Online Student Resource Guide

Catawba College is committed to providing students an education rich in personal attention that blends the knowledge and competencies of liberal studies with career preparation. Catawba College draws strength from Judeo-Christian values, sustains a dynamic community of learners and seeks to unite a diverse population of students, faculty and staff as active co-participants in scholarship and service. Catawba College prepares students to reach their highest potential while becoming responsible citizens with a zeal to enrich human life.

Catawba College, a private/coeducational institution, was established in 1851 in Newton, NC by the Reformed Church, whose members were predominantly German settlers in the area. The school served as an Academy during the Civil War and after. In 1885, the institution resumed operations under its original charter as Catawba College. Catawba became coeducational in 1890, graduating its first woman in 1893. The campus in Newton was closed in 1923 when the college accepted an offer of land and facilities to move to Salisbury. Catawba College re-opened in Salisbury in 1925. In 1957, the Evangelical and Reformed Church, Catawba’s original parent body, merged with the Congregational Christian denomination to form the United Church of Christ, with which the college maintains an affiliation. The College, however, has no sectarian restriction, and serves students of all faiths and religions.

Since Catawba College opened its doors in the Salisbury community, the institution has established a tradition of successful graduates who honor the college by their achievements and who enable it through their support to strengthen that tradition with each entering class. The college serves a diverse body of students through the services of a well-qualified faculty made up of a distinguished group of teaching scholars who are genuinely committed to accomplishing the mission of the college. Catawba College also serves the Salisbury-Rowan County community through special programs and services. The School of Evening and Graduate Studies represents a special effort to reach out to the adult learner.

“FAIR CATAWBA”

WORDS AND MUSIC BY BERNICE AND ALVIN R. KEPPEL

Arr. Jeremy Krider ‘95; transcribed for brass quintet by J.G. Poolos (Dr. Alvin R. Keppel was president of Catawba College 1942-63)

Down in the verdant Southland, High on the Piedmont
plains, There’s a tower that is piercing the heavens,
And a campus of fond mem’ry lanes.
Higher than the walls of man’s making
Are the thoughts of my sojourn there.
Brighter that the sun upon waking
Are the friendships time cannot outwear!

Fair Catawba, my Catawba
Symbol of life and right!
We thy sons and daughters Hail thee,
Queen of light!
Rich and glorious be thy future,
World of influence wide.
And with us, who bear thy culture,
May thy precepts and spirit abide.

College Administration

Dr. David P. Nelson, President of the College: Responsible for the administration of the College.

Dr. Monica Cowart, Provost of the College: As provost, the Chief Academic Officer and is responsible for academic programs and the faculty who deliver said programs as well as academic services.

Dr. Jared R. Tice, Senior Vice President for the College Experience and Dean of Students: Responsible for Admissions, Enrollment, as well as Student Services, Dining Services, Health Services, Student Conduct, Housing and Residential Life, Campus Activities and Programming, Counseling Services, Esports, Mail Services, Intramural Sports and Wellness Programming, Orientation and Retention, and the Bookstore.

Rev. Kendra Joyner-Miller, Chaplain: Responsible for overseeing the religious and spiritual life of the College, directing the Lilly Center for Vocation and Values, providing faith based counseling services, working with leadership programs, and working closely with volunteer services.

Mr. Cayce Will, Chief Information Officer: Responsible for the Information Technology infrastructure of the College. This includes data, voice and cable networks and all computers, devices, software systems and databases that connect to these networks.

Ms. Michelle Caddigan, Athletic Director: Responsible for the management of the Department of Athletics, including but not limited to oversight of eighteen varsity sports, athletic training, sports information, compliance, fund raising, business operations and home game operations.

Marcus Buckley, Interim Vice President of Finance & Administration: Responsible for the College’s financial offices and operations, along with overseeing campus facilities including Financial Aid, Public Safety, grounds, construction and renovation projects, and housekeeping, Human Resources and payroll.

Ms. Leigh Ellington, Director of Human Resources: responsible for assisting with and coordinating the campus' efforts in education and prevention of policy violations, programming and training, and investigation of potential policy violations.

Ms. Meg Dees, Vice President for Development: Responsible for development operations and alumni affairs.

Mr. Russell Smyre, Director of Project Management and Facilities Operations: Responsible for project management and manages facilities operations of the College, including Conference Services, Grounds, Housekeeping, Construction and Renovation. Mr. Smyre works in conjunction with the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Your Catawba Online Team

Mary Beth Messner, Associate Dean of Online Learning
mmessner22@catawba.edu

Melissa Butler, Director of Instructional Design
mabutler22@catawba.edu

Laura Williams, eLearning Support Specialist
lholland22@catawba.edu

Important Campus Contacts

• Academic AccessAbility (Disability Services) - 704.637.4175; drbruner16@catawba.edu 
• Bookstore - 704.637.4470
• Career Services - 704.637.4384; mfrederi20@catawba.edu 
• Chaplain - 704.637.4446; kjoynermi22@catawba.edu 
• Counseling - 704.637.4307; lstephen18@catawba.edu
• Dean of Students / Sr. VP for the College Experience - 704.637.4410; jrtice18@catawba.edu 
• Development - 704.637.4185; mkdees12@catawba.edu 
• Finance Office - 704.645.4535; mbuckley@catawba.edu 
• Financial Aid - 704.637.4416; kmhand@catawba.edu 
• Health Center - 704.637.4404; healthcenter@catawba.edu 
• Information Technology - 704.637.4666; ithelp@catawba.edu 
• Library - 704.637.4448; clb@catawba.edu 
• Online and Graduate Studies - 704.637.4042; online@catawba.edu
• President - 704.637.4414; president@catawba.edu 
• Provost (Chief Academic Officer) - 704.637.4466; mcowart@catawba.edu 
• Registrar - 704.637.4411; registrar@catawba.edu 
• Student Academic Success & Support Services - 704.637.4209; csimmons21@catawba.edu 
• Student Affairs - 704.637.4410; snewsome@catawba.edu 
• Title IX Administrator - 704.637.4209; csimmons21@catawba.edu 

Academic Affairs

Office of the Provost
237 Hedrick Administration Building
catawba.edu/provost; 704-637-4466

Academic Administration
Dr. Monica Cowart, Executive Vice President and Provost
mcowart@catawba.edu 

Mr. Earl Givens, Interim Vice Provost / Dean of Learning Resources / Director of the Corriher-Linn-Black Library
ebgivens15@catawba.edu 

Sharon Sullivan, Associate Provost / Chair, Department of Mathematics & Computer Science / Professor of Mathematics
slsulliv@catawba.edu 

Ms. Chrisanne Rancati, Registrar
registrar@catawba.edu

View the current academic calendar:

BOOKSTORE
catawba.edu/bookstore
704.637.4470, catawba@bkstr.com 

The Catawba College Bookstore has everything you need from textbooks and technology to class supplies and snacks. Show your Catawba College pride all year long with our authentic assortment of collegiate apparel – including Catawba t-shirts, sweatshirts, gifts, hats and more. Looking for more than clothing and gifts? Our selection of textbooks, general books, computers, course materials, and supplies will ensure every Catawba student is prepared for success. New and used books are available to purchase or rent, as well as online course materials such as codes and digital e-book options to fit any budget. The Bookstore also offers a wide selection of snacks and convenience items for our students and faculty. Call, email, or come in the Campus Store today or conveniently shop our website!

CORRIHER-LINN-BLACK LIBRARY
catawba.edu/library
704.637.4448, clb@catawba.edu

Additional information about library policies and services, electronic databases available and virtual reference service can be found at the library homepage at catawba.edu/library. Starting fall 2023, the library will also have an app available for download.

The Collection
In addition to its core collection of eBooks, print books, DVDs and government documents, the library offers an array of subject-specific databases, a rotating popular reading collection and a growing graphics novel collection.

Website
The library’s website includes access to information about borrowing policies, Interlibrary Loan (a service enabling students to borrow materials from other libraries) and research assistance. It also links users to databases and the library’s catalog of materials— all of which can be accessed both on and off campus.

Research
The librarians and staff members at the library are eager to help students with research. Inquiries can be made in person at the reference desk, chat, by emailing Amanda Bosch, abosch@catawba.edu, or by phone: (704) 637-4379.

COUNSELING SERVICES
Counseling Services provides mental health services to students including: Individual counseling, educational programming, and limited psychological testing. The office is in the Student Affairs Suite in the Cannon Student Center. Individual Counseling services are available to all Catawba Students registered for the day program, free of charge.
catawba.edu/counseling

College Counselors:

Mr. Avery L. Barber, Jr., LCMHC, NCC
704.637. 4259, albarber@catawba.edu
http://albarber.youcanbook.me

Mrs. Debbie Insley, MS, LCAS
704.637. 4734, dminsley14@catawba.edu
https://dminslty.youcanbook.me

Ms. Lauren Stephenson, MS, LCMHCA, NCC
704.637.4307, lstephen18@catawba.edu
https://counselor-lauren.youcanbook.me 

Mrs. Brianna Randall, PhD, NCC, LCMHCA
bmkane22@catawba.edu 
https://brandall.youcanbook.me 

Appointments are necessary and may be scheduled online using the counselors online booking calendars.

• Personal counseling and treatment for help with family conflict, feeling lonely, substance abuse, relationship issues, anxiety and stress, sexual assault, financial worries, depression, grief and many other concerns.
• Psychological testing covers the areas of psychological disorders, career interests, attention-deficit/hyper-activity disorders and personality testing.

Wellness Promotion

• Provides outreach and education to empower Catawba students to make safer life decisions.
• Works with students to implement and maintain a peer run Collegiate Recovery Community for students in recovery from addiction.

FINANCE OFFICE
catawba.edu/finance
704.637.4488; studentaccounts@catawba.edu

The Finance Office is located on the first floor of the Hedrick Administration Building. The Finance Office can assist students with statement of accounts, making tuition payments, paying outstanding fines, invoicing third party vendors, and understanding the student balance. The Finance Office can transfer funds to you Catawba ONE Card bookstore and general fund.

Account Information
To access the student account, open a web browser and type catlink.catawba.edu and select the Money Tab, scroll down and select LAUNCH TOUCHNET. In TouchNet, students can make a payment, set up a payment plan, establish an eRefund account, and add authorized users.

Tuition and Fees
Any student due a refund for tuition, overload charges, tuition charges for graduate, evening students and students taking less than 12 hours will not be refunded until after the last day to “add a course” (see academic calendar). During shorter academic terms like summer sessions, winter term or other abbreviated intensive study periods, NO TUITION REFUND WILL BE MADE AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SESSIONS/CLASS. Please see the withdrawal policy for further details. Students must pay all prior term charges by the billing due date listed in the calendar, or their schedule will be subject to cancellation. Financial Aid cannot be used to pay prior term or past due charges. Failure to pay past due charges will result in a hold on future registration, transcript, and diploma releases.

Outstanding Balance and Holds
Catawba College reserves the rights to drop classes, place holds preventing registration, and deny transcripts, for students with an unpaid balance. If you are NOT RETURNING, you must notify the Registrar IN WRITING or you remain liable for any future charges. Outstanding balances 90 days delinquent will be sent to collections. Official transcripts, diplomas, and/or admittance will be denied if a student has an outstanding balance with a collection agency.

Refunds
Refund checks and work study checks are processed by the Finance Office. Refund checks depend on serval factors including financial aid disbursement. If a financial aid disbursement does result in a refund, it will be processed within two weeks of disbursement. Work-study checks are processed on the 6th of each month and students will be notified via email for pickup. Students who do not pick up their check(s) within two weeks of the notification will have their check mailed to the student’s permanent home address on file with the College.

Collecting Funds
All student clubs and organizations, faculty and staff, or departments collecting funds for activities, must submit all revenue to the Finance Office for processing on the day received. No organization or department should hold funds for any reason.

FINANCIAL AID
catawba.edu/finaid
Kelli Hand, Director of Financial Aid
704.637.4416, finaid@catawba.edu

Questions regarding financial aid should be directed to the Financial Aid Office. Additional information can also be found in the Catawba College Catalog or online.

Students who receive ANY form of financial aid (federal, state, or institutional) automatically agree to accept all terms and conditions associated with their financial aid. Terms & Conditions include the following but are not limited to: Privacy of Educational Records and Access to Financial Aid Information, Estimations, Catawba Email Policy, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Enrollment Freeze, Withdrawal or Leave of Absence, Housing Status, and Outside Scholarships. All students have access to view the Terms & Conditions of their financial aid on their Student CatLink Account.

Financial Aid Disbursement & Refund Dates
The Financial Aid and Finance Offices announce disbursement and refund dates the beginning of each semester to all students. Announcements are sent each semester via Catawba email. Students will also receive an email from the Finance Office notifying them when their refund check is available for pick up or direct deposited. Students who do not pick up their refund check within two weeks of the notification will have their check mailed to the student’s permanent home address on file with the College.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress
Undergraduate students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress and to remain in academic good standing to retain eligibility for financial aid. Both full‐time and part‐ time students are subject to the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. Students enrolled less than full‐time must notify the Office of Financial Aid and may be subject to reductions in financial assistance. Federal regulations require a College’s Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) to include the following 2 components for students to receive Federal, State, and Institutional Financial Assistance: Qualitative Component (GPA Requirement) and Quantitative Component (percentage completion of credit hours). To remain in good standing for Financial Aid SAP, students must meet the GPA requirement and complete 67% of all coursework attempted. Students who lose their financial aid due to Satisfactory Academic Progress have the right to appeal; however, the appeal must be based on special circumstances that prevent them from meeting the minimum standards such as illness, injury, death of a relative, or other extenuating circumstances. The complete Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy can be viewed online at catawba.edu/finaid or in the Catawba College Catalog.

Return to Title IV Funds Policy
Federal financial aid ("Title IV funds") is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that the student was originally scheduled to receive. According to federal law, the Office of Financial Aid must recalculate Federal Title IV financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw from all classes, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing more than 60% of a quarter/semester. Federal Title IV financial aid and all other aid (State, Institutional, etc.) are viewed as 100% earned after that point in time. The withdrawal date is defined as the actual date the student began the institution's withdrawal process, the student's last date of recorded attendance, or the midpoint of the quarter/semester for a student who leaves without notifying the institution. Catawba is required to perform a Return to Title IV Calculation within 30 days of a student's official withdraw date. The Federal Title IV programs covered under this policy include Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Direct Loans, and Federal PLUS Loan (Graduate Student or Parent). The North Carolina Need Based Scholarship is subject to return if the student earns less than 35% of his/her financial aid.

Also, all Catawba institutional funds are subject to return if the student earns less than 60% of his/her financial aid. These funds are inclusive of (but not limited to) merit scholarships , Catawba scholarships/grants, endowed scholarships, departmental scholarships, and athletic scholarships. Returns of institutional funds are required for all withdrawals (voluntary or administrative). The only exceptions to a return of institutional funds are for Tuition Remission cases or if a student has a documented medical/compassion withdrawal that is officially approved by the Student Affairs Department.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)
catawba.edu/it
704-367-4666; ithelp@catawba.edu

Visit it.catawba.edu for information on all things IT! 

SMART CENTER
catawba.edu/smartcenter
Ms. Regina Simmons
704.637.4209; csimmons21@catawba.edu

• Provides individual and group tutoring to all Catawba students enrolled in the college’s general education math courses.
• All sessions are conducted face-to-face in the CLB Library, Study Room # 2. No appointments are necessary.

REGISTRAR’S OFFICE
catawba.edu/registrar
Chrisanne Rancati, Registrar 704.637.4322, crancati20@catawba.edu

The Office of the Registrar is located on first floor of the Hedrick Administration Building and maintains all official academic records for each Catawba student. All courses taken and grades are kept up-to-date on each student’s transcript. Requests for transcripts, either for personal use or for graduate school, transfer or employment purposes, are processed in this office. The office also coordinates the procedures for registration for each regular semester and the summer and winter sessions. The College will make midterm and final grades available only via CatLink.

Student Educational Records: RIGHTS TO ACCESS AND RELEASE
The Congress of the United States, on August 21, 1974, enacted into law the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This act sets out requirements of educational institutions designed to protect the privacy of students and their records. Specifically, the act governs access to education records maintained by educational institutions and the release of information contained in such records. Copies of the law as recorded in the Federal Register may be reviewed in the Registrar’s Office. The following statements and policies govern the College’s compliance with the provisions of the act: The term “education records” means those records, files, documents and other materials which contain information relating directly to a student and are maintained by the College or a person acting for the College.

Transcripts
Catawba College has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide transcript ordering via the web. Each official transcript costs $10.00. Current students may view their unofficial transcript in CatLink. Alumni and former students can request official transcripts via the National Student Clearinghouse.

VETERANS EDUCATION BENEFITS
The Department of Veteran Affairs provides and administers education benefits to eligible service members, Veterans, and certain dependents and survivors. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1‐888‐442‐4551 or go to www.benefits.va.gov/gibill for specific eligibility requirements and the application process. The Veterans Benefits School Certifying Officials for Catawba College are in the Registrar’s Office.

WRITING CENTER
catawba.edu/writingcenter
Dr. Jamie Henthorn, Assistant Professor of English and Director of the Writing Center
704.637.4355; jhenthor17@catawba.edu

• Provides one-to-one tutoring to all Catawba students who are working on writing projects.
• Tutors are undergraduate peer tutors are extensively trained to work with writers of all abilities and at every stage of the writing process.
• Appointments are available They can be made on the Writing Center’s website: mywconline.com.

Classifications
Students are academically ranked based on their earned semester credit hours per the following classification:

               Freshman 0- 29 credit hours earned

               Sophomore 30- 59 credit hours earned

               Junior 60- 89 credit hours earned

               Senior 90 or more credit hours earned

Dropping and Adding Courses
After a student has completed registration, he or she may add courses until the end of the designated "add/drop" period (see appropriate academic calendar), in consultation with their advisor. After the add/drop" period has ended, a student may withdraw from a course with a grade of "W" up to the date posted in the academic calendar. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisor before withdrawing from any course(s). Any student who has a pending charge of academic dishonesty may not drop the course in which the academic dishonesty is alleged to have occurred. A student may not be withdrawn from any course after the designated date. Dropping a course is not a guarantee that a student will not be charged for the course. Please see withdrawal policy and the finance office for further details.

Transferring Credit
In general, Catawba College accepts transfer course credit from other institutions of higher education under the following conditions:

1. The course work was taken at a regionally accredited college or university where the Catawba College Registrar determines to be acceptable for transfer credit.
2. The subject matter and the level of the course must be appropriate to Catawba’s curriculum.
3. The grade that is earned for the course must be at least a C-.

Academic Advisors
In order to assist students with following academic policies and procedures, the College assigns an academic advisor to every student. The advisor is the primary contact for all academic advice, including questions regarding a class schedule, course selection, declaring or changing major, adding or dropping classes and academic standing. Advisors are experienced in assisting students in following Catawba’s academic policies, as well as meeting graduation requirements, both in general education and majors.

Students are expected to know the College’s policies, procedures and terminology as outlined in the College Catalog (catawba.edu/catalog). Advisors are obligated to give the best professional advice possible based on a student’s academic information and knowledge of the College’s policies, but each student must assume full personal responsibility for adhering to all policies and procedures, including but not limited to, scheduling classes, and meeting all graduation requirements within a student’s own timeframe.

Class Attendance
Effective learning is facilitated by an interaction between the professor and students regarding course material. The classroom is the principal arena for such interaction. Thus, students have an obligation to themselves, to fellow students, and to the faculty member to attend and participate actively in classroom sessions, regardless if the class is held on-campus or online.

The class attendance policy followed by the College assigns to each faculty member the responsibility for establishing and communicating to students the specific attendance requirements for his or her courses consistent with the objectives of the course. Thus, specific course attendance policies will vary from course to course. The attendance policy for each course will be presented to the student in written form, usually as part of the course syllabus, at the beginning of the course and before the end of the drop-add period.

The course attendance policy and practices, however, will subscribe to the following general guidelines:

1. Each student is personally responsible for regular and punctual class attendance.
   1.1. Online classes will use the parameters of weekly LMS logins, communication with faculty, and completion of assignments as attendance.
2. A student who misses a class bears personal responsibility for completing any assignment presented during that class to the extent permitted by the nature of the assignment and/or the course syllabus.
3. The faculty member has the option of assigning a failing grade to any student who misses more than one- quarter of the class meetings, but this option must be stated in the course syllabus.
4. Whenever possible, the student should inform the faculty member about an absence and make arrangements concerning missed assignments due to that absence.
5. The student is responsible for initiating discussions with the faculty member about a make-up opportunity for missed assignments or examinations.
6. The faculty member has no obligation to allow or facilitate make-up work except for absences due to “extenuating circumstances.” Three sets of extenuating circumstances are recognized by the College: severe personal illness, death in the immediate family, or (when announced in advance through the Dean of Students’ Office) authorized representation of the College.
7. If an extenuating circumstance is the cause of a student’s missing a class period (or an examination), the student should not view the absence as an exception to the course attendance arrangements, as outlined in the course syllabus, but as a “just cause” for arranging a make-up opportunity. The faculty member, however, will determine the means of compensating for the missed course work or examination.
8. Students should remain in a class for at least ten minutes after the class is scheduled to begin, after which, if the faculty member has not arrived or given word about arriving late, the students may leave without penalty.

Withdrawals and Suspensions
Withdrawal from the College can occur on a voluntary or involuntary basis. A student seeking to withdraw from the College should follow the proper withdrawal process, starting in the Office of Student Affairs. The process includes completing a withdrawal form that is circulated and signed by various offices at the College. Please note that when a student withdraws from the college for any reason (voluntary or involuntary) or if he or she is suspended, the student is responsible for his or her student account.

A student who wishes to withdraw completely from the College after the last day to add a class must complete the withdrawal process before the end of the tenth week of the semester. A student must initiate the process by requesting a withdrawal form from the office of the Dean of Students and complete the process with the Office of the Registrar by the deadline.

Voluntary Withdrawal
A student who wishes to withdraw completely from the College after the last day to add a class must complete the withdrawal process before the end of the tenth week of the semester. (See the “Academic Calendar” for the precise date each term.)

A student must initiate the process by requesting a withdrawal form from the Office of the Dean of Students and completing the process with the Office of the Registrar by the deadline. Students who comply with the deadline will receive transcripts showing “W” grades for all courses. Failure to withdraw officially will result in receipt of the letter grades earned in each course.

A student who has withdrawn from the College under this provision more than once will not be readmitted. The Faculty Academic Policies and Standards Committee must approve any exceptions to this policy.

Voluntary Medical or Compassion Withdrawal
Upon presentation of documentation deemed adequate and compelling by the Dean of Students or his or her designee(s), a student may be permitted to withdraw from the College during the semester and receive the grade of “W” for coursework being attempted at the time of withdrawal. Students seeking Voluntary Medical or Compassion Withdrawal after the last day for voluntary withdrawal from the College will be subject to scrutiny as such withdrawals entail relief from the academic consequences of late withdrawal. Students should submit documentation no less than two weeks prior to the last day of class unless there are unforeseen circumstances at the end of the semester.

Involuntary Withdrawal
Administrative Withdrawal from the College
This type of academic intervention is imposed in response to poor performance within a semester by the student; specifically, the student has not withdrawn from the College but is making no appreciable attempt to attend and pass classes. Students who fail to meet these basic academic standards or policies in each semester will be withdrawn by the Provost or his or her designee(s) and a letter put in their file indicating the academic issues that necessitated the withdrawal. Any Administrative Withdrawal that is carried out on or before the last day to voluntarily withdraw from classes will result in grades of “W”. After the last day to voluntarily withdraw, Administrative Withdrawal will result in grades of “F”.

Administrative Withdrawal from a Class
This type of academic intervention is imposed in response to poor performance, disruptive or other inappropriate behaviors that hinder the normal conduct of the class. Upon referral from a faculty member, the Dean of Students will work in concert with the Offices of the Provost and Registrar to assess the documented facts and determine an appropriate intervention.

Medical Withdrawal
The College, upon advice from its professional staff, may require a student to withdraw for medical or psychological reasons. In these cases, the student will be encouraged to seek professional care. Such action is not taken for punitive reasons, but because the welfare of the individual and the community mandates the procedure. A Medical Withdrawal will result in grades of “W” regardless of when the withdrawal occurs.

Short-term Leave of Absence
The Provost may, at his or her discretion and upon the advice of College health care providers and Student Affairs staff, authorize the absence of a student from the College for up to two weeks for the student to receive treatment for a medical condition or respond to a crisis that necessitates absence. There must be reason to believe the circumstances can be resolved in the short-term, and this provision is limited by the faculty’s ability to make accommodations, which may vary considerably. The Provost will verify the student’s circumstances to faculty and request consideration for accommodations. The student will be responsible for managing specific plans for make-up work during the absence and/or upon return.

Suspension
Suspension from the College of any type is, by definition, involuntary.
Social Suspension
A student suspended under the provisions of this category has committed transgressions of the Student Code of Conduct or the Honor Code serious enough to make the student “ineligible to continue enrollment and/or to re-enroll at the College for a specific period of time.” The Dean of Students or his/her designee(s) is responsible for activating this process at any time during the semester. A Social Suspension that is carried out on or before the last day to voluntarily withdraw from classes will result in grades of “W.” After the last day to voluntarily withdraw, Social Suspension will result in grades of “W” or “F” at the discretion of the Dean of Students.

Academic Suspension
This type of academic sanction is imposed in response to a prolonged period (typically at least two complete semesters) of poor academic performance by the student. A student in this category has failed to meet minimum GPA standards after attempting 19 or more hours of study. Refer to the Catawba College Catalog for a list of semester hour and GPA thresholds. The Provost is responsible for activating this process at the end of the fall and spring semesters upon recommendation from the Academic Policies and Standards Committee. Please refer to the College catalog regarding appeals to Academic suspension.

Interim Suspension
In certain circumstances, the Dean of Students, or a designee, may impose a College or residence hall suspension prior to the Student Conduct Board hearing.

• Interim suspension may be imposed only:
  1. to ensure the safety and well-being of members of the College community or preservation of College property;
  2. to ensure the student’s own physical or emotional safety and well-being; or

• if the student poses an ongoing threat of disruption of, or interference with, the normal operations of the college

• During the interim suspension, a student shall be denied access to the residence halls and/or to the campus (including classes) and/or all other College activities or privileges for which the student might otherwise be eligible, as the Dean of Students or the Student Conduct Administrator may determine to be appropriate.
• The interim suspension does not replace the regular process, which shall proceed on the normal schedule, up to and through a Student Conduct Board hearing, if required.

Appeals Process
Students wishing to appeal the initial decision regarding a suspension must submit a letter of appeal with all supporting documentation to the Dean of Students within 48 hours. The Dean of Students will convene faculty and/or staff members to review the appeal within 7 business days.

Emergency Response Plan and Group
The Catawba College Emergency Response Group Plan formally establishes and documents a coordinated plan for responding to crises, whether large or small, which may arise in spite of all mitigation efforts. The aim for this plan is to provide a flexible framework of procedures, which will be periodically reviewed and regularly exercised so that when crises occur, the College’s response will be effective and efficient in protecting human life and health and in preserving College property and resources. The protection of human life and health is of the utmost importance and shall take precedence throughout this combined effort. The Emergency Response Group (ERG) is a group of employees from across various areas of campus who meet regularly to keep the emergency response plan up to date, who work with local emergency response groups, and who undergo training for all types of campus emergencies. You can contact this group through the Dean of Students at jrtice18@catawba.edu.

Catawba College emergency response information can be found at catawba.edu/emergency.

Online Web Pages
Students are reminded that online webpages, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. are unregulated areas available to any online user. We encourage students to take special precautions to limit online personal information, as this type of content is available to the general public including other students, College Officials and future employers.

Non-Discrimination Policy
Catawba College is committed to diversity and inclusion. In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by College policies, this institution prohibits discrimination in its employment practices and its educational programs and activities on the basis is race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability, and veteran status. Additionally, Catawba College promotes equal employment opportunity for women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans through its affirmative action program. Individuals with disabilities or special print-related needs may contact the Director of Student Academic Success at 704-637- 4279 for more information. Catawba College will comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,20 U.S.C.1681 et seq. (Title IX). Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity operated by a recipient of Federal financial assistance. Catawba College receives financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education, thus the College is subject to Title IX and its implementing regulations.

Preamble
Academic institutions exist for the transmission of knowledge, the pursuit of truth, the development of students and the general well-being of society. As a college of liberal arts committed to Judeo-Christian values, Catawba College seeks to liberate men and women of humane instincts, disciplined and creative minds for lives of leadership, service and self-fulfillment. Recognizing that the educational process encompasses more than academic activities, Catawba College believes that its purpose is promoted or hindered by the quality of the total life of a college community. The Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities is based upon the belief that Catawba’s educational purpose can best be advanced in a context that emphasizes the responsible use of freedom. As members of the academic community, students should be encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgment and to engage in a sustained and independent search for truth.

The core values of the College include scholarship, character, culture, and service, along with faith, integrity, respect, excellence, responsibility, freedom, confidence, and community building. Catawba students are expected to be diligent and sincere in the pursuit of education, open to learning and change and striving to achieve academic excellence. Students shall be honest and have integrity in all that they do, especially in personal relationships and academic performance. Catawba students should have respect for their own bodies, minds, and spirits, avoiding behaviors and substances that could have a negative effect on their personal well-being. Students shall exercise their freedom with responsibility in keeping with the general principles of decency and good taste and in conformity with guidelines as determined by the Board of Trustees, interpreted by the Administration, and published in the Catawba College Catalog, Student Resource guide and online. By adherence to this Code and in recognition of the core values, it is hoped that all students will develop an appreciation for college traditions and enjoy the experiences and privileges that help them to learn, live and grow by preparing for life after they depart Catawba.

Student Rights and Responsibilities
All students of Catawba College enjoy the same basic rights and are bound by the same standards of conduct.

Student Rights in the College Community

• To establish a representative student government.
• To establish qualifications for officers of student government
• To establish impeachment procedures for officers of student government
• To recommend to the Administration and Board of Trustees, through appropriate processes, rules that regulate, control and dictate student conduct on campus and student organizations.
• To recommend to the administration and Board of Trustees, through appropriate processes, changes in overall Catawba College policy and regulations.
• To advise in the selection of a Student conduct Board, through an elected representative on SGA executive board, to hear matters not retained by the Student Conduct Administrator of appropriate actions for those students who violate the Student Conduct Code and/or other alleged violations of the Student Code and other College rules and regulations.
• To recommend to the President of the College (or his/her designated representative) College rules and regulations when such actions might be warranted.
• To be treated as a respected member of the college community, with freedom from discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or military service.
• To strict regulation regarding the access to student education records.
• To learn through freedom of inquiry and expression of views in a reasonable and civil manner.

The Honor Code
catawba.edu/honorcode

Honor Board Procedures
In matters involving academic dishonesty, the faculty member usually arranges a meeting with the student during which he/she notifies the student of the charge and presents him or her with a penalty. A standardized form that is available from the Provost Office should be completed for each instance of academic dishonesty. If the student admits responsibility and accepts the penalty, the outcome must be reported, and the form forwarded, to the Provost who may pursue further sanctions on behalf of the community. If the student contests either the charge of academic dishonesty or the penalties prescribed, or at the discretion of the faculty member involved, such matters will be referred to the Honor Board, which may hear the matter and determine the outcome. If the student is found responsible for a violation involving academic dishonesty, the Honor Board has access to the full range of sanctions, including recommendation for suspension or expulsion. Any student who has a pending charge of academic dishonesty may not drop the course in which the academic dishonesty is alleged to have occurred.

Each instance of academic dishonesty is treated as an individual violation of the Honor Code. While there will always be room for discretion by the Honor Board in awarding sanctions, a repeat (i.e., second) violation will normally trigger a suspension from the college; understandable exceptions may include inadvertent plagiarism in a course in which students are still learning directly about plagiarism and proper citation, such as in ENGL 1101: Rhetoric and Composition I, ENGL 1103: Critical Reading and Writing, or GEN ED 1200: First Year Seminar.

• Faculty and staff members will use the Settlement Form to report all academic instances of lying, cheating, or stealing to the Office of the Associate Provost for Student Academic Success on a timely basis. Individual faculty members determine the consequences for violations in their courses, which may range from a 0 on an assignment, to an additional partial or full- letter final grade reduction, to an “F” in the course. A second violation of the Honor Code—in any course—results in a hearing with the Honor Board. The Honor Board may assign additional penalties—up to and including suspension from the College—as it sees fit. Typically, a second violation leads to suspension for the remainder of the semester in which the violation occurs, an “F” in the course in which the violation took place and a “W” in all other classes. Suspended students must apply for readmission to the College and be approved by the Honor Board. The Board and Associate Provost for Student Academic Success maintain detailed records of all Honor Code violations and subsequent hearings and penalties.
• The Honor Board consists of two faculty members and a staff member appointed by the Associate Provost for Student Academic Success and two students appointed by the SGA president. The Board convenes as needed throughout the school year when a student declines to admit responsibility on the Settlement Form and requests a hearing to dispute an accusation or commits a second violation and faces suspension. Final appeals of Honor Board decisions will be directed to the Associate Provost for Student Academic Success. Honor Board verdicts are based on whether the accused student is more likely than not to have violated the Honor Code. Only members of the Honor Board will be present for deliberations after pertinent evidence has been introduced.
• Accused students may request that a trusted member of the college community serve as an advocate and advisor in Honor Board hearings, which are not courts of law and may not be attended by parents, legal counsel, or other witnesses.
• Faculty members have the option of requiring students to write out and sign the Pledge on their examinations or written projects.

Additional information concerning our policies and procedures can be found on the Catawba College website, catawba.edu/honorcode.

The Honor Code does not condone dishonorable actions within any sector of Catawba College. Such actions include academic dishonesty as well as social disrespect and any action harmful to the Catawba College community and its members. Violations of Federal, state, and local law are also violations of the College’s Honor Code.

Student Conduct Code
Based on the College’s Honor Code, students are expected abide by the policies and procedures regarding student activities and life at Catawba College, with an emphasis on character, culture, and service.

More information on Student Guides and Policies can be found here: catawba.edu/studenthandbook