Teaching and Learning: Student Responsibilities
Effective: January 3, 2011
Version History: Original policy - Teaching and Learning: Instructor and Student Responsibilities approved by EPC on April 14, 2010; approved by Campus Assembly November 9, 2010; revised by TLC March 12, 2014; approved by EVCAA May 6, 2014; revised by TLC November 19, 2014; revised by TLC 4-17-19; approved by EVCAA 5-22-19. Policy revised to include only student responsibility language from the 2019 policy and remaned Teaching and Learning: Student Responsibilities confirmed by UCC April 23, 2024, approved by EVCAA June 26, 2024
Policy Owner: Academic Affairs
UMD is committed to providing a positive, productive, safe, and inclusive learning environment for all students and instructors. Teaching and learning at the university take place in a variety of educational settings including on-campus lecture halls and classrooms, laboratories, field sites, and online. Instructors and students have mutual responsibility to ensure that the environment in all of these settings supports teaching and learning, is respectful of the rights and freedoms of all members, and promotes a civil and open exchange of ideas.
Student Responsibilities
A. Promote a respectful teaching and learning environment
Students are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that (a) is respectful of the instructor and other students in the classroom; (b) is civil in language, tone and behavior; and (c) is receptive to ideas and other points of view. The UM Board of Regents Student Conduct Code describes the behavior expectations of students and applies to all UM students: “Disruptive classroom conduct means engaging in behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor’s ability to teach or student learning.” Making hostile, threatening, discriminatory or disparaging remarks toward or about the instructor, other members of the class or groups of people will not be tolerated.
B. Meet course prerequisites
Students are responsible for meeting the course prerequisites prior to registering for a course unless they have permission from the instructor.
C. Be Informed of and meet all course requirements
Students are responsible for the information contained in the syllabus and for meeting all course requirements, observing all deadlines, examination times, and other course procedures.
D. Attend class
Students are expected to attend all meetings of their courses.
Students must attend the first class meeting of every course (e.g. lecture, lab, discussion) in which they are registered unless (a) they obtain approval from the instructor before the first meeting or (b) they provide notice to the instructor they must miss class in accordance with UMD’s Excused Absence and Makeup Work Policy. Otherwise, they may lose their place in class to other students.
Students are responsible for being on time and prepared for all class sessions.
E. Be informed of and abide by UM Board of Regents and UMD academic integrity policies
Students are required to do their own assigned work. If it is determined that a student has violated either the Board of Regents Student Conduct Code: Scholastic Dishonesty or UMD’s Student Academic Integrity Policy an "F" or an "N" may be given for the assigned work and /or the course, and the student may face additional sanctions from the University.
F. Other
- Students are responsible for seeking academic help in a timely fashion.
- Students who need disability accommodations are responsible for working first with UMD Disability Resources and then with the instructor at the beginning of the course.
- Students who have concerns or complaints about a course should first meet with the instructor to articulate their dissatisfaction with and desired improvement in the course. If the issues are not resolved, they should meet with the department head. In unusual circumstances, the department head may be the first level of recourse.
- Guests, including children, may not be brought to class without prior permission from the instructor.