I. Policy Statement

Per Article XIV, Section A of the University By-Laws, and consistent with said article, this policy is established to ensure that students are appropriately eligible to hold leadership positions in:  (1) programs and initiatives supported by the Department of Student Activities (DSA), as identified in Appendix A; and (2) select Trustee and Tier III Student Organizations, as identified in Appendix B (Organizations). Effective implementation and enforcement of this policy is intended to place primacy on a student’s educational success.  

In support of the University’s Academic Mission, if a student is determined to be ineligible pursuant of this policy, DSA reserves the right to limit that student’s leadership within an Organization or the programs and initiatives under its purview. 

II. Definitions

• ‘Program and Initiative’ shall mean any experience, service initiative, leadership involvement program, or other initiative (paid or unpaid) involving students supported by or co-sponsored by DSA. 
  • See Appendix A for a detailed list of Programs & Initiatives subject to this policy for the current academic year – beginning with the eligibility of student leader seekers. 
  • NOTE: DSA programs and initiatives may have academic eligibility policies that supersede this policy when those policies’ academic eligibility standards are higher than those included herein. 
• ‘Organization(s)’ shall mean the specific and pre-determined Trustee and Tier III Student Organizations supported by student fees that are subject to this policy. 
  • See Appendix B for a detailed list of Organizations and applicable Student Leader positions subject to this policy for the current academic year – beginning with the eligibility of office seekers. 
  • NOTE: This policy supersedes any academic eligibility policies implemented internally by an Organization. 
• ‘Student Leaders’ for the purpose of this policy, shall mean:
  • A student within an Organization who has been elected or appointed to serve in a leadership position, including but not limited to, executive officers, board members, committee chairs, and department heads;
  • Any student /volunteer within a DSA program and initiative whose responsibilities include the supervision or direction of other students (University or otherwise) as it relates to a department program or initiative; or any student /volunteer who has primary/significant responsibilities related to a department program or initiative.
• ‘Ineligible’ shall mean not meeting nor fulfilling the minimum eligibility requirements set forth in Section III.
• ‘Academic Notice’ shall mean any academic status deemed not in good standing as determined by the University Senate By-Laws [Section II.E.13].  

III. Minimum Eligibility Requirements

1. Enrollment Status
   1. Student Leaders must be currently enrolled at the UConn Storrs campus and have their ‘General University Fee’ paid.
   2. Organization Student Leaders must pay the respective group fee of the Organization they are seeking or holding office.  
2. Academic Status
   1. All Student Leaders must remain in good academic standing, based on their semester grade point average and cumulative grade point average, during the time they are holding or seeking to hold a student leadership position as defined in Appendix A and Appendix B.
      • A Student Leader on ‘Academic Notice’ with the University will be deemed Ineligible to hold their position.
      • Ineligible students will not be able to hold their position without approval granted through the Appeals Process set forth in Section IV.
   2. ‘Seek Provision’ (Organizations Only)
      • Students seeking to hold certain positions must not be on any form of Academic Notice during the time that they are seeking the respective leadership position.
      • Such positions are designated with a ‘**’ in Appendix B.
3. Subject to Dismissal
   1. Any Student Leader who is determined to be ‘Subject to Dismissal’ by the University is not eligible to seek or hold a leadership position as defined in this policy. A Student Leader holding this academic status is not eligible for the Appeals Process set forth in Section IV. 

IV. Ineligibility & Appeals

1. Grade Checks 
   1. DSA will periodically commence grade checks and review the academic status of Student Leaders based on the University’s academic calendar. 
      • Organizations Only: Grade checks will also be reviewed based on due dates of applications for seeking positions. 
2. Ineligibility Notification 
   1. Student Leaders found to be Ineligible will receive communication to their University e-mail address, notifying them of their status and, if applicable, information about the appeals process (Academic Notice only).  
      • Student Leader’s respective advisor or supervisor will be notified about their status as well. 
   2. Student Leaders who choose not to appeal or who are not eligible to appeal, must notify their Organization or Program and Initiative to resign from their position within one week of the ineligibility notification e-mail date.  
      • If the Student Leader is unable to do so within one week of the ineligibility notification e-mail date, their advisor will notify the Organization or Program and Initiative of the Student Leader’s inability to serve in the position. The reason will not be disclosed. 
3. An Appeal 
   1. The appeal process has been established to allow a Student Leader deemed ineligible with the opportunity to have the circumstances affecting their status reviewed and considered. 
      • The committee reviews every appeal on a case-by-case basis.  
      • The standard to have an appeal upheld, resulting in a student being deemed eligible, is not concrete and may vary depending on individual circumstances and appeal materials. 
   2. Student Leaders who anticipate that they will be ineligible to seek or hold an office may initiate the appeals process prior to receiving an ineligibility notification from DSA. 
      • LINK: https://studentactivities.uconn.edu/student-leader-eligibility-appeal/  
   3. Student Leaders subject to the appeals process are not required to participate. 
   4. Student Leaders that choose to participate in the appeals process will have one week from their ineligibility notification e-mail to appeal the decision. 
   5. A Student Leader participating in the appeal process may continue to serve in their position until the appeal is decided but will not exceed three weeks from their original ineligibility notification e-mail date. 
4. The Appeals Committee  
   1. The Committee is comprised of 3-4 DSA professional staff members, including 1 chair member. 
   2. Each DSA area has at least one professional staff member able to serve on a committee. 
   3. In the event a Professional staff member on the committee for which a Student Leader appealing is part of their respective program, initiative, or Organization, that committee member must recuse themselves from the review and any vote related to that Student Leader’s appeal.

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Appendix A – Programs & Initiatives Subject to the Eligibility Policy

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Appendix B – Organization Student Leader Positions Subject to the Eligibility Policy