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 for a period of one academic year or greater to the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors (UL System Board of Supervisors Bylaws and 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 experience a campus environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual harassment, and power-based violence (Title IX; Power-Based Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy).
• 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 (Equity and Inclusion Policy).
• The right of student representation on search committees considering candidates for employment at the level of dean or vice president (Search Policies and Procedures for Positions of Dean or Higher).
• 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 prescribed time limits (Student Complaint Policy).
• The right to acceptable use of 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 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 Reservist Mobilization/Activation).
• 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 Dean of Student Services (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).
• 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 (Class Attendance Regulations ).
• 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).
• Ensuring adequate access to the technology required for a course. This may include access to a computer (not Chromebooks, iPads, etc.), webcam, internet, adequate bandwidth, etc. This requirement is a standard expectation for all courses regardless of initial course delivery format (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 (Equity and Inclusion Policy).
• Abiding by Title IX and power-based violence regulations (Title IX; Power-Based Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy).
• Reporting hazing in any form to appropriate University officials or appropriate law authorities (Anti-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 Registration Policy).
• 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 appropriate University officials (Violence-Free Workplace and Campus Violence Prevention Policy).
• Properly notifying the University registrar regarding changes in name, address, telephone number, email address, and social security number (Address Changes ).