College Policies

 Mission and Goals
Mission - In educating the individual to the benefit of society, Peru State College cultivates the capacity and propensity for life-long learning by fostering independent inquiry and promoting the value of knowledge and discovery. Through innovative undergraduate and graduate programs, Nebraska’s first college continues its commitment to making a vital contribution to the future of the region and the state.

The Purposes of Peru State College support the accomplishment of the mission and are derived from the specific responsibilities assigned to the institution by the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees and the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. These Purposes are to:

  • Provide an accessible high quality education through effective instruction and an emphasis on student learning to the citizens in the assigned service region.
  • Provide graduates with a solid foundation for continued life-long learning through a strong general education program.
  • Provide thoughtfully developed and relevant baccalaureate degrees in selected academic fields with emphasis on teacher education, business, and selected disciplines in the arts and sciences.
  • Provide valued graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in education and organizational management for those who are, or who wish to be, advanced practitioners.
  • Contribute to the development of the fields of knowledge and teaching in the disciplines represented in the College programs.
  • Contribute to the economic and cultural development of the service region.


The Goals of Peru State College are to instill in our students:

  • effective communication skills;
  • computer and information literacy;
  • independent critical thought and intellectual capacity for change;
  • preparation to assume social and civic leadership roles;
  • the ability to pursue intellectually, ethically, aesthetically, and physically rewarding lives.

Academic Integrity

Peru State College Policy on Academic Integrity

The College expects all students to conduct themselves in a manner that supports an honest assessment of student learning outcomes and the assignment of grades that appropriately reflect student performance. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and comply with instructions regarding the completion of assignments, exams, and other academic activities. At a minimum, students should assume that at each assessment opportunity they are expected to do their own original academic work and/or clearly acknowledge in an appropriate fashion the intellectual work of others, when such contributions are allowed. Students helping others to circumvent honest assessments of learning outcomes, or who fail to report instances of academic dishonesty, are also subject to the sanctions defined in this policy.

Instances of academic dishonesty may be discovered in a variety of ways. Faculty members who assign written work ordinarily check citations for accuracy, run data base and online checks, and/or may simply recognize familiar passages that are not cited. They may observe students in the act of cheating or may become aware of instances of cheating from the statements of others. All persons who observe or otherwise know about instances of cheating are expected to report such instances to the proper instructor or Dean.

In order to promote academic integrity, the College subscribes to an electronic service to review papers for the appropriate citations and originality. Key elements of submitted papers are stored electronically in a limited access database and thus become a permanent part of the material to which future submissions are compared. Submission of an application and continued enrollment signifies your permission for this use of your written work.

Should an occurrence of academic misconduct occur, the faculty member may assign a failing grade for the assignment or a failing grade for the course. Each incident of academic misconduct should be reported to the Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The VPAA may suspend for two semesters students found to be responsible for multiple instances of academic dishonesty. The reason for the suspension will be noted on the student’s transcript.

A faculty member need present only basic evidence of academic dishonesty. There is no requirement for proof of intent. Students are responsible for understanding these tenets of academic honesty and integrity. Students may appeal penalties for academic dishonesty using the process established for grades appeals.

First Policy Recommended by Faculty Senate – September 3, 2009 — First Policy Approved by Administration – September 8, 2009
First Policy Revision Recommended by Faculty Senate – December 7, 2010 — First Policy Revision Approved by Administration – December 10, 2010
Second Policy Revision Recommended by Faculty Senate – February 17, 2011 — Second Policy Revision Approved by Administration – February 28, 2011

Drop/Add Period During a 16-week course, students can drop or add during the first week of class. The drop/add period ends on Sunday at midnight, at the conclusion of week one.

During 8-week courses, students can drop during the first week of class. The drop period ends on Sunday at midnight, at the conclusion of week one. There is not an add period during the first week of 8-week courses. Students will need to add these courses before the term start date.

Administrative Withdrawal/Drop and 'No-Shows'
Students who do not meet the prerequisites of a course as stated in the current catalog and who have not received permission to enroll from the appropriate Academic Dean may be administratively dropped from the course. Students who are so identified after registering for a course will be notified within the drop/add period by the appropriate Academic Dean that they do not meet the prerequisites and should institute the procedures for dropping the course. Students who do not drop will be notified by the Academic Dean that they are being withdrawn. The appropriate Academic Dean will notify the Student Records Office to have the student withdrawn.

Students are considered 'no-shows' if they do not complete a graded item for an online course during the first week of class. Upon receiving attendance and grading records, Student Records will administratively drop those students not attending or participating in their courses. Students receiving scholarships/financial aid may need to return some or all of their awards. Students may be readmitted to a course upon completion of the appropriate form and with the instructor’s permission.

Students who are on academic probation and fail to meet the requirements of the Academic Probation Contract may be subject to administrative withdrawal.

Attendance and Scholastic Attitude
Students are considered 'no-shows' if they do not attend or log in to 8 week or 16 week courses during the first week of class. Upon receiving attendance records, Student Records will administratively drop and notify those students not attending or participating in their courses. Students receiving scholarships/financial aid may need to return some or all of their awards. Students may be readmitted to a course upon completion of the appropriate form and with the instructor’s permission.

Students are expected to attend classes regularly, to arrive punctually, and to complete all assigned work. Attendance is a privilege and a responsibility represented not only by the student’s investment, but also by a significant investment by the State of Nebraska. When it is necessary for a student to miss class, he/she has the responsibility to notify his/her instructor in advance whenever possible. Faculty members have the prerogative of allowing students to make up and complete work missed during the absence.

Instructors have the right to base a portion of a student’s grade on attendance. Instructors must present their grading practices and attendance policies to students in writing during the first week of the semester. Whenever absences or other elements of scholastic attitude (regardless of cause) become detrimental to the student’s standing in class and/or the success of the class as a whole, the instructor may confer with the student. The instructor and the student may mutually agree that the registration in the course should be withdrawn, or the instructor may issue the student an 'early warning.' Future conferences for the same or related reasons may result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the class. If the student requests, the appropriate Dean of the School may be asked to participate in the decision. The grade will be a 'W' if the course withdrawal is prior to the last date to withdraw with a 'W.' An 'F' will be recorded after this date.

Withdrawal from a Course or College
Students may drop a course during the first week of the term and receive a credit for tuition and fees associated with the course. Students who wish to withdraw from a course must notify their advisor and course instructors and officially withdraw through myPSC. Athletes must notify their head coaches of their intent to withdraw before withdrawing or dropping a course. International students much check with the PDSO before withdrawing or dropping a course. Before withdrawing, or changing the number of hours attempted in a semester, students should check with the Financial Aid Office for any funding consequences. Students withdrawing after the last day to drop/add courses receive a 'W.' After the withdrawal deadline, students who initiate a withdrawal receive an 'F' for the course. Students withdrawing from a portion of their courses, but not all courses, will receive no proration of charges and/or financial aid.

Students who have registered and then wish to withdraw from all courses after the semester start date must officially withdraw to zero credits.  A student may do so by initiating their withdrawal with a staff member at the Center for Achievement and Transition Services (CATS). Emails requesting withdrawal from college must originate from a College email account and must include the last date of attendance or online course login. Failure to initiate the withdrawal process in a timely manner will result in 'F' grades. Students who have already completed Term I courses are not eligible for complete withdrawal from college. Withdrawing from college has differing academic and financial consequences depending upon the point in time relative to the course term(s). As a result, the student may owe a portion of his/her financial aid back to the College.

Prior to one week past the midpoint of the term, withdrawal course grades will be 'W.' After one week past the midpoint of the term, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will determine if unusual or extenuating circumstances surround a withdrawal request and determine whether Withdrawal (W) or Failing (F) grades for all coursework will be granted. Poor academic performance is not a sufficient reason to receive all W's. Counseling services are available to help students make informed decisions.

Incomplete Coursework
To designate a student’s work in a course as incomplete at the end of a term, the instructor records the incomplete grade (I). Students may receive this grade only when serious illness, hardship, death in the immediate family, or military service during the semester in which they are registered prevents them from completing course requirements. In addition, to receive an incomplete a student must have substantially completed most of the course’s major requirements.

Unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise, students must initiate requests for an incomplete by filling out an Incomplete Grade Completion Contract, which requires the signature of the student, instructor, and the appropriate Academic Dean. The Incomplete Grade Completion Contract cites the reason(s) for the incomplete and details the specific obligations the student must meet to change the incomplete to a letter grade. The date by which the student agrees to complete required work must appear in the contract. The Academic Dean, the instructor, and the student receive signed copies of the Incomplete Grade Completion Contract.

Even if the student does not re-enroll for additional classes at Peru State College, all prior incomplete coursework must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester. The incomplete grade automatically becomes an F if the student does not fulfill contract obligations in the allotted time, unless the appropriate Academic Dean approves an extension.

Students who have filed an application for graduation for the current semester are not eligible for a grade of Incomplete.

College Catalog
Please click here to access the webpage which houses the college catalogs. You may download the catalog which has the dates when you began your coursework at Peru State. In most cases, you will be subject to the catalog requirements that were in effect when you began your program at Peru State College.

Transcript Request
For an official copy of your College transcript, please click here .


Library Resources
We have an excellent Online Library. Peru offers 24/7 access to online library services to cater to every student's needs. To log in to EBSCO or other research data, go to the library web page . Enter your myPSC NUID and password into the correct fields.

 
Equal Opportunity Policy
Peru State College is an equal opportunity institution. Peru State College does not discriminate against any student, employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, or age in employment and education opportunities, including but not limited to admission decisions. The College has designated an individual to coordinate the College’s non-discrimination efforts to comply with regulations implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Reports regarding discrimination or harassment may be directed to the following Compliance Coordinator. In addition, inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies and practices may be directed to the Compliance Coordinator: Ms. Eulanda Cade, Peru State College, Administration Building, Room 312, PO Box 10, 600 Hoyt Street, Peru, NE 68421-0010, (402) 872-2230 ecade@peru.edu