Student Behavior Expectations (Student Handbook)

Palo Alto University (PAU) is an academic community that endeavors to maintain the highest ethical and behavioral standards in all that we do. PAU administration, faculty, and staff have a responsibility to help students to understand, to be measured by, and to uphold the ethical and behavioral standards of our PAU community. Students have a responsibility to learn our community’s ethical and professional standards and to maintain those standards in all of their work and professional relationships while at PAU. This includes their work and professional relationships as students, researchers, clinicians (including at practicum and internship sites), and as professional and academic colleagues.

The following policies and procedures outline student behavioral expectations as well as their rights should they be alleged to be in violation of any of these policies. Students are expected to abide by these policies.

Finally, the procedures outlined in this document detail administrative action the university will take should a student be alleged to have violated university policy. Consistent with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) principles of academic freedom and tenure, the faculty instructor is responsible for determining any grades related to the courses they teach, including individual assignments and final grades. When alleged policy violations occur, faculty may consult with administration in determining an assignment or final course grade related to an alleged policy violation, but the ultimate responsibility for assigning course grades is the instructor's. Administrative action taken by the university cannot include dictating to faculty an assignment or final course grades.

The following behaviors violate PAU policy and may result in disciplinary action by the university.