UIC Policy

Members of the UIC community are expected to understand and follow policies established by the University. Certain rights and responsibilities that reflect U.S. cultural values and beliefs that are different from your own may be easy to overlook or misunderstand. On this page, we highlight UIC policies where even innocent violations could result in negative consequences on your immigration status. As always, OIS is here to support you. Please connect with an OIS advisor if you have any doubts or concerns.

Office of the Dean of Students Heading link

The Office of the Dean of Students supports the academic and social development of all students at UIC by serving as an advocate for students experiencing personal concerns and by managing systems for conflict resolution. DOS maintains our community standards, or the values of integrity, accountability, and respect expected from all students, faculty, and staff at UIC. These standards are reflected and upheld in the Student Disciplinary Policy. Students alleged to be in violation of the Student Disciplinary Policy, or other University policies related to students, are subject to the Community Standards Process. If you find that you are part of a community standards investigation or hearing, either as a reporter, witness, or accused, we encourage you to reach out to OIS so that we can support you and/or help you understand any immigration-related implications of the process.

Community Standards hightlights for students Heading link

For many international students, academic integrity as defined in the U.S. can feel unfamiliar and frustratingly vague. You know how to be a successful student in your home country, but slowly realize that the rules around group work, exams, and citing your sources are different from what you experienced back home. It is important that you take your time to understand the rules and expectations around academic work at UIC and reflect on the points where these new norms may differ from your cultural concept of academic integrity. Unfortunately, not understanding the rules of academic integrity does not exempt a student from the disciplinary consequences of violating them. Learn more about academic integrity at the DOS website and reach out to your professors or OIS with questions.

Personal integrity involves behaving in ways that emphasize respect, civility, compassion, empathy, and concern for the individual. UIC’s Student Disciplinary Policy, the explicit contract governing behavior that UIC holds with each student, outlines in detail the expectations for student conduct and the consequences for violating those expectations. Areas covered by the policy include standards of classroom behavior, alcohol and drug use, bullying and cyberbullying, sexual misconduct, and more. Members of the UIC community are encouraged to report violations of the University’s Standards of Conduct by filing a formal complaint.

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) Heading link

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a U.S. federal law that protects the privacy of student education records, including immigration records maintained by the Office of International Services. In order for a third party (e.g. parent, spouse, lawyer, etc.) to access a student’s FERPA-protected record, the student must provide written consent. Contact the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of the Registrar for more information on FERPA and UIC’s Student Records Policy.

Tobacco-Free Campus Policy Heading link

UIC is a tobacco-free campus. Therefore, tobacco product use is prohibited on all campus grounds, in campus-owned properties and facilites, and in private vehicles while on campus. Tobacco products include all forms of tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, water pipes (hookahs), chew, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco products.