Academic Policies

ACADEMIC FREEDOM

The College strongly supports the following statement of academic freedom.

1. The faculty in collaboration with the administration holds major responsibility for matters of curriculum.
   
2. The College acknowledges that faculty members shall have academic freedom consistent with the AAUP 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom, which follows:

   "Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good and not to further the interest of either the individual teacher or the institution as a whole.  The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition."

   "Academic freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.  Freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of truth.  Academic freedom in its teaching aspect is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching and of the student to freedom in learning.  It carries with it duties correlative with rights."

   "Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the institution."

   "Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject.  Limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims of the institution should be clearly stated in writing at the time of the appointment."

   "College and university teachers are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution.  When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations.  As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances.  Hence they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution."

3. The College acknowledges both faculty and student rights to the maintenance of a classroom environment conducive to learning.  The College acknowledges that the legitimate due process rights of students must be preserved along with the faculty right to have proper protection of the classroom environment from disruptive student conduct or activities that are deleterious to the learning process.  The Faculty Guide for Disruptive Student Behavior covers the requirements of this paragraph.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Procedure for Violation of Academic Integrity

Violations of academic integrity are resolved within the Division of Academic Affairs.  Examples of academic dishonesty are outlined in the Student Handbook in the Student Discipline and Due Process Code.  It is intended that resolution take place at the lowest possible level preserving both the integrity of the College and the dignity of the student.

1. When a violation of academic integrity is suspected, the faculty member should review the evidence to ensure that it is sufficient to warrant a charge of academic dishonesty.
2. The faculty member should talk privately with the student to make the student aware of the suspicion and to solicit the student's explanation.  If the student is unable to explain the behavior satisfactorily, the faculty member should collect evidence of the alleged violation, and prepare a written narrative of the incident.  The faculty member should keep the original copy of the assignment, or examination involved in the incident.
3. The faculty member should assess the evidence and the student's explanation.  If assigning a grade of "F" for the course, the faculty member must consult with the Department Chair and Dean prior to any disciplinary action.
4. The following disciplinary actions are available if a student is determined to be guilty of academic dishonesty:
   • Repeating the assignment or completing an alternative one.
   • Issuing a warning or providing counseling.
   • Assigning of a grade of "I" until the alleged violation is adjudicated.
   • Giving a failing grade for the assignment.
   • Assigning a grade of "F" for the course.
   • NOTE:  In order to monitor multiple violations, the faculty member will document and submit to the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs all situations deemed of a serious nature.  Multiple or extremely serious violations may result in dismissal from the College.
5. The following issues should be considered when deciding upon appropriate discipline: 
• nature of the alleged dishonesty
• prior warnings/violations
• impact on the student's grade/progress in the course
• permanent impact on the student's record
• student acknowledgment and recognition of the seriousness of the alleged behavior

6. The student may appeal the discipline assessed by the faculty member to the Department Chair and the decision of the Department Chair to the Dean.
   
7. Either party may appeal the Dean's decision, by submission in writing, by the last day of the following semester (i.e. Fall or Spring), to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, whose decision is final.

Revised  5/8/00
 

FACULTY GUIDE FOR DISRUPTIVE STUDENT BEHAVIOR

Introduction

Inappropriate student behavior in the classroom has the potential to disrupt the teaching and learning process.  In such a situation, the faculty member is the first person available to regain order and prevent further disruption. 

This guide is designed to assure that the rights and safety of the faculty, students, and institution are protected, and that any actions taken to address the situation comply with federal, state, and local law.  The institutional expectation is that no student will behave in a manner unacceptable in a learning environment, or that endangers or infringes on the rights and safety of the student or any others. 

Resolution should take place at the lowest level possible and as soon as possible following the incident.  Inclusion of the involved faculty and student, appropriate department chair or program coordinator, and [if necessary] academic and student services administrators will assist in ensuring that the interests and needs of all parties are considered.  A detailed explanation of student conduct issues may be found in the Student Handbook.

Procedures

1. Strategies are outlined in this guide based upon the level of disruption, from low to high. Based upon assessment of the situation, these strategies should help minimize disruption and maximize safety in the classroom.
   
2. If classroom misconduct warrants an immediate suspension for the remainder of the class period, the faculty member may do so to address the immediacy of a given situation.  If the student does not leave voluntarily, campus public safety personnel may intervene upon verbal request by the faculty member.  Within one workday, the faculty member shall provide written notice of the suspension to the respective division dean and to the Vice-President for Student Services.  The division dean shall inform the Vice-President for Academic Affairs of the incident and its progress.
   
3. If further action is warranted, the faculty member shall consult with the respective division dean who may elect to:
   
   1. Request that the faculty member and student meet with the department chair and/or program coordinator to seek resolution.
      
   2. Meet with the student, faculty member, department chair and/or program coordinator, and/or Vice-President for Student Services to explore and adopt non-disciplinary solutions, including guidelines for retaining the student in the course. If the Vice-President for Students Services is unavailable, the Director of Student Development may be contacted.
      
   3. Meet with the student, faculty member, department chair and/or program coordinator, and Vice-President for Student Services to make a written determination of the facts and take further disciplinary action.
      
   4. Take no further action.
      
4. If resolution cannot be reached through this process, the Student Discipline Due Process Code and the Grade Grievance Policy, outlined in the Student Handbook, may be initiated.

The following strategies are suggested to minimize disruption and maximize safety for all concerned: 

Mild Disruption

1. As politely and privately as possible, request that the student refrain from the disruptive behavior.  The goal is to eliminate inappropriate behavior without embarrassing or demeaning the student.
   
2. Should the inappropriate behavior continue, invite the student to speak with you for a moment outside of the classroom.
   
3. Privately and briefly convey to the student that the behavior is disruptive and unacceptable.  Share your desire to see the student succeed in class and your intention that the matter be resolved.  If follow-up discussion is needed, establish a time and place to meet, and either dismiss the student for the remainder of the class or allow them to return for the remainder of the class.

1. If the student is visibly upset during class and disturbing others, discreetly take them to the hallway or a private place.  Discuss whether the student feels a need to leave or return to class.  If the behavior did not disturb the class but was obvious, speak with the student after class noting your concern.
   
2. Recommend that the student consider talking with someone, either through the Student Services counseling staff or outside the College.
   
3. Forward your concerns about the student to the Student Services counseling office along with any relevant information while striving to maintain the appropriate balance between confidentiality and student safety.

1. Dismiss the class immediately.  Do not wait for the student to regain control.
   
2. If you are not in immediate danger and the student is communicating rationally, determine the nature of the difficulty and you may suggest a referral through Student Services counseling staff.  Notify the Student Services counseling office of a possible referral as soon as possible.
   
3. If the student remains out of control, request a student leaving the class to call campus public safety personnel and have them come to the classroom.  Attempt to calm the student if you believe that you can be of assistance.  If you sense a threat to your own personal safety, however, leave the classroom immediately.
   
4. If the student leaves the classroom before the arrival of campus public safety personnel, try to observe their destination [parking lot, another building, etc.].
   
5. Report the incident as soon as possible to the Vice-President for Student Services and the appropriate division dean.

1. If any disruptive incident occurs in the classroom, write down as soon as possible all the elements you can recall for future reference.  Notify the appropriate division dean.
   
2. If you anticipate potential student-to-student confrontations [such as in a course that may involve sharing and discussing strong personal beliefs], provide your expectations early in the course and on the syllabus [no arguing, use of respectful language, etc.]
   
3. Early intervention for inappropriate behavior usually sets the standard and helps prevent further problems.

STUDENT ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Assessment of the progress of students in completion of course objectives will be made by instructors. Academic progress will be measured both during the term and over continuous terms of enrollment.

To encourage satisfactory progress throughout continuous terms of enrollment, the College has adopted an academic progress policy which is published in the current College Catalog.

WAIVER & SUBSTITUTION FOR GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

The College seeks to provide all students with a quality education and equal educational opportunities. When a student's disability interferes with his or her potential to complete successfully one or more of the College general educational requirements, the College will make reasonable modifications to its academic requirements. Action will be taken, if necessary, to comply with legal requirements ensuring that such requirements do not discriminate or have the effect of discriminating on the basis of a student's known and adequately documented disability, unless the requested modification would require alteration of essential elements of the program or directly related licensing requirements, or would result in undue financial or administrative burdens.

The Dean, in cooperation with the Coordinating Counselor for students with disabilities, and the Department through which the requirement is fulfilled, will determine the appropriate modification or substitution.