Safety, Policy and Procedures
At Marymount Manhattan College, the safety and well being of our students, faculty, staff and guests are of primary importance. To this end, the College maintains a substantial, well-equipped, full-time staff of security officers, all licensed by the State of New York.
Safety Resources
Our security staff is on-duty 24 hours each day, seven days per week. Visitors to the College and its residence facilities will notice security personnel stationed at all main entrances. In addition, our security officers patrol school facilities on a regular basis.
Located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the College realizes that it is an integral part of a larger community. Therefore, our security administrators have developed a close working relationship with the 17th and 19th Precincts of the New York City Police Department. Precinct officers are always readily available to address the concerns of the College.
Important Telephone Numbers
Office of the Director of Emergency Management and Campus Safety: 212-774-4859
Confidential Hotline: 212-774-4878
24-hour security desk: 212-517-0411
NYC Police Department 19th Precinct: 212-452-0600
NYC Police Department 17th Precinct: 212-826-3228
Lost and Found
Inquiries relating to lost articles should be directed to the 24-hour security desk.
Services
Health and Wellness Services/Counseling and Psychological Services
Services provided by Health and Wellness Services and Counseling and Psychological Services to students are confidential. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) along with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) regulates the disclosure of such information. The College’s aim is to be as helpful and responsive to students and their families as the law will allow. The fact that a student is using these services will not be disclosed without the permission of the student, except in very specific circumstances. These circumstances include situations where a student’s safety or the safety of others may be jeopardized based on the best judgment of the College. A signed consent form completed by the student will allow the disclosure of specific information between College administrators, families, outside health care professionals, and other individuals as deemed appropriate through communication with the College and the student (Student Permission for Parental Access to Student Records ). We encourage students and parents/guardians to maintain regular communication with each other regarding physical and mental wellness.
For information on the services provided, visit the pages for Health Services or Counseling and Wellness Center.
Substance Abuse
Recognizing that the use of drugs and alcohol is often a problem for college students, the College provides various services to help students and prevent such problems from escalating. The Substance Abuse Awareness and Prevention Program provides many such services and information.
Although we believe that most students tend to make responsible decisions about alcohol and drug usage, we think it is necessary to inform you of our policies and practices.
The Federal law provides a tool for colleges and universities which allows them to work together with parents/guardians and students to help reduce the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. The 1998 Higher Education Act includes an explicit provision that authorizes colleges and universities to inform parents/guardians of alcohol and drug violations by their son or daughter on campuses. Marymount Manhattan College makes use of this tool. Our policy is as follows:
Possession or use of controlled substances is prohibited. Possession of drug paraphernalia is a violation of this policy. The smell of marijuana is considered evidence of use and all parties present will be held responsible. The sale or distribution of a controlled substance is prohibited. Residents found responsible for possessing, consuming, distributing, or selling illegal drugs may be removed from the residence hall and will be responsible for housing and meal plan costs for the entire academic year. Evicted residents will receive no refund regardless of the eviction date.
Parents/guardians will be notified when a resident is found to have committed violations of state law, college, or residence life policy related to the use, possession, or distribution of alcohol or drugs. Violations may include situations when medical intervention is required as a result of consumption of alcohol or drugs; when the violation could result in eviction from the residence halls or suspension from the institution; or when the student has shown a pattern of violations. Whenever possible, students will be informed that we plan to notify parents/guardians in advance. In some cases, the resident may be suspended or expelled from the College with no warning or refund. All students will be required to sign an evictable offense form on their move-in day.
Policies
Disciplinary Issues
Young adults at college are suddenly faced with several options, some of which were never before considered. Parents/guardians have become accustomed to dealing closely with schools in all matters regarding their children. But now, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a set of federal regulations, applies to students who enter college and affords them certain rights.
In accordance with FERPA, MMC treats students as adults who are responsible for their own actions, and does not notify parents/guardians of pending disciplinary actions. Before parents/guardians can be informed of such actions, students must first give their written consent (Student Permission for Parental Access to Student Records ). Exceptions are made if there is a perceived significant risk to the student or to others based on the best judgment of the College, if a student’s status within the College has been put in jeopardy, or a loss of housing occurs.
Our hope is that working together with you, we can provide a transition from home life to college life that will put these young people on a path to a happy and full life.
Parent/Guardian Communication Policy
The College will, as a matter of policy, deal with students as adults and will expect them to take responsibility for their academic and personal lives at MMC. However, when in the judgment of the Dean of Advisement, Director of Residence Life, or the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, the student’s MMC career may be in jeopardy for health or disciplinary reasons, the College will normally contact the student’s parents, guardians or next of kin.
FERPA guarantees specific rights to students regarding their privacy and the privacy of their educational records, including privacy from their parents/guardians. Therefore, Marymount Manhattan College communicates directly with students on matters that affect their college career.
Even though this communication policy is the operative principle, parents/guardians may still gain access to their son or daughter’s records. FERPA states that parents/guardians may have access to the record of a student who is currently claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes. However, out of respect for the student, we encourage parents/guardians to request access to those records and statements through their son or daughter who would then authorize the release of the requested information. Access to online records as well as authorization for the college to speak with individuals other than the student will be granted if a student completes the appropriate web form through their MMC Connect account. Click here for instructions for granting access and accessing student information online.
We strongly encourage families to keep an open line of communication with their child. In addition, because information is available to College personnel that may not have been disclosed to a parent/guardian by the student, we also request that parents/guardians cooperate with the College in the adherence to College policies and procedures, as we must adhere to federal regulations. Should you have questions, the following staff members have been designated to assist you.
Contact
For Academic Information
Sue Behrens, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
sbehrens@mmm.edu
For Student Financial Information
Maria DeInnocentiis
Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management
212-517-0500
mdeinnocentiis@mmm.edu