Important Policies for Faculty
To: Faculty
From: Barbara R. Snyder, Executive Vice President and Provost
Date: October 20, 2004
Re: Important Policies
Dear Colleagues:
With the start of another academic year, I am writing to remind you about
three policies of which all faculty should be aware: 1) our policies concerning
academic misconduct; 2) the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (FERPA); and 3) attendance policies for students who are reservists or
National Guard members and are called to active duty.
First, academic integrity is absolutely essential to maintaining an environment
that fosters excellence in teaching, research, and other educational and scholarly
activities. Thus, The Ohio State University and the Committee on Academic
Misconduct (COAM) presume that all students have read and understand the university's
Code of Student Conduct and that all students will complete all academic and
scholarly assignments with fairness and honesty. Faculty members should emphasize
to their students that ignorance of this code is never considered an excuse
for academic misconduct, and I recommend that you review this policy with
your students. In addition, a faculty member who suspects that a student has
committed academic misconduct is obligated by University Rules to report the
student to COAM. If COAM finds that the student has violated the code, then
sanctions could include a failing grade and suspension or dismissal from the
university.
For further information, please refer to:
Code of Student Conduct:
http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/resource_csc.asp;
The Committee of Academic Misconduct's web page:
http://oaa.osu.edu/coam/home.html;
Ten Suggestions for Preserving Academic Integrity:
http://oaa.osu.edu/coam/ten-suggestions.html;
and
Eight Cardinal Rules of Academic Integrity:
http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/8cards.html.
Second, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as
amended, governs the release of student education records. A student has the
right under FERPA to see his or her records and to correct or to challenge
a record that he or she believes is incorrect.
Student records and the information contained in those records should not
be released to anyone, including parents, without the prior consent of the
student unless the release falls within a set of exceptions contained in the
regulations associated with FERPA. Among others, the exceptions include releases
to other school officials with "a legitimate educational interest"
and releases of "directory information" (such as name, local and
home addresses, and e-mail addresses). Personally identifiable information
may be released to the parent of a dependent student without the student's
consent if the parent first demonstrates that the student was claimed as a
dependent for federal income tax purposes. As necessary, faculty members should
contact their departments to obtain more information about verifying the dependency
status of a student before releasing information to parents without the student's
consent.
Grades should not be posted by Social Security number and student records
information should not be posted on a public web site. Additional information
about FERPA can be found at:
http://www.ureg.ohio-state.edu/ourweb/more/ferpa_pg1.html;
and
http://oaa.osu.edu/Reports/FERPA.html.
Third, deans, department chairs, directors, and faculty need to be aware that
approximately 500 Ohio State students are reservists or members of the National
Guard, are subject to the call to active duty, and could be away for up to
24 consecutive months. For many students, the most sensible course of action
under these circumstances will be to withdraw from the university for the
quarter. Those students who wish to try to make up class work and adjust their
schedules for the quarter, however, should be given the maximum flexibility
possible.
For further information about students and military leave:
http://www.ureg.ohio-state.edu/ourweb/more/Content/CallToDuty.htm.
[Note: For further information see FTAD's page on Resources for University Policy Questions.]