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In an adult teaching and learning environment, there are behavioral expectations and performance standards. The members of the Southwest faculty are eager to foster an atmosphere of scholarly inquiry and sharing, trust, acceptance, mutual respect, and safety. Providing quality instruction under these conditions is foremost among Southwest’s mission, and the classroom, both literal and virtual, is the primary focus for that instruction.
Missing Class
Students missing designated class times or online course deadlines and due dates have a number of responsibilities. Students must communicate with their instructor ahead of time if they are aware of a conflict that will prevent them from attending or meeting the deadline. Once the class or deadline is missed, the student must communicate with their instructor immediately to find out what they missed during their absence or to request an alternate due date. Generally, students are responsible for participating in a class’s activities on the first day back from any period of absence.
Class Interruptions
Administrative tasks should be conducted during office hours, not during class time. Students are encouraged to participate and engage in class activities, but unsolicited and continuous talking may disrupt classroom quality and/or deprive students of their right to a quality educational environment.
Some activities, such as bringing children to class, using a computer or other electronics device instead of listening to the instructor, eating, sleeping, doing homework for other classes, or refusal to carry out assignments or requests, generally disrupt classroom continuity. The instructor may ask students to stop such activities should they occur during class. For repetitive disruptions, the teacher may elect to take further action to stop the behavior, such as ask the student to leave the classroom or in extreme cases drop the course altogether.
Peer Respect
Southwest is home to many students who all have a right to an environment free from fear or intimidation. There is no tolerance for disrespectful behavior.
Open Labs and the Library
Open Labs and the Library offer unstructured learning opportunities for students. These facilities offer both academic and social experiences, but the academic experience is primary. In order to maximize this experience, students should avoid creating a noisy environment. In an open lab, students engaged in recreational computer use should be willing to surrender their spaces to students completing required classwork. Students sending email should employ the same courtesy required by face-to-face communications, including abstaining from using offensive language or making personal attacks.
Electronic Devices
Students are expected to manage their digital communication devices in a way that does not distract others from learning. If this is not done, an instructor has the option to ask the student to leave class.
Plagiarism
A student must complete his or her own work. Tutors are available to assist when help is needed, but no one should do an assignment for someone else. To use someone else’s words or ideas without proper credit is called plagiarism and could bring disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from college.
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