Section II: Academic Policies & Procedures
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Absences (Faculty)/Missed Class Meeting
Classes should always meet on the days, at the times, and in the locations listed in the university Class Schedule. In the event that a faculty member is unable to meet with a class, the department chair must be notified, normally before the class meeting, and in any case, as soon as possible. The faculty member who know in advance of an absence must either work with the department chair to arrange for a qualified colleague to meet the class or the faculty member must provide special assignments to the students. For questions or guidance on other classroom and instruction policies, consult with your department chair and UPS
230.010.
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Academic Field Trips
Academic Field Trips are often an essential part of coursework. There are however, risks associated with all field activities. Guidelines, located at http://ehs.fullerton.edu/academic_safety/field%20trips%20guidelines.htm,
are offered pursuant to UPS
420.105 which should be checked before the field trip to ensure that students on field trips avoid any unnecessary liability exposure and that safety is stressed at all times.
All field trip participants must complete and submit an Academic Field Trip Participant List including a contact person in case of an emergency. A copy of this form must be retained in the academic department office. Contact Environmental Health and Instructional Safety at (714) 278-7233 for additional information.
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Academic Integrity
When a faculty member has alleged that a student has performed an act of academic dishonesty (cheating, inventing false citations, plagiarism, or helping someone else commit an act of academic dishonesty) and has penalized the student for the act, the student has a right to formally contest the allegations and/or the penalty. A hearing under the auspices of Student Affairs will be held. In such cases, the faculty member assumes the burden of proof and must provide evidence in support of the charge that the dishonesty occurred.
For further information, contact your department chair and the Associate Dean of Students, Judicial Affairs, Sandra Rhoten (TSU-241), (714) 278-4168. Definitions and additional information regarding academic integrity issues can be obtained in UPS 300.021 and materials provided by the Dean of Students Office (TSU-235).
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Course Cancellation
College Deans have the final authority and responsibility for compliance with established class size minimums. Any deviations or variations regarding class size minimum may subject the class to cancellation are determined by the College Dean only. Classes may not be canceled, modified, or moved without the approval of the department chair and the College Dean.
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Class Lengths/Break
Lecture—and discussion-format classes require 50 minutes per week of instruction for each unit of student credit awarded. Faculty members are expected to utilize the full class period, to begin and end classes on time, and to be punctual in meeting classroom obligations. All three-unit courses meeting only once a week are to be scheduled for a minimum of 165 minutes and allow for a fifteen-minute break approximately at the midpoint in the period. In general, and other than above, breaks should be given in classes only if the meeting time intervals in the Class Schedule include the additional time needed for them.
In addition, needs of individual students should be considered and reasonably accommodated.
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Classroom Assignments
The Scheduling Office (MH-104N), (714) 278-2381, is responsible for the assignment of classrooms for instructional use. Each college is allocated a block of rooms in which it may assign classes. After a specified date, all unused rooms revert to those areas in need of additional classroom space. Changes in rooms or to the capacity of rooms may not be made without consultation with the College Dean and the Scheduling Office. For scheduling questions or to schedule additional classroom use, please consult your department chair.
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Classroom Emergency Information
All faculty should know the following emergency information and are encouraged to relay this information to their students at the start of the semester: (a) identify the location of fire alarm pull stations (b) review both location and content of evaluation maps including an outside meeting area for your department of class (instruct students to identify as least two exits from their location in the building (c ) review emergency procedures in case of fire, medical emergency, hazardous materials release, and earthquake; (d) invite any students with special needs to contact you about specific requirements in the case of an emergency and make appropriate arrangements; (e) identify the location of the nearest phone to use in case of an emergency.
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Course Fees & Sale of Materials
Fees associated with specific classes are regulated by CSU system policy. Students may not be charged for materials or serves used in classes without formal campus review and approval nor may faculty sell materials for student classroom use directly to students. Materials such as books, manuscripts, and normal classroom supplies are typically handles by the campus or other bookstores.
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Students With Disabilities
The University is committed to supporting all students and providing reasonable accommodations /support services when it is appropriate to do so. Students with temporary or permanent disabilities may receive assistance and support though the Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS) – UH-101, (714) 278-3112.
This office is responsible for making all of the university’s educational, cultural, social and physical facilities and programs accessible to students with orthopedic, functional, perceptual, psychological/emotional and/or learning disabilities. Additional information is available at http://www.fullerton.edu/disabledservices/
Students with a qualifying disability are entitled to reasonable accommodations after they have identified themselves through DSS in order for a determination of appropriate prescribed accommodations to be made. These requests are made to DSS and not directly or informally to the instructor.
Faculty members may need to modify their method of instruction to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities. Modifications can include: making your face visible to a student to reads lips, using an overhead, PowerPoint, reading aloud material written on a whiteboard, or arranging classroom organization during discussions to accommodate hearing-impaired students. Students may also require special accommodations with respect to exams, including extended time to complete exams, interpreters, brailled or large-print exams and answer sheets, and transcribers. Questions regarding accommodations for disabled students should be directed to DSS.
DSS can provide a full range of academic support services to students with disabilities, including AltFFormation instructional materials, readers, note-takers, tutors, interpreters for deaf students, alternative testing, counseling, disabled person (DP) parking information, application assistance, academic advisement, referral, career counseling referral, housing, transportation and health services referral and advocacy.
Discrimination on the basis of disability is illegal under 42 USC § 12132, §504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the American with Disabilities Act (1990). For additional information, consult with DSS (UH-101) (714) 278-3112 . Additional information may be found in UPS
240.000 (Nondiscrimination Policy).
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Disputes/Problems
Occasionally, students may voice their disagreement with faculty over the evaluation of student work, the assignment of grades, or course requirements. If a student dispute should arise, the faculty member should work to resolve the situation effectively with the student in a professional and timely manner. However, if the dispute cannot be resolved with the professor, the student should be directed to the department/division chair. Faculty members should remain professional and considerate at all times when handling student disputes. For additional information see the Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
(UPS
300.000), the procedures for Academic Appeals (UPS
300.030 and UPS
300.031), or consult with your department/ division chair.
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Emergency/Disaster Information
In the case of a campus emergency requiring police, fire or medical assistance, use any campus telephone to dial 911 or use the blue emergency phones located throughout the campus grounds and parking lots. You will be connected the university police dispatcher. Be sure to explain the problem calmly, and give the location of the emergency.
In the event of a natural disaster or fire, remain calm and follow the emergency procedures posted in every building on campus. Do not use the elevators.
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Environmental Health & Instructional
Safety Office (EH&IS)
The Environmental Health & Instructional Health Office (EH&IS) includes the offices of Research and Instructional Safety (RISO) and Environmental Health and Safety. (EH&S). The general office phone is 714-278-7233 (278-SAFE). Online information, including student safety information, is available at http://riso.fullerton.edu.
General university safety information can be found at http://ehs.fullerton.edu.
All faculty engaged in research or instructional activities involving hazardous material or equipment, or engaging in activities that require special license or permits, are required to receive specialized training before commencing in these activities. Sue Fisher (278-2507) or Skip Hines (278-5938) provide training, information and support services to faculty, staff and students engaged in such academic activities. Examples of academic activities requiring prior training include, but are not limited to, work with chemicals, (solvents, flammable substances, caustics, acids) radiation, animals, compressed gases, and high voltage.
Disposal of specific waste materials requires special containers, labeling, storage and handling. Contact Skip Hines before any waste is generated to obtain proper waste containers and for coordinating the removal of all waste containers.
For emergencies or malfunction of equipment in areas using hazardous materials or equipment, contact Sue Fisher or Skip Hines. For any serious threats to health or property, call 911 immediately and provide the room number, the nature of the problem and your name.
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Examinations
The preparation of examinations and the assignment of grades is the responsibility of the individual faculty member. The posting of grades from examinations or other forms of assessment should never be done in a way that reveals the names, campus identification or social security numbers of students receiving the grades.
Normally, final examination is required, but this is a decision made by individual faculty based on course requirements and departments standards. If the instructor has determined that final examinations are required in a course, the examinations must be given at times scheduled by the University. Once established, the final examination schedule may not be changed unless approved by department and program chair and the dean of the college.
Makeup final examinations may be for reasons of illness, verified emergency, or other serious and compelling reasons approved by the instructor. An instructor shall not shorten the academic semester by scheduling an in-class final examination before the week scheduled for final examinations. No major examinations shall be given during the last week scheduled for instruction unless there is also to be a final examination at the time assigned in the Class Schedule. When a take home final examination (or paper/project) is due during the final exam period, it shall be due no earlier than the day scheduled for the final examination in that class.
Department and program chairs and the deans of each college shall be responsible for ensuring that this policy is followed. (UPS 300.005)
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General Student Safety
Faculty have a responsibility to provide students with a safe and healthful environment. These responsibilities include (a) informing students of all risks inherent in the class, lab or field trip activity including dangerous substances, equipment, or procedures; (b) instructing students on how to properly and safely handle all dangerous items or activities; (c ) exercising a degree of supervision over student activities commensurate with the possible degree of hazard involved; (d) enforcing all applicable safety regulations developed by the department; (e) informing students of campus emergency procedures and explaining their application to the instructional setting (f) to find out more about student safety at CSUF go to http://ehs.fullerton.edu.
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Grants and Contracts
The Office of Grants and Contracts provides ongoing support to all CSUF faculty with information about and the preparation of grant applications. A service for all faculty is the Faculty Interest Database which tracks grant opportunities according to individual interests and provides faculty with grant information as it becomes available. During the academic year, Grants and Contracts also schedules workshops about all stages of the grants and contracts processes, proposals and applications, and the approval process. Part-time lecturer faculty may also participate in the intramural grants program. For additional information, contact the Office of Grants and Contracts at (714) 278-2106. A comprehensive website is also available at http://ogcserv.fullerton.edu.
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Injuries/Hazardous Conditions
All injuries must be reported to your department, regardless of the nature of the injury. If a student is injured between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. they should be directed to the Student Health and Counseling Center (278-2000) unless they sustain serious injuries. If you require assistance responding to student injuries between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., call EH&IS at 278-7233 (278-SAFE) or 911 for the University’s Public Safety emergency dispatcher.
In the event of serious injury, contact Public Safety (the university’s Police Department) by dialing 911. Public Safety will arrange for paramedic assistance. All injuries must be reported using the university’s Injury Form. You, your department, and the injured party may need to provide information on this form. In the event that a student is sent to the Student Health and Counseling Center, an injury form will be completed automatically.
All hazardous conditions or situations should be reported as soon as possible to Environmental Health and Instructional Safety at extension 7233. If the hazard is serious enough to cause injuries or jeopardize lives, report it immediately to University Police at 911.
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Internships & Experience Based
Learning
Departments coordinating internships, service-learning and/or other experience-based learning activities for students off campus must comply with university procedures and provide the proper precautions to ensure the safety of the student. Contact the Center for Internships and Service-Learning at (714) 278-3746 for information on procedures and guidelines to ensure student safety or go to http://campusapps.fullerton.edu/cisl/Index.aspx.
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Library Resources
Human Resources will provide confirmation of your appointment to the faculty which you must take to the TitanCard facility in order to process your faculty identification card. The TitanCard office is located at the circulation desk in Pollack Library south (first floor). With your TitanCard identification Card you may borrow books, periodicals , and other
materials from neighboring universities as well as the inter-library loan program which provides part-time faculty with access to library resources of all major universities in California, and many libraries nationally and internationally. The limit on number of books that can be checked out is 50. For additional information, contact the circulation desk on the first floor of the Library at (714) 278-2721.
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Lost & Found/Missing & Stolen Property
The main lost and found location is at the University Police Dispatcher’s Desk. Items will be retained at the lost and found until either claimed by the owner or placed in storage by the University Police. Items stored for at least six months will be offered for sale at public auction. To inquire about lost items, call (714) 278-4308.
Immediately after the discovery of the loss of State Property, the person discovering the loss must notify the University Police by telephone, followed by a memo to the University Controller with a copy to Property Control. For additional assistance or questions, consult with the Chair of your academic department.
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Office Hours
Part-time faculty/lecturers are expected to make themselves available to their students for at least one hour per week for each tree-unit class. Although office hours are normally held in faculty offices, less formal and professionaland appropriate academic environments—laboratories, department lounges, the Titan Center—may also be used for meetings with students. In the event you will be unable to meet during scheduled office hours, you must contact your department chair. If you change the location where your office hours will be held, you must notify the department chair in advance.
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Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined in the university catalog as “the act of taking the specific substance of another and offering it as ones’ own without giving credit to the source. When sources are used, acknowledgement of the original author or source must be following standard scholarly practice.” For additional information, consult the university catalog of the Associate Dean of Students, Judicial Affairs, Sandra Rhoten (TSU-421), (714) 278-4168. Plagiarism is always to be considered as a very serious offense.
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Religious Holidays (Student Observance
of)
Traditionally, the Governor of California has not recognized religious holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, or Good Friday as State holidays. However there are some students, faculty, and staff who wish to observe the holy days within their respective denomination. Faculty should consider the importance of these days when addressing student absences. Students should not be penalized for such absences and faculty should permit students to make up work or exams on such holy days. Faculty should make the appropriate arrangement in advance with their department chairs or deans to have their classes covered when observing such holy days themselves.
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Research & Instructional Safety Office
(RISO)
All part-time faculty must receive the requisite training regarding specific campus polices and procedures when their classroom and research activities involve hazardous material, hazardous equipment or procedures, or special licenses or permits. The Research and Instruction Safety Office (RISO) (278-2687) provides training, information, and support services to faculty, staff, and students engaged in a wide variety of such activities. These may include activities involving radiation, hazardous chemicals (solvents, paints, gases, photo-chemicals, etc.), animals, high voltage, cooling, and other special equipment requiring specific handling or training.
Faculty involved with these types of activities must contact RISO to determine the appropriate safety procedures and training requirements essential to the activity.
RISO is also responsible for other aspects of classroom and research activities. Faculty who need to dispose of label hazardous waste products should contact Skip Hines )278-5938) for assistance with the proper labeling, pick-up, and disposal of hazardous waste materials. Should a cold room alarm be activated during regular university hours, call RISO. After-hours, University Police should be contacted immediately at extension 2515, or 911. The caller should identify the room number of the cold room and explain that the alarm is going off. In the event of injury in a laboratory, call RISO immediately. They will notify University Police and Environmental Health and Safety (278-2124) of the injury. After hours, especially if you are not sure about the severity of the injury, call University Police. All injuries must be documented and a supervisor must be notified immediately, regardless of how minor the injury appears.
If the fire alarm is activated at any time, all personnel in the building must evacuate form the building immediately. No one may re-enter the building until the site has been cleared by University Police.
When the white, foot-operated buckets in the teaching labs become nearly full, RISO should be contacted so that the buckets can be emptied. Generally, when a container containing chemicals is cracked, bubbling or otherwise doesn’t look right, or when laboratory materials need to be disposed of or handled in a non-instructional manner, RISO should be contacted immediately. For additional information, consult with your department chair, Sue Fisher, Director of RISO and the university’s Radiation Safety Officer, or the RISO staff.
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Retention of Student Work
The retention of student work is governed by the policy outlined
in UPS
320.005. This policy provides for the following:
“Except where the preponderance of resources and materials employed by the student’ research or creativity are supplied by the State of California, the products of such research or creative activity, including but not limited to authored papers, works of art, craft preparations and exhibits, are the property of the student author/creator.”
“All products of student research and creative activity which are submitted in fulfillment or partial fulfillment of the requirements for a degree, program, course or other certification by the University, whether or not produced employing State of California resources and materials may be retained by the University or its academic employees for a reasonable period of time for the purpose of evaluation.”
“In all cases of delayed grades (I,SP,RD), the materials submitted must either be returned to the student or be retained until a final grade is assigned…”
“The student has no right to the return of written work resulting from a test or examination. However, the student does have the right to examine and discuss test and examinations with the faculty member involved, and at the option of the faculty member, these materials may be returned to the student. Examinations not returned to the students shall be retained on file for one semester after the last day of the semester in which the course was taken except when they become part of an academic appeal in which case they shall be retained until the appeal has been concluded.”
Faculty who publish/co-publish with students must take appropriate steps to acknowledge all student contributions.
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Risk Activities (Right of Non-Compliance)
Certain university activities either within or outside of the classroom may involve varying degrees of risk to participants. Instructors directing such activities must divulge fully to all potential participants the specific nature of such risks and obtain from them their expressed or implied consent prior to undertaking such activities.
The student who, at any time, come to believe that the risks, whether physical or psychological, are excessive has the responsibility to withdraw from participation at the time and to inquire of the instructor if there are alternative means of fulfilling the requirements without penalty. If there are none, the student may petition for withdrawal from the course without penalty or appeal for an appropriate modification of the activity. The appeal may be made either to the chair of the department concerned, or to the chair of the Committee on Activities Involving Human Subjects, or both. For additional information, consult UPS
420.105.
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Scientific Misconduct
Misconduct in science means fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other practices that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the scientific community for proposing, conducting, or reporting research. For additional information, consult UPS
420.106.
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Security/Student Disruptions/University
Police
Although it is rare, faculty may encounter students whose behavior is disruptive in class. These students may ask frequent irrelevant questions, continually confront or question the instructor, or students, or perhaps speak in terms which are insulting to the instructor or to fellow students. Conduct of this nature is frequently symptomatic of problems which may require professional help.
Should this occur, faculty should talk with such students and make clear the particular behavior which is considered inappropriate. If this fails to produce results, the faculty member should inform the department chair and contact the Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her staff. Student Affairs personnel will talk with the students to clarify their perception of the situation and, as necessary, will underscore that such disruptive behavior must stop. Student Affairs has responsibility for handling student disciplinary procedures. For more information, contact the Associate Dean of Students, Sandra Rhoten (TSU-241) (714) 278-4168.
Careful and thoughtful communication is the best tool to avoid a violent act or threat. Problems with and between employees and students should be resolved quickly, fairly, and consistently. Because the campus has a zero tolerance policy against acts or threats of violence, don’t hesitate to report all incidents to University Police from a campus phone at extension 2515 or Environmental Health and Instructional Safety at extension 7233. A report may also be submitted by filling out a Campus Safety Report at the following website http://ehs.fullerton.edu/ehsforms/safety.asp.
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Smart Classrooms
The lecture rooms on the campus are equipped with technology to facilitate instruction with each room equipped with cabinet, ceiling mounted projector and speakers. Faculty members using Smart Classrooms must obtain keys to the cabinet after attending a short training session. Your college will assist you in setting up a training session to obtain your training and keys. For additional information please visit http://business.fullerton.edu/labs/smart.htm
Student Privacy
The privacy of student records is strictly protected under requirements provided for in the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. 1232g) and the California Education Code §67100 et seq. Generally, the law requires that written consent of the student be received before releasing personally identifiable data about the student from records to other than a specified list of exceptions. California State University, Fullerton has adopted a set of policies and procedures concerning implementation of the statutes and regulations on the campus. Copies of these policies and procedures may be obtained from the Dean of Students. Additional information may be found at the Judicial Affairs website; please see
http://www.fullerton.edu/SA/StudentEmployment/Confidentiality.aspx
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Student Safety Abroad
To ensure the safety of students studying abroad, faculty, staff, and students should contact International Education and Exchange at (714) 278-2787 prior to recommending an overseas study program. Additional information is available online at http://ehis.fullerton.edu/academic_safety/safety%20and%20study%20abroad.htm.
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Syllabus/Course Outlines
Syllabi or course outlines must be compatible with approved course proposals and adjectives on file in the office of the Association Vice President for Academic Programs and with course descriptions in the University Catalog. Course outlines must be provided within the first 5 days of instruction. The syllabi/course outline shall give detailed information on the following: material to be covered in the course; grading policy; class assignments; examination dates and make-up policy required or permissible materials or equipment which may be used during testing situations, and/or equipment for the course. For additional information, consult UPS
300.004 and the chair of your academic department.
Note regarding GE Courses: Syllabi must identify the GE category the course satisfies as well as list the learning goals associated with that category; further there should be a statement describing how the GE writing requirement will be met and assessed.
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Tape Recorders, Use in Classroom
Student tape recordings of faculty lectures will be permitted in classes upon the written approval of the instructor, as provided for in UPS
330.230, or as recommended by Disabled Student Services.
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Use of Animals
The use of animals in research and instruction is regulated by federal regulations under two different statutes and governed by two government agencies. The Office of Grants and Contracts is responsible for compliance with them. Projects using animals usually require the filing of research protocol and the approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
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