<aside> ⏳ I recognize that we are all still living through a global pandemic and an intense time of social movements for justice. Both have far reaching and very personal implications. This class is designed to be collaborative, where learning happens because of the perspectives, experiences, and knowledge that we all bring.
Compassion and flexibility will help us all get through this course together. I’ll check-in with you all periodically, and am open to hearing how you are doing and what might help you get through the course in a way that feels satisfactory to you and supports your well-being. If you tell me you’re having trouble, I won’t judge you or think any less of you. I hope you extend me and your fellow classmates the same consideration.
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What does academic integrity mean in this course? Our class focuses on collaborative learning and skill building—not simply on the memorization and recall of facts. In this style of class, academic integrity means that when you reference or rely on someone else’s work in an aspect of the performance of a task, you will give full credit in the proper form as discussed in class. It is always better to imperfectly credit external influences and work than to not credit at all.
“Citation is how we acknowledge our debt to those who came before; those who helped us find our way when the way was obscured because we deviated from the paths we were told to follow.” ~Sara Ahmed, 2017
If there is no attempt to credit ideas and work, the assignment will receive no credit and we will have a conversation about how to ensure respectful attribution and citation going forward. Additional instances of missing attribution and citation will be handled according to the college's Code of Conduct policies.
Another aspect of academic integrity is the respectful exchange of ideas. Discussion is encouraged in this course, with the firm expectation that all aspects of the class will be conducted with civility and consideration for differing ideas, perspectives, and traditions. When in doubt, please reach out to me for guidance and clarification before posting or responding to a classmate.
Please take care of your own health and be considerate of your peers! Stay home if you’re feeling sick; there is no pressure or silent expectation from me that you push through illness of any kind. Take care of yourself and check-in with announcements and/or me when you’re feeling better.
I take attendance only to see who made it in that day. I will also send a quick email to check in and see how you’re doing if you’ve missed several weeks in a row. Your physical presence in the room does not necessarily mean you are learning or aiding others, which is why I don’t have a traditional attendance/participation policy.
I recognize that engagement with the course can take many forms, both in-person during our weekly meetings and outside of class. During the first two weeks, we will discuss this in class and brainstorm a list of actions and behaviors that count as Contributions to Learning. I see Contributions to Learning in two ways: what you’re doing to help others learn and recognizing others who are adding to your learning.
College’s Attendance Policy
Note regarding Last Date of Attendance (LDA): Federal law requires faculty to report students who never show up or who stop attending class. This report automatically assigns a failing grade to the student and may cause a recalculation in student’s financial aid award, possibly requiring the student to return funds already received.
Normandale Community College, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and Federal and State law require that a student makes satisfactory academic progress towards a degree or certificate to attend the College and remain eligible for financial aid. The standards, briefly described below, are cumulative and include all periods of enrollment.
Minimum Academic Standards: