Course Policies and Logistics

Participation and Engagement

During all classes, the instructor expects students to be fully engaged and prepared to discuss reading assignments. Students are encouraged to ask questions of the instructor, guest speakers, and their peers.

Active participation includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:

1. Asking and answering questions of the instructors, peers, or guest speakers;
2. Bringing forth new ideas, information, or perspectives to academic conversations;
3. Discussing your readings and reflections with instructors and peers;
4. Meeting with the instructors to discuss your interests, assignments, or project;
5. Questioning information presented and discussed;
6. Participating in small group presentations;
7. Assuming responsibility for personal behavior and learning; and
8. Staying up to date on required readings, completing quizzes and activities.

While working on group projects, students should be mindful of other students in their group; therefore, it is important for all participants to exercise:

• Respect for themselves and each other,
• Openness and a positive attitude toward new ideas and others’ ideas
• Flexibility and tolerance of ambiguity, and good communication

Attendance and Tardiness

Attendance for all academic sessions and activities is mandatory. The instructors expect all students to arrive on time and be prepared for the day’s activities, including having appropriate dress and academic materials. Students are responsible for obtaining any information or materials missed due to tardiness or an absence. Please see the participation and engagement section and the late assignments section for more information. Excessive tardiness or missing official activities will result in lowered participation points.

For more detail on the official MSU policy related to missing class, please see the information on-line at https://www.msu.edu/unit/ombud.  Please note that getting lost, alarm failure, or not owning a watch are not considered appropriate excuses for being late or missing a session. Also, illness that results from an individual’s poor decision-making (e.g., being hung-over) may or may not be excused depending on the circumstances.

The instructor will work with students on a case-by-case basis for excessive absences due to official MSU activities, religious reasons, illness, or other serious emergencies. In certain cases, instructors will require documentation of the event, illness, etc. Students missing orientation/overseas activity for a planned event (e.g., conference, religious holiday or observance, class trip, etc.) must submit a written request as soon as possible before missing the session.

Holidays, Observances, and Special Needs

Per the Ombudsperson’s web site (https://www.msu.edu/~ombud/classroom-policies/index.html), the Policy on Religious Observance asks that faculty and staff “be sensitive to the observance of [religious] holidays so that students who absent themselves from classes on these days are not seriously disadvantaged. . . .It is the responsibility of those students who wish to be absent to make arrangements in advance with their instructors.” Hence, if students have needs related to religious holidays, observances, or customs, they should let the instructors know as soon as possible.

For physical or cognitive disabilities and/or special needs, students should also follow the MSU Policy. Per the RCPD (https://www.rcpd.msu.edu/), students and employees requesting accommodations must provide appropriate documentation of their disability. Students will meet with a Disability Specialist for an individual needs assessment to determine reasonable accommodations.

Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting the program instructor as soon as possible.

Technology Use

Technology is a valuable tool when used appropriately. While in class, students should put their cell phones to silent or turn them off. Also, students should refrain from sending and/or reading text or email messages during formal class sessions unless needed for in class assignments.

Social Media Policy

As members of a learning community, students are expected to respect the intellectual property of course instructors. All course materials presented to students are the copyrighted property of the course instructor and are subject to the following conditions of use:

• Students may not record lectures or any other classroom activities and use the recordings only for their own course related purposes.
• Students may not post the recordings or other course materials online or distribute them to anyone not enrolled in the class without the advance written permission of the course instructor and, if applicable, any students whose voice or image is included in the recordings.
• Any student violating the conditions described above may face academic disciplinary sanctions.
• If necessary for learning, an individual student may audio record for personal use only and then destroy audio of a lecture but may not share with other students

Disclosure of Information

Students should remember that MSU has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination of any kind. Federal law requires that acts of harassment and discrimination be investigated. Students who are suspected of violating relevant MSU policies will have the situation referred to campus staff, who will investigate according to MSU policy. Students who feel that they have been discriminated against or harassed should speak with the instructor immediately, and as needed, they can report the situation themselves online (see below). Also, students should be advised that as agents of the University, the instructors must report any and all cases of sexual harassment, child pornography, and/or child abuse reported to them. Relevant policies can be found online at:

MSU RVSM Policies: https://www.hr.msu.edu/policies-procedures/university-wide/RVSM_policy.html

MSU Inclusion: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/

Academic Integrity Policy

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic misconduct are serious issues which are not permitted at Michigan State

University. Plagiarism happens any time you take an image, idea, or phrase from another source without citing it, and is defined further here:  https://ombud.msu.edu/academic-integrity/plagiarism-policy.html. Citations are needed for more than quotations; ideas taken from outside sources must be cited.  If you have questions about this for a particular course, you must talk to your instructor.  All written assignments may be checked for plagiarism using plagiarism detecting software.  Students who violate academic integrity of any kind, including misuse of iClickers for in-class participation, may receive a penalty grade, including but not limited to a failing grade on the assignment or in the course; at the discretion of the instructor. Note: All acts of academic dishonesty will be recorded in your electronic student record.

Unless authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete all course assignments, including homework, lab work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from external experts or peers. You are expected to develop original work for this course; therefore, you may not submit course work you completed for another course to satisfy the requirements for this course. Also, you are not authorized to use the www.allmsu.com or similar Website to complete any course work in this department.

If your instructor believes you have committed an act of academic misconduct, s/he will strictly follow  MSU’s Integrity of Scholarship and Grades [ISG]policy, described here: https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Print.aspx?Section=534

If you feel, after discussing the situation with your instructor, that you are being treated in a manner that is unfair or inconsistent with this syllabus, then you should contact the department chairperson (Dr. Nancy Turner ndturner@msu.edu) or the Ombudsman (https://ombud.msu.edu/).

Spartan Code of Honor Academic Pledge

“As a Spartan, I will strive to uphold values of the highest ethical standard. I will practice honesty in my work, foster honesty in my peers, and take pride in knowing that honor is worth more than grades. I will carry these values beyond my time as a student at Michigan State University, continuing the endeavor to build personal integrity in all that I do.”