Policies & Procedures

Academic Warning or Probation

If the student falls below the criteria on the SAP listed above in the catalog, he/she will be placed on a probationary period (the period specified above on the SAP) Any student having to repeat courses will have to pay $35.00 per course. At the end of the probationary period, if the student has not satisfied the specified requirements, he/she may be terminated from the university. Students meeting this requirement at the end of the probationary period will be removed from this status.

Probation is an administrative status. Students on probation are at risk of termination from the program. Students on probation are monitored more closely, requiring academic advising regularly to determine student progress. Students on probation may be required to attend extra course sessions. Students placed on probation will be notified in writing and will receive academic advising to assist them in grade improvement.

Suspension & Dismissal

Students are eligible to apply for readmission after a minimum of one term, and, if permitted to return, will be on academic probation. If at any time after having once been suspended a student on probation has a cumulative average below the minimum required, the student will be dismissed from the university and will not be eligible to return.

Any appeals for failure to maintain satisfactory progress must be made in writing to the Vice President of Academic Affairs within 15 days of notice of dismissal. The student will be notified in writing of the decision. The maximum time limit given to a student to complete their program is 1.5 times the normal length of that program. A student not meeting these criteria will be terminated for not making satisfactory progress.

Appeals Process

Any appeals of the actions described above must be made in writing to the Vice President of Academic Affairs who will consider the appeal. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will have the final authority over the matter to decide whether to accept the student’s appeal within 5 days. For the student’s appeal to be granted, the student will need to give evidence of satisfactory academic progress.

Student Conduct Policy

At Birchwood University appropriate student conduct in each class and when communicating with others in the University is very important. Any inappropriate conduct could result in dismissal from the University.

The following types of conduct are unacceptable:

All forms of academic misconduct including but not limited to cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, or facilitating academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism: All work submitted by a student must represent the student’s original endeavor. When outside sources are used as references, the student should identify the source to make clear the extent to which the source has been used. The University considers plagiarism and falsification of documents a serious matter that will result in appropriate sanctions including loss of full or partial credit for the work, suspension for a specific period, or expulsion from the program.
Other forms of dishonesty including but are not limited to fabricating information, furnishing false information, or reporting a false emergency to the University.
Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any University document, record, key, electronic device, or identification.
Unauthorized entry to, possession of, receipt of, or use of any University services; equipment; resources; or properties, including the University’s name, insignia, or seal.
Sexual harassment, as defined here: Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects a person's education, unreasonably interferes with a person's educational performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive learning environment. In the interest of preventing sexual harassment, the University will respond to reports of any such conduct.
Stalking behavior in which an individual repeatedly engages in conduct directed at another person and makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her family; where the threat is reasonably determined by the University to seriously alarm or torment the person; and where the threat is additionally determined by the University to serve no legitimate purpose.
Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other University activities.
Failure to identify to, or comply with the directions of, a university official or other public official acting in the performance of his or her duties while at official University functions; or resisting or obstructing such University or other public officials in the performance of or the attempt to perform their duties.
Selling, preparing, or distributing for any commercial purpose course lecture notes, video, or audio recordings of any course unless authorized by the University in advance and explicitly permitted by the course instructor in writing. The unauthorized sale or commercial distribution of course notes or recordings by a student is a violation of these policies whether it was the student or someone else who prepared the notes or recordings. Copying -for any commercial purpose- handouts, readers, or other course materials provided by an instructor as part of the University course unless authorized by the University in advance and explicitly permitted by the course instructor or the copyright holder in writing.

Penalties For Misconduct

The Vice President of Academic Affairs may impose penalties for violations of university policies or campus regulations whether such violations are also violations of law, and whether proceedings are or have been pending in the courts involving the same acts.

If because of an official appeal it is determined that the student was improperly disciplined, the Vice President of Academic Affairs shall, if requested by the student, have the record of the hearing sealed, and have any reference to the disciplinary process removed from the student's record. In such case, the record of the hearing may be used only in connection with legal proceedings.

Whether or not a hearing is conducted, the University may provide written notice to a student that his or her alleged behavior may have violated University policy or campus regulations and that, if repeated, such behavior will be subject to the disciplinary process. Evidence of the prior alleged behavior as detailed in the written notice may be introduced in a subsequent disciplinary action.

When a student is found in violation of university policies or campus regulations, any of the following types of student disciplinary action may be imposed. Any sanction imposed should be appropriate to the violation, taking into consideration the context and seriousness of the violation.

Warning/Censure: Written notice or reprimand to the student that a violation of specified university policies or campus regulations has occurred, and that continued or repeated violations of the university policies or campus regulations may be cause for further disciplinary action, normally in the form of Disciplinary Probation, and/or Loss of Privileges and Exclusion from Activities, Suspension, or Dismissal.
Disciplinary Probation: A status imposed for a specified period during which a student must demonstrate conduct that conforms to the university standards of conduct. Misconduct during the probationary period or violation of any conditions of the probation may result in further disciplinary action, normally in the form of Suspension or Dismissal.
Loss of Privileges and Exclusion from Activities: Exclusion from participation in designated privileges and activities for a specified period. Violation of any conditions in the written Notice of Loss of Privileges and Exclusion from Activities, or violation of university policies or campus regulations during the period of the sanction may be cause for further disciplinary action, normally in the form of Probation, Suspension or Dismissal.
Suspension: Termination of student status at the university for a specified period with reinstatement thereafter certain, provided that the student has complied with all conditions imposed as part of the suspension and provided that he or she is otherwise qualified for reinstatement. Violation of the conditions of Suspension or university policies or campus regulations during the period of Suspension may be cause for further disciplinary action, normally in the form of Dismissal.
Dismissal: Termination of student status for an indefinite period. Readmission after dismissal may be granted only under exceptional circumstances.
Restitution: A requirement for restitution in the form of reimbursement may be imposed for expenses incurred by the university or other parties resulting from a violation of these policies. Such reimbursement may take the form of monetary payment or appropriate service to repair or otherwise compensate for damages. Restitution may be imposed on any student who alone, or through group or concerted activities, participates in causing the damages or costs.
Revocation of Awarding of Degree: Subject to the concurrence of the University Governing Board.

Modifications

Birchwood University reserves the right to modify academic policies, regulations, courses, fees, and other matters of policy and rule when deemed necessary and with due notice. Students will be given advance notification of such changes.

Non-Discrimination

Birchwood University admits students of any race, color, sex, age, marital status, nondisqualifying disability to the extent of the law, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to the student at the university and does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, or another university- administered programs.

Anti-Hazing

At Birchwood University the practice of hazing is prohibited. Hazing is defined as any action taken or situations created to intentionally produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.

Emergency Closure

In the event of an emergency, Birchwood University’s administrative office will close as determined by Orange County due to inclement weather or natural disaster (hurricanes, etc.).