Introduction & General Information

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Visits to the Gainesville Campus

Brenau welcomes visitors to the main campus in Gainesville throughout the year. The administrative offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. See the telephone directory in this Catalog for important phone numbers.

See our web site at www.brenau.edu for complete maps and directions.

Here are directions to Brenau from several locations:

From Atlanta: Take I-85 north to I-985 north. Take exit 22 off I-985 and turn left onto Georgia Highway 129 N. Follow 129 and turn right onto Washington St. Brenau is on the corner of Washington and Boulevard.

From Chattanooga: Take I-75 south to the Georgia Highway 20 exit in Cartersville, Ga. Follow Georgia Highway 20 east through Canton. Before you reach Cumming, turn left onto Hwy. 369. Continue on Georgia Highway 369 for about 40 minutes and you will arrive in Gainesville. When you enter Gainesville, Georgia Highway 369 becomes Jesse Jewell Parkway. Turn left onto Georgia Highway 129 and right onto Washington St. Brenau is on the corner of Washington and Boulevard.

From Greenville, SC: Take I-85 south to Georgia. At Jefferson, GA., take the Georgia Highway 129 exit, and turn right on Georgia Highway 129 N. Follow 129 and turn right onto Washington St. Brenau is on the corner of Washington and Boulevard.

Although every effort is made to provide accurate and current information, Brenau reserves the right to change, without notice, statements in the Catalog concerning rules, policies, fees, curricula, courses, calendar or other matters. Students enrolled at Brenau agree to comply with its rules and regulations and to comply with any necessary changes. The material contained in this Catalog is provided for information only and should not be construed as the basis of a contract between any student and this institution. The faculty and administration of Brenau University assume that students read and understand its requirements and policies prior to entering the university.

Brenau makes no claim that a course of study will lead to positions of employment.

Student Responsibility                                                                                                      ^TOP

All colleges and universities establish certain requirements which must be met before a degree is granted. These regulations concern such things as curricula and courses, majors and minors, required institutional testing and residency requirements. Advisors, faculty, and deans assist students in meeting these requirements; however, students are responsible for fulfilling them. If these responsibilities have not been satisfied at the end of the course of study, degrees will be withheld until the student satisfies these requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with and to complete the chosen course of study.

To remain in good standing, students also are required to meet their financial obligations as specified in this Catalog. Failure to do so will result in the withholding of grades and/or transcripts until bills are paid in full. Students whose accounts are not current will not be allowed to register for courses until accounts are paid in full or a payment plan is approved. These obligations must be met prior to the registration deadline or first day of class. Students are held responsible for being acquainted with regulations and procedures as stated in this Catalog and other official publications of Brenau. Therefore, it is important that students read these publications and remain informed throughout their academic career.

Admission to and attendance at Brenau University is a privilege and not an inherent right. The University expects students to conduct themselves with dignity, courtesy, responsibility, and integrity and with due respect for the rights of others. Students may be involuntarily withdrawn for failure to comply with institutional policies, requirements, and standards of conduct.

Brenau University challenges students to live extraordinary lives of personal and professional fulfillment. As students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees or non-degree programs at Brenau campuses and online, each prepares for a lifetime of intellectual accomplishment and appreciation of artistic expression through a curriculum enriched by the liberal arts, scientific inquiry and global awareness.

Brenau University fulfills its mission by:

• Designing intellectually and artistically stimulating academic programs grounded in the liberal arts;
• Providing a student-centered environment that supports the highest level of individual achievement;
• Inspiring community responsibility and service to others;
• Developing a progressive curriculum that conforms to or exceeds the best national standards and respects individual worth and equity;
• Establishing a culture that is intolerant of mediocrity;
• Attracting and retaining an exemplary faculty and staff committed to the intellectual, creative, and ethical growth of Brenau students;
• Maintaining its position as a nonsectarian institution that respects individual spiritual choice, including the Judeo-Christian heritage of the University’s founders and encouraging the understanding of diverse global traditions and beliefs;
• Operating in a fiscally responsible manner;
• Offering its services and facilities to the external community for cultural, civic, and intellectual enrichment without compromising University principles.

The Brenau Ideal

To find satisfaction in being rather than in seeming; to find joy in doing rather than in dreaming; to be prepared for service - thereby earning the right to be served; to be pure in heart, vigorous in mind, discreet in action, to love deeply, fear nothing, hate never; to enjoy that freedom which comes from knowledge of the “Truth”; to be modestly conscious of the limitations of human knowledge and serenely confident of the limitless reaches of human endeavor -this is the ideal of Brenau.  H.J. Pearce

The founding principles reflected through the Brenau Ideal permeate the university’s myriad academic programs and multiple campuses.  The university is committed to personal, academic, and professional advancement for its culturally and globally diverse student body. The Brenau Ideal achieves its dynamic ethos as current and future students address evolving and as yet unforeseen social, intellectual, and technical global issues.

With its historic original campus located in Gainesville, Georgia, Brenau University boasts globally recognized and successful alumni from China to California to Central America and beyond, from award-winning costume designers, renowned studio arts alumnae, Centers for Disease Control senior officers, U.S. Military Command Officers, life-changing rehabilitation scientists and nurses, to pioneering entrepreneurs and many more.

Brenau University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Brenau University. The Commission is to be contacted only if there is evidence that appears to support an institution’s significant non-compliance with a requirement or standard.

Additional accreditations have been awarded by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), the Collegiate Commission for Nursing Education (CCNE), Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for teacher education programs (PSC), National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), the Masters in Psychology Accreditation Council (MPAC), and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

The institution also holds memberships including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the American Association of University Women, the American College Testing Program, the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education, the American Council on Education, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the College Entrance Examination Board, the Council for the Advancement of Small Colleges, the Council of Independent Colleges, the Council for Undergraduate Research, the Georgia Associate of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the Georgia Independent Colleges Association, the Georgia Library Association, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the National Collegiate Honors Council, the Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and the Women’s College Coalition.

Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education
Brenau University is a member of the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education (ARCHE). Its mission is to advance Atlanta-area higher education through academic collaboration, corporate and community partnerships and public awareness, offering programs and services for cross-registration, inter-library sharing, cooperative purchasing, research initiatives and public policy. More than 130,000 students from 50 states and 165 countries attend ARCHE institutions. The Atlanta region is an international center for business, transportation, communications, information technology, academic research, science and health care.

Other ARCHE member institutions include Agnes Scott College, Brenau University, Clark Atlanta University, Clayton State University, Columbia Theological Seminary, Emory University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Kennesaw State University, Mercer University, Atlanta Mercer University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Oglethorpe University, Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta, Spelman College, University of Georgia, University of West Georgia. For more information, contact www.atlantahighered.org or the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Brenau University. Contact the Registrar for more information about taking classes at another ARCHE institution.

Governing Board - Board of Trustees
Brenau is governed by a self‑perpetuating board of trustees of up to 40 members, nine of whom are nominees of the National Alumnae Association of Brenau. All members are elected to serve for three-year terms. The purpose of the board is to set policies that ensure academic excellence in a fiscally responsible manner.

Phi Kappa Phi
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. The organization inducts about 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually from more than 300 colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. Since its founding, Phi Kappa Phi has inducted more than a million members.

Phi Theta Kappa
Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society serves to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of students enrolled in two-year degree programs. Membership is by invitation to students with a GPA of 3.5 or above.  Members enjoy opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming.  Today Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 3 million members and 1,300 chapters in nine nations.

The Women’s College of Brenau University  
The Women’s College of Brenau University is a single-gender institution in name and spirit that prepares students to be extraordinary leaders for the 21st century while preserving its historic social traditions of connecting people, places and times. For all members of the Women’s College student body, residential or commuter, the school promotes a unique living and learning community as it stresses social and personal development, nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics, student growth both individually in leadership and collectively through student governance, community service and the on-going growth of sisterhood. Brenau Women’s College is the only one in the nation that provides a residential sorority system, which generates a social network for college-wide community. Institutional financial aid and endowed scholarships underpin an undergraduate profile of accomplished, accountable and ambitious women.

The Undergraduate School of Brenau University  
The Undergraduate School of Brenau University delivers coeducational undergraduate degree programs offered in a variety of formats - online as well as at all Brenau University locations throughout Georgia and in Jacksonville, Florida.  The school provides flexible student services and accommodating academic schedules. In doing so, Brenau University is cooperating with the nationwide effort to support an affordable and realistic cost for higher education. Therefore, the tuition schedule for the Undergraduate School includes an incorporated discount below the residential program, with the majority of tuition designated to meet academic costs and infrastructure support; concomitantly, only focused student services and limited institutional aid opportunities exist beyond the initial discount. The university supports these students with access to rental housing as available and optional participation in dining services at the Gainesville campus.

The Sidney O. Smith Jr. Graduate School of Brenau University  
The Sidney O. Smith Jr. Graduate School of Brenau University awards doctoral, specialist, and master’s degrees and certificates through coeducational programs offered in a variety of learning formats at multiple Brenau locations. Specific graduate programs are offered throughout the Brenau system of educational sites depending on employment opportunities and societal needs. The school provides practice-based, research-centered programs offering individualized faculty guidance in practice, research and thesis preparation along with clinical and academic resources supporting student practice and research. The graduate school awards a limited number of assistantships and fellowships. The university supports these students with access to rental housing as available and optional participation in dining services at the Gainesville location.

Founded in 1878, privately owned Brenau University has evolved from a school primarily for the education of women into a highly regarded coeducational institution for undergraduate and graduate studies through multiple learning platforms. In 2008 trustees approved a strategic framework for the university that will help it maintain the single-gender Women’s College for those who choose that learning environment. However, Brenau will also expand to become the region’s foremost doctoral degree-granting institution in myriad academic, research, and professional disciplines.

Although the institution never received direct support or affiliation with any religious organization, it first opened its doors as the Georgia Baptist Female Seminary. Located near the north Georgia mountains, site of the first major gold strike in the United States, owners in 1900 officially changed the name to Brenau - a linguistic blend of a German metallurgical term, brennen, and the Latin-based elemental symbol for gold, Au. Hence, Brenau students become “as gold” refined “by fire.”

In the late 1960s, in response to the needs of a non-traditional student population, Brenau launched evening and weekend courses for men and women on the Gainesville campus. The Brenau Board of Trustees decided to allow the admission of men into this program at the junior and senior level. Through the years, the structure of the evening and weekend studies and online studies gradually evolved from a branch of the Women’s College to separate administrative units reflecting the growth and the multiple purposes of Brenau. Currently, Brenau has regional campuses in three Georgia locations - the Atlanta suburbs of Norcross and Fairburn, and Augusta; as well as a campus in Jacksonville, Florida. The institution became Brenau University during the 1992-1993 academic year.

Brenau has been governed by eight presidents. The first administrator, Dr. W.C. Wilkes, organized the faculty and constructed the school’s first buildings. After Wilkes’ death in 1886, Dr. A.W. Van Hoose purchased the institution and continued operating it as an individually owned nonsectarian seminary. In 1893, Dr. H.J. Pearce bought half ownership and ultimately, in 1900, full ownership. With the exception of a three‑year period, from 1910 to 1913, when Dr. T.J. Simmons was associated with the institution, Brenau was continuously administered by Dr. Pearce until his death in 1943.

At that point, a faculty committee under the leadership of Pearce’s widow, Lucile, assumed leadership. In April 1945 Dr. Josiah Crudup became president and served until 1965. He is remembered for his efforts to beautify and restore the campus property as well as to improve Brenau’s financial status. After Crudup’s retirement, trustees appointed Dr. William K. Clark, who served until May 30, 1970 when Dr. James T. Rogers began a 15-year term as Brenau’s sixth president. Dr. Hugh M. Mills Jr., succeeded Rogers and served as interim president from June 30, 1985 until the appointment of Dr. John S. Burd the following November. In Burd’s 20-year tenure, the president made numerous campus and financial improvements, including sizable growth of the university endowment, construction of the John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts, and significant additions to the Permanent Art Collection of Brenau. Dr. Burd retired December 31, 2004. Dr. Ed L. Schrader assumed leadership of Brenau University January 1, 2005. Schrader continues as president.

Main Campus Location

Brenau University is located about 50 miles north of Atlanta in Gainesville in Hall County, Georgia, which is the primary industrial, agricultural, medical, and educational center for the northeast section of the state. The population of the greater Gainesville-Hall County area is approximately 175,000. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at an elevation of about 1,300 feet, Gainesville enjoys the best weather the four seasons have to offer. It was this climate, which promotes outdoor living the majority of the year, that more than 100 years ago first brought Gainesville to prominence as a health resort and made Hall County a venue for the Olympic Games in 1996. Residence in Gainesville provides access to a wide variety of recreational opportunities. In addition to the local attractions, the Atlanta metropolitan area offers many amenities within an hour’s drive by interstate. Lake Lanier, Georgia’s largest lake, borders Gainesville on two sides and provides a wealth of recreational enjoyment. Just beyond the nearby Georgia-North Carolina border awaits the Great Smoky Mountains with breath-taking vistas and year-round recreational possibilities. The area’s close proximity to numerous tourist attractions such as Stone Mountain, Six Flags Over Georgia, ski resorts, the Chattahoochee National Forest, and several Georgia state parks provides a constant variety of scenic and entertainment pleasure.

Brenau also enjoys a close relationship with neighboring institutions of higher education. Within miles of the Gainesville campus are University of North Georgia, Piedmont College, Truett-McConnell College, The University of Georgia, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Emory University, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Atlanta and many others.

Brenau’s main 56-acres campus, which includes both buildings and a large wooded area, is situated two blocks from the center of Gainesville in the attractive, historical residential area of town. The campus buildings are grouped in what approximates two quadrangles and include academic buildings, residence halls, sorority houses, an amphitheater, fitness center, tennis complex, performing arts center, and other structures.

Additional Locations of Brenau

In addition to the main campus in Gainesville, Brenau offers students the opportunity to seek both undergraduate and graduate degrees at various locations in Georgia and one campus in Jacksonville, Florida.

Directors for these locations are listed in the Administrative/Support Staff section of this catalog. Smaller programs may be offered at other locations on a special basis. Members of the administrative staff and faculty visit each off-campus location periodically. In addition, off-campus classes are evaluated on a regular basis. The purpose of these visits and evaluations is to provide a direct liaison between the students and faculty at distinct locations and the main campus.

All policies, standards, and procedures applied on the main campus are applied to off-campus locations, unless otherwise specifically indicated. 

Most courses are open to all Brenau University students. Day students must register for any online course choices via a paper Registration/Course Change Form with written advisor and major department chair’s approval. All programs are not available in all formats. Brenau University students matriculate through the Women’s College, the coeducational Undergraduate School, or the Sidney O. Smith, Jr., Graduate School. As students in the Undergraduate School, males enrolled in the Gainesville Day program may take the following majors: Business majors (all disciplines), Communication & Media Studies, Dance, Environmental Design, Exercise Science, Health Science (all concentrations), Mass Communication, Music, Nursing, Organizational Leadership, Studio Art, Theater (all disciplines), Undeclared.

Brenau Galleries.  Four Brenau galleries on the Gainesville campus provide educational opportunities and visual arts experiences to the university and North Georgia communities by presenting major art exhibitions each year, often paired with presentations by the artists. In addition, the university holds an impressive permanent collection of sculpture, paintings, photography, historically important clothing and other items in its permanent collection. Items from the collection appear frequently in gallery exhibitions as well as in long-term display in public areas on all Brenau campuses. In 2010 Brenau University became the first academic partner of the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, an arrangement that provides students internships and other special access to the museum’s exhibitions and behind-the-scenes operations.

Gainesville School of Ballet. The Gainesville School of Ballet (GSB), housed in Brenau facilities, provides instruction for dance students from the age of three through adult. Attached to the school, the Gainesville Ballet Company (GBC) is a regional ballet company that offers performances and lecture demonstrations throughout the year. Qualified Brenau students may work with this company. 

Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Comprised of students and faculty of Brenau University and the University of North Georgia, community members, visiting artists‑in‑residence and guest performers, the Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) is one of the most outstanding college‑community performing companies in the Southeast. The group uses facilities at Brenau and University of North Georgia for professional quality preparation and performances. It stages several major productions, usually a musical, a drama and a comedy, in addition to studio productions. GTA includes WonderQuest, an extremely popular program for local children and school groups. 

Other Cultural Activities at Brenau.  Additional cultural opportunities on the Brenau campus include the Vocal Chamber Ensemble, Spectrum Singers, Spectrum Winds, student and faculty art shows, musical performances, comedy shows, the Brenau Collaborative Art Show and endowed programming initiatives that have brought to campus documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy, husband-and-wife political pundits James Carvill and Mary Matalin, and internationally acclaimed author Khaled Hosseini.

The Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute. The Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute, known as BULLI, is a non-credit educational opportunity for mature adults who wish to stimulate their thinking and expand their knowledge. During each of the four terms of the year, they may choose from some 12 to 14 courses that meet for an hour and a half once each week, as well as take part in a variety of activities outside the classroom.

The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for the administrative operation of the Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute. Guided by the Center for Lifetime Study, the BULLI program offers a wide diversity of courses from the academic to the technical, from recreational to the artistic. No college experience is needed or required for membership in BULLI and neither tests nor grades are given. BULLI issues no certificates or other official documentation.

Instructors of BULLI classes are a mix of members of the Brenau faculty, instructors from other colleges and universities, community experts, and knowledgeable fellow BULLI members.
 

Alumni Association
The purpose of the Alumni Association is to stimulate and vitalize interest in the welfare of Brenau University and to foster a lifetime of learning, community and engagement among its alumni and friends. All University and Women’s College students who completed 30 semester hours or Academy students who completed a high school diploma are entitled to membership in the Association

University Class Attendance and Participation Policy 

All grades and evaluations earned by the student and issued by the faculty are based upon the quality of the student’s overall academic performance both in and out of class. Students are expected to attend and participate in class regularly, and to assume responsibility for meeting all requirements as specified in the course syllabus. Because of the differences in schedules, and contact hours, there are different attendance policies for the day, evening and weekend, and online sessions. 

Student Responsibilities

1. Students are responsible for all material covered in each course for which they are registered. In no instance does absence from class relieve a student from the responsibility for any course work.
2. Students are responsible for complying with both the institutional attendance policy and any special attendance regulations specified by the instructor in the course syllabus.
3. Students are responsible for initiating any request to make up work missed because of a class absence. The decision to assist the student with make-up work, including tests, in every case rests with the instructor.
4. Students should explain the cause of every absence from illness or other causes to the instructor, who if the absence is justified may grant the student a chance to make up work missed as a result of the absence.
    

Faculty Responsibilities

1. Faculty may prescribe reasonable requirements relevant to the course of instruction. At the beginning of each semester, they shall inform students in writing of any special requirements. Each syllabus shall state the attendance policy and any academic consequences of excessive absences as well as any special attendance requirements. In no case shall any individual policy conflict with university policy.
2. Faculty should keep a record of class attendance for their enrolled students.
3. When a student in the Women’s College has been absent from 25 percent of the classes in any semester, the instructor shall report the absences in writing to the Director of Student Sucess Initiatives and may recommend appropriate action. If the student is a recipient of VA educational benefits, the instructor must also report these absences to the director of veteran’s services by the next workday after the second absence for a class which meets once a week.
4. Faculty are responsible for counseling with students regarding the academic consequences of absences from class or laboratory sessions.
5. Faculty are responsible for arranging make-up work when an absence is excused. The student must initiate the request for make-up work in writing, along with a written explanation of the absences.

Academic Rights  Recognizing the mutual rights and responsibilities of faculty and students to each other is essential to the higher education community. The following statements reflect Brenau policies and procedures regarding those rights and responsibilities.

1. Academic freedom includes both the freedom to teach and the freedom to learn; students should exercise their freedom with responsibility.
2. As citizens and members of an academic community, students are subject to the policies and regulations of the institution and responsible for preserving high standards of conduct and scholarship.
3. Students are encouraged to engage in a sustained independent search for truth and to develop the capacity for critical judgment. This is the responsibility of everyone in a community of scholars.
4. Students may take exception to points of view offered in any course and reserve judgment about opinions expressed, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course in which they are enrolled.
5. Students are protected through established procedures against prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation, but they are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance established for each course in which they are enrolled.
6. Students have the right to request review of grading systems with faculty for clarification; such review is to be conducted responsibly and should promote better student-faculty understanding.
7. Confidential information about students that instructors acquire in the course of their professional association is to be maintained in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. (See Student Records section of this catalog.)
8. Students have the right to belong to any university organization if they meet membership requirements.
9. Students have the right and responsibility to participate in determining their courses of study within the guidelines of the discipline and must assume responsibility for meeting degree requirements as set forth in their major programs of study.
10. Students have the right to examine and discuss in a responsible manner questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately in a like manner.

Academic Honesty

Brenau University is an academic community actively engaged in scholarly pursuits. As members of this community, students are expected to recognize and honor standards of academic and intellectual integrity. Brenau supports the ideals of scholarship and fairness by rejecting all dishonest work when it is submitted for academic credit. Brenau University encourages students to be responsible and accountable for their decisions and actions. It is Brenau’s hope that its students will uphold the honor of the university by refraining from every form of dishonesty in the community. Any attempt by students to present the work of others as their own or to pass an examination by improper means is regarded as a most serious offense and renders those students who do so liable to disciplinary action. Assisting another student in any such dishonesty or knowing of this dishonesty and not reporting is also considered a grave breach of honesty.

Plagiarism  Plagiarism is the act of taking the words or ideas of another and representing them as one’s own.

Cheating  Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, giving or receiving unauthorized assistance, before, during or after an examination or assignment, falsification or misrepresentation of information in an academic exercise or assignment, unauthorized use of someone else’s password or account number, and submitting work more than once without the consent of the instructor. 

Sanctions:

1. 1st offense: “0” on the assignment, which may result in an F in the course, depending on the assignment. Students may be required to enroll in 
   AS 120
    , Academic Honesty in Context, a zero-credit P/F course, at a cost of $125.00. Students must complete the course with a P during the next term of enrollment.
2. 2nd offense: Required enrollment in AS 120 and an automatic F in the course in which the offense took place.
3. 3rd offense: Expulsion from the university.

Appeal Process for Academic Dishonesty Reports:

When a student has substantial grounds to dispute an Academic Dishonesty Incident report and is prepared to present evidence to support an appeal, the student must initiate the procedure by speaking first with the professor who submitted the incident report.

If there are no errors in the incident report or other substantial evidence to support an appeal, the student is encouraged to accept the report as final. However, in cases where there are substantial grounds for a review and a resolution cannot be reached between the student and the professor, the student has the following recourse:

1. Within two weeks following the official notification that an incident report has been filed, the student must submit to the appropriate department chair a letter of appeal with evidence supporting the need for an external review of the incident report in question. The department chair will review the student’s material and consult with the professor before deciding if the report should stand. The department chair must provide a written response to the student, with a copy to the college dean and Provost office.
2. If a student does not accept the decision of the chair, there is one additional and final level of appeal. The student may submit documentation to the appropriate college dean who will determine if new information or insufficient consideration of the student’s case merits further review of the incident report by a review panel. The dean’s decision to proceed or not to proceed will be final in all cases.
3. If the dean determines that further review is warranted, s/he will convene and chair a panel of five faculty members. Both the student and the professor will have the opportunity to address the panel. Legal counsel may represent neither party. However, the dean may exercise discretion to invite other faculty or students, who can provide relevant information, to address the panel. The review panel’s decision will be final, with no recourse on the part of the student or professor for any further appeal.
4. The entire appeal process must be completed within four weeks of the time the notification of an incident report being submitted was issued. Once an appeal resolution has been determined, the Provost office will issue an official appeal decision to the student.
5. When the dean or department chair is the teacher of record, the dean will substitute for the department chair and the provost will replace the dean.

Disciplinary Rights   Except as otherwise provided in the Student Handbook, students shall have the right to a hearing when accused of any violation of Brenau regulations or rules of conduct. The right to a hearing shall include the following:

1. right to notice of any charges;
2. right to admit or deny the alleged violation, waive a hearing and accept Brenau’s action;
3. right to admit the alleged violation but request a hearing;
4. right to deny the alleged violation and request a hearing;
5. right to a fair hearing;
6. right to appear in person at a hearing or not to appear with assurance the failure to appear shall not be construed as an admission of guilt;
7. right to select a university advisor;
8. right to call witnesses and present evidence on one’s behalf;
9. right to request a list of witnesses;
10. right to confront and cross examine witnesses and accusers;
11. right to request a record of the hearing if the offense involves possible suspension or expulsion;
12. Women’s College and Gainesville Day students should address their request for a hearing to the Vice President for Student Services.
13. University Students should address their request for a hearing to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Appeals Process

1. Women’s College and Gainesville Day students have the right to appeal to the Vice President for Student Services, the Administrative Review Board, and then to the University President. (Women’s College students should refer to the Women’s College Student Handbook for further information regarding hearings and Honor Court processes.)
2. University students have the right to appeal to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs who may convene the Administrative Review Board, then to the University President.

Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Brenau University is committed to complying with all applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other applicable federal and state laws. Brenau does not discriminate in violation of these laws in its programs and services available to all admitted students.

The Learning Center assists qualified students with disabilities in obtaining a variety of services, directed by the University’s Disabilities Service Provider. The University’s Compliance Officer coordinates the university’s efforts in complying with federal, state and local laws such as Section 504 and ADA, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

Eligibility for services is determined by the DSP, and individuals must self-identify and provide proper documentation as outlined by the DSP. After eligibility is approved, students meet with an assigned coordinator to develop an individualized service plan that identifies appropriate accommodations and services.

Section 504 and ADA Grievance Procedures. Brenau University has established an intra-institutional grievance procedure that allows for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints in relation to Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act and its subsequent amendments and impending regulations. The complaint should be filed, in writing, with the University’s compliance officer, the executive vice president and CFO. The official complaint should contain the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the complaint and a brief description of the alleged violation of the ADA. The complaint should be filed within 30 calendar days from the time the complainant becomes aware of the alleged violation. An investigation, as may be appropriate, will follow the filing of a complaint. The executive vice president will conduct the investigation and will involve other appropriate parties as required. The investigation will be thorough and complete. A written determination of the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolution, if any, will be issued by the executive vice president and a copy shall be forwarded to the complainant within 45 calendar days of the filing of the complaint. The senior vice president shall maintain all files and records relating to the complaint held. 

In cases where the complainant is dissatisfied with the resolution, he or she may request a reconsideration of the case. The request and reason for reconsideration should be made within 15 calendar days to the senior vice president. If no resolution can be found within the institution, the alleged grieved party is free to pursue other remedies.

Please refer to the chart at the end of this section of the Catalog for a complete listing of where to obtain further information about a variety of services and information.

Title VI and Title IX Compliance

Within the stated Purpose of Brenau University, the institution is in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified persons on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability or veterans status in its recruitment, admissions, employment, facility and program accessibility or services.

Grievance Procedure 

Purpose  It is a continuing goal of Brenau University that work, study, teaching, and service proceed unencumbered by any form of disagreement that is capable of resolution. Every individual in the Brenau community will seek to resolve problems at the point of origin. If such resolution is not feasible, first the mediation and then the formal grievance processes outlined below should be used. Individuals at every level of leadership will be expected to assist with this process when requested to do so by one of the parties.

The primary objective of a grievance procedure is to insure that concerns are promptly dealt with and resolution reached in a fair manner for all parties concerned. It is essential that each complainant be given adequate opportunity to bring complaints and problems to the attention of the University administration with the assurance that each will be given fair treatment. The grievance procedures of Brenau University are designed to provide effective means for resolving legitimate issues that are subject to the grievance process.

Grievance Definition  A grievance is defined as dissatisfaction occurring when a complainant feels or thinks that any condition affecting him/her is unfair, inappropriate, or creates unnecessary hardship.

Definition of Formal and Academic Grievances  Brenau University affords two grievance procedures, depending on the nature of the grievance. The Formal Grievance procedure is for non-academic concerns and the Academic Grievance procedure is for concerns related to classroom issues other than grade appeals. These procedures should be enacted once the Informal Grievance Resolution options have failed to bring about a solution.

Informal Grievance Resolution  The initial phase of the grievance procedure is oral discussion between the complainant and the University instructor, administrator, or staff member alleged to have caused the grievance in order to communicate and resolve the problem. The meeting should be held as soon as the complainant first becomes aware of the problem. If the complainant has good cause not to meet with the person(s) alleged to have caused the grievance or considers the response to the grievance to be unsatisfactory causing the grievance to still exist, then the complainant should consult with the person’s supervisor to attempt to resolve the problem. Should the matter remain unresolved to the satisfaction of the complainant, then the complainant may file a formal grievance or academic grievance. Problems between students should be brought to the attention of the Vice President of Student Services or the designee, for discussion and resolution.

Formal Grievance Procedure

A continuing goal of Brenau University is that work, study, teaching, and service proceed unencumbered by any form of disagreement that is capable of resolution. Every individual within the Brenau community will seek to resolve problems at the point of origin. If such resolution is not feasible, first the mediation and then the formal grievance processes outlined below should be used. Individuals at every level of leadership will be expected to assist with this process when requested to do so.

1. Objective: The primary objective of a grievance procedure is to insure that concerns are dealt with promptly and resolution reached in a fair manner for all parties concerned. It is essential that each complainant be given adequate opportunity to bring complaints and problems to the attention of the University administration with the assurance that each will be given fair treatment. The grievance procedures of Brenau University are designed to provide effective means for resolving legitimate issues that are subject to the grievance process.
2. Grievance Definition: A grievance is defined as dissatisfaction occurring when a complainant feels or thinks that any condition affecting him/her is unfair, inappropriate, or creates unnecessary hardship.
3. Types of Grievances: Brenau University affords two grievance procedures, depending on the nature of the grievance. The Formal Grievance procedure is for non-academic concerns, and the Academic Grievance procedure is for concerns related to classroom issues other than grade appeals. These procedures should be enacted once the Informal Grievance Resolution options have failed to bring about a solution.
4. Informal Grievance Resolution: The initial phase of the grievance procedure is oral discussion between the complainant and the University instructor, administrator, or staff member alleged to have caused the grievance in order to communicate and resolve the problem. The meeting should be held as soon as the complainant first becomes aware of the problem. If the complainant has good cause not to meet with the person(s) alleged to have caused the grievance, or considers the response to the grievance to be unsatisfactory causing the grievance to still exist, then the complainant should consult with the person’s supervisor to attempt to resolve the problem. Should the matter remain unresolved to the satisfaction of the complainant, then the complainant may file a formal grievance or academic grievance. Problems between students should be brought to the attention of the Vice President of Student Services, or designee, for discussion and resolution.
5. Formal Grievance Procedures:

1. To file a formal grievance, the complainant should detail the grievance in writing outlining the events of the incident limiting information to factual details and persons directly involved. The Grievance Complaint Form  must be signed by the complainant and dated then filed with the Vice President for Student Services within thirty (30) days of the initial incident. The Vice President for Student Services will serve a copy of the Grievance Complaint to any and all parties which the complainant has included in the grievance and the Hearing Officer. The Hearing Officer will be the designee of the Vice President of Student Services for non-academic, formal grievances.
2. Within seven (7) working days of the Grievance Complaint the parties will submit in writing their explanation, if any, to the Hearing Officer. Upon request, the parties will submit for inspection and/or review any evidence relevant to the grievance which the parties have knowledge of to any other party to the action. Within fourteen (14) working days of the filing of the Grievance Complaint the Hearing Officer will have a preliminary hearing to determine if there is probable cause to proceed with the grievance and attempt to resolve the matter.
3. The hearings may not be tape recorded. Hearings may not be attended by outside agencies or attorneys, as these are informal and internal proceedings. All grievances written are confidential and no outside third party shall be provided a transcript of the proceedings without the consent of all parties involved. Violation of confidentiality may result in dismissal from the University or termination of employment.
4. If the Hearing Officer determines that there is not probable cause to support the Grievance Complaint, then the Hearing Officer will dismiss the grievance in writing stating the reasons for that finding. Such decisions may be appealed to the President who will have final authority on that issue. The appeal must be filed within seven (7) working days of the Hearing Officer’s decision and state with specificity and clarity the reasons for the appeal.
5. If the Hearing Officer finds there is probable cause to support the grievance, the Hearing Officer may resolve the grievance or pass the resolution to a Grievance Committee, which is ad hoc. The Vice President of Student Services will appoint appropriate members to the Grievance Committee. The Committee will consist of two Administrators (one of which must be a Student Services staff member), two Students, and two Faculty Members. The Hearing Officer will serve as the Chair and will not have a vote. Within fourteen (14) working days the Grievance Committee will convene a hearing to determine the resolution of the grievance.
6. Formal Grievance Committee Procedure: The Formal Grievance Committee will hear the matter and resolve the dispute subject to the following:

• The Complainant will present all relevant evidence to the Committee, subject to examination by the other parties and/or the Committee.
• The other parties will present all relevant evidence to the Committee, subject to examination by the complainant and/or the Committee.
• Other persons may be allowed to present evidence at the sole discretion of the Committee Chair.
• Transcripts of the hearings will be taken by a Committee member designated by the Chair.
• The Committee will make a written finding within seven (7) working days of the hearing which will contain the decision of the Committee and findings of fact that support the decision. This written finding will be filed with the Vice President of Student Services. The Vice President of Student Services will serve a copy on all appropriate parties, and the President.
• All documents, transcripts, and decisions related to the Grievance Complaint will be held in a secure location within the Vice President of Student Services’ office.

6. Academic Grievance Procedure: To file an Academic Grievance, the complainant must follow all procedures as outlined in the Formal Grievance Procedures above, with the following exceptions:

1. The Academic Grievance Complaint would be submitted to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs who will in turn designate a Hearing Officer.
2. The Committee will consist of two Faculty Members, one Department Chair, one Academic Dean and two Student Services staff members. The Hearing Officer will serve as the Chair and will not have a vote. Within fourteen (14) working days the Academic Grievance Committee will convene a hearing to determine the resolution of the grievance
3. Grade appeals are not covered by this procedure. Students dissatisfied with their grades must follow the procedures outlined in the Student Catalog.
4. The Academic Grievance Committee will hear the matter and resolve the dispute in accordance with the procedure outlined in the Formal Grievance Procedures with regard to changes in personnel involved as stated above.

6. Appeals: The appeal process is available to complainants addressing decisions of the Hearing Officers or a Grievance Committee. Either party may appeal the decision, within seven (7) working days, to the President who will have the final authority over the matter. The President normally will only consider the written record of the evidence, including the Grievance Complaint, complainant file, responses, transcripts of the meetings, and written reason for the appeal, in order to render a decision in the matter.
7. Student Complaints to the State of Georgia: Federal regulations require that each state designate a department or agency to be responsible for receiving and responding to complaints made by students against a postsecondary institution operating within that state. In the state of Georgia, the designated agency is the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC). Students and other constituents who wish make a complaint against Brenau University or any other private postsecondary institutions operating in Georgia may do so by following the complaint procedures on GNPEC’s Web site. Contact information is as follows:

State of Georgia
Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 220
Tucker, GA 30084-5305

Web site: https://gnpec.org/
Phone: 770-414-3300
Fax: 770-414-3309

Student Complaints

If the student desires to file a complaint with the state, the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission is the designated state agency for receiving complaints made by students in accredited private post-secondary institutions.

Consumer Information and Required Disclosures

As a participant in the Title IV federal student financial aid programs, Brenau University provides the following chart of consumer information and required disclosures, along with contact information for the department from which a student or other interested person may obtain the information, and the name of the administrator who oversees that department.

Sexual Misconduct

Brenau University is committed to maintaining an environment free from all forms of discrimination.   As a recipient of Federal funds, the University complies with Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments (1972).  Title IX prohibits discrimination from any educational program or activity on the basis of sex, gender identity, failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity or actual or perceived sexual orientation.  Brenau University recognizes sexual misconduct and/or harassment may create an environment of discrimination and has created the following policy to define, educate and address issues relating to sexual discrimination.

Scope of Policy

1. The sexual misconduct policy applies to all Brenau University faculty, staff, students, and campuses.  Each member of the Brenau community is responsible for their actions and behaviors both on and off campus.  As such, this policy is applicable to on campus conduct and, when applicable, off campus conduct.
2. This policy applies to guests and individuals conducting business on all University property.

Prohibited Conduct and Definitions

Sexual misconduct may be described as:
Sexual discrimination - inequitable treatment of individuals on the basis of gender.
Sexual harassment - unwanted and unsolicited sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other deliberate or repeated communication of a sexual nature.  The communication may be, but is not limited to, spoken, written, physical or pictorial.   These actions constitute sexual harassment when

• submission to said conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment, education, or participation in a program.
• rejection of said conduct is used explicitly or implicitly  to negatively impact conditions of employment, education, or participation in a program.
• said conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment

Sexual assault - having or attempting to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact with another individual without consent or by means of force or coercion, as defined:

• Coercion - is the use of pressure to compel another individual to participate in or continue sexual activity against an individual’s will.  Coercion can include, but  is not limited to intimidation, manipulation, threats, or blackmail.
• Consent - agreement to participate in sexual activity must be actively agreed upon by all parties, and must be informed, knowing, and voluntary.  Consent is demonstrated through mutually understood words or gestures and can never be given by an individual incapacitated by alcohol or drugs or other mental incapacitation.
• Force - the use or threat of physical violence to require an individual to participate in an unwanted activity.

Sexual intercourse - having or attempting to have vaginal or anal penetration with a body part or object or oral copulation by mouth to genital contact  without consent.
Sexual contact - having or attempting to have sexual contact with another individual without consent. Sexual contact may include, but is not limited to, kissing, disrobing, or touching in a sexual manner.
Sexual communications - unwanted communication of, but not limited to, words or images of a sexual nature.
Sexual exploitation - taking non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another separate from other listed misconduct offenses.  Exploitation includes but is not limited to

• prostituting another individual.
• non-consensual recording in any capacity a sexual activity.
• knowingly allowing others to observe a sexual activity without the consent of the partner.
• distributing photos or recording of a sexual nature without the consent of all parties involved.
• engaging in voyeurism (peeping tom).

Intimate partner violence - commonly referred to as domestic or dating violence, a situation where one person in the relationship is being physically, emotionally, or sexually abused by the other person.
Stalking - A person commits the offense of stalking when he or she follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person at or about a place or places without the consent of the other person for the purpose of harassing and intimidating the other person.  This act or actions would cause a reasonable person to a) fear for his or her safety or the safety of others; or b) suffer substantial emotional distress.

Confidentiality and Anonymity

Brenau University’s ability to respond to a sexual misconduct complaint, to prevent its recurrence, or to address its effects may be severely limited if the complainant requests confidentiality, does not provide the name of the alleged perpetrator, or asks that the report not be pursued.  The University is further limited when a report is made anonymously.   In cases where the complainant requests confidentiality or requests Brenau University not pursue an investigation, the Title IX Officer or his/her designee will conduct a preliminary assessment of the alleged sexual misconduct and may weigh the complainant’s request against the following factors, including, but not limited to: the severity of the alleged sexual misconduct, the complainant’s age, or whether there have been other complaints or reports of sexual misconduct against the same accused individual. The Title IX Officer may determine that, in the interest of providing a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for students, it is necessary to act on information it has received.
 
In cases where the complainant files a formal complaint and seeks a formal resolution, or where the University is required to conduct a formal investigation, Brenau cannot keep the complainant’s identity from the accused student.  A charge of sexual misconduct is a serious offense and the accused student has the right to know the identity of the complainant/alleged victim.  However, the University may provide options during the hearing for questioning without confrontation, including using a room divider, using separate hearing rooms, or using technology such as Skype.

Reporting an incident

1. Individuals are encouraged to call 911 if they feel they are in immediate danger.
2. All victims of sexual assault have the right to a criminal investigation, and are encouraged to contact the local authorities.
3. Seek medical treatment immediately at the local emergency room and ask for a Sexual Assault Nurse Exam (SANE). Preserve evidence by avoiding bathing or showering, brushing teeth, changing clothes, or washing hands.  If you change clothes, you should place all clothing worn at the time of assault in a paper bag.  Even if you are uncertain about taking the matter to the police, you may change your mind later on, and the evidence cannot be recreated.
4. Any individual who feels they have been a victim of sexual misconduct should consider the following methods of University reporting and how those reports are handled:

Ideally, all incidents should be reported directly to:

Safety and Security
520 Washington St.
770-534-6202
security@brenau.edu

Students wishing to speak with a female may contact:
Paula Dampier
Director of Security
520 Washington St.
770-297-5896
pland@brenau.edu

The only Brenau University staff members who are able to keep the report completely confidential are:
Gay Baldwin
University Counselor
The Center for Health and Well Being
205 Boulevard
770-534-6121
gbaldwin@brenau.edu

The Title IX Coordinator is a staff member charged with overseeing the University response to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Brenau University’s Title IX Coordinator is:
Amanda Lammers
Vice President, Student Services
Owens Student Center
 770-534-6108 or email
alammers@brenau.edu

• A grievance may be filed to launch a formal University investigation.  The grievance form and instructions can be found at www.intranet.grievance
• Once University officials learn of sexual misconduct complaints, written or unwritten, the University is required to investigate and to take action consistent with its policies and procedures.  All faculty and staff are encouraged to report any incidents they are made aware of to the Title IX coordinator.
• There are other resources available to sexual assault victims.  In the Gainesville community, victims are encouraged to contact:

Rape Response
Crisis Line:  (770) 503-7273
Toll Free: (800) 721-1999

National Sexual Assault Hotline
(800) 656-HOPE

After An Incident Is Reported (Rights of Complainant)

1. After reporting an incident, the individual will be referred to as the complainant.
2. Complainants may receive accommodations after reporting an incident. These accommodations include, but are not limited to, no contact orders, relocation of residence, and rescheduling of class sections. Accommodations are administered by the Title IX coordinator.
3. Complainants are not to be retaliated against. Retaliation is defined as a strike back against an accusation, a form of revenge or reaction, or an additional act of discrimination based on the complaint filed.
4. Complainants may not be charged with other violations related to the sexual misconduct (i.e. if the alleged victim was drinking on campus at the time of the assault, an alcohol charge will not be filed).
5. The investigation and hearing will be conducted in a timely manner.
6. The respondent and the complainant are entitled to have one person present for support or to act as an advisor during a campus disciplinary proceeding.  The advisors for the complainant nor the respondent may participate in the proceedings.  
7. In cases of sexual assault, the complainant will be notified in writing of the outcome of the investigation and hearing simultaneously with the respondent.
8. The complainant has the right to request an appeal on the grounds of improper procedure, new or previously unavailable, compelling  information related to the case, or the sanctions are significantly disproportionate with the violation. Appeals must be made in writing to the Title IX Coordinator.

After An Incident is Reported (Rights of Respondent)

1. When an accusation has been made against an individual, that person is referred to as the respondent.
2. Respondents have the right to ask for accommodations once a complaint has been filed against them. These accommodations include, but are not limited to, no contact orders, relocation of residence, rescheduling of class sections.  Accommodations are administered by the Title IX coordinator.
3. Respondents will be informed of the definition and repercussions of retaliation.
4. The investigation and hearing will be conducted in a timely manner.
5. The respondent and the complainant are entitled to the same opportunities to have one person present for support or to act as an advisor during a campus disciplinary proceeding.  The advisors for the complainant nor the respondent may participate in the proceedings.  
6. The respondent will be notified in writing of the outcome of the investigation and hearing.  In cases of sexual assault this notification will occur simultaneously with the notification of the complainant.
7. The respondent  has the right to request an appeal on the grounds of improper procedure, new or previously unavailable, compelling  information related to the case, or the sanctions are significantly disproportionate with the violation.  Appeals must be made in writing to the Title IX Coordinator.

Investigating a Complaint

1. All allegations of sexual misconduct will be investigated by the Title IX Coordinator or designee.
2. Upon receipt of a written complaint, an investigation will begin within thirty (30) Brenau business days.
3. From the time an investigation begins, the investigation report will be submitted to the Title IX coordinator within thirty (30) Brenau business days.

Adjudication of a Complaint

Grievance procedures may include voluntary informal methods of resolution (e.g., mediation).  However, the complainant has the right to discontinue the informal process at any time and begin formal proceedings. Allegations of sexual assault will never be mediated.

1. Upon receipt of a written investigation, the Title IX coordinator or designee will schedule a hearing within thirty (30) Brenau business days.
2. A hearing board will be assembled by the Title IX coordinator or designee. Those on the hearing board will be trained to adjudicate matters of sexual misconduct.
3. The chair of the hearing committee will  the Title IX coordinator or designee. The committee will consist of the chair and three (3) members of the faculty and staff.
4. The chair of the hearing committee will read the investigation report aloud.
5. The complainant and the respondent may read prepared statements if agreed upon with the chair prior to the hearing.
6. Both parties have the right to exclude their unrelated past sexual histories from the hearing. The chair of the hearing board will determine whether proposed testimony regarding past sexual history between the parties is related to the case at issue and may be introduced during the hearing.
7. The reporting party may choose to be physically separated from the charged party during hearing proceedings or require the respondent to submit all questions in writing to the chair during the hearing. This decision should be communicated to the chair at least two (2) Brenau business days prior to the hearing.
8. The complainant, the respondent, nor any member of the hearing board may ask repetitive questions of any witness.
9. In determining whether an alleged incident constitutes sexual misconduct, those entrusted with carrying out this policy will look at the record as a whole and at the totality of the circumstances.  An adequate, reliable and impartial investigation will occur, and a decision rendered based on a preponderance of evidence.
10. University sanctions for someone found responsible for sexual offenses (forcible and non-forcible) may include but are not limited to expulsion, forced withdrawal, disciplinary suspension, disciplinary probation, reprimand, and /or restrictions.

Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights:

An Amendment to Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1902(f)) entitled “Campus Sexual Assault Victims Bill of Rights Act” of 1991 relating to the treatment by campus officials of sexual assault victims, effective September 1, 1992, requires all institutions of higher education to publish the following information and policy statement.  It is the intent of this policy to state that the campus-related sexual assault of an employee or student is a serious offense, and that the victim shall be accorded by Brenau University the rights that are contained in the policy. It is also the intent of the policy to empower the victim of campus-related sexual assaults with certain rights and to certify that Brenau University complies with the requirements of the Act.

Victim’s Rights:  The following rights shall be accorded, by all officers, administrators, and employees of Brenau University to victims of campus-related sexual assaults:

1. The right to have any and all assaults against them treated with seriousness; the right, as victims, to be treated with dignity.
2. The right to have these assaults committed against them investigated and adjudicated by the duly constituted criminal and civil authorities of the government entity in which the crimes occurred; and the right to the full and prompt cooperation and assistance of Brenau personnel in notifying the proper authorities. The foregoing shall be in addition to any Brenau Disciplinary proceedings. The Sexual Misconduct policy addresses Brenau’s adjudication of sexual assault.
3. The right to be free from any kind of pressure from Brenau personnel that victims not report crimes committed against them to civil and criminal authorities or to campus enforcement and disciplinary officials; or report crimes as lesser offenses than the victim perceives them to be.
4. The right to be free from any kind of suggestions that campus assault victims not report, or under report, crimes because  a.) victims are somehow responsible for the commission of crimes against them; b.) by reporting crimes they would incur unwanted personal publicity.
5. The right to choose a representative and to have that representative present at all proceedings, and the right to be notified of the outcome of such proceedings.
6. The right to have Brenau University personnel assist the victim in obtaining, securing, and maintaining evidence (including medical examination) as may be necessary to the proof of criminal sexual assault in subsequent legal proceedings.
7. The right to be made aware of, and assist in exercising any options, as provided by State and Federal Laws or regulations, with regard to mandatory testing of assault suspects for communicable diseases and with regard to notifications to victims of the results of such testing.
8. The right to counseling from the university counselor.
9. If a campus sexual assault is reported, Brenau University personnel will take necessary steps or actions to prevent any unnecessary or unwanted contact with alleged assailants, including but not limited to immediate relocation of the victim to safe and secure alternative housing.

Sexual Misconduct Prevention Education

Brenau will make an effort to educate all faculty, staff, and students on the prevention of sexual misconduct and the resources available to victims of sexual violence.

Sexual Offenders

1. The federal government requires all universities and colleges to provide information on how to access information on sex offenders living on or near the campus. To obtain this information go to www.ganet.org/gbi/siclainm.html. You may obtain registered offenders in a number of ways. It can be done by zip code, city, country, or name. We have added a link to this website from Brenau’s Security web page. The link is described as “Megan’s Law” information.
2. The Security Office will maintain a current list of registered sex offenders for Hall County. This list can also be accessed on the webpage under the link for Security.

Other Policies and Regulations

Inclement Weather Policy

• Gainesville, North Atlanta and South Atlanta campuses:  Weather alerts and information pertaining to emergency weather situations will be issued via the e2Campus Emergency Alert System as soon as decisions are made regarding class cancellations. This is the most up-to-date, authoritative source of information for the university. Brenau maintains a dedicated phone line which will be activated during questionable weather periods and will provide a recorded message advising you whether or not classes are in session. The weather line is available 24 hours per day. Call (770) 534-6772 (or ext. 6772 from a campus phone) for the weather line. This line cannot be updated if personnel do not report because of weather issues; therefore, we strongly recommend that you use the e2Campus alert system. Brenau will continue to notify local media outlets in Gainesville, as well as the major networks in Atlanta for weather-related bulletins.
   
• Campuses other than Gainesville, North Atlanta and South Atlanta: Weather alerts will be issued in methods considered most effective for each campus. Please consult the site director for detailed information. 

E2Campus Emergency Alert System

All students, at all instructional sites, are strongly encouraged to register for the e2Campus Emergency Alert System. This “opt-in” service can be personalized so that students can only receive alerts relevant to their location(s). To register go to e2Campus and click on the “I need to create an account” link. Students should select the campus group where they attend classes to receive messages relevant to their geographic area. There is no charge for the service; however, standard text messaging fees may apply.

Students, faculty, and employees may select as many options for notification as they choose, including cell phone, home or business telephone land lines, text, personal and Brenau email, and other options through social media services such as Twitter. When Brenau officials post an emergency alert, notifications on all elected devices occur immediately, while alerts posted on the university Web site or through news media may not occur that quickly.

Automobile and Parking Regulations Gainesville Campus

Parking Stickers Required   Vehicles parked on the Gainesville campus on a regular basis must display a current parking sticker. Students, faculty, and staff will be issued parking stickers which should be displayed on each vehicle’s rear left bumper or window as appropriate. Visitors may obtain temporary parking permits at no charge at the Campus Security Office.

Approved Areas  

• Gainesville Campus: Students, faculty and staff with valid permits may park in any Brenau parking lot in approved parking spaces. Any cars parked illegally or in unauthorized areas may be booted and a fine imposed for improper parking. Booting and fine questions should be directed to Campus Security. All designated handicap parking slots are patrolled by the municipal police departments and violators are fined by those entities.
• For campuses other than Gainesville, parking policies and approved parking areas are designated by the local site officials. For information, contact the main office at your site.

Damage to Property and Facilities

The taking, damaging, or malicious destruction of property belonging to Brenau, its visitors, or any member of the Brenau community is prohibited.

Students are responsible for any damage to Brenau’s property at any location where classes are offered, beyond normal wear and tear. For such damage, a minimum charge of $50 or the cost of repair, whichever is greater, will be assessed. 

Drug and Alcoholic Beverages Policy

Brenau recognizes the extreme dangers arising from use and abuse of drugs and alcohol and, consequently, has restricted their use on its campuses. Actions of this nature are a serious offense and may be handled accordingly through appropriate administrative channels and/or with law enforcement. The use, possession, or sale of any illegal, dangerous, or controlled drugs on any Brenau campus or at any Brenau sponsored event is prohibited except for the proper use or possession of drugs prescribed by a person legally authorized to do so. However, Brenau reserves the right to discipline any student abusing prescribed medications, when the abuse interferes with the orderly atmosphere essential for the learning environment. For the complete policy, please see the Student Handbook. 

Fire Regulations

If a fire should occur in a campus building, the first concern is the safety of the occupants. Unless the fire is very small (i.e., in a wastebasket), call 911 or 8-911 IMMEDIATELY. (Campus Security may be summoned for assistance with inconsequential fires by calling 770-534-6202 or 1234 from any campus telephone.) If there is any doubt about whether to call the fire department, err on the side of safety. Give your name, location of the fire (physical addresses of each building are located on the exterior of each building) and directions. Occupants should evacuate the building by the primary means of escape or an alternate escape route if the primary route is unsafe. Once you have evacuated, call Campus Security if they are not already on the scene.

Smoking/Tobacco Use Policy   Realizing the health implications of local, state and federal “no-smoking” movements associated with the use of tobacco products, Brenau University has implemented the following policy: 

• In an effort to create a modified smoke-free environment on our campuses, not only for the benefit of those who work here, but for the benefit of students and visitors, university policy prohibits the use of tobacco products on campuses with the exception of designated outside areas.
• No smoking or tobacco use is allowed in any buildings, entrance, or exit doorways or anywhere on the front campus. The designated outside smoking areas are limited and marked.

Emergency Doors  Use of emergency doors is strictly prohibited except in the case of actual emergency. Setting off fire alarms, except during actual emergencies, is strictly prohibited.

Firearms/Weapons Policy

Firearms and other dangerous weapons are absolutely prohibited at all times on all university property. Firearms cannot be stored in vehicles. Because of the potential danger from misuse of such weapons, any failure to comply with this rule shall be subject to penalty. Anyone failing to comply with this policy will be subject to penalty by local, state and federal laws in addition to campus disciplinary measures.

Academic Advisement

All Brenau students are assigned a faculty advisor when they enroll. Women’s College freshmen are required to enroll in First Year Experience and are assigned a faculty advisor as well as a peer advisor. (See Women’s College section of this Catalog.) All other students are assigned an advisor in their major or in a related department. Specific advisors are also designated for undeclared majors. Students should consult their advisor with any academic questions or concerns. All students should consult a current Brenau catalog for information and policies related to their course of study.

Academic advising is a developmental process, which assists students in the clarification of their life and career goals and in the development of educational plans for the realization of this goal through the careful consideration of a student’s plan of study. It is a decision-making process by which students realize their maximum educational potential through communication and information exchanges with an advisor; it is continuous, multifaceted, and the responsibility of both student and advisor. By considering all aspects of a student’s life, the advisor serves as a facilitator of communication, a coordinator of learning experiences that take place both inside and outside the classroom through course and career planning and academic progress review, and as an agent of referral to other campus agencies as necessary.

All students should meet with their academic advisor at least once a semester, more as needed.

Brenau Trustee Library

The Trustee Library sustains and enhances the University’s academic learning environment through the provision of a welcoming physical and virtual presence that effectively guides and instructs users on the rich variety of information resources selected for their needs.

Library Collection. The collection contains approximately 85,000 print volumes, more than 60,000 ebooks and a core selection of print journals as well as a media collection of DVDs, videos and CDs. In addition, some 200 databases provide access to approximately 16,000 electronic journals, magazines and other publications. The online resources are accessible to local and distance students around the clock. Library resources are specifically selected to support the mission and curriculum of Brenau, providing students with information needed to successfully complete their coursework. The Library also offers a browsing collection of popular fiction and non-fiction books for pleasure reading. Special Collections, which includes the Bentley Rare Books Room and the Watson Collection, contain rare and valuable materials. These are available for use in Special Collections, by appointment. Should the student require additional materials not available on site, the Library has reciprocal access and borrowing privileges with other institutions.

Library Circulation Policies and Procedures. Books and music scores from the Trustee Library, with the exception of reserve and reference items, can be checked out of the library for a two-week period, renewable once. Please note that materials can be renewed online. Students may borrow up to 15 items at a time. Periodicals, reference books, and media items may be checked out to faculty for instructional purposes. Students may use these resources inside the library.

All items are due back in the Library by the end of the last day of exams for each academic term. Fines are levied at the rate of 25 cents per day for all non-reserve materials that are owned by the Trustee Library. Reserve and Information Delivery materials carry a $1.00 per day late fee and two-hour reserve books carry a late fee of 25 cents per hour. For lost items, library users will be charged an amount necessary to replace the item at current prices plus 10 dollars. Students are responsible for returning all materials and paying all late fees prior to receiving grades or transcripts. Transcripts will be held for lost items and late fees until these charges are cleared.

Research and Instructional Services. The Trustee Library provides courses, classes, and personalized instruction to teach undergraduate and graduate students how to research the literature of their discipline effectively. Instruction and assistance are available to all students on all Brenau campuses.

Additional Support Services. The Library is an Internet “hot spot” for wireless laptop access and provides computers, printers, copiers, DVD players, VCRs and group and personal study rooms for student use. It houses a peer tutoring facility, the Writing Center, as well as the Language Bistro, a state-of-the-art language instruction facility. Also located in the Library is the Redwine Technology Center, a complex including a student computer lab, several computer-equipped study rooms for individuals and groups, and two instructional labs. Photocopiers, printers and scanners are available throughout the Library and the Redwine Technology Center.

The Trustee Library also provides an Information Delivery service for all current students, faculty, and staff. Information Delivery contains two key components:

1. Users may request articles and books that are not available in the Library’s collection. Those materials will be borrowed from another library on behalf of the user.
2. We deliver, via campus courier or mail, articles and books to the Brenau students who do not attend class at the Gainesville campus.

Forms for Information Delivery are available in the Library or online. Please allow up to 20 working days for materials to arrive. Please keep in mind that a user may request up to five (5) items per week. This service is typically free, but occasionally there may be some costs for difficult to obtain items; users will be notified of any costs prior to obtaining an item and all costs are the responsibility of the patron. The Trustee Library complies will all Federal copyright laws.

Hours of Operation. The Trustee Library is open throughout the year, closing for Brenau University holidays and inclement weather. In addition, the library closes for Formal Convocations, Graduation, and other special Brenau University functions. During those times of the year when classes are not in session, the library closes for the weekends and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Changes in library hours are posted at the entrance to the building, announced on the Brenau Intranet, entered on a voicemail message [(770) 534-6113] and submitted to university publications.

Student Services

Mission Statement The Division of Student Services is committed to providing exemplary and consistent service to Brenau University students. Through this commitment to service, students will be supported in their intellectual, personal, social and professional development. Student Services will reinforce the academic experience and provide programs, services, resources and advocacy efforts. Recognizing that growth and learning occur in all facets of campus life, Student Services staff will collaborate with students, faculty, alumni, staff, community leaders and others to provide innovative and strategic programs, activities and services. The Division of Student Services is dedicated to serving the entire University community as advisors, administrators and educators. Through these partnerships, the Student Services staff will continue to develop traditions, teach leadership skills, celebrate diversity and enhance the overall quality of students’ lives.

Residence Life  All Women’s College students under the age of 22 are required to live on campus in approved residential housing. Students who are 21 years of age as of the final drop/add date of the semester and who have a 3.0 cumulative GPA may live in the Brenau student apartments. Information about student apartments can be obtained from the Residence Life Office. Students who live with a parent or legal guardian within commuting distance (50 mile radius) from campus may be exempt upon approval of a written request submitted by parent or guardian. This request should be submitted to the Director of Student Sucess Initiatives at least a month before the beginning of the semester the student plans to live off campus. Students who are married and/or have dependents are not required to live on campus. Family/married student housing is not available.

Students who have earned 90 academic credit hours or are 22 years of age may petition for permission to live off campus, independently. This request must be submitted by the student to the Director of Student Sucess Initiatives at least one month before the beginning of the semester in which the student wants to change residential status.

Convenient and suitable living arrangements are provided for all single residential students in Annex, Bailey Hall, Crudup Hall, East Hall, Simmons Hall, Van Hoose Hall, Virginia Hall and Yonah Hall. In addition, six national sororities have houses on campus.

New students are housed in residence halls on the basis of information obtained from their Housing Application Form, availability of rooms and date of housing deposit. Returning students are given priority in selecting the coming year’s room according to the number of academic credit hours they have completed. There are a limited number of private rooms in each residence hall. Upper-class students may submit a written request for a private room with the understanding that the room can not be guaranteed. If a private room is granted, the student is responsible for an additional private room charge. Freshman will not be housed in private rooms. The Director of Residence Life is responsible for these arrangements.

Residence halls and sorority houses are equipped with kitchens (no ovens), laundries, and study areas with computers. The use of microwaves or small refrigerators in the student rooms is permitted in all residence halls.

Brenau reserves the right to inspect rooms for conditions relating to the health, safety, and welfare of students and assessment of damages as stipulated in the student housing contract and in detail in the Student Handbook.

The university strives to maintain adequate security, but does not assume responsibility for loss of or damage to students’ possessions. To ensure maximum security, the university encourages families to cover students’ possessions on their current homeowners policy.

The residence halls and sorority houses are staffed with live-in professionals and paraprofessionals. The Residence Life staff is dedicated to creating an environment in which the student can grow and develop as a total person. Their aim is to enable students to live in a community that is safe, comfortable, and enjoyable.

Student Activities  In an effort to maximize the undergraduate experience, the Office of Student Life offers a unique array of co-curricular opportunities that enhance and support the academic and social transition of Brenau University students.

Through the facilitation and implementation of on-going, quality programs, the Office of Student Life provides programmatic resources that foster leadership, citizenship, character, and interpersonal development in addition to cultivating student success in today’s global society. At Brenau, there are many student organizations/leadership opportunities, honoraries, media groups, intercollegiate sports teams, and national sororities.

Center for Health and Well-being

The Center for Health and Well-being advocates a holistic approach toward health, which includes the student’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. The services below are available to all currently enrolled Brenau students. All services are free and confidential within the limits of the law.

Counseling  The Brenau University Counselor’s Office is located at 205 Boulevard on the Gainesville Campus. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The University Counselor is happy to meet with any currently enrolled Brenau student during regular business hours. Appointments are strongly recommended. Brenau offers free counseling to students who are experiencing problems that interfere with their lives, studies, or relationships. The counselor can also provide referrals to agencies and providers for those who need or prefer off-campus services. Brenau is firmly committed to a code of confidentiality. All sessions are confidential within the limits of the law. Only in cases that threaten harm to self and/or others is information shared with those who need to know (family and other college personnel).

Students at regional campuses for whom travel to the Gainesville Campus during regular office hours is not an option are encouraged to seek counseling services from the following resources: 

If you have insurance: Call your insurance company and ask about your “behavioral health coverage” to verify your benefits. If you have coverage, ask for a list of “behavioral health providers” in your area.

If you do not have insurance or you have Medicaid or Medicare and live in Georgia: Call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225 to locate the nearest counseling center in your area. The Access Line professionals can connect you with services for addiction and mental health treatment along with child and adolescent services. You will have access to counselors and psychiatrists who can prescribe medications if needed. You may also call this 24/7 number if you are experiencing a crisis and need to talk with someone immediately.

Self-Directed Search: To locate a counselor or psychologist in the United States use the “Find a Counselor” option from the American Counseling Association at: 

www.counseling.org/Resources/CounselorDirectory/TP/Home/CT2.aspx or the “Find a Psychologist” option from the American Psychological Association go to http://locator.apa.org.

Health Services  The Health Services Clinic is located at 205  Boulevard on the Gainesville Campus. Clinic hours are 8:30 a.m.– 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Health Services staff is happy to see any currently enrolled Brenau students at the clinic during regular office hours. Services include examinations and treatment of illnesses and women’s wellness exams. The staff of Health Services will provide information and referral assistance to other medical personnel and services in the area when necessary. Several wellness programs are offered throughout the year.

All residential students who have been accepted and have submitted a deposit will receive a health form and an immunization form that must be completed and returned to the Center for Health and Well-being prior to enrollment. A residential student cannot register for classes until this form is received. A registration hold will be placed on the student’s account if the health form and immunization form are not received.

All commuter students who have been accepted and wish to take advantage of the services offered through the Center for Health and Well-being must submit a health form before receiving services.

Career Services  Career planning is much more than a senior-year experience. Students visit Career Services to receive information about selecting a major, learning more about majors and careers, securing an internship, writing a resume, developing interviewing skills, attending job fairs, job searching, and attending graduate school. The office administers career assessments to help students identify skills, abilities and interests and learn more about majors and careers. Career Services assists all students and alumni with their career counseling and job search needs.

The office assists students with the skills needed to conduct an effective, professional job search. Students looking for a part-time, full-time, seasonal job opportunity or an internship can log on to the JobBoard found on Brenau University’s Student Services (intranet: http://intranet.brenau.edu/dnn/) website. Please call (770) 534-6265 to make an appointment.

The office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Additional support for non-residential students and alumni is available via email. Contact Brenau at (770) 534-6265 for current email contact addresses.

International Student Services  The Office of International Students & Programs is committed to the enrichment of all Brenau students through greater interchange between students from abroad and students from the United States. The director assists international students with their transition into the Brenau community, facilitates immigration reporting and provides services to help international students in their personal, social and academic adjustment to Brenau. Many activities designed to increase global awareness and cultural exchange on campus are coordinated from this office. The office also provides services to faculty and students seeking study abroad opportunities.

Internships  Concentrations offered within departments may require students to complete an internship in a practical work setting. Guided professional study is vitally important to the career orientation offered by these programs. Students should consult the department chair in their major and the Career Services Office to receive guidance in locating internships in their field of study.

Orientation  At the beginning of each semester, Brenau acquaints new students (with fewer than 24 hours of transfer credit) with campus life of the university and research skills. In the Women’s College,

Students With Disabilities  The Women’s College offers a program to students who have a professionally diagnosed learning disability. Services are also available for students with other disabilities. Tutoring, extended time testing, reading remediation, taped textbooks through Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic, study strategies and academic advising are among the services available. Students with disabilities attending evening classes on the Brenau campus, off-campus sites and online classes may also be eligible for services. All students must send documentation of a disability to the Learning Center, 500 Washington Street SE, Gainesville, Georgia, 30501. After a review of the documents, the student will be sent a letter stating the appropriate accommodations if any. The Learning Center will communicate with campus coordinators and professors concerning the implementation of the accommodations. Students may also present information and the Brenau Learning Center accommodations letter to the professors. Please see the Brenau catalog for further information concerning rights and appeals.

Publications/Broadcasting

Aurum, the Women’s College yearbook, gives a review of university life.

Brenau Window published quarterly, is an award winning magazine distributed free of charge to more than 25,000 alumni and friends of the university

Brenau student handbooks, published annually, compile pertinent student information.

Cable Channel 95 publicizes university announcements, student and class-related information on campus and offers students the opportunity to produce their own video and music programs.

The Alchemist is Brenau’s online student newspaper.

The Elixir, the annual Women’s College literary magazine, publishes student writing, photography and art.

Update, a periodic faculty and staff electronic newsletter, provides information about events, activities, meetings and other items of interest about the university. Students are welcome to subscribe as well to RSS feeds that occur as new information is published in the newsletter.

WBCX 89.1 FM, Brenau’s radio station, serves the Northeast Georgia area with eclectic music and locally produced programming by students and community volunteers under faculty and staff supervision.

Other Student Services

Hopkins Dining Hall  Hopkins serves meals according to the schedule posted at the entrance. Non-residential students wishing to eat in the cafeteria may purchase a meal ticket or pay the attendant at the door the appropriate fee upon entering the dining area.

Brenau Tea Room  Located in the Student Union Building, the Tea Room serves a variety of sandwiches, salads and grilled items in a casual atmosphere.

The Post Office  is located in the lower level of the Louise Hancock Owens Student Center. All Women’s College residential, faculty, and administrative offices are assigned a post office box. Commuter students will be assigned a box upon request.

Bookstore  The bookstore on the main campus of Brenau is located on Washington Street and operated by Barnes and Noble, Inc.

Brenau University’s Information Technology (I.T.) department manages academic and administrative technology for all users. The I.T. department offers students hands-on and virtual support through a Help Desk located in the Redwine Technology Center on Brenau’s main campus in Gainesville

Click Here to access Brenau’s Privacy Policy

Email Communication Policy  Email is the official internal means of communication for faculty, staff, and students. Students will communicate to faculty and staff using their Brenau-issued email address, and faculty and staff will communicate with students using their Brenau-issued email address. The only exception to this policy is the Admissions Office when communicating with prospective students who have not yet received a Brenau-issued email address.

Email addresses are provided to students through a partnership between Brenau University and Google. This provides students

• Email that is free with no advertising, available in a web browser
• Spam and virus protection
• Access to Google Docs that include word processing, spreadsheets & presentation slides
• TigerMail is accessible by visiting https://my.brenau.edu
• TigerMail addresses end in @tiger.brenau.edu for all of our students.

Computing Ethics and Network Responsibilities  Computing and networking resources are provided to students, faculty and staff at Brenau to be used for a wide variety of purposes. Access to these resources is a privilege and not a right. These network resources are for the general benefit of the Brenau community and are continually updated and maintained to provide an environment that is consistent with the educational goals of the University. These resources are limited and how each individual uses them may affect the work of other members of the community and beyond. As our campus network is connected (through the Internet) to other networks worldwide, it is important that everyone be aware of his or her individual obligations and of what constitutes proper use and behavior.

The Computing Ethics and Network Responsibilities are published as a part of the various student handbooks, the faculty/staff handbook and other publications of the University. Because of the rapid evolution of computing and information networks, the University reserves the right to modify the text of these policies. While users will be kept apprised of any changes, it is the user’s responsibility to remain aware of current regulations. These are kept up-to-date at http://intranet.brenau.edu on the University’s internal web site.

In general, common sense is a good guide to what constitutes appropriate behavior and use of computers and networks. You should respect the privacy of others and use computing resources in a manner that is consistent with the instructional and research objectives of the University.

The following are behaviors that can create problems in a networked computing environment. This list of responsibilities should provide users with a good idea of what constitutes illegal or unethical on-line behavior. Everyone should note that computer users are governed by federal and state laws and University policies and standards of conduct. Violations of these rules or indeed, any disruptive situation (in which a person’s behavior on machines, accounts or file space under that individual’s control, creates a disruption of service to our clients) may be met by suspending access and services to the responsible parties and may result in disciplinary action. When there is reason to believe that illegal activities or significant infractions of our rules have occurred or are continuing, staff may monitor a suspected individual’s computer files and activities. When necessary, the University may request the assistance of a law enforcement agency. It is not for the computing services staff to judge whether any request from a law enforcement agency to investigate suspected illegal activities affords due process and is of appropriate jurisdiction. The general practice is to defer such requests to the appropriate University Vice President.

1) Break-ins and Tampering

1. You may not attempt to gain access to computer systems (on or off campus) for which you have not been granted access.
2. You may not deliberately attempt to disrupt the performance of a computer system or a network, on or off-campus.
3. You may not attempt to ‘break’ system security.
4. You may not reconfigure computer systems to make them unusable for others.
5. You may not attempt to destroy or alter data or programs belonging to other users.
6. You may not modify residential computing network services or wiring or extend those beyond the area of their intended use. This applies to all network wiring, hardware and cluster and in-room jacks.

2) Theft  (including licensure and copyright violations)

1. By the copyright laws of the United States and most other nations, virtually all programs and applications are copyrighted (see further description under Copyright Reminders, below).
2. If you have not been given direct permission to copy a file, you are not permitted to do so.
3. You may not copy or redistribute software or other information that is copyrighted. By recent changes of the US law, software piracy is a felony.
4. You may not attempt to override copy protection on commercial software.
5. The ability to find and read information on computer systems does not mean that the information is in the public domain. Having the ability to read does not necessarily grant the right to copy or redistribute. Nor, even in the case of certain information on the Internet, does ability to read mean that permission to read has been lawfully granted. Certain information, such as GALILEO, is licensed to be read by the Brenau community, though this does not grant the right to redistribute this information.

3)  Eavesdropping and Violations of Privacy

1. All information on a computer system belongs to somebody; some of it may be private or personal information; some may consist of confidential information, trade secrets, or classified material.
2. If you have not been given direct permission to read or access another person’s file, you may not attempt to do so.
3. Brenau-specific or commercially obtained network resources may not be retransmitted outside of the University community. Examples include CINAHL, ERIC or other commercial information services available from the Brenau Trustee Library and private student-related information.

4)  Individual Responsibility and Archiving:

1. Information stored by individuals on network servers, including email, is the responsibility of the individual assigned and using that file space.
2. Computer services provide backup for the email and file servers only to the extent needed to restore services in case of a network failure.
3. Periodic removal of excess and/or inactive files and accounts may be done to preserve available resources for current users.

5)  Forging, Password Sharing, Password Theft:

1. You may not attempt to impersonate another individual by sending forged information such as email, including spam (bulk unsolicited mail)
2. Never give your password to anyone.
3. You may not seek to determine another person’s password, through cracking, decryption, interception or other means.

6)  Annoyance and Harassment:

1. Brenau University has written standards of conduct that seek to preclude annoyance and harassment by members of the Brenau University community (students, faculty and staff).
2. You may not use computing to violate the University’s standards of conduct.
3. You may not distribute electronic chain letters. These not only serve as annoyance, but also can severely disrupt computing and network performance. 

7)  Negligence and Misuse: (including private business)

1. Having access to computing privileges (email account, Brenau network connection, login or shared file space assigned to you), means that you have general responsibility for all computing activity that takes place from those accounts, connections or file spaces. The University’s connection to the Internet, for example, does not allow you to abuse that connection.
2. Limited personal use of the Internet is allowed. However, the employee-user is reminded that use of any and all Brenau property is primarily for the purpose of business. Any personal use of the Internet is expected to be on the user’s own time and is not to interfere with the person’s job responsibilities.
3. Access to the Brenau University computing network and the Internet is limited to members of the Brenau University community. Individuals within the Brenau community are not permitted to provide access to the campus network to those outside this community.
4. Use of Brenau Computing facilities is intended to be consistent with the educational mission of the University; this does not preclude personal nor even commercial uses. Refer to the appropriate Handbook for your unit (Faculty/Staff, Women’s College or Evening and Weekend) to review the University’s limitations on the community’s use of computing facilities for commercial purposes.
5. You should report any suspected illegal or unethical activity to the Chief IT Officer or the appropriate Dean’s office.
6. You may not use chat rooms, Websites such as Facebook, MySpace, blogs and similar sites by identifying yourself as being associated with Brenau and revealing personal information or information about Brenau that is inappropriate, unprofessional or otherwise embarrassing to Brenau.
7. Employees are prohibited from using a university owned computer to access pornographic web sites.

 8)  Copyright and Attribution - Reminders:

1. We would like also to remind the community that by the terms of the Berne copyright conference (now a part of US law), virtually all material fixed in a tangible medium including photos, text (printed and electronic), music, software and broadcast performance is, indeed, copyrighted. This is true whether the copyright was registered or whether the material was published prior to the Berne accords.
2. University rules governing attribution require that all users of Brenau computing networks acknowledge any use of ideas or other materials produced by others (in textual, pictorial, auditory or other forms) through a note clearly identifying both the source and the nature and extent of indebtedness. 
3. Of special note is that despite the rapid evolution of case and statutory law concerning intellectual property, educational “fair use” exemptions for copyright protection may not protect redistribution of copyrighted material beyond or even within, University property. Accordingly, the University urges all authors and artists using Brenau University computing networks to either

• Use only original graphics, sound and text.
• Provide written notification of licensure or copyright agreement with the copyright holder in such case as the work is by other than oneself, whenever such work is to be shared with others outside of the classroom context.

9)  Personal Computing Equipment:

1. Students, staff or faculty members using their own personal laptops or other computers in classrooms or other spaces are encouraged to use battery power. They should also have charged extra batteries in anticipation of extended class meetings. The hazards posed by electrical cords that cross high traffic areas within classroom spaces introduce the danger of personal injury and potential damage to computer equipment. Brenau University assumes NO responsibility for costs associated with the loss of or damage to a student or instructor’s personal laptop or other computer and its associated peripheral equipment.

It is your responsibility to know and understand these ethics and responsibilities. If at any point you feel you may be in violation or know of a violation, please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@brenau.edu so that we may correct it and minimize the risk to the university.

Minimum Requirements for Student Technology  Below are the recommended personal computing technology requirements for students to consider when purchasing a computer for use at Brenau University. The minimum requirements listed will satisfy all general academic needs. For questions about specific applications used for an area of study it is best to contact the administrative offices of that academic program to inquire about specific computing requisites and applications necessary to complete that program of study.

Please keep in mind the following minimum requirements for student technology: