Academic Policies & Procedures
The following policies and procedures are of importance to students and faculty as they navigate the academic year:
Academic Calendar | Academic Integrity | Academic Accommodation
Attendance Policies | Diversity & Inclusion | FERPA | Grade Disputes|
Religious Obs Policy | SGBM & Title IX
Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar, approved by CEPP and published by the Registrar's Office, coordinates academic activities and provides a framework for timely decisions on course enrollment, grading options, choice of major, and more. Regarding the course withdrawal deadline, Study Days, and the Final Exam schedule:
- Students should receive graded feedback prior to the withdrawal (W) deadline. Because the Committee on Academic Standing (CAS) does not consider receipt of information regarding a student’s performance after the withdrawal deadline to be sufficient cause for a late withdrawal, timely feedback preserves the student's ability to address academic challenges and adjust their schedule if necessary.
- By faculty legislation, "written final examinations may not be given in whole or in part prior to the scheduled examination period." Although individual instructors have every right to schedule quizzes, hourly exams, and written assignments at the times they deem appropriate during the semester, final exams—those more cumulative and culminating tests which can be construed as "final" in nature—should be reserved for the final exam period. The final exam period may also be used to schedule non-cumulative exams, critiques, and projects. The goal is to preserve the last week of the semester for instructional time and allow students to handle their end-of-semester load by utilizing Study Days.
- Skidmore policy does not allow the scheduling of events during Study Days (including the Study Day in October of the fall term) that would distract students from study and review opportunities. Faculty may not hold exams and final presentations during this period. Review sessions to prepare for exams are acceptable as long as they are not mandatory. Additionally, curricular and co-curricular activities that are not directly related to academic work should not be scheduled by any department, program, office, or committee.
- Faculty and students are required to adhere to the published schedule for final exams. The final exam schedule is published early in the semester by the Registrar's Office and cannot be changed except when "conflicts" exist (defined as two exams in the same time slot or three exams during the same day). A student's travel arrangements do not constitute a conflict. Faculty who anticipate difficulty meeting the grade submission deadline should contact the Registrar's Office to discuss alternatives.
Academic Integrity
When confronting an apparent violation of the Honor Code, faculty may find it helpful to refer to the Definitions & Guidelines document. Faculty should bear in mind that the grade penalties described in this document are suggestions. Faculty have final authority over each student's grade in this as in other contexts. If faculty wish to work outside the guidelines—for example, by adopting a "zero tolerance" policy on plagiarism that results in a failing grade regardless of the severity of the offense—faculty should state this policy on their syllabi. Faculty should also consider explicitly discussing with their students the limits of collaboration and their expectations about the proper documentation of sources, two areas that often lead to inadvertent (but still egregious) violations of the Honor Code.
Faculty should be mindful that all violations of the Academic Honor Code must be reported. If the charge is sustained, the infraction may have consequences for the student beyond any grade penalty that the faculty member imposes. A thorough description of these consequences, along with a description of the limited forgiveness and appeal policies, can be found in the Sanctions and Further Impact document. Tips on reporting a violation of the Honor Code can be found here.
Accommodating Students with Disabilities
In typical years, 15-20% of Skidmore students provide documentation related to a physical, psychological, or learning disability that qualifies them for academic accommodation. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires us to provide students with disabilities both meaningful access to all college programs and activities and any individualized accommodation they need to realize an equal opportunity to succeed.
By faculty legislation, all course syllabi must include a statement that informs students about the process for accessing accommodations. An example of such a statement that has been reviewed and endorsed by the Curriculum Committee follows:
Skidmore College is committed to supporting the learning needs of all students in our diverse community. If you have a documented barrier to learning or think you may have a disability, please consult with Meg Hegener, Associate Director of SAS and Coordinator of Student Access Services (mhegener@skidmore.edu). Accommodations are approved by the coordinator following a review of students’ documentation. If you are approved for academic accommodations, please provide your letter of accommodations to me early in the semester or as soon as you are approved so that we can proactively coordinate implementation. Academic accommodations based on disability cannot be granted by individual faculty. For further information, please call (518) 580-8150 to contact Student Academic Services in Starbuck Center.
Conscientious Religious Observance Policy
Both New York State law and Skidmore College policy mandate that students be allowed to make up academic work and/or campus employment requirements without penalty should religious observance result in a student's absence. Skidmore policy requires students to notify faculty, work supervisors, or coaches prior to their absence; the policy encourages but does not require notification early in the semester or at least one week before the anticipated absence. The full policy may be found here.
By faculty legislation, all course syllabi must include a statement addressing the Concientious Religious Observance Policy. An example of such a statement that has been reviewed and endorsed by CEPP and IPPC follows:
Skidmore College acknowledges that our community is one of many faiths with a diverse range of practices and observances important to each tradition. In order to fulfill our mission to educate a diverse population of talented students and our commitment to inclusion regardless of religious and spiritual tradition, we seek to practice an equitable and consistent approach in providing religious accommodations. If religious observance requires absence from class or you anticipate a conflict with assignments or due dates, please notify your instructor prior to the absence or conflict so that accommodations can be arranged. Although not required, please provide notification about a pending religious holiday at the start of the semester or at least one week before the holiday. As an option, you may use the form available at www.skidmore.edu/religious-life/calendar [or here].
Accommodations for your absence should not reduce the overall expectations of a course nor unduly burden you for requesting accommodation. Students shall not suffer academic, athletic, or employment penalties because of the conscientious observance of any religious day or days.Faculty must permit students to take a makeup examination without any penalty if they have to miss an examination due to religious observances. Similarly, faculty must permit students to submit missed assignments by an agreed upon due date, without penalty.
If a student, supervisor, coach, or faculty member feels the policy is being violated, they should contact the Dean of Faculty Office at 518-580-5705 (Palamountain 416), the Dean of Students Office at 518-580-5760 (Case Center 313), or Human Resources at 518-580-5800 (Barrett Center first floor). The full policy can be found at www.skidmore.edu/religious-life/calendar.
DiVERSITY & Inclusion
Skidmore College is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community in which members develop their abilities to live in a complex and interconnected world. Consistent with our educational mission, we recognize ourselves as a community that respects individual identities based on varying sociocultural characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, first language, religious and spiritual tradition, age, ability, socioeconomic status and learning style. We strive to create a socially just world that honors the dignity and worth of each individual, and we seek to build a community centered on mutual respect and openness to ideas—one in which individuals value cultural and intellectual diversity and share the responsibility for creating a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment. We recognize that our community is most inclusive when all members participate to their full capacity in the spirited and sometimes challenging conversations that are at the center of the college's educational mission.
FERPA
Faculty should not place graded student assignments that are not enclosed in a sealed envelope in the box on their office doors or in any unsecured area. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act gives students the right to control disclosure of their education record. We thus have a legal obligation to ensure that we are careful not to provide others with access to students’ grades without their consent.
GRADE CHANGES OR DISPUTE
For the policy on final grades, grade changes, and petitions to appeal a final failing grade, see the Registrar's page, which draws on the policies approved by the Skidmore faculty as articulated in the Faculty Handbook.
SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED MISCONDUCT: Title IX
By faculty legislation, all course syllabi must include a Title IX statement. Such a statement signals our concern about sexual and gender-based misconduct in the Skidmore community and informs students about the reporting obligations of faculty. The statement recommended by the Student Government Association and reviewed and endorsed by the Curriculum Committee is as follows:
Skidmore College considers sexual and gender-based misconduct to be one of the most serious violations of the values and standards of the College. Unwelcome sexual contact of any form is a violation of students’ personal integrity and their right to a safe environment and therefore violates Skidmore’s values. Sexual and gender-based misconduct is also prohibited by federal and state regulations. Skidmore College faculty are committed to supporting our students and upholding gender equity laws as outlined by Title IX. If a student chooses to confide in a member of Skidmore’s faculty or staff regarding an issue of sexual or gender-based misconduct, that faculty or staff member is obligated to tell Skidmore’s Title IX Coordinator or Title IX Deputy Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Coordinator will assist the student in connecting with all possible resources for support and options for reporting both on and off campus. Identities and details will be shared only with those who need to know to support the student and to address the situation through the college’s processes. If the student wishes to confide in a confidential resource, the Counseling Center Staff, Health Services, and Victim Advocates (anonymous) are all options available.
More information can be found at the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct website or by contacting the Title IX Coordinator, Joel Aure (jaure@skidmore.edu), 580-5708
Attendance policies
Faculty are responsible for establishing their attendance policy for each semester. As the Faculty Handbook states, faculty "will make known to their classes their policy concerning the effect of absence on the student's grade." During the pandemic, faculty have been notified about students' absences attributed to COVID and have been encouraged to accommodate students who cannot attend class because they are required to isolate. There are, of course, other reasons why students might request an accommodation from faculty because of anticipated absences. Faculty may determine their own response to such requests; however, if the absence will be longer than one week, please connect with the Associate Dean, Director of Academic Advising, or Student Academic Services to coordinate an appropriate response, which could range from accommodations, to course withdrawal(s), to a leave of absence.