Print-friendly version of this chapterThis University in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services.
The University of Oklahoma Student Code includes rules that address the responsibilities and conduct required of Norman Campus students, student groups, organizations, and University-approved or operated living units. The Academic Misconduct Code, sexual harassment policy, and other student-related policies and procedures are also included in the publication. Copies of the Code may be obtained from the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, Oklahoma Memorial Union, or the University of Oklahoma Student Association, 181 Oklahoma Memorial Union. The Student Code is also accessible on the Internet at http://www.ou.edu/studentcode/OUStudentCode.pdf.
Integrity in all aspects of scholarship is essential to the University’s mission. The Academic Misconduct Code sets forth the rights and responsibilities of all students on the Norman Campus regarding academic integrity, and provides the procedures to be followed in cases of suspected misconduct. Academic misconduct is defined as any act which improperly affects the evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement. It specifically includes cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, fraud, destruction of property, and bribery or intimidation, as well as assisting others or attempting to engage in such acts. It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies and procedures concerning academic misconduct; and unfamiliarity with the code alters none of a student’s rights or responsibilities thereunder. The Academic Misconduct Code is printed with the Student Code and is also available on the Internet at http://www.ou.edu/provost/integrity/.
A student is responsible for the content of any course in which he or she is officially enrolled. The establishment of specific policy concerning class attendance requirements, as well as announced and unannounced examinations, is the responsibility of the individual instructor.
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education regulations require that those institutions that reserve the final week of the semester as a testing period shall ensure that all classes meet during the testing period. Final examinations are given at the discretion of the instructor, or, in the case of multiple sections, the department in which the course is offered.
(Exceptions: The College of Arts and Sciences requires that an examination, either a last or final examination, be given during the scheduled final examination period for each regularly scheduled undergraduate course. Independent study and pure laboratory courses are excluded; the College of Engineering and the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences require comprehensive examinations to be given during the regularly scheduled examination periods in all undergraduate courses excluding directed readings, pure laboratory courses and project type design courses and seminars.)
When a final examination is given, the student must take the examination. If a final examination is given, no faculty member is authorized to depart from the published examination schedule for either a class or an individual without approval, as stated in the Faculty Handbook. Early final examinations are prohibited.
FINAL EXAMINATION has been defined as follows: an examination which is comprehensive in nature or which accounts for a greater proportion of the final grade than an examination given during the semester. (President, 2-10-86) A student will not be expected to take more than two final examinations in one day. In cases where a student has three or more exams scheduled for the same day, instructors must offer make-up exams. The student’s number of exams will be brought down to two by the following procedure:
a. If a student has three or more exams on the same day, the instructor(s) giving the third and subsequent exams must provide make-up exams during the week designated for final exams for that semester;
b. The student must notify the instructor or department of the third and subsequent final exams scheduled within a single day. Such notification must be given to the specific instructor or department before the end of the twelfth week of classes (sixth week of the summer term).
In the event a conflict should arise from the scheduling of two or more final examinations at the same time, the student will attend the examination for the class that met first during the week, according to the student’s class schedule. The instructor(s) giving the second and subsequent exams must provide make-up exams during the week designated for final exams that semester.
The University of Oklahoma will reasonably accommodate otherwise qualified individuals with a disability unless such accommodation would pose an undue hardship, would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the service, program or activity, or would create undue financial or administrative burdens. The term “reasonable accommodation” is used in its general sense in this policy to apply to employees, students and visitors. Student requests for reasonable accommodation should be addressed to the Disability Resource Center, Goddard Health Center, 620 Elm Avenue, Suite 166, (405) 325-3852, TDD (405) 325-4173, FAX (405) 325-4491, or ods@ou.edu.
A student must self-identify as an individual with a disability and provide appropriate diagnostic information that substantiates the disability. Disability includes two elements: (1) a physical or mental impairment which (2) substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the person in question. Major life activities include but are not limited to walking, breathing, seeing, hearing, performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, learning and working. Disability has both medical and functional elements, and both of these elements must be explicitly documented for the Disability Resource Center. The Disability Resource Center will then assess the impact of the disability on the student’s academic program and record the required academic accommodations in a memo to the instructor. All diagnostic information is confidential and therefore memos can be sent only at the student’s request. Students are required to provide appropriate documentation of disability prior to the provision of services. Accommodations cannot be retroactive and can begin only after documentation is received and a reasonable time for accommodation development has been allowed. Individuals who have complaints alleging discriminations based upon a disability may file them with the University’s Equal Opportunity Officer in accordance with prevailing University discrimination grievance procedures.
The University of Oklahoma explicitly condemns sexual harassment of students, staff and faculty. Sexual Harassment is unlawful and may subject those who engage in it to University sanctions as well as civil and criminal penalties. Since some members of the university community hold positions of authority that may involve the legitimate exercise of power over others, it is their responsibility to be sensitive to that power. The University is committed to providing an environment of study and work free from sexual harassment and to insuring the accessibility of appropriate grievance procedures for addressing all complaints regarding sexual harassment. For more information, contact the University Equal Opportunity Office, 102 Evans Hall, (405) 325-3546; http://www.ouhsc.edu/eoaa/PoliciesandProcedures.asp.
The University has a policy of internal adjudication of student grievances. There are specific procedures for many grievances (e.g., academic appeals, alleged discrimination, etc.) that are set forth in The Student Code of Responsibilities and Conduct for the Norman Campus and Other University Policies available online at http://www.ou.edu/studentcode/OUStudentCode.pdf. In cases where University policy designates no specific procedure, grievances regarding academic matters, financial aid, educational records, or payment of tuition and fees should be addressed to the Senior Vice President and Provost; grievances regarding other aspects of student life should be addressed to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
In order to assure timely and efficient communication, the University establishes e-mail as an acceptable means of official communication. All University students, faculty, and staff will be assigned an official University email account. Official University communications may be sent to this account. E-mail sent to this account is expected to be read in a timely fashion, except in circumstances where access to e-mail is impracticable.
Faculty and staff may assume that a student’s official University email is a valid mechanism for communicating with that student. Faculty who rely upon electronic communication with or between students in their classes will specify their requirements in the course syllabus. Account holders who choose to have e-mail forwarded to another e-mail address do so at their own risk. An account holder’s failure to receive or read, in a timely manner, official University communications sent to an official e-mail account does not absolve the account holder from knowing and complying with the content of the official communication.
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August 2009