Newsgroups: alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
From: kadie@cs.uiuc.edu (Carl M. Kadie)
Subject: Northwestern U. policies
Message-ID: <9211292110.AA01231@herodotus.cs.uiuc.edu>
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1992 09:10:21 GMT
Here are some general polices from Northwestern University.
Rules And Regulations Of Student Conduct Policy
Statement On Student Rights And Responsibilities
Policy On Summary Suspensions
Guidelines For Access To Student Records
University Statutes: Article V, Students
University Statement On Sexual Harassment
Trustee Statement On Disruption
[Reference: gopher -p 1/handfact/HANDBOOK nuinfo.nwu.edu]
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Source: University Relations
Last Updated: October 1991
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF STUDENT CONDUCT
POLICY STATEMENT ON STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
---------------------------------------------------------------
(Students are temporary residents of the state of Illinois and,
as such, are subject to the laws of the state and to the
ordinances of the cities of Evanston and Chicago. In addition,
every student is required to comply with all rules and
regulations enacted and published by the University or under the
delegated authority of the University.
- University Statutes
Article V Section I
University-enacted rules and regulations are found in
several sources, including the Undergraduate Catalog, the
Graduate School Catalog, the undergraduate and graduate housing
bulletins, notices disseminated from time to time by the
University or its schools and departments -- and this handbook.
Particular reference is made to the appendix to this section
of the handbook containing excerpts from the University Statutes,
the Trustee Statement on Disruption, a description of the
University Hearing and Appeals System, Guidelines for Access to
Student Records, the Drug Abuse Policy Statement, the University
Statement on Sexual Harassment, and other information.
A student or student organization found to have violated any
of the University's rules or regulations shall be subject to
appropriate disciplinary action as provided by the University
Hearing and Appeals System.
The following material includes those rules and regulations
believed to be of broadest interest and most general application.
When questions arise as to more particular areas -- housing,
athletics, social affairs, and the like -- students are urged to
contact the Guidance and Counseling Department in the Office of
the Dean of Students for direction to the most appropriate source
of information.
The exercise of individual rights by students and other
members of the Northwestern community may not abridge the
following rights.
1. The right of a faculty or staff member to exclude from a
classroom or other University premises, during the progress of
a class or other University-sponsored program or activity,
persons not enrolled in the class or other unauthorized
persons.
2. The right to privacy of a student or faculty or staff member
in his or her office or other work area or lodging.
3. The right of the University to take actions reasonably
determined to secure the rights in 1) and 2) and to assure
that students, faculty, and staff may pursue their legitimate
goals on University premises or at University functions
without interference.)
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POLICY STATEMENT ON STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Drafted by the students, faculty, and staff, this statement first
appeared in the 1969-70 Student Handbook.
At Northwestern University, life outside the classroom is an
integral part of the educational process. The exercise of
responsibility is an important part of the development of the
full potential of the student as an individual and as a citizen.
The student's awareness of the extent of his or her rights and
responsibilities is necessary to the exercise of responsibility
within the University community. To further these objectives and
in recognition of students as members of the Northwestern
University community, the University has adopted the following
statement of policy
This policy statement has been formulated in a spirit of
cooperation and community by representatives of students,
faculty, and administration. It is a living document and thus is
subject to change through participation of representatives of the
same groups who participated in the original formulation.
1. An applicant will be considered for admission to the
University and for financial aid without regard for race,
color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap, or political
belief.
2. The student has freedom of research, of legitimate classroom
discussion, and of the advocacy of alternative opinions to
those presented in the classroom.
3. The student will be evaluated on knowledge and academic
performance for purposes of granting academic credit and not
on the basis of personal or political beliefs.
4. The teacher-student relationship within the classroom is
confidential and disclosures of a student's personal or
political beliefs expressed in connection with course work
will not be made public without explicit permission of the
student. It is understood that the teacher may undertake the
usual evaluation of knowledge and academic performance.
5. Students' records may be released to persons outside the
University only on request of the student or through
compliance with applicable laws.
6. Information on rules, rates, and regulations deriving from
contractual agreements with the University will be made
available to students on request.
7. The University will not act in derogation of the rights of
students to be secure in their possessions. Students will be
secure against invasion of privacy and unreasonable search and
seizure.
8. Students will be free from censorship in the publication and
dissemination of their views as long as these are not
represented as the views of Northwestern University.
9. Student publications are free from any official action
controlling editorial policy. Publications shall not bear the
name of the University or purport to issue from it without
University approval.
10. Students are free to form, join, and participate in any group
for intellectual, religious, social, economic, political, or
cultural purposes.
11. A student is free, individually or in association with other
individuals, to engage in off-campus activities, exercising
the right of a citizen of the community, state, and nation,
provided he or she does not in any way purport to represent
the University.
12. Students are free to use campus facilities for meetings of
student chartered campus organizations, subject to regulations
as to time and manner governing the facility.
13. Students may invite and hear speakers of their choice on
subjects of their choice, and approval will not be withheld by
University officers for the purpose of censorship.
14. Students will have their views and welfare considered in the
formation of University policy and will be consulted by or
represented on University committees that affect students as
members of the University community.
15. Students are free to assemble, to demonstrate, to
communicate, and to protest, recognizing that freedom requires
order, discipline, and responsibility and further recognizing
the right of all faculty and students to pursue their
legitimate goals without interference. (See the Trustee
Statement on Disruption, Section IV.)
16. Students will be exempt from disciplinary action or dismissal
from the University except for academic failure, failure to
pay a University debt, or violation of a student or University
rule or regulation. Rules and regulations shall be fully and
clearly promulgated in advance of the supposed violation. The
University has no legal authority over a student when outside
University property, except where the student is on the
property of a University-affiliated institution or where the
student is engaged in a project, seminar, or class for
academic credit. A student is subject to local, state, and
federal statutes.
17. A student is free to be present on campus and to attend
classes pending action on criminal or civil charges, except
for reasons relating to his or her physical or emotional
safety and well-being or for reasons relating to the safety
and well-being of students, faculty, staff, or University
property.
18. It is recognized that every member the community has the
responsibility to conduct oneself in a manner that does not
violate the rights and freedoms of others and has the
responsibility to recognize the principles within this
statement of policy.
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Source: University Relations
Last Updated: October 1991
POLICY ON SUMMARY SUSPENSIONS
As provided in Article V of the University Statutes, a
student may be suspended pending a prompt hearing in cases in
which the president, a vice president designated by the
president, or in cases involving students on the Chicago campus,
the dean of a school on that campus, finds that such a suspension
is necessary for reasons relating to the safety and well-being of
students, faculty, or University property. Actions that may
warrant summary suspension include, but are not limited to, the
following:
1. Sale, distribution, use, or possession of illegal drugs
on University premises or at University functions;
2. Use or possession of dangerous weapons on University
premises or at University functions;
3. Theft of or damage to property on University premises or
at University functions;
4. Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research,
administration, hearing procedures, or other University
activities, or of other authorized activities on
University premises;
5. Physical abuse of any person or action that threatens or
endangers the health or safety of any person on
University premises or at University functions or while
such person is properly fulfilling his/her duties as a
University employee, whether or not such abuse or action
occurs on University premises;
Any student suspended pursuant to the provisions of this
statement will be required to remove him/herself immediately from
residence halls and/or Greek units and will be excluded from
University property unless the student's presence on campus is
explicitly authorized by the vice president for student affairs.
A student so suspended may request an expedited hearing before
the University Hearing Board, which will schedule a hearing
within three days of the request or as soon thereafter as
possible.
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Source: University Relations
Last Updated: October 1991
GUIDELINES FOR ACCESS TO STUDENT RECORDS
The following guidelines are based upon the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, which governs access
to records maintained by certain educational institutions and
agencies and the release of such records.
An individual who is or has been in attendance at
Northwestern University may inspect and review his or her
education records. Applicants for admission are not entitled to
such inspection and review. Education records are records, files,
documents, microfilm, computer tapes, and other materials which
contain information directly related to a student and which are
maintained by the University. Education records, however, do not
include records made by University personnel which are in the
sole possession of the record maker and which are not accessible
to or revealed to any other person; records of the department of
public safety; employee records; medical and counseling records;
and admission records prior to matriculation.
Although included in the above definition of education
records, in no case shall an individual who is or has been in
attendance at Northwestern University have access to financial
records of his or her parents or any information contained
therein; confidential letters and statements of recommendation
placed in a record prior to January 1, 1975, if such statements
are used solely for the purposes for which they were specifically
intended; or to confidential recommendations received after
January 1, 1975, relative only to admission, placement, and
receipt of honors or honorary recognition provided the student
has signed a waiver.
An enrolled student or a previously enrolled student may
waive his or her right of access only in regard to
recommendations; only for admission, placement (employment
application), and receipt of honors; only if on the individual's
request he or she will be notified of the names of all persons
making confidential recommendations; and only if the confidential
recommendations are used solely for the purpose for which they
were specifically intended and if the waiver is not required as a
condition for the service to be performed.
Directory (public) information as specified here, provided
the indicated conditions are met, may be provided on request to
persons outside the University. Directory (public) information
includes name, date and place of birth, local and home addresses,
telephone numbers, school or college, class, participation in
activities, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the
most recent previous educational agency or institution attended,
and weight and height for members of varsity athletic teams. Any
student who does not desire inclusion of this information in the
annual Faculty/Staff/Student Directory or other dissemination of
the information by the University may notify the Office of the
Registrar in writing. For the telephone directory the complete
entry must be omitted. No partial deletion or edited entry can be
accepted. Notification must be received by the Registrar's Office
no later than October 1 of the academic year concerned. Students
may not prohibit the verification of the fact of attendance or of
the awarding or lack of awarding of a degree.
A student wishing to review his or her educational record
should first request access in the office holding the record. If
the office fails to grant access, then the student should file a
written request for access with the associate provost of
university enrollement, who will review the request and forward
it to the department head, who shall notify the student of the
time and place at which the record may be viewed, no later than
45 days after the date of the request. Copies of records or
portions of records may be provided to the student on request for
a fee that covers University costs for copying the record.
Information from a student's education record may be
released to the parents of the student, provided the student is a
dependent as defined for federal income tax purposes. Directory
information may be provided on request; however, all other
requests for information, including a review of a student's
education record, from any individual or agency other than the
student, University personnel, and parents which has not been
expressly authorized by the student shall be referred to the
associate provost of university enrollment.
In the event a student challenges the content of his or her
education record on the basis that an item(s) is inaccurate,
misleading, or otherwise inappropriate, the custodian of the
education record shall discuss the challenge with the student and
attempt to resolve the challenge within the framework of
maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and usefulness of the
record. If the student wishes to insert a written explanation
respecting the content of the record, such written explanation is
to be accepted and included in the record.
If the custodian and student are unable to resolve the
challenge, they shall schedule a meeting with the dean of
admission, financial aid, and student records for a further
review.
An ad hoc committee of two faculty members and one
administrator appointed by the president shall act as an appeal
review committee in the event a challenge is not resolved by the
associate provost of university enrollment.
The ad hoc committee normally would be the final step.
However, its decision, as all decisions, is appealable to the
president of the University.
An annual notification to students shall be made and shall
include the types of education records and information contained
therein.
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Source: University Relations
Last Updated: October 1991
UNIVERSITY STATUTES: ARTICLE V, STUDENTS
1. Student Discipline
a. Disciplinary Standards. Students are temporary residents
of the state of Illinois and, as such, are subject to the
laws of the state and to ordinances of the cities of
Evanston and Chicago. In addition, every student is
required to comply with all rules and regulations enacted
and published by the University or under delegated
authority of the University. A student or student
organization found to have violated any of such rules and
regulations of the University shall be subject to
appropriate disciplinary action as provided below.
b. University Hearing and Appeals System. The University
Hearing and Appeals System shall include a University
Hearing and Appeals Board, which shall consist of six
faculty members and three students. The president of the
University shall determine the methods by which the members
of the board are selected, shall appoint one member of the
board to serve as chairman, and shall provide for the
selection of alternate members of the board. It shall be
the duty of the board to consider cases, other than those
arising because of unsatisfactory academic work, which may
call for discipline of a student or group of students of
any school on the Evanston campus. Upon a finding adverse
to the student, the University Hearing and Appeals Board
shall have the power to place a student on probation, to
suspend the student, to exclude the student from the
University, or to impose such other sanctions on students
or student organizations as shall be found appropriate. The
initial hearing of cases may be assigned by the president
to student or any other hearing boards whose actions shall
be subject to review by the University Hearing and Appeals
Board. The hearing or review of individual cases may be
delegated by the University Hearing and Appeals Board to a
subcommittee of its membership or to any other hearing
board.
c. Chicago Campus Hearing and Appeals System. The president
may establish a Chicago Campus Hearing and Appeals System,
which shall consider cases which may call for discipline of
a student or group of students of any school on the Chicago
campus.
d. Hearing Procedures. A student or student organization
subject to disciplinary action is entitled to notice of the
charge and a fair hearing in accordance with published
procedure. In a case in which suspension or exclusion is
ordered, no final action shall be taken until the student
has had the opportunity to request and obtain a review of
the record by the president or by a vice president
designated by the president to review the case. A student
may be suspended pending a prompt hearing in cases in which
the president, a vice president designated by the
president, or, in cases involving students on the Chicago
campus, the dean of a school on that campus, finds that
such a suspension is necessary for reasons relating to the
safety and well-being of students, faculty, or University
property.
2. Failure in Academic Work
Whenever it shall appear that any student is not making
satisfactory progress in his or her studies, the student may
be excluded by vote of the faculty of the college or school in
which the student is enrolled or by a committee or board that
has been delegated such responsibility by that college or
school. A student shall be notified in writing no later than
the middle of a term that, because of unsatisfactory work in a
previous term or terms, he or she is subject to exclusion in
the event of unsatisfactory work during the term for which the
notice is issued. In the absence of written and timely notice
the student may request and then shall be granted a hearing by
the faculty (or its committee or board) before the student is
excluded.
3. Publications
No student or students shall publish any papers or other
publication or production bearing the name of the University,
or purporting to issue from it, without permission obtained,
with the knowledge of the provost, from the vice president for
student affairs, or the dean of the college or school in which
the students are enrolled.
4. Northwestern Community Council
a. Membership. The membership of the council shall consist of
15 persons: 5 students (undergraduate and/or graduate and
professional), an equal number of faculty members
(including at least 1 from the Chicago campus and no more
than 2 from any single school), 2 administrative personnel,
and 3 staff personnel. The president shall determine the
methods by which the members of the council are selected
and shall appoint one member of the council to serve as
chairman.
b. Convening of the Council. The council shall be convened
from time to time when either the president or the Steering
Committee of the University Senate determines that there is
an issue of broad University-wide concern about which the
council's advice might be sought.
c. Responsibilities and Powers. It shall be the duty of the
council to address the charge accompanying its being
convened and to make recommendations to the officers of the
University and to the University Senate.
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Source: University Relations
Last Updated: October 1991
UNIVERSITY STATEMENT ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Northwestern University is committed to the maintenance of
an environment free of discrimination and all forms of coercion
that impede the academic freedom or diminish the dignity of any
member of the University community. The University reaffirms this
policy specifically as it pertains to prevention of sexual
harassment and to the obligations of male and female students,
faculty, administrators, and staff in their capacities as
teachers and colleagues in this regard.
It is the policy of Northwestern University that no male or
female member of the Northwestern community - students, faculty,
administrators, or staff - may sexually harass any other member
of the community. Sexual advances, requests for sexual favors,
and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
constitute harassment when
1. submission to such conduct is made or threatened to be
made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition
of an individual's employment or education;
2. submission to or rejection of such conduct by an
individual is used or threatened to be used as the basis
for academic or employment decisions affecting that
individual; or
3. such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially
interfering with an individual's academic or
professional performance or creating an intimidating,
hostile, or offensive employment, educational, or living
environment.
A member of the University community who believes that he or
she has been the victim of sexual harassment or who becomes aware
of an incident of sexual harassment as defined above should bring
any such matter to the attention of either the school dean, the
dean of students, or the associate vice president for personnel,
as he or she prefers. An individual who wishes to make a
complaint may be accompanied by a fellow student, staff member,
or faculty member if the complainant desires. The person
receiving the complaint should immediately seek to resolve the
matter by informal discussions with the persons involved. If the
complainant or the alleged offender is not satisfied with the
proposed resolution, he or she may secure review of the matter by
either the provost, the senior vice president for business and
finance, or the vice president for student affairs, as
appropriate.
If, for any reason, a member of the community prefers in the
first instance not to approach the school dean, the dean of
students, or the associate vice president for personnel with his
or her complaint, that person should discuss the complaint with
the equal opportunity officer the director of the Women's Center,
the director of Chicago campus residence halls and student
activities, or a designated member of the General Faculty
Committee, the Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council, or
the Associated Student Government, who in turn shall bring the
complaint to the attention of the appropriate administrator.
During 1990-91, Professor Arlene Daniels (sociology), Ms. Janet
Stephens (Medical School), and Ms. Shahrzad Tadjkakhsh (ASG
president) have been designated by GFC, NUSAC, and the ASG,
respectively, to receive such complaints.
The provost, the vice president for student affairs, and the
senior vice president for business and finance are responsible
for ensuring that there is timely and thorough investigation of
all complaints. Accordingly, if the school dean, the dean of
students, or the associate vice president for personnel has
probable cause to believe that an act of sexual harassment has
taken place, that person shall immediately notify the provost if
the person complained against is a faculty member or academic
administrator, the vice president for student affairs if the
person complained against is a student, or the senior vice
president for business and finance if the person complained
against is a member of the staff.
The University will take appropriate steps to ensure that a
person who in good faith brings forth a complaint of sexual
harassment will not be subjected to retaliation. The University
also will take appropriate steps to ensure that a person against
whom such a complaint is brought is treated fairly, has adequate
opportunity to respond to such accusations, and that findings, if
any, are supported by clear and persuasive evidence. Complaints
of sexual harassment shall be handled confidentially, with the
facts made available only to those who need to know in order to
investigate and resolve the matter. The complainant and the
person complained against will be notified of the final
disposition of the complaint.
If a complaint of sexual harassment is found to be
substantiated, appropriate corrective action will follow, up to
and including the separation of the offending party from the
University, consistent with University procedures.
If the suggested procedures outlined above do not result in
a satisfactory resolution of a complaint, members of the
University community retain the right to file formal complaints
in cases of alleged sexual harassment. Complaints against
students are filed with the executive secretary of the University
Hearing and Appeals System; against staff, with the associate
vice president for personnel; and against faculty and academic
administrators, with the provost.
===============================================================
Source: University Relations
Last Updated: October 1991
TRUSTEE STATEMENT ON DISRUPTION
Northwestern University stands for freedom of speech,
freedom of inquiry, freedom of dissent, and freedom to
demonstrate in peaceful fashion. The University recognizes that
freedom requires order, discipline, and responsibility, and
stands for the right of all faculty and students to pursue their
legitimate goals without interference. This University,
therefore, will not tolerate any attempt by any individual,
group, or organization to disrupt the regularly scheduled
activities of the University. Any such effort to impede the
holding of classes, the carrying forward of the University's
business, or the arrangements for properly authorized and
scheduled events, would constitute an invasion of the rights of
faculty and students and cannot be permitted. If any such attempt
is made to interfere with any University activity, the leaders
and participants engaged in disruptive tactics will be held
responsible and will be subject to appropriate legal and
disciplinary action, including expulsion.
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