Academics
Class Attendance Policy
Mission of Academic Advising at Rhodes
Guidelines for the Academic Adviser
Guidelines for the College
Guidelines for the Student Advisee
Travel Abroad During State Department Warnings
Class Attendance Policy
Rhodes, as a residential college of the liberal arts and sciences, considers interactive engagement with other students and the professor, in a structured setting, to be one of the essential and central components of the academic program. Students enrolled at the institution make a commitment to participate fully in their education, which includes attending class. Absenteeism is not to be taken lightly.
Any student who fails to attend the first day of class without providing prior notice of his or her absence to the instructor of the course or the chairperson of the department may be asked to drop the course upon request of the instructor. The student is responsible for dropping the class officially upon notification that such action has been taken.
Specific attendance policies are set by individual instructors, who state them in the course syllabi and during the first class session. Students are responsible for knowing the attendance policy in each of their courses, for obtaining and mastering material covered during an absence, and for determining, in consultation with the instructor, whether and under what conditions make-up work will be permitted. Students should understand if undertaking college-sanctioned activities (e.g. varsity athletics, internships, and off-campus competitions connected with courses) that their participation in such activities may come at the cost of absences from other courses or even forfeiting credit on certain assignments when making them up is not feasible. It is the student′s responsibility to address the issues related to missing a class whatever the reason for the absence.
If, in accordance with the course policies, the instructor determines that excessive absences are jeopardizing a student’s ability to obtain a passing grade in the course, the instructor may make written request to the Provost that the student be removed from the course with a grade of F. If a student is removed from two or more courses in the same semester for this reason, the student may be asked to withdraw from the College.
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Mission of Academic Advising at Rhodes
The mission of academic advising at Rhodes is to promote student learning. Each entering student is assigned an academic adviser, who will function in that capacity until the end of the student′s sophomore year when he or she declares a major. At that point, a faculty adviser from the major department is assigned to or selected by the student.
Assisted by the academic adviser, the student learns
• To understand the nature of a liberal arts education
• To assess his or her strengths and weaknesses
• To formulate educational and career goals
• To plan a course of action to achieve those goals
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Guidelines for the Academic Adviser
- Provide a professional, confidential, and caring atmosphere that encourages and respects interaction with students.
- Keep informed of information and resources that can be used to address questions on academic matters. Participate in educational advising programs offered throughout the year.
- Be knowledgeable of institutional policies, procedures, and academic requirements. Provide accurate information to assist students in selecting, scheduling, and registering for courses.
- Stay informed about non-academic resources (e.g., Counseling Center, Career Services, Student Affairs Office, etc.).
- Maintain a confidential file on each advisee showing the student′s academic progress. Forward this file to a new adviser if one is chosen.
- Post and keep office hours. Be available beyond those times for special appointments.
- Assist advisees in selecting courses which will satisfy requirements, fit their strengths, and contribute to their career and life goals.
- Assist advisees in an honest self-assessment of academic strengths, skills, and interests as they make academic decisions.
- Work with the Dean of Students office to monitor advisees′ academic progress and give appropriate advice, encouragement, or assistance if any student is experiencing academic difficulty.
- Initiate contact with advisees on a regular basis, especially in their first year.
- Contact and advise students whose academic success is at risk, especially those who have received notifications of deficient work, low mid-term grades, academic probation, and the like.
- Do not criticize other faculty, staff, or students in the presence of students.
- Keep a sense of humor.
Guidelines for the College:
- Value academic advising as a necessary extension of the teaching/learning process.
- Provide ongoing training opportunities for new and continuing advisers.
- Ensure that academic advising is fully integrated into other programs of the institution (e.g., admissions, orientation, registration, counseling and career planning, etc.).
- Collect data on the impact of effective advising both on recruitment/retention and as an effective intervention for students in academic difficulty.
- Develop and implement strategies to evaluate academic advising as part of the faculty′s annual assessment of performance.
- Communicate academic policies to students and provide supporting rationale for such policies.
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Guidelines for the Student Advisee
- Realize that final responsibility for meeting degree or foundation requirements rests with the student.
- Prepare adequately for each advising session.
- Make preliminary course selections prior to registration advising appointments.
- With the assistance of the adviser and Career Services, clarify personal values, abilities, interests, and goals.
- Become knowledgeable about and observe institutional policies, procedures, and requirements. This requires a careful reading of the College Catalogue.
- Contact and make an appointment with the adviser when in need of assistance or when required. If the student finds it impossible to keep the appointment, notify the adviser before the scheduled appointment.
- Maintain a personal advising folder and take it to every advising appointment. Documents placed in this folder might include grade reports, declaration of major forms, course plan, and other documents related to the student’s academic record.
- Follow through on actions identified during each advising session.
- Keep the adviser informed about academic achievements, difficulties, and other factors that could influence the student’s academic career.
- Declare a major no later than the spring semester of the sophomore year and choose a new adviser if necessary.
- Evaluate the advising system, when requested, in order to strengthen the advising process.
- Accept final responsibility for all decisions.
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Travel Abroad During State Department Warnings
Rhodes Policies With Regard to
State Department Travel Warnings
The safety and health of Rhodes students and employees participating in research, work, travel and study abroad is of fundamental importance to the well-being of the College. We constantly monitor various sources to keep abreast of situations in the world that might affect the health and safety of our students and employees during their time abroad. In rare situations, and on a case by case basis, Rhodes may take precautionary measures that modify a given Rhodes study program itinerary abroad or we may cancel a program altogether. The U.S. Department of State is one of our key sources for safety and health updates regarding specific countries and regions. The highest level of travel alert that the State Department issues is a “Travel Warning.” These Travel Warnings recommend that U.S. citizens consider deferring non-essential travel to the country in question. In many cases, the State Department also authorizes the departure of non-emergency employees and their family members from the country or region when a Travel Warning is posted.
Rhodes’ policies concerning State Department Travel Warnings are the following:
- Rhodes will not allow scholarship monies, institutional financial aid or any other Rhodes monies to be applied to travel, study, internships, research trips, or College-related business in countries or regions for which the State Department has issued a Travel Warning prior to the start of the program or trip. In extenuating circumstances, appeals to waive the Travel Warning Policy may be made, in writing, to the Dean of the College.
- Students wishing to study, intern or serve on a non-Rhodes program and in a country or region for which the State Department has issued a Travel Warning must sign a waiver indicating that they understand that they are going to a Travel Warning country, that Rhodes will not allow transfer of scholarships or financial aid and that they are studying, interning or serving in that country or region against the advice of the College.
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