10.1 Academic Policies

The institution publishes, implements, and disseminates academic policies that adhere to principles of good educational practice and that accurately represent the programs and services of the institution.

Judgment

x Compliance o Non-Compliance o Partial Compliance

Narrative

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette publishes, implements, and disseminates academic policies that adhere to principles of good educational practice. The principal policies governing the administration and conduct of academic programs have evolved from collaboration between faculty and administration, and, whenever appropriate, with input from student representatives.

Compliance with UL System and Louisiana Board of Regents Policies

UL Lafayette complies with all policies instituted by the Louisiana Board of Regents (BOR) and the University of Louisiana System (ULS). The BOR establishes the policies for the management of higher education institutions in Louisiana, including Academic Affairs Policies and Procedures and the Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education in Louisiana.

Policy Development

In addition to the BOR and ULS policies, UL Lafayette has developed internal procedures to support good educational practices and to ensure the efficient operation of its academic programs.

The policies and regulations are created by consultation among the administration of the University, the Faculty Senate, University-wide standing committees, and multiple committees within the various colleges and departments, as well as the Board of Supervisors (BOS) of the ULS, on matters pertaining to the BOS’ Strategic Framework .

Most policies are developed and regularly revised through standing or special committees composed of members of the faculty, the administration, and the student body. The faculty is the driving force behind academic policies, and the revision of policies is often debated in committees formed by the Faculty Senate and occurs as a result of requests made by the Faculty Senate. The Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards (CAAS), a University standing committee operating under the authority of the Provost, is charged with the oversight of academic policies, procedures, and practices. The CAAS initiates policy concerning the academic standards of the University, subject to the approval of the University President; studies regulations adopted by the various agencies that affect the academic policies of the University, and brings them into conformity with such regulations; hears routine appeals for waiver of academic regulations in individual student cases; acts as a final court of appeal in cases concerning accusations of unfair and capricious grading; and formulates other University policies as directed by the University Provost. This committee is slated by the Committee on Committees of the Faculty Senate and is composed of faculty and advisory staff members. Recently, for example, CAAS approved reforms to the General Education Core Curriculum proposed by the General Education Committee.

The General Education Committee, composed mostly of faculty members and reporting directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, reviews, develops, and recommends policy regarding general education to CAAS; recommends inclusion or exclusion of courses in the list of acceptable general education courses; and participates constructively in assessment of the general education goals.

The Graduate Council, which is composed exclusively of Graduate Faculty members and reports directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, formulates policies governing the University's graduate programs. Specifically, the Council establishes criteria relating to admission and retention of students in degree and non-degree graduate programs, and establishes minimum requirements for the completion of specific graduate degrees. The Council also advises the Dean of the Graduate School on other matters pertaining to graduate education.

The Distance Learning Leadership Council, which reports directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, advises the Director of Distance Learning throughout the development and implementation of an action agenda for expanding the University’s distance learning capacity and production. It is charged with overseeing the development and implementation of policy governing distance learning programs.

Policy Publication and Dissemination

The online University Catalog is the central repository for information on academic programs. It contains a full description of the University’s programs, services, and academic policies, including:

· Descriptions of the curricula

· Requirements for each degree program

· Requirements for undergraduate minors

· General education requirements

· Policies directly affecting students, including

o Registration

o Course Scheduling

o Educational Assessment

o Class Attendance

o Academic Honesty

o Guidelines for Grade Appeals

o Residency Regulations

o Residency and Tuition Regulations for Veterans

o Student Fees

o Fee Regulations

o Medical Records Regulations

o Institutional Policy on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974

o Services for Students

These academic policies guide and support students through the various processes of obtaining a degree from application to graduation. By providing students access to specific policy information in all academic areas, and by clearly defining the requirements for each degree program, the University demonstrates and promotes adherence to principles of good educational practice. These efforts contribute to a teaching and learning environment that fosters student success.

In addition to the University Catalog, UL Lafayette uses several outlets to publish and disseminate academic policies and regulations, and to inform students, faculty, and others about programs and services. The University publishes various handbooks, manuals, and brochures that contain an array of academic policies, and provides these documents to students, faculty, and other interested parties on the UL Lafayette website. These include documents and programs such as:

· The Student Handbook describes the expectations for behavior and conduct in the UL Lafayette community, and outlines the procedures to be followed when these expectations are not met. It includes the Student Code of Conduct and the Academic Integrity Policy, as well as other rules, regulations, and policies governing student life.

· The Faculty Handbook is the principal source of academic policies affecting the faculty on topics such as faculty governance, fiscal policies, instructional and research policies, faculty personnel policies, faculty benefits, educational services and other resources, and libraries. It governs the employment relationship of individual faculty members, and sets forth the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of faculty members and of the University with respect to academic and other policies. It defines and describes the structures and processes through which the faculty participates in institutional decision-making and governance, and the academic policies of the University in accordance with the BOS and BOR.

· The Advisor Training Program addresses issues such as the steps for becoming an academic advisor, advising information resources, advising target groups (e.g., freshmen and international students), academic policies, procedures and transactions, student support services, keys to academic success, and advising organizations.

In addition to these University‐wide handbooks, individual colleges, departments, and units have created handbooks for their students. Some examples include

· the English Graduate Student Handbook

· the Handbook for Teacher Interns, Cooperating Teachers, School Administrators, and University Supervisors

· the Office of Disability Services Handbook

· the On-Campus Living Handbook

· the Counselor Education Student Handbook

· the Staff Handbook

By University policy and in response to the request by the Student Government Association (SGA), all faculty members are required to post a copy of each course syllabus outlining specific policies for that particular course on the Moodle class management system course page. Departments keep copies of all course syllabi on file for any given semester. Examples of course syllabi include:

· College of the Arts — MUS 470: Music History II (Spring 2019)

· College of Business Administration — MGMT 490: Strategic Management (Fall 2019)

· College of Education — EDCI 349: PK-6 Mathematics Methods I (Spring 2019)

· College of Engineering — MCHE 201 – Introduction to Engineering Design (Spring 2019)

· College of Liberal Arts — SOCI 480(G): Death and Dying (Fall 2018)

· College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions — NURS 403: Childbearing Family, Child and Adolescent Health Care (Fall 2019)

· College of Sciences — CMPS 455(G): Operating Systems (Spring 2019)