Student Rights & Responsibilities

The following policy, to which the College subscribes, is based on "Joint Statement of Rights and Freedoms of Students" sponsored by the American Association of University Professors:

1. A student has the right to receive a written copy or to access an electronic copy of the course syllabus by the second class meeting. The syllabus shall include information about the course policies, the content of the course, and the criteria with the weighting to be used in the academic evaluation of his/her performance. The grading system described in the College catalog will be followed. Students not present at the first or second class meeting are responsible for requesting the syllabus.
2. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled.
3. A student has the right to receive a grade based upon a fair and just academic evaluation of his/her performance in a course, as measured by the standards set by his/her instructor in the course syllabus. Such criteria as race, religion color,national origin, sex, appearance, political affiliation or activities are irrelevant to grading. At the same time,the student responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance established for each course in which he/she is enrolled, and for following the student Code of Conduct as outlined in the College catalog.
4. Information about a student's views, beliefs and political associations which professors acquire in the course of their work as instructors, advisors, and counselors should be considered confidential. Judgments of ability and character may be provided under appropriate circumstances, normally with the knowledge or consent of the student

Alert for Student Success

Success in college means balancing work and study time effectively. College study does not end with class time. For each 1 hour of class, you will need to plan at least 2 hours for study/learning. Research shows that working 15 or more hours per week makes it difficult to successfully complete courses.

When planning your schedule, carefully consider how you will balance course load and work schedule. To obtain help with budgeting time effectively, visit or call the Educational Counseling Office in Room 19, Nassau Hall. Call 516.572.7141 for an appointment.

Classroom Expectations

You and your instructor both have responsibilities relative to the course. Your instructor's responsibility is to give you a syllabus and to organize assignments and classroom activities to assist you in learning the material and achieving the course objectives. As the course unfolds, you have responsibilities to fulfill in order to complete the course successfully.

You are expected to:

Attend all class sessions and to be punctual. (You are responsible for all work covered whenever you are absent.);Read, understand and follow instructions given in the course syllabus; Complete reading and writing assignments; take notes during class; when asked to do so, work collaboratively with other students; submit assignments on time; complete your work without cheating or committing plagiarism. Participate actively in class; evaluate your own progress continuously; meet with your instructor during assigned office hours; exhibit proper behavior in the classroom (see policy statement on classroom management).

Discrimination and Harassment is Unlawful

Nassau Community College is a broadly diversified institution, committed to recognizing diversity and pluralism of values and beliefs on campus. The College is committed toward ensuring that all students are given equal opportunity to participate in its educational programs, and all qualified employees are appointed and promoted without regard to their race, national origin, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, veteran status, or marital status. The College is also dedicated toward maintaining an environment where dignity and worth of all members of the institutional community are respected. To that end, the College considers sexual harassment of students or employees to be unacceptable conduct which will not be tolerated. The College also condemns bias and all other acts of bigotry, discrimination, harassment and violence.

The College's Office of Affirmative Action and Diversity is dedicated toward ensuring that the College is in compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination and encourage equal opportunity and treatment, including, but not limited to: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of Educational Amendments of 1972; Age Discrimination Act in Employment of 1967; Americans with Disabilities Act; Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the New York State Human Rights Law.The Affirmative Action Office also ensures that the College community is in compliance with its internal policies on Sexual Harassment, Bias and Discrimination, as well as the Complaint Procedures for Review of Allegations of Discrimination/Harassment (all of which are available on the College website, as well as at the Affirmative Action Office), and conducts investigations into allegations of sexual harassment, bias and discrimination brought by members of the College community.

Any questions concerning the College's policies on sexual harassment, bias and discrimination,as well as any allegations of noncompliance should be directed to:

Affirmative Action Officer
818 Administrative Tower
Nassau Community College
One Education Drive
Garden City,NY 11530-6793
516.572-7121 or 516.572.7747