Notification of rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, sets forth requirements regarding the privacy of student records. FERPA governs the release of educational records maintained by an educational institution and affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records as follows:
- The right to inspect and review their educational records within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed 45 days.
- The right to request the amendment of their education records that they believe are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of their privacy rights.
- The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in their education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
- The right to block release of any or all personally identifiable information as directory information, which is not subject to the above restrictions on disclosure.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failure by Brewton-Parker College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
- The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is as follows:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
Students may petition to amend a record or part of a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. A hearing by an impartial review committee will be provided within a reasonable period of time and the decision will be given in writing within 45 days of the request. Students may not use this hearing process as a means of contesting grades that have been granted, but they do retain the right to challenge whether a grade was correctly recorded. The grade appeal process should be followed for grade disputes.
Consent must be obtained from students before personally identifiable records are released, with certain noted exceptions. These exceptions include requests from certain government agencies, from organizations conducting specified studies, requests pertaining to financial aid, requests from accrediting organizations, from parents of dependent students (pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code), and release of records required by judicial order. Consent for the release of records must be in writing and must be signed and dated. Consent must include the names of the persons to whom the records will be sent and the reasons such persons are receiving them.
CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLIANCE
Brewton-Parker Christian University complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §2000d, et seq.) and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. §1681, et seq.). The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence), national or ethnic origin, or other protected characteristics in any of its policies, practices, procedures, programs, or activities. This policy applies to all students, employees, and third parties.
Retaliation against any individual for reporting discrimination, participating in an investigation, or opposing discriminatory practices is strictly prohibited. Retaliation constitutes a separate violation of this policy and will be subject to disciplinary action.
The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries and complaints under this policy:
Primary Civil Rights Compliance Officer
Cynthia Reese
Office: Parker 113
201 David-Eliza Fountain Circle
Mount Vernon, GA 30445
Email: creese3@bpc.edu
Phone: 912-583-3316
Cell:478-697-0569
Alternate Civil Rights Compliance Officer
Justin Russell, Provost
Office: Gates Hall, 1 st Floor
201 David-Eliza Fountain Circle
Mount Vernon, GA 30445
Email: justin.russell@bpc.edu
Phone: 912- 583-3108
Cell: 912-293-1532
The University encourages the reporting of all perceived incidents of sexual discrimination, harassment, or misconduct. BPCU encourages those who have experienced any form of sex discrimination or misconduct to seek all available assistance, and to utilize the University Title IX grievance process and/or criminal prosecution of the alleged offender. The University will support each individual in making decisions to report and will respect the individual’s autonomy in deciding how to proceed to the extent possible. However, the University will balance the individual’s interest with its obligation to provide an overall safe environment.
Off Campus Reporting: BPCU encourages all individuals to seek assistance from law enforcement immediately after an incident of sexual misconduct. To report such incidents to local law enforcement call:
- Emergency Assistance Mt. Vernon Police Department/Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office: 911
- Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
On Campus Reporting: The BPCU Title IX grievance process begins when the University has “actual knowledge.” Actual knowledge means notice to the Title IX Coordinator, or to an official with authority to institute corrective measures on the recipient’s behalf. A report may be made to the Title IX Coordinator or a Responsible Employee in person, by telephone, in writing, or by email.
These procedures apply to complaints involving discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct under Title VI and Title IX. For complaints alleging sexual harassment as defined below, the grievance procedures conform to the requirements of 34 C.F.R. §106.45.
Sexual harassment means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:
1. An employee conditioning an aid, benefit, or service on participation in unwelcome sexual conduct (quid pro quo);
2. Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University’s education program or activity;
3. Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking.
1. Complaints may be made in person, by telephone, in writing, or by email to the Civil Rights Compliance Officer.
2. Upon receipt, the officer will conduct a preliminary investigation to gather and preserve available evidence, including party and witness statements, documents, emails, texts, social media artifacts, photographs, or video.
3. The officer also will conduct informal efforts to resolve the complaint through interactive conversation with the complainant, defendant, witnesses, or others, or through informal mediation.
4. If the complaint cannot be resolved informally within five (5) calendar days, then the officer will schedule a meeting of the standing Grievance Committee to hear and decide the matter no later than ten (10) calendar days from the date the officer received the complaint.
5. All parties will be notified in writing of the date, time, and place of the meeting.
6. Complainant will be invited to state the nature of the alleged discrimination before the Grievance Committee and answer any questions the members may want to ask.
7. Any party to the proceeding has the right to present direct testimony through witnesses and/or any other relevant evidence in support of the party’s allegations or defense.
8. All parties will be given written notice of the Grievance Committee’s decision within five (5) calendar days following the meeting, including the basis for the decision.
9. Within seven (7) days of Complainant’s receipt of written notice of an adverse decision by the Grievance Committee, the parties may file an appeal with the standing University’s Appeals Committee. Like the original complaint, the parties should submit an appeal to the Primary Civil Rights Compliance Officer or the alternate if the Primary Civil Rights Compliance Officer is the subject of the complaint.
10. The officer will schedule a meeting for the University Appeals Committee to hear and decide the appeal no later than five (5) calendar days from the date the officer received the appeal.
11. All parties will be notified in writing of the date, time, and place of the appeal hearing before the University Appeals Committee.
12. In an appeal before the University Appeals Committee, each party will be accorded the same rights (described in Procedures 5-8 above) as were available when appearing before the Grievance Committee.
13. All parties will be given written notice of the University Appeals Committee’s decision within five (5) calendar days following its decision, including the basis for the decision.
14. Except upon presentation of new evidence unavailable at the time of the appeal, the decision of the University Appeals Committee will be final and not subject to review by college officials.
15. The University will take steps to prevent recurrence of any discrimination and to correct discriminatory effects on the complainant and others, if appropriate.
The University will take appropriate corrective action to prevent recurrence of the discrimination and correct any discriminatory effects on the complainant or others, as appropriate.
Grievance procedures will be published to all students and employees.
These procedures do not apply to employment termination or non-renewal unless a Title VI or Title IX violation is alleged.
The President retains final authority on employment matters, in accordance with College Bylaws.
Timelines may be extended for good cause, with written notice to both parties stating the reason for the delay.
Within seven calendar days from notice of an adverse decision by the University Appeals Committee and upon presentation of new evidence unavailable at the time of the appeal, an aggrieved party may petition Primary Civil Rights Compliance Officer for further review and/or for a rehearing of the committee’s decision. Such petition must be in writing and submitted to the Primary Civil Rights Compliance Officer by email. Upon receipt of a petition for final review, Primary Civil Rights Compliance Officer has full discretion to grant or deny the request, amend or vacate the committee’s decision, or remand the case for further consideration by the committee. Such review or rehearing is a discretionary appeal of last resort, after which a student has no further recourse under Brewton-Parker policy.
This policy is intended to ensure a fair, prompt, and equitable process for resolving complaints of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct in accordance with federal law.
Files of Grievance proceedings are kept in locked filing cabinets in the Human Resources Office.
Student complaints pertaining to academic, disciplinary, housing, financial, or any other matters outside the jurisdiction of the University Grievance/Appeals Committee should be resolved within the following offices:
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Brewton-Parker Christian University seeks to support and promote qualities of personal integrity. The college believes that all members of the community have the responsibility to participate in learning with honesty and integrity. Fundamentally, this principle asserts that faculty, staff, students, and administrators must fulfill the commitments we make as we enter our academic endeavors, and we must respect the learning process.
This respect includes, but is not limited to the following:
- A commitment to working hard at learning, both in class and out of class;
- A sense of the value that all members of the learning community can bring;
Brewton-Parker Christian University students have the right to request that the college correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If Brewton-Parker Christian University decides not to amend the record, the student has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the college still decides not to amend the record, the student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.
Schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification is left to the discretion of each school. The publication of this notice in this Student Handbook serves as the required disclosure to students. In the event students do not wish to have their directory information shared, students must provide written notice to the Office of the Registrar no later than the 1st day of classes.
Pursuant to Title IX, Part 86, Title VII, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, no person in the United States shall, on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity administered by Brewton-Parker Christian University; or in any term, condition, or privilege of employment. Brewton-Parker Christian University does not discriminate against, or otherwise harass, qualified persons on the basis of Protected Class in its recruitment, admission, employment, facility, and accessibility or service. Furthermore, it is a violation of Brewton-Parker Christian University policy for any employee or student, to harass another employee or student by making sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or other physical or expressive behavior that may constitute a hostile environment. Harassment of any form is not tolerated. Students who think that they have been discriminated against, harassed, or otherwise had their rights violated shall make a formal, written complaint to the Office of Student Development and Success. The complaint should contain at a minimum the date and place of the alleged incident as well as names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all witnesses. The facts and context of the complaint should be documented.
Originally known as the Campus Security Act, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998, commonly known as the “Clery Act,” is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to collect information on campus crime and to publish and distribute such data along with designated institutional policy statements on safety and security to all current students and employees and to any applicant for admissions or employment, to meet the requirements of the legislation. The College publishes an annual report of campus crime statistics as well as periodic crime alert notices and reports. Copies of the report can be obtained from Campus Security located in the Newton Building or by visiting the Brewton-Parker Christian University website at https://www.bpc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Annual-Campus-Safety.2021-22.pdf.
The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act, or Campus Save Act (SaVE), is a 2013 amendment to the federal Jeanne Clery Act. SaVE was designed by advocates along with victims/survivors of sexual violence and championed by a bi-partisan coalition in Congress as a companion to Title IX that will help bolster the response to and prevention of sexual violence in higher education.
SaVE requires colleges and universities, both public and private, participating in federal student aid programs (covering virtually every campus in the United States) to increase transparency about the scope of sexual violence on campus, guarantee victims enhanced rights, provide for standards in institutional conduct proceedings, and provide campus community wide prevention educational programming. Incidents that affect the health, welfare and security of the college will lead to immediate expulsion. Any public display of affection will not be tolerated. The Board of Trustees and the College President have the authority to enforce College regulations. The VP of Enrollment and Athletics is responsible for enforcing college regulations as they apply to the student body.
Students, faculty, and staff are responsible for reporting cases of misconduct promptly to the Student Development and Success Office. In all cases, the Vice President of Enrollment and Athletics or designee has the authority to decide on any appropriate disciplinary measures as outlined in the Student Handbook, unless action warrants an administrative decision.
Brewton-Parker Christian University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified students with learning, physical, or other disabilities and impairments, whether chronic or temporary, under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. §794), its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 104, and other applicable state and federal laws. Pursuant to these standards the University will make such modifications to its academic and other requirements as are necessary to ensure that such requirements do not discriminate, or have the effect of discriminating, against qualified students on the basis of their claimed and documented disabilities.
However, notwithstanding the above policy, the University may decline a requested modification to any instructional (or directly related licensing) requirement that the University can demonstrate is essential to a student’s degree program and would result in a fundamental alteration of that requirement. Declining to approve such a fundamental alteration will not be regarded as discriminatory within the meaning of Section 504 and its implementing regulations. In this case, the University will offer alternate modifications/ academic adjustments that would not result in a fundamental alteration of the program, service or activity.
The following procedures describe the process the University uses in determining whether students with disabilities are entitled to auxiliary aids, academic adjustments, or other aids or services needed to provide them an equal opportunity to participate in the University’s programs and activities. .
Disability support services are provided through the Office of the Provost (also serving as the Office of Disability Services), located on the first floor of Gates Hall at 201 David-Eliza Fountain Circle at the front of campus. Requests for accommodation should be directed to the Provost via email at justin.russell@bpc.edu or by arranging an appointment either in person or by telephone at 912-583-3108. With this initial conference, the University will conduct an interactive process with the student, including requests for documentation supporting a claim of disability and consideration of prior evaluations, diagnoses, accommodations, academic plans, and other documents that promote informed decisions and optimal support for the student.
In order to qualify for accommodation, students are responsible to provide, as necessary, current, diagnostic documentation of their disability or impairment from a licensed professional care provider qualified in the field relevant to a claimed disability or impairment. Examples of such care providers include physicians, clinical psychologists, athletic trainers, and others qualified to evaluate and diagnose specific conditions that impair learning, mobility, vision, hearing, and other major life functions.
In the case of chronic learning, psychological, or other disorders that may change over time, documentation must be current within three years. Note that “Individualized Education Programs” (IEPs) and “Section 504 Accommodation Plans” from high schools or transfer institutions of higher education, while they provide valuable background information, are not diagnostic documents and do not suffice as documentation of claimed disabilities.
Upon documentation of a qualifying condition, the Office of Disability Services will certify the student as a qualified person with a disability entitled to accommodation and will provide a letter or memorandum detailing approved accommodations to course instructors, residence life and athletics staff, and other service providers on campus. Accommodations will be provided on an individual basis upon re-evaluation each semester or, in the case of temporary disability, for a shorter period to be determined based on the diagnosis. Auxiliary aids, academic adjustments or modifications, and other aids or services include but are not limited to the following:
- extended-time testing
- testing in an isolated or small-group environment
- dual-modality testing (including readers)
- large-print testing
- use of assistive technology in classroom
- use of note-takers
- one-on-one or small-group tutoring
- use of service animals
- extended time permitted for degree completion
- substitution of specific courses required for completion of degree requirements
- adaptation of the manner in which specific courses are conducted
- taped texts, interpreters, or other effective methods of making orally delivered materials available to students with hearing impairments
- readers in libraries for students with visual impairments
Accommodation Timeline
Initial Conference - within five (5) calendar days of student’s claim of disability and/or request for accommodation
Memorandum/Letter of Accommodation - within five (5) calendar days of initial conference or of the College’s receipt of documentation of claimed disability or when class rosters are finalized at the end of the “Drop/Add” period
Students granted accommodations will receive a copy of the letter or memorandum detailing approved accommodations. Likewise, any students who are denied requested accommodations will receive a copy of the decision in writing explaining the reasons for denial and the procedures available for appealing such decisions.
Student complaints that pertain to discrimination or harassment based on disability should be submitted to the College’s “Section 504 & Civil Rights Compliance Officer” for resolution in accordance with the College’s Grievance Procedures and, if necessary, by referral to the standing Grievance Committee. The College designates Ms. Cynthia Reese, Assistant Professor of English, as an alternate to receive complaints filed pursuant to Section 504 if the Provost is the subject of the complaint.
Contact information for the Compliance Officer and alternate are as follows:
Section 504 & Civil Rights Compliance Officer
Justin E. Russell, Provost Office:
Gates Hall, 1st Floor
201 David-Eliza Fountain Circle
Mount Vernon, GA 30445
Email: justin.russell@bpc.edu
Phone (W) 912-583-3108
Alternate Section 504 & Civil Rights Compliance Officer
Cynthia Reese
Office: Parker 113
201 David-Eliza Fountain Circle
Mount Vernon, GA 30445
Email: creese3@bpc.edu
Phone: 912-583-3316
Cell:478-697-0569
In compliance with applicable law, Brewton-Parker Christian University has developed the following procedures. The President periodically appoints the Compliance Officer, who receives complaints, helps mediate disputes, and facilitates forwarding of the complaints to the standing Grievance Committee when necessary. The University’s Grievance Committee has responsibility for hearing and making decisions on matters that cannot be resolved by informal mediation. Procedures are as follows:
1. All complaints must be written, dated, signed by complainant, and filed with the “Section 504 & Civil Rights Compliance Officer” of the University.
2. Initially upon receipt of a complaint the officer will conduct a preliminary investigation to gather and preserve available evidence, including relevant party and witness statements, photographs, videos, emails, texts, social media artifacts, and other documents or things.
3. The officer also will conduct informal efforts to resolve the complaint through interactive conversation with the complainant, defendant, witnesses, or others, or through informal mediation.
4. If the complaint cannot be resolved informally within five (5) calendar days, then the officer will schedule a meeting of the standing Grievance Committee to hear and decide the matter no later than ten (10) calendar days from the date the officer received the complaint.
5. All parties will be notified in writing of the date, time, and place of the meeting.
6. Complainant will be invited to state the nature of the alleged discrimination before the Grievance Committee and answer any questions the members may want to ask.
7. Any party to the proceeding has the right to present direct testimony through witnesses and/or any other relevant evidence in support of the party’s allegations or defense.
8. All parties will be given written notice of the Grievance Committee’s decision within five (5) calendar days following the meeting, including the basis for the decision.
9. Within seven (7) days of Complainant’s receipt of written notice of an adverse decision by the Grievance Committee, the parties may file an appeal with the standing University Appeals Committee. Like the original complaint, the parties should submit an appeal to the Provost or the alternate if the Provost is the subject of the complaint. See procedures for non-academic appeals to the University Appeals Committee at pages 69-71 of the Academic Catalog, published at [http://www.bpc.edu > Home > Registrar > 2021-2022 Catalog].
10. The officer will schedule a meeting for the University Appeals Committee to hear and decide the appeal no later than five (5) calendar days from the date the officer received the appeal.
11. All parties will be notified in writing of the date, time, and place of the appeal hearing before the University Appeals Committee.
12. In an appeal before the University Appeals Committee, each party will be accorded the same rights (described in Procedures 5-8 above) as were available when appearing before the Grievance Committee.
13. All parties will be given written notice of the University Appeals Committee’s decision within five (5) calendar days following its decision, including the basis for the decision.
14. Except upon presentation of new evidence unavailable at the time of the appeal, the decision of the University Appeals Committee will be final and not subject to review by university officials.
15. The University will take steps to prevent recurrence of any discrimination and to correct discriminatory effects on the complainant and others, if appropriate.
16. Publication of the above procedures will be made to all students and employees of Brewton-Parker Christian University.
The University values and additional responsibilities are outlined in the Student Handbook. In accepting students for admission, Brewton-Parker Christian University makes several assumptions:
1. That all students, by the very fact that they have chosen Brewton-Parker Christian University, thereby accept the standard of personal conduct which the University considers fundamental to group living and the educational process.
2. That all students assume personal responsibility for the honor of the University as an institution and agree to live in accordance with its standards. Disciplinary actions for rule violations are outlined in the Student Handbook. It is the responsibility of all students to become familiar with this information and to conduct themselves in accordance with the standards of Brewton-Parker Christian University.
3. That whenever students demonstrate, in the judgment of the administration or faculty or its properly authorized committees, that they are unwilling or unable to demonstrate and maintain the Biblical standards of the University in academics or citizenship, or whenever students are found to be uncooperative members of the student body, or when the University feels it can do no more for the students, their period of residence at the University and privilege of class instruction may be terminated without specific charges by the Administration. Brewton-Parker Christian University, a private educational institution, retains complete judgment as to students’ fitness to continue to share the privileges of registration.
4. The University reserves the right to require withdrawal of students whose scholarship is not satisfactory, and those who are not regularly attending classes for which they are registered, or those who for any other reason are regarded as not conducting themselves in accord with biblical behavioral and relationship standards. Students who withdraw in good standing may return the next semester without formal readmission. Those who leave on probation are readmitted on probation.
5. Students are permitted to keep or operate vehicles on the campus; however, students are required to register the vehicles with the Student Development Office, drive slowly and carefully, and operate the vehicle in accordance with specific regulations stated in the Student Handbook.
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