Disruption Free Learning Environment Policy

Purpose

To ensure that faculty and students engage in coursework without undue disruption.

Definitions

Class/Classroom

A physical classroom, lab, instructional field space, off-site practicum/clinical space or the online instructional environment.

Notification

A notification can be delivered via the student’s College email account, mailed to the students’ address on file with the College, delivered in person or a combination of the aforementioned methods.

Policy

The College strives to create a classroom atmosphere that is characterized by respect, openness, and cooperative interactions. Students play a critical role in helping to create a classroom environment where all students can learn without disruption. Students are not allowed to be disruptive in class.
Examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to:

• Making loud and distracting noises.
• Eating in class when it is prohibited.
• Monopolizing classroom discussions to the detriment of student learning or the faculty member’s ability to teach.
• Excessive amounts of emails sent directly to the faculty member that monopolize the faculty member’s time and are detrimental to the faculty member’s ability to teach.
• Repeatedly interrupting when the instructor or others are speaking or persisting in speaking without being recognized.
• Using cell phones or electronic devices when prohibited.
• Behavior that distracts the class from the subject matter or discussion.
• Refusal to comply with faculty direction.
• Repeatedly leaving or entering the classroom during class without authorization.
• Failing to respect the rights of other students to express their viewpoints.
• Electronic conversations that are off-topic or not related to learning materials.

A student who has been notified and/or removed three or more times for disruptive behavior may be referred to the appropriate academic administrator. It is possible that a student who has been notified or removed from a class three or more times will not be allowed to continue to attend or participate in the class in accordance with due process procedures. Removal from a course may result in a student earning a failing grade for the course and the student will not be eligible for a refund. Any adjustment a failing grade or removal from a course may cause to the student’s financial aid eligibility and/or financial implications is solely the students responsibility.

Examples of extreme disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to:

• Verbal abuse such as profanity or derogatory language, hostile remarks, taunting, badgering, or verbal intimidation toward or about other students in the classroom, other groups of people, or the instructor.
• Intoxication or other suspected substance impairments.
• Harassment (e.g. use of “fighting words”, stalking)
• Making physical threats to a classmate or the instructor.
• Threat to harm oneself or others.
• Physical violence (e.g. shoving, grabbing, assault, use of weapons)
• Communication that may directly or indirectly affect teaching and learning including phone calls, emails, or other correspondence prior to, during, or after a semester of a course enrollment that creates reasonable fear for a faculty member or fellow classmates.

A student who has been notified and/or removed for extreme disruptive behavior will be referred to the appropriate academic administrator. A student who has been notified or removed from a class will not be allowed to continue to attend or participate in the class in accordance with due process procedures.

Removal from a course may result in a student earning a failing grade for the course, and the student will not be eligible for a refund. When a student earns a failing grade or is removed from a course, it may impact the student’s financial aid eligibility and/or result in financial implications the student would be responsible for addressing.

Students in violation of this academic policy may also be in violation of the Student Conduct Code and may be subject to concurrent and or separate sanctions pending the offense.