Student Right to Know
APSU students are citizens of the state, local, and national governments or are citizens of other countries, and of the academic community.
They are, therefore, expected to conduct themselves as law abiding members of each community at all times. Admission to the University carries with it special privileges and imposes special responsibilities apart from those rights and duties enjoyed by non-students. In recognition of the special relationship that exists between the institution and the academic community which it seeks to serve, the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR Policy 3:02:00:01) has authorized the presidents of TBR institutions to take such action as may be necessary to maintain campus conditions and preserve the integrity and educational environment of the institutions.
Pursuant to this authorization and in fulfillment of its duty to provide a secure and stimulating atmosphere in which individual and academic pursuits may flourish, the University has developed the Code of Student Conduct, APSU Policy 3:013, contained in the STUDENT HANDBOOK, which is intended to govern student conduct at Austin Peay State University.
In addition, students are subject to all national, state, and local laws and ordinances. If a student’s violation of such laws or ordinances also adversely affects the institution’s pursuit of its educational objectives, the University may enforce its own regulations regardless of any proceedings instituted by other authorities.
Conversely, violation of any section of the Code of Student Conduct may subject a student to disciplinary measures by the institution whether or not such conduct is simultaneously in violation of state, local, or national laws.
Generally, through appropriate due process procedures, institutional disciplinary measures shall be imposed for conduct which adversely affects the University’s pursuit of its educational objectives, which violates or shows a disregard for the rights of other members of the academic community, or which endangers property or persons on University or University-controlled property. In addition, disciplinary action may be taken on the basis of any conduct, on or off campus, which violates University policies for Student Organizations or poses a substantial threat to persons or property within the University Community.
When students are unable to pursue their academic work effectively, when their behavior is disruptive to the normal educational process of the University or is detrimental to themselves or others, due to drug and/or psychological disturbance, they may voluntarily withdraw, or be temporarily suspended from the University.
The University Academic and Non-Academic Grievance Policies are designed to afford students a due process opportunity for expressing their complaints. These policies are published in the STUDENT HANDBOOK.
The University shall have such rights and responsibilities as are necessary and desirable for the University to achieve its purposes. The Tennessee Board of Regents specifically confirms the following rights of the University:
- To establish regulations concerning the use and abuse of University property and to assess students with claims of damage for such abuse;
- To withhold grades and transcripts of credit until all claims have been paid;
- To dismiss, in the absence of specific regulations, any student, at any time, for cause deemed by the University to be in the best interest of the student’s emotional or physical safety or the well-being of the University community;
- To establish standards of dress, manners, and conduct on the campus within the range of convention and good taste;
- To establish traffic regulations on campus, provide for registration of all vehicles using the campus, and enforce such regulations as are established. Automobile Restrictions: All cars to be parked on campus must be registered with the Office of Public Safety/campus police;
- To control and regulate the housing of students on campus;
- To establish or institute honor systems and ethical practice codes;
- To supervise the scheduling of meetings, events, and activities of student organizations; and
- To enter, inspect, and search for contraband, stolen articles, and such in the room of any student in University-owned housing facilities, when probable cause is established.
The list is not intended to be all-inclusive and in no way limits the rights, responsibilities, and authority which the University now has. It is simply a reiteration of some of the rights, responsibilities, and authority which have been and are now vested in it.
It is the policy of the Tennessee Board of Regents and Austin Peay State University to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) also known as the “Buckley Amendment” and, in so doing, to protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable educational records of students and former students. The student has the right to access, to request amendment, and to file a complaint concerning his/her education records in accordance with APSU Policy 3:024. Appointments to review education records are scheduled through the Office of the Registrar at least 72 hours in advance.
If the student is indebted to the University, a copy of the education records will not be made. Except as provided by the policy, the University may disclose directory information to any person requesting it without consent of the student. Directory information includes the student’s name, permanent address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, student photograph, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, enrollment status, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. The University provides each student the opportunity to refuse to allow disclosure of designated directory information through the Offices of the Registrar, Ellington Building, Room 303 and the AP Center at Fort Campbell Information Window. The student will be given this opportunity at the beginning of each academic term. The student has 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 Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 20202-4605.
Annually, students are informed of their rights through the STUDENT HANDBOOK. A complete copy of the policy shall be made available upon request at the Office of the Registrar (free of charge) and the University library (at a nominal per-sheet charge).
Statistics for all crimes are publicized and distributed to employees and students on an annual basis, in the time frames required by Federal/State law, and are available to applicants for enrollment or employment upon request from the Office of Public Safety. The graduation rate is 35.6 percent. For information on the law and University policy and statistics, contact the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at 931-221-6184.
All currently enrolled students are required to read the University’s Drug-Free Schools and Communities Amendments Act Statement. This statement outlines policy, legal sanctions (federal, state, and University), health risks, and assistance programs related to the use of alcohol and/or other drugs on the Austin Peay State University campus. The statement is in the STUDENT HANDBOOK.
All smoking is prohibited on the APSU campus, except in designated campus parking lots (APSU Policy No. 3:032). APSU promotes an environment free from tobacco smoke in buildings and vehicles where students, faculty, and staff are working, conducting seminars, research, discussions, etc. Regardless of whether classes are in session, this policy is in effect 24 hours-a-day year-round. Those choosing to use smoke-free tobacco products may do so 30 feet from each building entrance and exit. (See STUDENT HANDBOOK.) This link provides a campus map illustrating official designated smoking areas: http://www.apsu.edu/files/smoking/smoking_map.pdf
Austin Peay State University’s liability for personal injury or property damages is governed by the Tennessee Claims Commission Act, T.C.A § 9–8–301, et seq. The University is self-insured under the Act, which covers claims, damages, losses, or costs arising from certain statutorily defined acts or omissions of the University or its employees for actual damages up to $300,000 per claimant and $1,000,000 per occurrence. Employees of Austin Peay State University are personally immune from liability for state law claims for money damages unless their actions were criminal, malicious, or for personal gain. In the absence of negligence by the University or its employees falling under the Act, Austin Peay State University is not responsible for bodily harm and/or death to participants in any voluntary organizations or activities in which risk is incurred, including but not limited to voluntary athletics, intramural recreation, hiking, karate, judo, and skydiving. Claims for damages are initiated by giving written notice to the Division of Claims Administration, Tennessee Department of Treasury. http://treasury.tn.gov/ClaimsAdmin/Tort.html
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