Siena Heights University
Freedom of Expression
The University assures its student body that the students’ viewpoint, presented through proper channels, will be
listened to and given full consideration on all matters affecting the lives and welfare of students. The University
respects and upholds the rights of students to criticize, object, dissent, protest, and demonstrate.
Such a policy may well invite differences of opinion and conflicts of ideas, which, in extreme cases, could result in
actions that prove to be disruptive to the University or the civic community. To guard against the possibility of
such disruptive activity the University may restrict the time, the location and the manner of the activity. The
University insists that student dissent, in whatever form it takes, must always show respect for:
• other people, University and public property, and private property;
• the rights and freedoms of others, both individuals and groups;
• the orderly functions of the University;
• the moral and religious concepts on which the University is based.
The University will exercise its full range of student conduct sanctions and/or Adrian Police resources against
demonstrators who:
• perform willful acts of violence against persons or property;
• abrogate or abridge the rights and freedoms of others;
•
disrupt the orderly functioning of the University;
•
act to subvert or undermine the moral or religious bases of human freedom.
Frivolous Charges Policy
This policy shall not be used to bring frivolous charges against students or employees. Any person who files a
complaint, whether informal or formal, which is found to be frivolous, malicious or made in bad faith shall be
subject to the same discipline as outlined in the Sanction section above.
Inclement Weather Policy
University policy is to conduct all classes in accordance with the published schedule of classes, except in the rare
case of severe weather. If classes are officially canceled, notification will be via SHU Alerts. Additionally,
notifications will be posted on the University website through campus email.
Leave of Absence Policy
Students must sometimes interrupt their studies for a variety of reasons (financial, academic or
personal). A Leave of Absence (LOA) is a temporary interruption in a student’s program of study. LOA
refers to the specific time period during a program when a student is not in attendance. Students
requesting LOA should be directed to the Registrar’s Office.
An LOA must meet certain conditions to be counted as a temporary interruption in a student’s
education instead of being counted as a withdrawal requiring Siena Heights University to perform a
Return calculation. If the student does not meet the conditions found in 34 CFR 668.22(d) the student is
considered to have ceased attendance and to have withdrawn from the school, and the school is
required to perform a Return calculation.
A student granted an LOA that meets the criteria in 34 CFR 668.22(d) is not considered to have
withdrawn, and no Return calculation is required. Upon the student’s return from the leave, he or she
continues to earn the federal student aid previously awarded for the period.
Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 2016-2018
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