Northwestern College
STUDENT HANDBOOK
2024-2025

Contents

Contents .............................................................................................................................................................................. 1

NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE .................................................................................................................................................... 7
MISSION OF NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE................................................................................................................................ 8
Mission Statement................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Statement of Christian Identity ............................................................................................................................................. 8
Vision for Learning ............................................................................................................................................................... 8
Vision for Diversity ............................................................................................................................................................... 9
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS .............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Degree Requirements ......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities ................................................................................................................. 10
Writing Center .................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Change in Academic Requirements or Policies .................................................................................................................. 10
Academic Appeals ............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Academic Advisors ............................................................................................................................................................ 10
Course Load....................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Pass/No Pass Courses ....................................................................................................................................................... 10
Pass/No Pass Option for Elective Courses ......................................................................................................................... 11Classification ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Adding and Dropping Courses ........................................................................................................................................... 11
Academic Alert System ...................................................................................................................................................... 11Class Attendance ............................................................................................................................................................. 101
Authorized and unauthorized class absences .................................................................................................................. 101
Unauthorized medical and psychological absences from class .......................................................................................... 12
Authorized medical and psychological absences ............................................................................................................... 12
Remote instruction in the event of authorized or unauthorized absences ........................................................................... 12
Final Exams Policy ............................................................................................................................................................. 13
Northwestern College—Final Exam Schedule ..................................................................................................................... 13
Incomplete Grade Policy .................................................................................................................................................... 13
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy .................................................................................................................... 13
Academic Probation/Suspension ....................................................................................................................................... 14
Financial Aid Warning & Probation ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Financial Aid Probation Appeal Process............................................................................................................................. 14
Appeal Procedure for Academic Suspension ..................................................................................................................... 15
The Reinstatement Procedure for Academic Suspension ................................................................................................... 15
Minimum Credits for Extra-Curricular Eligibility ................................................................................................................. 161

Declaration of Major ........................................................................................................................................................... 16
Transcripts ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Withdrawal from College .................................................................................................................................................... 16
Administrative withdrawal procedure (involuntary) ............................................................................................................ 16
Enrollment Deposit.............................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.7
Academic Consequences of Dismissal/Suspension for Disciplinary Reasons .................................................................... 17
Confidentiality of Student Records ..................................................................................................................................... 17
Academic Integrity ............................................................................................................................................................. 17
Requests for Name Change ............................................................................................................................................................. 18
Procedures for Dealing with Academic Dishonesty ............................................................................................................ 18
Appeals .............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Rationale for Preventing Academic Dishonesty .................................................................................................................. 18
Academic Dishonest: Cheating and Plagiarism Defined ..................................................................................................... 19
OFF-CAMPUS STUDY ............................................................................................................................................................. 19
Semester Abroad/Off-Campus Study .................................................................................................................................. 19
Summer Study Abroad ....................................................................................................................................................... 19
CAMPUS MINISTRY ................................................................................................................................................................ 20
Mission Statement.............................................................................................................................................................. 20
Student Leadership Development....................................................................................................................................... 20
Church Participation .......................................................................................................................................................... 20
Pastoral Care & Counseling ............................................................................................................................................... 20
Christian Formation (CF) Opportunities.............................................................................................................................. 20
Christian Formation (CF) Opportunities for Credits ............................................................................................................ 21
Christian Formation (CF) Credits & Attendance .................................................................................................................. 21
Other Campus Ministry Opportunities ................................................................................................................................ 22
STUDENT LIFE DIVISION ........................................................................................................................................................ 23
Mission .............................................................................................................................................................................. 23
Philosophy ......................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Confidentiality .................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Identification Cards ............................................................................................................................................................ 23
CAMPUS SECURITY ............................................................................................................................................................... 24
Emergencies/Reporting Suspicious Activity ....................................................................................................................... 24
Emergency Phone Numbers & Contact Information ............................................................................................................ 24
Appeals & Fines ................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Motor Vehicle Registration ................................................................................................................................................. 24
52

Parking Regulations & Limitations ..................................................................................................................................... 25
Designated Parking ............................................................................................................................................................ 25
Towing Policy .................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Appeals of Parking Tickets ................................................................................................................................................. 26
Snow Removal From Parking Lots ..................................................................................................................................... 26
Parking Over Breaks & Summer ......................................................................................................................................... 26
CAMPUS MAP ........................................................................................................................................................................ 27
COMPASS CENTER FOR CAREER & CALLING ...................................................................................................................... 27
Services ............................................................................................................................................................................. 27
Franken Fellows: Peer Career Mentors ............................................................................................................................... 28
BRIDGE CENTER FOR INTERCULTURAL DEVELOPMENT .............................................................................................28
Mission .................................................................................................................................................................28
Values...................................................................................................................................................................28
RESIDENCE LIFE ................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Residence Life Staff ........................................................................................................................................................... 29
Philosophy ......................................................................................................................................................................... 29
HOUSING ............................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Residences Available........................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Credit Requirements ......................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Housing Applications ......................................................................................................................................................... 29
Single Sex Housing ........................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Commuters ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 30
CAMPUS HOUSING GUIDELINES ........................................................................................................................................... 32
Assistance Animals............................................................................................................................................................ 32
Candles & Incense ............................................................................................................................................................. 34
Damages & Repairs ............................................................................................................................................................ 34
Electrical Appliances & Guidelines ..................................................................................................................................... 34
Furniture & Window Screens .............................................................................................................................................. 35
Keys ................................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Laundry Room ................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Locks ................................................................................................................................................................................. 35
Lounges ............................................................................................................................................................................. 35
Pets.................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Platform/Loft Construction Guidelines ............................................................................................................................... 35
Plumbing Fixtures & Faucets ............................................................................................................................................. 35
3

Privacy ............................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Room Cleanliness .............................................................................................................................................................. 35
Room Decorations ............................................................................................................................................................. 35
Storage .............................................................................................................................................................................. 36
STUDENT PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES ..................................................................................................................................... 37
Student Activities ............................................................................................................................................................... 37
New Student Orientation .................................................................................................................................................... 37
First Year Experience ......................................................................................................................................................... 37
WELLNESS CENTER .............................................................................................................................................................. 37
What We Offer .................................................................................................................................................................... 37
In a Crisis ........................................................................................................................................................................... 37
COMMUNITY LIVING............................................................................................................................................................... 38
Lifestyle Expectations ........................................................................................................................................................ 38
Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 38
CAMPUS POLICIES FOR COMMUNITY LIVING ....................................................................................................................... 38
Alcohol .............................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Bullying.............................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Computer Network ............................................................................................................................................................. 39
Dancing.............................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Dishonesty & Non-Cooperative .......................................................................................................................................... 39
Drones (AKA Unnamed Aircraft Systems) .......................................................................................................................... 39
Dress ................................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Drugs ................................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Drug/Alcohol Treatment Facilities ...................................................................................................................................... 41
Gambling ........................................................................................................................................................................... 41
Guests ............................................................................................................................................................................... 41
Harassment ........................................................................................................................................................................ 41
Hazing ................................................................................................................................................................................ 41
Language ........................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Pornography ...................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Pranks................................................................................................................................................................................ 42
Quiet Hours ........................................................................................................................................................................ 42
Safety & Security................................................................................................................................................................ 42
Smoke Free Work Place ..................................................................................................................................................... 42
Sportsmanship ................................................................................................................................................................... 424

Theft .................................................................................................................................................................................. 43
Visitation (Open Hall) Hours in Residence Hall ................................................................................................................... 43
Visitation in Other Living Units ........................................................................................................................................... 43
Violence/Fighting ............................................................................................................................................................... 43
DISCIPLINE PROCESS ........................................................................................................................................................... 43
Philosophy ......................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Procedure for Appeal ......................................................................................................................................................... 44
Faculty Chair ...................................................................................................................................................................... 44
Appeal Hearing................................................................................................................................................................... 44
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT POLICY ON CONDUCT & DISCIPLINE ............................................................................................ 44
Statement Of Purpose ........................................................................................................................................................ 44
Athletic Department Covenant............................................................................................................................................ 44
Behavioral Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................................ 44
Athletic Conduct & Discipline Board .................................................................................................................................. 44
Function of the Athletic Conduct & Discipline Board .......................................................................................................... 44
Statement of Consequences............................................................................................................................................... 45
Appeal Process .................................................................................................................................................................. 45
GENERAL CAMPUS POLICIES ............................................................................................................................................... 46
Announcements ................................................................................................................................................................. 46
Bicycles ............................................................................................................................................................................. 46
College Motor Vehicles....................................................................................................................................................... 46
Campus Work Study........................................................................................................................................................... 46
Financial Aid ...................................................................................................................................................................... 46
Fire Alarms & Fire Safety Equipment .................................................................................................................................. 46
Firearms, Fireworks, & Flammable Materials .................................................................................................................... 476
Fire Pit Rules...................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Fundraising ........................................................................................................................................................................ 47
Insurance & Liability........................................................................................................................................................... 47
Lost & Found ..................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Photo Release Policy ......................................................................................................................................................... 48
Skateboards, Roller-Skates, ETC. ....................................................................................................................................... 48
Solicitation ......................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Theft .................................................................................................................................................................................. 48
CAMPUS WIDE POLICIES ON SEXUALITY, GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION................................................ 48
TITLE IX POLICY & PROCEDURES FOR SEX DISCRIMINATION .............................................................................................. 50
5

FOR ALL FACULTY, STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND THIRD-PARTIES................................................................................ 50
Discriminatory Harassment ................................................................................................................................................ 52
Sexual Harassment ............................................................................................................................................................. 53
RESOLUTION PROCESS FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE POLICY ON EQUAL OPPURTUNITY, HARASSENT, AND
NONDISCRIMINATION ...................... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...59
STUDENT SERVICES & FACILITIES ........................................................................................................................................ 61
College Campus Store........................................................................................................................................................ 61
College Mailroom ............................................................................................................................................................... 61
Computing Services ........................................................................................................................................................... 61
Creative Dining Services .................................................................................................................................................... 63
Locations & Hours ........................................................................................................................................................ 64
Meal Plans .................................................................................................................................................................... 64
Flex Money ................................................................................................................................................................... 64
Food Allergies ............................................................................................................................................................... 64
Communications........................................................................................................................................................... 64
Private Dining Rooms ................................................................................................................................................... 64
Taking Food from Cafeteria.......................................................................................................................................... 65
DeWitt Library .................................................................................................................................................................... 66
Enrollment Management & Retention Team (EMRT) ........................................................................................................... 65
Juffer Fieldhouse ............................................................................................................................................................... 65
Ramaker Facility Use Policy ............................................................................................................................................... 65
Rowenhorst Student Center ............................................................................................................................................... 66
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS...................................................................................................................................................... 66
Beacon ............................................................................................................................................................................... 66
The Classic ........................................................................................................................................................................ 67
CAMPUS MAP ........................................................................................................................................................................ 67

6

August 2024
Dear Northwestern Student:

NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE

The start of every academic year brings new opportunities and challenges for the entire Northwestern community. There may be no other time in your life when you
have so many opportunities to grow, to learn, and to change. You will find that your education happens inside and outside the classroom, reshaping all areas of yourlife - academic, spiritual, social, and physical. It is our hope that you will embrace this education by becoming an active member of the community.
I urge you to read through the entire student handbook. It contains a wealth of information concerning academics, spiritual formation, residence life, campus policies,
and student services. Each student is responsible for reading, understanding, and following all policies contained in this handbook. If there are sections that you do
not fully understand, please stop by the Student Life Office and we will be happy to answer your questions.
I speak for the entire Student Life division when I say that we are honored to be a part of your education. Please take advantage of the support we offer to meet thechallenges you face. Make efforts to get to know the members of the NWC family – faculty, staff and other students. The benefits and rewards you receive will go far
beyond what you could ever imagine. May God bless you with a wonderful year!
Sincerely,
Julie Vermeer Elliott
Vice President for Student Life

7

MISSION OF NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE
Mission Statement

Northwestern College is a Christian academic community engaging students in courageous and faithful learning and living that empowers them to follow Christ andpursue God’s redeeming work in the world.

Statement of Christian Identity

Northwestern is a Christian college that is Reformed in commitment, evangelical in engagement, and ecumenical in spirit. We view these Christian theologicalperspectives as complementary and draw from the strengths of each perspective in fulfilling our mission.
Reformed commitment
Northwestern College was founded by the Reformed Church in America. We accept the ultimate authority of God’s written Word and are guided by the wisdom of theecumenical creeds* and our historic Reformed confessions**. We proclaim the sovereignty and grace of God in every area of creation and human life, our sinfulness
and natural inability to have faith in God, God’s sovereign and gracious choosing of God’s people in Christ based solely on God’s good pleasure and will, the Holy
Spirit’s initiation of the new birth resulting in faith and repentance, the life-giving spiritual union between Christ and believers, and God’s compassionate embrace thatkeeps believers from ever truly falling away from faith. We affirm God’s broad redemptive purposes, and we embrace the Christian call to reform the church, reflect
critically on worldviews that influence culture, and transform the world.
*The Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed**The Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Belhar Confession

Evangelical engagement
As a Reformed institution, Northwestern stands within the broad tradition of evangelical Christianity. We affirm the divine inspiration, infallibility, authority and sufficiencyof Scripture in matters of faith and practice. We seek a warm, personal faith that is the product of conversion through an individual’s trust in Christ as Savior and Lord
and belief in Christ’s redeeming and substitutionary work on the cross. We acknowledge that salvation comes solely through the unmerited, direct and transforming giftof God’s grace. We believe that Christians are called to live holy lives, to make disciples throughout the world by embodying in word and deed the good news ofsalvation, and to love all people through acts of justice and mercy in Christ’s name.
Ecumenical spirit
As a Reformed institution, Northwestern College identifies with the ecumenical spirit that unites all Christians in every time and place. This spirit is embodied in theunified confession of the historic Church as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed. We desire greater unity among the universal Christian family. We celebrate the uniquetraditions and gifts of other Christian communities. We seek new cooperative relationships with other Christians in our common witness to the gospel and our pursuitof justice for all creation. Our ecumenical spirit calls us to appreciate alternative perspectives in an ethos of peaceful dialogue.

Vision for Learning

Northwestern College is a community rooted in Scripture and the confessions of Reformed theology and thus shaped by a robust integrative and transformative
vision of the Triune God who creates, redeems and sustains. This theological background supports a framework within which students, staff and faculty of various
Christian traditions take up the task of loving, understanding and serving the world whose Savior and Lord is Jesus Christ. We see the pursuit of liberal arts education
as worship experienced in community and offered to the glory of God. Embracing this calling with a freedom that arises from confidence in God’s saving grace andsovereignty, we are committed to cultivating virtues of heart and mind that will enable us to live out our shared vocation as participants in God’s redemptive work. We
respond to God’s call to proclaim the message of the gospel, be stewards of Creation, serve Christ in all persons, and bring all things under his lordship.

In keeping with this commitment, we intend Northwestern graduates to be persons who:
Trust, Love and Worship God••

Understanding that God is the center of life, learning about God through careful and rigorous study, and aspiring to trust, love and worship God as thesovereign Lord of the universe.
Recognizing that to love God is also to live joyfully as participants in a variety of communities, valuing the diversity of the human family, and seeking
opportunities for learning, growth and transformation through intercultural relationships.

Engage Ideas••••

Demonstrating competence in navigating and contributing to the world of ideas and information, having learned to listen, read, question, evaluate, speak,
write, create and perform with a disciplined imagination.
Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical foundations, methods and products of the humanities, the social and natural sciences, and thefine arts.
Pursuing truth faithfully in all aspects of life; developing, articulating and supporting their own beliefs; and seeking meaningful dialogue with those holding
different convictions.
Desiring to continue a life of learning and contemplation.

Connect Knowledge & Experience
•

•
•
•

Completing academic majors that enable acquisition of the narrower but deeper knowledge and skills that serve as the basis for mastery of a particulardiscipline and as preparation for meaningful life and work.
Exhibiting a broad understanding of the current and historical interplay of different realms of knowledge and experience.
Seeking opportunities for growth and reflection that integrate faith, learning and living in community.
Seeing beauty and finding joy in all pursuits.

•••

Discerning and developing their unique gifts in service to Christ, the church and the world Christ loves and redeems.
Regarding all persons as made in the image of God and thus deserving of understanding, love and justice.
Living a balanced and whole life in obedience to God.

Respond to God’s Call

8

Vision for Diversity

Guided by the biblical narrative of creation, fall, redemption and restoration, Northwestern College strives to pursue God’s redeeming work in the world by
courageously and faithfully engaging the fullness of our similarities and differences in our learning and living together.
We embrace diversity in God’s creation,•
valuing each person as created in the image of the triune God and thus intended for community•
respecting the complexity of human identities•
recognizing human difference as central to an education that fosters critical thinking, empathy and dialogue
We lament human brokenness,•grieving our thoughts, words and actions that diminish, caricature or isolate one another•confessing our failure to hear and respond to marginalized voices on campus and in the world•
recognizing our past and current participation in unjust social systems•
repenting from any form of dehumanization that distorts God’s creation
We reconcile with one another,•bridging divisions that separate people from one another and from God•
partaking in courageous conversations where varied perspectives are welcome•
challenging unjust systems of power, privilege, and oppression•building and sustaining social structures that foster the common goodWe embody shalom,•
anticipating restored creation where people from every nation, tribe and language worship God and live in harmony•
pursuing human flourishing in our relationships, curriculum, staffing, resource allocation and corporate actions•
affirming that all things hold together in Christ, to the glory of God

9

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is granted to students who:
1. Complete the general education requirements as listed in the Northwestern Core section of the catalog.
2. Complete an academic major as described in the catalog.
3. Complete a minimum of 124 semester credits.
4. Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 in all course work attempted at Northwestern College and a minimum of 2.00 in the courses comprising the
major. Exceptions to the cumulative 2.00 grade point average are in programs where outside accrediting organizations mandate higher GPA’s (i.e.,
Education, Nursing, etc.)
5. Fulfill the residence requirement as described in the catalog.
6. Fulfill the chapel attendance requirement.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Northwestern College seeks to operate in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A student will be eligible for protection under Section 504 if
he/she has a mental or physical impairment that “substantially limits one or more major life functions and has a history of such impairment.” If the student has met
the academic standards required for admission to the college, then he/she will be ensured equal educational opportunity. In the case of students with disabilities, it is
the responsibility of the academic support staff, working closely with faculty and students’ academic advisors, to provide appropriate academic accommodations.
Because these accommodations are based upon the student’s diagnostic evaluations and past educational experiences, he/she will be expected to provide recent
documentation (within three years) verifying the disability. Students should submit this documentation to the Director of Academic Support in the DeWitt Learning
Commons.

Writing CenterNorthwestern’s writing center offers services designed to help all students become better writers. Using highly trained peer tutors, the center offers tutorial services tostudents who voluntarily drop in or are referred to the center by faculty. The Writing Center is located on the first floor of the DeWitt Learning Commons.

Change in Academic Requirements or Policies

Northwestern College reserves the right to change academic requirements or policies, as stated in the catalog, at the beginning of each semester, with proper
notification of such changes to be distributed to all students and faculty.

Academic Appeals

Students who wish to appeal academic program decisions or the decisions of a faculty member or an academic department concerning their academic progress must
submit to the Vice President for Academic Affairs a written appeal of the decision within 30 days following their notification of the decision. The Vice President for
Academic Affairs will provide a written acknowledgement of the appeal within 7 days. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will investigate the appeal and provide
a decision which will be communicated in writing to the student within 15 days of this acknowledgement. This decision will be final.

Academic Advisors

Students have faculty advisors who will assist them in identifying and developing their educational goals, in executing their educational plans while at Northwestern,
and in making them aware of available resources that relate to the execution of their educational and career plans. Students may also request a change in academic
advisor by completing a form available in the Registrar’s Office or online under the Academics tab in MyNorthwestern.
While the faculty advisor participates actively in the student’s academic planning and monitors his/her progress, final responsibility for recognizing and fulfilling
graduation requirements rests with the students. Students should acquaint themselves with the various requirements set forth in the catalog and, beginning with theirfreshman year, should plan their college courses to fulfill graduation requirements.

Course Load

Northwestern’s academic calendar consists of two 16-week semesters. The normal course load for a student is 15-16 credits per semester. The maximum number ofcredits that a student may take during a given semester is 18*. First year students accepted conditionally will be allowed to take no more than 16 hours in their firstsemester. Adjustments to their schedules at midterm may be done at the discretion of the advisor or registrar. Exceptions for an overload are granted if the student
has the following cumulative GPA: 3.30 when registering for the sophomore year; 3.15 when registering for the junior year; or 3.00 when registering for the senioryear. Freshmen are not eligible for an academic overload. *Audit credits are not included when determining course overloads beyond 18 credits; however, an
overload fee will apply.

Pass/No Pass Courses

Several off-campus courses (e.g., department internships, field experiences, practicum, and student teaching) are graded on a pass/no pass basis. This information is
included in the course description in the catalog.

10Pass/No Pass Option for Elective Courses

To encourage students to explore academic areas outside their major strengths and specializations, each student has the option of taking a maximum of 12 credit
hours of elective courses on a pass/no pass basis. This option may not be used for the Northwestern Core requirements or any requirements for a major, minor, or
career concentration. Freshmen may not take courses on a pass/no pass basis; sophomores and juniors may take one course per semester; seniors may take twocourses per semester.
Courses taken on a pass/no pass basis will count toward the 124 credit hour graduation requirement, but will not affect the student’s grade point average. Students areadvised to avoid electives on a pass/no pass basis in areas in which they intend to do graduate work because graduate school admissions officers will be interested insuch grades. For example, premedical students should avoid the pass/no pass option in science courses; social work students should avoid the pass/no pass option insociology and psychology.
Students wishing to choose the pass/no pass option in electives must make application with the registrar prior to the deadline for adding courses, 5 days after thestart of the term. Pass/no pass status will not be changed after the deadline for the pass/no pass option. No grades will be available in the future for courses taken ona pass/no pass basis.
The instructor will not be informed if a student is taking the course on a pass/no pass basis. The instructor will turn in a letter grade for all students. At midterm, theletter grade shall appear on the student’s grade report. For the final grade report, the Registrar’s Office will translate the grades of C and above into P and C- andbelow will be recorded as NP.

Classification
Freshman

0-23 Credits

Sophomore

24-54 Credits

Junior

55-88 Credits

Senior

89 & Above

Adding and Dropping Courses

Deadlines for adding: 1st half, 2nd half courses – 3rd day; full semester courses – 5th day of school of each respective term at 4 PM. Completion of an “add slip” ismeant to be an acknowledgment of the student being admitted to the class. It is not an agreement for the instructor to tutor the student so that he/she can cover thematerial presented in the classes missed. It is the responsibility of the student to make up coursework already covered. Students should be aware of the fact that
there are certain courses (especially “skills courses”) which pose particular difficulties in this regard.
To enhance the learning process, it is important for the student to finalize his or her academic program as early in the semester as possible. As soon as it is apparent
to the student that satisfactory progress is not being made and that the likelihood of adequate improvement is remote, the “drop” procedure should be initiated inconsultation with the advisor and course instructor.
Deadline for dropping: 1st half, 2nd half courses--25th day of each respective term at 4 PM, full semester courses--50th day of term at 4 PM.
Forms for adding and dropping courses are available in the registrar’s office or online in MyNorthwestern. See the academic calendar for deadlines for adding anddropping courses.

Academic Alert System

At any point in the semester, a student who is not meeting the professor’s expectations for learning may receive an Academic Alert that explains the professor’s
concerns as well as suggestions for improvement. Academic Alerts are submitted through the Advance Academic Alert Center. Students, their advisor and theAcademic Support Department are notified when an instructor submits an alert.
Students should take Academic Alerts seriously and strive to improve their academic performance with assistance from professors, advisors, and tutors.

Class Attendance

In-class attendance is fundamental to effective, quality teaching and learning at the college level. Students are expected to attend classes in person and follow theattendance requirements as outlined by individual professors in their respective class syllabi. Remote learning is only permitted in courses specifically designed as
online or hybrid courses. In general, each faculty member establishes their own attendance policy; however, students who miss two weeks of attendance of any fullsemester class (or an equivalent portion of a partial-semester class) may be administratively removed from the class. In such cases, the Vice President for Student Life
and/or the Vice President for Academic Affairs will verify the student’s attendance and performance prior to removal from class.
Students shall inform instructors of any anticipated class absences. Penalties or makeup privileges shall be left to the discretion of the instructor. Instructors may reduce
grades for absences, particularly if the nature of the class procedure depends on student participation. If such a reduction may be made, it shall be so stated in thecourse syllabus. Faculty are required to certify their class lists by the 5th day of classes. Students who have not been attending class will be contacted by theRegistrar’s Office. Students who have not officially dropped the class by the 7th day of classes will be administratively removed by the Registrar’s Office.
Only registered students may attend class sessions, including on site and online. A student who allows another student to establish or maintain attendance, participate
in course activities, or complete coursework in their stead is subject to the college’s Academic Dishonesty policy.

Authorized and unauthorized class absences
11Northwestern College recognizes the value of certain educational and co-curricular activities that take place outside the context of the regular classroom. These
events include field trips designed for particular courses; concerts, theatre productions and other programs of performing groups; intercollegiate athletic events; andattendance at outstanding lectures and conferences both on and off campus. Such an activity must be approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Activitiesof this type shall be planned to minimize interference with each participating student’s class schedule.
When academic classes and college-sponsored organizations such as performance groups or athletic teams schedule trips during vacation periods (midterm break,Christmas, spring break, or Easter break), the normal expectation is that the trips shall not require early departure or late return necessitating class absences.
Request for exceptions to this expectation shall be directed to the Academic Affairs Committee.
A class absence shall be authorized by the Vice President for Academic Affairs if the following two conditions are satisfied: (1) the absence shall be due to thestudent’s participation in an approved field trip for another class or an approved co-curricular activity and (2) the student shall have given prior notification to thefaculty member whose class will be missed and shall have made arrangements for makeup work.
The granting of an authorized absence from class puts some responsibilities on the faculty or staff member who plans the activity, the student who misses a classand the faculty member whose class is missed. These responsibilities are intended to emphasize the central importance of the classroom experience, to safeguard
the integrity of that classroom experience, and to encourage dialogue between faculty (or staff members) in situations where conflicting demands are being made on
the student.

The student on a field trip or a co-curricular experience
A.
B.
C.

The student is responsible to notify an instructor whose classes will be missed. Absences may not be considered authorized unless the student notifies
the instructor prior to the trip or activity and makes suitable arrangements for making up appropriate work. Arrangements may include an additional
assignment in lieu of class attendance.
Students are responsible for all class work and assignments missed due to an authorized class absence.
A student who would prefer not to miss a class due to participation in an approved field trip or co-curricular activity may consult with both the instructor forthat class and the person planning the field trip or co-curricular activity. These two persons will then confer and arrive at a mutually agreeable solution thatwill not penalize the student.

The instructor whose class is missed
A.

The instructor's policy on the taking of quizzes or examinations or submitting other course requirements shall not directly penalize a student who misses aquiz, exam, or submission due to an authorized class absence. The instructor may permit a student to make up such a quiz or examination or may notallow such a makeup, provided that the student is not directly penalized as a result of the instructor's decision.

B.

If an instructor whose class will be missed due to an authorized absence has a prior unique learning activity scheduled on that class day, which if missed
will significantly damage a student's learning, then it shall be the responsibility of the instructor whose class would be missed to confer with the faculty or
staff member responsible for the approved field trip or co-curricular activity relative to this conflict. If such an agreement cannot be reached, then the caseshall be referred to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

C.

If an instructor judges that a student is performing so poorly in class that it would not be wise for the student to be absent from class, then the instructor
shall discuss this judgment both with the student and the faculty or staff member in charge of the field trip or co-curricular activity with the goal of seeking
agreement about whether or not the student will miss class. If such an agreement cannot be reached, then the case shall be referred to the Vice President
for Academic Affairs.

Unauthorized medical and psychological absences from class

Short term absences for minor medical and/or psychological reasons are considered unexcused/unauthorized absences and subject to the attendance policies
established by instructors. In the case of any student missing a class in which an exam, quiz, or other major assignment is scheduled, the student should directly
notify the instructor prior to the scheduled class, or at least within 24 hours of the absence. If there is some question in the mind of the instructor as to the legitimacyof the claim to illness, then the instructor may ask the student to obtain a medical excuse from a medical doctor or clinic within 24 hours of notification.

Authorized medical and psychological absences

Medical or psychological circumstances that result (or are anticipated to result) in more lengthy absences may be formally authorized by submitting a medical excuse
from a licensed therapist or medical doctor to the Student Life Office.
If the medical or psychological circumstances of a student require that the student is unable to attend class(es) for more than two consecutive weeks, the student
may be removed from the class, or withdrawn from the college, at the discretion of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and/or the Vice President for Student life
in consultation with the student’s faculty members and advisor.

Remote instruction in the event of authorized or unauthorized absences

Northwestern College’s traditional residential programs operate on the assumption that in-person attendance is central to the learning experience. Long-term
absences may not be accommodated via remote or other learning for longer than two weeks.

12Final Exams Policy
1.

If the requirements for a course include the giving of any written examinations, then the last examination, whether comprehensive or not, whether in classor take-home, shall be given or due during the final examination period at the time scheduled for that course. A comprehensive final examination is
encouraged.

2.

Scheduling of testing activities (as well as co-curricular) during the week prior to semester examinations should be sensitive to end-of-semester demandson all members of the campus community.

3.

The final examination period for full-semester courses consists of four days, with exams as evenly distributed among these days as is possible. Examperiods should be scheduled so that no student is likely to have more than two in-class exams on a given day. If more than two exams are scheduled for agiven student, a request for change may be made to the registrar.

4.

Requests for exceptions to the final exam schedule other than that noted in #3 above must be submitted in writing to the Vice President for Academic
Affairs. Exceptions will be made only in cases of illness or personal or family emergency. No exceptions will be made due to conflicts with outside workcommitments or transportation plans. All transportation plans must be built around the final exam schedule.

5.

Final examinations for evening classes are scheduled within the regular final exam period.

6.

The final examination period for half-semester courses scheduled during the second half of either semester shall coincide with the exam period for fullsemester courses. For half-semester courses scheduled during the first half of either semester, there shall be a two-day final examination period
immediately prior to midterm break, using the regular class schedule for those days, with the last regular class period prior to the final examination being
designated a study period, with no class meeting to be held.

Northwestern College—Final Exam Schedule

The final exam schedule is viewable in MyNorthwestern: https://my.nwciowa.edu/ICS/Academic/Final_Exam_Schedule.jnz.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

All courses running four or five days per week will have their exams according to the first named day.
Courses whose meeting times fall within the above class days and times will follow the respective final exam day and time.
All double period classes will have their exam according to the first named period.
No exams are to be given other than the scheduled time.
Changes in Final Exam times are granted for only three reasons:a. A student has three or more final exams on the same day. No student is expected to take more than two in-class examinations on a given day
per Section 9.4.2.C of the Northwestern College faculty handbook.
b. Illness. The illness must be severe enough to require medical treatment and a student may be asked to provide a doctor’s note verifying theillness.
c. A personal or family emergency.
You may go to the registrar’s office to obtain a Final Exam Change form.

Incomplete Grade Policy

An incomplete grade is given only when there are extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student (e.g. serious illness and/or family affliction) that makeit impossible for the student to complete required coursework before the last day of the term. Students may request an incomplete from their instructor. Incomplete
grades are a late-semester response to emergent circumstances in the life of a student, thus students may not pre-emptively request incomplete grades in
anticipation of potential circumstances or to request an incomplete so early in the term that it would be impossible to meaningfully complete the requirements of thecourse. Students who receive incomplete grades must turn in all course work to the instructor by the incomplete deadline, which is four weeks from the last day of theterm. The instructor must then submit the final grade to the Registrar no later than one week after the incomplete deadline. If the incomplete grade is not changed atthat time, the final grade will automatically become an "F".
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Northwestern College will provide, on a flexible andindividual basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have a documented disability that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meetcourse requirements. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact both their instructor and the college disability service provider to discuss their individual
needs and accommodations.
Students with an existing ADA accommodation who require additional time to complete coursework beyond the last day of a session or term will be granted anincomplete grade if their accommodation specifies additional time for assignments. The student must notify their instructor that an incomplete is needed by the last
day of the course. Instructors are required to award an incomplete, in accordance with the student's ADA accommodation. The instructor will verify theaccommodation with the ADA compliance officer, and the student will be granted a four-week extension after the end of the session or term to complete therequirements of the course. The grade will automatically become an "F" if the final grade is not submitted to the registrar one week after the incomplete deadline
unless another extension is requested by the student, provided for in the student's accommodation, and approved by the instructor.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

A student's progress is based on the number of credits attempted at Northwestern College and if applicable, any credits transferred in, and the cumulative grade
point average. Students must earn at least a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 and successfully complete a minimum of 124 earned credit hours in order
graduate and earn a degree from Northwestern. This SAP policy is the same for all students, regardless of whether they receive Title IV assistance, and whether they
are full or part-time. Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed at the end of each academic semester (including summer), regardless of whether a student received

13

Title IV aid. A student is making satisfactory academic progress toward graduation if he or she has completed the attempted credits and earned the necessary
cumulative grade point average as explained below.
Federal regulations require that students who receive federal financial aid must make satisfactory academic progress towards degree completion. Satisfactory
Academic Progress is defined by the federal government using both qualitative and quantitative measures:
1.

Qualitative measure - Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
Cumulative Grade Point Average Progress Chart
Attempted hours

Placed on probation whenminimum cumulative GPA is
below:

Suspended when cumulative
GPA is below:

Freshman

0-23. 99

1.75

1.00

Sophomore

24-54. 99

1.90

1.50

Junior/Senior

55 and up

2.00

1.70

*Academic probation and Financial Aid warning (see Financial Aid warning and probation below)
Students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 by the time they reach junior status, which is based on the total number of credit hours
attempted. Students not making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be placed on academic probation and financial aid warning.
2.

Quantitative measure – Ratio of total earned to attempted credits
In order to maintain satisfactory progress towards degree completion at Northwestern College, students must successfully complete 67% of the
cumulative credit hours attempted at all times. Withdrawing from school, earning NP (No Pass) grades, and/or failing coursework may result in notmeeting the 67% satisfactory completion rate in order to graduate in the time period allowed. Students who successfully complete 67% of their attempted
credits meet the quantitative measure for monitoring satisfactory academic progress. A student who fails to complete 67% of their attempted credits will
be placed on financial aid warning or probation (see Financial Aid Warning and Probation, p.8). Duration of financial aid eligibility: Students may attempt
no more than 186 credit hours (150% of credit hours needed to complete a degree program at NWC) in order to maintain their financial aid eligibility. If a
student is unable to complete his/her degree program in the 150% degree completion time frame (12 semesters), financial aid eligibility will be terminated.
Students returning only to earn an additional major are not eligible for financial assistance. Students who enroll in a 2nd degree or teacher certification may
be eligible for financial aid and will have their SAP calculated using the credit hours beyond the first degree.

Academic Probation/Suspension
Any student whose cumulative GPA is below the minimum standard, based on the total number of credits attempted, shall be placed on academic
•
•
•
•
•

probation and financial aid warning for the following term.
Any student who would be on academic probation for a second consecutive term shall be suspended. An exception will be granted if the student's
semester GPA during the semester on probation is above 2. 00. In this case, the student shall be granted a second semester on academic probation,
and would be placed on Financial Aid Probation (see Financial Aid Warning and Probation, p.). A student may be granted this exception only one time.
If the student (on probation) enrolls in summer school classes at Northwestern and earns a summer GPA below 2.0, the student will be suspended. If
the student enrolls in summer school classes and earns a summer GPA of 2.0 or above, the new cumulative GPA will determine whether the student isback in good standing or whether the fall semester counts as a second semester of academic probation.
Any student who would be on probation for a third semester, whether or not any are consecutive, shall be suspended.
Academic suspension means that a student is suspended for a minimum of one semester. Students wishing to return after one semester must follow thereinstatement process (see below).

Financial Aid Warning & Probation

A student is placed on Financial Aid Warning for failing to make the qualitative and/or quantitative measure of SAP, as outlined by the SAP guidelines above. If a
student is placed on Financial Aid Warning, the student may continue to receive Title IV assistance for one additional semester despite the fact that they failed tomake SAP. No appeal is granted or required.
If a student on Financial Aid Warning fails to make SAP at the end of the semester (or payment period), and if the student is not academically suspended, thestudent loses Title IV aid the following semester unless they appeal (see Financial Aid appeal process below) to be placed on Financial Aid Probation. A student on
Financial Aid Probation may receive Title IV funds for one payment period. At that point, the student must meet SAP or the requirements of an establishedindividual academic plan in order to maintain Title IV eligibility.

Financial Aid Probation Appeal Process

Students who fail SAP may appeal based on any circumstances the student deems as difficult circumstances, such as family difficulties, illness/injury, roommate or
dating issues, loss of balance between responsibilities, death in the family or financial struggles. The financial aid appeal (for students on Financial Aid Warning
who again fail to make SAP but are not academically suspended) will be handled in the same manner as academic suspension appeals. The student’s appeal must14

be in written (letter) form and state why they failed to meet SAP as well as what will change to demonstrate SAP at the end of the next term. Students will be
notified of the appeal decision via email and/or a letter in the mail. If an appeal is granted by the Financial Aid Director (who decides the appeal in consult with the
Academic Support Director and the Registrar), the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and allowed to receive Title IV funds for one additional term. If
making SAP is not realistic in one term, the academic appeal committee may develop an academic plan that, if followed, will ensure that the student is able to meet
SAP standards at a specified point in time. If the appeal is not granted, the student may not receive Title IV funds until they regain eligibility by taking actions thatbring them back into SAP.

Academic Probation

Students placed on academic probation will be permitted to carry a maximum of 13 credits during the next academic semester.
While on probation, a student will be subject to the regulation of the Academic Affairs Committee concerning participation in college-connected activities.
The following additional guidelines apply to students on academic probation.
1.

Students will not be eligible for activity grants in music, theatre or athletics.

2.

Students may represent the college in public performance for non-campus audiences only when such performances are required for an accredited course.

3.

Students are allowed to be involved in chapel, intramurals, and on-campus activities of organizations and clubs. However, these students are not eligible
for office or committee chairmanship.

4.

Students may participate in off-campus service projects.

5.

Students may miss class for an activity only when participation in the activity is a requirement for an accredited course.

6.

Students involved in athletics are ineligible for participating in contests.

7.

Students must work closely with their advisor to establish plans for time management and strategies for improving academic performance.

Appeal Procedure for Academic Suspension

Students may appeal their academic suspension only in cases of extenuating circumstances. An extenuating circumstance is defined as a disruptive, unavoidable
circumstance beyond the student's control (e.g. chronic illness, medical emergency, family crisis, physical attack). Students may not appeal using the concept ofacademic amnesty, whereby only certain courses are excluded from GPA calculations.
Students wishing to appeal their academic suspension must submit, either by mail or email attachment, a one-page typed letter, signed and dated, to the Registrar or
to the Director of Academic Support within two weeks of the last day of final exams. The letter should outline 1) the extenuating circumstances that affected thestudent, 2) actions the student has taken to address those circumstances so that they will not influence future academic endeavors, and 3) whether or not the student
wishes to attend the appeal meeting. Letters written by outside persons supporting the appeal must be sent to the Registrar or to the Director of Academic Support at
this time.
Once the student has filed an appeal, the Registrar will notify the chair of the Academic Appeals Work Group, who will arrange a meeting as soon as possible. The
student who is appealing may choose to be present when the committee considers the appeal; a request for an outside party to be present at the appeal must be
approved by the committee prior to the meeting.
If the Academic Appeals Work Group determines the appeal warrants review, the committee will convene to consider the appeal. After the appeal meeting, thestudent will be notified of the committee's decision.

The Reinstatement Procedure for Academic Suspension
1.

2.
3.

4.
5.

A student is suspended for a minimum of one semester. Students wishing to return after one semester must submit a Reinstatement Application to theRegistrar. Application deadline information is available from the Office of the Registrar.
The Registrar shall provide a copy of the Reinstatement Application to the Director of Admissions, the Dean of Residence Life, the Director of Academic
Support and the Director of Financial Aid, who will provide immediate feedback concerning any specific issues that would prevent the student from being
issued a Reinstatement Eligibility Contract.
The student will complete a Reinstatement Eligibility Contract, which will specify the following:a. The student will provide the name of the institution, the course numbers, the course titles and the number of credits for each course. At aminimum, the student must take at least 12 credits (concurrently) at a regionally accredited college and attain at least a 3. 0 grade point
average in those courses. Type and level of difficulty of each course will also be factors.
b. The student will provide a verifiable plan to reverse past academic and personal patterns that hindered the student’s success at NorthwesternCollege.
c. The Registrar will provide various academic scenarios showing what courses and grades are needed at Northwestern College to attain goodacademic standing, should the student be readmitted.
All reinstatement application materials (Reinstatement Application, Reinstatement Eligibility Contract, and any academic transcripts) should be in thehands of the Registrar by the appropriate deadline.
Upon receipt of ALL reinstatement materials, the Registrar shall notify the chair of the Academic Appeals Work Group, who will schedule a meeting. The
student has the option of meeting with the committee prior to its deliberation, but must request this option on the Reinstatement Application. The
committee will make a decision within one week after the deadline. The committee decision is final.

15

6.

The student shall be promptly notified by a member of the Academic Appeals Work Group of its decision, which includes a phone call and an official letter
providing details of the grounds for the group’s judgment.

Minimum Credits for Extra-Curricular Eligibility

In order for a student to participate in any co-curricular activity at Northwestern, he/she must have passed at least 24 credits in the previous two semesters of study,
with summer school course work to be computed as part of the spring semester. The GPAC conference requires a 1.75 cumulative GPA for the second season ofcompetition and a 2.0 cumulative GPA for the third and fourth seasons of competition.

Declaration of Major

Students are required to file a declaration of academic major form in the Office of the Registrar by the end of the sophomore year, prior to registering for classes as a
junior. Sophomores registering for their junior semester will be unable to register for classes until a form is on file in the Office of the Registrar. If the student’s present
faculty advisor is not a faculty member in the department in which the student has declared a major, the student should request an advisor change, using the Advisor
Change Form.
Students who wish to make a change in their declared major or who wish to declare an additional major may do so at any time by completing a new declaration ofmajor form.

Transcripts

Transcripts are processed in the Office of the Registrar. In accordance with federal law, transcripts cannot be released without the written consent of the student.
Transcripts should be sent directly to another college or university or to an official of an organization. All transcripts released to the student will be stamped “issued to
student.” This advises a third party that the student had personal possession of the transcript. No transcript (or diploma) will be released until all financial obligations to thecollege have been met. Please refer to the transcript ordering instructions on the Registrar’s webpage at https://www.nwciowa.edu/registrar/transcript-request.
Transcripts or credits earned at high school or other colleges are not available for distribution by Northwestern College. These transcripts must be requested from theschool awarding the credit. For information on ACT or SAT scores, students should inquire at their high school.

Withdrawal from College

Students who wish to withdraw from college during a semester must obtain a withdrawal form from the Registrar's office and complete the withdrawal process byobtaining the necessary signatures. The completed form must be returned to the Student Life Office within two business days of notifying either the Registrar's officeor the Student Life Office of the student's intent to withdraw from college. Students will be granted honorable dismissal and receive withdrawal status (W's) in theirregistered courses provided the withdrawal form is submitted to the office of the registrar within the time limit for dropping courses. Determination of tuition, room andboard refunds is based upon the date the student initiates the withdrawal process.
A student who is unable to complete a semester's course work due to serious physical and/or mental distress after the official drop deadline may qualify for special
consideration. Such students should obtain the late withdrawal form from the Registrar’s office. Students with mental health concerns must be recommended by the
director of counseling services to the Vice President for Student Life or the Vice President of Academic Affairs, who have the authority to make voluntary or
involuntary medical leave decisions and to authorize other college officials (e.g., Financial Aid) to make decisions based on contextual circumstances. If withdrawal is
granted, students receive a "W" for all courses.
Students who leave college without completing the official withdrawal process will not be granted honorable dismissal. A grade of "F" is given in each course in which
they were registered.

Administrative withdrawal procedure (involuntary)

In order to provide a safe environment conducive to the achievement of the college mission, the college may require a student to withdraw involuntarily when his/herbehavior or physical or psychological disorder is incompatible with minimal standards of academic performance and/or community life. Students to whom this policy
applies include (but are not limited to):1. Students who are deemed to be a significant risk to the health and safety of others. Danger to others is here defined to include a risk of assault
substantially above the norm for college students, which necessitates unusual measures to monitor, supervise, treat, protect, or restrain the student toensure his or her safety and the safety of others.
2. Students whose behavior is severely disruptive to others. Disruptive is defined to include behavior which causes emotional and/or physical distress toother students and/or staff substantially above that normally experienced in daily life. Such disruption may be in the form of a single incident or a pattern of
behavior.
3. Students (a) who do not comply with assessment, treatment, or other behavioral guidelines required by college officials and/or (b) whose behavior or
physical condition is likely to deteriorate to the point of permanent disability or dysfunction without such assessment and/or treatment.
4. Students whose physical or psychological disorder requires highly specialized services beyond those available locally and whose condition may
deteriorate (as in #3 above) without additional resources and who are unwilling to request a voluntary late withdrawal. The Vice President for Student Life
has the authority to make administrative withdrawal decisions and may authorize other college officials to make the decision based on contextual andindividual circumstances. The Director of Student Counseling Services, the Disabilities Specialist, or a medical professional may be asked to evaluate thestudent and make a recommendation regarding the student's condition to the Vice President for Student Life.
5. Students who are failing to meet the minimal standards for academic performance. Such students are consistently missing classes (two consecutive
weeks or more) and failing to advance in those classes (likely to fail most or all enrolled classes). In such instances, the Vice President for Student Life
and/or Vice President for Academic Affairs will verify the student's attendance and performance prior to instituting the withdrawal. Withdrawal before drop
deadline will result in “W’s” on transcript. Withdrawal after drop deadline will result in a grade of “F” for courses.
6. Students who fail to abide by Northwestern's community life standards. Students who have a pattern of violating conduct codes and/or commit a serious
conduct violation may be required to withdraw from Northwestern for a period of time or permanently. A student suspended from college for disciplinary
reasons after the drop deadline will receive a grade of "W" in each course if they were passing the course at the time of suspension.

16

7.

A student suspended from college for academic dishonesty will receive a grade of "F" for all current courses.

Enrollment Deposit

Each student who is accepted for residential enrollment must pay an enrollment deposit of $200 upon notification of acceptance. This deposit allows students toregister for classes and reserve housing for each semester. Once students conclude their education at Northwestern, the deposit is refunded provided the student
has no outstanding bills. Enrolled students, who pre-register and later decide not to return to school in the fall, must notify the office of the registrar before July 1 ofthe school year. Students registered for second semester must notify the office of the registrar of their withdrawal before classes start in January. Failure to notify theoffice will result in forfeiting the $200 enrollment deposit.

Academic Consequences of Dismissal/Suspension for Disciplinary Reasons
1.

A student suspended from the college for disciplinary purposes for a specified period of time within a semester shall fail all in-class academic course work
during the period of suspension but shall be held responsible for the content of all such work upon returning to the college.

2.

A student dismissed from the college for disciplinary reasons after the drop deadline will receive a grade of either W or WF in each course. A grade of W isreserved for courses which the student is currently passing. For each course, this determination will be made by the instructor and will be based upon all
course materials due before the time of withdrawal. Students citing and providing evidence for extenuating circumstances may appeal to the office of theVice President for Academic Affairs to change a withdrawal-based WF to a W.

3.

A student dismissed from the college for academic dishonesty will receive a grade of “F” for all courses.

Confidentiality of Student Records

Student records are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment) and state of Iowa statutes regarding freedom of
information and privacy protection.
The following is a list of directory information that may be made available regarding students of the college without their prior consent and is considered part of the
public record for their attendance:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Student’s name, local address, permanent address, e-mail address, photos and telephone numbers (including cell phone numbers)
Date and place of birthStudent photo (Campus Directory)
Names and dates of previous high schools and colleges attended
Classification (Fr/So/Jr/Sr), enrollment status (full time/part time)
Major Field of study
Dates of attendance and anticipated date of graduation
Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
Weight and height of athletic team members
Degrees and awards granted (where and when received)
Name, address and telephone number of parents, guardians and/or spouse

The student is entitled to request that any or all of this information not be made publicly available. Such a request must be made in writing to the college registrar
during the first ten days of the semester. The non-disclosure hold on directory information shall remain in effect until the student requests the institution to remove it.
All requests for student directory information must be authorized by the college registrar who is the data steward for such information. A student’s written permission
is required for the release of any non-directory information. Examples of non-directory information include grade transcripts and student social security numbers. If
you have a question concerning release of student information, contact the college registrar. (Note - In addition to the college’s liability for knowingly violating the
Buckley amendment, individuals are also held personally liable for knowingly violating this legislation.)
Consent by the student is not required when the disclosure is to other school officials within the college who have a legitimate educational interest. He or she must require
the student’s education records in the course of performing his or her instructional, supervisory, advisory, and administrative duties for the college.
The student also has the right to inspect and review his/her educational records in the office of the registrar and may do so by making an oral or written request to thecollege registrar. Students may be asked to present a valid college identification card or a valid photograph ID when making the request. Students do not have theright to view another student’s records. The official must respond within forty-five days of the request by arranging an appointment for the student to review therecords. The student has the right to an explanation of any information contained in the record.
Upon written request and for a set fee, an official grade transcript may be ordered by the student. No transcript will be released to a third party without the priorwritten consent of the student.

Academic Integrity

Northwestern College is a Christian academic community committed to integrity and honesty in all intellectual and academic matters. All students, faculty, and staff are
expected to follow the highest standards of honesty and ethical behavior. In addition, as members of the campus community all students, faculty, and staff have a
responsibility to help other members of the community to demonstrate integrity in their actions.

17Behavior that violates academic integrity can take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, cheating on tests, quizzes, papers, and projects; plagiarism or theencouragement and/or provision of materials for the expressed purpose of such acts; using unauthorized material; and the willful misrepresentation of evidence andarguments.

Requests for Name Changes

Northwestern College will update a student’s last name upon written notification from the student of a legal name change. In most instances, the change will occur asa result of a marriage or divorce. Individuals wishing to have their first or middle name changed in Northwestern’s records must provide documentation of a legalname change. Documentation could include, but is not limited to, a state issued driver’s license or a court order approving the name change. Northwestern maintains
a student’s birth sex in official records

Procedures for Dealing with Academic Dishonesty
1.

2.

3.
4.

Appeals

If an instructor suspects that cheating or plagiarism has occurred, the instructor will consult with the department chair (or another faculty member). In thecase of plagiarism, the instructor will consult with the department chair or another colleague using a blind copy of the paper. If the violation is verified, or if
the instructor believes that a student has cheated, the instructor shall confront the student with the charge. The student shall have an opportunity toconfirm or deny the allegation. If the instructor is not able to confront the student, the instructor shall notify the student of the intent to take disciplinary
action.
a. If the student confesses to the charge of academic dishonesty, the instructor shall assess the case, determine the penalty, and file anacademic dishonesty report with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs; the student shall retain the right to appeal the
penalty to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
b. If the student denies the charge, but the instructor remains convinced of the accuracy of the charge, the instructor may yet enforce the penalty;
the student shall have the right to appeal either the charge or the penalty to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
c. If after confronting the student, the faculty member believes that academic dishonesty has occurred; the faculty member will inform the studentof the details of the appeal process and file an academic dishonesty report with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
d. The ordinary penalty for a first offense shall be a failing grade for the assignment, test, or quiz in which the academic dishonesty occurred. The
usual penalty may be modified, at the discretion of the instructor, to allow for greater or lesser penalties, ranging from a lower grade on theassignment to a failing grade in the course.
If the case of academic dishonesty represents a second offense for a student in his/her college career, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, after thechallenge period is over or after all challenges have run their course, will meet with the student to discuss the penalty for a second offense. The penalty
will normally result in a suspension from Northwestern College for the remainder of the semester and the entire following semester. However the penalty
may be as severe as a permanent expulsion from the College. The student shall have the right to appeal the penalty to the Vice President for Academic
Affairs.
A written record of all cases of academic dishonesty shall be maintained in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs for the duration of the student’s
academic career at Northwestern College.
If a student is suspended for academic dishonesty, the transcript will permanently record that the student has been academically suspended and theeffective date. After five years the student may request in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for Academic Forgiveness to be noted on thetranscript. If approved, the Academic Forgiveness notation will be listed on the transcript, along with the Academic Suspension notation, and the date that
forgiveness was granted.

1.

The student shall have five school days to submit a written appeal of a faculty member’s decision to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The
Academic Appeal Work Group will be convened within five school days of the receipt of the appeal.

2.

The Work Group shall review both the charges of academic dishonesty and the penalty imposed. The Work Group shall hear testimony from the student
and the instructor.

3.

The Work Group shall vote on whether to sustain or dismiss the charge of academic dishonesty and whether to sustain, modify, or dismiss the penalty.
The work group has 24 hours after the hearing of the appeal to make a decision. This decision will be final.

Rationale for Preventing Academic Dishonesty

Northwestern College constitutes a Christian academic community, and any policy formulated to deal with plagiarism, cheating, and other kinds of academic
dishonesty shall take that fact seriously. Because it is an academic community, all shall follow the practice of giving proper acknowledgment to others for theirthoughts, ideas and words whenever we make use of them. Because it is a Christian community, it is necessary to obey God’s commandment to respect andacknowledge the ownership of intellectual as well as material property. This formal policy is an expression of Northwestern College’s commitment to integrity andhonesty in all intellectual and academic matters.

Academic Dishonest: Cheating and Plagiarism Defined

Cheating is the unauthorized use of sources or materials on exams, the use of prohibited material for assignments, or any attempt to deceive an instructor
concerning assignments or activities which affect an assignment or course grade. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Use of, or clear attempt to use, unauthorized materials for an examination or use of materials for completion of an assignment which the instructor has
prohibited the students to use.
Providing unauthorized assistance to, or receiving unauthorized assistance from, another person on an exam.
Providing assistance to, or receiving assistance from, another person on an assignment where an instructor has clearly forbidden such assistance.
Resubmission of work previously or simultaneously submitted in another course, without the explicit permission of the instructor.
Falsifying data or other information for a course assignment.
The use of unauthorized electronic devices in the classroom during exams, tests or quizzes. Or the use of an authorized electronic device if such a device
has transmitting capability and this ability has not been discussed and approved by the classroom instructor prior to the exam, quiz, or test.

18

7.
8.

Unauthorized acquisition of exams or other academic material belonging to an instructor.
Allowing another person to log into the college’s learning management system to participate or complete course requirements posing as the registeredstudent.

Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s work, words, images or ideas as one’s own. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following:
1.
2.

The unacknowledged use of words, ideas, or data from any published or unpublished source, including Internet sources and other students. Any ideas orinformation a student obtains from a source, whether or not directly quoted, must be appropriately acknowledged and referenced.
Improperly quoting a source. Any phrase directly taken from a source must be placed in quotation marks and cited. Any failure to indicate a direct
quotation is considered plagiarism, even if the source is cited. Any paraphrase (restatement of an idea in one’s own words) must be cited.

The instructor should clarify what constitutes plagiarism and correct citation within a given course.

Off-Study Campus Study Office
Location: Ramaker Center. 1st floor
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Website: http://www.nwciowa.edu/study-abroad
Email: global@nwciowa.edu

OFF-CAMPUS STUDY

Personnel
Kendall Stanislav, Director of Experiential Education, 707-7222. kendall.stanislav@nwciowa.edu
Caylan DeLucia, Administrative & Communications Coordinator, 707-7227. caylan.delucia@nwciowa.edu
The Off-Campus Study Office is committed to providing safe, educational, and enriching off-campus study opportunities for NWC students. This office oversees offcampus programs, including Northwestern semester and summer programs as well as any other off-campus programs NWC students attend for academic credit.
Northwestern College is committed to providing “a liberal arts education…that assists in the understanding of and appreciation for the riches of our cultural heritage
and the riches and diversity of other cultures.” (The Goals of Northwestern College, Catalog, p. 1) As part of that commitment, the college offers a variety ofopportunities to study off-campus both domestically and abroad.

Semester Abroad/Off-Campus Study

The college offers study abroad programs in locations around the world. The Romania Semester and Oman Semester are NWC’s own international programs,
providing an exciting combination of academic study and service learning in the post-communist culture of Romania and religious dialog and intercultural experiencein a Middle Eastern country. Other study abroad opportunities include semester programs through the Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), theCreation Care Studies Programs, and other programs listed on the Study Abroad webpage. Many off-campus semesters offer internships and students earn 12-16
credits toward graduation. These credits usually meet several General Education requirements, such as the language and cross-cultural requirements, as well as
requirements towards one’s major or minor.
Federal Financial Aid is available for use during off-campus semester programs. To see how much of your institutional financial aid applies to any other off-campus
partner programs, please visit the Off-Campus Study Office.
A 2.5 GPA or higher is required for all other off-campus semester programs.
Key Date: for all programs, the application deadline is February 10 (or the next business day if February 10 falls on a weekend), of the school year prior to attending
the program. For further information and to discover the options for Off-Campus Semesters, please stop by the Compass Center and talk to either Caylan or Kendall.

Summer Study Abroad

Each year Northwestern College offers NWC students the opportunity to study abroad during the summer term with an NWC faculty leader. These programs areshort-term, usually two to three weeks, and are designed by members of the NWC faculty who determine the location, content and disciplinary focus of the program.
These programs are also designed to meet the general education cross-cultural requirement and earn at least three credits. They differ from semester study abroadand off-campus programs in that they are short-term, completely administered by NWC, and led by NWC faculty members. SSA programs provide an excellent
opportunity for students to engage a culture different from their own within the comfort of an intimate group and NWC faculty-led environment. The summer timelinemeans that the programs do not overlap with academic year opportunities and responsibilities. Past SSA destinations include China, Czech Republic, Ecuador,
France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Israel, Italy, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Oman, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Tanzania, andTurkey.
Key Dates:
November 15: Summer Study Abroad Programs and faculty leaders announced
February 1: Application Deadline
For further information about NWC Summer Study Abroad Programs and opportunities, visit our website at: http://www.nwciowa.edu/study-abroad/summer or chatwith either Caylan or Kendall.

19

CAMPUS MINISTRYCAMPUS MINISTRY

Location: Ramaker Center, 1st floor
Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM when classes are in session
Phone: 712-707-7190
Personnel
Mark DeYounge, Vice President of Christian FormationRev. Kristin Brouwer, Director of Discipleship
Patrick Hummel, Director of Missions
Joshua Kuipers, Director of Worship
Tanya Vaas, Campus Ministry Administrative Assistant

MISSION STATEMENT

Campus Ministry at Northwestern College exists to send students into the world as those rooted, built up, and established in Christ for God’s glory and for the sake of
the world (based on Colossians 2:6-7).
A Christian liberal arts experience seeks to be a holistic experience, shaping outlook, values, attitudes, and behavior that seeks the good of another before oneself.
The Christian faith is the center upon which NWC frames and lives its life in community. Campus Ministry seeks to support and live into this. Stop by and ask about
the opportunities and resources available for your growth at Northwestern.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Approximately 85+ students are selected each year to lead their peers in ministry. They receive training in theory, skills, and ministry from campus ministry staff tobetter equip them to lead. This gives them valuable ministry and leadership experience and challenges and equips them to lead after they leave NWC.

•••

Campus Ministry Team: (25+) students who are paid (5 hours per week of student employment) to lead ministries in missions, discipleship, justice &service, worship, and media & marketing. These students serve for the year and receive training and mentoring.
Discipleship Group Leaders: (35+) students who volunteer to lead their peers in a weekly small group discussion/Bible study/prayer time focused on
Christian growth.
Spring Service Partnership Leaders: (25+) students who receive a small financial credit on their spring service trip to lead (alongside faculty/staff
advisors) their peers prior to and during the spring break mission experience.

CHURCH PARTICIPATION

There are many great churches within Orange City and the surrounding communities. Each student is encouraged to enjoy intergenerational worship by becoming
involved with one of the local congregations as Sunday morning worship services are not held on campus.

PASTORAL CARE & COUNSELINGThe Campus Ministry staff members are eager to come alongside students in their spiritual journeys. They are available to talk with students about personal andspiritual problems and concerns. They work in cooperation with the campus counseling services at 712-707-7321. (Check the counseling services section in
the handbook) and residence life.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION (CF) OPPORTUNITIESAll full-time students are required to earn 28 of the 60+ CF credits that are offered each semester. Chapel is held every Tuesday and Friday. Additional CF
opportunities include NED talks, Ngage, Spanish Chapel, and occasionally special CF gatherings will be offered throughout the semester. Events that are 30 minutes
or less are worth 1 credit and events that are approx. an hour are worth 2 credits, and a two-hour event being worth 3 credits.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION (CF) OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREDIT(S):
1.
2.
3.

Chapel: (twice a week)a.
Tuesday: 11:05 – 11:55 AM in Christ Chapel (2 credits)b.
Friday: 10:05 – 10:30 AM in Christ Chapel (1 credits)
Ngage: (once a month starting in September)a.
Mostly on Thursday and Tuesday: 8:00-9:00 PM in Christ chapel (2 credits)
Ned talks: (a mid-semester series that is 4 to 8 weeks in length)a.
Mostly on Wednesday: 10:05-10:25 AM in the Vogel Community Room (1 credit)

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4.

Spanish Chapel: (once a month)a.
Wednesday: 10:05-10:30 AM in the Choir Room (1 credit)

PLEASE NOTE: A full schedule of Christian formation opportunities and speaker bios is available online at: https://www.nwciowa.edu/chapel/calendar
Also, Sunday Night Praise and Worship (at 8:30pm in Christ Chapel) will NOT count toward your Christian formation requirement but is a great opportunity toexperience the living God in worship, hear from a peer, and fellowship together in communion and prayer.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION (CF) CREDITS & ATTENDANCE

Principles
Northwestern College is founded upon Christian principles and strives to help students grow as Christians in their daily lives. We value community, and as acommunity we are committed to be accountable to one another in life. Our Christian Formation Credit system is a mandatory rhythm that fosters a sense ofcommunity, encourages devotion to God, unity of spirit, and concern for the larger issues of Christian witness, biblical justice, and discipleship. It is, therefore, one ofmany expressions of Northwestern’s Christian commitment.
The Christian Formation program has three goals:
1.
Worship of God
2.
Integration of biblical thinking and world issues
3.
Application to life
Attendance Policy
Because Northwestern believes in the development of the whole person, all full-time students must attain a certain amount of Christian Formation credits. Students
are expected to attain a total of 28 credits of the 60+ possible Christian Formation credits available during this semester. Students are expected to complete their
Christian Formation credit requirement, but more than this, students are encouraged to see all our gathered times together as an opportunity to be shaped more into
the like-less of Christ – the one who made us, loves us, and works for the good of the world.
To Receive Christian Formation Credit, You Must . . .
• When entering Christ Chapel, Vogel room, or designated location; a Christian Formation card will be handed to students at the beginning of each service.
Write your name and student ID number on the card and return it to the card attendant as you leave at the end of each service. Weekly notices showing
the student’s status are sent out via e-mail to all full time students on a weekly basis. Arrive no later than the start of the service. Doors will close at thattime and a CF card will not be available after a very short grace period of about 5 minutes.
• Leave no earlier than the end of the service. If you must leave for a brief period (no more than 5 minutes) the attendance taker will hold your CF card andgive it back to you upon your return.
• All students must leave through the back doors where the card takers are stationed (for Christ Chapel - two side doors, center doors or two sides of thebalcony). You will not be given credit if you go around the front and try to hand cards to the card takers from the wrong direction.
• If you have received a card to sit downstairs and decide to move to the balcony or vice versa, leave your card with the card taker and get a new one as
you re-enter.
• A “forgotten” CF card will not be accepted for credit after 5:00 p.m. the following day.

••

Hand in your own CF card after the service is finished. CF attendance takers will only accept one card per person. Handing in more than one card
negates both cards and neither person will receive credit for the day.
Write only your own name and ID number on your CF card. Credit will not be given for fictitious and/or other students’ names and numbers, and violators
will face disciplinary action for dishonesty.

Seating
In order to facilitate seating and starting the service on time, please observe the following rules:• As the event fills, move to the center of the row to allow others to find a seat more easily.

•

To comply with the fire codes, students will not be allowed to sit or stand in the aisles during the event.

Etiquette and Behavior Expectations
To create a worshipful environment, show respect to speakers, musicians, maintenance staff, and take care of our chapel facilities, you are expected to:• Please welcome all our speakers by showing courtesy and respect. Please remove all ear pods and keep hoods down throughout the service.

•
•
•
•
•

It’s honoring to participate in worship by standing when requested.
We graciously ask you to refrain from studying or sleeping during the various services and events.
Please avoid the usage of cell phones, headsets, laptops, or other electronics.
To respect the building, refrain from jumping over or standing on the pews and putting your feet on the hymn racks.
To respect our maintenance staff, avoid bringing food or drink in the Christ Chapel sanctuary. If you have to eat, please stay in the foyer area to finish
your food. If you have a drink that you'd like to enjoy, keep it in a container with a fixed lid or cover.

21

NOTE: All faculty and staff have the authority to take a CF card from a student who is not complying with behavioral expectations. Students whocompromise the integrity of the CF attendance procedure or fail to comply with CF etiquette and behavioral expectations will not receive CF credit for that specific
event period and may also be subject to discipline.
Violations of Christian Formation Policy
If a student does not meet the CF credit requirement of 28 credits, he or she will be automatically dismissed for the next semester. Students dismissed forviolation of the CF attendance policy are ineligible for enrollment in full-time or part-time credit-earning courses until the end of the following semester. If the violation
occurs at the end of the spring semester, the student will be unable to enroll for both the following summer session and fall semester. Graduating seniors who fail tomeet the CF requirement will not be issued their diploma or transcripts. In such cases, the senior must meet with the Dean of Christian Formation to determine how
the student will fulfill the CF requirement. This plan could include a combination of listening to recordings of chapel, writing papers, community service, and thepayment of fines.
Appeals
The Dean of Christian Formation shall be responsible for enforcement of the CF policy. Students have the right to appeal their dismissal to the Dean of CF. Appeals
must be made within three school days of receiving the CF dismissal announcement. In deciding the appeal, the Dean of CF will consider the student’s classattendance, academic performance, disciplinary record, and reasons for failing to meet the CF requirement. If the appeal is granted, the student must pay prescribed
consequence by the Dean or a fine of $25 per credit below the required 28 credits; and will be placed on CF probation for the following semester. Under suchprobation, a second violation of the CF attendance policy may result in automatic dismissal with no right to appeal.

OTHER CAMPUS MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIESEach ministry area (worship, discipleship, justice and service, missions, community bridge-building) has several student leaders working together with Campus
Ministry Staff to effectively organize and provide opportunities to participate and lead in ministry.
Worship
Leads the college community into the presence of God through worship.
•
Sunday Night Praise and Worship: A weekly Sunday Night Praise and Worship Service at 8:30PM in Christ Chapel.
•
Worship Teams: Student teams lead at Sunday P & W, chapel, and in area churches, schools, and youth events.
Justice & Service
Leads students in ministry to the community through acts of service and promoting campus awareness of justice issues involving people who are hungry,
homeless, underrepresented, or in prison. Activities may include:•
Campus-wide Days of Service•
Prison ministries•
Food packaging and distribution•
Promoting issues of justice through film viewings, group discussions, educational opportunities, and justice campaigns on campus•
Encouraging spiritual growth on campus by connecting issues of justice with Christian living
Missions
Facilitates opportunities for students to minister cross-culturally by assisting those engaged in Christian missions.
•
Spring Service Partnerships: Teams led by students and advised by faculty or staff assist domestic and global ministries during Spring Break.
•Summer of Service: NWC students are sent around the world to partner with existing mission work for 6-10 weeks each summer.
Discipleship
Facilitates Christian growth opportunities for students empowering them to follow Christ and pursue God’s redeeming work in the world.
•
Discipleship Groups: Peer-led small groups meet weekly in living areas to provide a setting where students can explore and grow in their faith together.
These groups combine faith, learning, and living as students discuss scripture, pray, encourage, and consider how to live out their faith.
•
Retreats: A fall all campus retreat as well as other intentional gatherings provide spaces for building community and considering issues of faith.
•
Prayer: Opportunities to learn about and practice prayer and other Christian disciplines are given through the prayer labyrinth, prayer teams,
worship, small groups, and individual encouragements.
•
Ntrust. Partnerships of 2-3 peers are formed for accountability, prayer, and spiritual growth.

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STUDENT LIFE DIVISION
Location: Ramaker Center, 2nd floor
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Phone: 712-707-7200
Personnel
Julie Elliott, Vice President for Student Life
Marlon Haverdink, Dean of Residence Life
Amber DenHartog, Administrative AssistantMissionNorthwestern College Student Life strives to foster a living and learning community that forms students for faithful, flourishing lives of service to God, one another,and the world.

Philosophy

At Northwestern College, we believe that education is about more than the transmission of ideas. While it is important that you learn to think deeply and criticallywhile you are in college, it is also crucial that you learn to live in community with people who are different than you, that you come to recognize beauty and truth inpeople and places you might not expect, that you grow in character and wisdom, that you gain a sense of your strengths and weaknesses, and that you grow in theknowledge and love of God. In other words, your education is about your personal, social, spiritual, and intellectual transformation. It is about ordering your ideas andordering your loves. A good education will enable you to discern your gifts and direct them to the glory of God. The student life division exists to help you pursue thisend.

Confidentiality

Northwestern seeks to protect the privacy of each student. For information regarding students’ records, see “Confidentiality of Student Records” in the Academic
Affairs section of this handbook

Identification Cards

Upon registration, each student is issued an identification card by the Student Life Office, which is to be carried at all times. The card is for college identification andmust be presented on request by any college official. The card serves as a key to gain access to residence halls and apartments, a meal ticket, a library card, a RSC
pass, and a pass for admittance to athletic, dramatic, and other campus events. The use of the card by any person other than the named student is prohibited.
Failure to use the card properly will result in disciplinary action.
It is the responsibility of the student to keep the card in good operating condition. You will keep the same card throughout your years of education. Do not bend, fold,puncture or otherwise damage the card. Any problems with the ID or requests for replacement should be directed to the Student Life Office. There will be a $10
charge for a replacement ID card.

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CAMPUS SECURITY
Location: Ramaker Center – 2nd Floor Room 207
Hours: Monday – Friday, See office door for hours.
Phone: 712-707-7475
Personnel
Andrew Van Ommeren, Director of Campus Safety

Emergencies/Reporting Suspicious Activity

Northwestern College depends upon all members of the community to assist with campus safety efforts. If you see any suspicious activity or people on or nearcollege facilities or at college‐sponsored events, immediately report what you have seen. Call the police. After completing the call to the police, phone campus
security at 712‐707‐7475 (during office hours) or 712‐395-1077 (evenings) or contact an appropriate college official. Don’t assume what you see is an innocent
activity or that another individual has already called security. Don’t worry about being overly cautious. Instead, choose to err on the side of safety by calling security
or college officials.

Emergency Phone Numbers & Contact Information
Dial 9‐1‐1 if you are calling from your cell phone.

Dial 8‐9‐1‐1 if you are calling from a phone in a campus building.

Orange City Police Department
125 Central Ave SE Orange City, IA 51041
Emergency Service: 911
Non‐emergency phone: 712‐707‐4251

Sioux County Sheriff’s Department
4363 Ironwood Ave
Orange City, IA 51041
Emergency service: 911
Non‐emergency phone: 712‐737‐2280
Northwestern Campus Safety and Security Office
Andrew Van Ommeren
Located in the Ramaker Center
101 7th Street SW Orange City, IA, 51041
Office phone: 712‐707‐7475
After‐hours phone: 712‐395-1077

Northwestern Student Life Office
Julie Elliott & Marlon Haverdink
2nd Floor of Ramaker Center
101 7th Street SW Orange City, IA 51041
Office phone: 712‐707‐7200*Anytime a student contacts the police, he or she should immediately contact their RA, RD, or some member of the staff listed above.

24Appeals & Fines
All parking appeals should be appealed online or brought to the Campus Security Office and parking ticket fines should be sent to the Student Life Office
for recording.

Motor Vehicle Registration

All vehicles used on campus by members of the college community (students, faculty, and staff) must be registered. Students need to register their vehicle online bylogging on to My Northwestern and select “vehicle information” in My Checklist. After you’ve registered your vehicle, the registration fee will be applied to your billingstatement and a parking tag will be sent to your campus mailbox in the RSC. See the “Designated Parking” section below for detailed parking instructions, or refer tothe insert provided with your parking tag for a summary. Failure to register your vehicle will result in a fine and if your vehicle is not registered within two weeks after
being on campus, it may be towed away at the owner’s expense. If you get a different vehicle you must report the change to the Student Life Office in the RamakerCenter. If a vehicle is brought to campus later in the semester, it must be registered in the Student Life Office. A current registration sticker must be properly
adhered to the exterior lower driver’s side corner of the rear window. Detailed information about cost and related fees can be found at www.nwciowa.edu/tuition.

Temporary Parking Tags

If a student has a guest parking on campus or brings a car to campus temporarily for less than two weeks, they can obtain a temporary tag at no cost. Failure todisplay a temporary hang tag or regular parking sticker will result in a fine. Temporary parking tags can be obtained from the Student Life Office during normal officehours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. If you need a temporary tag longer than two weeks and have paid to have a vehicle registered on campus, you can get a sticker for$10.00.

Parking Regulations & Limitations
Parking on and around campus is limited. Proper parking within designated areas is required to make efficient use of parking spaces. Tickets of $15 will be issued forviolation of campus parking codes (per violation, multiple violations may be indicated on a single ticket). The $15 fine will be reduced to $10 if paid within three daysof being issued. Fines will double to $30 if not paid in 7 days and a hold will be added after 14 days.

Designated Parking
NO OVERNIGHT PARKING:No parking allowed for any length of time in the following areas from Midnight to 6:00 AM M-F and from 1:00 AM – 6:00 AM on Saturday and
Sunday
•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Lot A (East side of island… Behind football stands)
Lot D (Chapel Parking Lot)
Lot N (Learning Commons Parking Lot)
Lot G (Rowenhorst Student Center Parking Lot)
Lot H (located across Hwy 10 from Zwemer and VPH)
o Exception: The rows on the east end next to Conoco that are marked with signs as restricted student parking may be used as suchovernight. These spaces are for full time resident students only. Staff and Faculty are asked to leave these open for students.
Lot I (located just east of the Bultman Center)
Lot J (located at the south end of the Bultman Center)o Exception: Parking spaces east of the center islands and the row next to the practice fields that are marked with signs as restricted
student parking may be used as such overnight. These spaces are for full time resident students only. Staff and Faculty are asked toleave these open for students.
The half-circle drive in front of Fern Smith Hall
Albany Ave. Strip Lots (in front of Colenbrander, Hospers and Jaycee Park)
Lot M (Korver Art Center Parking Lot)
Lot O (Juffer Fieldhouse Parking Lot)
Lot P (Science Center Parking Lot)
South side of Industrial Road (south of Bultman Center & Rowenhorst Student Center)
Engineering Building Parking Lot
Street parking after October 15 (or as marked by the city)

UPPERCLASSMEN/RESCTICTED PARKING:
Restricted Parking (Upperclassmen): The following parking lots are available to upperclassmen (So., Jr., and Sr.) on an unlimited basis:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Lot A (Behind Hospers Hall)
Lot C (Corner of Albany and 6th Street)
Lot E (North of Courtyard Village)
Lot K (Northeast of Seventh and Delaware)
Lot L (Southwest of Seventh and Delaware)
Lot H (Located across Hwy 10 from Zwemer and VPH)-The rows on the east end next to Conococ that are marked with as restricted student parking
may be used as such overnight. All other spots in this lot as designated as No Overnight.

25

•
•

Lot J (Located at the south end of the Bultman Center)-Parking spaces east of the islands and next to the practice fields that are marked with signs
as restricted student parking may be used as such overnight. All other spots in this lot are designated as No Overnight.
North side of Industrial Road

FRESHMAN / ECONOMY PARKING:
Open Parking: The following parking lots are available to freshmen and those who have opted to purchase an Economy Parking Tag on an
unlimited basis:•
Lot B (North of Jaycee Park)•
Lot F (West of Juffer)•
GRADUATE ASSISATANTS & GRADUATE PROGRAM PARKING:
Graduate Assistants & Graduate Program Parking•

Street Parking West of Courtyard Village is Reserved for Graduate Assistants and Graduate Program Students Only. (Special Parking Pass is
Issued.)OTHER RESTRICTIONS:Spaces reserved for the handicapped must be left clear for disabled persons. Unauthorized vehicles in these areas are subject to a $100 fine and may be
towed at the owner’s expense.
Sidewalks, driveways, grassy areas, emergency, loading and service areas must be kept clear at all times. This includes access to trash bins. Vehicles
parked in these areas may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.
Driving too fast in campus parking areas, driving on the grass/sidewalks or altering a parking tag can result in fines and/or removal of your parking tag.

Towing Policy

Occasions arise when it is necessary to tow vehicles that were parked illegally, or contrary to signage on college property.
Some situations may include:
1. Vehicles parked in handicap parking spaces without proper license or permit.
2. Vehicles parked on campus sidewalks, lawns, or other illegal areas.
3. Vehicles parked in areas designated as fire lanes, service, and delivery areas, “No Parking Anytime”, etc.
4. Vehicles parked in No Overnight areas when snow removal is necessary
5. Vehicles parked for an extended time, in a college parking lot and appear to be abandoned.
6. Vehicles that are not registered.
7. Vehicles of Repeat Violations. A Parking Boot may also be used.
Students may retrieve their vehicles after contacting Campus Security/Student Life and paying the appropriate fine. If the fine is not paid, the fine will then be charged
to the students/staff/faculty account and in the case of student a hold will be placed on the student account until payment is made.

Appeals of Parking Tickets

All parking appeals are heard by an Appeals Board made up of members of the college community. Appeal forms can be printed off by going to
MyNorthwestern/Student Services/Vehicle Information. All appeals must be submitted with a copy of the original ticket within ten days of a parking ticket being issued
to the Campus Security Office. You will need to pay the ticket fine to the Campus Security Office while your appeal is being considered by the Appeals Board. Failure
to pay your ticket fine will result in your appeal being denied. You will be notified in writing when a decision has been made concerning your parking appeal. If yourappeal is granted, then you will receive a refund of your ticket charge. If your appeal is denied by the Appeals Board, you will not be refunded your parking fine. All
appeal decisions by the Appeals Board are final and may not be appealed to other members of the campus community!
If your vehicle does not start; it is your responsibility to contact campus security or maintenance PRIOR to ticketing. This communication can be byphone or email. Appeals for a vehicle not starting after a ticket is issued is not eligible for appeal.

Snow Removal From Parking Lots

Students will be expected to move their cars from student parking on days where snow removal is needed. Notification will be done via campus e-mail and we ask
students to be aware of weather conditions. Cars not moved when there is snow removal will be towed at owner’s expense. Students may retrieve their vehicles after
contacting Campus Security/Student Life and paying the appropriate fine.

Parking Over Breaks & Summer

All cars left over Christmas or Spring Break should be parked in Lots B, F, or L. All other lots will be subject to towing. Vehicles left over the summer must be parked
in Lot B and a set of keys should be left with the Student Life Office in case the vehicle needs to be moved during that time.

26

COMPASS CENTER FOR CAREER & CALLING
Location: Ramaker Center, 1st floor
Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday through Friday; evening by appointment
Phone: 712-707-7225
Personnel
Elizabeth Pitts, Director
Kirsten Brue, Career Counselor
Caylan DeLucia, Administrative & Communications Coordinator
Kendall Stanislav, Director of Experiential Education

Services

The Compass Center for Career & Calling exists to help Northwestern College students and alumni prepare for meaningful work and flourishing lives by using the
NW Navigation Plan:
1.

2.

3.

Explore – Understand how your personality, strengths, interests, and values fit into your future work by:•
Taking the PathwayU inventory•
Choosing a major that fits your gifts•
Receiving career counseling to connect your major with career goals
Experience – Participate in 2-3 hands-on learning opportunities that help you gain professional skills and experiences, such as:•
Internships and jobs•
Job shadowing•
Off-campus study•
Leadership opportunities•
Service and community engagement•
Research and capstone projects
Equip – Show how your education has prepared you for your career and calling through:•A polished résumé
•Targeted cover letters

27

4.

•
Handshake and LinkedIn profiles•
Interview practiceEmbark – Expand your connections with alumni, faculty members, industry leaders, and others who can help you launch from college to careerby:•Receiving help with your grad school applications•
Developing your personal mission statement•
Crafting a professional image•
Utilizing alumni network to connect to your post-graduation destination•
Securing meaningful work

Franken Fellows: Peer Career Mentors

The Franken Fellows are a group of peer career mentors who assist other Northwestern College students in preparing for their lives after college. They serve asambassadors for the Compass Center, actively promoting its mission, resources, and activities. They also plan and host career-related events on campus and meet
one-on-one with NWC students to help them create professional documents like resumes and cover letters, prepare for job interviews, and craft professional online
profiles. Applications for next year’s Franken Fellows: Peer Career Mentors go live each February.

28

BRIDGE CENTER
For Intercultural Development
Bridge Center
Location: Ramaker Center, 1st Floor NW Lounge
Hours: See office hours posted in department suite
Personnel
Martha Draayer, Director of Intercultural Development– 712-707-7215
Kelsey Joseph, Associate Director of Intercultural Development – 712-707-7016
MissionThe Bridge Center for Intercultural Development advances the Northwestern College Vision for Diversity to love, link, listen, and learn in order to bridge oursimilarities and differences.
Our Goals are to:·LOVE. Build beloved community by developing cultural intelligence, intercultural engagement, and humility among NWC students, faculty, staff, andadministration.
·
LINK. Mentor student leaders who embody and advance the Northwestern Vision for Diversity through positive relationships with NWC students, staff,
faculty, and administration as well as provide students peer to peer mentorship opportunities.
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LISTEN. Promote the thriving of students from underrepresented populations in their academic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal endeavors.
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LEARN. Encourage and model introspection of individuals’ identity in Christ and the complexities of intersectionality. Provide educational opportunities forcampus to explore and celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity.
Values:····Loving Community: The Greatest Commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew
22:37-39) As we receive God’s love, we extend the same love to our neighbors through our actions and commitment to one another. Loving others
requires a posture of humility for a community of shalom that pursues the flourishing of all humanity.
Interdependent Community: We are many differentiated parts of one interdependent body (1 Corinthians 12-13). When one part of the body is hurting,
the whole body suffers. Therefore, we seek to recognize and lament unjust social systems that isolate or dehumanize marginalized voices on campus andin the broader community to keep the whole body healthy. We are interdependent beings linked together to sharpen, lament, encourage, and rejoice with
one another.
Intercultural Community: We are a multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language (Revelation 7:9). We celebrate diversity by acknowledging
the beauty in our similarities and differences. The diversity we embody as image bearers helps us experience more of who God is. We seek the flourishingof all communities through a posture of listening and understanding one another.
Transformational Community: We are the change we wish to see in the world by loving our neighbors and pointing to Christ as our redeemer (2Corinthians 5:17-21). God reconciles us to himself and urges us to be reconciled to one another. As Christ’s ambassadors, we must learn to be agents ofchange and reconciliation by joining in His redeeming work in this world.

Our Services Include:
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Engagements that bridge differences and catalyze growth toward the “Beloved Community”
Diversity workshops, trainings, and retreats
Celebration of varied cultural events
Student mentorship and leadership development
Advising intercultural student groups including Intercultural Club and La Mosaic.
The Bridge Scholars Program
Intercultural student recruitment and admission support
Intercultural alumni and institutional partner relations
Host family programs
Coordinate ESL programs
Strategic planning and assessment of institutional diversity objectives
Promote campus-wide community connections and engagement

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Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Location: Ramaker Center, 2nd floor
Phone: 712-707-7200

RESIDENCE LIFE

Personnel
Marlon Haverdink – Dean of Residence Life
Amber DenHartog –Administrative AssistantNatalie Wheeler – Christy Suites Hall Resident Director
Brian Follett – Fern SmithHall Resident Director
Dana Van Ostrand – Hospers Hall Resident Director
Audrey Leyen – Stegenga Hall Resident Director
Jason Katsma – Bolks and Courtyard Village Apartments Resident Director
Jonah Tews – North Suites Resident Director

Residence Life Staff•••

Dean of Residence Life. The Dean of Residence Life oversees the Residence Life program at Northwestern. This includes casting a vision for the
Residence Life staff, selecting, training, and supervising staff members, overseeing the housing sign-up process, overseeing the restorative discipline
process, and administering the Residence Life budget.
Resident Directors. Resident Directors (RDs) are professional, full-time members of the Student Life staff who live on campus in the residence halls andare supervised by the Dean of Residence Life. RDs are responsible for the administration and operation of the residence halls as well as providing
counseling and leadership to campus residents.
Resident Assistants. Resident Assistants (RAs) are upper-classman students who assist the RDs by being role models for smaller groups of students.
They serve as resources, liaisons between students and staff, and informal counselors. Through close contact with their peers, RAs challenge students tomake the most of their integrated learning experience.

Philosophy

At Northwestern, student housing provides students with more than a roof over their heads and a place to study. Our residence life program plays an integral role inNorthwestern’s mission as a Christian academic community engaging students in courageous and faithful learning and living that empowers them to follow Christ andpursue God’s redeeming work in the world. Northwestern’s Vision for Learning and Vision for Diversity guides the efforts of residence life staff to foster a supportive
environment that prepares students to:
1. Trust, love, and worship God
2. Engage ideas
3. Connect knowledge and experience
4. Respond to God’s call
The residential facilities and programs provide students with the unique opportunity to live, interact, and learn with a wide variety of people that often have differing
backgrounds, interests, and values. This environment provides students with the chance to develop meaningful relationships and the skills necessary to be effective
community members.

Housing

Residences Available
Residence facilities for men include Fern Smith Hall, Hospers Hall, North Suites, Courtyard Village Apartments, and the Bolks Apartments. Residential facilities for
women include Christy Suites, Stegenga Hall, Courtyard Village Apartments, and the Bolks Apartments.
Credit Requirement
Students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits/semester (be classified as full-time) in order to live in on-campus housing. If a student wishes to drop below 12 credits
and remain in campus housing, they will need written permission from the Dean of Residence Life or the Vice President for Student Life. If, after receiving written
permission, the student becomes a distraction to other students in the residence, they may be required to move out of campus housing.
Housing Applications
Housing sign-up for the fall semester will take place in the spring. Sign-ups for apartment housing occur first, followed by sign-ups in the residence halls. Specificinformation regarding housing sign-ups can be found online at http://intranet.nwciowa.edu/reslife.
Any questions concerning housing should be directed to the Dean of Residence Life or a Resident Director. Any attempts to circumvent the process will result in aloss of housing rights. The Student Life staff reserves the right to appropriate the available spaces in the residence halls as they may be needed. Any open space inthe residence houses or apartments may be filled at the discretion of the Student Life staff as space is needed.
Single-Sex Housing
Since Northwestern’s founding, our Christian sexual ethic and our desire to provide safe residential spaces for our students has led us to make housing selections
and assign roommates according to biological sex. We remain committed to the sex-based (rather than gender-based) housing model, as we believe it contributes tothe emotional and social flourishing of our students. Students for whom this approach is difficult due to gender dysphoria or intersex conditions are invited to speakwith the Deal of Residence Life or the Vice President for Student Life about alternative housing options, including off-campus housing. Due to the sensitive nature of
the conversation, students can be assured that each situation will be handled with discretion and care.

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Housing Contract
All students will be expected to have a complete housing contract on and submit to the Student Life Office.
Private Room Policy
Private rooms are available only when there is a sufficient amount of space. When space is available, students may request a private room for an additional charge tothe normal room rate. When a resident becomes the sole occupant of a double room because the roommate has moved out and if it is not necessary to replace theroommate, there is no additional charge. This matter will be left to the discretion of the Dean of Residence Life.
Room or Roommate Changes
We strive for conflict resolution in any roommate conflict, therefore requests for room or roommate changes are rarely granted. In the presence of extenuating
circumstances, a room or roommate change may be deemed necessary; but only after certain steps are followed as directed by the residence life staff. In order toinitiate a room or roommate change, all students involved must first meet with their resident director and then agree to follow any and all of their recommendations. If
after following these recommendations, a change still seems necessary, the Dean of Residence Life, in consultation with the Resident Director, can approve achange.
Residence Hall Opening and Closing Dates
New students may move into their rooms at the assigned time on the first day of Orientation. Returning students may move into their rooms at the assigned time
Saturday before classes begin. Students who must arrive earlier need to receive permission from the Residence Life Office to do so. Students who move belongings
and/or themselves into campus housing earlier than their scheduled date will be subject to a $40. 00 per night charge. Athletes, student workers, and student leaders
are not to arrive earlier than the date set by their coach/advisor. Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the Residence Life office only for:a. International students
b. Families with more than one student attending Northwestern Collegec. Incoming new students who arrive by air travel and are given prior permission
As a general rule, residence halls close shortly after the last class and are opened 24 hours prior to when classes resume. Because all housing is closed for
Christmas vacation and except for approved students, closed for spring break, students are responsible for finding their own housing during those breaks. Any
student in the halls during breaks while the halls are officially closed will be asked to leave immediately and be subject to a $150.00 fine.
Check-Out Procedures
Students must check out of their rooms within 24 hours of their last exam or at 4:00 pm in the residence halls or 6:00 pm in the apartments on the day ofcommencement exercises in which they participate. Permission to remain longer must be obtained from the Resident Director. All personal property, including
carpeting, must be removed from their rooms and thoroughly cleaned before checkout. The RA will then check the residence for cleanliness. The Residence Life staff
and Maintenance staff will assess damages after students have moved out of the room, and students will be notified of damages by letter sent via e-mail. Students
must turn in their room keys. A $25.00 fine will be assessed for a missing key. There is a $25.00 fine for improper check-out or failing to check out with a ResidenceLife staff member.
Commuters
An important aspect of Northwestern College is a student’s residence life experience. Holistic education seeks to develop well-rounded individuals and living in a
NWC residence hall provides opportunity for growth, development, and learning outside of the classroom. As a residential college, Northwestern desires to have all
students live in campus housing. All non-commuting students are required to reside in residence halls or campus apartments unless permission is granted by theVice President for Student Life, upon adequate grounds for residence elsewhere.
A “commuting student” is understood to be either a married student or an unmarried student living at home with his/her parents. All other exceptions require approval of
the Student Life Office, and may be granted: 1) if a student is at least 23 years of age; 2) if a student’s parents request permission for him/her to live with a close relative
who is married and has an established home within a 50 mile radius of Orange City; 3) for fifth-year seniors; or 4) for students enrolled in an off-campus study program; 5)for students who have a full-time internship or student teaching placement. If it becomes apparent that a student who has been granted commuter status is not living within
the arrangements approved by the Student Life Office, i.e. a student who has been granted permission to live with their parents decides to rent their own house/apartment,
the student will either:
1. lose their commuter status, move back on campus, and be charged room and board for the entire semester; regardless of when they move back to campus
2. be asked to immediately begin living by the arrangements approved by the Student Life Office and pay a fine of $1500.
Failure to abide by either of these options will lead to dismissal from the College.
If residence halls are filled to capacity, a seniority selection system for approved students will be initiated for off-campus housing. All commuters must abide bycampus policies for community living.
A student who will not be living in one of the college residences must complete the form “Application for Commuter Status” as part of the registration procedure.
Registration will not be considered complete until it is submitted. If a student pays room and board costs to Northwestern College, the expectation is that the student
will live in residential housing.

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CAMPUS HOUSING GUIDELINES
Assistance Animal Agreement

Northwestern College is committed to assuring that its programs are free from discrimination and harassment based upon protected classes, including physical ormental disability. This policy explains Northwestern College’s (NWC’s) general guidelines and permitted uses of assistance animals, as defined and described below,
in providing disability accommodations to students, faculty, staff, and visitors in college buildings and on college property.
Definitions: Pursuant to applicable state and federal law, the following definitions have been adopted and apply to this policy:•••

Assistance Animal: A general term referring to any animal providing accommodations to individuals with disabilities. As used within this policy, anassistance animal may be either a service animal (SA) or an emotional support animal (ESA). For purposes of this policy, assistance animals are notconsidered pets.
Service Animal: A service animal is individually trained, or in the process of being trained to do specific work or perform specific tasks for the benefit of aperson with a disability, including but not limited to physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities. The specific work or tasks
performed by the service animal must be directly related to the person's disability. Animals whose sole function is to provide emotional support, wellbeing, or comfort do not qualify as service animals. Under applicable law, dogs and in limited cases miniature horses, are permitted service animals. Other
animals do not qualify as service animals.
Emotional Support Animal: Animals providing emotional support, well-being, or comfort that mitigates one or more functional impacts or effects of aperson's disability. Emotional support animals may also be referred to as a comfort or therapy animals. Unlike service animals, emotional support animals
are not individually trained to perform specific work or tasks.

Individual with a Disability: An individual with a documented physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; an individual
who has a history or record of such an impairment; or an individual who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.
Resident: Northwestern students residing in college housing.
Pet: Any animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. For purposes of this policy, service animals and emotional support animals (collectively termed“assistance animals”) are not considered pets.
Policy on Assistance Animals
Assistance animals are generally permitted on campus subject to the conditions and restrictions outlined within this policy. Assistance animal accommodation
requests made by students will be reviewed and assessed by the Disability Service Provider in the Academic Support Center consistent with applicable laws andpolicies. All assistance animal accommodation requests made by employees will be reviewed by the Director of Human Resources. Northwestern College reserves
the ability to make special modifications, within the confines of applicable law, to its policies to reasonably accommodate the person requesting the accommodation.
Property Damage or Injury Caused by Assistance Animal
The owner of an assistance animal is responsible for any damage to Northwestern College’s or personal property and any injuries to individuals caused by theiranimal.
Emotional Support Animals on Campus
Only residents who have complied with this policy are permitted to have emotional support animals in their assigned dorm rooms. Residents wanting emotional
support animals to reside in college housing must seek and receive approval prior to the emotional support animal entering college housing (process is outlined
below). Only one emotional support animal will be permitted per resident and generally only one emotional support animal will be assigned per room. Emotional
support animals are restricted to residential areas and are not otherwise permitted inside other college buildings, including, but not limited to classrooms, dining
facilities, recreational buildings, employment areas, libraries, sporting events, and laboratories. Because emotional support animals are not trained to provide specificwork or tasks, visitors and students not residing in college housing, faculty, and staff are generally not permitted to have emotional support animals on campus as apart of any disability accommodation.
Service Animals on Campus
Service animals are permitted to accompany people with disabilities on all college properties where students, faculty, staff, and visitors are generally allowed to go. A
service animal’s access to certain areas on campus may need to be limited where the service animal's presence may cause a fundamental alteration or undue
hardship. See the section on Exceptions and Exclusions below.
All service animals must be housebroken (i.e., trained so that it controls its waste elimination, absent illness or accident) and must be kept under control by aharness, 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.
Students needing a service animal are encouraged to work with the Student Disability Provider and with the Dean of Residence Life prior to bringing the service
animal to campus to ensure reasonable accommodations are appropriately provided to the student. Students wishing to have their service animal reside with them incollege housing will need to comply with this policy.

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Faculty and staff (or applicants for employment positions) needing a service animal are encouraged to contact Human Resources prior to bringing the service animal
to campus to ensure the disability accommodation request process is followed and reasonable accommodations are appropriately provided to the employee orapplicant.
Exceptions and Exclusions to General Rules Applying to Assistance Animals on Campus
NW may impose some restrictions on, and may even exclude or ban, an assistance animal in certain instances. Restrictions or exclusions will be considered on acase-by-case basis in accordance with applicable laws. Disability Services, Residence Life and/or Human Resources will investigate and address violations of thispolicy in cooperation with relevant departments and personnel across campus. Access to college property may be restricted or revoked under the following
circumstances.
Assistance Animal Creates a Direct Threat
The assistance animal may be denied access to or banned from campus if it poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be reduced oreliminated by reasonable modifications. An example of this would be an assistance animal that exhibits aggression or has injured a person or another animal. In
considering whether an assistance animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, NW will make an individualized assessment based on reasonable
judgment, current medical knowledge, or the best available objective evidence to determine 1) the nature, duration, and severity of the risk; 2) the probability that thepotential injury will actually occur; and 3) whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices, or procedures will mitigate the risk.
Assistance Animal is Uncontrolled
An assistance animal may have its access to college property restricted or revoked if the assistance animal is out of control and the owner does not take effective
action to gain and maintain control. An example of this may be an assistance animal that repeatedly gets loose and runs at large, even if it does not physically injure
a person or another assistance animal.
Improper/Inadequate Care for Assistance Animal
Failure to properly care for an assistance animal may result in the animal’s access to college property being restricted or revoked. Additionally, if it appears thatanyone has abused or neglected an assistance animal, the college may report the animal abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities, in addition to any othercampus remedies.
Assistance Animal is Not Housebroken or Maintained in a Healthy, Clean Manner
Any individual utilizing an assistance animal on campus must ensure the animal is properly housebroken and/or trained. They must also ensure that the animal, andits environment, are maintained in a healthy, clean manner.
Service Animal Fundamentally Alters the Nature of an Educational Program
Students may be denied the accommodation of a service animal in an academic setting if the animal’s presence fundamentally alters the nature of the educational
program. An example of this may be a lab course that requires a sterile/clean working environment and the service animal’s presence would compromise thesanitation/operational standards for the lab. Clarifying note: This exception applies only to service animals, since emotional support animals are generally not
permitted to accompany students to class (or to on-campus jobs).
Service Animal Creates Undue HardshipStudents and employees may be denied the accommodation of having a service animal if the service animal creates an undue hardship on the department or in thearea where the student or employee works. An example of an undue hardship may be if the service animal’s behavior disrupts the learning or working
environment. Clarifying note: This exception applies only to service animals, since emotional support animals are generally not deemed a reasonable disability
accommodation in a classroom, lab, or workspace.
Legal References• Americans with Disabilities Act, Title I, Employment• Americans with Disabilities Act, Title II, State and Local Governments• Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504• Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title VIII, Fair Housing Act• Iowa Code Section 216.8A• Iowa Administrative Code, 681 IAC 13.18, Animals on Campus• Ames Municipal Code, Sections 3.107 (Rabies Vaccination) and 3.110 (Rabies Tags)
Process for requesting a service animal on campus
Northwestern College is committed to ensure that programs are free from discrimination and harassment based upon protected class, including physical and/or
mental disability.
Definitions
In order to understand this policy and related procedures, it is important to have a clear understanding of the terms referenced. Please familiarize yourself with thefollowing definitions referenced in the Assistance Animal Policy:• Assistance Animal• Service Animal• Emotional Support Animal• Individual with a Disability• Resident

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Pet

Process for requesting a Service Animal on campus

All assistance animals must be authorized to be on NWC campus as indicated below. Students are encouraged to place their request (or renewal request) for aservice animal in campus housing by June 1 for the fall term and December 1 for the spring term. Owners whose service animals are still in training are not permitted
to have the animal on campus until the process is complete. Approvals for a service animal are given for a specific academic year and must be renewed prior to thenext academic year. For renewals, contact the Dean of Residence Life.
For a student to have service animal reside in campus housing, the student must:
1.
2.

3.
4.

Contact the Disability Service Provider/ADA Advocate to express your desire to have an assistance animal on campus.
At that time the Disability Service Provider will provide the student additional forms that need to be completed.
• Service Animal Verification form
• Hold Harmless and Indemnification Agreement form
• Assistance Animal Agreement
Once all forms are completed and turned into the Disability Service Provider/ADA Advocate, he or she will make a recommendation to the Dean ofResidence Life regarding the request. (Renewal forms can go directly to the Dean of Residence Life).
The Dean of Residence Life will then make a final decision. Residence Life has the authority to relocate a student and the service animal as necessary inorder to respect the health and well-being of other students.

Employee accommodation requests will be received and reviewed by Human Resources.

Process for requesting an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) on campus

Determination of need for an ESA will be made based on whether the information provided clearly supports the need for the requested accommodation by showing:(1) the individual has a disability (2) the animal is necessary for the individual to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their NWC residence, and that (3) there
is an identifiable relationship between the disability and the assistance that the animal provides.
Determination of reasonable accommodation will include, but is not limited to, consideration of the following:•
Does the animal pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others?
•
Would the animal pose an undue financial and administrative burden on NWC?
•
Would the animal fundamentally alter the nature of any of NWC’s programs or operations?
Requests that lack evidence of the animal’s necessity to the student will be denied.
Students are encouraged to place their request (or renewal request) for an ESA in campus housing by June 1 for the fall term and December 1 for the spring term.
Owners who are in the process of requesting an ESA are not permitted to have the animal on campus until the process is complete.
Approvals for emotional support animals are given for a specific academic year and must be renewed prior to the next academic year. For renewals, contact theStudent Life office for the appropriate forms and follow steps 2-5 listed below.
To be allowed to have an Emotional Support Animal reside in campus housing, the student must:
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.
6.

Contact the Disability Service Provider/ADA Advocate and complete an intake form.
At that time the Disability Service Provider will provide the student with additional forms that need to be completed:a. Verification of Psychological Disability formb. Hold Harmless and Indemnification Agreement form.
c. Assistance Animal Agreement
The student must have the NWC Verification of Psychological Disability and Request for ESA form completed by a licensed mental health professional.
This form will require the mental health provider to describe how the ESA will alleviate particular symptoms of emotional distress.
Once all forms are completed and turned into the Disability Service Provider/ADA Advocate, he or she will make a recommendation to the Dean ofResidence Life regarding the request. (Renewal forms can go directly to the Dean of Residence Life).
Dean of Residence Life will meet with the applicant to go over guidelines and expectations.
The Dean of Residence Life will then make a final ruling. Residence Life has the authority to relocate a student and the support animal as necessary inorder to respect the health and well-being of other students. Residence Life also has the authority to deny a request if the student has failed to meet the
ESA guidelines and requirements in the past.

Guidelines & Requirements

An exception to the animal and pet policy is granted for approved animals provided that their behavior, noise, odor and waste do not exceed reasonable standards fora well-behaved animal and that these factors do not create unreasonable disruptions for other residents. If the noise (crying, barking or meowing) is excessive as
judged by residence life staff, it is grounds to terminate the student’s contract.
The ESA must be contained within the student’s room at all times, except when transported outside the private residential area. It may not be taken into hallways,
lounges, bathrooms, laundry facilities, the cafeteria, or other areas of the residence hall. It also cannot be taken into classrooms or other buildings on campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA.

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Where are emotional support animals permitted to go on campus?
Emotional support animals are only allowed in the student’s assigned housing unit and common use areas in and adjacent to the student’s assigned room.
Unlike service animals, emotional support animals are not allowed in food service areas even if the food service area is located in the student’s assigned residence
hall. Emotional support animals are also not allowed in classrooms, public buildings, events, transportation, etc.
Where are service animals permitted to go on campus?
Service animals are generally permitted to accompany their handler/owner on all NWC properties where members of the public, participants in services, programs or
activities, or invitees are allowed to go. This includes classrooms, dining halls, residence halls, etc. College entities selling food must allow service animals in publicareas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises.
Some exceptions to this general rule apply. For example, it may be appropriate to exclude a service animal if the animal’s presence may compromise a sterile
environment.
Where might a service animal’s access to campus be restricted or limited?
Service animals are generally allowed anywhere on campus that their handler/owner is permitted, including classrooms, libraries, student dining, residence halls, etc.
However, under certain circumstances, the owner of a service animal may be asked to remove the animal from restricted spaces or have its access to certain parts ofcampus (temporarily or permanently) restricted. Listed below are several examples of situations that may result in a service animal being removed or restricted fromotherwise permitted locations.
• The service animal is found to be disruptive.
• The service animal shows aggression toward their handler/owner or others on campus.
• The service animal is physically ill.
• The service animal is unreasonably dirty.
• The presence of a service animal causes danger to the safety of the handler/owner or other others.
• The service animal’s safety is compromised.
• The service animal’s presence may compromise the setting (e.g., a sterile lab), or fundamentally alter an educational program (e.g., in a lab with lab
animals where the service animal’s presence will disrupt the lab or compromise the work being done there).
What documentation do I need to provide to have an assistance animal on campus?
The Disability Service Provider can assist students and visitors with service animal and assistance animal accommodation requests. Requests for disability
accommodations involving service animals and/or emotional support animals will require appropriate supporting medical documentation. Please contact the Disability
Service Provider as soon as possible to initiate this process.
Employees who want to request the use of a service animal as a disability accommodation request must contact Human Resources.
Who is responsible for cleaning up after assistance animals on campus?
As with all animals on campus, the assistance animal’s handler/owner is personally responsible to immediately remove and properly dispose of waste from theirassistance animal. They are also responsible for any damage the assistance animal does to College property and/or the personal property of any roommates orvisitors.
Faculty, staff, roommates, etc. are not responsible for the care or supervision of assistance animals.

Candles & Incense

Candles and Incense use are prohibited in residence halls and a fine of $300 may be imposed.

Damages & Repairs

Each student is financially responsible for any damage they cause in his/her room or anywhere else on campus. Students should report needed repairs or damages
in their living areas, in writing, to the Resident Director as soon as possible so that the necessary repairs can be made.
Every attempt is made to be fair in the assessments of damages and charges. Charges are made only when damage occurs by circumstances other than normal
wear and tear. Students are encouraged to discuss immediately any charges with the RA or RD. The charges will be forwarded to the Business Office. Unpaid
charges will result in a “hold” on future registration at the College.
In case of common area vandalism (i. e. broken furniture, doors, etc.), it is sometimes necessary to assess damage charges against the residents of a house, wing,apartment, or hall. The Dean of Residence Life and Resident Director should together determine the extent and cost to repair these damages and whether thecollege should absorb the charges or bill the house, wing, apartment, or hall.

Electrical Appliances & Guidelines
•
•
•
•
•
•

Only small appliances with completely enclosed coils such as coffee makers, corn poppers, and hot pots are permitted. Toasters, toaster ovens, fryers, orother similar appliances are NOT permitted.
All cooking must be attended. Students will be responsible for damage to personal or college property caused by a fire due to carelessness and/or
inattentive cooking and any fines imposed by the Fire Marshall.
No Microwaves are allowed with the exception of Micro-fridge units.
Refrigerators used in residence hall rooms may not exceed 4 cubic feet and are subject to inspection for contents and cleanliness by the Resident
Assistant or Resident Director at any time.
Space heaters are only allowed with permission of the Residence Director.
Diffusers and humidifiers are not allowed in campus housing.

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•
•
•

Circuit Breaker strip extension are to be used when multiple plugs are needed.
Air conditioner units may be approved by the Residence Life Office with a written statement from a medical doctor. Only units rented from NWC are
allowed. The fee to cover rental, installation and energy costs is $150 per year. Requests and fees for an AC unit are for the fall semester only. Springsemester requests may be approved for an additional cost. Installation or use of an unapproved air conditioning unit will result in a $50 fine.
Motor Vehicles may not be plugged in during the winter months.

Furniture & Window Screens

Furniture supplied by NWC or living areas may not be removed from the room or disassembled in any way. Screens may not be removed from any windows.
Removing screens often results in their being damaged and the person removing screens will be assessed a $10 fine.

Keys

Each resident is issued a room key that will be returned at the end of the year. Lost keys should be reported immediately to the resident director. A replacement feeof $25.00 will be assessed. Due to security concerns, irresponsible use of keys will result in disciplinary action.

Laundry Room

Coin-operated washers and dryers are provided in each residence hall.

Locks

Tampering with any campus locks and/or door closure systems is not allowed. A $50 fine or the cost of repair will be charged to any student found in violation ofthis policy.

Lounges

The main lounges of the residence halls and other campus buildings are intended for public use. Conduct within these areas should be appropriate for a public
setting. Sleeping or spending the night in a lounge is not allowed. Any group that wishes to reserve a lounge area should do so through the Resident Director.
Groups using these areas are also responsible for cleaning and putting furniture back in the proper order. There will be no videos or DVDs labeled “For Home UseOnly” shown in the lounges due to state and federal regulations.

Pets

Fish are the only pets allowed in the residence halls. Policy violations could result in cleaning charges up to $300.

Platform/Loft Construction Guidelines

Platforms/lofts are NOT
permitted in the following residence halls/apartments: Stegenga, Smith, Christy Suites, North Suites and Bolks Apartments. Platforms/lofts are permitted in all otherliving areas if guidelines are met.
All plans and drawings must be cleared with the Dean of Residence Life prior to construction using the online form found at:
http://assets.nwciowa.edu/nwciowa/public/content/pdf/dorm_platform.pdf

Plumbing Fixtures & Faucets

Water filters, portable dishwasher connections or other appliances may not be connected to the plumbing faucets in campus apartments.

Privacy

The following policy clarifies the college’s position regarding its respect for the privacy of students in residence and its concern for their well-being. College residence
facilities are exclusively the property of the college, and not of the student. Responsibility continues to rest with the individual student for being aware of andupholding regulations established to promote and protect the general welfare of all.
1. Residence life staff or authorized personnel may enter a student’s room without the permission of a resident if some condition exists that constitutes athreat to the safety or well-being of the occupants of the building, or if there is reason to believe a violation of college policy is occurring, or has occurred.
2. If a staff member enters a room and searches and finds, or views an item that is in violation of a regulation (i. e. firearms, drugs, alcohol, animals, etc. ),he/she may remove such articles to the Resident Director’s apartment without permission of the owner. After the removal of such an object, the RD willcontact the individual and/or notify the appropriate office.
3. For purpose of safety, sanitation, and general upkeep, the college reserves the right to maintain and make repairs in residence halls rooms any time during theschool year. Maintenance staff members may enter any room for the above purpose whether the room’s occupants are present or not. In cases of emergency,
and for the above purpose, maintenance staff members may enter a room, in the presence or absence of the room’s occupants, at times other than regular
working hours. In the event that male staff are required to do such work in a women’s residence hall, or vice versa, he/she will clearly announce his/her
presence before entering hallways, private rooms, or bathroom areas.
4. Residence facilities may be temporarily leased/rented to visiting groups between semesters. Every attempt will be made to respect property; however, thecollege will not be responsible for students’ personal property.

Room Cleanliness

Each student is responsible for keeping his/her living area clean and orderly. Vacuums are available for use in each living area. After using a vacuum, it should be
returned to the proper storage area. The restrooms, hallways, and other public areas of the residence hall are cleaned by work-study students, but cooperation isneeded to maintain the cleanliness of these areas. Fines will be assessed if a student leaves an excessive mess in a public area.

Room Decorations
1.
2.

Rooms may not be painted, wallpapered, or altered physically in any way.
All posters and pictures must be attached to the walls with white plastic tack. Double stick tape and duct tape may not be used to hang items on the walls
or ceilings.

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3.
4.
5.
6.

7.

Consideration for others and standards of good taste are important to Northwestern. Therefore, pornographic materials and obscene pictures are notappropriate room decorations. Resident Directors will make the determination if a decoration/poster is obscene or not. (See section on pornography in
Community Life.)
Removing or destroying state and local highway signs or commercial signs are illegal. Therefore, display or possession of such in one’s room or hall isinappropriate and not allowed.
All decorative lights including Christmas lights, floodlights, electrically operated ornaments as well as power strip extension cords must be U. L. rated andin good condition (free from damage or exposed wiring) and may not be routed under rugs or carpets, over ceiling tiles, through doorways or in any
manner that could present a fall or trip hazard or hinder getting out of the area in a hurry.
The use of live Christmas trees and other flammable decorations is prohibited in residence hall rooms. Artificial trees and other nonflammable decorations
may be used but must be placed out of the way of traffic, not blocking doorways, exits, exit signs or any of the fire protection equipment (fire hosecabinets, fire extinguishers, sprinkler heads and piping, fire alarm pull boxes, smoke detectors, etc.), or placed in any manner that could present a fall or
trip hazard, or prevent getting out of the area in a hurry. Caution should be exercised when using these items and someone must be present at all times inany room where Christmas lights are on.
Because of fire hazard, halogen lamps are not permitted in college residence facilities.

Storage

Storage space in the residence halls is extremely limited. Some items may be stored in the Stegenga Hall basement during the summer months; however, thecollege assumes no responsibility for these items. Storage preference is given to students who live 500 or more miles from campus. Storage of all items is subject tothe approval of the Resident Director. All items must be boxed and tagged properly before accepted for storage. Storage room times will be posted but will not open
until the weekend preceding the first day of classes. No furniture or carpet may be stored.

37

STUDENT PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES
Location: Ramaker Center, 1st floor
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Phone: 712-707-7200
Personnel
Lindsay Simmelink, Director of Student Programs and First-Year Experience, 712-707-7213

Student Activities

The Student Activities Office provides a variety of social, recreational, and cultural opportunities for the Northwestern community. The Student Activities Council(SAC) is comprised of student-led committees hosting social gatherings, dances, games, stage events, adventure trips, and concerts. Each committee is responsible
for planning and implementing events that provide significant and memorable experiences for the student body. If you love planning events and want to get involved
please contact Lindsay Simmelink to join a planning team.

New Student Orientation

Each August and January, Northwestern College welcomes new students to campus through New Student Orientation. The O-Staff consists of approximately 40
student leaders who are committed to the mission of welcoming and establishing relationships with new students as they begin their time at Northwestern. Orientation
offers a variety of events and programs that are designed to give new students a perspective on the academic, spiritual, and social aspects of campus life.

First Year Experience

The First-Year Experience aims to help new students have a first year that is as successful as it is memorable. First-year programming initiatives are geared toward
helping students learn the skills to adjust to college life.

Location: Rowenhorst Student Center (RSC)
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Phone: 712-707-7321
Email: wellness@nwciowa.edu

WELLNESS CENTER

Personnel
Jenna Visser, LISW,MSW, Director of Counseling Services
Justin Derry, LMHC, MA Therapist
Suzanne Haverdink, Administrative Assistant
The Wellness Center provides services designed to assist students in their mental health, in order to equip you to live healthy and independent lives and to be fully
ready for whatever God calls you to. We want to be a resource for whatever you need, from how to deal with disappointments, recover from loss, become lessanxious, improve your mood or learn how to make stress work for you. Services are provided with respect for the unique needs of each student in a safe, confidential
setting. Please contact Suzanne Haverdink to make an appointment for counseling or to inquire about other services.

What We Offer

The Wellness Center provides professional assessment and therapy at no cost for those students who are facing emotional, personal or relationship difficulties. We
also help students figure out how to better cope with difficult situations. All full-time students are welcome to use the services within the limits of appointment
availability. Students may choose to seek help during times of personal difficulty for issues such as depression, death of a loved one, traumatic family experiences,
sexual assault, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, body image issues, drug/alcohol abuse, adjustment difficulties, medical/health problems, identity issues, stress,
relational/roommate issues, dating violence, pornography, addiction, anxiety, or with any other personal concerns.
The Wellness Center offers individual counseling, couples counseling, premarital counseling, assessment and evaluation, information and referral, consultation, crisis
intervention, and workshops on requested topics. Books, Light Therapy Lams and other resources are also available to borrow. The Wellness Center also has a fully
body massage chair which students appreciate using as part of their stress management. The massage chair is available on a first come first served basis during
office hours and use of the chair is free.

In a Crisis

If you have a psychological or emotional crisis after regular office hours, contact your RA or RD. If you cannot locate yours, any Residence Life staff person can help
you. RD’s have access to the on-call therapist. You can also contact the following for help:••••

Suicide Helpline phone 988 or text HOME to 741741
Campus Security – Andy Van Ommeren 712-395-1077
Police/Ambulance/Fire –911
Orange City Area Health System emergency room – available 24/7 at 1000 Lincoln Circle, Orange City, phone (712) 737-4984

38

COMMUNITY LIVING
Lifestyle Expectations

Northwestern College is a liberal arts college within the context of the Christian faith. Our lifestyle expectations are rooted in our understanding of the Christian life as
revealed in Scripture, the creeds, and our faith tradition. Although Northwestern students are not required to be confessing members of the Christian faith, they are
expected to respect the religious commitments and lifestyle expectations of this Christian community. Students engaging in behavior inconsistent with the policies orphilosophy of NWC may be subject to campus disciplinary action.

Jurisdiction

These policies apply to behavior that occurs on campus or at college-sponsored events or programs held either on or off campus. These policies may also apply to
conduct that occurs off-campus and/or online when the Vice President for Student Life or the Dean of Residence Life determines the conduct affects a substantial
Northwestern College interest, including but not limited to:•
Any action that constitutes a criminal offense as defined by local, state, or federal law.
•
Any situation where it appears that the behavior presents a threat to the health or safety of self or others;•
Any situation that significantly impinges on the rights, property, or achievements of self or others or significantly breaches the peace and/or causes social
disorder; and/or•
Any situation that is detrimental to the educational or missional interests of Northwestern College.
o This may include but is not limited to cases in which a student serving in an official capacity, such as holding a leadership position,competing on a team, or performing in the arts, uses that position to advance a position that runs counter to Northwestern’s educationalor missional interests.

CAMPUS POLICIES FOR COMMUNITY LIVING
Alcohol

The abuse of alcoholic beverages is contrary to Biblical principles in which life, health, and one’s rational powers are sacred trusts which must not willfully bedestroyed or impaired. While recognizing the principle of individual Christian liberty in certain areas of behavior not specifically prohibited in Scripture, Northwestern
believes that it is for the good of the community as a whole that all members agree to abide by a policy which calls for:•Abstinence on campus, in college owned off-campus housing, and at off-campus college events.
•
Responsible and lawful use (for students age 21 or over) off –campus settings unrelated to the college.

Principles

Alcohol consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior. Even low doses significantly impair the judgment and coordination required to drive a car
safely, increasing the likelihood that the driver will be involved in an accident. Low to moderate doses of alcohol also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive
acts including abuse. Moderate to high doses of alcohol cause marked impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person’s ability to learn andremember information. Very high doses cause respiratory depression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower
doses of alcohol will produce the effects just described.
Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence. Sudden cessation of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors,
hallucinations, and convulsions. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. Long-term consumption of large quantities of alcohol, particularly when combined with poor
nutrition, can also lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and the liver.
This policy is in force to a) ensure a campus climate where abstinence is respected as a pattern for all of life and b) to counteract the effect of peer pressures thatlead some to engage in the misuse or abuse of alcohol.

Alcohol Regulations

The following regulations will be followed in implementing this policy:
1. The possession or use of alcoholic beverages on college-owned property, in off-campus housing or at college-sponsored activities, functions, trips, etc.
(on or off campus) is forbidden. On college-owned property, the presence of any alcoholic beverage container; full or empty will be interpreted the sameas actual possession by all those in the area where the container is found. Any member of the college community found in violation of this policy will be
subject to discipline.
2. Any member of the college community who returns to campus and gives clear evidence of intoxication (i. e. incoherent speech, lack of physicalcoordination) or creates a disturbance on campus related to the consumption of alcohol will be subject to discipline.
3. An off-campus social event sponsored by a college organization or group, an event advertised on campus, or an event in any way related to the college shallbe subject to the on-campus regulation.
4. Students who are underage should be aware that they are violating the law if they consume alcoholic beverages. This fact is taken into consideration
during the disciplinary procedure. Students can face campus discipline for on-campus or off-campus underage drinking. In accordance with Title II of
public law 101-542, Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, statistics will be kept on the frequency of underage liquor law violations on the
Northwestern campus.
5. If the student who has been misusing alcohol seeks help from the college prior to being confronted for a violation, the college reserves the right tosuspend normal disciplinary action. A student seeking assistance for a substance abuse problem is encouraged to seek out a faculty/staff member. Thatfaculty/staff member will assist the student in finding appropriate treatment and follow-up care. Professional confidentiality will be maintained. In special
cases, such as the safety of the individual and community, the limits of confidentiality may need to be extended past the initially involved parties. The

39

6.
7.
8.
9.

difficulties of freeing oneself from alcohol abuse are well known, and the college wants to surround the person with the best possible support to deal withthis problem.
Northwestern College subscribes to the concept of a “Good Samaritan” policy. In the event that a Northwestern College student is in physical or emotional
danger due to the abuse of alcohol or drugs, a fellow student who chooses to intervene in the situation to guarantee the safety of the affected student may
be absolved from formal discipline sanctions.
Posters or other paraphernalia that display alcohol advertisements or reference to alcohol are not to be displayed in public view in student rooms. They
are not to be visible from the hall or from outside the room, and the Resident Director has the option to ask the student to remove the poster orparaphernalia from the room.
Students who are 21 should be aware that if they violate local, state, or federal laws they could face campus discipline.
If a student is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol at a college-sponsored event, he/she will be required to submit to a breathalyzer in orderto remain at the event.
•If the student refuses to take the test, the student will be asked to leave the event immediately and will face disciplinary consequences for being
intoxicated at a college-sponsored event.
•If the student is under 21 and the breathalyzer test indicates the presence of any alcohol, they will be asked to leave the event immediately and will
face disciplinary consequences for underage consumption of alcohol.
•
If the student is 21 or over and the breathalyzer test indicates a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher, they will be asked to leave the event
immediately and will face disciplinary consequences for being intoxicated at a college-sponsored event.
•If the student is 21 or over and the breathalyzer test indicates a blood alcohol concentration of less than .08%, they will not face disciplinaryconsequences but may still be asked to leave the event due to their disruptive behavior.
•
In all cases, student safety is of utmost importance. Therefore, any student who is tested and has alcohol in their system will not be allowed to leave
the event without a ride from a sober driver.

Alcohol Violations

Students found in violation of the policy for the first time will be required to complete a minimum of three hours of community renewal, as well as an educational
component (see Discipline Process), and depending on the circumstances may be asked to go through an alcohol assessment with a local drug and alcohol
counselor. Students found in violation of the policy a second time will be required to complete an alcohol assessment with a local drug and alcohol counselor, follow
through with any recommended treatment from that assessment, complete a more significant educational component, and complete a minimum of five hours ofcommunity renewal. Students found in violation of the policy a third time will be recommended to the Vice President for Student Life for dismissal from the College.

Bullying

Bullying includes repeated and/or severe aggressive behavior which is likely to intimidate or intentionally hurt, control, or diminish another person either physically or
mentally. Bullying is not speech or conduct otherwise protected by the First Amendment. Examples of bullying can include but are not limited to:•
Disparaging comments about race, color, appearance, national origin, disability or any other distinguishing characteristic•
Actions that involve an imbalance of power, aggression, and a negative, repeated behavior.

Computer Network

Northwestern College network resources are not to be used for accessing pornography, gambling websites, file sharing of copyrighted materials, circumventing
network security, or creating unnecessary network traffic. Any attempt to connect to the internet via a file-sharing program will be considered an attempt to circumvent
network security and will result in disciplinary action. File sharing programs must be uninstalled before connecting to the NWC network in order to avoid disciplinary
action. Inappropriate file-sharing software includes but is not limited to Ares, BitTorrent, Direct Connect, eDonkey, eMule, Morpheus, iMesh, FastTrack, Grokster,
Kazaa, Gnutella, BearShare, Limewire, Gnutella2 and Blubster.
All internet traffic is logged and archived by Northwestern College. Northwestern College has the right to monitor any and all use of its network resources.
Students found circumventing the campus network will be denied access to the campus network from their personal computer until a $100 fine is paid. Repeat
infractions will include more serious consequences as deemed appropriate by the Student Life staff. Computing Services will also notify Student Life of any othernetwork infractions listed above, each of which is subject to campus discipline.

Dancing

Northwestern has the following expectations for sponsored dances. These guidelines ensure dances are safe and fun for everyone.
•
Music played at sponsored dances should refrain fromo The use of profanity and vulgar language,o Sexually explicit content
o Glorification of alcohol and drug use
o Lyrics that are demeaning towards specific people groups (Race, Class, Ethnicity, Gender)•
Keep your dress attire in good taste and in accordance with the college’s mission and purpose•
No outside food or beverages are permitted•
Be considerate of others and refrain from inappropriate and offensive types of dancing•
There is zero tolerance for students attending a dance with evidence of alcohol in their system. Students suspected of being under the influence of alcohol
will be required to take a breathalyzer test in accordance with the Breathalyzer Policy.
•
As in all campus activities, our expectation is that sponsored dances will be in harmony with NWC’s mission and purpose.
•
All DJ’s must sign an agreement form that they will adhere to our dance guidelines

Dishonesty & Non-Cooperative

Because honesty and mutual respect are the foundations of healthy community life, students are expected to exemplify these virtues in their interactions with student
life staff. Failing to be truthful or cooperative with student life staff, or any other campus employee, will communicate a student’s unwillingness to abide by the
expectations of the community and may result in the removal of the student from the campus community.

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Drones (AKA Unnamed Aircraft Systems)

The personal, institutional or commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is prohibited on campus
unless preapproved in writing by the Vice President for Student Life or the Vice President for Financial Affairs. Any and all data obtained from an approved use of a
UAS on campus must be provided to the College upon request. UAS operators are solely responsible for any injuries or damage of any type caused to property
and/or people by the UAS. The UAS Operator will indemnify, defend and hold the College harmless for any costs or damages, including reasonable attorney’s fees,
incurred by the College in connection with the use of a UAS. The College will not be responsible for any damages of any kind caused by use of a UAS. Any operator
of a UAS must register the UAS with the FAA and other governmental authorities as required. The operator must also follow all pertinent federal, state and local
laws. Detailed information regarding federal regulations can be found on the Federal Aviation Administration website at www.faa.gov/uas/.

DressAppropriate dress consistent with Christian standards is an important factor in our college community. “Appropriateness” includes not only what we wear but also themanner in which we wear it. Clothing choices should not create a distraction to the living and learning environment. Students are expected to be fully clothed inmodest, appropriate clothing in all public (non-residential) areas on campus. Nudity is not appropriate or tolerated in public areas. Nudity that occurs in the single-sex
residence halls should be practiced with discretion and respect for others in the halls. Failure to observe these guidelines may result in discipline up to and including
dismissal.

Drugs

The use of illegal or hallucinogenic drugs or intoxicants and the misuse of prescribed and over-the-counter drugs is destructive of the welfare of students. The illegal
possession and the disposition or use of drugs (or possession of drug paraphernalia), except as directed on over-the-counter drugs or as prescribed by a medical
doctor, is prohibited. Therefore, the following regulations are enforced:
1. Any student who gives evidence of illegal possession, improper disposition, or use of drugs (or possession of drug paraphernalia) on or off-campus could
be subject to immediate dismissal by the Vice President for Student Life, and may be reported to the proper legal authorities. In circumstances where drug
use is suspected, the college reserves the right to ask students to submit to a drug test at the Orange City Area Hospital. The presence of these drugs will
be interpreted as possession.
2. A student who gives evidence of illegal possession or use of drugs or intoxicants will be required to identify the establishment or individual from which they
were secured. Should the source identified be a student at Northwestern College, he/she shall be dismissed.
3. If a student who has been taking drugs seeks help from the college, the college reserves the right to suspend normal disciplinary action. Any student
seeking assistance for a substance abuse problem is directed to go to the Counseling Center or other agreed upon arrangements. Professional
confidentiality will be maintained. In special cases, such as the safety of the individual and community, the limits of confidentiality may need to beextended past the initially involved parties. The difficulties of freeing oneself from the drug habit are well known, and the college wants to surround theperson with the best possible support during the crucial period of withdrawal. Therefore, he/she will be expected to accept such help as is determined
necessary after consultation with the Counselors or other agreed upon arrangements.
4. Detailed information can be found on the Web at http://www.druglibrary.org concerning the use and effects of controlled substances. This web site also lists
state and federal trafficking penalties associated with their misuse. This information is provided so Northwestern College is in compliance with the provisionsof the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, the Higher Education Amendments of 1986, and Public Law 101-226. A hard copy will
be furnished upon request.

Summary of Federal & State Laws and Sanctions for the Unlawful Possession, Use, or Distribution of Illicit Drugs and/or Drug-Related
Paraphernalia(A more detailed explanation of legal sanctions can be found in the Student Life Office.)

Possession of controlled substances, such as narcotics, stimulants, depressants or hallucinogens, carries criminal penalties including imprisonment up to 20 years
and fines up to $10 million under federal laws, depending on the type and quantity of drug and whether it is a first or subsequent offense. Moreover, personal
property may be forfeited and federal benefits, such as student loans and grants, may be denied on the first offense.
Under State of Iowa and local laws, simple possession is a serious misdemeanor and criminal penalties may include up to a year imprisonment and/or a fine of up to$1,875.
While Marijuana has become legal in some states, it remains illegal to manufacture, possess, consume, or distribute this substance in the state of Iowa.
Drug Paraphernalia: No person may use, possess, manufacture, or deliver drug-related paraphernalia. Drug-related paraphernalia is defined to be all equipment,
products, and materials of any kind which will be used, intended for use or designed for use with regard to drugs in any manner.
Trafficking in a controlled substance carries criminal penalties including imprisonment up to life and fines up to $20 million for an individual under federal law,depending on the type and quantity of the drug and whether it is a first or subsequent offense.
Under State of Iowa and local laws, trafficking an illicit drug carries criminal penalties of up to 50 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines, depending on the typeand quantity of the drug. Subsequent violations can triple the imprisonment sentence and fine. Moreover, there are special penalties for trafficking to minors.

Summary of State Laws and Sanctions Regarding Alcohol(A more detailed explanation of legal sanctions can be found in the Student Life Office.)
No one can have open containers of alcohol in a motor vehicle on a public street. Violation results in a fine of $200. No one can use or consume any alcoholic
beverage on a public street. A court appearance is required.

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•
•
•

•
•
•

•

No one can use or consume any liquor at an elementary or secondary school or on any elementary or secondary school premises.
No one can be intoxicated or simulate intoxication in a public place. A court appearance is required.
A person under age 21 cannot have any alcoholic beverage in his/her possession or control except in a private home with the knowledge, consent andpresence of the parent or guardian. Violation results in a fine of $200. Second offense: Unscheduled misdemeanor punishable by fine of $500 and shallhave an abuse evaluation or loss of driver license for no more than one year. Third offense: Unscheduled misdemeanor punishable by fine of $500 andsuspension of driver license, not to exceed one year.
No one can sell or give alcohol to a minor (with the exception stated above regarding alcohol in a private home with the knowledge, consent and presenceof a parent or guardian).
No person can misrepresent their age for the purpose of obtaining alcohol.
o The penalty for the violation of any of the above crimes is up to 30 days in jail or up to a $200 fine, except if someone gives alcohol to a person 19 or
20, and the “supplier” is under 21 the offense is a simple misdemeanor, while if the “supplier” is 21 or over the offense is a serious misdemeanor.
No one shall operate a motor vehicle on a public street while intoxicated.
o The penalty for OWI varies depending on whether it is a first offense, second offense, etc. For the first offense, the penalty is 48 hours in jail and,generally, a fine of about $1,250. There is also a loss of driver's license privileges for roughly 6 months. For the second offense, the penalty is aminimum of 7 days in jail but not to exceed two years as well as a minimum fine of $1,875 but no more than $6,250 and loss of driver’s license for aminimum of one year. For the third offense, the penalty of a minimum of 30 days in jail but could be up to a 5 year incarceration, a minimum fine of$3,125 but not more than $9,375 and loss of driver’s license for 6 years.
Also a person under age 21 is subject to the “zero tolerance” law which went into effect July 1, 1995. For example:o “Zero Tolerance” is at least .02 blood alcohol content (BAC).
o .02 BAC can result from one beer or drink—or less.
o Any driver under 21 who is stopped and tests as little as .02 BAC will lose his/her driver's license for at least 60 days for the first offense.
o If a driver refuses to take the BAC test, the driver's license will also be suspended for one year.
o No school or work driving permit will be allowed.
o Cost of the Drinking Driving Course is approximately $100, to be paid by the offender.
o Subsequent violations will result in license revocation for a minimum of 90 days with no school or work driving permit.

Drug/Alcohol Treatment Facilities
Keystone Treatment Center
1010 E. 2nd Street
Canton, SD 57013(844)-849-1331

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health147 South Main ST
Sioux Center, IA 51250(800)-242-5101

Jackson Recovery
19 Lincoln ST SE
Le Mars, IA 51031(712)-546-7868

New Life Treatment Center
130 Dakota ST
Woodstock, MN 56186(507)-777-4321

Gambling

The intent of gambling is contrary to Biblical standards and the philosophy of life at Northwestern. Thus, it is not to be tolerated on campus, and can lead to
disciplinary action.

GuestsGuests (non-NWC student) staying overnight are welcome on Northwestern’s campus and while here, are expected to adhere to the same standards and college
policies that are required of students. Per the visitation policy, persons of the opposite sex and/or romantic partners are not allowed to stay overnight in campus
residences. Guests in student rooms are limited to two consecutive nights. The student hosting a guest is responsible for the guest’s behavior. Any guest(s) involvedin campus violations may be prohibited from returning to campus for a set time, and the host student may face disciplinary action. Guests requiring parking should
contact the Campus Security Director or the Student Life Office during normal business hours for temporary parking permits.
NWC students are prohibited from charging rent or in any other way profiting from a guest staying overnight at Northwestern.

Harassment

Harassment of fellow students, faculty/staff members, or anyone else on our campus is not permitted. Not only is harassment detrimental to the individuals involved
but also to the campus community as a whole. Therefore, any harassment (verbal, physical, or via electronic technology) will be dealt with in a strict manner.
Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to:•epithets, slurs, denigrating jokes or negative stereotyping;•threatening or causing physical harm, extreme verbal abuse, or other conduct which threatens or endangers health or safety;•
written or graphic material that degrades or shows hostility or aversion;•pranks or horseplay intended to embarrass or humiliate;•
imposing submission to unwelcome verbal or physical conduct;
Often harassment focuses on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or other defining characteristics. In such instances, Northwestern will observe its policy
on non-discrimination (see Title IX policy for more information). Institutional responses will focus on:••

Caring for the victim(s) of the behavior and protecting them from future harassment.
Educating the offender on the seriousness of the offense and its effect on the victim(s) and on the campus as a whole.

42•Imposing sanctions in proportion to the offense, up to an including dismissal.

Title IX (page 43) (see attached document)

HazingHazing is defined as any action taken or situation created, intentionally or unintentionally, whether on or off College premises and whether presented as optional or
required, to produce: mental, physical, or emotional discomfort; servitude; degradation; embarrassment; harassment; or ridicule for the purpose of initiation into,
affiliation with, or admission to, or as a condition for continued membership in a group, team, or other organization, regardless of an individual’s willingness toparticipate. Hazing is not permitted and will be dealt with in a strict manner.

Language

The language that we use says a lot about who we are and where our priorities lie. Therefore, it is imperative that as we communicate as a community we do so in amanner congruent with our stated mission and beliefs. Profanity, vulgarity, and all other inappropriate language will not be tolerated within the community, andstudents are subject to campus discipline for blatant disregard of this standard.

Pornography

The intent of the various forms of pornography – to become sexually aroused by an image rather than by a person with whom you are in relationship – is contrary to
the Christian ideal of healthy sexuality. Pornography treats another human being as an object for one’s own pleasure rather than as a person made in the image ofGod. As such, students are not permitted to possess or display pornographic materials on Northwestern’s campus, in college-approved off-campus housing, or at offcampus college events. This includes pornographic books, magazines, x-rated videos, and online porn (whether accessed through college computers or through yourown computer or smart phone). For violations on the Internet, campus computer privileges may be revoked and/or monitored. Students caught using pornography are
subject to campus discipline. If you feel you have an unhealthy interest in pornography, we encourage you to reach out to a residence life or student life professional,a campus therapist, the Dean of Christian Formation, or another trusted mentor or friend.

PranksPranks may cause inconvenience, conflict, physical damage, and even personal harassment.
•
Participants will be held responsible for the results.
•
If college personnel need to repair, restore, or clean an area, participants will be will be charged up to $30 per hour per employee.
•Entering a locked campus building or being on a building roof without authorization will result in a $150 fine per person.

Quiet Hours

Each resident facility has established quiet hours of 11 PM until 9 AM. It is the responsibility of the residents to enforce the hours and policies in their own living area.
Respect for others in the living area should be shown since residents are operating on many different schedules of sleep and study time. This includes the use ofsound equipment. The volume is expected to be maintained at a level which is considerate of others in the living area. Those consistently violating the rights of others
may be denied further opportunity to operate their equipment.

Quiet Hour Violations
1.
2.
3.

1st Incident – Verbal Warning
2nd Incident – Written Warninga. Written warning in which the student is informed that this is his/her second incident. The student is once again informed of consequences of futurenoise violations.
3rd Incident – Fine
a. The student will be fined $10. If the fine is not paid, the case will be referred to the Residence Life staff for disciplinary review. The student is notified
that future warnings will result in an Incident Report being filed with the RD and are subject to disciplinary action.

Safety & Security

For security purposes the residence halls and the Bolks Apartments are continually locked. The only access to these locations is the card reader entrance. Students
are not allowed in campus buildings after they are closed for the evening. This includes construction zones on campus. Safety and security concerns dictate thisrestriction. Students found in campus buildings after hours are each subject to a $150 fine and will be assessed restitution for any damages or clean up caused bytheir unauthorized entry and presence in a closed campus building. If deemed appropriate, criminal prosecution will also be pursued. A student found in violation ofthis policy a second time is subject to additional fines and possible suspension or dismissal.

Smoke Free Work Place

In accordance with Iowa’s Smoke-free Air Act, Northwestern’s campus, including buildings and outdoor spaces, is required to be smoke free. Smoking is prohibited on
our athletic fields, inside or outside of our buildings, on parking lots, or in a vehicle on one of our parking lots.
In addition, Northwestern College has chosen to be a tobacco-free campus and students are prohibited from using any tobacco products while on college property.
Students are also prohibited from using products that simulate tobacco use, such as e-cigarettes and herbal chew. Vaping is also prohibited on campus. Due to theease in which persons can use vaping equipment to inhale illegal substances, vaping equipment of any kind is also banned on campus and will be confiscated byresidence life staff if found in the possession of a student.

SportsmanshipIn keeping with our Christian commitment, sportsmanlike conduct is expected at all athletic events, both intercollegiate and intramural. This includes respect for all
officials, athletes, and spectators. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken for violation of this policy.

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TheftStudents involved on or off campus in stealing of property or connected with those stealing property are subject to significant discipline that likely will result in
restitution for anything stolen and dismissal from college. Local police will likely be involved.

Visitation (Open Hall) Hours in Residence Hall
Open hall hours:

WednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
Sunday2:00 pm - 11:00 pm
2:00 pm - 11:00 pm
2:00 pm - 1:00 am
11:00 am - 1:00 am
11:00 am - 11:00 pm

During open hall hours, visitation is allowed in the living areas by members of the opposite sex. Stairwells are considered living areas and are subject to the hours
stated in this policy. The door must remain ajar while a guest of the opposite sex is present in a student’s room. Residents are expected to dress modestly so as to
avoid embarrassment in anticipation of the presence of a guest during “open hall” hours. Additional open hall hours may also be established for a limited number of
special occasions. Requests should be made to the RD for special open hall hours.
Violation of the standards shall be subject to disciplinary action as determined by the Student Life staff. The privilege or participation in “open hall” may be withdrawn
from a living unit of an individual for a period of time for violation of visitation regulations.

Visitation in Other Living Units

In the Courtyard Village and Bolks Apartments the open hall hours listed above do not apply. However, students of the opposite sex may not sleep or spend the nightin these living units. Furthermore, in the Bolks Apartments, and Courtyard Village basement apartments, visitation in bedrooms is prohibited from 12:00 midnight to12:00 noon. Visitation in the bedrooms of non-basement Courtyard Village units, (Apartments 3-10, 13-20, 23-30) is prohibited at all times. A violation will result in
disciplinary action.

Violence/Fighting

Acts of violence that are intentional and/or flagrant will not be tolerated and will be subject to significant discipline.

DISCIPLINE PROCESS
Philosophy

Upon applying to be a student at Northwestern, every student is informed of a number of standards that guide our life together at Northwestern. Each student signs astatement which reads: “I understand the views and concerns of the college and agree to cooperate with the responsibilities expected of me.” It is expected that all
students have chosen Northwestern because of the kind of lifestyle that is expressed in these policies.
The college reserves the right to take disciplinary action against anyone who demonstrates he/she is unwilling to conduct him/herself as is expected of students inthis institution. Such disciplinary action may be in the form of a warning, probation, required consultations, community renewal, fines, temporary suspension, or
dismissal from college. If a regulation is violated, the Student Life Office normally uses a contract or behavioral agreement designed to help the student makeresponsible decisions regarding future actions. The terms of the agreement include the college’s clarification of its specific expectations for the student and thestudent’s written agreement to work within these expectations. Typically, this incorporates community renewal hours that may include:
1. Community service (Each hour of community service equals one hour of community renewal).
2. A written response in the form of an “insight paper” (3 pages = 1 hour).
3. Counseling on campus with staff/faculty.
4. Counseling off campus at a referral site.
5. A fine (1 hour = $25.00).
6. Combination of any or all these adding up to the designated allotment of time.
Failure to abide by the terms of the contract is viewed as evidence of the student’s lack of desire to remain as a member of the community. In some instances where
the offense is considered severely damaging to the Christian college community, the student may be dismissed by the Vice President for Student Life without benefitof the contract system.
Disciplinary action may include suspension. During a suspension, a student will remain off campus for the duration of the suspension with the exception of attendingclasses and chapel. Suspended students will attend all classes and chapels but will need to obtain meals and lodging off campus during the suspension period.
When a student is suspended or dismissed, the parents of the student will be notified that the student has temporarily been removed from the college community.
The “due process” procedure is used in cases when it is presumed college rules have been broken:
1. The student will be confronted by a member of the Student Life staff (an RD, Dean of Residence Life, or Vice President for Student Life) and theissue under question will be discussed.
2. If, after discussion, the Residence Life Staff has determined that it is more likely than not that a violation has taken place (there is a preponderanceof evidence), a Resident Director, Dean of Residence Life, and/or the Vice President for Student Life will discuss a contract with the student
concerned. The intent of the contract will be to further the student’s individual growth. The contract will state both the offense and the expectedpenalty. By signing the contract, the student acknowledges that he/she understands the terms of the contract. Terms of the contract are binding and
not dependent on the student’s signature. The student is responsible for living within the standards of the college plus the specific agreements in thecontract. The expected penalty will take into consideration the present offense and the student’s previous behavioral record.
3. The disciplinary process is a redemptive one and is not a legal proceeding. Except for Title IX cases, the involvement of professional

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legal counsel in disciplinary proceedings is prohibited.

Procedure for Appeal

A student may appeal any disciplinary decision made by the Student Life staff. All appeals must be made in writing (either printed or emailed) to the Student Life
Office within two (2) business days of notification of the disciplinary decision. Upon receipt of your appeal request, the Vice President for Student Life will forward therequest to the faculty chair of the discipline appeals board. The chair will decide if the appeals hearing will be heard. If the chair deems it unnecessary to hear theappeal, then the appeal will not be granted and this is the final decision. An appeals hearing will be granted if one or more of the following conditions are satisfied:
1. The ruling was based on insufficient evidence.
2. New evidence is now available that was not known at the time of the ruling.
3. The sanction was too severe.
4. Due process was not followed.
If a hearing is to be held, the chair will assemble a representative group of 2 faculty/staff members and 2 students to serve as the student discipline appeals board
and to hear the appeal. In the event of a tie, the faculty chair has the right to vote in order to break the tie. The appeal over academic calendar breaks will be handled
as soon as possible but not later than one week after classes resume following the academic calendar break.
During the appeal period, a student may continue his/her normal activities as a student unless the Student Life Office deems the student’s presence on campus to be
detrimental to the campus community. The Student Life Office reserves the right to enact interim measures (i.e. restricting access to campus) until the appeal
hearing.

Faculty Chair

The faculty chair is appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and is trained on discipline procedures, appeals processes, and HIPPA/FERPA by the Vice
President for Student Life. The role of chair involves selecting the appeals board members, training those members on student discipline policies and practices,leading of the appeals meetings, and writing a report of the discipline appeal board’s findings.

Appeal Hearing

The hearing allows the appellant to present his/her case. The board has the right to call witnesses as part of the hearing. Following the appellant’s presentation, theStudent Life staff will have an opportunity to share the reasons for their prior ruling. The board will then deliberate and make a ruling within two (2) business days.
That ruling will be shared in writing with the appellant and with the Vice President for Student Life. This decision is final and cannot be appealed.

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT POLICY ON CONDUCT & DISCIPLINE
Statement Of Purpose

The Northwestern College Athletic Department is committed to the development of student-athletes in the areas of character, academic success and athletic
excellence within a Christ-centered environment. Student-athletes not only represent themselves, but also God, their families, teammates, coaches and NorthwesternCollege. Our goal is to develop and reinforce a climate of positive behavior wherein our coaches teach and student-athletes embrace a life-style which will enable
them to positively impact all who come in contact with them and allow them to leave a legacy of Godly men and women.

Athletic Department Covenant

As a part of Northwestern College’s athletic department, athletes and coaches are expected to compete, practice, learn, and make decisions in a manner that
illustrates commitment to Northwestern College, their team and Christ’s example. This is accomplished through continual growth in the areas of integrity, discipline,
and accountability.
Integrity – choosing wise behaviors in the small daily decisions athletically, academically, socially, and spiritually.
Discipline – understanding that in order to be successful individually, and for the team to be successful collectively, discipline must be embraced.
Accountability – taking responsibility and action for what happens. One of the greatest compliments one can receive as a member of a team is that one
can be counted on.

Behavioral Guidelines

Student-athletes are expected to live within the boundaries established by Northwestern College campus policies for community living. In addition, student-athletes
are expected to meet any behavioral guidelines established by the Athletic Department or by the coaches of their particular team. Student-athletes are expected tolive within these boundaries from the time they report to campus until the time they leave campus at the end of the academic year. They shall also be subject todiscipline if they break any criminal laws during the summer.

Athletic Conduct & Discipline Board

The Athletic Conduct and Discipline Board will review activity of student-athletes that is not consistent with prescribed behavioral guidelines. The Board is composedof two members of the Athletic Department and one member of Residence Life. The Director of Athletics, the Dean of Residence Life and the Champions of
Character Administrator will serve in these roles. However, in their absence each department must designate a substitute. If one of the members of the board is ahead coach and a case involves an athlete in their program a substitute member from the Athletic department will take their place.

Function of the Athletic Conduct & Discipline Board

A student-athlete will first be subject to policies and due process outlined in the student handbook. If a student-athlete commits a campus infraction, the initial portionof the disciplinary process will be headed by the Vice President for Student Life in conjunction with the Dean of Residence Life.
If an infraction occurs which indicates a need for action involving the Athletic Conduct and Discipline Board the Dean of Residence Life will contact the Athletic

45

Director who will then contact the other members of the Board and schedule a meeting of the Board. The meeting of the Board will take place in a timely fashion forthe benefit of the athlete, team, Athletic Department and Northwestern College.
The head coach of the athlete involved will be contacted by a Board member and made aware that an infraction has occurred and that the Board is making an initial
review of the case. After an initial review of the case, the head coach will be invited to discuss the case and become involved in the process of determining anappropriate action in response to the violation. The final decision will lie with the Athletic Conduct and Discipline Board. Following the decision by the Athletic
Conduct and Discipline Board, the Director of Athletics will meet with the student-athlete and head coach to share the Board decision. Coaches, in cooperation with
the Director of Athletics, will be responsible for carrying out the provisions set down in the board decision.

Statement of Consequences

The Athletic Department retains the right to establish consequences for failure to meet any guidelines established by the department in general or by a coach of aparticular sport. In light of the increased visibility of the athletic arena and the potential impact of inappropriate behavior on fellow team members, the coaching staff,
the total Athletic Department and Northwestern College, the Athletic Conduct and Discipline Board retains the right to expand the domain of jurisdiction overstudent/athletes beyond that which is indicated in the general student handbook.
Consequences for behavior that is not in concert with the mission of the Athletic Department or Northwestern College may include: counseling, probation, suspension
from practice and/or games, and in severe cases reduction or loss of scholarship and dismissal from a team. Consequences for behavior may vary according to thesituation being considered. In some cases the consequences will be limited to the contract developed by Residence Life. Repeat infractions will generally result inheavier penalties.

Appeal Process

A student may appeal any disciplinary decision made by the Athletic Conduct and Discipline Board to the Student Discipline Subcommittee of the Campus Life
Committee. This subcommittee consists of three faculty members and two students who serve on the Campus Life Committee. All appeals must be made in writing(e-mail is not acceptable) within 24 hours of notification of the disciplinary decision being appealed to the chair of the subcommittee. An appeals hearing will be
granted only when one or both of the following conditions are satisfied:
1. The introduction of new evidence or factors which were not included in the original disciplinary decision.
2. Proof of extenuating factors or results of the disciplinary decision that were not considered or foreseen by the individual or group making that decision.
The chair of the Student Discipline Subcommittee has the right to determine whether or not to grant an appeal hearing. A decision made by the Student Discipline
Subcommittee may be appealed to the President of the College, who is the final authority of appeal.

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Announcements

GENERAL CAMPUS POLICIES

Bulletin boards are provided across campus for the purpose of displaying announcements and posters. All announcements or posters for non-college sponsored events
must meet the approval of the Office of Student Life before being posted. Posters are not to be taped to the windows of any buildings.

Bicycles
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NWC offers a free bike check-out program. You may check out a bike at the AV desk in the Learning Commons.
Bicycles should be parked in racks when not in use. Bike racks are available near buildings across the campus.
Bicycles may be stored in dorm rooms throughout the academic year.
Bicycles must be registered at the Student Life Office in the Ramaker Center. There is no charge for registration.
NWC is NOT responsible for damage to bicycles left in bike racks. Students may store their bikes free of charge in the Maintenance Building for the wintermonths. Please contact the Maintenance Department or bring your bicycle to the Maintenance Building during business hours.
All stored bikes must be picked up by May 1.
Bikes left after graduation will be given away to non-profit organizations.
Students are not permitted to borrow a bike - take and ride a bike that is not their own; even if they return the bike - unless given expressed permission
beforehand by the owner of the bike. Students found in violation of this policy will be fined $50 and will be held responsible for any damage the bikesustains while in their possession.

College Motor Vehicles

Students driving a fleet vehicle on behalf of the college must obtain prior approval from the NWC Maintenance Office. The student must be at least 21 years old,
possess a valid driver’s license and have a good driving record. A Driver Request Form must be completed and the student approved by the college’s insurancecompany to drive. All student drivers operating a 15 passenger van are required to go through a driving course. The course is offered three times a year with dates tobe announced.

Campus Employment

All students are eligible for campus employment opportunities. This includes doing necessary work in college offices, the library, residence halls, the dining hall, etc.
Some summer contracts are also available. Students are able to apply through Handshake on MyNWC for open positions whenever there are positions available(usually at the beginning of each semester). For further information, contact Sara Zomermaand in the Human Resources Office (712-707-7224 orsara.zomermaand@nwciowa.edu).

Financial Aid

Students seeking financial aid should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) including Northwestern College (school code 001883). Students
are encouraged to file online at www.fafsa.gov and to use the Data Retrieval tool that appears as you fill out the online FAFSA, as this pulls in tax data from the IRS.
The Financial Aid office will receive the results of FAFSA, and providing a student has applied and been accepted for admission, will prepare and mail a financial aid
award. Northwestern College reserves the right to adjust financial aid. Value of awards may increase or decrease based on academic achievement, need, or
additional information received by the Financial Aid Office.

Fire Alarms & Fire Safety Equipment

In order to provide the safest possible environment for residents, each of the residence halls is equipped with a fire alarm system. The fire alarm system is to be used
only in the case of an actual emergency caused by fire or for fire alarm drills conducted at the discretion of the Resident Director or local fire department. In the eventof a fire alarm, residents are required to exit quickly from the residence hall according to the instruction given them by their RA or RD. Residents will not be permitted
back in the building until all residents are evacuated and the signal is given to re-enter.
The failure of a student to exit the building immediately during a fire alarm will result in a $100 fine. (It is legally a “serious misdemeanor” not to leave a building during
either a fire or a drill and authorities may be contacted if you fail to leave the building.)
False alarms are a serious offense. For the safety of everyone, false fire alarm or “pranks” involving fire safety equipment will not be tolerated. All pranks or false
alarms will result in an amount of restitution not to exceed $1500 and immediate suspension of three days and/or dismissal from the College. In addition to campus
discipline, violators may be prosecuted under the law.
Students must maintain a 24 inch clear space around all smoke detectors and sprinkler heads. Failure to comply will result in a $100 fine. In buildings where
automatic fire sprinkler systems are installed, it is in violation of the Iowa Code to use piping, supports, sprinkler heads or any part of the fire suppression system tomount or hang anything from (decorations, signs, posters, clothes, hangers, etc. ). Students can be fined for such action or for tampering with any fire equipment,such as sprinklers, alarms, extinguishers or detectors.

Firearms, Fireworks, & Flammable Materials

For the safety and well-being of the college community, the possession of and/or use of fireworks, fire arms or any other explosive device on campus is prohibited.
Flammable materials, such as gasoline, kerosene, and Coleman fuel products, may not be kept in residence halls. Any misuse for pranks or other reasons cannot betolerated for obvious safety reasons and may result in a fine and/or suspension.
Pellet guns, paintball guns, air soft guns, bow and arrows, swords, fixed-blade knives, and items that may be used to physically harm others are not allowed on
campus.

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Fire Pit Rules
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Only wood may be burned. Paper may only be used for starting, no accelerants (No gas, lighter fluid, etc.)
Fire and wood must not extend outside of the ring or exceed a height of 4 feet.
Fire must be completely put out before the last person leaves.
What goes in the fire must stay in the fire, do not remove sticks, paper, or ashes.
Fire pit may only be used Sunday through Thursday until 12:00 AM midnight and Friday and Saturday until 2:00 AM.
Fire pit may not be used in winds of excess of 20 mph.

Fire must be put out before leaving. Fire extinguisher is for emergency use only. In case of emergency, please call 911.
The address for the fire pit is 617 Arizona Avenue SW.

Fundraising

Fund-raising for any college group must have the approval of either the Director of Student Activities, the Athletic Director, or Campus Ministries with final approval
granted by the Advancement Office. Fund raising request forms are available from any of these offices. Examples of fund raising activities needing prior approval
may include: the selling of apparel, benefit concerts, bake sales, employment services or any personal or written solicitations conducted on or off campus. We will
work with your organization and try to help if we can.
In order to protect our students, faculty, and staff from a barrage of fund-raising requests, mass ZZ email solicitations are prohibited.
The Advancement Office welcomes any questions you might have about fund-raising activities. You can reach our department at 712-707-7106

Insurance & Liability

Students should continue to be covered by a family healthcare policy because they are not covered by Northwestern in case of illness or injury that requires medical
attention or hospitalization.
Students with an address outside the United States are required to show evidence of health coverage before classes begin each semester and to maintain thatcoverage while on campus. Further information is available from Northwestern College’s Bridge Center for intercultural development.
Student athletes are required to be covered by insurance to participate in athletics. You must provide the Raider athletic training office with your insurance
information. Further information is available from Northwestern College’s athletic training office.
Northwestern College is not responsible for the property of others. This includes loss or damage to your property located on our premises. Please review yourhomeowner's and auto insurance policies to determine if your property is adequately covered in the event of loss or damage. The only exception to this policy iswhen the college has care, custody or control of the property of others. In those circumstances, you may have a claim under the college's insurance policy.

Lost & FoundThe college cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items.
An ounce of prevention – a word to the wise:•
Please put your name on all your belongings•
Please do not leave valuables unattended/unlocked around campus•
Please register your bicycles with the Student Life Office in Ramaker Center•
Please report a “lost” or “found” item as soon as possible
Where to post lost and found items:
On the NWC Campus Network you will find the INFORMER. You are welcome to post the item in either the category for “lost” or for “found”. Please do this as soon
as possible to help with the search.
Where to bring lost items/ Where to look for lost items:
1. There are two primary Lost and Found locations for ITEMS OF VALUE such as: Wallets, ID Cards, Computers, Phones Keys, i-Pods, Backpacks,
Jewelry/Watchesa. Student Life Office upstairs in the Ramaker Center•
Contact Person: Tracy Smidt at Extension 7200
b. Campus Maintenance Office in the Maintenance Building•
Contact Person: Mona Schroeter at Extension 7170
2.

There are Lost and Found locations in most of the major buildings on campus for ITEMS OF LESSER VALUE such as clothing.
Building
Phone Lost and Found Location
Bultman Center
7181
Athletic Office (Jim Burmakow)
Rowenhorst Student Center
7280
Athletic Office (Jacki Goebel)
Chapel/Performing Arts
7062
Music Office (Blair Lansink)
Colenbrander Hall
7211
Residence Hall Director OfficeFern Smith Hall
7213
Residence Hall Director Office
Hospers Halls
7214
Residence Hall Director OfficeLearning Commons
7234
Circulation Desk
North Suites Hall
7212
Residence Hall Director Office48

Ramaker Center
Rowenhorst Student Center
Stegenga Hall
Summer Camps
Theatre Building
VanPeursem Hall

7200
7230
7216
7280
7341
7250

Front Desk Downstairs (Tanya Vaas) or Student Life Office Upstairs (Tracy Smidt)
RSC Control Desk
Residence Hall Director Office
Athletic Office
Theatre OfficeLearning Resource Center – AV Desk

Lost and Found - Procedures/Questions/Answers
1. If you find something around campus please take it ASAP to one of the Lost and Found locations.
2. If you are able to find a name on the item – contact the person right away.
3. Keep the item in a secure location or deliver the item to a Lost and Found location. Put a note on the item with the owner’s name and when it will bepicked-up.
4. Use the campus INFORMER to post the missing item when it is turned into a Lost and Found.
5. If an ID CARD is found, bring it to the Student Life Office as soon as possible.
a. The student will be notified by email.
6. Items of value that are brought to these Lost and Found locations will be stored in a secure cabinet.
7. How often will the Lost and Found locations be cleaned-out?
a. At the start of the fall semester for items accumulated over the summer months.
b. At the start of the spring semester for items accumulated over the fall semester.
c. At the beginning of June for items accumulated over the spring semester.
8. What is done with all the Lost and Found items that have accumulated?
a. Lost and Found items are donated to either Justice for All or Bibles for Missions.

Photo Release Policy

Northwestern College reserves the right to photograph members of the college community, including—but not limited to—its students, faculty, and staff, in situations
appropriate to the image of an academic institution, and to publish likenesses in Northwestern publications, video, websites, news media, social media, or otherrecruitment or promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed or you don’t want a photograph of you to be used by Northwestern, let the photographer
or the marketing & communications office (news@nwciowa.edu) know.

Skateboards, Roller-Skates, ETC.

Students are not allowed to roller-skate, in-line skate, ride a skateboard or scooter, or anything else with wheels in any college buildings, nor are students permitted
to roller skate, in-line skate, or ride a skateboard or scooter elsewhere on college property in areas where signs prohibiting such activities are posted. Fines of up to$50 will be assessed for any student who violates this policy.

Solicitation

All solicitation requests, political, commercial, or non-commercial (no exchange of services or products for money) must receive approval from the Vice President forStudent Life one week in advance of the solicitation activity. Solicitation in residence halls is restricted to lounge and entrance way areas unless special permission isreceived from the Dean of Residence Life.

Theft

Thefts should be reported to the Campus Security Office.

Sexuality, Gender Identity, and Sexual Misconduct
Sexual Activity

Northwestern College calls its faculty, staff, and students to practice Christian chastity, which involves abstinence outside of marriage and fidelity within marriage.
Northwestern College lifts up the Christian ideal of marriage between a man and a woman and contends that all sexual intimacy shall be within the bounds of suchmarriage. Students are expected to refrain from sexual activity contrary to Biblical standards. This includes, but is not limited to, extramarital, premarital, or same-sex
sexual activity. Inappropriate displays of affection will not be tolerated, since they infringe upon the rights of others in the community. Students are called to live into
this vision for human sexuality, particularly those who are part of the on-campus residential community. Students found in violation of these standards may be subject
to disciplinary action including possible dismissal.

Gender Identity

Northwestern College’s position on gender identity is rooted in deeply-held convictions about God’s design for human personhood, revealed to us through Scripture,
the Christian tradition, and general revelation. We come to this position out of a longing to promote human flourishing and to honor God with our bodies, not out ofmalice toward persons who identify as transgender or non-binary. While our Christian convictions challenge the emerging gender paradigm present in American
culture, they also call us to treat all persons as image-bearers of God. When someone has entrusted their story of distress related to gender identity to a member ofthe campus community, we must work to hold together our care for the person with our commitment to Biblical convictions, in a posture of humility, recognizing that
we have more to learn and to understand.
The following statement does not attempt to answer every question related to transgender students and employees on our campus, but rather:••to set out some basic definitions andto provide a Biblical, theological and philosophical foundation for specific policies on housing, athletics, academic records, and human resources

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Definitions“Transgender is an umbrella term for many ways in which people experience, express, or live out a gender identity different from the gender identity corresponding
to their birth sex.” i In contrast, “Non-binary refers to a wide range of gender identities that are not exclusively male or female or masculine or feminine.” ii Sometimes
identifying as transgender or non-binary is a personal preference unrelated to psychological distress. As a college, we are concerned that these preferences fail toacknowledge the created goodness of our male and female bodies, and as such, we do not affirm such self-expressions.
At other times, identifying as transgender is rooted in significant psychological distress caused by the incongruence between one’s birth sex and one’s gender
identity. The standard psychological diagnostic manual, the DSM-5, defines gender dysphoria as clinically significant distress or impairment related to genderincongruence, which may include desire to change primary and/or secondary sex characteristics. As a college, we strive to be a community in which those sufferingfrom gender dysphoria find empathy, belonging, and compassion. Having gender dysphoria should not be treated as either a willful choice or a sinful act. Any person
experiencing gender dysphoria should be free to speak with members of the campus community without fear of judgment or retaliation.
A small percentage of individuals are born with Differences in Sex Development (DSD)/Intersex conditions. This phenomenon should not be conflated withtransgender or non-binary gender identities. Students and employees with DSD will generally be treated at Northwestern in continuity with the sexual/gender identity
they have lived into prior to coming to the college.

Christian commitments related to sex and gender
As a Christian college that is Reformed, evangelical, and ecumenical, we affirm that
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Sexual difference is part of God’s good creation. God created his image bearers, male and female, as two distinct sexes. The differentiation between thesexes is reiterated throughout the Old and New Testaments (Gen 1:27, Deut. 22:5, Matthew 19:4, Mark 10:6, 1 Cor. 11: 1-16). Our sex is not arbitrary. It ismeaningful because it is part of the way we reflect God’s image in the world.
We are our bodies. Although there is more to us than our bodies, our bodies are not simply containers of our true selves. Our bodies are central to the
Biblical drama of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration, and are a means by which God reveals himself to us. We lament gender paradigms that define
the self in disembodied or dualistic ways and that deny the reality and significance of the body. We call upon our community to embrace a biblicalanthropology that understands human beings as embodied creatures, fearfully and wonderfully made. (Gen. 1:7, Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27).
The fall affects all parts of creation, including our bodily existence. In this world, we groan inwardly while we await the redemption of our bodies (Rom
8:23). Gender dysphoria is one example among many others that creation is not always how God intended it to be. This recognition of the humancondition should instill compassion for those who experience gender dysphoria. Students and employees in distress are urged to seek out professionalcounseling, pastoral support, and/or mentoring.
Our bodies belong to God. As Christians in the Reformed tradition, we hold to the words of the Heidelberg Catechism that “I am not my own, but belong,
body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful savior, Jesus Christ.” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A #1). As such, we submit our lives to the will of ourloving Creator who desires our flourishing.
We have freedom to express ourselves within the goodness of God’s creational design. As Christians, we are granted freedom to express our uniquenessas persons and are not bound to overly-narrow cultural definitions of what constitutes masculinity and femininity. We lament that these narrow definitions
can contribute to gender dysphoria.
We are called to Christ-like love. All members of the community are called to care for and respect one another as persons made in the image of God. If a
Northwestern student or employee experiences harassment, intimidation, or abuse due to their gender expression, they should report those offenses tothe proper campus authorities so that the offending party or parties can be held accountable. Such behavior will not be tolerated on our campus.
Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross is for all persons who confess him as Lord. Having gender dysphoria does not prevent one from being part of this Christiancommunity. It is our prayer that all persons will grow in their knowledge and love of Jesus while at Northwestern and will experience the love of theChristian community while here.

Implications of our Christian commitments
Based on these Christian convictions, we call students and employees to live in congruence with their sex at birth. In decisions about housing, employment,
academic records, athletic participation, and more, Northwestern College will prioritize sex over gender identity as a more meaningful marker of one’s personhood. In
all situations, we will do our best to care for the individual and the community as a whole. We recognize that, just as every person is unique, so must our response to
individual cases be discerned in light of the posture, role, and expectations of the person in question and our understanding of how our Christian convictions apply inparticular situations.
There may be instances when a person’s gender identity/expression and their gender-related requests are incompatible with the Christian convictions outlined in thisstatement or with the kind of Christian community we strive to cultivate on campus. In such cases, it may not be possible for that person to remain a member of thecollege community. When such a judgment is made, the college will work closely with that person to ensure a graceful and respectful exit. In all situations, the college
is committed to treating people with dignity and care, recognizing one another as God’s beloved children.
Mark Yarhouse and Julia Sadusky, Emerging Gender Identities, Brazos Press, 2020, p. 8.
Preston Sprinkle, Embodied, David C. Cook, 2021, p. 30.

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TITLE IX Equal Opportunity, Harassment & Nondiscrimination
Policy & Procedures 1
FOR ALL FACULTY, STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND THIRD-PARTIES
Effective July 1, 2023
Northwestern College is committed to providing a working, learning, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in anenvironment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Discrimination, harassment and retaliation is contrary to the standards of the college community,
as it violates an individual’s fundamental rights and dignity as a person made in the image of God. Northwestern College considers discrimination, harassment andretaliation in all its forms to be a serious offense and it will not be tolerated. The college is dedicated to preventing and educating all students, faculty, and staff
regarding all forms of harassment, discrimination and retaliation. This policy refers to all forms of discrimination and harassment, including but not limited to: unfair
treatment based on protected class, sexual and other harassment (including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking), hazing, and bullying,by other students, employees, or third parties. Northwestern College values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance therights of the parties in the grievance process during what is often a difficult time for all those involved.
When an alleged violation of this anti-discrimination policy is reported, the allegations are subject to resolution using Northwestern College’s “Process A” or “Process
B,” as determined by the Title IX Coordinator or designee, and as detailed below. This policy and procedures will be reviewed at regular intervals by the Title IX
Coordinator. The College reserves the right to make changes to this policy as necessary, and once those changes are posted online, they are in effect. During any
resolution process, the Title IX Coordinator may make minor modifications to procedures that do not materially jeopardize the fairness owed to any party. The Title IX
Coordinator may also vary procedures materially with prior written notice to the Parties upon determining that changes to law or regulation require policy orprocedural alterations not reflected in this policy and procedures.
This policy is not a contract, is not intended to afford contractual or third-party beneficiary rights to any individual, and does not create legally enforceable protections
beyond the protection of the background state and federal laws which frame such policies and codes, generally.
To support this policy, Northwestern College will conduct periodic orientation and ongoing educational programs for faculty, students, and staff concerning all areas of
Title IX, Clery Act, VAWA, and Campus SaVE Act. Copies of this policy and procedures will be continuously available at appropriate college centers and offices.
Glossary of Policy Terms•

Complainant means an individual who is alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute harassment or discrimination based on a protected classas prohibited by this policy; or retaliation for engaging in a protected activity.

•

Confidential Resource means an employee, person, or entity, who by a legal privilege, professional obligation, or otherwise must maintain confidence ofcommunications, including reports of harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation (irrespective of Clery Act Campus Security Authority status).

•

Day means a business day when Northwestern College is in normal operation.

•

Final Determination: A conclusion by the preponderance of the evidence that the alleged conduct occurred and whether it did or did not violate policy.

•

Finding: A conclusion by the preponderance of the evidence that the conduct did or did not occur as alleged.

•

Formal Grievance Process means “Process A,” a method of formal resolution designated by the College to address conduct that falls within the policies
included below, and which complies with the requirements of 34 CFR Part 106.45.

•

Investigator means the person or persons charged by Northwestern College with gathering facts about an alleged violation of this Policy, assessing
relevance and credibility, synthesizing the evidence, and compiling this information into an investigation report and file of directly related evidence.

•

Official with Authority (OWA) means an employee of the College explicitly vested with the responsibility to implement corrective measures for harassment,
discrimination, and/or retaliation on behalf of the College.

•

Parties include the Complainant(s) and Respondent(s), collectively.

•

Process A means the Formal Grievance Process detailed below and defined above for qualifying allegations of sexual harassment under Title IX (including
sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking) in the United States involving students, staff, administrators, or faculty members which fallwithin the College’s educational programs or activities. Process A complaints can be resolved formally or informally.

•

Process B means the resolution procedures for offenses that violate policies on protected class harassment or discrimination, including but not limited tosexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, but that do not fall under the jurisdiction or scope of Title IX.

ATIXA 2020 One Policy, Two Procedures Model use and adaptation of this model with citation to ATIXA is permitted through alimited license to Northwestern College. All other rights reserved. ©2020. ATIXA

1

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•

Respondent means an individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute harassment or discrimination based on aprotected class; sexual harassment; and/or retaliation for engaging in a protected activity.

•

Sexual Harassment is the umbrella category including the offenses of sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence and domestic
violence. See Section 15.b., for greater detail.

•Student means any individual who has accepted an offer of admission, or who is registered or enrolled for credit or non-credit bearing coursework, and who
maintains an ongoing relationship with Northwestern College.

•

Title IX Coordinator is at least one official designated by Northwestern College to ensure compliance with Title IX and the College’s Title IX program.
References to the Coordinator throughout this policy may also encompass a designee of the Coordinator for specific tasks.

•

Title IX Team refers to the Title IX Coordinator, any deputy coordinators, investigators, hearing officers, decision-makers, or appeal decision-makers.

1. Policy on Non-Discrimination
Northwestern College adheres to all federal and state civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education on the basisof race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, or other characteristic protected by law, in admission, access to, or employment in its
programs and activities except as modified by the protections of Northwestern’s religious identity, beliefs, and practices found in the First Amendment, the Religious
Freedom Restoration Act, Title IX Religious Colleges Exemption, the Title VII Religious Employers Exemption, and other federal and state legal protections forreligious freedom. Northwestern College complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments Acts of 1972, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. To
ensure compliance with these and other federal and state civil rights laws, Northwestern College has developed policies and procedures that prohibit discrimination in
all of its forms.
2. Title IX Coordinator
The Director of Human Resources serves as the Title IX Coordinator and ADA/504 Coordinator and oversees implementation of Northwestern College’s disability
compliance and policy of equal opportunity, harassment, and nondiscrimination. The Title IX Coordinator has the primary responsibility for coordinating NorthwesternCollege’s efforts related to the intake, investigation, resolution, and implementation of supportive measures to stop, remediate, and prevent discrimination,harassment, and retaliation prohibited under this policy.
3. Independence, Conflict-of-Interest, and Training
The Title IX Coordinator oversees the Title IX process and acts with independence and authority free from bias and conflicts of interest. The Title IX Coordinator
oversees all resolutions under this policy and these procedures. The other personnel involved in the process of investigating, responding, coordinating or otherwise
assisting in the adjudication of complaints under this policy are vetted and trained as appropriate to ensure they are not biased for or against any party in a specificcase, or for or against Complainants and/or Respondents, generally.
To raise any concern involving bias or conflict of interest, misconduct, or discrimination committed by the Title IX Coordinator, contact Northwestern College’s
President Gregory E. Christy president@nwciowa.edu or 712-707-7100. Concerns of bias or a potential conflict of interest, misconduct or discrimination committed byany other personnel involved in a process under this policy should be raised with the Title IX Coordinator.
4. Administrative Contact Information
Complaints or notice of alleged policy violations, or inquiries about or concerns regarding this policy and procedures, may be made internally to:
Title IX Coordinator
Mindy Stichka, Associate Director of Human Resources
101 7th St. SW
Zwemer Hall
Orange City, IA 51041
712-707-7223 (office)515-783-4176 (cell)mindy.stichka@nwciowa.edu
Deputy Title IX Coordinator (in the event the coordinator acts as an investigator)
Andy Van Ommeren, Director of Campus Safety & Security
101 7th St. SW
Ramaker Center
Orange City, IA 51041
712-707-7475 (office)712-395-1077 (cell)
andrew.vanommeren@nwciowa.edu
Title IX Investigators
Julie Elliott, Vice President for Student Life Marlon Haverdink, Dean of Residence Life
101 7th St. SW
101 7th St. SW
Ramaker Center
Ramaker Center

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Orange City, IA 51041
712-707-7204 (office)484-318-9063 (cell)julie.elliott@nwciowa.edu

Orange City, IA 51041
712-707-7205 (office)712-454-0328 (cell)marlon@nwciowa.edu

A party may also contact the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education.
5. Applicable Scope and Jurisdiction
General Scope: The core purpose of this policy is the prohibition of all forms of discrimination and discriminatory harassment as defined herein. Members of the College
community, guests and visitors have the right to be free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. All members of the community are expected to conduct
themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. The purpose of this policy is to promote compliance with applicable campus, state and federal
regulations; to allow for behavior that is inconsistent with College policies to be appropriately reported, investigated, and sanctioned; and to educate all members of theCollege community about implications and consequences of their behavior.
This policy covers conduct that occurs at all College sponsored programs and activities, as well as conduct that occurs on the campus or on property owned or controlled
by the College. The policy can also cover prohibited conduct that initially occurs off-campus when students or employees experience continuing effects of the offcampus acts in the educational or work setting that effectively deprive them of access to the College’s educational program. The Policy covers conduct perpetrated byfaculty, staff, students, and third parties, and if the Respondent is unknown or not a member of the Northwestern College community, the Title IX Coordinator will assist
the Complainant in identifying appropriate campus and local resources and support options and/or, when criminal conduct is alleged, in contacting local or campus law
enforcement if the individual would like to file a police report. Any person may file a complaint alleging a violation of this policy.
Scope under Title IX for Sexual Harassment: The College’s scope under Title IX is limited to locations, events, or circumstances over which it substantially controls
both the Respondent and the context in which the alleged harassment occurs, as well as any building owned or controlled by a student organization that is officiallyrecognized by the College, such as a fraternity or sorority. The College’s scope under Title IX is also limited to conduct against a person that occurs in the UnitedStates.
If a report or complaint falls under the College’s scope under Title IX, the College will utilize Process A to respond, and will not proceed under any other College policy
or procedure if doing so would interfere with any right or privilege provided to a party under Title IX. If the College determines that a report or complaint does not fallunder the College’s scope under Title IX, but nonetheless falls under this policy and/or its general scope, the College may still take action for such alleged conduct,
including under Process “B” of this Policy.
6.

Prohibited Conduct

Discrimination
As described in the College’s Policy on Nondiscrimination, the College does not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student, or applicant
for admission on the basis of such protected class characteristics.
Any member of the College community whose acts deny, deprive, or limit the educational or employment access, benefits, and/or opportunities of any member of theCollege community, guest, or visitor on the basis of that person’s actual or perceived membership in the protected classes listed above is in violation of the College’s
policy on nondiscrimination.
When brought to the attention of the College, any such discrimination will be promptly and fairly addressed and remedied according to the appropriate resolution
process described elsewhere in this Policy.
Discriminatory Harassment
Students and employees are entitled to an employment and educational environment that is free of discriminatory harassment. Northwestern College’s harassment
policy is not meant to inhibit or prohibit educational content or discussions inside or outside of the classroom that include germane, but controversial or sensitive,
subject matters protected by academic freedom.
Discriminatory harassment is defined as unwelcome conduct on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a class protected by policy or law, and which createsa “hostile environment.” Northwestern College does not tolerate discriminatory harassment of any employee, student, visitor, or guest, but will still act to remedy
harassment whether or not it rises to the level of creating a “hostile environment.”
A hostile environment is one that unreasonably interferes with, limits, or effectively denies an individual’s educational or employment access, benefits, oropportunities. This discriminatory effect results from harassing verbal, written, graphic, or physical conduct that is severe or pervasive and objectively offensive.
When discriminatory harassment rises to the level of creating a hostile environment, the College may also impose sanctions on the Respondent through applicationof the appropriate resolution process below. The College also reserves the right to address offensive conduct and/or harassment that 1) does not rise to the level ofcreating a hostile environment, or 2) that is of a generic nature and not based on a protected status. Addressing such conduct may not result in the imposition of
discipline under the College’s policy, but may be addressed through respectful conversation, remedial actions, education, effective alternate resolution, and/or otherinformal resolution mechanisms.
For assistance with reports, complaints, and resolution options and approaches, employees should contact the Director of Human Resources, and students should
contact the Vice President for Student Life.

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Sexual Harassment
Prohibited acts of sexual harassment may be committed by any person upon any other person, regardless of the sex, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity of
those involved.
Sexual Harassment, as an umbrella category, includes the offenses below:
1. Conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:a. Quid Pro Quo: An employee of Northwestern College conditions the provision of an aid, benefit, or service upon an individual’s
participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;b. Hostile Environment: Unwelcome 2 conduct on the basis of sex that is so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively
denies a person equal access to a College education program or activity, including work. (Note: Alleged conduct that meets this criteria
will be addressed through the Title IX resolution process, Process A. Unwelcome 3 conduct on the basis of sex that is so severe orpervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to a College education program or activity,
including work, still constitutes discriminatory sexual harassment. Alleged conduct that meets this definition will be addressed outside of
the Title IX resolution process under Process B).
2.

Sexual Assault: One of the following offenses in which one has or attempts to have sexual contact or sexual penetration with another individual
without their consent:i.
Rape: the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus, with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of
another person without consent of the victim;
ii.
Fondling: the touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification without consent of the victim;
iii.
Incest: sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law; oriv.
Statutory rape: sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.

3.

Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who has been in a romantic or intimate relationship with another. The existence of such a
relationship shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of
relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.

4.

Domestic Violence: Felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by:i.
Current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;
ii.
Person with whom the victim shares a child in common;iii.
Person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner;
iv.
Person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the laws of the State of Iowa or the jurisdiction in which the incident reported
occurred; andv.
Any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s act under the laws of the State of Iowa.
To categorize an incident as Domestic Violence, the relationship between the Respondent and the Complainant must be more than just two people
living together as roommates. The people cohabitating must be current or former spouses or have an intimate relationship.

5.

Stalking: Engaging in a course of conduct toward another person under circumstances that would reasonably cause a person to fear bodily injury tothemselves or others or to experience substantial emotional distress.
For the purposes of this definition—(i)
Course of conduct means two or more acts, including, but not limited to,acts in which the Respondent directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors,
observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property.
(ii)
Reasonable person means a reasonable person under similar circumstances
and with similar identities to the Complainant.
(iii)
Substantial emotional distress means significant mental suffering or
anguish that may but does not necessarily require medical or other professional treatment or counseling.

As used in the offenses above, the following definitions and understandings apply:Consent: Consent is knowing, voluntary, and clear permission by word or action to engage in sexual activity. Since individuals may experience the same interaction
in different ways, it is the responsibility of each party to determine that the other has consented before engaging in the activity.

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For consent to be valid, there must be a clear expression in words or actions that the other individual consented to that specific sexual conduct. The existence ofconsent is based on the totality of the circumstances evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances, including thecontext in which the alleged incident occurred and any similar, previous patterns that may be evidenced.
Consent can also be withdrawn once given, as long as the withdrawal is reasonably and clearly communicated. If consent is withdrawn, that sexual activity shouldcease within a reasonable time.
Consent to some sexual contact (such as kissing or fondling) cannot be presumed to be consent for other sexual activity (such as intercourse). A current or previous
intimate relationship is not sufficient to constitute consent. Consent cannot be inferred from lack of resistance, passivity, or lack of response.
Consent is not effective if a party is incapacitated, or it results from the use of force.
Force: Force is the use of physical violence and/or physical imposition to gain sexual access. Force also includes threats, intimidation (implied threats), and coercion
that is intended to overcome resistance or produce consent. Sexual activity that is forced is, by definition, non-consensual, but non-consensual sexual activity is notnecessarily forced.
Incapacitation: Incapacitation is defined as mentally and/or physically helpless, unconscious or unaware that the sexual activity is occurring. Where alcohol and/or otherdrugs (including prescription drugs) are involved, incapacitation is a state beyond drunkenness or intoxication. Warning signs that a person may be approachingincapacitation may include: slurred speech, vomiting, unsteady gait, odor of alcohol or other substance, combativeness, and/or emotional volatility. Incapacitation isdetermined through consideration of all relevant indicators of an individual’s state and is not synonymous with intoxication, impairment, blackout, and/or being drunk.
It is a defense to a sexual assault policy violation that the Respondent neither knew nor should have known the Complainant to be incapacitated. “Should have
known” is an objective, reasonable person standard which assumes that a reasonable person is both sober and exercising sound judgment.
Other Prohibited Offenses
In addition to the forms of discriminatory and sexual harassment described above, Northwestern College additionally prohibits the following offenses as forms of
discrimination/harassment when the act is based upon the Complainant’s actual or perceived membership in a protected class. In this section, the definition of “consent”
is the same as defined above.
1.

Sexual Exploitation, defined as: taking non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for one’s own advantage or benefit, or to benefit oradvantage anyone other than the one being exploited, and that conduct does not otherwise constitute sexual harassment under this Policy.
Examples of Sexual Exploitation include, but are not limited to:a.
Sexual voyeurism (such as viewing another person’s sexual activity, intimate body parts, or nakedness in a place where that person
would have a reasonable expectation of privacy, without that person’s consent);b.
Invasion of sexual privacy;c.
Prostituting another person;d.
Recording images (e.g., video, photograph) or audio of another person’s sexual activity, intimate body parts, or nakedness without that
person’s consent;e.
Distributing images (e.g., video, photograph) or audio of another person’s sexual activity, intimate body parts, or nakedness, if theindividual distributing the images or audio knows or should have known that the person depicted in the images or audio did not consent
to such disclosure and objects to such disclosure, including the making or posting of revenge pornography;f.
knowingly transmitting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or infection (STI) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to anotherindividual without informing the other person of the infection;g.
exposing one’s genitals to another when the exposing individual knows or should have known that the other person did not consent tosuch exposure and objects to such exposure; causing another to expose genitals without that person’s effective consent;h.
Causing or attempting to cause the incapacitation of another person (through alcohol, drugs, or any other means) for the purpose ofcompromising that person’s ability to give consent to sexual activity, or for the purpose of making that person vulnerable to nonconsensual sexual activity;i.
Misappropriation of another person’s identity on apps, websites, or other venues designed for dating or sexual connections;j.
Forcing a person to take an action against that person’s will by threatening to show, post, or share information, video, audio, or an image
that depicts the person’s nudity or sexual activity;k.
Knowingly soliciting a minor for sexual activity;l.
Engaging in sex trafficking;m.
Creation, possession, or dissemination or child pornography.

2.

Threatening or causing physical harm, extreme verbal, emotional, or psychological abuse, or other conduct which threatens or endangers the healthor safety of any person;

3.

Intimidation, defined as implied threats or acts that cause an unreasonable fear of harm in another;4.

Hazing, defined as acts likely to cause physical or psychological harm or social ostracism to any person within the Northwestern College community,
when related to the admission, initiation, pledging, joining, or any other group-affiliation activity;

5.

Bullying, defined as: Repeated and/or severe unwelcome aggressive behavior that is likely to intimidate or intentionally hurt, control, or diminish anotherperson, physically and/or mentally.
Violation of any other College policies may constitute prohibited conduct herein when a violation is motivated by actual or perceived membership in a protected class,and the result is a discriminatory limitation or denial of employment or educational access, benefits, or opportunities.

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Retaliation
Retaliation occurs when an individual harasses or intimidates another person because of that other person filed a complaint, participated in the resolution process of aviolation of this policy, supported a Complainant or Respondent, and/or acted in good faith to oppose conduct that constitutes a violation of this policy. Harassment or
intimidation includes but is not limited to threats or actual violence against the person or the person’s property, adverse educational or employment consequences,ridicule, taunting, bullying or ostracism. Retaliation is prohibited under this policy and is expressly prohibited by Title VII, Title IX and other state and federal laws.
Charging an individual with a code of conduct violation for making a materially false statement in bad faith in the course of a resolution proceeding under this policy
and procedure does not constitute retaliation, provided that a determination regarding responsibility, alone, is not sufficient to conclude that any party has made amaterially false statement in bad faith.
Acts of alleged retaliation should be reported immediately to the Title IX Coordinator and will be promptly investigated. Northwestern College is prepared to takeappropriate steps to protect individuals who fear that they may be subjected to retaliation.
7. Seeking Help After Sexual Harassment or Violence
If you are sexually assaulted or experience other violence, your first priority is to find a safe place. Next, seek medical attention; swift medical treatment is critical for
protecting you from sexually transmitted diseases and preserving evidence. In Iowa, your medical exam and follow up visits are free, even if you don’t report the assault
to the police.
In the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault or violence, you may not know whether you will eventually want to press charges. Taking care to preserve and collectevidence does not commit you to reporting anything. It’s important that you not shower, bathe, urinate, douche, smoke, brush your teeth or drink anything before goingto the emergency room. It’s best if you don’t change your clothes, but if you do, the clothes you were wearing should be brought to the ER in a paper bag (not plastic).
If you suspect you have been drugged, either refrain from urinating or urinate in a clean container and bring it with you to the ER. Leave the assault scene as is so you
don’t inadvertently destroy evidence before you’ve had time to make a decision about reporting the assault.
•

Local Area Hospital: Orange City Area Hospital (712-737-2000)

Northwestern College also recommends and encourages victims involved in such incidents to seek counseling and/or identify a support person. A support person
plays an important role in providing personal encouragement to a victim in a crisis situation. Information regarding counseling options, both on campus and in thecommunity, can be obtained from the Wellness Center, located in the Rowenhorst Student Center, or the Student Life Office, located in Ramaker Center, 2nd floor.
Complainants may also contact the following:
•
•
•

8.

Family Crisis Center (1-800-382-5603)
CAASA: Centers Against Abuse & Sexual Assault www.caasaonline.org
Iowa Victim Service Call Center (1-800-770-1650)
o www.survivorshelpline.org
o Text: ‘IowaHelp’ to 20121

Notice/Complaints of Discrimination, Harassment, and/or Retaliation

Northwestern College encourages persons who have experienced any form of discrimination, harassment or retaliation to report the incident promptly, to seek all
available assistance, and where appropriate, to report the incident to local law enforcement. Northwestern College takes reports of discrimination, harassment andretaliation very seriously and will work with all parties to ensure their safety and to investigate and adjudicate the situation.
A.

Official College Reporting Options

Notice or complaints of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation may be made using any of the following options:1. File a complaint with, or give verbal notice to, the Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Coordinator at the contact information listed in Section 4. Such a report may bemade at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number or email address, or by mail to the office address, listed for the Title IX
Coordinator.
2. Report online using the Raider Reporting Center. Anonymous reports are accepted, but the College’s response may be necessarily limited without the identity of
the Complainant. Northwestern College tries to provide supportive measures to all Complainants, which is impossible with an anonymous report.
3. Report to a College Official With Authority (OWA)
An individual who is subjected to conduct covered by this Policy is encouraged to make an official college report directly to the Title IX Coordinator, but
may also report to a College Official with Authority, or OWAs. At Northwestern College, the OWAs are:••

Northwestern College Office of Human Resourceso Mindy Stichka, Associate Director of Human Resources
Northwestern College Student Life Office (Resident Assistant, Resident Director, Dean of Residence Life, or Vice President for Student Life)o Natalie Wheeler, Fern Smith RD

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•o Lindsay Hubbell, & Bolks and Courtyard Village RD
o Brian Follett, Colenbrander Hall RD
o Dana Van Ostrand, Hospers Hall RDo Caylan DeLucia, Stegenga Hall RD
o Jason Katsma, North Suites RD
o Marlon Haverdink, Dean of Residence Lifeo Julie Elliott, Vice President for Student Life
Director of Campus Safety and Securityo Andy Van Ommeren

A report to an OWA is expected to be transferred immediately to the Title IX Coordinator.
i. Report to Other, Non-Confidential College Employees
At Northwestern College all employees (including student employees) are expected to report instances of alleged discrimination and harassment, including
sexual harassment, to the Title IX Coordinator or an OWA, unless the employee is acting as a campus chaplain or campus counselor covered byconfidentiality as listed elsewhere in this policy. When a complainant tells a College employee, other than the Title IX Coordinator, about an incident involving
conduct covered by this policy, the individual should not expect confidentiality in that communication. Likewise, any College employee is expected to promptly
share with the Title IX Coordinator all known details of a report made to them concerning conduct covered by this policy. College employees are not toinvestigate and are not required to obtain proof of any actual policy violation.
For these reasons, Complainants may want to carefully consider whether they share personally identifiable details with non-confidential College employees.
To the extent possible, information reported to any College employee will be shared only with officials with authority responsible for handling the College’s
response to the report. College employees expected to report who knowingly condone, fail to report, or fail to take action to remedy incidents of discrimination,harassment, and/or retaliation is a violation of Northwestern College policy may themselves be subject to sanctions and/or disciplinary action, up to andincluding termination.
Generally, disclosures in climate surveys, classroom writing assignments or discussions, human subjects research, or at events such as “Take Back theNight” marches or speak-outs do not provide notice that must be reported to the Coordinator by employees, unless the Complainant clearly indicates thatthey desire a report to be made or a seek a specific response from Northwestern College.
B.

Confidential Reporting/Resource Options

If a Complainant would like the details of an incident to be kept confidential, the Complainant may speak with the following Confidential Resources:•••

Northwestern College Wellness Centero Jenna Visser, therapist and directoro Justin Derry, therapist
Northwestern College Campus Ministries
o Mark De Younge, Dean of Christian Formationo Kristin Brouwer, Director of Discipleshipo Patrick Hummel, Director of Missions
Off-campus (non-employees):o Licensed professional counselors and other medical providers
o Local rape crisis counselorso Domestic violence resources
o Local or state assistance agencies
o Clergy/Chaplainso Employee Assistance Programo Attorneys

All of the above-listed individuals will maintain confidentiality when acting under the scope of their licensure, professional ethics and/or professional credentials,
except in extreme cases of immediacy of treat or danger or abuse of a minor or individual with a disability, or when required to disclose by law or court order.
Northwestern College employees who are confidential will timely submit anonymous statistical information for Clery Act purposes unless they believe it would be
harmful to their client, patient, or parishioner.
C.

When a Complainant Requests Confidentiality and/or Does Not Wish to Proceed

If a Complainant does not wish for their name to be shared, does not wish for an investigation to take place, or does not want a formal complaint to be pursued, they
may make such a request to the Title IX Coordinator, who will weigh the request for confidentiality/no formal action against the College’s obligation to provide a safe,
non-discriminatory environment for all students and employees, including the complainant. In conducting this analysis, the Title IX Coordinator will weigh thecomplainant’s request and preferences against factors such as: the seriousness of the alleged misconduct; the complainants’ age; whether there have been othercomplaints against the accused that increase the risk of the campus community; whether the alleged incident involved threatened future sexual violence or use of force
or a weapon; whether an incident involved multiple respondents; whether an incident involved alcohol, drugs, or any date rape drug; whether the school has othermethods for obtaining relevant evidence (i.e., security cameras or physical evidence); and, when the matter is under the scope of Title IX, to what extent non-participationby the Complainant may impact the availability of evidence and the College’s ability to pursue a Formal Grievance Process fairly and effectively.

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Based on this assessment, the College may decide not to honor the complainant’s desire for confidentiality, and investigate and adjudicate a violation of this policy,
when doing so is not clearly unreasonable. If so, the Title IX Coordinator may sign a formal complaint to initiate a resolution process. The Title IX Coordinator will not
become the Complainant. The Complainant retains all rights of a Complainant under this Policy irrespective of their level of participation. The College will not be able
to ensure the complainant’s confidentiality, but will still offer and provide supportive measures.
In cases in which the Complainant requests confidentiality/no formal action and the circumstances allow the College to honor that request, the College will offer informal
resolution options (see below), supportive measures, and remedies to the Complainant and the community, but will not otherwise pursue formal action.
Note that Northwestern College’s ability to remedy and respond to notice may be limited if the Complainant does not want Northwestern College to proceed with aninvestigation and/or grievance process. The goal is to provide the Complainant with as much control over the process as possible, while balancing NorthwesternCollege’s obligation to protect its community.
If the Complainant elects to take no action, they can change that decision if they decide to pursue a formal complaint at a later date. Upon making a formal complaint,
a Complainant has the right, and can expect, to have allegations taken seriously by Northwestern College, and to have the incidents investigated and properly resolved
through these procedures.
D.

Law Enforcement

Along with the on-campus reporting options described above, Northwestern College strongly encourages a Complainant to make a report to local law enforcement, tothe extent alleged discrimination or harassment constitutes a crime. Although reporting to law enforcement is strongly encouraged, at no time will any individual beforced to make a report to law enforcement as a precondition to using the internal reporting/resolution processes described in this policy. The Title IX Coordinator,
Deputy Coordinators, OWAs or off-campus victim advocates can assist in notifying law enforcement, if a complainant chooses.
•

Orange City Police Department (911)9.

After Notice/a Report is MadeA.

Supportive Measures

Northwestern College will offer and implement appropriate and reasonable supportive measures to the parties upon notice of alleged harassment, discrimination,
and/or retaliation.
Supportive measures are non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge to theparties to restore or preserve access to Northwestern College’s education program or activity, including measures designed to protect the safety of all parties orNorthwestern College’s educational environment, and/or deter harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation.
The Title IX Coordinator or Vice President for Student Life will promptly make supportive measures available to the parties upon receiving notice or a complaint. The
Title IX Coordinator works with the Complainant to ensure that their wishes are taken into account with respect to the supportive measures that are planned andimplemented.
Northwestern College will maintain the privacy of the supportive measures, provided that privacy does not impair Northwestern College’s ability to provide thesupportive measures. Northwestern College will act to ensure as minimal an academic impact on the parties as possible, and without an unreasonable burden theother party.
These supportive measures may include, but are not limited to:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Referral to counseling, medical, and/or other healthcare services
Referral to the Employee Assistance Program
Referral to community-based service providers
Visa and immigration assistanceStudent financial aid counseling
Education to the community or community subgroup(s)Altering campus housing assignment(s)Altering work arrangements for employees or student-employees
Safety planning
Providing campus safety escorts
Providing transportation accommodations
Implementing mutual contact limitations (no contact orders) between the parties
Academic support, extensions of deadlines, or other course/program-related
adjustments
Timely warnings

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•
•
•

Class schedule modifications, withdrawals, or leaves of absence
Increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus
Any other actions deemed appropriate by the Title IX Coordinator

In most instances, both the complainant and the respondent will be instructed to mutually avoid all contact with the other. Such a directive serves as notice to bothparties that they must not have verbal, electronic, written, or third-party communication with one another. If these instructions are not heeded, disciplinary action may
be taken. In addition, a party may seek an order of protection, “no-contact” order, restraining order, or similar order issued by a criminal, civil, or tribal court. If an
individual obtains an order of protection from a court in Iowa, the Title IX Coordinator should receive a copy to be aware of any limitations or restrictions and to develop
a plan to abide by the court order. The College cannot enforce a violation of a court order, but can assist an individual in contacting law enforcement to report a violation.
If any terms of a court order are unclear in their application to the campus environment, it is up to the parties to seek clarification through the court – the College cannot
render a legal opinion or give advice other than to develop a plan to reasonably prevent violations of the order.
B.

Emergency Removal

Northwestern College can act to remove a Respondent entirely or partially from its education program or activities on an emergency basis when the Respondent’s
presence constitutes an immediate threat to the physical health or safety of any student or other individual. This risk analysis is performed by the Title IX Coordinatorin conjunction with the Office of Student Life using its standard objective violence risk assessment procedures.
In all cases in which an emergency removal is imposed, the Respondent will be given notice of the action and the option to request to meet with the Title IX
Coordinator and/or Vice President for Student Life prior to such action/removal being imposed, or as soon thereafter as reasonably possible, to show cause why theaction/removal should not be implemented or should be modified.
This meeting is not a hearing on the merits of the allegation(s), but rather is an administrative process intended to determine solely whether the emergency removal
is appropriate. When this meeting is not requested in a timely manner, objections to the emergency removal will be deemed waived. This section also applies to any
restrictions that a coach or athletic administrator may place on a student-athlete arising from allegations related to Title IX. There is no appeal process for emergency
removal decisions.
A Respondent may be accompanied by an Advisor of their choice when meeting with the Title IX Coordinator and/or Vice President of Student Life for the showcause meeting. The Title IX Coordinator has sole discretion under this policy to implement or stay an emergency removal and to determine the conditions andduration. Violation of an emergency removal under this policy will be grounds for discipline, which may include expulsion or termination.
C.

Promptness

All allegations are acted upon promptly by Northwestern College once it has received notice or a formal complaint. Complaints can take 60-90 business days toresolve, typically. There are always exceptions and extenuating circumstances that can cause a resolution to take longer, but Northwestern College will avoid allundue delays within its control.
Any time the general timeframes for resolution outlined in Northwestern College’s procedures will be delayed, Northwestern College will provide written notice tothe parties of the delay, the cause of the delay, and an estimate of the anticipated additional time that will be needed as a result of the delay.
D.

Privacy

Northwestern College will not share the identity of any individual who has made a report or complaint of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation; any
Complainant, any individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of sex discrimination, any Respondent, or any witness, except as permitted by the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232g; FERPA regulations, 34 CFR part 99; or as required by law; or to carry out the resolution
processes in this policy, including the conducting of any investigation or hearing.
Northwestern College reserves the right to designate which Northwestern College officials have a legitimate educational interest in being informed about incidents
that fall within this policy, pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Only a small group of officials who need to know will typically be told about the complaint, including but not limited to: Division of Student Affairs, Safety andSecurity Office, and the Human Resources Office. Information will be shared as necessary with Investigators, Hearing Officer/Decision Maker, witnesses, and theparties. The circle of people with this knowledge will be kept as tight as possible to preserve the parties’ rights and privacy.
Northwestern College may contact parents/guardians to inform them of situations in which there is a significant and articulable health and/or safety risk, but willusually consult with the student first before doing so.
E.

Time Limits on Reporting

There is no time limitation on providing notice/complaints to the Title IX Coordinator. However, if the Respondent is no longer subject to Northwestern College’s
jurisdiction and/or significant time has passed, the ability to investigate, respond, and provide remedies may be more limited or impossible.
Acting on notice/complaints significantly impacted by the passage of time (including, but not limited to, the rescission or revision of policy) is at the discretion of the
Title IX Coordinator, who may document allegations for future reference, offer supportive measures and/or remedies, and/or engage in informal or formal action, as
appropriate.

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F.

Federal Statistical and Timely Warning Obligations

Parties reporting sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking should be aware that under the Clery Act, Northwestern College must publish anannual report of certain crimes that fall within the scope of this policy that have occurred and their general location (on or off campus or in the surrounding area; noaddresses are given). These reports contain statistical information only. All personally identifiable information is kept confidential.
Under the Clery Act, the College must issue timely warnings for incidents reported to them that pose a serious or continuing threat of bodily harm or danger tomembers of the campus community. Northwestern College will ensure that a Complainant’s name and other identifying information is not disclosed in such a warning,
while still providing enough information for community members to make safety decisions in light of the potential danger.
G.

False Allegations and Evidence

Deliberately false and/or malicious accusations under this policy, as opposed to allegations which, even if erroneous, are made in good faith, are a serious offense
and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
Additionally, witnesses and parties knowingly providing false evidence, tampering with or destroying evidence after being directed to preserve such evidence, ordeliberately misleading an official conducting an investigation can be subject to discipline under Northwestern College policy.
H.

Amnesty for Complainants and Witnesses

The Northwestern College community encourages the reporting of misconduct and crimes by Complainants and witnesses. Sometimes, Complainants or witnesses
are hesitant to report to Northwestern College officials or participate in resolution processes because they fear that they themselves may be in violation of certain
policies, such as underage drinking or use of illicit drugs at the time of the incident. Respondents may hesitate to be forthcoming during the process for the same
reasons.
It is in the best interests of the Northwestern College community that Complainants choose to report misconduct to Northwestern College officials, that witnesses
come forward to share what they know, and that all parties be forthcoming during the process.
To encourage reporting and participation in the process, Northwestern College maintains a policy of offering parties and witnesses amnesty from minor policy
violations – such as underage consumption of alcohol or the use of illicit drugs – related to the incident.
Amnesty does not apply to more serious allegations such as physical abuse of another or illicit drug distribution. The decision not to offer amnesty to a Respondent isbased on neither sex nor gender, but on the fact that collateral misconduct is typically addressed for all students within a progressive discipline system, and therationale for amnesty – the incentive to report serious misconduct – is rarely applicable to Respondent with respect to a Complainant.

RESOLUTION PROCESS FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE POLICY ON
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, HARASSMENT, AND NONDISCRIMINATION
1.

Overview

Northwestern College will act on any notice or complaint of violation of the policy on Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination (“the Policy”) that isreceived by the Title IX Coordinator 4 or OWA by applying these procedures, which includes two possible methods for resolution known as “Process A” or “Process
B”.
2.

Initiating a Formal Complaint

When the College learns of potential discrimination or harassment, in most cases outreach will be done with the Complainant to identify reporting options (discussed
earlier) within and outside the College and to offer supportive measures. The Title IX Coordinator is available to meet to discuss those reporting options with theComplainant or answer questions from the Respondent.
A Complainant who proceeds with a formal complaint must do so in writing, and by filing a complaint with the Title IX Coordinator by hard copy, email, or any otherwriting evidencing a physical or digital signature, or otherwise verifying the Complainant is filing the complaint. If the Title IX Coordinator signs a formal complaint, theTitle IX Coordinator will not become a party or Complainant for purposes of the processes below.
3.

Initial Assessment of Applicable Scope/Process

Upon receipt of a formal complaint or notice to the Title IX Coordinator of an alleged violation of the Policy, Northwestern College initiates a prompt initial assessment
to determine the next steps the College needs to take.
Northwestern College will initiate at least one of three responses:

4

Anywhere this procedure indicates “Title IX Coordinator,” Northwestern College may substitute a trained designee.

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a. Provide the Complainant with assistance and support only, based on the Complainant’s request that the College not take action, where that request is not clearly
unreasonable and/or consistent with the College’s obligations under law;b. Determine the circumstances satisfy the jurisdictional requirements of Title IX at 34 CFR 106.45 and resolve the complaint under informal or formal “Process A”
resolution procedures;c. Determine the circumstances do not satisfy the jurisdictional requirements of Title IX at 34 CFR 106.45 and dismiss the complaint under Title IX, but resolve thecomplaint under informal or formal “Process B” resolution procedures, or other policies and procedures, as applicable. Specifically, Process A procedures apply only
to qualifying allegations of sexual harassment under Title IX (including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, as defined above) involving
students, staff, administrators, or faculty members. If they do not, they must or may be “dismissed” as follows:
Northwestern College must dismiss a formal complaint or any allegations therein from Process A if, at any time during the investigation or hearing, it isdetermined that:1)

The alleged conduct would not constitute sexual harassment as defined in the policy hereinabove, even if proven;

2)

The College does not substantially control both the Respondent and the context in which the alleged harassment occurs, nor did it occur in any
building owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the College, such as a fraternity or sorority; ;3)The alleged conduct did not occur against a person in the United States; and/or

4)

At the time of filing a formal complaint, a Complainant is not participating in or attempting to participate in the education program, activity or workplaceof Northwestern College.

Northwestern College may dismiss a formal complaint or any allegations therein if, at any time during the investigation or hearing:1)

A Complainant notifies the Title IX Coordinator in writing that the Complainant would like to withdraw the formal complaint or any allegations therein;or

2)

The Respondent is no longer enrolled in or employed by the College; or3)Specific circumstances prevent Northwestern College from gathering evidence sufficient to reach a determination as to the formal complaint or
allegations.

Upon any dismissal, Northwestern College will promptly send written notice of the dismissal and the rationale for doing so simultaneously to the parties. Thisdismissal decision is appealable by any party under the procedures for appeal below. A Complainant who decides to withdraw a complaint may later request to
reinstate or refile it.
Dismissing a complaint under Title IX may be procedural, and does not limit the College’s authority to address a complaint with an appropriate process and remedies.
If the Title IX Coordinator determines that the misconduct alleged does not fall within the scope of Title IX, other policies may apply and the matter may be referred for
resolution, including under Process B.
Process B applies to the resolution of offenses such as violations of policies on protected class harassment or discrimination above. Process B can also apply to sexual
harassment (including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, as defined above) when jurisdiction does not fall within Process A, as specified
by the Title IX Coordinator.
4.

Counterclaims

Northwestern College is obligated to ensure that the grievance process is not abused for retaliatory purposes. Northwestern College permits the filing ofcounterclaims but uses an initial assessment, described above, to assess whether the allegations in the counterclaim are made in good faith. Counterclaims by the
Respondent may be made in good faith, but are, on occasion, also made for purposes of retaliation. Counterclaims made with retaliatory intent will not be permitted.
Counterclaims determined to have been reported in good faith will be processed using the grievance procedures below. Investigation of such claims may take place
after resolution of the underlying initial allegation, in which case a delay may occur.
Counterclaims may also be resolved through the same investigation as the underlying allegation, at the discretion of the Title IX Coordinator or the Investigator.
When counterclaims are not made in good faith, they will be considered retaliatory and may constitute a violation of this policy.
5.

Disabilities Accommodations in the Resolution Process

Northwestern College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and support to qualified students, employees, or others with disabilities to ensure equal
access to Northwestern College’s resolution process.
Anyone needing such accommodations or support should contact the Academic Support Center if a student or the Human Resources Office if an employee, who will
review the request and, in consultation with the person requesting the accommodation and the Title IX Coordinator, determine which accommodations areappropriate and necessary for full participation in the process.
6.

PROCESS A: Formal Grievance Process for Qualifying Allegations of Sexual Harassment Under Title IX

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College Campus StoreSTUDENT SERVICES & FACILITIES

Location: Rowenhorst Student Center (RSC)
Hours: Monday
9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Tuesday
9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Wednesday
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Friday9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
During afternoon home football games, the Campus store is open from 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
Phone: 707-7195 (Campus store)
Personnel
Joshua Zylstra, Manager
Students operate the store under the supervision of a staff manager
Return Policy (Non-Rentals)
Book returns must be done within 2 weeks of purchase and have dropped the course to receive a full refund. Returns can be made outside this timeframe for apartial refund based on market rates of used copies. You must have a bookstore receipt for any returns made.
Book Buyback
On campus book buybacks are offered one day during the first week of each semester, and during the last week/finals week of each semester. Dates will be posted
in the Campus Store and on posters around campus.

College Mailroom

Location: Rowenhorst Student Center (RSC)
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Phone: 712-707-7198
Personnel
Deb Wolthuizen, Supervisor
All residential students with 12 or more credit hours will be assigned and given a key to a mailbox and are encouraged to check it daily. Commuter students will notinitially be assigned post office boxes. Mail and package deliveries arrive throughout the day and will be distributed in a timely manner. Students will be notified when
they receive packages. Packages can be picked up during mailroom hours. Per shipping/vendor restrictions, the mailroom is not able to accept any package that requires
an ADULT SIGNATURE (Age 21+) when a government-issued photo identification is required. This requirement may pertain to high-value items such as computers,
phones and other electronics. Mail and packages cannot be obtained without a key. The replacement fee for a lost mail key is $10.00.
USPS postal regulations require that mail be addressed as follows:
Student’s Name
208 8th St SW Unit ____
Orange City, IA 51041
The mailroom is able to ship via USPS and UPS, to state-side addresses only. All outgoing mail and packages need to be at the mailroom by 2:30pm Monday throughFriday.
If you cease to be a student at NWC your mailbox will be closed. You are required to return your mailbox key and provide a forwarding address. There is a $10.00 fee
for non-returned mailbox keys.

Computing Services

Location: Van Peursem Hall
Phone: 712-707-7333
Hours:
Monday – Thursday
7:30 am – 10:00 pm
Friday7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday
ClosedSundayClosedComputing Services provides IT support and infrastructure for the campus community. Located on the first floor of Van Peursem Hall, across from the chapel, thecomputing services department provides a general purpose computer lab with both B&W and color printers, a Computer Science classroom, scanners, and various
other specialized technologies. The Computing Services Help Desk is located at the roll-up window near the south exit and is staffed with extended hours to provide
support for computer issues.

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Printing

There are a many high-speed, networked laser printers located throughout campus. Main printers are located in the Computing Services computer lab, the Learning
Commons, and the Rowenhorst Student Center. Additionally, every residence hall and apartment has a printer, located in the main computer lab of each building.
Each student begins every semester with a printing credit of $15.00. Prints made on campus printers throughout the semester deduct from that starting credit at therate of 10 cents per single-sided monochrome page, 12 cents per double-sided (“duplex”) page, and 50 cents per side for full-color printing. Publicly available color
printers are located in the Computing Services lab and the Learning Commons. Additionally, you can set your personal computer to print to these as well. Thus, you
do not need to bring a printer to campus unless you wish to for the sake of convenience. If you go above the $15 printing credit, you will be billed at the above rates
at the end of every month.

General Information

Computers are available for student use in many campus buildings, including all residence halls, the Rowenhorst Student Center, Van Peursem Hall, and the
Learning Commons. Wireless access is available campus wide. NWC computers are all connected to a local area network, providing access to a variety of printers,
software, data, and the Internet. Dorm computer labs are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Other computer labs are available depending on the hours of
the building. Computers in the computing services lab may be reserved for academic use up to two weeks in advance. Reservations are made at the help desk andare limited to a maximum of two hours per session and a maximum of six hours per week.
The homepage for all lab computers is http://my.nwciowa.edu. On the left side of your home page are links to Campus Announcements, Campus Resources,
Changing Your Password, and the Informer. For your security, please change your password frequently. On the right side of the page is a link to the Computing
Services Help Desk, a central location for computing resources on the web. Here you can find frequently asked questions, computer setup instructions, and the Help
Desk, a place to request help for computer issues. You will also find a link to email, view registration information, and go to the Library’s home page.

Note About WirelessNote About Wireless While Northwestern provides campus-wide wireless network access, we do not have 100% coverage in all areas of every dorm room orapartment. Additionally, the technology behind Wi-Fi makes it susceptible to a number of environmental variables which can cause interference and/or performancedegradation. Therefore, we recommend plugging your computer into one of the orange internet ports in your dorm room or campus apartment for bandwidth-sensitive
applications such as Zoom, FaceTime, Youtube, and Netflix, as the wired network provides a faster and more reliable connection than wireless. To activate yourport, please email helpdesk@nwciowa.edu with your dorm, room number, and the number listed on the port, and they will let you know once it has been
turned on.

Policies Concerning the System

Northwestern College gives each student, faculty, and staff member the privilege to use its computing and networking resources. Accompanying that privilege arecertain responsibilities. As a user of these systems, it is your responsibility to understand them. Failure to follow the guidelines set forth here will result in disciplinary
actions against you as well as possible prosecution under state or federal law. Accessing the computer network without authorization (e. g. using someone else’s
login name) is a misdemeanor in Iowa that carries a penalty of 30 days in jail or a fine of $100.00 (Chapter 716A. 2). Damaging or destroying a computer, computer
network, software, program or other property could result in a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000.00 fine (Chapter 716A. 3-8). Under Iowa law, stealing
a computer, computer system, or any part thereof, or stealing files, information or software from a computer system could result in a penalty of up to 10 years inprison and a $10,000.00 fine (Chapter 716A. 9-14).
The Computing Services department should be notified about violation of computer laws and policies, as well as potential loopholes in the security of its systems andnetworks. You should not attempt to uncover such loopholes yourself or otherwise try to circumvent security or data protection. You are not allowed to use the
network of any computer system to try to gain unauthorized access to any other computer system.
You must not deliberately attempt to alter or otherwise impair the operation of the computer systems or networks. You should not knowingly introduce any viruses,
worms or Trojan horses onto any computer system or network. All users should take the necessary steps to insure that they do not mistakenly do the same.
You must abide by the terms of all software licensing agreements and copyright laws. Software may not be copied or duplicated by any means. Also, do not copy
anything that would result in cheating another person of his or her rights in being compensated for your uses of the software.
The following types of information or software cannot be placed on any system on or off campus:•
That which infringes upon the rights of another person.
•
That which is abusive, profane, or sexually offensive to the average person.
•
That which consists of information that may injure someone else and /or lead to a lawsuit or criminal charges. Examples of these are pirated software,
destructive software, pornographic materials, or libelous statements.
•
That which consists of any advertisement for commercial enterprises.
If you are suspected of a computer violation, you have the right to “due process” as spelled out in the student handbook. You will first meet with the staff of theComputing Services Department. If necessary, the matter will be turned over to the Student Affairs office for further attention. If you are found to be in violation of acomputer policy, you can expect any combination of the following responses:•
Loss of your right to use computers at Northwestern•
Community renewal hours•
Investigation by local, state, and/or federal law enforcement agencies
Do not deliberately waste Northwestern’s computing resources. These include sending mass mail or chain letters, obtaining unnecessary output, creating
unnecessary multiple jobs or processes, or creating unnecessary network traffic. NWC’s computing resources are intended for the academic and administrative useof the college. Use by community patrons is not permitted unless authorization has been received from the system administrator.
Computers may only be reserved for academic use, not for writing personal letters or playing games. The following priorities (self-policed) should be used to decide
who may use a publicly available computer and who should wait:

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•
•
•
•
•

Reserved in advance for academic use.
Student needing the computer for academic work.
Faculty needing the computer for academic use.
Anyone needing a computer for personal use.
Anyone wanting the computer for game playing.

Although game playing is permitted, all game players must make sure that at least one other computer of that type is available for academic use. In other words,
do not take the last available computer to play games (which always have the lowest priority for computer use). High school students and community members
who have accounts are not allowed to play games during the times when students are on campus and school is in session. Hard disk drives on publicly available(non-faculty) machines will periodically be cleaned of files not pertaining to the college. Computing Services will remove any personal software or games on themachines as needed.

Policies Concerning You and Your Account

You are responsible to use all security measures available to you on the network to protect your account from misuse. Passwords should be changed frequently. A
well-chosen password is often not in the dictionary and has little or no connection with the individual user. For security purposes, the chosen password must be
between 8 and 16 digits long, cannot contain your user name or portions thereof, and must contain three of the following four items: Uppercase letter, Lowercase
letter, Number, Symbol.
All users have the right to privacy. This includes your network account storage space, e-mail, flash drives, printouts, and network transmissions. Under extenuating
circumstances, Computing Services reserves the right to examine your account including but not limited to network file space, email, and internet usage.
Student accounts will be kept active for approximately one year after you have graduated from Northwestern College or left the campus. This allows students theability to check and manage their email using the internet, and to migrate to a new mail system with minimal difficulties.

Policies Concerning Your Relationship with Other Network Users

You should never use any network account other than the one created for you at the time you register for classes. Do not use another person’s account. It is not“okay” for you to use a friend’s account if you cannot remember your password. Do not copy or read information from another person’s account or flash drive without
explicit permission from the owner of that information. You do not have the right to allow other people to use your account. Do not give your password out to otherpeople. Every user is responsible for what happens from their account.
All student accounts are given a password, and all files stored in that account’s personal network G:\ drive are protected, meaning that other people are not able toget to those files. A user can, however, store a file in various public locations, such as a public network drive or the local computer’s hard drive, giving others theopportunity to copy or read the information inside. Do not assume that it is OK for you to copy or read other people’s files even if they are in a public location. You stillmust have direct permission from the owner of the file.
Do not harass others by sending messages that are annoying, threatening, libelous, or offensive to another person’s sex, race, or religion. Chain letters, junk mail,mass mail and advertising are offensive messages. Violations of policies, which involve the Internet, are subject to local, state and/or federal prosecution. The
Internet servers and other computing resources are not to be used for financial gain.
You have the right to post news to the NWC Informer found on the computer network. Computing Services Staff monitor the Informer, and new posts are screened
before they become publicly available. News items added to the Informer must meet the standards set for other types of publicly available media on campus. In somesituations, a student may be given permission to send an email message to the student body; however, they will need a faculty or staff member to approve themessage.

Policies Concerning Your Own Computer on Campus

All dorms on campus have network hook-ups for your personal computers, as well as wireless. You can follow the instructions located at helpdesk.nwciowa.edu, toconnect your computer to network resources like drives and printers and to configure wireless access.
Notice: Viruses on any computer on campus can cause major networking problems with email and with network traffic on campus. Make sure your antivirus isstaying up to date as well as the required security patches from Microsoft. If you are having campus related problems with your personal computer you can Log a
Help Desk Call by e-mailing helpdesk@nwciowa.edu or call the Help Desk at 712-707-7333.
Thank you for your support in helping the Computing Services meet its goal of delivering quality, timely, and accurate solutions to the campus community’s computer
needs.

Creative Dining Services

Personnel
Mike Devenish, General Manager, 707-7186
Shelly Grotenhuis, Catering Manager, 707-7246
ReNae Van Voorst, Administrative Assistant, 707-7185
Locations & Hours
The Café (main dining hall)
Monday—Friday
Breakfast............................................ 7:00am—9:00am
Lunch ................................................. 11:00am—1:30pm
Dinner ................................................ 5:00pm—7:00 pm
Saturday—Sunday(Tuesday lunch closes at 2:00pm)

64Lunch ................................................. 11:30am – 1:00pm
Dinner ................................................ 5:00pm – 6:30pm
The Hub
Monday – Friday ................................ 9:00 am – 11:00pm
Saturday ............................................ CLOSED
Sunday............................................... 6:00 pm – 11:00pm
Hub Summer Hours: Monday—Friday…….11:00am – 2:00pm
Common Grounds
Monday – Thursday ........................... 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday ................................................. 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Saturday ............................................ Closed
Sunday............................................... 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm(All hours subject to change)
Meal Plans
All students living on campus are required to be on a meal plan. Student teachers, interns, and those living in the apartments are eligible to participate in a
reduced meal plan. Meal plan options are as follows:
18 Meal Plan•
18 meals per week including 8 meal exchanges to use in the Hub•$75.00 flex money per semester that can be used at all campus dining locations*•No more than 3 meals can be eaten during the same meal period at the Café’ or the Hub.
•Meals reset every Friday
15 meal Plan•
15 meals per week including 10 meal exchanges to use in the Hub•$125.00 flex money per semester that can be used at all campus dining locations*•No more than 3 meals can be eaten during the same meal period at the Café’ or the Hub.
•Meals reset every Friday
Block 180 Plan•
180 meals per semester including 4 meal exchanges a week to use at the Hub•$110 flex money per semester that can be used at all campus dining locations*•No more than 3 meals can be eaten during the same meal period at the Café’ or the Hub.
10 meal Plan (for students in campus apartments, student teachers or interns)•
10 meals per week including 4 meal exchanges per week to use in the Hub.
•
No flex money with this meal plan.
•
No more than 3 meals can be eaten during the same meal period at the Café’ or the Hub.
•Meals reset every Friday•
Room and board charges will be reduced by $600/yr or $300/sem for this plan.
Block 75 meal Plan•
75 Meals per semester including 2 meal exchanges a week to use in the Hub.
•$37.50 flex money per semester that can be used at all campus dining locations.
•$585/per semester•
You can use multiple meals per meal period in the Cafe
Flex Money
Additional flex money can be added at any time during the semester at a discount rate. Add $50 or more and NWC Campus Dining will add 20% more toyour account. Example: Add $50 and NWC Campus Dining will add $10.00 more for a total of $60.00. Go to the website to add money to your account. Flex
dollars will roll over from the fall semester to the spring semester but not year to year. If you are not returning to Northwestern College and do not use the flexmoney in your plan, you will not be compensated for the balance.
Flex money can be used at all campus dining locations. To add more flex money to your card simply choose that option on your Eatable app. Flex moneyrolls from semester to semester but not year to year.
Food Allergies
If you have a serious food allergy or food-related medical condition, please consult with Northwestern Dining Services General Manager, Barry Schroeter,
about how your needs can be met.
The Zone is available in the Café’. It is an allergen friendly station. A gluten Sensitive toaster is available.

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Private Dining Rooms
There are two (2) private dining rooms, Hannah Heemstra and Vermeer South, available for use during meal hours on a reservation basis. These rooms areopen to any college group desiring to meet over a meal. Please reserve these rooms with ReNae Van Voorst at 712-707-7185.

Taking Food from Cafeteria
No food, drink, chinaware, or utensils may be removed from the cafeteria without permission. No containers can be brought into the Café to remove food orbeverages. Anyone caught removing the above items will be reported to the Student Life Office.

DeWitt Library
Hours:

Monday–Thursday:
Friday:Saturday:
Sunday:Phone: 707-7234
Website: library.nwciowa.edu

7:30 a.m. to midnight
7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Noon to midnight

Personnel
Greta Grond, Director
DeWitt Library supports the academic program of Northwestern College by providing a variety of services and resources to faculty and students. Areas for both individualand group study are available.
Services•
Research help•
Desktop computers•
Photocopier, scanners, and printers (including color)•
Interlibrary loan•Book & media checkout•
Course reserves•
Laptop & iPad checkout•
Audiovisual equipment checkout (cameras, voice recorders, projectors, web cams, and more)•
Bicycle checkout, including tandems
Print/Electronic Resources•
Books, eBooks, reference materials, children’s books, music scores, DVDs, CDs•
Journal & newspaper databases•
Online subject & course guides

Enrollment Management & Retention Team (EMRT)The Enrollment Management and Retention Team examines the student experience at Northwestern College by focusing on student success and risk factors that
may be barriers to student success and learning. New student inventories, satisfaction assessment instruments and focus groups are used throughout the year togain valuable feedback used to promote the success of all students.

Juffer Fieldhouse

Juffer Fieldhouse serves primarily as an athletic facility; however, the Bomgaars Family Field is open for free student/faculty/staff/member use for select hours during
the academic year. These hours may vary but generally include weekdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and 7:00 to 10:00 PM, Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 to
5:00 PM. The golf practice facility is also available during these times for an additional fee. An updated schedule is available at facebook.com/jufferfieldhouse.

Ramaker Facility Use Policy

Reservations
Ramaker Center is designed to be a space where staff in the student life, campus ministry, and the Center for 21st Century Learning work together and alongside
students. Reservations for the Fireside Room, Conference Rooms 130 and 216, Prayer Room, NW student lounge 120, Lower Level Lounge and Upstairs Student
Lounge 219 are considered public spaces need to be reserved through Amber DenHartogt in the Student Life Office. The Ramaker scheduler will give priority to thestaff in the building. Northwestern College reserves the right to decline the use of space to any group based on scheduling conflicts and/or mission fit. See theNorthwestern College Facility Use Guidelines at https://www.nwciowa.edu/hours for more information.
Rules
Ramaker Center is also designed to be a place where students can work together, study, and relax. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so that students have aplace to go when other campus buildings are closed. The space is monitored by security cameras. In order for the building to remain a 24-hour space, students mustabide by the following rules:
Students must:
1. Enter the building using their NWC IDs

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2. Show respect for the building and its contents
3. Clean up after themselvesStudent must not:1. Allow anyone into the building who does not have a NWC ID
2. Sleep in the building
3. Bring in food or drink without permission from the Student Life office
4. Use the building as a means for breaking campus policies
Failure to abide by these rules will lead to student discipline, fines, and possibly, to the closure of the building at midnight.

Rowenhorst Student Center
Hours:
Monday – Friday
Saturday
Sunday5:30 am – 11:30 pm
8:00 am – 11:30 pm
1:00 pm – 11:30 pm

Personnel: Patrick Sinnema, Director
Phone: 712-707-7230
Website: Nwciowa.edu/fitness
The RSC is an integral part of Northwestern’s total educational program. The program is founded on a commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord of all areas of life. The
RSC reflects that commitment by providing opportunity for leisure time to be made profitable for Christian growth. The RSC is open at designated times during theacademic year. A special schedule will be in effect during college holidays and vacations. Hours for various service areas are subject to change.
The RSC houses the college post office, class rooms, conference rooms, college snack bar – The Hub, and the college bookstore. The following offices are located in
the RSC: Wellness Center (counseling & health services), Athletics, Kinesiology and Intramurals. The DeWitt Physical Fitness Center is also housed in the RSC. The
fitness center features a workout area equipped with Matrix strength training and cardio equipment, free weights and fitness gear. Also located in the DeWitt Fitness
Center is a large four-court area with the capabilities to host basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, and pickle ball. Surrounding the four-court area is a one-tenthmile, four lane indoor track. In addition to the four-court gym, the space is also home to three racquetball courts.

Student Publications
BeaconThe Beacon is the student newspaper of Northwestern College. It is published and distributed (in print and online) nine Friday’s out of the semester. The Beacon is alearning laboratory and, as such, the student staff encourages other students to be involved. It also accepts letters from the campus community. Letters must be
submitted to an editor through email (beacon@nwciowa.edu) to be considered for publication. Students who want to join the staff as reporters, editors, columnists orphotographers should contact Madison Follett at madison.follett@nwciowa.edu.

The Classic

Northwestern College produces an annual issue of the college’s magazine, The Classic, which is sent to alumni, parents and friends of NWC. The Classic is available
for students to pick up in various locations on campus, including the RSC, DeWitt Learning Commons, Zwemer Hall and Ramaker Center.

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CAMPUS MAP

iii

Mark Yarhouse and Julia Sadusky, Emerging Gender Identities, Brazos Press, 2020, p. 8.
Preston Sprinkle, Embodied, David C. Cook, 2021, p. 30.

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