Appendix I
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.
Hazing,
submission to hazing, or failure to report first-hand knowledge of the planning
or occurrence 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 activities that may be
considered hazing should call the Dean of Students office at (972) 883-6391.
Unauthorized
distribution of copyrighted material may subject students to civil and criminal
penalties. All
UT Dallas syllabi are required to include, whether
in text or a hyperlink, student conduct policies including a copyright notice.
This notice directs students to UT Dallas' Policy Regarding
Photocopying Copyrighted Materials (UTD PP 1043) and UT System's copyright
website. Further, the Director
of Information Security is identified as the University's contact for
copyright questions or concerns. See www.utdallas.edu/copyright.
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:
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 chair with
whom the grievance originated (hereafter called “the respondent.”) within sixty
(60) calendar days after the date on which the decision was first rendered.
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades
and evaluations
·
If the matter cannot be resolved in
discussions between the student and the respondent, the student grievant can
submit a written appeal to the respondent's department/program head with a copy
to the respondent clearly specifying the basis of the appeal and stating the
remedies the student is seeking. This written appeal MUST be submitted no later
than the sixty-fifth day after the date on which the decision in dispute was
first rendered by the respondent. Within ten business days while classes are in
session, the respondent will provide both the student and the
department/program head with a written response. The department/program head
will have 10 business days to review all submissions and provide a written
response to the student and respondent (an extension to this timeline may be
granted by the school dean for good cause). In determining the validity of the
grievance, the department head should be guided by the principle that the
burden is on the grievant to show that the decision is arbitrary and capricious.
If the department/program head decides that the grievance be granted, he/she
will also provide a decision on how to resolve the dispute.
D.
Privacy Act: Student Records
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 UT 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 UT Dallas 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.