Student Right to Know

The following provides prospective students, current students and community members with information, facts and figures about Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM). Privacy, right-to-know, crime statistics, special services for disabled students, and other institutional information can be found through the links below. For questions regarding this information or to provide a paper copy of this information, please contact the V.P. of Student Affairs office at 480.858.9100

1. Enrollment and Graduation Rates
2. Campus Crime Statistics
3. Privacy of Student Educational Records/FERPA
4. Services for Students With Disabilities
5. Financial Aid
6. Withdrawal and Refund Policy including Medical Withdrawal
7. Tranfer Credit Policy and Articulation Agreements
8. Sexual Harassment page 12 - 14 & 36 - 39 (in the handbook)
9. Non-Discrimination Policy
10. U.S. Constitution Information

Enrollment and Graduation Rates

The Federal government, under Student Right-to-Know (SRTK) legislation, requires that all colleges and universities report the number of students who began their studies full time and who complete programs within 150% of the normal time required for completion. For SCNM, a four year ND program, that time period is six years. 

Privacy of Student Educational Records/FERPA

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

This federal law provides that eligible students have access to their educational records for inspection and review; further, this law protects the rights of a student to privacy by limiting access by others to education records without express written consent of the student. SCNM may release information from an education record without the consent of the student to officials of another college or university where the student seeks or intends to enroll, as permitted by FERPA SS99.31 (a) (2).

SCNM may release information from an education record without the consent of the student to another educational institution in which the student is enrolled. For example, SCNM may release academic records for a “dual enrollment” without prior written consent of the student (FERPA SS99.34 (b)). SCNM may disclose information from an education record without the consent of the student if the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals (FERPA SS99.36). Students have the right to review and inspect their education records, including their application, except for confidential recommendations. Photo identification must be presented before access to education records will be permitted. An appointment must be made with the Registrar’s Office to access an education record.

Directory Information

SCNM may release information that has been defined under the Directory Information provision of FERPA. SCNM defines directory information as name, address, photo, phone number, e-mail address, dates of attendance, program of study, degree conferral date, enrollment status, grade level, and degree/awards earned. Forms are available at the Welcome & Enrollment Center for a student to request that SCNM withhold all directory information.

Proper Disclosure

Student information of a private, personal, or confidential nature that is provided to SCNM faculty and staff will not be disclosed improperly. The faculty is expected to provide accurate evaluations of students. For the purposes of monitoring and recording student progress, evaluations include the strengths and weaknesses of academic, clinical, communication, and professional skills. The evaluations also include observations and opinions regarding academic effort and professional conduct. Although not required, faculty and staff may provide judgments of a student’s abilities and character to others in appropriate circumstances in accordance with the SCNM policy on student records.

Exceptions

• Judicial subpoena of records, upon condition that the college makes a reasonable effort to notify the student in advance of release of records.
• Emergency situations, if knowledge of personal information is necessary to protect the health or safety of a student or other person(s).
• Military requests (Solomon Amendment)
• Student Clearinghouse Submissions

For more information regarding student rights, students should contact the Registrar’s Office.

Student ID Numbers (SID) / Social Security Number (SSN) / Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

Student identification numbers are used in college transactions. Students are assigned individual student identification numbers (SID numbers) for use in college transactions such as web-based services and other student services. To comply with federal laws, the colleges are required to ask for the student’s Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Colleges use the SSN / ITIN to report American Opportunity Tax Credit / Lifetime Learning tax credit, to administer state-federal financial aid, to verify enrollment, degree and academic transcript records, and to conduct institutional research. Pursuant to state law (RCW 28B.10.042) and federal law (Family Rights and Privacy Act), the college will protect the student’s SSN from unauthorized use and/or disclosure.

If a student does not submit a SSN / ITIN, the student will not be denied access to the college; however, the student may be subject to civil penalties (refer to Internal Revenue Service Treasury Regulation 1.6050S-1(e)(4) for more information).

Applicant/Student with Disabilities

SCNM welcomes applications from students from all backgrounds and does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, sex, and ethnic background, place of origin, age, religion, spiritual belief, sexual orientation, or political affiliations. SCNM is committed to complying with all applicable provisions of the Americans

with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is College policy not to discriminate against any qualified student or applicant with regard to any terms or conditions because of such individual’s disability or perceived disability, so long as the student can perform the essential functions of the program (see Technical Standards p. 10). Consistent with this policy, the College will provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified individual with a disability, as defined by the ADA, who has made SCNM aware of his or her disability, provided that such accommodation does not constitute an undue hardship to SCNM.

Persons with disabilities who meet the technical standards, possess the required abilities, and meet all academic qualifications for admission are encouraged to apply for admission. A request for special accommodations must be submitted to the Dean of Students prior to matriculation.

Matriculated students with disabilities who believe they need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of a student must contact the Dean of Students to make appropriate arrangements prior to the beginning of each quarter. Students will be required to provide substantive evidence of a disability as defined by the ADA and complete the special accommodation form.

If a student, after following SCNM procedures, believes SCNM is not fulfilling its responsibilities under the ADA or other acts, may contact the Dean of Students for further advice and assistance. If the matter remains unresolved, the student may file a complaint with the Director of Human Resources (compliance officer for the ADA and Rehabilitation Act).

Withdrawal Policy

Complete Withdrawal

Complete withdrawal is defined as completely withdrawing from all classes (including a leave of absence).  In the case of a complete withdrawal, the following tuition refunds apply for 8-, 10-, and 12-week courses, dependent upon the withdrawal date. For calculation purposes, the date of complete withdrawal is the date the student provides a formal written notice to the Registrar’s Office of the intent to withdraw. In the case of a student who fails to notify the Registrar’s Office of intent to withdraw, the date that is the midpoint of the term or the student’s last  documented date of an academically related activity will be considered the withdrawal date, whichever is the longest time period. Intensive courses that precede the term will be considered as stand-alone courses for the purpose of withdrawal and refunds. Refunds for these courses will be based on the length of the course and the time enrolled.

Withdrawal Date Refund Calculations

Complete withdrawal before the start of the term.

100% tuition and fees with the exception of non-refundable fees as noted in tuition and fee schedule.

Complete withdrawal after the start of the term but prior to the census date (end of week two).

100% tuition and course specific fees are refunded. All other fees as noted in the tuition and fee schedule are not refundable.

Complete withdrawal from all classes after the term census date (end of week two).

% of tuition and refundable fees charged will be based on the federal guidelines formula as shown below. All other fees, as noted in the tuition and fee schedule, are not refundable.

After the 60% completion point of the term.

0% tuition and fees refunded

For consistency purposes, SCNM applies the same federal guidelines for prorate refunds to all student refund calculations as those applied to students receiving federal financial aid. The federal guidelines for financial aid refunds are determined on the basis of the student’s withdrawal date and the length of the session. The length of the session is calculated from the first day of instruction through final exams of the registered session(s) and excludes any breaks of five days or more.

Federal Formula:

A. Refund Rate = Calendar days completed in the period of enrollment ÷ total calendar days in the period of enrollment

B. Refund Amount = Tuition charges for the period of enrollment X the percentage of unearned Title IV aid

This calculation determines the percentage of federal funds that have been earned by the student at the time of withdrawal and the amount of unearned funds that must be returned to the federal program. For more information, see the financial aid web page on the SCNM web site, or consult the Financial Aid Office.

Medical/Compassionate Withdrawal

A medical/compassionate withdrawal request may be submitted to the Academic Progress Committee through the Office of the Dean of Students. Requests are considered in cases in which serious illness/injury or extreme personal circumstances beyond the student’s control prevents a student from continuing his/her classes and an incomplete or other arrangement with the faculty member is not possible. Applications for withdrawal require documentation. A student who receives an incomplete for any course has one calendar year or four consecutive quarters to complete the outstanding work and receive a grade before the “I” is changed to a “WD.”

Military Withdrawal

Students withdrawing for military deployment must attach a copy of the military order to the withdrawal form. Grades of WD for withdrawal are recorded on the official academic record; these grades are non-penalizing. All tuition and fees paid by the student for the quarter from which the student is withdrawing will be refunded at a rate of 100%. If the student is withdrawing after the 70% completion point (excluding intensives) and was granted approved incompletes by the faculty member, the student is not eligible for tuition refund. The student has one calendar year or four consecutive quarters to complete the outstanding work and receive a grade before the “I” changes to a “WD.”

Non-Discrimination Policy

SCNM does not discriminate on the basis of race, disability, sex, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or marital status in the administration of educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, employment, or any other program or activity.