Appropriate Academic Behavior
In order to create the most effective classroom environment possible to support learning, instructors and administration expect the following behaviors from students:
- Academic Participation. Students should express their views in classroom discussions in an appropriate manner. Students should also listen respectfully to others expressing their opinions and ideas. The exchange of ideas in a non-combative, non-abusive, and orderly manner is essential for learning and fundamental to academic freedom.
- Academic Environment. Students should not disrupt the learning environment through any inappropriate behavior. It is the responsibility of the instructor to ensure that the appropriate learning environment exists in the class and to remove any student who disrupts the climate and interferes with other students’ right to learn.
- Academic Courtesy. Students should be in class for the complete class session. Entering a classroom late or leaving early is disruptive to the instructor and other students. In rare instances when circumstances make students late for class, they should enter quietly, be seated as close to the door as possible, and draw as little attention as possible. Students should never leave early without the instructor’s permission. Students should see the instructor after class to explain their tardiness; the instructor may have already taken attendance.
- Academic Responsibility. Students bear the responsibility for learning what was covered in a missed class. They should inform an instructor before being absent from a class, if possible. Students have the responsibility to find out in advance, if possible, the assignments and activities for the missed class. Students are responsible for arranging any make up work and completing assignments due at the next class period. Students should not expect to be able to make up all work missed, especially unannounced quizzes or tests. Students are responsible for knowing what was covered in the missed class and getting notes from other classmates. It is not the responsibility of the instructor to reteach what was missed. An individual instructor’s policies may be more lenient than the above, but it is still a student responsibility to learn what was missed. Students should understand that instructors are in the classroom to aid them in learning, but that instructor also have the responsibility of certifying that students have met the required outcomes of the course. Ultimately, students are responsible for their own learning.
- Academic Focus. Students must focus on class activities while in class. They must not work on non-related activities or sleep. If internet use is a part of the class, students should use it only for class prescribed activities.
- Academic Exchange. Students need to be prepared for a class to learn effectively. There cannot be an effective exchange between an instructor and students without this preparation. Being prepared means reading any assigned work for the class and noting questions or reactions to the reading, preparing any requested written work, or preparing questions to ask in the class. Students always have homework in a class even if nothing is specifically assigned. At the least, students should review previous class notes to check their understanding and be prepared to ask clarifying questions during the next class session.
General Expectations
Either inside the classroom or in any activities on campus or in other facilities where the college carries out classes or activities, students should observe the following:
- Students should have food or drink only in appropriate locations. Food and drink are not permitted in classrooms, labs, or the auditorium.
- Students should treat each other and all college personnel with respect in all interactions.
- On-campus transitional studies students must abide by the rules stated in their signed agreement form entitled, “SCC Transitional Studies Program On-Campus Rules,” in addition to the expectations stated in this section and the section above.
- Students must abide by all policies and procedures governing their behavior in the Policies and Procedures and College Catalog and Student Handbook.