Students - Rights & Responsibilities

The appropriate balance of rights and responsibilities is a critical component of our community. These processes have been developed with students' rights in mind, but students are also asked to be respectful of their responsibilities as members of this community. 

During the conduct processes, students have responsibility for:

• reading and upholding the Code of Student Conduct
• being honest and forthcoming
• responding to communication and meeting requests
• considering the perspectives of others
• recognizing that the impact of their actions is important, not just the intent behind them.
• maintaining the high standards of our community by taking action with friends/peers if they are acting in concerning ways

Students also have the right to the following, as outlined in the Berkeley Campus Code of Student Conduct:

• Notice of Charges: written notice of the section(s) of the Code that a student may have violated and a summary of the available supporting information.
• Presumption of  Innocence: a student charged with violating the Code is assumed not responsible unless he/she admits responsibility or a conduct process determines he/she is likely responsible. 
• Choice not to Participate: the responding student may choose not to participate in the conduct process, but should be aware that the process may continue and decisions will be made without information from the student.
• Opportunity for an Advisor: a responding student may have a person of his/her choosing present for any conduct meeting or hearing.
• Opportunity for a Hearing: a student always has the right to have a case be heard through a hearing instead of accepting an informal resolution.
• Opportunity for Appeal: if a case goes to a hearing, the responding student can appeal the decision of responsibility and/or sanction, based on the criteria for appeal.