Academic Catalog 2019-2020 
    
    Apr 16, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Classroom Information


 
In no instance may a student record (via audio or video) an instructor in a classroom setting without prior express consent of the instructor as to the type of recording and how that recording may be used.

Class Attendance - Plainview Campus

The university expects students to make class attendance a priority. Faculty members provide students a copy of attendance requirements. These are provided on the first day of class.

The dean of the school must approve part-time and adjunct faculty class attendance requirements prior to syllabi distribution.

Class Attendance - External Campuses

Students enrolled at one of the university’s external campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the external campus executive director/dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings may receive a grade of F in the course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the university’s attendance policy. A student may petition the Academic Council for exceptions to the above stated policies by filing a written request for an appeal to the vice president of academic affairs.

Class Attendance - Online

Students are expected to participate in all required instructional activities in their courses. Online courses are no different in this regard; however, participation must be defined in a different manner. Student “attendance” in an online course is defined as active participation in the course as described in the course syllabus. Instructors in online courses are responsible for providing students with clear instructions for how they are required to participate in the course. Additionally, instructors are responsible for incorporating specific instructional activities within their course and will, at a minimum, have weekly mechanisms for documenting student participation. These mechanisms may include, but are not limited to, participating in a weekly discussion board, submitting/completing assignments in Blackboard, or communicating with the instructor. Students aware of necessary absences must inform the professor with as much advance notice as possible in order to make appropriate arrangements. Any student absent 25 percent or more of the online course, i.e., non-participatory during 3 or more weeks of an 11 week term, may receive an F for that course. Instructors may also file a Report of Unsatisfactory Progress for students with excessive non-participation. Any student who has not actively participated in an online class prior to the census date for any given term is considered a “no-show” and will be administratively withdrawn from the class without record. To be counted as actively participating, it is not sufficient to log in and view the course. The student must be submitting work as described in the course syllabus. Additional attendance and participation policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the university’s attendance policy.

Academic Honesty

University students are expected to conduct themselves according to the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which a student is subject to penalty includes all forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of examinations or examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism. (Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another as one’s own work.)

Disciplinary action for academic misconduct is the responsibility of the faculty member assigned to the course. The faculty member is charged with assessing the gravity of any case of academic dishonesty and with giving sanctions to any student involved. Penalties that may be applied to individual cases of academic dishonesty include one or more of the following:

  1. Written reprimand. 
  2. Requirement to redo work in question.
  3. Requirement to submit additional work.
  4. Lowering of grade on work in question.
  5. Assigning the grade of F to work in question.
  6. Assigning the grade of F for course.
  7. Recommendation for more severe punishment (see Student Handbook for further information, located on the Student Services page of the WBU website).

The faculty member involved will file a record of the offense and the punishment imposed with the school dean, external campus executive director/dean, and the vice president of academic affairs. The vice president of academic affairs will maintain records of all cases of academic dishonesty reported for not more than two years.

Any student who has been penalized for academic dishonesty has the right to appeal the judgment or the penalty assessed. The appeals procedure will be the same as that specified for student grade appeals. (See Student Handbook for further information [located on the Student Services page of the WBU website] or, for external students, the external campus executive director/dean).

Classroom Disruption

Students who disrupt a class will be directed to leave immediately and report to the external campus executive director/dean or dean of students, who will discuss with the student the cause of the disruption. The student will return to the class only with permission of the executive director/campus dean or dean of students and faculty member involved.