UNIVERSITY NOTICES

Required First Day Attendance Policy

Effective Fall 2003, University-wide policy requires all students to attend the first day of class meeting of all classes for which they are registered. Students who do not attend the first class meeting of a course for which they are registered will be dropped from the course by the academic department that offers the course. This policy applies to all levels of courses and to all campuses and study centers. It remains the student's responsibility to verify course drops and check that fees are adjusted.

Notification of Student Rights Under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights are:

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. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, or head of the academic department (or appropriate official) written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
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. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is defined as a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the 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, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-4605.

Students have the right to obtain a copy of The Florida State University's student record policy. You can obtain a copy of the policy from the Office of the University Registrar, A3900 University Center, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-2480.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

All students are responsible for knowing and adhering to The Florida State University Statement for Students on the Unlawful Possession, Use or Distribution of Illicit Drugs and Alchohol. This policy is available in the General Bulletin and the Graduate Bulletin and may also be found online at http://registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/undergrad/info/drugs.htm.

Sexual Harassment Policy

All students are responsible for knowing and adhering to the Florida State University Statement for Students on Sexual Harassment. This policy is available in the General Bulletin and the Graduate Bulletin and may also be found online at http://www.inspectorgeneral.fsu.edu/sh/policy.html

Repeat Course Surcharge

Section 1009.285, Florida Statutes, mandates that each student attempting the same non-repeatable undergraduate course more than twice beginning with the Fall Semester 1997 shall be assessed an additional per credit hour surcharge beginning with the third attempt. Attempted hours include those hours dropped, withdrawn, and repeated under FSU forgiveness which are fee liable. Undergraduate level courses are numbered 1000 to 4000.

Effective Fall Semester 2002, the repeat course surcharge was $177.42 per credit hour. Rate subject to change.

For a list of exceptions to this policy, please consult the “Financial Information” section of the General Bulletin.

New Immunization Requirements

College-age individuals living in residence halls, shared apartments, and other group housing are at an increased risk for developing meningitis and hepatitis B-serious infections that can have devastating consequences. New laws enacted by the State of Florida mandate that all university students must be informed of the risks of these infections. Students currently enrolled and living in campus housing either must be vaccinated against meningitis and hepatitis B or must sign a waiver stating that they have declined to receive the vaccine. As this law is now effective, The Florida State University has altered its health history form. All incoming students will be required to show proof of immunization or sign the waiver before they are permitted to register for classes.

Any students currently living in campus residence halls need to obtain information about the risks associated with these infections and make a decision to get vaccinated or sign a waiver refusing the inoculations prior to the opening of their registration window. If you do not meet this requirement, a hold will be placed on your records and you will be unable to register!

All students are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated for meningitis and hepatitis B prior to the opening of their registration window. Information about these vaccinations may be obtained at Thagard Student Health Center. If you have questions, please call us at (850) 644-6230 or visit us on the web at http://www.tshc.fsu.edu. Students wishing to receive these vaccinations should call Thagard Student Health Center's General Medical clinic at (850) 644-TIME (8463) to make a nursing appointment. The cost of the meningitis vaccine is $70.00. The hepatitis B vaccine is administered in a series of three injections over a six-month period; the cost is $40.00 per injection. The campus-sponsored health insurance offered through Thagard should cover the cost of these immunizations.