Policies and Procedures
COVER SHEET
| Policy Title: | 601 - Classroom Management |
| Type of Policy: | Modification of an existing policy . |
| Draft Number and Date: | |||
| President's Council Sponsor: | Ian Wilson | Ext. | 8239 |
| Policy Steward: | Kathren Brown | Ext. |
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| Title | Classroom Management | Number | 601 |
| Section | Academics | Approval Date | |
| Subsection | Instruction and Curriculum | Effective Date |
1.1 The faculty and students at Utah Valley University have the right to expect a well-managed classroom environment that is consistent with the mission of the University and the principles of academic freedom. Faculty have the responsibility for determining course content that will provide intellectual growth and training for students to succeed in their chosen field. Faculty should be sensitive to the needs of a diverse population and to the sincerely-held religious or ethical beliefs and obligations of those individuals. This policy sets forth consistent standards and procedures for syllabi, behavior, attendance, emergencies, accommodations for students with disabilities, and course requirement modification requests.
2.1 UVU Policy 152 Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities
2.2 UVU Policy 153 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Grievance Process
2.3 UVU Policy 154 Work Place Violence
2.4 UVU Policy 503 Add/Drop/Withdrawals
2.5 UVU Policy 523 Grading
2.6 UVU Policy 541 Student Rights and Responsibilities Code
2.7 UVU Policy 602 Student Athlete Travel and Attendance
2.8 UVU Policy 635Faculty Rights and Professional Responsibilities
2.9 UVU Policy 648 Faculty Personnel Reduction (Interim Policy)
2.10 Utah Regents Policy R481 Academic Freedom, Professional Responsibility, and Tenure
2.11 Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1973, Section 504
2.12 ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Amendments Act of 2008
3.1 Accommodations: Modifications made in accordance with the most current federal legislation.
3.2 Approved absences: Permission for students to be absent from a regularly scheduled class session in order to participate in officially sanctioned University activities, official athletic activities, religious observances, military responsibility, or other obligations or extenuating circumstances. (For procedures for official athletic activities, see UVU Policy 602 Student-Athlete Travel and Attendance.)
3.3 Course requirement modification: Modifications made to assigned reading, writing, viewing, or performing requirements.
3.4 Discriminatory behavior: Harassment, profiling, and/or expression of words or actions that disparage an individual or group on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.
3.5 Disruptive behavior: Physical actions, verbal utterances, or activities that interfere with the faculty member’s ability to conduct class and/or students’ ability to learn. Such behavior can range from interfering with the instructional process with no safety threat to implying the threat of harm or resulting in actual harm to others.
3.6 Exclusionary behavior: Any type of behavior in the classroom that compromises a person’s right to participate in activities, complete coursework, understand course content, and/or access necessary educational materials.
3.7 Extenuating circumstances: Significant emergencies or circumstances deemed applicable by the faculty/department chair including such things as a change in work schedule, a death in the immediate family, or a student’s substantial illness or injury that prevents a student from completing the course.
3.8 Scheduling modifications: Permission for students to be absent from class meetings or to arrange to fulfill assignments on days other than their scheduled dates.
3.9 Syllabus: An agreement between the faculty and students that communicates course objectives, policies, procedures, expectations, and timelines to students.
4.1 Syllabi
4.1.1 Faculty members shall provide students with a syllabus in each course. The syllabus will include expected learning outcomes, policies, procedures, and timelines to students.
4.1.2 The syllabus shall include:
4.1.2.1 Course information including, but not limited to, course title, prefix, number, and the amount of course credit hours.
4.1.2.2 Faculty information including, but not limited to, name, contact information, and office hours.
4.1.2.3 The approved Accessibility Services syllabus statement in their course syllabi (the current statement is available from Accessibility Services).
4.1.2.4 Final exam dates and times.
4.2 Conducting of Class
4.2.1 Faculty members are expected to hold classes during regularly scheduled class times. When a faculty member is unable to attend class, he or she shall make prior arrangements for coverage by department colleagues or alternate learning experiences. When an emergency prevents an instructor from conducting class, the instructor shall notify the department chair as quickly as possible.
4.3 Finals
4.3.1 The University requires all courses to have final examinations during exam week.
4.3.2 If a final exam is not appropriate due to the nature of the course, the exception must be approved before the start of the semester or term by the department chair and be documented with the department.
4.4 Attendance
4.4.1 Student attendance requirements for a particular course are determined by the individual faculty members in accordance with department expectations.
4.4.2 Students absent from class may be permitted to make up both assignments and examinations when the absence is an approved absence or the absence is the result of an emergency or extenuating circumstance.
4.5 Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
4.5.1. In accordance with current federal legislation, faculty shall provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations as recommended by the Accessibility Services Department for individuals with disabilities.
4.6 Course Requirement Modifications
4.6.1 Faculty have the authority to establish course content that fulfills, and is based upon, department/program objectives and criteria. Course requirement modification requests shall not compromise legitimate course objectives or educational goals.
4.6.2 Students must be able to articulate and understand ideas and theories important to the course, regardless of whether or not they agree with these ideas or theories. Personal disagreement with an idea or theory that is part of the course content is not grounds for requesting or approving a course requirement modification. When a student determines that course requirements conflict with his or her sincerely-held ethical or religious beliefs or obligations, the student is expected to exercise his or her right to make a reasonable attempt to resolve the matter with the faculty member.
4.6.3 The University recognizes that students’ sincerely-held religious or ethical beliefs or obligations may make it difficult for them to fulfill some requirements of some courses or majors. The University assumes no obligation to ensure that all students are able to complete a major.
4.7 Classroom Behavior
4.7.1 Faculty members are responsible for creating and maintaining an environment that is conducive to teaching and learning. Faculty members and students will not engage in exclusionary and/or discriminatory behavior towards an individual or group.
4.7.2 Disruptive classroom behavior that interferes with the faculty member’s ability to teach and/or the students’ ability to learn will not be tolerated. Depending on the severity of the behavior, an individual engaging in such behavior may be asked to leave the classroom and/or may be subject to disciplinary actionand criminal charges.
4.8 Emergency Situations in the Classroom
4.8.1 In an emergency situation, faculty shall exercise good judgment in protecting students and following emergency procedures established by the department and/or university.
5.1 Attendance
5.1.1 Because proof of attendance may be required by agencies funding a student’s enrollment, faculty members shall track student attendance. Submission of a UW (Unofficial Withdrawal) grade requires the faculty member to indicate the exact or approximate last day of attendance or indication of non-attendance.
5.2 Approved Absences
5.2.1 The student is responsible for requesting prior approval for absences in order to participate in officially sanctioned University activities, official athletic activities, religious observances, military responsibility, or other obligations.
5.2.2 Prior to an absence due to officially sanctioned University activities, the student shall provide the faculty member with a written statement from the University department or program requiring the student to miss class. This written statement shall describe the activity and state as precisely as possible the date(s) of the required absence.
5.2.3 The following types of absences require specific documentation:
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Absence Type |
Documentation Required |
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Student-athlete events |
Student-athletes and faculty of student-athletes must comply with NCAA regulations and adhere to UVU Policy 602 Student-Athlete Travel and Attendance. |
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Emergency or extenuating circumstance |
The student must contact the faculty member as soon as possible. |
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Involvement in a military exercise, training, temporary duty (less than half of the semester in length), or other military obligations (not exceeding half of the semester) |
The student must contact the faculty member to request an alternative arrangement to meet course requirements. If involvement is more than half of the semester in length, the student may request an incomplete or withdrawal from the course; such cases are handled on an individual basis in accordance with UVU Policy503 Add/Drop/Withdrawals. |
5.2.4 Faculty members may approve student requests to make alternative arrangements to fill course requirements when students’ university activities or obligations interfere with their ability to fulfill course requirements on the scheduled dates. Faculty members have the discretion to determine if the student’s circumstances are extenuating.
5.2.5 The faculty member and student will make arrangements for meeting course requirements, including a deadline for completion of make-up work.
5.3 Conducting of Class
5.3.1 Faculty shall not cancel class unless approved by the department chair or dean (in the absence of the department chair). When an emergency prevents an instructor from conducting class, the department chair shall be notified as early as possible so the chair may find a replacement instructor. If an emergency or illness results in an instructor’s extended absence, the department chair shall find a replacement.
5.4 Exam Schedule
5.4.1 Final exam schedules for each semester are published on UVU’s website and with the class schedule. Exam dates and times shall be included on course syllabi.
5.4.2 A student with more than three final exams scheduled on the same day may request the faculty member provide an alternate exam time for the fourth exam.
5.5 Procedure for a Course Requirement Modification
5.5.1 As soon as a student is aware of a conflict with a course requirement, he or she shall first attempt to resolve the matter informally with the faculty member.
5.5.2 If the student and the faculty member are unable to resolve the matter, the student may consider dropping the course, or if that is not practical, may request in writing, a course requirement modification from the faculty member. This request must be dated. The student has the burden and responsibility to clearly articulate how the course requirements conflict with his or her sincerely-held religious or ethical beliefs or obligations.
5.5.3 A faculty member receiving a request to modify course requirements shall seriously and respectfully consider the request. Faculty members should consider the following:
5.5.3.1 The difficulty of administering a course requirement modification;
5.5.3.2 The sincerity but not the validity of the student’s religious or ethical beliefs or obligations;
5.5.3.3 The importance of the particular requirement to the course.
5.5.4 The faculty member must respond in writing to the course requirement modification request within five working days of receiving it, indicating whether the request was denied or approved. If the faculty member denies the request, he or she should include in writing the reasons for the denial according to the considerations laid out in section 5.5.3.
5.5.5 Requests will be individually evaluated in relation to the above considerations; the granting of one such request will not guarantee that all requests will be granted. Because the criteria and requirements discussed above will apply differently to each instructor and to each course, modifications granted by an instructor in one course will not affect decisions by the same instructor in other courses or by other instructors in the same or other courses.
5.5.6 If a faculty member denies a course content modification request, he or she must inform the student in writing that the student may appeal that denial in writing within five working days to the chair of the department. In consultation with the faculty, the department chair or his or her designee shall act within five working days of the written appeal.
5.5.7 If the department chair or his or her designee denies the request, he or she must inform the student in writing that the student may appeal the denial in writing to the dean of the school or college with five working days of the chair’s denial. The dean or his or her designee, in consultation with the faculty member and the department chair, shall act within five working days of receiving the appeal. The dean’s determination shall be final.
5.5.8 If the department chair or his or her designee approves the request, he or she, in consultation with the faculty member, will determine what the alternative course requirement will be.
5.5.9 If the dean or his or her designee approves the request, he or she, in consultation with the faculty member and department chair, will determine what the alternative course requirement will be.
5.5.10 If the faculty member approves the request, then alternative course requirements may be required of the student making the request. Such alternative course requirements should not be unreasonable, burdensome, egregious, capricious, irrelevant, or illegal. If the objectionable course assignment/requirement occurs within the first fifteen working days of the course, the student has the right to make up the assignment/requirement without a late penalty.
5.6 Discriminatory or Exclusionary Behavior
5.6.1 If a faculty member observes an individual student or group of students discriminating and/or excluding another individual student or group of students in a learning environment or experiences discriminatory behavior from an individual student or group of students, the faculty member shall attempt to resolve the situation informally.
5.6.2 If the behavior continues during the same classroom period, the faculty member has the discretion to ask the offending student(s) to leave the classroom; in such cases, the faculty member shall report the incident in accordance with UVU Policy 541 Student Rights and Responsibilities Code.
5.6.3 If behavior continues over the course of several class periods, the faculty member shall ask the student or group of students engaged in the behavior to withdraw from the course and the faculty member shall report the incident and follow the procedures described in UVU Policy 541 Student Rights and Responsibilities Code.
5.6.4 If a faculty member engages in behavior that is discriminatory or exclusionary towards a student, the student is encouraged to resolve the matter informally with the faculty member. If the behavior continues, the student is encouraged to file a grievance with the department chair. If the department chair or dean finds the grievance legitimate, then the department chair or dean shall take appropriate disciplinary action (as outlined in UVU Policy 648 Faculty Personnel Reduction (Interim Policy) against the faculty member.
5.7 Disruptive Behavior
5.7.1 If an individual or group of individuals engages in disruptive behavior that does not threaten classroom safety, the faculty member shall try to resolve the issue informally.
5.7.2 A faculty member has the right to demand and secure the immediate removal of any person from the classroom whenever the faculty member determines that the person's actions have compromised the faculty member’s right and ability to teach or students’ right or ability to learn. If the faculty member cannot resolve a disruptive situation, the faculty member shall request that the disruptive person(s) leave the classroom. If the disruptive person(s) will not leave voluntarily, the faculty member is advised to call University Police for assistance in removing the disruptive person(s) from the classroom. The incident shall be reported to the Dean of Students and to the Director of Judicial Affairs in accordance with Policy 541 Student Rights and Responsibilities Code.
5.7.3 If the faculty member determines that there is a threat of imminent danger, the faculty member has the right to declare the class session terminated and leave the classroom. The faculty member shall report in writing to the department chair any classroom disruption that leads to a class session being terminated.