Policies

General Policy

Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.

University Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Course Attendance Policy

Attendance is expected for all class periods.  Attendance is required for quiz and examination periods.  Any absence must be accompanied by a written excuse from a doctor or other competent authority. Students who miss 20 percent of class meetings--excluding absences due to documented medical emergencies or official university functions--will be administratively dropped from the class. (For classes meeting three days a week, 20 percent is the equivalent of nine classes; for two-day-a-week classes, it is six classes; for once-a-week classes, it is three classes.) Dropped students will earn a W or a WF in the course.

Missed Work

Without excuse, a grade of zero points will be assigned for the missed work.  If a valid excuse is provided, the following policies apply.

  • Make-up quizzes will be given only if they are taken before the quiz is discussed in class. If the make-up quiz cannot be taken before this time, the missed quiz will not count in calculating the overall quiz grade. This means that other quizzes will be responsible for a greater weight in determining the course final grade.
  • Make-up examinations will be given only if they are taken before graded examinations are returned to students.  In the event that a make-up examination cannot be taken before exams are returned to other students, a substitute examination or other assignment will replace it in determining the course final grade.
  • The final examination must be taken.

Participation

You should come to every class prepared to engage actively in discussions of the readings and other course materials. If you are naturally shy, you will need to make a special effort. Average (i.e. "C" level) performance in this area equates to the following:

  • Absences from class make up no more than 5 percent of scheduled classes. Two instances of late arrival or early departure will be considered equivalent to one absence.
  • Thorough preparation. (See the Quizzes page for more information.)
  • Frequent, engaged, and thoughtful responses to the course material.

When answering questions and offering your opinions during class discussions, your comments should direct us toward the central importance of the topic, as it relates to the subject and goals of this class. Your comments should draw out your classmates, encouraging them to develop the most important ideas and implications of the text. Energetic participation from you will make the class more enjoyable for everyone, so please read, write, and contribute thoughtfully and actively.

Midterm Progress Report

The midterm grade in this course, which will be issued on October 1, reflects approximately 30% of the entire course grade. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W." Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, or withdraw online using the Swan by midterm, which occurs on October 8.

The last day to withdraw without academic accountability is Friday, October 8, 2010.

Computer Requirement

Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.

Computer Skill Prerequisites

  • Able to use the WindowsTM operating system
  • Able to use Microsoft WordTM word processing
  • Able to send and receive e-mail using OutlookTM or Outlook ExpressTM
  • Able to attach and retrieve attached files via email
  • Able to use a Web browser.

In-class Use of Student Notebook Computers

All CSU students are required to be in regular communication with their instructors via their CSU email account. (See http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm) Dates that you will be required to bring your laptop to class will be listed on the Schedule page of the online syllabus.

Disruption of the Learning Environment

Behavior which disrupts the teaching-learning process during class activities will not be tolerated.  While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior.  A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.  A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal.  If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.

A more detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and appeal procedures is available.

Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty

Unless otherwise indicated by the instructor, all work must be individual. Collusion (working with another student or tutor without authorization) or plagiarism (use of another's ideas, data, statements, or other work without acknowledgment and/or extensive use of another's ideas, data, statements, or other work with only minimal acknowledgment) will not be tolerated.

Students who violate these policies may be formally charged with academic misconduct. The minimum penalty in such cases will be an F in the course. As university regulations stipulate, students guilty of academic misconduct may also be suspended or expelled. Judicial procedures are described in detail elsewhere.

Complaints

Complaints about separate assignments should be discussed with the instructor. Complaints about the final grade should be discussed with the instructor in at least one conference soon after the next term begins. If the conference on the final grade does not resolve the problem, the complaint should then be taken to the department chair of Visual and Performing Arts.