Palmer College of Chiropractic West

Academics

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Records Policy/Directory Information

In accordance with federal mandates contained within the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), and in accordance with California Education Code section 94312(k), the College maintains academic records on all students who attended Palmer College of Chiropractic West. The federal law ensures confidentiality of student academic records.

FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access.
   
   Students should submit to the Registrar or another appropriate College official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar or other appropriate College 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 Registrar or other appropriate College official to whom the request was submitted, the Registrar shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
    
2. The right to request an amendment of the student’s educational records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
   
   Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the Registrar or College 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 College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the re-quest for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
    
3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational record, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
   
   One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to College officials with legitimate educational interests. Such an official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and clinic staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, security firm or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee such as a disciplinary or grievance committee or assisting another College official in performing his or her tasks. A College official has the legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
    
4. Except as provided above (3), the right to request that directory information be withheld from release.
   The College has designated certain categories of information as directory information. A student’s consent is needed to release this information as directory information. A student’s consent to re-lease this information is implied. A currently en-rolled student may instruct the College to withhold one or both categories of directory information by submitting a request form to the Registrar prior to the end of the fifth day of instruction of the term. Regardless of a student’s enrollment status, a request to withhold directory information remains in force until the student submits a subsequent request for removing the restriction. Forms may be obtained and filed at the Registrar’s Office.

Personal Information

• Student’s name
• Address
• Telephone numbers
• Date of birth
• Weight and height, if an athletic team member

Academic Information

• Student’s name
• Class level
• Dates of attendance
• Full- or part-time status
• Institutions previously attended
• Degrees, honors and certificates received or anticipated
• Eligibility for membership in College honoraries
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

If a student has elected to withhold either personal or academic information, the College will respond to inquiries as follows:“The student has instructed us not to reveal this information.”

If a student has elected to withhold both categories of directory information, the College will respond to inquiries as follows:“There is no information available for any student by that name.”

5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College 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 Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605

Location of Records

Physical removal of files from offices is forbidden.
*Current students and graduates

Change of Name/Address

In the event a student has a change in his/her name or address while attending Palmer West, the student must obtain the appropriate form from the Registrar’s Office to affect such change on the academic and business records of the student. The student should also contact the Tasman Clinic Office to change records in that area.

International students and Permanent Residents (aliens) must report a change of name or address to the Department of Homeland Security within ten days.

Student Grievance Procedures

A student who has a grievance relating to disabilities may contact the Dean of Student Academic Affairs for procedures.

A student who has a grievance relating to equal opportunity, discrimination, sexual harassment or retaliation may contact the Dean of Student Academic Affairs for procedures.

A student who believes that s/he has not received fair treatment from an employee of the College and has not been successful in resolving an issue through personal efforts may contact the Dean of Student Academic Affairs for procedures.

Code of Student Ethics

The student, as a condition of admission, agrees to abide by Palmer College of Chiropractic regulations contained in the College Catalog, the Student Handbook, and other College publications and notices placed on official College bulletin boards and posted on the Palmer Web site (www.palmer.edu).

Students are also expected to abide by local, state and federal laws. The College assumes its students will conduct themselves as responsible citizens. It is the personal responsibility of every student to respect the rights of others and to conduct themselves with integrity.

Students at Palmer College of Chiropractic West must be guided by the highest standards of moral conduct. They are expected to demonstrate professional qualities when dealing with persons in the academic community, with chiropractic patients and with the public.

Jurisdiction of the Code of Student Ethics
The Code of Student Ethics shall apply to conduct that occurs on Palmer premises or at Palmer sponsored or Palmer related activities or service functions on or off Palmer premises or at non-Palmer activities on or off Palmer premises that adversely affects the Palmer Community and/or the pursuit of its objectives. Each student shall be responsible for his/her conduct from the time of application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree, even though conduct may occur before classes begin or after classes end, as well as during the academic year and during periods between terms of actual enrollment (and even if their conduct is not discovered until after a degree is awarded). The Student Code shall apply to a student’s conduct even if the student withdraws from school while a disciplinary matter is pending.

Filing of Charges of Misconduct
Any member of the Palmer community may file charges with the Coordinator against any student for misconduct. Similarly, such charges may be filed with the Coordinator against any student organization or club, its student officers and student members who may be found collectively and/or individually responsible for misconduct when such misconduct is authorized, encouraged, directed, tolerated, supported by or committed on behalf of the organization or club.

Further information pertaining to the Code of Student Ethics may be found in the Student Handbook.

Code of Professional Ethics

The Palmer College of Chiropractic West Code of Professional Ethics calls for behavior that reflects the understanding that it is a privilege to participate in the honorable venture of chiropractic education and service.

The profession of chiropractic demands the highest level of competence, both in the care of patients and in the pursuit and development of knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors. It further demands an understanding and acceptance of the need to be guided in that pursuit by the highest degree of professional ethics.

Palmer College of Chiropractic West, while recognizing that all persons have a right to their own beliefs and values, explicitly expects that all faculty and students embrace the essence of chiropractic professionalism, as embodied in the Palmer College of Chiropractic West Code of Professional Ethics.

Further information pertaining to the Code of Professional Ethics may be found in the Student Handbook.

Suggestions and Complaints

Students with suggestions or general complaints should contact the Dean of Student Academic Affairs.

Student Handbook

Every new student receives a copy of the Palmer West Student Handbook at Orientation. In addition to including information on various programs and services provided by the College, the Handbook also serves as the student’s reference guide for the rules and regulations that govern the instructional and extracurricular programs at Palmer West. Students are responsible for reviewing the Handbook to familiarize themselves with all policies and procedures. The Handbook is updated annually. All students receive an updated copy and are responsible for reviewing each new edition for policy revisions and procedural updates. Copies of the Student Handbook are available in the Student Affairs Office.

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