Daoist Traditions College Policies

Cultivating a Healing Presence

Healing is often a gradual awakening of a deeper sense of self (and of self about others) which can encourage profound personal change. We believe that healing can only come from within, in the present moment. We recognize that all of life’s journeys and experiences provide opportunity for growth and change. Healing presence is being mindful and compassionate in the present moment with another. It is important to realize that through our daily activities we can cultivate this healing presence. In cultivating a healing presence at Daoist Traditions, students must demonstrate the maturity, emotional stability, and good judgment that will allow him or her to become an effective and independent practitioner.

Core Values

Study at Daoist Traditions requires respecting differing points of view and different heritages of Chinese Medicine. We are committed to an academically rigorous program, which challenges students to transform emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. Because of this, we seek students who are committed to personal cultivation and growth as well as to their learning. All members of the Daoist Traditions community must share a commitment to

• ground all actions in honesty, integrity, and compassion;
• embrace the philosophy and spirit of Chinese medicine;
• respect the wisdom of our teachers and embrace the spirit of cooperation;
• listen receptively and effectively respond to feedback;
• respect each member of our community and hold one another in the highest regard;
• honor freedom of inquiry by fellow students;
• cultivate the ability to observe oneself and take responsibility for one’s learning, actions, and well-being;
• express oneself respectfully, using appropriate words and actions to express one’s moods and emotions;
• exhibit professionalism in all of our actions;
• cultivate the ability to observe oneself and develop the ability to recover the “observant self”;
• engage in self-reflection and cultivation practices as keys to healing and healing presence;
• allow our healing presence to be the guiding principle for all actions.

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend each class session as absences result in lower achievement. Each student is responsible for knowing the attendance regulations for each class as stated on the syllabus and complying with it. Students are responsible for the content of any missed classes including anything that is announced, distributed or discussed. It is expected that students will, as a courtesy, notify the instructor if they will miss class for any reason. For a complete reference of our Attendance Policy, please refer to the MAOM Course Catalog.

Required Immunizations

North Carolina State law (G.S. 130A-152) requires proof of immunizations for college students to protect you and others while you are in attendance. Students must submit documentation within 30 days of their first registration. Please follow the link below for required immunization forms. Also, forms can be provided by the Registrar upon enrollment. Please note: a physical is not required for admission, only documentation of required immunizations.

Immunizations Form

Request for Accommodation

Daoist Traditions will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and members’ sincerely held religious beliefs or practices unless doing so would result in an undue hardship, safety, and/or health risk. “Undue hardship” is a practice, procedure, or financial cost, which unreasonably interferes with business operations at the College. Students should not approach individual faculty members with accommodation requests.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Section 504: Individuals who believe that they qualify for accommodations must request in writing to the Vice President by using the Accommodation Request for Disability form. If a student knows of an accommodation need in advance, the request should be made at least 3 weeks before the start of the semester to allow time for the approval process and any adjustments. In some cases, it may be helpful for a student to attend the first week of classes to evaluate the classroom environment and determine the possible adjustments before making a specific request. Other requests for accommodations should be made as soon as the issue is identified. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may involve consultation with outside parties, such as Vocational Rehabilitation or medical professionals.

Accommodation Request for Disability Form

Religious Accommodations: Students are encouraged to review the academic calendar and course syllabi at the start of each semester to determine if there are dates that conflict with religious observances. Students requesting absence from class, excuse from an exam day, or modifications of an academic deadline, should submit the Request for Religious Accommodation form before the end of Week 2 of the semester. Late requests for unanticipated conflicts requiring religious observance, such as a death in the family, will be considered.

Requests for religious accommodation may take up to 3 weeks for approval. Requests made after missing a class or assignment will not be considered for accommodation. It should be noted that missing a class, exam, or deadline due to travel associated with a particular holiday does not constitute an excused absence.

Request for Religious Accommodation Form

Privacy of Student Records – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974

Confidentiality of Student Records

To comply with federal regulations, Daoist Traditions has adopted institutional policies and procedures to be followed concerning disclosure of information from the education records of current and former students. The student record policy of Daoist Traditions conforms to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-380). Education records are in the custody of the Registrar. A student’s academic transcript is permanently maintained. Other documents are retained according to administrative policies.

Copies of the student’s official Daoist Traditions transcript are released only on the written request of the student, and only after all obligations to the college, financial and otherwise, have been fulfilled. Transcripts received from other schools are the property of the college and are not copied or released.

Grades cannot be released to parents or guardians without written permission from the student. The college does not permit access to or the release of education records without the written consent of the student except when required. Students are encouraged to review the policy and understand what is considered directory information as defined at Daoist Traditions.

Students not wanting their directory information released may file a Directory Restriction form with the Registrar’s Office within the first 2 weeks of a semester. The Directory Restriction form restricts all information on a student. For example, the college, if contacted, cannot acknowledge whether or not a student is enrolled nor can it include the student on graduation lists. Students may revoke the restriction at any time by submitting a written request to the Registrar’s Office.

Students wishing to release non-directory information to parents or other specified individuals may file a FERPA Release form with Registrar’s Office indicating what information may be released and to whom. Students must sign the form in the presence of a Daoist Traditions staff member or, if mailing it in, have the form notarized. Forms will not be accepted if they:

• Are not filled out completely
• Are not notarized if signed outside the presence of a DT staff member

Release of Student Information
I. Directory Information
Directory Information is information not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Unless a student requests in writing to the contrary, federal law permits the college to release the following directory information to the public without the student’s consent:

• Name, date, and place of birth
• Program of study
• Dates of attendance
• Anticipated date of graduation
• Degrees and awards received (including scholarships)
• Participation in officially recognized activities
• Most recent previous educational agency or institution attended

*Please note: Students who do not wish their directory information be released outside the college must provide written notice to the Registrar’s Office. If a student has a directory restriction placed on their record it is all-inclusive (cannot restrict information just from certain individuals); it applies only to directory information and it must be made by a currently enrolled student. A directory restriction remains in effect until the student requests that it be removed.

Daoist Traditions College’s Privacy Policy
Allows access by members of the DT community for official on-campus use only to the following information:

• Current and permanent addresses
• Telephone listings
• E-mail addresses
• Photograph directory
• Class schedule
• Listing on class roster

II. Non-directory Information:
There are circumstances in which non-directory information may be released and prior consent is not required. These include:

• To a school official with an educational interest or a legitimate need to know (School official is defined as an individual or group providing services or carry out responsibilities on behalf of the institution.)
• When it is required by law or ordered by a court
• For Financial Aid purposes a health or safety emergency
• To parents (in cases of financial dependency or substance abuse)
• Disciplinary (alleged victim of a crime of violence any results, final results if violation determined, and release to parents for underage drinking/substance abuse violation)

Student Rights under FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment, guarantees certain rights for students and eligible parents regarding access to, confidentiality of, and correction of the student’s education records. The following are the policies at Daoist Traditions relative to the enforcement of those rights.

A. Primary Rights under FERPA include:
FERPA affords students certain rights concerning their education records. These rights include:
1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit written requests to the Registrar that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the record(s) may be inspected. If the record(s) are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request an amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the college to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the college official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the college decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the college will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

• school officials with legitimate educational interest (see definitions below)
• other schools to which a student is transferring
• specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes
• appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student
• organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school
• accrediting organizations
• to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena
• appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Daoist Traditions to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and the address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington DC 20202-460.

*School Official: To be considered a “school official”, an agency or institution must be able to show that a non-employee or other outside party is providing an institutional service or function that the agency or institution would otherwise use employees to perform. The institution must also show that the outside party would have a legitimate educational interest in the information disclosed if employees performed the service. Finally, the institution must be able to show that the outside party, in providing these services, is doing so under the direct control of the institution with respect to the use and maintenance of information from education records, including compliance with the requirements prohibiting re-disclosure of the information to any other party without prior written consent except as authorized under FERPA.

B. Definition of Educational Records:
Educational Records are records which contain information directly related to a student in any medium (i.e. handwritten, print, tapes, emails, faxes, etc) and are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. The following are NOT “educational records”:

• Sole possession records kept by a college employee and not accessible or revealed to other persons except for a temporary substitute for the maker of the record
• Law Enforcement records maintained by campus security officer
• Employment records as long as employment is not contingent on the fact that the individual is a student and provided the record is only used with the individual’s employment.
• Medical records made or maintained by a recognized health professional such as a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or other recognized health professional if the records are used only for the treatment of the student and released only to those persons providing treatment.
• Alumni Records which contain information about a student after the student is no longer in attendance at the college and which do not relate to the person while he/she was a student.

C. Students wishing to inspect their records must:
Submit a written request specifying the record(s) he/she wishes to inspect to the Registrar’s Office.

Students will be contacted by the Registrar’s Office via the student’s official DT email account to schedule an appointment to review the records as promptly as possible. Access must be provided within 45 days of receipt of the written request.

The student or qualifying parent is required to review the records in the presence of a staff member from the Registrar’s Office. No copies of any documents or transcripts will be provided or allowed to be taken from the record. A student or qualifying parent who lives outside a commuting distance of 100 miles may request special permission for arrangements to be made to allow access to that student’s record.

D. Parents of Dependent Students
Under FERPA, a post-secondary institution may disclose education records to parents of dependent students without consent. If a student is claimed as a dependent by either parent for tax purposes, then either parent may be given access under this provision regardless of the age of the student. However, to make the dependency determination, a school has the right to ask the parent to provide a copy of the most recent Federal income tax return showing the dependency.

E. Right of the College to Refuse Access
The college reserves the right to refuse to permit a student or third party, even with the student’s written consent, to inspect the following records:

• Financial statements of the student’s parents.
• Letters or statements of recommendation for which the student has waived the right of access
• Those records which are excluded from the FERPA definition of education records if such records do not fall within the definition of “public records” under Chapter 132 of the NC General Statutes and records for which there is no other legal right of access under federal or state law.

F. Right of Refusal to Provide Copies
The college reserves the right to deny transcripts or copies of records not otherwise required to be made available by FERPA in any of the following situations:

• The student or qualified parent lives within commuting distance (presumed to be within 100 miles) of the college.
• The student has unpaid financial obligations to the college.
• There are unresolved disciplinary actions against the student.
• There is unresolved academic action against the student

Student Complaints and Grievances

Daoist Traditions has implemented this Student Grievance policy to provide students with a fair and efficient means of resolving matters related to their enrollment at the college. The Student Grievance policy is meant to address only those matters affecting the terms and conditions of a student’s enrollment at the college. If a student’s matter relates to discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, or any classification protected by local, state, or federal law; reasonable accommodation of a disability; Title IX or discrimination or harassment based on sex, gender, or sexual orientation; FERPA; or a grade received by the student, the student should use the procedures set forth in the specific policy, contained in the college catalog, applicable to the subject matter of their complaint.

Grievance Procedure: A student with a complaint regarding any member of the college community is encouraged to first discuss the concern with the involved party directly. If the student is not comfortable talking about the concern directly with the other person, or if the issue is not resolved through informal discussion, the student should contact the dean of students within 14 days of the incident. The dean will consider the complaint and may meet with the parties involved to discuss the complaint or may issue a decision without a meeting. The dean will notify the student of any decision within 10 business days of reviewing the complaint.

Students enrolled in the DACM professional track and CCHM program who reside outside of North Carolina should follow the complaint procedure outlined here.

If the student does not consider the grievance resolved, the student must file his/her grievance in writing with the college vice president using the Student Formal Complaint Form (linked here). The written grievance must be filed within 7 business days of the student’s receipt of the dean’s decision and should describe the nature of the grievance and provide any additional information which the student believes would be helpful in deciding the grievance. The president, or designee, will schedule a meeting with the student to discuss the grievance as soon as reasonably practicable. After the meeting, the student will be notified of any decision within 10 business days of the meeting.

If the student still does not consider the grievance resolved, the student may appeal the decision to the board of directors. The student must file his/her appeal in writing within seven business days of the student’s receipt of the president’s decision. The board of directors will consider the appeal and may, in its sole discretion, meet with the student to discuss the appeal or may issue its decision without a meeting. The board’s decision is final within the college.

Exhaustion of College’s Grievance Procedure: If a student has exhausted the College’s Grievance Procedure and does not consider the grievance resolved, the student may submit a complaint to the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (https://acahm.org or https://acahm.org/menu-directory/directory/): 500 Lake Street, Suite 204, Excelsior, MN 55331, 952-212-2434; or the North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board (ncalb.com).

The State Authorization Unit of the University of North Carolina System Office serves as the official state entity to receive complaints concerning post-secondary institutions that are authorized to operate in North Carolina. If students are unable to resolve a complaint through the institution’s grievance procedures, they can review the Student Complaint Policy and submit their complaint using the online complaint form at https://studentcomplaints.northcarolina.edu/form.

For more information contact:
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints;
223 S. West Street, Suite 1800
Raleigh, NC 27603; (919) 962-4550

To file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice, please visit the State Attorney General’s web page at: http://www.ncdoj.gov/complaint. North Carolina residents may call (877) 566-7226.

Outside of North Carolina, please call (919) 716-6000. En Espanol (919) 716-0058.

If you choose to mail a complaint, please use the following address:
Consumer Protection Division;
Attorney General’s Office;
Mail Service Center 9001;
Raleigh, NC
27699-9001

Students may also choose to file a complaint through SARA-NC. Students should follow the SARA North Carolina Student Complaint Process found on their website. Contact information for SARA-NC is:
SARA North Carolina,
North Carolina State
Education Assistance Authority;
P.O. Box 41349 Raleigh, NC 27629;
Telephone: (855) SARA-1-NC (727-2161) or (919) 248-4667;
www.saranc.org; information@saranc.org.

Copyright is a form of legal protection for authors of original works, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and other intellectual products. Publication is not essential for copyright protection, nor is the well-known symbol ©.

Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement. Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov.

The rights granted to the copyright owner are subject to “Fair Use” limitations, which apply to all media and medium-specific limitations.

Printed Materials

Works that May be Used Freely

Occasionally, scholarly publications such as journal articles include a note offering the right to copy for educational purposes. Some categories of publications are in the public domain; that is, their use is not protected by copyright law:

• Publications dated 1922 or earlier.
• Works that do not include a copyright notice and were first published before January 1, 1978.
• Most United States government documents.

Fair Use

The doctrine of fair use, embedded in section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, addresses the needs of scholars and students by mitigating the rights of copyright ownership. However, what constitutes fair use is expressed in the form of guidelines rather than explicit rules. To determine fair use, consider the following four factors [from What Educators Should Know About Copyright, by Virginia M. Helm; Bloomington, IN, Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation, 1986]:

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether the copied material will be for nonprofit, educational, or commercial use. This factor at first seems reassuring; but unfortunately for educators, several courts have held that the absence of financial gain is insufficient for a finding of fair use.
2. The nature of the copyrighted work, with special consideration given to the distinction between creative work and informational work. For example, photocopies made of a newspaper or magazine column are more likely to be considered fair use than copies made of a musical score or a short story. Duplication of material originally developed for classroom consumption is less likely to be a fair use than is the duplication of materials prepared for public consumption. For example, a teacher who photocopies a workbook page or a textbook chapter is depriving the copyright owner of profits more directly than if copying one page from the daily paper.
3. The amount, substantiality, or portion used concerning the copyrighted work as a whole. This factor requires consideration of 1) the proportion of the larger work that is copied and used, and 2) the significance of the copied portion.
4. The effect of the use on the potential market of the copyrighted work. This factor is regarded as the most critical one in determining fair use, and it serves as the basic principle from which the other three factors are derived and to which they are related. If the reproduction of a copyrighted work reduces the potential market and sales and, therefore, the potential profits of the copyright owner, that use is unlikely to be found a fair use.

Photocopying

The following parameters define the limits within which we can be sure of complying with copyright law. Somewhat more extensive copying may be sanctioned by the fair use guidelines.

Single Copies for Scholarly Needs or Library Reserve

1. One chapter from a book.
2. One article from a journal issue or newspaper.
3. Multiple excerpts from a single book or journal issue will be accepted only if the total length of the submission is 10% or less of the total length of the book or journal issue.
4. A short story, short essay, or short poem.
5. A chart, diagram, drawing, graph, cartoon, or picture.

Multiple Copies for Classroom Use

Copies for classroom use must meet the following tests of brevity, spontaneity, and cumulative effect. Each copy must also include prominent notice that it is copyrighted material – e.g., “Copyright 1990 by Elsevier Books, Inc.”

Brevity:

1. Prose: Either (1) a complete article, story or essay of less than 2,500 words, or (2) an excerpt from any prose work of not more than 1,000 words or 10% of the work, whichever is less, but in any event an excerpt of up to 500 words.
2. Poetry: (1) A complete poem if less than 250 words and if printed on not more than two pages, or (2) an excerpt of not more than 250 words.
   (Each of the numerical limits above may be expanded to permit the completion of an unfinished prose paragraph or line of a poem.)
3. Illustration: One chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon or picture per book or periodical issue.
4. Special Works: Certain works in poetry or prose or in “poetic prose”, which may combine language with illustrations and which fall short of 2,500 words, may not be reproduced in their entirety. However, an excerpt comprising not more than two of the published pages of such a work, and containing not more than 10% of the words found in the text, may be reproduced.

Spontaneity: The copying is at the instance and inspiration of the individual instructor. The inspiration and decision to use the work and the moment of its use for maximum teaching effectiveness are so close in time that it would be unreasonable to expect a timely reply to a request for permission.

Cumulative Effect: The copying of the material is for only one course, with no more than one copy per student in the course. Not more than one short poem, article, story, essay or two excerpts may be copied from the same author, nor more than three from the same collective work or periodical volume during a term.

Sound Recordings

Non-Music Recordings: Cassettes or disks may not be copied unless replacement recordings from a commercial source cannot be obtained at a fair price. Recording brief excerpts is considered fair use, however.

Music Recordings: A single copy may be made to construct aural exercises or examinations. Otherwise, the restrictions on copying non-music recordings apply. For more information on the use of music and video recording, refer to the Digital Millennia Copyright Act of 1998 here.

What is Title IX?
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex — including pregnancy and related conditions— in educational programs and activities that are eligible for federal funding. Students, staff, faculty, and other employees have the right to pursue education, including athletic programs, scholarships, and other activities, free from sex discrimination, including sexual violence, sexual misconduct, stalking and harassment.

College Policy: Daoist Traditions is committed to maintaining an environment conducive to learning for all students and a professional workplace for its employees. Harassment, retaliation, coercion, interference, or intimidation of an employee or student is strictly forbidden and will not be tolerated by anyone associated with the College either at a campus facility or College-sponsored event. The scope of this policy also extends to any visitor, vendor, or contractor while on campus property.

Employees and students, without any fear of reprisal, have the responsibility to bring any form of sexual or other unlawful harassment to the attention of the administration so that a prompt investigation into the circumstances of the incident and the alleged harassment may be conducted.

Reporting: Any student or employee who believes he or she has been the victim of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment, including any type of violence or sexual misconduct is urged to report the matter. Individuals who witness or learn of another person becoming the victim of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment, including any type of violence or sexual misconduct are also urged to report the matter. Reports can be made to the Title IX Coordinator/Assistant or any Campus Security Authority.

Title IX Coordinator
Rachel Nowakowski, Vice President

Title IX Assistant
Megan Burns, Academic Dean

Police Information
Asheville Police Department 828-252-1110
911 for emergencies

Medical Treatment
Mission Hospital Emergency Room 828-213-1948

Sexual Violence Counseling
Our Voice Rape Crisis Center at (828) 255-7576
North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (919) 871-1015 or www.nccasa.net
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) (800) 656-HOPE (4673)

Further details can be found in the annual Campus Security and Safety Report.

Daoist Traditions is committed to maintaining a community rich inequality, safety, and free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. The purpose of the Campus Security Report is to provide information on crime prevention, procedures for reporting crime, resources for victims, and crime statistics to enhance the safety and security of everyone who visits, studies, or works on our campus. Only on a safe campus can learning truly occur in a meaningful way.

Campus Security Authorities
Rachel Nowakowski, Vice President/Title IX Coordinator
Cissy Majebé, President
Chris Giglio, Administrative Director
Megan Burns, Academic Dean/Title IX Assistant
Peter Shea, Clinic Director
Junie Norfleet, Clinical Observation Director
Kim Tierney, Clinic Administrator

2021 Daoist Traditions Annual Security and Safety Report

In compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, Daoist Traditions College is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy school and workplace, free from the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs. Accordingly, Daoist Traditions will not tolerate any drug or alcohol use that endangers the health and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff or threatens its patients or visitors…

Alcohol and Drug Policy