Student Rights

This section of the Code of Conduct lists Student Rights

3. Student Rights

Free inquiry and free expression are foundational elements of a community of scholars. The responsibility for creating and sustaining an environment where students can learn, ask questions, exchange ideas, express their views, and engage with perspectives different from their own is shared by all members of the university community.

A strong University community depends on both the protection of individual rights and the shared responsibility of everyone to create and sustain an environment in which students can learn, participate, and thrive. Students are encouraged to exercise their rights and freedoms with maturity and responsibility and to contribute to a University community where the rights, dignity, and freedoms of all are respected.

3.1 Rights of Students

Students have the rights and protections provided by the U.S. Constitution, federal and state law, applicable local law and ordinances, and University policies. The rights described below reflect the University's commitment to protecting those rights and to supporting a community in which students can pursue their education, participate meaningfully, and develop the knowledge, skills, and judgment necessary to engage as productive members of a diverse community.

These rights apply to students as members of the University community. Specific rights and procedures may also be established in other University policies.

3.1.1 Students have the right to free inquiry, expression, and association in accordance with federal, state, and local law and university regulations.

3.1.2 Students have the right to editorial freedom in student publications and other student media, such as CM Life, WMHW, and MHTV.

3.1.3 Students have the right to representation on designated University bodies, as provided by University policy.

3.1.4 Students accused of misconduct or of violating university policy have the right to have a determination of their violation or non-violation in accordance with university procedures.

3.1.5 Students have the right to protection against improper disclosure of their student records.

3.1.6 Students have the right to access their personal educational records as provided by law and University policy.

3.1.7 Students have the right to access all policies, rules and decisions concerning their continued enrollment, as well as the required course materials and facilities necessary to pursue their studies.

3.1.8 Students have the right to educational programs that meet the objectives of the master syllabus, to teaching consistent with those objectives, and to a learning environment that encourages the students' engagement with their education.

3.1.9 Students have the right to be informed by the faculty near the beginning of each course about course requirements, evaluation procedures, and evaluation criteria to be used, and to have those criteria applied as described. Faculty members have the authority to change a course syllabus after the beginning of the semester and are expected to inform students of these changes in a timely manner.

3.1.10 Students have the right to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study; they are, however, responsible for learning the content of any course in which they are enrolled.

3.1.11 Students have the right to be evaluated solely on relevant academic criteria and to protection against arbitrary or capricious academic evaluation, as described in the "Grade Grievance Policy" in the University Bulletin.

3.1.12 Students have the right to request and receive a timely assessment of their academic work by the instructor, or in the case of graduate students by their thesis/dissertation/Plan B committee chairperson and committee members.

3.1.13 Students have the right to request and receive a reasonable and timely review of their grades from the instructor.

3.1.14 Students have the right of complaint about academic matters if they believe their rights have been violated. When not covered by another policy, a complaint is properly filed by presenting the issue first to the faculty member or thesis, Plan B, doctoral research project or dissertation committee chairperson. If not resolved, the student may take the issue to the department chairperson. If not resolved at this level, the student may take the complaint to the office of the dean of the academic college or the Director of Graduate Studies.

3.2 Relationships with the University

3.2.1 As members of the University community, students have the same duties and obligations under applicable law as do other persons in the United States, including freedoms of speech, press, religion, peaceful assembly, and petition. In all dealings with students, the university will respect the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitutions and laws of the United States, the State of Michigan, and local ordinances.

3.2.2 Even if not illegal, student organizations must not discriminate against any university community member(s) through inappropriate limitation of access to, or participation in, educational, employment, athletic, social, cultural, or other university activities on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight. Certain organizations (e.g. social fraternities and sororities) may be restricted as to gender, as allowed under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

3.2.3 Students individually and collectively are free to examine and to discuss all questions of interest to them as permitted by law, including questions relating to university policies, and to express opinions publicly and privately. They are free to support causes by any orderly means that do not disrupt the operation of the university.

3.2.4 Responsibilities of students and faculty
Students should conscientiously strive to complete course requirements as stated and accept responsibility to contribute positively to the learning environment established by faculty. Proper evaluation of students in a course is based solely on performance in meeting appropriate standards established and communicated by the instructor for that course. Each course has a master syllabus approved through university curricular processes, which includes a description of the scope of the course and a list of the goals and objectives of the learning experience. Faculty members assigned to teach a course develop a course outline, based on the master syllabus, to provide students with greater specificity about how the course will be conducted to accomplish the intended goals and objectives. Proper evaluation of the progress of graduate students in thesis or dissertation work or other research projects is based on attainment of objectives established by the chair of the student's committee according to written departmental guidelines.

3.2.5 Relationships with law enforcement agencies
In addition to filing complaints under this Code, individuals who experience or know of a crime are encouraged to report crimes to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The CMU Police Department is the designated law enforcement agency for crimes committed on campus. As members of the local community, students are expected to cooperate with all law enforcement agencies.

3.2.6 Confidentiality of information
All information about students' views, beliefs, and political associations that members of the university acquire in the course of their work as teachers, administrators, advisers, and counselors is confidential. Improper disclosure of confidential information is a serious violation of the obligations of a member of this university community. Judgments of a student's ability and character, however, may be provided under appropriate circumstances.

Per federal regulations, student directory information is not considered confidential information, unless such student requests removal of all directory information with the University Registrar’s office. Students should review all implications of requesting removal of published directory information prior to making such request

3.2.7 Student associations
Students are free to form, join, and participate in associations that advance the common interest of their members. Activities of such organizations must be conducted in accordance with university regulations and public law. Failure to conduct a student organization in accordance with university regulations, the association’s bylaws or national regulations, or public law may result in the removal of the association’s recognized status (if any), disbanding of the organization, and/or sanctions against individual association members.