ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Office of Academic Affairs
Parenzo Hall, Room P-Lobby
Dr. Joan Rasool, Senior Vice President
572-5213

All Academic Policies and Procedures appear in the College Bulletin and each semester's Schedule Book available at Student Administrative Services. Please consult these publications for specific Academic Policies and Procedures.

The College expects you to be familiar with academic program requirements and policies, therefore, to be responsible for the consequences of what you do (whether it's the courses you select or a decision to withdraw from a course or the failure to meet some published deadline). No one expects you to memorize all of what is in the Bulletin or the Schedule Book; but you should be knowledgeable about what information is in these publications and you should never hesitate to refer to these materials whenever you have any questions.

Pay attention to published deadlines and never wait until the last minute to take care of some task, for example, making an appointment to see your advisor. Each semester the Registrar publishes a Schedule Book in preparation for the next semester's registration. All of the critical dates are printed on the front cover!!! Not only can missing these deadlines be costly - having to pay a fine, but missing these deadlines can also lead to unfortunate academic consequences - being unable to withdraw from a class because the last date to withdraw has passed or being unable to get the classes you need because you forgot to see your advisor or missed the registration period.

Know the program requirements for your major and for the common core (general education program) and keep careful track of your progress in meeting these requirements and the 120-credit graduation requirement. This is very easy to do: write out each requirement. When you have completed a requirement, enter the course which satisfies it, the semester you took the course, and the grade you received. There should be absolutely no reason for getting into your senior year and being surprised about your academic standing.

If you're a transfer student, make absolutely sure to find out how each course that you've taken elsewhere maps into the College's requirements. In some cases, particularly with general education courses, these decisions are usually made by the Admissions Office prior to your matriculation. Sometimes, the Admissions Office or Registrar will need more information from you (e.g., a course description) before they can make decisions. Sometimes, courses will need to be reviewed by your major department before they can be mapped against the major requirements. All of this is very important for transfer students because you can't track your progress toward degree requirements unless you know how your prior courses are being treated. Transfer students also should not assume that Westfield's requirements and policies are the same as those of your prior institution. In fact, they are likely to be different.

Some policies affect so many students in very critical ways that we believe it's worthwhile to tell you to make a special point of reading them. These are policies that deal with withdrawal, academic standing (probation, suspension, dismissal, class standing), and academic dishonesty/plagiarism. Below is a summary of the Academic Honesty Policy. Information about all academic policies may be obtained through the Office of Academic Affairs.

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

Academic Honesty, a necessary foundation of a learning community is expected of all students. Violations are unacceptable and are subject to academic penalties including failure of a course. A record of the violation is submitted to Academic Affairs; repeated violations may result in suspension or dismissal from the college. Violations of academic honesty include cheating on examinations, plagiarism, and submission of papers for credit in two or more courses.

Examinations

Violations of academic policy with regard to examinations consist of the following:

1. Receiving assistance or assisting others while the examination is in progress.
2. Obtaining or attempting to obtain prior to an examination, copies of the examination or the questions to appear on the examination.
3. Obtaining or attempting to obtain any unauthorized knowledge regarding the examination or the questions to appear on the examination from another student who possesses information regarding the contents of the examination.
4. Disseminating any written or verbal information regarding the contents of an examination to students who have not yet completed or taken said examination.
5. Utilizing or consulting any unauthorized information, such as notes or books, during an examination.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is an act of presenting the intellectual work of others (words, ideas, artwork, computer programming code, etc.) as if it were one's own. Some common forms of plagiarism are submitting someone else's paper as one's own; copying a passage from another source without citing the source; or expressing a published idea or theory in different words without crediting the source of the idea. Plagiarism constitutes intellectual dishonesty and undermines trust between members of the college community.

Multiple Submissions of a Single Paper

A student may not submit the same paper or presentation or other work for credits in two courses within the college without prior written consent from both instructors.

Disciplinary Process for Charges of Academic Dishonesty

The summary that follows is intended to provide students with the information that they need to make an informed response if they are accused of academic dishonesty. The actual policy in full may be obtained through the Office of Academic Affairs.

Violations of the Academic Dishonesty Policy may be resolved by the instructor of the course. Faculty are encouraged to reach a settlement with the student accused of dishonesty. As part of the settlement, the faculty must obtain a voluntary signed admission of guilt, from the student, to be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs and kept on record. Faculty may take action within their normal responsibility for evaluating and grading student work.

If the faculty and student are unable to reach a settlement, charges may be filed with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (or the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education if the student is enrolled as a DGCE student), who will schedule a hearing of the case before the academic honesty hearing committee. Specific details about the structure of the hearing committee, the timing of the hearing, the hearing process itself, and the student's rights during the hearing are discussed in the full policy.

The members of the hearing committee will determine the guilt or innocence of the student charged and discuss recommended sanctions with the Dean in the event of a guilty verdict. Sanctions will be imposed by the Dean. For a first offense a range of sanctions may be imposed including failure of the course. For a second offense the range of sanctions may include suspension from the college for one semester. For a third offense the range of sanctions may include a permanent suspension from the college.

A student may appeal the decision of the hearing committee and/or the sanction imposed. Appeals must be submitted in writing, within seven days of the notification of the outcome of the hearing, to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Students accused of academic dishonesty are protected by the following rights: (1) The student is presumed innocent until proven guilty; (2) The student retains student status until the conclusion of the proceeding, though no degree will be awarded until the matter is resolved; (3) The student may be advised by counsel though counsel may not speak for the student; (4) The student will be notified in writing of all charges, as well as the date, time, and place, of any scheduled hearings; (5) The student will be permitted to examine all evidence to be used against the student not later than seven days prior to the hearing.

Official records of disciplinary action will be maintained in the Office of Academic Affairs. Access to these records is restricted to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (or designate), the Deans of Undergraduate Studies and Graduate and Continuing Education, and all faculty, provided that the request is made in writing and states the reason for the request. All files must be viewed in the Academic Affairs Office and may not be copied in whole or in part.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT CENTER

Parenzo Hall, Room P-102
Dr. Carlton Pickron, Dean, Academic Retention
572-5561

ACADEMIC ADVISING COMPONENT

Academic advising is an integral part in the success of a student's academic career. The Academic Achievement Center (AAC) provides a warm and supportive environment for students to explore academic opportunities as well as to plot strategies for continued growth. The staff of the AAC has as its primary mission the growth and development of the student and places the utmost priority on the needs and concerns of the student. Academic advising in the AAC is available to all undeclared students, dually enrolled Education/Liberal Studies majors and students in transition. Contact: Laurie Simpson, Associate Director.

The staff and faculty of Continuing Education understand and respect the concerns and needs of adults pursuing academic studies. We emphasize the importance of good advising to both new students and students at various stages toward their academic goals. Upon admission into an academic program, you are assigned a major advisor. We are eager to orient you to our programs and services and to assist as you develop sound educational plans that will suit your reasons for returning to school and your unique concerns. Contact: Susan Quandt, Director.

Academic assistance and tutorial support are provided through the Tutoring Center. The Center is operated by professional staff and supplemented with approximately 100 peer tutors. Academic assistance is offered in writing, study skills and mathematics. Tutoring is also available in all areas of the college curriculum. The Center also coordinates the provision of support services to students who are physically challenged or learning disabled. Contact: Joseph Shinn, Director.

The retention and recruitment of first-generation college students comprises the primary focus of the Urban Education (UE) program. While serving the College as the primary recruiter of high school students from diverse educational, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, the UE program is designed to provide academic and personal counseling support to program students. First-year students who meet program criteria are accepted into the College on a provisional basis and must complete a six-week summer bridge program to gain full matriculation. Comprehensive efforts to retain students to graduation include aggressive academic and personal counseling, course work to improve research methods, time management, note taking, and critical thinking skills. Workshops on computer applications, expository writing, and career planning are offered. In addition, the program promotes the pursuit of graduate studies and assists participants with the graduate and/or professional school admission process. Contact: Joan Fuller, Director.

CLASSROOM STUDENT CONDUCT POLICY

Westfield State College students are prohibited from engaging in behavior or activity that causes the disruption of teaching, learning, research, and other academic activities recognized as necessary to the fulfillment of the College mission.
POLICY
A. Examples of potentially disruptive behavior may include, but are not limited to, using inappropriate language directed at an individual or group, unsolicited talking in class, sleeping in class, using or activating cell phones, arriving at or leaving the classroom while class is in session, and/or failing to comply with the legitimate request of a College faculty member.

B. When disruptive behavior occurs in the classroom, a faculty member has the right to remove the student from the classroom. The faculty will communicate the reason for the removal to the student and indicate the expected appropriate conduct. If the student continues to engage in disruptive behavior during future class sessions, the faculty member will forward written documentation of the student’s inappropriate behavior to the respective department chairperson, who subsequently will meet with the student to review the matter and determine an appropriate course of action.

C. If the student continues to demonstrate disruptive behavior or does not comply with the documented course of action, the student may be permanently removed from the course after a review conducted by the Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs or Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education, as appropriate.

D. Students who exhibit behavior that immediately endangers or more seriously disrupts the establishment or maintenance of an appropriate learning environment in the classroom are subject to an immediate review by the Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs or Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education or by student judicial procedures.

E. In applying this policy, faculty and academic administrators shall give due regard to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), providing for reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.

F. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will act as the sole and final appeal for any decisions made by the Associate Vice President or Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education.

G. In some cases, the student may also be subject to Student Conduct action as determined by the College.

DIVISION OF GRADUATE & CONTINUING EDUCATION

333 Western Avenue
Dr. Robert Hayes, Interim Associate Vice President
572-8020
http://www.wsc.ma.edu/dgce

The Division of Graduate and Continuing Education offers programs in graduate studies, undergraduate studies (part-time), post-baccalaureate studies, credit-free and professional development programs. Classes are offered evenings, summers, weekends and wintersesssion.

Graduate Studies

Graduate programs include the Master of Arts in English and Psychology, the Master of Science in Criminal Justice, the Master of Public Administration, the Master of Education in several concentrations, and the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in education concentrations. The Division offers a post-baccalaureate teacher licensure program which enables students already holding a bachelor's degree to pursue an initial license to teach. In addition, the Division offers a second bachelor's program for those interested in a new field of study which builds on their previous baccalaureate work.

Undergraduate Studies

Undergraduate programs (part-time) are offered in every major available to Day Division students. Some undergraduate programs require cross-registration into day classes for program completion. Should Day Division students need to take a Continuing Education course during the academic year, in addition to their day schedule of classes, they may enroll without charge, on a space-available basis, during add/drop week. Day students may opt to register for evening classes during pre-registration, but will be charged for those credits as an additon to their day bill. Students who are pursuing their degrees part-time on a long-term basis (with less than 12 hours per semester) generally matriculate through the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education by completing the appropriate application for admission (available in the DGCE office). Financial aid is available for students in degree programs pursuing part-time study who enroll in at least (6) credits each term.

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

Parenzo Hall, RM 101
George Psychas, Director
572-5340

The Study Abroad program offers students in all majors the opportunity to study for in over 36 countries.

The International Education program offers diverse opportunities for students in all majors to take classes and to participate in practicum placements or internships.

Among the study abroad opportunities available at pre-approved locations are those in England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Cairo Egypt, the Canadian province of Quebec, and Australia. Students are also eligible to apply to colleges in Asia and Latin America.

To be qualified to participate students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 as well as the approval of their major department chairs adn the director of the program. General information meetings are held at the beginning of each semester. The application deadline for fall term candidates is April 1; the spring deadline is November 1.

For further information, contact Professor George Psychas at 572-5340/568-1856 or email: gpsychas@hotmail.com.

LIBRARY

Ely Library
Catherine Doyle, Director
572-5231

Ely Library's collections include books, currently received print periodicals, bound periodicals, full text online periodicals, microforms, videotapes, music CD's, newspapers, online databases, and an online catalog. Online databases and the online catalog may be reached from the Library Home Page, www.lib.wsc.ma.edu. Off-campus access to online databases and the online catalog is available. Reference, interlibrary loan, information instruction services, and copiers are also available. A student ID is required to borrow materials.

The hours of the library during regular academic session are:

Vacation and holiday hours are posted.