As students of the University of Utah, you are afforded rights and are accountable to act in a way that is in line with specific expectations. All of the details of your rights and expectations are outlined in Policy 6-400: Student Rights and Responsibilities.
The purposes of the Student Rights and Responsibilities policy are to set forth the specific authority and responsibility of the University to maintain social discipline, to establish guidelines that facilitate a just and civil campus community, and to outline the educational process for determining student and student organization responsibility for alleged violations of University regulations. University policies have been designed to protect individuals and the campus community and create an environment conducive to achieving the academic mission of the institution.
Student Academic Performance
The Office of the Dean of Students often receives inquiries regarding grades for courses and how to have them changed. Grades are an academic issue and the process for seeking an appeal is outlined in Policy 6-100 Instruction and Evaluation.
If a student believes that an action taken (e.g., a grade given) by a faculty member is arbitrary (unsupported) or capricious (impulsive), the student has twenty business days to discuss the action with the faculty member. If the faculty member does not respond, or if the student and faculty member are unable to resolve the disagreement, further steps are outlined for the student to appeal.
Please note that the Office of the Dean of Students does not have any authority in these matters, but can serve as a resource to students for understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities as outlined in Policy 6-400.
Academic Misconduct
A student who engages in academic misconduct (e.g., cheating, plagiarism, etc.) may be subject to academic sanctions including but not limited to a grade reduction, failing grade, probation, suspension or dismissal from the academic program or the University. This process, including how to appeal, is outlined in Policy 6-100 Instruction and Evaluation.
Please note that the Office of the Dean of Students does not have any authority in these matters, but can serve as a resource to students for understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities as outlined in Policy 6-400.
Petitions for Exception to Academic Policy
Students are responsible for complying with all University regulations and deadlines, but the University has provided means for students to be granted exceptions to University policy in cases involving unusual or extenuating circumstances. Modification of the academic record for sake of appearance does not constitute justification for exception to policy.
View information on requesting exceptions to University policy.
You will note that for most requests, students need to work through the college of their major for support of the petition. Students who have declared majors and pre-majors should submit petitions and supporting documentation to the Office of the Dean of their academic college. Undeclared and non-matriculated students should work with the Academic Advising Center. Students enrolled in workshops, short-term classes, or noncredit courses may petition the deadline to withdraw by submitting a petition and supporting documentation to the Academic Outreach and Continuing Education Office, 540 Arapeen Dr.
After you have confirmed what major you have declared (you can check this by logging into CIS), find the contact information of the Dean’s office of your college. The necessary forms and all supporting documentation must be received before your Dean’s Office will consider your petition.
Students are expected to uphold Policy 6-400: Student Rights and Responsibilities while attending the University of Utah. We understand that the policy may be complicated to understand. Our intention of writing the policy is to be as thorough as possible by outlining all details of the student accountability process. However, we also wanted to break down the policy in plain language to help you better understand the process if you are considering filing a complaint or if you are accused of a violation.
This is the process that is outlined in Section III, Policy 6-400: Student Rights and Responsibilities. Student Academic Performance, Academic Conduct, and Professional and Ethical Conduct processes are included in Policy 6-410. Reports of Discrimination or Sexual Misconduct are handled through the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action in accordance with Policy and Procedures 5-210.
Definitions of Common Words in the Process
- Allegations: A claim that there has been a possible violation(s) of the student code
- Complaining Party: An individual who filled an allegation of a policy violation/misbehavior
- Student Accountability Officer: The person(s) from the Office of the Dean of Students who will investigate and determine an initial outcome for your complaint
- Due Process: The right of students involved in the accountability process to have notice of accusations, an opportunity to respond, and an unbiased review and decision made on the issue.
- Informal Agreement: When a responding party is found responsible for violating policy, they may choose to accept the proposed sanctions without the case going before the Student Behavior Committee
- Office of Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action: The office which will investigate and determine an initial outcome for reports of sexual misconduct and discrimination.
- Preponderance of the Evidence: The University’s standard of determining if someone is responsible which is "more likely than not.”
- Responding Party: Student who is accused of a possible violation Due Process: Allowing students to meet with a Student Conduct hearing officer to tell their side of what happened
- Eviction from community: Removed or not allow to enter a specific area of campus or the entire campus
- Rules/Regulations/Policies: The policies used at the University found in the Regulations Library.
- Sanctions: Educational measures that may be taken to help a student who is found responsible for violating University policy examine and reflect on their behavior and encourage positive behavior in the future.
- Student Behavior Committee: The committee which conducts behavioral hearings and makes recommendations to the vice president for student affairs.
- Violations: The act of doing something that is not allowed by a law or policy
Process Flow Chart
Coming soon
Disciplinary records are part of a student’s academic record up to seven years and are therefore governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). To learn more about FERPA, visit the Office of the Registrar at http://registrar.utah.edu/handbook/ferpa.php. Please note that the University may disclose information from a student’s disciplinary record to officials of another school in which a student seeks enrollment without the student’s written consent.
In order for the Office of the Dean of Students disclose disciplinary records, the Consent to Release Student Education Records form must be completed and signed by the student.