| 1.
Students
are disrupting my classroom, making it difficult for me to teach and
for
my students to learn. What should I do? First, document all serious instances of classroom disruption in memo form. Be sure to state the date, time and place of each incident. Keep the memo as factual and objective as possible -- just the facts. Try to avoid judgment words that may misinterpret what actually occurred and/or was said. Include the names of all participants and witnesses and the names of any university police officers who responded to your call (see below). If you are in doubt about the appropriate language, call the Ombudsman. Second, review the various MSU rules and regulations that govern student conduct in and out of the classroom. If nothing else, these rules will help define unacceptable classroom conduct. Begin your review by following these links: Academic Freedom for Students at
Michigan
State University (also known as the "Academic
Freedom Report," or "AFR"): Graduate Student Rights and
Responsibilities
at Michigan State University (or "GSRR”): Medical Student Rights and
Responsibilities
at Michigan State University (or "MSRR”): Code of Teaching Responsibility General
Student Regulations: University
Ordinances: Faculty Handbook All-University Policies:
2. Is it possible that I have contributed to the lack of classroom decorum? The answer might be connected to your course syllabus. Some students become angry with instructors who fail to the follow the Code of Teaching Responsibility and the Academic Freedom Report (AFR) or Graduate Students Rights and Responsibilities (GSRR) documents (see especially Article 2 in each of the latter). They complain about instructors who change their course syllabi; e.g., change the announced dates for exams and major assignments or change the method to determine final course grades. While such changes may be necessary, students nevertheless expect their instructors not to make any changes after the deadline for dropping a course with a refund. This is especially true for any changes that affect grades, including attendance policies. Students often say they lose respect for instructors who:
Following your self-assessment,
determine
if you have discussed your expected classroom procedures, including
decorum,
with your students at the beginning of the semester. Have you
told
them, for example, to silence their cell phones or put away The
State
News or other reading materials when you begin class discussion?
Have
you explained your classroom policy on arriving late to class? Sleeping
in class? Eating in class? Bringing guests or children to class?
Some instructors allow their students to share in developing such
classroom
standards. (See also "When
Our Students Don't Respect Us.") The Chronicle of Higher Education
reported on the development of a "Contract
on Classroom Behavior" by Delaney J. Kirk, professor of
management at Drake University. The contract lists several classroom
rules that students who enroll in Prof. Kirk's classes agree to adhere
to when they sign the contract. For the text of a Chronicle
Colloquy on this topic, which took place on September 15, 2004, click here. 3. How should I confront disruptive students? During class, tell the disruptive students, in a calm, respectful and non-threatening manner, to refrain from their behavior, because it impedes your ability to teach and their classmates’ ability to learn. Remind them of the agreed-upon class standards. If that fails to stop the misbehavior, privately invite the students to visit with you before or after class or during office hours. (If you have reason to believe the disruptive students might threaten you in any way, ask a colleague or administrator to attend this meeting.) Again, the key here is respect and civility. If a group of students is the problem, the situation becomes more difficult than dealing with a single student, but you must notify these students that they are disrupting the classroom and making it difficult for others to learn. During your meeting, carefully and explicitly explain why you believe their conduct is disrupting the learning environment in your classroom and thereby violating a specific MSU rule, policy, ordinance or regulation cited in question 1 above. Politely ask the students to stop this behavior. Then ask the students to explain their behavior. Ask if they accept or deny responsibility for their conduct. Listen carefully, for the students might cite any number of reasons, including serious health concerns or personal problems. Do not argue with them. While health conditions do not condone the behavior, you might be able to direct the students to a campus resource, such as the Counseling Center, for assistance. Advise the students that if the disruptive conduct continues, you will file a complaint with the Student Judicial Affairs Office. (See question 10 below.) 4. What should I do if my initial conversation with the disruptive students fails to stop their misbehavior? Having warned the students clearly and precisely about a possible referral to the Student Judicial Affairs Office, follow through by contacting that office (call 432-2471). A staff member will then contact the students to set up a meeting to discuss the matter. A hearing, either by an administrator or a hearing body, will likely follow. If a hearing is scheduled, you would be the complainant and the student, the respondent. (See below.) 5. Can I expel a disruptive student from my class? No, but you may ask a student to leave the classroom for the session in which s/he refuses to behave in a manner conducive to learning. In the extreme, judicial action could result in suspending the student. Also, the Vice President for Student Affairs may immediately and temporarily suspend a student if s/he considers that student to be a "clear and present danger to the health or safety of persons or property. . . ." A hearing will follow. (See AFR 4.2 and 4.3.7.) 6. Do disruptive students with emotional or mental disorders get any special treatment if they become disruptive? No. While some students
qualify for
special accommodations determined by the Resource Center for Persons
with
Disabilities (RCPD),
such
as extra time to complete exams, they are expected to meet the rules
and
regulations cited above. Sometimes, however, their disruptive conduct
in
the classroom may signal a change in, or lack of use of, a prescribed
medicine. [Note: Students are responsible for seeking classroom accommodations from the RCPD and for notifying their instructors about those accommodations.] 7. What patterns of student behavior are likely to identify a potentially disruptive or threatening student? Be alert for tell-tale signs that could potentially escalate the problem. For example, does the student appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Does the student appear continually confused, irritated or depressed? Has the student missed several class sessions? Has the quality of the student’s work dropped suddenly? Does the student’s written work include veiled or overt threats? 8. When should I call university police?
[Note: 911 will connect you to the
area police dispatch service. The dispatcher will route a call
from campus to DPPS.] In short, if you have reason to believe that a student, or a group of students, poses an imminent risk of serious harm to you or your students, dial 911. If you anticipate an escalation of disruptive student conduct and wish to discuss your concerns with university police, call 355-2222. A shift supervisor will take your call and explain your options. Unlike a 911 call, contacting the shift supervisor will not necessarily result in an immediate police response. 9. What happens to the student if I call the university police? The university police will investigate the incident and take the student into custody, if the facts support such action. The police will send a report of the incident to the Ingham County prosecutor, who may authorize a warrant for the student’s arrest. As a routine part of the investigation, police will determine if the student has a criminal record. The results of this investigation may affect the charge and ultimate sentence. If the prosecutor charges the student, the student will be taken to the East Lansing District Court (54-B) for arraignment. If the charge is serious, the student may not be released. For lesser charges, the student may have both a bond and bond conditions set before being released. Bond conditions may include a restriction on contact with the victim. If the student is charged with a misdemeanor, the case would be heard at the District Court in East Lansing. A preliminary hearing for felony cases also is held at the District Court in East Lansing. A trial for a felony case is held in the Circuit Court in Lansing or Mason. 10. What happens to the student if I file a complaint with the Student Judicial Office? The student essentially has two options: (1) admit to the allegation and request that appropriate sanctions be determined, either by an administrator from Student Judicial Office or by the Student-Faculty Judiciary, or (2) deny the alleged violation and request a hearing, again, either by an administrator from the Student Judicial Office or by the Student-Faculty Judiciary. If the student selects option (1) or if the student selects option (2) and the Student-Faculty Judiciary finds for the instructor (the complainant), an appropriate sanction will follow. The most severe disciplinary action is suspension from the university. (For details on these hearings, see A Practical Guide to MSU’s Student Disciplinary Process at this Web site: http://studentlife.msu.edu/judicial/discipl.htm). 11. Can a student face charges from the Prosecutor’s Office and the MSU Student Judicial Office simultaneously? Yes, the two procedures are independent of each other, but both require a complainant; in classroom disruption cases, the complainant is usually the instructor. 12. What is my involvement if I file a complaint against the student, either with the Student Judicial Office or with the campus police? If you file a complaint with the
Student
Judicial Office, you, as the complainant, will be expected to attend
the hearing either
before the Student
Faculty Judiciary or before an administrative officer of the Student
Judicial
Office. (See question 10 above). If you are the victim or the witness to what the police determine to be a crime, you might be asked to appear in court. Because of various police options, however, the case could be negotiated and the student put on a pre-trial diversion program, ending your involvement. 13. Whom should I contact for advice in dealing with disruptive students? First, remember this: No one person on this campus coordinates responses to disruptive student issues and concerns. This results in what is called “multiple points of entry” for instructors seeking help and guidance. Depending on the perceived nature of the disruption, contact any of the following individuals or offices. At this point, you do not have to identify the student by name:
And, as always, contact the Ombudsman (353-8830). |
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