Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina (UNC) that supports the right to academic freedom for every student. In accordance with UNC Policies, the rights of students to engage in the responsible pursuit of knowledge or their right to the fair and impartial evaluation of academic performance shall not be abridged.
WSSU embraces and strives to uphold the freedoms of expression and speech guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution, as they may be amended from time to time. WSSU has the right under appropriate circumstances to regulate the time, place, and manner of exercising these and other constitutionally protected rights. WSSU fully supports the right of a student to assemble peacefully and to express him or herself in a manner in which order is maintained. The university has the right under appropriate circumstances to regulate the time, place, and manner of exercising these and other constitutionally protected rights in a manner consistent with applicable laws and policies, as they may be amended from time to time.
The UNC Board of Governors has prescribed that all students shall be responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that helps enhance an environment of learning in which the rights, dignity, worth, and freedom of each member of the academic community is respected.
WSSU will comply with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as it may be amended from time to time. No information or documentation referring to a student’s academic or personal life may be released to any party outside the university without the expressed written consent of the student. Any request from a current student, former student or graduate to release information to a third party must be made in writing and include the student’s signature. Students also have the right to inspect and review their own official records, except letters of recommendation.
Students are encouraged to participate in activities associated with the governance of the university by serving on various committees, councils and taskforces charged with making decisions.
Students who believe that their rights under the law or university policy have been violated by an employee, agent or member of the University community should refer to the WSSU Student Grievance and Appeals Procedure.
Students who attend the university are expected to behave in a manner consistent with life at an academic institution. The Code is intended to reinforce this expectation and governs the behaviors and disciplinary process for violations.
Students who have been charged with violations of the Code are entitled to due
process. Students accused of violating standards of conduct will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with this document.
All students are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that helps enhance an environment of learning in which the rights, dignity, worth, and freedom of each member of the academic community are respected. WSSU expects all students and their guest to behave in a manner consistent with campus policies and applicable state and federal laws. Students are expected to observe and adhere to the university's standards of conduct outlined within the Code in the classroom, on-campus and off-campus.
The Community Standards & Civility Council shall be composed of the SGA Attorney General, the Director of Community Standards & Civility or a designee who shall serve as Chairperson. The Chairperson is a nonvoting member of the Council. The hearing panelists shall consist of a minimum of three voting members, consisting of faculty, staff, or students. (In cases of Equal Opportunity, the Director of Community Standards & Civility shall serve as Chairperson, and the hearing panelists will be selected from faculty and staff only and no student shall be appointed to sit on the Council).
Each student who has received a disciplinary sanction shall be notified in writing of his or her appeal rights. This notice must be given no later than the date the written decision is delivered to the student/organization (or the date delivery is properly attempted, in the event delivery is not successful). Students/Organizations who have been found responsible for a conduct violation may appeal. Complainants involving Equal Opportunity infractions have the same appeal rights as the Respondent, and appropriate notice of these rights shall be delivered to Complainants.
