May 08, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog Revised Jan 2024 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog Revised Jan 2024

Introduction



The Salem College Undergraduate Catalog includes official announcements of academic programs and policies. Undergraduate students are responsible for knowledge of information contained therein. Although the listing of courses in this catalog is meant to indicate the content and scope of the curriculum, changes may be necessary and actual offerings in any term may differ from prior announcements. Programs and policies are subject to change in accordance with the procedures established by the faculty and administration of the College.

Notice of Nondiscrimination

Salem Academy and College, in furtherance of its values as an educational institution and in compliance with civil rights laws, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, *sex, *gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, age, religion, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law in admission, treatment, access to, or employment in its programs and activities.

Discrimination and harassment are antithetical to the values and standards of the Salem community; are incompatible with the safe, healthy environment that the Salem community expects and deserves; and will not be tolerated. Salem is committed to providing programs, activities, and an education and work environment free from discrimination and harassment. Salem is also committed to fostering a community that promotes prompt reporting and fair and timely resolution of those behaviors.

Inquiries concerning discrimination or harassment based on a protected characteristic or status other than sex should be referred to the Director of Human Resources and Benefits/Title IX Coordinator, Orielle Hope, at hr@salem.edu or 336-917-5721 (for employees), Head of School, Kris Porazzi Sorrells, at kris.sorrells@salem.edu or 336-917-5524 (for Academy students), or the Chief Campus Culture Officer and Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, AJ Mazaris, at aj.mazaris@salem.edu or 336-917-5268 (for College students).

Inquiries concerning sex discrimination and harassment should be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Orielle Hope, at titleix@salem.edu or 336-917-5721.

*As an all-girls school, Salem Academy admits only female students as permitted by law. As a women’s college, Salem College admits students who were assigned female at birth or identify as a woman in its undergraduate program as permitted by law. In its graduate programs, Salem College does not restrict admission on the basis of gender identity/expression.

Accreditation

Salem College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Salem College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.  Questions about the accreditation of Salem College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

The Department of Teacher Education and Graduate Studies in Education has approval for all educator licensure programs by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Salem College is an equal-opportunity educational institution as defined by Title VI of The Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) is a federal law intended to provide students, members of the campus community, and the public with information about crimes that occur at colleges and universities. In accordance with the Clery Act, Salem College publishes and distributes its Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report on a yearly basis. Pursuant to the Clery Act, Salem College also maintains a public log of all reported crimes, and the statistics for reported Clery Act crimes are published with the United States Department of Education on an annual basis. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings owned or controlled by Salem College; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to or accessible from, the campus. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies related to alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and emergency response. Campus members may obtain a copy of the Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report by contacting Public Safety or visiting the Public Safety webpage of the Salem College website.

Title IX

Salem College prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex. In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title IX) and the Salem Academy and College Sex Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Sexual Misconduct Policy, Salem strongly encourages the prompt reporting, and is committed to the timely and fair resolution, of complaints of sex discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and non-Title IX sexual misconduct. Sexual harassment includes sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. For additional information about Title IX or to learn more about Title IX-related responsibilities, reporting options, grievance procedures, and support resources, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, Orielle Hope, (titleix@salem.edu or 336-917-5721), review the institutional Sex Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Sexual Misconduct Policy, or visit the Title IX webpage of the Salem College website.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment, was passed and put into effect in January 1975. Salem College complies with FERPA as amended. The purpose of the law is to protect the College student against the wrongful use of personal information and permit the student to know what material is maintained in her educational record. The law provides that information from student educational records may be released without prior consent of the student in such instances as:

  1. to either parent, if the student is a dependent of either parent according to the IRS tax code;
  2. to faculty and staff of Salem College who have an educational interest in the student;
  3. to officials of other schools where she seeks to enroll (transcripts only);
  4. to certain government agencies specified in the legislation;
  5. to an accrediting agency in carrying out its function;
  6. in emergency situations where the health or safety of the student or others is involved;
  7. to educational surveys where individual identification is withheld;
  8. in response to a properly issued judicial order or subpoena;
  9. in concession with financial aid.

Under the law, a student may request access to her official records and files. The registrar and placement office files excluded from student access are:

  1. confidential information placed in the record before January 1, 1975;
  2. medical and psychological information;
  3. private notes and procedural matters retained by the maker or substitutes;
  4. financial records of parents.

A student may challenge any data in her educational record that she considers inaccurate or misleading or in violation of privacy or other rights of the student. The student shall file a written challenge with the dean of the College. A committee made up of the dean of the College and two members of the Academic Appeals Subcommittee, appointed by the dean of the College, will review and rule on any challenge. Transcripts from other institutions which have been submitted to Salem College become the property of Salem College and cannot be returned or reissued.

The College is permitted to make public certain “directory information” which may include name, home and residence hall address and phone numbers, home and school email addresses, student identification numbers, photo, date and place of birth, major, participation in officially recognized extra- and co-curricular activities, dates of attendance, enrollment status (full-time or part-time), student classification, previous institutions attended, degree, honors and awards.

Questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) may be referred to the Office of the Registrar. Any student who wishes to place a further privacy hold on the release of directory information must notify the registrar in writing.

The Salem College Undergraduate Catalog is published every year by Salem College, 601 South Church Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101. Phone: (336) 721-2600.

Salem College Student Rights and Responsibilities

STUDENT RIGHTS

Safety

Students at Salem College have the right to learn in a safe campus community.
This right can be exercised by contacting the Public Safety Director referenced at 336-917-5555 or at publicsafety@salem.edu.

Nondiscrimination

Salem Academy and College, in furtherance of its values as an educational institution and in compliance with civil rights laws, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, *sex, *gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, age, religion, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law in admission, treatment, access to, or employment in its programs and activities.

Discrimination and harassment are antithetical to the values and standards of the Salem community; are incompatible with the safe, healthy environment that the Salem community expects and deserves; and will not be tolerated. Salem is committed to providing programs, activities, and an education and work environment free from discrimination and harassment. Salem is also committed to fostering a community that promotes prompt reporting and fair and timely resolution of those behaviors.

Inquiries concerning discrimination or harassment based on a protected characteristic or status other than sex should be referred to the Director of Human Resources and Benefits/Title IX Coordinator, Orielle Hope, at hr@salem.edu or 336-917-5721 (for employees), Head of School, Kris Porazzi Sorrells, at kris.sorrells@salem.edu or 336-917-5524 (for Academy students), or the Chief Campus Culture Officer and Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, AJ Mazaris, at aj.mazaris@salem.edu or 336-917-5268 (for College students).

Inquiries concerning sex discrimination and harassment should be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Orielle Hope, at titleix@salem.edu or 336-917-5721.

*As an all-girls school, Salem Academy admits only female students as permitted by law. As a women’s college, Salem College admits students who were assigned female at birth or identify as a woman in its undergraduate program as permitted by law. In its graduate programs, Salem College does not restrict admission on the basis of gender identity/expression.

Student Records

Salem College complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which affords certain rights to students and/or their parents:

  • The right to inspect and review the student’s education records after receipt of a request by Salem;
  • The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are accurate or misleading;
  • The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosures without consent; and
  • The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Salem to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

These rights can be exercised by contacting the Registrar referenced on page 138 in the Undergraduate Handbook at 336-721-2670 or at registrar@salem.edu.

Financial Aid

A student has the right to review all materials in their financial aid record except parental financial reports. This right can be exercised by contacting the Assistant Vice President for Financial Aid at 336-721-2808 or by -mail at financialaid@salem.edu.

Activism and Demonstrations

Students have the right to gather and demonstrate in accordance with parameters outlined in the Salem College Handbook and below.
Currently, actively enrolled students may gather on college property for the purpose of Demonstrations, provided they abide by the following requirements:

  1. No Demonstration may interfere with the orderly operation of the College. For example, no Demonstration may obstruct, disrupt, or interrupt any class, approved student activity, function of college offices, or College-sponsored event.
  2. No Demonstration may interfere with the free flow of vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic or otherwise block stairways, hallways, doorways, or entrances to buildings. The right of way of all streets, sidewalks, thoroughfares, and byways shall be maintained at all times.
  3. No Demonstration may violate fire code regulations or safety requirements for any space or location the Demonstration occupies.
  4. All Demonstrations shall take place within the location specifically designated by the Office of Public Safety. To assist the College in designating an appropriate location, the Demonstration organizer(s) must provide the Chief of Public Safety with advance written (no less than forty-eight (48) hours before such a Demonstration) of the planned Demonstration as set forth below and may identify preferred location options for consideration. The Chief of Public Safety will notify the Demonstration organizer(s) of the approved location.
  5. No Demonstration may harass, abuse, threaten, or intimidate any person or coerce any person to participate in the Demonstration.
  6. No Demonstration may discriminate against any Demonstration participant based on race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
  7. No Demonstration may use a public address system or any other form of sound amplification device. Demonstration noise level will be monitored and enforced by the Office of Public Safety.
  8. Demonstrations may not take place on Reading Day or during the final exam period.
  9. No Demonstration may involve overnight tenting or camping.
  10. No Demonstration may involve the promotion or sale of commercial merchandise.
  11. No Demonstration may involve the solicitation of any person for monetary gain or other commercial purposes.
  12. No Demonstration may charge admission to participate.
  13. No Demonstration may otherwise violate any College rules, policies, or procedures or any applicable laws or regulations.

NOTICE TO COLLEGE

Current student(s) planning to conduct a Demonstration shall register their intent to conduct a Demonstration by submitting advance written notice to the Chief of Public Safety no less than forty-eight (48) hours before such Demonstration. In order to facilitate efficient and effective communications, such notification shall include:

  1. the name, cell phone number, and e-mail address of the current student(s) organizing the Demonstration;
  2. the date and time of the Demonstration;
  3. a general description of the Demonstration; and
  4. the expected number of participants. Notifications of intended Demonstrations submitted without complete information as requested in this section will be returned to the registrant(s) for completion and may be resubmitted.

Recognizing that there may be times when students wish to react quickly to rapidly changing current events, Salem College will consider reasonable requests for exceptions to the 48-hour notice on a case-by-case basis. In such situations, students must provide the requested information to the Chief of Public Safety, who will work with the Dean of Students to consider and address the request.

This right can be exercised by contacting the Director of Public Safety at 336-917-5555 or by e-mail at publicsafety@salem.edu.

Rights of an Accused Student in Honor Code and Judicial Conduct Proceedings

A student accused of an Honor Code violation has the following rights:

  1. To be notified in writing of any accusation made against her.
  2. To have a hearing.
  3. To have an advisor who is either a Salem College full-time faculty member or member of the administration. The role of the advisor is to provide advice to the student throughout the judicial process. The advisor may only counsel the student, not speak with the Council or the accuser(s) or witness(es) during a judicial hearing.
  4. To appeal the decision of the hearing body.

This right can be exercised by contacting the Dean of Students at 336-917-5578 or by e-mail at deanofstudents@salem.edu.

Rights of students accused of violations of the Sex Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Sexual Misconduct Policy can be found on page 12 of the Sex Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Sexual Misconduct Policy.

This right can be exercised by contacting the Title IX Coordinator at 336-917-5721 or by e-mail at titleix@salem.edu.

Student Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of each student to know the regulations and policies of the College. A student is expected to comply with college policies, as with all laws and regulations of the city, state, and nation.

GRIEVANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURE

Salem College has policies regarding grade appeals (see Salem College Undergraduate Catalog online policy statement), sexual harassment, judicial review of Honor Council rulings (“Appeal Process for Judicial Cases”), the appeal for financial aid awards (see “Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)” information in Salem College Undergraduate Catalog) and for the appeal of campus parking/traffic citations.

Salem College students who have concerns in areas not covered by these policies may seek resolution through the following policy:

GENERAL GRIEVANCE POLICY

Grievance Policy

Salem College is committed to receiving and addressing student complaints and grievances in a clear and timely manner with respect to all parties involved. The offices to which specific complaints/grievances should be directed are included in the Salem College Student Handbook and the College Undergraduate Catalog and can also be found at this Student Concern Form.

Not every student complaint/grievance results in a formal, written complaint/grievance. When students encounter a problem or concern, they are encouraged to resolve concerns themselves, first by talking directly with the College personnel involved. If resolution is not reached, students should direct their problem or concern to the appropriate office, listed below.

If there is a concern regarding resolving an issue directly with the parties involved, students are encouraged to seek assistance from staff in the Office of the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@salem.edu.

If you need guidance navigating this process, the staff in the Office of the Dean of Students can assist. The Office of the Dean of Students can be reached by e-mail at deanofstudents@salem.edu.

Please field concerns regarding the issues listed below to the appropriate offices, also listed below:

Disability/Accommodation Concerns ida.davis@salem.edu
Student Conduct Concerns nicole.gatto@salem.edu
Title IX/Sexual Harassment Concerns titleix@salem.edu
COVID-19 or Campus Health Related Concerns health.services@salem.edu
Grade Appeals deanofcollege@salem.edu
Appeal of Honor Council Rulings deanofcollege@salem.edu
Housing Concerns residencelife@salem.edu
Financial Aid Appeals financialaid@salem.edu
Parking/Traffic Citations Appeals Parking Traffic Citation Appeals Form

To submit concerns not addressed in the list above, students should log into their student account and submit the Student Concern Form, which will be reviewed by the Office of the Dean of Students. Following the submission of this form, the concern reported will be routed to the appropriate staff member for review.

Depending upon the nature of the concern, the staff member processing the request may ask that all parties involved meet to mediate the situation and find a reasonable solution. If the resolution is not satisfactory to the student, they may refer the matter in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College for further consideration.

If you were unable to resolve a complaint through the institution’s grievance procedures, you may submit a complaint to:
North Carolina Department of Justice
Consumer Protection Division
9001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001
Phone number: 1-877-566-7226

An online complaint form is available on the North Carolina Department of Justice’s website.