On Thursday, Erik Wessel, director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution, sent an email to all students detailing changes to the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, approved by the Student Relations Advisory Committee of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs. With University President Mark Schlissel’s approval, the 11 amendments will take effect on July 1, 2019. The changes clarify the document’s language, realign policies with Michigan state laws and adjust the standard of evidence used in the Statement.
The amendment proposal process began in winter 2018, Wessel wrote. SRAC engaged with student organizations and held community dialogues to aid in the creation of the amendments. They then developed the proposals throughout the fall 2018 semester.
“The Student Relations Advisory Committee (SRAC) of SACUA convened a representative group of faculty and student leadership between November 2018 and January 2019 to determine which proposed amendments would be recommended to the Vice President for Student Life for advancement to the President for his consideration,” Wessel wrote.
Various amendment proposals address clarification of language in the Statement. Proposal Five amends the language regarding medical amnesty currently in the Statement to more closely align with the state law. Proposal Six adds “equity” as a core value of the Statement. Proposal Ten adds additional language to the definition of hazing based on Michigan state law. Proposal Eleven changes the standard of evidence utilized in the Statement to use a preponderance standard that will align with other student-focused University policies.
Wessel thanked SRAC Chair Gina Cervetti and SRAC for their work on the amendment proposals.
“This community-created and community-refined document represents a clear and ongoing commitment to the future of our shared University of Michigan community,” Wessel wrote. “I would like to join President Schlissel and Vice President Harper in commending the student leadership on their tireless work throughout this amendment process.”