12.1 Equal Opportunity Policy and Procedure

12.1.1 Equal Opportunity Policy

This institution is committed to providing equal opportunities to all program applicants and employment applicants and current students and employees. Therefore, no act of discrimination shall occur against prospective and current students and employees in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, religious beliefs, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran's status, or any other classification that uses biases to preclude the acceptance and/or participation of a qualified individual. We do not tolerate any form of harrassment based on race, color, religion, religious beliefs, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran's status, or any other classification. Please direct any inquiries regarding this policy, if any, to the Chief Operations Officer (CEO) who is assigned the responsibility for ensuring that this policy is followed.

 

12.1.2 Equal Opportunity Procedure

To file a report against a discrimination act, a student should submit a written report to the Grievance Committee at Virscend University 16490 Bake Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618. The written report must contain a statement of the nature of the problem, the date the problem occurred, the names of the individuals involved, copies of documents, if any, which contain information regarding the problem. The student can expect to receive a written response within ten business days. Student’s rights are set forth at various places in this catalog. Contact the Office of Student Success if you require additional information.

 

PLEASE SEE APPENDIX A FOR INFORMATION ABOUT DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS AND B, C, AND D FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATED TO SEXUAL OR GENDER DISCRIMINATION.

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12.2 Disability and Accommodation Policy

Generally Virscend University is committed to providing equal and integrated access for students with disabilities to academic, social, cultural and recreational programs. This resolve is grounded not only in the law, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, but also in Virscend’s own commitment to the inclusion of all members of the community. 

 

12.2.1 Documentation Guidelines

The Office of Student Success and Distance Education conducts individualized assessments of accommodation requests that include the review of relevant documentation. We emphasize the value of the student’s experience, history, and perspective in conjunction with the review of supporting medical documentation, and therefore meet with every student before finalizing accommodation plans.

When submitting documentation, the following elements are requested universally:

• A signature of a licensed, treating physician, therapist, or other qualified care provider is required for all documentation. 

• A signed, dated, typewritten narrative written in English (or translated into English by a certified translator) provided on letterhead 

• Current disability and history of diagnosis (Although we do not set a limit on the age of the documentation, it must still be accurate and relevant to the student’s current diagnostic profile.) 

• Information regarding current treatment plan (if relevant to accommodation planning) 

• Functional impact of diagnosis (e.g., learning, concentrating, walking, seeing, etc.) 

• Any recommendations or strategies that will mitigate the Impact of the described limitations. 

 

12.2.2 Temporary Injuries & Illnesses

The Office of Student Success works with students experiencing temporary injuries and illnesses in order to facilitate short-term accommodations. Temporary injuries refer to non-recurring medical conditions of short duration (generally six months or less). Examples of temporary injuries and illnesses include broken limbs, manual injuries, concussions, and impairments resulting from surgical recovery.

Students requesting accommodations for a temporary injury should contact the Office of Student Success directly in order to schedule an access meeting with a member of our staff. Additional documentation to support your request for accommodations may be requested.

Documentation from students with temporary injuries and illnesses should indicate the current impact of the condition and provide an estimated time of recovery.

 

12.2.3 Confidentiality 

The Office of Student Success operates under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and all information and medical documentation submitted to the office is protected under the parameters of this law.

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12.3 Student Grievance Policy and Procedure

12.3.1 Student Grievance Policy

Problems or complaints that students may have about students, faculty, staff or the institution can be resolved by directing the concern to the Grievance Committee (composed of one faculty and one staff). The Grievance Committee is in charge of investigating and providing a resolution to the grievance. 

 

12.3.2 Student Grievance Procedure

In order to process their grievance/complaint, the grievant must submit the online form (https://virscend.com/student-forms/#1590010040100-8cf6a558-7f38). The committee will send an acknowledgment by email/mail and schedule a meeting with the student within 10 days from which the letter was received.  

 

However, if the grievant disapproves of the Committee’s response, the grievant may submit a complaint to the Office Academic Programs. The complaint may be sent via email (admission@virscend.com) or letter to the following name and address: Virscend University, Office of Academic Programs, Virscend University 16490 Bake Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618. The written complaint must contain a statement of the nature of the problem, the date the problem occurred, the names of the individuals involved, copies of documents, if any, which contain information regarding the problem, evidence (if any) demonstrating that the institution's grievance/complaint procedure was properly followed, and the student's signature. Upon review, the Program Director will send a written response to the individual within 10 business days. Please note that the University expressly forbids anyone to take any form of retaliatory action against any member of the Virscend community who in good faith voices concerns, seeks advice, files a complaint or grievance, testifies or participates in investigations, compliance reviews, proceedings or hearings, or opposes actual or perceived violations of Virscend’s University’s policy or unlawful acts.  

 

12.4 Student Conduct Policy

Students are always expected to behave professionally and respectfully. Students are subject to dismissal for any inappropriate or unethical conduct including any act of academic dishonesty. Students are expected to dress and act accordingly while attending this institution. At the discretion of the school administration a student may be dismissed from school for reasons including, but not limited to: 

• Coming to class in an intoxicated or drugged state. 

• Possession of drugs or alcohol on campus. 

• Possession of a weapon on campus.

• Behavior creating a safety hazard to another person(s). 

• Disobedient or disrespectful behavior to other students, an administrator and/or instructor. 

• Stealing or damaging the property of another. 

 

Any student(s) found to have engaged in such conduct will be asked to leave the premises immediately. Disciplinary action will be determined by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of this institution and such determination will be made within 10 days after meeting with both the corresponding department chair and the student in question. 

 

12.5 Faculty and Student Research Policy

Virscend University encourages faculty and students to conduct applied research in the domain of Business Administration. The research topics include:

• Management, Human Resources Management and Operational Management

• Accounting

• Finance

• Information Systems and E-commerce

• Marketing Management

• International Business’

• Supply Chain Management

• Other Business Administration related topics

 

Virscend University may sponsor up to 50% of the domestic travel expenses for Faculty and students to present research papers in academic conferences and project competitions.

In order to be considered for the travel support, the applicant needs to submit the travel request at least one month before the travel and include the following information: 

• Name of Conference

• Accepted paper for presentation and the acceptance notice

• Estimated travel cost including transportation, lodging, meals, and conference registration fee 

• Brief description of the purpose and impact of the conference presentation

 

12.6 Cheating and Plagiarism Policy

Students are expected to maintain high standards of academic integrity. Acting in good conscience is integral to our mission statement. Academic dishonesty is willful and intentional fraud used to deceive in order to improve a grade or obtain course credit. It includes all student behavior intended to gain unearned academic advantage by fraudulent and/or deceptive means.

 

• The instructor shall contact the student with evidence of the cheating/plagiarism in writing within one week of discovery of the event.

• At faculty’s discretion, cheating/plagiarism may result in an "F" grade on the assignment or examination, or in the course. If a student denies the charge of cheating/plagiarism, he/she will be permitted to remain in the class until it has been resolved by the Grievance Committee. 

• The Grievance Committee shall determine if any further disciplinary action is required. Disciplinary actions might include, but are not limited to, requiring special counseling, loss of membership in organization(s), disciplinary probation, suspension or expulsion from Virscend University.

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12.6.1 Cheating Definition

Cheating is defined as obtaining or attempting to obtain or aiding another in obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for work or any improvement in evaluation of performance, by any dishonest or deceptive means. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

 

• Copying graded homework assignments from another student.

• Working with others on a take-home test or homework when specifically prohibited by the instructor.

• Looking at another student's paper or screen during an examination.

• Looking at text, notes or electronic devices during an examination when specifically prohibited by the instructor.

• Accessing another student's electronic device and taking information from the device. 

• Allowing another person to complete assignments or an online course on behalf of you.

• Giving one's work to another to be copied or used in an oral presentation.

• Giving answers to another student during an examination or for a take-home test.

• After having taken an exam, informing another person in a later section about questions appearing on that exam.

• Providing a term paper to another student.

• Taking an exam, writing a paper, or creating a computer program or artistic work for another.

 

12.6.2 Plagiarism Definition

Plagiarism is defined by using someone else’s content either by paraphrasing or using word for word or exact image(s) without giving the content writer, creator, maker, owner etc... credit. Whenever the student utilizes material borrowed either from but not limited to the web, books, videos, and podcast, the student must consult Purdue OWL and/or copyright laws to ensure that they have attributed the proper credit to the corresponding person/people/agency/artist etc.… Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

 

• Using online or written content without giving proper credit.

• Taking someone else’s content without properly providing citation. 

• Taking either clauses, paragraphs and or paraphrasing without any reference to the content from where it was obtained. 

 

12.7 Academic Freedom Policy

Virscend University is committed to ensuring full academic freedom to all faculty and students.

In Research and Publication, faculty and students have the right to choose methodologies, draw conclusions, and assert the value of their contributions based on evidence, but does not protect against critiques of their claims. 

 

In Teaching and Learning, faculty has the right to select course materials and content, pedagogy, make assignments and assess student performance germane to the subject matter, provided that these judgments align with the context of the course descriptions as currently published, and the instructional methods are those officially sanctioned by the institution. Limits may arise when the manner of instruction substantially impairs the rights of others or demonstrates that the instructor is professionally ignorant, incompetent, or dishonest with regard to their discipline or fields of expertise. Faculty should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matters which have no relation to their subject. 

 

Both faculty and students have the right to express their views - in speech, writing, and through electronic communication, both on and off campus - without fear of censorship or retaliation. No political, religious, or philosophical beliefs of politicians, administrators, and members of the public can be imposed on students or faculty. If faculty or students feel their rights have been violated, he/she reserves the right to file a complaint to the Grievance Committee.

 

12.8 Jeanne Clery Act Policies

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal statute requiring colleges and universities participating in federal financial aid programs to maintain and disclose campus crime statistics and security information. This includes amendments implemented with the Campus SaVE Act as pertains to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

 

Additional information may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security website at http://ope.ed.gov/security/. Crime statistics are reported to the Department of Education annually.

 

12.9 Student Services

Should a student encounter a personal problem that interferes with his or her ability to complete coursework, this institution will provide assistance in identifying appropriate professional assistance in the student's local community. For more information contact the Office of Student Success and Distance Education. 

 

12.10 Placement Services 

Career advising is provided by the Faculty. Students are advised on career pathways and potential employment opportunities. In addition, faculty can provide additional career advising to the student. 

 

12.11 Student Housing 

This institution does not operate dormitories or other housing facilities. This institution does not provide assistance, nor does it have any responsibility to assist students in finding housing. Housing in the immediate area is available in two-story walkup and garden apartments. 

 

Currently the average rent for a studio apartment in Irvine is about $2,646 per month, and one bedroom is around $2,777, and $3,482 for a two-bedroom apartment.

 

12.12 Privacy Act

It is this institution's intent to carefully follow the rules applicable under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. It is our intent to protect the privacy of a student's financial, academic and other school records. We will not release such information to any individual without having first received the student's written request to do so, or unless otherwise required by law.

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12.13 Distance Learning 

There will be approximately 5 working days that will elapse between the institution’s receipt of student lessons, projects, or dissertations and the institution’s mailing of its response or evaluation.