MSU Policy

Student Rights and Responsibilities are defined in MSU policy.

Other Important Student Policies and Annual Notifications include diverse safety notifications and behavioral policies to which students need to attend.

FERPA

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA protects a student’s educational record, regardless of how the record is maintained and who maintains it. Grades, test scores, evaluations and similar assessments about a student, maintained by an instructor, a department or office, a counselor, or any other school official are all included as FERPA protected information. IMPORTANT: There are some circumstances where educational records may be released without a student’s written consent. For instance, records may be disclosed to other school officials—including faculty, administrative staff and other employees within the institution—whom the institution has determined to have legitimate educational interests.

  1. Students' rights under FERPA are spelled out in MSU 's Policies and Procedures
  2. Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Montana State University cannot release specific information about students without a written release addressed to the relevant office. For example, the Dean of Students office cannot release information if a release is signed for the Financial Aid office. While this can be frustrating, these stipulations are put into place to protect students' information and privacy.
  1. An umbrella release is not possible. For example, a student cannot submit a DOS Release Form giving permission to "All Departments", or "Montana State University". They must fill out a release for every relevant office. 

 A student may choose to have a release on file in the Dean of Students office.

NOTE!!  If a parentshows up or a parent wants to talk to you, DO NOT TALK TO THEM ABOUT ANYTHING without consulting the Assistant Dean.  A student contemplating fillingout the release form MUST HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE ASSISTANT DEAN FIRST.  Without a release, youcan talk to a parent ABOUT POLICIES AND PROCESS ONLY.

Title IX and Sexual Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Reports

ALL employees must complete the mandatory Equity Training Program accessed through MyInfo and conducted periodically in person on campus. Any student, faculty or staff member with questions or concerns about sex discrimination or sexual harassment or who believes that he or she has been the victim of sex discrimination or sexual harassment may contact the Title IX Coordinator for assistance. The Title IX Officer is available to discuss options, explain university policies and procedures, and provide education on relevant issues. As faculty, you are mandatory reporters and therefore all reports of sexual violence MUST be reported to the Office of Institutional Equity (118 Hamilton Hall, 406.994.2042, oie@montana.edu). This office also handles protected classs discrimination and equal opportunity concerns on campus with faculty, staff, and students. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains information about MSU policies concerning protected class discrimination and harassment, including those matters that are on the basis of sex. There is information included about what to do if you experience, witness, or know about discrimination or harassment, including sexual misconduct or sexual violence.  Information is also included regarding available resources for members of our campus community.  Students, employees, and guests are strongly encouraged to report allegations of protected class discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation to MSU's Title IX Coordinator who is the Director of the Office of Institutional Equity.