Academic Policies of the University

Click on any of the following links for information:

• Campus-Wide Academic Regulations
• Undergraduate Honors
• Student Rights and Responsibilities
• The Proper Use of Information
• Student Academic Grievance Procedure
• Student Rights Policy
• If It Happens To You
  

Some variations exist in the academic regulations for the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education and Human Services, the School of Health Professions and Studies, and the School of Management in the following areas: grading systems, academic and scholastic requirements, credit requirements for graduation, honors, academic grievance procedures, pass/fail options, and credit by examination. Students should acquaint themselves with the pertinent regulations, which can be found in the appropriate sections of this Catalog.

All graduate students are advised to consult the Graduate portion of this Catalog for specific information on each of the Graduate programs.

The following regulations represent University-wide rules of which all students should be aware in order to fulfill their academic responsibilities. The ultimate responsibility for fulfilling the requirements for a degree rests with the student.

Campus-Wide Honors

University of Michigan-Flint undergraduate students are eligible for the following campus-wide awards. Notation of each award is made on the student’s official transcript.

Maize and Blue.The University of Michigan-Flint’s highest award for undergraduate students is presented at the May and December commencement ceremonies. Students graduating in August are recognized in December. Students receiving the award are given plaques and the award is noted on the official transcript.

Eligibility for the award is determined the last semester before graduation. The semesters including the student’s last 58 credit hours at the University of Michigan-Flint are determined and a GPA is calculated on the basis of all courses at UM-Flint included in these semesters, except courses in progress. Students whose calculated GPA is at least 3.75 are considered for the award.

Once the list of eligible students has been determined, academic departments are asked for nominations from this list. Their nominations are sent to the Scholarships, Awards and Special Events Committee, which makes the final decision. At most, thirteen students receive the award at each commencement ceremony. An attempt is made to allocate the awards proportionately among the various academic units.

Commencement Honor Cords. University of Michigan-Flint undergraduate students may walk in commencement ceremonies with honor cords if they meet guidelines for tentative honors. (Eligible students completing their degrees in August are recognized at the December ceremony.) Students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education and Human Services must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher two months prior to the ceremony. Students in the School of Health Professions and Studies and the School of Management must meet the degree honors requirements of the school using the current semester hours. (Courses in progress are excluded from GPA calculations but are included in credit requirements.) Students who wish an exception to these rules must submit a petition to the academic standards committee of their school or college.

Dean’s List. A full-time student who earns a 3.5 grade point average for a Fall or Winter semester with 12 or more graded hours is placed on the Dean’s List in his or her school or college for that semester. In computing averages, only courses taken at the University of Michigan-Flint are included, and only complete terms or semesters are counted. Notation of the award is made on the student’s official transcript.

System-Wide Honors

University of Michigan-Flint undergraduate students are eligible for the following system-wide awards of the University of Michigan. The term “graded” refers to courses graded “ABC.”

Branstrom Prize. This prize is presented in March to those firsttime freshmen who were enrolled for at least 14 graded credit hours the previous Fall semester and finished in the top five percent of their class. The prize is a book with an inscribed nameplate on the inside cover, chosen by the student from an impressive list.

James B. Angell Scholar. This award is presented in March to those undergraduate students who completed consecutive semesters in the last year each of which included at least 14 credits of graded work for which the student earned no grade lower than “A-”.

University Honors (formerly Class Honors). This award is presented in March to those undergraduate students who completed a single semester in the previous year including at least 14 credit hours, at least 12 of which were graded, with a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Academic Standing

An undergraduate student who maintains a grade point average of at least 2.0 for courses elected while enrolled at the University is considered to be in good academic standing in the University. Those students who fail to maintain a C (2.0) average are considered academically deficient. This general description of standards must be augmented by the regulations of each individual unit. All students must be familiar with the academic requirements and rules of their own school or college.

At the end of each term, the Office of the Registrar reviews the transcripts of all students showing evidence of academic difficulty according to the policies set by the committees on academic standards. The University uses three major types of actions: Warning, Up-or-Out, and Dismissal.

Warning. Warning is issued to all students at the University whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 for the first time, but does not drop severely enough to warrant dismissal. There is no automatic term of warning. A significant honor-point deficiency can result in dismissal from the University without a previous warning.

Up-or-Out. When a student on previous warning fails to obtain a 2.0 grade point average in the next term of enrollment or drops severely in one semester, an up-or-out warning is issued. The student is informed in writing that unless substantial improvement occurs, academic dismissal will follow at the end of that term. If the grade point average for that term is 2.0 or higher but is not sufficient to raise the cumulative grade point average to 2.0 or higher, the student is continued on up-or-out status. If the term grade point average is below 2.0, the student may be dismissed. Grades of I (incomplete), N (no credit, no grade), or F (in pass/fail) will be considered grades below C.

Students readmitted to the University after dismissal are immediately placed on up-or-out status.

Dismissal. Academic dismissal does not carry any condition for readmission. If a student wishes at a later date to seek reentry to the University, academic readiness must be demonstrated. This is usually done by submitting transcripts from other institutions of higher learning indicating academic success. Normally, however, the only courses considered as proof of readiness will be such courses which are usually transferable to the University. These courses may or may not be entered as transfer courses on the student’s record, but will in no case alter the grade point average already on the student’s University of Michigan-Flint permanent record.

Students receiving benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA) will be governed by the same academic standards as other students with the following exception: After two consecutive semesters of a grade point average lower than 2.0, the VA student will no longer be eligible for veterans’ benefits. The Veterans Administration will be informed if a student fails to come off probation at the end of two terms or semesters.

Classification of Undergraduate Students

The class standing of undergraduate students is determined by the number of credit hours they have accumulated:

Freshman: Fewer than 25 credits.
Sophomore: At least 25 but fewer than 55 credits.
Junior: At least 55 but fewer than 85 credits.
Senior: 85 credits or more.

Students who seek a second bachelor’s degree are granted credits as explained in the section “Second Bachelor’s Degree” and are placed in the appropriate undergraduate class.

NCFD (non-candidate for degree) students may or may not hold a degree; some may be seeking professional certification or fulfilling undergraduate requirements for a master’s degree.

Guest students are enrolled in another college with which they have made arrangements for transfer of credits being earned at the University of Michigan-Flint.

Dual enrollee students are high school students that have been approved to take college courses.

Senior Year Enrollment

To be recommended for the bachelor’s degree, a student must have registered as a degree candidate at the University of Michigan-Flint for the last 30 credits.

A transfer student from a non-University of Michigan college must earn a minimum of 45 semester hours at the University of Michigan-Flint, including the last 30 credits.

Changes in Individual Course Elections

Changes in course elections include dropping and adding a course. To make a course change before the first official day of the semester the student must add/drop on the SIS website. To make a course change after the first official day of the semester, the student must obtain an add/drop from the academic advisor and have it signed by the instructor or instructors concerned. The student continues to be registered in the class of original choice until the student has returned the add/drop form, properly signed, to the Office of the Registrar. See the current course schedule booklet for more information.

Individual courses may not be dropped without a final grade after the Friday of the eighth week of classes. Undergraduate students who seek exceptions to these deadlines must petition the Committee on Academic Standards in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Academic Standards Committee in the School of Education and Human Services, the Academic Standards Committee in the School of Health Professions and Studies, or the Academic Review Committee in the School of Management. A request to drop a course without a final grade after this time will be considered only on medical grounds or for other compelling reasons.

Permission to drop a course after the deadline will not be granted merely because the student is doing unsatisfactory work. If a student stops attending a course without official approval, the grade of E, F or N will be recorded.

The procedure to add courses varies among the different units of the University. For further information, students should consult their advisors and the Catalog sections of the different University units. Graduate students should consult the Office of Graduate Programs for information. (See also the add/drop information in the “Adjustment of Fees” section of this Catalog.)

Auditing

All students are expected to elect courses for credit. Occasionally an undergraduate student may wish to attend courses which have not been elected for credit. The instructor may grant official auditing at the time of registration or during the scheduled period to add courses. A course that is audited is billed at the usual tuition.

The course will appear on the student’s transcript as “audit.” The student must attend classes regularly and complete all the work of the course. If the student enrolled as an auditor does not complete the course to the instructor’s satisfaction, the grade “W” will be recorded on the permanent record.

Reelection of Courses

Any course may be reelected. Only the credits earned the last time the course is taken will count. The record of all attempts and grades received will appear on the transcript. When a course is reelected, the grade received for the last attempt will be used to calculate the grade point average. Courses taken at institutions other than the University of Michigan-Flint do not affect the grade point average.

Graduate students may repeat a course with permission of the advisor and course instructor.  Credits for the course may not be earned beyond the limit set by guidelines of the department or program.  Each election and grade for a course that is repeated will remain on the transcript, and will be counted into the grade point average as seperate elections.  However, only the final attempt, if passed, will count toward total hours earned.

The grade N, which signifies neither credit nor grade point value, is used in numerous courses. For these courses, the lowest grade for which credit is earned will be one of the following: C, C-, D, D-. The use of this grading system in a course is indicated in course listings and is announced at the beginning of the courses. Students should be aware that although N grades do not affect the grade point average, the accumulation of an excessive number of Ns is considered insufficient progress toward a degree. Therefore, after the first nine (9) credits for which a grade of N is received, any subsequent grade of N will be recorded as an E, regardless of whether a course in the original nine credits is retaken. Students who plan to apply to graduate schools should note that some transcript reporting agencies and graduate schools compute N grades as failing.

Class Attendance

Regular attendance at class, laboratory, and other appointments for which credit is given is expected of all students. Irregularities in attendance should be promptly explained by the student to the appropriate instructors. If an instructor considers the number of absences excessive, a written report may be sent by the instructor to the student’s faculty advisor.  The attendance policy for each course is the prerogative of the individual instructor. 

Final Examinations

Final examinations are given in accordance with the official schedule issued each term. Students must take the final examination according to that schedule. Students who wish to change the scheduled time due to hardship, conflict, or other unusual circumstances must have their requests approved by the instructor or the dean, director, or coordinator of the appropriate administrative unit.

Disenrollment from the University

If, for health or other valid personal reasons, the student finds it necessary to disenroll from the University, requests for official withdrawal must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Students who withdraw or reduce their enrollment should see the section entitled “Adjustment of Fees” to learn whether they are eligible for a refund. Students may disenroll from the University without petition until the last day of classes; courses affected by a disenrollment after the add period will receive “W” grades. Graduate students should consult with the Office of Graduate Programs for disenrollment information.

Students who are absent from the University for more than one calendar year must be readmitted to the University through the Office of Admissions or the Graduate Programs Office.

Change in Major

An undergraduate student contemplating a change in major should seek advice from the current advisor, the prospective advisor, or the Academic Advising and Career Center, and notify the Office of the Registrar of any change.

A student who seeks a major in programs outside their current school should contact the prospective program for information on appropriate admission requirements and applications. Graduate students should consult with the Office of Graduate Programs for information about change in concentration.

Deficiency in English

Any instructor who finds a student’s work seriously deficient in standard written English may refer the case to the Director of the Writing Center. The student may be given additional work in composition with or without credit. Instructors may refuse credit or give a reduced grade for written work which does not demonstrate accurate, effective use of standard English.

Waiver of Degree Requirements

If, because of previous academic work, a student feels compelling reasons to waive University-wide requirements exist, a petition for waiver must be submitted to the academic standards committee of the appropriate unit. If  waiver of degree or program requirements is sought, a petition for waiver must be submitted to the appropriate dean, director, or department chair.

The Student as a Guest at Another Institution

A student at the University of Michigan-Flint will be permitted to elect a course for credit at another academic institution provided either (1) completion of the course is necessary to satisfy requirements of the University of Michigan-Flint, or (2) the course is not equivalent to any course of the University of Michigan-Flint but would be normally transferable.

If the course at the other institution is equivalent to one at the University of Michigan-Flint, the student must demonstrate to the advisor and to the chair of the department or program which supervises the course that scheduling of the course at the University of Michigan-Flint cannot be done at a reasonable point in the student’s program. The student must obtain written consent to elect the course from the advisor, the appropriate chair, the appropriate dean, and the Registrar of the University of Michigan-Flint.

After the final grade is recorded, the student must arrange to have the visited institution send an official copy of the transcript to the Office of Admissions of the University of Michigan-Flint. Ordinarily students will not be permitted to register for more than one course at a time at the visited institution. Students must complete the final 30 credits at UM-Flint. Therefore, UM-Flint students with 90 or more credits must petition the appropriate academic standards committee for a possible exception to this policy. Students should always consult with advisors to discuss the application of transfer credits toward any particular program of study.

Guest application forms are available in the Office of Admissions. Any student of the University of Michigan-Flint who enrolls in another academic institution, except as outlined above, must not expect to transfer the credit to the University of Michigan-Flint.

Graduation Application

Upon completing 100 credit hours, an undergraduate student must submit a Graduation Application to the Office of the Registrar. This will initiate a review of the student’s transcript to verify the student’s qualifications for graduation.Graduate students should request a Graduation Application from the Office of Graduate Programs at least one semester prior to the intended graduation date.

If the student does not graduate, the application will be inactive until the student informs the Office of the Registrar of the new expected date of graduation.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

A student who has earned a bachelor’s degree at any campus of the University of Michigan may earn a second bachelor’s degree. This requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond those required for the previous degree. The 90 credits counted from the previous degree will form the basis for the new degree, and will carry its grade point average. When the first bachelor’s degree was earned at an institution other than the University of Michigan, students are usually granted 75 credits toward the new degree program. A new degree program must be completed and should be planned in consultation with a concentration advisor.

A student who has earned a bachelor’s degree, and wishes to complete a second bachelor’s will be considered as having met the following general education requirements:

• English Composition
• Fine Arts
• Humanities
• Natural Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Additional Courses (50 credit hours outside of the major).

Simultaneous Bachelor’s Degrees

A student may elect to earn and be awarded two different bachelor’s degrees simultaneously. Minimal requirements for two degrees earned simultaneously include 30 additional credits beyond the credits required for one of the degrees (minimum of 150 credits) and fulfillment of all requirements for both degrees, including the foreign language requirement for any BA degree. The student must choose a primary and secondary degree. A student may elect to earn two bachelor’s degrees in any combination (e.g., two BA degrees, or a BS and a BBA degree). A student may elect to earn bachelor’s degrees in one academic unit or two different units.

Bachelor’s degrees offered are listed under “Degrees Offered” in the Planning a Program of Study section of this Catalog, and are detailed on a chart in that section.

Multiple Concentrations

A student may elect to earn and be awarded a single bachelor’s degree with multiple concentrations. Requirements for multiple concentrations earned simultaneously include fulfillment of all requirements for each concentration and all degree requirements, including the foreign language requirement for a BA degree. The student must choose a primary and secondary concentration. A student may elect to earn different concentrations in one academic unit or different units.

Note: The completion of requirements for multiple concentrations does not constitute the fulfillment of the requirements for simultaneous bachelor’s degrees (see above).

Academic Integrity

Intellectual integrity is the most fundamental value of an academic community. Students and faculty alike are expected to uphold the highest standards of honesty and integrity in their scholarship. No departure from the highest standards of intellectual integrity, whether by cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or aiding and abetting dishonesty by another person, can be tolerated in a community of scholars. Such transgressions may result in action ranging from reduced grade or failure of a course, to expulsion from the University or revocation of degree.

It is the responsibility of all students and faculty to know the policies on academic integrity in the instructional units at the University of Michigan-Flint. Information about these policies and the appeals process is available from the appropriate administrative office of the instructional units: in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; in the School of Education and Human Services, the Office of the Dean of the School of Education and Human Services; in the School of Management, the Office of the Dean of the School of Management; in the School of Health Professions and Studies, the Office of the Dean of the School of Health Professions and Studies and for graduate students, the Office of the Dean of Graduate Programs.

Departments and programs within these instructional units may have specific policies and procedures which further delineate academic integrity. In such cases students are bound by the University policy on academic integrity as well as these department or program policies.

Procedural Rights of the Accused Student. A student who is charged with academic dishonesty by an instructor, administrator, or another student may be assured that he/she has the right to a fair hearing of the charges and the evidence, the right to question witnesses, to invite witnesses on his/her behalf, and to introduce whatever other evidence may be relevant to the charge.

Code of Academic Conduct. The University, like all communities, functions best when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness, respect, and trust. Therefore, an individual should realize that deception for the purpose of individual gain is an offense against the members of the community. Such dishonesty includes:

Plagiarism: taking credit for someone else’s work or ideas, submitting a piece of work (for example, an essay, research paper, assignment, laboratory report) which in part or in whole is not entirely the student’s own work without fully and accurately attributing those same portions to their correct source.

Cheating: using unauthorized notes, or study aids, or information from another student or student’s paper on an examination; altering a graded work after it has been returned, then submitting the work for regrading; allowing another person to do one’s work, then submitting the work under one’s own name.

Fabrication: fabricating data; selectively reporting or omitting conflicting data for deceptive purposes; presenting data in a piece of work when the data were not gathered in accordance with guidelines defining the appropriate methods of collecting or generating data; failing to include a substantially accurate account of the method by which the data were gathered or collected.

Aiding and Abetting Dishonesty: providing material or information to another person when it should reasonably be expected that such action could result in these materials or information being used in a manner that would violate this code of academic integrity.

Falsification of Records and Official Documents: altering documents affecting academic records; forging a signature of authorization or falsifying or omitting necessary information on an official academic document, election form, grade report, letter of permission, petition, or any document designed to meet or exempt a student from an established College or University academic regulation; falsification or unauthorized altering of information in any official academic computer file.

Identity Theft: Assuming another person’s identity or role through deception or without proper authorization. Communicating or acting under the guise, name, identification, email address, signature, or indicia of another person without proper authorization, or communicating under the rubric of an organization, entity, or unit that you do not have the authority to represent.

Misrepresentation and Other Acts of Academic Dishonesty: fraudulently obtaining and/or using academic materials that would give oneself an unfair advantage over other students or would deceive the person evaluating one’s academic performance.

Attempts. An attempt to commit an act prohibited by this code may be punished to the same extent as a completed violation.

Found online at: http://ww2.umflint.edu/its/policies.htm

Policy

It is the policy of the University to attempt to provide appropriate access to local, national, and international sources of information. It is the policy of the University that information resource  will be used by members of its community with respect for privacy and the public trust.

In accordance with the policies above, the University works to ensure that intellectual property and University records are protected from unauthorized use or distribution.

Authorized Use

As conditions of use for Information Technology Services (ITS) facilities and communication systems accessed through their use, all users agree to respect (1) the privacy of University records, (2) the legal protection provided by copyright and license agreements for programs and data, (3) the intended use for which access to the resources was granted, and (4) the integrity of the computing systems.

Appropriate Use

All users of computing resources should be mindful of the impact of their participation on the campus community, should engage only in authorized use, and should abide by standards of good citizenship in general.

Responsible Use

Users of ITS resources are expected to use those resources in a responsible and efficient manner. Users are expected to refrain from engaging in illegal, unauthorized, inappropriate, for-profit, or deliberately wasteful practices as outlined in the Standard Practice Guide.

If any student has a grievance regarding academic practices and policies, there are established procedures within each college and school of the University of Michigan-Flint for resolving such problems. For conflicts involving a faculty member, all such procedures require initial consultation with the individual instructor. If the conflict is of a discriminatory or sexually harassing nature, the student should consult with the Office of Human Resources and Affirmative Action or the Dean. Formal complaints must be filed with the Office of Human Resources and Affirmative Action.

See the appropriate school or college section of this Catalog for a statement of the academic grievance procedure to be followed. Graduate students should consult the Office of the Dean of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan-Flint.

Introduction

The primary purpose of the Student Rights Policy is to assist the University of Michigan-Flint in providing an environment which supports the educational process and the well-being of the campus community. Free inquiry and free expression are essential attributes of the University community. As members of the community, students are encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgment and to engage in a substantial independent search for truth. The freedom to learn depends upon the opportunities and conditions in the classroom, the campus, and in the larger community. The responsibility to secure and respect general conditions conducive to the freedom to learn should be shared by all members of the academic community. Students are obligated to exercise their freedom with maturity and responsibility.

Student rights and responsibilities are defined in the Student Rights Policy in order to give general notice of conduct expectations, to identify sanctions which shall be imposed when misconduct occurs, and to ensure that students are treated with fundamental fairness and personal dignity. The Student Rights Policy is an articulation of the University’s commitment to recognize and support the rights of its students and to provide a guide for defining behaviors the University considers inappropriate. It is not, however, meant to be an exhaustive list of all rights supported by the University or of all actions which maybe considered misconduct.

Members of the University community are accountable to both civil authorities and to the University for acts which violate the law and this Policy. Disciplinary action at the University will, normally, proceed during the pendency of external civil or criminal proceedings and will not be subject to challenge on the grounds that external civil or criminal charges involving the same incident are pending or have been invoked, dismissed, or reduced.

Academic Rights

1. Protection of Freedom of Expression. Students are responsible for learning thoroughly the content of any course of study, but are free to take exception to the data or views presented and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion.
2. Protection Against Improper Disclosure. Protection against improper disclosure of information regarding student views, beliefs, and political associations which instructors acquire in the course of their work as instructors, advisors, and counselors is considered a professional obligation.
3. Protection Against Improper Academic Evaluation. Students can expect protection, through orderly procedures, against prejudice or capricious evaluation.

If any student has a grievance regarding academic practices and policies, there are established procedures within each college and school of the University of Michigan-Flint for resolving such problems.

For conflicts involving a faculty member, all such procedures require initial consultation with the individual instructor. If the conflict is of a discriminatory or sexual harassing nature, the student should consult with the Affirmative Action Officer or the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management. Formal complaints must be filed with the Affirmative Action Office.

See the appropriate school or college section of this Catalog for a statement of the academic grievance procedure to be followed. Graduate students should consult the Office of Graduate Programs at the University of Michigan-Flint.

Non-Academic Rights

1. Students are free to express views on and to participate in determining matters of concern to the academic community. Students may exercise rights of free speech and press, lawful assembly, religion, petition, organization, and the freedom to invite and hear speakers who they feel have a contribution to make to the learning experience of the students. In exercising these and all other rights, students have the responsibility to follow the prescribed policies and procedures of the University of Michigan-Flint, including the “Statement on Freedom of Speech and Artistic Expression” adopted by the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (July 1988).
2.  
   1. Students and student organizations are free to discuss responsible questions of interest to them and to express lawful opinions publicly and privately without penalty. In conveying the ideas and opinions of students, the student press is free from censorship and the need of advance approval.
   2. Editors, managers, and writers must subscribe to the standards of responsible journalism. At the same time, they are protected from arbitrary suspension and removal because of student, faculty, administrative, or public disapproval of editorial policy or content.
3. Students are free to organize and join associations, and conduct business in their own interest. Student organizations have the right to establish membership requirements, qualifications for office, and rules of procedures for operation within the guidelines established by Student Government. University facilities are reasonably available so far as their primary use for educational purposes permit, on a nondiscriminatory basis, to registered student organizations.
4. Students have the right to privacy of personal possessions. Searches and seizures may be conducted by appropriate University officials, but only for specific reasons of probable cause and not freely at will. The student(s) being searched must be notified of the object of the search, unless there is probable immediate danger to person or property.
5. Students who have allegedly violated University policy have the right to use applicable University proceedings. The proceedings of such cases will be conducted according to procedures established for that purpose by the appropriate University unit.

Students’ Responsibilities

Students are expected to be responsible for their actions and to respect the rights of others. These expectations are not meant to limit students’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression.

The following personal actions on University property or at official University functions shall be considered non-academic misconduct and be subject to disciplinary action:

1. Sexual assault or sexual harassment.
2. Harassment or stalking.
3. Causing or threatening to cause harm to any person on University premises or at University-sponsored activities and events. This includes, but is not limited to acts such as killing, assault, or battery.
4. Use, possession, or storage of any weapon on University premises or at University-sponsored activities and events (unless approved by the Department of Public Safety; such approval will be given only in extraordinary circumstances).
5. Hazing practices as requirements of membership, advancement, or continued good standing in organizations, defined as including, but not limited to the following willful acts, with or without the consent of the individual involved:
   
   • physical injury, assault, or battery
   • kidnapping or imprisonment
   • intentionally placing at risk of severe mental or emotional harm
   • degradation, humiliation, or compromising of moral or religious values
   • forced consumption of any liquid or solid
   • mandatory personal servitude
   • placing an individual in physical danger (at risk) which includes abandonment
   • impairment of physical liberties which include curfews or other interference with academic endeavors.
6. Unlawful possession, use, manufacture, sale, or distribution of any controlled substance, alcoholic beverage, or illegal drug on University premises or at University-sponsored activities and events.
7. Initiating or causing to be initiated any false report, warning, or threat of fire, explosion, or other emergency on University premises or at University-sponsored activities and events.
8. Fraud against the University, forgery, misuse, or alteration of any University document or record including identification card, or misuse of the University’s computer system to gain access to restricted information.
9. Furnishing false information to the University.
10. Theft of University property or funds or misuse of services on University premises; possession of stolen University property; possession of stolen property on University premises.
11. Intentionally and significantly interfering with teaching.
12. Damage, destruction or vandalism of University property or property belonging to another.
13. Illegal entry into University facilities.
14. Unauthorized use or possession of fireworks or explosives on University premises or at University-sponsored activities and events.
15. Interfering with University or University-sponsored activities. This includes but is not limited to studying, teaching, research, University administration, or campus safety, fire, police, or emergency services.
16. Failing to comply with directions of University officials, including campus safety, acting in performance of their duties.
17. Commission of any state or federal crime on University premises or at University-sponsored activities and events
18. Tampering with fire or other safety equipment, or setting unauthorized fires.
19. Misusing, failing to comply with or jeopardizing these procedures, sanctions, or mediated agreements, or interfering with participants involved in the resolution process.

Discrimination or Harassment

Students who feel their rights have been abridged for reasons of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, handicap, or Vietnam-era veteran status should consult with the Affirmative Action Officer. Formal complaints must be filed with the Affirmative Action Office. The role of the Affirmative Action Officer is to help the student to identify the source of the problem and to inform the student of University policies and procedures as well as protective laws and regulations as they may apply, and to assist the student in the resolution of the identified problem.

Harassment is defined as physical force, violence, or behavior that has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s personal safety, academic efforts, employment, or participation in university sponsored activities and causes the person to have a reasonable apprehension that such harm is about to occur. This includes harassment by the use of technology such as the telephone, voice mail, answering machine, fax machine, computer e-mail, or other electronic communication media.

Stalking, a form of harassment, means a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested, and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested.

No member of the University community may sexually harass another. Sexual harassment consists of sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and verbal, visual or physical conduct that stigmatizes or victimizes an individual on the basis of sex or sexual orientation where such behavior:

1. Involves an express or implied threat to an individual’s academic efforts, employment, participation in University sponsored extracurricular activities, or personal safety; or
2. Has the purpose or reasonably foreseeable effect of interfering with an individual’s academic efforts, employment, participation in University-sponsored extracurricular activities, or personal safety; or
3. Creates an intimidating, hostile or demeaning environment for educational pursuits, employment, or participation in University-sponsored extracurricular activities.

The University will make a good faith effort to seek resolution of all complaints in an expedient and confidential manner through discussion and communication with the person, witnesses, and department or unit involved. If such consultation does not resolve the problem, the findings of the Affirmative Action Officer will be referred to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management for further consideration.

Non-Academic Procedural Rights

The goal of the University of Michigan-Flint is to provide an environment which supports the educational process, and protects the safety and well-being of the campus community. This responsibility lies with the entire campus community: the administration, the faculty, the staff, and the students. The purpose of these procedures is to establish a uniform, unbiased process which will serve to protect the rights of persons within the University community.

1. Nothing in this document shall operate in derogation of any Regents’ Bylaw, any collective bargaining or other contractual relationship of the University, nor shall it be construed to limit the authority of the Chancellor to maintain health, diligence, and order among the students under Regents’ Bylaw 2.02.
2. Complaints of harassment should be made to the Affirmative Action Officer, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management, or other University representatives as described above.
3. Attempts will be made to resolve disputes informally through interviews and counseling.
4. Complaints which cannot be resolved informally, or upon the written request of either party, will be referred for hearing.
5. Complaints involving discrimination or sexual harassment will be heard by the Grievance Hearing Board. Other complaints involving non-academic misconduct by students will be heard by the Conduct Board.
   
   1. The Conduct Board consists of the members of the Student Judicial Board selected by procedures of the Student Government Council, and two members of the faculty selected annually by the Faculty Assembly. A minimum of five members of the Conduct Board must be present at the hearing; a majority of the members present must find clear and convincing evidence that a violation has occurred in order to impose sanctions. The Conduct Board is chaired by the student chair of the Student Judicial Board. University counsel may advise the Board.
   2. The Grievance Hearing Board is designed to provide the opportunity to include hearing members representing the protected statuses of the complainant and the student charged. The chair of the Grievance Hearing Board is the student chair of the Student Judicial Board. The other members are the two faculty members serving on the Conduct Board, plus four members of the University community: two selected by the complainant and two by the student charged. The four selected members must be at least one-half time employees or students enrolled either at the time of the hearing or the alleged act. The selected members can not have been witnesses to or participants in the alleged act. A minimum of five members of the Grievance Hearing Board must be present at the hearing; a majority of the members present must find clear and convincing evidence that a violation has occurred in order to impose sanctions. University counsel may advise the Board.
6. Procedural requirements must be observed for hearings:
   
   1. The student charged must be informed in writing of the complaint at least seven days in advance of a hearing.
   2. Hearings are closed to the public, unless both parties request that the hearing be open, and will include the hearing body, the student charged and advisor, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management, and witnesses while giving testimony.
   3. The following protocol for witnesses will be observed during hearings:
      • Witness:
        • The witness (complainant or other) has the opportunity to make a statement.
        • The Hearing Board questions the witness.
        • The charged student questions the witness.
        • The Hearing Board asks any follow up questions.
      • Charged Student:
        
        • The charged student has the opportunity to make a statement.
        • The Hearing Board questions the charged student.
   4. The charged student and any witness may be accompanied at the hearing by a personal advisor, who may be an attorney; however, the advisor may not participate directly in the proceedings.
   5. The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management will present the evidence and appropriate witnesses.
   6. The hearing body will deliberate in closed session and its decision will be communicated to the student charged, in writing, by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management within five days.
7. Appeals of the Board’s decision must be submitted to the Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management in writing within seven days of receipt of the decision. Appeals will be directed to the Committee for Student Concerns and Enrollment Management of the University. The following are considered appropriate grounds for appeal: (1) Proper procedures were not followed; (2) the evidence clearly does not support the findings; (3) sanctions are insufficient or excessive relative to the violation; or (4) there is new evidence not reasonably available at the time of the hearing.
8. The decision of the Committee for Student Concerns and Enrollment Management shall be communicated in writing by the Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management to the student within fourteen days of receipt of the appeal.
9. Any person who knowingly and intentionally files a false complaint under these procedures is subject to disciplinary action.
10. Threats or other forms of intimidation or retaliation against a complainant, witness, or member of a hearing board shall constitute a violation subject to disciplinary action.
11. Records of non-academic misconduct will be maintained by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management and destroyed after expiration of the sanction.
12. For good cause, any time limit in these procedures may be extended by the Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management.
13. The Chancellor of the University shall have the power of executive clemency.
14. The Hearing Board is not bound by the legal rules of evidence.
15. The Hearing Board shall exercise control over the hearing to avoid needless consumption of time and to prevent the harassment or intimidation of witnesses. The Hearing Board may limit testimony based on redundancy or lack of relevancy.

The sanctions to be imposed should be commensurate with the offending conduct. Although it is inappropriate for the University to try to change a student’s convictions, it is appropriate for the University to ask a student to change inappropriate behavior. Sanctions should, therefore, be designed which may deter behaviors that harm, intimidate, harass, or threaten others.

Factors that may be considered in determining the nature of sanctions to be imposed for violations include the effect of the conduct on the victim and the University community, the presence or absence of past violations on the part of the student, and the appropriateness of sanctions such as community service.

Regrettably, some conduct is so harmful to members of the University community or deleterious to the educational process that more severe sanctions may be required. Severe sanctions such as suspension or expulsion, should be imposed only when the offending behavior involves violent or dangerous acts, acts which disrupt the educational process and/or when there has been willful failure to comply with a lesser sanction.

The range of potential sanctions is as follows:

1. Suspension from Specific Course or Activity. The student is removed from a specific course or activity, or is moved to a different section of the course.
2. Class/Workshop Attendance. The student enrolls in and completes a class or workshop that may help improve his/her understanding of why the conduct engaged in is inappropriate.
3. Community Service. The student performs an appropriate amount of service that is both beneficial to the community and likely to assist the student in understanding the harm caused by his or her conduct.
4. Disciplinary Reprimand. The student receives a formal reprimand for violating the standards of behavior and a warning that future violations may result in more severe disciplinary action. The student does not lose his/her University privileges.
5. Disciplinary Probation. During the probation period, the student may not represent the University in any way. This includes, but is not limited to, engaging in any extracurricular activity, running for or holding office in any student group or organization, and serving on any University committees. The appropriate University units shall be notified of the student’s probationary status.
6. Suspension in Abeyance. The student remains enrolled. However, any violation of the conduct regulations during the period of Suspension in Abeyance will, after a determination of guilt, result in automatic suspension.
7. Suspension. The student is temporarily separated from the University for a specified period of time. Conditions may be stipulated for the readmission of a student. When a student is suspended during a term, he/she is not exempted from the payment of tuition for that term.
8. Expulsion. The student is permanently separated from the University. Penalty shall consist of the student being barred from the premises of the University. When a student is expelled during a term, he/she is not exempted from the payment of tuition for that term.
9. Restitution. The student makes payment for damages incurred as a result of his/her violation.
10. Other Disciplinary Actions. In addition to or in place of any of the above sanctions, the student may be subject to other penalties commensurate with the offending conduct. This may include but is not limited to degree and/or transcript actions, such as recision of a degree, withholding of course credit, loss of credit for an assignment/exam, assignment of additional work, loss of special privileges, behavioral counseling, or a behavioral contract.
11. Combined Sanctions. A combination of the sanctions described above may be imposed.
12. No Contact. Restriction from entering specific University areas and/or all forms of contact with certain person(s).

The sanctions imposed under these standards do not diminish or replace the penalties which may be invoked under generally applicable civil or criminal laws. Students are reminded that many violations of the standards, including harassment and other discriminatory behavior, may violate local, state and federal laws and students may be accountable to both the legal system and the University.

Failure to heed a warning, abide by terms of probation, complete special duties as required, or otherwise fail to comply with sanctions imposed through these procedures, may be grounds for other disciplinary action.

Student Rights and Record

In carrying out their assigned responsibilities, several offices at the University of Michigan-Flint collect and maintain information about students. Although these records belong to the University, both University policy and federal law accord you a number of rights concerning these records. The following is designed to inform you concerning where records about you may be kept and maintained, what kinds of information are in those records, the conditions under which you or anyone else may have access to information in those records, and what action to take if you believe that the information in your record is inaccurate or that your rights have been compromised.

Because the University does not maintain all student records in one location, this document contains general information related to student records. Copies of the University’s “Policies on Student Records” and the pertinent federal law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), are posted on the bulletin board outside the Registrar’s Office, 266 University Pavilion.

Types of Records and Where They Are Located

Only two offices have records on all students. The Office of the Registrar maintains information pertaining to enrollment (registration) and official academic records (transcripts). The Student Accounts Office maintains information about charges assessed and payments made. Students have the following rights concerning their records:

Student Rights

Once you attend, you have the following rights concerning your student records:

1. The right to inspect and review all material in your file(s) except:
   • Professional mental health treatment records to the extent necessary, in the judgment of the attending physician or professional counselor, to avoid detrimental effects to the mental health of the student or of others. These records may, however, be reviewed by a physician or other appropriate professional of your choice.
   • Financial information furnished by your parents in support of an application for financial aid.
   • Confidential letters of recommendation that were placed in your file prior to January 1, 1975.
   • Confidential letters of recommendation concerning admission, employment, or honorary recognition, for which you have waived access. (The University may not require you to sign a waiver in order to obtain services, but a person writing a recommendation may insist on a waiver as a condition for his or her writing it.)
   • Personal notes made by a faculty member or counselor that are accessible only to that person and are not shared with others.
   • Materials in any admissions files, until you have been admitted to, and have enrolled in the University of- Michigan-Flint.

Students must file a written request if they wish to review their records. Sometimes the response will be immediate, but in most instances you should expect to wait several days; in no case, however, should the response be delayed more than 45 days from the date of your request. Also, once you have submitted such a request, no non-exempt material may be removed from the file in question until the matter is resolved.

NOTE: Federal law requires that an institution make copies of materials available to a student only if the failure to do so effectively prevents the student from reviewing his or her file (for example, if you were some distance from Flint and could not readily come to the campus). Most offices at the University, however, will provide copies if you need them. You will probably have to wait several days for the copies and you will be charged not more than fifteen cents per page plus any postage involved. In certain instances, you may be directed to obtain copies from the office responsible for maintaining a particular record. For example, we will not copy transcripts that are in our files from another institution you have attended; rather, you will be advised to obtain them directly from your former school.

2. The right to a hearing: Students have the right to request a hearing if they feel that:
   
   • you have been improperly denied access to their records
   • your records contain information that is inaccurate or misleading
   • information from your records has been improperly released to third parties
3. The right in most instances to control access to information in your records by persons or agencies outside the University. Within the University, information from your records will be made available to those staff members who demonstrate a legitimate educational interest consistent with their official functions for the University and consistent with normal professional and legal practices.
   1. Except for directory information, however, persons outside the University - including your parents and/or spouse will be given information from your records only:
      • when you authorize it in writing, or
      • in connection with your application for or receipt of financial aid, or
      • in connection with studies conducted for the purpose of accreditation, development and validation of predictive tests, administration of student aid programs, or improvement of instruction, or
      • when disclosure is required in a health or safety emergency or by federal or state law or by subpoena. If information from your record is subpoenaed, you will be notified as quickly as possible. In addition, the results of a disciplinary hearing conducted by the institution against the alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence will be made available to the alleged victim of that crime
   2. The Office of the Registrar is required to keep a record of all requests for non-directory information from your records made by persons outside the University, and to make that record available for you to examine.
   3. Federal law requires that the University designate what it regards as directory information (public information) and which may, therefore, be released to those outside the University without specific authorization. The law also requires that each currently enrolled student be given the opportunity to direct that items designated as directory information not be released without his or her consent.
   4. The University of Michigan-Flint has designated the following items as directory information:
      • name
      • address and telephone
      • department, class level, major field
      • dates of attendance at the University of Michigan-Flint
      • degree received and date awarded
      • honors and awards received
      • previous school(s) attended
        • Although this information is designated as public, the University of Michigan-Flint restricts its dissemination. For example, it has been University practice for some years not to furnish address lists to insurance companies, magazine subscription agencies and other organizations that request them.
   5. Generally, requests come from prospective employers who want to verify dates of attendance and degrees received. While students have the right to direct that public information about themselves not be released, they should carefully consider all of the consequences of that action before making the decision to do so. Information is not withheld selectively. If you choose to have directory information withheld, it is withheld from everyone who inquires.
   6. If students do not want the University of Michigan-Flint to release public information, they should complete a “Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information” form at the Office of the Registrar.
   7. FERPA rights cease upon death. However, it is the policy of the University of Michigan-Flint that no records of deceased students be released for a period of 25 years after the date of death, unless specifically authorized by the executor of the estate of the deceased or by the next of kin.
4. The right to file a complaint to federal officials if you feel there has been a violation of the rights afforded you under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. The complaint must be submitted in writing within 180 days of the alleged violation to:

U.S. Department of Education
The Family Policy Compliance Office
600 Independent Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
Phone: (202) 260-3887

Questions about policies and procedures regarding student records within the University of Michigan-Flint should be directed to:

Karen A. Arnould
Office of the Registrar
University of Michigan-Flint
266 University Pavilion
Flint, MI 48502-1950

Offices that may Maintain Student Records at the University of Michigan-Flint

Academic Advising and Career Center, 285 University Pavilion
Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 245 University Pavilion
College of Arts and Sciences Academic Offices
Office of Extended Learning, 240 David M. French Hall
Financial Aid Office, 277 University Pavilion
Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Frances Willson Thompson Library
Frances Willson Thompson Library
Office of the Registrar, 266 University Pavilion
Department of Public Safety, Hubbard Building
School of Education and Human Services, 410 French Hall
School of Health Professions and Studies, 2205 WSW Building
School of Management, 3139 WSW Building
Student Accounts Office, 264 University Pavilion
Student Development Center, 264 UCEN
Student Life, 375 UCEN
Vice-Chancellor of Student Services & Enrollment Management, 237 University Pavilion 

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