About
Student Rights and Responsibility (SRR) guides and supports students in addressing a broad spectrum of issues that may act as barriers to their success. Using a student-centered lens, the members of the SRR team will:
- Act with Honesty, Integrity and with Respect toward all individuals who seek assistance or services
- Promote and Support a community atmosphere that is conducive to academic success
- Uphold the University expectations via the Student Code of Conduct by conducting impartial interventions, investigations, and adjudications in an effort to assist students in reaching their academic and personal goals
- Respond promptly to all complaints and seek equitable resolutions
- Provide resources, education, and support that will proactively reduce risks to all members of the campus community
- Actively promote student rights
Programs and offerings
Education and Outreach
- Title IX and sexual misconduct
- Risk management
- Academic integrity
- Alcohol education
- Behavioral intervention
- Bystander training
- Implicit Bias Training
Policy Interpretation and Enforcement
- Formal and informal resolution of violations
- Assignment of sanctions
- Hearings and due process
Grievances and Problem Solving
- Grievance processing
- Contact with faculty for medical absences
- Facilitate processes
- Identification of resources
Superhero Project-Active bystander
- Active bystander training
- Interventions
- Support
- Graduate and intervention strategies
Staff Directory
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Edinburg Campus
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Melba Latu, J.D. Melba Latu, J.D., is the Director for Student Rights and Responsibilities at UTRGV. She oversees the work of the BIT, CARE Team, and other services to assist students in their pursuit of an education. Ms. Latu has spent her career in higher education administration. Her roles have included Dean of Students and Head of the International Student Services at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. Ms. Latu worked to build success and inclusion among historically marginalized and underrepresented students as an advisor in the BYU Multicultural Student Services in Provo, UT, where she also worked as a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. Ms. Latu oversaw the BYU Center for Conflict Resolution and worked extensively with students as a counselor in the BYU Honor Code Office. Ms. Latu clerked for the Honorable Samuel D. McVey in the Utah Fourth District Court. Ms. Latu received her juris doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English and a minor in violin from BYU. Ms. Latu comes from a rich Tongan heritage and culture. She speaks Spanish and is proud to be part of UTRGV, a Hispanic Serving Institution. Her greatest success comes in serving and supporting students in achieving their academic and life goals. |
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Catherine Vela Catherine is an alumnus of UT-Pan American and has been working at Student Rights & Responsibilities since 2013. As the judicial affairs officer, Catherine primarily oversees academic dishonesty violations but, like her colleagues, oversees other case types; she is also a facilitator of resources for student concerns and complaints as well as provides training and presentations to the campus community. She conducts the office analytics and assessments as she serves in the Assessment Committee and coordinates with the Clery coordinator to ensure all cases that come through Student Rights & Responsibilities are appropriately reported in the crime log and for the annual Campus Safety Report. In addition to serving on the Behavioral Intervention Team and CARE Team, she has participated in training from NaBITA and NACCOP professional organizations, receiving certifications from both entities along with certifications as a VAWA Adjudicator and suicide prevention with Youth Mental Health First Aid. She believes it is important that both the rights and responsibilities of the students are being followed and that going through the disciplinary process is a learning experience for the student. You may want to bring a jacket to her office because you will always find her with her fan on. |
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Dulce Aguilera |