Student Consumer Information

Course attendance is important to academic success. You must attend the courses you register for at Prairie State College. If you register for a course and never attend, you run the risk of being dropped from the course(s). If you will be unable to attend any courses in which you enrolled, you must drop them. Refer to the academic calendar and the college refund table for applicable dates. 

If you aren’t concerned with receiving college credit, you may take a course as an auditor. No letter grade is given, and you’ll receive no academic credit. Students who wish to take a course on an audit basis need to comply with the following procedure:

1. Register for the course in question.
2. Pay all applicable tuition and fees.(Many financial aid or veterans programs do not pay for audited courses.)
3. Complete an audit request (student petition) form, available in the Enrollment Services. This procedure must be completed prior to the end of the 2nd week of classes for first and second 8-week courses, 3rd week of classes for late start courses, and 4th week of classes for full 16-week courses held during the fall and spring semesters. For information on audit deadlines, call (708) 709-3516.

The college may change course offerings during the registration period. Occasionally a course is canceled if there are not enough students enrolled. If this happens, the college will do everything possible to notify students before the first class meeting. You will have the option of registering for another course or receiving a refund.

When students stop attending or academically participating in a course, they must report this information to the Enrollment Services Office (RM 1160) to officially withdraw themselves from the course. Students may visit the Enrollment Services Office, complete an add/drop/withdrawal form online or email enrollment@prairiestate.edu to officially withdraw from a course.

Officially withdrawing from a course occurs after the tuition refund period associated with the course has ended. A grade of “W” will appear on the student’s record. The “W” grade will not affect the student’s grade point average. The course will be considered attempted but not completed. Students can withdraw from a course by the published deadline date (see the academic calendar). If an extenuating circumstance occurs after the published deadline date, a student may submit a late withdrawal appeal for consideration.

Note: Students in selective health program such as nursing, dental hygiene, surgical technology must also speak with their program coordinator before withdrawing from a course. Student athletes, international and early college students must meet with the respective advisor before withdrawing from a course.

Students can visit the Enrollment Services Office (RM1160), complete an add/drop/withdrawal form online or email enrollment@prairiestate.edu to drop a course.

A student can drop a course through the end of the refund period. The refund period is considered the time before the end of the published tuition refund deadline. Students can refer to the PSC website for the designated last day to receive a tuition refund. Courses “dropped” after the published refund deadline are considered withdrawals.

Refunds are issued by check every Friday, after the end of the refund period. No refunds will be paid in cash. If requested, credit card payments may be refunded as a credit to the card used for payment. The card must be presented to the cashier at the time of your request. All e-Cashier refunds will be done by check. PSC shall refund tuition charges based on the Refund Table in the class schedule.

In accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 and Policies of the Board of Trustees of Illinois Community College District 515, it is a violation of college policy for any member of the college community to engage in the sale, possession, use or distribution of any narcotic, drug, alcohol, or other addictive or hallucinogenic substance, except as permitted by law on the premises of, or in conjunction with, the operation of Prairie State College.

In addition to possible criminal prosecution under applicable local, state and federal laws that prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol, students and staff also may be subject to the college’s internal disciplinary procedures with possible sanctions ranging up to expulsion or job termination.

The use of alcoholic beverages and illegal chemical substances is a concern on college campuses. The following information will serve to inform you of the health risks, available resources, current policies at PSC, and the legal ramifications regarding the use of drugs and alcohol.

Board policies on student conduct in reference to drugs and alcohol state that the following conduct will be subject to disciplinary action:

1. The sale, possession, use, or distribution of any narcotic, drug, marijuana, or other addictive or hallucinogenic substance, except as permitted by law.
   
   
2. The possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages on campus, or at any off-campus college sponsored activity, regardless of age unless specifically authorized. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action that could lead to suspension or dismissal. Every effort will be made to assist the person to seek help.

State and federal penalties for possession or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol vary a great deal, depending on the amount, type, and offense. This information is provided to you in accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989. To conform to the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (20 U.S.C.S 5145, Public Law 101-226), the college hereby enacts this policy. In conformance with the act, the president shall develop and implement a program and rules to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees.

1. Definitions
2. The term “student” is defined as any person who is taking/attending any credit or non-credit class facilitated by Prairie State College.
   The term “employee” is any full- or part-time employee of the college.
3. The term “controlled substance” is used as defined in the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Illinois Controlled Substances Act.
4. The term “college property” is defined as any property or buildings owned, leased or controlled by the college whether on or off campus.
5. The term “college activities” shall include all on-campus functions as well as any off-campus function sponsored by the college, such as officially sanctioned field trips, athletic events, social activities and professional meetings attended by college employees.
6. The term “illicit alcohol” is defined as alcoholic liquor which is possessed, used or distributed in violation of federal, state or local laws or college regulations.
   
   
7. Standards of Conduct No student, employee or visitor shall:
8. Possess, distribute or use any controlled substance or any substance containing cannabis, in violation of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, the Illinois Controlled Substance Act or the Cannabis Control Act on any college property or at any college activity.
9. Possess distribute or use any alcoholic liquor on any college property or at any college activity, regardless of their age, unless specifically authorized by the Office of the President.
   
   
10. Statement of Sanctions
11. Students: Discipline for violating the standards of conduct set out in Section II will be governed by college regulations and the student code of conduct, up to and including expulsion. Additionally, violators may be charged criminally under federal, state or local laws and ordinances.
12. Employees: Discipline for violating the standards of conduct set out in Section II will be governed by the college’s employee disciplinary policies and rules, up to and including termination. Additionally, violators may be charged criminally under federal, state or local laws and ordinances.
13. Visitors: Violations of the standards of conduct set out in Section II may result in criminal charges under federal, state or local laws and ordinances.
    
    
14. Possible Legal Sanctions:
15. Alcohol
    Poss. under 21: Class B misdemeanor Up to 6 months in jail Up to $1,500 fine DUI: Class A misdemeanor Up to 1 year in jail Up to $2,500 fine Open in Vehicle: Class A misdemeanor Up to 1 year in jail Up to $2,500 fine
16. Cannabis/Marijuana
    Possession: Up to Class 1 Felony* Up to 15 years in jail Up to $25,000 fine
    Delivery: Up to Class X Felony* Up to 30 years in jail Up to $25,000 fine
17. Controlled Substances – Includes any substance controlled under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or similar federal statutes. These include cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, amphetamine, LSD, anabolic steroids, opiates, ketamine, PCP, methaqualone, pentazocine, ecstasy, barbiturates, peyote, hallucinogens, morphine, prescription drugs not prescribed to the holder, and any look alike substances. Possession: Up to Class X Felony* Up to 50 years in jail Up to $250,000 fine
    Delivery: Up to Class X Felony* Up to 50 years in jail Up to $250,000 fine
18. Penalties may be dependent on amounts possessed and prior convictions.
19. Penalties may be enhanced for possession or sale on or near college properties.
20. Convictions may result in loss of federal financial aid and other federal benefits.

• Submit your own original work.
• Carefully and clearly cite all language and ideas that are not your own.
• Be aware of the challenges and complexities of source use.
• Understand the appropriate level of collaboration allowed for an assignment: working with others is helpful, but it can make it hard to separate your work from your classmates'.
• Know that it is ultimately your responsibility to be academically honest: being unaware of the rules of academic honesty is not an excuse.
• Ask for help when you are unclear.

• Define academic honesty in the context of their courses.
• Clarify the consequences for violations.

• Cheating: Turning in work that is not your own, copying answers, acquiring advance copies of exams, using materials that are not permitted, etc. This includes using a website or app to solve problems for you and then presenting the answers or work as your own.
• Plagiarism: Inappropriate source use such as poor paraphrasing, incorrect citations, and unattributed source use. All language from sources must be in quotation marks and all ideas taken from sources should be cited.
• Repurposing: Submitting work from another class or institution and without instructor's consent.
• Imitation/Proxy: Having someone else represent you for the purpose of doing your work.
• Falsification/Fabrication: Falsely attributing ideas or language to a source. This includes falsifying data in a lab.
• Enabling Dishonesty: Knowingly allowing another student to submit or copy from your own work.

Consequences for academic dishonesty are based on the severity of the offense and are determined at the discretion of the instructor. Consequences can include mandatory revision of an assignment, failure of an assignment, failure of a class, or suspension from the college.

FERPA is The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended in 1976, which sets forth requirements designed to protect the privacy of student education records.

Education records are:

• Directly related to the student, and
• Maintained by the College or a party acting for Prairie State College
• Education records can be any media: Print material, computerized data in the student records database, faxes, microfilm/microfiche, film/video, email, or web pages.

   

  Education records are not:

  • Sole possession records (faculty, staff or administrator notes written for their own personal use; not shared or made accessible to others)
  • Law enforcement records
  • Employment records, except for students who are employed as a result of their status as a student
  • Medical records
  • Alumni records
  • Career planning and placement records
  • Financial information submitted by students’ parents
  • Confidential letters/recommendations
  • Education records containing information about more than one student

  Students have two types of records:

  • Directory (commonly considered public & information)
  • Non-Directory (individual education records
  •  

• Right to inspect and review their education records
• Requests to review educational records must be made in writing to the Office of Enrollment Services. The student will be notified of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
• Right to request to amend their education records
• Requests to amend an educational record must be made in writing the school official in possession of the record, clearly identifying the part of the record in question and the reason for the amendment. If an amendment is not granted, the college will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request
• Right to consent to disclosures of non-directory information, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosures without consent
• Right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Prairie State College to comply with the requirements of FERPA

The student must give written consent for the disclosure of non-directory information from education records. The consent must include (a) description of the education record to be released, (b) the person to whom the records should be released, and (c) state the purpose of the disclosure. This request should be delivered to the Office of Enrollment Services, Room 1160.

• To the student
• To College employees who have a legitimate educational interest
• To agents acting on behalf of the College
• To anyone who is providing financial aid to the student (not the parent)
• To organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of educational institutions
• To accrediting organizations
• To comply with a judicial order or subpoena to comply with the US Patriot Act (i.e. ex parte orders, subpoena and court orders, health and safety emergencies, etc.)
• In a health or safety emergency
• To an alleged victim of a crime of violence of the results of a disciplinary hearing regarding the alleged perpetrator of the crime
• To anyone requesting the final results of a disciplinary hearing regarding a crime of violence on non-forcible sex offense
• To military recruiters who request "Student Recruiting Information"
• To federal, state, and local authorities involving an audit or evaluation of compliance with education programs
• To the Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services for the purposes of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
• To the Internal Revenue Service to comply with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
• Parent of a dependent student as defined by the IRS
• Parent of a student under 21 regarding the violation of a law regarding alcohol or drug abuse

In most cases, a copy of the disclosure may be furnished upon request.

A health and safety exception permits the disclosure from the student’s record in case of an immediate threat to the health or safety of the student or other individuals. Additionally,  the college may disclose information from an education record to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.

Currently enrolled students may withhold directory information by notifying the Office of Enrollment Services in writing within two weeks after the first day of classes for the semester.

However, doing so will make this important information unavailable to all, including prospective employers, honor societies and government and licensing agencies.

Students have the right to access their records by providing a signed, written request to the Director of Enrollment Services, Room 1163. Copies, with the exception of transcripts from other schools, may be obtained upon request. A fee may be assessed for copying the education records.

Students should go to the Office of Enrollment Services, Room 1160, to sign a Release of Confidentiality.

Students have the right to request that their records be amended if they believe the content is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights. Students should write the Director of Enrollment Services, clearly identify the part of the education record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested, the student has a right to a formal hearing on the matter.

Note: The right to challenge a grade does not apply under FERPA unless the grade assigned was inaccurately recorded, under which condition the record will be corrected.

For more information on the privacy of student education records, contact the Director of Enrollment Services, Room 1163 or call (708) 709-3513.

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-4605

• Key Performance Indicators

• Academic Programs (Catalog)
• Add, Drop. or Withdraw Form
• Cooperative Agreement Worksheet
• Directory
• Graduation Petition
• Licensure
• Order a PSC Transcript
• Petition for Academic Reinstatement
• Petition for Misconduct Reinstatement
• Registration Form 
• Transcript Evaluation Request Form

• Annual Security & Fire Safety Report
• College Health and Wellness
• Prairie State College Police Department

• Tuition Appeal

• Change/Correction of Student Information 
• Student Appeal Form
• Student Complaint Form

• Career Services