Athens State University (ASU) publishes policies delineating student rights and responsibilities in three primary ways: the ASU Catalog, available in both print and electronic form; the ASU Student Planner and Handbook, available in both print and electronic form; and under a variety of links and webpages on the University website.
Student rights and responsibilities are published in a variety of areas and sections of the University Catalog, Handbook, and website that reflect the organizational structure of the institution. Furthermore, since student rights and responsibilities are diverse, in that specific rights or responsibilities often only concern certain subgroups of students, specific rights and responsibilities are included in the appropriate sections where they are most appropriate. For example, rights and responsibilities concerning student financial aid are published in the Student Financial Services areas of the Catalog and website, while rights and responsibilities concerning veterans are published in the Veterans Affairs sections.
The Athens State University Catalog is the official announcement of programs, requirements, and regulations of Athens State University, and therefore contains the majority of the information concerning the rights and responsibilities of students in the appropriate sections. The Catalog includes sections and statements on: The Student Planner and Handbook, also includes statements of many student rights and responsibilities, many of which are targeted at students involved with various student activities through the Office of Student Activities. The Handbook includes statements on: In addition to the electronic versions of the University Catalog and Student Handbook available on the University website, many policy statements related to specific student rights and responsibilities are also available on the University’s Policies and Procedures webpage, and may also be summarized on specific University webpages when appropriate.
In addition to aforementioned publications, key procedures and due dates specific to certain academic semesters, such as those relating to registration for classes or withdrawal from classes, are published in the class schedule for each semester. These class schedules are made available to students in print form, and in electronic form on the University website.
Policies relating to student rights and responsibilities are appropriate and consistent with the mission of Athens State University as the only upper-division university in the Alabama Community College System. Many University policies are prescribed by the Alabama State Board of Education and the Department of Postsecondary Education. In addition, many policies and statements relating to student rights and responsibilities are mandated by federal laws or agencies, such as FERPA, federal financial aid regulations, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Veteran’s Adm
ministration, and therefore conform to sound practices followed by other public institutions of higher learning.
The institution ensures that students are aware of student rights and responsibilities through several methods. All new students are sent a letter from the Director of Admissions and Records which informs each student of the available resources that can be accessed on the University website and through their individual ASU ON-LINE account. All students may access the Student Orientation webpage, which provides many useful and informative links related to the responsibilities and rights of students. In addition, every student that is awarded financial aid must view and accept their award package using their ASU ON-LINE account. In accepting the award, each student must view and click on several tabs to view the award information, to view the terms and conditions of their award, and to accept the award. Students are reminded throughout this process of their rights and responsibilities and are provided with the web addresses for institutional financial aid policies and federal policies pertaining to financial aid.
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