What University Policies Apply to Your Syllabus?
The University policies apply to your courses whether you include them in your syllabus or not, but including them in your syllabus or teaching materials could help students understand their responsibilities.
The full list of University policies is available at Policies & Procedures.
The University policies apply to your courses whether you include them in your syllabus or not, but adding them (or linking to them in your course website) could help students understand their responsibilities. We recommend including, mentioning, or linking to the following policies
Academic Honesty
As members of this University community, students assume the responsibility to fulfill their academic obligations in a fair and honest manner. This responsibility includes avoiding inappropriate activities such as plagiarism, cheating or collusion. Students found responsible for one or more of these activities may face both academic sanctions (such as lowering a grade, failing of a course, etc.) and disciplinary sanctions (such as probation, suspension, or expulsion).
The full policy includes definitions of plagiarism, cheating, and collusion.
Credit Hours Policy
Each credit hour consists of one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out-of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. Other activities, such as laboratory work, internships, practica, and studio work, must feature an equivalent amount of work to award credit hours.
The full policy includes definitions of credit hours for alternative course and delivery formats.
Electronic Recording of Lectures and Materials
Students are not permitted to make unauthorized, electronic recordings of lectures or electronic copies of course materials (e.g., PowerPoints, formulas, lecture notes) using personally owned recording devices (e.g., smart phone, iPad, computer, digital recorder) unless prior permission from the instructor or lecturer is obtained, and there are no objections from other students.
Permission is limited to the student’s own personal use and for educational purposes only.
Recorded lectures or copied material must be destroyed at the end of the course or semester. Unauthorized downloading, file sharing, distribution of any part of a recorded lecture or course materials, or using information for purposes other than the student’s own learning may be deemed a violation of Minnesota State University, Mankato’s “Statement of Student Responsibilities” subject to disciplinary action.
The full policy is available.
Grade Appeals Policy
Students have the right to ask an instructor for an explanation of any grade received. Grade appeals are reviewed in instances where students perceive that a final course grade is unfair, arbitrary, or capricious. Students must begin the procedures of this policy within two weeks* of university notification of a final course grade. Students needing assistance at any step in appealing a grade may contact the Academic Affairs Coordinator of the Student Senate (280 Centennial Student Union; phone 389-2611). Students should retain copies of all materials associated with this process for their records. Students should also have records of their coursework from the class as part of the appeal process.
The full policy is available.
Grading
A student's work in any course will be evaluated in accordance with the following grade system:
Undergraduate Grades
A = Work of definitely superior quality
B = Better-than-average level of performance
C = Average-level of performance
D= Below-average performance.
F = Unacceptable level of performance
P = Passing performance (grade of C or better)
NC = Unacceptable performance
Graduate Grades
A = Work of definitely superior quality
B = Above average level of performance
C = Below-average level of performance
D = Unacceptable performance
F = Unacceptable performance
P = Passing performance (grade of B or better)
NC = Unacceptable performance
The grade of “incomplete” (I) is reserved for special cases and means that, because of extenuating circumstances, the student failed to meet an important requirement of the course, but has in other respects done passing work for the semester. A student and instructor must have a signed “Incomplete Contract” stating the assigned grade for the course is “I.”
Instructors may assign the grade of “in progress” (IP) to students whose work at the end of a term is still in progress because the course, by design or by arrangement prior to registration, requires more than one term to complete all assignments. Completion of course requirements must occur within one year.
Missed Classes for University Sponsored or Sanctioned Activities and Makeup Work Policy
Students represent the university through participation in university sponsored or sanctioned activities, such as the arts, theater, music, dance, forensics, and intercollegiate athletics. When the activity schedule occasionally conflicts with academic obligations, student-participants will follow a standard protocol to provide their faculty members with prior, written notification of their absences from classes. Faculty members will determine, in consultation with student-participants, how missed classes and assignments are made-up in a manner that fulfills academic obligations and accommodates participatory obligations. Except for absences resulting from sponsored or sanctioned activities, student-participants have the same responsibility with regard to class attendance and assignments as do all other students.
The full policy is available.
Protection of Human Subjects in Research
All research activity involving human subjects conducted at or under the auspices of Minnesota State University, Mankato must have IRB approval. In deciding if a proposed activity requires IRB approval, it must be determined if the activity involves human subjects and if it is research.
For IRB purposes these decisions are based on the criteria set forth in federal regulations. Human subjects are involved if: a) there is an intervention or an interaction with a living person that would not be occurring or would be occurring in some other fashion, in the absence of this research, or b) identifiable private data/information will be obtained for this research in a form associable with the individual. Secondary analysis of aggregate data does not require IRB approval.
For IRB purposes, research is defined as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. This generally excludes purely pedagogical classroom exercises especially if they are conducted solely in the classroom (not generalizable), internal program assessment such as teacher evaluations (not generalizable), and the treatment of patients or clients (not a systematic investigation). For example, an investigation undertaken solely for a class in which there are no plans for publication or presentation outside the class would not be within the purview of the IRB. Researchers are strongly urged to consult with the IRB Administrator, the IRB Coordinator, the IRB Chair, or Co-Chair if they think their activities may not require IRB approval.
The full policy is available.
Protection of Animals in Research
All research activity involving animals conducted at or under the auspices of Minnesota State University, Mankato must have IACUC approval. In deciding if a proposed activity requires IACUC approval, it must be determined if the activity involves vertebrate animals and if it is research. IACUC approval is required for all research directly involving vertebrate animals, whether the animals are purchased or raised by the Minnesota State University, Mankato colony. For field research, IACUC approval is required if: a) there is an intervention or an interaction with an animal that would not be occurring in the absence of this research, or b) if the researcher is directly collecting tissues from animals euthanized in the field. Animal research involving tissues collected by another investigator and sent to the Minnesota State University, Mankato researcher does not require IACUC approval. IACUC approval is highly recommended for use of vertebrate animals in teaching, but is not required by PHS. For IACUC purposes, research is defined as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Researchers are strongly urged to consult with the IACUC Chairperson or another committee member before submitting a proposal.
The full policy is available.
