Rights and Responsibilities

The University of South Florida is a learning community designed to foster collaboration, open communication, mutual respect and inclusiveness among students, faculty and staff as they engage in the education process. As members of this community, all students are entitled to certain rights and privileges, which are protected. In order to protect the rights and privileges of all students, there are guidelines for conduct that are intended to facilitate the desired environment and educational goals of the University and its students. It is important that each student become familiar with the rights and responsibilities afforded students at the university.

Student Rights

1. The right of respect for personal feelings, freedom from indignity, and to expect an education of the highest quality.
2. The right to participate in self-governing student bodies which provide channels of communication and means for using democratic processes to solve problems.
3. The constitutional rights of freedom of expression and assembly.
4. The right of freedom to hear and participate in dialogue and to examine diverse ideas.
5. The right to a learning environment free from harassment, discrimination, and violence.
6. The right to due process in disciplinary procedures in accordance with the rules and procedures prescribed in the Student Code of Conduct.

Student Responsibilities

1. The responsibility of assuming the consequences of one’s actions.
2. The responsibility for knowledge and observance of established University policies presented in official University publications.
3. The responsibility that free discussion represent the scholarly nature of the learning community.
4. The responsibility to insure that no student organization, constitution nor other organizational document include discriminatory clauses.
5. The responsibility to respect the rights and privacy of others.