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 program is normally limited to one term or semester. Enrollment in a consortium college may be
governed by institutional enrollment limits, course enrollment limits, or
course prerequisites.
Although each visiting
student is subject to the regulations and fees of the institution being
visited, he or she technically remains a student of the home institution. Bills will come from the home institution,
and financial aid will only be available from the home institution. Visiting students should also be sure to
carry the home institution medical insurance.
Further information
about the visiting student program (and application blanks) visit the records
office.
The following rules
govern Houghton's visiting student program:
1. The applicant
must be a full‑time matriculated student at Houghton College.
2. The applicant
must have earned at least 30 semester hours at Houghton College and must earn
his or her last 24 hours at Houghton College.
3. Visiting status
is limited to one semester. No extension
will be granted.
4. The applicant
must receive:
a. external
approval from the appropriate officers of the receiving institution, and
b.
internal approval by
i. filing application with the records office,
and
ii. receiving permission from his or her academic
curriculum advisor, department chair, and the academic dean.
5. The course
program must be approved in writing by the curriculum advisor. At least 12 semester hours in a major must be
earned at Houghton College.
6. The applicant
must carry a full course load at the receiving institution.
7. Applications
shall include an essay which:
a.
defines the student's relationship to Christ, and
b.
explains why the visiting experience will be beneficial.
8. Students must
complete applications before October 1 for second semester status, and before
March 1 for first semester status of the following academic year. Applications will be received and acted upon
by the Academic Policies Council.
9. Students agree to maintain the behavioral standards of
Houghton College in addition to those of the receiving institution.
10. Students on
academic guidance and probation, and students on social probation are not
eligible to make application.
11. In one semester
no more than five students may receive visiting status at other CCC institutions,
and no more than 3 may attend one college.
(Approved in March, 1976)
Students of outstanding
ability who are accepted by an accredited professional school after the
completion of three years of undergraduate work may qualify for the appropriate
degree by referring back for Houghton credit the first two years of
professional study, thus shortening by one year their pre‑professional
training. Such students will be taking
their senior year in absentia. In such
instances the Houghton degree will be conferred at the end of the second year
of professional studies.
This privilege may be
available to students wishing to enter professional training for a career in
medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, law, engineering, or nursing. In the case of nursing, the student must also
complete the requirements for the B.S. in nursing at an accredited school of
nursing in order to be eligible to receive the Houghton degree. The degree conferred will be appropriate to
the work taken in Houghton and in the professional school. Senior in absentia applies only to Houghton's
four‑year baccalaureate degree. A
graduate will be listed as receiving one of the following if appropriate: summa
cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude.
To be eligible for the
senior in absentia privilege, a student must meet all of the requirements of
the first three years in a degree program at Houghton College. Specifically these requirements are:
1. The
satisfactory completion of requirements in general education studies expected
of all Houghton graduates. (See Catalog:
program of studies.)
2. The
completion of one‑half of a student's major plus a minimum of 12 hours or
one minor or 6 hours in each of two minors.
3. The completion
of a total of 90 semester hours of work, 60 of which have been taken in
residence at Houghton, including the final 30.
4.
A
transcript or a statement from the dean of the professional school, certifying
that the first two years of professional work have been satisfactorily
completed.
Written application for
senior in absentia privilege must be made by April 15 of the sophomore year and
must be approved by the department chair in which the student is majoring and
by the academic dean. (Application forms
are available in the records office.) When a student is accepted by an approved
professional school, he or she must obtain a final acceptance of his or her
plans by the above named Houghton officers.
Admission to Houghton College
does not imply assurance as to the availability of the senior in absentia
privilege. This is predicated on the
student doing satisfactory work in Houghton and being accepted by and attending
an approved professional school.
A student complying with
these regulations will be credited with having satisfied the departmental
requirements in his or her major subject at a time when he or she has passed
the examinations in all courses required for the completion of his or her
second year of work in the professional school.
Credit for one year of professional study will be elective except for
courses which are applicable toward major and/or minor requirements not
completed at Houghton.
(Revised
11/81)
Honors projects devote
particular attention to a special topic in the student's major through primary
research. Honors projects are more
in-depth and complex than 400 level independent studies and should extend well
beyond the scope of normal
coursework.
To be eligible to apply, a
student must have a 3.4 in his/her declared major and a 3.25 cumulative quality
point average. Permission to apply for honor studies may be limited by
available facilities and faculty resources. .A proposal must be prepared and
submitted for approval over one year prior to graduation. Guidelines and policy details can be found at
the academic records office.
The faculty member directing the project receives additional remuneration after the grade is recorded.
Changes in the
curricular programs are usually the result of a formal process that is
initiated at the academic department level. The department chair then presents
the recommendation, with supporting material, to the dean of the college and
the Academic Policies Council.
Changes of a minor
nature (such as changes in course description, level, or title), if approved,
are recorded by the Council and published in the next edition of the
Catalog. Changes of a substantive nature
(such as the addition of courses or the elimination of courses or a program)
are acted on by the Council and, if approved, are recommended to the faculty
for action. Changes of a major nature
(such as the introduction of a new program leading to a degree) are recommended
by the Council to the faculty. (If
approved by the faculty, the program is recommended by the dean to the
trustees.) When endorsed by the
trustees, the program is presented formally to the New York State Education
Department for approval and registration. Note: The college may not list or advertise
any program without NYSED approval.
Course numbers are
assigned to new courses by the records office, which also maintains a log of
all approved courses, including date of approval.
Certain courses are
listed in the catalog as being taught "on demand." This term means that students may request that a specific course be
offered within their own department, or that the course may be offered by
agreement between the head of the host department and the head of the
requesting department, with the approval of the appropriate department
chairs. The threshold number of students
is to be determined by the host department.
6.22
Mayterm and summer courses
6.22.1 Curriculum: All faculty who have met their minimum teaching
requirements may volunteer to teach during Mayterm or summer courses. Any full‑time teaching faculty member
whose total teaching load is 23 or fewer hours may be required to offer a
Mayterm course without additional compensation.
Those interested in
teaching during any Mayterm session or summer courses may make a written
proposal to the department chair, of the course to be offered by October
15. Catalog courses are generally
offered but others may be proposed and are actively sought.
Those course offerings
approved by the department chair and Academic Policies Council are listed in a
Mayterm catalog, and copies of this catalog are provided in the fall for course
selection day. These listings are confirmed
prior to the spring course selection day, with the final offerings determined
through consultation involving the department chair and the teacher.
Those courses in which
eight or more students are enrolled will automatically be offered. Teachers may opt to teach courses in which
fewer than eight students are enrolled for reduced remuneration, based on
course hours and number of students.
Registration for Mayterm sessions is held on the first day of classes,
usually after the morning class session is ended. Payment is authorized after the final course
enrollment is determined.
Payment for tutorial and
independent studies courses are authorized after all registration procedures
have been completed by the student.
Chapel is held twice
each week during Mayterm. Faculty are
expected to attend chapel sessions, and they are fre-quently speakers for these
services.
6.22.2 Tuition
Policy: Houghton College
students can apply the flat rate tuition charge for up to four combined hours
of Mayterm and summer internship/practicum credit. This means that there is no additional
tuition charge for up to four combined credit
hours of Mayterm courses and summer internship/practicum credit under the
following conditions:
1. A full-time student at Houghton for the fall and spring semesters preceding Mayterm whose registered hours for Mayterm, summer internship/practicum and the two semesters do not exceed the maximum allowed under a flat rate tuition charge. (36 credit hours as of 1999 – 2000).
OR
2. A full-time student at Houghton for one of the two semesters preceding Mayterm whose registered hours for Mayterm, summer internship/practicum and the one semester do not exceed the maximum allowed under a flat rate tuition charge. (18 credit hours as of 1999 – 2000).
Mayterm courses for which tuition is transferred from Houghton College to another agency (such as Oregon Extension) do not qualify for a free Mayterm.
Note: The 2-credit Highlander Adventure Program is included in fall semester hours for the purposes of this policy.
Trip Exception: A student enrolled in a course involving a trip which has been granted status as Mayterm equivalent but which is outside of the normal Mayterm dates will receive free tuition if the above criteria is met. However, no other tuition free courses may be taken during Mayterm, regardless of the number of credit hours received for the course involving the trip. A student can enroll in another Mayterm course with the understanding that they will pay the full tuition cost.
For the purposes of this policy, “registered hours” represents credit hours for which the student is enrolled as of the last day to add a course at the beginning of the semester. Registered hours will be increased if one or more half-semester courses are added for the second half of the semester. “Registered hours” will also include hours taken at other Western New York Colleges through a cross-registration agreement. Credit hours which are unused may not be carried over to a summer session (except internship/practicum as described above) or subsequent year.
A student will be considered enrolled at Houghton for any semester in which they are attending a Houghton College off campus program identified in the current college catalog as qualifying. Programs where students are attending other schools will not qualify.
Full time Houghton students for both semesters preceding Mayterm who paid for an overload during either semester may apply to the Student Accounts Office to increase the hours allowed for the year to include the flat rate maximum plus the overload hours. A student whose Mayterm or summer internship/practicum course causes them to exceed the maximum hours allowed will be charged the overload rate for any excess hours. This rate is set each year and published in the College Catalog.
All Mayterm students (regardless as to whether or not they are receiving the Mayterm with no additional tuition) are required to remain in and pay for the same type of college housing that they were using during their full-time semester(s). Exceptions to this requirement include students from the local area (within 25 miles), Community Living Option (CLO) students who choose to live in college housing during May, and those on a trip for the entire Mayterm. Costs associated with trips vary and some may charge additionally for transportation, lodging and food. The board plan used for the previous semester(s) will be charged for Mayterm unless the student opts for a greater number of meals or if a particular plan is required for the course (as is the case for certain trips).
Students who do not demonstrate the ability to satisfy the financial or academic requirements for Mayterm may be denied attendance for the term.
(Adopted:
September 1, 1999; revised March 2000)
6.22.3 Faculty Remuneration:
(See annual salary chart
published on the web via a link on the Academic Dean’s Homepage :
http://campus.houghton.edu/offices/acad_dean/acad_dean_top.htm
for current dollar amounts.)
For international off‑campus courses, the minimum class size will be 12 paying students for full remuneration to the faculty member. For classes with less than 12, remuneration to the faculty member will be two‑thirds of the tuition billed.
Teaching assignments are
usually made within the area of the faculty member's expertise. However a faculty member may be asked to
teach in a general area as well. On
occasion there may be other assignments within the college for which load
credit will be given. Teaching
assignments are made by the department chair.
6.23a
Overtime compensation for administrators teaching
Non‑teaching
personnel of the college may, on occasion, be asked to teach an academic course
in addition to their regular full‑time responsibilities. In these circumstances, they will be
compensated according to the overload schedule for full‑time faculty with
assistant professor rank. Such
compensation is granted on the understanding that they will continue to fulfill
all responsibilities associated with their contractual duties with teaching
responsibilities being above and beyond their normal full‑time
employment.
All faculty absences
should be reported to the department chair.
Absences because of college‑related business should be reported
during the planning stage. Absences
because of sickness should be reported as soon as feasible.
Salary deductions of one‑hundredth
the annual salary will be made per day of absence for personal reasons not
covered under college‑related business or sick leave provisions.
Within any given school
year, a faculty member shall be permitted up to a total of four weeks of sick
leave without loss of pay. Sickness
requiring a longer absence will require review and action by the institution.
Absences for isolated
days or fractions of weeks, due to illness, shall be computed as fractions of
the weeks in which they occur (using as a denominator the number of days on
which the teacher has classes or laboratories in a normal week).
[When faculty members
know in advance that they are going to miss classes because of scholarly
conferences or other professional commitments, their students should be
provided instruction either by a qualified substitute teacher or by some other
appropriate instructional means such as library research, substantial reading,
or writing assignments, peer discussion groups, films, or tests. Canceling classes without making provision
for instruction or additional independent work is not an acceptable practice.] (Recommended
amendment; approval pending)
In the cases of illness,
the college will endeavor to obtain a substitute teacher whenever possible (and
to pay the substitute in accordance with an established schedule administered
by the academic dean). However, sick
leave shall be considered expended (or salary deductions made if appropriate)
whether or not a substitute teacher has been secured.
Substitute teachers are
engaged by the academic dean according to the following rules:
a. Substitute pay
for faculty on contract will be given at the recommendation of a department
chair when a faculty member substitutes more than two times.
b. Contract
faculty members doing substitute teaching shall be paid on the basis of .155%
of their gross annual salary for each class.
c. When a student
without a degree serves as a substitute teacher, he or she shall be paid at a
rate of 25 cents per hour higher than the top student laboratory aide rate with
the understanding that he or she may include up to two hours of preparation
time at that rate.
Houghton faculty have
distinguished themselves by their willingness to be available to students. More formally, each faculty member is
expected to be available to students for a minimum of three scheduled hours per
week. These hours should be posted and
carefully observed. Office hours should
be announced to each class at the beginning of the semester and included in the
course syllabus.
6.26
Library use and materials selection
6.26.1 Loan periods and fines: The general rules for
library use are found in the Student Guide, copies of which are available in
the Student Life office.
A faculty member may
borrow books and audio‑visual materials for a semester upon request at the
circulation desk. Any material on semester loan may be recalled at the end of
the regular circulation period if needed by another borrower. Courtesy reminders of due date will be sent
one week in advance on semester loans.
Faculty members are charged fines for overdue materials.
6.26.2 Interlibrary loans: The library pays postage on teaching‑related
interlibrary loans for faculty members.
6.26.3 Class reserve requests:
a. A faculty
member may restrict the use of any given book by filling out a reserve request
form at the circulation desk.
b. Reserve
requests must be made at least twenty‑four hours before an announcement
is made to the class.
c. Tapes made from
the archival records will be circulated to faculty, staff, or currently enrolled
students from the college for a regular loan period or a shorter period if
placed on reserve.
d. Anyone may
listen to college‑owned records using the library listening
facilities.
6.26.4 Library materials selection: The library book budget
is allocated annually among the various departments of the college by the
librarian according to a book budget formula.
Each faculty member has
the privilege and responsibility of suggesting books for purchase. For direction and coordination, these
recommendations shall be approved by the department chair.
Lists of new books
purchased, with books of special interest highlighted, are sent to the
department chairs for sharing with their faculty members.
Requests for periodicals
and audio‑visual materials will be handled in the same way as those for
books. Periodical and audio‑visual
materials will be purchased from department of division book funds while an
evaluation of current needs is being conducted.
Periodical titles to be
purchased and kept will be determined largely by whether they are indexed in
periodical indexes and by the department's or division's commitment to continue
to purchase the title out of book funds in coming years.
6.26.5 Selection aids: Choice cards are distributed monthly to
faculty members through the Department chairs.
The library will accept a choice card in lieu of a typed order card if
it:
a. is signed by
the authorized person.
b. indicates
"requested by."
c. designates fund
to be charged.
The library forwards specialized
publisher's catalogs and flyers to appropriate faculty members and maintains a
file of more general catalogs which faculty may use.
6.26.6 Order cards:
a. Obtain order
cards from the library secretary.
b. Please type all
entries.
c. The library
needs one copy of the order card.
d. Gather every
scrap of information at your command.
Numbers are very significant so please record them exactly as you find
them.
e. Clip order
cards to publishers' brochures or catalogs when you send them to the library.
f.
"Fund" should be your department's allocation number to which
the order is to be charged.
g. Type your name
after "requested by."
h. Hand write your
signature or initials after "approved by."
i. Sale items and
rush orders must be called to the attention of the librarian in order to pull
them from the usual workflow pattern and give them special attention.
j. After a book
has been processed, a copy of the library order slip will be sent to the person
who requested the material.
6.26.7 Unused funds: Departmental book funds that are not spent by
the end of the fiscal year are lost to the department. Please help to smooth out workflow by turning
in book order forms in small regular batches throughout the year, rather than
one huge order. Materials not received
by the end of the fiscal year come out of the next year's budget.
6.27
Instructional media and regulations
Houghton College
maintains an extensive and growing inventory and educational and instructional
equipment in a variety of media. Faculty
members are strongly encouraged to acquire appropriate skills in the use of
these media and to exploit the appropriate capabilities to enrich their
teaching.
6.27.1 List of instructional equipment: A current inventory of
instructional equipment is available at the media office.
6.27.2 Rules for use: Equipment reservation requests should be
made in writing on forms provided for that use.
(A pad of forms is available at the counter.) Please make a separate
application for each period of use.
Also, be sure to include the anticipated time of return of the
equipment.
Requests made suitably
in advance of needs will decrease the chances of equipment not being
available. In case of conflicting
commitments, if time permits an attempt will be made to secure alternate
dates.
If, after having
submitted a request, the requester finds the equipment will not be needed, a
prompt cancellation is expected. Others may
need the same equipment, and timely action will help their scheduling.
Please return equipment
immediately after use. Sometimes the
same piece of equipment is needed for successive class periods by different
instructors. Also, be sure that all parts
of the equipment (reels, mike, cover, etc.) are returned.
If something is wrong
with the equipment, make sure the equipment room attendant knows of the
trouble. Be specific . . . it
helps.
Unless otherwise
arranged in advance, all equipment is to be picked up from the equipment room
and returned to the equipment room during posted business hours.
Large items of equipment
are not to be removed from their tables nor are they to be taken from the rooms
to which they are assigned.
Equipment carts must not
be preempted for other purposes.
Equipment may be checked
out by faculty members or administrators.
Students may not check out equipment directly. A faculty member who wishes to have a student
use a particular piece of equipment must sign the requisition and assume
responsibility.
College instructional
equipment may be used only by the faculty, administration, and college
organizations for college‑sponsored purposes. Off‑campus use is limited to the
college Public Relations Program, to Houghton Church classes under the
supervision of the Christian Education Department, and to the Houghton
Volunteer Fire Department. [Ask for help
when you need it ‑‑ it will save damage to equipment and waste of
materials.]
6.27.3 Supplementary locations: In addition to the main
equipment checkout room, other locations on campus have been designated as
supplementary locations where basic sets of instructional equipment are
available. These locations are the
Science Building and the Physical Education Center.
6.27.4 Color video playback equipment: Houghton has two types
of videocassette playback equipment: 3/4‑inch U‑matic and 1/2 inch
VHS. No other formats will work on our
units, so be sure to specify clearly when ordering programs. The 3/4‑inch U‑matic is the
preferred equipment based on availability.
Videocassette playback
units are kept on special carts and should not be removed from the carts. Please plan to use the playback units in
those locations to which the carts can be wheeled. Transportation by elevator in the Science
Building is possible; make arrangements with the custodial staff. Media staff will move larger equipment by
elevator in the Academic Building.
6.27.5 Color television production studio: For information about
the color TV studio, please consult a current issue of the Audio‑Visual
Policies and Procedures Guidebook, available in the media office. Consultation in advance of any planned use
will help avoid disappointment.
All first uses must be
cleared through the Television Advisory Committee.
Special forms are
available for reserving the studio.
6.27.6 Security of equipment: Instructional equipment
is rapidly becoming highly sophisticated and expensive, so commensurate care of
equipment is required. Once you have checked
out a piece of equipment, you are totally responsible for its care and security
until the unit has been safely returned to the inside of the equipment
room. Leaving equipment unattended in a
classroom or outside the equipment room is an open invitation to
misappropriation. In many cases, the
only replacement for such lost equipment will be through the personal budget of
the individual person responsible.
6.28
Copying facilities and regulations
Photocopy machines are
located in most of the buildings on campus.
Most of these machines are restricted to faculty/staff use. Copies made for personal use must be paid for
according to the fee schedule that should be posted near the machines. The college encourages use of the Quick Print
facility in the Academic Building.
Except in emergencies, single-sided copies in excess of 20, and
double-sided copies in excess of 15 should be taken to Quick Print for copying.
The new copyright law
clearly spells out what may be copied legally and for what purposes. Infringements may have serious consequences
for the college and the individual; please observe the legal restrictions.
Off‑the‑air
recording of television programs is possible but the right to do so is
extremely limited. Regulations are still
in flux, so please check with personnel in the Educational Media office if in
doubt.
Houghton College has
joined the Television Licensing Center, which facilitates permits for such
copying. Monthly issues of the Center's
publication give advance notice of upcoming educational programs that may be of
interest. Copies are available in the Media office.
Each faculty member is
responsible for completing and submitting a copy of the form entitled
"Statement of Course Books and Supplies" for each course that he or
she will be teaching. These forms are
sent from the campus store to the department chair, which will distribute them
to faculty members.
The form must be
completed fully and returned to the department chair for authorization. The chair will forward the completed forms to
the campus store manager. In order to
ensure that textbooks will reach the campus on time, book and supply orders
must reach the campus store according to the following schedule:
Fall semester courses ‑ forms due by
ten days after graduation.
Spring semester courses ‑ forms due by
November 1.
Mayterm ‑ forms due by March 15.
Do not wait for
enrollment information from the records office; that information is passed
directly to the Campus Store manager.
Use your best guess of course enrollment ‑- timeliness is more
important than accuracy of enrollment estimates.
Also, a copy of any
supplementary book and supply list which is to be given to students should be
sent to the Campus Store. Many publishers
and suppliers now insist on minimum orders, and the Campus Manager will be able
to consolidate needs lists for better stock levels and timeliness.
Each faculty member must
handle his or her own requests for desk copies of texts and references. Publishers do not permit the Campus Store to
handle such requests.
6.30
Policy on sale of examination copies of textbooks
Several publishers offer
copies of textbooks to faculty free of charge or at significantly reduced prices
as part of their sales promotion. In
recent years other individuals, seeking to profit from this service, have
solicited faculty members to sell these complimentary/examination copies at
prices well below their retail value.
Houghton College disapproves of this practice which deprives publishers
of their fair market and authors of their appropriate royalties.
Various personnel and
professional records for each faculty member are kept on file by the department
chair, the academic dean, and human resources.
These records are open to review by the faculty member upon
request. Faculty members are also
invited to provide a current vita or biographical sketch to the college's
office of public information.
Field trips are
potentially worthy supplemental learning tools.
They may also be a waste of time, and when they are, they are a gross
waste. Even fully justifiable field
trips become a menace to the educational program when they occur too
frequently.
The following advice should govern the
determination as to whether a field trip should be taken:
1. Is the basic
information sought obtainable only by direct contact? (Not from textbooks,
films, etc.)
2. Will the
results of the trip be documented? Will the students be required to produce the
desired information in permanent form?
3. Is the
destination within a reasonable driving distance? (ca. 75‑mile radius)
4. Is the trip
coordinated with course work?
5. Will the
field trip seriously disrupt the students' schedule of work in other classes?
The following policy
should be followed:
1. Arrangements
with the place to be visited should ordinarily be completed 30 days in advance
of the trip.
2. Announced tests shall take precedence over
field trips except that students (with the agreement of the teacher) may take
special tests by paying the special test fee if a special test is
required. The student shall make
arrangements for the test with the teacher prior to the field trip.
3. Field trips may
be obligatory but only when advance information (probably Catalog) enables the
students to know that they should anticipate special field trip costs as they
enroll for a certain course.
4. Notice of an
approved field trip must be given to the vice president for student life at
least seven days prior to the date of the trip.
The notice should include the purpose of the trip, its itinerary, the
date, and an alphabetical listing of students to take the trip.
5. In general:
a. A
class should not plan on more than one field trip per semester.
b. Whenever
possible, different classes should try to schedule field trips at the same
time.
c. On
a college‑wide basis, no more than one occasion for a field trip per week
should be approved.
Faculty members at
Houghton College are expected to participate in the student recruitment and
admissions process in several ways.
Faculty act as on‑campus recruiters through personal contact with
prospective students and with parents of prospective students. Off‑campus, they serve as recruiters
through public and private contacts, through their professional status and
stature, and through involvement in a variety of academic, cultural, civic,
church, and community activities. Also,
two elected faculty members represent the faculty at large as voting members on
the Admissions Committee.
All department chairs
(and other faculty members on request) are expected to serve as resource people
for prospective students visiting campus.
Department chairs are the key to the efficient distribution of
prospective student names and delegation of associated recruitment tasks. As assigned, the individual faculty member
works with the admissions office to be available on a scheduled interview basis,
providing specific information about majors or programs in his or her
area.
In addition, faculty
members help in the recruiting process by making telephone calls at the request
of the admissions office to those selected prospective students who would
benefit most from contact with a faculty member. Usually these prospects are highly qualified
students who have been unable to visit campus or who did visit but were not
able to talk with a faculty member during their stay. In the same way, it is helpful for a faculty
member to write letters to prospective students.