NCSSM Online Policies

Students' Rights and Responsibilities

The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics affirms that the first goal of the School is to educate the students admitted to its programs. The freedom of students to learn is an integral and necessary part of the academic freedom to which the School is dedicated. The School provides, within its allotted University functions and available resources, opportunity for its students to derive educational benefits through developing their intellectual capabilities, encouraging their increased wisdom and understanding, and enhancing their knowledge and experience applicable to the effective discharge of civic, professional, and social responsibilities. It is the policy of the School not to abridge either the freedom of students engaged in the responsible pursuit of knowledge or their right to fair and impartial evaluation of their academic performance.

All students shall be responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that helps to enhance an environment of learning in which the rights, dignity, worth, and freedom of each member of the academic community are respected.

Academic Freedom and Responsibility in the Community

The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is dedicated to the transmission and advancement of knowledge and understanding. Academic freedom is essential to the achievement of these purposes.

The School therefore supports and encourages freedom, within the law, of inquiry for faculty members and students so that they may responsibly pursue these goals through teaching, learning, research, discussion and publication, free from internal or external restraints that would unreasonably restrict their academic endeavors.

The School will protect faculty and students in their responsible exercise of the freedom to teach, to learn, and otherwise to seek and speak the truth.

Administrators, faculty and students of the School will share in the responsibility for maintaining an environment in which academic freedom flourishes, and the rights of each member of the academic community are respected.

Members of the faculty are expected to recognize that accuracy, forthrightness, and dignity befit their association with the School and their position as men and women of learning. They should not represent themselves, without authorization, as spokespersons for the School or for the University of North Carolina.

The School and the University will not penalize or discipline members of the faculty because of the lawful exercise of academic freedom in the lawful pursuit of their respective areas of scholarly and professional interest and responsibility.

Notice of Nondescrimination Policy

In administering its affairs, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is committed to equality of opportunity. It is the policy of the School to be fair and impartial in all its relations with its students, employees and applicants for employment and to not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age or honorable service in the armed services of the United States. NCSSM actively promotes a diverse environment through recruitment of qualified students and employees with a variety of backgrounds and special talents. NCSSM supports the protections available to members of its community under all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting unlawful discrimination. This nondiscrimination commitment covers admissions, employment practices, educational programs, and other School-sponsored programs and projects to the extent permitted by federal or state policy and regulations. All members of the School community are expected to assist in making this commitment valid in fact. If there are questions or grievances regarding these provisions, students should contact the Vice Chancellor for Student Life, and employees or applicants should contact the Director of Human Resources or General Counsel.

Acceptable Use Policy

All students enrolled in NCSSM distance education must agree to the acceptable use policy. The “Acceptable Use Policy” states that the Internet is intended for education purposes only. It is against school policy to submit, publish, or display any defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, or illegal material. YOU ARE ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY to be an active and engaged participant in the class. Violations of the Acceptable Use Policy will result in a disciplinary referral to the administration of your high school.

Detailed NCSSM Acceptable Use Policy

Copyright Use Policy

The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is committed to complying with all applicable laws regarding copyright use. The School, as an institution devoted to the creation, discovery, and dissemination of knowledge, supports students and employees to build freely upon the ideas and information conveyed by others’ work “to advance the progress of science and art.” Institutional policies, procedures, training programs, and curriculum resources allow the community to access and appropriately use a wide array of information. Compliance with the Copyright Act of 1976, as amended, is the individual responsibility of every employee and student. Unlawful reproduction of copyrighted materials in any format is not condoned.

A copy of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Patent and Copyright Policies, adopted by the NCSSM Board of Trustees on March 3, 1989, is available upon request.

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