Covenant to Participate in a Learning Community

The medieval Universitas took the name of the Latin word meaning "the whole body." The goal of the early university - becoming educated human beings - was pursued in these learning communities in which both the instructor and the student participants had duties not only to themselves but to the rest of the community, the whole body, as well. In this class, we will be functioning as a Universitas, a learning community in which all members have obligations to the learning community. Hence, it is important for members of the community to be aware of those duties they will be expected to fulfill.

The duties of the instructor include

1. to competently prepare him/herself in the subject matter to be taught

2. to prepare, present and facilitate the learning of the concepts specified

in the college catalogue for this course pursuant to the course

syllabus and schedule

3. to assess student comprehension of the course material through

examinations, written assignments, class discussions and class

presentations

4. to offer students feedback on such assessments in as timely a manner

as possible

5. to assist students in developing patterns of critical thought and inquiry

6. to respect the person of the student even as their ideas may be

rigorously challenged

7. to be available to assist students when possible with problems involving

class materials and performance

The duties of each student member include

1. ATTENDANCE -

The most important duty to a learning community is being consistently present in class. The sign over the door of the casino in Las Vegas says it well: You must be present to win. While you are not required to attend class, your choice on attendance will have consequences. Unlike some classes, attendance will count toward your participation grade as noted in the syllabus. It is also frequently a deciding factor when students' final grades are on the borderline. While students always have the right to choose whether or not to attend, choices always have consequences and students who choose to miss class must be willing to accept the consequences of that decision. Your presence not only permits you to hear and see what is occurring in class, it also offers you an opportunity to offer your own insights, experience and expertise that facilitates the education of other members of the learning community. If you are not here, you are unable to participate or to live into your obligations to the universitas and your grade should reflect this. At least 10 percent of the participation component of your final grade may be determined strictly by attendance.

2. PREPARATION -

Most universities, including UCF, recognize that a minimum of two hours of study for every hour of class is required for successful comprehension of class materials in the class of average difficulty. (You can click the link to see why.) While you probably will not need to spend more time than this on this class, you will be expected to honor that commitment without complaint. Students who do not wish to spend the required time to adequately prepare for classes might reflect upon why they are attending college. Time management is the primary learning objective for most students. (You can click the link to see how well you do with time management)

Expected preparation includes having read assigned texts and completed class assignments prior to class. Assignments hurriedly completed or completed in the class in which it is due will be graded accordingly. You should always bring all texts currently in use to class. Also, bring all photocopied or downloaded class materials assigned for that day as well as graded assignments.

3. CONSIDERATION -

Learning communities are not always orderly or neat. But certain considerations for others helps prevent unnecessary chaos. Punctuality is a behavior expected of adults. Late arrivals and early departures are both inconsiderate and disruptive to the class. If you are late, it is your obligation to sign the class roll at the end of the class. Otherwise you may be counted absent. Bear in mind that late arrivals/early departures may count as 1/2 an absence for participation grading purposes.

Out of respect for the learning community, please turn off all cell phones, pagers and beepers prior to class or set to silent mode. Please remove all headsets. Put away palm pilots. In short, remove all distractions, for yourself and your classmates.

Group work can only occur when its members honor the responsibilities they make to the group and their classmates in the audience. If you are not going to be able to do your portion of your group presentation for whatever reason, it is your obligation to contact your group members and try to make arrangements for your portion of the presentation. Your grade will reflect the effort you make to get your materials to your fellow group members.

Bear in mind that instructors are always evaluated on their respect for students. But while students are not evaluated on their respect for each other or the instructor, respectability is not an unconditional right. Students who conduct themselves in a manner which is unworthy of respect should not anticipate being seen by classmates or their instructors in a respectable manner.

4. ENGAGEMENT -

Learning communities require more than mere warm bodies present. Engaging a class means coming prepared and on time, listening, paying attention, taking good notes, asking questions and contacting the instructor when any question or problem arises. Engagement means remaining focused on the material for this class during class time, not working on other class assignments or personal concerns.

5. HONESTY -

All communities are built upon relationships of trust. Such trust results from consistently honest and candid interactions with others. UCF defines plagiarism as follows: "whereby another’s work is deliberately used or appropriated without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own. Any student failing to properly credit ideas or materials taken from another is plagiarizing."

Source: http://www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/11_behavior.html

Students who are suspected of plagiarism will have work returned for attribution of sources. Students who are found to have plagiarized may receive a zero for that assignment at the instructor's discretion, possible expulsion from class and/or UCF. Students who are found to have engaged in plagiarism or cheating may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for required attendance at the Academic Honesty classes. A record will be kept of such referrals and repeated offenses may result in UCF disciplinary action and a record of the history of these offenses will be made available to the public.

While studying together is highly encouraged in this class and the mark of a true learning community, submissions of multiple copies of a single writing assignment or examination do not provide instructors a basis upon which to assess individual performance. Papers which evidence multiple copying will be returned ungraded and awarded a zero.

Covenant Execution

The above stated provisions detail the mutual expectations for participation in this learning community. You will indicating you have read, understand and agree to these provisions on the date indicated by the schedule by completing the Preliminary Module. By remaining in the class after the add-drop period, you are effectually agreeing to be bound by this covenant. At the end of the term, you will assess your performance under this covenant. That assessment will account for at least 10% of your final participation grade (presuming you have not exceeded the maximum number of absences noted in the syllabus).