Nov 04, 2024  
2018-2019 Academic Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Academic Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Student Rights and Responsibilities


McNeese State University conducts the tasks of education, research and service on the fundamental assumption that every student who enrolls at the University has a right to a student-centered learning environment that fosters academic excellence and personal success. Students positively contribute to this environment by maintaining high standards of integrity and ethical honor in all academic work and personal conduct, familiarizing themselves with and adhering to all policies and regulations of the University, promptly fulfilling all academic, contractual, and financial obligations, and actively participating in University life.

Student Rights

Specific rights the University seeks to provide students include:

  • The right to a student-centered education in an environment that promotes academic and personal success.
  • The right of due process and provision for appeal in judicial proceedings for violations of the University’s Code of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Policy (Code of Student Conduct; Academic Integrity Policy).
  • The right to appeal any sanction of suspension or dismissal from the University lasting more than one year to the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors (UL System Board of Supervisors Rules).
  • The right to prevent disclosure of personal ‘directory’ information by providing written notification to the Registrar (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).
  • The right to inspect and review education records and request corrections of records believed to be inaccurate or misleading (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).
  • The right to make written complaint of discrimination by a member of the University faculty or staff or a recognized student organization (Diversity Awareness Policy).
  • The right of student representation on search committees considering candidates for employment at the level of dean or vice president (Appointing Hiring Committees for Position of Dean or Vice President Policy and Procedure).
  • The right to file a written complaint, through an appropriate vice president of the University, and to receive a written response to the complaint, within reasonable time limits (Student Complaint Policy).
  • The right of access to certain information technology tools and resources needed to fulfill course requirements while enrolled (Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy).
  • The right to organize interest groups, social and academic fraternities and sororities, and other organizations in order to strengthen the quality of campus life, provide leadership opportunities, and promote involvement in co-curricular learning (Student Organizations Handbook).
  • The right of use of certain campus facilities while conducting legitimate business of a recognized student organization (Facilities Use Policy).
  • The right to place certain printed material (papers, signs, posters, and banners) at designated locations on the campus (Placement of Printed Materials on Campus Policy).
  • The right of freedom of expression in student publications within the context of legal and ethical standards of responsible journalism.
  • The right of special provisions pertaining to enrollment and fulfillment of course requirements for certain students called into active duty of the armed forces of the United States (National Guard and Reservest Mobilization/Activation).
  • The right of reasonable accommodations pertaining to verifiable and documented learning disabilities (Accessible Participation Policy; Office of Disability Services).
  • The right to appeal grades believed to be incorrect (Grade Appeals Procedures ).

Student Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities the University expects students to assume include:

  • Maintaining awareness of and compliance with all policies of the University.
  • Demonstrating honesty and integrity in all academic relationships.
  • Reporting cheating or academic dishonesty in any form to the faculty or Vice President for Student Affairs (Academic Integrity Policy).
  • Abstaining from the unlawful or unauthorized manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of alcohol or other drugs on University property or at any University function (Alcohol and Other Drug Policy).
  • Avoiding the unauthorized use, possession, or storage of fireworks, firearms, weapons, explosives, paint ball guns and equipment, and hazardous chemicals; avoidance of the possession or use of realistic replicas of weapons (Violence Free Workplace and Campus Violence Prevention Policy).
  • Investing a minimum of two hours additional work to accompany each hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction per week for each credit hour pursued. Additional work may include but is not limited to, reading, studying, conducting research, writing, and related learning activities.
  • Attending class regularly and punctually (Class Attendance Regulations ; Withdrawal from Courses for Non-Attendance ).
  • Using University information technology resources in a responsible, ethical, professional, and legal manner (Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy).
  • Maintaining confidentiality of all login credentials for University software, which serve as the sole means of identity verification (Academic Integrity Policy; Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy).
  • Refraining from committing any act that discriminates or harasses another in relation to race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age (Diversity Awareness Policy).
  • Reporting hazing in any form to the Vice President for Student Affairs or University Police (Hazing Policy).
  • Ensuring that use of campus facilities by recognized student organizations occurs only for the legitimate conduct of organization business and not as a means of providing free use of space to a non-University affiliated group (Facilities Use Policy).
  • Ensuring that events sponsored by recognized student organizations using campus facilities and/or resources are primarily geared toward McNeese State University students (Student Organizations Handbook).
  • Complying with requirements of the Military Selective Service Act (Selective Service Requirement).
  • Avoiding use of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, in campus buildings or in close proximity to entrances and exits of buildings (Tobacco Use Policy).
  • Reporting instances of direct or eminent physical threat to individuals and property occurring on University owned or controlled property to University Police; reporting violent behavior that does not constitute a direct or eminent physical threat to the Vice President for Student Affairs (Violence Free Workplace and Campus Violence Prevention Policy).
  • Properly notifying the University Registrar regarding changes in name, address, telephone number and social security number (Address Changes ).