[UA Education] [Reminder] Check your syllabi for violations

[Allegra J Berger]

Dear Undergrads,
 
I hope you are safe and well! 

Given our current semester, it is particularly important to make sure that your classes are following the rules and regulations. While it is still early enough to address these issues easily, please take a moment to check your syllabi today to resolve potential conflicts that may be too late to fix near the end of the term. Now that classes are in full swing and Add day has passed, it is important to confirm that your syllabi follow the following guidelines. <https://facultygovernance.mit.edu/rules-and-regulations> In addition to the usual rules and regulations there are also Emergency Academic Regulations (EARs) <https://now.mit.edu/policies/fall-2020-emergency-academic-regulations-and-policies/> in place this semester. 
 
There are rules governing class logistics and scheduling of classes and exams. Please check if your classes comply with MIT’s rules. Your professors might not be aware of these rules! Note that some of what is laid out in the EARS is recommendation rather than regulation, so there will be some cases where the EARs are not enforceable. Nonetheless, we still encourage you to review your courses and reach out if you have any concerns. You can find the full list of EARs here <https://now.mit.edu/policies/fall-2020-emergency-academic-regulations-and-policies/>. 

Here are a few examples of the rules for this semester:

Exams
No exams are allowed after Dec 4th
For classes with finals, no assignments can be due after Dec 4th
For classes without finals, one assignment can be due between Dec 4th and 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 9
Tests held outside of class time must not exceed 2 hours, must begin no earlier than 7:30 pm, and may not be held on Monday.
Instructors should provide students with the option to take midterm exams during one or more alternative periods of commensurate duration within a 24-hour block of time that includes the regularly scheduled exam time.
Schedules
The precise schedule of tests and due dates for major assignments must be available now.
No academic exercises will be held and no assignments will be due during the Thanksgiving break, which begins at 5 p.m on Friday, November 20 and concludes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 29.
Finals
Final exams must be remote exams of no more than three hours duration and must be held December 14 – 18. Final exams can be “open book” or “closed book”. The choice of format must be announced and expectations must be clearly stated by the drop date (November 18, 2020).

If you think one of your classes is breaking a rule, there are several steps that you can take. If you are comfortable doing so, you can talk to the professor directly. You can also report the violation anonymously to the UA or to the Chair of the Faculty. Please reach out as soon as possible. Late in the semester, violations become increasingly difficult to resolve in a manner that is fair to everyone.
 
To report a violation to the UA, please visit  <https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=lhDrgeWEc3PmiutTy1sa6N699p7gifua2HimM4Rs4Mvik1ANWiLWCA..&URL=http%3a%2f%2fua.mit.edu%2fpolicy%2fviolations%2f>http://ua.mit.edu/policy/violations/ <http://ua.mit.edu/policy/violations/> 
 
To report a violation to the Chair of the Faculty, please email exam-termregs at mit.edu <https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=sXBzndcvxqyFsas39ODzA5SCbvMB29Pnt9HpHU3I-5Xik1ANWiLWCA..&URL=mailto%3aexam-termregs%40mit.edu>
 
If you have any questions, please email violations at mit.edu <https://owa.exchange.mit.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=jz_MBUTJRuvdmkxbvjnx6qs5LrjWZWm5QufNIhB7_kPik1ANWiLWCA..&URL=mailto%3aviolations%40mit.edu>.
 
Thanks for taking the time to check your syllabi. Hopefully we can help if there are any issues.
 
Best,
UA Education Violations Committee 

_______

Allegra J Berger
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering | Class of 2021
allegrab at mit.edu




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