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3.1 Class Length
3.2 Class Attendance
3.3 Students Unable to Attend Courses on Certain Days Because of Religious Beliefs
3.4 Emergency Closing and Delayed Opening
3.5 Classroom Conduct
3.6 Classroom Recording
3.7 Children in the Classroom
3.8 Course Outline in the Learning Management System
3.9 Course Evaluation
3.10 Prohibiting Faculty Relatives in Class
3.1 Class Length
Monday through Friday classes are normally 50 minutes in length held three times a week, or 75 minutes held twice weekly. Faculty have no authority to change class schedules, or to modify the length of class sessions (i.e., to start late or leave early, etc.), or to change the day or the time of the class meeting. If you have any questions about these general rules, please discuss them with your Department Chair.
3.2 Class Attendance
Because of the relationship between attendance and course achievement, students are expected to attend all scheduled classes.
It is the responsibility of each faculty member at the start of the course to provide a clear written statement of the methods used to evaluate student achievement. Each faculty member also has the responsibility to advise students of his/her policies on make-up tests or assignments and on the treatment of missed assignments. Faculty members are encouraged to take into consideration extenuating circumstances when making individual decisions.
Traditionally, faculty members allow up to two (2) hourly absences for each credit hour (i.e. six (6) absences from a course which meets three (3) times per week in a fifteen (15) week semester), strictly for personal emergencies. There are some courses (i.e. clinical, laboratory, performance, etc.) that may demand different attendance. This information should be specified to the students at the beginning of the course.
Student attendance cannot be the sole determinant of a final grade in a course (although a student’s grade can be affected by poor attendance.) A faculty member cannot assign a grade of “F” solely for absences, however, students are strongly cautioned to be mindful of how professors link attendance requirements to other aspects of how they are evaluated. Thus attendance can seriously affect a grade, and even result in failure. Students have the right to appeal the grade they receive according to the established College procedure as stated in the “Student Rights & Responsibilities” document, which is available in the Student Involvement Office.
Attendance in online classes is defined by federal regulation as the active participation in a discussion forum, submission of a written assignment, or a completion of a quiz/test/exam. If a student does not complete at least one of these activities during a week’s time, s/he may be marked as absent for that week. Students who have NOT met attendance requirements for online courses by the census date will be considered as never attended and will be given a WN grade.
Revised and Passed by Faculty Senate, 2/28/18
3.3 Students Unable to Attend Courses on Certain Days Because of Religious Beliefs
Section 224a, Paragraph 6-a, of the New York State Education Law regarding absence from classes for religious observance states that “…each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, must be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to such student such equivalent opportunity.
3.4 Emergency Closing and Delayed Opening
During inclement weather or other emergency situations parts or all of the college may need to close out of public safety concerns. Such information will be shared via the following channels:
- Website posting here
- Calling the college at 914-606-6900
- Phone/Text message via SUNY WCC Alerts
Delayed Opening
When the college opening is delayed, a class may meet, depending on the time of the scheduled class meeting.
Evening On-Campus Classes
A decision to cancel evening classes will be based on the condition of the parking lots and the pathways and the weather forecast.
Off-Campus Classes
Off-campus classes taught in the evenings in high school buildings will follow the decision that has been made by the local school district in which the high school site is located.
Make-Ups
Faculty will be paid for class meetings canceled by the College for emergency reasons, but they are expected to make up the content of the missed classwork.
3.5 Classroom Conduct
3.5.1 Definitions
- Class/Classroom: any academic space, inclusive of laboratories, field sites/locations, online/virtual platforms, etc. that is formally utilized for learning in connection to an academic course led by a member of the WCC faculty.
- Classroom Disruption: behavior that a reasonable person would view as substantially or repeatedly interfering with normal operations of a class. Examples include, but are not limited to: (a) persistently speaking without being recognized; (b) continuing with conversations distracting the class; or (c) in extreme cases, resorting to physical threats or personal insults.
3.5.2 Policy
An essential interest of Westchester Community College is in establishing and maintaining an appropriate learning environment, maximizing the educational benefit to all students, maintaining an atmosphere of safety and comfort, and clarifying the instructor and students expectations of classroom conduct. As such, the college has identified the following expectations for student conduct in a classroom:
- Students are expected to arrive on time, remain seated during class, and refrain from packing up to leave class early. A student arriving late, leaving early, or who needs to step out of class (as in an emergency) should do so with minimal class disruption.
- Students are expected to focus on the class lesson. Students should refrain from doing work for other classes, eating, drinking, sleeping, or having conversations. Phones, laptops, and other electronic devices should only be used for class purposes.
- In the classroom and in all course related communications, students are expected to use appropriate language and address instructors and other students with civility.
- Students must silence all cell phones prior to the start of class.
- Visitors are only allowed with permission from the instructor, and children are not permitted in class at any time.
- For online/virtual platforms: the discussion area of the course is reserved for postings related to course work only. Postings of a personal or nonacademic nature are not permitted and may be removed by the instructor should they appear. Grades and personal issues should be handled by email to the instructor.
Students have the right to express themselves and participate freely in a class. Lawful, civil expression of disagreement with the instructor or other students is not in itself “disruptive behavior†and is not proscribed under these or any other regulations. However, when a student’s conduct in the classroom substantially or repeatedly interferes with the normal operations of a class (i.e. becomes disruptive) the college may take action to ensure the integrity of the classroom. These actions can range from a verbal or written warning to removal from a class for that session or for the remainder of the term. A student who is removed from a classroom for the remainder of a term will receive a grade of “W” on their transcript and will forfeit any tuition and fees associated with the class.
Approved by SUNY WCC Cabinet, January 30, 2024
3.6 Classroom Recording
Unless otherwise specified as part of a disabilities accommodation*, students may not record, reproduce, screenshot, photograph, or distribute any video, audio, or visual content from their courses taught in any modality, including remote/online courses without the written permission of the instructor. This restriction includes but is not limited to:
- Pre-recorded and live lectures
- Live discussions
- Discussion boards
- Simulations
- Posted course materials
- Faculty feedback forms
- Visual materials that accompany lectures/discussions, such as slides
- Virtual whiteboard notes/equations, etc.
A student found to be in violation of this policy can be referred through the college conduct process for possible college sanctions (including warning, probation, suspension, or expulsion) as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
*Any case for class recordings that is deemed necessary under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the ADA of 1990 needs to be properly documented and presented to the instructor prior to any recordings being made. Such requests for these accommodations must be made and approved through the college’s Disability Services Office. Additionally, any materials obtained through this accommodation must be limited to personal academic study and review use only and may not be distributed to any other persons without the instructor’s written consent.
Approved by SUNY WCC Cabinet March 29, 2021
3.7 Children in the Classroom
Unattended children of students and college employees are not permitted on College campus premises.
This policy is based on the following safety factors:
- The safety of the child is an important factor.
- The college could be held liable for any injuries occurring to children of students and employees.
- Children may produce a distraction to the professor in the delivery of instruction, and other professional duties.
- Children may be distracting to other students, and, thus interfere with their learning.
- The parent of the child in the classroom may be distracted by the presence of the child, thus affecting the learning of this parent.
3.8 Course Outline in the Learning Management System
All teaching faculty are required to post basic course and contact information to the College’s Learning Management System. This basic information shall include, at a minimum, the current course outline and the instructor’s contact information. Also, additional updates should be made via Brightspace.
3.9 Course Evaluation
All teaching faculty will be evaluated by students each semester solely for the purpose of improving instruction, and may not be referred to in any other context. Faculty have the option to add questions to their course evaluation(s). The evaluation will be conducted online and processed electronically by the vendor. Faculty and School Deans will directly access the analysis of survey results online. The school deans and department chairs will have the right to review evaluations.
Full-Time Faculty and Senior Adjuncts (who have taught 20+ semesters)
Full-time faculty and senior adjuncts can select which course or courses are to be evaluated.
Adjunct Faculty (who have taught 20 semesters or less)
All courses taught by adjunct faculty are automatically evaluated.
3.10 Prohibiting Faculty Relatives in Class
Because of the potential for a conflict of interest, or, at least, for the appearance of a conflict, Westchester Community College prohibits faculty members from having relatives* in their own grade- bearing courses.
An exception can be made if the faculty member is the only person teaching a course that is required for the relative’s major. In that case, the faculty member should disclose the situation to his or her Department Chairperson and to the class.
In a case in which a faculty member is uncertain of the appropriateness of having a relative in the class, he or she should first discuss it with the Department Chairperson.
*Relative is defined as anyone related to the faculty member by blood, marriage or law as follows: parent, spouse, child, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, cousin, father/mother- in-law, brother/sister-in-law, son/daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild and legal guardian.
3.10.1 Observance of Religious Holidays (Faculty)
Although Westchester Community College has classes scheduled on most religious holidays, faculty and students have every right to observe these holidays. If the observance of these holidays prevents an instructor from meeting a class(es), students should be advised of the method that will be used to make up the missed class. Forms for requesting a personal day(s) for religious reasons are in the School Deans’ Offices. Instructors may wish to have a voluntary substitution by another faculty member selected with the approval of the Department Chair. This must also be approved by the School Dean.
If the instructor is not observing the religious holiday but some students in his/her class are, these students MUST NOT BE PENALIZED for their failure to attend class on that day.
DO NOT schedule examinations on religious holidays. Assist students who observe the holiday to make up the missed work. New York State Law gives students observing holidays the right to be absent from class on these days.
As long as the student has notified the instructor of his/her religious reason for missing a class, and has completed the designated assignment or task for making up the material, the absence should not be counted as a cut.
3.10.2 Textbooks
In this knowledge-driven economy, the college needs to integrate information and communication technologies (ICT) to better serve and prepare students for the future. To sustain the college mission and uphold academic freedom, the purpose of this policy is to set forth the college’s various options concerning the access, delivery and usage of textbooks and course materials; however, adoption of textbooks is most appropriately determined by the instructor/department for a particular course. Still, faculty are encouraged to consider the following options (in order of priority) when choosing textbooks for their classes:
- Open educational resources such as textbooks and course materials
- Textbooks, both digital and printed, temporarily accessed/rented at reasonable cost
- Traditional used textbooks for purchase
- Traditional new textbooks for purchase; and as the last resort
- Textbooks, which are adopted by the department/curriculum, shall be strongly encouraged to be used by all faculty teaching that course.
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