Students’ Rights

Student Rights and Responsibilities

• Students have the right to freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of inquiry and peaceful assembly.
• Students have the right to a learning environment free of disruption and intimidation.
• Students have the right to freedom from harassment, hazing, and any form of illegal discrimination.
• Students have the right to respect for their property.
• Students have the right to redress through a grievance procedure.
• Students have the right to personal privacy and protection against illegal disclosure.
• Students have the right to be represented in university decision-making and policy-forming bodies and the right to be duly informed of proposed changes to student responsibilities and academic policies.
• Students have the right to know grading criteria and to know graduation rates.
• Students have the right to know statistics concerning crime on and around campus.

The Respondent

Rights and Responsibilities of the Repsondent

• A respondent has the right to have complaints brought against them within a reasonable time and investigated in a fair, impartial, and timely manner. Time extensions may be made by the Dean of Students or their designee.
• A respondent has the right to procedural due process as outlined in the Student Handbook.
• A respondent has the right to have the hearing process explained by a conduct officer.
• A respondent may have a Conduct Advisor during all phases of the University Student Conduct System. The Conduct Advisor’s role is passive, there to provide guidance and support but does not actively participate in the University Student Conduct System.
• A respondent has the right to request mediation provided both parties voluntarily agree, however, mediation may not be possible in all cases.
• A respondent has the right to be notified in writing of all charges.
• A respondent has the right to accept or deny responsibility.
• A respondent has the right to request a hearing option according to the Student Handbook procedures.
• A respondent has the right to present witnesses as described in the relevant Student Handbook provisions.
• A respondent has the right to submit oral or written statements on their behalf.
• A respondent has the right to question and challenge information presented against them.
• A respondent has the responsibility to present a list of witnesses for a hearing at least two (2) days before the hearing.
• A respondent has the responsibility to be cooperative, respectful, and truthful in all interactions with the hearing officer or the hearing panel.
• A respondent who is found responsible for an offense shall, prior to receiving a sanction for that offense, have the right to submit to the hearing panel or officer responsible for determining the sanction, a verbal or written statement concerning an appropriate sanction.
• A respondent has the right to appeal the decision of the hearing panel or hearing officer as explained in the Student Handbook.
• A respondent has the right to be informed of the outcome of the hearing.

The Complainant

Rights and Responsibilities of the Complainant

• A URI student complainant has the right to request mediation provided both parties voluntarily agree, however, mediation may not be available in all cases.
• A URI student complainant, who indicates they have experienced sexual or gender-based harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or a crime of violence has the right to know the outcome of the case.
• A URI student complainant or a witness has the right to have the hearing process explained by a conduct officer.
• A URI student complainant may have a Conduct Advisor during all phases of the University Student Conduct System. The Conduct Advisor’s role is passive, there to provide guidance and support but does not actively participate in the University Student Conduct System.
• A URI student complainant has the right to submit a victim impact statement, verbally or in writing, to the hearing panel or hearing officer determining the sanction.
• A URI student complainant has the right to have their past behavior excluded from the hearing on the facts of the case. Past behavior will be considered when determining sanctions, if needed.
• A URI student complainant has the right to request a change of on-campus residence, if needed.
• A URI student complainant has the right to present witnesses to the hearing panel or hearing officer.
• A URI student complainant has the responsibility to be cooperative, respectful, and truthful in all interactions with hearing panel or hearing officer.
• A URI student complainant has the responsibility to provide the hearing officer or board advisor with the names of witnesses and any documentation related to the case. If not provided, the case will move forward without the information.
• A URI student complainant has the right to request to participate in a hearing through alternative means (i.e., having a partition; through remote video conferencing).

FERPA Rights

Rights of Students Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

For information regarding educational records, including student conduct records, please refer to Enrollment Services information found here FERPA.

Release of Information Contained in Student Education Records

Procedures for the release and disclosure of student records maintained by the University are in large measure governed by state and federal laws.

• Where the law is silent, the University is guided by the principle that the privacy of an individual is of great importance and that as much information in a student’s file as possible should be disclosed to the student on request.
• A current or former student has the right to inspect and review official records, files, and data directly related to that student, but subject to limited exceptions.
• This right does not extend to applicants, those denied admission to the University, or those who were admitted but did not enroll.
• Students should be aware that in accordance with federal law, the University may, without consent, release information from conduct records.

The University maintains student records primarily for educational purposes, although student records are maintained for other purposes such as health and employment (University Manual section 6.12.21). Guidelines incorporating the requirements of the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 are published in the Student Handbook.

• Third parties, including the University police, do not have access to personally identifiable records or information pertaining to students without the written consent of the student who specifies that the records be released, except as expressly permitted by FERPA.
• Parents are considered third parties. However, as a student, you may assign guest access to e- Campus to a third party to view your billing, academic records, and/or financial aid information.
• A guest can be your parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, employer, or other third-partypayer. Details to grant third party access can be found here.

Detailed guidelines for the release and disclosure of information from the student records are available from the Dean of Students Office. These guidelines comply with the legal requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 as amended.