Student Rights

The role of Iḷisaġvik College is to encourage people of all ages to develop their skills and talents differently, according to individual abilities and interests, so that collectively they contribute to the continuum of democracy. College policies, procedures, and regulations are formulated to guarantee each student’s freedom to learn and to protect the constitutional rights of students and others.

Rights and freedoms, no matter how basic or widely accepted, have corresponding responsibilities. Students and other members of the College community enjoy the same constitutional and civil rights guaranteed to all citizens; at the same time, they are subject to the laws of the nation, the State of Alaska, and the local community. All members of the College community have a responsibility to protect and maintain an academic climate in which the freedom to learn is enjoyed by all. To this end, certain basic regulations and policies have been developed to govern the behavior of students as members of the College community.

Iḷisaġvik College adheres to the “Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students” adopted by a diverse number of higher education organizations. These rights are outlined below:

  • Freedom of Access to Higher Education: Iḷisaġvik College is committed to a policy of educational equality and conducts all educational programs and activities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or disabilities.
  • Protection of Freedom of Expression: Students should feel free to take exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to offer or withhold their opinions, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled.
  • Protection against Improper Academic Evaluation: Students should have protection against prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation, but they are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance established for each course in which they are enrolled.
  • Protection against Improper Disclosure: Information about student views, beliefs, and political associations that professors/instructors acquire in the course of their work should be considered confidential. Iḷisaġvik College believes that protecting students against improper disclosure of confidential information is a serious professional obligation. Faculty and staff are encouraged to be constantly alert and sensitive to matters normally considered confidential.
  • Confidentiality of Student Records: In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students are entitled to have information in their student education records kept confidential. Such information will be released by the College only in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. Please refer to the Institutional Policies and Regulations section of this handbook for more information on FERPA.
  • Disability Accommodations: Iḷisaġvik College will provide a learning environment in which no student will be subjected to unlawful discrimination based on disability. No otherwise qualified individual will be denied reasonable access to, participation in, or the benefits of, any program or activity operated by the College because of disability. To ensure that its programs and activities are accessible to all students, the College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. A reasonable accommodation is one that is consistent with the academic standards of the College and does not require a substantial course or program alteration. The College is committed to working with students directly and individually throughout the accommodations process.

Iḷisaġvik College will make reasonable accommodations to allow students with disabilities to attend classes. Inquiries should be directed to: Iḷisaġvik College, P.O. Box 749, Barrow, AK 99723 or by calling 907-852-1868. Iḷisaġvik partners with the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS) Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Individuals with disabilities, including difficulty learning math or English, may contact Vocational Rehabilitation at 907- 852-2448 for appointments or in person at 5146 Herman St. Barrow, AK 99723.

Students with impaired sensory, manual, language, or processing skills will be allowed to use educational auxiliary aids, as appropriate. Such aids may include videotaped or audiotaped texts, interpreters, note-takers, tape recorders, adaptive classroom equipment, and other similar services or equipment. Modification of academic requirements, if necessary or appropriate, may include changes to the length of time permitted for completion of degree requirements, substitution of specific required courses, and adaptations to the manner in which courses are conducted or learning is demonstrated. The departmental director must approve any such modifications. Requirements essential to the program of instruction or related to licensing requirements are not regarded as discriminatory.

Students are encouraged to contact the Educational Access Coordinator to discuss their need for reasonable accommodations. The documents submitted by students seeking services to accommodate their disabilities will be managed by the College to ensure confidentiality. Such information will be released by the College only in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.

If students have questions regarding reasonable accommodations, please see the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) policy available in the Student Success Center.

  • Freedom of Association: Students should be free to organize and join associations to promote their common interests.
  • Freedom of Inquiry and Expression: Students and student organizations should be free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately in an orderly manner that does not disrupt college operations.
  • Student Participation in Institutional Government: Students should be free, individually and collectively, to express their views on issues of institutional policy and on matters of general interest to the student body.
  • Exercise of Rights of Citizenship: Students should enjoy the freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and the right of petition in the academic community, keeping in mind they are subject to the obligations which accrue to them by virtue of this membership.
  • Procedural Standards in Disciplinary Proceedings: Students will be entitled to a fair disciplinary process as outlined in the grievance procedures sections of this handbook.
  • Freedom from Harassment and Violence: Harassment and violence are expressly forbidden. Harassment includes: physical and verbal abuse; sexual harassment; intimidation; and other conduct, including hazing, which unreasonably interferes with or creates a hostile or offensive learning, living, or working environment. Violence includes any verbal, written or physical aggression that is intended to control or is capable of causing death, serious bodily injury, or harm to oneself or others, or damage to property.

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

It is the policy of Iḷisaġvik College to provide equal educational opportunities and to provide services and benefits to all students without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, marital status, status as a Vietnam era or disabled veteran, or any other basis prohibited by law. Please refer to the “Policy Violation Procedures” section of his handbook for information on addressing alleged violations.

Title IX Gender Discrimination

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Title IX prohibits gender discrimination in all programs and activities of Iḷisaġvik College. Iḷisaġvik College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any of its education programs or activities. Although two of the most common applications of the law are athletics and sexual harassment, Title IX also applies to admissions, financial aid, academic matters, career services, employment counseling and all other programs, events and activities available to students at Iḷisaġvik. Please refer to the “Gender-Based and Sexual Misconduct Policy” section and Appendix 2 of this handbook for more information. Inquiries about Title IX and its applicability may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator or the Department of Education.

RIGHT TO PRIVACY

Student Consumer Information: Federal law requires that Iḷisaġvik College provide prospective and enrolled students, upon request, information showing the percentage of students having completed a particular course of study and a record of institutional retention rates.

The policies of Iḷisaġvik College pertaining to class registration, the composition of the student body, and enrollment patterns, make it difficult to compile precise figures regarding percentages of admitted students who complete courses of study. However, such data that the College has available and that is required to be disclosed by federal law will be made available to enrolled or prospective students upon written request from the Office of the Registrar.

Upon written request, the College can provide information on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), financial assistance information, institutional information on cost of attending our institution, information on completion or graduation rates (prior to enrollment or entering into any financial obligation with the institution), institutional security policies, and crime statistics.

Iḷisaġvik College complies with the Department of Education’s annual crime on-campus reporting. The College endeavors to comply with all appropriate federal, state, and local laws regarding serious offenses and the monitoring and recording of criminal activity at all Iḷisaġvik College locations. The policy applies to all employees, contractors, faculty, students, and staff at all locations. For purposes of this policy, Iḷisaġvik College defines “students” to be all persons who are registered for courses at Iḷisaġvik College. Iḷisaġvik College authorities will maintain statistics on criminal offenses during each reporting year. The offenses include aggravated assault, murder, burglary, sexual assault, drug abuse violations, robbery, liquor law violations, weapons possession, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, hate crimes, and motor vehicle theft. The College will distribute this information to current students and to any applicant for admission upon written request.

Student Transcripts: Official and unofficial transcripts are available through the National Student Clearinghouse. Directions on how to access your transcript as well as answers to any questions can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. Students who have a debt with Iḷisaġvik College will not be able to obtain official transcripts. For more information, please refer to the Iḷisaġvik College Course Catalog.

Student Access to Financial Information: Upon submission of a written request to the Controller, students may receive a copy of the annual audited financial report.

STUDENT DEBT POLICY

  • This policy is designed to ensure all students are treated fairly in relation to the payment of a debt to Iḷisaġvik College.
    • This policy applies to students who apply for admission to or who are currently enrolled in Iḷisaġvik College. For purposes of this Student Debt Policy, “student” is defined as any person, currently or previously enrolled with the college in a program of study which may or may not lead to a degree or certificate.
    • Each student is required to meet with the financial aid officer at the College when first applying for admission or enrollment in courses and every semester he or she is enrolled. Iḷisaġvik College students are often eligible for Federal Financial Aid and are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, and work-study programs.
    • Iḷisaġvik College encourages every prospective and current student to engage in financial planning in order to avoid excessive debt while attending or after completion of their education at Iḷisaġvik College. Financial planning begins with an estimate of the expenses a student will have. Iḷisaġvik College provides an estimate of the cost of attending college in each term’s course catalog. The student’s main expenses will include but are not limited to, tuition, fees, room and board, books/supplies, transportation, and other expenses such as lab fees.
  • Debt Policy
    • Iḷisaġvik College does not provide loans for students in the form of carried balances or debt. Iḷisaġvik College will enforce payment agreements for those who have debt above $500.00. If any student has not met their full financial obligation, Iḷisaġvik College reserves the right to withhold any of its services from the student until the obligations are met. These include, but are not restricted to, the ability to enroll in further classes or workshops, transcripts, letters of recommendation, registration, and additional services such as room and board.
    • For students who are employees of Iḷisaġvik College and owe more than $250.00 to the College, the College will collect this debt to the maximum extent allowed by law through payroll deductions until the debt is satisfied in full.
  • Student Self-Pay Agreements
    • The purpose of a student self-pay agreement is to enable a student who is ineligible for financial aid or agrees to self-pay to pay for tuition and fees with a payback agreement. The final payment is due before the start of finals week of the semester the agreement covers. Self-pay agreements are not available to pay for books and supplies.
    • A student is eligible to participate in a self-pay agreement if:
      i. The student is not in default on prior tuition, fees, or bookstore charges, and
      ii. The student remits $250.00 or one-third of the balance due, whichever is less, within 20 days of the current semester registration.
    • The student must maintain a good credit status with Iḷisaġvik College in accordance with this agreement. Any payments in default (more than 2 weeks) will result in the notification of default and suspension from attending class. If a student does not complete payment by the end of the semester, grades and transcripts will be withheld until the final payment is remitted. Further attendance at the institution will not be allowed until all debts are cleared in the business office.
    • Fee charges are not refundable if the student withdraws. Tuition is refunded only according to the schedule outlined in the catalog.