Fogcutter Student Handbook - Important Updates

Fogcutter 2021-22 Update

Welcome to the 2021-22 academic year at the University of San Francisco. The Office of Student Conduct, Rights & Responsibilities (OSCRR) was honored to work with a dedicated group of students and staff who were committed to serving the University community by working to review and revise our conduct code, policies and procedures. This project was a part of our regular review and revision process, however, now and moving forward included the student voice. We are beyond grateful to the group for the time, effort and energy they provided.

As part of the process, the group spent time reviewing policies and procedures from different institutions and was asked to do a comprehensive review of USF’s policies and procedures. Throughout the semester, the group engaged in meaningful conversation and suggested revisions to our policies and procedures to better serve our students. As a result, we were able to accomplish the following updates to our student handbook: Language was updated to be more inclusive, student-centered, and clear with less legalese. The following are examples of these changes:

  • “Sanctions”, which are the means in which students are held accountable for violations and are implemented to assist in the learning and development of the process are now referred to as “outcomes”.
  • “Resolution Officers”, who are the staff that meet with students are now referred to as “Resolution Staff”.
  • “Charges” are now referred to as “alleged violations”.
  • Other examples include making policies easier to understand, straight-forward, less wordy, and more reflective of our Jesuit identity.

Given changes in local legislation, marijuana was removed from the Drug Policy and a separate policy for marijuana was created. As USF is required to follow federal policy, marijuana remains prohibited on campus and at university-sponsored events. Given marijuana's legal status in several states, we believed it was beneficial to distinguish the difference between a marijuana violation and a drug violation in a student’s disciplinary file.

Other revisions (wording or implementation) made to prohibited behavior include:

  • Alcohol
  • Drugs
  • Harm to self
  • Harm to persons
  • Threats
  • Failure to Comply
  • Disruptive Conduct
  • Offensive Conduct 
  • Harassment
  • Unauthorized Recording
  • Retaliation
  • Fraudulent Behavior
  • Fraudulent Identification
  • Unauthorized Access or Use

An additional appeal criteria of “outcomes being disproportionate given the context of the violation” was added to the appeal process.

The Nondiscrimination Based On Sex and Gender, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct was also updated based on changes in federal regulations.

Finally, based upon the recommendation of the student group, OSCRR is excited to begin a collaboration with Residential Life to create a student conduct board to involve our student community in a peer-to-peer led process for handling alleged violations.

Again, we are thankful for the impact this working group had on our review process. As stated, we will continue to utilize students in our review process moving forward. We will now be conducting these formal reviews every three years. Any student who may be interested should contact our office.

Past Updates

In order to facilitate a safer return to campus, we as a USF community must all do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please review the Community and Public Health policy and COVID-19 On Campus information prior to returning to campus.

Effective August 1, 2017, USF will join more than 1,800 colleges nationwide that have smoke and tobacco free campuses. Please read the President's Letter that was sent out on June 21, 2017 as we transition forward to a smoke and tobacco free campus.

With the passage of Proposition 64, recreational marijuana is legal in California, however, it remains prohibited at the University of San Francisco. Please refer to the Dean of Student Office Letter that was sent to USF community members in January 2017.

USF has very limited parking and, as such, is unable to provide ample parking spaces for the majority of the USF community. Therefore, in accordance with San Francisco city planning, sustainability efforts, limited campus parking, and in order to reduce the amount of traffic in the residential neighborhood that surrounds the university, all students who live in any University Housing Facility* are prohibited from bringing vehicles to campus and are ineligible to receive semester or annual parking permits.

During the fall and spring semesters, full time and 3-day part time permits are awarded through a lottery system to students living outside a 3-mile radius from campus. During the summer, however, students may purchase any type of parking permit.

* Students living in Loyola Village are eligible for entering the parking lottery for spaces in the Loyola Village parking garage only.

For more information please visit the Parking and Transportation webpage.

  • Preferred Name Option (March 2015)
  • Community Relations Policy - Transportation and Parking (June 2013)
  • Student Conduct, University Standards, Policies and Procedures (August 1, 2012)
  • Student Organization Regulations (Feb 18, 2011)
  • Office of Residence Life - Guest and Visitation Policy (Oct 8, 2010)

Higher Education Opportunity Act Updates

Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Changes in the Higher Education Opportunity Act require Institutions to disseminate an annual disclosure to students that (1) states that unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, such as through peer-to-peer networks, may subject students to civil and criminal penalties, (2) describes the penalties for such violations, and (3) includes the institution's policies on peer-to-peer file sharing.

The University warns against the illegal distribution of copyrighted material using University resources in its Technology Resources Appropriate Use Policy (TRAUP). Students who violate the TRAUP in any fashion including peer-to-peer file sharing will be subject to University disciplinary action as well as potential civil and criminal action for violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Significant monetary fines and potential jail sentences may result from civil and/or criminal action taken.

Please refer to the Technology Resources Appropriate Use Policy and other relevant and useful information regarding copyright and file sharing information by visiting the copyright policy page.

The Fogcutter Student Handbook is published online. If you need access to the handbook in any other format please contact the Office of Student Conduct, Rights and Responsibilities at (415) 422-4099 or studentconduct@usfca.edu