Contents
Catalog Links
Share

University Policies

Privacy Rights of Students

In compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Dickinson State University adheres to the following policy regarding student records.

  1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.
  2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
  3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
  4. Other disclosures allowable without written consent are:
    1. To institutions in which the student seeks to enroll or is enrolled so long as the disclosure is for purposes relating to the student’s enrollment or transfer.
    2. To authorized representatives of federal, state, or local educational authorities.
    3. To accrediting agencies.
    4. In connection with a health or safety emergency.
    5. To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena.
    6. Concerning information considered “Directory Information.”
  5. The right to refuse to permit the designation of all the aforementioned categories of personally identifiable information as “Directory Information.”
  6. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Dickinson State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

    Family Policy Compliance Office
    U.S. Department of Education
    400 Maryland Avenue SW
    Washington, DC 20202

For more information visit the FERPA Guidelines webpage on the DSU website.

Children of Students, Employees, and Visitors

Dickinson State University's mission is to provide high-quality, accessible programs, to promote excellence in teaching and learning; to support scholarly and creative activities; and to provide services relevant to the economy, health, and quality of life for the citizens of the State of North Dakota. Toward this end, Dickinson State University seeks to balance its desire to be an open, family-friendly institution with the need to help assure that students, staff, and faculty are not distracted from their work and the need to help assure the safety of all visitors to campus.

Please review DSU Policy 617.1.001: Children of Students, Employees, and Visitors in the Workplace for more information and guidelines regarding children on campus.

Drugs and Other Substances

Dickinson State University is committed to the intellectual, physical, social, and psychological well-being of its students. In its pursuit of excellence, the University is dedicated to promoting a campus environment that enhances and preserves the development, safety, and welfare of its community. It further supports conformity to all federal, state, and local laws regarding alcohol and other substance use and abuse. Acknowledging the existing concerns and problems surrounding this issue, the University is committed to educating and informing its community of the physical, mental, social, and legal risks of chemical abuse and to developing interventions for those with specific substance abuse problems. Please refer to DSU Policy 918.1.001: Drug and Substance Abuse for more information.

Regulations & Procedures

Dickinson State University faculty, staff, and students are prohibited by state and federal law from the possession, sale, purchase, delivery, or manufacture of any controlled substance as defined by federal statute or the North Dakota Criminal Code. Faculty, staff, and students are responsible for complying with the alcoholic beverage laws of the state of North Dakota and the City of Dickinson.

Such laws include restrictions against:

  1. Purchase, consumption, or possession of alcohol by a minor.
  2. Purchase of alcohol for a minor.
  3. Furnishing alcohol to a minor.
  4. Misrepresentation of age by a minor.
  5. Illegal sale of alcoholic beverages.
  6. Public intoxication.
  7. Driving while intoxicated.

Dickinson State University’s Code of Conduct prohibits the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages and further prohibits unlawful use, possession, sale, or distribution of marijuana or any controlled substance or paraphernalia. The prohibitions are in effect on University-owned property and at all University sanctioned and sponsored events.

Education/Awareness & Prevention Activities

To educate students about alcohol and substance abuse, Dickinson State University will promote awareness of the impacts of use/abuse of alcohol and other drugs and encourage responsible decision-making about the use or non-use of these substances. The campus will actively participate in larger national awareness efforts such as National Alcohol and Drug Awareness Week. The University will provide educational programs throughout the year consisting of experts in the areas of alcohol and substance abuse prevention. Special efforts will be directed toward each incoming first year class with their First-Year seminar classes and Residence Hall activities.

Alcohol Violations

An alcohol violation will be issued to anyone who is in possession or consumption of an alcoholic beverage anywhere on Dickinson State University property. Behavior while in a state of intoxication that is loud, disruptive, and potentially injurious to the health or safety of others or affecting the cleanliness or maintenance of University facilities is concerned a violation of the procedure. Specific to students, the following sanctions will be issued in relation to violations:

  1. First Alcohol Violation

    The student will be fined a minimum of $100.00 and will be required to participate in an Alcohol Education Program. If the student fails to attend the mandatory class, there will be an additional $25.00 fine. A letter of notification will be sent to the parents of students who are under 21 informing them of the alcohol violation. If the student is also a residential student, the privilege of living in Main Campus Apartments is lost, and the student will be located to another residence hall.

  2. Second Alcohol Violation

    The student will be fined a minimum of $200.00 and required to participate in an alcohol education evaluation, at their own cost. If the student fails to participate in this alcohol education and evaluation, there will be an additional $50.00 fine. The student may be put on disciplinary probation by the Dena of Students. A letter of notification of the second alcohol violation will be sent to the parents of students who are under 21 years of age.

  3. Third Alcohol Violation

    The student will be fined a minimum of $400.00. The student will be required to meet with their parents or guardian (if the student is under 21), an alcohol counselor, and the Dean of Students to develop a remediation plan. A determination will be made regarding the student’s continued residency in campus housing facilities if the student lives on campus. The student will be placed on disciplinary probation by the Dean of Students.

Drug Violations

The use, possession or distribution of any state or federally controlled drugs on University property is prohibited. The University will cooperate fully with law enforcement officials in the enforcement of laws designed to prohibit drug use and possession. Students who violate policies and regulations while under the influence of drugs will be subject to disciplinary action on the basis of their offenses and may be required to complete a substance abuse treatment program. In addition, they are subject to possible criminal penalties for illegal drug use. Federal law limits financial aid options for those convicted of a drug-related crime.

All Residence Halls

Students found possessing and/or smoking marijuana or possessing and/or using high level-controlled substances, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, will be subject to arrest and prosecution on criminal charges in addition to campus disciplinary proceedings. Campus sanction criteria are listed in the next section.

Marijuana Violations

  1. First Offense

    The student will be fined a minimum of $100.00 and will be required to participate in an Alcohol/Substance Abuse Education Program. If the student fails to attend the mandatory class, there will be an additional $25.00 fine. A letter of notification will be sent to the parents of the students who are under 21 informing them of the violation.

  2. Second Offense

    The student will be fined a minimum of $200.00 are required to participate in a substance abuse evaluation and to perform 10 hours of community service on campus. If the student fails to participate in abuse evaluation or complete the required community service hours, there will be an additional $50.00 fine. The student may be put on disciplinary probation by the Dean of Students. A letter of notification of the second marijuana offense will be sent to the parents of students who are under 21 years of age.

  3. Third Offense

    The student will be fined a minimum of $400.00. The student will be required to meet with their parents or guardian (if the student is under 21), a substance abuse counselor, and the Dean of Students to develop a remediation plan. A determination will be made regarding the student’s continued residency in campus housing facilities. The student will be placed on disciplinary probation by the Dean of Students.

Other Controlled Substance Violations

  1. First Offense

    The student will be written up for the violation and referred to the Dean of Students for judiciary action, a $500.00 fine will be assessed, and completion of 50 hours of community service will be mandatory. Referral to Badlands Human Service Center for a drug evaluation will be mandatory at violator’s cost. Depending on the severity of the violation, the student may be evicted from University housing.

  2. Second Offense

    The Dean of Students will review the severity of the violation and decide if the student will be placed on disciplinary probation or be suspended from the University for a period of time.

Incapacitation

Resident staff members will contact the proper medical emergency officials for residents who become incapacitated because of drinking, drug usage or a medical condition. Residents will be financially responsible for the costs of this medical care including ambulance and/or hospitalization costs. According to the North Dakota Century Code #5-01-05.1, “If a person is hospitalized for detox purposes, law enforcement or campus security personnel must notify the parent(s).”

Incapacitated students who are in violation of local, state, or federal laws concerning alcohol and other drugs are subject to University adjudication, citation, and/or arrest for relevant violation of law.

Referrals/Intervention/Treatment

The student health nurse is available for preliminary referrals pertaining to alcohol and substance use and abuse. The health office will assist the student with referrals for professional evaluation and treatment along with the Office of Campus Life.

Tobacco Policy

Smoking, tobacco, juuling, and vaping are prohibited in indoor and outdoor areas and properties of Dickinson State University. Indoor areas and properties include, but are not limited to: common work areas, elevators, hallways, University-owned or leased vehicles, garages, restrooms, cafeterias or dining areas, employee lounges, conference and meeting rooms, and other enclosed areas in the workplace. Outdoor areas include, but are not limited to: parking lots, grounds, rooftops, plazas, courtyards, entrance and exit ways, and any other areas of the University campus. For purposes of this procedure, “University campus” or “campus” include those lands occupied or controlled by Dickinson State University. Any facilities occupied or controlled by Dickinson State University that are not on the University campus as defined above are also designated no smoking facilities. This applies to faculty, staff, students, consultants, contractors, and visitors.

For Purposes of Procedure

  • “Smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted tobacco product; including cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and any other lit tobacco products.
  • “Tobacco use” means the personal use of any tobacco product, whether intended to be lit or not, which shall include smoking, as defined above, the use of an electronic cigarette, any other device intended to simulate smoking, or the use of smokeless tobacco, including snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless pouches, or any other form of loose-leaf, smokeless tobacco.

Communication

Persons will be informed of this procedure through:

  • University webpage
  • Student handbook
  • Individual/Group orientation sessions for new students and employees

Enforcement

The enforcement and communication of this procedure is the responsibility of members of the University community. Employees, students, and visitors should be informed of this procedure and asked to comply.

Ceremonial Use Exception

This tobacco procedure may not apply to specific activities used in connection with the practice of cultural activities by American Indians that are in accordance with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, 42 U.S.C 1996 and 1996a. Ceremonial use exceptions must be approved in advance by the President of Dickinson State University or designee.

Leased Lands and Facilities

Land or facilities that are leased may be exempt from the tobacco procedure.

Smoking and Tobacco Cessation Assistance

Assistance in quitting tobacco use is available locally through the Southwestern District Health Unit at (701) 483-0171 or 1-800-697-3145.

Benefited employees in the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System Health Care Plan have access to the North Dakota Tobacco Cessation Program. For more information, call 1-800-223-1704. The North Dakota Tobacco Quitline is also available at 1-800-784-8669.

Student Travel

All off-campus travel to an activity or event involving students shall be conducted in accordance with the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) and Dickinson State University (DSU) policies and procedures.

Please review DSU Policy 512.001: Employee Student Travel for Approved Purposes/University Sponsored Events & Activities.

Additional information regarding travel procedure, state fleet vehicle usage, and conduct standards can be found in DSU Policy 512.002: General Policy – Off-Campus Travel of Student Groups.

Up one level