General Policies
Your Rights and Responsibilities |
Confidentiality and Privacy Statement |
Academic Honesty
Notice of Non-Discrimination |
Student Records |
Transcript Records |
Verification of Your Enrollment Status |
Address Changes
Name Changes |
Student Classification |
Declaring a Major |
Right of Appeal
This page defines the general policies governing your rights as a student, academic honesty, student records, transcripts, enrollment status, name and address changes, student classification, declaring a major and appeals.
Additional information on these policies is available in the Boise State University Student Handbook and the Boise State University Policy Manual.
Your Rights and Responsibilities
Boise State University challenges its students to reach their highest levels of performance, encourages them to excel in academics and sports, and invites them to participate in the many cultural and social activities available at the university. At the same time, Boise State University expects students to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the university’s function as an institution of higher learning. Therefore, we have published this catalog and the Boise State University Student Handbook to acquaint you with your rights and responsibilities as a student.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.
A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. - The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask the University to amend a record should write 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.
If the University decides not to amend the record as requested, the University will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing. - 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 under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company 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, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or 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. - 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.
The information listed below is considered public information:
- your name
- your date of birth
- your local address
- your e-mail address
- your local telephone number
- your major field of study
- the dates you attended Boise State
- your student classification (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate)
- your enrollment status (e.g., full-time or part-time)
- the type of degree you’ve earned from Boise State and the date on which it was awarded
- the Dean’s list and other honors released to the newspapers
If you wish to limit access to this information, log on to BroncoWeb and click on the FERPA Directory Restrictions link.
In discharging their official duties, Boise State employees may read, review, photocopy, and distribute to appropriate persons within the university any information contained in your student record. However, before distributing confidential information outside the university—even to members of your family—Boise State faculty and staff must first secure your written permission to do so.
You must complete a privacy release form to allow individuals other than yourself to access your student records related to grades, financial aid, and account. Log on to BroncoWeb, select Campus Personal Information, FERPA Restrictions, scroll down and select Edit FERPA/Directory Restrictions, and select Restrict or Release.
The university’s goal is to foster an intellectual atmosphere that produces educated, literate people. Because cheating and plagiarism are at odds with that goal, they shall not be tolerated in any form. Students are expected to adhere to the rules and regulations as set forth in the Student Code of Conduct. Therefore, all work submitted by a student must represent that student’s own ideas and effort; when the work does not, the student has engaged in academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism occurs when a person passes in another person’s work as his or her own or borrows directly from another person’s work without proper documentation. For example, academic dishonesty occurs whenever a student:
- buys a paper or other project, then seeks to receive credit for the paper or project
- copies from another student’s exam, either before, during, or after the exam
- uses “crib notes” while taking an exam or uses information stored in a computer or calculator (if prohibited from doing so)
- allows another person to take an exam in his or her place or takes an exam for another person
- collaborates on take-home exams when such collaboration is forbidden
- copies the work of another person and attempts to receive credit for that work
- fails to properly document source material in a paper or project
- receives editorial assistance that falls outside the scope of acceptable assistance
NOTE: The list above is intended only to provide general guidelines for recognizing and avoiding common types of academic dishonesty. It is in no way an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all the types of academic dishonesty.
Except in cases of major offenses, responding to academic dishonesty is the responsibility of the instructor of the course in which the dishonesty occurs. If a student is responsible of academic dishonesty, the student may be dismissed from the class and may receive a failing grade. Other penalties may include suspension or expulsion from school.
For more information about academic honesty, see the following publications:
As required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the regulations set forth at 34 CFR 104.7, 34 CFR 104.8, and 28 CFR 35.107, it is the policy of Boise State University not to discriminate against individuals in its programs or activities on the basis of physical or mental disability. Boise State University’s Non-Discrimination Policy, which includes the University’s grievance procedures, can be found at the following link: http://policy.boisestate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/1060_112111.pdf
Qualified students who require disability-related services or accommodations are encouraged to contact the University’s Disability Resource Center, located in Room 114 of the Administration Building on the University’s Main Campus, or by telephone at 426-1583. Information concerning services provided by the Disability Resource Center can be found on its website: http://drc.boisestate.edu/.
Qualified employees who require disability-related services or accommodations are encouraged to contact the University’s EEO/AA Office, located in Room 215-D of the Administration Building on the University’s Main Campus, or by telephone at 426-1979. Information concerning services provided by the EEO/AA Office can be located at the following link: http://hrs.boisestate.edu/eeoaa/
Other individuals requiring disability-related services or accommodations, or, who have questions or concerns related to the University’s obligations described in this notice are encouraged to contact the University’s Interim 504/ADA Coordinator, Blaine Eckles, located in Room 116 of the Norco Building on the University’s Main Campus, or by telephone at 426-3489.
Upon request this notice is available in alternative formats (e.g., large print or audio) from the 504/ADA Coordinator.
Universities routinely collect, store, and maintain many kinds of information about prospective, current, and former students. Boise State University is no exception. For instance, the Admissions Office maintains a file for each student who has applied for admission to the university for a period of two to five years (see Admissions for details). Other files at the Registrar’s Office contain your permanent transcript. Faculty and departments also may maintain files containing advising records, grades sheets, and correspondence.
In general, you have the right to review the documents that constitute your official record, and you have the right to request copies of those documents. If you request copies, Boise State University will provide them in a timely and efficient manner.
You may order official transcripts online through BroncoWeb at http://broncoweb.boisestate.edu/. The Registrar’s Office makes every effort to ensure that your transcript records are up-to-date and accurate. If you believe there is an error or an omission on your transcript, please contact the Registrar’s Office, Administration Building, Room 110, (208) 426-4249.
Verification of Your Enrollment Status
Your enrollment status is public information unless you have notified the university that you want it to be treated as confidential (see Confidentiality and Privacy). In responding to inquiries from outside the university, Boise State University calculates your enrollment status according to Table 2.1. Requests for verification of enrollment status often come from such businesses as employment agencies, insurance companies, and lending agencies.
| Schedule Used to Determine Undergraduate Enrollment Status (in Response to Outside Inquiries) |
|
|---|---|
Number of Credits (currently enrolled) |
Enrollment Status |
12 or more |
Full-Time |
9 to 11 |
Three-Quarter-Time |
6 to 8 |
Half-Time |
5 or fewer |
Less Than Half-Time |
NOTE: If you are receiving benefits under the G.I. Bill, you should contact the Veteran's Services Office, Administration Building, Room 111, (208) 426-1505, to determine your enrollment status. Exceptions for student body officers and student editors are outlined in Idaho State Board of Education Policy III.P.7.a.i-ii. |
|
Whenever Boise State University policies or procedures call for a university office to send written notification to a student, that obligation is fulfilled when that office mails the notification to the student’s last address on record. Past students may update their address in person, by e-mail at bweb@boisestate.edu, or by sending in a change-of-address card from the post office to the BroncoWeb Help Center, Administration Building, Room 110. Currently enrolled students must update address information by logging on to BroncoWeb.
You should promptly report a name change. You may do so by completing a Student Information Update form and returning the form to the BroncoWeb Help Center, Administration Building, Room 110. You must provide evidence showing that your name has officially changed, such as a certified copy of a court order, a marriage certificate, or a dissolution decree reflecting the new name in full.
Note: If you are, or were at anytime, employed by the university (even as a student employee) you must report your name change to the Department of Human Resource Services, Administration Building, Room 218 (documentation requirements may differ).
The University classifies each student according to the definitions provided below.
| Student Classifications | |
|---|---|
Classification |
Definition |
Freshman |
Has earned 0 to 25 credits. |
Sophomore |
Has earned 26 to 57 credits. Sophomore is the maximum classification for students in associate or certificate programs. |
Junior |
Has earned 58 to 89 credits. |
Senior |
Has earned 90 or more credits or is pursuing a second baccalaureate degree. |
Graduate |
Has earned a baccalaureate degree, has been admitted to the Graduate College, and is pursuing a graduate degree. |
All students are required to declare a major field of study. If you are a currently enrolled student seeking a baccalaureate degree you must declare a major field of study by the time you are classified as a junior. You will be classified a junior when 58 credits have been earned (See Student Classification above).
For your convenience, if you are a student who has not yet selected a major field of study (undeclared), you can declare a major by logging on to your BroncoWeb student account.
For more information, contact the BroncoWeb Help Center at (208) 426-4249.
Additional information about majors can be found in Obtaining a Degree at Boise State University.
You have the right to appeal any academic policy or requirement if either of the following conditions is present:
- Extenuating circumstances make it impossible for you to comply with the policy or requirement.
- An undue hardship would result from a strict application or interpretation of the policy or requirement.
Please note, however, that extenuating circumstances must be beyond your control and that undue hardship must be a condition far more serious than simple inconvenience. Documentation will be required and the timeliness of the appeal will be taken into consideration.
If you appeal an academic policy or requirement, the dean of the college responsible for your major or the Academic Appeals Committee will most likely review that appeal. Appeals for current semester complete withdrawals should be directed to the Registrar’s Office. For more information about appeals and grievances, see the Boise State University Policy Manual and the Boise State University Student Handbook.
Contact the Registrar’s Office, Administration Building, Room 110, (208) 426-4249.