STUDENT RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES
As a member of the Metropolitan State academic community, your responsibilities include:
- Civility towards others
- Respect for diverse opinions
- Academic honesty and integrity
You have a right to attend classes in a community free from violence, harassment, fraud, theft, disruption or intimidation.
The Student Handbook is an interactive resource that explains more about your rights and responsibilities. It is your responsibility to review and comply with these important policies. Note that all policies, procedures, academic schedules, program information, and fees are subject to change at any time by appropriate action of the faculty, Metropolitan State administration, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees or the Minnesota Legislature without prior notification.
Student Conduct
Student conduct rules are found in Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees Policies that apply statewide to all MNSCU campuses and students. These are commonly referred to as Education Policies 3.6 (Student Conduct Policy) and Procedure 3.6.1. In addition, Metropolitan State University has a Student Conduct Code, Policy 1020. It is your responsibility to become familiar with student conduct policies. We recommend that you fully review these policies before beginning course work on campus—this is especially important as the conduct guidelines may be different than whatever school or college you have been a member of before.
Undergraduate Academic Standing
In order to be in Good Academic Standing, you are expected to maintain a cumulative Metropolitan State GPA of at least 2.0, and to successfully complete at least 67% of the cumulative Metropolitan State credits attempted, including credits transferred.
University Email Policy
Metropolitan State University has designated one email system as the official method of communication with students for all university‐related business. Upon admission, you received an email account. You are responsible for reading university emails sent via your university email accounts.
Academic integrity policies and procedures
The Student Guide to Academic Integrity states: “The integrity of the learning process is important in an educational context. Students must present their own original work to their teacher in order to demonstrate and improve their mastery of concepts and skills. Academic dishonesty undermines this relationship between learner and teacher that forms the foundation of higher learning.”
Metropolitan State University has identified violations and has a created a number of sanctions for these violations:
- Cheating
- Academic Misconduct
- Academic Fraud
- Fabrication
- Falsification
- Forgery
- Plagiarism
- Double Submission
- Collusion
Academic Integrity Policy #2190
Academic Integrity Procedures #219
Academic Integrity Violation Report Form
Plagiarism resources for students and faculty
Absence from Classes Because of Illness or Emergencies
Departments and Instructors have the right to enforce attendance policies, including mandatory first class attendance. When you register for courses, review the Class Schedule for special instructions such as “Attendance at the first class meeting is required; no one will be admitted after the first class meeting.”
Be sure to review the syllabus for the attendance policy as some instructors may lower your grade or fail you if you miss a certain number of class sessions. If you are going to miss class, you should contact the professor.
Students are dropped for nonattendance or nonparticipation after either the first two class sessions or after the second week of the term. You are ultimately responsible for dropping courses if you no longer plan to attend/participate.
Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
FERPA gives you certain rights with respect to your education records. These rights include:
- The right to inspect and review your education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access.
- The right to request the amendment of your education records that you believe are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of your privacy rights under FERPA.
- The right to provide written consent before the University discloses personally identifiable information from your education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
Nondiscrimination in Employment and Education Opportunity
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in education opportunity. No person shall be discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment, personnel practices, or access to and participation in, programs, services, and activities with regard to race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, or sexual orientation.
Harassment on the basis of race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, or sexual orientation is prohibited. Harassment may occur in a variety of relationships, including faculty and student, supervisor and employee, student and student, staff and student, employee and employee, and other relationships with persons having business at, or visiting the educational or working environment.
This policy is directed at verbal or physical conduct that constitutes discrimination / harassment under state and federal law and is not directed at the content of speech. In cases in which verbal statements and other forms of expression are involved, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will give due consideration to an individual’s constitutionally protected right to free speech and academic freedom. However, discrimination and harassment are not within the protections of academic freedom or free speech.
The system office, colleges, and universities shall maintain and encourage full freedom, within the law, of expression, inquiry, teaching and research. Academic freedom comes with a responsibility that all members of our education community benefit from it without intimidation, exploitation or coercion.
This policy shall apply to all individuals affiliated with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, including but not limited to, its students, employees, applicants, volunteers, agents, and Board of Trustees, and is intended to protect the rights and privacy of both the complainant and respondent and other involved individuals, as well as to prevent retaliation or reprisal. Individuals who violate this policy shall be subject to disciplinary or other corrective action.
View the 1B.1/1B.3 video.
Students Right to Know Act
According to federal regulations, colleges and universities that administer Title IV funds must share certain information. The Students Right to Know Act includes consumer information about student record privacy, financial assistance, academic programs and policies, and more.
Standards of behavior
The Library and 1st floor of the Student Center are open to the general public. There are Standards of Behavior operating policies and expectations for students, staff, faculty, and community members to observe. To learn more, access the document at the front desks of each building.
As part of your online New Student Orientation, you will complete a training called “Personal Empowerment through Self-Awareness,” which will address additional components of violence prevention, harassment, discrimination, and sexual violence.
For more questions about student rights and responsibilities, conduct, or non-discrimination, contact:
- Dean of students, Maya Sullivan, maya.sullivan@metrostate.edu
- Equal Employment and Diversity Office, eo.diversity@metrostate.edu
Questions to consider
- As a member of the Metropolitan State University community, what are three of your main responsibilities?
- Where can you find information about the Student Code of Conduct?
- What are protected identities according to the Minnesota State’s commitment to “Nondiscrimination in Employment and Education Opportunity?”
- What is the official method of communication with students for all university‐related business?
