Academics and Regulations
Students who want to appeal an academic decision (e.g., final grade, denial of admission, faculty-initiated withdrawal, dismissal) should begin an appeal immediately after the beginning of the next regular semester. To appeal academic decisions, you should first address the person who made the decision. Often problems can be resolved and misunderstandings cleared up through this step.
If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should use the formal appeal procedure. Formal appeals must be made in writing. The university registrar, dean of enrollment management, dean of student affairs or dean of the graduate school (for graduate student issues) can give you advice and answers to questions about the process. In a written statement, you should explain what you wish to appeal, why you are appealing and how you have attempted to resolve the issue. If possible, propose solutions and compromises.
Students' Rights and Responsibilities
The university subscribes to principles of due process and fair hearings as specified in the "Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students." This document can be found in the Office of Student Affairs. You are encouraged to read it carefully.
Most students adjust easily to the privileges and responsibilities of university citizenship. The university attempts to provide counsel for those who find the adjustment more difficult. UAF may terminate enrollment or take other necessary and appropriate action in cases where a student is unable or unwilling to assume the social responsibilities of citizenship in the university community.
UAF students are subject to the Student Code of Conduct. In accordance with board of regents' policy 09.02.01, UAF will maintain an academic environment in which freedom to teach, conduct research, learn and administer the university is protected. Students will benefit from this environment by accepting responsibility for their role in the academic community. The principles of the student code are designed to encourage communication, foster academic integrity and defend freedoms of inquiry, discussion and expression across the university community.
UAF requires students to conduct themselves honestly and responsibly, and to respect the rights of others. Conduct that unreasonably interferes with the learning environment or violates the rights of others is prohibited. Students and student organizations are responsible for ensuring that they and their guests comply with the code while on property owned or controlled by the university or at activities authorized by the university.
The university may initiate disciplinary action and impose disciplinary sanctions against any student or student organization found responsible for committing, attempting to commit or intentionally assisting in the commission of any of the following prohibited forms of conduct:
- cheating, plagiarism or other forms of academic
dishonesty - forgery, falsification, alteration or misuse of documents, funds or property
- damage or destruction of property
- theft of property or services
- harassment
- endangerment, assault or infliction of physical harm
- disruptive or obstructive actions
- misuse of firearms, explosives, weapons, dangerous devices or dangerous chemicals
- failure to comply with university directives
- misuse of alcohol or other intoxicants or drugs
- violation of published university policies, regulations, rules or procedures
- any other actions that result in unreasonable interference with the learning environment or the rights of others.
This list is not intended to define prohibited conduct in exhaustive terms, but rather offers examples as guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Honesty is a primary responsibility of you and every other UAF student. The following are common guidelines regarding academic integrity:
- Students will not collaborate on any quizzes, in-class exams, or take-home exams that contribute to their grade in a course, unless the course instructor grants permission. Only those materials permitted by the instructor may be used to assist in quizzes and examinations.
- Students will not represent the work of others as their own. A student will attribute the source of information not original with himself or herself (direct quotes or paraphrases) in compositions, theses, and other reports.
- No work submitted for one course may be submitted for credit in another course without the explicit approval of both instructors.
Alleged violations of the Code of Conduct will be reviewed in accordance with procedures specified in regents' policy, university regulations and UAF rules and procedures. For additional information and details about the Student Code of Conduct, contact the dean of student affairs, visit www.alaska.edu/bor/ or refer to the student handbook that is printed in the back of the class schedule for each semester. Students are encouraged to review the entire code.
Education at the university is conceived as training for citizenship as well as for personal self-improvement and development. Generally, UAF behavioral regulations are designed to help you work efficiently in courses and live responsibly in the campus environment. They are not designed to ignore your individuality but rather to encourage you to exercise self-discipline and accept your social responsibility. These regulations, in most instances, were developed jointly by staff and students. You should become familiar with campus policies and regulations as published in the student handbook.
- Access to Records--Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), you are entitled, as a UAF student, to review your records. Except for directory information, no personally identifiable information is disclosed to agencies outside UAF without the written permission of the student. Records are made available for legitimate UAF professional use on a need-to-know basis.
- Directory Information--UAF may release certain directory information to the public on a routine basis unless a student requests, in writing, that the university not release it. Forms to request that directory information not be released are available in the Office of the Registrar. No directory information will be released until the last day of late registration. Any request to withhold directory information will continue until a student provides permission, in writing, for the university to release such. After that, information will be released when appropriate.
The following is considered directory information:
- Name
- Address, telephone number, e-mail address
- Home address (permanent)
- Weight and height of students on athletic teams
- Date and place of birth
- Dates of attendance and current class standing
- Major field(s) of study
- Degrees, honors and awards received, including dates
- Participation in officially recognized activities
- Chancellor's list and dean's list recognition each semester.
- Honors--Names of students receiving awards or appearing on the UAF dean's list and chancellor's list are released to the media unless a written request not to do so has been received by the Office of University Relations by five working days after the end of the semester in which the honors have been earned.
- Scholarships--Names of scholarship recipients are released to the media unless a written request not to do so has been received by the Office of University Relations.
No other information from a student's educational record will be disclosed to anyone outside the institution without the written consent of the student. The only exceptions are to personnel within the institution on a need to know basis, officials of other institutions in which a student seeks to enroll, in compliance with a judicial order, to persons in an emergency in order to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons, or as otherwise permitted under FERPA.