4.2 Classroom Policies and Procedures
4.2.1 Admission of Students to Class
Only registered students may attend a class. The registrar maintains a list of registrants for each class. This list is available to faculty electronically via the internet. After the fifth day of classes, students may not add a course and, if they drop a course, it is recorded on their transcript with a grade of "W." Faculty members are asked to verify the official class list after the fifth day of classes.
4.2.2 Schedule and Classroom Changes
No staff member may change the schedule of classes after it has been printed by the Office of the Registrar. Requests for changes in the schedule of interim classes should be submitted to the Coordinator of the Interim.
Changes in student class schedules will not be permitted after the first week of any semester; but, with the approval of the instructor, students may withdraw from a class until the end of the ninth week of each semester.
The registrar prepares a room schedule for all classes before each semester. No instructor should change the location assigned to a class without first clearing it through the Registrar. The Registrar, in turn, will consult with the Office of Conferences and Campus Events, which maintains the master schedule and calendar for all space usage on campus.
4.2.3 Faculty Class Attendance
Members of the staff are expected to be punctual and regular in class attendance. If a faculty member is to be absent from class, he or she should inform the chair and make provisions to have the class taught by some other person or to have some specified and scheduled activity take place during the class time.
If a faculty member is unable to give a scheduled examination, he or she may obtain the services of a proctor.
4.2.4 Student Class Attendance
4.2.4.1 Regular Attendance
A student who is registered in a class, whether as an auditor or as one taking a course for credit, is expected to be present at all class sessions. Professors are expected to monitor class attendance.
Whenever a student officially discontinues school, the Registrar's Office notifies all of the professors with whom the student was enrolled for the semester. A student who is absent from a class for three or more successive class periods may be ill or have discontinued without notifying the professor or the office. It is expected in such cases that the professor will notify the Registrar's Office. If, according to the registrar's records, this student is still regularly enrolled, the Registrar's Office will notify the Student Life Office, which will then investigate the case and report to the professor or professors concerned.
Although not absent three or more successive class periods, a student may, nevertheless, be irregular in class attendance. A professor should take action appropriate to the number of absences and nature of the class. In dealing with the matter, a professor may, if advisable, call upon the Director of Academic Advising or Dean of Residence Life for advice or for assistance.
4.2.4.2 Illness or Family Crises
Illness or family crises, which prevent a student from attending class, will be reported to the student's teachers by the Dean of Residence Life (for resident students) or the Dean of Student Development (for commuter students). Arrangements to make up classwork and tests shall be made between the faculty member and the student upon his or her return to class. Should such emergencies occur just prior to examinations, faculty members have the option of waiving the final exam and giving a grade on the basis of work done throughout the semester.
With regard to less serious illness, the Health Services policy is as follows:
- Students are expected to make appointments outside of class time unless a serious illness or injury is involved.
- The nurses will supply an ill student with a Health Services visit verification form. This is not an excused absence. Information is given (with the student's permission) for the benefit of the professor, who has the power to grant excuses, makeup work, incompletes, etc. Health Services staff members will not verify an illness or injury for which they have not been seeing the student. Each time a health report is requested, the student will be reminded that this is not an excuse, but a health visit verification.
- If the illness is expected to result in hospitalization, more than three days of missed classes, or the need to go home temporarily, the appropriate dean in Student Life will be notified. With the student's permission, the dean will send a statement to the professors involved.
4.2.5 Test Schedule
A schedule for giving tests during the course of the fall and spring semesters will be distributed by the Academic Dean's Office prior to the start of the semester. The schedule has been developed to provide an orderly sequence of tests for the students. Faculty members are urged to follow this schedule.
4.2.6 Final Examinations and Examination Schedule
Final course examinations must be given and, except in unusual cases approved by the department chair and academic dean, must be given according to the schedule printed in the fall and spring schedule of classes. Final examinations may not be given in a regularly scheduled class meeting; i.e., a class meeting prior to the beginning of the examination period. "Take-home," written examinations may not be made due prior to the time of the regularly scheduled examination period. Oral examinations may not be given prior to the time of the regularly scheduled examination period without the permission of the student. (That permission, once given by the student through, say, a sign-up sheet, may not be altered by the student without the permission of the instructor).
4.2.7 Grading Policies
4.2.7.1 Grading System
The grading system is that adopted by the faculty and printed in the College Catalog each year. Faculty members are expected to observe the regulations on grading. Failure to do so results in unfairness to some students and vexation for the registrar.
4.2.7.2 Midsemester Grades for First-Year Students
By faculty decision, all first-year students are given midsemester grades in the fall semester of each academic year. Grades will be due in the Registrar's Office at a time indicated by the Registrar, normally around October 20.
4.2.7.3 Final Grades
Grades for the fall and spring semesters for all students must be turned in following instructions given by the Registrar within six working days after the day the last examination is scheduled, it being understood that a working day is defined as any day other than Sundays and holidays. Grades for the interim term must be turned in within six working days after the last day of the interim term.
The names of persons who turn in the grades of students after the established deadline are forwarded to the provost.
4.2.7.4 Grade Changes
Changes in grades given students must be made on the appropriate form available at the Registrar's Office. If a grade other than I or NR is being changed, the reason for the requested change must be made in writing.
4.2.8 Academic Dishonesty
Calvin College regards acts of academic dishonesty as wholly improper for a Calvin student. Plagiarism, taking or receiving the efforts of another person on any test or paper, giving or selling to another student papers, or assignments that are not authorized by the instructor, or using unauthorized resources on tests or examinations are strictly prohibited.
The Student Conduct Code states that since acts of academic dishonesty are so intimately related to the classroom, primary jurisdiction is exercised by instructors. The normal sanction is a failing grade on the piece of work involved, but failure in the course is a permissible sanction. The "Student Conduct Code and Disciplinary Procedures" outlines the procedure that must be followed if a faculty member wishes a sanction to be imposed for academic dishonesty. Among other provisions, it should be noted that the Code does not allow a professor to impose a sanction unilaterally if a student denies guilt. In cases where the student maintains his or her innocence of academic dishonesty, the faculty member is expected to follow the formal judicial procedure outlined in the Code. A copy of the Code may be found in the Student Handbook.
The Code also specifies that faculty members must inform the Vice President for Student Life about all cases of academic dishonesty that they adjudicate.
4.2.9 Classroom Prayer
All first-period classes, at least, are to be opened with prayer. This may include brief devotions.
4.2.10 Office Hours
Faculty members are expected to maintain regular office hours during the regular academic year. These hours should be clearly posted and announced to each class.
