What Are Student Rights and Responsibilities?
At Fanshawe College, student rights and responsibilities define the standards for a safe, respectful, and inclusive community. These standards align with Fanshawe’s vision, mission, and values and are upheld through its policies, ensuring a supportive learning environment and fostering a positive College experience for all.
Fanshawe student rights and responsibilities are outlined in policy A130 – Student Code of Conduct and in the joint Statement of Rights and Responsibilities signed by the presidents of the College and the Fanshawe Student Union (“FSU”), establishing clear expectations for student conduct and the role of the College community in upholding them.
Rights and responsibilities are interdependent, which means one cannot exist without the other. They are closely tied to behaviour and how individuals interact within society and shared spaces – just as the social contract suggests that people uphold collective rules to ensure the common good, members of the Fanshawe community must behave themselves to have their rights recognized and upheld. In other words, students have the right to learn and work in a safe environment that sustains their well-being and dignity. In return, they are also responsible for conducting themselves with respect, and an ethical approach to conduct is essential.
Key Areas
Student responsibilities fall into two key areas:
- Academic behaviour, as outlined by policy A136 – Academic Integrity (for more information, please refer to the Academic Integrity Guide)
- General non-academic behaviour, as outlined by policy A130 – Student Code of Conduct and the information below
It is essential to clarify that if the breach resulted from general non-academic and professional behaviour (“misconduct”) while the student was working at the College, the policy P127: Employee Code of Conduct process will be followed.
Fanshawe has a dedicated Student Rights and Responsibilities Office (“SRRO”) to assist both students and employees in navigating rights and responsibilities. The SRRO provides guidance, support, and education while addressing reports of violations submitted by College officials or community members.
Among those areas, the Student Code of Conduct is crucial in maintaining a respectful and safe environment at Fanshawe. The following section outlines the process for addressing violations under that policy, including how incidents are reported, investigated, adjudicated, and appealed.
