Policies
Equal Opportunity
Briarwood College affirms and actively promotes the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and employment in this institution without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, handicapping condition, learning disability, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other consideration not directly and substantively related to effective performance. This policy implements Federal and State laws, regulations, and executive orders.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Briarwood College encourages individual responsibility and community involvement for all students. Each student is regarded as an individual who is developing socially as well as professionally, with the ultimate goal of contributing to his or her preparation for a happy and productive life.
As adults, students are accorded rights and procedures governing their academic endeavors and may make use of grievance and appeal procedures. It is expected that students maintain academic honesty and treat each other, as well as their instructors and other College employees, with consideration and respect. Student rights and responsibilities are described fully in the Student Handbook, which is revised annually and distributed to all students.
Pluralism
The student body, faculty, administration and staff of Briarwood College form a multi-cultural community of people from diverse racial, ethnic, and class backgrounds, national origins, religious and political beliefs, physical abilities, and sexual orientations. Activities, programs, and everyday interactions are enriched by acceptance of one another in an atmosphere of positive engagement and mutual respect.
Acts of bigotry will not go unchallenged within this community. No one has the right to denigrate another human being on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, class, religion, political beliefs, and/or physical or mental abilities. Verbal or written abuse, threats, harassment, intimidation, or violence against persons or property will not be tolerated. In this context, alcohol or substance abuse as an excuse, reason, or rationale for such abuse, harassment, intimidation, or violence will not be accepted. Ignorance or "it was just a joke" are not excuses. Such behavior is subject to judicial action by Briarwood College.
All who work, live, and study at Briarwood College are here by choice, and as part of that decision are expected to be committed to the principles and policies as stated herein as an integral part of the guidelines by which this College Community can successfully conduct its affairs.
Any person who has been identified as having HIV or AIDS will be treated as any other student or prospective student. Briarwood College will not utilize HIV or AIDS status as a criterion in the admissions decision. This Pluralism Policy extends to all students.
Students with Disabilities
To reflect our commitment to students with disabilities and to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Briarwood College will not discriminate or deny access to an otherwise qualified student with a disability. Students with learning and physical disabilities are welcome. See section on Disabilities Services.
Confidentiality
In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, Briarwood College guarantees to its students access to all personally identifiable educational records. No one outside the institution shall have access to information from a student’s educational record without the student’s written consent, except those permitted by law: officials of other institutions to which the student seeks to enroll, persons or organizations providing financial aid, accrediting agencies carrying out their accreditation function, persons in compliance with a judicial order, and persons who, in an emergency, must protect the health or safety of the student or that of other persons.
Within the Briarwood College Community, only those members individually or collectively acting in the student’s educational interest are allowed access to the student’s education records and only within the limitations of their need to know.
Briarwood College recognizes and affirms its responsibility to respect and assure the integrity and confidential nature of all personal data stored in computer files and/or printed from these files. The College maintains compliance with all relevant laws governing access and their use in the proper conduct of college business and dissemination of directory information.
Student Records. Students are responsible for promptly reporting all changes in their academic status, major, residency, permanent address, mailing address, telephone number, name, or other vital information, by the completion of a Student Change Form, which may be obtained from the Registrar.
Students who do not complete a Student Change Form are not exempt from resulting consequences, including failure to receive official College notices and communications. It should also be noted that outdated address information may cause serious delays in handling records and in contacting students in case of an emergency.
Drug and Alcohol Policy
The Drugs and Alcohol policy of the Board of Directors of Briarwood College endeavors to create a campus environment that is conducive to responsible decisionmaking concerning alcohol use or non-use and an intolerance for illicit drug use. The College recognizes that the misuse of alcohol or the use of illicit drugs represents a serious threat to the physical and mental well-being of its students and employees, as well as to society as a whole.
The goal of Briarwood College is to foster a campus community free from the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs. The unauthorized use of controlled substances is contrary to State and Federal law and, therefore, must be prohibited in any college activity on or off the campus. Although the conditions of alcohol and drug dependency may be considered disabilities or handicaps under State and Federal law, the policy set forth by the Board of Directors will not discriminate against employees and students with these disabilities. Employees and students are considered to be responsible for their conduct.
Sexual Harassment
Each member of the Briarwood College Community, whether student or employee, has the right to study and work in an environment free of sexual harassment. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended, makes sexual harassment unlawful. Sexual harassment is also forbidden by Section 31-126 of the Connecticut State General Statutes, which characterizes sexual harassment as an unfair labor practice.
Sexual harassment is defined as "any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or any conduct of a sexual nature." This includes verbal or nonverbal sexual innuendos, suggestive comments, threats, insults, jokes about specific traits, sexual propositions, suggestive or insulting noises, obscene gestures, physical body contact, or coercing any sexual activity. Romantic or sexual liaisons between a member of the faculty or other staff member and a student currently in attendance at the College is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action, which may include termination of employment or suspension without pay.
All such complaints of sexual harassment, written or oral, should be directed to the College Sexual Harassment Officer; information on how to contact her may be obtained from the Dean of Student Life. All such complaints will be investigated promptly, thoroughly, and confidentially. Any student or employee who violates this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the college.
Sexual Assault, Rape or Misconduct
Any behavior tht constitutes a sexual offense under this policy will subject the offender to disciplinary action, upt to and including dismissal, wheather or not criminal charges are filed and without regard to whether the conduct occurred on or off campus. Prohibited conduct includes sexual assault, rape, attempted sexual assault or rape, indecent exposure, voyeurism, or possession or distribution of illegal pornography. In addition, sexual assault, rape and other sexual offenses are illegal under Connecticut criminal statutes and may be prosecuted in a court of law.
Sexual assault occurs when a person performs or compels another person to perform any sexual act or to have any form of sexual contact without consent. Rape is a specific kind of sexual assault that involves any vaginal, oral, anal, or urethral penetration with any body part or object without consent. Consent requires mutually understandable and communicated words and/or actions demonstrating agreement to participate in the proposed sexual act. Lack of consent may result from inability because of mental impairment of the victim (due to, for example, intoxication), or physical helplessness of the victim (due to, for example, being asleep). Lack of consent may also result from intimidation (due to, for example, the aggressor’s language, size, or threatened or actual use of force) that silences the victim. Attempted sexual assault or rape occurs when a person intends to commit the offense and engages in conduct that would lead to it.
Students will also be disciplined for other sexual offenses which are criminal in nature or which violate other community standards. Victims of sexual offenses should be assured that the College will provide resources, including immediate transportation for medical treatment, counseling support and police assistance, if desired. Care and consideration of the victim’s wishes will be taken into account throughout the intervention process. The College will consider requests for changes in residential and academic accommodations and work with victims to reach available and reasonable solutions. Individuals who feel that they are victims of any sexual offense are urged to file a complaint with the Office of the Dean of Student Life. Additionally, victims should seek counseling and emotional assistance through the Office of the Associate Dean of Student Services or the Sexual Assault Officer.
Financial Reporting
A copy of the most recent audited financial statement or fair summary thereof is available in the office of the Vice President and Treasurer.
