Classroom Behavior
Classroom Behavior (or Disruption) Policy
As an educational institution, Maryville College is committed to creating and maintaining an environment that is conducive to learning. This policy is intended to help instructors and students create and maintain a campus environment that supports effective instruction and enhances student learning. In a community of learners, it is expected that students will conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful of the instructor, fellow learners, and the educational mission of the College. When disruptive behavior impedes the learning process, corrective action needs to be taken. This policy is designed to help instructors address disruptive student behavior and determine the appropriate course of action.
The scope of this policy includes any situation or location, on or off campus, where instruction and/or instruction-related activities occur. These procedures apply equally to disruptions in classes, laboratories, computer labs, libraries, student services areas, and other academic support areas such as the Academic Success Center.
The term “instructor” is used in this document to refer to the individual with supervisory or instructional authority over a class, laboratory, or other academic setting. These procedures apply to all non-student personnel in charge of computer labs, libraries, and student services. This process is not intended for reporting the conduct of students acting in a peer capacity.
The term “classroom” is used broadly to cover all academic settings, whether on or off campus, or in-person or online. This includes traditional classroom spaces as well as laboratory spaces (indoor and outdoor), libraries, studios, instructor offices, meeting rooms, and any other space where academic instruction and learning happens.
Policy
Disruptive classroom behavior is behavior taking place in an academic setting, in-person or online, that can be reasonably concluded to impede normal academic functions. This includes behavior that interferes with other students’ opportunity to learn, and/or interferes with a faculty member’s ability to teach or maintain a classroom environment conducive to student learning. Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Repeated electronic devices going off including the answering of cell phones
• Repeated tardiness
• Leaving class without permission
• Talking in class without permission
• Making noise and repeatedly interrupting
• Repeated or persistent use of profanity
• Eating/ drinking in class without permission
• Being verbally abusive to the instructor or other students including personal insults
• Persistent and unreasonable demands for time and attention, both in and out of the classroom
• Persistently speaking without being recognized
• Posting virtual content on course platform that is not relevant to the class
• Non-approved use of electronic devices
• Failure to comply with reasonable instructor directives
The different contexts of learning experiences will vary by class; the instructor will determine what behaviors are disruptive in their professional judgement.
Some disruptive behaviors will be subject to disciplinary action through the policy and processes outlined in the Student Handbook, Section XIII, Code of Conduct. Contact the Office of Community Standards, as appropriate.
Civil expression of disagreement with the course instructor, during times when the instructor permits discussion, is not in itself disruptive behavior and is not prohibited.
Student behaviors that are protected by a disability-related accommodation do not represent disruptive behaviors. If an instructor has questions about a behavior-related disability accommodation, contact the Office of Disability Resources and Accessibility.
Scaled Response Options to Address Classroom Disruptions
The Scaled Responses described below are not for cases in which the behavior is unsafe, threatening, or dangerous (see next section, “When to Contact Campus Safety and Security”). More severe behaviors may escalate the response as appropriate, even if it is the first or second offense.
First incident: Informal faculty intervention and documentation
Second and/or subsequent incidents: Removing a student from a given class or lab period and Division Chair Intervention; incident report submitted to Office of Community Standards
Third and/or subsequent incidents: Associate Academic Dean Intervention
If the disruptive behavior continues, the Associate Academic Dean must be notified. Once the Associate Academic Dean has been notified, the student will not be permitted to attend the class until the situation is resolved. To determine how the case will be resolved, the Associate Academic Dean will meet individually with the student and instructor to hear their perspectives. The Associate Academic Dean may consult with the Division Chair, the Assistant Dean for Academic Success, the Director of Advising, the Director of Disability Resources and Accessibility, the Director of Community Standards, and/or the Dean of Students (or their designee). The Associate Academic Dean will determine whether a student can return to class and under what circumstances they may return. Part of this consideration will include a determination of whether the student can return without undue disruption to the rest of the class. A return to class (for the current course and preemptively for any future courses with the instructor) may require a signed agreement about appropriate behavior moving forward, including consequences if disruptions continue. The Associate Dean may also consider if it is appropriate to administratively withdraw the student from the course and/or if their case should be referred for additional formal adjudication through the Office of the Dean of Students to determine if the student’s behavior also violates the Code of Conduct as detailed in the Student Handbook, Section XIII.
If the Associate Academic Dean determines that administratively withdrawing a student from their course is appropriate, the Associate Academic Dean will notify the student in writing of this decision. A grade of “W” will be recorded for the course on the student’s academic transcript. Students who are referred to the Office of the Dean of Students for formal adjudication procedures will be subject to the policy and procedures outlined in the Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook, Section XIII.
When to Contact Campus Safety and Security
Campus Safety and Security should be contacted in the event of violent, abusive, or threatening behavior, regardless of whether this is the first incident or a subsequent incident. This includes any attempted, threatened, or actual conduct that endangers or is likely to endanger a person’s health or safety, or that would reasonably cause a person to feel their health or safety would be at risk. Campus Safety and Security may also be contacted when a student fails to leave a classroom when asked to do so by their faculty member or any other College personnel. Campus Safety and Security will provide a report to the Office of the Dean of Students in regard to possible additional policy violations in the Student Code of Conduct, as outlined in Section XIII. The faculty member should also submit an MC CARES referral to document the incident.
Making up missed assignments/activities when a student has to leave class for disruptive behavior
If behavior is corrected after the first incident, any missed work may be made up or an alternative assignment may be used to account for any graded work that was missed. Minor assignments/activities may be excused or made up at the discretion of the instructor.
If the behavior persists and a second/subsequent incident occurs, the potential for makeup work is at the discretion of the instructor and may not be allowed.
If an Appeal is granted, missed work will be allowed to be made up or an alternate assignment may be given.
Student Rights
The student has a right to clear information and communication from the instructor about classroom behavior expectations.
The student has the right to appeal the decision of the Associate Academic Dean.
Appeal Process
After being notified of the Associate Dean’s decision to administratively withdraw a student from a course, the student will have five (5) business days to submit a written appeal to the Vice President and Dean of the College. An appeal request must demonstrate either that there is new information or other relevant facts not known when the decision was made, or that there was a violation of fair process in the decision to withdraw the student from the course. The Vice President and Dean of the College may choose to uphold the decision or reverse it and set expectations for the students’ return to the classroom. However, once a decision is made by the Vice President and Dean of the College, it is final. During this appeal consideration period, the student will continue to be barred from class and assignments/activities may be excused or made up at the discretion of the instructor.