Student Handbook

Sexual Harassment and other Sexual Misconduct

The University of Baltimore is committed to creating a campus that is safe from sexual misconduct, including sexual and gender-based harassment, sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual exploitation and sexual intimidation.

The University actively seeks to:

prevent issues of sexual misconduct by educating and providing resources to raise awareness of these issues
recognize, respond and provide support to those who have experienced sexual harassment and/or have been the victim of a sexual offense.

View the University's sexual misconduct policy and other information please visit the Sexual Harassment and other Sexual Misconduct page.

The University of Baltimore's educational mission - one joining access and excellence - can succeed only within a framework of fair treatment, interpersonal respect and appropriate behavior. This framework makes it possible for members of the community to teach, learn freely and prevents community members from interfering with each other's strides toward learning and success, whether that interference appears as behavior disruptive of a classroom, unfair or arbitrary grading, or submission of work that does not fairly represent a community member's own intellectual effort.

These policies and procedures:

provide and clarify those standards of behavior by and toward students that are necessary to support the university's educational mission, and
provide processes for addressing failures to meet those standards.

The policies and procedures in this handbook apply to all students of the university unless the language of the handbook specifically indicates otherwise.

The University of Baltimore publishes this handbook annually, but the policies and procedures may be subject to change during the academic year.

For more information about these policies or procedures, contact the Office of Student Support at 410.837.4755 or StudentSupport@ubalt.edu.

Student Academic Grievances and Procedures

The University of Baltimore encourages students who feel they have been inappropriately treated to raise their concerns directly with the other person or people involved at the earliest possible time. Many problems can be understood and solved through direct discussion. Attempting to do so early increases the chance that any differences will be addressed in a healthy and constructive manner.

When it is not possible to resolve matters directly between the parties, students may use University grievance procedures to seek review of complaints. Students may file a grievance with regard to University academic policies, academic grades, and decisions made by or practices of faculty, administrators, or staff members.

Specific procedures for each type can be found below.

General Policy Statements

Accessibility Policy

The University of Baltimore is committed to providing barrier-free education to disabled students and is actively working to bring its facilities and programs into full compliance with § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. It is the policy of the University to reassign classes to accessible buildings whenever necessary to provide adequate access to the class for a disabled student.
Canceled Classes

In general, the University will not close unless weather conditions make this action absolutely necessary. Decisions for morning closings will be made by 6:30 a.m. Decisions affecting evening classes will be made by 4:00 p.m. Closing announcements can be heard on the following radio/television stations:

WBAL/WIYY (1100 AM/98 FM)

WFBR/WLIF (1300 AM/102 FM)

WJZ-TV (CH 13)

WCAO (600 AM)

WCBM (680 AM)

WBSB (B104 FM)

WITH (1230 AM)

WQSR (105.7 FM)

WFSI (107.9 FM) Annapolis

WNAV/WHFS (1430 AM/99.1 FM) Annapolis

WTOP (1500 AM) Washington

You may also call the University weather line at 410.837.4201 to learn the status of classes and the closing of the University.
Disabilities Documentation Policy

It is the policy of the University of Baltimore to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. In order to provide academic adjustments, proper documentation is required and must be presented to the director of disability support services (for liberal arts and business students) or to the associate dean for student affairs (law school). Students with sensory (visual, hearing), physical (mobility) or other health impairments (epilepsy, AIDS) are required to provide medical reports or a letter from a physician responsible for treating the student. This documentation must be provided whether the condition is permanent or temporary (broken leg, etc.).

Students with learning disabilities (LD) must provide current documentation (prepared within the past three years) of their LD diagnosis. Results of assessments conducted prior to college are deemed inadequate. This documentation will be reviewed by the Office of Disability and Access Services for all undergraduate and graduate students and by the associate dean for student affairs for law students. Documentation for LD students must be prepared by a professional qualified to diagnose a learning disability, including but not limited to a licensed psychiatrist, learning disability specialist, or psychologist. Documentation from a licensed clinical social worker will not be considered as the sole criterion for providing services. Documentation for a learning disability must include the testing procedures followed, the instruments used to assess the disability, the test results and an interpretation of the test results.

Documentation relating to all undergraduates and graduates in the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Public Affairs, and the Merrick School of Business will be retained in the Office of Disability and Access Services; documentation relating to law students will be retained in the office of the associate dean for student affairs. Documentation will remain in these offices for the duration of the student’s academic career and will be kept confidential. Upon graduation, documentation will be destroyed unless the student requests that it be returned to him or her.
Elevators

The elevators at the University are for general use. During an emergency that requires a building evacuation, elevators should not be utilized. Emergency Personnel are provided information about the individuals with mobility impairments that may need assistance in the event of an evacuation.
Emergency Measures

In the event that an illness or an accident requiring first aid treatment occurs in the classroom or on University property at any time, notify a public safety officer.
Grades

University policy forbids the public display of individual student grades in any form, including the use of the telephone and e-mail to inform students of their grades. At the option of the instructor, arrangements may be made to inform students of particular course grades by personal mail or through the Gradebook feature of Sakai/WebTycho course sites only. Students may use My UBalt to access their final semester grades.
I.D. Cards

The University of Baltimore Campus Card (known as the Bee Card) is issued to all students by the Office of Campus Card Operations, which is located in the Academic Center, Room 105. Students must be fully enrolled in their semester classes twenty-four hours prior to obtaining their card. The Bee Card is essential as it not only acts as your student I.D. but is also needed to access materials from the libraries, utilize the campus recreation facilities, admission to University events, and much more. The card must be carried at all times while on University property. A lost Bee Card should be reported to the Office of Campus Card Operations. A replacement card can be issued for $20. For more information please visit www.ubalt.edu/beecard.
Privacy Act

The University complies with the requirements of both the Federal Education and Privacy Act of (FERPA), 34 CFR Part99, and the Maryland Public Information Act, State Government Article 10-162.

In compliance with these acts, the University will only release without your signature that information that is so designated as directory information. Directory information is defined as the student's name, hometown, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, and other similar information. The Maryland Public Information Act requires the University to provide directories of its students upon request. Consequently, directories may be released to commercial enterprises, such as credit card companies. If you do not wish to have directory information released, you are required to submit that request by filing a "Request to Withhold Directory Information" form in the Office of Records and Transcripts, prior to the start of each semester. FERPA provides students with the opportunity to review information contained in their "educational records." Offices where students' educational records are kept: Records and Transcripts, and in some cases as applicable Financial Aid, Veterans Affairs, Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, Law Admissions, and the academic deans. Students who wish to review their records may do so my making an appointment with the appropriate head of the office housing the record.
Computer Misconduct

The following acts will be considered computer misconduct if they involve the use of University-owned computer equipment, facilities, hardware, or software (including the University computer network) or the use of private computer equipment on campus or during organized activities of the University or of registered student groups.

1. vandalism, including physical abuse of hardware and knowingly compromising software or data

2. theft of hardware, software, or data

3. theft of computer time, including but not limited to using an account other than one’s own or use of a computer for profit

4. abuse in which a computer is used as a tool, including but not limited to consumer fraud, computer dating services, spam, launch of viruses, use of University email to threaten or intimidate any person or organization, or unauthorized accessing of other systems

5. unauthorized use or possession of hardware, software, or data

6. unauthorized access to information resources, hardware, software, data, or facilities in violation of any restriction or published guidelines on usage

7. unauthorized alterations of software, programs or data, including but not limited to using the computer to create false records, to alter authentic records, or to reproduce confidential data

8. intentional corruption, misuse, or stealing of software or data, including but not limited to the unauthorized copying of copyrighted programs or any other computing resource

9. use of UBalt computing resources for personal or private financial gain without written authorization from the provost

10. establishing an independent computer system that has not been authorized, including plugging personal computers into the University network without authorization from the chief information officer

11. knowingly executing a program that may hamper normal computing activities at the University or elsewhere, without written authorization from the chief information officer

12. retrieving or downloading images or information that promote conduct otherwise prohibited by any section of the Student Policies and Procedures Handbook

13. violating the University’s Academic Computer Center’s or the University System of Maryland’s regulations with regard to computer usage
Smoking Policy

Smoking can be hazardous to health for smokers and non-smokers alike. It can contribute to heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, emphysema, and several forms of cancer. The University of Baltimore has taken positive steps toward providing for all employees and students a smoke-free environment in which smoking is prohibited within all University buildings. This no-smoking policy stresses compliance on the part of employees and students. While it is best to rely on common courtesy for colleagues and classmates to ensure the success of this policy, the University is prepared to enforce it with formal sanctions. Visitors who refuse to comply with this policy will be required to leave University premises.
Parking and Traffic Regulations

Parking and traffic regulations are formulated and enforced through the Office of Parking Services and the Department of Public Safety, which publish periodic revisions of regulations. Copies of these regulations are available in these offices and the Business Office. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with these regulations and abiding by them. Violations of these regulations may result in disciplinary procedures as described herein.
University Email
UB requires use of the ubalt.edu e-mail account in all official University administrative and academic communications in order to:
- Streamline campus communications
- Increase security of University e-mails
- Ensure that official University announcements are sent to active e-mail accounts
- Enhance the student experience by maintaining a standard e-mail protocol and directory throughout the University.
It is important to check the ubalt.edu account on a regular basis, as e-mails constitute an official means of communication regarding University policies, deadlines and other important student information.

Please contact the OTS Call Center, x 6262, with any questions or for further assistance.

Student Academic Grievances and Procedures

General Policy Statements

Accessibility Policy

Canceled Classes

Disabilities Documentation Policy

Elevators

Emergency Measures

Grades

I.D. Cards

Privacy Act

Computer Misconduct

Smoking Policy

Parking and Traffic Regulations

University Email

Schools and Colleges

Libraries

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