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This page contains information about the following topics:
Policy Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities
Springfield College is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity and full participation in College programs and activities for persons with disabilities, in accordance with state and federal laws. The College fully supports the anti-discrimination policies expressed in state and federal legislation for persons with disabilities. It is the College’s intent that no person be subjected to discrimination with regard to any College program or activity.
Springfield College recognizes the unique needs of students with disabilities and encourages these students to use the support services offered by the College to assist them in attaining their educational goals. Students with documented disabilities are invited to contact the Academic Success Center, located in the Harold C. Smith Learning Commons, third floor, at (413) 748-3389.
In accordance with the requirement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Springfield College will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. Springfield College does not discrimination on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the US Department of Education, the US Department of Justice, and the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Section 504 Coordinator is Erin Leeper, Director of Non-Discrimination Initiatives/Title IX Administrator & 504 Coordinator, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109, Telephone: 413-748-3248, Email: eleeper@springfield.edu.
Nondiscrimination Statement
Springfield College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis in the admission and access to, and employment and treatment in, its programs and activities. Inquiries regarding the application of this notice of nondiscrimination and Springfield College’s nondiscrimination policies may be referred to the following:
- Erin Leeper, Director of Non-Discrimination Initiatives/Title IX Administrator & 504 Coordinator, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109, Telephone: 413-748-3248, Email: eleeper@springfield.edu;
- Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, Telephone: 1-800-421-3481; or
- Boston office, Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Education, 8th floor, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109-3921, Telephone: 617-289-0111.
Springfield College complies with all federal and state requirements for a drug-free campus and workplace.
Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with the Student-Right-to-Know Act (Title 1 of Public Law 101-542), the graduation rates of degree-seeking, full-time students are available to all current or prospective students from the Office of Institutional Research and will be provided upon request.
Although Springfield College does not guarantee employment following the completion of a degree bearing program, the Springfield College Career Center provides services and resources to assist current students and graduates with reaching their professional goals. The Career Center works with students in identifying career options, exploring career-related engaged learning opportunities, enhancing job searching skills, preparing for admission into graduate/professional schools, recognizing employment opportunities, and networking with Springfield College alumni. Services are available both in-person or via telephone appointment. Note: student referrals to prospective employers are not based on direct contact with the employer regarding current job openings.
Springfield College retains selected student records, including the academic transcript containing course and grade information, credits awarded, academic review notations, grade point average, degree conferral and honors information permanently. Supporting information such as academic action notifications, change of grade, change of major, degree applications, course substitutions and waivers, and miscellaneous correspondence is retained for a period of seven (7) years after a student’s separation from the College. A student’s academic record, in the form of an electronic transcript, is maintained permanently by the Office of the Registrar.
Confidentiality of Student Records
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive federal financial aid.
FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when they reach the age of 18 or attend a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”
- Eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
- Eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth their view about the contested information.
- Generally, schools must have written permission from the eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):
- School officials with legitimate educational interest;
- Other schools to which a student is transferring;
- Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
- Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
- Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
- Accrediting organizations;
- To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
- Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
- State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.
Schools may disclose “directory” information (i.e. contents of the student’s educational record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed) without consent; however, schools must tell eligible students about directory information and allow eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.
Note: This section is intended to serve as a general overview of the law. The complete Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) regulations are available here: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-99.
Confidentiality of Springfield College Educational Records
Springfield College is required to maintain student confidentiality rights and protect access to each student’s educational record. Information may be shared between Springfield College representatives who have established a legitimate educational interest in the information and/or without a student’s prior consent as outlined by the law.
Eligible students may request to view their own educational record by submitting formal written notice to the Registrar that is signed, dated, and details what specific information within their educational record they would like to review. In such cases, a physical meeting will be established within the forty-five (45) day window required under FERPA. If physical distance to campus is an issue, a copy of the requested information within the student’s educational record will be provided.
Eligible students may allow the College to provide a specified third-party access to information in their educational record with their own prior consent. In order for consent to be established, eligible students must provide the name of the specified third-party, the third-party’s relationship to the student, the third party’s contact information, and what personally identifiable information within the student’s educational record the third-party can access within the College’s My FERPA Consent Releases portlet in PrideNET. Students can revoke their consent using this portlet at any time. The College reserves the right to require eligible students to provide consent using the My FERPA Consent Releases portlet in PrideNET instead of any externally developed third-party release form before information from their educational record can be released.
Except when permitted by the law, eligible students and/or designated third-parties are the only ones who can access information from the student’s educational record unless the information is considered directory information by the College. Springfield College considers the following items from a student’s educational record to be directory information:
- Student Name
- Springfield College Email Address
- Major Field of Study
- Grade Level
- Enrollment Status
- Dates of Attendance
- Participation in Officially Recognized Activities and Sports
- Weight and Height of Members of Athletic Teams
- Degrees, Honors and Awards Received
- Most Recent Educational Agency or Institution Attended
Students wishing to withhold this information must submit a Request to Withhold Directory Information Form to the Registrar’s Office within two weeks of the start of classes in the fall semester. The form is available by contacting the Registrar’s Office. Per NCAA regulations, students who participate on a NCAA-sponsored athletic team are still required to be listed on the team roster regardless of whether a Request to Withhold Directory Information Form has been submitted.
Students may be subject to a failing grade in a course due to a failure to attend class in accordance with requirements in the course syllabi. In addition, students may also have their course grade affected due to being tardy for a scheduled class meeting(s). Additional information pertaining to the impact of poor attendance or tardiness may be found in the course syllabus. Failing or below average grades in a semester may subsequently result in a negative academic action. The make up of course work that is not submitted in accordance with course requirements as outlined in the course syllabus is determined by the individual course instructor.
Any student in an educational or vocational training institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of their religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study, or work requirement which they may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section.
The Springfield College New Class Attendance Policy applies to all courses at the College. This is inclusive across all modes of study and locations. As part of this policy, each faculty member is expected to set Course-Level Attendance Expectations, which address issues of participation/engagement, make-up policies, and timeliness. The course-level expectations are set by the faculty and expand upon the College-wide policies for a particular course. This means that each course will have slightly different policies and expectations, so it is important that all students review the expectations in each course. The faculty teaching online and blended courses are to post these policies in Brightspace and carefully review the details of these policies with the students at the start of the semester.
Important points for all students:
- Students are expected to be engaged in all of their courses each week and to start engaging in online learning activities right when the semester begins (i.e., before any physical class meetings may take place). Faculty will be recording attendance at class sessions and/or engagement in online activities at the end of each week. Students will be marked at Attended; Not Attended; or Not Regularly Attending.
- Financial aid will only be disbursed after a student has shown initial engagement in the course (e.g., uploading an assignment, making a discussion post, or physically attending a class session).
- Students who are not regularly attending classes or engaging in online activities will receive a reach-out from their Instructor and/or Advisor.
- If you are even considering withdrawing from a course, please consult with your Advisor or Academic Success Coach immediately and reach out to the Financial Aid Office as there could be serious financial implications for the withdrawal.
Documents that must be posted to the Brightspace classroom in the ANNOUNCEMENTS:
a. New Class Attendance Policy (College-wide Policy)
b. Course-Level Expectations (each instructor customizes and posts in Brightspace)
Springfield College (“College”) is committed to assisting all members of the College community and providing for their own safety and security. As required by federal law, each year the College prepares an Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report (“Report”). The Report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety, including such topics as crime prevention, fire safety, crime reporting policies, disciplinary procedures and other matters of importance related to security and safety on campus. It also contains information about crime statistics for the three previous calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the College, and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the College’s campus, as well as fire statistics for the three previous calendar years concerning reported fires that occurred in College residence halls. You may obtain a copy of the report by contacting the Department of Public Safety or by accessing the annual campus security report website. In addition, the Springfield College Department of Public Safety will provide a paper copy of the Report upon request.
The Springield College Student Code of Conduct is listed below. A comprehensive guide to the cummity standards process, including related topics of authority, jurisdiction, violation of law, definitions, reporting, rights, responsibilities, procedures, accomodations, sanctions, appeals, and notations in academic records is available in the Student Handbook.
Code of Conduct
The purpose of the Springfield College Student Code of Conduct is to promote a campus environment that supports the mission of the College, by articulating appropriate standards of individual and group behavior. Students are required to familiarize themselves with all College policies and regulations. Lack of familiarity with policies and regulations regarding expected behavior will not excuse a student from being held responsible for violations of College policies and regulations.
Disciplinary regulations of the College are set forth in writing in order to give students general prohibitive conduct. The regulations should be read broadly and are not designed to define misconduct in exhaustive terms. In addition, alleged violations of local, state, and federal laws may constitute a violation of the College’s Student Code of Conduct. Violations of the Student Code of Conduct may be grounds for disciplinary action.
3.8.1. The following actions/behaviors shall constitute violations of the Springfield College Student Code of Conduct.
Please note that when a student is charged with an alleged violation, the charge usually refers to a portion of the Code. This list may not be inclusive of every possible violation of the code of conduct.
3.8.1.1. Violating federal, state, or local laws on College premises or while in attendance at College-sponsored or supervised events, or committing off-campus violations of federal, state, or local law, or actions that adversely affect the College and/or the pursuit of its objectives.
3.8.1.2. Bullying: A verbal, written, electronic, or physical act or gesture, or the repeated use of verbal, written, or electronic expression or communication, or any combination thereof that (i) causes or is intended to cause physical, psychological, and/or emotional harm to another person or damage to property; (ii) places a College community member in reasonable fear of harm or damage to property; or (iii) creates a hostile, threatening, intimidating, humiliating, or abusive environment for a College community member or substantially interferes with academic performance, opportunities, or benefits. Bullying may include, but is not limited to: humiliation or degradation, threats, intimidation, harassment, stalking, theft and/or damage/destruction of property, or the perpetuation of any of the conduct listed in this section by inciting, soliciting, or coercing others to demean, embarrass, humiliate, or cause emotional, psychological, or physical harm to a member of the College community.
3.8.1.3. Any form of sexual misconduct/gender-based misconduct, including but not limited to, acts of sexual assault (non-consensual sexual intercourse, non-consensual sexual contact), sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, stalking, and relationship violence or the attempt of these actions. Formal complaints of sexual misconduct will be addressed by the Gender-Based Misconduct policy found on the Springfield College website.
3.8.1.4. Actual or threatened physical abuse and/or assault, verbal abuse, threats, threatening behavior, humiliating behavior, harassment, coercion, or injury to persons. Threatened physical abuse/assault includes, but is not limited to, intimidation and/or conduct which threatens or endangers the physical health or safety of any person or group. Physical assault/abuse includes, but is not limited to, hitting, kicking, slapping, punching, pushing, and/or spitting on another person or persons.
3.8.1.5. The use of any device to capture audio, video, or digital record or photograph of any person where there is reasonable expectation of privacy (e.g. restroom, locker room, residence hall) or the use or display of any such record, without consent, where such use is designed to intimidate, harass, or otherwise endanger the health or safety of the person.
3.8.1.6. Unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys or access cards to any College premises, and/or tampering with any locks. Students who are in possession of keys or access cards other than their own.
3.8.1.7. Unauthorized entry or use of College premises; unauthorized presence in any place that is marked as private, unapproved presence in any space you have not been assigned to, as well as the presence in any place that you have been officially trespassed from.
3.8.1.8. Unauthorized possession, use or misuse, diversion, removal, defacing, tampering, damage, or destruction of College-owned or leased property, equipment, services, programs, or materials, as well as that of any member of the College community, guests of the College, vendor, contractor, or any other person; or hindering another’s use of College resources.
3.8.1.9. Any action which creates a fire hazard. This includes, but is not limited to, tampering with fire safety equipment, possessing or using any hazardous and/ or explosive material, failing to evacuate a building/area after notice has been given, or knowingly making a false report of a dangerous condition.
3.8.1.10. Failure to comply with the instructions and/or requests of College staff and/or other officials acting in accordance with their assigned duties; refusal to respond to a request of an administrative officer.
3.8.1.11. Failure to positively identify one’s self or providing false information when appropriately requested to do so. This also includes withholding material information from the College and making false statements to any College official.
3.8.1.12. Theft or misuse of phone, computer information, and electronic systems (Internet connection, network, etc.) are prohibited, including but not limited to:
3.8.1.12.1. Unauthorized entry into a file to use, read, or change contents.
3.8.1.12.2. Unauthorized transfer of files or programs.
3.8.1.12.3. Unauthorized use of another person’s identification and password.
3.8.1.12.4. Use of computing or phone systems to send obscene, threatening, or harassing messages.
3.8.1.12.5. Interfering with the typical operation of the College computing system, including the initiation of the spread of a computer virus.
3.8.1.13. Aiding, abetting, or attempting to commit an act or action that violates the Code. A student present when the Code is violated may be held responsible even if they are not directly involved in the perpetration of the violation. Students who anticipate or observe a violation of community standards are expected to remove themselves from participation and are encouraged to report the violation.
3.8.1.14. Uncivil behavior includes behavior that causes harm to self, others, or surroundings; acts of disrespect to those around; rude and discourteous behavior toward others; displaying a lack of regard for others; behavior that negatively affects the living and learning environment; and addressing others in an unprofessional/disrespectful way.
3.8.1.15. Guest and visitor behavior: all students are fully responsible for their guests’ and visitors’ behavior and a range of sanctions may be imposed on the student host if their guest or visitor fails to abide by the Code of Conduct, including, but not limited to fines, loss of a variety of privileges, and potential housing reassignment or loss of housing. Guests who violate the code of conduct may be trespassed from the College. The following violations are grounds for a guest to be trespassed:
3.8.1.15.1. Abuse and/or assault
3.8.1.15.2. Alcohol transport
3.8.1.15.3. Disrespectful or verbally abusive behavior towards a college official
3.8.1.15.4. Drug policy violation
3.8.1.15.5. Repeat offender
3.8.1.15.6. Uncivil behavior
3.8.1.16. Abuse of the community standards system, including but not limited to:
3.8.1.16.1. Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed by the College;
3.8.1.16.2. Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information;
3.8.1.16.3. Institution of a conduct complaint knowingly without cause;
3.8.1.16.4. Attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the conduct system;
3.8.1.16.5. Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a conduct body prior to, during, and/or after a conduct proceeding;
3.8.1.16.6. Harassment and/or intimidation of a member of a conduct body, witness, or victim prior to, during, and/or after a conduct proceeding;
3.8.1.16.7. Influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the conduct system.
3.8.1.17. Bias-related violations of the Code toward or regarding a person or group because of factors such as actual or perceived disability, religion, race, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or gender expression or identity, age, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran status may be assessed enhanced sanctions.
3.8.1.18. Indecent or lewd exposure, including public urination.
3.8.1.19. Disrespectful behavior, attitude, interaction, or verbal exchange with a College official.
3.8.1.20. Conduct, endangering or reckless actions that threaten or endanger the general health or safety of any member of the community, including one’s self, the community at large, and/or the operations of the College.
3.8.1.21. Failing to follow established community health protocols and/or social distance guidelines.
3.8.1.22. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any College document.
3.8.1.23. Representing the College, any recognized student organization, College personnel, or any official without consent.
3.8.1.24. No person shall use, furnish, deface, alter, falsify, be in possession of, and/or borrow a Springfield College ID, state identification card, driver’s license, or passport of another, or supply such identification to another. No person shall produce and/or alter identification cards for sale and/or mass production. Violators may be subject to arrest, criminal charges, and/or subject to disciplinary actions.
Additional Student Affairs Policies
Further information on College resources and student affairs policies and procedures can be found in the Student Handbook.
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