AP: Section F - Student Rights and Responsibilities

5.00

Degree Requirements

Responsibility rests with the student to know the requirements of the program in which s/he is en­rolled, and if a full‑time student, to carry no fewer than 12 credit hours per semester.

5.01

Students are also responsible for meeting deadlines as these relate to academic procedural matters, e.g. add/drop, course selection, free withdrawal.

5.10

Course Requirements

The student is expected to fulfill course requirements as specified in course outlines.

5.20

Attendance

Registration in a course assumes full participation in that course. Therefore, a student is expected to attend class sessions regularly.

5.21

Individual instructors shall define "excessive absences" in their respective course policy statements.

5.22

Excessive absence may result in cancellation of the student's course registration. The course instructor requests such cancellation from the dean of the school in the degree program which is responsible for the course. This written cancellation results in grades of "W" or "F."

If the student wishes to appeal (see 4.26), s/he must do so in writing to the dean of the school in the degree program which is responsible for the course within seven days of the cancellation notice.

5.22.1

If absence due to military obligation and/or related medical treatment impacts student attendance, the student shall arrange with the instructor along with the Office of Veteran Affairs the length of time the student should be absent from the course(s) and provide appropriate documentation substantiating the absence and a plan to make up any missed work. 

Faculty should consider absences due to military obligation or for related medical treatment as excused absences and should not penalize the student.  In some circumstances, the length of the absence may be detrimental to the student’s success in a course(s) and may be in the student’s best interest to withdraw from the course and/or college or request a military leave of absence (4.28). Students with military affiliation should be directed to the Office of Veteran’s Affairs, all others to the Office of the Registrar.

5.23

All academic work must be made up regardless of the reason(s) for absences from class(es).

5.24

The instructor's attendance policy, as stated in the course outline, determines how absences will be treated in that course. Any anticipated absence should be brought to the instructor's attention as soon as the student is aware of it, so that appropriate accommodations regarding completion of work may be made. Illness should be reported as soon as possible. (Proof required at the discretion of the instructor.)

5.25

State law requires that any student in an institution of higher education who is unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of his/her religious beliefs is to be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements. State law also stipulates that we have the responsibility to make available equivalent opportunities to make up work missed because of these absences and that students have the obligation to make up any work missed.

5.25.a

Religious Holidays

Education Law

Section 224 - a. Students unable because of religious beliefs to attend classes on certain days. (as amended by Laws of 1992, chapter 278)

 

1. No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education for the reason that he or she is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to register or attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirements on a particular day or days.
2. Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements.
3. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.
4. If registration, classes, examinations, study or work requirements are held on Friday after four o'clock post meridian or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, study or work requirements or opportunity to register shall be made available on other days, where it is possible and practicable to do so. No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, study or work requirements or registration held on other days.
5. In effectuating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to exercise the fullest measure of good faith. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his or her availing himself or herself of the provisions of this section.
6. Any student who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative officials to comply in good faith with the provisions of this section shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the supreme court of the county in which such institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of his or her rights under this section.

5.26

Attendance in an online course is defined as an active post or submission within the course including, but not limited to, discussions, written assignments, and tests. This standard will be used to determine all attendance criteria, including but not limited to, never having attended, last date of attendance, and withdrawal from a course by instructor due to excessive absence as defined in the course outline.

5.40

Advisor Consultation

Students are expected to consult with their advisors about academic matters, and obtain the signatures required on academic forms.

5.60

Expected Behavior in the Classroom

Students are expected to respect the educational environment as established by the faculty member.  All individuals are expected to demonstrate respect for the rights and responsibilities of the faculty member and of each other.

5.70

Grade Posting

Grades are available via Banner Web (see 7.10).

5.90

Academic Progress

Students are responsible for being aware of their academic progress/standing in courses.

6.00

The College is committed to the educational and social development of its students.

6.01

As members of the academic community, students are encouraged to develop the capacity for critical thinking and to engage in the pursuit of truth.

6.02

The College will provide positive opportunities and conditions to facilitate those freedoms which are essential to the learning and maturation process.

6.03

The College guarantees students freedom in inquiry, freedom of thought and discussion, and the right to due process in disciplinary proceedings. The student is also guaranteed freedom from College interference and restriction of extramural activities unless placed on probation.

6.04

The responsibility for ensuring these freedoms rests with the entire College community. Students should endeavor to exercise and defend these freedoms with maturity and responsibility.

6.10

Rights in the Classroom

Faculty should endeavor to provide an atmosphere in the classroom that facilitates free discussion, inquiry and expression. Students should be evaluated solely on the basis of academic standards, not on the students' opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards.

6.11

Protection of Freedom of Expression

Students are responsible for learning the content of their courses of study, but they should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion.

6.12

Protection Against Improper Academic Evaluation

Students are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance established by their professors, but they should have protection through orderly procedures against prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation.

6.13

Protection Against Improper Disclosure

Information about student views, beliefs and political associations which professors acquire in the course of their work as instructors, advisors and counselors should be considered confidential.

6.14

State law requires that any student in an institution of higher education who is unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of his/her religious beliefs is to be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements. State law also stipulates that we have the responsibility to make available equivalent opportunities to make up work missed because of these absences and that students have the obligation to make up any work missed.

6.20

Grade Appeal

Students may appeal a final grade received in a course by providing  written justification for a change of grade to the faculty member responsible for the course and a copy to the school dean responsible for the course. Grade appeals must be filed within forty-five (45) calendar days of the last day of classes for the semester in which the grade was received. Appeals must be submitted by the student not a third party (including family members of the student).

6.21

Appeals must be based on perceived discrepancies in the grading and evaluation system as described in the course outline given to students, computational error or error in data entry.

6.22

Faculty will provide a written response to the student within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the appeal with a copy to the appropriate dean.

6.23

Students who cannot reach satisfactory resolution of the appeal with the faculty member may appeal to the dean of the school responsible for the course within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date of the faculty member's response.

6.24

In the event that the student feels that a satisfactory resolution has not been reached, s/he may forward his/her appeal in writing to the vice president for academic affairs within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of the school dean’s response.

6.25

The VPAA will have the chairperson of the Academic Policies Committee convene a three (3) member review panel to make recommendations to the VPAA. The decision of the VPAA shall be final and not subject to further appeal. Notice will be sent to the student in writing.

6.26

Documentation of an appeal will be part of the academic record and therefore will be retained in adherence to SUNY and SUNY Cobleskill record of retention policies.

6.40

Withdrawal from Courses by Instructor: Appeal

(See Section D 4.26)