BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS POLICY:
Behavioral standards and classroom decorum are necessary to ensure a safe, peaceful, and non-disruptive teaching and learning environment. Standards for acceptable behavior will be enforced. Disruptive, distracting, or offensive behavior of any kind, by whatever means of expression or activity, that is reasonably deemed by the professor to be counter-productive to the acceptable academic behavioral standards and policies of the college and/or the classroom will not be tolerated.
Violations may be dealt with by discipline ranging from warning, removal from class for the day, being dropped from the course and/or failing the course, up to and including disciplinary action by the college, such as suspension and expulsion. (Refer to Authority of Professors.)
Examples of “disruptive” class behavior include, but are not limited to the following:
Laying head down, snoozing, sleeping, or inattentiveness in class.
Constant gazing out the window, watching the clock, or “doodling”.
Using headphones, cell phones, cameras, gaming devices, or electronics.
Chatting, reading, daydreaming, rolling of eyes as if bored, or horseplay.
Chewing, eating, or drinking. (Bottled water is ok).
Constant interrupting of others who are already speaking.
Rude, disrespectful, discourteous, offensive, or harassing comments or actions.
Doing work for another class.
Text messaging or net surfing on any electronic device, (i.e. laptop, cell phone.)
Any other disruptive, inappropriate, or similar related conduct. In addition . . .
I prefer no unnecessary sunglasses or hats that can interfere with eye contact.
I prefer no attire or displaying of items having words, pictures, or markings as might reasonably be interpreted to be disturbing, harassing, or offensive, (i.e. relating to violence, gangs, weapons, drugs, sexual content/innuendo, etc.)
Policy on electronics: Students may use electronic devices for note-taking purposes only. There will be no “net surfing”, “messaging”, or e-mailing in class. Violations will result in termination of the use of such devices for the student. Students who use electronic note-taking devices may be asked to show the professor his/her notes that were taken that day. Electronics may not be used during tests. Students using laptops may not sit in the rear half of the classroom. Tape recording or photography of a class lecture or activity must be pre-approved.
ATTENDANCE/TARDY POLICY
Regular attendance in class is an obligation assumed by every student at the time of registration. To receive credit for completing a 3-unit course, students must complete a minimum number of classroom instructional hours for the course. Absences (non-attendance) and tardies (late to class or leaving class early) for whatever reason are tracked and graded. Refer to both the Course Hours Table and the Attendance and Tardy Grading Scale in your syllabus.
Responsible attendance sets a good example, displays interest, and affords the student an opportunity to acquire the content of the specific session and, over the length of the course, the continuity of the professor’s plan for the presentation of the course subject matter. Sports participation is not a valid excuse for absences. Tardiness and leaving class early is disruptive, discourteous, and makes a bad impression. While it is the student’s responsibility to withdraw when absences or tardies have been excessive, it remains within the professor’s prerogative to drop from the course any student for excessive non-attendance and/or tardies. Two tardies are counted as one absence. Students expecting to be absent, tardy, or need to leave class early are to give the professor prior notice. Do not simply get up and leave class, or disappear from regular attendance without prior notification. Any student who signs in as attending class and then leaves, or signs another student in as attending who is not there, will be dropped from the course and/or given an “F.”
Decisions to excuse an absence or tardy will be at the professor’s discretion. Students who will be absent for more than one week, or who will be dropping from the course, shall notify the professor before beginning the absence.
Students must be seated and ready to begin by no later than the scheduled starting time. We will go by the clock in the classroom. Sign in legibly (for yourself only) on the attendance pad at the front of the class. After your name, write down the last four digits of your college “G” number as verification. If you fail to sign in, you are “absent.” If you fail to sign in on time, you are “tardy.” If you sign in and then leave, you are “history.” Remain seated in class until you are excused by the professor at the end of class. In the rare case that I am delayed for class, wait 15 minutes. If I, or a substitute, have not arrived, you may leave.
AUTHORITY OF PROFESSOR:
Students are expected to be prepared for the courses in which they enroll and to be able to demonstrate to the professor their levels of preparation, if requested to do so. Students are also expected to perform the work of the course in a timely and systematic manner. The professor of the course has the authority to determine the level of preparation and/or performance of any student enrolled in that course.
The professor may exclude from the course any student whose conduct is disruptive, and has the authority to remove the student from the class from the time of the rule violation.
EXTRA CREDIT POLICY:
Extra Credit submissions are available to students who are currently doing “C” work or better, overall. Extra credit is by prior approval and arrangement only.
Submissions must be the student’s own original work effort, done specifically for the particular course to which it is to be applied, and must be relevant and of current value to the course. Examples of extra credit work include:
Arranging guest speaker presentations or field trip tours.
Oral presentations on criminal justice topics to the class.
Video tape or DVD segment (with all breaks edited out).
Other pre-approved and relevant extra credit possibilities.
Other Classroom/Course Policies
Please refer to the Skyline College student Handbook for other classroom/course policies not listed on this page or the syllabus.