SUBJECT: USCA STUDENT SOCIAL EVENT POLICIES
Number: 400
Issued by: Dr. Deb Kladivko; Assoc. Chancellor for Student Life and Services
Date: April 3, 2000
The following policies have been adopted to protect USCA students and
property. These policies are intended to regulate any social events held by
student organizations on the USCA campus. Failure to abide by these policies
could result in disciplinary action as outlined in the USCA Student Handbook
under "Student Organization Non-Academic Discipline System Procedures".
PURPOSE
This policy provides the procedures required for use of University vehicles
by representatives of officially registered
organizations. This policy permits student representatives to utilize University
vehicles for official business and special occasions.
PROCEDURES
A. To reserve a vehicle from the USCA Motor Pool, the following must be done:
1) Submit a completed/approved Form 13/20 (Vehicle Reservation Request) to
the operations office prior to actual travel.
(You may want to call and verify vehicle availability first.)
2) All drivers must be approved through the Driver Safety/Training Program
prior to use of a University vehicle.
B. Students traveling in a University vehicle outside the Aiken,
Augusta or Columbia area must be accompanied by a member
of the USCA faculty, staff or administration and that person's name must
appear on the Form 13/20. Any exception to this
policy must be approved by the Vice Chancellor for Student Life and
Services.
C. All mileage will be charged to the relevant student organization.
D. It is the responsibility of the user organization to return
the vehicle in good condition (general cleanliness, removal of debris
and personal belongings, etc.) to the Supply and Maintenance Building immediately
after use.
E. All drivers must abide by the regulations outlined in the Driver
Safety Training Program (Policy 122). Any violation of
University regulations may result in an organizational and/or personal loss
of privileges to use University vehicles by the
organization and/or the student driver. Any damage to the vehicle and/or personal
injury resulting from any violation of
University regulations regarding usage is the responsibility of the driver.
SUBJECT: Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Eligibility
Number: 402
Issued by: Mr. Glenn Shumpert, Director of Financial Aid
Date: REVISED December 2007
I. Introduction
The intent of this policy is to insure that all USCA students who are receiving federal financial aid funds for their education are making measurable progress towards completion of degree requirements within a reasonable period of time. This policy is established pursuant to regulations issued by the United States Department of Education, and is designed in compliance with both federal regulation and institutional academic policy.
II. Scope
This policy applies to all students who apply for federal student aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
III. Assessment Cycle
Each student’s record is assessed for compliance with the standards set forth in this policy at the time he or she applies for financial aid and at the end of each semester if he or she is placed on academic suspension.
IV. Standards
Pursuant to federal regulation, the USCA Office of Financial Aid is required to monitor the academic progress of all students who apply for federal financial aid. Financial aid funds can be awarded only to students who are making measurable progress toward the completion of degree requirements within a reasonable period of time.
Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress only if they are meeting all of the standards set forth in this policy. If a student fails to meet any particular standard or combination of standards, he or she will become ineligible for federal financial aid. Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress only if they:
A. Are admitted and enrolled as degree-seeking students.
B. Meet the University standards for continued enrollment as specified in the Academic Regulations section of the University of South Carolina Aiken Undergraduate Studies Bulletin.
C. Meet the maximum total enrollment and minimum earned hours stipulations specified below:
1.
Maximum Total Enrollment
- This assessment applies to all work attempted at any post-secondary
institution as it directly relates to USCA’s academic policies.
It is not limited to enrollment at USCA or to semesters in which financial
aid is received. To be eligible for financial aid, a student's total
enrollment must be within the applicable time limitations as follows:
a. The total number of semesters of full-time enrollment (12 or more
semester
hours attempted) at any post-secondary institution
does not exceed ten semesters.
b. The total number of semesters of part-time enrollment (fewer than 12
semester hours attempted) at any post-secondary institution does not exceed
the equivalent of ten full-time semesters.
c. The total number of full-time and part-time semesters combined does
not exceed the equivalent of ten full-time semesters.
2.
Minimum Earned Hours
- To be making satisfactory progress, a student must earn a minimum number
of semester hours each year, based upon his or her enrollment status. Each
period of enrollment included in the student's record is assessed. This
assessment is not limited to semesters in which financial aid is received.
To be eligible for financial aid, a student must:
a. Earn no fewer than 24 semester hours of undergraduate credit per academic year if enrolled as a full-time student (12 or more hours attempted per semester).
b. Earn no fewer than 18 semester hours of
undergraduate credit per academic year if enrolled as a three-quarter-time
student (9-11 hours attempted per semester).
c. Earn no fewer than 12 semester hours of undergraduate credit per academic year if enrolled as a half-time student (6-8 hours attempted per semester).
Summer session enrollment is not assessed in the determination of a student’s total semesters of enrollment. However, semester hours earned during the summer session are assessed with regard to the student meeting the minimum earned hours requirement. Therefore, a student who is not meeting the minimum earned hours requirement may restore his or her record to compliance with this standard through summer session enrollment at USCA or approved transient work at another USC system school. If a student who has been deemed ineligible successfully changes his or her standing relative to this policy, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the Office of Financial Aid of this change. Otherwise, the student’s financial aid file will remain in an inactive status.
A student whose total number of credit hours earned is not greater than three hours below the minimum number of credit hours required for that student shall be allowed to receive student financial aid for two consecutive major semesters following this determination. At the conclusion of this probationary period, the student must meet the University’s non-probationary Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards in order to receive future student financial aid. This probationary standard will never be applied more than once for any student.
The standards set forth in this policy apply to all federal financial aid programs including grants, loans and work funds. These standards will be applied to any determination or certification of satisfactory progress standing.
USCA has an established Academic Forgiveness Policy. When reviewing satisfactory academic progress for a student who has been granted Academic Forgiveness in consultation with the Scholastic Standing and Petitions (SS&P) Committee, the Office of Financial Aid insures that the monitoring complements the SS&P policy and is in compliance with Title IV satisfactory academic progress regulations.
V. Declaration of Ineligibility Procedures
Following review, if a student is deemed not to be making satisfactory progress he/she will be sent a financial aid ineligibility notice along with a copy of this policy.
VI. Reinstatement
A student shall be reinstated for financial aid eligibility at such time as he/she has successfully completed sufficient hours to meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as set forth in this policy. It is the student's responsibility to present evidence to the Office of Financial Aid at the time he/she has met minimum requirements for reinstatement.
If a student is suspended from school or financial aid eligibility, he/she must appeal before receipt or further financial aid.
VII. Appeal of Financial Aid Ineligibility
If the student is denied by the first level committee or does not meet stipulations imposed by that committee, he or she can appeal to the University Financial Aid Committee. The student must provide a written appeal and any documentation for the committee’s review and is given the option to appear in person before the committee, if she or he so chooses. This committee is sanctioned by the University as the final authority on the reappeal per federal financial aid regulations; therefore, the committee’s decision is final.
VIII. Enforcement
The Office of Financial Aid shall have primary responsibility for enforcing this policy. The Office of the Registrar and other University offices which maintain student information relevant to this enforcement responsibility shall provide such information, when requested by the financial aid officer, as it is necessary for the efficient enforcement of this policy.
The student employment program at USC Aiken provides part-time on-campus and community service employment to USCA students. There are two categories of student employees at USC Aiken: Federal Work-Study (FWS) students and Institutional Student Employment (ISE) students. The following procedures should be followed when a department wishes to hire a student employee.
Each department must submit a request for student employees to the Monday Group. This request should include a brief description of the duties to be performed by the student employee.
Once a student employment position has been established, the department must complete a USCA Student Employee Job Advertisement form for each position. The department will specify on this form if they wish to hire a FWS student or ISE student. This form is returned to the Career Services Office for posting on the student employment bulletin board.
Departments will be allocated specific dollar amounts for FWS and ISE in the departmental budget. Supervisors will monitor their student workers earnings in relation to the departmental budget and the student’s FWS award.
Students wishing to work on campus should refer to the job advertisements posted on the student employment bulletin board. The student can apply for any of these positions by notifying the contact person listed on each job advertisement. Students seeking employment under the FWS program must apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FWS awards will be made by the Financial Aid Office based on Federal Regulations.
Once a student has been hired for on-campus employment, he/she must obtain a Student Employment Packet from Career Services. This packet includes a Student Employee Registration form, USC PBP-3 form, W-4 form, USCA Confidentiality Agreement, Student Employment Training Agreement and I-9 form. These forms will be completed by the student and the student’s supervisor. FWS students will receive a pre-printed PBP-3 form listing the student’s FWS award as total expected earnings.
Students must be paid at least the current minimum wage. Higher salaries may be paid based on the nature and complexity of the duties of the position.
Each student employee must complete a weekly time card to be returned to the USCA Human Resource Office.
Most student employees are required to attend a one time student employment training session given by the Career Services Office.
Student employees are paid semi-monthly based on the number of hours worked.
I. PURPOSE
The University of South Carolina Aiken has the duty and responsibility to
maintain a safe
and healthy environment
conducive to its principal mission of education. At the same time, the University
recognizes
and respects the
constitutional protection of free speech as well as the individual student's
right to privacy.
Accordingly, the University
hereby adopts this solicitation policy for the purpose of establishing reasonable
time, place
and manner restrictions on
campus solicitation.
II. DEFINITION OF SOLICITATION
Solicitation is defined as contact for the purpose of:
1. soliciting funds or sales or demonstrations that result in sales;
2. distributing advertising or other materials;
3. compiling data for surveys, programs, or other purposes;
4. recruiting members or support for an organization or cause;
5. providing educational information sessions (exclusive of formal University
of South
Carolina Aiken academic
classes).
Even within areas open to solicitation, this contact may not substantially
disrupt or
materially (or significantly) interfere with the educational, administrative,
or operational
activities of the University. Commercial speech which is false, fraudulent,
or
misrepresentative is not permitted. Events which are in violation of local,
state, or federal
law, Board of Trustees policy, or rules, regulations, and guidelines of the
University, are
prohibited.
An event that places an undue burden on campus facilities; interferes with
the use of
campus facilities by other persons; disrupts normal operations; infringes
on the protected
rights of others; has as a principle goal to incite a riot or to disrupt other
activities, may be
denied the privilege to use University facilities or grounds for solicitation.
III. AREAS AVAILABLE FOR SOLICITATION
Although the University is devoted to the public in many ways, the entire
campus is not a
public forum. Public access to some portions of the campus must be limited
to achieve the
school's educational mission, to retain student privacy, and to meet safety
and health
requirements. However, some areas are open for solicitation within the guidelines
established by this policy. Prior approval through established registration
and reservation
procedures (available at the
Student Life Office) and the approval of the Vice Chancellor for Student
Life and
Services (or designee) are necessary in order to utilize these areas. These
areas are:
A. designated areas in the front and back patios of the Student Activities
Center;
B. a designated area within the Student Activities Center;
C. other specifically designated areas formally contracted through the University
for the
purpose of advertising goods and services to the USCA community upon the
approval of
the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Services, or designee.
IV. DISTRIBUTION OF LITERATURE
Distribution of literature by University or non-University individuals or
organizations is
subject to this solicitation policy to prevent harassment of students and
to maintain the
campus environment. The person to person distribution of literature by University
or
non-University individuals or organizations is restricted to the areas available
for solicitation
and must be registered and reserved in advance through the Vice Chancellor
for
Student Life and Services (or designee). The posting of literature by University
or
non-University individuals or organizations is restricted to appropriate reserved
areas of
bulletin boards in all University buildings subject to the documented approval
and
instruction of the Director of Student Activities. Some bulletin board space
is designated
for University activities only. The posting or attachment of flyers, posters,
advertisements,
or announcements of any type on the exterior of buildings, trees, sidewalks,
light posts,
parked cars, or other similar structures is prohibited.
V. DIRECT MAIL SOLICITATION
The University of South Carolina Aiken mailroom is responsible for providing
services for
USC faculty, staff, and students for official University business only. Mail
determined to be
of a personal nature (such as checks, bank statements, utility bills, personal
packages) will
be returned to the sender. The only exception to the policy is mail service
to Pacer Downs'
resident students whose mail is delivered to their residence.
University Intra-Campus Mail Service cannot be used by faculty, staff, students,
or outside
businesses or organizations for advertising, campaign notices, solicitation,
or for any
purpose that is not determined official University business. No USC Aiken
mailing list will
be available for use other than for official University of South Carolina
business. (Student
organizations may be contacted through the Office of Student Activities.)
VI. POLICY ON SALES SOLlCITATION
Solicitors and tradesmen, including students, faculty, or other University
personnel, are
prohibited from entering University grounds or buildings of the University
of South
Carolina Aiken for the purpose of transacting business with students, faculty,
or other
University personnel, unless they have been issued a letter of permit for
this purpose by the
office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Services (or designee).
VII. EMPLOYEE SOLICITATION
Employees of the University may not solicit for non-University sponsored activities
during
working time regardless of whether they are in their working area or not.
(See System
Policy A1.07, Personnel, 08/85.)
VIII. STUDENT ORGANlZATIONS
Registered USC Aiken student organizations may solicit in designated areas
under the
following conditions:
A. The organizations must complete a space reservation form available from
the Director
of Student Activities' Office.
B. The Vice Chancellor for Student Services must be made aware of outside
speakers and/or performers being brought through sponsorship by USCA student
organizations to the campus.
C. The Vice Chancellor for Student Services (or designee) must approve
student
fund raising activities; a fund raising audit sheet must be completed after
each event.
D. Any use of space not normally designated for use by student organizations
and
University departments must be requested in writing from the Vice Chancellor
for
Student Services (or designees).
IX. STATEMENT OF EQUITY
- Approval to solicit on the University of South Carolina Aiken campus shall
not be
granted in an arbitrary or capricious manner upon the basis of the content
of the proposed
speech related activity. Any constitutionally protected speech will be permitted
within the
reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions of this policy.
X. OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
Any outside organization or individual wishing to come on campus for the
purpose of
solicitation must be sponsored by a registered USCA organization or University
department. After obtaining sponsorship, the outside organization or individual
must follow
the procedure outlined for USCA student organizations. Additionally, an alternative
means
of communication is available through the student newspaper.
XI. DISCLAIMER
The Solicitation Policy of the University of South Carolina Aiken must undergo
constant
revision to reflect prevailing community standards and the most recent case
law which
constitutionally defends the rights of students as citizens as well as protecting
the individual
privacy of students on the University campus. Contact the Student Life Office
in the
Student Activities Center for the most recent revisions of this Solicitation
Policy. .
*This campus policy is in addition to the Solicitation policy already in existence.
PUBLICITY POLICY
The Offices of Student Involvement and Marketing & Community Relations are interested in assisting student organizations and campus departments in their efforts to publicize their activities while maintaining the beauty of the USCA campus. A variety of avenues including Post Time Notes, Pacer Times, Café’ News, and Stall Wall Weekly are available for publicizing. To best meet the needs of the entire campus, the following policy addresses the use of posted publicity.
o All publicity must be approved by the Office of Student Involvement.
o With the exception of registered banners in designated banner areas in each building, all publicity must be placed in approved areas. Approved areas include:
§ Sidewalks
§ Designated Big Board areas
§ Sandwich Boards
§ Open Bulletin Boards
§ Other areas approved by the Director of Student Involvement or a designee
o All publicity hung in University Housing facilities must be approved by the University Housing office.
o Bulletin boards located across campus are assigned by the Director of Student Involvement or a designee. Bulletin boards are assigned based on availability and usefulness to the campus community.
o There are a designated number of open boards that are for the use of the entire University of Aiken community. All items on these boards must be date-stamped and approved by the Office of Student Involvement. Student organizations are responsible for removing their outdated materials. A map of all open boards is available in the Student Involvement Office.
o No flyer larger than 22” by 16” (L x W) will be allowed on open bulletin boards.