SECTION 6
Faculty retreat is the
event that begins each new academic year.
During the year other workshops and retreats which faculty members are
expected to attend may be arranged by departments, dean, or president.
The traditional academic
convocations at Houghton are Founders' Day, Baccalaureate, and
Commencement.
All full‑time and
part‑time faculty members (teaching and non‑teaching) are expected
to participate in these convocations and to be attired in appropriate academic
regalia. Excuses from these events are
usually reserved for illness or other emergencies. Requests for exceptions must be presented in
writing to the academic dean well in advance of the particular
convocation.
Faculty members who do
not own their own regalia may rent appropriate regalia through the Campus
Store.
6.2.1 Founder's Day convocation occurs on the first or
second Friday of October. This
convocation traditionally has begun at 10:00 a.m. and faculty assemble for
marching at 9:30 a.m., usually in the academic building. Class schedules for this day are altered in
order to provide opportunity for appropriate activities for the day.
6.2.2 Baccalaureate convocation is the evening worship
service of the Friday just prior to Commencement. Faculty assemble at 6:00 p.m. in the
academic building (or in the chapel auditorium lower foyer area if the weather
is inclement) and the Baccalaureate Convocation begins at 6:30 p.m.
6.2.3 Commencement convocation usually is scheduled
for 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of May.
Faculty assemble at 9:30 a.m.
The normal teaching load
at Houghton College is 24 semester credit hours during the school year. Overload pay is routinely processed for any
hours taught above 25.
Other factors which may
be considered in determining a normal load are:
1. laboratory
sections to be conducted
2. number of
courses to be taught for the first time
3. total number
and length of private lessons to be taught
4. nature of
activity programs to be conducted
5. department
chair responsibilities
Identifiable projects carried by a faculty member are to be considered in the assignment of semester credit hour load, when other load factors seem to warrant it.
(For Mayterm teaching
loads and summer courses, see section 6‑22).
By definition, a
syllabus is a brief but comprehensive outline of the contents of the course. It is intended to give the students a very
clear picture of the structure, assignments, and expectations for the course. Mid-course
changes or additions should be minimal, and not adversely affect students via either the addition of unexpected work or
the elimination of opportunity to improve their grades. Minimally, the syllabus is to
include:
1.
Identification
of course title, catalog number, instructor, department, credit hours and semester or term.
2.
Identification
of instructor's office location, office hours, and campus phone number
3.
A
brief description of the course, usually matching the text of the college
catalog
4. Time
of class meetings as per official schedule
5. The general objectives of the course in terms of the significant desired learning
outcomes for the students
6. The
general arrangement of the subject matter,
including at least a rough
calendar for the semester, specification of day and time of class during final week (as assigned in exam
schedule) and the intended use of that time.
7. Required texts and other materials
8. Course
requirements, including major assignments and exams, along with due dates
9. Indication
of how performance is to be measured, including grading procedures and calculation formula
10. Attendance expectations and consequences of
failure to comply with same. See 6.5.7
11. Any
additional expectations of students that might have an impact on final grade.
Each faculty member will
prepare and maintain a current course syllabus for each course he or she is
scheduled to teach. Two copies of each
current syllabus must be submitted to the department chair on the first day of the course. (If the full syllabus for a course is a
complex and lengthy document, an abbreviated syllabus containing the above
information may be submitted for this purpose.)
Department chairs will review syllabi sufficiently to ensure
the inclusion of the required information, and will file copies
of all departmental course
syllabi for the semester or other session with the dean of the college within
seven days of the beginning of classes.
The dean of the college will
maintain a general file of course syllabi for each semester or other
session. These files will be available
for review by Houghton personnel and concerned outside agencies.
(November
5, 2003)
6.5
Classroom procedures and management
6.5.1 Academic standards: Houghton students are a select group in
that they are men and women who have affirmed the spiritual and moral
commitments espoused by the college.
Standardized tests have consistently revealed that they are significantly
above national norms in background and ability.
High work standards have been characteristically upheld by all
teachers.
It is expected that
grades issued by a teacher of a large class should in general reflect the
caliber of student we have enrolled if enough tests and enough quizzes, papers,
and other work have been required.
Beyond the time spent in class, two hours of individual study per week
ought to be assigned for each credit hour.
6.5.2 Class enrollment: Immediately following registration,
temporary rosters are prepared by the records office and distributed to
department chairs early on the first day of classes. Faculty should check their class attendance
against the roster and report discrepancies to the records office. Students adding or dropping courses during
the first two weeks must present a Change‑of‑Schedule Request to be
signed by the faculty member(s) and by the student's advisor/mentor. It then must be returned to the records
office by the student. Students not on
rosters should not be admitted to class beyond the first attendance unless a
Change‑of‑Schedule Request has been signed.
New rosters will be run
after two weeks and should again be checked against class attendance. Faculty should dispose of the temporary
rosters at the time. All changes during
the third to the end of the tenth week must again be made by Change‑of‑Schedule
Requests that must be signed by each faculty member involved and the advisor/
mentor. A grade of "W" will be
assigned on the form and on the class roster.
Again, this change is not consummated until the student returns the
signed form to the records office
Students may not
withdraw from courses during the final four weeks of the semester without an
“F” being assigned for the course. (The
last date for withdrawing from courses without
an "F" is always listed in the Catalog, master schedule, and school
calendar.)
6.5.3 Class routines: Promptness in beginning and closing
classes encourages good student habits, reduces confusion in the corridors, and
eliminates the criticism that some teachers are "overstrict" and
others "very understanding." A
school cannot function smoothly as one teacher endeavors to be "more
understanding" than the next.
Classes must be held in
rooms assigned unless prior authorization has been obtained from the records
office.
It is customary to begin
all classes with prayer. A brief opening
devotional may also be appropriate.
6.5.4 Tests: Teachers arrange a system of class tests at
the end of units of work. These tests
should be given with such frequency that both instructors and pupils will have
adequate evidence of a pupil's class standing.
Midsemester grades are to be submitted on the basis of classwork and
class tests, not on a formal examination period.
Instructors are required
to announce in class at least one week in advance any tests that will cover a
section of material sufficiently large to count as more than one day's
classwork, i.e., any test except brief surprise quizzes of a very few minutes
duration. Tests should be administered
as scheduled except in rare instances.
The pressure from those who have not had time to prepare, however great,
should not rob those who have prepared of the right to proceed on schedule.
6.5.5 Make‑up examinations: Students who are absent
from an examination because of illness must secure an absence excuse before a
make‑up examination may be taken.
For absences other than for illness, the faculty member involved may
decide if a make‑up test is justifiable.
The faculty member giving the make‑up test may notify the dean of
the college. In turn, that office will
authorize the controller to charge the student's account seven dollars. The faculty member will be notified to pick
up his portion of the fee, five dollars, from the Controller.
6.5.6 Conduct of examinations: No books or papers of
any kind may be brought into the room where a major exam is being given unless
expressly authorized by the instructor.
Possession of such books or papers may be regarded as intention to use
information dishonestly.
All examinations are
conducted according to the form prescribed by the faculty, and students should
be penalized for such errors as misspelled words and faulty English usage. Essay questions should be written legibly and
neatly, using nothing but complete sentences except when otherwise specified.
6.5.7 Attendance: Per faculty action on October 13, 1993,
"All faculty members are to include in their syllabi their individual
attendance policies."
6.5.6 Classroom Records: Faculty members should retain their
records of attendance and grades for at least two years.
6.5.7 Christian Life Emphasis Week (CLEW): CLEW is normally held
during the second full week of each semester.
During these special meetings, all tests covering more than one day's
assignment are prohibited (by faculty action) during the period including the
second day of the meetings through the day following the last night of the
meetings.
During these special
meetings it is also required (by faculty action) that assignments be reduced by
one‑fourth to one‑third, and that musical and athletic activities
be held to a minimum. This action is not
to occasion a complete holiday from study, but a reduction in the normal
load.
Following a request by
the student body, the faculty passed the following policy regarding evening
classes during CLEW:
no
classes will meet from the beginning of CLEW for the next hour and 15
minutes.
(2/18/99)
Honesty is the foundation on which all intellectual endeavors rest. To use the ideas of others without acknowledging the authors of those ideas belies the nature and purpose of academic life. At Houghton where we strive to live out Christian calling and commitment, personal integrity, including academic honesty, should be the hallmark of our all of our work and relationships.
Students are expected to exhibit extreme care relative to personal honesty in all academic work, including in-class and out-of-class learning experiences, such as exams, quizzes, journals, papers, research projects, etc. Dishonest work includes but is not limited to the following:
(a) obtaining aid or information without giving due recognition to the sources from which the aid or information was obtained. Such dishonesty encompasses 1) asking to copy or copying other students’ work to claim as one’s own on an exam or assignment of any kind, and 2) all forms of plagiarism. Plagiarism includes using ideas, words, or phrases from any source without citing that source and downloading or purchasing papers or parts of papers from others or the World Wide Web and claiming such work as one's own.
(b) giving aid or information when it is clearly inappropriate to do so, such as providing answers for an exam or writing a portion of a paper or an entire paper for someone, including the selling of one's work
Faculty members are required to report all offenses to the associate academic dean who will ensure that an appropriate record is kept. Students found guilty of intentional dishonesty will automatically receive a zero for that work and a lowered grade for the course. Student questions about appropriate collaboration on specific assignments should be addressed to the faculty member.
At the academic dean's discretion, repeated offences may result in failure of the course or dismissal from the college. If a student is already on disciplinary probation, any offense may result in suspension or dismissal by the dean of student life. Unauthorized use of college computing equipment, facilities, or programs may also be considered grounds for disciplinary probation, suspension, or dismissal from the college.
(5/2005)
The following system is
used in the grading of college course work:
A = Excellent (94-100%) A
4.00 A‑
3.67
B = Good (85-93%) B+ 3.33
B
3.00
B‑ 2.67
C = Average (73-84%) C+ 2.33
C
2.00
C- 1.67
D = Passing (65-72%) D+ 1.33
D
1.00
D-
0.67
F = Below minimum standards F 0.00
W Withdrawn. An indeterminate grade applicable to a course
dropped between the second and eleventh week of classes.
I Incomplete. A temporary grade limited to a course in
which a true emergency has occurred and a student has been excused for illness
or given an extension for another significant reason. An incomplete grade must be made up within
five weeks of the close of the semester, whatever the reason, or it
automatically becomes a grade of "F."
Permission to grant a temporary grade of "I" must be obtained
from the Records office.
P Indicates
satisfactory work done (equivalent to a regular grade of D or above); gives
semester hours credit but no quality points.
U Indicates unsatisfactory
work; credit is not earned from the course and does not figure in the overall
quality point average.
M Indicates no grade was assigned. It may be used at mid‑semester when a
class has not commenced, or for student teachers, or when special permission is
granted by the Records office. It can
never be used at the end of a semester or a summer session.
NR‑I No grade assigned. Used only for courses extending beyond one
semester.
Occasions may arise when
a student does not agree with the grade he/she has received in a course. When
this happens, the question of whether the grade should be reconsidered is
addressed in two stages.
A. The initial stage in
the grievance procedure is as follows:
1. The student first contacts the course instructor to
discuss the grade in question within two weeks of the start of the semester
(regular academic session) immediately following that in which the grade was
awarded. If the instructor agrees that
the grade in question was inaccurate, a grade change is processed by the
instructor.
2. If the student and the instructor cannot agree on the
appropriateness of the grade in question, the student may contact the chair of
the instructor's department, in writing, within ten working days after the
meeting with the instructor. If a
mutually agreeable decision is made through mediation conducted by the chair,
the instructor will submit the agreed‑upon grade and the process is
completed. If there is no outcome that
is mutually acceptable to the student and the instructor, the process may
continue. If the instructor is also the
chair, then Step 2 is omitted and the process goes to Step 3.
3. The student may appeal the decision to the academic
dean's office within ten working days after the mediation process is
complete. The dean shall collect written
views and other pertinent material from the involved instructor, student, and
chair, as well as consult with any other individuals deemed necessary. The dean shall render the decision whether the
grade should be reconsidered.
4. The decision of the dean to reconsider or not to
reconsider the grade in question is final.
If the decision is to reconsider the grade, the procedure outlined in
Part B below is followed. If the
decision is not to reconsider the grade, the original grade cannot be
changed. Cases which are referred to the
procedure in Part B can be withdrawn only with the consent of the student,
instructor, department chair, and dean ‑- and after first informing all
parties involved.
B. The final stage in the grievance procedure is
as follows:
1. If the dean feels that the reconsideration of the
grade in question is appropriate, a panel of tenured faculty who have not been
involved in the process described above is formed from the division in
question. The panel must be formed
within ten days of the dean's decision.
2. A three‑member panel will be selected as
follows. The dean, faculty member, and
student involved will each select one member of the panel from the designated pool.
3. The panel will review all appropriate material and
make a determination about the grade change.
This review must be completed within thirty days of the formation of the
panel. The panel has the authority to
assign a grade for the course in question.
The grade may be the same grade as assigned by the instructor or a
higher or a lower grade, according to the panel's judgment. The student and the instructor will be informed
of the panel's decision and, when applicable, the authorized grade change will
be submitted to the records office.
The strength of the
advising program lies in its structure for freshman advising through the mentor
groups. These units offer immediate identification
to the new student, not only with peers, but also with a significant faculty
mentor. Within this group, the leader
can give daily individual attention during the first months of college, a
critical period in terms of student retention.
Postponement of formal major declaration for a minimum of several months
gives each student the freedom to explore various academic options without
feeling locked in, an advantage over the previous system. The mentor system involves a greater number
of faculty in advising, spreads the advising load more equitably, promotes
faculty interdisciplinary cooperation, as well as developing better knowledge
of academic policy and use of support services.
6.9.1 Academic advising coordinator, appointed by and
responsible to the dean of the college, administers the program. He coordinates the selection of mentors,
assigns mentor groups, dispenses timely information to advisors, updates lists,
publishes and maintains an advising manual, designs and schedules training workshops
for advisors, and coordinates the program with other services such as freshman
orientation. From time to time he
consults an ad hoc committee of faculty and administration on policy.
6.9.2 Mentors, who act
as advisors for freshmen, lead mentor groups of fifteen heterogeneously
selected students. Most mentors are
teaching faculty, with perhaps one‑quarter from administrative
departments. They serve for one year
with the option of continuing in this role.
Their advisees arrive with the first semester schedule already
prepared. During new‑student days
before the onset of classes, the mentors participate in activities with their
groups. Throughout the fall semester,
mentors assist with schedule adjustments, orientation sessions, academic and
personal advising, mid-semester grade reports, course selection for second
semester, and social interaction with students, both on an individual and a
group basis. Early in the spring
semester those students who are ready to select majors are given that opportunity,
and move on to curriculum advisors.
Others who are undecided about majors may elect to remain in the mentor
group until fall semester of their sophomore year. Mentors are expected to be available to
advisees, maintain records for students, keep abreast of current academic
requirements and policies, and serve as good models and resource persons for
their students. They are expected to sit
with their mentor groups in chapel during the year.
6.9.3 Curriculum advisors are responsible for advising students in
their major areas, guiding them through to graduation. They receive students at the sophomore level
primarily, although they are a resource for all levels. Their responsibilities are similar to those
of mentors, except for leadership of groups.
All faculty members,
excepting those who are new, are expected to be available to serve as mentors
for the academic advising program in which all freshmen participate.
The responsibilities of
the mentors include the following:
1. To introduce
members of the mentor's group to the nature and purpose of higher education, to
the liberal arts tradition, and to Houghton College with its distinctive
traditions and goals.
2. To assist
freshmen to formulate or clarify personal, educational, and career goals, to
explore career options, and to find accurate information about requirements,
courses of study, and procedures to attain these goals.
3. To meet
periodically with advisees.
4. To serve as a
role model through regular chapel attendance and active participation in the
life of the college.
5. To hold
regularly scheduled and spontaneous sessions with the mentor group.
Each mentor will be
responsible for 12‑15 freshmen. An
advising folder for each student will be given to each mentor. The advising folder will contain the
following:
6.10.1 Admission documents: SAT or comparable
scores; high school transcripts; college transcripts and an evaluation of credits
if the advisee is a transfer or has been readmitted; lists of co‑curricular
activities; statements or biographical data included in the student's
application.
6.10.2 College record: planning worksheets; balance sheets;
current course schedule; record of grades; results of interest or other such
inventories taken at Houghton (if confidentiality is not a problem);
information from career motivation programs and any other programs in which the
student has been involved.
6.10.3 Miscellaneous: anecdotal and interview notes including
appropriate materials from the student's application; interview notes, for
students being readmitted; notes collected by the mentor as well as from the
student's curriculum advisor (except as confidentiality is expected).
Mentors are regularly
sent the mid‑semester and semester grades of their advisees, and they are
expected to contact all advisees who are experiencing academic
difficulties. Also, mentors are expected
to maintain frequent enough contact with advisees to know when they are having
significant social problems.
At the end of the first
year (or thereafter) when the student indicates a tentative major or program,
the mentor will forward the advising folder to the curriculum advisor. (If the student changes majors or programs,
the advising folder will be forwarded to the new curriculum advisor.) At this point, the mentor ceases to have
responsibility for the student.
Note: A separate
handbook, the Academic Advising Manual, is available for mentors as well as for
curriculum advisors.
6.11
Advanced credit/placement
Advanced placement or
advanced credit in a subject which is applicable to the student's program of
study is granted by Houghton College to students who have taken an advanced
placement course in high school and who achieve a score of 5 or 4 in advanced
placement examination given by the college Entrance Examination Board in that
subject. College Board advanced
placement examinations may be taken by qualified secondary school juniors and
seniors in May of each year. A score of
3 may be given credit only on the recommendation of the department chair.
Where advanced credit is
recommended, a student must score 3 or higher in each part of a two‑part
examination to obtain one semester of credit in a subject. Since no grade points are given, the credit
hours earned are not included in computing subsequent academic averages.
A student who has been
admitted to the college by the admissions office as a fully matriculated
student, who is registered, and who is in attendance at the college may take,
with the permission of the department chair concerned and the dean of the
college, an advanced credit examination in a Houghton College course. Permission for such an examination must be
obtained from the department chair concerned and from the academic dean.
Only "A,"
"B," or "C" grades will be recorded. Credit on the basis of Houghton College
advanced credit examinations may not be used toward the residency requirements.
A maximum of 32 semester
hours may be accepted toward the degree on the basis of Houghton College's
advanced credit examinations, College Entrance Examination Board examinations,
and New York State Education Department college proficiency examinations
combined.
A student may be excused
from a prerequisite course on the basis of an advanced standing examination,
although no credit hours or grade points are recorded.
Permission for such an
examination must be obtained from the department chair concerned and from the
academic dean.
(Revised
9/71)
6.12.1 General: It is the policy of Houghton College to give
credit by examination under the college level examination program (CLEP) when such
an examination covers the material given in the course leading to a degree and
when the award of credit is approved by the department chair concerned and by
the academic dean.
6.12.2 Eligibility: Credit will be provisionally granted to students
who meet entrance requirements and who matriculated at Houghton College if the
CLEP grade is equal to or better than a "B" grade at Houghton. All CLEP credit must be validated by 30
semester hours in residence with at least a "C" (2.00) average at
Houghton.
The granting of credit
will not by itself guarantee that all prerequisites for major courses have been
met.
Degree candidates who
are enrolled already may take the examinations with the approval of the
appropriate department chair and the academic dean.
With the permission of
the appropriate department chair and the academic dean, a student may use a
college‑level examination to pass a course that he or she has
failed. The academic dean will give the
Records office written approval to post CLEP credit on the student's permanent
record.
6.12.3 Application procedure: Individuals who wish
to apply for credit should:
1. Determine from
CLEP bulletins whether tests are available in the areas of the general
education requirements of Houghton.
2. New students
expecting to present CLEP credit should advise the records office of this
intention. All scores must be reported
to the records office not later than August 1.
The records office, in consultation with the appropriate department
chair and the academic dean, determines what credits are to be granted. The
student will be informed what credits are being granted to him or her before
registration day.
6.12.4 Grades and credit:
1. Credit will
be given for a grade equal to a "B" or above. A required course may be waived with the
approval of the department chair and Records office if a "C" grade is
received.
2. "P"
credit will be assigned with the number of semester hours.
3. If the
department chair of a laboratory science (i.e., biology, chemistry, physics)
believes a student has a deficiency in a laboratory skill, the student may be
required to supplement his or her experience in biology, chemistry, or physics
with additional laboratory work. There
may be a similar prerogative in other academic areas.
4. Credits
accepted will be marked on the permanent record as College Level Examination
Program credit.
5. CLEP
credits granted to students by other institutions will be subject to
review.
6. A maximum
of four semester hours may be allowed for each examination. A candidate may earn up to 32 credits toward
graduation. The fee charged for credits
for CLEP will be 10 percent of current course tuition.
(Revised
9/71)
6.13.1 Definition: Independent study is a directed course in
reading or research in which the student pursues a topic of general or special
interest at his or her own pace and meets with the instructor only for
direction, progress reports, and evaluation.
6.13.2 Objectives: Independent study serves a number of
objectives. For example:
1. To provide
greater flexibility and freedom of choice within the curriculum by allowing a
student to select for study in depth of particular interest to him or her;
2. To increase
the student's sense of involvement in and responsibility for his or her own
education by providing an opportunity for independent reading and research
under minimal supervision;
3. To develop
self‑starting, self‑propelling, and self‑teaching ability in
the students.
6.13.3 Procedure: Students who have demonstrated ability and
professional promise in research or reading and show academic discipline may
apply for independent study. (Students
must have a QPA of 2.5 to apply for an independent study.) Permission to under
take such work must be secured from the instructor and department chair and the
dean of the college. Forms and
guidelines to be used for proposals are available in the Records office. All questions on the proposal forms must be
answered in a manner satisfactory to the instructor.
6.13.4 Regulations: Students may take independent study for one,
two, or three hours a semester or term up to a maximum of twelve semester hours
toward graduation. A student may request
any faculty member to supervise his or her independent study project, which
must not duplicate regular course offerings.
The burden of responsibility for learning will be on the student. An independent study is not a tutorial pro
gram; no college course listed in the catalog may be taken for independent
study credit (see college catalog). In
general, it is expected that this work will be completed within the semester or
term as in other courses. There should
be a final review of all the work done by a joint meeting of the student, the
instructor and the department chair or the department chair in which the work
is done.
In general this work
should be completed within the semester or term as in other courses. There should be a final review of all the
work done by a joint meeting of the student, the instructor, and the chair of
the department in which the work is done.
The grade sheet shall be signed by the instructor and the department
chair.
6.13.5 Fees
Tuition shall be charged
at the regular hourly rate, unless the course is included in the flat rate
tuition for the semester.
Tutorial work is for the
benefit of the student who needs a course which is not currently available; for
example, one not included for the semester when such a course is essential for
graduation, or when a course is needed for remedial purposes. Tutorial courses are taken from those listed
in the regular college Catalog.
Before an instructor can
assign any tutorial work for credit, approval for the course and for the
tutorial registration must be granted.
The concurrence of the student's advisor, the instructor, the department
chair, and the academic dean is required.
The appropriate forms for tutorial approval and registration are
available in the Records office.
Tuition for a tutorial
course will be charged at 100 percent of the regular course tuition rate plus
the current tutorial fee (per hour).
The teacher must certify
that he or she has met the student for the purpose of giving instruction and directing
the work for a minimum of 7 1/2 clock hours (or its equivalent) for each credit
earned. (For a three‑credit
course, 22 1/2 hours.)
A student audits a
course when he or she formally enrolls in the course and at tends class
sessions. An auditing student is not
expected to take examinations or be responsible for papers. No grade will be given. He or she may take part in class discussion,
at the discretion of the teacher.
A student enrolled for a
course audit will receive the grade entry "AU," with zero credits, on
his or her official transcript. A
student enrolled for an audit who fails to attend class may be dropped from the
course as soon as the professor reports the non‑attendance to the Records
office. No refund for any fee paid will
be possible after the 100 percent refund period has ended.
A student enrolled full‑time
under the flat‑rate tuition plan will not pay an additional fee for the
audit course unless the hours of credit normally awarded for that course will
cause the student's effective course load for the semester to exceed 17 credit
hours. (Example: A student enrolled for
15 credit hours who adds a 3‑hour audit will have an effective course
load of 18 and will pay the audit fee.) Part‑time students will also be
required to pay the audit fee, which currently is $25 per course.
Auditing is not allowed
for an applied course (such as in music or art) or an activity course (such as
skiing or refereeing) or a laboratory course or section, or if the instructor
has formally stated to the dean of the college his or her unwillingness to
accept auditing students.
6.16
Visiting Student Program (Christian College Consortium)
The members of the
Christian College Consortium have agreed to allow selected undergraduate
students from member institutions to enroll as visiting students at other
consortium colleges.
The consortium visiting student prog