College Information

Campus Environment

Faculty-to-Student Ratio

The faculty of Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is committed to high quality instruction and personal attention to students. The average student-faculty ratio is 14:1. The faculty comprises individuals who are well prepared through formal educational preparation and previous occupational experience. Faculty members keep abreast of educational and technological changes through conferences, seminars and coursework as well as on-site visits to other institutions of higher education.

Illegal Drugs and Misuse of Alcohol

It is the goal of the College to provide a safe and healthy environment for students and employees. The College shall comply with all state and federal laws, including Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. NICC prohibits the possession, use, and distribution of alcoholic beverages by minors and illegal drugs by any person on the campus, at college-sponsored events and in college-managed property.

Students and employees who engage in prohibited conduct are subject to immediate disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, expulsion from the College and referral to law enforcement. Disciplinary sanctions may include the completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program.

Tobacco-Free Environment

It is the intent of Northeast Iowa Community College to provide a healthy environment for employees, students and visitors and to be in compliance with the Iowa Smoke Free Air Act (effective date July 1, 2008). In keeping with this intention, the use of any/ all nicotine products is prohibited at all properties, including buildings, vehicles and grounds, owned by or leased by Northeast Iowa Community College. This prohibition is in effect both indoors and out-of-doors, including inside any vehicle located on property leased, occupied or owned by Northeast Iowa Community College. In addition to traditional tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vaping are also prohibited. This policy applied to all employees, students and visitors.

Communicable Disease Responsibility

NICC believes students or employees with communicable diseases should be allowed to attend to their regularly assigned duties as long as they are physically able to perform the tasks assigned to them and as long as their attendance does not create a substantial risk of transmission of the illness to students or employees in the College. The College will make every effort, in light of the individual’s circumstances, to provide the least restrictive environment for continued attendance.

Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act and Women Against Violence Act (VAWA)

The Campus SaVE Act seeks to address the violence women face on campus: the highest rates of stalking, and the highest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence. In 2013, federal legislation strengthened and reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Included in the bill was the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE), which amends the Jeanne Clery Act and affords additional rights to campus victims of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. This bill requires colleges to adopt certain institutional policies to address and prevent campus sexual violence, such as to train students on awareness topics relating to sexual misconduct including domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

Sexual Respect and Title IX

NICC expects that all members of the College community - students, faculty, staff and friends - should be able to pursue their education and work in a safe environment, free from sexual coercion, violence or intimidation. The College is committed to fostering a safe campus environment where sexual misconduct and violence are unacceptable, and where survivors or those who believe they were harmed by another person are provided support and avenues of remedy as appropriate. All members of the College community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful of the rights of others. The Title IX efforts of NICC are focused on education and training to encourage a climate of sexual respect.

Report an incident online or contact the Title IX Coordinator or any NICC employee, to report a concern that involves sexual violence or harassment. If you are faced with an emergency or crisis, dial 911. NICC offers a confidential resource person on each campus. If you would like to speak to a confidential resource, contact a Campus Counselor.

Sometimes people are afraid to report sexual violence or harassment because drugs or alcohol are involved. The College’s highest priority is the safety of everyone on campus. The use of alcohol or drugs never makes the person who was victimized at fault for sexual violence.

The College prohibits any form of retaliation against a complainant. Any allegations of retaliation will result in an immediate investigation and appropriate action consistent with the College’s due process procedures.

Additional information, including a comprehensive list of support resources, can be found at www.nicc.edu/titleix

To report a concern or incident contact:

Kelly McMahon
Executive Director for Risk Management & Title IX Coordinator
8342 NICC Drive, Peosta IA 52068
mcmahonke@nicc.edu
800.728.7367, ext. 477

To report an incident online: www.nicc.edu/incidentofconcern

Education and Awareness

NICC provides quality educational programs for its students and staff on social and contemporary issues. Guest lectures, video presentations and seminars are held to provide information to our College community about such areas as peer pressure resistance, health concerns, rehabilitation and awareness. When applicable, instructors provide educational information concerning social and contemporary issues within the academic environment.

Sex Offender Notification Policy

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) maintains procedures that facilitate the prompt notification of appropriate personnel of the presence of an employee or student who is a convicted sex offender. Enrollment decisions and/or attendance stipulations for registered sex offenders are based on the specific details of each case.

Iowa Code Section 692A.3A states that registered sex offenders are required to notify the College of their status upon application to the College, enrollment in a non-credit College course or program or at such time they are placed on a sex offender registry during enrollment at the College. Failure to self-disclose at the time of acceptance or during enrollment could lead to dismissal from the College. In some instances, an individual may be required to obtain written permission from the College to enroll in courses or to continue in a particular program.

Students are to notify the Executive Director for Risk Management of their status on a sex offender registry by completing a registrant request form. The form is available at www.nicc.edu/aboutnicc/studentandconsumerinformation/ sexoffendernotification

Campus Emergencies

If a campus emergency should arise, an alarm will sound or an appropriate announcement will be made. Emergency guidelines, evacuation routes and shelter area maps are posted in each classroom and lab. Safety drills are held on a regular basis.

Medical Emergencies

Information on medical emergencies and resources are posted in each classroom. A medical emergency may involve a person with any of the following symptoms: weakness, dizziness, paleness, chest pains, breathing difficulty, nausea, high pulse rate, heart palpitations, fainting and/or serious bleeding. In a medical emergency, the following steps should be taken:

1. Call emergency services at 911 (dial 9 first to obtain an outside line if calling from college phone) and direct another student or staff to notify the college switchboard. Provide details on location (building, room) and nature of the problem.
2. Direct another person to retrieve a first-aid kit or Automated External Defibrillator (AED), if needed.
3. Provide first aid as appropriate and necessary. If the person is not breathing and no pulse is noted, administer CPR if trained and/or use AED. Do not move the person if the problem is a physical injury unless it is better to move the person to a more safe area.
4. Inform the person that the College will contact a family member on their behalf, if desired.
5. If medical service responders determine the person needs further attention, he/ she will be transported to the hospital.
6. The staff or student who first happened upon or determined the medical emergency will initiate an emergency form-medical incident and submit to the Associate Vice President for Operations office immediately.

Simple Injuries

This type of injury can be described as one that occurs from an accident while the individual is on campus. First-aid kits are available at the switchboard and at various areas throughout the campus buildings. All injuries must be reported on an emergency-medical incident form within 24 hours.

Campus Closing

If inclement weather or other events would occur causing a delay or closure, the College will notify students by email and text messaging using the RAVE alert system. Postings will also be available from local media sources and on the college switchboard greeting. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the free RAVE alert system. Information to enroll in the RAVE alert system is available on the MyCampus/Rave task.

Campus Security

Clery Act Annual Security Report

In 1991, the U.S. Congress passed the Student Right-to-Know and the Campus Security Act, which requires colleges to report the three previous years of statistics on murder, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft and statistics on arrests for drug and alcohol violations and weapons violations. In 1998, Congress passed an amendment renaming the act to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and required that all crimes motivated by hate or bias be included in the statistics. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Public Law 113-4, Section 304, requires the College to comply with all state and federal laws regarding sexual assault and all forms of sexual misconduct including intimate partner violence, stalking, dating violence, sexual violence, sexual harassment and domestic violence. Information concerning sex offenders in the NICC district can be found at www.iowasexoffenders.com.

NICC campus crime statistics are published in the Campus Security Report, and can be found at www.nicc.edu/aboutnicc/studentandconsumerinformation.

Reporting Crimes

NICC has recognized the importance of maintaining a safe and secure learning environment. Students and staff are encouraged to report all criminal and/or suspicious activity to the Associate Vice President for Operations office or designee. In the event of an emergency, call 9-911 to expedite the appropriate response by authorities. All reports will be investigated.

Hostile Person/Intruder on Campus Notification and Procedure

The College can notify students and staff of a dangerous situation via email and text messaging using the RAVE alert system. Please take advantage of this communication tool. Instructions are available through the Associate Vice President for Operations Office.

Security Procedures

The College security procedures for a hostile person/intruder on campus guide staff response if they witness behavior that includes, but is not limited to:

1. Conduct that is hostile, aggressive, physically threatening or passively resistant
2. Threats and/or presence of a weapon

The safest approach is to extract yourself from the direct threat environment and immediately contact staff or call 9-911 for assistance. When calling for assistance, please clearly state the location and nature of the incident.

When a security incident is activated, the NICC Incident Command Team or local law enforcement will manage the situation and all staff will follow their directions until relieved of their duties.

Students and staff are encouraged to view the “Run, Hide, Fight” video posted at www.nicc.edu/emergency.

Campus Visitor Conduct

NICC is strongly committed to the safety of the College community. Safety helps to ensure a productive learning environment for students, faculty and staff. Campus visitors are expected to adhere to the same conduct expectations of the College community including civil, respectful and safe behaviors. NICC reserves the right to contact law enforcement officers to immediately remove anyone from College property who is deemed a threat to campus safety and security or who is disruptive to the learning and teaching environment. Such individuals will not be permitted to re-enter College property and will be notified in writing about the duration of their exclusion from College property.

Visitors with Minor Children

Visitors to campus who are accompanied by minor children are expected to provide direct supervision for the minor(s) at all times. In order to ensure the safety and security of children and to safeguard the educational and work environment of the college, no employee, student, or visitor may leave a child unattended. This includes campus buildings, campus grounds, or in vehicles in the college parking lots. Nor shall a child be left with a college employee, unless that employee is supervising the child in an authorized capacity for a program or activity in which the child is enrolled. Children are not permitted to be visitors in college classes, even if accompanied by an adult.

Service Animals on College Property

The College requires students who use service animals to contact the Disability Services Coordinator to register as a student with a disability. Higher education institutions may not require any documentation about the training or certification of a service animal. The College requires proof that a service animal has any vaccinations required by state or local laws that apply to all animals. Service animal accommodation requests made by students will be reviewed and assessed by the Office of Disability Services (ODS) for consistency with applicable laws and policies. The College reserves the right to make special modifications, within the confines of applicable law, to policies to reasonably accommodate the person requesting the accommodation. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy animals are not service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA.

Service animals are generally permitted to accompany people with disabilities on all College properties where students, faculty, staff, and visitors are allowed, in buildings/ facilities. A service animals access to certain areas on College property may need to be limited should the service animal’s presence create an undue hardship to the College. Service animals must be housebroken (i.e., trained so that controls its waste elimination, absent illness or accident) and must be kept under control by a harness, leash, or other tether unless the person is unable to hold those, or such use would interfere with the service animal’s performance of work or tasks. In such instances, the service animal must be kept under control by voice, signals, or other effective means. Individuals must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including vaccination, licensure, animal health and leash laws.

Students needing a service animal are encouraged to work with the ODS prior to bringing the service animal to campus to ensure reasonable accommodations are appropriately provided to the student. The service animal handler can best provide recommendations for faculty, staff, and students on procedures to interact with service animals. The ODS can assist with this communication, if requested. Additional information can be accessed at www.nicc.edu/disability.

Faculty and staff (or applicants for employment positions) needing a service animal are encouraged to contact NICC Human Resources Office prior to bringing the service animal to campus to ensure the accommodation request process is followed and reasonable accommodations are appropriately provided to the employee or applicant.

Complaints:

Northeast Iowa Community College - ADA/504/EEOC Contacts

Student Complaints:
Kelly McMahon
Executive Director for Risk Management
Peosta Campus, 236A
800.728.7367, ext. 477
mcmahonke@nicc.edu

Employees Complaints:
Connie Kuennen
Executive Director of Human Resources
Calmar Campus, Administration, 108
800.728.2256, ext. 300
kuennenc@nicc.edu

Consumer Information

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the following information will be made available to currently enrolled and prospective students online at www.nicc.edu, and upon request.

• Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) rights.
• Contact information for assistance in obtaining institutional or financial aid information.
• Information on all need-based and non-need based federal, state, local, private and institutional financial assistance programs, terms and conditions of Title IV loans, criteria for selecting recipients for determining award amounts, eligibility requirements and procedures for applying for aid, methods and frequency of disbursements of aid, rights and responsibilities of students receiving Title IV aid, Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and terms of any loan received including a sample loan repayment schedule and the necessity of repaying the loan. Conditions applicable to employment provided as part of the financial aid package, and the exit counseling information the school provides and collects.
• Information about facilities and services available to students with disabilities.
• Information about the cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, books and supplies, transportation costs and other additional cost for a program.
• Information on the school’s refund policy, procedures for official withdrawal and requirements for Return of Title IV aid.
• Information about the academic programs including current programs, facilities that relate to the academic program, faculty and other instructional personnel and any plans for improving the academic program.
• Statement of the transfer of credit policies
• Policies and sanctions related to copyright infringement.
• Information regarding programs that are in part or in fully offered by another entity.
• Names of accrediting agencies and the procedures for obtaining and reviewing the documents that describe the accreditation approval or licensing.
• Written notice with information on the penalties associated with drug-related offenses.
• Vaccinations policies.
• Information posted on the College Navigator website.
• Information on student body and diversity.
• Net Price Calculator.
• ISBN and retail price information for required and recommended textbooks and supplemental materials for each course listed on the course schedule.
• Disbursement of books and supplies for Pell-eligible students.
• Drug and alcohol policies, procedures and support services.
• Completion or graduation rates of certificate or degree-seeking first-time, full-time, undergraduate students.
• Information regarding the placement in employment of, and types of employment obtained by, graduates of the school’s degree or certificate programs.
• Retention rate of certificate or degree seeking, first-time, undergraduate students.
• Annual Security Report.
• Gainful Employment information required of all Gainful Employment academic programs.
• Information about state grant and loan information, loan disclosures, student rights and responsibilities and information on entrance and exit counseling for student loan borrowers.
• Code of Conduct for Educational Loans.