Student policies are living, breathing documents that must grow and adapt with the University. They are at the heart of an effective ethics and compliance program. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to mitigate barriers that block student success.
Every year, campus partners from across the University review and update our policies to ensure they remain relevant, equitable, and effective in addressing the evolving needs of the student body and external changes such as updates to the law. Regular updates to policy help maintain transparency with our students and the university community. The specific individuals who oversee and are consulted on a policy change depends on the specific policy, but policy owners maintain regular contact with key partners including student and faculty governing bodies as changes are made. The Dean of Students and Director of Community Standards oversee the review process, and notify the community of changes at the beginning of each academic year.
Below you will find a summary of the key policy changes made for the current year. To view previous Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities Handbooks, visit the Community Standards website.
2024-25 Policy Changes
- Migrated "university policies" from SRRR to USNH Policy Website. A University Policy means any policy that has broad application or impact across UNH colleges, schools, institutes and operating units beneficial for its members, partners, and relationships. A Student Policy is any policy which directly affects student lives at the university and is nonacademic in nature. It provides direction for the intended audience. Policies that have broader applicability than just students have been moved to a more appropriate location.
- Authored newly published Recognized Student Organization policy. Consolidated existing Sport Clubs and Student Organization policies. Comprehensively covers Fraternities & Sororities (nationally chartered), Sport Clubs, Student Organization (special interest), and Student Governance Bodies. Identifies University Recognizing Agents. Clearly outlines registration requirements to achieve and renew recognition, associated benefits and privileges, and obligations for compliance with the law and university policy.
- Authored newly published Personal and Motorized Devices University Policy considering new town regulations and emergence of "e-scooters". The new policy governs the use of all personal manual and motorized devices that facilitate the movement of people on the University of New Hampshire Durham campus. This policy is meant to encourage safe shared use of transportation infrastructure including roads, walkways and pathways around campus and town, with environmentally friendly modes of transportation in a manner that protects the safety of all riders, motorists, and pedestrians.
- Combined and better organized existing financial policies in the catalog, SRRR, and website. Information on tuition and fees have been scattered throughout various locations. Changes were made this year towards the goal of making this information easier to locate and review for students.
- Continued to distinguish the SRRR vs the Room and Board Agreement. The SRRR contains comprehensive information about university policies and student rights and responsibilities. In contrast, the Room and Board Agreement is a stand-alone legally binding contract from on-campus living expectations outlined in the Residential Policies and Regulations.
- Redefined the Code of Conduct's jurisdictional scope to:
- Identify specific activities that evidence matriculation or intervals that mark conferral of membership. (i.e., the point at which a student’s due process rights attach
- Limit the Code’s scope (who) to those who might be affected by policies, obligations, responsibilities, rights, and privileges pertaining therein and exclude individuals with no institutional affiliation.
- Limit the Code’s jurisdiction (when and where) to education programs, curricular and co-curricular activities where boundaries are contained to locations, events, and circumstances in which the University exercises substantial control.
- Distinguish ‘student’ from a ‘learner’. A learner is an individual pursuing an educational opportunity for personal enrichment or to enhance their professional skills and knowledge but does not include coursework bearing academic credit.
- Established an accreditation-compliant central grievance process. The updated policy provides a central location where students can consult if they need additional support resolving a concern.
- Better clarified what is and is not a Fraternity and Sorority Social Event.
- Broadened Class Attendance policy to include jury duty, military service, and adaptive sports. The updated policy can be found in the undergraduate catalog.
