About your work: This program involves upper division work in the study of India, its culture, its traditions, and present-day reality through the lens of texts, dance, and Bollywood films. You, the students, are responsible for your learning as well as that of your peers. Covenant agreements represent the minimum effort required for credit, and it is expected that the large majority of students will surpass these minimums. We look for you to be willing to do your best and to seriously involve yourself with these new ideas. I am particularly concerned that you try to optimize your progress within the program. It is preferable that you risk overextending yourself rather than “play it safe” and gain less of what the program has to offer. The objective of the program is that you become self-directed in your work and a fully-functioning member of the Learning Community. I recognize that good will cannot be legislated; however, I hope that the controversies generated in this program will create mor awareness than close-mindedness. I expect you to work in cooperation with each other, to share information, and to broaden your knowledge of India in a holistic manner, well beyond the parameters of your current understanding.
Reading: For those of you who are taking the program for 16 credits: You will be selecting readings each week outside the required reading and will be coming to the class on Thursday prepared to lead discussions that would include the required reading and the researched work.
Writing: You will be expected to come to your seminar every week with a “response paper” on that week’s viewing and reading. Based on your writing, you will engage in seminar discussions on Thursday. For the following week, you will re-write the previous week’s “response paper” as an upper division college essay and also write a response to the current week’s reading and viewing. I will help you with suggested topics that you may choose to write on or not, as you please. In the winter quarter there will be synthesis papers. In the spring students will do approved projects on their own and learn to write “thesis” papers.
10th Week Performance/Presentation: There will be an in-house performance or presentation that you are required to participate in for full credit. You will not be in competition with anyone except yourself, and you can expect plenty of support from your peers and your faculty. You are expected to work cooperatively throughout the quarter, relying on your strengths but also working to overcome your weaknesses.
The following points of agreement exist between the students and faculty of this program to ensure that there is a clear understanding of what is expected of program members. Failure to meet these understandings and obligations will result in loss of credit.
1. Students shall complete all assignments and hand them in or perform them at the assigned time. Students will come to seminar prepared with the reading and response paper in hand.
2. Attendance at all program activities is mandatory. Four days of absences per quarter is the limit before credit loss. After that you will lose one credit for every two absences (five absences = minus one credit, seven = minus two, etc.)
3. Tardiness is not acceptable. You are expected to be on time and prepared. After fifteen minutes, a late student will be counted as absent. A student may have four late arrivals per quarter. After that, you will lose one credit for every two absences (five = minus one credit, seven = minus two, etc.)
4. In cases where illness or an emergency precludes a student from attending a program activity, the student will notify the faculty in writing, by phone, or verbally prior to the beginning of that activity.
5. Incompletes shall be granted only in emergency situations.
6. Faculty shall notify in writing anyone who is in danger of losing credit. This shall be done by the fifth week of class, or as soon as the loss of credit becomes imminent.
7. Students agree to approach their work with dedication and invest the necessary time and energy to produce significant results.
8. Students will keep a program portfolio or notebook containing program materials, notes on the readings, notes from program meetings, and personal reflections.
9. The faculty shall allow adequate time for students to complete assignments. Due dates will be announced at the time the work is assigned. Late assignments will not be accepted for credit except in reasonable circumstances that were beyond the student’s control.
10. A rough draft of the self-evaluation must be turned in 48 hours prior to the evaluation conference. Final written, signed self and faculty evaluations will be completed and turned in to the program secretaries within one week following the final evaluation conference. A completed portfolio, consisting of all the corrected papers, class notes, research notes, and critiques of viewings and readings will be turned in to the faculty 24 hours prior to the evaluation conference.
THROUGH YOUR CONTINUING PRESENCE IN THE PROGRAM YOU HEREBY ACCEPT AND AGREE TO THE CONDITIONS OF THIS COVENANT.