Declaration of Students Rights

Consistent with properly adopted and disseminated policies and procedures and with applicable law, and in consideration of the students' joining together in this community, the University and its representatives will seek to ensure the following rights for all students.  These rights carry with them duties and responsibilities.  To protect and preserve the rights of others in the University community, they are therefore subject to those restrictions defined by law or necessary for the enforcement of University policies and procedures, and of agreements entered into freely.

I. Expression and Inquiry

Every student has the right to freedom of opinion and expression on all subjects and is individually responsible for the consequences of any abuse of these freedoms.  No student shall be prevented from exercising his or her right of self-expression or inquiry because of the content or topic of the expression or the inquiry.

These rights include the freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any chosen medium. 

II. Participation, Association, and Assembly

Every student has the right to participate freely in the intellectual, cultural, and political life of the University community; to enjoy the fellowship of his or her colleagues; and to assemble peaceably and associate. 

III. Thought,Conscience, and Religion

Every student has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

This right includes the freedom to manifest one's religion or belief in discussion, practice, worship and observance, either alone or in community with others.  No student shall be harassed or molested on account of his or her religious persuasion, profession, or practice, but may not under color of religion disrupt the order or safety of the campus community or infringe upon others' civil or religious rights.  No student may be compelled to attend, or be prohibited from attending, any religious service or observance.

IV. Privacy, Autonomy, Personal and Intellectual Security

All students have the right to be secure in their persons, dwellings, papers, communications, and effects.  No student shall be subjected to interference with his or her privacy in the family, in the home, or in the autonomy of choice in consensual intimate relations or in any private matter relevant to the personal identity and well-being of the individual.  Every student has the right to protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary, or artistic production of which he or she is the author.  No student shall be denied the right to take all reasonable and proportionate measures to protect his or her person. 

V. Discipline and Due Process

In all disciplinary proceedings, students shall have the right to be informed of the accusation, to receive promptly a copy of the complaint, and to have access to relevant material to be introduced in order to guarantee the ability to prepare a defense.  They shall have the right to be assisted without prejudice by an advisor who may be an attorney, to have access to procedures for securing the appearance of reluctant as well as friendly witnesses, to examine all witnesses in disciplinary hearings, and to receive a timely and impartial proceeding.  No student may be compelled to testify against himself, or herself, although a negative inference may be drawn from any person's failure to respond to relevant questions in a judicial proceeding. 

VI. Equality of Rights and Equal Protection

Equality of rights and equal protection under the rules and regulations of the University shall not be abridged or denied because of race, color, creed, sex, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental handicap, relationships, citizenship or alienage, sexual orientation, other personal beliefs and associations, or on the basis of the exercise of rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. 

VII. Other Rights

This enumeration of rights shall not be construed so as to deny or disparage other rights held by students. 

For information only:  Sources of these rights

I. UMCP Resolution on Academic Integrity, Student Rights and Responsibilities, Art. 2; Maryland Declaration of Rights, Art. 40; U.S. Constitution, Amendment I; U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 19; International Declaration of Civil and Political Rights, Art. 19.

II. U.S. Constitution, Amendment I; U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 20, 27.

III. Maryland Declaration of Rights, Art. 36; U.S. Constitution, Amendment I; U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 19.

IV. U.S. Constitution, Art. I.8, Amendment I, II, II, V, IX; U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 12, 27; Griswold v. Conn., 381 U.S. 479 (1965). 

V. Maryland Declaration of Rights, Art. 21, 22, 24, 25; U.S. Constitution, Amendment V, XIV; U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 5. 

VI. UMCP Human Relations Code, Art. I; Maryland Declaration of Rights, Art. 46; U.S. Constitution, Amendment XIV; U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 2, 7.

VII. Maryland Declaration of Rights, Art. 45; U.S. Constitution Amendment IX.