Rules,
Regulations, and Statutory Requirements
A. Student Conduct and
Discipline
The
University of Texas
System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the
orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of
each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules
and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General
information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the U.T. Dallas
publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each
academic year.
The
University of Texas
at Dallas
administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and
established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents,
The University of Texas System, Series 50101, and in Title V, Rules on Student
Services and Activities, Chapter 49 of the university’s Handbook of
Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available
to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff
are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).
A
student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the
responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state,
and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and
administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating its
standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or
whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.
1.
Academic Dishonesty
The
faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic
honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute
integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative
that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her
scholastic work.
Scholastic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions
related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the
submission as one’s own work of material that is not one’s own. As
a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts:
cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students
suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.
2.
Campus Solicitations
“Solicitations,”
as defined by the Rules and Regulations
of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, means the sale,
lease, rental of any property, product, merchandise, publication, or service,
whether for immediate or future delivery; an oral statement or the distribution
or display of printed material, merchandise, or product that is designed to
encourage the purchase, use or rental of any property, product, merchandise,
publication, or service; the oral or written appeal or request to join an
organization other than a registered student, faculty, or staff organization;
the receipt of or request for any gift or contribution; or the request to
support or oppose or to vote for or against a candidate, issue, or proposition
appearing on the ballot at any election pursuant to state or federal law or
local ordinances. All solicitations on the U.T. Dallas campus must conform to
the Regents’ Rules, copies of which are available in the offices of the
President, Executive Vice President and Provost, Vice Presidents, and Deans,
and in numerous other administrative offices and the library.
3. Hazing
Hazing, submission to hazing, or failure to report
first-hand knowledge of the planning or occurance of specific hazing incidents
is prohibited by state law and, in addition to disciplinary actions, is
punishable by fines up to $10,000 and confinement in county jail for up to two
years. Moreover, any hazing offense that causes the death of another person is
a state jail felony. Hazing is defined by state law as, ‘’...any
intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational
institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a
student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student
for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding
office in, or maintaining membership in an organization." Any person who
reports a specific hazing incident involving a student to the Dean of Students
is immune from civil or criminal liability that he/she might otherwise incur as
a result of the report. Any persons who have further questions about hazing or
activitioes that may be considered hazing should call the Dean of Students
office at (972) 883-6391.
4.
Other Disciplinary Situations
Any
student organization as a group is subject to disciplinary action or revocation
of registration as a student organization for violation of a rule or regulation
of The University of Texas System or The University of Texas at Dallas.
B. Grievances Procedures
The
University of Texas
at Dallas is
committed to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of age, color,
disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or
veteran status in its provision of services, activities, and programs, and in
its treatment of students. Students seeking further information about this
policy or related complaint procedures for alleged discrimination or sexual
harassment should contact the Dean of Students. The
dean will follow the procedures for student grievances that are found in Title
V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, Chapter 51, summarized below.
Sexual
harassment is a form of sex discrimination. Such harassment is defined as
unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or
physical conduct of a sexual nature. Suggestions that academic or employment
reprisals or rewards will follow the refusal or granting of sexual favors, also constitute sexual harassment. The full text of
the University’s “Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedure” may
be found in the Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual, Section D,
D11-115.0.
Any
student who perceives that he or she has been subject to any form of
discrimination as defined above may file a written complaint with the Dean of
Students using the following procedures:
- The complaint
must contain the nature of the alleged discrimination, the date on which
the alleged discrimination occurred, and other appropriate information as
required by the dean.
- The dean will
refer all complaints that name an employee of the university (including
graduate assistants and other student employees) as the offender to the
Office of Human Resources for investigation and resolution. When the
nature of the complaint is discrimination on the basis of disability, the
dean will refer the grievance or complaint to the ADA Coordinator who will
investigate the complaint under the procedures given in the Administrative
Policies and Procedures Manual, Vol. IIA, Section D, page D11- 195.0,
Americans With Disabilities Act Grievance Policy.
- With the
exceptions noted in subsection (2) above, the student discipline procedure
outlined in Title V, Chapter 49 Student Discipline and Conduct will be
utilized for complaints that name a student as an alleged offender. Such
complaints will be investigated by the dean.
- As a result of
the investigation, the dean will, on the basis of the information
presented, determine:
- that
the charges of discrimination are without basis,
- that
further investigation is required ,
- that
campus action shall be initiated to alleviate a discriminatory situation,
or
- that
a hearing will be held.
C. Academic Appeals
- Procedures for
student grievances are found in Title V, Chapter 51, Rules on Student
Services and Activities,
of the university’s Handbook of Operating
Procedures. In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding
grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it
is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve
the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee
with whom the grievance originated (hereafter called “the
respondent.”) Individual faculty members retain primary
responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot
be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the
respondent with a copy to the respondent’s school dean. If the
matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent,
the student may submit a written appeal to the school dean. If the
grievance is not resolved by the school dean’s decision, the student
may make a written appeal to the dean of graduate or undergraduate
studies, who will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The
decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the
academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.
- Copies of
these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the
Dean of Students where staff are available to
assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.
D. Privacy Act: Student
Records
- The student’s
university record is established and maintained to provide both the
student and the university with information regarding the student’s
progress while enrolled at the university. Any student enrolled in the
university has access to and may inspect those records relating to his or
her academic progress, to the extent allowed by the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act and the Texas Public Information Act. The record is
considered to be confidential and may be released only within the
limitations clearly defined by university regulations and state and
federal statutes or with the student’s written permission.
- The university
may release directory information which is defined as public information
and includes the student’s name, local and permanent address,
telephone number, E-mail address, date and place of birth, major field of
study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports,
weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance,
degrees, awards and honors received, and the most recent educational
agency or institution attended by the student. This information may be
printed in various publications of the university such as the student
directory, honors list, athletic programs, list of graduating students, or
similar documents. Additionally, this information may be released upon
request. A student may request that the university not release directory
information by completing the appropriate forms during registration. The
student must complete the forms each semester.
- Student
records which the university maintains include official university
academic and personal records relating to scholastic, disciplinary and
fiscal matters as well as records maintained by university agencies and
agencies providing services sought voluntarily by students. Students may
challenge the contents of educational records and request corrections to
inaccurate or misleading information. Any request for correction or
explanation of record contents should be presented in writing to the person
in charge of the office where the record is maintained.
- Detailed
information pertaining to the content of and handling of student records
is contained in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the
university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Students wishing more
information about their rights established under the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act should contact the Office of Student Life, Student
Union 1.602, (972) 883-6391.
E. The Student-Right-To-Know
and Campus Security Act
In
compliance with the Student-Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, The
University of Texas at Dallas
collects specified information on campus crime statistics, campus security
policies, and institutional completion or graduation rates. The university publishes
an annual report of campus security policies and crime statistics and
distributes copies during registration.
F. Emergency Response, Fire
Safety, and Security
Emergency
Response:
In the event of an emergency or natural disaster the
campus community will be notified as prominently as possible through several
means of communication. This includes Campus Alert E-mail, the University's
website, campus and local media, text-messaging, Fire Alarm Systems, Indoor
Warning System and Outdoor Warning System. For policies and procedures, and
reporting requirements please visit http://www.utdallas.edu/ehs/emergency/.
Fire Safety: The entire
U.T.Dallas campus fire alarm system is being monitoring 24-7 via a
SimplexGrinnell Information management system. This IMS operates on a fiber
optic loop connected to every building fire panel on the Richardson campus. All
30 of UTD's buildings have primary reporting to the University Police and
secondary reporting to EHS and EMS. For policies and procedures please visit http://www.utdallas.edu/ehs/firelifesafety/
Gang-free Zones: Premises
owned, rented or leaded by The University of Texas at Dallas, and areas within
1,000 feet of the premises are "gang-free" zones. Certain criminal
offenses, including those involving gang-related crimes, will be enhanced to
the next highest category of offense if committed in a gang-free zone by an
individual 17 years or older. See Texas Penal Code, Section 71.028.
Missing Student Notification: The
purpose of the UTDallas Missing Persons Policy is to establish procedures for
the University’s response to reports of missing students as required by
the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. This policy applies to students
who reside in on-campus housing. For purposes of this policy, a student may be
considered a “missing person” when he or she is absent from the
University for more than 24 hours without any known reason. A student may also
be deemed missing when his/her absence is contrary to his/her usual pattern of
behavior and/or unusual circumstances may have caused the absence. Such
circumstances could include, but not be limited to, a report or suspicion that
the missing person may be the victim of foul play, has expressed suicidal
thoughts, is drug dependent, or has been with persons who may endanger the
student’s welfare. All residential students will have the opportunity to
designate a confidential contact to be notified by the University no more than
24 hours after the student is determined missing.
Instructions will be provided on how to register that person’s contact
information. All reports of missing students shall be directed to the UT Dallas
Police Department, which shall investigate each report and make a determination
about whether the student is missing. NOTE: If a missing student is under the
age of 18, and is not emancipated, the University will contact the designated
confidential contact, but is also required to contact the legal guardian or
parent.
G. Use of Facilities
Pursuant
to the general authority of Texas Education Code Chapter 65, and the specific
authority of Texas Education Code Chapter 51, the Board of Regents of The
University of Texas System, in Series 80101-80110 of the Rules and Regulations, promulgates rules relating to the use of
buildings, grounds, and facilities for purposes other than programs and
activities related to the role and mission of the U. T. System and the
component institutions.
The
property, buildings, or facilities owned or controlled by the U. T. System or
U. T. Dallas are not open for assembly, speech, or other activities as are the
public streets, sidewalks, and parks. The responsibility of the Board of
Regents to operate and maintain an effective and efficient system of
institutions of higher education requires that the time, place and manner of
assembly, speech, and other activities on the grounds and in the buildings and
facilities of the U. T. System or U. T. Dallas be regulated.
Complete
copies of the regental and institutional rules and regulations are available to
students in the Office of the Dean of Students where staff members are
available to assist students in interpreting the rules.