Student Rights and Responsibilities

Preamble  

Dickinson College exists for the pursuit of truth, the transmission of knowledge, the development of students and the well-being of society. Free inquiry and free expression by all members of the academic community are indispensable to the attainment of these interrelated goals. Students, in particular, should be encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgment and to engage in a sustained and independent search for truth. Academic freedom must, therefore, include both the freedom to teach and the freedom to learn. Both faculty and students should exercise these freedoms with responsibility. The freedom to learn depends upon appropriate opportunities and conditions in the classroom, on the campus and in the larger community. The responsibility to secure and to respect general conditions conducive to this freedom is shared by all members of the academic community. The purpose of this statement is to enumerate the essential provisions for student freedom to learn.  

Nothing herein contained shall be read to be in conflict with the Charter and Bylaws of Dickinson College, which constitute the basis for the government of the college.   

Academic Program

A.      Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled, but they shall be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion. 

B.      The evaluation of a student’s performance shall not reflect other factors than those directly concerned with the project or semester’s work in question. Students shall have protection against prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation through the publication of clear course objectives and evaluation policies and methods; through written explanation and evaluation policies and methods; through written explanation of grades upon student request; and through orderly procedures of appeal against clear failure to observe stated criteria, in the assignment of final grades. No later than the second class meeting, a written syllabus shall be distributed to the students containing the following: 

1.  A reasonable indication of the intent and scope of the course, and, where relevant, the role of the teaching assistant. 
2. A reasonable indication of the works expected of the student - readings, papers, exams, quizzes, presentations, etc. and how they figure in the final grade. 
3. Ideally, the due dates of the works expected of the student. If this is not possible or appropriate, the students should be given reasonable advance notification of the due dates. 
4. The faculty member’s own definition of plagiarism, if he or she does not accept the  definition established by the Faculty. 

C.      Information about student views, beliefs and political associations which professors acquire in the course of their work as instructors, advisers, and counselors should be considered as confidential. Protection against improper disclosure is a serious professional obligation. Judgments of ability and character may be provided under appropriate circumstances, normally with the knowledge or consent of the student. 

D.     Students shall have protection against arbitrary interference by others in their participation in authorized activities.  

Student Grievance Procedures

Improper Discharge of College Responsibilities - Faculty Violations 

A student wishing to bring a complaint against a faculty member regarding improper discharge of college responsibilities must do so in writing to the provost and dean of the college. 

Improper Discharge of College Responsibilities - College, Staff or Administrator Violations  

A student wishing to bring a complaint against the college or a member of the staff or administration regarding discrimination based upon legally protected characteristics such as race, gender, national origin, ethnicity, disability, or military status, must do so in writing to the dean of students. This procedure does not apply to grievances involving faculty or grievances in connection with sexual harassment or the resolution of charges of misconduct against students, for which the college currently has independent procedures outlined in the Academic Handbook, Student Handbook, College Bulletin, and other documents.  

Student Organization, Expression and Participation in Governance

Association  

A.      Students shall have the right to organize and join associations to promote their common interests.

B.      The membership, policies, and actions of official student organizations shall be determined by vote of only those persons who hold bona fide membership in the college community.

C.      Affiliation with an external organization shall not of itself disqualify a student organization from institutional recognition.

D.     Student organizations desiring recognition shall be required to submit a statement of purpose, criteria for membership, rules of procedure and a current list of officers or organizational representatives to the Dean of Students either directly or through the Student Senate.

E.      Recognized campus organizations shall be open to all students without discrimination.

F.       Although college facilities and services are available to faculty, students, administrators and staff members, college departments and recognized student organizations have priority when reserving space or services.

G.     Recognized student organizations are required to have a faculty, administrator or staff adviser.

H.     All contracts and student wages paid from monies collected by the college must be approved by the Office of Campus Life.

I.        Because of the distinguishing features of general or social fraternities and sororities, they are required to participate in a written agreement with the college which sets forth clearly the expectations of these organizations and their relationship with the college.

J.        No student organization may indicate or imply that it is acting on behalf of the college unless it is authorized to do so.

K.      Since volunteer participation is the essential characteristic of student organizations, recognized groups shall not use punitive measures such as fines without the option of disassociation.  

Inquiry and Expression  

A.   Students and student organizations shall be free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and express opinions publicly and privately. They shall be free to support causes by orderly means which do not disrupt the regular operation of the college. They are obliged to make clear to the academic and the larger community that in their public expressions or demonstrations, students or student organizations speak only for themselves.

B.   Students shall be free to invite and hear any person of their choosing. Only to assure orderly scheduling of facilities and to assure proper arrangements may the college supervise the invitations extended to a guest speaker. Sponsorship of guest speakers does not imply approval or endorsement of the views expressed, either by the sponsoring group or the college.

Student Participation in College Governance  

A.   Students are to be free individually and collectively to express their views on issues of college policy and on matters of general interest to the student body.

B.   They shall have clearly defined means to participate in the formulation and application of college policy affecting academic and student affairs. The responsibility and authority of student government shall be made explicit, and the actions of student government within the areas of its jurisdiction shall be reviewed only through orderly and prescribed procedures.

Student Publications  

A.   Student publications shall be free of censorship and advance approval of copy. Their editors and managers shall be free to develop their own editorial policies and news coverage within the canons of literary or journalistic responsibility appropriate to the publication.

B.   Only for proper and stated causes shall editors and managers be subject to removal and then only by the agency responsible.

C.   Student publications shall explicitly state on the editorial page that opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the college or of the student body.

Students’ Rights as Citizens

College students are both members of the academic community and citizens. As citizens, students should enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceable assembly, and right of petition that other citizens enjoy. The college shall not inhibit such intellectual and personal development of students as may be prompted by their exercise of these rights both on- and off-campus.

Students who violate the law may incur penalties prescribed by civil authorities. College authority shall never be used merely to duplicate the function of civil laws; only where the college community’s pursuit of its educational objectives is distinct, and clearly involved, shall its special authority be asserted. The student who, in the course of his or her off-campus activities, incidentally violates college regulations (such as those relating to course assignments) shall be subject to no greater penalty than would normally be imposed on-campus. College action shall be independent of community pressure.

The college shall clarify those general standards of behavior which it considers essential to its educational objective and its community life. These general behavioral expectations and the resultant specific regulations shall represent a reasonable regulation of student conduct in areas which have persuasive relevance to the educational aim of the college. Students detected or arrested in the course of violations of college regulations or infractions of ordinary law shall be informed of their rights. No form of harassment shall be used to coerce admissions of guilt or information about the conduct of other suspected persons. Unless convicted on charges brought against him or her, a student shall not have his or her status altered nor shall his or her right to be present on the campus and to attend classes be suspended, except for reasons of individual or community safety.

Students’ Rights to Privacy

Confidentiality of Student Records Policy  

This policy is based on provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, popularly known as the Buckley Amendment. The act in its entirety is available for inspection in the Registrar’s Office or via the Registrar's Web site.   

This Act of Congress gives students access to student records which concern them as individual students. It governs access of others at the college to those records and restricts the release of records to a third party. It also gives students the right to challenge material in those records believed to be inaccurate. The broad purpose of this Act, therefore, is to guarantee that personally identifiable student records are accurate and will not be improperly disclosed.

Student’s Education Records  

Only information which is directly relevant to the educational processes of the college or which is voluntarily offered by the student should be included in student records. All such records and a log of the requests for such records are maintained by college academic and administrative personnel in the course of performance of assigned duties. Only those college officials who have legitimate educational interest shall have right of access to the following student records maintained by the college

A.         Academic Records

1. Admissions application: high school transcript maintained in the Registrar’s Office
2. Dickinson academic record: supporting documents maintained in the Registrar’s Office
3. Student file maintained by academic advisers
4. Student file maintained by academic deans

 B.        Nonacademic Records

1. Financial Aid (to include grant, loan, and scholarship information but to exclude parents’ confidential financial statements)
2. Student Development or Dean of Students’ files
3. Student conduct files
4. Career Center and Office of Academic Advising files
5. Cashier’s Office files
6. Library files

Note:    All confidential financial statements from parents in the Financial Aid Office, student medical records kept in The Health Center, psychiatric and psychological records of students in the counseling center, confidential letters of recommendation written before January 1, 1975, and those to which students have waived access, are records defined as strictly confidential, privileged, and not accessible to students or to others except as provided by relevant policy and applicable law.  

Disclosure of Student’s Educational Records  

A.         To Students: Each student shall have the right to inspect his or her own education records, subject only to reasonable restrictions as to time, place and supervision.

B.         To College Officials: Records can be disclosed only to those persons employed by the college in administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff positions, members of the Board of Trustees, or persons employed by or under contract to the college to perform a special task, such as the attorney or auditor with a legitimate educational interest such as performing a task that  is specified in his/her position description or by a contract agreement, task related to a student’s education, performing a task related to the discipline of a student, fundraising, providing a service  or benefit relating to the student or student’s family, such as health care, counseling, job placement or financial aid.

C.         To Others without Student Consent: Information in official student’s education records shall be disclosed to others outside the college without student consent only as follows:

1.      The Admissions Office may approve the disclosure of academic information on a student to high school counselors who inquire about performance of their graduates.

2.      Directory Information: The following directory information about a student may be released at the discretion of the appropriate college official.

• Full name;
• Home address and telephone number;
• Date and place of birth;
• Campus address, local address, e-mail address, and telephone number;
• Matriculated status (full-time, part-time, or non-matriculated) plus college    major and class;
• Dates of college attendance;
• Most recent previous institution attended by student;
• Date of graduation, degree, and awards received;
• For athletic teams, height and weight of student;
• Participation in recognized student organizations and activities;
• Enrollment in foreign languages (without grades) may be made available to faculty teaching or supporting courses which have a foreign language integration option;
• Photograph or likeness.

Note: Students who object to release of the above “Directory Information” should express their objection in writing to the Registrar within the first week of any fall semester, within one week of arrival as a new transfer student in any Spring semester, or within two days of the start of any summer school session. 

D.         To Parents and Guardians: Release of student grades and official college correspondence to parents and guardians of dependent students is permitted under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The test of dependency is determined by the Internal Revenue Code current at the time of the request.

E.         To Parents and Guardians: Release of information regarding violations of alcohol or drug laws or rules.

F.         To the Military without Student Consent in compliance with “Solomon Amendment directory information”:

1. Name
2. Address
3. Telephone
4. Date and place of birth
5. Level of education
6. Academic major
7. Degrees received
8. The educational institution in which the student was most recently enrolled

G.         To others upon written request of the student:

1. Local, state, and federal agency personnel may review student’s record.
2. Physician, psychiatrist, or other recognized health provider or professional may review medical records. (Exception may be made in cases of medical emergency when written request may not be possible.)
3. Persons and organizations specified by student may review Career Center files.
4. Another college or university in which a student seeks or intends to enroll will have transmitted academic transcripts and other requested student records.

H.         Without written consent of the student, but with prompt attempt to notify student at last known address:

1. Upon subpoena, court order, or notice under court direction from one of the courts having jurisdiction, for production of student records, the college will comply.
2. Upon subpoena of student records by Internal Revenue agents, the college will notify student at last known address within required response period as required by law, and then will comply with the IRS subpoena.
3. To persons or organizations providing students with financial aid or who make financial decisions concerning eligibility, amount, conditions, and enforcement of terms of financial aid, the college will disclose certain student records.
4. To Bureau of the Census, the college will release students’ names and campus addresses for exclusive purpose of securing demographic data.

Letters and Interviews of Reference  

College personnel may write letters of reference or grant interviews of reference upon specific request by the student or alumnus/a concerned. For these purposes, application for employment and/or application to transfer or enter another educational institution shall be considered as a request to supply reference information. Copies of notes of such reference information shall not be included in student records except if the alumnae/alumnus or student requests their inclusion in Career Center files. Copies of letters of reference may be maintained in the custody of faculty or staff who write them.

Copies of Student’s Education Records  

Students are entitled to receive copies of certain student records where failure to have a copy would affect right to review (a duplicating cost for such materials may be incurred by the student). Records created by other institutions may be reviewed but will not be copied. Students who desire copies of records from other schools must request the copy from the school that originated the document on record.

Rosters of Student Names and Addresses  

Under no circumstances will these rosters be provided to any individual or group not affiliated with the college.

Challenges to Content of Student’s Education Records  

If a student discovers errors that he or she believes should be corrected in the student records, these should be pointed out to the faculty or staff member involved. The dean of students has been appointed as the hearing officer to resolve any disagreements that cannot be settled directly. The dean is available for informal meetings on such matters at any time. If the matter is not resolved through such informal means, a formal hearing can be arranged with the college Appeals Board. At such a hearing the student would have full opportunity to present evidence to the Board.

Entry and Search of Student Living Quarters 

1. Routine safety inspections of student living quarters should be announced at least one day in advance of the date on which the inspection is to take place.
2. Student Life staff may enter individual student rooms when there is reason to believe that a college policy is being violated.
3. In situations apparently imperiling individual or community safety, or bringing into question the well-being of student or community, student rooms may be searched by authorized agents of the college, whether or not student occupants are present. All local, county, state and federal laws regarding searches are applicable to the Dickinson College campus.
4. Whenever practical, a member of the Campus Life staff or a Division of Student Development administrator shall be present when the rooms are searched.
5. Evidence found in any type of inspection or search conducted by an authorized agent of the college or law enforcement official may be used in campus judicial hearings.