University Policies
Alcohol and Drug Policies
Each year, in accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, SIUE advises students and employees of its policies in compliance with local, state, and federal laws governing controlled substances, illegal drugs, and alcoholic beverages. Information is provided about the health effects of drug and alcohol use, penalties for violating applicable laws or university policy, and educational and referral program assistance provided by the university.
Alcohol Notification and Violence Disclosure
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act permits institutions of higher education to disclose to parents or legal guardians of a student under the age of 21 years information regarding the violation of any federal, state, or local law, institutional disciplinary rule or policy regarding the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance. Further, the act permits institutions of higher education to disclose limited information from disciplinary records of students who have admitted to or been found guilty of a crime of violence where the records directly relate to such misconduct.
Recognizing that disclosure is permitted rather than required, SIUE will notify the parents of students under the age of 21 years regarding the violations of any federal, state, or local law or university disciplinary rules or policies pertaining to the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance at the discretion of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his or her designee.
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
The SIUE Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at siue.edu/securityreport. The report contains campus safety and security information, crime statistics, fire safety policies, and fire statistics for the previous three calendar years. This report is published in compliance with Federal law, titled the “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act” and the Higher Education Opportunity Act, also known as the “Campus Fire Safety Right to Know.” The report is also available for review at the Lovejoy Library Circulation Desk at SIUE; the Biomedical Library Circulation Desk on the SIU School of Dental Medicine Campus in Alton, Ill.; the SIUE Satellite Police Station at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus in East St. Louis, Ill.; the Medical Library on the SIU School of Medicine Campus in Springfield, Ill.; and the Morris Library Circulation Desk at SIUC. For those without computer access, a paper copy of the report may be obtained, with a 24-hour notice, from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration, Rendleman Hall, Room 2228, 618-650-2536.
Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
SIUE is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity for all persons in regard to its academic and educational programs and services offered to the university community. SIUE administers its activities, programs, services, and educational and employment opportunities without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or other prohibited basis.
SIUE complies in letter and spirit with appropriate federal and state legislation prohibiting discrimination including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Responsibility for this area is assigned to the Office of Equal Opportunity, Access, and Title IX Coordination, which is charged with developing and maintaining the necessary programs, records, and reports to comply with applicable state and federal statutes and regulations, and with carrying out the goals and objectives of affirmative action and equal opportunity.
Anyone seeking more information about SIUE’s Affirmative Action Plan and equal opportunity should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity, Access, and Title IX Coordination, Room 3310, Rendleman Hall, Box 1025, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL, 62026-1025, 618-650-2333, EOA-TitleIX@siue.edu.
Fair Practice
SIUE maintains fair and reasonable practices in all matters affecting students: the delivery of educational programs, provision of support services, and due process with regard to disciplinary matters and the handling of grievances and complaints. In addition, the university endorses the basic principles of the codes of ethics issued by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Information about fair practices may be obtained from the Offices of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and the Office of Equal Opportunity, Access and Title IX Coordination, Room 3310, Rendleman Hall, SIUE Campus, Box 1025, Edwardsville, IL, 62026-1025.
Notification of Students Involved in Violent Crime
SIUE will release the following information, upon request: the name of person(s) found to have committed a violent crime, the type of crime committed, the final disposition of the disciplinary process, and the sanction imposed. Students found responsible for such violations of the Student Code of Conduct which are considered “crimes of violence” as referred to in the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) [20 U.S.C. §1232g(b)(6)], will be notified of the University’s policy regarding the release of this information.
University Religious Observances Act
The University Religious Observances Act (110 ILCS 110) prohibits institutions of higher education from discriminating against students for observing religious holidays or religious practices in regard to admissions, class attendance, scheduling of examinations and work requirements. Under the Act, “religious observance” or “religious practice” includes all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief. Section 1.5 of the Act provides as follows, “Any student in an institution of higher learning, other than a religious or denominational institution of higher learning, who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination, study, or work requirement and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up the examination, study, or work requirement that he or she may have missed because of such absence on a particular day; provided that the student notifies the faculty member or instructor well in advance of any anticipated absence or a pending conflict between a scheduled class and the religious observance and provided that the make-up examination, study, or work does not create an unreasonable burden upon the institution. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the student such an opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his or her availing himself or herself of the provisions of this Section.”
Any student who believes he or she has been unreasonably denied an educational benefit due to his or her religious belief or practices may seek redress with the professor of the class or with a University administrator or may file a complaint with the Office of Equal Opportunity, Access and Title IX Coordination (EOA), Room 3310, Rendleman Hall, Box 1025, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL, 62026-1025, (618) 650-2333. The EOA complaint procedure is posted on the SIUE website at siue.edu/policies/table-of-contents/2c8.shtml. Moreover, the student may file a grievance pursuant to the Student Grievance Code. The code is posted on the SIUE website at https://www.siue.edu/policies/table-of-contents/3c3.shtml.
With respect to student work requirements, a student who believes that his or her religious belief or practice has not been reasonably accommodated may seek redress with the supervisor of the unit in which the student is employed, or may file a complaint with the Office of Equal Opportunity, Access and Title IX Coordination (EOA), as discussed above.
Statement on Right to Privacy and Nondisclosure
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all students have certain rights with respect to their education record. These rights include:
- The right to inspect and review their official SIUE records in accordance with provisions of the aforementioned act and within the University guidelines. Inquiries regarding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.
- The right to request the amendment of the education record that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise a violation of student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the University to amend a record should write to the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. The University will notify the student in writing of the decision and hearing procedures if appropriate.
- The right to provide written consent before the University discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
- The University discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent to school officials with a legitimate educational interest. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or organization with whom the University has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, or clinical/practicum site personnel); University-related organizations; or students assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the University. Upon request, the University also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. The university may make accessible to any person directory information concerning students unless such release violates state and/or federal regulations. For example, in accordance with the Southern Illinois University Management Act, the University will not release a student’s personal identifying information to a business or financial institution that issues credit or debit cards, unless the student is 21 years of age or older.
- Directory Information includes:
- Student name
- Student address and telephone number (local and permanent)
- Student email address
- Major field of study
- Classification
- Dates of attendance
- Full or part-time status
- Attempted hours
- Degrees and awards received
- Most recent educational agency or institution attended prior to enrollment at SIUE
- Participation in officially recognized activities or sports
- Weight or height of members of athletic teams
- Date of birth
Students may object to the release of their directory information by submitting a Directory Information Release form. This form is found in the Service Center or online at siue.edu/registrar/pdf/DirectoryInfoRelease.pdf. SIUE publishes a web directory located at siue.edu/search/index.shtml. The information in the directory is refreshed once in fall and once in spring. To ensure exclusion from this online publication, the Directory Information Release form must be on file by the end of the first week of the semester during which the objection is to go into effect. Once filed, requests to withhold directory information will remain in effect until the student submits a written cancellation of the request.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901
Note: The University’s complete Policy on Release of Student Information and Access to Student Records may be found at siue.edu/policies/table-of-contents/3g2.shtml.
SIUE Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment in higher education is Illegal. Everyone has the right to attend a college or university free from sexual harassment. The Illinois Human Rights Act makes it unlawful for teachers, professors, faculty members and other employees of colleges and universities to sexually harass their students. The Act specifically prohibits unwelcome advances or conduct of a sexual nature, and requests for sexual favors of students by an executive, faculty member, administrative staff member, or teaching assistant. The Act covers all public or private universities, colleges, community colleges, junior colleges, business schools, and vocational schools.
Examples of Sexual Harassment in Higher Education:
- A professor who continually makes jokes of a sexual nature in the classroom;
- A registration advisor who tells a student he or she might be able to get into a class if the student dates the advisor;
- An admissions officer who tells a prospective student that the advisor will put in a “good word” for the prospective student if he or she dates the advisor;
- A financial assistance advisor who tells a student that “if you have sex with me, I can look out for scholarships for you”;
- A teaching assistant who promises a student a better grade if the student does not resist any inappropriate touching or sexual advances.
Protection Against Retaliation: It also is unlawful for a teacher or professor, or for the college or university, to retaliate against a student because the student reported sexual harassment, participated in an investigation of sexual harassment, or because the student filed a charge of discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
What to Do: Any student who believes he or she is being subjected to sexual harassment or retaliated against, or anyone seeking more information about SIUE’s Sexual Harassment Policy can contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, Access, and Title IX Coordination, Room 3310, Rendleman Hall, Box 1025, SIUE, Edwardsville, IL 62025-1025, (618) 650-2333 or email eoa-titleix@siue.edu. The SIUE Sexual Harassment Policy is available online at siue.edu/policies/table-of-contents/2c5.shtml.
Any student who believes he or she is being subjected to sexual harassment or retaliated against should contact the Illinois Department of Human Rights for more information or to file a charge. Students may contact the Department at 312-814-6200 (Chicago) or 217-785-5100 (Springfield), 866-740-3953 (TTY); or by visiting the Department’s website: illinois.gov/dhr. Any charge alleging sexual harassment in higher education must be filed within 180 days of the alleged incident(s). Charge forms are available on the Department’s website: http://www.illinois.gov/dhr/FilingaCharge/Pages/Education.aspx.
Student Social Conduct, Student Academic Conduct, Student Grievance
Students enrolling in SIUE assume responsibility for conduct compatible with the learning environment of the University. Students are expected to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct, Student Academic Code, and Student Grievance Code. These policies describe the University’s expectations for student conduct, sanctions imposed for violations of these standards, and the procedures which students may follow in filing grievances.
The University gives high priority to matters of academic ethics and abhors all types of cheating, including plagiarism. Plagiarism is the act of representing the work of another as one’s own and may consist of copying or otherwise using written or oral work of another without proper acknowledgement of the source. Instructors may impose sanctions for academic cheating in accordance with the Student Academic Code. Students who wish to understand matters relevant to academic ethics and plagiarism should consult their advisors or instructors.
Copies of the codes are available in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Graduate School, the Service Center, and in the Office of the Dean, School of Dental Medicine. An electronic version of the Code of Student Conduct can also be found at siue.edu/policies/table-of-contents/3c1.shtml.
