Student Rights and Responsibilities

The purpose of “The Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities” is to ensure that the students of Boğazici University are provided with an environment based on principles of equality and diversity, conducive to their academic, social and cultural development ; a community which fosters learning, research, innovation and an awareness of rights and responsibilities of all its members. Students are also encouraged to become individuals sensitive to environmental issues.

The rights and responsibilities defined herein may not be used to restrict and/or to violate the rights and responsibilities of others.

Freedom of Expression:
Rights:
Students have the right to freely express their views and opinions on condition that they do not violate the rights of others, use insulting language, or incite violent action.
Responsibilities:
Students must respect other individuals’ freedom of expression.

Equality
Rights:
Students have the right to be free from discrimination and prejudicial treatment because of their race, creed, religion, language, disability, gender and sexual orientation. They have the right to be treated equally and with respect by the academic and administrative staff of the university and by other students. A student should not be subjected to humiliation or offensive treatment.
Responsibilities:
Students must respect diversity. They must refrain from any form of discrimination against others; they must not subject others to offensive treatment or behavior. Students are responsible for treating other students as well as all academic and administrative staff with due respect.

Safe environment
Rights:
A student has the right to a safe environment free from any form of harassment or abuse (physical, emotional, sexual). Allegations of sexual abuse or use of power or influence leading to such abuse are to be handled with utmost diligence and confidentiality (see Guide to Protection against Abuse).
Responsibilities: A student does not have the right to harass or abuse any person or persons by his words or actions.

Confidentiality of Personal Records
Rights: Unless required by law, academic and personal records of a student may not be made available to third parties or institutions without the knowledge and consent of the student.
Responsibilities: A student may not access the academic or personal records of another student without the consent of said person; he or she is responsible for informing the authorities if he or she is aware of such misconduct.

Sustainable High Quality Campus Life:
Rights: Students have the right to live in a healthy, clean, hygienic and aesthetic environment conducive to their academic, cultural and social development.
Responsibilities: Students are responsible for protecting the environment they live in; for keeping it clean, free of noise and visual pollution; and for making efficient use of limited resources. They must refrain from causing harm to the environment and the living creatures that inhabit it.

Education:
Rights: Students have the right to make use of all the facilities provided for them by the university (classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports and arts facilities, etc.). They have the right to receive help and counseling from academic and administrative staff.
They have the right to be informed of the content and grading procedures of a course or program at the beginning of the course or program.
They have the right to expect a faculty member to adhere to the syllabus he has announced unless the students have been informed of any changes.
Students have the right to be informed of their examination results as well as the assessment made of their performance, and to challenge these results if necessary.
Disabled students have the right to demand necessary arrangements to facilitate availability and access (e.g. changes in the location of a class, a research assistant appointed by the course teacher to assist the student in examinations, etc.)
Responsibilities: Students are responsible for attending classes and sitting for examinations. They must hand in assignments such as homework, reports, etc. on time.
They are responsible for keeping record of their grades and academic standing.
They are responsible for having knowledge of the academic calendar and university regulations, and for abiding by them.

Students must adhere to principles of academic honesty and refrain from plagiarism and other types of academic misconduct defined below:

• In all disciplines the student’s academic performance is assessed by the work the student has done himself. The student must be aware that it is unlawful to partially or completely copy or translate another person’s ideas, proposals, and views without attribution, and that such misconduct will result in disciplinary action. (Yükseköğretim Kurumları Öğrenci Disiplin Yönetmeliği)
• The student must cite the source of any published or unpublished material (such as articles, books, reports, another student’s work, Internet, etc.) he has made use of in preparing his work.
• The student must not submit work that has been prepared by someone else.
• The student must refrain from any form of cheating in exams.
• The student must not alter or falsify any document, including electronic documents.

Participation
Rights: Students have the right to participate in academic, social, extracurricular activities and organizations (social clubs, Student Council, etc.). They can benefit from the services and resources provided by BÜYEM, Mediko Sosyal, etc. They have the right to elect their representatives; the right to be elected to the Student Council; and the right to participate in the administration through their elected representatives (see BU Student Council - ÖTK).
Responsibilities: The student is expected to

• be aware of his duties and follow all rules and regulations;
• attend his appointments on time: In case he is not able to attend a study session, or meeting, etc, or an appointment with an advisor, he must inform the relevant person/unit.
• Vote in the elections for the Student Council.

Protection of rights; being informed and providing information
Rights: If a student feels any of his rights has been violated, he has the right to file a petition with the relevant department chairman if the violation concerns academic issues; for other issues, she/he must report the offense in writing to the Office of the Dean of Students through the Records and Communications Department. It is her/his right to receive a response to his petition within the time period determined by regulations.
A student accused of any misconduct has the right to deny the allegation, and defend herself/himself against it.
Responsibilities: The student is responsible for keeping her/his personal records accurate and updated; she/he is responsible for following the process subsequent to the reporting of any violation of rights.