Student Affairs

Montana State University Billings provides academic and student support programs and extracurricular activities that enhance and enrich the total student life of the University. A wide range of services, challenges and opportunities are available for every student including programs delivered through the Division of Student Affairs and other activities that affect student life from admission through graduation.

MSU Billings Division of Student Affairs Mission Statement

We commit ourselves to students by providing quality services to facilitate the achievement of academic and personal goals. In cooperation with the campus and community, we will strive to provide a diverse student population with a supportive and caring environment and the tools to meet the challenges of the future.

Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct

The Board of Regents statement regarding students’ rights and responsibilities is as follows:

“The Montana University System is committed to the full support of the constitutional rights of its students, including due process of student disciplinary matters. At the same time, each unit has an obligation to protect its own educational purpose and the interests of its student body. Each educational institution is dedicated not only to the learning and the advancement of knowledge, but also the development of responsible persons. These goals are achieved through a sound educational program and through policies governing student conduct that encourage independence and maturity.

“Students are subject to federal, state, and local laws, as well as the institutional rules and regulations. A student is not entitled to greater immunities or privileges before the law than those enjoyed by citizens generally. The University System cannot and will not abrogate its responsibility to protect its property, its purpose and processes, and may take appropriate disciplinary action, independent of any action taken by the courts, whenever a student commits an offense which would have an adverse effect on the institution.

“Since there are appreciable differences between institutions in tradition, environment, mission, clientele, and institutional character, each unit of the Montana University System is authorized to establish rules and regulations for student conduct, within the overall state system philosophy, that are appropriate to the unique needs of an institution. The administration of each unit, in consultation with faculty and students, shall formulate these rules and regulations, and all students shall assume the responsibility for compliance with them upon entering the institution.”

MSU Billings has formulated rules and regulations and has established a disciplinary system to administer and enforce these rules and regulations. The Student Code of Conduct, in the Student Handbook, provides details regarding the rules, regulations and disciplinary procedures which will be followed.

Student Rights

One of the concerns of Montana State University Billings is to provide each student the opportunity to learn. Therefore, some personal freedoms and rights of students include, but are not limited to:

Freedom of inquiry, speech, and assembly.
Freedom from threats.
Freedom from acts of violence.
Freedom from unfair or obscene treatment from others.
Freedom from interference from others in an unreasonable and unauthorized manner while in class, activities, and public events.
Freedom from theft and willful destruction of personal property.
Right to study and learn in an atmosphere of academic freedom.
Right to procedural due process in University misconduct action.
Right to be governed by justifiable academic regulations.
To be informed in writing of the academic requirements determined by individual instructors.
Right to be informed of the regulations for academic and social conduct and graduation requirements of the University.
Right to petition for redress of grievances, academic and non-academic.

Student Responsibilities

Each student has the responsibility:

To respect the rights and property of others.
To be fully acquainted and comply with the published rules and regulations of the University.
To comply with all local, state, and federal laws.
To recognize that student activities reflect upon the individuals involved as well as upon the entire University community.
To recognize the University’s obligation to provide a safe environment conducive for learning and academic inquiry.
To adhere to the academic requirements determined by individual instructors.
To abide by the reasonable direction of a University official acting within the legitimate scope of his or her duties.

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