Part V

Faculty members are referred to the Personnel Policy Manual for additional and more comprehensive statements of College policy. Faculty may obtain a Personnel Policy Manual from the Director of Human Resources. Personnel questions or concerns unrelated to teaching and academic affairs should be discussed with the Director of Human Resources. Questions or concerns having to do with academic policies and procedures should be directed as follows:

The Dean of the College: job status, salary, leaves of absence, clarification of policy, etc.;
Office of the Registrar or Office of Registration and Business Services: academic information about a student, academic requirements, etc.;
Student Support Center: student referrals for tutoring, mentoring, etc.;
Division Chair: teaching assignment and schedule, texts, sample syllabi, etc.

Chairs of the faculty committees, as defined above in Part II of this Faculty Handbook, are available to explain or clarify policies and procedures having to do with their areas. A list of all committee members, together with committee chairs, is available from the Executive Assistant for Academic Affairs.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The College employs all personnel on an equal opportunity basis. Career opportunities are without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability. Career decisions are based upon job-related qualifications and the needs of the College. (See above, in Part I, Employment Policy.)

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

The Faculty of North Carolina Wesleyan College acknowledges and appreciates the relationship between the College and the United Methodist Church. Through this relationship, the College provides a variety of religious activities that may enrich our lives by offering individuals opportunities for spiritual development.

The Faculty affirms freedom of religion for every member of the College community and supports the College's commitment to be "open to all persons regardless of their religious beliefs" and to "welcome religious diversity as an opportunity for the broadening of minds and the enrichment of discourse." Freedom of religious belief and practice is a fundamental human right, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and affirmed by individual conscience. Respect for human diversity and for the worth and dignity of all persons can only be achieved in an atmosphere of religious tolerance. Therefore, no member of the College community is ever required to attend religious services or embrace a particular religious view.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM

The College supports and honors the principles of academic freedom as they are defined in the Regulations on Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Due Process of North Carolina Wesleyan College (Appendix 1, Sections 1 and 2).

North Carolina Wesleyan College is dedicated to the transmission and advancement of knowledge and understanding and to academic freedom. Academic freedom is defined as the freedom to conduct research and publish the results, the freedom to teach and otherwise to conduct responsible discussion, and the freedom to seek the truth and speak responsibly. This institution therefore supports and encourages freedom of inquiry for faculty and students, to the end that they may responsibly pursue these goals, free of internal or external restraints that would restrict such endeavors (Section 1A).

The issue is addressed more fully in the Regulations on Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Due Process of North Carolina Wesleyan College. The Faculty is urged to read and consider Sections 1 and 2 of that document. (See Appendix 1.)

Freedom of Speech

As a Methodist-affiliated institution, the College enjoys an especially rich tradition affirming freedom of speech, as well as of action taken in the name of faith. Whereas intellectual beliefs differ from matters of Christian faith, nonetheless the Church and academia have long stood together in defense of the freedom to think and, within the bounds of responsibility, to speak and act such as one's conscience and mind dictate. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church makes this position clear. (See Appendix 5, "The Political Community," Section 74.V of The Book of Discipline.). Professional organizations closely associated with colleges and universities, typically, have taken similar positions. See, for example, Appendix 6, "Library Bill of Rights," adopted in 1948 by the American Library Association, and accompanying statement on Intellectual Freedom.

Freedom of speech is not, however, absolute. The Faculty and the community in general, including students, are urged to speak and write thoughtfully. Respect for the ideas and feelings of others is, also, a value we honor and defend.

The College neither practices nor condones censorship, either explicitly or implicitly, written or verbal. Neither does the College practice or condone hatemongering or obscenity.

DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT

Discrimination

The College neither tolerates nor condones discrimination of any kind, whether racial, ethnic, class, sexual, economic, religious, personal, or any other. See also Equal Employment Opportunity at the beginning of Part V.

Harassment

It is the policy of North Carolina Wesleyan college that unlawful gender discrimination in any form, including sexual harassment of faculty and staff, or other forms of gender discrimination as referenced by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681 (Title IX), is prohibited in the workplace and in the recruitment, appointment, and advancement of employees. Gender discrimination of students, including sexual harassment, as referenced by Title IX, is prohibited in and out of the classroom and in the evaluation of students' academic or work performance. This policy is in keeping with the spirit and intent of various federal guidelines which address the issue of fair employment practices, ethical standards and enforcement procedures.

North Carolina Wesleyan College will endeavor to provide equality of opportunity in education and employment for all students and employees. Accordingly, the college does not practice or condone unlawful discrimination in any form against students, employees or applicants on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

North Carolina Wesleyan College will respond promptly to all complaints of discrimination and retaliation. Violation of this policy can result in serious disciplinary action up to and including expulsion for students or discharge for employees.

Delegated by the President to serve as the Title IX Coordinator for the College, the Dean of Students maintains primary responsibility for the implementation of this policy. Disciplinary action for violations of this policy will be the responsibility of key administrators based upon the status of the individual(s) committing the violation as may be appropriate based upon applicable procedures.

North Carolina Wesleyan College hereby reaffirms its desire to maintain a work environment for all employees and an academic environment for all faculty and students that is free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and free from discrimination which is otherwise prohibited by College policy or regulation. Unlawful discrimination is completely incompatible with the values and goals of North Carolina Wesleyan College and will not be tolerated. North Carolina Wesleyan College strives to maintain an environment that supports and rewards individuals on the basis of such relevant factors as ability, merit and performance.

Definition of Gender Discrimination – Gender discrimination, including sexual harassment, is defined as conduct directed at a specific individual or group of identifiable individuals that subjects the individual or group to treatment that adversely affects their education or employment based upon gender.

Definition of Sexual Harassment - The determination of what constitutes sexual harassment will vary with the particular circumstances, but may be described generally as: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

• Submission to or rejection of such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a
term or condition of education, employment, or participation in other College
activities;
• Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for
evaluation in making academic or personnel decisions affecting that individual; or
• Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an
individual’s performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive College
environment.

FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT

The College respects the confidentiality of students' records and complies with the guidelines established by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (PL 93-390/93-568; the Buckley Amendment). Before releasing any academic information about a student, a faculty member should refer to the catalog. For other information, the faculty member should be advised by the Dean of the College.

Information about students who are legally independent, some of whom may be under the age of eighteen, can be released (generally speaking) only with their written consent, which must be obtained each time a release is requested.

Faculty members are referred to the current College catalog for more explicit details.

COPYRIGHT LAW

Federal copyright law protects publishers and authors from unwarranted use of their published materials and computer software without due compensation. A faculty member may not copy articles or sections of books for distribution in class without obtaining advance written permission from the owner of the copyright and, in many cases, paying a royalty. The College Store handles procedures for securing permissions. In general, response takes from 4-6 weeks.

The College is not responsible, and assumes no obligation, for the illegal duplication or use of copyrighted materials or unlicensed software. Members of the staff are not permitted to copy materials for distribution in class for which written permission has not been obtained (and shown to them).

The College requests that College copying machines not be used for making unauthorized copies; that is to say, illegally.

The Faculty is reminded that several high-profile criminal cases have recently been lodged involving alleged wrongful duplication in violation of the copyright law, professors being among the defendants. Clearly, publishers are prepared to pursue this matter.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

News Releases, the Media, and Publications

The Office of Public Relations publicizes campus news, achievements of faculty, staff, and students; and maintains records of news stories about the College. The office publishes Wesleyan Magazine, which is mailed to alumni and others in the winter and summer, and the College's Annual Report.

The Director of Public Relations serves as the College's liaison with area, state, and national media. All official statements of the College are released through the Public Relations Office and should be cleared by the director before distribution to the media.

Sports Information

The Sports Information Director in the Office of Athletics serves as the College's liaison with the media for matters related to athletics. Official statements of the College's athletics program and its activities are released through the Sports Information Director. Information also includes news of athletic achievements of students, faculty, and staff.

COMPUTER USE

Faculty members are urged to read the College's statements on Computer Networking Policy and on World Wide Web Publishing Policy, accessible from their office computers at these two sites, respectively:

http://www.ncwc.edu/Offices/Technology/netpolicy.htm

http://www.ncwc.edu/offices/technotogy/webpolicy.htm

Computer use, including electronic mail, should not be considered completely private and confidential. Users should understand that the system is not especially secure. Although the College does not eavesdrop, systems personnel, from time to time, must access accounts for purposes of network management.

The College's policy is that "user files and network transmissions will not be viewed, monitored, or altered without the express permission of the user. . ." (Computer Networking Policy, p. 2). If, however, the College has what it regards as good reason to suspect that any one of the following three conditions apply, then an account may be monitored without the user's consent or (perhaps) knowledge:

"An account or system has been breached and is being used by someone other than the authorized user";
"An account or system is being used to gain unauthorized access or to attempt to do so";
"An account or system is being used in violation of College policy or federal or state law" (Computer Networking Policy, p. 2).

Persons using the College's computer system should understand that the College holds them accountable, in their electronic mail and in all other computer use, for the same standards of courtesy as should define their words and behavior generally. Certain practices are illegal. The College prohibits others.

The College's computer system "may not be used in any manner prohibited by law or disallowed by licenses, contracts, or College regulations." Persons creating personal web pages, as well as who use electronic mail (either for campus distribution or for anywhere else), or who access or send or receive anything on the Internet may not "provide obscene, offensive, or threatening materials." Nor may they "intimidate or single out individuals or groups for degradation or harassment." Neither may they use the system "for private financial gain or compensation' (although business undertaken for the College may be authorized). (See the section on "Accountability," World Wide Web Publishing Policy, p. 3.)

Persons should not send electronic mail to groups on campus in order to advance a personal, political, religious or any other cause, except when such cause constitutes the business of the group to which the message is sent.

Computer problems and questions should be addressed to staff personnel in Spruill Building at campus extension 5000 or by emailing helpdesk@ncwc.edu. If calling from off campus the number is 984-5000.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

The College complies fully with both the letter and the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act which requires that reasonable accommodations be made for disabled students, faculty members, and personnel. However, the College expects persons requiring such accommodation to make their needs known to those from whom they seek it.

Once a student requests accommodation, a faculty member should ask him or her about specific needs, as well as for suggestions about what steps might be taken in order to ease the situation. Some accommodations are relatively easy and require no significant changes in instruction. For example, a student with specific learning disabilities who needs additional time to complete an examination may require only a few more minutes after the others have left; a student with visual or hearing impairments in some instances may require a seat at the front of the class. Other needs, however, may be more difficult to address. In these instances, the faculty member should work closely with the Student Support Center and with the student in order to respond effectively.

Most students with documented disabilities inform the Office of Counseling and Disability Services (CDS) in the Student Support Center, which then informs their professors each semester, often suggesting how best to accommodate specific needs. If students request accommodations for their disabilities and have not registered with the CDS, please direct them to the Student Support Center before agreeing to make accommodations.

Faculty members requiring accommodation should discuss their needs with their division chair and with the Dean of the College.

HEALTH

The Health Center

Located toward the south end of the campus in the Spruill Building, the Health Center provides an array of services for both students and others in the College community, including the Faculty. Faculty enrolled in the College's sponsored insurance plan will be covered by the plan's benefits.

Such services include, but are not limited to, the following at no cost:

Monitoring for weight; blood pressure
Information about pregnancy, nutrition, most common illnesses, etc.
Over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol, cough syrup, Pepto-Bismol

The Health Center is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday when classes are in session. The College provides a registered nurse who treats walk-in patients.

Members of the College community who know or have reason to think they have a transmittable illness must conduct themselves responsibly, taking every precaution not to bring harm to others. The burden for maintaining a healthy workplace is on each individual whether an illness is as minor as a cold or as serious as AIDS.

AIDS:

Employees and students of the College will not be terminated or suspended if they should become infected with the HIV virus. Nor are they denied employment or enrollment if they are HIV-Positive.

Medical research has established that HIV is not likely or easily transmitted during the routines of a usual workday; thus, even if a member of the community is HIV- Positive, others should have no cause for alarm.

There are, however, compelling reasons for an HIV-Positive person to observe basic precautions. He or she is urged to inform the Health Center, so that the College may be assured that the individual knows and understands the measures necessary for preventing the spread of the virus.

Such personal health information is held in the strictest confidentiality. If, however, the Health Center has information or reason to think that an HIV-Positive person is not practicing the Control Measures as defined by the North Carolina Commission for Health Services, the College is required by law to disclose the name to an appropriate public health official. Lists of Control Measures are available in the Health Center.

Through the Health Center, the College offers numerous educational programs and materials.

Faculty members should consult the current edition of the Personnel Policy Manual for further clarification of this important issue.

Alcohol and Non-Prescription Drugs:

Except under certain regulations governing the residence halls, and at relatively infrequent public occasions, the College prohibits the possession, use, or consumption of alcohol on campus. At all times, and in every place on campus, the possession, use, or consumption of controlled substances is prohibited.

Faculty members possessing or consuming alcohol on campus, or whose work is impaired by the use of alcohol, are subject to disciplinary action. Those possessing or consuming non-prescription drugs, or whose work is impaired by the use of such drugs, are subject to disciplinary action, including termination. Possession, use, or consumption of non-prescription drugs is a violation of law: offenders are subject to legal sanction.

Faculty members with chronic chemical dependency that adversely affects their work may be required to undergo treatment. Refusal to accept treatment may be grounds for disciplinary action. Continuing unsatisfactory work as a result of such dependency may lead to termination.

Persons with substance abuse problems are urged to seek treatment voluntarily. Such treatment may be covered by the College's health-care benefits, as explained by the Director of Human Resources. Discussions are confidential.

Faculty members should consult the current edition of the Personnel Policy Manual for more detailed information.

Smoking

Smoking is prohibited at all times in all campus buildings.

Exercise

Faculty members may use the basketball court and the fitness center housed in the Taylor Recreation Center. The fitness center includes modern weight and cardio equipment. College ID is required.

Tennis courts and playing fields are likewise available to Faculty when not engaged by students or a College team. Faculty are encouraged to participate and compete in various intramural sports and activities.

College grounds are ideal for walking, jogging, or bicycling. It is just under 1 mile around the interior road of campus. It is approximately 1.1 miles if the Dunn Center loop is included.

CAMPUS SECURITY

The College provides security personnel around the clock. The Office of Security may be reached by calling 5273. Officers on campus patrol may be called at 7374 (977-7374 if off-campus).

The Office of Security must be informed, in as timely a manner as possible, of all campus events. When, for example, a faculty member hosts an event, he or she must reserve space by emailing reservations@ncwc.edu with the following information:

the name and size of the group;
the date of the event; the time of anticipated arrival and departure;
the building(s) and room(s) required; the specific doors to be unlocked;
the lighting and heating (or AC) required; the parking needed;
the name of the faculty member heading up the event.

Housekeeping and other staff members will assist with the accommodation.

Security personnel carry master keys and may be called upon to unlock one's own faculty office, as well as meeting rooms, classrooms and Office Services (the room housing supplies and duplicating machines).

Security should be called at any time a faculty member senses or has reason to think that a problem requiring its intervention may exist. The matter may be relatively innocuous or potentially quite serious: an unruly group or (as an extreme example) a person with a gun.

Because we have an open campus, perhaps the most common instance where a faculty member might call Security to investigate involves the unknown vehicle or person(s) on campus, one that has no discernible reason for being here. Non-students or persons perceived just to be hanging around, as well as cars that circle the drive again and again, require checking.

AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY INSURANCE

All faculty members who use personal automobiles for College business must provide the Business Office with proof of current liability insurance coverage, as required by State law, and this information must be updated annually. Before a faculty member approves or permits a student to drive an automobile on a college-related trip of any kind, he or she must secure proof of that student's current liability insurance coverage and provide such information to the Business Office.

Faculty members driving rented vehicles on college-related business must be assured that the vehicle is covered for liability, as required by State law. They should provide the Business Office with written verification from the rental company. Rental of 15-passenger vans is not permitted by the College's insurance company.

The policy, as well as the procedures required for documenting coverage, is explained more fully in Planning Guidelines and Procedures for an Off-Campus Activity, Field Trip, Travel, etc., Appendix 5.

The College as an institution is not indemnified for automobile accidents involving drivers who are faculty members or students, even when the purpose is college related.

For purposes of insurance coverage, it is College business if

AUTOMOBILES

All motor vehicles usually or regularly driven on campus must be registered with the College and must display a valid College parking sticker. Parking stickers are available from the Office of Campus Security (Hardees Building) without charge. The permit is valid throughout one's employment at the College.

COLLEGE PROPERTY

Faculty members are expected to exercise due care in the use of College property and to use such property only for authorized purposes. College property, even that which by custom and habitual use remains in the possession of an individual, is by definition owned by the College, and is not to be removed from campus. College-owned vehicles require authorization prior to use.

College property issued to a member of the Faculty - office furniture, for example - must remain in place, or otherwise be appropriately accounted for, if or when employment ends. Such property must be returned promptly if and when requested by an appropriate College official.

The College provides such office supplies as necessary for the usual performance of one's daily work. Faculty members should not consider these supplies as for their personal or home use. Supplies are available from the College Store and from Office Services.

Offices are College property and may be entered by custodians and other authorized personnel having a College-sanctioned reason for doing so.

Although faculty members may use their own property on campus, the College assumes no responsibility for its loss or damage. All reasonable effort is made to respect personal property when, for example, offices are necessarily entered or re-located.

Personal property must not be in conflict with any College policy. For example, a poster must not on its face be discriminatory or harassing.

KEYS

Keys are provided for the building in which a faculty member has an office, the office itself, classrooms, and the interior hallway doors along the main hall in Braswell Administration Building. Keys for other buildings, rooms, and multimedia consoles may be requested as needed.

Faculty members are responsible for the use, location, and security of all College keys issued to them. Keys should not be lent to students or non-College persons or left where students or non- College persons may acquire them. Lost, stolen or damaged keys should be reported immediately to the Vice President for Finance.

Keys are issued by the Physical Plant, as authorized by the Vice President for Finance, and, upon an individual's separation from the College, must be returned to the Director of Human Resources.

TELEPHONES

Telephones are to be used primarily for College-related business. Long-distance calls must be only for College-related business and must, when possible, be limited to no more than ten minutes. Personal calls are never to be charged to the College.

Office telephones are for the exclusive use of the Faculty member occupying the office. Faculty members should be wary of allowing anyone else to make calls from their telephones, including students. Faculty telephones are programmed to permit the use of 411 for local information, with the understanding that once a number is retrieved, the user will then make a separate call using the authorization code for long distance. (Student telephones lack this option.)

Faculty must obtain a personal authorization code in order to make long-distance calls. This code is individualized and must not be shared with others. A code may be requested by calling College Information Systems at 5000.

Faculty members may request a travel card, which permits the caller to make long-distance business calls from a non-College telephone and charge them to the College.

College Information Systems defines telephone connections between the Rocky Mount, Triangle, and Goldsboro sites as local.

The telephone system has several convenient features, including Voice Mail. New faculty members should be in touch with College Information Systems (5000) as soon upon arrival as possible in order to set up their Voice Mail account and receive their brochure instructing them how to program their telephone.

Guidelines:

Keep local personal calls to a minimum; long-distance personal calls must be charged to the faculty member's home number or to a personal telephone credit card;
Dial all long-distance calls direct, and use the personal access code provided by the College;
College-business calls made from home should be dialed direct and the bill submitted for reimbursement. Such calls may also be billed to the College telephone credit card;
Collect calls should not be accepted;
Make long-distance calls to a toll-free number, when possible.

COLLEGE PUBLICATIONS

In addition to various promotional, admissions, sports, and development materials, whether in print or accessible from the College's homepage, the College publishes the Wesleyan Magazine, the Annual Report, and the College Catalog. Faculty members are often featured in these publications.

Wesleyan Magazine: A magazine sent to more than 10,000 alumni, parents, and friends of the College once a year.
Annual Report: This publication includes an Honor Roll of Donors.
College Catalog: The academic catalog is revised and issued annually. It defines curricular programs and requirements for both traditional and Adult Degree students.

SERVICE AWARDS

At the annual convocation for Founders' Day, in October, the College recognizes members of the faculty and staff for their service to the College. Awards are given for continuous employment in increments of five years: the five-year award, the ten-year award, the fifteen-year award, and so forth. Persons to be recognized are informed prior to the ceremony.

SOLICITATION

Unauthorized campus solicitation of employees or students is prohibited, whether such solicitation is by a non-College person or agency or by an employee or student.

Only the President's Council may authorize a solicitation. The College has its annual fundraising event, "Day for Wesleyan," and participates in annual campaigns such as The United Way.

SEVERE WEATHER

Rocky Mount Campus: When severe weather raises questions of whether or not classes at the Rocky Mount campus will meet, the President of the College decides. For conditions arising overnight, he or she makes every effort to inform the community of the College's position before 6:00 am. Faculty members should not call the main College number for information but should call their own campus telephone number and check their Voice Mail for a recorded announcement or check the College's webpage.

Extension Site Campuses: Should an extension site require closing because of severe weather, the site director decides. The College is informed and faculty members may call their own telephone number and check their voice mail for a recorded announcement. Media in the site's vicinity carry the official announcement.