Faculty Handbook – Disruptive Classroom Behavior, Lack of Academic Progress

Disruptive behavior is prohibited. Disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to conduct that substantially interferes with or obstructs the teaching or learning process. Civil expression of disagreement with the course instructor, during times when the instructor permits discussion, is not itself disruptive behavior and is not prohibited.

When any student, acting individually or in concert with others, obstructs or disrupts or attempts to obstruct or disrupt any teaching, research, administrative, disciplinary, or public service activity, or any other activity authorized to be discharged on behalf of the University or held on the University’s premises, the student may be asked to stop the disruptive behavior by an instructor or staff of the University. If the student continues, an instructor/staff member is authorized to tell the student to leave the area or classroom and, if the student will not leave, call campus police.

The instructor/staff may immediately call campus police, without prior request to the student, if presented with an unsafe situation, threatening behavior, violence, or other appropriate circumstances.

1. Withdrawal of Student from Class or Other Educational Experience

When a student disrupts a class or other educational experience, acts in a threatening manner, is not making acceptable academic progress, or if the student’s behavior or lack of preparation is detrimental to the educational experience of others or could create an unsafe condition, or if the student is compromising the learning environment, the instructor may take action to withdraw the student from the class or educational experience. To do this, the instructor shall provide the student written notice of intent to withdraw the student from the class or educational experience, with an explanation of the instructor’s reason(s), and with a copy to the instructor’s department chair (or, when there is no department chair, to the associate dean of the instructor’s college or school). The notice should schedule a meeting with the student and the department chair (or, when there is no department chair, with the associate dean or dean of the instructor’s college or school) within 7 days of the notice. The instructor may bar the student from the class or educational experience pending the result of the meeting, and the written notice should advise the student if there is such a bar. At the meeting, the student may have one advisor. Following the meeting, the instructor shall decide whether to withdraw the student from the class or educational experience. If a student is withdrawn, the student’s grade will be recommended by the instructor to the dean of the instructor’s college or school as either a “Q” or an “F.” The student may appeal this decision within 7 days in writing to the academic dean or designee. During the student’s appeal, the student remains withdrawn and barred from attending the class. The dean’s decision may be appealed in writing to the Academic Appeals Committee within 10 academic days of the dean’s decision. The Academic Appeals Committee will follow the appeals procedures in the Academic Appeals Committee Policy which may be obtained in full from the chair of the committee or the Provost’s office.

2. Denying Enrollment, Suspension, Expulsion, and Other Appropriate Action.

The student affected by such a decision by an academic dean, or the dean’s designee, may appeal in writing to the Academic Appeals Committee within ten (10) academic days of the dean’s decision. The Academic Appeals Committee will follow the appeals procedures in the Academic Appeals Committee Policy which may be obtained in full from the chair of the committee or the Provost’s office. The decision of the academic dean (or designee) remains in place during the pendency of the appeal. A student so suspended or expelled shall have a grade of “Q” or “F” recorded for each course in progress as determined appropriate by the academic dean. The transcript will not record suspension or expulsion.

3. Non-Students and Non-enrolled Students

Non-students and students not enrolled in a class may be permanently removed by an instructor of the class without formal review. Non-students who disrupt University activities may be removed from campus and banned from returning.

4. Other

Although some disruptive behavior may be due to a mental or physical disorder, as it relates to violence, disruptive or threatening behavior, students with such disorders will be held to the same standards as others. Nothing in this policy limits a person including but not limited to an instructor, academic dean, associate dean, or department chair from referring a matter to the Office of the Dean of Students or pursuing disciplinary action against a student or person through a complaint filed in the Office of the Dean of Campus Life. This policy is not intended to limit any authorized University employee, staff member, official, vice chancellor, chancellor, members of the Board of Trustees, or a member of the Office of Dean of Students, from appropriately addressing behaviors covered by the policy.