Policies

Attendance Policy

Fifty-two (52) points of your total grade is composed of ‘in-class engagement’. This means doing the reading, submitting the discussion starter in advance, bringing the discussion starter to class, attending class, and engaging in the discussion. All of these requirements are a package deal to get credit. In other words, doing the discussion starter but skipping class will not result in any points for the day. Likewise, attending class but not doing the discussion starter will not result in any points for the day.

Missing more than two (2) classes will result in your getting dropped from the course. Extenuating circumstances may be considered in advance.

Policy on Late Work

The weekly discussion starter assignments are meant to help prepare you for class discussion. Turning those assignments in late misses the point of the assignment, so those will not be accepted late. However, if you are having trouble getting work done on time due to specific situations, please let me know in advance and we can work something out to make up for the lost points.

Presentations cannot be made up. If you have an extenuating circumstance that causes you to miss class that day, let me know in advance and we will create a make-up assignment.    

Essays will lose 10% per day late, unless an extension is granted in advance.

Policy on Academic Dishonesty

Below is the academic honesty policy from the Pitzer 24/25 Student Handbook.

I will add or at least clarify that using AI programs for text generation or modification is, in my consideration, academically dishonest. If you are having trouble meeting due dates, understanding the material, or writing issues (e.g., grammar, spelling, organization), please reach out to me for help. I am always wiling to grant extensions and work with you to get the writing to the level with which you are comfortable.

24/25 Student Handbook, Code of Student Conduct

III.  Proscribed Conduct

Violations of the Code of Student Conduct include:

A.    Academic Dishonesty

Any member of the Pitzer community who is aware of academic dishonesty by a student has the responsibility to try to halt it, either by intervening immediately, or by speaking with the person committing it and by reporting it to the Dean of Students Office for possible referral to Judicial Council. If an instructor concludes that the standards of academic honesty have been disregarded, it is that instructor’s responsibility to make the information available to the student, to report the incident to the Dean of Students Office and to tell the student that a report is being made. The faculty member may handle the case and impose any academic penalty including failure in the course. The faculty member should report the outcome to the Dean of Students Office. If a student disputes the incident or the severity of the penalty, the student may have a hearing before Judicial Council (See Faculty Decision Student Appeal below).

1. Cheating

No Pitzer student may intentionally use or attempt to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in an academic exercise or examination.

2. Claiming Credit Falsely

Intentional fraud, in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or effort of another without authorization or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic exercise. Academic dishonesty can include forgery of academic documents, intentionally impeding or damaging the academic work of others or assisting other students in acts of dishonesty.

3. Coercion of Grading or Evaluation of Coursework

Threatening personal or professional repercussions or discipline against an instructor to coerce the instructor to change a grade or otherwise evaluate the student’s work by criteria not directly reflective of coursework.

4. Facilitating Academic Dishonesty

Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate this code of academic integrity.

5. Multiple Submissions

Multiple submissions includes, but is not limited to, the resubmission in identical or similar form by a student of any work which has been previously submitted for credit, whether at Pitzer or any other school, college, or university in one course to fulfill the requirements of a second course, without the informed permission/consent of the instructor of the second course. It also includes the submission for credit of work, in identical or similar form, in concurrent courses, without the permission/consent of the instructors of both courses.

6. Plagiarism

No Pitzer student shall appropriate the work of another of another - for example, parts of passages of another’s writings, the ideas and language of another, the artistic compositions of another - and pass them off as their own work. Students may not use extracts from books, journals, or other sources without citation.

Policy on Academic Accommodations:

I will make every effort to accommodate students with disabilities. Visit Pitzer College’s Academic Support Services (PASS) website for more information.  

• If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your faculty and the Pitzer Academic Support Services by email at academicsupport@pitzer.edu at the beginning of the semester if you have not already registered for accommodations.

• Students with disabilities are asked to contact the faculty during office hours to discuss their disability/accommodation-related needs. Use of Academic Support Services, including testing accommodations, requires prior authorization by PASS and compliance with approved procedures.

• It is the college’s policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course requirements.

Guidelines for Supportive and Respectful Interactions

Please be kind and respectful to other people and their opinions. Any personal attacks on other students will not be tolerated. This is an inclusive classroom, and everyone should feel free to be who they are without fear of any kind of harassment.