The academic policies of Richmindale College provide guidance on how academic transactions and situations must be handled based on standard practices. These policies apply to Richmindale College faculty, staff, and students who are involved in academic activities.

Academic standing is determined at the end of each semester after final grades are posted and the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculation is completed. To remain in Good Standing, undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative institutional GPA of at least 2.0 and graduate students must maintain a cumulative institutional GPA of at least 3.0, and all students must meet the 67% pace-of-completion requirement and remain within the 150% maximum timeframe described in the SAP Policy.

Good Standing: The student meets all applicable SAP standards and may continue enrollment subject to all other institutional requirements.

Academic Warning: A student who fails the cumulative GPA or pace requirement at the end of an evaluation period is placed on Academic Warning for the next semester. No appeal is required for the warning semester. The student is notified in writing and is expected to work with Academic Advisement on corrective actions.

Academic Dismissal: A student who, after the Academic Warning semester, still fails to meet the applicable cumulative SAP standards, or who cannot mathematically complete the program within the maximum timeframe, is subject to Academic Dismissal and loss of enrollment privileges. The student is notified in writing and may appeal as provided in the SAP Policy.

Academic Probation: A student whose SAP dismissal appeal is approved is placed on Academic Probation for one semester and must comply with an Academic Success Plan when required. At the end of probation, the student must either meet the standard SAP requirements or satisfy the specific measurable requirements of an approved Academic Success Plan that is designed to return the student to SAP within a defined period.

Readmission after academic dismissal is not automatic. The ordinary process is: Academic Dismissal becomes final; the student completes the applicable waiting period unless a documented exception is approved; the student submits a Readmission After Academic Dismissal application and supporting academic-success information to dismissal@richmindale.com; Richmindale conducts an academic review; Richmindale issues a written approval or denial; and, if approved, the student completes the reenrollment requirements and a new or renewed program enrollment record is activated. Readmission does not itself restore Good Standing. If readmitted to the same program, SAP continues to reflect applicable academic history in that program. If approved for a different program, prior coursework is treated under the Readmission with Program Change and SAP policies. The complete historical academic record remains preserved.

Administrative Withdrawal is initiated by Richmindale College to terminate a student’s course or program enrollment for a published administrative, enrollment, attendance/academic-engagement, procedural, or other non-SAP reason. Administrative Withdrawal is distinct from Academic Dismissal. Academic performance deficiencies governed by the SAP and Academic Status policies are handled through Academic Warning, Academic Probation when an appeal is approved, and Academic Dismissal rather than by using Administrative Withdrawal to bypass the SAP process. Administrative Withdrawal may apply, as appropriate, when a student fails to complete required registration or conditional-enrollment documentation, fails to return from an approved Leave of Absence, fails to meet published academic-engagement requirements, or otherwise fails to satisfy a published administrative enrollment condition. Serious misconduct is handled under the Conduct/disciplinary policies when those policies apply.

When Administrative Withdrawal is proposed, Richmindale sends written notice stating the reason, proposed effective date, relevant policy, and method for responding. The student ordinarily has 7 calendar days from the notice date to dispute the action or provide information to withdraw@richmindale.com unless immediate action is necessary for safety, legal, regulatory, or other compelling reasons. The Chief Academic Officer or designee makes the final determination. If the action becomes final, the student’s academic record, refund calculation, and SAP treatment are determined under the applicable published policies. Administrative Withdrawal does not automatically impose the one-semester waiting period applicable to Academic Dismissal. A former student may seek readmission when the condition causing the Administrative Withdrawal has been resolved, subject to any specific restriction imposed by another policy or final disciplinary action.

Richmindale College measures student academic performance through published grading criteria and course-specific assessment methods. Faculty members or other qualified academic evaluators grade student work through the learning management system and/or student portal. Grades are assigned consistently with the course syllabus, published rubrics or grading criteria, and institutional academic policies.

Term GPA is the grade point average for institutional courses whose final grades are included in GPA calculations for a particular semester. Cumulative institutional GPA is the grade point average for all Richmindale College coursework included in GPA calculations under this policy. Accepted credit transfers are excluded from the institutional GPA. When a course is repeated, only the highest grade is included in the institutional GPA, while all attempts remain on the permanent academic record and transcript.

For SAP purposes following an approved change of program, the SAP GPA may differ from the transcript cumulative institutional GPA because the SAP GPA includes only institutional coursework applicable to the student’s current program, as specified in the SAP Policy. Excluding nonapplicable prior coursework from the new program’s SAP calculation does not remove that coursework or its grades from the permanent academic record or transcript.

Final course grades are normally submitted by faculty within 5 business days after the scheduled end of the semester. Students can view posted grades through the learning management system and/or student portal. Grade reports and transcripts are maintained in accordance with the Student Records and Transcript policies.

The following grading scale is adopted for use in all courses, except those that are transferred from other institutions.

1 In accordance with the Credit Transfer Policy. 2 In accordance with the Course Repeat Policy.

A = Excellent

The student demonstrates an advanced knowledge of all the content and skills presented in the course and uses professional or personal experience to contribute to class knowledge in a unique and insightful manner. The student has excellent writing skills and participates actively in all aspects of the learning process.

B = Good

The student demonstrates knowledge of most of the content and skills presented in the course and often uses relevant professional or personal experience to contribute to class knowledge. The student has very good writing skills and participates frequently in the online classroom.

C = Fair

The student demonstrates enough knowledge of the content and skills presented in the course and applies relevant professional or personal experience to class topics. The quality and quantity of work presented by the student on course assignments in participation forums are acceptable.

F = Fail

The student has not demonstrated the minimum level of achievement required for successful course completion. A grade of F earns 0.00 grade points and no academic credit. It is included in the institutional GPA and counts as attempted but not earned credits for SAP. A failed required course must be repeated in accordance with the Failed Course Policy and Course Repeat Policy.

W = Withdrawal

A grade of W is assigned when a student officially withdraws from a course after the add/drop period and before course completion, in accordance with the applicable withdrawal policy. W carries no grade points and is not included in the institutional GPA. It remains on the permanent academic record and transcript and counts as attempted but not earned credits for SAP pace and maximum-timeframe calculations.

AW = Administrative Withdrawal

A grade of AW is assigned when Richmindale administratively withdraws a student from a course after the add/drop period under an applicable institutional policy, such as sustained nonparticipation, an unresolved enrollment/prerequisite issue, or a conduct-related action. AW carries no grade points and is not included in the institutional GPA. It remains on the permanent academic record and transcript and counts as attempted but not earned credits for SAP pace and maximum-timeframe calculations.

I = Incomplete

A student may request an Incomplete (I) when circumstances beyond the student’s reasonable control prevent completion of remaining course requirements by the scheduled end date and the student has otherwise participated sufficiently for the instructor to determine that completion within a limited extension is academically reasonable. The student must submit the Incomplete request through the Richmindale website at RSIS > Student > Grade > Request Incomplete. Approval is at the discretion of the instructor in accordance with institutional criteria. Unless a documented exception is approved, all remaining work must be completed within 4 weeks after the scheduled course end date. An I carries no grade points while pending. For SAP, the course counts as attempted but not earned until the final grade is posted. When the final grade replaces the I, Richmindale recalculates GPA and SAP as appropriate. Failure to complete the approved remaining work by the deadline results in the final grade earned from the coursework completed under the course grading formula. The permanent academic record maintains an auditable history of the incomplete and subsequent final grade.

T = Transfer Credit Accepted

Accepted transfer credits are recorded with a T or other designated transfer notation. Transfer grades are not included in the institutional GPA. Accepted transfer credits that apply to the student’s program count as both attempted and earned credits for SAP pace and count toward the maximum timeframe.

R = Repeated Course

R is an administrative repeat indicator, not a replacement grade. The original grade earned for every institutional attempt remains visible on the permanent academic record and transcript. A repeat indicator and/or the asterisk symbol identifies repeated coursework and the attempt whose grade is used in the institutional GPA. Only the highest grade earned in the repeated course is included in the cumulative institutional GPA; all attempts count as attempted credits for SAP, and earned credit is awarded only once.

A student may challenge a final course grade if there is clear and credible evidence of arbitrary or unprofessional grading. Individual assignment grades must be handled between the student and the faculty member for the course.

The following policies and procedures apply to all grade challenges:

If a student believes that the final course grade is the result of an arbitrary or unprofessional grading by the course instructor, the student may dispute the grade by sending an email to the instructor within 7 calendar days of the final grade being posted. A copy of the communication should be preserved.

If a satisfactory solution cannot be found, the student may challenge the grade within 21 calendar days of the final grade posting date by submitting a challenge form on Richmindale’s website at RSIS > Student > Grade > Challenge, or copy and paste the link www.richmindale.com/rsis/student/grade/challenge in a web browser. Click the New button to create a new challenge. Upon submission of the challenge form online, a notification email is sent to the student to acknowledge the receipt of the challenge. The challenge may be sent via email to grievance@richmindale.com.

The Chief Academic Officer or a designee makes the final determination after reviewing all related documentation and consulting with both the student and the faculty member.

The student is notified via email of the decision of the Chief Academic Officer or a designee within 10 business days from the challenge submission date.

The student may appeal against the grade challenge decision within 7 calendar days of receiving the decision through Richmindale’s website at RSIS > Student > Grade > Appeal, or copy and paste the link www.richmindale.com/rsis/student/grade/appeal in a web browser. Select the challenge in the list and click the Appeal button. The appeal may be sent via email to grievance@richmindale.com.

Richmindale College requires every degree-seeking student to make satisfactory academic progress toward program completion. Richmindale applies this policy consistently to all periods of enrollment in the student’s program, including periods in which the student may not have received institutional or external financial assistance. SAP is measured using cumulative qualitative and quantitative standards and a maximum timeframe.

SAP is evaluated at the end of each semester after final grades are officially posted. The Office of the Registrar, in coordination with Academic Affairs, calculates SAP and notifies students of their status through the student portal and/or registered email address. When a grade is later changed, an Incomplete is resolved, or an academic record correction materially affects SAP, Richmindale recalculates the student’s SAP status and provides an updated notice when the status changes.

Undergraduate (bachelor’s degree) students must maintain a cumulative SAP GPA of at least 2.00. Graduate (master’s degree) students must maintain a cumulative SAP GPA of at least 3.00. The SAP GPA includes Richmindale coursework applicable to the students; current program and designated as GPA-bearing under the Grading Policy. Accepted transfer grades are excluded from the SAP GPA. For repeated applicable institutional coursework, only the highest grade earned in the course is included in the SAP GPA, while all applicable attempts remain part of the permanent academic record and count as attempted credits. When a student changes programs, the Change of Program provisions below determine which prior coursework is included in the SAP GPA.

All students must successfully complete at least 67% of cumulative attempted credits. Pace is calculated as cumulative earned credits divided by cumulative attempted credits, multiplied by 100. The result is evaluated without rounding up to create eligibility; a student must meet or exceed 67.00%. Credits are earned only when the student receives a passing grade or accepted transfer credit that satisfies an applicable program requirement.

Students must be able to complete their program within 150% of the program’s published credit requirement. A 120-credit bachelor’s degree has a maximum timeframe of 180 attempted credits. A 36-credit master’s degree has a maximum timeframe of 54 attempted credits. A student is not meeting SAP when the student has exceeded the maximum timeframe or when Richmindale determines, based on the remaining required credits and credits already attempted, that completion within the maximum timeframe is no longer mathematically possible, subject to the appeal process below.

Passing grades (A, B, C): Count as attempted and earned credits and are included in the institutional GPA at their assigned grade-point values.

Failing grades (F): Count as attempted but not earned credits and are included in the institutional GPA at 0.00 grade points unless a higher grade later becomes the GPA-bearing grade under the Course Repeat Policy.

Student withdrawals (W) and administrative withdrawals (AW): When recorded after the add/drop period, count as attempted but not earned credits. They are not included in the institutional GPA.

Incompletes (I): Count as attempted but not earned credits while unresolved and are not included in the institutional GPA. When the final grade is posted, SAP is recalculated as appropriate using the final grade and earned-credit outcome.

Repeated courses: Every attempt counts as attempted credits for pace and maximum timeframe. Earned credit for a successfully completed course is counted only once. Only the highest institutional grade earned for the repeated course is included in the cumulative institutional GPA, consistent with the Course Repeat Policy.

Transfer credits: Accepted transfer credits applicable to the student’s program count as both attempted and earned credits for pace and count toward the maximum timeframe. Transfer grades are not included in the institutional GPA.

For a new admission student, the SAP quantitative calculation begins with any transfer credits officially accepted and applied to the current program. Those accepted credits are treated as attempted and earned credits for pace and maximum timeframe, while the grades from the sending institution are excluded from the Richmindale institutional and SAP GPA. Transfer coursework not accepted or not applicable to the current program is excluded.

When a student changes programs, including a student readmitted after academic dismissal into a different program, SAP for the new program is based on coursework that applies to the new program. Richmindale College performs and documents a program-applicability review at the time of the approved program change.

Status in New Program

A student approved for Readmission with Program Change is treated as a new entrant to the new program for program-enrollment and curriculum-tracking purposes, but is not a new student of Richmindale College and is not new-to-institution. The same Student ID and permanent institutional record are retained. A new Program Enrollment record identifies the new program, catalog year, effective enrollment date, applicable requirements, transfer/applicability determinations, and academic status.

Prior Richmindale College coursework that is required, accepted, substituted, or otherwise applied toward the new program is included in the new program’s SAP calculation. Such coursework is included in attempted credits and, when successfully completed, earned credits; GPA-bearing grades are included in the SAP GPA subject to the Course Repeat Policy. Prior Richmindale College coursework that does not apply to the new program is excluded from the new program’s SAP GPA, pace, and maximum-timeframe calculations, but remains permanently recorded on the student’s transcript and institutional academic record.

Accepted transfer credits that apply to the new program continue to count as attempted and earned credits for pace and maximum timeframe and do not carry grade points in the SAP GPA. A program change does not permit deletion of prior grades or attempts and may not be used to circumvent course-repeat limits, SAP standards, or maximum-timeframe requirements.

Courses dropped during the published add/drop period: A course that is properly dropped during the add/drop period and is not recorded on the transcript is not counted as attempted or earned credits for SAP.

Good Standing: The student meets the applicable cumulative GPA requirement, the 67% pace requirement, and the maximum-timeframe requirement.

Academic Warning: A student who fails the cumulative GPA or pace requirement for the first time at an evaluation point is placed on Academic Warning for the next semester. No appeal is required for the warning semester. The student may continue enrollment but is expected to work with Academic Advisement and follow recommended corrective actions.

Academic Dismissal: A student who does not meet the applicable SAP standards at the end of the Academic Warning semester, or who fails the maximum-timeframe requirement, is subject to Academic Dismissal and loss of enrollment privileges unless an appeal is approved.

Academic Probation: A student whose SAP dismissal appeal is approved is placed on Academic Probation for one semester. The student must comply with any Academic Success Plan imposed as a condition of the appeal approval. At the end of probation, the student must either meet the normal SAP standards or meet the specific measurable requirements in an approved Academic Success Plan that is designed to restore SAP within a defined period.

A student subject to SAP dismissal may submit a written appeal within 7 calendar days from the date of the dismissal notice through RSIS > Student > SAP > Appeal or the method stated in the notice. The appeal must explain the extenuating circumstances that prevented satisfactory progress, describe what has changed that will allow the student to succeed, and include supporting documentation when reasonably available. Examples may include serious illness or injury, death of an immediate family member, natural disaster, military obligation, or other significant circumstances beyond the student’s control.

The Chief Academic Officer or designee reviews the appeal and the student’s academic record and may consult appropriate academic or student-services personnel. Richmindale normally issues a written decision within 14 calendar days after receiving a complete appeal. An approved appeal may include an Academic Success Plan specifying required grades, minimum term completion rate, course-load limitations, required advising, course repeats, or other measurable conditions. The decision and conditions are retained in the student’s academic record.

A student regains Good Standing only by satisfying the applicable SAP GPA, pace, and maximum-timeframe requirements for the student’s current program. Merely sitting out a semester, changing enrollment intensity, or being readmitted after dismissal does not by itself restore SAP. When a student is approved to change programs, SAP is recalculated only as provided in the Change of Program provisions of this policy: prior coursework applicable to the new program is included and prior coursework not applicable to the new program is excluded from the new program’s SAP calculation. Coursework completed at another institution affects SAP only if the credit is formally accepted by Richmindale College and applies to the current program; accepted transfer grades do not raise the SAP GPA. A student whose SAP appeal is approved may continue on Academic Probation under an Academic Success Plan until the plan returns the student to the standard SAP requirements, subject to continued compliance with the plan.

Richmindale College recognizes the extraordinary academic achievements of its outstanding students by denoting honors designation on student transcripts.

GPA 3.90 - 4.00 Summa Cum Laude (Highest Honors)

GPA 3.70 - 3.89 Magna Cum Laude (High Honors)

GPA 3.50 - 3.69 Cum Laude (Honors)

GPA 3.90 - 4.00 High Distinction

GPA 3.70 - 3.89 Distinction

A student may request a Leave of Absence (LOA), whenever it is necessary to take academic leave due to mitigating circumstances in the student’s life. A student seeking an LOA must submit a request via Richmindale’s website at RSIS > Student > Leave of Absence > Apply, or copy and paste the link www.richmindale.com/rsis/student/leave/apply in a web browser. Complete the Leave of Absence form. The request must include an explanation of the request and the student’s plan to return to class.

Upon submission, a notification email is sent to the student confirming receipt of the request. The request must be made and approved prior to the start of a term for which the student is requesting the LOA. An LOA may be granted if appropriate documentation is provided, and Richmindale College determines that the student can be scheduled to return and complete their course of study within the guidelines provided to each student at enrollment.

Acceptable reasons for requesting an LOA include medical situations, personal emergencies, military obligations, or other circumstances beyond the student’s control.

An approved Leave of Absence may extend the student’s anticipated graduation date and may change the sequencing or availability of remaining courses. A LOA does not add attempted credits and therefore does not by itself increase the attempted-credit maximum timeframe under the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. For the separate contractual calendar completion period stated in the Enrollment Agreement, an approved LOA is treated in accordance with the Enrollment Agreement, applicable law, and documented institutional approval; any authorized extension or tolling is recorded in the student’s file. An approved LOA carries no additional institutional charge.

Only one leave of absence is generally granted in a 12-month period; however, a well-documented situation may merit the approval of additional leave. LOAs cannot exceed a cumulative total of 180 days in a 12-month period.

Richmindale College reserves the right to require written medical clearance prior to a student returning to class after an LOA related to medical condition.

Richmindale College verifies that the student who registers for a distance education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives the academic credit. Verification may occur at admission, during coursework, during assessments, and whenever an academic or security concern reasonably warrants additional verification. Students are subject to one or more of the following identity-verification methods.

Government-Issued Photo Identification: Students provide a government-issued photo identification with signature during the admission process.

Secure, Individual Login and Passcode: Students are assigned a secure, individual username and password upon admission acceptance. These assigned identifiers are used to access the Student Portal where students complete and submit coursework and access grade information.

Administrative or Academic Practices: Students may be subject to identity verification through personally identifiable information already maintained in authorized College systems, faculty interaction, authorship or performance review, secure assessment controls, proctoring when required, and investigation of anomalous access or academic activity. Faculty or staff may request additional verification when material changes in writing style, academic performance, access patterns, assessment behavior, or other documented indicators reasonably call identity or authorship into question. Personally identifiable information is released only after appropriate verification and in accordance with the Student Records, Privacy, and FERPA Policy.

Identity Verification Fees, Privacy, and Records

Richmindale does not currently charge students a separate institutional fee for standard identity verification or proctoring methods required by Richmindale. If a future identity-verification, authentication, or proctoring method creates a mandatory student charge, that charge will be disclosed before enrollment or before the method becomes applicable, as required by law and accreditation standards. Identity-verification records, government-identification data, recordings, authentication logs, and proctoring records are collected only for legitimate educational, security, compliance, and recordkeeping purposes; access is limited to authorized personnel and service providers; and retention and disclosure are governed by the Student Records, Privacy, and FERPA Policy and applicable law.

Richmindale College takes academic honesty very seriously. Students are expected to always submit original work, and outside sources should be appropriately credited whenever used. Works that require citation include, but are not limited to, hard copy or electronic publications (copyrighted or not), and communication (verbal or otherwise) originating from identifiable sources. Academic dishonesty occurs when:

students are involved in cheating, or plagiarism, such as using words or ideas that are not their original work in assignments;

citations are not included for all used outside sources;

work is recycled from another course taken by the same students (unless agreed with the instructor in advance);

students are involved in identity misrepresentation;

students provide false or misleading information; or

documents or records, such as transcripts or diplomas, are forged, altered, misused, etc.

Faculty members are trained and encouraged to prevent plagiarism in their classes. Some steps in that direction are for a faculty member to make it clear, through announcements or assignment instructions, what constitutes plagiarism (as well as the potential consequences), and how assignments and citations should be formatted. Both students and faculty members are encouraged to check assignments using plagiarism checker software. Instances of plagiarism are addressed immediately.

Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Work

Artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI, automated writing, coding, image-generation, translation, data-analysis, and similar tools may be used only when permitted by the course, instructor, assignment, or assessment instructions. Students remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, citations, calculations, sources, data, code, and conclusions they submit. When disclosure or citation of AI use is required, students must identify the tool and the nature of the assistance in the manner directed by the instructor.

Prohibited conduct includes submitting AI-generated or AI-transformed work as the student’s own when the activity is not authorized; using AI to complete a proctored or otherwise restricted assessment; using AI to impersonate the student or defeat identity-verification controls; fabricating or failing to verify citations, sources, quotations, data, calculations, or results; using AI to obtain unauthorized answers or assistance; and using AI in a manner that violates confidentiality, copyright, privacy, security, professional, or course-specific requirements. Faculty identify permitted and prohibited AI uses when necessary for a course or assessment. Suspected violations are addressed under the Academic Honesty Procedure.

When reasonably necessary to protect academic integrity or verify authorship, Richmindale may require a student to explain, discuss, reproduce, demonstrate, or orally defend submitted work or the methods used to produce it. Such verification is an academic-integrity measure and is not based solely on an automated AI-detection score.

When a faculty member determines that academic dishonesty in an assignment has occurred, the faculty member can address the issue directly with the student by considering one of the following options:

Educating the student on plagiarism (whenever it is unintentional or due to deficiency in understanding of what plagiarism is);

Allowing a student to resubmit the assignment; or

Taking steps to report the offence using the procedure below along with a disciplinary action such as reducing the grade on the assignment, issuing a Failing grade on the assignment, or issuing a Failing grade for the course.

If the instructor and student cannot resolve the plagiarism issue, the instructor submits an Academic Dishonesty Complaint form to the Chief Academic Officer or designee on Richmindale’s website at RSIS > Academics > Dishonesty, or copy and paste the link www.richmindale.com/rsis/academics/dishonesty in a web browser. An email notification with a copy of the complaint is sent to the student’s official email. The student has an opportunity to respond to the allegation by replying to the email copy of the Dishonesty Complaint form.

The Chief Academic Officer or designee assigns a Conduct Review Committee, which reviews the forms and communications, and determines an appropriate action to address the issue. Some of the possible outcomes include student removal from class, loss of semester credit, documented counseling, or in extreme cases, expulsion from Richmindale College. The Chief Executive Officer of Richmindale College is informed of all reported instances and the actions taken.

The student has the right to appeal the decision via Richmindale’s website at RSIS > Academics > Dishonesty > Appeal, or copy and paste the link www.richmindale.com/rsis/academics/dishonesty/appeal in a web browser. All actions are based on the severity of the offense.

Richmindale College prohibits any employee or student from violating copyright laws.

Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of the copyrighted work without authority constitutes infringement.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed as not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed, A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Section 504,505.

Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more details, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at https://copyright.gov.

Richmindale College takes allegations of harassment based on gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation very seriously. Richmindale strives to be free of all improper or unlawful harassment.

Conduct on the part of faculty, staff, or students, which violates this policy includes but is not limited to:

Unwelcome or unwanted sexual advances or requests for sexual favors, or insinuations that a grade or other academic achievement is dependent upon the granting of sexual favors.

Unwelcome physical contact, including patting, pinching, hugging, kissing, fondling, etc.

Offensive conduct, verbal or written, including sexually explicit jokes, comments, innuendo, or other tasteless actions that would offend a reasonably sensitive person.

The display of sexually offensive pictures, posters, illustrations, or objects.

Slurs, jokes, or ridicule based on race, ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, or disability.

Individuals who experience harassment should immediately report the offense to the Chief Academic Officer or designee via Richmindale’s website at RSIS > Grievance & Complaints > Discrimination, or copy and paste the link www.richmindale.com/rsis/grievance/discrimination in a web browser.

Richmindale College is committed to building an inclusive and diverse academic community. Every student, faculty, and staff member have the right to inclusion, respect, agency, and voice in the community. Richmindale welcomes people from all backgrounds and seeks to include knowledge and values from many cultures. Further, all members of the community have a responsibility to uphold these values and actively foster full participation in college life.

Richmindale adheres to all federal and state civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Richmindale College employs and admits individuals without regard to race, gender, age, ethnicity, cultural heritage, or nationality; religious or political beliefs; sexual orientation or gender identity; or socioeconomic, veteran or ability status and affords students all rights, privileges, programs, employment services and opportunities generally available.

Richmindale College believes that respect for individuals, ideas, and students or other people’s work are all critical to a thriving academic community. Richmindale College requires its employees, students, and community members to demonstrate appropriate behavior and comply with all applicable laws in all situations at any time.

Students must demonstrate appropriate behavior and comply with applicable laws, in addition to the following rules:

Disruption of activities.

Unprofessional conduct:

Harassment, threatening, bullying, or verbal abuse by any means, including, but is not limited to the use of threats, profanity, and demeaning or intimidating comments.

Conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person:

Physical abuse or threats of physical abuse.

Providing false information.

Performing actions that put a person at risk.

Theft, abuse, or misuse of facilities, equipment, systems, or information.

The following consequences may be levied to a student violating any policies, rules, or laws:

Written Warning

Minor violations result in a written warning is sent to the student using his or her official email.

Grade Reduction

Academic dishonesty may result in a reduced assignment grade, a grade of zero, a failing course grade, or another disciplinary sanction consistent with the Academic Honesty Policy. Any course attempt and final grade or status required by Richmindale’s academic-record policies remains part of the student’s permanent academic record and transcript.

Expulsion.

Serious or recurring violations result in removal from Richmindale College.

Richmindale College communicates directly with students whose conduct was deemed to warrant disciplinary action. Students may respond to allegations by following the procedures listed under the Grievance Policy. See the Grievance Policy section for more details. See the Academic Honesty Policy section for more details about academic honesty.

Richmindale College is responsible for upholding its students’ rights and ensures that its non-discrimination policy is applied to students who choose to file a grievance against the institution for reasons involving discrimination, harassment, violation of school policy, or other matters.

For purposes of this policy, a complaint or grievance is a written expression by a student alleging that Richmindale, an employee, faculty member, contractor, policy, practice, service, or academic/administrative decision has materially affected the student and requires formal review or corrective action. Routine requests for information, ordinary advising questions, and grade inquiries that have not entered a formal challenge process are not treated as formal grievances unless the student requests formal review under this policy.

Richmindale prohibits retaliation against any person who in good faith submits a complaint or grievance, participates in an investigation, provides information, serves as a witness, or exercises an appeal right. Reviewers and appeal decision-makers must be impartial. A person materially involved in the underlying matter, or who has an actual or reasonably perceived conflict of interest, must disclose the conflict and recuse from the applicable review or decision.

Students should first attempt to address the issue with the responsible party in writing. A copy of the communication must be preserved.

If a satisfactory solution cannot be found, students may submit a Grievance Form to the Chief Compliance Officer or designee within 21 calendar days of the alleged incident. The Grievance Form may be submitted via Richmindale’s website at RSIS > Grievance & Complaints > Grievance, or copy and paste www.richmindale.com/rsis/grievance in a web browser. Click the New button to create a new grievance and submit after completing the form. Grievance can be submitted via email to grievance@richmindale.com.

When a grievance is submitted, the Chief Compliance Officer or a designee forms a Grievance Review Committee and appoints members who do not have a conflict of interest in the matter.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the Grievance Committee will render a decision within 7 business days to resolve the issue and will notify the student via email. All parties mentioned in the grievance are asked to provide written accounts of the incident and may be interviewed by members of the committee. The investigation process shall take no more than 30 days.

The student may appeal against the decision within 14 calendar days of receiving the decision via Richmindale’s website at RSIS > Grievance & Complaints > Grievance Appeal, or copy and paste the link www.richmindale.com/rsis/grievance/appeal in a web browser. Select the grievance in the list and click the Appeal button. The appeal can be sent via email to grievance@richmindale.com. A final decision will be made by the President or a designee within 10 business days of the student appeal.

For grievances or complaints that cannot be resolved through the Richmindale College grievance procedure, refer to the following important information.

If the student grievance cannot be resolved after exhausting the Institution’s grievance procedure, the student may file a complaint with the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. The student must contact the State Board for further details. The State Board address is:

1740 W. Adams Street, Suite 3008

Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Phone: 602-542-5709

Website: ppse.az.gov

Richmindale retains complete formal complaint and grievance files for at least five years from the filing date unless a longer period is required by law. The Compliance Office periodically analyzes complaints and grievances for recurring issues, systemic risks, response timeliness, and opportunities for institutional improvement and reports material trends through the institutional-effectiveness process while protecting confidentiality.