General Policies and Regulations
XIV. GENERAL POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
A. Faculty should become thoroughly familiar with the Albright College Catalog as that document contains the academic policies under which students enter and are required to function. The policies that follow are in addition to or emendations of those in the catalog.
B. All instructors are expected to give final examinations in all courses, except those that clearly focus upon end-of-term writing requirements or laboratory reports. Instructors are to follow the prescribed schedule for final examinations issued by the Registrar. Bluebooks are provided by the College for all major examinations.
C. As an act of courtesy, major religious holidays of students should be honored. Major testing or other assignments in direct conflict such holidays should be avoided when at all possible.
D. Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Handicap
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Albright College is obligated to not discriminate on the basis of handicap in any of its operations.
1. The keys to Albright College’s implementation of Section 504 and carrying out the College’s obligation are:
a. Individual attention to the specific needs of handicapped faculty, students, and others involved in its programs and activities.
b. Program accessibility. Albright must ensure that all otherwise qualified persons involved in its programs and activities have equal opportunity regardless of handicap. Carrying out this obligation involves the faculty in two ways. First, qualified faculty must themselves not be denied equal opportunity on the basis of handicap. Second, qualified persons who are handicapped must not be denied equal opportunity by faculty.
2. In case of handicapped faculty, Albright shall, as soon as it becomes aware of a handicap, make all possible accommodations so that the faculty member has equal access to all programs and activities in which such a faculty member would ordinarily be engaged. Albright understands that it is the College’s obligation to take the initiative to make such accommodations. The handicapped faculty person need only, as he/she deems appropriate, inform the Chief Academic Officer of the handicapped situation.
3. In case of handicapped students, faculty must ensure that otherwise qualified students are given equal opportunities in all College programs and activities regardless of handicap. Faculty must also be aware that it is the College’s responsibility, and hence their responsibility as representatives of the College, to take the initiative to make such accommodations as is necessary as soon as a handicapped situation comes to their attention. In all cases, such accommodation must be with the consent of the handicapped student and must be intended to make the handicapped student as much as possible a part of the regular program of the College. The accommodations that are required by faculty include but are not limited to: access to sites where counseling is done, participation in special course or department-related projects and activities such as research and field trips, and testing and other means of evaluation. Faculty should consult with Albright’s Responsible Officer under Section 504 (identified in the annual list of personnel assignments) about all situations involving handicapped students. Check with the Office Human Resources for further details.
4. The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or handicap. This policy extends to all educational service and employment programs of the College. Albright College expects that a faculty member’s individual actions will follow this dedication.
E. Albright College is committed to building a community characterized by strong faculty—student collaborative relationships, inside and outside of the classroom.
Amorous or sexual relationships between Albright College faculty and students are impermissible, except in the case of pre-existing relationships as provided below. Such relationships undermine the integrity of the teacher-student relationship, both individually and for the community as a whole.
Should such a relationship pre-exist matriculation, the faculty member must notify the Chief Academic Officer in writing and take all steps necessary to minimize or eliminate any supervisory or evaluative purview over the student in question.
Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action consistent with the provisions of Articles VI and VII of the Faculty Handbook, and is subject to the appeals provisions contained therein.
F. Faculty whose contract with the College is ending should take the following actions:
1. When possible, all graded assignments must be returned to the students (if that is the class policy) prior to departure. Any remaining assignments must be made accessible to the department chair and students must be informed of the availability of those assignments from the chair. If there are any outstanding Incompletes in any courses, the department chair must be informed of the remaining assignments due. Please provide assignment guidelines that were not in the syllabus so that the chair has information needed to answer student questions.
2. All equipment, furniture, etc. belonging to the College must be returned to the College or left in your office. Any desired electronic files must be removed from the the College-provided computer or other storage areas(e.g., Moodle) as they will not be available following completion of the contract period. In cases where a faculty member may delay the return of College property, the final paycheck will be held in the finance office for pickup.
3. An automatic email message should be placed on your College email indicating your seperation from the College and providing a new contact email.
4. The faculty member should schedule an exit interview with the Director of Human Resources. At this meeting the faculty member must turn in the following items: keys, College ID and any other College property not remaining in the office.
5. The faculty member should provide Human Resources with contact information prior to departure.
6. Upon request, the College will make arrangements to provide the faculty member with copies of any remaining course evaluations.
7. For faculty who are ending their employment with the College due to retirement, some of the above policies may not apply. Please see Article X Section C fo the Faculty Handbook, Retirement.
G. Additional general College policies to which faculty must abide are found in the Faculty Governance and Policy Guide.