STUDENT PROCEDURES AND EXPECTATIONS
Arts and Humanities Division
Students in all Arts and Humanities courses should be aware of the following:
1. Attendance:
Attendance at all scheduled class meetings is mandatory. This requirement is particularly meant to apply to courses that are designated for classroom delivery, although distance education courses may also have certain attendance requirements. This requirement is intended 1) to prevent instructors from having to adjudicate individual excuses, and 2) to recognize that excuses are ultimately irrelevant both here at BCC and in the workplace.
While specific attendance requirements are up to individual faculty members, the Arts and Humanities Division recognizes that attending class and participating actively are perhaps the most important way in which students can set themselves up for success. Conversely, not attending class almost certainly leads to failure.
Students in performance courses (Drama, Music, etc.) are reminded that attendance builds the professional relationship necessary between partners or in working groups.
In order for students to be eligible for a grade in a course, they must not miss more than ten classes, or 20% of the total class time scheduled, for any reason. When absences go beyond ten, instructors may a) give a grade of "F" for the course, or b) lower the final grade as much as they see fit. This does not imply that you may be absent fewer than ten times or 20% without seeing an effect on your grade; indeed, we wish to emphasize that any absence undermines your progress and will result in your having to work harder to catch up. Ten absences or 20% is merely the figure beyond which you cannot go without risking your eligibility for a course grade. In cases of legitimate hardship, students may also request that instructors grant a “HW” (hardship withdrawal), which is a non-credit grade.
In summary, when you are absent from a class more than ten times or 20% in any given quarter, you may receive a failing grade. Whatever written policy an instructor has in the syllabus will be upheld by the Arts and Humanities Division in any grievance process.
2.
If you decide
to drop a course, you are responsible for doing the required paperwork at the
3. Classroom Environment:
The college's "Affirmation of Inclusion” is posted in each classroom and sets forth the expectation that we will all treat one another with respect and dignity regardless of whether or not we agree philosophically. This expectation is in line with the principle of free speech in a free society: we have the right to express unpopular ideas as long as we don't show disrespect for reasonable people who might believe otherwise. In an on-line course, you will be expressing ideas through the medium of the course site rather than face to face in the classroom. In that case, these expectations refer to the courtesy with which you communicate with one another through e-mails and e-discussions.
Part of this respect involves professional behavior toward the instructor, colleagues, and the class itself. Disruptive behavior is disrespectful behavior. The Arts and Humanities Division honors the right of its faculty to define "disruptive behavior," which often involves such things as arriving late, leaving early, leaving class and then returning, talking while others are trying to hear the instructor or their group members, doing other homework in class, wearing earphones in class, bringing activated beepers, alarm watches, or cellular phones into class, inappropriate comments or gestures, etc. In on-line courses, “flaming’ anyone in the class is also considered disruptive behavior. Such behavior interrupts the educational process. When you are in doubt about any behavior, consult your instructor during office hours: we recognize the judgment of the instructor as the final authority in these matters.
When disruptive behavior occurs, instructors will speak to or e-mail the students concerned. Those students are then responsible for ending the disruptions at once. Failure to do so may result in removal of the students from class.
4.
Values Conflicts:
Essential to a liberal arts
education is an open-minded tolerance for ideas and modes of expression which
might conflict with one’s personal values.
By being exposed to such ideas or expressions, students are not expected
to endorse or adopt them but rather to understand that they are part of the
free flow of information upon which higher education depends.
To this end, you may find
that class requirements may include engaging certain materials, such as books,
films, and art work, which may, in whole or in part, offend you. These materials are equivalent to required
texts and are essential to the course content.
If you decline to engage the required material by not reading, viewing,
or performing material you consider offensive, you will still be required to
meet class requirements in order to earn credit. This may require responding to the content of
the material, and you may not be able to fully participate in required class
discussions, exams, or assignments.
Consult the syllabus and discuss such issues with the instructor.
5. Academic Honesty:
The principle of academic honesty underlies all that we do
and applies to all courses at
Participating in academic dishonesty in any way, including writing a paper or taking a test for someone else, may result in severe penalties. Dishonestly produced papers automatically receive a grade of "F" without the possibility of make-up. The Dean of Student Services will also be notified of such conduct, and repetition of the behavior will result in progressively more serious disciplinary action (for example, an instructor may recommend that the student fail the course for a second offense or even that a student be expelled for a serious offense, such as stealing an exam).
Grades lowered for plagiarism or other forms of dishonesty may be appealed through the regular channels, and any further disciplinary action taken by the Dean may also be appealed through existing processes.
Students in English 201 should note that documentation is a major objective of that course, so failure to scrupulously document supporting material in your papers may result in a failing grade for that entire course. Students in all courses requiring research papers should also note that matters of documentation form go beyond editing; they are closely related to the content of the paper. Improper form in research papers is grounds for failing the paper. Individual instructors will clarify documentation requirements for specific assignments. If you have any doubts as to whether you are documenting properly, do not hesitate to consult your instructor.
6. Reading Level:
most 100 level courses: high developmental , or college level
200 level courses: 106 or college level
Our experience shows that students reading three levels below the level of a course text can expect to fail the course.
7. Writing Level :
Writing skills are equally essential for your sucess in any college program. The following writing levels are recommended for our courses.
most 100 level courses: ENGL 101 placement
200 level courses: ENGL 101 completion
Our experience shows that students writing below the level of a course text can expect to work much harder than prepared students and may even still perform poorly on exams and papers.
8. The First Week of Classes:
It is important to attend classes from the very beginning. If you cannot do so, you are responsible for notifying your instructor. Your instructor is in no way responsible for re-teaching material that you missed because of your failure to attend the first classes. Indeed, missing crucial introductory material may affect your performance during the remainder of the course.
9. Classroom Materials:
Students are responsible for consulting the course syllabus daily and bringing to class the appropriate texts and materials. Failure to do so does not constitute an exception from the daily work.
10. Late Work:
Individual instructors make their own rules on accepting or grading late work. The Arts and Humanities Division believes strongly that honoring deadlines is essential for student success. Consult your instructor regarding any late work. In general, late work may be a) downgraded as severely as the instructor chooses, b) given no credit, but still be required for passing the course, or c) not accepted at all. The extent to which late work affects grades is up to the instructor. Instructors may also elect not to give feedback to works in progress if required drafts or plans are not turned in on time.
Failure to attend class on the day a paper is due does not constitute an excuse for lateness. Similarly, missing an exam does not oblige the instructor to give a make-up. Your instructors will inform you about their individual penalties for late papers and missed exams.
All lateness or absence on due days or exam days should be arranged with the instructor well in advance.
11. Auditing:
Auditing a course does not excuse students from doing the work of the course. All auditors need to meet with the instructor during the first week to sign a contract specifying the level of participation that is expected.
12. Waiting Lists:
After the open enrollment period ends, instructors may admit students using blue “Special Permit to Enroll” cards, at their sole discretion.
13. Retaining Student Work:
Your instructor is free to destroy any student work not picked up during the first week of the quarter immediately after your course was offered. If you want work held longer for pick up, you must make arrangements in advance with your instructor.
14. Student Responsibility:
Instructors may, at their discretion, agree to accept student work that is submitted in various ways, including in person, to the division office, or via e-mail. It is the student’s responsibility to verify that all assignments are actually received by the instructor, whether they are submitted in person or electronically.
It is the student's responsibility, not the instructor's, to initiate communication about progress or concerns with the course. Instructors are under no obligation to inform students that work is overdue, to nag students to complete assignments, or to call students who fail to attend class. Similarly, students need to keep themselves informed about syllabus changes that may have been made in class. We suggest finding a partner the first week of classes and keeping each other up to date if one is absent.
15. Students With Special Needs:
Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to meet with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) , room B233-G (telephone 425.564.2498 or TTY 425.564.4110), to establish their eligibility for accommodation. The DRC office will provide each eligible student with an accommodation letter. Students who require accommodation in class must review the DRC accommodation letter with each instructor during the first week of the quarter.
Students with mobility challenges who may need assistance in case of an emergency situation or evacuation should register with Disability Support Services, or review those needs with the instructor as well.
revised October 17, 2008