Student policies are living, breathing documents that must grow and adapt with the University. They are at the heart of an effective ethics and compliance program. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to mitigate barriers that block student success.
Every year, campus partners from across the University review and update our policies to ensure they remain relevant, equitable, and effective in addressing the evolving needs of the student body and external changes such as updates to the law. Regular updates to policy help maintain transparency with our students and the university community. The specific individuals who oversee and are consulted on a policy change depends on the specific policy, but policy owners maintain regular contact with key partners including student and faculty governing bodies as changes are made. The Dean of Students and Director of Community Standards oversee the review process, and notify the community of changes at the beginning of each academic year.
Below you will find a summary of the key policy changes made for the current year. To view previous Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities Handbooks, visit the Community Standards website.
2025-26 Policy Changes
- Authored newly published Campus Access and Facilities Use Policy. The newly published Campus Access and Facilities Use Policy was developed in response to the President’s Working Group on Free Speech and Expression. The policy establishes clear, viewpoint-neutral procedures for the Durham campus that define who may use which campus spaces, when, and under what conditions.
- Authored newly published Anti Hazing and Prevention Education. The Stop Campus Hazing Act, signed into law in December 2024, requires universities to strengthen hazing prevention, education, and transparency. In response, UNH has updated its Anti-Hazing and Prevention Education Policy to meet federal and state requirements and reaffirm our commitment to hazing prevention.
- Developed "Records" section in the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) Policy. The policy now contains a table outlining the various types of student education records, the office responsible for them, and the relevant policy or website with more information.
- Sunset student policies student-specific policies that are now covered by new University policies. A University Policy means any policy that has broad application or impact across UNH colleges, schools, institutes and operating units beneficial for its members, partners, and relationships. A Student Policy is any policy which directly affects student lives at the university and is nonacademic in nature. This year, The Civil Rights & Equity Office (CREO) published updated policies related to discrimination and sexual misconduct. CREO also created a new policy pertaining to Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals, and Service Animals in Training. As a result, the following policies have been removed from the SRRR.
- Student Code of Conduct: Article V: Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment
- Student Code of Conduct: Article VI: Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Exploitation
- Student Policies: Civil Rights Policies
- Combined and better organized existing financial policies in the catalog, SRRR, and website. Information on alcohol and fire safety was hard to find. Changes were made this year towards helping students who live on-campus better understand additional expectations that apply specifically to them.
- Updated the Academic Integrity Policy. The policy has been updated to create a clearer, fairer, and more coordinated process for handling academic misconduct. Recent updates include clarifying definitions, streamlining resolution and appeal procedures, and implementing measures like the “NR” placeholder grade to prevent students from withdrawing from a course to avoid a grade penalty.
- Updated the Leave of Absence Policy. Undergraduate students on an approved leave who are eligible to return to UNH may now request prior approval to take courses at other institutions for transfer credit. The maximum leave duration has been shortened from six semesters to four, and health leave rules have been refined: students whose leave begins on or before the five-week deadline no longer need to take an extra semester off.
- Updated the Administrative Separation Policy. The policy and URL was updated for consistency. In addition, appeal procedures have been simplified and clarified. It has also been established that interim actions must follow the purview of the Code of Conduct, rather than a separate process in this policy.
- The Freedom of Expression and Guidelines on Peaceful Dissent Policy has been updated to align with requirements under New Hampshire statute RSA 188-J and also clarifying language.
- Broadened the undergraduate Attendance Policy to include optional flexibility when students are representing UNH in regional, national, and international academic-related opportunities.
