Students, The University, And You

Fort Hays State University is committed to the advancement of knowledge, to freedom of thought and inquiry, and to the personal, social, and intellectual growth of its students. We welcome your student into our community and you as a partner in this adventure.

General Expectations

By enrolling in the University, students enter a new world. They neither lose their rights nor escape the duties of citizens but are expected to conduct their lives here in the context of mutual regard for the rights, property, and privileges of others. The University through its "Student Code of Conduct" recognizes the significance of such student rights as freedom of expression, autonomy, procedural protection, and respect for person and property. Ensuring these individual rights for all helps to foster an educational environment conducive to students' academic success, personal well being, and social development.

Of course, students have responsibilities as well as rights. The university seeks to cultivate in its students intellectual integrity, tolerance of diversity, informed ethical values, and the highest aspirations for one's self and one's society. The "Student Code of Conduct" creates an explicit expectation of the kind of behavior that the University views as acceptable and appropriate. Like any other institution, the University must have a strategy to deal with a member, members, or student organization, which fail to adhere to these expectations. The "Student Code of Conduct" also describes the processes followed and consequences to be expected when such instances occur.

Transitions And Communication

Going to college is a time of transition. Most students move from the relative security of family life through a period of exploration and self-analysis to the development of self-reliance and responsibility. These are important years for young adults to discover who they are and who they wish to be. Your student is about to face many unknowns and to experience periods of joy, pain, disappointment, and discovery. You will experience some of these victories and defeats vicariously.

Your student comes to us with a good foundation for this change. You have spent years building a strong relationship; we recognize that you want it strengthened, not eroded, by the experience of college. Your role in your student's development will continue to be of utmost importance; your interest, financial support, and advice in key decisions will have an impact. But the kind of communication which exists between college students and their parents often marks a departure from the past, which requires adjustments on all sides.

Students at Fort Hays State University are treated as adults and are expected to assume responsibility for their own affairs. This includes keeping their families informed of their own progress and concerns. Over the past several years, more attention has been given to the legal rights of the student. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, students' academic records, including but not limited to, transcripts, class schedules, graduation information, and discipline records, are confidential. Consequently, access to student records is restricted. Parents or guardians may have access to the information in these records only if their son or daughter signs and dates a consent waiver that specifies which records may be disclosed, the purpose of the disclosure, and the party or class of parties to whom disclosure may be made. Directory information, such as name, address, telephone number, field of study, e-mail addresses, and involvement in recognized activities or sports, may be released without a consent waiver being signed. (Students may opt for this information to be restricted as well by filling out a privacy form available from the Student Affairs Office).

Supported by the resources of the University community and your continuing positive influence, your student will develop the knowledge, maturity, judgment, and self-discipline necessary for effective management of their lives.