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Faculty-Student Relationship
Registration
Responsibilities
Faculty members are required to participate in registration
as a part of their responsibility to the University. Each faculty member,
unless excused from duties by the department head, is expected to be on
duty during the registration period of each semester during which the
faculty member is employed by the University to serve either at formal
registration or to assist in advising students.
Academic Advising
Sound academic advising encourages student success
and increases retention rates. Academic advising includes helping
individual students make decisions about educational and career goals and
informing them about opportunities for majors and minors as well as
options within degree requirements. It is the responsibility of students
to investigate necessary resources and information to help them make
informed decisions regarding their academic careers.
All TWU faculty are expected to maintain a strong
commitment to quality advising. Faculty are to stay abreast of current
institutional policy and student support services, deliver correct
information, and post and keep regular office hours. The faculty's role
is to connect students with the appropriate resources and to help
students understand opportunities available at TWU.
APPROVED: 5/94
Academic Advising Mission Statement:
Through a dynamic and ongoing support system, adapted to diverse programs
and individuals, advisors at Texas Woman’s University assist
students as they evolve into self-directed learners in a global
environment, experiencing academic, personal and professional success. (approved 2/08)
Faculty Office Hours
Faculty members are expected to make themselves
available to their students for academic consultation as needed outside
of class hours. They will partially meet this requirement by posting and
maintaining regular office hours, distributed throughout the week.
Minimum Requirements for Course Syllabus
The course syllabus for every course taught at TWU must
contain, at a minimum, the following information:
1. Course name, number, and description
2. Faculty contact information: office location, phone, hours
3. Course goals/student learning outcomes
4. List of textbooks and supplies
5. Disability Support policy statement: Texas Woman's University
seeks to provide appropriate academic adjustments for all individuals
with disabilities. This University will comply with all applicable
federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines, specifically
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), with respect to providing appropriate
academic adjustments to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the
responsibility of the student to register with and provide medical
verification and academic schedules to Disability Support Services (DSS)
at the beginning of each semester and no later than the second week of
school unless otherwise determined by the coordinator. The student also
must contact the faculty member in a timely manner to arrange for
appropriate academic adjustments. For further information regarding
Disability Support Services or to register for assistance, please contact
the office at 898-3835 (voice), 898-3830 (TDD) or visit CFO 105.
6. Grading policy, major course assignments and examinations, and
attendance
7. Tentative calendar of classes, assignments
8. Academic Dishonesty: Honesty in completing assignments is essential to
the mission of the university and to the development of the personal
integrity of the student. Cheating, plagiarism, or other kinds of
academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in appropriate
sanctions that may include failing an assignment, failing the class, or
being suspended or expelled. Suspected cases in this course may be reported to
Student Life. The specific disciplinary
process for academic dishonesty is found in the
TWU Student Handbook. Tools to help you avoid plagiarism are
available through the TWU Libraries at http://www.twu.edu/library/res/res_plagiarism.htm.
APPROVED:
12/03
REV: 10/05
Student Attendance Policy
Consistent and attentive attendance is vital to academic
success and is expected of all students. Grades are determined by
academic performance and instructors may give students written notice
that attendance related to specific classroom activities is required and
will constitute a specific percentage of students' grades.
Instructors are strongly encouraged to keep a record of
student attendance. They should note absences due to documented student
illness, serious illness or death in the student's immediate family,
official school activity, state-recognized religious holiday, or other
verified absences deemed appropriate by the instructor. Students must
consult with instructors regarding the completion of make-up work.
Absences do not exempt students from academic requirements.
Excessive absences, even if documented, may result in a student failing
the course. An incomplete may be granted if the student has a passing
grade, but only if the instructor determines that it is feasible for the
student to successfully complete remaining assignments after the
semester. Pursuant to university policy, such determinations are within
the discretion of the instructor.
Student Schedule Changes
For the first (1st) through the fourth (4th)
day of classes, students are required to deliver a signed add/drop form
or withdrawal form to the Registrar to change their schedule. Between the
fifth (5th) and twelfth (12th) day (Census Day) of
a long semester, departments may administratively move students to
different sections if necessary to balance class sizes and instructor
work loads. Student-initiated changes are not allowed.
After the Census Day, changes to student schedules may be
made only if justified by extraordinary circumstances, and then only when
the best interests of the student are served by the change. If a
department chair, in consultation with all instructors affected by the
change, determines that the best interests of the student are served by a
late schedule change, written justification for the change must be
provided to the Registrar. If a late schedule change is warranted because
of extraordinary medical or personal hardship confirmed by the Office of
Student Life, the change will not be implemented without notice to, and
consultation with, all instructors affected by the change.
If such a change is approved for a student, the student is
responsible for promptly communicating with the instructor about course
requirements. (Schedule changes are contingent upon classroom capacity
and must be reviewed by University Scheduling before final approval.)
APPROVED: 4/06
Student Evaluation and Examinations
Each faculty member is responsible for the
evaluation that culminates in the assignment of a letter grade for each student
at the end of each session of the academic year. As part of this
evaluation process, each instructor will administer a sufficient number
of examinations, specifically including the scheduled final examination,
and require a sufficient number of papers or reports that an adequate
supportive rationale for each grade may be established as a matter of
record. Faculty members are required to keep final examination papers at
least one year following the conclusion of each course.
The Examination Schedule is published each semester
in the Schedule of Classes. The following statement always appears and
students should be advised of it: "Check the examination schedule
when you register for a class because the final examination date cannot
be changed." The only exceptions to this rule are made when a
student has three examinations on one day, presents proof of personal
illness, or cites a family emergency that can be verified. In such cases,
the student may petition the department chair or dean for examination change(s).
The two-hour period scheduled for the final
examination is calculated in computing the minimum time for all classes.
Therefore, individual instructors are not free to dismiss a class or part
of a class from the final examination period. It is recognized that some
classes (such as clinical, individual study, or practicum classes) may
not have a cumulative final examination; but in all cases the instructor
should be aware that the period assigned for the final examination is
included in calculating the time required for the class.
In conducting examinations, instructors will make
every reasonable effort to prevent scholastic dishonesty, including
monitoring the students and taking steps to prevent inappropriate use of
electronic devices such as cell phones, hand-held devices, or
calculators.
APPROVED: 10/05
Scheduled
Classes on Weekends in Conjunction with Holidays
Holidays are given by the State only when a holiday
occurs on a week day. Classes are not scheduled on days designated by the
University as holidays. This policy relates to scheduled classes on
weekends that occur in conjunction with holidays.
If a major holiday (e.g. July 4) occurs on a
weekend, no classes will be scheduled on that weekend.
No classes will be scheduled on the weekend
following the Thanksgiving holiday.
No classes will be scheduled on the weekend at the
end of Spring Break week. Classes may be scheduled on the weekend
preceding Spring Break week.
Classes may be scheduled on the weekend preceding
Monday holidays (Labor Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day).
APPROVED: 6/08
Assignments and Exams During the Last Week of
Classes
The faculty of Texas Woman's University agree that
the major mission of the University is to provide sound educational
experiences for students. Recognizing that planning is an integral part
of facilitating a more successful educational experience, the faculty
realize that students and faculty need to complete their preparations for
final examinations during the last week of classes. Therefore, during the
week before final examinations begin (i.e., Monday through Friday before
the first day of final exams on Saturday) only those examinations and
other assignments that have been specifically indicated on the course
syllabus at the beginning of the semester will be given. Faculty are
encouraged to spend some of the last class sessions reviewing course
material to help students prepare for the final examination.
APPROVED: 4/92
Faculty Responsibility for Students' Writing Skills
The Texas Woman's University Faculty Senate supports
the concept of "Writing Across the Disciplines." Therefore, the
Senate encourages each member of the faculty who has organized class
teaching responsibilities to require a minimum of one in-class written
product for the purpose of identifying students with writing
deficiencies, and to refer students lacking sufficient skills for
assistance. Students on the Denton
campus may be referred to the Write Site (writing laboratory) for
assistance. Academic components at the Dallas
and Houston
Centers may develop
alternative means for assisting these students until appropriate programs
are extended to them.
APPROVED: 5/91
General Grade Assignment Guidelines
All sections of a course
should use the same grading system.
Grade Definitions and Grade Points
Following is a description
of each grade and the number of grade points given for each grade:
Grade A: Excellent; 4
times as many grade points as credit hours
Grade B: Good; 3 times as
many grade points as credit hours
Grade C: Average; 2 times
as many grade points as credit hours
Grade D: Inferior (but
passing); 1 times as many grade points as credit hours
Grade F: Failure; credit
hours are counted; the grade is punitive
Grade W: Withdrew from the
course without penalty; no grade points
The grade of “W” is only assigned by the Registrar, not
by instructors. A grade of “W” will be assigned to a student
who withdraws after the 12th class day in long terms and 4th
class day in summer sessions and before the last day to drop without
penalty as listed in the Schedule of Classes. After the last date to withdraw without
penalty, the grade of “WF” is assigned, unless the student
withdraws for medical reasons as documented by the Office of Student Life
or a “W” is recommended by the instructor on the drop form.
Grade WF: Withdrew from
the course while failing; no grade points; credit hours are counted; the
grade is punitive.
After the last date to withdraw without penalty, the grade of
“WF” is assigned, unless the student withdraws for medical
reasons or a “W” is recommended by the instructor on the drop
form.
Grade I: Incomplete; no
grade points
An Incomplete (I) grade is appropriate only when a student has
passing grades in at least 2/3 of the assigned work for the course but,
because of extenuating circumstances, cannot complete all of the course
work by the end of the semester/term. Extenuating circumstances include
(1) incapacitating illness which prevents a student from attending
classes; (2) a death in the immediate family; (3) change in work schedule
as required by an employer, or (4) other emergencies deemed appropriate
by the instructor. A grade of Incomplete should not be requested nor
given for lack of completion of work because of procrastination or
dissatisfaction with the grade earned.
Under the conditions above, the student may petition the instructor
for time beyond the end of the semester/term to finish the course
work. The instructor, the student, and the department chair (or
equivalent) of the academic department in which the course is offered
must fill out and sign the form “Application for Grade of
Incomplete” which is available in the Office of the
Registrar. If laboratory or clinical work remains to be completed,
the department or program must certify that the student can successfully
complete such work by the assigned completion date.
Specific arrangements to remove the grade of Incomplete must be
made between the instructor and the student. The instructor will also
specify that, if the work is not completed by the assigned time, a grade
of B, C, D, or F will replace the Incomplete on the student’s
transcript. If the student completes the required work by the assigned
completion date, the instructor will submit the new grade to the Office of
the Registrar. The maximum time allowed to finish the course work is one
calendar year. In most instances the work to be completed should be
finished within the first several weeks following the end of the
semester/term in which the Incomplete was given.
NOTE: No student may graduate with a grade of Incomplete even if
the “I” is in a course unrelated to the degree plan.
Incomplete work cannot be finished by repeating the class. If such
an option is preferred, the student should accept the grade earned and
re-enroll in the course in the expectation of earning a better grade. The
grade for the later class will be calculated in the GPA. Any exceptions
to these regulations which describe the use of the grade of Incomplete
require the approval of the instructor, the department chair (or
equivalent), and the dean or director of the academic unit in which the
course was offered. (approved:
3/06)
Grade CR: Credit; credit
for hours earned, but no grade points.
In a pass/ fail course, instructors assign CR or F.
Grade PR: In Progress; no
hours or grade points
The “PR” stands for “in progress” and is
normally used for thesis, dissertation, or professional paper or similar
courses where there is ongoing work supervised by faculty as with
independent research classes, independent capstone projects such as
exhibits and recitals, practica and internships, but not for organized
classes. If a PR is assigned, the student must re-register for the course
until the CR is earned. Students
cannot graduate unless the final CR is assigned in the course on the
degree plan for which the PR was assigned. Grades of PR/CR cannot be mixed with
normal letter grading with the exception of pass/fail courses.
Grade X: No Credit due to
tuition deficiency; no grade points; non-punitive
Grade NG: A grade of NG is
a temporary grade to be used only with the approval of the chair and when
there is an academic dishonesty issue pending or when needed to rectify
university records errors.
Grade ##:Grade temporarily
missing or not assigned; no grade points; non-punitive
The pound sign is assigned by the Registrar only when a grade is
temporarily missing. Any grade not
recorded (and thus listed as “##”) will prevent the release
of an official (or unofficial) transcript. The Registrar’s Office will immediately
contact the instructor by phone or email, with a copy of the notification
to his or her chair, to request a grade. Unless the instructor enters a
grade, the “##” will be changed to an “F” within
6 weeks of the end of the semester in question.
Developmental course
grades – do not affect GPA
Grade DA: Developmental A;
no grade points for developmental classes
Grade DB: Developmental B; no grade points for developmental classes
Grade DC:
Developmental C; no grade points for developmental classes
Grade DF: Developmental F; insufficient progress to go to next class; no
GPA penalty
Posting Student Grades
Federal law prohibits the posting of students'
grades. Grade information is accessible via students' portal accounts.
Auditing Courses
Permission to audit a course must be
obtained after the first day from the instructor of the course, the chair
of the department which offers the course, the dean of the
college/school, and the Registrar's Office. Information about auditing
may be obtained in the Office of the Registrar.
·
Persons auditing a course will be charged at the
same tuition and applicable fee rate as those enrolled for credit, except
as indicated below for those over 65.
·
The auditor may not participate in the laboratory part
of a course or in a studio, practicum, workshop, or activity course.
·
Attendance as an auditor may not be made the basis
of a claim for course credit.
·
Audited courses are not recorded on the student's
permanent record.
·
Any persons 65 years of age or older are eligible to
enroll in up to six hours of coursework and receive a waiver for tuition
to audit classes without charge provided space is available.
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