Student Policies

Student policies are described or restated here for clarity and emphasis. The current list of policies are available in the College Catalog.

Dress Code

While NWSC appreciates the individuality of each student, students are asked to dress in proper attire for all educational activities, including but not limited to, lectures, labs, externships, and community service events. All students are required to follow lab dress codes, including coats, protective wear (i.e., goggles), and full-toed shoes. Information about lab precautions will be provided by the instructor.

The following are examples of attire considered inappropriate for the College environment:

  • Hats and caps during instruction
  • Clothing with profanity/indecent messages
  • Any display of underwear

NWSC respects the beliefs of each student. If dress code policies are in conflict with your religious beliefs, please speak to your advisor.

School of Allied Health Sciences
Students in the NWSC certificate programs are required to wear the provided uniforms to each course session.

Vaccinations

In accordance with the College Student Immunization Act, each enrolled student born on or after January 1, 1957 is required to submit documentation of having received immunizations for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, and rubella, and if you are under the age of 22, a meningitis conjugate A/C on or after your sixteenth birthday. Proof of immunity must include the following information: 

  • The month, day, and year of vaccine receipt for measles, mumps, and rubella. Whole year dates (e.g., 1969) are acceptable only when it is clear that the student was at least one year of age when the vaccine was received. 
  • The month, day, and year of receiving the vaccine for diphtheria and tetanus. 

Proof of immunity may be provided in the following forms: 

  • A copy of the immunization record from the physician 
  • A copy of the student’s Illinois high school health record which complies with the immunization requirements 
  • In lieu of proof of immunity for MMR, official evidence of birth on or before January 1st, 1957 

A student may be exempt from the vaccination policy if s/he provides a written and signed statement by a physician indicating the circumstances that conflict with the immunizations. Exemptions may also be provided if vaccinations conflict with religious beliefs. In such cases, the student must provide a written and signed statement detailing the specific belief that conflicts with vaccinations and receive approval from the Director of Admissions.

Failure to provide proof of immunity will preclude the student from enrollment in subsequent courses until the Admissions Representative receives appropriate documentation or the student is granted an exemption by the Director of Admissions.

Course Materials

On the first day of class, instructors provide students with a syllabus referencing course materials. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the materials by the designated deadlines.

Transcripts

Students interested in a copy of their unofficial or official transcript are required to complete the NWSC Transcript Request Form and submit it to the Registrar. Except for the initial transcript and diploma after graduation, a fee of $25.00 is charged for each additional copy of the transcript.

Transcripts Release

Northwest Suburban College is committed to supporting student access, academic progress, and compliance with applicable federal and State of Illinois regulations regarding student records and financial obligations. Students are responsible for satisfying all obligations owed to the College in accordance with their enrollment agreement and approved payment arrangements.

Official Transcripts

The College may place restrictions on the release of official transcripts in cases involving outstanding financial obligations, except where prohibited by applicable law or regulation. Official transcripts required for employment, transfer, financial aid applications, military service, or other legally protected purposes will be processed in accordance with Illinois law and institutional policy.

Unofficial Transcripts

In accordance with applicable Illinois law, the College will provide access to unofficial transcripts, regardless of a student’s outstanding financial balance.

Registration Hold Policy

Northwest Suburban College (NWSC) reserves the right to place a registration hold on a student’s account if there are outstanding financial obligations, missing academic records, or unresolved administrative requirements. A registration hold prevents the student from enrolling in future courses, participating in externships, or receiving official transcripts and diplomas. 

Reasons for Registration Holds may include:

  • Outstanding Tuition or Fees: Failure to pay tuition or fees by the scheduled due date or failure to set up an approved payment plan
  • Incomplete Documentation: Missing required admissions documents, immunization records, or other required forms
  • Academic Requirements: Not meeting prerequisite course requirements or mandatory academic advising 
  • Conduct Violations: Disciplinary actions resulting in restricted enrollment
  • Library or Equipment Obligations: Unpaid library fines or unreturned College property

Students are notified of holds in writing and are encouraged to contact the appropriate department, such as Accounts, Registrar, or Admissions, to address and clear the hold. Financial holds may be resolved by either full payment or by establishing a formal payment arrangement with the Accounts Department. 

Email

The email provided in the NWSC application is the official mechanism for communication for the College and students/faculty/staff. College community members are expected to read communications in a timely manner. Changes to email addresses should be immediately conveyed to instructors and advisors.

Electronic Use

NWSC expects students, faculty, and staff to demonstrate responsibility, integrity, and confidentiality when utilizing resources, including electronic devices and networks. All activity on systems and networks, including the creation of documents, may be monitored by administrators. Unless permitted by the owner or law, personal software may not be used, installed, or copied on College electronic resources. NWSC reserves the right to revoke the privileges of any staff or student found to be using College equipment and computer network inappropriately. Legal action may follow, if deemed necessary.

Copyright and Licenses

NWSC adheres to the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), which requires institutions to explicitly inform students that unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, may be subject to civil and criminal liabilities. 

Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws 

Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement. 

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. 

For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at copyright.gov, especially their FAQs at copyright.gov/help/faq. For legal alternatives to unauthorized downloading, visit educause.edu, and search “Legal Sources of Online Content” for a list of options. Federal Copyright Laws are included in the NWSC Code of Conduct. Hence, sanctions for violations of the Code are listed under the Code of Conduct section of this Catalog. 

Privacy of Records

NWSC complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include the following: 

  • 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 written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The NWSC 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 College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom it should be addressed. 
  • The right to request the amendment of the student’s education record that the student believes is inaccurate. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want to be changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. 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 request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing. 
  • 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 College in an administrative, supervisory, academic research, or support position; a trustee or outside contractor such as an attorney or auditor acting as an agent for the College; 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; or volunteers and other non-employees performing institutional services and functions as school officials with legitimate educational interests. 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 College discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, to accrediting agencies, to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena, in connection with FAFSA inquiry about students who previously received financial aid through NWSC, in connection with a health and safety emergency, or to military recruiters. The Privacy Act specifically states that parents and other third parties may not have access to a student’s educational records unless the student gives written permission. The College reserves the right to make certain exceptions to the above for federal and state agencies that are gathering information for statistical purposes.
  • The Dean or Director may contact parents, legal guardians, or law enforcement as deemed necessary where there is a danger to a student or to others, or when a student is involved in alcohol and/or drug violations on campus. 
  • The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Northwest Suburban 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 Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202

Code of Conduct

The purpose of the Northwest Suburban College Code of Conduct is to provide equitable rules and procedures to promote a safe and orderly educational environment. The College holds and abides by the highest standards of integrity and scholarship. All members of the NWSC community, including students, faculty, and staff must conduct themselves in a manner compatible with NWSC’s role as an academic institution. 

Misconduct is defined as any activity contrary to the general and educational interests of the College and its members. Allegations of misconduct will be reviewed against this standard. 

College jurisdiction is applicable to all conduct while on college premises and other sites at which instruction or College-related activities are being conducted. The College may also review criminal or otherwise egregious conduct as a violation of the Code of Conduct, regardless of where it was committed.

Presumed misconduct includes violation of college policies that create responsibilities or expectations for students and acts contrary to the Code of Conduct, which has been established to clarify those behaviors that implicitly contradict the general and educational interests of the College. Specific types of misconduct include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Misrepresentation 

  • Providing false information to any College official
  • Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any College documents and resources 

Academic Dishonesty 

  • Cheating is the misuse of material including, but not limited to, using unauthorized assistance, recycling work without acknowledgement, illicit collaboration, or fabrication of information. A form of cheating is plagiarism, which is using someone else’s work, in part or in whole, intentionally or unintentionally, and implying that the other person’s work is yours. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, submitting works that you have not created yourself, copying answers or text from another person and submitting it as your own, quoting or paraphrasing someone else’s idea without crediting the original author, and fabricating references or incorrectly using references. 

All work turned in by a student is to be of his or her own creation or properly cited as the work of others. It is the student’s responsibility to know and understand the rules regarding avoiding plagiarizing and proper citations. 

The degree of and circumstances around an incident of plagiarism will be considered and the appropriate consequence(s) determined. Consequences may range from a zero for the assignment up to and including expulsion, depending on the severity of the case. Each subsequent infraction may be treated more severely than previous ones. 

Speech and Related Behavior 

  • Any verbal, written, electronic, or physical behavior that creates or is likely to provoke a violent reaction, whether or not it actually does so, is considered a violation of the Code of Conduct. This includes disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, or any other college activities. 

Violence and Harassment 

The following are examples of violence and harassment: 

  • Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, assault, sexual misconduct, and/or any other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person
  • Use, possession, or distribution of controlled and illegal substances and weapons
  • Use, possession, or distribution of narcotic or other controlled substances
  • Use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages on campus or by underage students
  • Illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, other weapons, or dangerous chemicals 

Theft and Damage to Property 

The following are examples of theft and damage of property: 

  • Attempted or actual theft of and/or damage to property of the College, or property of a member of the College community, or other personal or public property
  • Unauthorized entry or use of College facilities
  • Violation of College policies, rules, or regulations and/or collusion in violation of College policies, rules, or regulations

Code of Conduct Proceedings

Northwest Suburban College works to ensure that any violation of college policy is reviewed and resolved in a manner that guarantees the College applies standards of fairness and due process in its decision-making. The College has established a uniform process for the review of violations of College policy. The process is applicable to the review of policy violations by students, as defined in the Code of Conduct. 

Code of Conduct Violation Reporting Procedure 

Any faculty member or other employee of the College who becomes aware of a student’s probable violation of the Code of Conduct must report that information to the Director of Student Services & Programs. All other members of the College community are likewise encouraged to report. The identity of the person reporting a violation will be kept confidential, but that person may be contacted by the College as part of the investigation of the complaint. A faculty member or other employee reporting a violation may be required to answer questions or provide a statement that will identify them by name, and other members of the College community reporting a violation may be requested to do so. 

Procedure

Any allegation of a policy violation must be immediately reported to the Director of Programs & Student Services. The Director will conduct an investigation, identifying potential evidence and witnesses. Investigations include interviews and the review of the evidence, such as electronic and written material, if any exists. The Director will prepare a summary of its investigative findings, an assessment of the policy requirements in question, and an interpretation of the implications to the policy of the allegations, which will be provided to the Dean of Academic & Student Affairs. 

Review of grievances and findings will be presided on by the Dean of Academic & Student Affairs. The Dean may meet with the respondent of the violation or grievance, giving that person an opportunity to acquiesce to or contest the allegations. 

Code of Conduct Sanctions 

The following sanctions may be imposed upon any student found to have violated the Code of Conduct. The Dean of Academic & Student Affairs is responsible for handling all matters related to the Code of Conduct. At any time, the recommended consequence for an infraction may be increased or decreased due to the existence of aggravating or mitigating circumstances of the infraction, solely at the discretion of the Dean. 

  • Warning: Notice that the student violated the Code and that any repetition may result in more severe sanctions.
  • Discretionary Sanctions: Work assignments, service to the College or community, or related discretionary assignments. 
  • Suspension: Separation of the student from the College for a definite period of time, after which the student may be eligible to return. 
  • Expulsion: Permanent separation of the student from the College.

Appeals 

A decision reached or a sanction imposed by the Dean may be appealed by the respondent to the Provost within ten days of receipt of the decision. Failure to respond within ten days of the receipt of the decision will result in the implementation of the recommended sanction(s). Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Provost clearly explaining the basis for the appeal. The decision of the Provost will be final.

Student Grievances

NWSC is committed to both the welfare of its students and continuous quality improvement. The College recognizes that a complaint from a student has to be addressed seriously and expeditiously, and might also represent an opportunity for improvement.

Grievances are defined as allegations by students that faculty or employees have violated College policies in a manner that affects the students’ interests (and may include, but are not limited to, discrimination, harassment, capricious grading, or determinations made in the application of other College policies).

A student who has been unable to resolve a problem with a faculty or staff member should contact the Director of Programs & Student Services for the NWSC Grievance Form. The form should be completed and submitted to the Director of Programs within ten working days of the incident. The complaint must include a concise statement of the allegations that form the basis for the student’s complaint, including a careful statement of the facts, rules, regulations, policy, or practice that was violated; a summary of the attempts to resolution attempts; and a suggested remedy.

The Director will report all materials to the Director of Compliance (or, if against the Director of Compliance, then report to the President; if against the President, then reported to the Board of Regents). The Director of Compliance will conduct an investigation, identifying potential evidence and witnesses. Investigations include interviews and the review of the evidence, such as electronic and written material, if any exists. The Director of Compliance will prepare a summary of the investigation findings, an assessment of the policy requirements in question, and an interpretation of the implications to the policy of the allegations. The Director of Compliance shall then deliver the findings and decision to the reporter within ten days of receiving the Grievance Form and supporting evidence from the Director of Programs & Student Services. The grievant may seek review of an adverse decision through the College President. The decision of the College President is final and is documented on the Grievance Form.

External Complaints
Complaints against this school may be registered with:
Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
6116 Executive Boulevard Suite 730
North Bethesda, MD 20852
Phone: 301-291-7550
Email: info@abhes.org

Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE)
1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza Suite 333
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: 217-557-7359
http://complaints.ibhe.org/

Campus Safety Policies

Northwest Suburban College strives to maintain an environment that is healthy and safe. We strongly believe we are each responsible for creating a space where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. 

Please refer to the NWSC Annual Security Report for a list of College policies, including anti-harassment and -sexual misconduct policies, drug- and hate crime-free policies, as well as resources for sexual and domestic violence, drug and alcohol-abuse, and more. The Annual Security Report is available at https://nwsc.edu/campus-safety/.

Dangerous Objects

The possession, display, and/or use of dangerous objects including, but not limited to, firearms, fireworks, explosives, hunting knives, or anything that could be misrepresented as a weapon are prohibited on College property. Disciplinary action for violation of the Dangerous Objects Policy may include suspension or expulsion and referral for possible legal action.