Faculty Responsibilities

Absences

A faculty member who expects to miss one or more class sessions should confer with the department chair and the college dean about arrangements for the class or classes to be missed. When an emergency arises which causes the faculty member to miss scheduled responsibilities, the college dean should be notified as soon as possible so that necessary arrangements can be made. College deans and directors are requested to inform the vice president for academic affairs when they will not be on campus.

Advising Responsibilities

Assignment of Advisors

The assignment of advisees to advisors is a prerogative exercised at the college level. Advising duties should be divided among faculty with teaching and committee responsibilities in mind; however, students occasionally express a preference for a particular advisor. Such a preference should be honored where possible. Students in secondary education programs are advised by a person from their major field department and by a secondary education faculty member. Students who are undecided as to a major field of study will be advised by the undeclared advisor. Academic advising should be done by faculty and should not be delegated to administrative assistants or students.

Academic Advising

The academic advisor is provided with test scores, transcripts, and other relevant materials necessary for helping students develop a study plan which maps out the courses needed for graduation and an indication of when each course is likely to be taken. In the third month of each semester the advisor and advisee meet and determine from the plan which courses the advisee will take the following semester. Although academic advisement conferences emphasize course selection and the completion of the registration process, advisers are urged to offer their advisees help and encouragement in other areas and meet with them on other occasions as opportunities permit.

Eagle Base Camp and Orientation Registration

Faculty should work with their department chair and college dean to ensure adequate staffing during Eagle Base Camp in June and Orientation Registrations in August and January.

Budget Requests

Budget discussions start in September for the subsequent fiscal year. All budget requests should be ready by the beginning of September and must be submitted for review at the Deans Council’s first meeting.

Department chairs and others work with college deans in the preparation of budget requests based on realistic estimates of their needs for the upcoming fiscal year.

Catalog Revisions

Responsibility for final editing and coordinating the production of the catalogs rests with the registrar. Typically the catalogs are produced every year and are available online. Faculty members and students should understand that most changes introduced into a particular catalog issue do not apply to students who first enrolled when an earlier catalog was in effect. However, students may elect to graduate under the requirements of a later catalog by notifying the Registrar’s Office and their faculty advisor.

Matters of curriculum are under the direction and control of the vice president for academic affairs. Proposed changes in graduation requirements, course content, and course offerings are submitted by college deans to the dean of innovation and curriculum. Proposals are submitted to the Deans Council for approval.

Proposals for a new academic degree or program are subject to evaluation by the vice president for academic affairs, president, and possibly by external evaluators. Such proposals should follow the format specified in Appendix M - New Degree Implementation Plan .

Commencement Participation

Commencement exercises for all programs (on-campus undergraduate, graduate, online undergraduate) occur each semester on the dates shown on the academic calendar included in the respective catalogs. Fall semester commencement is one ceremony which includes all programs. Spring semester is two separate ceremonies (undergraduate and graduate). Faculty who teach across programs are expected to participate in the respective commencement ceremonies. All full-time faculty are expected to participate in the processionals and dress in regalia. Regalia is the responsibility of the employee. For the Regalia Policy see Appendix O - Regalia Policy .

Community Activities

Faculty members of the University are encouraged to contribute to the life of the community by providing active leadership in churches, school board, PTA, youth work, service clubs, and other community organizations.

Counseling

While faculty may find occasion to serve students in ways other than academic advising, they should feel free to refer students to other faculty or to the counseling staff. The director of career development and the director of counseling are available to students who need their specialized services.

Daily and Weekly Schedules

General Obligations

The normal week of responsibility is Monday through Friday. Sometimes employment obligations occur on Saturday and Sunday.

Classes

The standard is for classes to meet 50 minutes each week for each hour of credit. The typical three-hour class meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for 50 minutes, or on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 75 minutes each time. Laboratory periods are two or three 50-minute periods weekly per credit hour. Night classes typically meet for one or two extended periods weekly. No departures from the printed schedule of classes are permitted without approval from the dean of undergraduate studies.

Office Hours

A commonly cited strength of John Brown University is the accessibility of instructors to their students. Faculty are encouraged to make themselves available to students through the day as schedules permit. However, there is an obvious need for faculty to reserve time for study, grading, and other duties. To ensure a minimum level of availability to students, each faculty person is expected to post and maintain a minimum of ten office hours per week that classes are in session.

Chapel Services

Attend chapel regularly and participate actively in the institution’s other Christian formation opportunities.

After-Hours Responsibilities

Many faculty find themselves in sponsorship positions which involve programs and events at night or on weekends. With the college dean’s knowledge and approval, some adjustment in the regular schedule is appropriate. However, such activities should not be allowed to interfere with primary faculty responsibilities.

Released Time

Some faculty wish to pursue graduate studies, engage in writing or research, or serve outside agencies in a manner that requires time during the regular class day. Before a faculty person takes a request for released time for such reasons to the vice president for academic affairs, he or she should obtain the support of the department chair and college dean.

Excused Absences Due to Class Activities

Educational trips (class field trips, club trips) must be proposed to the dean of undergraduate studies for approval as excused absences. These trips should be planned to minimize potential conflicts with other classes. To request approval for an excused absence, send an email to the dean of undergraduate studies with the following information: description of trip, brief justification of academic benefits of field trip, who will be going, and when they will be gone (specific hours).

Faculty can verify a student absence/participation in an excused activity by accessing the excused absence list on Eaglenet.

The information provided in this link does not replace the student’s responsibility to inform his or her professor of absences from class.

Expenditures for Equipment and Supplies

JBU does not have centralized purchasing. Budget officers in each department are responsible for purchases in their respective departments. Supplies and equipment needed for instructional purposes must be purchased in accordance with established procedures posted under Accounting Services on Eaglenet. Equipment needs for the following year should be anticipated at the time the annual budget request is prepared. When it is time to make the purchase, the individual initiating the request should fill out a requisition or request for payment online through Eaglenet Financials.

The requisition or request for payment initiated by the department is forwarded to the college dean and then to the Business Office.

The receipt of a requisition or request for payment by the Business Office does not automatically result in compliance with the request. In general, budgeted items will receive priority over non-budgeted items. In certain instances, approval by the vice president for academic affairs will be required.

Field Trips

The university will provide cars and pay car or other expenses if the field trip is academically related and is an approved and budgeted item. Sack lunches for boarding students will be provided by the cafeteria with 48-hour notice. The trip sponsor must have all participants sign a liability form which is available from Amy Fisher or Kim Hadley. The sponsor should approve only responsible student drivers. If a driver uses their own vehicle, they must have valid automobile insurance. Drivers operating a vehicle equipped to transport 10 passengers or a minivan pulling a trailer must possess a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), or complete a Van Drivers Safety Course conducted by JBU Campus Safety, and must be 21 years of age or older. Refer to the Vehicle Reservations page off of Eaglenet for more information.

Any questions or concerns about liability related to field trips should be directed to Amy Fisher or Kim Hadley.

Grant Funding

The Grants Office in university advancement pursues grants on behalf of the University. Faculty seeking any type of external funding (private, corporate, state, or federal) must obtain prior approval from his/her college dean, the dean of undergraduate studies, the vice president for academic affairs, and the chief operating officer. Faculty are encouraged to contact the Grants Office for assistance with research, grant and fellowship applications, and grant writing. The Accounting Services Office has policies and procedures concerning grant management.

Inclement Weather Policy

The main campus of John Brown University rarely cancels classes due to inclement weather, even on days when local schools may be closed. However, weather conditions may occasionally prevent instructors or off-campus students from traveling to campus. JBU will operate on a two-tier system: Tier 1 is the default with in-person classes if possible, and Tier 2 is declared by administration with all classes remote if possible.

Tier 1 Details - In effect at all times unless Tier 2 is declared by administration

If an instructor is unable to make it to campus, they should notify students and their college dean by email whether their classes will be held remotely or cancelled. They should also post an announcement in the course Blackboard site and have someone post a notice in their classrooms. If an off-campus student is unable to make it to campus, they should notify their instructor, and the instructor should make reasonable accommodations.

For graduate courses at locations other than the main campus, any closures will typically be announced on the Crisis Alert System (CAS) and social media by 2 pm on the date of inclement weather. Instructors and students should also follow the previous procedures as appropriate if safe travel is not possible.

Inclement weather should generally not impact online courses, though related power outages may limit access to the internet. In those situations, instructors and students should communicate with each other and make reasonable accommodations.

Tier 2 Details - Only in effect if declared by administration

In some rare situations, extreme weather may require that all in person classes go remote. If this is the case, the university will make a general announcement to that effect through multiple communication channels, e.g., email, social media, Crisis Alert System (CAS). Instructors should then follow up with students about details for their classes.

Keys

Keys for university buildings, facilities, and equipment are not to be duplicated by individuals. The issuing and duplicating of keys is the responsibility of facilities services. Faculty and staff members responsible for certain facilities may be issued master keys, but possession of a master key must not be granted to students or other unauthorized persons. All master building masters must be approved by the college dean before issuance.

If a student needs access to a certain area for which an individual key is not available, someone authorized to possess a master key must accompany the student and retain the master key at all times. Master key privileges may be withheld for failure to comply with this important policy.

Keys must be turned in to HR when you leave JBU. You may be charged actual replacement cost for any keys not turned in or lost. This could include recoring all doors that the key(s) open to ensure building security.

See the Key Request page off of Eaglenet for the complete policy on keys.

Off-Campus Involvement

Remunerated employment, private business, or professional involvement of faculty and staff members outside the university is discouraged during the academic year. It may be permissible, however, provided:

1. That such activities do not detract from the time and attention required of the individual for fulfillment of professional and other responsibilities such as counseling, help sessions, proper preparation of classroom work, participation in committee activities, etc.
2. That such activities do not detract from the public image of the institution in an academic or religious sense.
3. That a clear and full understanding of the nature and extent of such involvement is maintained in writing with the University official to whom the person is principally responsible.
4. That it is understood that the annual contract may be renegotiated in view of reasonable, clear evidence that the remunerated activity will reduce the direct service to John Brown University to a significant extent.

Privacy Laws

HIPAA

New privacy laws were enacted in April of 2003 that protect individual health information (HIPAA). Because of this, the campus nurse will only be able to acknowledge that a student in your class is in some medical situation that might justify limited academic performance. Students must sign a release in the Nurse’s Office before any additional information can be released by the nurse. Please work with the students on minor health issues and involve the campus nurse only in cases of emergencies, accidents, etc.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974

(otherwise known as the Buckley Amendment): This act provides for the withholding of federal funds from any institution of higher education which has a policy of denying students the right to inspect and challenge the content of their education records. In addition, access by other persons to a student’s records without that student’s consent is limited. See Appendix P - FERPA Fact Sheet .

Speaking Engagements

Faculty are encouraged to accept speaking engagements whenever their responsibilities permit. If public relations materials can be used in connection with such engagements, the university will provide whatever is available and appropriate. Instructional equipment should not be taken off-campus without appropriate approval.

Sponsoring Student Organizations

Each student organization is required to have a faculty or staff person as a sponsor. The sponsor is expected to attend all meetings of the group and to give general guidance to all of the organization’s activities. Because the responsibility may require a substantial amount of time, each faculty member who is approached by a student group is urged to give careful consideration to the implied obligations before agreeing to become a sponsor. If the time commitment as a sponsor is likely to be substantial, it is well to confer with the college dean regarding its possible impact on other obligations.

Hazing of freshmen or other students is not permitted at JBU either on or off-campus.

Students with Disabilities

JBU is under legal mandate to provide reasonable accommodations for students who have disabilities. Many different types of disabilities are protected under the law, including physical disabilities, learning disabilities, psychological disabilities, attention disorders, and chronic illnesses.

Students must work through a process at JBU in order to receive accommodations. Students must register with the Office of Disability Services. Faculty will be notified by a letter from this office explaining the accommodations a student is to receive. The student then must meet with the faculty member to determine how the accommodation will be implemented for that particular class. No accommodations should be given if a student does not follow this process.

Accommodations are determined by the coordinator of disability services (479-524-7464) on a case-by-case basis after documentation of the student’s disability has been received and reviewed.

Accommodations must be reasonable by the definition provided in the law, not by what individual faculty deem reasonable. Faculty should speak with the coordinator of disability services if there is a concern about a particular accommodation.

Disclosure of a disability is confidential. The student’s privacy and the confidential nature of this disclosure must be of utmost importance as you work with the student. The issue of confidentiality has direct implications on how you structure provision of accommodations in your classes.

It may be difficult for students to talk with faculty about their disability. This may be because the student has not had to practice self-advocacy before, because the student fears a stigma being attached to the disability, or because the student has had negative experiences linked to the disability in previous educational settings.

The Office of Disability Services is located in the Learning Resource Center, room 150, and provides assistance to both students and faculty.

Teaching Responsibilities

Academic Integrity

As a Christian institution of higher education, John Brown University seeks to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Violations of these standards will result in substantial penalties. Violations and their definitions are as follows:

• Plagiarism: Submitting as part or all of one’s own work material that is copied or paraphrased from another source, including online sources, without the proper acknowledgment of that source. Examples include: failing to cite a reference, failing to use quotation marks where appropriate, misrepresenting another’s work as your own, etc.
• Cheating: Using unauthorized material or study aids for assistance on examinations or other academic work. Examples include: looking at a peer’s exam, altering a graded exam, using notes without permission, etc.
• Fabrication: Submitting altered or contrived information in any academic assignment. Examples include: falsifying data, text material, or sources.
• Facilitating academic dishonesty: Helping another student violate this policy. Examples include: allowing one’s work to be copied, working together on an assignment where collaboration is not allowed, doing work for another student.

Faculty Action Regarding Violations of Academic Integrity

All violations of the academic integrity policy will be reported to the dean of undergraduate studies, who will maintain a file on student offenses.

First offense: In the first case of dishonesty, the faculty member will normally give the student a zero for the assignment or test on which the student has been dishonest. Faculty members are free to impose more severe penalties if such penalties are announced in the course syllabus.

Second offense: A second violation of the integrity policy in the same course or in any other course will result in an F in the course.

Third offense: Any further violations of the integrity policy may result in suspension or dismissal from the university.

Appeals: A student who feels that he or she has been unfairly accused or unjustly treated may appeal to the dean of undergraduate studies.

Education Regarding Academic Integrity Policy

John Brown University is responsible to clearly articulate the academic integrity policy to students and faculty by publishing it in the Student Handbook and the Faculty Handbook and by informing all first-year students of this policy. Furthermore, faculty should reference the policy in their course syllabi. However, primary responsibility for knowledge of and compliance with this policy rests with the student.

Attendance

Faculty should take attendance in all classes. Accurate attendance records are essential for compliance in reporting the last date of attendance for both internal purposes such as non-attendance withdrawal and external purposes such as Federal Financial Aid return of funds. If a student has been absent for several class periods, faculty are strongly encouraged to notify the coordinator of student success so the student can be contacted. Students who are absent for all class periods during any 10-day window must be reported to the Registrar’s Office for withdrawal due to Financial Aid regulations.

While recording attendance is important, instructors are not obligated to take “roll call” before each class. Instructors may use daily quizzes or circulate sign-up sheets as records of attendance. Having these records on file would enable the university to verify the attendance of a student if required to do so.

Classroom Routine

Classes should start and end on time and class time should be utilized effectively in serving the objective of the course as stated in the syllabus. The method of instruction shall be decided by the instructor; however, there are many effective methods and the use of a variety of methods is considered good pedagogy.

Each instructor can help maintain attractive facilities by leaving each classroom in suitable condition for the next instructor. Markerboards should be cleaned, chairs placed in order, and the lights should be turned off when the classroom is not to be used the following hour.

To schedule classrooms, reserve meeting rooms, etc., see the section on Building and Facilities

E-Mail Surveys (Revised by Undergraduate Council on November 30, 2016)

Email surveys of the JBU community can be a valuable educational tool for our students. However, their cumulative effect can be taxing in terms of total man-hours for the faculty and staff. Therefore, these are some guidelines concerning student email surveys of the JBU community:

• The survey should be a significant and necessary part of an educational project. If a professor has a number of students proposing to survey the JBU community via email, he or she may want to suggest an alternative topic to some of the students.
• The survey should begin with a clear statement that completion of it is optional, not required, such as: The author(s) of this survey wishes to emphasize that answering any or all questions on the survey is strictly voluntary. Neither participation nor non-participation in this survey will affect in any way your status at John Brown University. In addition, unless you give your specific written permission, your name or identity as a subject and your specific responses to survey items will be handled in a strictly confidential manner.
• The professor should ensure that the survey is concise and that it contains clear instructions concerning where to submit the survey.
• If the survey contains questions that might be considered intrusive or of a personal nature, it should be referred to the Institutional Review Board for further review.

Examinations

Accountability is a fundamental principle of education. As a general rule, more assessment is better than less assessment. For this reason, frequent evaluation of the student’s progress is encouraged. All instructors are encouraged to use multiple forms of assessment, such as papers and projects, individual and/or group presentations, reflective journals, etc. in addition to exams.

Final Examinations

Students will find a schedule of final examinations as part of their registration materials at the beginning of the semester, thus students have public notice of final exam dates well in advance. Therefore, strict adherence to the published exam schedule is a firm expectation and any exception must be approved by the dean of undergraduate studies.

Policy for Modifying Final Examinations

(as approved by the Educational Policies Committee, April 23, 1996). All classes are required to meet during finals week at the designated times for administering the final examination and/or for other recapitulations of the semester’s work. Any exceptions to this policy must be cleared with the dean of undergraduate studies or the vice president for academic affairs. Final examinations are given in the same classrooms where regular class sessions meet.

Students must take their final exams at the designated times. Faculty members may not unilaterally allow a student to take a final exam at any other time. Final exams specifically may not be rescheduled for the following reasons: ride leaving early, weddings, flight availability and schedules, or family vacation plans.

In the event of extenuating circumstances, such as a death or a serious illness in the immediate family or illness of the student, a student may petition the dean of academic services to modify his or her exam schedule.

The penalty for not taking a final examination will be limited to a grade of zero for the test, to be averaged with other scores in determining the final grade in accordance with the grading system stated in the course syllabus.

Music board examinations will be taken prior to final examinations as arranged.

Courses Not Having Finals

If with the dean of undergraduate studies’ approval, a final examination is not given, the class should meet for an appropriate final conference at the scheduled final examination period, thus making effective use of all available class time. Attendance at the final conference should have some influence on the student’s grade. Faculty should not dismiss a class from meeting during the final examination period without prior approval from the dean of undergraduate studies.

Security of Examinations

Faculty offices do not provide adequate security for examinations. Examinations should be kept in locked files or other safe places. Every effort should be made to eliminate temptation toward dishonesty during examinations. (See the section on Academic Integrity under Teaching Responsibilities).

Film Policy

As a Christian institution, the John Brown University community agrees to honor and obey copyright laws. In general, films shown in public settings must be legally obtained and used under the guidelines established by the copyright laws.

If you have questions about how copyright laws apply to your particular situation, please contact the director of the library.

Films in classes

Films are frequently used by faculty in classroom instruction. Links to video content are increasingly being added to Blackboard pages. To accommodate both this growing trend on campus and JBU’s commitment to copyright compliance, the following guidelines have been developed.

Guidelines:

1. Showing a “reasonable and limited portion” of any movie (feature film or documentary) would be acceptable. This would apply to any type of course, whether in-person, online, or a hybrid.
2. Showing an entire documentary in class is acceptable since most documentaries would meet the fair use principles of educational purpose, noncreative nature of the work, and no effect on the market for the work.
3. Showing an entire feature film in class is acceptable if:
   1. A teacher is present.
   2. The showing takes place in a classroom setting with only enrolled students present.
   3. The film is an essential part of the curriculum being taught. (The instructor should be able to show how the film directly contributes to the syllabus.)
   4. The film being shown is a legitimately-obtained physical copy or a digital copy that is licensed for classroom use.
4. Online and hybrid classes must meet four criteria to show a feature film online:
   1. The transmission must be comparable in amount to that which would be used in an in-person course. In other words, the easy transmission of online films should not lead to their use in excess of what the instructor would show in a classroom.
   2. The transmission is made available only to students enrolled in the course.
   3. The film is an essential part of the curriculum being taught. (The instructor should be able to show how the film directly contributes to the syllabus.)
   4. The transmission must be under the direct supervision of the instructor. Students cannot post links to films.
5. All links to films must appear in Blackboard; this ensures that only enrolled students will view the film. Additionally, students must use Panopto for viewing. Panopto is a system for managing and delivering film media. There will be a link to Panopto on all Blackboard course pages. Panopto allows students to stream - but not download - film content. The following statement must be included with links to films on Blackboard/Panopto:

This material is made available for the educational purposes of students enrolled in [name of the course] at John Brown University. The material is subject to U.S. copyright law and is not for further reproduction or transmission.

Films in dorm rooms

Students are permitted to show films without public performance rights if the movie is shown to a small group of friends within their “home”. For JBU students, this means their dorm room and also some dorm lobby areas if it is an impromptu, non-JBU sponsored gathering without publicity or a general invitation.

Films in public settings

Films in public settings must be legally obtained and used under the guidelines established by the copyright laws. They are subject to the following guidelines:

• The federal Copyright Law makes it unlawful to show a JBU-sponsored film in a public space without the expressed and written permission from the copyright holder, or without purchasing a public performance license.
• Public space at JBU is any place on campus except the individual dorm room assigned to a specific student or students. In some situations, the dorm lounge space closest to the student’s room may also be considered personal space.
• Meetings of JBU-sponsored clubs, organizations, and housing units are considered public spaces and therefore must have explicit permission from the copyright holder or a public performance license to show a film.

Grading Policies and Procedures

Grade Distribution

Instructors are not required to follow a predetermined grading curve. The following guidelines should be used (as modified for the particular course) in assigning grades.

The Grade of A

A-level work demonstrates real achievement in grasping and applying course material, along with the clear development of a range of specific skills or abilities. The work at the end of the course is, on the whole, clear, precise, and well-reasoned. The A student’s work is consistently at a high level of excellence.

The Grade of B

B-level work represents demonstrable achievement in grasping course material, along with the clear demonstration of a range of specific skills or abilities. B-level work at the end of the course is, on the whole, clear, precise, and well-reasoned, though with occasional lapses into weak reasoning.

The Grade of C

C-level work illustrates some but inconsistent achievement in grasping course material, along with the development of modest skills or abilities related to the subject. C-level work at the end of the course shows some emerging skills and abilities but also pronounced weaknesses as well.

The Grade of D

D-level work shows only a minimal level of understanding of course material. D work at the end of the course, on the whole, shows only occasional growth in skills related to the subject. In general, D-level thinking lacks discipline and clarity.

The Grade of F

F-level work fails to display an understanding of the basic nature of the course. The work at the end of the course is as vague, imprecise, and unreasoned as it was in the beginning. There is little evidence that the student is genuinely engaged in the task of taking charge of his or her thinking.

The Grade of I

In extenuating circumstances, students may request to receive an incomplete (‘I’) grade for a particular course before the last day of class. Students should submit a written request by email to their instructor, including any and all supporting documentation.

All grades of incomplete (‘I’) must be approved by the instructor. An ‘I’ grade must be made up within a time frame established by the instructor but no more than 30 days after the last day of the term.

Upon completion of the course work, the instructor will notify the Registrar’s Office to replace the ‘I’ grade with the earned grade. The final grade must be submitted to the registrar’s office no more than 30 days after the last day of the term. If the student does not complete the work by this deadline, the instructor will assign a grade based on work received, or the grade will convert to ‘F’ automatically.

If warranted, the instructor may request an extension date for the Incomplete grade from the dean of academic services.

Grade Changes after Submission

Submitted grades can only be changed if there was an error in calculating the grade by the instructor. These grade changes may be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. If an instructor wishes to change a grade for any other reason, a request must be made via email to the dean of undergraduate studies with an explanation of why the grade should be changed. The dean of undergraduate studies will approve or deny and notify the Registrar’s Office if the grade should be changed. Note that grade changes for reasons other than errors in calculation will only be considered in very exceptional cases and the longer after the end of the course that the request is made the less likely it is that it will be approved. If an instructor is providing an option for a student to change a course grade by submitting work after the end of the course, the instructor should submit an ‘I’ grade for the student and follow the process for incomplete grades (refer to the section on ‘I’ grades above). The Instructor should not submit a grade and then request to change it later for this type of situation.

In the rare situation that a student’s course grade needs to be changed without the instructor’s support, the dean of undergraduate studies may convene a taskforce composed of the appropriate college dean, five faculty members (three from within the college and two from other colleges), and the dean of undergraduate studies. The college dean would chair the taskforce, and the faculty members would be the voting members of the taskforce. If a majority of the faculty members vote to change the grade, the dean of undergraduate studies will notify the Registrar’s Office of the grade change.

Independent Study

Independent study courses are those in which students do not meet regularly with other students in a classroom setting, but pursue studies independently under the supervision of a full-time faculty member. Faculty who direct independent study courses do so above and beyond normal teaching duties and will be compensated by an independent study fee. For this reason, directing an independent study should be regarded by faculty as strictly voluntary and should be done only after careful consideration of the impact on workloads and of possible alternative ways for the student to fulfill the course requirement. Faculty should not direct more than three independent study courses and five independent study students in any one semester without approval of the dean of undergraduate studies (refer to the section on Faculty Loads in Faculty Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines for more information). All independent study courses must have the approval of the instructor and the college dean. (Approved by EPC on April 10, 2001).

Students can obtain the necessary forms to register for an independent study at the Registrar’s Office.

Independent studies may be used when

• a student has an area of special interest normally outside of the existing curriculum
• an advising error has occurred that requires a student to take a course in a semester when it is not regularly offered in order to graduate
• a scheduling conflict has occurred during that semester that will prevent the student from graduating on time if he/she does not complete one of the courses by independent study
  • whenever feasible, the first option to consider should be for the student to register for the normally scheduled courses and work out accommodations with the instructors rather than to take one of the courses as an independent study
• a course is canceled due to low enrollment.

A student must complete an Application for Independent Study from the Registrar’s Office. Approval must be provided by the professor supervising the independent study, the student’s advisor, and the college dean of the unit in which the course resides. Only full-time faculty may supervise independent studies unless an exception is made by the dean of undergraduate studies.

A non-refundable fee will be charged to the student. In some special circumstances, the college dean may waive the fee. The student will pay all normal per-credit tuition charges for hours below 12 or above 18 hours.

Only students in good academic standing (2.0 or higher cumulative GPA) and with no current Incompletes on their transcript will be allowed to register for an independent study. Students will be limited to one independent study per semester except by appeal to the dean of academic services.

After approval of an independent study, faculty must submit a syllabus for each independent study course by the end of the first full week of the semester to OAA.

After the beginning of a semester, students will only be allowed to add an independent study during the normal add period at the beginning of a semester. Independent studies to be added after this point must be appealed to the dean of academic services.

If a student does not complete an independent study by the end of the semester, an incomplete can be submitted. At the end of 30 days if no grade has been submitted and no extension of the incomplete has been requested, that incomplete becomes an F and the faculty member will receive no pay for the independent study. If the grade is changed or the faculty member submits an “F” as the grade for the course, the faculty member will receive payment.

Integration

“Training of the Heart” is a primary objective of the university and faculty members are encouraged to model appropriate behavior and seize opportunities to exert a positive influence on the spiritual development of students. One way to do this is to open class with scripture and prayer, but integration goes far beyond that and should result in the application of biblical truth to topics and questions as they arise in the normal progress of a course. Methods of integration are discussed in faculty meetings and workshops. Materials on the subject are available through the coordinator of faculty development. The integration of faith, learning, and living is a priority of the university.

Online and Hybrid Courses

Online and hybrid delivery of courses must be approved by the dean of undergraduate studies. Faculty members developing online or hybrid courses must work with the Office for Advancement of Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship (ATLAS) and follow all ATLAS guidelines. Any online courses in on-campus undergraduate programs must follow the standard semester format.

Syllabi

Because a good syllabus is fundamental to good teaching, faculty are expected to distribute a syllabus in each course they teach. Given the uniqueness of each course, syllabi will naturally vary widely in style and format; however, for your protection as well as the student’s enlightenment, there are certain items that should appear in every syllabus. For this reason, a checklist (see Appendix K - Syllabus Checklist ) of recommended items for a syllabus is available to help you avoid important omissions and to incorporate a measure of consistency within and across departments. Faculty are requested to submit a copy of the syllabus for each course they are teaching each semester to their area’s administrative assistant.

Textbooks

Textbook adoptions are sent to faculty in late February for Summer and Fall courses and in October for Spring courses. Typically, four weeks are allotted for instructors to make their course materials selections. This amount of lead time allows for John Brown University to remain fully compliant with Federal HEOA standards which allow transparency via a forward look into expected costs associated with a student’s education. Any course materials that are required for the course must be fully disclosed, including but not limited to, textbooks and course supplies (goggles, dissection kits, journals, engineering paper, etc). Changes to course materials can be made but need to be made with the knowledge that as the course draws near, students may have already acquired the original materials from sources where returns are not possible.

Faculty are not allowed to charge their own textbook copies to the department. Many publishers will provide instructors with a free copy of the textbook. The bookstore can assist instructors with publisher contact information in securing these titles. Complimentary books received by faculty are not to be sold (Educational Policies Committee, November 17, 1987); they may be given away to libraries, schools, or students.

Questions about pricing, ordering, and handling special packets of course materials should be addressed to the bookstore manager.