Undergraduate Catalog 2015-2016 
    
    Oct 14, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2015-2016 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Accreditation & Compliance



Accreditation

Our Lady of the Lake University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Our Lady of the Lake University that fall under one of these areas: (1) to learn about the accreditation status of the institution, (2) to file a third-party comment at the time of the institution’s decennial review, or (3) to file a complaint against the institution for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement.

For other concern or complaints, please contact the Vice President for Student Life (campus life, student activities, etc.), Chief Academic Officer (academic issues), or Director of Human Resources (employee issues).

Finalized December 1, 2015

University Non-discrimination Policy

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is an equal opportunity institution and is committed to fostering a diverse environment that is free from discrimination. The school fully subscribes to all federal and state laws banning discrimination in institutions of higher education. Our Lady of the Lake University will not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student in our educational programs or activities or applicant for admission on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, age, marital status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran or military status (including disabled veterans, Vietnam-era veterans or recently separated veterans), predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state and federal laws, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any allegation process on campus or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies. These types of discrimination are prohibited by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable laws as well as University policies.

This policy covers discrimination both in employment and in access to educational opportunities. Therefore any member of the University community who acts to deny, deprive or limit the educational or employment access, benefits or opportunities of any member of the University community on the basis of their actual or perceived membership in the protected classes listed above are in violation of this policy.

As required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, information regarding crime statistics, campus safety, crime prevention and victim’s assistance is available on the University website at: http://www.ollusa.edu/s/1190/images/editor_documents/site_map/offices/university_police/2014_clery_stats.pdf

You can obtain a hard copy of the police department annual report through this link:

http://www.ollusa.edu/s/1190/images/editor_documents/site_map/offices/university_police/2014_annual_security_report__2_.pdf

Our Lady of the Lake University is a Catholic institution, sponsored by the Congregation of the Divine Providence. The staff and faculty of Our Lady of the Lake University place a high commitment on the core values of community, integrity, trust and service, and it is our policy to provide an educational environment and workplace experience free of sexual harassment, misconduct, violence or discrimination. These acts are not tolerated at our institution and are also prohibited by several federal laws including but not limited to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

For full information about our Title IX, Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Policy and Procedures please visit: http://www.ollusa.edu/s/1190/images/editor_documents/site_map/campus_life/title_ix_policy.pdf

The following persons have been designated to handle issues related to the non-discrimination policies set forth by the University.

Inquiries concerning all discrimination complaints including the Age Act as designated by 34 CFR 110.25 (that fall outside the scope of disability discrimination and sexual discrimination including Title IX) for all campuses should be directed to:

Patricia Gomez, Assistant Director for Human Resources (faculty and staff)
Main Building, Room 125H, San Antonio Campus
210-431-5550

Rosalinda Garcia, Assistant Vice President for Student Life (students)
Providence Hall, Room 100, San Antonio Campus
210-431-3924

Inquiries concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and related issues of disability discrimination for all campuses may be directed to:

Suzanne Patrick, Compliance Officer (students)
Main Building, Room 104A, San Antonio Campus
210-431-6552

Patricia Gomez, Assistant Director for Human Resources (faculty and staff)
Main Building, Room 125H, San Antonio Campus
210-431-5550

Inquiries concerning Title IX and related issues of sex discrimination may be directed to: The Title IX Coordinator at OLLU is:

Suzanne Patrick, Compliance Officer
Main Building, Room 104A, San Antonio Campus
210-431-6552

The Title IX deputy coordinators for OLLU are primarily responsible for serving as the main contacts to individuals bringing complaints, and acting as impartial sources of assistance in the resolution of disputes. Upon receiving complaints, the deputy coordinators investigate the incident or overseeing the investigation and, when called for, coordinate the formal hearing process.

The Title IX deputy coordinators at OLLU are:

Title IX Deputy Coordinator for Complaints Submitted by Students
Randall Garza, Director for Advising and Retention
Moye Hall, Room 009A, San Antonio Campus
210-431-4070

Title IX Deputy Coordinator for Complaints Submitted by Staff and Faculty:

Patricia Gomez, Assistant Director for Human Resources
Main Building, Room 125H, San Antonio Campus
210-431-5550

Title IX Deputy Coordinator for Complaints Submitted by Staff, Faculty and Students on the Rio Grande Valley (La Feria) campus:

Patricia M. Longoria, PhD, Director
La Feria Administrative Building, Room A3
956-277-0146

Title IX Deputy Coordinator for Complaints Submitted by Staff, Faculty and Students on Houston (The Woodlands) campus:

Melinda Kirtley, Director/Admissions Counselor
Houston Campus, Room118H
936-273-7620

Please note that all online faculty, staff and students should submit complaints to the San Antonio Campus contacts. Reports submitted in the Rio Grande Valley and Houston will be investigated jointly by the contact on that campus and the San Antonio Campus contacts.

Hard copies of this policy can be obtained at the following locations on the San Antonio campus:

Office of Academic Affairs, Main Building, Room 104
Human Resources Office, Main Building, Room 125
Office of Student Life, Providence Hall, Room 104
Counseling Services, Providence Hall, Room 101
Student Success Center, Moye Hall, Lower Level

Hard copies of this policy can be obtained at the following location on the Houston (The Woodlands) campus:

Director of the Houston campus Office, Houston Campus, Room 118H

Hard copies of this policy can be obtained at the following location on the Rio Grande Valley (La Feria) campus:

Director of Rio Grande Valley Campus’s Office, La Feria Administrative Building, Room A3

Records and Transcripts

Privacy (FERPA) Information

Student records at Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio are subject to provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (PL 93-380) (FERPA), as amended, and to regulations interpreting the act.

This act provides that students shall have access to their official “education record” and shall have the opportunity to challenge such records if they deem them inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of their privacy or other rights. Except for directory information, the University may not release personally identifiable data from student records to other than a specified list of exceptions without the written consent of the student. Even a release of information to parents or spouse requires the student’s written consent.

Available upon request from the Registrar’s Office are copies of the act, a list of types of records maintained, names and titles of responsible officials and of personnel having access, procedures for reviewing or challenging records and forms for requesting copies, releasing restricted information or prohibiting release of directory information. Policies and procedures governing student records are also published in the Student Handbook.

Our Lady of the Lake University hereby designates the following as public or directory information:

  • Name, address (local and permanent), telephone listing
  • Email address
  • Major field of study
  • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
  • Weight and height of members of athletic teams
  • Dates of attendance (“from” and “to” dates of enrollment)
  • Degrees and awards received
  • The most recent previous educational agency or institution attended
  • Photograph

The institution may disclose such information for any purpose, at its discretion.

Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of directory information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. To withhold disclosure of directory information, written notification must be received in the Office of the Registrar, 411 S.W. 24th Street, San Antonio, Texas 78207-4689, within the first 12 days of the fall or spring semester, the first four days of a summer session or the first weekend of class ( for students in the non-traditional scheduling format). Forms requesting the withholding of directory information are available in the Office of the Registrar on the San Antonio campus, the Administrative Offices on the Houston (The Woodlands) and Rio Grande Valley (La Feria) campus, or the Registrar’s Office Website. Our Lady of the Lake University assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically request the withholding of directory information indicates individual approval for disclosure.

Transcripts

Request for an official transcript of academic credits should be addressed to:

Our Lady of the Lake University
Registrar’s Office
411 S.W. 24th Street
San Antonio, Texas 78207-4689

For security purposes, transcript requests are not accepted by telephone. All obligations to the University must be met before transcripts are released. Transcripts from other institutions are not reproduced.

Cooperative Arrangements

In the interests of total service to the San Antonio region, the Board of Trustees of Our Lady of the Lake University in 1970 joined with the governing boards of the Oblate School of Theology, St. Mary’s University and the University of the Incarnate Word to create a multipurpose consortium, the United Colleges of San Antonio (UCSA).

Through cross registration, faculty exchange, and other cooperative initiatives, this enterprise permits students at these institutions to have the advantage of a much wider range of programs, course offerings, faculty, library resources and educational services than any single institution could provide. The UCSA institutions have closely coordinated calendars and staggered course schedules to facilitate student cross registration. In addition to effecting student exchange, the consortium helps the member institutions in the development of academic and administrative cooperation and jointly sponsored proposals, programs and projects.

The University also participates in several other cooperative endeavors, including the Council of Research and Academic Libraries (CORAL), a cooperative arrangement facilitating interlibrary use, cooperative purchasing and union lists of the major area research libraries and special libraries, and the Higher Education Council of San Antonio, a consortium of all local colleges and universities.

Memberships

The University memberships include the American Council on Education, the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, the Texas Independent College Fund, the Higher Education Council of San Antonio, the United Colleges of San Antonio, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and the Council on Independent Colleges, Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Southern Regional Colleague Users Group.

Educational Commitment

Our Lady of the Lake University expresses its commitment to the complete educational development of the individual: intellectual, moral, social and spiritual. It attempts, moreover, to create a person-centered learning environment in which both academic and co-curricular programs and services provide creative alternatives responsive to the needs of individual students. Flowing from its purpose as well as its commitment to comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-226), Our Lady of the Lake University promotes an environment to prevent the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees. Our Lady of the Lake University’s student and personnel policies clearly prohibit the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by employees and students on University property or as part of any of the University’s activities.