Student Behavior
Every student has the responsibility to
observe and to help maintain a code of personal behavior and social
relationships that will contribute to the educational effectiveness
of the university. The conduct of a student at NDSU is expected
to reflect a responsible attitude toward university regulations
as well as the laws of the community, the state, and the nation.
These standards apply to all students as long as they are enrolled
in or associated with NDSU and to all visitors as long as they
are on the campus. The complete document on university regulations
and policies relevant to student life is titled "Rights
& Responsibilities of Community: A Code of Student Behavior"
and is available from the Office of Student Affairs, 100 Old Main.
Privacy of Student Records
The disclosure of student educational records
information is governed by policies developed by North Dakota
State University in compliance with state law and the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (FERPA). There are essentially
two types of student records, public directory information and
nonpublic information. Directory information may be released publicly
except in cases where students have specifically requested that
the information not be released. Nonpublic information, which
includes the academic transcript, is considered confidential and
will not be released, other than to authorized personnel or as
allowed by law, without the written authorization of the individual.
University policies relative to student records are specified
in the FERPA annual notice; the "NDSU Policy Manual,"
Section 600; and contained in the publication titled "Rights
& Responsibilities of Community: A Code of Student Behavior,"
which may be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs, 100
Old Main. Students may restrict the release of directory information
no later than the tenth class day of the semester, at Registration
and Records, 110 Ceres.
University Policy on Sexual Harassment
As part of its commitment to equal opportunity,
North Dakota State University prohibits sexual harassment of its
employees and students, including student-to-student and other
peer-sexual harassment.
This policy is in compliance with federal regulations implementing
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972. Sexual harassment is defined as
"Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors,
and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute
sexual harassment when
- submission to such conduct is
made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of
an individual's employment or academic achievement,
- submission to or rejection of such conduct
by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions
or academic decisions affecting such individual, or
- 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."
Individuals concerned about violations
of this policy should request assistance from the University's Executive Director, Chief Diversity Officer in the Office of Equity and Diversity, the University's General
Counsel, the Counseling Center Office, the Associate
Director for Student Rights and Responsibilities, or an appropriate
administrator. When administrators or supervisors become aware
of occurrences of sexual harassment in their areas, they are responsible
for stopping the behavior or reporting it to the Executive Director, Chief Diversity Officer in the Office of Equity and Diversity. In addition, the University's equal opportunity
grievance procedure shall be available for any person who wishes
to file a complaint alleging a violation of this policy.
Consensual Relationships
Consensual relationships that are of concern
to North Dakota State University are those romantic or sexual
relationships in which both parties appear to have consented,
but where there is a definite power differential within the University
between the two parties.
Consenting romantic and sexual relationships between instructor
(meaning all who teach at the University--faculty member;
other instructional personnel; and graduate or undergraduate students
with teaching, advising, or tutorial responsibilities) and student
(meaning any person studying with or receiving advising from the
instructor), between supervisor (meaning any person in a position
of authority over another--to hire and fire, to grant raises
and oversee task performance) and employee (meaning any person
working for the supervisor), and between employee and student
(where there is an instructional, advisory, or an employment relationship
between them) have the potential for extremely serious consequences
and ought to be avoided. This list is not all-inclusive but gives
examples of the types of relationships that are covered by this
policy.
Because of the possible difficulties associated with the power
differential and because of potential conflicts of interest, North
Dakota State University discourages all such consensual relationships.
However, if a romantic or sexual relationship develops between
individuals having a power differential within the University,
the person with the greater power shall report the matter immediately
to the program administrator; a teaching assistant shall report
it to the professor in charge of the course; and an employee shall
report it to his/her supervisor. In each case, the administrative
supervisor shall make suitable arrangements for the objective
evaluation of the student's, employee's, or prospective
employee's academic or job performance and for the protection
of individual and university interests.
Sexual Assault Student Policy
A goal of North Dakota State University (NDSU) is to create a campus community free from interpersonal abuse including sexual assault. NDSU commits its resources to the following twofold process: 1) to provide crisis intervention and a judicial/disciplinary response for victims and alleged offenders, and 2) to educate and promote discussion on interpersonal abuse and violence.
For the purpose of this policy, sexual assault is any sexual behavior between two or more people to which one person does not or cannot consent. In describing sexual assault, NDSU relies upon North Dakota state law concerning sexual imposition which is much broader than the traditional concept of rape. NDSU prohibits sexual acts or contacts with others which can involve compelling a survivor to submit to sexual acts or contacts by force or threat of force, use of intoxicants to substantially impair the survivor's power to give consent, engaging in such acts when there is reasonable cause to believe the survivor suffers from a mental state which renders him or her incapable of understanding the nature of the contact or where the survivor is under fifteen years of age. The abuse of alcohol or other substances does not relieve individuals of their responsibilities to themselves or others. Prohibited behavior includes all forcible and non-forcible sex offenses provided for under North Dakota state law.
Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs
The University prohibits the unlawful or
unauthorized use, possession, storage, manufacture, distribution,
or sale of alcoholic beverages and any illicit drugs or drug paraphernalia
in University buildings or any public campus area, in University
housing units, in University vehicles, or at any University sponsored
events held on or off campus, which are sponsored by students,
faculty and/or staff, and their respective campus organizations
(including all fraternities and sororities). The State Board of
Higher Education specifically prohibits the use or possession
of alcohol in residence halls. State and federal laws will be
regarded as the only bodies or rules governing the use of alcoholic
beverages and other drugs in University faculty housing, married
student housing, fraternities and sororities, and the president's
house. For further details, refer to the complete text of the
"North Dakota State University Policy Statement and Regulations
on the Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs by Students, Faculty, and
Staff" as printed in the "Registration Schedule"
published for each term.
Campus Security
NDSU complies with the Student Right-to-Know
and Campus Security Act of 1990 as amended and the Higher Education
Amendments of 1992. Policies, prevention, services, and crime
statistics are available at 100 Old Main and are published each
term as part of the "Registration Schedule."
Equal Opportunity
North Dakota State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam Era Veterans status, sexual orientation, marital status, or public assistance status. Direct inquiries to the Executive Director and Chief Diversity Office, 202 Old Main, (701) 231-7708.
