POLICIES AND GUIDELINES
In this course, I will present learning materials both synchronously and asynchronously.
Synchronous = happening at the same time, with no delay. For example, synchronous participation would entail attending the class via Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate in real-time—that is, at the same time the professor is teaching in the physical classroom.
Asynchronous - not happening at the same time. For example, asynchronous participation could involve watching a recorded lecture, posting to an online discussion board, or even sending an email.
Having established definitions of these terms, let’s review some important university requirements that apply to this course, in particular, as well as to all Frost School of Music courses for Fall 2020.
Guidelines for In-person Students (“Roomers”)
Guidelines for Students Approved for Remote Learning (“Zoomers”)
Guidelines for ALL STUDENTS
Attendance: The Frost School of Music maintains a firm 80% policy regarding attendance. That is, a student who fails to attend at least 80% of class sessions does not qualify as having completed the course and will not receive a passing grade.
Honor Code: Students are bound by the university Honor Code:
doso.studentaffairs.miami.edu/honor-council/honor-code/index.html
Note on Academic Honesty
Students are expected to be familiar with and abide by the university’s policies on academic integrity. Please consult the college’s guidelines: https://doso.studentaffairs.miami.edu/honor-council/index.html
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are taken very seriously. When in doubt, ask what to do. Academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade for the course. Some (but not all) examples of plagiarism and academic dishonesty include using unauthorized “cheat sheets” or electronic devices on exams, peeking at a classmate’s answers during an exam, copying and pasting words from a website or other document, failing to properly acknowledge the sources of your words and ideas, or neglecting to use quotation marks when citing a source verbatim. Plagiarism typically involves submitting the work of someone else as though it were your own, and this is grounds for disciplinary action (including an F for the course). Please watch the following three-minute video for tips on how to avoid plagiarism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q0NlWcTq1Y.
Academic Accommodations
The University of Miami is committed to full inclusion of all students. Students who, by nature of a documented disability, require academic accommodations should contact the professor during office hours.
Students may also discuss the process for requesting accommodations by contacting the Office of Disability Services at (305) 284-2374. For information on how to request accommodations, click the following link: https://camnercenter.miami.edu/disability-services/request-services/index.html
Writing Assistance and Tutoring
I encourage you to request help from staff at the Writing Center, where professional and friendly staff members are available to consult with you and suggest strategies for improving the quality of your written work. Contact: (305) 284-2956. Tutoring is available through the Academic Resource Center: (305) 284-2800, www.umarc.miami.edu
Synchronous = happening at the same time, with no delay. For example, synchronous participation would entail attending the class via Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate in real-time—that is, at the same time the professor is teaching in the physical classroom.
Asynchronous - not happening at the same time. For example, asynchronous participation could involve watching a recorded lecture, posting to an online discussion board, or even sending an email.
Having established definitions of these terms, let’s review some important university requirements that apply to this course, in particular, as well as to all Frost School of Music courses for Fall 2020.
Guidelines for In-person Students (“Roomers”)
- Students are required to use the Daily Symptom Checker and be cleared to attend class each day. Students may be asked to show the green “Good to Go” notice. You may be required to produce your notice at any time while on campus. Students who fail to comply or to produce their “Good to Go” notice will be asked to leave the classroom.
- Face coverings are mandatory at all times (with the exception of when drinking water) while in on-campus class sessions. Failure to follow this requirement is grounds for disciplinary action and may lead to removal from the classroom and/or the course.
- No food in class, please.
- Physical attendance in the classroom is required as scheduled. During your non-classroom days, you are expected to participate with your video enabled. If at some point in the semester you cannot physically attend class sessions due to illness, injury, or other approved absence, you must contact Dr. Butler for permission to temporarily attend the course online. Unexcused absences from the classroom may affect your grade or lead to failing the course.
- Your BlackBoard or Canelink assigned seat is your seat for the semester. Or if not assigned, the seat you select on the first day of class must be from among those identified as meeting the physical distance requirements for COVID-19; this seat will be your assigned seat for the remainder of the semester. This will enable the most effective COVID-19 contact tracing, should it be required.
- You are welcome to use computers and tablets in class, but only for purposes directly related to our classroom activities (e.g., taking notes). Cell phones should not be used, except, of course, in the case of an emergency. I reserve the right to adjust this policy if I detect non-authorized uses of technology or notice that devices are becoming a distraction to the teaching or learning process.
Guidelines for Students Approved for Remote Learning (“Zoomers”)
- You may not under any circumstances physically attend the class on campus.
- You are required to have their video enabled. If there are extenuating circumstances that make it unfeasible for you to enable your video, you must communicate with Dr. Butler and gain approval to leave your video camera off.
- Attendance in the virtual class is required as scheduled unless this creates undue hardship due to differences in your residential time-zone and that of Miami Florida. If you cannot attend the virtual class due to illness or other reason, you must contact Dr. Butler or your teaching assistant. Unexcused absences from the virtual classroom may affect your grade or lead to failing the course.
- If you are participating in the course asynchronously, you must keep up with the virtual class as scheduled. If you cannot keep up with the virtual class due to illness or other reason, you must contact Dr. Butler or your teaching assistant. Failure to keep up with the virtual class as scheduled may affect your grade or lead to failing the course.
Guidelines for ALL STUDENTS
- Students are expressly prohibited from recording any part of this course. Any recordings made by the professor or the University will be available to students registered for this class as they are intended to supplement the classroom experience. If the instructor or a University of Miami office plans any other uses for the recordings, beyond this class, students identifiable in the recordings will be notified to request consent prior to such use.
- Given that class sessions will be recorded, the University must ensure that students have the opportunity to give consent for these recordings. All new and continuing students must sign a revised standard release form, which you can access here: Consent form for Undergraduate students
- Students are expected to follow appropriate University policies and maintain the security of passwords used to access recorded lectures. Recordings may not be reproduced, shared with those not in the class, or uploaded to other online environments. Professors are the copyright owner of the course materials, and they cannot be shared outside the physical or virtual classroom environment.
Attendance: The Frost School of Music maintains a firm 80% policy regarding attendance. That is, a student who fails to attend at least 80% of class sessions does not qualify as having completed the course and will not receive a passing grade.
Honor Code: Students are bound by the university Honor Code:
doso.studentaffairs.miami.edu/honor-council/honor-code/index.html
Note on Academic Honesty
Students are expected to be familiar with and abide by the university’s policies on academic integrity. Please consult the college’s guidelines: https://doso.studentaffairs.miami.edu/honor-council/index.html
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are taken very seriously. When in doubt, ask what to do. Academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade for the course. Some (but not all) examples of plagiarism and academic dishonesty include using unauthorized “cheat sheets” or electronic devices on exams, peeking at a classmate’s answers during an exam, copying and pasting words from a website or other document, failing to properly acknowledge the sources of your words and ideas, or neglecting to use quotation marks when citing a source verbatim. Plagiarism typically involves submitting the work of someone else as though it were your own, and this is grounds for disciplinary action (including an F for the course). Please watch the following three-minute video for tips on how to avoid plagiarism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q0NlWcTq1Y.
Academic Accommodations
The University of Miami is committed to full inclusion of all students. Students who, by nature of a documented disability, require academic accommodations should contact the professor during office hours.
Students may also discuss the process for requesting accommodations by contacting the Office of Disability Services at (305) 284-2374. For information on how to request accommodations, click the following link: https://camnercenter.miami.edu/disability-services/request-services/index.html
Writing Assistance and Tutoring
I encourage you to request help from staff at the Writing Center, where professional and friendly staff members are available to consult with you and suggest strategies for improving the quality of your written work. Contact: (305) 284-2956. Tutoring is available through the Academic Resource Center: (305) 284-2800, www.umarc.miami.edu