Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
excerpted from http://registrar.boisestate.edu/ferpa.shtml
The Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (also known as the Buckley Amendment) is a federal law that limits the amount of information that can be released about students to people outside the University without students’ specific written permission.
When Communicating with Students about their Records
When talking to students about their records, Boise State staff must make a reasonable attempt to verify that students are who they claim to be. This applies to in-person, phone and e-mail exchanges. An exception exists for inquiries received from a Boise State University e-mail account.
When Communicating with Boise State Staff about Student Records
When communicating to Boise State staff about student records Boise State staff can share information with another university employee on a "need-to-know" basis. Staff should verify that the person is indeed a Boise State employee and provide the requested information once an appropriate need for the information has been given.
When Communicating to People outside the University about Student Records
When talking to people outside the University about a Boise State student's record, the maximum information that can be released is:
o Dates of attendance
o Full-time/Part-time status (based on 12 credit hours)
o Mailing address and telephone number
o E-mail address
o Class standing (freshman, sophomore, etc.)
o Major and minor plans
o Degree(s) earned and date degree was earned
o Date of birth
o However, if a student has requested PRIVACY (as indicated by the FERPA blind appearing on the PeopleSoft Bio-demo panel), staff may release nothing about this student without their specific written permission or subpoena.
Regardless of whether a student indicates Privacy, staff may not release the following information to anyone outside the University without the student's specific written permission or a subpoena (this includes parents, spouses, the police, even Campus police, the Armed Services, etc.)
o Courses students have taken
o Location of courses they are currently enrolled in
o Grades and GPA's
o Parent's name and address
o Student number or social security number
o Gender
o Credit hours earned
o Probation/Dismissal status
o Previous institutions attended
o Financial aid or veteran's status
o ACT or SAT test results
Boise State University Student Code of Conduct
http://www.boisestate.edu/osrr/scp/student_code.html
Article 1, Section 4—Freedom in the Classroom
The classroom is not an unstructured political forum; it is the center for study and understanding of described subject matter for which the faculty member has professional responsibility and institutional accountability. The faculty member should respect the confidential nature of the relationship between faculty and students. The faculty member should avoid exploitation of students for private advantage and should acknowledge significant assistance from them. The faculty member should protect student’s rights as defined herein. Control of the order and direction of class, as well as control of the scope and treatment of the subject matter, must therefore, immediately rest with the individual faculty member, free from disruption by students or others who may be in disagreement with the manner in which the faculty member discharges his/her responsibilities.
a. A student has the right to be informed in reasonable detail at the beginning of each term of the nature of the course, the course expectations, the evaluative standards and the grading system that will be used.
b. A student has the right to take reasonable exception to the data or views offered in the classroom and to reserve judgment about matter of opinion, without fear of penalty.
c. A student has the right of protection against improper disclosure of information concerning his/her grades, views, beliefs, political associations or character that an instructor acquires in the course of his/her professional relationship with the student.
d. Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation. At the same time, they are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance established for each course in which they are enrolled.
Article 2, Section 18—Academic Dishonesty
The term “academic dishonesty” may include cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty. All assignments submitted by a student must represent her/his own ideas, concepts, and current understanding or must cite the original source. Attempts to violate the academic integrity of an assignment do not have to be successful to be considered academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty may include, but is not limited to:
1. Stealing and/or Possessing Unauthorized Material - The unauthorized appropriation, possession or use of the property of another; the forgery or misuse of documents;
2. Fabrication and Falsification - The unauthorized alteration or invention of any information or citation;
3. Multiple Submission - The submission of substantial portions of the same assignment for credit more than once without the prior permission of all involved faculty members;
4. Abuse of Academic Material - Destroying, stealing, or making inaccessible library or other academic resource material;
5. Complicity in Academic Dishonesty - Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty.
Article 4, Section 4—Disorderly Conduct (is not allowed)
A violation may include, but is not limited to, any behavior that disrupts or obstructs any University activity, including but not limited to teaching, research, administration, proceedings, recreational activities, guest speaker presentations, and cultural events. It includes any behavior that causes a substantial disruption to the living or learning environment of the campus. Disorderly conduct may include disruptive noises or strong odors that can be reasonably traced to a specific individual or location, and may include the unauthorized use of electronic or other devises to make an audio and/or visual record of any person without his/her prior knowledge and consent when such a recording is likely to cause distress or injury.
Article 5, Section 1—Code of Conduct Complaints
Any member of the University community may file charges against any student for alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct. In addition, the University may initiate charges against a student when there is no other individual to act as Complainant. Charges will be prepared in writing and directed to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for processing. Any allegation should be submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place.
Students who are present when a violation occurs or who allow a violation of the Student Code of Conduct to occur may also have charges filed against them. Charges may be filed if a student fails to report Code violations or fails to remove him/herself from incriminating situations. A complaint should be filed within 30 days of an incident, though the Student Conduct Administrator may, at his/her discretion, extend that deadline as necessary when circumstances merit an extension.
Boise State University Policy Manual
Excerpted from http://www.boisestate.edu/policy/toc.shtml
ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY
Purpose: Boise State University exists to educate people to become knowledgeable citizens who are actively involved in the communities where they live. Critical to the development of this educated citizenry is fostering an atmosphere of respect and civility. Harassment is contrary to these values and the mission of BSU and will not be tolerated.
All members of the university community must be able to pursue their goals, educational needs, and working lives without intimidation or injury generated by intolerance and harassment. The development of creative, critical thinking skills demands freedom of thought, expression, and exploration. This requires an environment of mutual respect and tolerance for diverse persons, groups, and ideas. The goal of this policy is to promote the environment needed for creative work and study.
This policy applies to all faculty, staff, and students during activities on any university property or any university-related activities occurring away from campus. The university will not tolerate harassment of its faculty, staff, or students by persons conducting business with or visiting the university, even though the persons are not directly affiliated with the university.
Harassment is conduct towards another person or identifiable group of persons including, but not limited to, unwelcome comments or other conduct that unreasonably interferes with an individual's work or academic performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for that individual's work, education, or participation in a university activity.
A. Racial Harassment: Racial harassment is conduct directed toward another person (or identifiable group of persons) on the basis of race, color, national origin, or ancestry that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for that individual's work, education, or participation in a university activity. The conduct may be words, gestures, or actions.
B. Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:
1. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment, education, or participation in a university activity;
2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for decisions affecting such individual's employment, education, or participation in a university activity; or
3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for that individual's work, education, or participation in a university activity.
Office of Student Conduct
Excerpted from http://www.boisestate.edu/osrr/scp/student_code.html
Boise State University recognizes that at times, some students may violate the Student Code of Conduct and thus, action may be warranted on the part of faculty and/or staff.
Student Code of Conduct--This is the governing set of rules to which all Boise State University students must adhere. It will be to the benefit of all members of the Boise State University community for faculty and staff to become familiar with the Student Code of Conduct. Many students are not aware that Boise State has a Student Code of Conduct. Thus, faculty and staff can greatly help by informing Boise State students about the Student Code of Conduct. In the Student Code of Conduct, student rules of behavior are outlined by the University and the ways in which students may be brought up on charges.
If a faculty or staff member wishes to file a report against a student for violating the Student Code of Conduct, he/she should complete and submit the Student Conduct Report form to the Student Conduct Program for processing.
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