Academic Affairs

Academic Status Guidelines

The following information is provided as a guide to Wilmington College Academic Affairs Policies. In case of discrepancy, the Official Catalog of Wilmington College is the governing document, as official policy is found in the Wilmington College Catalog. It is important that you refer to the Catalog of the year you were admitted to Wilmington College unless you have requested a Catalog change with the Office of the Registrar.

Academic Good Standing Policy

TheacademicprogressofallstudentsatWilmingtonCollegeis reviewed at the conclusion of the Fall Semester and at the conclusion of the Spring Semesterinordertodeterminethe academic standing of each student. Good standing is determined by the following criteria:

The student must average 12 earned credit hours with passing grades of “D” or better during fulltime semesters* enrolled at Wilmington College. (However, credits earned during summer session count toward good standing even if the student is taking less than 12 credit hours) AND
The student must complete EN101 or EN103H (and EN100, if required) with a grade of “C- “or better. Students earning a grade lower than “C- “(including drops after the drop/add period noted with the grade of “W” [Withdrawal]) in EN100, EN101, or EN103H are automatically registered to repeat the course the following semester. Students earning a grade lower than “C- “following the third attempt (including drops after the drop/add period noted with grade of “W”] are subject to immediate academic suspension. AND
The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 1.80 at close of first semester at Wilmington College and 2.00 at close of all subsequent semesters.

Students who are enrolled regularly on a part-time basis* will be considered in good standing if they pass courses for which they receive recorded grades on the following basis:

First 8 earned cumulative Wilmington credits recorded pass at least 4 credits.
9 to 15 earned cumulative credits recorded pass at least 8 credits.
16 or more earned cumulative Wilmington credits recorded pass at least two thirds of all credits attempted.

AND the student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of:

1.80 at close of first semester at Wilmington College
2.00 at close of all subsequent semesters.

*Indicates status at the end of the drop/add period

Academic Integrity Policy

Students should consult the Student Handbook for policies regarding academic integrity issues including, but not limited to, guidelines for examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and handling academic misconduct charges. Students with Academic Integrity violations may not be eligible for academic awards and honors (i.e. - academic honors, dean’s list/ merit list, Green Key Honor Society, QuakerImpact Award, and other Honorary societies).

Athletic Eligibility

Students on academic probation are ineligible for intercollegiate athletic competition. Wilmington College abides by NCAA, Division III rules and regulations. Wilmington College will determine athletic eligibility or ineligibility for each student one week (7 days) after grades are due to the Office of Academic Records for the fall, spring, and summer terms.

Academic Alert System

Staff and faculty are asked to submit referrals to the Office of Academic Affairs on students of concern. Referrals are submitted electronically through a link on the faculty portal. The purpose of this system is to facilitate early intervention with at-risk students and to improve overall student success. Referrals may be related to excessive absences, missing assignments, or poor academic performance.

Students are then notified via email if a faculty or staff member has made a referral on their behalf. Notices may also be sent to coaches and advisors, as well as to parents if permission to contact parents has beendocumentedontheFERPA form. All faculty are asked to submit midterm student progress reports on students who are in danger of failing a class. Students who receive these notices should discuss the situation with their professors and advisors to develop a plan to improve class performance or to withdraw from the course. Progress reports will be shared with parents of students with two or more notices at midterm.

Academic Code of Conduct

his policy is directly related to the first Testimony, which is part of the Student Code of Conduct: “I will practice personal and academic integrity.” The College believes that it is important for students to develop high ethical and scholarly standards and accept responsibility for maintaining these standards. Students who engage in academic misconduct receive sanctions from the faculty member of the course in which the misconduct occurs. In addition, students with multiple offenses or who commit a serious violation are required to appear before the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee and may be subject to additional sanctions as determined by the committee.

Examples of Academic Misconduct

Examination offenses include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Taking unauthorized materials into or out of the examination room.
- Leaving the examination room without authorization before completing an examination.
- Talking in the examination room without authorization.
- Discussing the examination outside the examination room during the course of the examination.
- Attempting to observe the work of another student.
- Taking an examination for another person or permitting someone else to do so.
- Collaborating improperly by discussion, joint research, or joint effort in any way expressly prohibited by the instructor. This includes using a cell phone or other device to access information from another source or another student.
- Acquiring unauthorized knowledge of an examination or any part of an examination, or solicit, offer, or give information about any part of an examination.
Student work offenses include, but are not limited to, the following, which are expressly prohibited in the absence of prior written approval of the instructor or instructors involved:
- Resubmission of work – Submitting work which has been previously submitted for credit.
- Plagiarism – Submitting work done wholly or partly by another, including the unattributed copying of all or parts of a published work or internet document.
- Prohibited sources – Consulting material or persons contrary to the directions of the instructor.
- Improper collaboration – Engaging in any discussion, joint research, or joint effort of any kind expressly prohibited by the instructor.
- Deception – Misrepresenting the authenticity of sources, citations, or principles in any written work.
- Sharing work – Students who share their work with others are responsible for how that work is used. For example, if a student shares a paper with another student to help him or her understand an assignment, and that student submits the work as their own, the author of the paper shares responsibility for the plagiarism.
Other misconduct – Engaging in any other improper conduct as specified by the instructor
Lying – Deliberately providing false information relevant to academic matters, such as misrepresenting the inability to take an examination because of illness.
Disruptive or disrespectful classroom behavior – Causing a disturbance in the classroom, interrupting instruction, speaking rudely or threatening students or faculty. This includes use of a cell phone during class.

Consequences of Academic Misconduct

Any faculty member who suspects an incident of academic misconduct must confront the student within ten days of knowledge of the event when the college is in session, or in the first ten days of the next semester. If the faculty member feels that the misconduct is substantiated, he or she must notify the student in writing of the resulting sanctions. A copy of this letter or email is sent to the Office of Academic Affairs or to the Vice President of External Programs (VPEP) and placed in the student’s permanent file.

Student Appeal Process

If a student wishes to appeal the charge of academic misconduct and/or the sanctions for the offense, he/she may do so in writing within five (5) school days of receipt of the letter from the faculty member. Students should send a letter or email to the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs or to the Vice President of External Programs. A hearing will be set in front of the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee in as timely a manner as possible. After the hearing, the Committee shall determine (by consensus) whether the level of academic offense and/or the sanctions should be decreased. Review of the level of academic offense and/or sanctions may not result in a more severe level of offense or sanction. The Committee may render its decision without deference to the faculty member’s initial determination.

If the student has prior incidents of academic misconduct, or if the incident is determined by the faculty member and AVPRSS/VPEP to warrant additional review, the student must appear before the Academic Standards and Appeals (ASA) committee. Any additional consequences will be determined by the ASA committee. Consequences could include academic probation, ineligibility for academic honors, or suspension.

Hearing Guidelines

Students who appear before the Committee may be assisted by a support person, who may be any member of the college community or a parent. Students are responsible for presenting their own case; however, the support person is permitted to speak and should assist the student in understanding the academic appeals process. Hearings will be confidential. Admission of any person to the hearing who is not a support person, or a witness shall be at the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may restrict testimony that is irrelevant or redundant.

Pertinent records, exhibits, and written statements may be accepted as evidence at the discretion of the Committee. There shall be a single verbatim record, such as a tape recording of all hearings before the Committee. The student shall have access to a record of the hearing. All tapes are destroyed either after appeals are completed or after the time allotted for appeals has passed.

Final Review

Final appeals may be made to the Academic Dean/Dean of the Faculty, within five (5) working days of the decision of the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee. An appeal to the Academic Dean is only appropriate under at least one of the following conditions:

The original hearing was not conducted fairly in light of the charges and evidence presented, and in conformity with prescribed procedures.
The decision was not based on substantial evidence.
The sanction imposed was not appropriate for the violation.
There is new evidence that was not presented at the original hearing.

Class Attendance

Each member of the Wilmington College faculty will provide all students enrolled in his/her courses with a written statement on attendance policy for each particular course in the course syllabus. This statement will specify what role, if any, class attendance plays in grading and the specific penalties for excessive absences as the professor defines that term. The College accepts these four categories of excused absences:

Activities in which the student serves as an official representative of the College (e.g., musical performances, athletic contests, field trips).
Personal illness, with documentation by the College nurse or a physician, if possible. In relation to students experiencing COVID19 related symptoms or illness, students should be provided an excused absence and should not be penalized for electing not to attend physical classes in these instances.
Family or personal emergencies.
When severe weather makes travel to campus dangerous.*

*For branch campuses, students are expected to travel to campus unless the branch campus is specifically closed due to weather

Wilmington College recognizes that reasonable attendance requirements will vary somewhat between disciplines, professors and even an individual's courses. The purpose of this policy is to ensure all concerned are clear about expectations in a given course. Faculty members are expected to accept the College's basic definition of excused absences in their individual policies and monitor attendance, but faculty members may also choose to accept other absences as excused (entirely at the discretion of each faculty member). Students are expected to be responsible for informing faculty members about excused absences (including documentation, if required) and for arranging to make up all work missed because of absences. An excused absence in no way removes this responsibility or obligates the professor to provide a student with special assignments or opportunities.

Good communication between students and faculty members is essential in cases of excused absences. Students are responsible for initiating this communication and in as timely a manner as possible. Students who will have to miss class to represent the College should provide schedules of these absences to the faculty member as soon in the semester as they are known. In all cases, it is the student’s responsibility to discuss excused absences with affected faculty members and to provide documentation of the excused nature of the absence, if the faculty member requires it.

Students should notify the Office for Academic Affairs (ext. 240) if they are unable to attend classes for one week or more (e.g., due to surgery, extended illness, etc.). Extended absences (up to two weeks without notification to the Office of Academic Affairs) can result in immediate administrative withdrawal from the College. In addition, during any term, a pattern of non-engagement or four or more academic alert notices in multiple classes can also result in immediate administrative withdrawal or suspension. Non-engagement is defined as missing classes, refusal to adhere to College policies, non-attendance, non-responsiveness to attempts to communicate, or a combination of these factors.

Attendance Policy for Hybrid Flex Courses

All students enrolled in hybrid flex courses must participate in required classroom sessions, as well as log in to the course(s) on Blackboard and complete or submit any assignment(s) or other academic related activities, to be determined by the instructor.

Attendance is required for all class weeks. In the case of hybrid flex courses, “absences” shall be defined as “non-participation.” Non-participation may be defined as but is not limited to:

Not attending required physical class sessions.
Not following the instructor’s participation guidelines as stated in the syllabus;
Not submitting required assignments;
Not contributing meaningful discussion in required chat rooms, discussion boards, or other online forums;
Not participating in scheduled academic activities; or
Failure to communicate with the instructor as required. Failure to attend as defined above constitutes an absence.

It should be noted that simply logging into the course does not constitute participation. Students must demonstrate that they are academically engaged and participating in the course by submitting required assignments, attending scheduled classroom sessions, attending synchronous online sessions and contributing to discussion forums, etc. as outlined above.

Faculty will specify what role, if any, class attendance plays in grading and the specific penalties for excessive absences as the professor defines in the syllabus.

Attendance Policy for Hybrid Traditional Courses

Students enrolled in hybrid traditional courses must participate in scheduled classroom and corresponding online synchronous sessions as well as log in to the course(s) on Blackboard and complete any assignment(s) or other academic related activities, to be determined by the instructor. Attendance is required for all class weeks. In the case of hybrid traditional courses, “absences” shall be defined as “non-participation.” Non-participation may be defined as but is not limited to:

Not attending scheduled physical classroom sessions and online synchronous sessions;
Not following the instructor’s participation guidelines as stated in the syllabus;
Not submitting required assignments;
Not contributing meaningful discussion in required chat rooms, discussion boards, or other online forums;
Not participating in scheduled activities; or
Failure to communicate with the instructor on academic related matters as required. Failure to attend as defined above constitutes an absence.

It should be noted that simply logging into the course does not constitute participation. Students must demonstrate that they are actively participating in the course by submitting required assignments, attending scheduled physical classroom and corresponding synchronous sessions, contributing to discussion forums, etc. as outlined above.

Faculty will specify what role, if any, class attendance plays in grading and the specific penalties for excessive absences as the professor defines in the syllabus.

Attendance Policy for Online (Asynchronous) Courses

Wilmington College defines an online course week as one which commences at 6:00 A.M. each Monday and ends at 10:00 P.M. the following Sunday. All students enrolled in Online (asynchronous) courses must log in to the course(s) on Blackboard and complete any assignment(s) or other academic related activities, to be determined by the instructor. Attendance is required for all class weeks. In the case of online courses, “absences” shall be defined as “non-participation.” Non-participation may be defined as but is not limited to:

Not following the instructor’s participation guidelines as stated in the syllabus;
Not submitting required assignments;
Not contributing meaningful discussion in required chat rooms, discussion boards, or other online forums;
Not participating in scheduled activities; or
Failure to communicate with the instructor on academic related matters as required. Failure to attend as defined above constitutes an absence.

It should be noted that simply logging into the course does not constitute participation. Students must demonstrate that they are actively participating in the course by submitting required assignments, contributing to discussion forums, etc. as outlined above.

Faculty will specify what role, if any, class attendance plays in grading and the specific penalties for excessive absences as the professor defines in the syllabus.

Academic Probation

Students who do not maintain academic good standing will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. Along with other requirements in their probationary semester, they may be required by the theAcademicStandards& AppealsCommitteetotake ID100: Creating Your Personal Success, if not previously taken.

Students meeting the criteria for good academic standing at the conclusion of a probationary semester will return to academic good standing.

Students on academic probation are ineligible for intercollegiate athletic competition. They may be ineligible for other extra-curricular activities as well (ex. Internships and study abroad).

In order to return to academic good standing, students on probation need to earn a term GPA sufficient to raise their cumulative GPA above 2.0. However, students who fall short of reaching a cumulative 2.0 GPA in their probationary semester but achieve a term GPA of 2.0 may appeal for a second semester of probation.

Academic Suspension

A student who fails to meet the requirements to regain academic good standing at the conclusion of a semester on academic probation is subject to academic suspension.

Students whose semester grade point average falls below 1.00 are subject to immediate academic suspension, with the exception of full-time students in their first semester of attendance at Wilmington College. First year and transfer students earning less than1.80GPAin theirfirstsemesteroffulltimeattendanceatWilmingtonCollege would be placed on probation [see Academic Probation above].

Students subject to academic suspension may make a written appeal to the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee. If the Committee views the appeal favorably, the student will be allowed to remain on academic probation for an additional semester. Students should consult with the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs or Office of Academic Affairs about the appeal process.

Academic suspension from Wilmington College spans one full semester after which an individual may apply for readmission.During the period of suspension from Wilmington College, the individual is encouraged to reexamine educational and career goals. Readmission is not automatic and depends on an individual's circumstances. If readmitted, an individual will return to Wilmington College on academic probation. Readmission does not guarantee eligibility for financial aid.

Academic Dismissal

A student who fails to meet probationary requirements, and has a previous academic suspension from Wilmington College, is subject to academic dismissal. Students who have been dismissed are eligible to reapply under Fresh Start. Eligibility for Fresh Start begins five consecutive calendar years of absence from Wilmington College.

Academic Appeals

The Academic Standards and Appeals Committee meets in confidential, closed sessions. It usually meets regularly during the academic year, beginning one week before classes start in August and ending approximately two weeks after grades have been submitted in May. Students may appeal to the Committee to drop or add a class after the final drop or add date, change a grade, extend the final date to submit work for an incomplete grade, appeal a charge of academic misconduct, or request a semester of academic probation. All appeals must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs in writing.

Students may secure the appropriate form through the Office of Academic Affairs, the theStudentOneStopCenter, or the Office of Academic Records.

Studentsshouldcompletetheformgivingparticularattentionto the rationale for the appeal while making sure to include pertinent facts.Supporting documents, such as syllabi,tests, papers,and statements from a physician or a professor, may be attached. Students should seek assistance from an academic advisor or the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, if necessary, particularly if the professor does not make the requested materials available.

If in addition to the written appeal the student wishes to appear before the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee, the student must notify the Office of Academic Affairs to arrange a time at the next available Committee meeting.

The Academic Standards and Appeals Committee may prohibit testimony that is irrelevant or redundant. It will consider all appeals in a timely manner and will notify students in writing after the conclusion of all deliberations.

Typically, a grade appeal takes a minimum of one month to cycle through the various offices where responses and signatures are required before the grade appeal can be presented to the Committee.

Administrative Appeals

Administrative appeals are reviewed and acted upon by the Vice President, Chief Academic Officer /Dean of Faculty in consultation with faculty and, depending on the appeal, other administrators. Often, an administrative appeal is a request for variance in the general education requirements or an hour requirement for graduation.

Administrative appeal forms are available through the Office of Academic Affairs, the Student One Stop Center, or the Office of Academic Records.

Withdrawal

Main campus students who find it necessary to withdraw from the College are considered officially withdrawn only after they have completed the withdrawal process. In order to withdraw, students must complete a withdrawal form, an exit survey and meet with the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs or a designated Academic Affairs staff member. Students interested in withdrawing from the college should contact the Office of Academic Affairs for further information. Withdrawalsafterthefinalofficial drop day of any semester will result in failure of all classes unless unusual circumstances are judged to exist by a committee consisting of the Vice President, Chief Academic Officer /Dean of Faculty, the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the registrar.

Administrative Withdrawal

Main campus students who have not officially withdrawn at the end of a semester and have not registered for the following semester will be administratively withdrawn by the Office of Academic Records on the last drop/add day of the following semester.

Main campus students who have registered for a semester and have not attended a single class by the end of the drop/add period without explanation will be administratively withdrawn by the Office of Academic Records and identified as "no show."

Students on leave of absence who do notreturntoWilmington Collegebythesecondsemesterof the leave of absence period(or for military leave by the end of seven years) will be administratively withdrawn bytheOfficeofAcademic Records at the end of the leave of absence period. Administratively withdrawn persons wishing to return to the College must apply for readmission.

Students who stop attending classes but do not complete the withdrawal process will be administratively withdrawn by Academic Affairs and assigned a grade of “WF”.

Leave of Absence

Students in academic good standing who intend to complete a Wilmington degree, but who need to interrupt their studies for a period of one to two semesters because of a documented illness, financial circumstances, or other reasons must apply for a leave of absence.

Students requesting a leave of absence from the college should contact the Office of Academic Affairs for further information. An appeal for a leave of absence after the final official drop date may be approved if unusual circumstances are judged to exist by a committee consisting of the Vice President, Chief Academic Officer/DeanofFaculty,the AssociateVicePresident of Academic Affairs, and the Registrar. For financial aid purposes, a leave of absence is the same as a withdrawal from the college. While on leave of absence, students will be notified of registration dates and class schedules for the following semester. Students who wish to return after a leave of absence will have to be formally readmitted through the Admission Office at Wilmington College.

Military Leave of Absence

Students with orders to report for military duty must apply for a military leave of absence by completing the form available from the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. Military leave of absence differs from leave of absence in that a student’s studies may be interrupted for a period of seven(7) years.

Readmission after Suspension

Academic suspension from the main campus of Wilmington Collegespansaminimumofonecompletefallorspring semester after which an individual may apply for readmission. An abbreviated session (lessthan16weeks) does not count as a complete semester for main campus students. Forstudentsatthebranchcampuses,academic suspension spans a minimum of one complete semester (fall, spring, or summer)after which an individual may applyfor readmission.

Readmission is not automatic and depends on the student's circumstances. If readmission is granted, the student will be readmitted on probation.

Academic Courses

Definition of Courses:

Face to Face Courses

Wilmington College defines a Face-to-Face course as one which meets in a physical space on a regular weekly schedule.All students enrolled in a Face-to-Face course are expected to physically attend and participate in all class sessions.

Hybrid Flex Courses

In a HybridFlex course, you will have a scheduled day (s)each week where you will be required to meet in your scheduled classroom.

You will also have assignments and other participation activities that must be completed and submitted electronically each week through the prescribed manner in Blackboard. Pay close attention to the course syllabus and communication from your instructor so you will know when you are scheduled to attend the physical classroom. Participation in the scheduled live class sessions and all weekly course requirements must be completed and submitted electronically in the prescribed manner to the course instructor within the instructor’s assigned deadlines for assignments and participation that week.

Hybrid Traditional Courses

In a Hybrid Traditional course, you will have scheduled day(s) where you will be required to meet in your scheduled classroom and other day (s)you will participate at the scheduled class time by attending the class live online synchronouslyviaZoom(or other synchronous platforms specified in your course syllabus). The lecture days will consist of lectures, presentations, discussions, an overview of assignments for the week,etc.as determined by your instructor. You will have assignments that must be completed each week. Pay close attention to the syllabus so you will know when you are scheduled o be in the physical classroom and days you will be scheduled to participate in the class via Zoom (or another platform) noted in your syllabus. Participation in the scheduled live classroom and corresponding synchronous sessions is required. Weekly course requirements must be completed and submitted electronically in the prescribed manner to the course instructor within the instructor’s assigned deadlines for assignments and participation that week.

Online (Asynchronous) Courses

An Online course is taught asynchronously. You will always meet in a virtual contact space through the Blackboard Learning Management System. Each class week will have participation and engagement requirements that must be completed during that week as determined by your instructor.WilmingtonCollegedefinesanonline course weeks onewhichcommencesat6:00A.M.eachMondayand ends at 10:00 P.M. the following Sunday. All weekly course requirements must be completed and submitted electronically in the prescribed manner to the course instructor within the instructor’s assigned deadlines for assignments and participation that week.

Online Synchronous Courses

An Online Synchronous course will require that you attend the live online synchronous sessions during the scheduled meeting times indicated in your course schedule and in the course syllabus. You will also meet in a virtual contact space through the Blackboard Learning Management System. Each class week will have participation and engagement requirements that must be completed during that week as determined by your instructor. Wilmington College defines an online course week as one which commences at 6:00A.M.eachMondayand ends at 10:00 P.M. the following Sunday. Participation in the scheduled live synchronous sessions and all weekly course requirements must be completed and submitted electronically in the prescribed manner to the course instructor within the instructor’s assigned deadlines for assignments and participation that week.

Minimum Technology Requirements for Students

Access to a computer with the following specifications are the minimum technology requirements In order to be able to perform successfully in a hybrid or online learning environment, as well in many courses offered face to face. Some academic programs may require additional software.

Device Types

Laptops, desktops running Microsoft Windows or Apple macOSarerecommendedasyourprimarydevice
Tablets running Windows may be acceptable if it meets requirements below
Google Chromebook devices are not recommended as your primary device
Devices running Android,Apple iOS(iPhone/iPad) or other operatingsystems are not recommended as your primary device

Operating system

Windows OS: Windows 10 or 11
macOS: One of the three most recent versions of macOS

Computer and Processor

Windows OS: 1.6 GHz or faster, 2-core or greater. 2 GHz or greater recommended for video calls
macOS: Intel processor or Apple M-series of processors (M1, M2…)

Memory

WindowsOS:4GBRAM or greater
macOS:4GBRAM or greater

Hard disk

WindowsOS:10GB of available disk space or greater
macOS:10GB of available disk space or greater

Display

Windows OS: 1280x768screen resolution or greater
macOS:1280x800 screen resolution or greater

Network Connectivity

Wi-Fi capable

Browser

The current version of Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Chrome.

Video calls

Built in or USB Camera, speakers/headphones, and microphone.

If you do not have consistent access to a device with these specifications, please be sure to have that in place by the beginning of the semester. If you have questions regarding these minimum technology requirement specifications, please contact helpdesk@wilmington.edu

Considering the possibility of future interruptions to our face-to- face learning together, continuing, and new students should also check on the status of internet at home and be prepared to address any deficiencies.

Course Credits are Expressed in Semester Hours of Credit

Courses are generally numbered to correspond to the class level for which they are intended. Courses numbered below 100 are intended for freshmen.They do not count toward graduation, although they are included in the course load for the semester. 100-level courses are intended for freshmen, 200-level courses are intended for sophomores, 300-level courses are intended for juniors, and 400-level courses are intended for seniors. The 100- and 200- level courses are considered lower division, while the 300- and 400-level courses are considered upper division. Lower-level transfer elective credit is numbered 195, and upper-level transfer elective credit is numbered 395. Graduate courses are numbered 500 to 699.

Class Attendance

Activitiesinwhichthestudentservesasanofficial representative of the College (e.g., musical performances, athletic contests, field trips).
Personal illness, with documentation by the College nurse or a physician, if possible. In relation to students experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms or illness, students should be provided an excused absence and should no the penalized for electing not to attend physical classes in these instances.
Family or personal emergencies.
When severe weather makes travel to campus dangerous. *

*For branch campuses, students are expected to travel to campus unless the branch campus is specifically closed due to weather.

Good communication between students and faculty members is essential in cases of excused absences. Students are responsible for initiating this communication and in as timely a manner as possible. Students who will have to miss class to represent the College should provide schedules of these absences to the faculty member as soon in the semester as they are known. In all cases, itis the student’s responsibility to discuss excused absences with affected faculty members and to provide documentation of the excused nature of the absence, if the faculty member requires it.

Students should notify the Office of Academic Affairs if they are unable to attend classes due to surgery, extended illness, etc. Extended absences without notification can result in immediate administrative withdrawal from the College.In addition, during any term, a pattern of non-engagement or four or more academic alert notices in multiple classes can also result in immediate administrative withdrawal or suspension. Non-engagement is defined as missing classes, refusal to adhere to College policies, non- attendance, non-responsiveness to attempts to communicate, or a combination of these factors.

Attendance Policy for Hybrid Flex Courses

Attendance is required for all class weeks. In the case of hybrid flex courses, “absences” shall be defined as “nonparticipation.” Non- participation may be defined as but limited to:

Not attending required physical class sessions.
Not following the instructor’s participation guidelines as stated in the syllabus.
Not submitting required assignments.
Not contributing meaningful discussion in required chat rooms, discussion boards,or other online forums.
Not participating in scheduled academic activities; or
Failure to communicate with the instructor as required.

Failure to attend as defined above constitutes an absence.

It should be noted that simply logging into the course does not constitute participation. Students must demonstrate that they are academically engaged and participating in the course by submitting required assignments, attending scheduled classroom sessions, attending synchronous online sessions, and contributing to discussion forums, etc. as outlined above.

Faculty will specify what role, if any, class attendance plays in grading and the specific penalties for excessive absences as the professor defines in the syllabus.

Attendance Policy for Hybrid Traditional Courses

Attendanceisrequiredforallclassweeks. In the case of hybrid traditional courses, “absences” shall be defined as “nonparticipation.” Non-participation may be defined as but is not limited to

Not attending scheduled physical classroom sessions and online synchronous sessions.
Not following the instructor’s participation guidelines as stated in the syllabus.
Not submitting requiredassignments.
Not contributing meaningful discussion in required chat rooms, discussion boards,or other online forums.
Not participating in scheduled activities; or
Failure to communicate with the instructor on academic related matters as required.

Failure to attend as defined above constitutes an absence

It should be noted that simply logging into the course does not constitute participation. Students must demonstrate that they are actively participating in the course by submitting required assignments, attending scheduled physical classroom, and corresponding synchronous sessions, contributing to discussion forums, etc. as outlined above.

Faculty will specify what role, if any, class attendance plays in grading and the specific penalties for excessive absences as the professor defines in the syllabus.

Attendance Policy for Online (Asynchronous) Courses

Attendance is required for all class weeks. In the case of online courses, “absences” shall be defined as “nonparticipation.” Non- participation may be defined as but limited to

Not following the instructor’s participation guidelines as stated in the syllabus.
Not submitting required assignments.
Not contributing meaningful discussion in required chat rooms,discussionboards,orotheronlineforums.
Not participating in scheduled activities; or
Failure to communicate with the instructor on academic related matters as required.

Failure to attend as defined above constitutes an absence.

It should be noted that simply logging into the course does not constitute participation. Students must demonstrate that they are actively participating in the course by submitting required assignments, contributing to discussion forums, etc. as outlined above.

Faculty will specify what role, if any, class attendance plays in grading and the specific penalties for excessive absences as the professor defines in the syllabus.

Attendance Policy for Online Synchronous Courses

Wilmington Collegedefines an online course week as one which commencesat6:00A.M.eachMondayandendsat 10:00 P.M. the following Sunday. Students enrolled in Online Synchronous courses must participate in scheduled online synchronous sessions as well as log in to the course(s) on Blackboard and complete any assignment(s) or other academic activities, to be determined by the instructor.

Attendance is required for all class weeks. In the case of online courses, “absences” shall be defined as “nonparticipation.” Non- participation may be defined as but limited to

Not attending scheduled online synchronous sessions.
Not following the instructor’s participation guidelines as stated in the syllabus.
Not submitting required assignments.
Not contributing meaningful discussion in required chat rooms, discussion boards,or other online forums.
Not participating in scheduled activities; or
Failure to communicate with the instructor on academic related matters as required.

Failure to attend as defined above constitutes an absence.

It should be noted that simply logging into the course does not constitute participation. Students must demonstrate that they are actively participating in the course by submitting required assignments, attending scheduled synchronous sessions, contributing to discussion forums, etc. as outlined above.

Faculty will specify what role, if any, class attendance plays in grading and the specific penalties for excessive absences as the professor defines in the syllabus.

Academic Freedom

What It Does Do:

Academic Freedom means that both faculty members and students can engage in intellectual debate without fear of censorship or retaliation.
Academic Freedom establishes a faculty member’s right to remain true to his or her pedagogical philosophy and intellectual commitments. It preserves the intellectual integrity of our educational system and thus serves the public good.
Academic freedom in teaching means that both faculty members and students can make comparisons and contrasts between subjects taught in a course and any field of human knowledge or period of history.
Academic Freedom gives both students and faculty the right to express their views – in speech, writing, and through electronic communication, both on and off campus – without fear of sanction, subject to “What It Doesn’t Do” below.
Academic freedom gives both students and faculty the right to study and do research on the topics they choose and to draw what conclusions they find consistent with their research, though it does not prevent others from judging whether their work is valuable and their conclusions sound. To protect academic freedom, universities should oppose efforts by corporate or government sponsors to block dissemination of any research findings.
Academic freedom means that the political, religious, or philosophical beliefs of politicians, administrators, and members of the public cannot be imposed on students or faculty.
Academic freedom gives faculty members and students the right to seek redress or request a hearing if they believe their rights have been violated.
Academic freedom protects faculty members and students from reprisals for disagreeing with administrative policies or proposals.
Academic freedom gives faculty members and students the right to challenge one another’s views, but not to penalize them for holding them.
Academic freedom protects a faculty member’s authority to assign grades to students, so long as the grades are not capricious or unjustly punitive. More broadly, academic freedom encompasses both the individual and institutional right to maintain academic standards.
Academic freedom gives faculty members substantial latitude in deciding how to teach the courses for which they are responsible.
Academic freedom guarantees that serious charges against a faculty member will be heard before a committee of his or her peers. It provides faculty members the right to due process, including the assumption that the burden of proof lies with those who brought the charges, that faculty have the right to present counterevidence and confront their accusers, and be assisted by an attorney in serious cases if they choose.

What It Doesn’t Do:

Academic freedom does not protect all forms of expression, including expression – whether on or off campus – that is unlawful, intimidating, threatening, or harassing, violates the College’s policies, substantially disrupts the work and operation of the College, substantially impairs the right of others, or – in the case of faculty members – those views demonstrate that they are professionally ignorant, incompetent, or dishonest with regard to their discipline or fields of expertise.
Academic freedom does not mean a faculty member can harass, threaten, intimidate, ridicule, or impose his or her views on students.
Student academic freedom does not deny faculty members the right to require students to master course material and the fundamentals of the disciplines that faculty teach.
Neither academic freedom nor tenure protects an incompetent teacher from losing his or her job. Academic freedom thus does not grant an unqualified guarantee of lifetime employment.
Academic freedom does not protect faculty members from colleague or student challenges to or disagreement with their educational philosophy and practices.
Academic freedom does not protect faculty members from non-university penalties if they break the law.
Academic freedom does not give students or faculty the right to ignore college or university regulations, though it does give faculty and students the right to criticize regulations they believe are unfair.
Academic freedom does not protect students or faculty from disciplinary action, but it does require that they receive fair treatment and due process.
Academic freedom does not protect faculty members from sanctions for professional misconduct, though sanctions require clear proof established through due process.
Neither academic freedom nor tenure protects a faculty member from various sanctions – from denial of merit raises, to denial of sabbatical requests, to the loss of desirable teaching and committee assignments – for poor performance, though such sanctions are regulated by local agreements and by faculty handbooks. If minor, sanctions should be grieve able; if major, they must be preceded by an appropriate hearing.
Neither academic freedom nor tenure protects a faculty member who excessively and unjustifiably misses class or refuses to teach the classes or subject matter assigned.
Though briefly interrupting an invited speaker may be compatible with academic freedom, preventing a talk or a performance from continuing is not.