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Dr. Robert Williams, Livingstone College

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TABLE OF CONTENTS  (TOC)
Attendance & ParticipationCompleting Missed Work
Final Grade CalculationTardiness
DisabilitiesAcademic Honesty

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   In this course the student can expect to find the following policies in effect.

  1. Class Attendance and Participation
    1. Attendance and class participation are mandatory. Failure to attend will adversely affect a student's participation, and thus will hurt his/her final grade. The College's official attendance policy states:
      Livingstone College recognizes that effective learning is facilitated by interaction between the faculty and students, and that the class room is the principle arena for such interaction. For these reasons students are obliged to attend and participate fully in classroom sessions. The class attendance policy followed by the college assigns to faculty members the specific attendance requirements for each class. Thus, specific course attendance policies will vary from course to course. The attendance policy for each course will be presented to the student in written form, as part of the course syllabus, issued at the beginning of the course. Unexcused absences are considered excessive when they exceed the number of times the class meets per week. Ordinarily, the total number of absences includes days missed due to late registration or late enrollment in the course. When a student has accumulated three (3) unexcused absences in a class which meets three (3) times per week, or two (2) unexcused absences in a class which meets two (2) times per week, he/she will receive a letter of warning which will indicate that any additional absences may result in a reduced grade according to the course syllabus. When the total number of absences (both excused and unexcused) exceeds one-fourth (25 percent) of the number of class meetings during the semester, the instructor will determine whether the student should be allowed to remain in the course or should be dropped with a grade of "F". The instructor's decision will be communicated in writing to the student, his/her advisor, the Counseling Center, the department chairperson for the course, the Registrar, and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College.
    2. The attendance policy varies depending on the number of times that the class ordinarily meets per week.
      1. For clases that are scheduled for twice a week, the attendance policies is as follows: If a student accumulates two (2) unexcused absences, then s/he will receive "0" (zero) points for the attendance/participation portion of the final grade.
            Irrespective of whether the absences are excused or unexcused, if a student is absent for 6 or more classes, then the student will have missed more than 25 percent of the course. Accordingly, the steps described above in the College's official attendance policy will be implemented, and the student will be dropped from the course with a grade of "F".
      2. For clases that are scheduled for three times per week, the attendance policies is as follows: If a student accumulates three (3) unexcused absences, then s/he will receive "0" (zero) points for the attendance/participation portion of the final grade.
            Irrespective of whether the absences are excused or unexcused, if a student is absent for 9 or more classes, then the student will have missed more than 25 percent of the course. Accordingly, the steps described above in the College's official attendance policy will be implemented, and the student will be dropped from the course with a grade of "F".
    3. Absences will be considered excused in documented cases of medical illness, death in the immediate family, court appearances, military leave, and in those instances when the student is officially representing the College off-campus. If a student knows that s/he will miss a class, please inform the professor as soon as possible.
    4. Absences will be considered unexcused when the student does not attend class, and does not offer a justifiable and documented excuse for his/her absence.
    5. Participation in class discussions, always civil and respectful, is also a significant part of this course. A student's final grade will reflect such class participation.
    6. If attendance declines or discussion lags, then the professor may decide to use various measures to correct the situation. Such measures may include, but are not limited to, pop quizzes or previously unannounced in-class projects. Any such quizzes or projects will be graded and factored into the student's final grade. A student will receive "0" (zero) points for any missed pop quiz or in-class project.

  2. Completing Missed Work
    1. Only for documented circumstances (like an excused absence) will anyone who misses an in-class examination be allowed to take it at a later time. The same policy holds for any student who fails to submit an assignment or take-home examination on the stated due date: the student can turn in a late assignment only for documented circumstances. Pop quizzes and unannounced in-class work can not be retaken, given that their purpose is to promote better attendance and participation.
    2. Make-up tests and work are to be scheduled for a mutually agreeable time, but one that occurs no later than 10 days after the original date (see exceptions below). If the student misses this new time, only valid, documented circumstances will permit that student to reschedule; otherwise a numerical grade of "0" (zero) will be given for the missed test or assignment.
    3. Final exams (both in-class and take-home) and any work due at the times stated in this syllabus are exceptions to the above policy. If the student knows that s/he will not be able to comply with the stated deadline, then the professor must be notified as soon as possible. An "Incomplete" for the course might be arranged if the situation warrants it. A student's final grade will be calculated using "0" (zero) points for any missed end-of-term assignment in those cases where s/he fails to notify the professor in a timely manner that a final exam or other work will not be completed on schedule.

  3. Calculation of a Student's Final Grade
    1. It is the student's personal responsibility to complete and submit all assignments at the scheduled time and in the prescribed manner as stated in this syllabus.
    2. Any assignments (including in-class quizzes and exams, in-class presentations, term papers, and take-home work) not completed and/or submitted in accordance with the Course Outline and this Statement of Course Policies will receive "0" (zero) points. The points earned on all completed and submitted assignments, as well as any zero points, will be used to calculate the student's final grade.
    3. The student's final grade will be submitted to Livingstone College's Office of the Registrar in compliance with College policies. Any missing assignments cannot be completed by the student after the term is finished, except in those cases stipulated within this Statement of Course Policies. Students who fail to comply with these Course Policies cannot expect to have their final grade changed at any later time.
    4. A student's final grade can be changed only in accordance with Livingstone College policy:
      1. A student can contest a final grade only during the next term after the course was taken.
      2. The "I" of an "Incomplete" must be removed by the officially established deadline.
      3. A final grade can be changed to correct errors or oversights on the part of the professor. Such errors can occur, for example, if the professor miscalculates a final grade, or has failed to include in the final grade those assignments that have already been completed and submitted in the prescribed manner.

  4. Tardiness
    1. Arriving to class on time is a sign of respect for one's fellow students and the instructor. Walking into class late, however, may be indicative of disrespect. It is certainly disruptive. Only valid and documented circumstances should prevent students from arriving on time to class.
    2. If tardiness becomes a problem, the professor will take appropriate action. Specifically, the tardy student will receive an unexcused absence.

  5. Students With Disabilities
    Students having any special needs (such as a handicap, disability, or any other factors that may affect their performance in this class, or that may require special instructional strategies) are requested to make those special needs known to the instructor, or to their particular student advisor or the Dean of Students. Please do so during the first week of the course so that proper actions can be taken.

  6. Academic Honesty
    The highest standards of academic honesty are presumed to motivate us as members of a college community. Although out-of-class discussions with fellow students and others are encouraged, any individual assignments must result from an individual student's efforts not the words or efforts of others. Any cases of academic dishonesty (including cheating or plagiarism) will be dealt with severely.


Last updated: February 16, 1999


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