow up on the status of these students with your division administrative assistant.
2. Call attention to any course prerequisites. Any student lacking prerequisites should be referred to an advisor for proper placement.
3. Provide a copy of the course syllabus to each student in your course(s) on the first day of class via the LMS. The required elements of the basic syllabus are detailed in this handbook. The College uses a standard format syllabus software that makes syllabi available to students via the LMS. Past and current syllabi are archived and accessed via the.
4. Special care should be taken to cover the following components of the syllabus:
   1. Attendance requirements
   2. Course objectives and ways of evaluating performance
   3. Required course materials and the importance of acquiring and maintaining those materials
   4. Identify the role of classwork, homework, and tests/term papers in your course(s)
   5. Your availability to discuss coursework and/or other student concerns (i.e., your office hours and location of your office)
   6. ADA statement: It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor if they have special needs or accommodations. Students with documented learning disabilities/special needs should let the instructor know if accommodations have been approved.

Textbooks

It is recommended that faculty use a common textbook for each course, regardless of instructional mode. Exceptions, in rare cases, may be approved by the Academic Programs Directors. Full-time faculty are responsible for textbook selection and should seek adjunct instructor input when appropriate. It is preferable that new textbook adoptions be implemented in the fall semester only.

If an instructor wishes to use only part of a textbook platform that has been selected for a course (i.e., adopt the e-book but not the associated homework site), they should notate this on their textbook adoption form submitted to the Academic Programs Directors each spring. This will help the bookstore keep a more accurate inventory.

91猎奇 encourages the use of free open educational resources (OER) in lieu of expensive textbooks when possible. Please investigate if these resources are suitable for your course. Academic Programs Directors may approve individual instructors use of OER materials rather than departmental textbooks if the achievement of course/program objectives or the collection of assessment data is not hindered by the adoption. Please make sure to inform the bookstore of this decision on the textbook adoption form.

Change of Grade

If an error is made in entering the student鈥檚 mid-term or final grade, contact, in writing, the Academic Programs Director or dean with the student's name, ID number, semester, class number or catalog and section number, old and new grade, and rationale for grade change.

Class Rosters

Class rosters may be accessed through the Faculty Center in OASIS. Step-by-step instructions are located in the and the 91猎奇 Faculty Community in D2L.

Review your rosters for accuracy of information. CHECK the following items:

1. Proper class/section designation
2. Proper instructor designation
3. Names spelled correctly for each student
4. Verification of any drops/adds
5. Verify with the students that they are enrolled in the correct degree program. If not, direct them to visit with the Registrar鈥檚 Office to update their degree information

Unresolved questions should be referred to the division administrative assistant. These procedures are subject to change. The division administrative assistant will know the most up-to-date procedures, or the procedures can be found in the . You can access SharePoint by clicking Webmail in the Quick Links drop-down menu on the 91猎奇 homepage, click on Apps, then SharePoint. Once logged into Microsoft 365 online, choose Faculty Resources. Faculty Resources is also linked in the Faculty Community in D2L.

Discipline

Student discipline is considered a joint responsibility of the instructional and student services staff at 91猎奇. Should any instructor believe that a disciplinary situation exists which cannot be settled with the student involved to mutual satisfaction, the instructor is asked to refer the matter to the Dean of Students.

When conduct is detrimental to the best interests of the College, the student will be dismissed upon the recommendation of the Vice President for Student Affairs after adequate due process.

Dropping a student

Before the 11th day of the semester (regular fall/spring semesters), you must drop any students who have not attended your class. These students are termed 鈥淣o Shows.鈥� Reporting 鈥淣o Shows鈥� may be completed by your division鈥檚 administrative assistant or by using Insider if on campus. The College will send reminders with specific deadlines via your campus email. Ask for assistance if you are uncertain of these procedures.

In addition to dropping students who do not attend class by the eleventh (11th) day, you may drop students who do not meet the minimum attendance requirements for your course. (See the 91猎奇 Attendance Policy 6.600.) Please give the class number, the student鈥檚 name, ID number, and last date of attendance, and/or any pertinent information to your division administrative assistant or your Academic Programs Director, either of whom may complete the student drop. If on campus, you may also use Insider to drop students.

These procedures are subject to change. The division administrative assistant will know the most up-todate procedures, or the procedures may be found in the Faculty Resources portion of SharePoint. You can access SharePoint by clicking Webmail in the Quick Links drop-down menu on the 91猎奇 homepage, click on Apps, then SharePoint. Once logged into Microsoft 365 online, choose Faculty Resources. Faculty Resources is also linked in the Faculty Community in D2L.

Credit Hours

The academic year is divided into two 16-week semesters, two 8-week terms in the fall and spring, and three summer (one ten-week and two five-week) sessions. Course credits are recorded in semester hours. In most cases, except for some nursing courses, the last digit in the course number shows the number of semester hours of credit given for each course. A full-time student load is a minimum of 12 semester hours each semester and 6 semester hours if attending the summer session; however, we encourage students to take 15 semester hours as a full load so they may complete degrees on time, or within two years instead of three.

Final Exams

Each semester the Vice President for Academic Affairs publishes an official exam schedule for conducting final exams. It is left to the discretion of each instructor as to whether this exam will be comprehensive or cover a restricted unit of instructional material. This decision should be made at the beginning of the semester, listed on course syllabi, and called to the attention of students. Instructors are expected to follow the final exam schedule as published.

Faculty may not change the time and place of the exam without the expressed permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Final grades must be reported to the College by the date listed on the academic calendar.

Grading

An alphabetical letter grading system is used in courses at 91猎奇. The meaning of each letter grade is the following:

Grade	Meaning
A	Excellent
B	Above Average
C	Average
D	Passing, but below average
F	Still attending and failed course
W	Withdrawn
IP	Incomplete

Consult your academic dean or Academic Programs Director for information regarding any grading procedures within your division.

Posting Grades

On the 91猎奇 website homepage, you will go to the QuickLinks drop-down menu and select OASIS. Instructions for mid-term and final grades can be found in the . Students should be given letter grades, 鈥淎鈥� through 鈥淔,鈥� as they reflect the student鈥檚 progress to that point in the semester. INCOMPLETE (IP) GRADES MAY NOT BE ASSIGNED AT MID- SEMESTER.

All midterm grades should be recorded and approved in OASIS by the date indicated for mid- semester grades or final grades on the academic calendar. The Registrar鈥檚 Office typically emails reminders of these deadlines.

The assignment of grades by instructors at mid-semester and the posting of grade information at the end of the semester shall be done in such a way that it protects the privacy of each student. Grades must not appear on a posted list with student names or ID numbers.

These procedures are subject to change. The division administrative assistant will know the most up-todate procedures, or the procedures can be found in the .

Incomplete Grade Proposal

1. An incomplete, or In Progress (IP), grade may be requested by a student and given by an instructor only if a minimum of 75 percent of all semester class work, especially where laboratory work is involved, has been satisfactorily completed in the judgment of the instructor, whose decision is final. Consequently, an 鈥淚P鈥� grade may not be assigned at mid-semester.
2. The student must have a passing grade in the judgment of the instructor when the request is made and before approval can be given.
3. In requesting an 鈥淚P鈥� grade, a student automatically waives the right to request or to receive a withdrawal "W" grade or an "AU" audit grade at a later date.
4. A student should not register again for the same course until a final grade is assigned, and wants to repeat the course for a better grade.
5. To complete the necessary class work, the student and instructor must sign a written contract defining the work that must be completed to finish the course. The student, the instructor, and the academic dean should receive copies of the signed contract. The same instructor who assigned the 鈥淚P鈥� must initiate the grade change.
6. The timeline for resolving incomplete academic work is to be negotiated between the student and the instructor but may not exceed a time period of the mid-semester date the following semester (fall = spring mid-semester, spring and summer = fall mid-semester). At the end of this deadline, based on the judgment of the instructor, whose decision is final, a change of grade will be issued by the instructor to the Registrar's Office.
7. It is the student's responsibility to arrange with the instructor for completion of all unfinished work, once an instructor has agreed to assign an 鈥淚P鈥� grade at the end of the semester.
8. Incomplete grades must be submitted on the final grade roster.
9. An 'IP' grade may be replaced with a passing grade provided the student satisfactorily completes the coursework as stipulated by the instructor. Summer session work must be completed by midsemester of the following fall semester. If a grade change form is not submitted by the instructor, the 鈥淚P鈥� grade will revert to an 鈥淔鈥� grade at the end of the semester.

Summer School

Classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday beginning at 8:00 a.m. with three credit-hour classes scheduled for two hours. A few online classes are scheduled for ten weeks and begin the first summer session, which typically begins in late May. The summer sessions typically end the first week of August.

Division Meetings

Division meetings are usually held once a month or at least once a semester. The Academic Programs Directors issues an e-mail in advance stating the time, place, and agenda.

Social Media

Any social media site used for instructional purposes requires prior approval from the Director of Marketing and Public Relations to use the College鈥檚 branding or name.

Social media accounts used for personal purposes must be kept separate from those used for instructional purposes. In all cases, Faculty must adhere to the guidelines for the Responsibilities of Faculty in Board Policy 5.000, including guarding against inappropriate postings of content within the account and protecting the privacy and security of students.

If students are required to have a login account on any site, links to both the privacy and accessibility statements for the site(s) must be included in the syllabus.

Faculty cannot require students to formally support (such as, but not limited to, submitting likes, following, subscribing to, or joining) the faculty member鈥檚 social media account(s).

Faculty cannot require students to submit assignments through social media. All digital assignments must be submitted through the campus LMS unless they are being submitted through a textbook publisher鈥檚 website, such as the Pearson or McGraw-Hill learning systems or special permission has been received to use a different LMS.

ROLE OF THE PART-TIME FACULTY

A part-time instructor is accorded the same prerogatives of academic freedom and bears the same kind of teaching responsibilities as a full-time instructor. Academic divisions will provide their part-time faculty with supplies for completion of their classroom duties. Also, divisions will provide the faculty member with a place to store materials, as well as a place to complete work or hold conferences. The College provides training in the LMS and computer-based elements involved in campus life. Technical support is also available to part-time faculty through Computer Services at techsupport@np.edu.

Appointment to the part-time faculty of 91猎奇 does not entitle instructors to qualify for guaranteed continuous employment or fringe benefits. Part-time employment does not accrue toward the state鈥檚 mandatory three-year probation period if the instructor later becomes a full-time faculty member at 91猎奇.

CONTRACTS, STIPENDS, AND OVERLOADS

The Human Resources staff members are happy to answer any inquiries about an instructor鈥檚 particular contract, withholding, required forms, or bank deposits. Some questions may be answered through the on the 91猎奇 website.

MANDATED REPORTER

Arkansas law 搂12-18-402 identifies a mandated reporter as 鈥渁 school official, including without limitation institutions of higher education.鈥� Therefore, all faculty are considered to be mandated reporters and are required by law to report suspected child maltreatment to the DHS Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-800-482-5964 or 1-800-SAVE-A-CHILD (1-844-728-3224). These hotlines are open 24 hours per day, seven days per week. As a mandated reporter, you cannot have someone else make the call for you. The Hotline may be answered by law enforcement personnel. Please be ready to provide the name of the student and pertinent information to the investigator.

A facsimile report may be made in non-emergency situations. The facsimile transmission number is (501) 618-8952. A fax report template is available at:

Mandated reporter online training is available at:

Faculty seeking to fulfill the professional development child maltreatment requirement are to access training at:

Arkansas Act 186 provides immunity for a mandated reporter who in good faith notifies the Child Abuse Hotline in accordance with subsection (a) of this section is immune from civil and criminal liability.

Definition: Maltreatment - Child maltreatment is child abuse or neglect. Abuse and neglect can be several things, including but not limited to physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, sexual exploitation or abandonment by the caretaker of the child (a parent, guardian, custodian, or foster parent).

COURSE SYLLABUS AND ASSOCIATED POLICIES

In 2016, the Faculty Senate adopted the following statements and requirements for course syllabi being used on campus. In 2020, the College adopted Concourse Syllabus software to assist faculty in developing their syllabi using this format. For assistance contact LMSsupport@np.edu.

Purpose

In order to ensure that students have a uniform educational experience and are provided with adequate information about college courses, all college courses will have an official syllabus that follows a specified uniform format. The official syllabus addresses the needs of and forms a contract with the student, while allowing faculty flexibility in assisting students to achieve the learning objectives. It also provides four year institutions with the required information for transferability purposes, employers/other users with information on course content, and accrediting agencies with information related to standards compliance.

Syllabus Elements

1. Name of department or division
2. Catalog number/course title/course section number/course number
3. Days/Times/Location
4. Credit/Contact hours
5. Instructor name, title, office location, phone number, email address, and office hours
6. Course description
   1. Catalog Description
   2. Pre-requisites and/or co-requisites
   3. Next course in sequence (if appropriate).
7. Required/optional textbooks or instructional material; includes textbooks, supplies, etc.
8. Objectives:
   1. General Education Objectives
   2. Arkansas Course Transfer System Objectives, where appropriate
   3. Program-Level Objectives, where appropriate
   4. Course-Level Objectives
9. Instructional/teaching methods: Will the course be lecture only or will it involve discussion, cooperative learning, or other methods?
10. Assessment Process (grading policy, assessments, rubrics)
11. Classroom response time and feedback
12. Classroom policies
13. 91猎奇 Policies
    1. Attendance Policy
    2. Academic Honesty Policy
    3. LMS Policy
    4. ADA Policy
14. Other Policies
    1. Privacy Policy
    2. Accessibility Statement
    3. Netiquette Policy
15. Student Resources
    1. Academic Success Center
    2. Computer Resource Center
    3. 91猎奇 Library
    4. Technical Support
    5. Testing Center
16. Course Evaluations (Include this statement or one as close to this as possible): "Students will be asked to evaluate their instructor and course near the end of the semester. These student evaluations are very important to the improvement in the quality of instruction and course materials. All results are anonymous and shared with the faculty only after the semester is over and grades have been posted."
17. Course Calendar/Schedule Disclaimer - All syllabi should include a calendar/schedule outlining the due dates for major course requirements. Also, include this statement or one as close to this as possible following the calendar/schedule: 鈥淭his schedule is a guide for the semester. The instructor reserves the right to amend the schedule as necessary.鈥�
18. Legal Disclaimer (Include this statement or one as close to this as possible): 鈥淭he schedule, policies, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances or by mutual agreement between the instructor and the students. The instructor will always inform the students of any changes in a timely manner.鈥�
19. Contract/Agreement鈥擲tudents should sign/acknowledge that they have read and agreed to the guidelines set forth in the syllabus.
20. Revision date

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

The following bold text portion of the academic integrity policy must be in the syllabus followed by a statement that refers students to the full explanation of the policy, which can be found in the . A link to the student handbook should also be included with this statement.

91猎奇 considers honesty and integrity as essential qualities of any learning institution. The faculty and staff strive to live up to these qualities in all aspects of their lives and encourage their students to do the same. Integrity and moral values will carry over into their professional lives and careers. 91猎奇鈥檚 goal is to successfully prepare all students for their futures and equip them to handle whatever challenges they may face; therefore, 91猎奇 considers academic dishonesty as unacceptable.

Any 91猎奇 students who display dishonesty in their behavior while attending classes at 91猎奇 will be subject to disciplinary action to help the student first and foremost, but to also protect the rights, dignity, and property of others while maintaining an environment that fosters success and learning.

Violations of the Academic Honesty Policy will not be tolerated on the campus. Violations may range from receiving an 鈥淔鈥� on the assignment in question up to permanent removal from the college. The Academic Honesty Policy covers several major areas that should be considered in all classes offered at 91猎奇:

1. Technology manipulation
2. Collusion
3. Deception
4. Misrepresentation and Lying
5. Cheating
6. Plagiarism
7. Fabrication and Falsification
8. Stealing, Defacing, and Destruction of Property

Why Some Students Cheat - Identify the Causes

91猎奇鈥檚 goal is to help its students succeed; they want this as well. This fact, plus other factors in their lives may promote the idea that they need to cheat or act in a dishonest way for the following reasons:

• Fear of failure
• Desire for better grades
• Pressure from parents to do well
• Unclear instructional objectives
• Everyone else is doing it
• There is little chance of being caught
• There is little or no punishment if one does get caught

91猎奇 works hard to consider these extenuating factors and takes necessary actions to help reduce these reasons or situations that can add to the stress of any student鈥檚 ability to succeed. However, there are no valid reasons to justify being dishonest. 91猎奇 promises to do all it can to help students so they can be successful and at the same time maintain their integrity.

Dishonesty with Technology - Technology Manipulation

91猎奇 makes use of technology in every possible way. The internet is used as well as a variety of computers. Homework assignments are submitted online with 91猎奇鈥檚 learning management system. The world is highly technology-oriented. The use of technology has created opportunities in which students can be dishonest, and can manipulate it in various ways:

• Use breakdowns of technology as an excuse
• Exploit loopholes, glitches, or bugs in technology to one鈥檚 advantage (ex: retaking a test when the instructor is unaware due to a glitch in the exam delivery system)
• Use of the internet or other means to gain unauthorized access to exam questions

Collusion

What is collusion? It is the act of cheating in an organized way. It is where students work together to accomplish the act of cheating. Technology today makes it very easy to copy information on one鈥檚 cell phone and send that information to another student. Collusion involves organized cheating between two or more students, exchanging information, copying of work, and submitting as their own. In some cases, collusion involves making threats, manipulating others, and using money or other items of value to coerce someone into cheating or helping them cheat.

Deception

Deception is another form of cheating that differs from collusion. Deception occurs when a student breaks an agreement about what is an acceptable means to complete an assignment. Deception includes:

• Copying from another student without their permission
• Using instructor notes from previous semesters
• Getting assistance during an exam without permission, possibly from someone not in the class
• Using paid online services to complete work. (See Misrepresentation)
• Misrepresentation and lying is submitting work that was done by someone else. In addition, it is the use of online services to purchase completed homework assignments. It can also mean paying another person to take the class for a student or participating in the class in some unauthorized way.

Other forms of misrepresentation include:

• Using computer programs generated by another and submitting the work as a student鈥檚 own unless expressly allowed by the instructor
• Using another person鈥檚 identification or password as a student鈥檚 own
• Lying to an instructor to improve a student鈥檚 grade
• Lying or misrepresenting facts when confronted with an allegation of academic dishonesty
• Making false claims or giving misleading information to the instructor to be excused from classes, assignments, or exams
• Intentionally underperforming on a placement exam

Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating

Some forms of cheating by means of technology have been addressed thus far, but cheating is a broad term that covers many things. Some of the other forms of cheating that are not acceptable at 91猎奇 are:

• Sharing the test questions before or after taking a test or exam
• Copying the test questions and/or storing them on a personal computer
• Obtaining or attempting to obtain copies of an exam
• Using or consulting unauthorized materials, equipment, or devices on quizzes, assignments, or examinations such as electronic devices, textbooks, notes, etc. during a closed-book exam
• Altering or falsifying any information on assignments
• Using any material portion of a paper or project to fulfill the requirements of more than one course unless the student has received prior faculty permission to do so
• Submitting an altered examination or assignment to an instructor for re-grading
• Inappropriately providing or receiving information or academic work to gain unfair advantage over others, such as selling or buying a copy of test questions before a test
• Attempting to gain an unfair academic advantage by bribery
• Changing or altering grades or other official educational records
• Continuing work on an examination after the allocated time has ended and working on any examination, quiz, or assignment outside of the time constraints imposed
• Stealing, copying, or modifying computer programs and presenting them as one鈥檚 own; this includes the use of another student鈥檚 program and or password as obtained from any source
• Stealing visual concepts, such as drawings, sketches, diagrams, musical programs, scores, graphs, maps, etc., and presenting them as one鈥檚 own
• Plagiarizing any assignment. See Plagiarism for more details.

Plagiarism

What is Plagiarism? Plagiarism is defined as:

• Stealing and passing off (the ideas or words of another) as one鈥檚 own
• Using (another鈥檚 production) without crediting the source
• Committing literary theft
• Presenting as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source

Plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves stealing the work of someone and lying about it afterwards.

Plagiarism can also include:

• Turning in someone else鈥檚 work as one鈥檚 own
• Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
• Failing to put a quote from a source or multiple sources in quotation marks
• Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
• Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
• Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up most of one鈥檚 work regardless if credit is given
• Using one鈥檚 own past work for future assignments and not citing oneself as a reference

Plagiarism can easily be avoided by properly citing the sources of the information; however, it is considered cheating whether it is intentional or not.

Artificial Intelligence Writing Tools

What are artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools? AI writing tools are defined as:

• Software powered by computer systems designed to create text based on information that the user enters.

Using AI writing tools to write, develop, create, inspire, or assist in any type of coursework is not permitted. Using these tools is considered plagiarism unless an instructor has given explicit instructions to do so. While AI writing tools can be beneficial in certain fields of study, this technology is new and prone to errors. Information generated using AI writing tools should still be fact-checked.

Other Forms of Dishonesty - Fabrication and Falsification

Fabrication and falsification include actions such as:

• Citing a nonexistent source
• Inventing data to support conclusions
• Citing information incorrectly from a source (i.e., where that information is not included in the source or is stated differently in the source, or distorting the meaning or application of data, inflating results, and presenting results out of context)
• Citing a source when it was not cited or used in the body of the paper (i.e., adding a long bibliography or a works cited page to a paper to make it seem well researched when those sources have not been cited or used; if a source is listed, then it must be used somewhere in the assignment and properly cited.)

Stealing, Defacing, or Destroying of Property

Stealing, defacing, or destroying of property involves a situation where a student takes any campus materials, academic work, or other objects that do not belong to the student and uses them for the student鈥檚 own purposes, damages them in some way, or destroys them. Examples of this are:

• Stealing classroom or lab materials
• Borrowing materials with or without permission and failing to return them
• Stealing or not returning borrowed books and materials from the Campus Library
• Defacing furniture, or classroom/facilities, and materials including library books
• Intentionally or unintentionally causing destruction of campus materials due to malice or neglect

Consequences and Penalties for Academic Dishonesty

If an instructor suspects that a student has behaved in a dishonest way in her/his submission of work, the instructor will first investigate the matter and discuss the situation with the student to gather all the facts.

If dishonesty is evident, any of the following consequences may be imposed at the discretion of the instructor:

• The student will receive a 0 or an 鈥淔鈥� on work submitted dishonestly
• The student will receive an 鈥淔鈥� in the course for work submitted dishonestly
• If violations of the Academic Honesty Policy are severe, the instructor may seek disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct procedures outlined in the Student Handbook. Such disciplinary action could result in:
  • The student being suspended from 91猎奇 for a period of one year
  • The student being dismissed from the college with a notice placed on his or her permanent academic record.

ATTENDANCE POLICY 鈥� Policy 6.600

6.600 Class Attendance | 91猎奇

There are many students that are eligible for financial aid or other programs that require periodic attendance checks by the program coordinators. Also, studies show that mandatory attendance increases persistence. Attendance can be as simple as a sign-in sheet every class period. For information on using the Learning Management System鈥檚 (LMS) attendance tool, contact LMS support or your academic dean or Academic Programs Director. The following bold text portion of the College attendance policy below should be included in the syllabus, along with the faculty member鈥檚 specific attendance guidelines.

Instructions to students regarding attendance:

1. Students are responsible to know and comply with syllabus attendance and coursework guidelines in each of their courses.
2. Students are expected to meet all attendance requirements and engage in coursework as outlined in the course syllabus. Failure to maintain satisfactory course participation is the equivalent of excessive absenteeism and may result in the student being dropped. To maintain good standing in online courses, students are expected to submit assigned coursework in a timely manner per instructor requirements.
3. Students participating in athletics or a college-sponsored extracurricular activity are required to communicate scheduled absences ahead of time and to make arrangements with their instructors regarding missed coursework, including exams. The instructor determines how academic work associated with a college-sponsored absence(s) can be completed by the student.
4. Failure to meet a course鈥檚 attendance policy does not mean a student will be automatically withdrawn from a course. Students seeking to withdraw from a course should do so either online through the student鈥檚 account or in person by visiting Student Affairs.
5. Students who do not withdraw from a course by the published Academic College Calendar withdrawal date will receive an earned grade.
6. A faculty member may administratively withdraw a student from a course, including online courses, any time during the semester up to the published Academic College Calendar withdrawal date, if attendance does not meet syllabus guidelines.
7. Students will not be administratively withdrawn by faculty after the published Academic College Calendar withdraw date except in life-changing circumstances or as a result of military orders.
8. The withdrawal of a student from all courses may require the student to repay all or a portion of the financial aid received as calculated by the 91猎奇 Office in accordance with government grant guidelines.
9. Only in extraordinary circumstances may a student earn a grade of IP (In Progress) to defer course completion. Please see the Incomplete Grades Policy in the Student Handbook located at www.np.edu.

Instructions to faculty regarding attendance:

1. Faculty are required to record attendance for all courses in the Learning Management System.
2. Faculty members will communicate specific attendance guidelines via their course syllabus at the beginning of each semester.
3. At their discretion, faculty members may provide a make-up work policy in the syllabus.
4. Faculty are required to administratively withdraw a student who has never attended by the eleventh-class day (census date), including online courses.
5. A faculty member may administratively withdraw a student from a course, including online courses, any time during the semester up to the published Academic College Calendar withdrawal date if attendance does not meet syllabus guidelines.
6. Withdrawing a student after the published withdrawal date requires academic dean approval.
7. Students participating in athletics, or a college-sponsored extracurricular activity are required to communicate scheduled absences ahead of time and to make arrangements with their instructors regarding missed coursework, including exams. The instructor determines how academic work associated with a college-sponsored absence(s) can be completed by the student.
8. An IP (In Progress) grade may be assigned to a student in extraordinary circumstances to defer course completion. Please see the Incomplete Grades Policy in the .

RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the responsibility of the academic deans and the Vice President for Academic Affairs to ensure the integrity of this policy in classroom instruction.

DISABILITY SERVICES CLAUSE (ADA STATEMENT)

This portion of the syllabus is standard and should read as follows:

91猎奇 believes in providing equal access and opportunity to qualified persons with disabilities in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990; and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008. It is our goal to ensure equal and comprehensive access to College programs, services, and campus facilities. It is the policy of 91猎奇 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. 91猎奇鈥檚 ADA statement may be accessed by clicking on this .

The Disability Services office is located in Room 224 of the Student Commons Building. You are also welcome to call the office at (501) 760-6388 or e-mail mandee.harper@np.edu for more information. Students with disabilities should visit the 91猎奇 website using this link to disability services for more information.

91猎奇 COMMUNITY ACCREDITATION SUMMARY

Accredited by:

• The Higher Learning Commission
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Education Programs for the EMS Professions
• Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
• Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
• Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
• National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships
• National Center for Construction Education and Research
• National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence

Approved by:

• The Arkansas Health Department
• The Arkansas State Board of Nursing

Membership in:

• American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
• American Association of University Women (AAUW)
• Arkansas Association of College & University Business Officers (AACUBO)
• Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC)
• Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT)
• Council for Advancement in Support of Education (CASE)
• Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
• Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Hot Springs Village Chamber of Commerce
• National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
• National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD)

FACULTY ORGANIZATION

FACULTY SENATE 鈥� Policy 5.300

5.300 Faculty Organizations | 91猎奇

The Board of Trustees recognizes the importance of the faculty contributions to the decision making of the College. Therefore, the faculty may organize for the purpose of faculty governance, and the President will be available to that designated body for direct communication.

The Board of Trustees will inform the elected leader of the College's faculty governance system whenever any changes are made in a policy regarding faculty organization. Likewise, the President and the Chair of the Board of Trustees must be notified of any changes in the faculty governance constitution, by-laws, and procedures within 30 days of the time such changes are approved in accordance with the constitution's guidelines. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to final approval of all changes.

The adoption of this policy is in no manner a delegation of any authority vested in the Board of Trustees by the State of Arkansas or the College District. The purpose of this policy, and any ensuing actions, is to guarantee communication and input and interchange among the Board of Trustees, administrative officers, and the employees of the College covered by the constitution, by-laws, and procedures of the faculty governance system.

The adopted constitution of the faculty governance system can be located in Appendix C on the website.

CAMPUS HEALTH, SAFETY, AND SECURITY

The information provided here is intended as an overview of important safety and security issues and procedures while highlighting the most important points. It will direct you to supporting documentation and resources for more detail. Your dean or administrative assistant should have a copy of the 91猎奇 Emergency Management Plan, which provides more detailed instructions for a variety of emergency procedures. Emergency procedures for specific events are located on the 91猎奇 website, /about/safety-security/emergency-procedures.aspx.

CAMPUS SECURITY

91猎奇 takes the safety and security of its students, faculty, staff and visitors seriously. Campus Security is focused on helping provide a safe environment that enhances the mission of the College. 91猎奇 has a comprehensive team of security professionals providing 24-hour patrol including a Garland County Sheriff's Deputy during regular business hours (Monday through Friday 7am-3pm) as well as a contracted team of certified security personnel during all other times providing 24 hour-a-day security coverage on campus.

91猎奇 Security Contact Information

• Office Location: Student Commons 105
• Email: zsecurity@np.edu
• Office number: 501-760-4293
• Cell number: 501-538-5507

Security personnel are on campus and can be reached via cell phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Additional Security Contacts (for security-related situations, not all emergencies):

• Garland County Sheriff's Non-Emergency: 501-622-3660
• EMERGENCIES ONLY: 9-1-1

In case of emergencies, please call 911 first followed by campus security. Security can also help with crowd control for college-sponsored events, motorist assistance, escort services on campus at night, and assistance in the recovery of lost or stolen property. They work with local law enforcement agencies to resolve crimes against students, faculty, and staff, as well as assist in dealing with harassing phone calls, threats, and vandalism that occur on campus.

All faculty, staff, students, and visitors are encouraged to assume an active role in their own safety and the safety of the 91猎奇 campus community by being observant and aware of their surroundings at all times. If you notice suspicious activity, observe a crime, or just see or hear something, make mental notes of the circumstances, descriptions, times, locations, etc., then call Campus Security to report it. If the situation appears to be dangerous, you may decide to call 911 first. It is always better to report suspicious situations rather than assume someone else may have reported it. The decision to call 911 or campus security first is up to individuals based on their interpretation of the severity of the situation. Neither decision is wrong, nor should the order in which they are notified impact the outcome, so long as both campus security and 911 first responders are always both notified.

Employee Tips for Personal Safety:

• Know your coworkers and be familiar with the people who should be in your area. Don鈥檛 be shy 鈥搎uestion behavior or activity that seems unusual.
• Be familiar with work safety policies and procedures.
• Get to know the security employees at 91猎奇 and share any concerns you may have about campus safety or security.
• Develop an inter-office alert signal with coworkers so you can alert each other inconspicuously if one of you is in trouble.
• Don鈥檛 loan your keys or codes to anyone.
• Be careful giving out personal information, especially over the phone or the internet.
• If you are working late, lock your exterior doors and be cautious of whom you let in. Notify Security and leave your blinds open so they can see and check on you.
• Ask Security to escort you if you are concerned for your safety.
• Get into the habit of locking your valuables in a desk drawer.

An interactive campus map is available at the bottom on the 91猎奇 website. In addition to the interactive campus map, emergency maps are posted within buildings across campus. Maps are updated at least annually and denote assembly areas, evacuation routes, extinguishers, fire alarms, etc. Faculty and staff should familiarize themselves with this resource as well as the additional information provided on the Safety and Security page of the website.

ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE CAMPUS

The Drug-Free Campus policy (7.400) states that the use of controlled substances is not permitted on the 91猎奇 campus or any 91猎奇 off-campus sites. Staff, faculty, students, and campus visitors are not permitted to use, possess, or be under the influence of any controlled substance while on or in campus facilities, nor while utilizing college vehicles, whether owned or leased.

91猎奇 is committed to maintaining a drug-free campus environment for students and employees pursuant to Public Law 101-226 entitled Drug-Free School and Communities Act Amendment of 1989 and mandated by the United States Department of Education (USDE). This is an essential part of ensuring the safety of employees and students while at work and school as well as eliminating poor job performance, inefficient operations, College rule violations, or any unethical behavior.

The use of alcohol and controlled substances, including the use of prescription medications not prescribed to the user, can result in unsafe conditions on campus. Compliance with this policy is a condition of employment for all paid staff and faculty. To this end, the use of any substance in any manner other than for its intended purpose is prohibited by any employee or visitor on campus.

91猎奇 has an obligation to ensure a safe working environment for all employees as well as protecting its property and equipment from unnecessary damage. Subsequently, if an injury occurs within the course of an employee鈥檚 work and is thus eligible or potentially reportable to 91猎奇鈥檚 Worker鈥檚 Compensation provider, drug and alcohol testing may be required.

To demonstrate adherence to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 as well as the Governor's Executive Order 89-2, employees of state agencies, boards, commissions and institutions are required, on or before the first day of work, to read and sign an acknowledgment of receipt of information about the employer鈥檚 drug-free workplace policy.

Employees of 91猎奇 are expected to refrain from activities involving controlled substances both on and off campus where such activities could have a detrimental impact on their abilities to perform their jobs. Any student or employee who possesses, gives, or transfers controlled substances to another person or sells or manufactures a controlled substance while on campus or related premises will be subject to appropriate employee discipline procedures up to and including termination and/or referral to the authorities for prosecution. All employees must abide by the terms of this policy.

For employees, the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on college property or during working hours, reporting to work under the influence of alcohol, and intoxication while on duty are prohibited and will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Supervisors or coworkers who believe an employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol should contact Human Resources for assistance. No other action should be taken by the supervisor or coworker without direction from Human Resources. If employees need alcohol and drug treatment, they can confidentially contact Human Resources for information regarding the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) accessible to full-time, benefits eligible faculty and staff. If an employee contacts a supervisor for assistance with a problem with which EAP can be helpful, the supervisor should assist the employee in contacting EAP and Human Resources. These requests are kept highly confidential.

In the event that an employee of 91猎奇 receives a charge, citation, arrest, or other legal consequence for any drug or alcohol-related situation, the event and circumstances must be reported to their supervisor and Human Resources within 24 hours or at the earliest possible opportunity thereafter. This reporting requirement does not include misdemeanor traffic offenses punishable only by fine.

SMOKE AND TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUS

The Smoke and Tobacco-Free Campus policy (8.100) prohibits the use of tobacco products in compliance with ACT 734: The Arkansas Clean Air on Campus Act of 2009. Accordingly, 91猎奇 actively seeks to create a campus environment that is completely free of tobacco use and second-hand smoke. Smoking or using cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco, as well as electronic cigarettes and any electronic delivery systems (EDS) is strictly prohibited on the 91猎奇 main campus or any 91猎奇 off-campus sites. Staff, faculty, contracted workers, students, and campus visitors are responsible for adhering to this policy while on or in campus facilities, including college vehicles, whether owned or leased. Advertising, sale or sampling of any kind for tobacco products or EDS, as well as littering with the remains of tobacco products or any EDS materials, is also prohibited on campus.

If an employee is seeking tobacco cessation services, they can confidentially contact Human Resources for information regarding programs available to full-time, benefits enrolled faculty and staff. If an employee contacts a supervisor for assistance with a problem for which EAP can be helpful, the supervisor should assist the employee in contacting EAP and Human Resources. These requests are kept highly confidential.

FIREARMS

Arkansas law (ACA Title 5, Chapter 73) allows an enhanced concealed-carry licensee to carry a concealed handgun on the campus and in the buildings of a public university and various other places, including state offices.

Arkansas law (ACA 5-73-325) prohibits a concealed-carry licensee from carrying a handgun in a public daycare facility or in firearm-sensitive areas at a 鈥渃ollegiate athletic event.鈥� The 91猎奇 Gym is a Firearm Sensitive Area and personnel cannot carry their handguns into this area. Signs are posted designating this area as a Firearm Sensitive Area, in accordance with rules established by the Arkansas State Police.

Individuals with an Arkansas Enhanced Concealed Carry License may not store any firearm in their desk or work areas or leave any purse, bag, etc. containing a firearm unattended. Handguns may not be stored in a college-operated student residence hall. Handguns may only be stored in a locked motor vehicle in compliance with Arkansas law.

Handguns may not be carried into any grievance or disciplinary meeting. If an employee enters a meeting and the meeting becomes a grievance/disciplinary action meeting, said employee shall exit meeting and secure firearm in a location consistent with Arkansas law before reentry into said meeting.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT & STALKING

Harassment on the basis of sex is illegal and a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. 91猎奇 prohibits sex-based misconduct within the College鈥檚 educational programs and activities including quid pro quo harassment by a school鈥檚 employee; any unwelcome conduct that is determined to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it excludes or denies a person equal educational access to any educational program or activity; any instance of sexual assault (as defined by the Clery Act) dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

The State of Arkansas has overhauled the previously enacted stalking legislation as recently as 2017, as found within Arkansas Code 搂 5-71-229 of that year. The definitions, breadth of examples and degrees of stalking are clearly defined. The lowest threshold of stalking behavior is met when: 鈥淎 person knowingly commits an act that would place a reasonable person in the victim's position under emotional distress and in fear for his or her safety or a third person's safety. (ACA 5-71-229, (c)(1))鈥�

All employees are required to report any student allegations of sexual harassment to the Title IX Coordinator, Title IX Deputy, or Dean of Students. It is a violation of law for any person to attempt in any way to retaliate against a person who makes a claim of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment of students or college personnel is illegal under Title IX of the Elementary/Secondary Act of 1972. The College is committed to providing an environment of study and work free of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment of students is prohibited in and out of the classroom and in the evaluation of students鈥� academic performance. See 91猎奇鈥檚 Title IX and Sexual Harassment Policy (7.500) on the website for full policy detail.

Incidents of suspected or actual sexual harassment and/or stalking toward or from any student/individual should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator. Advisors, instructors, and any other employees who know of such situations are instructed to help students and/or fellow employees get such complaints to the proper administrative authority, if such assistance is needed. If complainants are not satisfied with the resolution, they may appeal to the Sexual Harassment Grievance Committee. For complete details of the College鈥檚 Sexual Harassment policy and related procedures, see Board Policy 7.500 found on the 91猎奇 website.

In addition to the policy statement on the 91猎奇 website, the 鈥淓qual Opportunity, Harassment (Sexual Misconduct), and Non-discrimination Policies and Procedures鈥� are provided through a link at the bottom of the statement. Also provided within the policy statement on the 91猎奇 website is the official Title IX reporting form to be used in Title IX specific situations. The campus Title IX Coordinator, in conjunction with the Title IX Team, is responsible for responding to each incident falling under the aforementioned parameters. If you have questions about the process or need to submit a report, please go to the College鈥檚 website.

REPORTING OF CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS

If you are the victim of, are involved in, or witness to a crime or violation of the law, please report it to local law enforcement and 91猎奇 security personnel. If the situation is in progress, do not interfere with the persons committing the crime. Instead, call 911 and then call campus security after you have moved to an area of safety to await the arrival of authorized personnel. Reporting any suspected or actual criminal situation will require a certain level of detailed recall of events, so try to note identifying information about the person or incident that could help responding authorities. Employees are not expected or authorized to intervene in any situation that is outside of their own certifications or job duties. Your safety and security are paramount and should not be jeopardized.

Any student, faculty, or staff member who is a victim of a crime or who wishes to report a criminal violation on the 91猎奇 campus or at an 91猎奇 sponsored activity should do so through the incident reporting process outlined in this manual. The official 91猎奇 Incident Report form can be found on the P:Drive within the Health Safety & Security Folder. If the incident involves a student, it is to be completed and sent to the campus nurse. If the incident involves a staff member, it is to be completed and sent to the Director of Human Resources or Associate Vice President of Campus Operations. At this time this is a paper process so timely completion of the form is imperative.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

The Inclement Weather policy (7.200) provides guidelines for the decision-making process regarding inclement weather events that balance the needs and safety of all members of the 91猎奇 community. Inclement weather refers to any weather situation, event, or condition that is a potential risk to safety for any 91猎奇 faculty, staff, student, or visitor traveling to campus or which hinders normal campus operations. This inclement weather policy and subsequent procedures do not include 鈥渟evere weather鈥� situations which may develop quickly and do not allow for the planning and consideration afforded in this procedure. For information regarding severe weather procedures, please refer to the emergency procedures for specific events which are located on the 91猎奇 website, /about/safety-security/emergency-procedures.

The appropriate inclement weather information will be posted to the College鈥檚 website (/updates), as well as submitted to appropriate media outlets, social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), internal email, and online learning management systems. These submissions are in addition to the notifications that will be sent out through the campus鈥� emergency notification system (ENS). If inclement weather occurs during a weekend, 91猎奇 leadership will determine if a delayed opening, early dismissal or closure is necessary, as applicable to weekend operations.

CRISIS/EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION

Rave is the Emergency Notification System (ENS) utilized by 91猎奇 to communicate pertinent information in a timely manner to the entire campus community. Rave provides emergency alerts which allow employees to receive real-time information about delayed class times, campus closings, and emergency situations on campus, etc. via their mobile phones and campus or personal email. All employees are enrolled in the program as part of the onboarding process when hired. There are multiple additional features, including the app functions and additional contact points/methods that employees are not automatically enrolled in, so it is important for you to log in to the website to confirm your contact information and choose your notification preferences. (Note that your cellular phone provider may charge a per-text message fee for the delivery of emergency notifications to your phone).

• To manage your account, please visit .
• To log in, please use your student (or employee) username and password (these were provided in your "Welcome to OASIS" email).
• Additionally, you can download the Rave Guardian application to your cell phone for more features (emergency call to campus security, a phone directory for assistance, safety timers, etc.).
• Rave Guardian can be downloaded from the and the .
• If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the IT department at (501) 760-4171 or techsupport@np.edu.

As technology changes, the software or system of alerting faculty and students may change. Although regular reminders will be sent, all employees should keep current with whichever system the College uses. It is also important to regularly review your information within those systems for accuracy.

In addition to the ENS outlined above, the campus is also equipped with an intercom system that can be used in an 鈥渁ll call鈥� capacity. The intercom system operates through the campus phone system and, when accessed, will allow communication through internal and external building speakers. Intercoms are strategically placed throughout campus and tested semi-annually in an effort to provide the largest and most efficient broadcast area for emergency messaging. Please take any announcement made through this system seriously and follow any instructions relayed through it without hesitation. It is only utilized in the most critical of situations, so your immediate adherence to the information announced is in the best interests of your personal safety.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES

91猎奇 students, faculty, staff, and guests are expected to evacuate campus buildings if they hear a fire alarm or other directive through the ENS. Please take time to review evacuation maps posted throughout each building to familiarize yourself with our emergency evacuation procedures. These maps include information about the designated assembly areas for tornado and fire emergencies as well as fire extinguishers and defibrillators. Training drills/exercises are conducted throughout the year for various emergency possible scenarios. If a training drill/exercise is being conducted, it will be made clear that the event is a drill and not an actual emergency event. If you do not hear the word "drill" then the directives being communicated are due to a genuine emergency. Please treat training events as actual emergencies so you are better prepared for real-life emergency situations that could occur.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

The policies and procedures previously outlined do not necessarily account for rapidly evolving and/or emergency situations. In an effort to be as prepared as possible for any number of health, safety or security related situations, emergency procedures have been developed which provide detailed action steps to follow in the event of such an emergency. The information provided below is regarding the most common and/or significant emergency situations and is intended to summarize your role/responsibilities as an employee. The detailed, step-by-step processes for each of the scenarios outlined herein along with others are located on the 91猎奇 website, /about/safety-security/emergency-procedures.aspx. Please familiarize yourself with these procedures, as you will be asked to participate in drills and trainings as part of the College鈥檚 commitment to safety and process improvement.

INCIDENT REPORTING

In an effort to ensure a healthy, safe, and secure environment on campus, 91猎奇 leadership wishes to identify and resolve potential risks. One method to accomplish this goal is completion and submission of Incident Reports which can be reviewed for needs that will further improve the safety of campus.

Any event involving campus security, student or staff safety, accidents, injuries, or any other campus event which may or may not result in injury to person or property should be formally reported as soon as possible. Although the definition of what should be reported may seem vague, it is intended to allow for individual discernment on a case-by-case basis. Anyone involved in or witness to a reportable incident, should complete an Incident Report. It is important to provide as much information about the incident as possible and to complete it as soon as possible so proper internal and external notifications or interventions can be made where/if appropriate.

You can find the 91猎奇 Incident Report Form on the P:Drive within the Health Safety & Security Folder. It is important to complete the form as soon as possible after the event so that all situational details will be fresh on your mind. Once you have completed the form, please attach and email it to the appropriate person according to those involved in the incident. For students, all incidents should be submitted to the campus nurse. For employees, all incidents should be submitted to the Associate Vice-President of Operations. If you have questions about the form, format, submission, or any other part of the Incident Reporting process, please contact the Associate Vice-President of Operations.

If you have any questions about the information contained in this handbook, please see your dean.

ADDENDUM for NPTC FACULTY

INTRODUCTION

National Park Technology Center (NPTC) has a history of providing excellent career and technical education to area high school students. The role of faculty at this institution is crucial and their importance in the lives of students cannot be understated. NPTC faculty are the first contact many students have with the College, and students determine whether it is in their future based on those interactions. The conduct of faculty in and out of the classroom is observed by students and the community. It is extremely important that instructors hold themselves to high standards and recognize that they are role models. Instructors should put their best efforts into personal conduct, teaching, working with other NPTC faculty and staff, establishing and sustaining industry partnerships, and creating a safe environment where students can excel.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF FACULTY

NPTC faculty are expected to follow the same professional and ethical standards outlined in 91猎奇 policy.

FACULTY ESSENTIALS

ROLE OF THE NPTC DIRECTOR

The Director serves as a direct report to the Vice President for Workforce. The Director鈥檚 job is to ensure that NPTC faculty have the resources and support needed to fulfill the career and technical instructional requirements of the state of Arkansas. The Director is responsible for the leadership, planning, promotion, and budgeting of the center. Likewise, the Director is ultimately responsible for the quality assurance, accreditation, and general compliance of each tech center program. The Director is the direct supervisor of NPTC faculty and, as such, is tasked with monitoring and coordinating faculty, maintaining lines of communication within and without the center, reporting to the Vice President for Workforce and鈥攐n academic and transfer of credit matters鈥攖o the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Director communicates directly with sending schools and is tasked with maintaining a positive relationship with each school. The Director is required to oversee search committees for NPTC positions, make recommendations for staffing needs, assist faculty with the provision of effective instruction, coordinate assessment activities for the center, oversee productive professional development, and give input to administration across the campus in matters related to the center's interests. The Director monitors the center budget and supervises the purchases of instructional materials and center supplies. Communication with the state Office of Skills Development is also the responsibility of the Director, along with all documentation that is required.

ASSESSMENT

Instructional assessment is the responsibility of each NPTC instructor. Assessment is to be given to measure students鈥� attainment of the objectives of the course or to meet credentialing requirements. Any assessment needs that cannot be met within the normal class time period/location must be communicated to the Director or Assistant Director at least one week prior to the date of the assessment.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

The following is a list of expectations that must be met before and during the semester:

1. Keep your personal contact information updated with NPTC administrative assistant.
2. Familiarize yourself with the 91猎奇 Faculty Handbook and these addendums.
3. Review rosters as soon as they are available and contact the administrative assistant or Assistant Director with any questions.
4. Notify Assistant Director of any change in the status of students after you have your final roster.
5. Examine the NPTC calendar and provide the Director with any dates that you will not be able to fulfill your duties.
6. Keep up with deadlines for submission of grades and submit on time.
7. Full-time faculty are expected to work 40 hours per week. Teachers are to be on campus by 7:45 a.m. and remain until 3:00 p.m. Adjustments may be made to this schedule at the discretion of the Director due to the differences in programs. Non-instructional time is to be spent assisting students, keeping accurate records of grades and attendance as directed by the Director and Assistant Director, preparing for instruction, planning, partnership team duties, professional development, community service, service to the College and Tech Center, and other duties as assigned by the Director or Assistant Director.
8. Check your NPTC email regularly and respond promptly to administration requests.
9. Modify instruction to follow the individual modification plans received from sending schools.
10. Notify the Director and Assistant Director of the necessity of your absence, and plan for class coverage, giving as much advance notice as possible. Arrange for class coverage by contacting the substitute provider or finding an alternative.

GENERAL CLASSROOM PROCEDURES

1. Meet each class at the scheduled time and place for the amount of time specified in the course schedule. Field trips, non-instructional events, or any additional class meetings must be scheduled through the director and assistant director.
2. Keep accurate, up-to-date records of student grades and attendance as directed by the director and/or assistant director.
3. Provide students with feedback on grades and assignments in a timely manner.

Textbooks

Textbooks, including e-books, should be purchased through the 91猎奇 Bookstore. All textbook purchases are to be approved by the director or assistant director in advance.

Change of Grade

Any grade change requests must be submitted to the administrative assistant along with the reason for the change.

Class Rosters

Rosters will be provided as soon as possible at the start of each semester. Review your rosters for accuracy and check for the following:

1. Proper class/period designation
2. Proper instructor designation
3. Names are spelled correctly for each student
4. Proper school designation
5. Verification of any drops/adds

Verify with students that they are in the correct program Unresolved roster questions should be referred to the Assistant Director.

Discipline

Student discipline is considered a joint responsibility of the NPTC instructor(s), NPTC administration, and the administration of the schools sending students to NPTC. The instructor is asked to refer a disciplinary situation that cannot be settled with the student to the Director or Assistant Director. When conduct is detrimental to the best interests of NPTC, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Dropping a student

Students are dropped for excessive absences, by request from the sending school for failing the previous semester, or for discipline reasons. The teacher cannot drop a student, but can request that a student be dropped by providing evidence of the reason to the NPTC Director. All drops must be approved by the center Director.

Credit Hours

Each NPTC program offers a minimum of two high school credits per year. Additional credits are assigned for any weighted course. College credit is assigned to students qualifying for, and meeting the standards of concurrent courses offered through NPTC. The amount of college credit varies by program.

Final Exams

It is left to the discretion of each instructor whether or not to give a final exam. The decision should be made prior to the start of class, listed in the learning management system, D2L, and called to the attention of students.

Grading

The following grading system is to be utilized to evaluate NPTC students:

• A: 90-100%
• B: 80-89%
• C: 70-79%
• D: 60-69%
• F: 0-59%

Posting Grades

Students are to be given letter grades, 鈥淎鈥� through 鈥淔,鈥� as they reflect the student鈥檚 progress to that point in the semester. Midterm and final grades are to be provided to the administrative assistant on the dates requested each semester. Incomplete grades may not be assigned at mid-semester.

Incomplete Grades

An incomplete grade is only to be given when circumstances arise that prevent a student from completing the coursework by the grade due date. When an incomplete grade is given, it is to be after an understanding is reached between the student and instructor of when all work is to be completed. The incomplete grade is to be replaced with a passing grade provided the student satisfactorily completes the coursework as stipulated by the instructor. A student who does not satisfactorily complete the coursework by the mid-semester date the following semester is to have the incomplete grade changed to an 鈥淔.鈥�

Faculty Meetings

Faculty meetings are usually held once a month and the Director issues an email in advance stating the time and place.

COURSE SYLLABUS AND ASSOCIATED POLICIES

PURPOSE

In order to assure that students have a uniform educational experience and are provided with adequate information about NPTC courses, all courses will have an official syllabus that follows a specified uniform format. Concourse Syllabus software is in place to assist faculty in developing their syllabi.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Consequences and Penalties for Academic Dishonesty

If dishonesty is evident, the following consequence may be imposed at the discretion of the instructor:

• The student will receive a 0 or an 鈥淔鈥� on work submitted dishonestly

If dishonesty is severe, the following consequences may be imposed at the discretion of the NPTC Director:

• The student will receive an 鈥淔鈥� in the course.
• The student will be suspended from NPTC.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

NPTC attendance policy, as stated in this section, modifies the College attendance policy to adhere to Department of Education policies for secondary school attendance and to coordinate with sending school districts.

Instructors are to keep a log of daily attendance and report attendance each day to the NPTC administrative assistant.

POLICY DECLARATION

Instructions to students regarding attendance:

1. Students are responsible to know and comply with NPTC attendance requirements.
2. Students are expected to meet all attendance requirements and engage in coursework as outlined in the course syllabus. Failure to maintain satisfactory course participation is the equivalent of excessive absenteeism and may result in the student being dropped. To maintain good standing in online courses, students are expected to submit assigned coursework in a timely manner per the instructor requirements.
3. Failure to meet a course鈥檚 attendance policy does not mean a student will be automatically withdrawn from a course. Students seeking to withdraw from a course should do so through their school counselor or the NPTC Director.
4. Students who stop attending but do not withdraw from a course will receive an earned grade if the number of absences does not exceed the maximum number allowed.
5. A faculty member may not withdraw a student from a course, including online courses, if attendance does not meet syllabus guidelines.
6. The withdrawal of a student from a course must be approved by the NPTC Director.
7. In some circumstances, a student may earn a grade of IP (incomplete) to defer course completion.

Instructions to NPTC Faculty regarding attendance:

1. Faculty are required to record attendance for all courses in D2L. Daily attendance is to be reported to the administrative assistant.
2. Faculty will communicate NPTC attendance guidelines via their course syllabus and verbally at the beginning of each semester.
3. Faculty are to report 7th and 12th absences to the administrative assistant. Exit forms are to be completed by faculty on the 15th absence. Exceptions to this reporting are at the discretion of the center Director and will be communicated to faculty.
4. Withdrawing a student due to lack of attendance will require Director approval.
5. Faculty are not to count students absent on days when their sending school is closed or the school chooses to keep NPTC students on their campus for testing, meetings, etc. The Director, Assistant Director, or administrative assistant will notify teachers of those days.
6. An 鈥淚P鈥� (incomplete) grade may be assigned to a student in certain circumstances to defer course completion.

RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the responsibility of the NPTC Director to ensure the integrity of this policy in classroom instruction.

NON-DISCRIMINATION AND SECTION 504

No student shall be discriminated against because of age, color, disability, parental status, marital status, race, national origin, religion, gender or veteran status. Parents who have temporary or permanent disability may request the district/center to provide appropriate accommodations necessary for them to participate in essential instructional activities of their students. Students who are at least eighteen (18) years of age may submit their own requests.

It is the policy of National Park Technology Center to provide a free and appropriate public education to each qualified student with a disability within its jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. It is the intent of the district/center to ensure students who are disabled within the definition of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are identified, evaluated, and provided with appropriate educational services.

Under Section 504, due process rights of qualified students with disabilities and their parents are guaranteed in National Park Technology Center. The National Park College Dean of Students serves as the Coordinator of Section 504 and other equity issues of NPTC. The office of the Dean of Students is on the second floor of the Student Commons and the telephone number is (501) 760-4229.