Policy Title: Student Bill of Rights	Category: Student Affairs
Owner: Vice President for Student Affairs	Policy ID#: 8-8004-007
Contact: Vice President for Student Affairs Web: https://studentaffairs.colostate.edu/ Email: vpsa@colostate.edu Phone: (970) 491-5312 Also Contact: Provost/Executive Vice President Web: http://provost.colostate.edu/ Phone: (970) 491-6614	Original Effective Date: 1/1/2000 Last Revision: 7/10/2025

POLICY OWNERS

This policy is jointly owned by the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Provost/Executive Vice President.

PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY

The Colorado Student Bill of Rights focuses on various aspects of Student academic life including advising, transferability of credits, and degree completion. The Student Bill of Rights also notes that a Student may formalize a plan to obtain a degree in four years. Colorado State University supports this timeline for graduation by issuing guidelines under which a Student may expect to graduate in four years and publishes curriculum check sheets defining a common four-year course progression for each major. There are some majors which a Student may not be able to complete in four years because of additional degree requirements recognized by the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

APPLICATION OF THIS POLICY

This policy applies to all Students of Colorado State University-Fort Collins.

EXEMPTIONS FROM THIS POLICY

None.

DEFINITIONS USED IN THIS POLICY

Students: references all Students of Colorado State University, including undergraduate, graduate, and CSU-Online Students.

POLICY STATEMENT

This policy is established to affirm and protect the rights of all Students enrolled at Colorado State University. Students should receive a quality education in an environment that fosters academic freedom, non-discrimination, transparent grading, privacy, and timely degree completion. The policy also describes Student protections against discrimination, illegal searches, and promotes fair treatment in academic evaluations and disciplinary actions. Additionally, it outlines Students' rights to clear information regarding graduation requirements, transferable courses, and participation in university governance.

POLICY PROVISIONS

Students’ Rights

A summary of the University policies dealing with a wide range of Student life and activity follows. For more information regarding additional Student life policies at Colorado State University, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, 201 Administration Building.

As members of the University community, Students can reasonably expect the following:

1. Students have the right to freedom from discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, creed, political beliefs, national origin, age, or disability.
2. The University shall not interfere with the rights of Students to join associations.
3. Students will have accurate information relating to maintenance of acceptable academic standing, graduation requirements, program Student learning outcomes, and individual course objectives and requirements.
4. Student records will be maintained in keeping with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and subsequent amendments and the guidelines for implementation.
5. In all instances of general discipline, academic discipline, and academic evaluation, the Student has the right to fair and impartial treatment.
6. Colorado State University considers freedom of inquiry and discussion essential to a Student’s educational development. Thus, the University recognizes the right of all Students to engage in discussion, to exchange thought and opinion, and to speak, write, or print freely on any subject in accordance with the guarantees of Federal or State constitutions. This broad principle is the cornerstone of education in a democracy.
7. Students should be free from repeated, unwelcome, and inappropriate communications from university employees, and should be free from repeated, unwelcome, and inappropriate requirements to meet in person or remotely with university employees, when such communications or requirements to meet are not related to a Student’s academic classes, programs, or other student-related activities.
8. Students have the right to be free from illegal searches and seizures.
9. Students have the right to freely exercise their full rights. In this light, the University affirms the right of Students to exercise their freedoms without fear of University interference for such activity.

Student Bill of Rights

Colorado Revised Statutes, section 23-1-125, provides, in part:

(1) Student bill of rights. The general assembly hereby finds that Students enrolled in public institutions of higher education shall have the following rights:

(a) Students should be able to complete their associate of arts and associate of science degree programs in no more than sixty credit hours or their baccalaureate programs in no more than one hundred twenty credit hours unless there are additional degree requirements recognized by the commission;

(b) A Student can sign a two-year or four-year graduation agreement that formalizes a plan for that Student to obtain a degree in two or four years, unless there are additional degree requirements recognized by the commission;

(c) Students have a right to know which courses must be completed successfully to complete their degrees;

(d) Students have a right to know which courses are transferable among the state public two-year and four-year institutions of higher education;

(e) Students, upon completion of core general education courses, regardless of the delivery method, should have those courses satisfy the core course requirements of all Colorado public institutions of higher education;

(f) Students have a right to know if courses from one or more public higher education institutions satisfy the Students' degree requirements;

(g) A Student's credit for the completion of the core requirements and core courses shall not expire for ten years from the date of initial enrollment and shall be transferrable.

For the complete statute, click the link under References, below.

Note: Subsection (1)(b) of the statute states that a Student may formalize a plan to obtain a degree in four years. Colorado State University supports this timeline for graduation by publishing advising guidelines under which a Student may expect to graduate in four years, and also publishes curriculum check sheets defining a common four-year course progression for each major. These check sheets and advising guidelines are available in (add link). There are some majors which a Student may not be able to complete in four years because of additional degree requirements recognized by the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

COMPLIANCE WITH THIS POLICY

Compliance with this policy is required. For assistance with interpretation or application of policy, contact the Division of Student Affairs.

REFERENCES

Colorado Revised Statutes sec. 23-1-125

CSU Policy: Discrimination and Harassment

FORMS AND TOOLS

Degree Requirements Catalog

APPROVALS

Approved January 1, 2000.

Revision approved by Brendan Hanlon, Vice President for University Operations, on July 10, 2025