3.3.12 A. Faculty Responsibilities to Students

This policy articulates faculty responsibilities to students across all instructional modalities and all types of instructional interactions, whether synchronous or asynchronous, as defined in Policy 4.1.21 Instructional Modalities and Distance Education. For purposes of this policy, "faculty" includes all instructors as defined in Section I.b. of Policy 4.1.22 Recording in Instructional Settings.

Faculty members should encourage the free pursuit of learning by all students and exemplify the highest scholarly and creative activity standards of their discipline.
Faculty members should foster the highest standards of academic honesty. Faculty shall make reasonable efforts to guard against all forms of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, (consistent with the Code of Student Conduct and Policy 1.8 Integrity in Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities), and shall have clear policies regarding academic integrity stated in their syllabi, including the appropriate use of artificial intelligence tools.
Membership in the academic community imposes on faculty members an obligation to respect the dignity of others, to acknowledge their right to express differing opinions, and to foster and defend intellectual honesty, freedom of inquiry and instruction, free expression, the civil discourse. Expressions of dissent and attempts to produce change may not be carried out in ways that injure individuals, damage institutional facilities or disrupt the classes of one's colleagues. Faculty members shall not incite students to acts of violence against individuals, acts of destruction of property, or acts that interfere with academic freedom. Faculty members shall comply with the University's non-discrimination and anti-harassment requirements, with any concerns referred to the appropriate University office under policies 1.1 Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement and Policy and 1.2 Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy.
Faculty members shall organize and teach their courses in a manner that is consistent with the intent of the course as described in the university catalog and with curricular expectations established by their respective departments(s)/school(s).
Faculty shall provide students access to a written syllabus (printed and/or electronic) within the first week of classes (no later than the University-established course withdrawal date, see the 2.1.14 Withdrawal Policy), for each course that they teach. The syllabus shall include specific course information, which includes, but is not limited to, course learning objectives, required materials, meeting modality, tentative schedule, grading scale, methods of faculty availability (e.g., office hours and location, or other means of faculty availability appropriate to the teaching assignment), methods of evaluation (e.g., types of assignments, weights of assignments, and contribution to final grade) used to determine the final grade, and attendance and other course policies. The syllabus shall include required University syllabus statements on Academic Integrity, Student Access and Accommodation Services (SAAS), Recording in Instructional Settings, and appropriate use of artificial intelligence tools. Faculty should reasonably adhere to the course syllabus and shall announce and explain to the class all changes to the syllabus as far in advance as possible.
Evaluation of students is an important part of the learning process and should add to students' understanding. The course and the evaluation process exist to enhance students' intellectual development. Grades and feedback on papers, projects, and examinations shall be returned to the student for review and discussion in a timely manner. Final exams, term papers, and other academic products shall be returned to the student or retained for one term, allowing the student to review them with the instructor if the student desires. (Policy 4.1.5 Final Examinations). Faculty shall submit final course grades in a timely manner that meets University deadlines, consistent with Policy 4.1.6 Grading Practice. It is expected that faculty members will collect sufficient data on students' performance to justify the final grade. Evaluation of students and award of credit must be based on professionally judged academic performance and not on matters irrelevant to that performance, as detailed in University Policy 1.1 Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement and Policy and Policy 4.1.20 Final Course Grade Challenge. In cases involving alleged academic integrity violations, final grade submission may be contingent upon completion of the University's student conduct process. Academic integrity violations are address under the Code of Student Conduct, with faculty-imposed grade outcomes and University conduct processes working in tandem, including circumstances in which a grade of Incomplete (I) is assigned pending resolution.
Faculty are encourage to submit University-requested early alerts and progress reports grades to provide students with timely information about their academic standing and to support student success.
Faculty members shall meet their assigned classes as scheduled (e.g., duration, location. modality). Faculty members who are absent from their duties due to illness shall notify their department chairperson/school director or appropriate dean as soon as practicable. Faculty members who are absent for any reason other than illness shall notify their department/chairperson/school director (or appropriate dean for the Mennonite College of Nursing or for Milner Library) in advance and provide information regarding the nature and timing of the absence, classes or other instructional activities affected, and arrangements for coverage or rescheduling, consistent with University procedures. Faculty members should also notify students in a timely manner when absences alter regularly scheduled instructional activities.
Faculty members shall be available to students on a regular basis outside of class. Faculty accessibility expectations shall be consistent with departmental norms and align with collective bargaining agreements, which require faculty availability outside scheduled class time. Ordinarily, this will mean announcing and observing a reasonable number of regular office hours during which the faculty members will be available for student conferences. When student schedules conflict with regular office hours, additional appointment times should be made available at a mutually convenient time for faculty and students. Other means of student consultation appropriate to the teaching assignment may be used, including email, the learning management system, or other University-approved channels; faculty shall inform students (ordinarily through the syllabus or the learning management system) of the primary means of communication and availability and, if applicable, of typical response timeframes and any exceptions (e.g., weekends, holidays). Office hours and/or other means of consultation shall be announced to classes in the course syllabi. Departments/schools (or colleges for the Mennonite College of Nursing or Milner Library) should define the appropriate number of regular office hours and the means of student consultation based on student needs and the nature of the discipline(s) in the department/school (or college for the Mennonite college of Nursing or Milner Library).
Faculty members shall prepare adequately for each class session and should cultivate their students' motivation to excel.
In online and distance education courses, faculty shall provide regular and substantive interaction with students, consistent with University Policy 4.1.21 Instructional Modalities and Distance Education.
Faculty shall implement SAAS-approved reasonable accommodations in a timely manner and employ accessible course design practices (e.g., accessible documents/media, multiple means of engagement and assessment) to support an inclusive learning environment.
For laboratories, fieldwork, studios, or similar settings, faculty shall provide safety instruction, supervise use of equipment or materials, enforce safety protocols, and report incidents according to University procedures.
Faculty members shall respect the confidential nature of the instructor-student relationship. All information about student views, beliefs, activities, and political association(s) that is acquired through the instructor-student relationship shall be kept confidential. Grades and other confidential indicators of academic performance shall be provided in a secure manner following University information-security requirements (Policy 1.10 Security and Confidentiality of Data, Policy 9.2 Information and Technology Acceptable Use Policy), protection of student records (Policy 2.1.1 Student Records), and consistent with appropriate state and federal laws.
Faculty members shall avoid financial, intellectual, or other exploitation of students for private advantage both in and outside the classroom. Students' assistance in any scholarly endeavor, research, or creative activity shall be properly acknowledged in accordance with discipline-specific standards and with University Policies (e.g., Policy 1.8 Integrity in Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities, Policy 4.1.10 Intellectual Property).