Institutional Policies

Each student is assigned an advisor to assist with planning for orderly transition through the program. Advisees should meet their advisors prior to registration for classes. Additional meetings may be held if deemed necessary.

Students are responsible for their own education. Each student receives a curriculum plan outlining program requirements semester by semester. Additional information is provided in the University Student Handbook. Students must follow requirements and procedures in this handbook and any updates provided electronically or in writing.

Students should follow the University registration format as outlined in the semester schedule of classes. Advisors will generally post hours for advisement. Students should contact their advisor before making schedule changes. Students who interrupt their program must meet with the program director and advisor to determine appropriate action.

(Required element 8.1d)

All students admitted to the Dietetics program have equal access. Arkansas State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to excellence and diversity. Opportunities in employment, admission, and treatment of students are provided without regard to color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, age, national origin, religion, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability. A-State complies with all applicable legislation and does not discriminate unlawfully. Questions should be addressed to the Affirmative Action Program Coordinator.

(Required elements 8.2r & 8.2s)

Student files related to advisement, registration, evaluations, etc. are kept on the dietetics drive. Only faculty have access. A-State adheres to FERPA, which affords students rights regarding their educational records. Students may inspect and review their records except for specific exclusions. See the Bulletin for the complete policy. Students may contact the program director to view their dietetics file.

(Required element 8.2t)

Counseling Center: Offers personal, career, and academic counseling and outreach programming. Services are provided by licensed mental health practitioners, interns, and practicum students. Staff provide lectures, workshops, and consultations across campus.

Financial Aid & Scholarships Office: Provides financial resources to students. Aid is awarded based on demonstrated need, with efforts to maximize grants and scholarships and minimize loans. Staff compile packages to provide maximum support. See the Bulletin for more information.

Dean B. Ellis Library: Provides extensive resources, including nutrition-related textbooks, periodicals, and interlibrary loan services. Collections also support nursing, psychology, sociology, biology, sports medicine, and speech pathology.

Pack Support: A one-stop resource connecting students, parents, faculty, and staff to university procedures and resources. Issues may include academic performance, harm to self/others, financial concerns, food/shelter anxieties, housing, illness, hospitalization, and conduct. Contact PackSupport@astate.edu.

Access and Accommodation Services: Coordinates academic adjustments and auxiliary aids for qualified students under Section 504 and ADA. Concerns about physical access should be addressed to the coordinator. A-State provides auxiliary aids at no cost to students with verified disabilities.

(Required element 8.2p)

Students should consult with their instructor and advisor before changing schedules or withdrawing. Students receiving aid should consult their Financial Aid Counselor. See the Bulletin for information on withdrawal and refund of tuition and fees.

A-State promotes academic integrity and professional ethics. Violations are considered serious misconduct and may result in severe penalties, including expulsion. Students cannot avoid sanctions by withdrawing from a class, program, or the University.

The College Student Academic Honor Code exists in addition to the University Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity Policy. Offenses include lying/willful misrepresentation, cheating/unapproved collaboration, plagiarism, or facilitating dishonesty. Assignments include papers, projects, homework, and exams.

Lying / Willful Misrepresentation: A false statement made with intent to deceive.

Examples of misconduct include:

• Fabricating quotations and/or sources
• Dishonestly adjusting, omitting, or misrepresenting research results
• Selective reporting or omission of conflicting data
• Altering graded work and resubmitting
• Providing false information about absences or late work
• Submitting the same paper in multiple classes without approval
• Submitting a paper from a previous semester without approval
• Failing to provide required information about prior academic performance
• Obstructing or interfering with other students’ academic work
• Altering documents affecting academic records
• Providing false information about academic performance or leadership activities
• Recording hours not actually worked
• Submitting fabricated preceptor evaluations
• Altering scores, grades, or schedules on records
• Forging signatures without authorization
• Recording lectures or meetings without permission
• Creating false university or medical documentation

An act of dishonesty with the intent of obtaining and/or using information in a fraudulent or unauthorized manner.

Examples include:

• Observing or copying from another student's assignment.
• Giving or receiving assistance during an exam (including providing answers to subsequent examinees).
• Using unauthorized notes or information during an exam.
• Buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting assignments without authorization.
• Using for credit an assignment written for a previous class without instructor approval.
• Impersonating another person or permitting impersonation for exams/assignments.
• Unauthorized collaboration during exams, labs, or course requirements.
• Altering grades or official records.
• Falsifying or signing another person’s name on academic documents.
• Sabotaging or interfering with academic progress of others.
• Submitting altered, fraudulent, or falsified data or records.

Discipline:

• Allow testing to progress, inform student, and assign failing grade on test.
• Seize test and assign failing grade.
• Assign failing grade in the course.
• Recommend sanctions, including expulsion. All cases referred to student conduct system.

The act of taking, using, or presenting the ideas, work, or writing of another as one’s own.

Examples include:

• Submitting another’s work (paper, report, program, presentation, etc.) as one’s own.
• Failing to give credit when quoting, paraphrasing, or referencing ideas.
• Quoting without quotation marks and citation.
• Submitting research or assignments not completed by the student seeking credit.

Discipline:

• Return paper for rewriting; grade may be lowered.
• Assign failing grade on paper/item.
• Assign failing grade in the course.
• Recommend sanctions, including expulsion. All cases referred to student conduct system.

Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help others commit academic dishonesty.

Examples include:

• Writing a paper for another student
• Allowing another student to use past assignments, papers, labs.
• Sharing homework when collaboration is not allowed.
• Helping another student during an exam or quiz.
• Sharing notes, books, calculators, phones, computers, websites, or other aids during exams without permission.
• Completing another student’s exam or quiz.
• Providing materials or information knowing it will be used dishonestly.
• Stealing or circulating exam/homework materials before authorized time.

Violations apply to didactic, laboratory, and clinical experiences.

Students aware of an honor offense should report it to the faculty member, program director, or department chair. An investigation will follow.

If evidence exists, the student will be notified in writing of charges, hearing body, and hearing details at least two working days in advance. Hearings should occur within 10 working days of notification.

College Code of Ethics Committee:

• Comprised of five CNHP student representatives and two CNHP faculty appointed by the dean.
• Actions may include dismissal of case, sanctioning student, or referral to Dean of Students.
• Sanctions may include educative measures, reprimand, restrictions, restitution.
• Committee cannot suspend or expel students.

Student rights are outlined in the A-State Student Handbook under “Disciplinary Hearings.” Students are entitled to one appeal to the Associate Dean for Judicial Affairs.

Effective August 1, 2010, A-State is a Smoke Free campus. See appendix for complete policy.

Students must comply with supervised practice site policies. Arkansas law prohibits smoking on hospital grounds. Students who use tobacco in classrooms, labs, or supervised practice sites are subject to facility actions (removal or fines) and may be removed from the practicum course.

Social media can be a way to share life experiences and opinions with others. Use of social media presents risks and carries responsibilities.

Definition: Social media includes all means of communicating or posting information via the Internet or other electronic methods. This includes personal blogs, journals, websites, chat rooms, and group platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and anonymous sites.

Content may be transmitted to others with or without consent from the original author. Per HIPAA regulations, no information, pictures, videos, or descriptions of clients/families may be posted on social media sites.

Responsibilities:

• You are solely responsible for what you post online.
• Inappropriate postings (patients, classmates, faculty) that include discriminatory remarks, harassment, threats, or violations of professional codes of conduct are subject to disciplinary action and may result in program dismissal.
• Future employers may view candidate websites. Students should review their sites for unprofessional images or language that could affect employment.
• Make responsible decisions about social media use.

FERPA of 1974 provides protection for all educational records related to students enrolled in an educational program. Information about your rights and protection of your records is available on A-State’s website.

Questions or concerns about FERPA issues may be directed to registrar@astate.edu or the Office of Admission, Records, and Registration.

(Required element 8.2o)

Arkansas State University is required by federal law and regional accreditors to confirm the identity of all students who take online courses. Authenticating student identities ensures academic integrity and preserves the quality of the online degree.

BioSig ID:

• Students create a biometric password using a mouse, stylus, or finger on various devices.
• The biometric password cannot be replicated by someone else.
• Authentication is required before completing quizzes and exams, and periodically throughout each course.
• All authentications occur within Canvas.
• See the “Create BioSig ID” folder in Canvas for details.