Student Rights and Responsibilities 

Auburn University publishes and broadly disseminates a clear and appropriate statement of student rights and responsibilities through several outlets available to all students, including those in distance education programs and at off-campus instruction sites.  Those outlets are the following: the Student Policy e-Handbook; Division of Student Affairs policy page; the Student Code of Conduct;  the Bulletin (Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog); Residence Life Guide to Residential Living; Traffic & Parking Regulations; College of Veterinary Medicine Student Code of Professional Ethics; and the Harrison School of Pharmacy Honor Code, all of which are broadly disseminated to the campus community.  

Students are made aware of Auburn University policies in a variety of ways. For example, during all small group sessions, their new student orientation,, and the accompanying guidebook; through meetings with academic advisors, resident assistants, and other Auburn University staff; course syllabi; and when they receive their parking passes. All students, including off-campus and distance students, can learn about university policies through these channels and have access to them through the Policy Database found online.  

The Auburn Creed 

Student rights and responsibilities are broadly outlined in the Auburn Creed, which was written in 1943 by George Petrie, who was an Auburn University professor from 1887-1942, and served as Auburn University’s first football coach.  The Creed is a prominent part of campus life, which is reflected in its placement on the Auburn University website Welcome page. Additionally, a large plaque containing the Creed is installed on the campus, the Creed is publicly displayed as a mural in the Student Center, students recite the Creed during Convocation, and faculty and staff often refer to it during presentations.   

The values expressed in the Auburn Creed are reflected in Auburn University’s commitment to the rights and responsibilities of its students. These rights and responsibilities are also codified in two key places that are disseminated to all students, regardless of residency during orientation: the Student Policy e-Handbook and in Auburn’s Policy Database, where policies can be found by category or through the search option.  

For example, Auburn University is committed to the students’ right of free speech and demonstration; the right to be free of harassment and discrimination on the basis of belonging to a protected class (race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability); the right to file an academic grievance; and the right not to be hazed. 

The Auburn Creed also speaks to the responsibilities of Auburn University students, which are included in the Student Policy e-Handbook and Policy Database. Examples include the responsibility to uphold academic honesty; to abide by the Student Code of Conduct; to maintain a drug-free campus; and to uphold appropriate classroom behavior.  

Students’ right to file a complaint pursuant to any of these policies and their right to appeal the results of complaints filed against them are addressed in our response to standard 12.4, Student Complaints.  

A University Policy is a written plan or general course of action, having broad application throughout the University, intended to govern the actions of Auburn University’s employees, faculty, students, visitors, and others who come in contact with Auburn University. 

In order to implement or revise a university policy, the Responsible Officer must use the University Policy Adoption, Revision, or Withdrawal Form to construct or revise a policy. This document is considered and gathers feedback throughout the responsible office and relevant functional field before being sent to the responsible executive. The responsible executive either approves the policy for submission or sends it back for further revision. The appropriate authority for final approval is determined by the General Counsel. Final approval generally comes from the University President, Provost, or Vice President with administrative responsibility within the relevant functional field. The General Counsel’s signature on the University Policy Authorization Form indicates final approval.  

In order to withdraw an existing university policy, the responsible executive will inform the University Policy Coordinator of the intent to withdraw. The responsible office is then responsible for retaining these superseded policies for six years.  

Below is a table outlining several other key policies which apply equally to all students, including those in distance education programs and at off-campus instruction sites, and are available at the listed locations.  

Table 12.3-1, Other key policies