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Standard II: Ethics and IntegrityStandard II CriteriaNarrative of compliance with references to Document RoadmapCommitment to academic freedom, intellectual freedom, freedom of expression, and respect for intellectual property rights.The college's commitment to academic and intellectual freedom is expressed in the Board Policy 5.0000, Academic Freedom and Responsibility, which defines the rights of members of the academic community to determine content and methodology (consistent with the course description), discuss content as they see fit, discuss controversial issues related to their discipline, the right to free speech and publication without being subject to institutional censorship or discipline, freedom in research and publication where these activities do not interfere with academic duties. These points are similarly outlined in Article 4 of the Faculty Agreement. The college's respect for intellectual property rights can be found in their patent and copyright policy, defined in: Article 5 of the Faculty Agreement, Article 22 of the Professional Staff Agreement, and Article XVII of the Administrative Association Agreement. The three clarify points such as: a staff member's property rights to their work, rights to publish for private profit, to negotiate privately, and to receive all royalties once the college has been reimbursed for any extended or release time taken to complete said work. It is stated that in such cases, the college will have joint rights until it is reimbursed. The college will also have rights to unrestricted use within the college and with other non-profit institutions. Furthermore, the college addresses the issue of plagiarism by students in order to protect intellectual property. There is a Plagiarism Tutorial on the Library's webpage, various syllabi address it, and disciplinary consequences and steps are outlined by the director of Student Conduct and Compliance.2. A climate that fosters respect among students, faculty, staff, and administration from a range of diverse backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives.Narrative needs to address employee and student recruitment in relation to diversityBrookdale’s commitment to diversity & respect is apparent throughout the institution, starting with the college’s Vision, Mission and Values. Words such as “Diversity”, “open-access”, “a socially diverse environment”, “multicultural”, and “inclusive” are found in our Mission Statement as well as in the majority of our stated Values. In formal descriptions of the college and in the advertising of vacancies (online & printed), a commitment to Equal Opportunity and Non-discrimination can be readily found. Examples of this can be seen on the college website’s About the College page which includes the paragraph “Brookdale Community College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action educational institution. In order to promote this goal, the College makes positive efforts to ensure equal opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability or veteran status.” Our Non-Discrimination Policy (Policy 3.9002) and associated Regulation (Regulation 3.9002R) both reiterate the commitment to equal opportunity and state that Brookdale “does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices.” Demographic data of the student population (Brookdale Fast Facts and 2010-2015 Demographic Data internal report) emphasizes the increasingly diverse population Brookdale serves. Efforts to better match the demographics served to reflect that of Monmouth County and the surrounding community can be seen in college-wide initiatives such as the Minority Male Initiative (Article 1, Article 2, Article 3) and recruitment and support of Adult Learners (Adult Learners webpage, Plus 50 Grant Article, Plus 50 Article).In addition, the 2013 Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Report established 4 objectives: Identify underserved and emerging populations, Identify the programs that should be offered at the Branch Campus and Higher Education Centers, Identify barriers to enrollment, and Identify barriers to student success. The plan was developed in conjunction with the Monmouth County Planning Board and guided the college's recruitment efforts. Resources which are available to the entire Brookdale community include our Disability Services, which focus not only on students but also provides services & resources to help Faculty & Staff meet the needs of students with disabilities. As stated on the Disability Services webpage: “We are dedicated to the equality of educational opportunity, and are strongly committed to the creation of a campus environment that is free of discrimination and bias in matters affecting people with disabilities.” The site provides a link to the Resource Guide for Faculty & Staff which highlights strategies for accommodations & inclusion for those with disabilities, in and out of the classroom. (Note: The “Getting Started” link on the website doesn’t work and the Resource Guide is outdated, i.e. Sept. 2013.) Our LGBTQ Ally Program embraces diversity, teaches awareness & sensitivity, and provides support & resources for students, staff, and faculty of the LGBTQ community, and beyond. Numerous employees have received specialized training as “Allies” and are committed to making Brookdale a welcoming place for all members of the community. The LGBTQ Ally webpage provides easy access to information, resources, and the names of available ALLY members. The Ally logo is prominently displayed on campus to indicate a safe environment where a trained Ally is located. Brookdale's Governance system is a participatory recommending body which brings students, faculty and staff together to influence all aspects of College life. The current Governance Constitution explicitly states principles such as “mutual respect”, “diversity” and “good faith”. The Diversity Council is an integral part of the Governance structure and is charged with reviewing and recommending College policies and practices concerning diversity (Governance’s SharePoint page). The Office of Human Resources & Organization Safety (HR) recognizes “the value of every employee and the different talents and perspectives that each person brings to the College,” and is “committed to treating every employee and visitor with fairness and respect”, as stated in HR’s Mission Statement. This is represented in Policies & Regulations regarding Hiring Practices, specifically Policy 3.0001 Staffing and Hiring, Regulation 3.9007R Staffing of Faculty Positions, Regulation 3.9010R Staffing of Administrative & Staff Positions, and Policy 3.9003 Employees with Disabilities. Both regulations ensure a “… commitment to a multiracial, multiethnic, and multicultural faculty.” This is also seen in employee demographic data (2010-2015 Demographic Data internal report). Criteria for serving on Interview & Selection Committees is to “act as an advocate of diversity” to ensure a “comprehensive and impartial recruitment” from a “diverse pool of applicants.” The college adheres to Section 101 of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (Policy 3.9003) the college “will provide reasonable accommodations… to individuals with disabilities who are qualified for the positions for which they are applying or in which they are employed so long as the individuals can perform the essential elements of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.”HR disseminates information and provides training in support of federal/state laws and institutional policies regarding diversity, inclusion, and an understanding of all backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives. Documentation is available to employees on the Info & Forms webpage and is periodically distributed via email announcements. Online training for Preventing Unlawful Harassment, Diversity, Ethics, and Title IX/SaVE/VAWA is provided and monitored by the HR Department. Students have the opportunity to explore and participate in “social and cultural programs that give a new dimension to education”, as indicated in the Student Life & Activities Mission Statement found on the Student Life website. There are more than 50 recognized student clubs & organizations . Each club’s Constitution (SLB Guidelines for Clubs' Constitutions - Page 4) includes the statement: “Full membership in this organization shall only be available to students of Brookdale Community College regardless of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, or political, ethnic, or religious affiliation. This organization shall not limit any member in the enjoyment of any right or privilege, advantage or opportunity.” As an institution that is committed to diversity, and welcoming all of our students, Brookdale fully supports the May 2016 guidance from the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights regarding transgender students, not only to comply with a federal directive, but to ensure that our transgender students feel fully supported by our College. To that end, the Vice President for Student Success sent a letter to all employees directing them to support our trans students by allowing them to use gendered spaces that correlate with their identity, without any requirement of legal or medical documentation. As stated in their Mission Statement, the Office of Career & Leadership Development provides current students and alumni “partnerships … with faculty, staff, alumni, employers and community organizations to help students explore various career, experiential, and employment opportunities.” In addition, the Office provides opportunities for students to develop leadership skills by offering “individual workshops … about diversity,?how to deal with conflict, group dynamics, and?… leadership style.” The Office of Continuing & Professional Studies (CPS) provides Career Development, and Lifelong Learning opportunities for the adult learner. Students come from all walks of life, levels of education attainment, social & racial demographics, ages, etc. Programs of note include ESL (English as a Second Language), funded by a federal grant and free to all participants, Displaced Homemakers Services, Small Business Development Center, providing outreach to the Latino community, and Enrichment Opportunities for students with developmental disabilities , all of which are offered at the Lincroft and Freehold campuses, as well as the Higher Education Centers. Brookdale provides classes & resources for students from other countries and those who speak languages other than English. The International Education Center advises over 100 international students with F-1 visas. Their mission, as seen on the International Education Center webpage, “... is to foster a learning community in which students, faculty, staff, and community members develop global literacy and cultivate cultural awareness and empathy.” Services include Study Abroad Programs and the Global Citizenship Project (GCP) that provide students with curricular & extracurricular opportunities to become “global citizens”; employees and community members can also participate, and faculty learn to incorporate global issues into their curriculum. The academic English as a Second Language (ESL) program provides a culturally diverse atmosphere where teachers and tutors are experts in second language acquisition. In addition to the ESL program, Brookdale provides a Language Bank website which lists employees willing to help students, faculty and staff with translations to/from numerous languages. The “Bienvenidos a Brookdale” webpage provides Spanish-speaking students the Spanish translation of the Brookdale Welcome webpage. Brookdale’s Veteran’s Center is dedicated to providing support services to veterans and active duty military personnel. The Veteran Services webpage provides guidance, links to services, and other pertinent information to past and present members of our military. The Brookdale Foundation has specific scholarships for students from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds. For example, scholarships are available for minority students, students with disabilities, athletes, and students with limited financial means. Unique to Brookdale, the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Education (Chhange) is a non-profit volunteer organization located on the Lincroft campus. The center’s Mission Statement expresses the commitment to the “elimination of racism, antisemitism and all form of prejudice that damage our society” through “creative programs and activities regarding these crucial human issues.” Chhange serves the community and provides educational opportunities for K-12 schools, and Brookdale students, faculty, and staff. 3. A grievance policy that is documented and disseminated to address complaints or grievances raised by students, faculty, or staff. The institution's policies and procedures are fair and impartial, and assure that grievances are addressed promptly, appropriately, and equitableThe College has many different policies and procedures for addressing different types of grievances and complaints by its stakeholders. For example, the "Internal Procedure for Complaints Alleging Discrimination, Harassment or Hostile Environments in the Workplace or Education Programs" newly revised in 2014, clearly spells out the steps for an employee to report complaints to Human Resources, specifically the Manager of Diversity, Inclusion and Compliance. Annually, all employees must electronically acknowledge that they received and read all documents related to employee grievance and complaints. Other types of grievance policies include: The College's "Non-discrimination policy", "Preventing and Responding to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Policy", and "Conscientious Employee Protection (Whistleblower) Act" In addition, the College's four bargaining units (Faculty (Article 6), Administrators (Article 9), Professional Staff (Article 18) and Police (Article 17)) have labor agreements which contain grievance procedures applicable to the terms and conditions of their contract. Each has clearly defined steps and timelines that provide appropriate due process. These master labor agreements can be found on the College's internal website, available to all employees. As changes are made to the agreements through negotiations contracts are appropriately updated. Current practice is the College follows similar grievance procedures for exempt employees.Similarly, students have fundamental rights regarding their safety, well being and access to an effective learning environment. The College has a Student Code of Conduct, which outlines the College's expectations regarding student behavior, and the process that will be used if those expectations are not met. If a member of the community, employee or student, has a concern regarding a student's misconduct, those concerns will be addressed through the Code. The process provides specific and appropriate due process protections, such as notification of charges against the student and an appeals process. It is carried out by the Manager of Student Conduct and Compliance. It can be found on the College's website, Catalog, Student Handbook, and it is emailed to all students every semester and it is disseminated at orientations.A similar Code of Conduct, modeled after the credit-student code, is in place for Continuing and Professional Studies students. Student orientation packets refer to the Code of Conduct and it can be found on the College's website. In addition to student behavioral grievance procedures, the College also outlines specific grievance procedures for academic issues and concerns. For example, the Grade Appeal Process provides students with the means for addressing a concern with a course grade above and beyond their specific faculty member. In 2016, the process was reviewed and revised through Governance to specify the acceptable criteria for an appeal. The Academic Integrity Code provides faculty with a fair and appropriate way to address issues such as plagiarism and cheating. These documents can be found on the VP of Learning's website and are addressed in every course syllabi and the course catalog. When any member of the community has a grievance against a College employee, the procedure is to report those issues to the Human Resources Department. When any member of the community has a grievance against a student, the procedure is to report those issues to the Student Conduct and Compliance Office. In addition to College internal processes, students may also take advantage of external organizations' grievance procedures to resolve concerns they may have (i.e. external accreditation bodies, Department of Education). 4. The avoidance of conflict of interest or the appearance of such conflict in all activities and among all constituents.NOTE for narrative1.7060*The most current versions of the Code of Ethics for the Board can be found in the BOT Bylaws – not under the Board Policies (). Further, BOT Bylaws were fully revised and reviewed at the May 2016 BOT meeting. This revisions includes additional changes the BOT Code of Ethics. (Check to see if the revisions were adopted in May.) Employee Annual Compliance** - this should have a link under Criteria 9 – probably don’t need a link here too.Use of the Ethics Hotline for reporting of issues beyond theft and fraud should be explored. If not this process, how are ethical violations reported anonymously? The College has policies, regulations, and Board of Trustee bylaws that address the avoidance of conflict of interest among all constituencies. The Code of Ethics Policies for The Board of Trustees (1.7060) and for College Employees (3.9008) both address adherence to ethical standards including full disclosure of any conflicts of interest as well as interest gained (personal, financial, economic, property, or other concern amounting to a right, advantage, share, or portion coming either directly or indirectly). The Board and all employees must sign a statement annually affirming the Code of Ethics and their intention to comply. The employees' Code of Ethics policy is part of the Employee Annual Compliance process (see Criteria #9 for a list of all 36 documents) that also requires employees to identify outside employment. As a result of changes in processes implemented in FY16, 100% of all employees complied with the review and completion of these documents (up from approximately 30% the prior year). In addition, both the Board of Trustees and the executive and confidential staff of the college must complete an annual Financial Disclosure Form, as required by the NJ State Division of Consumer Affairs. Since 2014 the college has had 100% compliance, with results reported out to the Audit Committee of the Board. In addition, the College has a Policy for Purchasing and Procurement of Goods from outside vendors, which ensures compliance with New Jersey laws that govern the College’s business affairs. Employees who work additional paid assignments during their regular working hours are required to complete Additional Assignment Accountability forms. By completing the form, employees attest to the fact the additional work doesn’t constitute a conflict of interest and doesn’t interfere with their primary work at the college. Brookdale hired an Internal Auditor in January 2012 following significant leadership challenges and subsequent executive leadership change. The Internal Auditor’s job is to ensure that the Board and the institution operate within the policies and bylaws governing the College. The College provides an Ethics Hotline as a vehicle for employees to confidentially report issues such as fraud and theft. Reports can be made via the Internet or toll-free calls. The messages are channeled through a third party provider. Employees remain anonymous though use of a PIN and reports of the concerns are directed to the Internal Auditor, the Associate VP, HR and Organizational Safety, and the President. The College offers various appeals processes to ensure students can appeal decisions they do not agree with regarding conduct, grades, financial aid matters, and other concerns, through a neutral (impartial) party thereby avoiding a conflict of interest. The appeals include: Code of Conduct Appeals, Grade Appeals, Financial Aid Appeals.5. Fair and impartial practices in the hiring, evaluation, promotion, discipline and separation of employees.Hiring College Policy 3.0001 shows commitment to fair and equitable hiring practices for all staff, faculty and administrators. The policy states Brookdale’s commitment to diversity, not only as a compliance responsibility, but as an active, conscious effort to build and develop diversity within the faculty and staff. These policies and practices apply to hiring for all constituencies and all regular positions. The college’s non-discrimination policy and regulation College Regulation 3.9002R and College Policy 3.9002, outline the legislation which the college complies with to ensure its status as an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. These include: Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended; Civil Rights Act of 1991; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 as amended; the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) SaVE Act provision Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended; Age Discrimination in Employment Act as amended; Americans with Disabilities Act; New Jersey Law Against Discrimination; and Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. The commitment to affirmative action and employees with disabilities are further outlined in College Policy 3.9007 and College Policy 3.0003. College Regulation 3-9010R: Staffing of Administrative and Staff Positions and College Regulation 3-9007R: Staffing of Faculty Positions). These regulations stipulate starting salaries and the hiring processes for all employees represented by the collective bargaining agreements. For non-represented employees, College Policy 3.0002 specifies that they receive the same benefits as similarly classified represented employees. Vacancy announcements are initially posted for internal candidates-those in regular benefit receiving positions, both full-and part-time. If a qualified internal candidate or adequate pool of candidates is not found, the search is open externally to all applicants. Applicants for positions requiring testing to ensure essential job duties are administered the same test, scoring, and evaluation (3.6019R Applicant Testing). The process to hire hourly workers, such as adjunct counselors, adjunct librarians, hourly administrators, hourly support staff including seasonal help, and temporary employees paid on time reports, is managed by the HR Department. Supervisors cannot hire hourly employees directly but assist in the recruitment process to “establish a qualified hourly workforce that reflects the diversity of our community”. Supervisors must complete, sign and forward for approval the Hourly Staffing Request Form for any approved vacant position or, at the start of the fiscal year, for all ‘continuing’ hourly incumbents. Supervisors may be required to interview and select from several candidates following guidelines provided by the HR Employment Manager. All available on-campus student positions are posted in an online job/internship database. To be eligible for both Federal Work Study and/or Student Help, students need to be currently enrolled for a minimum of 6 credits. Federal Work Study eligibility is based upon financial need. Hiring policy and procedures for student workers is outlined in the Student Worker Programs Supervisor’s Guideline prepared by Career and Leadership Development. According to the Board of Trustees Bylaws it is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees to appoint and fix the compensation and term of office for the President. Based on Board Policy, when a vacancy in the Office of the College President occurs the Board appoints a screening committee, broadly representative of the College community. Selection criteria is based on college need and set by the Board.Evaluation and PromotionCollective bargaining agreements for employees outline their evaluation and promotion procedures: Faculty Association Agreement: Article 7: Faculty Promotion Procedure; Article 8: Evaluation; Article 9: Evaluation ScheduleAdministrative Association Agreement: Article V: Performance Appraisal Professional Staff Association Agreement: Article 13: Performance EvaluationFraternal Order of Police Agreement: Article 11: Performance Evaluation Faculty tenure requires substantial evidence of the candidate’s excellence in teaching, scholarly achievement, and makes tenure recommendations to the BOT for approval (College Policy 3.5000 and Faculty Association Agreement: Article 7: Faculty Promotion Procedure).While no other bargaining unit has a promotion process, the Professional Staff Association has a fair, impartial and peer directed process which can result in a salary increase for those awarded (Professional Staff Association Agreement: Article 21: Performance Recognition)All non-represented employees follow the same procedures as similarly classified represented employees (Policy 3.0002). Need to include the form Student workers are evaluated following the guidelines listed in the Student Worker Programs Supervisor’s Guideline referenced above. The Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees is responsible for the facilitation of the President's Annual Evaluation Process and Goal Setting (Board of Trustees Bylaws, Section 1.4022).The Board of Trustees must also complete an annual self-assessment. Need more info re this BOT processDiscipline College Regulation 3.9009R outlines the college’s Progressive Discipline policy. If there is an infraction of college regulations, ethics or standards of conduct the following procedure is followed: The policy calls for verbal notification to employee, oral counseling or written reprimand. The employee will be suspended if he/she doesn’t respond or if a more serious infraction occurs. If the problem is not rectified, the employee will be dismissed. For serious infractions, termination could be the only step in the process. Supervisors are to review the process and procedures with Human Resources before implementation. Progressive discipline of an employee can be the subject of a grievance as outlined in collective bargaining agreements. (Refer to Criteria #3.) Separation of Employees Collective bargaining agreements include information regarding contract renewals or a reduction in force. College Policy 3.9005 denotes the policy in the event of a faculty reduction in force, addressing the development of a seniority list and layoff procedures. (NJAC 9A:7.2 - RIF for Tenured Faculty)To ensure uniformity regarding termination of non-academic employees, a Separation Report Form is completed by the supervisor and reviewed and approved by the appropriate College Officer. The Form includes reason for termination and eligibility for rehire; an exit interview is then scheduled with Human Resources. (3.6007R Separation Reports). Employment of hourly workers is “at will”. Supervisors must notify HR via email when hourly employees leave their positions prior to the originally established end date.Supervisors are advised to meet with the student worker in the event of a possible termination to attempt to correct any issue or educate the student on the policies of the department. If the issues are unresolved after attempts have been made at corrective action, the supervisor should refer the student to Career & Leadership Development. The student is informed in their Student Worker Packet and at the Orientation that they are "at will" employees and may be separated for any reason not protected by law, or terminated due to any college or departmental infraction or Student Code violation. 6. Honesty and truthfulness in public relations announcements, advertisements, recruiting and admissions materials and practices, as well as in internal communications.The Office of College Relations follows standard journalistic practices to ensure truth and accuracy in all of its communications – press releases, announcements, advertisements, and recruiting and admissions materials and practices. Their standards and guidelines, which govern marketing, editorial style, and social media standards, are accessible on the website to employees and students. This is also the office that is in charge of official College announcements, including internal communications. College Relations uses Brookdale students, staff, and faculty, and others in their communications wherever possible and requires a media consent form for all marketing-related photos and video. Students, faculty and staff usually fill out consent forms to allow their images to be used (except for specific instances, I.e. overhead shots of large crowds at campus events).Additionally, the College's current marketing campaign, "Success Reimagined", only utilizes images and videos of current or recent students. These videos, which allow students to tell their stories about their time at Brookdale, promote a more realistic image of the College, rather than relying on external or "canned" ads. College Relations and Marketing working collaboratively with the Recruitment Office produce recruitment-driven marketing communications. Statistical data is provided and/or verified for accuracy by Office of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (PIE). This information, for example Fast Facts and the Student Consumer Information, are both easily accessible to those visiting our website.The Regulation for Admissions drives the college's open admission process. Entry into specific academic and continuing education programs have selective admission criteria, e.g. Health Sciences, Alternate Route to Teaching, and Honors. The College Relations office is the principle vehicle for disseminating crisis communication, including Clery Act notifications. The College Relations office collaborates with the Brookdale Police Department and Human Resources to share information about crime on campus, efforts to improve campus safety, and to inform the public of crime in or around campus. This information is made publicly accessible through the college’s annual Campus Crime Report.All current students and employees are automatically enrolled in the RAVE Alert system, and receive emergency notifications. Brookdale’s Police Department works closely with the office of College Relations to relay this vital information.7. As appropriate to mission, services or programs in place:to promote affordability and accessibility, and;to enable students to understand funding sources and options, value received for cost, and methods to make informed decisions about incurring debt.For Narrative: Talk to the plan for Regional expansion of University Partnerships. Note to include more on transportation and recent initiative.Narrative: College Life charge for fy17There should be a recommendation to improve/increase bi-lingual info for students (recruitment, admissions, class support, etc)Also, need review of effectiveness of Language Bank in removing barriersInclude information re: HUDV 3 credit class and its financial literacy component. The College Mission states that Brookdale is an open access institution. Equal opportunity for all is a College mandate; the College does not discriminate against anyone on any basis, either in education or employment practices.AffordabilityThe Financial Aid office provides information on their website allowing students to learn about financial assistance opportunities, student loan programs, and scholarships and assists students in making informed decisions about incurring debt. Continuing & Professional Studies’ website: includes financial and payment plan options, along with required forms for some non-credit, career training certification programs. Payment OptionsBrookdale has partnered with Tuition Management Systems (TMS) to provide academic students with payment plans for the 15 week, 11 week, and summer terms, and for any number of credits. Payments can be made by phone, web, or mail, with credit card or check, and can be made to be one time or recurring. Continuing & Professional Studies (CPS) offers a payment installment plan for courses costing over $500. The Brookdale FoundationThe mission of the Brookdale Foundation is to raise money to provide scholarships to promote affordability and accessibility for students. The scholarships are listed on the Foundation's website. Donor-directed donations managed by The Foundation fund Lifelong Learning and Career Training programs offered through Continuing & Professional Studies, as well. SALT (DO WE STILL DO THIS – if not, when did it stop?Brookdale offers students a free service for money management through SALT (). The service provides advice, tip, articles, live chats, and more, to assist students with their budget, debts, and savings.ACESSIBILITYEarly BirdTo provide a direct pathway to Brookdale for the high school students of Monmouth County, the College has developed the "Early Bird" program through the Office of Recruitment Services. Specific Early Bird days are held at the regional locations to promote accessibility.Regional Locations The Regional Locations embody the College’s mission to provide access to high quality, affordable higher education throughout the county. The five Regional Locations and their five university partners offer classes and services in some of the most densely populated areas of Monmouth County. Transportation Accessibility Access to public transportation is a significant factor for students. Brookdale has an ever-increasing partnership with NJTransit with constant improvements to the frequency and service to several Brookdale locations. Additionally, NJTransit offers a Student Pass with a 25% discount on monthly passes for fulltime students. Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities Brookdale provides reasonable accommodations to students, faculty and staff who request them for reasons of disabilities, certain religious beliefs, or differences in gender identity or expression. The Office of Disability Services is dedicated to the creation of a campus environment that is free of discrimination and bias in matters affecting people with disabilities. Bienvenidos Monmouth County has an ever-increasing Spanish speaking population. To best serve these students the College has several publications in Spanish, an example of which is this webpage, as well as several bi-lingual staff at its various locations. ESL Bridge ClassesThrough a collaborative effort of the Adult Basic Education program and the Language Department a bridge class has been developed for ESL students who start out on the non-academic track and wish to transition to the academic ESL program. Serving over 80 students in its first year the program has been highly successful transitioning students into the academic environment. The Language BankBrookdale has a volunteer system to assist speakers of other languages who are looking for information about the college. Volunteers who speak other languages translate information for callers or visitors. Dual Enrollment Access to the College starts early for qualified high school seniors who can participate in the Dual Enrollment Program that allows students to complete up to 12 Brookdale credits during their senior year. These credits may be used toward high school and/or college requirements and help prepare students for the academic rigor of higher education. School districts frequently fund their students in these programs. Additionally, students may qualify to enter their freshmen year with advanced academic standing. Veterans Services at Brookdale The Veterans Center helps veterans and eligible dependents access higher education and make full use of their V.A. Educational Entitlements under the Montgomery G.I. Bill, National Guard Tuition Waiver, VA Vocational Rehabilitation, VEAP/REAP and VRAP, and the New Jersey Tuition Assistance Program for eligible veterans. Most recently, the GI Bill approved for funding specific continuing education courses that provide job-specific training in various areas. Early College High School The Early College High School (ECHS) initiative is the collaboration of people and resources between the College and local school districts to create new higher education opportunities for high school students. The ECHS provides entry into higher education for academically-prepared high school students beginning in the 9th grade providing them the opportunity to concurrently earn an Associate of Arts degree while also achieving their high school diploma. Often these programs are funded by the school district or a private donor. The ECHS prepares students to enter a 4-year college at the academic junior level while also participating and benefitting from programs and services available to typical college freshmen. Displaced Homemakers Displaced Homemakers Services are targeted for people facing loss of income due to separation, divorce, widowhood, spousal disability, or spousal military deployment and need to become head of household. The College offer free, confidential services, including personal counseling, peer support groups, career and computer training, job search skills and community referrals to assist people transition to self-pliance with all applicable federal, state, and Commission reporting policies, regulations, and requirements to include reporting regarding:The full disclosure of information on institution-wide;assessments, graduation, retention, certification and licensure or licensing board pass rates;Recommendation: the college's webpage should include all academic program accreditation information - mechanism for updating as well as continuing education information.The college complies with reporting requirements set forth by various accrediting agencies and organizations, and governmental authorities. Much of this is accomplished through the work of the Office of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness(PIE). Annually PIE assembles and disseminates the Data Books for program and student success, including graduation and retention rates: Institutional Profiles for the NJ Office of Secretary of Higher Education as well as Brookdale’s Board of Trustees, which fulfills the 1994 Higher Education Restructuring Act mandate to “prepare and make available to the public an annual report on the condition of the institution.” Although access to the PIE website and this information has limited password protected access, community and student access to this information is available through the College's website through the main page, found in Fast Facts and the Student Consumer Information. Information on program accreditation, including licensure and licensing board pass rates, can be found on the College's main page under About Brookdale – Student Consumer Information. Continuing Education's program-specific accreditations can be found under each listing in their Course Catalog. Individual program accreditation information for both academic and continuing education can be found on each program's webpage, academic programs of study in the College Catalog, as well as in program-specific student handbooks (such as the health science programs). A good example of this information can be seen on the Health Science program webpages (Nursing, Radiologic Technology and Respiratory Care). c.The institution’s compliance with the Commission’s Requirements of Affiliation;The President and her cabinet are responsible for compliance with the Standards, Requirements of Affiliation, and compliance with Federal regulations as they pertain to their areas. Essential duties in their job descriptions articulate these responsibilitiesDepending on the policy at hand, specific cabinet members may take charge of a specific project. For example, the Executive Dean of Higher Education Centers, University and K-16 Partnerships assumed the role of applying for a substantive change for our Early-College High School Programs. The President guides the institution in the fulfillment of the mission. The AVP of Human Resources and the Institutional Auditor ensure adherence to conflict of interest and financial disclosure policies. The VP of Student-Success implement ethical practices and grievance procedures governing the student body. The VP of Learning is responsible for maintaining a core group of professional faculty responsible for implementing and maintaining high quality educational programs. The VP of Learning and AVP of Continuing and Professional Education are responsible for assuring programmatic rigor and appropriate assessment as well as compliance with policies related to the student learning experience and the VP of Student-Success does the same for the student experience. The VP of Finance directs and oversees financial planning and resources allocation to ensure financial stability and responsible fiscal management. The AVP of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness oversees the systematic evaluation and reporting of the college's programs and services. The College's governance structure ensures adherence to policies, regulations, and the BOT bylaws address institutional quality and integrity and adherence to the mission. Information regarding MS Accreditation; various program accreditations, student enrollment and retention, as well as information regarding Board of Trustees' policies and procedures is posted in the institution's website. The College is authorized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the N.J. Secretary of Education to grant Associates Degrees. Students who receive other credentials, such as academic certificates or continuing education program, fall under their respective accreditors. All this information is included in the College's periodic self-studies.d.Substantive changes affecting institutional mission, goals, programs, operations, sites and other material issues which must be disclosed in a timely and accurate fashion;In January of 2014, the College submitted a substantive change request to MSCHE for the St. John Vianney High School early-college high school partnership. In an effort to reach more students in designated target areas, the College established two early college/high school programs, in which current high school students can simultaneously complete their high school and associates degrees. Since more than 50% of the college courses in this program are physically taught at St. John Vianney High School, it qualified as a substantive change under Number 10 of the MSCHE's Substantive Change Policy. ()e.The institution’s compliance with the Commission’s policies.The College's executive leadership takes primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with MSCHE's policies. Most often, this task was taken on by the Special Assistant to the President. Since that position is currently vacant, the President and her cabinet have assumed the role. Depending on the policy at hand, specific cabinet members may take charge of a specific project. for example, the Executive Dean of Higher Education Centers, University and K-16 Partnerships assumed the role of applying for a substantive change for our Early-College High School Programs. The institution affirms the value and benefits of accreditation as specified in the MS’ Institutional Responsibilities in the Accreditation Process (Version 061714), as indicated below: Integrity & Involvement in the Self-Study Brookdale’s current accreditation is being superintended by a Steering Committee, chaired by our Associate Vice President of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness. Each MS Standard has a designated committee, including co-chairs and members from various constituencies (faculty, administrators, staff, and trustee representatives), dedicated to researching, writing and reviewing the topics for that Standard. An internal website was established for the Middle States Self-Study for all college constituencies to access resources and reference materials; the site includes a progression timeline to keep all constituencies apprised of pertinent dates and project status. A cooperative process between the individual Standard Committees and the MS Steering Committee has been adhered to and, when finalized, Document and Narrative Roadmaps will be submitted to the Steering Committee for review and cohesion with other standards. Integrity & Merging/Closing In regard to student accreditation integrity, Brookdale follows the NJ Commissioner of Higher Education degree requirements to ensure that Associate degrees awarded by Brookdale are fully transferrable and count as the first two years toward a Baccalaureate degree at any of NJ's public institutions. As stated in College Regulation 6.1502 - Matriculation, “students must meet all program requirements listed in the catalog academic year in which he/she matriculated.” Eligibility for Associate Degrees is defined by the program requirements in effect at the time of matriculation which can be found on the college’s AA, AS, AAS, AFA and Certificate Requirements webpage. Brookdale reserves the right to discontinue programs as well as make equivalent substitutions for discontinued courses. The matriculation rights of students in discontinued programs will automatically be rescinded, but no program will be discontinued without providing sufficient time for a continuously enrolled full-time student to complete it. Student rights regarding program discontinuance can be found in the curriculum handbook (need link from Pat to current handbook). Public Information Information regarding the Middle States Accreditation process is readily available to the public through Brookdale's Middle States Self-Study webpage.Student Complaints The College has a formal process for Student Complaints. Please see Criteria #3 for further details. Continuous Improvement – ask Nancy All Programs are reviewed every five years. Participation Members of the President's Executive Staff periodically serve in various roles within the Middle States Commission. Federal and State Requirements As previously discussed in this narrative, the Institution meets Federal laws and regulations, as well as state and local requirements. 9. Periodic assessment of ethics and integrity as evidenced in institutional policies, processes, practices, and the manner in which these are implemented.Note for narrative: Discussion of upcoming Suicide Prevention law – ask CJ.Review of college policies, regulations The Internal Auditor, the Manager of Diversity, Inclusion & Compliance (HR), and the Director of Student Conduct & Compliance have primary responsibility for ensuring staff, student and Trustee compliance with institutional policies, processes and practices. Administered by Brookdale’s HR Department and the Manager of Diversity, Inclusion & Compliance, FT/PT employees are required to complete an online Annual Compliance Process in SharePoint. The process includes an update of employee information, a reporting on additional outside employment as well as a review of the policies and regulations specifying the rights and responsibilities of employees. The ability to acknowledge review and completion of the documents was added in FY16, allowing for monitoring and tracking and for the first time, 100% compliance was attained. The Audit Committee monitors this annual compliance process and reports to the full Board. In addition to the above, Compliance training covering topics Preventing Unlawful Harassment (since FY12), Title IX/SaVE/VAWA (since FY16), Ethics (since FY15), and Diversity (since FY15) must be completed by employees annually. Completion of this training is also strongly encouraged, though not required, for Adjunct Faculty. The Manager of Diversity, Inclusion & Compliance selects content and works with on-line vendors to provide this training, then provides email nudges to ensure 100% completion by employees. In regards to student matters, the Director of Student Conduct & Compliance ensures that all efforts are made to educate students about the policies and regulations that apply to them. All students are sent an e-mail at the beginning of every semester regarding relevant information such as the Code of Conduct, Procedures for Preventing and Responding to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Involving Students (including online training through Workplace Answers) and new, relevant policies (I.e. Unattended Minors Policy (FY16), College Open and Closed Hours (FY16). Presentations by the Director are made to students at new student orientation and through HUDV-107 (First Year Seminar). In terms of ensuring the College is compliant with the applicable federal, state and local laws, a number of measures are used. Some regulations require regular reviews, such as the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) regulation, which requires bi-annual review as part of its legislation. The Code of Conduct and Student Handbook are reviewed annually or as new federal regulations are released, to ensure appropriate updates are made. Other guidance to ensure compliance include professional association's information (The Association of Student Conduct Administrators), guidance from the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights ("Dear Colleague Letters"), appropriate state law updates (Madison Halloran Suicide Prevention Act, Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act) and consultation with legal counsel. In accordance with NJSA40A:9-22.1et.seq, from the Dept of Community Affairs, all executive and confidential staff, and the Board of Trustees must annually file Financial Disclosure Statements. The Director of Internal Auditing serves as the Local Government Officer and monitors the compliance with this regulation. The President's office follows-up with Trustees. The information is communicated to the Audit Committee and shared with the Board. The College Relations office is the principle vehicle for disseminating crisis communication, including Clery Act notifications. The College Relations office collaborates with the Brookdale Police Department and Human Resources to share information about crime on campus, efforts to improve campus safety, and to inform the public of crime in or around campus. This information is made publicly accessible through the college’s annual Campus Crime Report. In addition, NJS485 was signed into law requiring regular notice to the Board of Trustees of all reportable crimes on campus; this is done through the President's monthly report to the Board.The College contracts for the administration of an anonymous ethics hotline for the reporting of fraud and theft. Depending on the nature of allegation, the report goes to the appropriate executive within 24 hours for follow-up and action. The Audit Committee receives regular updates of hotline activity and reports it to the full Board. The Board and all employees must sign a statement annually affirming the Code of Ethics and their intention to comply. The office of the President over sees Trustee compliance .Bylaws committee of the BOT periodically reviews and updates the college bylaws. Most recently, a thorough review and revision was adopted by the Board in May, 2016. ................
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