Spectrum 2007-2008

Other University Policies and Procedures

Policy On Abandoned Personal Property
(Abridged)

All property, not otherwise covered by Tennessee Law, that is held by a Tennessee Board of Regents institution in its ordinary course of business, and which has remained unclaimed for more than one year, is presumed abandoned.

Under Tennessee law, the holder of presumed abandoned property must collect, hold and maintain such property in protective temporary custody until it is transferred to the State Treasurer. A "holder" includes any person in possession of abandoned or unclaimed property, or property that is held in the course of the holder's business that has remained unclaimed by the owner for more than one year.

Each TBR institution must file a verified report with the State Treasurer on or before May 1 of each year which lists the presumed abandoned property in its possession since December 31 of the previous year.

If the holder has an address presumed to be accurate, and the property is worth $50 or more, the holder must send written notice to the apparent owner at his/her last known address, informing him/her that holder is in possession of the property within 120 days of filing the report with the State Treasurer.

Tangible property should be held by the holder while the Treasurer reviews the report for 120 days after the report is received.

When the report is filed, any unclaimed funds or intangible property reported must be delivered to the State Treasurer, including all interest and dividends due on the day the property is paid or delivered.

Tangible property must be delivered within 120 days following submission of the report, unless the holder has received notification to the contrary from the Treasurer.

Once the Treasurer receives the abandoned property, the former holder of such property is relieved of all liability to the extent of the value of the property so delivered. The Treasurer then takes steps to notify the apparent property owners of their possible ownership rights. This property is still presumed abandoned, but remains in the protective custody of the Treasurer. Subsequent claims to the property are directed to the treasurer.

Academic Advisement Policy and Procedures

Advisement at ETSU is defined as a "continuous interactive process between an advisor and student which facilitates the development and achievement of the student's overall goals."

Discussions between the student and the advisor should assist in exploring and clarifying educational, career, and life goals. Students should consult with their advisor before making decisions that may affect academic progress and success. Discussions with the advisor may include: career decisions, ETSU resources, dropping a class, withdrawing from school, selecting courses, and understanding degree requirements.

All students with less than 60 credits earned are required to meet with an advisor prior to registration. Beginning fall 2002, first-term-at-ETSU transfer students are required to meet with an advisor prior to registration for the first and second term of enrollment. These guidelines are the minimum advisement requirement. Some colleges and departments may have additional advisement requirements. Students should consult with their academic advisor to determine advisement requirement.

All students who entered ETSU fall 1997 or later with less than 60 credits earned are required to meet with an advisor prior to registration. The 60 credits guideline is the minimum advisement requirement. Some colleges and departments may have additional advisement requirements. You should consult with their academic advisor to determine advisement requirement.

Students who have declared a major should see an advisor in that major. Students who have not declared a major should go to the University Advisement Center located on the second floor of the D.P. Culp Center in the Advisement Resources Career Center (ARC). Students enrolled in Developmental Studies courses will need to see an advisor in University Advisement Center. Students taking classes in Bristol or Kingsport may contact these centers for advisement information. Other areas may contact the student to discuss additional advisement opportunities such as Athletics, the Adult, Commuter and Transfer Services (ACTS), Student Support Services, Pre-Med and other Pre-Professional areas.

All students will benefit by conferring with their assigned advisor on a regular basis.

The Academic Advising Rights and Responsibilities (listed below) is a guide for students and advisors relating to the advisement process.

How Can I Get the Most Out of My Advisement Appointment?

Before meeting with your advisor, you need to be prepared.

  1. Make an appointment.
  2. Review materials you received at Orientation or at your last advisement appointment. See your Undergraduate Catalog and Schedule of Classes for information about policies, procedures, resources, majors, and GoldLink.
  3. See the Office of Undergraduate Student Advisement or your college or departmental website for additional information. (See www.etsu.edu)
  4. Make a list of questions you wish to ask your advisor.
  5. Tell your advisor your personal and career interests, values, and goals.
  6. Ask if a handbook for your major is available.
  7. Use the information your advisor gives you.

Academic Advising Rights and Responsibilities

Academic advisement is defined as a continuous, interactive process between an advisor and student which facilitates the development and achievement of the student's overall goals. To achieve the goal of providing the best possible advising to students, guidelines outlining some rights and responsibilities of the student and the advisor are listed below.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

  1. The student has the RIGHT to an advisor and has the RESPONSIBILITY to learn the name and office location of the advisor early in their first semester.
  2. The student has the RESPONSIBILITY to schedule appointments with his/her advisor and to keep them. If the student finds that it is not possible to keep the scheduled appointment, the student will notify the advisor before the appointed time.
  3. The student has the RIGHT to expect his/her advisor to thoroughly understand the university's structure and its academic policies on such things as registration, add/drop, withdrawal, payment options, and academic grievances.
  4. The student has the RIGHT to expect his/her advisor will be familiar with the variety of degree offerings, the procedure for referral to and the types of support services available.
  5. The student has the RESPONSIBILITY for decisions made. The student will seek assistance with the decisions to be made rather than expect the advisor to make the decisions.
  6. The student has the RIGHT to expect his/her advisor to help plan a program of study, designed through personal interaction between the student and the advisor, which reflects the student's academic background, course prerequisites, and educational goals.
  7. The student has the RIGHT to expect the advisor to create an atmosphere of openness, caring and concern so meaningful communication and trust can occur.
  8. The student has the RESPONSIBILITY to consult with his/her advisor on a regular basis, when in academic difficulty, prior to changing majors, prior to making changes in an approved schedule, transferring to another college, or withdrawing from college.
  9. The student has the RESPONSIBILITY to follow through with appropriate action after the advising session.
  10. The student has the RESPONSIBILITY to seek reassignment to a new advisor if differences between the advisor and student should develop.

Advisor Rights and Responsibilities

  1. The advisor has the RESPONSIBILITY to know his/her advisees' names.
  2. The advisor has the RESPONSIBILITY to keep all scheduled appointments and to notify the student in advance if it is not possible to keep the scheduled appointment.
  3. The advisor has the RIGHT to expect the student to be knowledgeable about policies, procedures and requirements. They are listed in a variety of sources (e.g. catalog, schedule of classes, student handbook, department check sheets).
  4. The advisor has the RESPONSIBILITY to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively and accurately articulate specific degree requirements, as well as college, Core Curriculum, Areas of Proficiency, TBR requirements, and licensure requirements, if applicable.
  5. The advisor has the RESPONSIBILITY to provide the student with accurate information about alternatives, limitations and possible consequences of academic decisions.
  6. The advisor has the RIGHT to expect that the student will clarify personal values and goals in advance of the advisement session and will be prepared. The student will have an idea of the kind of courses required and a list of alternatives.
  7. The advisor has the RIGHT to be treated in a respectful manner and to become acquainted with the advisee.
  8. The advisor has the RESPONSIBILITY to maintain a complete and accurate file on the student in order to monitor progress towards goals and graduation requirements.
  9. The advisor has the RIGHT to expect the student to meet with the advisor at appropriate times to receive advice in a timely fashion.
  10. The advisor has the RESPONSIBILITY to assist in that reassignment process.

Source: Advising Skills, Techniques, and Resources
David S. Crockett, Editor (NACADA)

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct will be subject to disciplinary action. Any act of dishonesty in academic work constitutes academic misconduct. This includes plagiarism, the changing or falsifying of any academic documents or materials, cheating, and the giving or receiving of unauthorized aid in tests, examinations, or other assigned school work. Penalties for academic misconduct will vary with the seriousness of the offense and may include, but are not limited to: a grade of “F” on the work in question, a grade of “F” for the course, reprimand, probation, suspension, and expulsion. For a second academic offense the penalty is permanent expulsion.

Plagiarism is defined as follows by Black, Henry Campbell, Black's Law Dictionary, West Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1968 (p.1308): "The act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writing, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one's own mind."

Morover, to be liable for 'plagiarism' it is not necessary to exactly duplicate another's literary work it being sufficient if unfair use of such work is made by lifting of substantial portion thereof, but even an exact counterpart of another's work does not constitute 'plagiarism' if such counterpart was arrived at independently (O'Rouke vs. RKO Radio Pictues, D.C, Mass., 44F. Supp. 480, 482, 483).

1. Administration of Disciline Procedures

Questions concerning the administration of discipline for academic misconduct will be decided according to the following procedures.

1.1 Charges of academic misconduct may be brought by members of the faculty, staff, or student body.

1.2 Cases in which an individual has reasonable cause to believe a student has been guilty of misconduct will be reported by the individual to the dean of the school or college in which the alleged misconduct occurred. The dean or a designee will investigate reports of suspected misconduct and will obtain from the reporting individual all information pertinent to the investigation. After having made this investigation, the dean or designee will arrange a conference with the student against whom the allegations of misconduct have been made. At this conference the student will be informed in writing of the allegations and by whom they were made. The student will also be advised that he/she is not required to make any statement at all regarding the alleged misconduct.

1.3 Based on the investigation of the reported misconduct, and a thorough review of all facts presented, the dean or designee has discretion to decide whether to call for a formal hearing.

1.4 The student will not be subjected to any form of pressure to coerce admission of guilt or information about his/her conduct or that of others. In the event that the student makes, and the dean or designee accepts, a wholly uncoerced written confession of guilt, the dean or designee may, after gathering all the facts of the case, suggest a penalty to the student without calling for a formal disciplinary hearing. In such cases the penalty prescribed should be anything up to, but not including, suspension or expulsion from the institution. In the event the student elects to waive the hearing and accept the suggested punishment the dean or his designee shall prepare a waiver of hearing.

2. Formal Hearing Procedures

If the formal hearing is to be held under the procedures of this policy, the student will be informed in writing of the time and place of the hearing, and the reasons therefore. The student also will be advised of the structure and procedure for the hearing, the range of possible punishment, and of his/her right to be represented by counsel. Such notice should be given at least seven days in advance of the time at which the hearing is scheduled.

When a formal disciplinary hearing is to be held, the dean or designee will designate three faculty members and three students, from a standing college or school committee on academic misconduct, to hear the charges. The standing committee shall consist of a minimum of eight members (four faculty members and four students).

2.1 All principals shall be entitled to be present throughout the hearing, until the hearing committee goes into executive session.

2.2 At the hearing, it shall be the responsibility of the dean or his/her agent to be present and to coordinate the presentation of evidence which has been gathered relative to the alleged misconduct. The individual bringing charges shall be present and shall offer testimony in support of the charges. Neither the individual bringing the charges, nor the dean or his/her agent shall be members of the hearing committee.

2.3 The student will be presumed innocent until the contrary is proven. He/she may be accompanied and represented by a person of his/her choice, and shall be given an opportunity to testify and present evidence and witnesses relevant to the charges and penalties involved and to cross-examine any witnesses. In no case will the committee consider statements against the student unless he/she has been advised of their contents and the names of those who made them and given opportunity to rebut any unfavorable inferences which might be drawn from them. If the student elects not to testify, this failure to testify shall not be a factor in the decision. University disciplinary hearings are not strict adversary proceedings. The committee is not bound by strict rules of evidence. Determinations as to the admissibility of evidence in the hearings rest solely in the discretion of the committee.

2.4 The disciplinary hearing shall be private and a record of it shall be made. After all evidence has been presented, members of the committee will meet in executive session to decide the truth or falsity of the charges and to recommend such penalty as deemed appropriate if they find the charges to be true. The committee's recommendation should be based on a majority vote of the six committee members, all of whom must be present at the hearing. If the committee recommends expulsion or suspension and the dean concurs, the approval of the vice president for academic affairs must be obtained. The dean then advises the student of the dean's decision and of the student's right to appeal to the president.

3. Appeals

Appeal from a finding of guilt of academic misconduct and the imposition of a sanction for the offense may be taken to the president of the university. A written notice of appeal must be submitted by the student to the university president within five days after being notified of the dean's decision on the case. The appeal must consist of a signed statement elaborating the respects in which a student considers the decision wrong.

Academic Probation and
Retention Standards

Baccalaureate, Associate, and Certificate Programs

Students who fail during any semester to attain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) at or above the level indicated below for the credit hours attempted will be placed on academic probation for the subsequent semester (including summer session) of their enrollment.

Semester Hours Attempted Required Cumulative QPA

(Net)

(Net)

0-29

1.4

29.1-45

1.7

45.1-59.9

1.9

60+

2.0

At the end of the semester of probation, a student who has failed to attain either the cumulative GPA standard or a 2.0 GPA for the semester will be suspended.

Period of Suspension. Students on probation who do not meet academic retention standards shall, on the first instance of deficiency, be required to remain away from the university for one semester. The summer semester may not count as a term of suspension. On the second (or subsequent) suspension for failure to meet academic retention standards, the period of suspension is for two semesters or longer and requires that the appeal procedure for reinstatement be followed.

Appeals for Re-Admission Following Suspension

Where extenuating circumstances are established as primary factors relating to low grades, a student may petition to waive the period of suspension. This petition must describe the verifiable extenuating circumstances which may include illness as evidenced by medical documentation; personal problems, such as divorce or serious domestic problems; accidental injury; or other circumstances beyond the student's control.

Upon receipt of (1) written petition, (2) a current academic transcript, and (3) any supporting documents, a preliminary decision will be made whether there are satisfactory extenuating circumstances to warrant a formal appeal hearing. If granted, the student will be notified of the time and place of the appeal hearing before representatives of the office of student affairs and the dean's office of the student's major area of study. If the appeal hearing is declined, the student may contact the academic dean in the college in which they are majoring for a review of the decision.

Work in Other Institutions

If credits earned at other regionally accredited institutions during a period of academic suspension from East Tennessee State University are found to be acceptable for transfer and if such credits are sufficient to remove the student from academic probation, students may be readmitted as a transfer student by the director of admissions.

AIDS Policy

(Abridged)

It is the general position of ETSU to permit students and employees who have been diagnosed as having AIDS to attend class and/or work to the degree that they are physically capable subject to a physician's approval. Students will not be required to respond to questions about whether they have AIDS related complex (ARC) or a positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibody test. Any information disclosed, however, will be treated with utmost confidentiality. There generally is no medical justification for restricting the access of ETSU faculty, staff, and students with AIDS, ARC or a positive HIV antibody test to any of the university facilities.

Students are urged to inform ETSU authorities if they have AIDS, ARC or a positive HIV antibody test in order that the institution can assist them in securing proper medical care, counseling and education if needed. Students are advised to contact the director of the student health clinic at 439-4225.

A complete copy of the ETSU AIDS policy is available from the director of the student health clinic at 439-4225.

Policy Governing Animals on Campus

This policy applies to animals classified as "pets" and "service animals" but does not apply to animals used for research purposes. This policy does not apply to the living quarters and support buildings that are assigned to university employees as a part of their employment contract. Owners of animals permitted on campus are responsible for ensuring that their animal's wastes are properly removed from the grounds and disposed of in the trash or sanitary sewer.

1. Pet Animals

No pets or animals of any nature shall be permitted in any university facility including residence facilities; provided that if authorized in writing by the institution, fish in aquariums of a designated size may be allowed.

Requests for the use of animals for educational purposes, other than research, or special events, i.e., cat and dog shows, etc., should be requested through the sponsor's chain-of-authority to the Health and Safety Office and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Wild, except for indigenous populations, or exotic animals are forbidden on campus except by special permission of the Health and Safety Office and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

2. Service Animals

To provide equal opportunity to disabled individuals to obtain employment, education, and services from the university, it is the policy of East Tennessee State University to allow and encourage disabled people to use service animals, subject to the conditions stated below.

The term "service animal" includes any animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Typical tasks include guiding people with vision impairments, alerting individuals with hearing impairments, pulling a wheelchair, or retrieving items. A service animal may be a dog, monkey, or other animal.

A service animal is permitted in all classrooms, offices, hallways, dormitories, eating facilities, museums, theaters, sports areas, auditoriums, and other sites on campus, provided that:

  1. The animal is in a harness or kept on a leash. However, service animals kept in good control by a disabled person need not be in a harness or on a leash when in a disabled student’s own dorm room or at an employee’s own work station. Other exceptions to this policy are made on a case by case basis.
  2. The animal is adequately controlled so as to present no undue noise or disruption to others.
  3. The animal creates no danger of infection, transmission of disease, or other health problems to people. (Note: A well-controlled service animal creates no more of a health risk than a person, so it should be allowed in any areas as humans without special clothing or extensive hygiene requirements).
  4. If a service animal is used by a person living in a university dormitory and an assigned roommate objects to the presence of the animal, the university may reassign either the disabled person or the roommate, at the University's option, to another room.
  5. The university may, but is not required to, demand that a person desiring to use a service animal on the premises of East Tennessee State University provide reasonable proof that the individual is legally disabled and that the service animal is certified as a service animal by a formal animal training program such as Guide Dogs of America or other recognized training agency, or the Tennessee Council for the Hearing Impaired.

The university and university employees or agents assume no responsibility for controlling, keeping, feeding, or otherwise caring for any service animal. The university and its employees assume no legal responsibilities for any injury or damage caused by a service animal.

Job applicants and employees of the university shall not be discriminated against in any aspect of employment because of an individual's use of a service animal in conformance with this policy. Allowing the use of a service animal shall, in most cases, be a reasonable accommodation that allows an applicant or employee to qualify for the job in question. However, if the use of the service animal substantially interferes with the performance of essential job tasks, the accommodation need not be made and the individual may then be unqualified for the job.

No employee, agent, representative, student, or other person affiliated with East Tennessee State University shall discriminate against an individual because of the use of a service animal in conformance with the requirements of this policy. No disabled person shall be prevented from entering, remaining, or using facilities of this University because of the use of a service animal, unless such use is not in conformance to the requirements of this policy.