Catalog 2010-2011 [v2] 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Catalog 2010-2011 [v2] [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Services and Administrative Policies


Student Services (All Campuses)

Alliant campuses provide a range of student co-curricular activities to supplement the academic programs and to enrich the educational and social experience. The campuses also provide services needed by students in support of their studies and for their health and well-being. These services include academic support, advising, admissions, registration, financial aid, disability services, and international student services.

Each Alliant campus offers special-interest activities, student-sponsored events, and student publications. One of the most important extra-curricular activities on every campus is student government. Alliant students participate in University decision-making through University Student Government Association (USGA) and student representation on the Board of Trustees.

Alliant students are provided with an educational technology infrastructure to support their coursework. Students are required to access and utilize Alliant email as this is the primary communication device for the University Computer Labs offer state-of-the-art computer facilities available to students on all campuses and provide e-mail contact with the Information Technology (IT) unit that maintains and supports the labs. Through the Online HELPDESK, students can contact the IT unit that troubleshoots problems on the University computer network. There are web links to information about courses and events available online.

The student e-mail page provides information about and access to student e-mail—a free, convenient way for students to keep in touch with their professors, each other, and family and friends back home.

Students at all sites can access much of their individual student information online, including their academic history, grades, financial aid awards and student accounts.

Alliant’s several libraries are interlinked and accessible via Alliant’s website, providing access to the complete library catalog, a selection of online professional databases, research resources, and other services.

Academic Support Center

The Academic Support Center (ASC) is committed to helping Alliant students achieve their academic goals by offering the resources they need to complete their programs of study successfully.

The ASC offers students critical thinking strategies, online and library research techniques, and various resources to promote academic success. Students receive assistance in writing and math through personalized tutoring and computer-based instruction. Students can get individual help in the areas that are most challenging and build a repertoire of skills in essential learning and study strategies. The following services and resources are offered:

Writing Lab tutors work with students on aspects of the writing process (brainstorming, outlining, composing, evaluating, revising and editing). The tutors’ goal is to develop effective writers by giving students skills they can transfer to most forms of written expression, including outlines, summaries, reflective responses, essays, case studies, book reviews, and research papers. The ASC has software to help students improve their grammar, spelling and punctuation; format papers using correct APA style, and use Microsoft Word more effectively. Numerous handouts on a variety of writing topics are available in hard copy and online.

The Math Lab offers tutoring to students who need assistance in beginning to advanced algebra, statistics, accounting, finance and economics. A solid understanding of math principles and practices provides the basis for careers in psychology, business, finance, and economics. The additional instruction provided by math tutors and computer-aided practice can assist students in developing the fundamental math skills needed for success.

The Supplemental Instruction Program (SI) is an academic support system designed to help undergraduate students enrolled in some of the most challenging college courses. The program matches high-achieving students who have shown expertise in historically difficult courses to lead students in study sessions outside of class. In these specialized sessions, students can master course content while they develop and integrate learning and study strategies. The SI program improves students’ grades, increases retention, and ultimately increases graduation rates.

For more information on these programs, please visit the ASC Offices in Building M-8 or call (858) 635-4437.

Career Services

Career Services assists graduate and undergraduate students to develop and implement their career and educational goals throughout their years at Alliant.

Individual Career Counseling sessions can be scheduled to discuss and explore any career related concerns. Limited Career Assessments are available for students. These are an excellent way to pinpoint career options based on personality, interests, values, and skills. Career events including workshops, informational sessions, panel presentations, recruiting events, and classroom and club presentations are offered throughout the year on various topics of interest to students. For more information, go to http://www.alliant.edu/ student life and career services.

Counseling Services - San Diego

The primary mission of the Counseling Center on the San Diego campus is to assist students with personal problems, to help them develop their personal and academic potential, and to promote mental health. Counseling sessions are confidential except for state-mandated exceptions to confidentiality. Individual, couples and group counseling is provided to assist students with personal problems that impair their functioning or enjoyment of life.

Student Assistance Program – All Campuses

To assist students with personal issues and problem solving, from relationships to finances to elder care, Alliant International University offers the Student Assistance Program. For more information, visit the Student Services/ Life office at your campus or go to http://www.alliant.edu/campus news and life.

Disability Services

The University provides reasonable access to facilities and services and to programs for which students are otherwise qualified without unlawful discrimination based upon qualified disability The University will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals who currently have a disabling condition, either physical or mental, that is severe enough to substantially limit a major life activity.

Students with disabilities may obtain details about applying for services from the Office of Disability Services at each campus. Students must provide documentation from a qualified professional to establish their disability, along with suggested reasonable and necessary accommodations. Students should request accommodations at the start of each semester.

Competency Exam Review

Competency Exam Reviews are given by specially trained graduate student Mentors who provide review sessions for doctoral students studying to take their competency exams. Study packets are available in the ASC, and some review packets can be downloaded from the ASC web site along with the review schedule.

Housing and Residence Life (San Diego)

The Office of Housing and Residence Life, along with student residents, strive to bring about a community which offers a culturally diverse atmosphere of positive encouragement and mutual respect. Activities, programs, academic endeavors, and personal interactions are based on a willingness to learn from others while striving to respect the integrity of all.

Students who live on-campus in San Diego have an enriching college life experience and often find it easier to pursue their studies because they are conveniently close to classes, food services, and other University facilities and services.

International Student Services

Services for students from countries other than the United States are provided by the International Student Service Office (ISSO). The ISSO provides pre-arrival information to help international students prepare for their Alliant programs, gives advice on matters of concern to international students, and refers students to appropriate resources. The ISSO serves as liaison to organizations sponsoring international students and to U.S. government agencies.

All international students and scholars are required to comply at all times with United States laws and regulations pertaining to their status; the ISSO assists international visitors in understanding and following these U.S. laws and regulations.

The ISSO also encourages and develops co curricular activities to help students and others understand and appreciate the variety of cultures represented at Alliant.

Public Safety

The University’s Public Safety Department on the San Diego Scripps Ranch campus is on duty 24 hours a day. Public Safety Officers are University officials and provide numerous services to help maintain a safe educational community. Public Safety Officers report serious crimes to the SDPD, intervene in student issues in collaboration with Resident Advisors when necessary, issue parking tickets on behalf of the University and the city, and investigate all crimes committed on University property in cooperation with state and local law enforcement agencies.

Veterans Affairs

The University is approved for the training of veterans by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education.

Alliant International University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program.  Please contact the Director for Military and Veterans Affairs for further information.

All Veterans Administration (VA) paperwork is handled by the coordinator of veterans affairs at each campus. The veteran should present documentation regarding dependents, i.e., marriage certificate and birth certificate. All in-service VA students must have permission from their military education officer before they can draw VA educational benefits. Applications may be obtained from their education office.

Veterans Administration regulations require that universities and colleges maintain records which accurately reflect implementation of these policies. These policies are described in a veterans’ bulletin which emphasizes the veteran’s responsibilities to the institution under the veterans training program. The purpose of VA regulations is to insure that the serious student is provided the opportunity to attend the school and complete the program best suited to his or her needs.

VA regulations and the implementing procedures followed by each institution of higher learning, cover three areas as follows:

  • Approval of curricula and programs of education
     
  • Evaluation of previous training and experience
     
  • Standards of attendance and progress

Approved Curricula and Programs of Education

VA Policy: Request for a change in the student’s educational objective (curriculum) should be submitted to the VA prior to enrollment so that mandatory counseling action, where applicable, can be taken. VA Form 22-1995 must be submitted at this point to the campus coordinator of Veterans Affairs.

Alliant Procedure: If a veteran should change majors before reaching the original degree objective, or if a veteran should commence another degree program in another field at the same or lower level as that already attained, then VA Form 22-1995 should be submitted at this point.

VA Policy: Veterans and other eligible students may not be certified for repeat courses which they previously completed successfully or for which they received credit by virtue of other training or for which they are already qualified.

Alliant Procedure: Enrollments will be monitored each term to insure that a student is not repeating a course at the University in which a passing grade was received. For procedures concerning evaluation of training or experience received at other institutions, refer to the section on evaluation which follows.

VA Policy: After a veteran or other eligible student has completed the required curriculum for his or her stated educational objective, the student should not be certified to the VA for additional work on the same level without prior approval.

Alliant Procedure: Any student wishing to take courses beyond the degree requirements must submit a Change-of-Program to the VA.

VA Policy: Each veteran student must be pursuing an approved program (normally leading to a degree or a credential).

Alliant Procedure: Students admitted as Special Status Only must submit required documentation to become Regular Status prior to completing more than 9 units at the approved campuses in order to avoid interruption of VA benefits.

VA Policy: Each entering veteran or other eligible student must be formally evaluated in writing for possible award of credit for previous training and experience and his/her program must be shortened accordingly. This applies to all veterans regardless of whether they are enrolled in part-time or evening programs.

Alliant Procedure: This is done as a matter of standard practice within the Admissions Office for undergraduate students and in the academic division for graduate students.

VA Policy: Where credit is granted, the school records should clearly indicate which course requirements in the student’s program have been satisfied. At the same time, controls should be set up to prevent students from taking any course for which they have already been granted credit.

Alliant Procedure: The record of credit granted is recorded on the evaluation sheet and transcript. Copies are kept in the registrar’s office and provided to the student. Veterans are informed of the courses which are approved for transfer credit so they do not take unnecessary courses at Alliant.

Standards of Attendance and Progress

VA Policy: Colleges must not permit a student to enroll and receive full educational subsistence and at the end of the term “withdraw” or take a “no credit” in all or part of the courses for which the student has enrolled. Colleges must require counseling before enrolling the veteran for the next term if at any time the veteran fails to meet the required grade point average.

Alliant Procedure: Each veteran’s grade report will be checked at the end of each term to insure that the student has satisfactorily completed the courses. If a deficiency exists (such as I, NC F), in some or all of the courses attempted, the student will be notified and placed on VA Benefits Probation for the following term. If a deficiency occurs at the end of the following term and, unless a University-recognized emergency exists, the student’s VA benefits must be suspended until cleared by the Regional VA Advisement and Counseling Service. Satisfactory completion of grades during the term following the graded period will remove the veteran from Benefits Probation unless other grade deficiencies exist.

VA Policy: It is the responsibility of the veteran to immediately advise the institution of his/her discontinuance of training or reduction in unit load. The last day of the veteran’s actual attendance must be immediately reported to the Veterans Administration in order to terminate the educational benefits as of that date to avoid overpayment.

Alliant Procedure: Withdrawal and Change-of-Program dates are entered into the student information system by the Registrar’s Office which reports these dates and changes to the VA in a timely manner to avoid overpayments. The last date of attendance must be accurately recorded by the faculty or staff on the Change-of-Program form, or, if a student does not officially drop the course, the instructor must indicate the last date of attendance on the attendance or official grade roster. The faculty and staff are notified of this responsibility. A secondary method will be used in the event the instructor is unable to ascertain the last date of attendance. Veteran students are informed that they are required to report to the University their last date of attendance immediately upon withdrawal or dropping of courses.

VA Policy: Certifications for short-term classes must show the actual beginning and ending dates of the shortened period and the units the veteran is carrying in the shortened course.

Alliant Procedure: Deans and directors must report in advance any deviations from the standard published calendar and all short-term courses to the Registrar’s Office.

VA Policy: To continue receiving benefits, the veteran must maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Alliant Procedure: Student academic records are reviewed at the end of each term to ensure satisfactory academic progress. If a deficiency is noted (including, but not limited to GPA below 2.0 for undergraduates, or below 3.0 for graduate students), students are referred to the Student Evaluation Review Committee (see section: Satisfactory Academic Progress ), which may result in the student being placed on Warning, Probation, or Dismissal.

Wellness Center

Alliant provides free health services to all San Diego students who have paid the wellness fee. A registered nurse is available to assist students with health issues during regular office hours and provides a range of wellness programs including yoga, meditation, and massage.

Consumer Information

Alliant International University annually publishes information about its policies on the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on campus, crime statistics on campus including sex crimes and school policies regarding sexual and other forms of harassment. This information is located on Alliant’s website at http://consumerinfo.alliant.edu and is distributed annually to all students and employees.

Non-Discrimination

Alliant International University prohibits unlawful discrimination in employment and in its educational programs and activities, including internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, relationships with outside vendors, use of contractors and consultants and in its admission or access thereto, on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin or descent, color, creed, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability (including physical, disease, psychiatric or psychological disability), medical condition, pregnancy, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, or physical characteristics. The University will conduct its programs, services and activities consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and orders.

The following persons are designated to coordinate the University’s responsibilities under the law and to insure compliance with the University’s policy against discrimination:

Russ Newman, PhD, JD
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
San Diego/San Francisco
(858) 635-4535

Mark Brody, JD
Assistant General Counsel and Risk Manager
San Diego
(858) 635-4807

Franchesca Garagorri
Human Resources Department
San Francisco
(415) 955-2045

Directors of Campus and Student Services at Fresno, Irvine, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco.

Sexual Harassment

The prohibition against sexual harassment, a form of discrimination on the basis of sex, is set forth in the University “Policy on Non-Discrimination.” The term “sexual harassment” means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This behavior is unacceptable in the academic environment and in other University-related settings such as University-sponsored activities or University-related social events. The entire policy is available in the Human Resources offices.

Student-Initiated Discrimination Grievance

It is University policy that all persons should enjoy freedom from unlawful discrimination of any kind, including harassment or retaliation for reporting a complaint. This policy applies to prohibit discrimination between members of the University community, including between students and between employees and students.

Alliant encourages prompt reporting of complaints so that a rapid response can be made and appropriate action can be taken. Note that reporting a complaint need not be limited to someone who was the target of the discrimination.

The compliance officers listed in the section on non-discrimination and others are available to help students resolve problems informally. The University encourages discussion between the parties directly involved in a grievance, especially in the early stages of a dispute before the respective parties have assumed official or public positions which may polarize the dispute and render a solution more difficult. In any event, students have the right to file a formal written grievance—either initially or if informal resolution is not possible.

Filing a Formal Grievance

Any student who feels that he or she has been subjected to discrimination by a student or by the University through any of its employees, entities, policies, procedures, or programs may report the matter in writing to:

Franchesca Garagorri
Human Resources Department
Alliant International University
1 Beach Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94133
Telephone (415) 955-2045

An explanation of the entire procedure is available from the above office and is published in the relevant undergraduate or graduate student handbook.

Disclosure or Release of Student Information

Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. To protect the privacy of students, the law sets certain conditions on the disclosure of personal information kept by the University.

Student name, address, telephone number(s), e-mail address, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received and most recent previous school attended are designated by Alliant as Directory Information and may be disclosed without the student’s prior consent. Students may request that Directory Information not be released by providing a written statement to the Registrar’s Office.

Copies of the complete student records privacy policy may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office, the Business Office, or the Student Life Office. A notice to students of their rights regarding their education records is published in the student handbook.

Conduct

Alliant International University expects all students to adhere to the civil laws and regulations in effect at the location where they are enrolled and the academic and non-academic codes of conduct published in the University’s student handbooks and School/Center’s published academic policies. In addition, students are expected to meet and uphold the ethical standards of the professions for which they are receiving training. The University reserves the right to define professional competence and demeanor.

A student’s agreement to abide by the policies and procedures of the University is implicitly confirmed when the student accepts Alliant International University’s admissions offer and upon registration each term. Students are expected to respect the various administrative and academic deadlines listed in the academic calendar and to completely and accurately provide all financial aid information required. Failure to abide by any of the above constitutes grounds for probation or dismissal from the University.

Students who engage in conduct that disrupts the orderly functioning of the University may be subject to probation or dismissal from the program as set forth in the academic and non-academic codes of conduct. In the case of dismissal for cause, no fees will be refunded.

Problem Solving and Dispute Resolution Guidelines

The purpose of Alliant International University’s problem solving and informal dispute resolution guidelines and policies is to resolve problems in a manner that maintains positive relationships. The guidelines outline a series of steps which you should use if you feel you have been adversely affected by decisions, differences, misunderstandings, or problems that have arisen with faculty, staff, administrators, or other students. The full policy and procedure is in the student handbook and can be found at http://www.alliant.edu/aboutAlliant/student life & services/registrar.

In brief, the policy provides:

Dispute Resolution Process

  1.  Discussion: When you are faced with a concern or problem, seek the information you need, if any, and address the issue by talking with the person/people with whom you have the dispute and attempt to resolve it with him/her/them. The problem may involve academic or administrative policy, procedure, decision, or conduct. Make a good faith attempt to resolve the problem through one or more discussions about the problem with the person or people most directly involved.
     
  2. Seeking collaborative assistance from a University-designated individual: If you feel unsure about where to go, if you need advice about how to engage in a discussion about difficult issues, if you have attempted direct discussion and the problem does not seem to be moving toward resolution, or if you would like additional help or support in continuing the resolution process, you may seek assistance from your local Director of Campus Student Services, or the Associate Vice President for Student Life on the San Diego campus.
     
  3. Written complaint: If the problem is still not resolved to your satisfaction after using the assistance provided by one of the individuals who is designated to assist you, you may present the situation in writing to the program director in the case of academic issues or to the director of campus and student services in the case of administrative issues. That person will investigate the issue.
     
  4. Grievance: The Grievance Procedure may be used only if the problem solving and dispute resolution processes described above have been followed and have been unsuccessful in resolving the matter. Filing of a grievance is rare but may occur when students believe they have been adversely affected by an action of another member or members of the community in certain serious circumstances.

For complete information on the policies and for a copy of the guidelines, please contact the Director of Campus and Student Services, or the Associate Vice President for Student Life on the San Diego campus.

Office of the Dean of Students

The Office of the Dean of Students provides support for students and promotes the academic mission of the University. The Office assists students in the resolution of problems, provides information about campus resources, and promotes initiatives that address the needs of students. The responsibilities of the office include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Promotes student well-being and advocates as appropriate for student concerns
     
  • Advises students on their rights and responsibilities as Alliant students
     
  • Provides information to students, faculty, and staff on appeals, grievances, and University policies
     
  • Assess student climate and satisfaction and works with the relevant parties to improve upon the areas identified as needing attention
     
  • Facilitates the resolution of concerns and disputes at the lowest level possible
     
  • Consults with faculty on student concerns and student disciplinary processes
     
  • Facilitates Non-academic Code of Conduct process
     
  • Encourages students to engage in extracurricular learning opportunities that support the multicultural and international mission of the University
     
  • Serves as an administrative liaison for the Student Government Association and relevant student clubs
     
  • Consults with legal/University counsel on relevant student issues

Contact Us: The Office of the Dean of Students, Fletcher Hall, 10455 Pomerado Road, San Diego, CA 92131

Dean of Students: Dr. Craig Brewer (858)-635-4560.