• Clock Hour-Credit Hour Definition
• Family Education Rights and Privacy Act-FERPA for Students
• Handicapped Policy
• Human Subject Research Policy
• Sexual Harassment Policy

Clock Hour-Credit Hour Definition

Mansfield University recognizes and in its curricular review processes complies with the following definitions of the US Department of Education Definitions as adopted from the National Archives and Records Administration of 1985...

Mansfield University recognizes and in its curricular review processes complies with the following definitions of the US Department of Education Definitions as adopted from the National Archives and Records Administration of 1985.

Title 34: Education

PART 600—INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED 
Subpart A—General

§ 600.2   Definitions.

The following definitions apply to terms used in this part:

Clock hour: A period of time consisting of—

1. A 50- to 60-minute class, lecture, or recitation in a 60-minute period;
2. A 50- to 60-minute faculty-supervised laboratory, shop training, or internship in a 60-minute period; or
3. Sixty minutes of preparation in a correspondence course.

Credit hour: Except as provided in 34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l), a credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than—

1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Distance education means education that uses one or more of the technologies listed in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this definition to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor, either synchronously or asynchronously. The technologies may include—

1. The internet;
2. One-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices;
3. Audio conferencing; or
4. Video cassettes, DVDs, and CD–ROMs, if the cassettes, DVDs, or CD–ROMs are used in a course in conjunction with any of the technologies listed in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this definition.

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=702c7e87ace35f7eefc7466b2beb3c3f&rgn=div8&view=text&node=34:3.1.3.1.1.1.23.2&idno=34

Electronic code of Federal Regulations e-CFR current as of December 21, 2011

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act-FERPA for Students

FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) was enacted in 1974. It is a set of regulations that applies to institutions that receive funding from the Department of Education. FERPA was written specifically to protect the interests of students and guarantees them the right to inspect and review their education records...

FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) was enacted in 1974. It is a set of regulations that applies to institutions that receive funding from the Department of Education. FERPA was written specifically to protect the interests of students and guarantees them the right to inspect and review their education records, the right to seek to amend education records, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of information from those education records.

Mansfield University regards all of its students, regardless of age, as emancipated. This means that the regulations apply to all of our students regardless of their age.

An education record is defined as any record that directly identifies a student and is maintained by the institution or educational agency or by a party acting for the institution or educational agency. A key characteristic of education records is that they are shared by university employees who have a legitimate need to advise students, enter information into the record, or work with the data contained in the records. Education records can exist in any medium including the following: handwritten, typed, computer generated, videotape, audiotape, film, microfilm, microfiche, e-mail, and so on.

The following information is considered public information and may be made available without prior consent. It is considered part of the public record of a student’s attendance: name, address, phone number, date/place of birth, major, participation in activities/sports, weight/height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees/awards received and most recent educational institution attended. Any student wishing to prevent the public disclosure of this information may request so by contacting the Office of Enrollment Services, 224 South Hall prior to the close of the first week of classes of any given academic semester.

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar, Dean, Department Chairperson, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Council of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

Upon request, the University may disclose education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Mansfield University of PA to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

 http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/index.html

Copies of the University’s policy governing the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and Student Release of Information Forms are available at the Office of Enrollment Services, Room 224, South Hall. Questions concerning FERPA should be referred to the Registrar.

Handicapped Policy

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides that Any otherwise qualified handicapped individual shall, solely by reason of his/her handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Section 504 prohibits discrimination against handicapped individuals in recruitment, testing, admissions, or after being admitted to a college/university. Mansfield University is committed to making the necessary adjustments in order that persons who are mentally and/or physically challenged are able to fulfill academic requirements and to ensure that they are not excluded from employment or services because of their disabling condition. Inquiries should be directed to the Human Resources, Alumni Hall 118, or call (570) 662-4050.

Human Subject Research Policy

Research projects undertaken by Mansfield University students, staff, or faculty members must be approved prior to involvement of human subjects and the initiation of the research project. The review process is intended for the protection of the human subjects and shall be the sole object of the review. The Mansfield University Institutional Review Board (IRB) is the final authority in determining approvals of human subjects research. To apply for a request for review of research, contact your department chairperson who will give you a copy of the guidelines, application form, and a sample informed consent form. You must submit two copies of the Request for Review of Research form and one copy of the Informed Consent form to your department chair. Depending on the nature of the research, and the potential risks to subjects, the department will undertake a departmental review of the application, or they will forward it to the IRB Chairperson for board review. Copies of the IRB guidelines and forms are also available at the university web site: http://www.mansfield.edu/~grantsde or by contacting Dr. Francis Craig, Chairperson of the IRB, Hemlock Manor. Persons undertaking human subjects research should plan to submit their applications at least 3-4 weeks prior to the proposed research project start.

Sexual Harassment Policy

Harassment on the basis of sex is a violation of Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Because the University is committed to providing an environment where each person can learn and work to his or her fullest capacity, the university does not tolerate sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment occurs when:

1. submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, or a student’s academic status or treatment.
2. submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic or employment decisions affecting such individual; or
3. such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment.

Individuals who believe themselves to be the victims of sexual harassment, or who have questions about the university’s policy on this matter should contact the Advocacy Office, Pinecrest 109, or call (570) 662-4050.

Existing affirmative action guidelines are used in processing complaints.