Statement of Misrepresentation
Under the Higher Education Act, institutions are not permitted to misrepresent the nature of their educational programs, financial charges, or the employability of their graduates. Therefore, Riverland Community College (including employees, representatives, or contractors) is prohibited from making any false, erroneous, or misleading statement directly or indirectly to a student, prospective student, member of the public, accrediting agency, state agency, or Department of Education. A misleading statement includes any statement with the capacity, likelihood, or tendency to deceive or confuse. A statement is any communication made in writing, visually, orally, or through other means. Misrepresentation includes disseminating a student endorsement or testimonial that a student gives either under duress or because the institution required the student to make such an endorsement or testimonial to participate in a program.
Federal regulations further provide that substantial misrepresentation is any misrepresentation on which the person to whom it was made could reasonably be expected to rely, or has reasonably relied, to that person’s detriment.
The regulations regarding misrepresentation describe misrepresentation concerning:
- Nature of the education program (major)
- Nature of financial charges
- Employability of graduates
- Relationship with the Department of Education. A Title IV eligible school may not describe its participation in a way that suggests approval or endorsement by the Department of Education for the quality of its educational programs.
The Communications and Marketing Department maintains copies of all promotional materials.
The Director of Admissions and New Student Relations is responsible for the training of personnel under the director’s supervision regarding misrepresentation of admissions requirements and other college information.
The Director of Advising Services is responsible for the training of personnel under the director’s supervision regarding misrepresentation of programs of study, graduate outcomes, and other college information.
The Director of Business Services is responsible for the training of personnel under the director’s supervision regarding misrepresentation of charges, refund policy, and other college information.
The Director of Financial Aid is responsible for the training of personnel under the director’s supervision regarding misrepresentation of college financial aid information.