Senate Document 05-07

Agenda Committee

For Action

Tabled May 4, 2005

To: Purdue University Calumet Senate

From: Agenda committee

Re: Recommendations of Task Force on Student Civility

Date: March 24, 2005

Proposal

The Agenda Committee of the Senate recommends the adoption of the Report of the Task Force on Student Civility. The Report, as presented at the April 2005 Senate meeting, includes the following components:

1. Student Civility Code- to be embraced by students across campus at all times;

2. A Guide for Faculty- to assist in maintaining civility in their classrooms;

3. A Guide for Students- to help them understand civility inside and outside the classroom;

4. A Guide for Staff- to expect civil student behavior anywhere on campus (outside classrooms).

Rationale

The Task Force has addressed the growing need for improvement in Student Civility across this campus. Recent literature suggests that incivility is increasing in classrooms across the country. Faculty and staff hold that uncivil behavior is disruptive to the educational purposes of the University. Because students are often unaware of what is uncivil, the Task Force had developed a Code of Conduct and a Guide of helpful hints for proper behavior. And, because Faculty and Staff are often at a loss for dealing with disruptive behavior, guides and programs are developed for their use.

Implementation

Once approved by the Senate, the Student Civility Code and the Guide for Students will be introduced during New Student Orientation, reinforced through modules in all Freshman Experience Courses, and included in the Student Handbook. The Guide for Faculty will be available in hard copy brochure format and through an electronic link off the Dean of Students Web page and The Faculty Senate Web page for application to the classroom setting. The Faculty is also encouraged to address their standards for civility in every syllabus they develop for all their classes. The Faculty Guide will also be reviewed at New Faculty Orientation and also included in the Faculty Handbook. The Guide for Staff will be available in hard copy brochure format and through electronic links on the Dean of Students Web page and the CSSAC and APSAC Governance Web pages. The Staff Guide will also be utilized in new Staff orientation. The Human Resources Department, in conjunction with the University Police Department, is requested to develop and offer Training and Development programs on Civility across Campus on an annual basis. The Task Force and Senate recognize that incivility is not limited to members of the student body and thus they encourage the Chancellor to call all members of the university to commit to and promote a community of civility campus wide.

Timeline

Assuming Senate approval in early May, the campus wide Civility program should be implemented for incoming 2005/2006 students, faculty and staff. The Senate appreciates the efforts of the Task Force on Student Civility and applauds their efforts and initiatives. The very broad representation and commitment of faculty and staff on the Task Force was outstanding.

Vote: on 3/23/05: 6- Yes/ 0- No

Carolyn Boiarsky Young Choi Sue Conners Judith Hack Masoud Mojtahed Janice Tazbir