Disclosures and Policies

The RAND School of Public Policy is committed to transparency and compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 1965 (HEOA) and other federal regulations. This webpage provides students, prospective students, employees, and the public with access to required consumer information, as well as RAND School policies related to these disclosures.

Students may request paper copies of these disclosures by contacting RAND School Finance via the contact form.

Financial

Educational Costs of Attending the Institution

The estimated cost of attendance (COA) includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, meals, transportation, and personal expenses. Please refer to the links below that correspond to your degree program:

Financial Assistance Available to Enrolled Students

Information about federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs—including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study—is available on this webpage: Financial Aid, Veterans Benefits, Other Funding Opportunities, and Tuition Policies and Procedures.

Student Loan Code of Conduct

The school adheres to a strict Student Loan Code of Conduct prohibiting conflicts of interest.

Academics and Enrollment

Academic Programs Offered by the Institution

Descriptions of all academic programs are available online at Our Academic Programs.

Planned School/Academic Program Improvements

The RAND School of Public Policy engages in continuous improvement of its academic programs in alignment with guidance from its institutional accreditors. Planned improvements are informed by regular review of course evaluations and by the School’s academic assessment plan, which evaluates student learning outcomes on an ongoing basis. Findings from these processes are used by faculty and academic leadership to refine curriculum, instructional practices, and academic support as appropriate.

Written Arrangement with the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

The RAND School of Public Policy maintains a limited written arrangement with the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs that allows eligible M.Phil. and Ph.D. students at the RAND School to enroll in select graduate-level elective courses at UCLA Luskin, and allows eligible UCLA Luskin graduate students to enroll in select RAND School courses, subject to availability and approval by the student’s home institution. This arrangement applies solely to individual elective courses and does not involve joint or dual degree programs, required coursework, or shared delivery of academic programs. Participating students remain enrolled at and pay tuition to their home institution, and financial aid, if applicable, is administered exclusively by the home institution; no special financial aid processes or cost-of-attendance exchanges apply. Credit earned under this arrangement may be considered for elective credit only and is subject to academic approval by the student’s home institution. Course format, scheduling, and withdrawal policies are governed by the host institution, while satisfactory academic progress and degree requirements remain the responsibility of the home institution. At the RAND School, the registrar determines which courses, if any, are open to visiting UCLA Luskin students in a given term.

Transfer of Credit Policies

For students in the Master of National Security Policy (MNSP), Master of Technology Policy (MTP), and concurrent MNSP/MTP programs, the school does not accept transfer units from other institutions and does not award academic credit for previous life or work experience. All coursework must be completed at the school to earn the MNSP or MTP degree. If a student in the MNSP or MTP program is admitted to either the M.Phil. or Ph.D. program at the school, up to 6 units from the MNSP or MTP program can be transferred and applied to the elective requirement of the M.Phil. or Ph.D. program.

For M.Phil. and Ph.D. students no more than two units of approved graduate-level courses taken at another institution, courses taken at the school prior to program enrollment, courses taken pass/fail, or any combination of courses in those categories will be counted toward the elective unit requirement. The academic program directors must approve credit for graduate-level courses taken at another institution or courses taken at the school prior to program enrollment. In rare circumstances, an applicant may petition for an exception from the two-unit cap rule.

For all programs, the transferability of any courses, diplomas, certificates, or degrees earned at the school to another institution of higher education is based solely on the discretion of that institution.

Withdrawal Procedures, Return to Title IV, & Refunds of Institutional Charges

Students intending to withdraw must notify the registrar, associate dean of Student Life, and their program director.

They must complete all required steps with the following offices

  • Registrar: provide forwarding address, personal contact info.
  • Finance: verify outstanding balances and complete loan exit interviews.
  • Human Resources: receive separation information.
  • Knowledge Services: return all library materials.
  • Security and Safety: schedule exit debriefing (if applicable).
  • Designated School Officials (DSO): international students must complete visa exit counseling with a DSO.
  • Technology Resources: transfer ownership of digital assets and return equipment.

All RAND property (e.g., laptop, badge, 2FA token) must be returned. Students separating remotely should contact the registrar to arrange a FedEx return box.

The Return to Title IV (R2T4) process for students with financial aid and the school’s refund policy for tuition and fees can be found here: Financial Aid, Veterans Benefits, Other Funding Opportunities, and Tuition Policies and Procedures.

Copyright Infringement Policies

Students are governed by the RAND Use of Copyrighted Materials Policy, which covers information on RAND’s policies and procedures governing the reproduction and distribution of materials copyrighted under U.S. law by third parties, fair use provisions, and RAND resources with respect to copyrighted material. RAND requires all associates, including RAND School students, to comply with all applicable copyright laws, including the Copyright Revision Act of 1976, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and the Copyright Term Extension Act, among others.

A student infringing on copyright laws—even unwittingly—may be subject to civil damages and criminal penalties. Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the U.S. Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.

In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or statutory damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For willful infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, at its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, U.S. Code, Sections 504 and 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office (www.copyright.gov).

Teach-Out Plans

In the extraordinary event that the RAND School determines that a program is to be discontinued, our Teach-Out Policy will provide a framework for the program transition resulting from such a change. Any decision to discontinue a program will be made with a focus on student well-being, academic integrity, and allowing enrolled students a timely opportunity to complete the program.

Student Health, Safety, and Related Disclosures and Policies

Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures

The school’s Emergency Response Plan outlines procedures for notification, evacuation, and shelter-in-place. The plan is included in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (PDF).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports

Our latest Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (PDF), which we are pleased to make available as part of the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, lists incident statistics as required for compliance with all sections of the law.

Student and Parent Privacy Rights Under FERPA

The RAND School complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which protects the privacy of student education records and provides students with certain rights regarding their records. These rights include the ability to inspect and review their education records, request amendment of inaccurate or misleading records or records otherwise in violation of their privacy rights, to limit disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in education records, and the right to file a complaint with the Department of Education concerning alleged violations of FERPA requirements. Students may inspect, review, and request amendment of their education records by contacting the registrar.

Faculty and staff may access student education records without student consent only if they have a legitimate educational interest—that is, they need the information to fulfill their professional responsibilities, including instructional, supervisory, advisory, administrative, academic, research, or staff support duties. Access to student records should be limited to what is necessary to perform the relevant function. Faculty and staff may not share student records with others who do not have a legitimate educational interest.

Directory information is information that may be released to the public without student consent unless a student has requested to opt out of directory information disclosure. The School designates the following as directory information:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Student ID
  • Degree program and field of study
  • Enrollment status (full-time or part-time)
  • Dates of attendance
  • Degrees and awards received, including date of graduation

Students who wish to restrict the release of their directory information must submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar. A FERPA opt-out remains in effect until the student submits a written request to lift it. Students should be aware that a FERPA opt-out may prevent the School from confirming enrollment or degree completion to third parties, including potential employers.

Disability-Related Services and Facilities

The Office of Student Life coordinates accommodations for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodation at the RAND School and RAND. Students seeking reasonable accommodation must contact the associate dean of Student Life to inform them of the disability and request accommodation. Students who request accommodations based on a disability should provide written documentation from a qualified health care provider outlining

  1. Whether they have a medical condition that impacts their ability to access and participate in their educational program at the RAND School. If so, the health care provider needs to provide an explanation as to how it affects their ability to do so.
  2. Whether they have any restrictions due to their medical condition. If so, the health care provider needs to provide an explanation of those restrictions and their expected duration.
  3. Whether the health care provider has any recommendations regarding any necessary accommodations that might be made to enable the student to safely and effectively access and participate in their educational program at the RAND School.

Student Activities Offered by the Institution

Information on student organizations, leadership opportunities, and campus events is available online at Events and Community.

Equal Opportunity

The RAND School is committed to ensuring an equal opportunity workplace for all, including those with disabilities. For more information, please refer to RAND’s Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

Non-Discrimination

RAND is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment, discrimination, and retaliation and prohibits conduct that violates this commitment. The Prevention of Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation policy helps ensure RAND meets this commitment, models our Institutional Principles and Code of Ethical Conduct, and complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Title IX

The RAND School is committed to providing an education and employment environment that is free from sex and gender-based discrimination. Consistent with its commitment to addressing sex and gender-based discrimination, the RAND School complies with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Vaccination Information

The RAND School does not require vaccination records from students.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention

The RAND School of Public Policy is committed to providing a safe and healthy educational environment for all students and school employees. Please see the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Policy for more information.

Grievance Policy

The RAND School is committed to providing students with a fair, transparent, and accessible process for raising and resolving grievances not otherwise covered by established policies.

For the purposes of this policy, a student is defined as an individual who is enrolled at the time of the alleged wrongdoing.

Informal Resolution

Students are encouraged to resolve concerns informally whenever possible and appropriate. This may include direct discussions with the individual(s) involved or with relevant faculty or staff. If informal resolution is unsuccessful, impractical, or inappropriate due to the nature of the grievance, students may proceed with a formal grievance.

Formal Grievance Process

Filing a Grievance
  • A student must submit a written Notice of Grievance to the associate dean of Student Life within six months of the action or decision being challenged.
  • The notice must include
    • student’s name and contact information
    • clear description of the action or decision being grieved
    • names of individuals involved
    • relevant dates and facts
    • steps already taken to resolve the issue (if any).
  • The notice may be submitted by email or as a signed written document.
Review and Determination

The associate dean of Student Life, or their designee, will

  • review the grievance and gather relevant information
  • meet with the student and other involved parties as appropriate
  • ensure both parties have the opportunity to present information.

The associate dean (or designee) will issue a written decision to all parties within 20 working days of receipt, or as soon thereafter as practicable.

Appeals

If dissatisfied, any involved party may appeal in writing to the dean within 10 working days of receiving the decision.

  • The appeal must specify the grounds for appeal (e.g., procedural error, new evidence, disproportionate outcome).
  • The dean will review the record, may seek additional information, and will issue a written final decision normally within 10 working days.
  • The dean’s decision is final and not subject to further appeal.
Conflicts of Interest

If either the associate dean of Student Life or the dean is a party to the grievance, an appropriate alternative will be appointed by the RAND School dean, in consultation with RAND HR.

Anti-Retaliation

Retaliation against any person who files a grievance in good faith or who participates in the process is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action.

Confidentiality
  • The School is committed to confidentiality throughout the grievance process.
  • Information will only be shared with individuals who have a legitimate need to know.
  • Records will be stored securely and maintained by the associate dean of Student Life.
  • Disclosure will occur only when required by law or in cases of significant risk of harm.
  • All participants are expected to respect the confidentiality of the proceedings.
Recordkeeping
  • The associate dean of Student Life will keep copies of all formal grievance records for three years.
  • The registrar maintains academic records (grades, transcripts) indefinitely in accordance with best practices set by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO).

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

In compliance with federal requirements, the school observes Constitution Day and Citizenship Day each September 17 with educational programming. Details are made available by email each September.

Accreditation

Accreditation and Licensure of the Institution and Its Academic Programs

The school is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission and certified to operate within the Commonwealth of Virginia by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia. More information is available at Accreditation through WSCUC.

Institution’s Retention Rate (IPEDS)

RAND School of Public Policy does not offer programs at or below the baccalaureate level, therefore graduation rate information is not required to be collected or reported.

Institution’s Placement Rates and Employment Types

Placement rates and employment outcomes for graduates, including types of employment by program, are published annually by the Career Services Office at Job Placement Success.

Contact Information

For questions or to request printed copies of any consumer information, please contact RAND School Finance via the contact form.