Subject to the provisions of the Regents Bylaws, students enrolled at UNL shall have rights and responsibilities provided for in "The Student in the Academic Community," the “Student Records Policy,” and "The Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures," as published in the academic bulletins of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, in consultation with appropriate student representatives, shall develop and/or keep current these documents, including rules governing student conduct, discipline, and activities and shall codify, publicize, keep current, and make available copies of said documents and rules to students and interested parties. Disciplinary procedures shall expressly provide for the minimum procedural guarantees specified in the Regents Bylaws.
Student Information. All students at UNL shall have the responsibility to provide the Office of the University Registrar with accurate information as designated in the Regents Bylaws and such other information as may be required, subject to the approval of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Policies for release of information about students must be consistent with the provisions of the Regents Bylaws.
Authorization for Student Government. Pursuant to the Regents Bylaws, the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska (ASUN) is the official representative of the student body of UNL.
Powers of ASUN. The Association of Students of the University of Nebraska (ASUN) is hereby empowered to adopt a Constitution and Bylaws for governance of ASUN and for securing and achieving the objectives and powers of the Association. The Constitution and Bylaws shall be subject to approval by the Board of Regents.
Requirements of ASUN Constitution. The Constitution of ASUN, shall: (a) Establish the general governmental structure, powers, and responsibilities; identify the person, persons, or groups constituting each unit of the structure; specify the process by which the person, persons, or groups are selected and the terms of office; (b) Guarantee that the governmental structure is responsive to the students of UNL through periodic electoral procedures; and (c) Provide powers and procedures, related to:
1) Recognizing and regulating other student organizations and activities;
2) Organizing and managing student rallies and migrations;
3) Furthering the general welfare of the students of UNL;
4) Functioning as a liaison between the students and the Board of Regents, the administration, the faculty, the state legislature, and the public;
5) Adopting policy statements on public issues and on issues affecting students of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln;
6) The budgeting and expenditure of funds over which ASUN has jurisdiction; and,
7) Appointing student representatives to campus-wide committees and boards for which student representation is provided.
Student Publications. Student publications financed in whole or in part by fees collected from all students at UNL shall be managed by the Student Publications Board, constituted as provided in these UNL Bylaws and possessing the powers, duties, and responsibilities provided in these UNL Bylaws.
Student Publications Board. The Student Publications Board shall be composed of five students, two members of the faculty, and two professional journalists from outside the University. The Chancellor shall appoint the students from a list generated by ASUN and shall appoint the faculty members from a list generated by the Faculty Senate. The professional journalists shall be appointed by the Chancellor.
Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Publications Board. The Board shall hire the editor and business manager of each student publication under its jurisdiction, and a part-time professional journalist to advise the publication's editor and staff. The Board shall meet at least quarterly and shall specifically concern itself with the observance of the canons of professional ethics followed generally in the professional journalism field in Nebraska. The Board may create an executive board to assist with routine problems occurring between the meetings of the committee. Any executive board shall have at least two student committee members, one faculty member, and the professional adviser described in these UNL Bylaws. The Board may select ex-officio members to meet with it, but they shall possess no right to vote. The Board shall act as nearly like a publisher of the publication as its nature will permit. The Board shall serve as a liaison between student publications and their university constituencies, paying particular attention to complaints against and access to student publications.
Duties of the Part-Time Professional Adviser. The adviser hired by the Board shall have no censorship powers but shall provide advice on ethical questions presented by the staff of the student publication, and shall offer post-publication criticism. The adviser shall prepare the agenda for committee meetings and provide information and recommendations to the Board.
University Program and Facilities Fees and Student Organizational Funds.
University Program and Facilities Fees (UPFF). University Program and Facilities Fees as established by action of the Board of Regents shall be divided into two funds by the Chancellor. That portion of the UPFF designated to pay for debt services, staff salaries, maintenance of facilities and related expenses, and those additional items designated by the Chancellor, shall be budgeted separately with emphasis upon continuing support. These collective expenditures shall be known as the “Fund B” portion of UPFF. That portion of UPFF designated by the Chancellor for activities managed by student groups shall be budgeted separately and identified as the “Fund A” portion of UPFF. The annual budget requests developed by eligible student agencies shall be analyzed by the ASUN-established Committee for Fee Allocations (CFA). The CFA shall then recommend specific agency allocations for the coming fiscal year to the ASUN Senate in the form of appropriation bills. ASUN shall enact appropriation bills for “Fund A” no later than March 1 of each year. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs shall represent the ASUN appropriation bills to the Chancellor and provide advice regarding the final “Fund A” appropriations and fee assessments to be set by the Chancellor.
Custody and Accounting of Student Organizational Funds. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs shall designate a person to receive and act as custodian of all monies collected by or paid to ASUN and all student organizations recognized by the ASUN in accordance with these UNL Bylaws. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs in cooperation with the Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance shall issue appropriate rules and regulations to ensure the proper accountability of such funds and shall have the authority to audit or have audited these funds. All student organizations with accounts handled pursuant to this section shall be assessed a fee for the cost of administration. Student organizations operating under the aegis of the Student Publications Board are permitted to establish independent arrangements for the management of their financial affairs, as long as these arrangements are approved in advance by the Student Publications Board and an annual audit prepared by a Certified Public Accountant is submitted annually to the Student Publications Board and to the Vice Chancellors for Student Affairs and Business and Finance. The Vice Chancellors for Student Affairs and Business and Finance shall jointly have the authority to conduct, or have conducted, a special audit of such an organization if they believe that the organization's audit does not permit them to fulfill their financial oversight responsibilities.
Regulations Pertaining to Living Units. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, in consultation with appropriate living unit governing bodies, shall provide guidelines under which each living unit may establish rules and regulations pertinent to its operation subject to the Regents Bylaws. The Residence Hall Association shall advise the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Chancellor on all matters pertaining to the quality and costs of residence hall life. The Interfraternity Council and/or the Panhellenic Association shall advise the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Chancellor on all matters pertaining to the recognition of fraternities and sororities and the requirements under which they may be permitted to operate university-approved living units.
Nebraska Unions. The administrative head of the Nebraska Unions at UNL shall be advised by a Union Board composed of students, faculty, and staff on matters of operation and program activity.
Bylaws of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Approved by University of Nebraska Board of Regents June 1, 2017