Academic Catalog

Academic Policies

A—through—Z

Academic Clemency

An undergraduate student returning to FHSU after a minimum separation from all institutions of higher education of two calendar years may petition to remove one or two academic terms (at the discretion of the student) of FHSU credit hours and corresponding grades from the student’s official transcript record. Only FHSU credit hours and coursework taken prior to the two-year separation may be petitioned.

If two enrolled semesters are appealed, then such terms must be consecutive enrollments as follows:

  1. consecutive fall-spring terms,
  2. consecutive spring-summer terms,
  3. consecutive spring-fall terms (if not enrolled in the intervening summer term), or
  4. consecutive summer-fall terms.

The petition may be filed after the student has completed a minimum of 24 semester credit hours with a grade point average of 2.50 or better on all courses completed following re-enrollment at FHSU. The student may appeal only once. All approved appealed course numbers and names would remain on the student’s transcript with the appealed grades and credit hours removed. The notation “Academic Clemency Granted,” would be entered on the transcript in lieu of the appealed grades and credit hours.

The approved appealed course grades and credit hours would not be included in any subsequent calculation of the student’s overall grade point average. This policy is not applicable to any credit hours previously earned in any associate or baccalaureate degree program. For further information, contact the Office of the Registrar.

Academic Honesty

Membership in the FHSU learning community imposes upon the student a variety of commitments, obligations and responsibilities. It is the policy of FHSU to impose sanctions on students who misrepresent their academic work. These sanctions will be selected by appropriate classroom instructors or other designated persons consistent with the seriousness of the violation and related considerations.

Examples of academic dishonesty include but are not limited to:

  1. Plagiarism, taking someone else’s intellectual work and presenting it as one’s own (which covers published and unpublished sources). Using another’s term paper as one’s own; handing in a paper purchased from an individual or agency; submitting papers from living group, club or organization files; or using another’s computer program or document are all examples of plagiarism. Standards of attribution and acknowledgment of literary indebtedness are set by each discipline.
    Faculty are encouraged to include disciplinary or class-specific definitions in course syllabi. Students should consult with their department or with recognized handbooks in their field if in doubt.
  2. Cheating is unacceptable in any form. Examples include consultation of books, library materials or notes during tests without the instructor’s permission; use of crib sheets or hidden notes; intentional observation of another student’s test; receipt of a copy of an exam or questions or answers from an exam to be given or in progress; substitution of another person for the student on an exam or another graded activity; deliberate falsification of lab results; submission of falsified data; alteration of exams or other academic exercises; and collaboration on projects where collaboration is forbidden.
  3. Falsification, forgery or alteration of any documents pertaining to assignments and examinations.
  4. Students who (cooperate or in other ways promote) participate in promoting cheating or plagiarism by others (or who take credit for the work of others) will also be in violation of this policy.

Students participating in any violation of this policy must accept the consequences of their actions. Classroom instructors and/or university review/appeals committees and administrators will assess the sanctions for violation of this policy. The seriousness of the violation will dictate the severity of the sanction imposed.

Academic sanctions may include but not be limited to any of the following:

  1. verbal or written warning;
  2. lowering of grade for assignment/activity;
  3. lowering of term grade;
  4. failure of class assignment.

Administrative sanctions may include but not be limited to either of the following:

  1. suspension from the University;
  2. dismissal from the University.

Academic Honesty Procedures

The University guarantees students the provision of due process. Students are first expected, however, to avail themselves of the University’s established tradition of informal appeal. Steps 1-4 describe the informal process. Steps 5-7 describe the procedures designed to implement a formal appeal at the graduate/undergraduate levels.

  1. The faculty member decides whether or not a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy has occurred.
  2. The faculty member informs the student and the department chair that an alleged violation of the Academic Honesty Policy has occurred. It is the faculty member’s obligation to select or devise an academic sanction consistent with the severity of the violation.
  3. The faculty member informs the student of the academic sanction and the process of appeal. If the sanction involves a lowering of a term grade, the faculty member informs the registrar of the change.
  4. If the student disagrees with the faculty member’s allegation and/or recommended sanction, the student pursues the University’s longstanding tradition of informal appeal by consulting with the faculty member, and, if the student still disagrees, by appealing to the department chair.
  5. If after the informal appeal, the student still disagrees with the faculty member’s allegation or recommended sanction, the student may appeal in writing to the academic department no later than the end of the first week of the following semester. The department chair will provide the student with formal (a) departmental appeal procedures for undergraduates and special students or (b) departmental graduate appeal procedures for graduate students. (See specific written departmental appeal process.)
  6. Graduate students: If a graduate student disagrees with the allegation(s) or recommended sanction in the informal procedure, the graduate student may formally appeal through the Graduate School’s graduate student appeals procedures. The formal graduate student appeal procedure begins with a written appeal to the department chair no later than the first week of the following semester. The written appeal should state the specific reasons for the formal appeal to the department.
    Undergraduate/special students: If the student is an undergraduate or special student and disagrees with the departmental allegation or recommended sanction, the student may appeal in writing to the provost no later than 15 working days following the decision.
  7. For undergraduate and special students, an administrative hearing panel will be formed by the provost to hear the undergraduate or special student appeal. The administrative hearing panel will consist of an academic administrator, assistant vice president for student affairs (assigned to work with student judicial affairs), four faculty members, and a student. The administrative hearing panel procedures for undergraduate and special students are available in the Office of the Provost.

Academic Probation and Suspension

Students are expected to perform at a level which will lead to graduation. A minimum of a C average (2.00) is required for graduation, although specific fields may require more than the minimum (for example, elementary and secondary education). If grades reflect that students are not making progress towards a degree, they are placed on academic probation or academic suspension.

Copyrightable Software

The rights to copyrightable software with an actual or projected market value in excess of $10,000 annually, except software included in mediated courseware, shall be determined pursuant to the Board’s Patent and Copyrightable Software Policy.

Continuous Registration in English Composition

Effective Fall 2020, all first-time full-time freshman students must register in ENG 101 English Composition I or ENG 102 English Composition II until they have successfully completed these courses.

Discipline Procedures

The disciplinary process at FHSU strives to provide students with positive reinforcement for living within the guidelines for acceptable behavior. The standards of behavior are set forth in the Student Code of Conduct. The intent is to make discipline educational and not punitive.

The encouragement and development of self-discipline is a primary goal of the educational process. The judicial system established hereby is designed to further this process and, therefore, is not comparable to or a substitute for jurisprudence under the criminal code. Only under extreme circumstances will the process be viewed as a method of terminating the student's relationship with FHSU.

Students facing possible disciplinary actions are assured that due process will be provided. This means they are told how the disciplinary process of the university functions, they will be made aware of the conduct alleged to have been in violation, they will have the opportunity to defend themselves by having witnesses appear on their behalf, they may have an advisor help them, and they may appeal the decision. Appealing a disciplinary action must be done within a defined span of time, but usually the disciplinary action will not go into effect until the appeal is heard.

The exception to this practice occurs only when delaying action until after an appeal would significantly compromise the safety and wellbeing of the university community.

Procedurally, discipline is handled as close to the level of the problem as is possible and reasonable. In other words, residence hall behavior concerns are normally handled by the Residence Hall staff and/or Residence Hall Judicial Boards; Greek conduct questions are handled by the chapter of which the accused is a member, Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, Greek Standards Review Board, etc. Local law enforcement authorities generally handle off-campus law violations.

The university reserves the right to make a case-by-case determination as to whether some conduct which occurs off the premises of the university may be addressed under this policy.

The Office of Student Affairs normally handles violations of the Student Code of Conduct that do not fall under the jurisdiction of the judicial bodies listed above. This office also serves as the appellate body for Residence Hall Boards and the Greek Standards Review Board. The Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for the coordination of administrative judicial programs and proceedings as later described.

In extraordinary circumstances having a detrimental impact on the university community, the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee may determine that summary administrative suspension or dismissal is appropriate. If such a determination is made, the student will be so informed and provided with the opportunity to meet with the Vice President or designee. After investigation and consideration of information presented by the student, if any, the vice president or designee will decide whether a sanction is warranted. This decision can be appealed to the President or his or her designee, whose decision will be final.

  1. Reporting Violations Incident reports describing the alleged violation will be sent to the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, a designee of the Vice President for Student Affairs. (The Assistant Vice President is hereafter known as the Administrative Officer). The Administrative Officer will review and investigate the complaint in order to make a determination concerning whether the university will charge the student(s) with a Code of Conduct violation.
  2. Student Conference If a student is charged with a Code of Conduct violation, he or she will be sent a notice (or called when necessary) to report to the Administrative Officer in order to discuss the charge and the disciplinary procedures. If the Administrative Officer and the charged student can agree upon the facts and sanctions concerning the charges, the matter will be considered initially settled. The matter will be considered resolved once the terms of the sanctions have been completed. The terms of the sanctions may range from dropping all charges to suspension (see the Sanctions section). The Administrative Officer will follow up the student conference with a letter to the student. In all cases where the facts and sanctions concerning the charges cannot be agreed upon, the Administrative Officer will determine whether the student(s) facing possible disciplinary action will have their case heard by a Student Hearing Panel or an Administrative Hearing.
  3. Reporting Violations
    1. Student Hearing Panel
      The Administrative Officer will assemble the Student Hearing Panel, which consists of five students and a panel chair. A committee comprised of representatives from the Office of Student Affairs and the Student Faculty Court selects members of the Hearing Panel and the chair at the beginning of the fall semester. The Administrative Officer will serve as an advisor to the panel. The hearing will consist of the following procedures:
      1. The hearing will be closed, and all proceedings will be confidential. An exception will be allowed if both the charged student and the complainant agree to an open hearing.
      2. The student charged may bring an advisor or legal counsel for assistance but must speak for himself or herself. The role of the advisor or legal counsel will be restricted solely to advising the student.
      3. The complainant and the charged student will have the opportunity to call and examine witnesses and to present and question other evidence. The student is responsible for having his or her witnesses at the hearing. The university can assist in obtaining the attendance of students and university personnel.
      4. The panel chair will exercise control over the hearing. Rules of evidence as used in courts will not be applied in this type of hearing. Any person who disrupts the hearing may be asked to leave the hearing. Repetitious or irrelevant evidence may be excluded.
      5. The standard of proof that will be used is the preponderance of evidence standard. In other words, a student will be found in violation of the Code of Conduct only when the evidence demonstrates it is more likely than not the student committed the violation.
      6. The Student Hearing Panel will deliberate in closed session in order to render a decision.
      7. Witnesses (other than the accused) will be present only during the time they are testifying.
      8. The panel chair will be responsible for rendering the decision in writing to the accused student. The decision shall include a summary of the findings and the sanctions imposed.
      9. The decision of the Student Hearing Panel shall be final unless the student files an appeal as provided in this handbook.
    2. Administrative Hearing
      The Administrative Officer will be the hearing official and may invite student(s), faculty, staff or other experts whose knowledge may be beneficial to serve as the hearing panel. The hearing will consist of the following procedures:
      1. The hearing will be closed, and all proceedings will be confidential. An exception will be allowed if both the charged student and the complainant agree to an open hearing.
      2. The student charged may bring an advisor or legal counsel for assistance but must speak for himself or herself. The role of the advisor or legal counsel will be restricted solely to advising the student.
      3. The university and the charged student will have the opportunity to call and examine witnesses and to present and question other evidence. The student is responsible for having his or her witnesses at the hearing. The university can assist in obtaining the attendance of students and university personnel.
      4. The hearing official will exercise control over the hearing. Rules of evidence as used in courts will not be applied in this type of hearing. Any person who disrupts the hearing may be asked to leave the hearing. Repetitious or irrelevant evidence may be excluded. Witnesses (other than the accused) will be present only during the time they are addressing the panel.
      5. The standard of proof that will be used is the preponderance of evidence standard. In other words, a student will be found in violation of the Code of Conduct only when the evidence demonstrates that it is more likely than not that the student committed the violation.
      6. The hearing official panel will deliberate in closed session in order to render a decision.
      7. The hearing official will be responsible for rendering a decision in writing to the accused student. The decision shall include a summary of the findings and the sanctions imposed.
      8. The decision of the hearing official shall be final unless the student files an appeal as provided below.
  4. Appealing a Decision
    An administrative action of a decision of an Administrative/Student Panel Hearing may be appealed to the Student/Faculty Court by delivering a letter of appeal to the designated representative of the court within the time period specified in the decision (no less than five class days). The procedures of the Student/Faculty Court are available on request from the Student Government Office in the Memorial Union.
    The decision of the Student/Faculty Court is final unless the student files an appeal to the President of FHSU. The procedures for filing an appeal with the President are available upon request.

Enrollment of More Than 21 Credit Hours

Students may be allowed to take in excess of 21 credit hours in a semester only by recommendation of the advisor and approval of the dean of the college in which the student’s primary major is located.

Ethical Use of Computing Resources Policy

Introduction

Fort Hays State University (FHSU) provides computing resources and worldwide network access to its faculty, staff, and students for legitimate administrative, educational, and research efforts. As a member of the FHSU electronic community it is your responsibility to use computing resources ethically and responsibly. Members of the FHSU electronic community are expected to exercise reasonable care in the utilization of FHSU information systems or their components.

Privacy

There are limitations on the amount of privacy that can be expected for individuals utilizing computer resources. Complaints or exceptional circumstances may result in investigation. The Electronic Communications Act of 1986 provides no protection for employees using company online systems.

Users should exercise extreme caution in using e-mail to communicate confidential or sensitive matters, and should not assume that e-mail is private and confidential. It is especially important that users are careful to send messages only to the intended recipient(s). Particular care should be taken when using the “reply” command during e-mail correspondence.

Because the contents of such e-mail are subject to laws governing public records, Users will need to exercise judgment in sending content that may be deemed confidential. Furthermore, e-mail transmissions may not be secure, and contents that are expected to remain confidential should not be communicated via e-mail. Common examples of confidential contents include: student grades, personnel records, individual donor gift records, and data subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations, and the Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA).

Responsibilities

In making appropriate use of the FHSU computing resources, users must accept the responsibility for their behavior and: Protect their user IDs and passwords from unauthorized use, recognizing that individuals are responsible for all activities on their user IDs. Access only files and data that they own, they have been given authorization for, or that are publicly available. Use only legal versions of copyrighted software in compliance with vendor license requirements. Be considerate in their use of shared resources. Refrain from monopolizing systems, overloading networks with excessive data (spamming), and wasting computer time, connect time, disk space, printer paper and toner, and other computing resources. Be cautious about e-mail messages because the information is public and may be retrieved and used in a court of law. Comply in all respects with any request by the University to retain certain information, recognizing that information stored on the University's network is ultimately the responsibility of the University.

Individuals Will Not…..

Use of FHSU computing resources is conditioned upon compliance with this and other university policies and all applicable laws. Though not exhaustive, the following list is provided to emphasize that these activities are not allowed on FHSU networks or computer systems:

  • Accessing another person’s files or data without permission.
  • Storing non-public FHSU data anywhere except FHSU file servers or FHSU-provided OneDrive for Business.
  • Attempting to circumvent or subvert any system’s security measures.
  • Running or otherwise configuring software or hardware to intentionally allow access by unauthorized users.
  • Disrupting services, damaging files, or intentionally damaging or destroying equipment, software, or data belonging to FHSU or other System Users.
  • Making or using illegal copies of copyrighted software or other copyrighted materials (such as digitized artistic productions and music or video files), storing such copies on FHSU systems, or transmitting them over FHSU networks.
  • Using e-mail or message services to harass, intimidate, or threaten another person, or conduct unlawful discrimination.
  • Disclosing your passwords or using another person’s user account or passwords.
  • Using FHSU systems for commercial use, such as performing work for profit or advertising in a manner not authorized by FHSU.
  • Posting web pages that contain material that is illegal or promotes illegal activity (e.g., gambling or child pornography) or otherwise constitutes incitement.
  • Masking the identity of an account or machine. This includes sending e-mail that appears to come from someone else or impersonating a University office, faculty/staff member, or student.
  • Violating any FHSU or Kansas Board of Regents policy or any local, state, or federal law.

Use of E-mail for FHSU Business

The official Fort Hays State University e-mail account is the only electronic mail platform for communicating university business. Official e-mail communications are intended only to meet the academic and administrative needs of the campus community. All electronic notifications from the university are transmitted through this e-mail account and are not forwarded to other non-FHSU e-mail accounts. Users are expected to read, and shall be presumed to have received and read, all FHSU e-mail messages sent to their official FHSU email accounts. The university expects such communications will be received and read in a timely fashion.

Assignment of Student E-mail

Official university e-mail accounts are available for all enrolled students. The addresses are all in the form [Name]@e-mail.fhsu.edu.] These accounts must be activated before the university can correspond with its students using the official e-mail accounts. An account Web site available through the Workday portal has been designed for this purpose. Students’ official e-mail addresses will be included in directory information. As with other directory information, any student may request that access to his or her official e-mail address be restricted.

Expectations About Student Use of E-mail

Students are expected to check their e-mail on a frequent and consistent basis to stay current with FHSU related communications. Students have the responsibility to recognize that certain communications may be time critical. Failure to check e-mail, error in forwarding mail, or e-mail returned to the university with Mailbox Full or User Unknown are not acceptable excuses for missing official university communications by e-mail.

Educational Uses of E-mail

Faculty will determine how electronic forms of communication such as electronic mail will be used in their classes, and will specify their requirements in the course syllabus. This will ensure that all students will be able to comply with e-mail based course requirements specified by faculty. Faculty can therefore make the assumption that students’ official FHSU accounts are being accessed.

Redirecting of E-mail

If a student wishes to have e-mail redirected from their official FHSU address to another e-mail address such as @aol.com, @hotmail.com or an address on a departmental server, they may do so, but at their own risk. FHSU will not be responsible for the handling of e-mail by outside vendors or by departmental servers. Having e-mail redirected does not absolve a student from the responsibilities associated with official communication sent to his or her FHSU account.

Authentication for Confidential Information

It is a violation of FHSU policies for any user of official e-mail addresses to impersonate a university office, faculty/staff member or student. To minimize this risk, some confidential information may be made available only through the password-protected Workday portal. In these cases, students will receive e-mail correspondence directing them to the appropriate Workday portal link, where they can access the confidential information only by supplying their student ID and personal identification number (PIN). The confidential information will not be available in the e-mail message.

Consequences of Misuse

Misuse of FHSU computing resources is unacceptable, and users will be held accountable for their conduct. The staff of the Office of Technology Services handles student infractions in an informal manner. Those that cannot be resolved in an informal manner will be referred to the Office of Student Affairs for disciplinary processing. Furthermore, student infractions that are considered serious in nature may be reported directly to the Office of Student Affairs. Students found to have committed infractions of this policy may lose FHSU computing privileges, and additional sanctions may be imposed.

General Copyright Policy

The ownership of the various rights associated with copyright are dependent upon the specific type of intellectual property. The institutions shall assert limited ownership of some of the various rights as set forth below.

Since the Board has a fiduciary responsibility for the appropriate use of state funds, unless otherwise provided for under this policy, all rights associated with works produced as “work-for-hire” or other works that make “substantial use” of institutional resources belong to the institution. “Substantial use” means that the creator receives more than normal support for the project or receives time and/or resources specifically dedicated to the project.

Grade Reporting

On-campus and online mid-semester grades are available on Workday.

Final grade reports are available on Workday on the FHSU website.

Effective Fall 2022, all 16 week on-campus and FHSU Online courses are required to have interim (mid-term) grades submitted. Interim and final grades are available through Workday.

Intellectual Property Policy

The purpose of the Kansas Board of Regents Intellectual Property Policy is to foster the creation and dissemination of knowledge and to provide certainty in individual and institutional rights associated with ownership and with the distribution of benefits that may be derived from the creation of intellectual property.

The policy is intended to be a broad statement to provide uniformity among the institutions while allowing for institutional flexibility.

The policy applies to all full or part-time employees, including students, creating intellectual property related to the scope of their employment while under contract with a Regents institution. When revenues are to be shared, the creator(s) shall obtain their share only after the institution has recouped any direct costs borne by the institution for equipment and materials and costs paid to third parties.

The portion of the revenues to be shared among multiple creators shall be shared equally unless otherwise agreed in writing by the creators. Institutions shall develop written policies and procedures consistent with this Intellectual Property Policy.

Licensing Program

Fort Hays State University operates a licensing program to provide legal protection for its identity marks. To protect the university's image, and to protect the university from liability, Fort Hays State University has implemented a program that establishes ownership and regulates the use of its name and other identity marks.

Students and student organizations receive special treatment in regard to the use of FHSU's protected identity marks. They are, however, subject to the university’s identity standards. See www.fhsu.edu/is. All must contact the Office of University Marketing, Hammond Hall, for prior approval before producing or commissioning any products.

Although the university once charged royalty fees for the use of its protected identity marks on commercial products, all royalty fees have been discontinued in order to encourage wide dissemination of our image. However, all businesses are required to become licensed by submitting an agreement and paying an annual $50 fee, acknowledging FHSU's ownership of its marks.

All uses of the university's protected identity marks must be presented to the Office of University Marketing for approval prior to manufacture. This approval is required for all uses, commercial or otherwise, including for students and student organizations. Contact the Office of University Marketing at 4521 for further information about the FHSU licensing program.

Pass/No Credit Policy

The purpose of the Pass/No Credit (P/NC) is twofold:

  1. to encourage students to select courses outside their major areas of study, with the purpose of broadening their educational experience without the fear of poor performance, therefore jeopardizing their grade point average;
  2. to allow departments to utilize the P/NC option for certain courses that, because of their structure, do not lend themselves to traditional/consistent grading procedures.

Application

  1. Any individual may register in a class for P/NC.
  2. Undergraduate students may be allowed to apply a maximum of 24 P/NC hours, excluding HHP credit, toward their degree.
  3. The courses the student elects to meet general education requirements, courses used in fulfillment of a major program (including cognates) except as noted in the final bullet below, the language component for the B.A., and courses required in a student’s minor may not be taken for P/NC.
  4. After a student has enrolled in a course under the P/NC option, that individual may not subsequently change to a graded basis in that course, nor can the student who has enrolled for a grade subsequently change to a P/NC option.
  5. The student must declare P/NC for each course taken P/NC at the time of pre-registration.
  6. It is the prerogative of the instructor to determine what constitutes a particular letter grade. The instructor will report a letter grade on the grade roster for the student at the end of the semester. The letter grade will convert to a P (Pass) or NC (No Credit). A grade of D or above will be converted to a grade of P; a grade of U will be converted to NC. The P or NC grade will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
  7. Under P/NC a grade of P is not used in computation of the student’s GPA.
  8. No College of Education graduate course other than graduate-level Early Field Experience may be taken P/ NC and count toward Teacher Certification and Endorsement.
  9. Departments shall have the option to designate certain courses within their programs as P/NC. Examples of such courses might include: Internships, Readings, Topics, Practica, Seminars, etc.

Transfer of Pass/No Credit Grades

All appropriately transferable credits1 in which a grade of "P" has been earned and which come from an institution or a degree program utilizing only P/NC or P/F grading may be used to satisfy General Education requirements and the language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree.

All appropriately transferable credits in which a grade of "P" has been earned and which come from an institution or a degree program utilizing only P/NC or P/F grading may be used to satisfy major or minor requirements. If all specified course requirements for the degree are fulfilled through the use of courses with a grade of "P," the university will regard the minimum average grade index requirement as having been fulfilled.

At least 30 semester hours of credit with a passing letter grade of A, B, C, or D for a bachelor's degree must be taken from Fort Hays State University. Pass ("P") or Credit ("CR") does not count towards the 30 semester hours.

1

Appropriately transferable credits assume that an institution is accredited by a regional organization and that the class can be articulated to a comparable FHSU class.

Patent and Copyrightable Software Policy

Patents obtained on inventions resulting from institutionally sponsored research or the ownership of copyrightable software with an actual or projected market value in excess of $10,000 annually shall be retained by the institution or may be assigned to an organization (hereinafter called the Organization) independent of the institution and created for the purpose of obtaining patents on inventions, receiving gifts, administering or disposing of such patents, and promoting research and the development of intellectual property at the institution by every proper means. The following regulations shall be followed with respect to inventions or software:

  1. Anyone who conceives an invention resulting from a research project sponsored by the institution or who develops copyrightable software that is not included in mediated courseware shall report the matter to the appropriate research administrator at the institution, who will recommend whether or not to forward it to the Organization.
  2. If the institution or the Organization decides that the invention does not warrant patenting, the inventor is free to patent it. In such a case, however, the institution does not relinquish its right to publish any of the data obtained in the research project. If the institution or the Organization decides not to further the use of the copyrightable software, it shall assign the rights therein to the creator(s).
  3. When any revenue is obtained by or on behalf of the institution from the development or assignment of any patent or from royalties, license fees or other charges based on any patent or copyrightable software, not less than twenty-five (25) percent of revenues shall be paid to the inventor(s) or creator(s). Revenue sharing shall begin only after the institution recoups costs as set forth in this policy.
  4. The remainder of any revenue mentioned in Paragraph 3 shall be used to sponsor further research and research-related activities in the institution. The institution may agree that the Organization may retain a portion of the funds.
  5. In the case of cooperative research sponsored in part by an outside corporation or individual, a written contract shall be made between the institution and the cooperating agency. This contract should include a statement of policy substantially equivalent to that outlined below:
    “It is agreed by the parties to this contract that all results of experimental work, including inventions, carried on under the direction of the scientific staff of the institution, belong to the institution and to the public and shall be used and controlled so as to produce the greatest benefit to the public. It is understood and agreed that if patentable inventions or copyrightable software grow out of the investigation and such inventions or software have commercial value, the cooperating agency shall receive preferential consideration as a prospective licensee, with a view to compensating said cooperating agency in part for the assistance rendered in the investigation.”
    “It is further agreed that the name of the institution shall not be used by the cooperating agency in any advertisement whether with regard to the cooperative agreement or any other related matter.”
  6. In case of a research project where it is proposed that all costs including overhead, salary of investigator, reasonable rent on the use of equipment, etc., are paid by an outside party, the outside party and the institution shall negotiate the appropriate assignment of all patent or copyrightable software rights prior to the provision of any funding by the outside party. The institution shall reserve the right to publish all data of fundamental value to science and technology.
  7. Changes in the above policies may be made by the institution to conform to the requirements of the United States Government when contracting with the United States Government or a Federal Government Agency.

Sanctions

When a student admits to being or is found to have been in violation of the FHSU Student Code of Conduct Regulations, the following responses and sanctions are possible:

  • Reprimand - Official censure
  • Restitution - Repayment of any monetary damages
  • Specifically Defined Sanction – Specific conditions or assignments given to the student; examples include but are not limited to:
    • Community service
    • Research papers/personal essays
    • Workshop attendance
    • Loss of privileges and exclusion from activities
    • Exclusion from specified areas of campus
    • Special projects or assignments –
  • Disciplinary Probation – Period of review and observation during which the student is warned that the misconduct was very serious and that further violations of the code of conduct may result in more serious sanctions.
  • Deferred Suspension or Dismissal – Denial of enrollment, attendance and/or privileges for a specified period of time.
  • Permanent Suspension – Dismissal from the university
  • Expulsion - Immediate and permanent removal from the institution (used only when it is believed that the presence of the student will have a detrimental impact on the university community)

All sanctions may be imposed singularly or in combination. Sanctions are designed to promote the educational mission of FHSU. The severity of the sanction(s) imposed is intended to correspond with the severity or frequency of violations, as well as the student's willingness to recommit to good citizenship through behaviors that fall within the conduct regulations of the institution.

Scholarly and Artistic Works

Notwithstanding any use of institutional resources or the “work-for-hire” principle, the ownership of textbooks, scholarly monographs, trade publications, maps, charts, articles in popular magazines and newspapers, novels, nonfiction works, artistic works, like works, and supporting materials shall reside with the creator(s) and any revenue derived from their work shall belong to the creator(s). Except for textbooks, institutions shall have royalty-free use of the work within the institution, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Student Academic Creations

The ownership of student works submitted in fulfillment of academic requirements shall be with the creator(s). The student, by enrolling in the institution, gives the institution a nonexclusive royalty-free license to mark on, modify, retain the work as may be required by the process of instruction, or otherwise handle the work as set out in the institution’s Intellectual Property Policy or in the course syllabus. The institution shall not have the right to use the work in any other manner without the written consent of the creator(s).

Student Right-to-Know & Campus Security Act

In 1990, U.S. Congress passed the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, which required all post-secondary institutions participating in Title IV student financial aid programs to disclose campus crime statistics and campus security information and polices. The act was amended in 1992, 1998 and 2000. The 1998 amendments renamed the law the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-315) further created campus safety requirements in the following areas: hate crime reporting and emergency response; evacuation procedures; missing student notification; and fire safety issues.

The Clery Act requires institutions to disclose three general categories of crime statistics:

  1. Types of Offenses - Criminal Homicide, including: a) Murder and Non-Negligent Manslaughter; and b) Negligent Manslaughter; Sex Offenses including: a) forcible, and b) non-forcible; Robbery; Aggravated Assault; Burglary; Motor Vehicle Theft; and Arson.
  2. Hate Crimes - Disclose whether any of the above-mentioned offenses, or any other crimes involving bodily injury, were hate crimes; and
  3. Arrests and Referrals for Disciplinary Action for illegal weapons possessions and violation of drug and liquor laws.

Crime statistics that are provided in this annual report are based upon incidents reported by the University Police Department, Office of Student Affairs and Residential Life. Each entity provides updated information on their educational efforts and programs to comply with the Act. This annual report is prepared by the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs. FHSU annually reports statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning the occurrence on campus, in residence halls, and on public property. Campus crime, arrests, and referral statistics include those reported to the FHSU Police, Residential Life and the Office of Student Affairs.

Success Days

“Success Day” is defined as the concluding day, prior to finals week, of a course. This is likely to be the concluding Thursday for face-to-face courses that meet on Tuesday and Thursday or the concluding Friday for face-to-face courses that meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as well as online courses.

Concerns from students about the implementation of this policy should be directed through the appropriate chain of command which begins with the course instructor, then respective Department Chair, respective College Dean, and finally Provost.

Success Days for Face-to-Face Courses

No exams or new material should be introduced during a course’s Success Day (last day prior to finals). Major course assignments, such as projects or papers, should be on the syllabus before midterm, and if those assignments are not considered the final, should be due prior to Success Day. A major course assignment is defined as one worth 10% or more of the course grade or enough points that its omission would result in a full letter grade change in a student’s final grade. Classes must meet during the scheduled final exam time as stated in the academic calendar for on-campus final exams.1 Exceptions are outlined below.

1

As stated in the academic calendar’s final examination policy, “All classes shall meet for at least one hour at the time indicated on the examination schedule for the final summing of work of the course. Whether this ‘final summing up’ is written examination or a discussion or other form of summarization is for the instructor to decide. But whatever the form, it should be a profitable period to the student and instructor for a final appraisal of the course. Under no circumstances should this scheduled period be omitted or made of no importance.

No student is permitted to take an examination before the scheduled time for the examination. Students must seek permission of the dean of the college in which the course is being taught to take a late final examination.”

Success Days for Online Courses

No exams or new material should be introduced during a course’s Success Day (last day prior to finals). Finals should be administered during finals week. Major course assignments, such as projects or papers, should be on the syllabus before the middle of the semester and if those assignments are not considered the final, should be due prior to Success Day. A major course assignment is defined as one worth 10% or more of the course grade or enough points that its omission would result in a full letter grade change in a student’s final grade. Exceptions are outlined below.

Exceptions

  • Summer and intersession courses
  • 8-week or shorter courses
  • Lab courses, performance courses, studio courses, and practicums
  • Classes that meet once a week
  • Class presentations by students when prior time has been allowed for preparation
  • Semester-long projects such as a design project assignment in lieu of a final
  • Extensions of the deadline for major course assignments requested by individual students and granted by the professor on an individual basis
  • Arranged courses such as readings, internships, and research
  • FHSU courses taught at international partner institutions
  • Concurrent enrollment courses

Withdrawal Policy Statement

Students may with withdraw full-semester (16-week) courses through 11:59:59PM CT on the 28/29 calendar day of the semester. Students withdrawing during this time period will not receive any notation on their transcript. Students who withdraw after this period and through 11:59:59PM CT on the 70th day of the semester will receive a notation on the transcript of withdrawal (W).

No withdrawals after the 70th day of the semester. Students who withdraw completely will receive a notation on their transcript of the date withdrawn. Students receiving financial aid have additional responsibility and should contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance in Picken Hall, 785-628-4408.

Summer and short session courses will adjust these dates relative to the length of the course.  Students may consult the academic calendar, course registration information, or contact the office of the registrar (registrar@fhsu.edu) to determine the specific date.

Withdrawal for Active Military Duty Policy Statement

Students who mandatorily are called from reserve or National Guard status to active duty in the armed forces will be eligible for a full refund of tuition and fees and the balance of unused University housing and food charges at the time of withdrawal upon presentation of official documentation to the Registrar’s Office.

Students who have received Federal Financial Assistance for the semester they withdraw are required to repay according to the Fort Hays State University refund policy. The academic status of each student will be determined at the time of departure in cooperation with their academic college in a manner so as not to penalize or disadvantage the student. Students called to active duty should be allowed to pursue finishing their course work within one academic year after completing their active military duty.