Student Rights & Responsibilities
San Jacinto College holds that the student, upon enrollment, neither loses the right nor escapes the duties of citizenship. The student-citizen must exercise liberty with responsibility.

Student Rights Academic Evaluation:

Students have the right to be apprised of the methodology by which they will be evaluated in their formal class work. Also, students shall have protection through proper channels as established by the college district against improper academic evaluation.

Freedom of Association:

Students bring to the college a variety of interests. Students have the freedom to organize and join associations to promote their common interests in accordance with the policies and procedures of the college.

Freedom of Inquiry and Expression:

Students and student organizations will be free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately. They will be free to support causes by orderly means which do not disrupt the regular and normal operation of the institution and which comply with the regulations that relate to student conduct. At the same time it should be made clear to the educational community and public that in their public expressions or demonstrations, students or student organizations do not represent the institution and speak only for themselves.

Freedom from Illegal Discrimination:

It is the policy of The San Jacinto College District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicapping condition. Students are free to conduct their affairs at the college free from illegal discrimination in order to provide access to college programs and services.

Student Responsibilities:

In all aspects of student life, the student body collectively and individually has the responsibility of participation as citizens of the academic community in a mature fashion. Students must not confuse liberty with license. In voluntarily enrolling at the college, students have the responsibility to comply with all state and college regulations governing student conduct and academic affairs. Students assume responsibility for their behavior and acknowledge and share the following responsibilities:

  • Students must recognize that the Board of Trustees is the legal authority for the operation of the San Jacinto College District. The Board delegates this authority to the administration.
  • Students must understand that while education is a shared activity, that the ultimate responsibility for learning rests with the student's motivation and abilities.
  • Students are responsible collectively and individually for allowing other students to continue their pursuit of education. Students must refrain from interfering with the rights of other students in their educational pursuits or with employees in the exercise of their duties.
  • The right to disagree has been previously established. However, students must make sure that disagreement is factual and is presented with respect for those with whom they are disagreeing, including faculty, staff, administration, and students.
  • When approaching the administration about any matter, students must go through established channels of communication and authority.
  • Students must comply with the Student Rights and Responsibilities policies, rules, regulations and generally accepted practices of the college until these practices may be changed by orderly procedure.

Students also have the responsibility to comply with all state and federal regulations governing their participation in higher education. Such regulations and laws as may exist or that may be subsequently enacted and adopted shall have precedence over the provisions of this document of student rights.

Involvement in Decision Making:

San Jacinto College provides for student involvement in decision making through the respective forms of student government on the three campuses. As constituents of the educational community, students may express their views on issues of institutional policy and on matters of general interest to the student body. In addition to membership in student associations and organizations, students shall be given the opportunity to serve on campus and district committees as deemed appropriate by the college or college system.

Retained Rights and Responsibilities:

The enumeration of the above rights and responsibilities shall in no way be interpreted as being all inclusive and denying the existence of other rights and responsibilities which a student holds as a student or citizen.