XIII. General Information

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University of Guelph General Information

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student membership at the University of Guelph is associated with fundamental rights and responsibilities intended to maintain the integrity of the University as a community for learning. Staff, faculty and students co-operate to sustain an education environment that promotes individual learning and development.

The University accepts that students are able to make responsible decisions regarding their behaviour. These regulations help to provide for an environment that supports personal and intellectual growth. They are intended to recognize a student's rights and the rights of others, while also identifying certain responsibilities of students that are a part of the exercise of these rights.

For purposes of Student Rights and Responsibilities, a student is any person registered in an undergraduate or graduate program at the University of Guelph, or otherwise taking credit or non-credit courses offered by the University or any person who was a student at the time the alleged offence occurred.

Students have the RIGHT to access the Judicial system if a violation of this policy has occurred, whether that violation has occurred on or off campus provided that the violation affects their ability to use and enjoy University facilities.

University Community Principles

The University of Guelph is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the dissemination of knowledge; the intellectual, social, moral and physical development of its members; and the betterment of society (University of Guelph Act, 1964). These overall goals commit us to three central values:

The development of all members of this university community, which implies and affirms the dignity, worth and autonomy of the individual.
A focus on learning and knowledge, which upholds the fundamental importance of reasoned debate and inquiry in all of this university's academic and service functions.
Societal enhancement, which extends the commitment to individual development beyond the walls of the institution to the ideal of service to the broader community.

Academic Responsibilities

You have the RIGHT to engage in free intellectual enquiry and, within the limits of the materials and human resources and approved University protocols, to access the resources necessary to plan and accomplish your educational and career objectives. You have the RESPONSIBILITY to:

pursue the Learning Objectives* established by the University in the context of your own program and goals;
adhere to the schedule of dates* and academic and non-academic regulations;
select courses based on academic program requirements*;
consult your academic advisor (Program Counsellor, Departmental Advisor, Graduate Coordinator) or the relevant Academic Review Committee if extenuating circumstances affect your academic performance;
abide by the University's Policy on Academic Misconduct.¹

¹ Refer to the Associate Diploma Calendar; Undergraduate and Graduates calendars, available electronically at http://www.uoguelph.ca/undergrad_calendar/ or http://www.uoguelph.ca/GraduateStudies/calendar

Civil/Criminal Statutes.

You retain your RIGHTS as a citizen when you become a member of the University community. You have the RESPONSIBILITY to abide by Federal, Provincial and Municipal statutes in addition to the University's own regulations, including, but not limited to the Acceptable Use Policy and Guidelines for the University of Guelph Computing and Networking Facilities² and the In-line Skates, Roller Blades and Skateboards Policy³. The University's interest may cause it to initiate a hearing (refer to Judicial Processes) whether or not criminal or civil action is taken with respect to the same incident(s).

² Refer to the University's Acceptable Use Policy available on line at http://www.uoguelph.ca/AUPG.html.

³ Refer to the University's In-Line Skates, Roller Blades and Skateboards Policy available at the Director's Office at each Regional Campus or electronically on the University's Financial Services website: http://www.fin.uoguelph.ca/uploadFiles/GE380.pdf.

Offenses against Persons

Bodily Harm

You have the RIGHT to an environment that is safe and free from unwanted attention. You have the RESPONSIBILITY not to engage in activities likely to endanger the health or safety of yourself or another person, or to assault or threaten to assault another person, or to knowingly cause another person to fear bodily harm.

Harassment

You have the RIGHT to an environment characterized by mutual respect. You have the RESPONSIBILITY to treat all members of the University community with respect and without harassment. Harassment is defined as any attention or conduct (oral, written, graphic or physical) by an individual or group who knows, or ought reasonably to know, that such attention or conduct is unwelcome/unwanted, offensive, or intimidating.

Offenses involving Property

Facilities, Telecommunications, Library, Property and Private Property

You have the RIGHT to the use of University facilities. You have the RESPONSIBILITY to:

respect posted hours and limits on entry where such conditions exist;
confine smoking only to areas designed for that purpose;
not destroy, tamper with, deface or vandalize, monopolize, unlawfully access, remove or possess property not your own, including, but not limited to, Library material, computing facilities, telecommunication systems, and emergency telephones;
not discharge, tamper with or operate any fire prevention or detection equipment for any purpose other than the control of fire. (For students found guilty of offences under this section, mandatory minimum penalties apply.)

Permits and Identification

You have the RIGHT, upon payment of any required fee, to access certain special services as a University community member. You have a RESPONSIBILITY not to acquire or use meal cards, University identification, computer identification, bus passes or parking permits that are stolen, cancelled, lost, false, altered or expired.

Grounds

You have the RIGHT to use of the University grounds. You have the RESPONSIBILITY to observe the following specific limitations:

Authorized Entry - posted hours and limits on entry must be observed and adhered to.
Bicycles - Bicycles are subject to removal at the owner's expense if they are secured to trees or railings, secured to ramps for the disabled, left in fire routes or stairwells of any University building or otherwise found obstructing by being in any unauthorized area.
Automobiles - Automobiles are subject to removal at the owner's expense if left in fire routes, area for disabled access, pedestrian walkways, driveways, or otherwise found obstructing by being in an unauthorized area.
Temporary Accommodation - Sleeping or maintaining residence in vehicles, trailers, tents or University facilities is prohibited, except where specifically authorized.
Pets - Pets on campus must be under direct control at all times and must not be left unattended. Pets are not allowed in University buildings except as authorized.

Disruption

You have the RIGHT to an environment that, while safeguarding dissent, is free from interference and disruption. You have the RESPONSIBILITY not to interfere with the normal functioning of the University, nor to intimidate, interfere with, threaten or otherwise obstruct any activity organized by the University, including classes, or to hinder other members of the University community from being able to carry out their legitimate activities, including their ability to speak or associate with others.

Other

Drugs and Alcohol. You have the RESPONSIBILITY to abide by the Provincial Liquor Licence Act and Provincial and Federal statutes pertaining to illegal drugs and alcohol. The possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs is prohibited, and each activity may form the basis of a separate charge. For students found guilty of a drug offence within Student Housing, mandatory minimum penalties will apply. The possession of liquor by those under the age of 19, is prohibited. Consumption or open possession of liquor is prohibited, other than in those residence rooms where it has been specifically permitted or in licensed premises.
Visitors. You have the RIGHT, upon compliance with existing sign-in requirements (Student Housing Services and licensed establishments), to have visitors on campus. As their sponsor, you have the personal RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that your guests abide by these regulations.
Firearms and other Weapons. Firearms, any other weapons, firecrackers, gunpowder, or any other forms of unauthorized explosive or volatile materials are prohibited on campus.

Judicial Processes

Every student has a RIGHT to a full and fair hearing, by an impartial tribunal, of the merits of any charge brought against him or her under these regulations. Every student who is charged with a non-academic offence has a right to present a full and complete defense, and to be accompanied by an advisor (or legal counsel) at any hearing of the charge against him/her. Students charged are presumed innocent until found guilty on the basis of evidence presented, using the balance of probabilities as the standard of proof. The University has devised a process which provides for appropriate disciplinary penalties to be imposed. These penalties may include fines (up to $1,000), probationary periods, warnings and, in extreme cases, a recommendation for suspension or expulsion.

Every student has a responsibility to comply with a Summons or Decision and Order of the Judicial Committee and/or Hearing Board. Failure to do so may constitute a breach of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

The President or designate may implement an interim suspension if, in his/her opinion, a student's conduct raises a reasonable apprehension of harm to the student or to others in the University community, or the normal functioning of the University. A Judicial proceeding will be undertaken as soon as possible to allow for a hearing of the case and, in any event, no longer than fourteen working days from the laying of the charge.

The Judicial Committee at the main campus and each Regional Campus has the authority to enforce these regulations if a breach of the regulations occurs off campus, which affects the rights of the members of the University community to use and enjoy University facilities.

Each Judicial Committee is an appointed tribunal of students, staff and faculty that hears reported incidents of student behaviour that represent alleged infractions of the student regulations and formal complaints against students under the policy Human Rights at the University of Guelph⁴ . The Judicial Committee may also act as an appeal body to hear appeals regarding decisions of a non-academic nature imposed by a University of Guelph department or Regional Campus where there is no other existing appeal process.

Decisions of a Judicial Committee may be appealed to the Hearing Board or in the case of the Regional Campuss, the Appeal Board. The Hearing/Appeal Board is a student/faculty/staff tribunal. The Board hears appeals from decisions of the Judicial Committee when one or more of the grounds for appeal are satisfied.

Further information on the Judicial process may be obtained from the Judicial Officer, Senate Secretariat, 4th floor, University Centre, at ext. 53116 or from the Director's Office at each Regional Campus.

Further information and copies of the Student Rights and Responsibilities document are available from the Office of Student Affairs, 4th floor, University Centre, at ext. 53868 for from the Director's Office at each Regional Campus. It can be viewed on-line at http://www2.uoguelph.ca/studentaffairs/home/documents/student_rights_responsibilities.pdf.

Comments on the document and specific suggestions for amendments or additions to the student regulations are welcome at any time and should be referred to the Office of Student Affairs.

⁴ Refer to the Human Rights at the University of Guelph document, available on-line at http://www.uoguelph.ca/hre/.

University Committees

The Senate Committee on Student Petitions, and the Appeal Board at each Regional Campus, assess and dispose of academic appeals, including appeals to decisions on academic misconduct, by students registered at the University of Guelph.

Each Judicial Committee is an appointed Tribunal of students and faculty which hears reported incidents of student behaviour that represent alleged infractions of the student regulations. The Judicial Committee may also act as an appeal body to hear appeals regarding actions or penalties of an non-academic nature imposed by a University of Guelph department or Regional Campus where there is no other existing appeal process.

Decisions of a Judicial Committee may be appealed to the Hearing Board, or in the case of the Regional Campuss, the Appeal Board. The Hearing/Appeal Board is a student/faculty tribunal appointed from a roster of candidates, based on recommendations from the Colleges. The Board hears appeals from decisions of the Judicial Committee when one or more of the grounds for appeal are satisfied.

Further information on the Judicial process or the Petitions process may be obtained from the Judicial Officer, Senate Office, 4th floor, University Centre, at ext. 3116, or from the Director's Office at each Regional Campus.

Further information and additional copies of the Student Rights and Responsibilities document are available from the Office of Student Affairs, 4th floor, University Centre, at ext. 3868, or from the Director's Office at each Regional Campus.