Simplifying the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy
Policies are written in a specific way to ensure that expectations and processes are well defined and well detailed. This can however make them lengthy and can feel overwhelming when you have a lot going on. Below is a breakdown of the SRR policy that can be a bit easier to digest. That said, we still encourage you to read the formal policy to ensure you are aware of expectations on campus.
What are my Rights?
- You have the right to a safe and welcoming learning environment, which respects all rights and freedoms established by Canadian laws and those supported by University Policies.
- You have the right to access resources and supports necessary to function as a student and for your overall wellbeing.
- You have the right to fair and equitable treatment, this includes:
- To be provided clear information about the concerns brought forward and next steps available to you.
- To be provided options to bring forward your account of events, have support people present, and to reasonable accommodations within the process.
- To have impartial decision makers free from bias and conflicts of interest throughout any resolution pathway.
- You have the right to bring forward concerns for behaviours that are inconsistent with university policies without fear that someone may engage in or threaten to retaliate against you for making a good faith report under the policy.
What are my Responsibilities?
- You have the responsibility to follow all institutional policies and the directions of university officials.
- You are expected to be aware of the impact your behaviours have on others, while maintaining and contributing to a respectful and safe campus environment.
- You are responsible for the actions of guests that you bring to our campus. As a representative of the University of Guelph, you are expected to help inform your guests of the University of Guelph community’s shared expectations and can be responsible for their actions if they fail to follow those.
What is a Resolution Pathway?
When a concern is brought forward to us, we work to bring the matter to a conclusion by following one of three resolution pathways. In all our pathways, we consider the willingness of those named to participate, type of behaviour reported, and impact on the institution and community. If someone brings forward a complaint about you, you will have an opportunity to meet with a member of the OSA to discuss your options and ask any clarifying questions.
- This pathway is for cases where the facts are clear, the situation is less complex, and you accept responsibility for your actions/behaviour.
- The OSA works with everyone involved to find an appropriate outcome.
- Administrative resolutions are not eligible for appeals. If you change your mind on this process, you will have 10 business days to withdraw from the administrative process. A withdraw will initiate an Adjudicated pathway to determine outcomes.
- In cases where you, and sometimes the person bringing forward the complaint, want to find a solution we may utilize facilitated approaches.
- The OSA will help to guide the process using methods like mediation, conflict coaching or restorative solutions (focusing on fixing harm and relationships).
- Both parties must voluntarily agree to try and solve the issue, but they are not required to meet throughout this process. The OSA can facilitate the most appropriate way to help everyone communicate and come to an agreement.
- This process may involve continual communication with those involved until a formally agreed upon outcome is achieved.
- Facilitated resolutions are not eligible for appeals. If you change your mind within 10 days of formally agreeing to use a Facilitated Resolution, you can stop the process and move to an Adjudicated pathway.
- This is the most formal pathway used when the situation has more complexity as determined by the OSA or if you as the accused student requests this pathway.
- An OSA staff member, the Vice-Provost (Student Affairs), or the Hearing Board may be assigned as the Adjudicator (person making the decision).
- This process requires the collection and review of additional documents and statements submitted as evidence for consideration.
- The Adjudicator decides based on the balance of probabilities (what is more likely to have happened within 50.1% chance) and determines appropriate outcomes.
- Adjudicated decisions are eligible for appeal within 21 calendar days of receiving the decision if the student can show that they meet the appeal grounds.
Contact Us
Email: osa@uoguelph.ca
The Office of Student Accountability is a unit within the Department of Student Experience.