The Student Success Center is pleased to provide you this information that Richland Community College must disseminate under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Listed below is the type of information Richland is required to provide and where the information can be found. Please refer to these “information sources” if you have questions.

Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy

Richland Community College subscribes to the principles and laws of the State of Illinois and the Federal Government pertaining to civil rights and equal opportunity, including applicable Executive Orders.

Richland Community College policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital or parental status, national origin or ancestry, age, mental and/or physical disabilities (except where they are bona fide occupational qualifications), sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics or conduct.

The College’s nondiscrimination policy applies to the admission and retention of students, recruitment, employment, and retention of faculty and staff, and access to and treatment in the College’s programs and activities.

Complaints alleging violations of this policy should be immediately reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer, as designated by the President. Complaints reported to the EEO Officer will be promptly investigated. In all cases, the investigator will make reasonable attempts to determine the facts pertinent to the complaint by interviewing the parties involved, including the alleged harasser. If the accused is a College employee who is a member of a bargaining unit, the employee may request union representation during the investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation, a written report of findings will be prepared and forwarded to the President.

No Retaliation

Richland will not retaliate against any person for making a good faith complaint under this policy. Similarly, the College will not retaliate against or discipline any person (other than a person who is found to have violated this policy) who provides truthful information in connection with an investigation. Any Richland employee who retaliates against another employee or student for utilizing the procedure in this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

If any employee believes that he or she has been retaliated against for exercising his or her rights under this policy, the employee should report such conduct immediately to the EEO Officer. Any employee who makes a complaint that he or she knows to be false will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

  • Title IX Coordinator – Nicole M. DelMastro-Jeffery, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6273, titleix@richland.edu
  • Section 504 Interim Coordinator (ADA) – Clifton Ulbricht, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6377, culbrich@richland.edu

Accreditation Information

Richland Community College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1411, 1.800.621.7440, e-mail info@hlcommission.org, https://www.hlcommission.org.

General Information

  • Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates
    • In accordance with federal regulations, Richland Community College reports overall graduation and transfer-out rates for a select group of students who entered the college in fall semester 2018. Note that not all students at Richland are tracked for these rates. Students who have already attended another postsecondary institution or who began their studies on a part-time basis are not tracked for this rate. At Richland, 33% of entering students were counted as “full-time, first-time” in fall 2018.
    • The overall graduation rate is also known as the “Student Right to Know” or IPEDS graduation rate. It tracks the progress of students who began their studies as full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students to see if they complete a degree or other award such as a certificate within 150% of “normal time” (3 years for a 2-year degree) for completing the program in which they are enrolled. Richland also reports a transfer-out rate, which is the percentage of the full-time, first-time students who transferred to another institution.
    • Overall Graduation Rates for students who began studies in Fall 2018 (IPEDS): 38%
    • Overall Transfer-out Rates for students who began studies in Fall 2018: 19%
  • Retention Rates
    • Retention rates measure the percentage of first-time students who return to the institution to continue their studies the following fall. The percentage of first-time, full-time students who began their studies in fall 2020 and returned in fall 2021 was 65%.
  • Student Right to Know Information – National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) College Navigator
  • Names of associations, agencies, and/or governmental bodies that accredit, approve, or license the school and its programs, and the procedures by which a student may receive a copy for review of the school’s accreditation, licensure or approval
  • Accreditation Information for Culinary Arts Program
  • Services and Facilities for Students with Disabilities
    • Richland Community College’s facilities are designed to meet standards of accessibility for students, employees, and campus guests. New construction and renovation of existing facilities incorporate design for accessibility, and student and academic services include technology to assure access in and out of the classroom.
    • For specific information on accessibility services, contact Academic Success Center – Accommodations Services, e-mail accom@richland.edu, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6379​.
    • Richland Website: http://www.richland.edu/accommodations

Financial Aid Information

  • Types of need-based and non-need based federal financial aid available to Richland Community College students:
  • How students apply for financial aid and how eligibility is determined:
  • How Richland Community College distributes financial aid:
    • Financial Aid disbursement dates & procedures are available on myRichland (log-in required) or in the Student Success Center or by Clicking Here
    • Financial Aid and Veterans’ Affairs Office, Student Success Center, 217. 875.7211, Ext. 6271 or 6205
  • The rights and responsibilities of students receiving federal aid:
  • Availability of Federal Student Aid funds for study abroad programs:
    • Richland Community College does not have a study abroad program. Richland courses may have sessions out of the US, but courses are Richland courses.
  • Individual State Financial Aid agencies:
    • Illinois Student Assistance Commission, 1.800.899.4722 or visit isac.org
    • Financial Aid and Veterans’ Affairs Office, Student Success Center, or 217.875.7211, Ext. 6205
  • Refund and Return of Title IV Funds:
    • Richland Community College Catalog http://www.richland.edu/catalog or in the Student Success Center
    • Financial Aid and Veterans’ Affairs Office, Student Success Center, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6271 or 6205

Contact Information

  • Student Success Center, e-mail rcchelp@richland.edu, 217. 875.7211, Ext. 6267
  • Business Services Cashier in the Student Success Center, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6227
  • Office of Student Engagement, e-mail studentengagement@richland.edu, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6243
  • Office of Financial Aid and Veterans’ Affairs, e-mail financialaid@richland.edu, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6271
  • Dr. Isaac Zuniga, Executive Vice President of Academics and Student Success, e-mail izuniga@richland.edu 217.875.7211, Ext. 6252
  • Meredith Johnson-Palmer, Executive Dean of Student Success, e-mail mpalmer@richland.edu 217.875.7211, Ext. 6438

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Title IX Coordinator – Nicole M. DelMastro-Jeffery, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6273, e-mail titleix@richland.edu

Section 504 Coordinator (ADA) – Clifton Ulbricht, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6377, e-mail culbrich@richland.edu

For a copy of the Richland Community College Catalog, visit Richland Community College – SmartCatalog www.academiccatalog.com (smartcatalogiq.com) or the Student Success Center.