instruction is the primary mission of the University, the general policy of

Middle Tennessee State University is that all classes meet as scheduled. In

the case of an anticipated absence, the instructor is responsible for having

the class receive instruction. The instructor must propose a plan for the

approval by the chair of the department.. In the case of an unanticipated

absence, the chair should be notified immediately. The department chair will

be responsible for making arrangements for the class(es) involved.

The proper forms to be executed in the event of a faculty absence are available in the offices of the department chairs. In the event that the absence will be a

prolonged one and a substitute must be employed, the matter must be

approved by the deans and the Provost and Vice President for Academic

Affairs. (See Sick Leave)

Absence because of personal illness or the serious illness of a member of the

immediate family shall be reported as sick leave. Such absences require the

same general arrangement with the department chair and the dean of the

college as is discussed under Faculty Absences. Reporting and charging of

sick leave is not dependent on the type of coverage provided for the class.

All absences should be reported.

In the case of an anticipated absence, the part-time/adjunct faculty member is

responsible for having the class receive instruction. The faculty member must propose a plan for the approval by the chair of the department who will notify the dean of the college concerned.

In the case of an unanticipated absence, the chair should be notified

immediately. The department chair will be responsible for making

arrangements for the class(es) involved, and should notify the dean of the

arrangements made.

The proper forms to be executed in the event of a faculty absence are

available in the office of the deans and/or department chairpersons. In the

event that the absence will be a prolonged one and a substitute must be

employed, the matter must be approved by the dean.

Refer to P/P III:00:02, 12/1/88; refer to Faculty Handbook; also refer to the

current MTSU Undergraduate Catalog.

All faculty should provide students with a brief written description of

official campus field trips, etc. that every member of the class will be

required to attend. Students are responsible for sharing this information with

the instructors of other courses well in advance of the required absence from

these classes.

Absences begin with the first date the student is enrolled in class. Policy

regarding class attendance is established and promulgated by the professor.

Only the professor has the prerogative of excusing an absence. Students who

miss classes due to inclement weather or participation’s a member of a

University team, etc., will be allowed the opportunity to make up missed work.

Student personnel deans, when cognizant of the reasons for extended absences, will inform the professor. The student is advised to confer with the

professor about make-up work, etc.

It is necessary to report excessive absences of military services veterans;

the Records Office will indicate on class rolls those students who are

receiving veterans' benefits, and professors should be alert to the need of

reporting absences of these students.

Since a principal function of a university is to bring faculty and students

together, and since the classroom is the primary place for doing this, both

faculty and student are expected to attend the classes for which they are

assigned or for which they are registered.

The University recognizes that there are occasional unavoidable

circumstances that cause a student to miss a class. However, the fact that a

student may be absent from a class does not, in any way, relieve that student

of the responsibility for the work covered or assigned during the absence. It

is the responsibility of faculty members to excuse or refuse to excuse

absences of students who missed their classes. It is the responsibility of

the student to obtain excuses for absences and to arrange with the faculty

member in question to make up the work missed. Excuses for absences must be presented to the faculty member upon the student’s return to class. (See

current MTSU Undergraduate Catalog).

In November 1983, the Admissions and Standards Committee approved the

following clarification of the University's class attendance policy:

While students are expected to attend all of their classes,

exceptions are made for University-sanctioned activities.

Students shall not be penalized for such absences.

Students anticipating participation in University functions

which take them out of classes should discuss these absences

with their instructors at the earliest convenient time. The

student is responsible for work missed.

In order to assure smooth implementation, faculty members and team

coaches or directors should provide students with a brief written description

of the off-campus field trips, musical presentations, athletic events, and

similar official obligations that every member of the class or team will be

required to attend. Students are responsible for sharing this information

with the instructors of their courses well in advance of the required absence

from these classes. Prior notification will enable faculty members to work

out arrangements for students to fulfill their responsibilities to complete

any work missed due to participation in an official University activity.

Absences begin with the first date the student is enrolled in class. Policy

regarding class attendance is established and promulgated by the professor.

Only the professor has the prerogative of excusing an absence. Students must

contact professors or departmental secretaries directly to report anticipated

absences. In emergency circumstances, student personnel deans will, upon

request, inform professors of student absences. In such instances, the

student is advised to confer with the professor upon return about make-up

work, etc.

{Unofficial withdrawal rosters are submitted at mid term so it is important to keep up with student absences.}

Assistance Alert forms are available from each of the five college academic

advisors. If a faculty member feels it necessary to report a perceived

student problem (excessive absences, emotional concerns, etc.), the Assistance

Alert form should be completed and submitted to the academic advisor of the

faculty member's respective college.

It is necessary to report excessive absences of veterans that affect their

satisfactory progress in class. The University is liable for any overpayments

made to a veteran who does not attend class and who fails to make

satisfactory progress if the institution fails to report this fact to the V.A.

Regional Office. The Records Office will indicate on class rolls and by memo

to the professors those students who are receiving veterans' benefits, and

professors should be alert to the need for reporting absences of these

students. Additionally, letters which list veterans are sent to faculty

members who have veterans enrolled in their classes.

Adjunct/part-time faculty should consult with the department chair to

establish a schedule of office hours. Available office hours shall be clearly

communicated to students. Space shall be provided to adjunct/part-time

faculty for maintenance of office hours, to assure student access to faculty.

Posting grades: If the faculty member chooses to post grades, specific

guidelines must be followed, in order to comply with federal legislation

(Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974) regarding the

confidentiality of student records.

Each faculty member should announce at the first class meeting that grades

will be posted only if the student gives written permission to do so. The

posting will then be done in such a way as to maintain the anonymity of the

student and the privacy of the student's student number (SSN).

Viewing grades/record book: Students wishing to see their grades kept by a

faculty member in a record book should be given this information. However,

in doing so, a faculty member should not allow a student to view grades of

another student. A teacher should copy the grades for the student on a

separate sheet of paper or devise some other way to provide the grades

requested.

A faculty member may, at his/her discretion, provide a student's grade to a

third party upon presentation of a written request, if the faculty member has

reason to believe the authenticity of the request.

Students enrolled in courses taught by adjunct/part-time faculty shall be

assured of adequate access to faculty members through office hours and

telephone contact. Department chairpersons are responsible for identifying a

reasonable space for maintenance of office hours of adjunct/part-time faculty.

Part-time/adjunct faculty should consult with the department chairperson to

discuss the contents of the course syllabi for specific courses taught. The

syllabi should also identify the faculty member's office, office hours (for

quality student time, outside of class) and phone number(s).

Academic departments keep course outlines for all courses offered by the

departments. Course outlines for both undergraduate and graduate courses

are reviewed and updated regularly using the university curriculum format;

course outlines are maintained on file by the department chair. Date of

revision should appear on the first page of each outline.

Faculty are encouraged to include the following disability statement on the

course syllabus:

If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation,

or you have questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers,

readers, etc., please speak with me as soon as possible. Students may also

contact the Office of Disabled Students (898-2783) with questions about such

services.

MTSU offers a special course for all students to develop the tools needed for

academic and personal success. Offered through a number of departments,

this seminar course assists students in setting and clarifying both short and

long term career and personal goals; developing an appreciation for the value

of higher education, refining academic skills required of the successful

college student; and making the transition to university life through an

understanding of the numerous campus resources available to them.

University 101 Seminar is a three credit hour elective course which

contributes toward the 132-semester hours requirement for graduation.

Times, locations and instructors for the seminar can be found in the Schedule

Book issued for each semester. For logical reasons, the number of sections

scheduled is greatest during fall semesters, with additional, yet fewer

sections offered during spring and summer semesters. Additionally, off-campus sections are offered, as per agreements with outside business, industry, etc. Faculty who teach University 101 are recruited based on background, interest in the freshman population, and a desire to teach such an orientation course.

The history of University 101 at MTSU indicates that student

success/graduation rates are higher for those students who have elected to

take the course, as compared to non-University 101 students. Thus, the

University 101 seminar course is an effective retention tool contributing to

MTSU's graduation rates. Additional information may be obtained from the

Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The last day to drop or add a class may be determined by consulting the

appropriate class schedule book. Dropping or adding classes is accomplished

via TRAM.

At the first class meeting, the instructor should introduce the course in

terms of its contribution to the general objectives of the University and

review the specific objectives of the course. The teacher should outline

generally the content or major topics to the addressed. Planned learning

activities ought to be described in some detail. The nature and number of all

tests, reports and other assignments, both oral and written, should be

reviewed. Most importantly, grading and student absence policies ought to be

clearly stated. The instructor should provide students with a bibliography of

textbooks and published material to be used in the course. Providing students

with a printed handout covering the topics referenced above is recommended as a significant additional step toward insuring a full understanding of the

course.

Following is a description of the criteria used in assigned letter grades for

undergraduate work:

A Work of distinctly superior quality and quantity

accompanied by unusual evidence of achievement;

B Work showing the above qualities to a lesser

extent;

C Substantial conscientious fulfillment of the

essentials of a course;

D Passing work, but below the standards of graduation

quality;

F Failure necessitating repetition of the course to

obtain credit;

P Passing (assigned only in certain courses);

I Incomplete;

W Assigned in courses which are dropped during a

specified period of time within a term. Students

should consult the appropriate class schedule

book for specific dates each term.

N/C No credit (audit).

The following marks are used by faculty of the University to indicate the

quality of the work performed by graduate students:

A Superior B Above Average I Incomplete

C Average D Below Average P Pass

F Fail NC No credit (Audit)

W Withdrawal

The P grade is given only in those courses with prior approval to use

pass/fail grading. Courses may be taught on pass/fail basis only after the

approval of the appropriate group -- University Curriculum Committee

(undergraduate) or Graduate Council. Catalog course descriptions include

information indicating which courses are approved for pass/fail grading.

No more than fifteen semester hours in pass/fail course work may be

attempted by any undergraduates student during any one semester. No more

than one-half of the degree requirements may be obtained through

correspondence study, credit-by-examination, credit for service-related

experience, flight training, and courses in which non-traditional grading such

as pass/fail is used. More information can be found under the general

requirements for the baccalaureate degrees elsewhere in the undergraduate

catalog.

The grade I indicates that the undergraduate student has not completed all

course requirements because of illness or other uncontrollable circumstances,

especially those which may occur toward the close of the term. Mere failure

to make up work or turn in required work on time does not provide a basis

for the grade of I unless the extenuating circumstances noted above are

present for reasons acceptable to the instructor. When a student fails to

appear for the final examination without known cause, the grade to be

reported should be determined as follows: If the student has done

satisfactory work to that point, the grade I may be reported on the assumption

that the student is ill or will otherwise present sufficient reason for

official excuse; if the student has attended irregularly and has not done

satisfactory work to that point, the grade F should be reported.

The incomplete must be removed during the succeeding semester,

excluding summer. Otherwise, the grade of F is entered. A student should

not make up the incomplete by registering and paying again for the same

course. The I grade carries no value until converted to a final grade.

It has been the practice of many faculty members to post test grades and final

course grades for students enrolled in their classes on their office doors or

departmental bulletin boards. In order to continue this helpful process and

to comply with federal legislation (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy

Act of 1974) regarding the confidentiality of student records, the following

procedures must be observed. Each faculty member should announce at the

first meeting of each class that grades will be posted only if the student

gives written permission to do so. The posting will then be done in such a

way as to maintain the anonymity of the student and the privacy of the

student's student number (SSN).

Students wishing to see their grades kept by a faculty member in a record book

should be given this information. However, in so doing, a faculty member

should not allow a student to view any grades of another student. A teacher

should copy the grades for the student on a separate sheet of paper or devise

some other way to provide the grades requested.

A faculty member may, at his/her discretion, provide a student's grade to a

third party (friend, roommate, parent, other) upon presentation of a written

request, if the faculty member has reason to believe the authenticity of the

request.

Final deadline for semester grades is usually 48 hours after an examination.

Exams scheduled the last two days of exam week may have grades due at such

a time so as not to allow the 48-hours grading period, particularly summer

sessions III and IV. All grades are to be returned to the Records Office.

These grades must be returned in person and not through the mail.

Final grade sheets are permanent records. Do not fold, wrinkle, or mutilate

in any way. Make them as neat as possible. Write grades in grade column in

ink and fill in the grid space with a number 2 pencil.