Student rights and responsibilities

Upon the recommendation of the Student Council (formerly Student-Faculty Council), the Academic Senate (formerly University Council), the President-Dean's Conference (now Council of Deans), and the President, the Board of Governors in January 1967, approved the following statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities for the university (WSUCA 2.31.01):

Preamble

A student of this university is both a citizen and a member of an established academic community. His/her years as a university student constitute a significant and unique phase of intellectual growth and social development.

The association of a student with a university brings with it certain rights and privileges and likewise imposes obligations and responsibilities. For instance, a student has the right to competent instruction, good counseling, and adequate facilities, and in all areas he/she has the right to expect the highest degree of excellence possible within the resources of the university. A student also has the right to protection from unreasonable and capricious actions by faculty, administrators and student organizations. He/she has the responsibility to devote him/herself to the serious pursuit of learning and to respect the rights and opinions of others, including faculty, the administration, and fellow students.

In addition to such general rights and responsibilities, the following specific student rights and responsibilities are held to be indispensable to the full achievement of the objectives of a university in a free society.

Student rights

1. Each student has the right to be considered for admission, advancement, degrees, honors, and all academic and co-curricular activities and benefits without regard to ancestry, religious or political belief, or country of origin.

2. Each student has the right to know the rules by which he/she is governed insofar as a written set of specific rules is possible -through the medium of a clear and precise written exposition of the rules, given proper publicity. Each student has the right to advocate changes in any rule by which he/she is governed.

3. Each student has the right to be advised in writing of charges that might lead to disciplinary action in non-academic matters. Each student has the right to a fair hearing before final disciplinary action is taken.

4. Each student has the right to free inquiry and scholarly investigation, and the right to discuss, exchange, and publish any findings or recommendations, either individually or in association with others, provided he/she makes no claim to represent the university without due authorization.

5. Each student has the right to organize, join, and participate in recognized campus organizations, subject to the university rules governing such organizations.

6. Each student has the right to a voice in democratic student government within the university and its several schools, colleges, and divisions. Likewise, each student has the right to advocate any policy or change in existing policy in all matters affecting students.

7. Each student has the right to be secure in his rights as a citizen without prejudice to his/her standing in the university, provided he/she makes no claim to represent the university without due authorization.

Student responsibilities

1. Each student has the responsibility to comply with the rules governing students at the university.

2. Each student has the responsibility, when acting as a member of a student organization, to observe the university's rules governing such organizations.

3. Each student has the responsibility, when participating by word or act in any program, whether individually or in association with others, not to claim, without due authorization, that he/she is an official representative of the university.

4. Each student has the responsibility to support academic integrity.

5. Each student, as a member of society, has the responsibility to conduct him/herself in accordance with generally accepted standards of conduct as embodied in society's laws and regulations.

6. Each student, as a member of the university community, has the responsibility to conduct him/herself in a manner which sustains in all areas of university life the atmosphere necessary for the broad educational purposes of the university community.

7. Each student has the responsibility to respect innovation and individual differences and to conduct him/herself so as not to violate the rights of other students and members of the administration and faculty.

Residual rights and responsibilities

The enumeration of these rights and responsibilities shall not be construed to alter other rights and responsibilities inherent in the basic educational philosophy of the university.