Program Covenant
LEARNING COMMUNITY COVENANT
Awakening the Dreamer, Pursuing the Dream
2009-2010
This program is an experimental and collaborative enterprise. 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 try new ideas and new ways of learning and expressing yourself. We want each student to try to optimize his or her progress within the program, whatever your prior experience with program material may be. It is preferable that you risk overextending yourself, rather than “playing it safe” and gaining less of what the program has to offer. An important objective of the program is that you become self-directed in your work and participate actively in the learning community. We are creating a dynamic learning community that deepens all of our education through active learning, deep listening, expressive arts and somatic practices.
The following points of agreement have been laid out between the students and faculty of this program to insure that there is a clear understanding of what is expected of each. Failure to meet these understandings and obligations will result in loss of credit. It is the stipulation of both the state and federal governments that 16 quarter hours of credit is equal to forty-eight hours of course-related activity per week (including class time). The workload of all full-time programs is designed to be three hours of student work (including class) per week per credit hour.
Expectations of Students
The learning community can expect students to:
1. Complete all assignments and present them at the assigned time. In all but the most extenuating of circumstances, work that is submitted past its due date and time will not be evaluated by faculty and the evaluation will state that the work was not submitted in a timely fashion. Late assignments will not be accepted for credit except in reasonable circumstances that were beyond the student’s control.
2. Attend all program activities. Two unexcused absences per quarter is the limit. After that, you will lose credit. Starting with the third unexcused absence, credits will be lost at the rate of one unit for every two additional unexcused absences (three absences = minus one credit, five = minus two, seven = minus three, etc.). An unexcused absence is defined as being gone from one class session (eg. an all-group meeting on Tuesday morning, OR a seminar discussion in the afternoon) for reasons within your control. Therefore, if you miss, for example, all day on Tuesday, you will have 2 unexcused absences. Absences for reasons beyond your control such as illness, or death of a family member, are not considered unexcused.
3. Arrive on time. Tardiness is not acceptable. You are expected to be on time and prepared. Role will be taken when class begins, so if you are late, it is your responsibility to ensure that your assigned faculty member has checked you in.
4. A student may have up to four late arrivals per quarter. After that, you will lose credit. Starting with the fifth late arrival, credits will be lost at the rate of one credit for every two additional late arrivals (five lates = minus one credit, seven = minus two, nine = minus three, etc.). After one half-hour, a late student will be counted as absent.
5. NOTIFY the faculty in writing (eg. e-mail), prior to the beginning of any program activity the student cannot attend or will be late to, due to reasons beyond the student’s control. If it is not possible to do so, the student must notify the faculty as soon as possible.
6. Approach their work with dedication and invest the necessary time to produce significant results.
7. Consult with their faculty whenever they need clarification about any aspect of the program, the readings or other activities.
8. Write Self and Faculty Evaluations by the time of the evaluation conference. Failure to do so will result in loss of one credit unit per evaluation as well as the forfeiture of the right to an evaluation conference.
9. Abide by Evergreen’s Social Contract. (http://www.evergreen.edu/aboutevergreen/social.htm)
10. Students with specials needs should contact Access Services as soon as possible because it takes time for accommodations to be implemented. http://www.evergreen.edu/access
11. Not use laptops or electronic resources during class time.
12. Act as a steward of the campus and any other areas visited this quarter. The Pacific NW is an incredible place and Evergreen is in a particularly beautiful location. We have all chosen to come here and make this our home for various lengths of time. Let’s celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of this place. Take some ownership and pride in being here—clean up after yourself, smoke only in designated areas, pick up after others, and do your part to make your corner of Evergreen sparkle.
Expectations of Faculty
The learning community can expect faculty members to:
1. Be prepared for lectures, workshops, and other activities as scheduled.
2. Be available to support and implement program activities. Allow adequate time for students to complete assignments.
3. Give timely and meaningful feedback to student assignments.
4. Be available to students by appointment.
5. Give students appropriate feedback throughout the quarter.
6. Notify students mid-quarter if their work to date is not meeting the requirements for full credit.
7. Write an evaluation for each assigned student.
8. Participate in the administrative business of the program.
9. Work to create a community that respects differences and encourages an environment where students and faculty can learn with and from each other.
10. Abide by Evergreen’s Social Contract: (http://www.evergreen.edu/aboutevergreen/social.htm)
11. Uphold learning community covenant values.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY
The drug and alcohol policies of the state and the college are fully in force during all program activities on and off campus.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Includes but is not limited to the following:
a) plagiarism defined as appropriating or incorporating any other person’s work in one’s own work without full and clear acknowledgement.
b) Copying from another person’s work without proper acknowledgement
c) Using unauthorized assistance or materials to complete an academic project or assignment
d) Unauthorized collaboration with any other person during the completion of independent academic work
e) Knowingly falsifying or assisting in falsifying in whole or in part the contents of one’s academic work
f) Permitting any other person to substitute oneself to complete academic work
g) Engaging in any academic behavior specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course covenant or syllabus or class discussion.
Also, it’s vital and expected that each assignment be an original piece of work (i.e. the piece has never been submitted to, or has not been the basis for an assignment in another program).
Good Housekeeping
1. Conflict resolution. Although we will all strive to maintain a smooth running program, conflict happens and can be healthy if handled well. Resolution of disagreement between a student and a faculty member should be attempted first by the two parties involved, then with the whole faculty team. If resolution cannot be reached at this point, we will use the college’s established grievance procedure. Students should strive to resolve conflict between themselves, but your faculty is available to act as mediators if needed. Students are encouraged to make use of the Conflict Assistance, Resources and Empowerment (CARE) Network: http://www.evergreen.edu/studentaffairs/care/
2. Full credit will be given when students fulfill the college-level requirements and standards of the program. The evaluation is used to describe the QUALITY of the student’s work. Thus, a student could actually receive credit, but also receive evaluations that reflect poor quality work. On the flip side, a student could attend regularly but receive partial or no credit because of poor quality or missing work.
3. Partial credit. This program awards 16 quarter hours. Students may not enroll for less than 16 credits.
4. Incompletes shall be granted only in extraordinary situations as approved by the faculty team.
5. If students would like to request a letter of recommendation from faculty, they are required to make the request 21 days before the letter is needed. It is up to each faculty member to decide whether or not to write such a letter. Students should provide faculty with the exact destination address, name of person to whom the letter should be addressed, as well as a copy of the goal statement and cover letter that the student has written to the agency or institution. If faculty need to fill out a form, make sure the student portion has been filled out.
6. A student may be asked to leave the program if his or her behavior is consistently disruptive, antagonistic, and impedes the program from progressing. The faculty members’ decision will be binding. The students always have access to the college’s grievance procedures.
Our collective teaching experience has shown us that establishing and abiding by clear guidelines significantly improves the quality of the learning experience for everyone involved. We will review this covenant regularly and often and encourage you to do the same. It is an integral component of our success as a learning community.
A student’s continued registration in this course indicates his or her willingness to abide by these duties and responsibilities.