3.1
Responsibility of the University to its Members
It is the responsibility of every member of the University to respect the rights and privileges of all others in the University as enumerated below and in other specific policies of the University:
1. Subject to the rights of others as provided for herein, freedom of assembly, speech, belief, and the right of petition, including the right of petition to the appropriate University authority, in the event of an academic evaluation or classroom situation considered by the petitioner to be prejudiced or untenable.
2. Protection from harassment, discrimination and abuse:
a. Wesleyan University is fully committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
b. Wesleyan prohibits harassment by a member or members of the University against any other individual or groups. While the University does not attempt to shield people from ideas that they may find unwelcome or disagreeable, there are some situations in which certain behavior or even speech may violate our community standards and warrant University intervention. Speech or conduct may be deemed harassing and actionable by the University when it violates the law or other University policy, where it constitutes a significant threat to health or safety or promotes violence, where it unjustifiably invades a significant privacy or confidentiality interest, or where it otherwise disrupts the functioning of the institution or an individual’s ability to access the University’s resources and opportunities.
c. Wesleyan prohibits sexual misconduct, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking and retaliation, is prohibited. (See Standards of Conduct – Discrimination and Harassment).
3. The right of privacy in University residence halls. The living quarters of members of the University are private, and with- out an invitation from the occupant may not be entered unless an emergency arises involving the health or safety of the occupant; or for the enforcement of health or safety regulations; or in the event of a suspected violation of a University regulation, upon receiving permission from the vice president for student affairs; or, if for any other reason, upon 24-hours notice to the occupant. Where two or more individuals occupy the same living quarters, permission to enter from one occupant does not permit the entering person to assume that he/she has entered the quarters of anyone except the person who extended the invitation. This provision does not restrict entrance by custodial personnel and personnel retained by the University to provide services at scheduled intervals.
4. The right to expect that communication between a student and a member of the University staff or faculty with whom the student has had a counseling relationship is confidential and without the consent of the student, may be disclosed by the counselor only when the health or safety of an individual is jeopardized or when compelled by legal process. In an instance involving the health or safety of an individual, disclosure will be made only to individualism a position to assist the counselor or to alleviate the danger. In no case shall the content of such communication constitute a basis for disciplinary action or be introduced as evidence before the University judiciary.
5. The right to enter into physician-patient or similar relationships with medical and other professional personnel of the University with the understanding and assurance that confidence will be maintained in accordance with the ethical standards of the professions.
6. The right to confidentiality of disciplinary records, which may be released to other than appropriate University personnel only upon permission of the student.
7. The right to protected by standards of justice and fairness in any proceedings with the University.
Note: Fair and reasonable treatment should govern the access to and administration of all University facilities and programs.
To address complaints that have not been able to be resolved at or by the University, individuals may consider contacting:
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803
(781) 425-7714
Office of Higher Education
61 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105
(800) 842-0229
ctohe.org