Student policies are living, breathing documents that must grow and adapt with the University. They are at the heart of an effective ethics and compliance program. More importantly, itās an opportunity to mitigate barriers that block student success.
Every year, campus partners from across the University review and update our policies to ensure they remain relevant, equitable, and effective in addressing the evolving needs of the student body and external changes such as updates to the law. Regular updates to policy help maintain transparency with our students and the university community. The specific individuals who oversee and are consulted on a policy change depends on the specific policy, but policy owners maintain regular contact with key partners including student and faculty governing bodies as changes are made. The Dean of Students oversees the review process, and notify the community of changes at the beginning of each academic year.
Below you will find a summary of the key policy changes made for the current year. To view previous Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities Handbooks, visit the Community Standards website.
2026-27 Policy Changes
- Updated . The policy was revised to establish clearer recognition requirements, define the benefits and privileges available to recognized student organizations, create a fixed recognition cycle, clarify criteria for denial or non-renewal of recognition, and strengthen procedures for organizational accountability and sanctions.
- Updated . This policy has been updated to provide clearer expectations around updating policies and specified lines of responsibility and authority.
- Updated the Military Accommodations Policy. The policy was moved from the catalog to the SRRR and revised to clarify expectations for students with required military service obligations. Updates clarify when absences must be excused, when students should consult with Military and Veteran Services about a leave, the availability of tuition and fee refunds for required military service leaves, and the opportunity to return within five years.
- Updated . Library policy language was reorganized following the merger of the Manchester and Durham/Dimond library systems. The revised policy directs students to the appropriate UNH Library and Law Library policies and clarifies expectations related to library materials, community standards, and unpaid library fines.
- Updated . The policy was revised to add self-plagiarism as a standalone form of prohibited conduct, clarify language related to outsourced or third-party work, update terminology from āAcademic Honesty Violationā to āAcademic Misconduct,ā and make several procedural and wording clarifications related to instructor meetings, reporting, appeals, and recordkeeping.
- Updated . The policy was reorganized to remove the separate section on administrative separation for off-campus criminal charges and focus the policy on administrative separation and reinstatement for health-related behaviors. Revisions also clarify the policy statement, interim actions and restrictions, preliminary review, notification, determination, appeal, return after separation, and records sections.
- Updated . The policy was revised to clarify that disclosure requirements may apply to prospective students and students seeking reinstatement after a temporary separation, including leave of absence or suspension. Revisions also clarify disclosure timeframes, Law School exclusion, application and reinstatement review procedures, and the role of the Admission and Reentry Review Committee.
- Updated . The policy was revised to add a clearer policy statement and better define when the general student grievance process applies. Updates clarify that the process is intended for concerns that do not fall within another established process and is not intended to override decisions made through other university procedures.
- Updated . The policy was revised to clarify which students are subject to the four-semester residency requirement, identify automatic exceptions, clarify exemption categories and the exemption appeal process, update commutable-distance language, and explain how semesters are counted when students move out, take leave, study abroad or away, are academically suspended, or are removed from housing.
- Updated . The policy was reorganized for clarity, revised to include intercollegiate athletics, and updated to better explain how flexibility is considered and granted. The revisions also add required court appearances as circumstances that must be excused and remove prior language related to excessive absences.
- Removed, renamed, or reorganized selected policies. Structural changes included deleting standalone policies on Intercollegiate Athletics (moving its contents to in the catalog), FERPA (moving to the USNH Policy Manual), and Pre-Attendance Misconduct and Admission Revocation (moving its information to the Code of Conduct); renaming the Tobacco-, Smoke-, and Nicotine-Free Policy as Tobacco, Smoke, and Nicotine; and renaming the Fraternity and Sorority Social Policy as Fraternity and Sorority Social Events.
- Made minor technical edits to the Anti-Hazing and Prevention Education Policy. The edits removed outdated effective-date language, cleaned up wording, and updated section numbering and headings.
Past Revisions
- Updated major student policies for clarity, compliance, and consistency. Developing the Campus Access and Facilities Use Policy and updating Anti-Hazing and Prevention Education Policy, Academic Integrity Policy, Leave of Absence Policy, and undergraduate Attendance Policy.
- Strengthened policies related to free expression, hazing prevention, and academic integrity. Updates include viewpoint-neutral procedures for use of campus spaces, revisions to be compliant with , and clearer academic integrity procedures, including updated definitions, streamlined resolution and appeal processes, and use of the āNRā (not resolved) placeholder grade.
- Removed student-specific policies that are now addressed through broader University policies. Following updated Civil Rights & Equity Office policies on discrimination, sexual misconduct, and animals, related student-specific SRRR provisions were sunset to reduce duplication and align students with University-wide policy standards.
- Updated leave, attendance, and administrative separation processes. Changes include revised undergraduate leave rules, expanded attendance flexibility for students representing UNH in academic-related opportunities, and clearer administrative separation appeal procedures and interim action language.
