COMMUNITY LIVING: RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Rights | Responsibilities | Student Conduct Process | Appeal
When you move into a University Housing facility at Boise State University, you have chosen to become a part of a unique community. This community is made up of a group of diverse individuals, here to pursue common educational goals, who have come together to share a wide variety of experiences.
The most important part of a positive community, however, is YOU!
You will have many opportunities for self-direction and experience, but you must balance the rights that you have as an individual in the community with the responsibilities you have to the other members of the community. You will make two important discoveries while in a group living situation. First, you may have more individual freedom than previously experienced. Secondly, you may find that the more confined living arrangements and stringent academic demands require greater self-control and individual discipline than ever before.
The following information explains some of your “rights” – what you are entitled to as a student living in University Housing and some of your “responsibilities” – what is expected of you as a member of the University Housing community.
• Right to a safe and secure living environment.
• Right to a reasonably peaceful and quiet space to sleep and study.
• Right to privacy and proportionate use of your housing in terms of space and time.
• Right to be free of unwanted guests in your living space.
• Right to choose your means of recreation and relaxation.
• Right to confront another’s behavior that infringes upon your rights.
• Right to the assistance of a University staff member when you need help with a problem.
• Right to know what is acceptable and not acceptable in the residence halls/suites. [back]
• Responsibility to keep your room and/or suite clean.
• Responsibility to respect the rights of others.
• Responsibility to observe quiet hours; keep stereo and voices at reasonable levels, and remind others that you expect the same.
• Responsibility to let your roommates know of preferences for sleep and study and work through any differences together.
• Responsibility to discuss visitation in your personal space, the hours it is acceptable to have guests, and appropriate behavior while
in your space.
• Responsibility to know and abide by the policies, regulations, and laws of the State of Idaho and Boise State University.
• Responsibility to examine your own behavior as well as being reasonable and mature when confronted yourself.
• Responsibility to notify community members or staff of your problem in a timely manner and cooperate with them to help you find a solution.
• Responsibility to read the information in the Student Code of Conduct, in this University Housing Handbook, and your Boise State Residence Hall Agreement, which has been reprinted in this handbook.
Each member of a community must balance their rights and responsibilities in order to thrive and succeed in any group-living environment! Students who disregard their responsibilities or violate the rights of others will be held accountable for their actions and choices. [back]
When there is an alleged violation of policy, there is a conduct process that the Department of University Housing and the University go through to ensure that the rights of the students are preserved. The Student Conduct Program, located within the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities (OSRR, located in the parking structure on the corner of Lincoln and University Drive) in conjunction with University Housing, is responsible for managing this process. The Student Conduct Program holds students accountable for their decisions that may have a negative impact on the University living and learning community they have chosen to participate in.
Your University Housing staff members are required to report and to follow up with any violations of University or University Housing policy. In all cases, the student(s) involved will have an opportunity to present their side of the issue before any final decisions are made as to what is most likely to have happened during the incident.
The steps of this process are as follows:
Alleged Violation of Policy
Documentation Filed with Professional Staff member or Student Conduct Program
Professional staff review documentation and consult with the Associate Director for Residence Life and/ or the Director of OSRR (if necessary)
Determination made to refer case to Administrative Conference or a formal University Conduct Hearing
Report of outcome of hearing filed with the Student Conduct Program
Follow up on sanction completion (if appropriate) through University Housing and the Student Conduct Program [back]
After a decision has been rendered, the student has the right to appeal. All appeals must be submitted in writing within three Boise State University working days of the decision, setting forth a concise statement that clearly establishes one or more of the following grounds for appeal:
The decision was unreasonable based on the information presented at the hearing and/or based on the violation of the Student Conduct Code;
For Respondents, the sanction was unreasonable based on the information presented at the hearing and/or based on the violation of the Student Code of Conduct;
It can be demonstrated that the Conduct Body was biased;
The Conduct Body misinterpreted the Student Code of Conduct or University policies upon which the complaint and/or the decision was based;
A procedural error occurred to the extent that it resulted in an unfair hearing, such as not having a reasonable opportunity to prepare and present information;
Relevant information sufficient to alter a decision was not brought out in the original hearing because such information was not known to the person appealing at the time of the original hearing.
When a written appeal is received, the Student Conduct Appeal Board will convene to determine whether there is merit to proceed with the appeal process. If an appeal is accepted, the Student Conduct Appeal Board, at its discretion, may act on the appeal on the basis of written documentation or may require a new hearing.
To find more information about the Student Conduct Program, please visit www.boisestate.edu/osrr. This website contains information regarding the entire Student Code of Conduct, how to file a charge, what to do if a charge is filed against you, and what your rights and responsibilities are as a student. Questions may also be referred to your Resident Director or the Associate Director for Residence Life. [back]
