UAlbany's Statement on Classroom/Office Civility & Dealing with Disruption
Faculty members are responsible for establishing and managing the seated and online learning environment (this includes faculty offices and office hours) and stating clear classroom conduct expectations. Disruptive behavior is behavior the faculty member deems to interfere with or prevent normal classroom functions or activities.
Disruptive behaviors can range from mildly distracting to clearly disorderly, violent, or dangerous, expressed verbally or in written or presented work, inside or outside the classroom.
Both students and faculty members have some measure of academic freedom. University policies on classroom disruption are not used to punish disagreement that is expressed in a manner appropriate to the classroom. The expression of disagreement with the teacher or other students is not in itself “disruptive” behavior. It is essential for the instructor to set reasonable and clear behavioral expectations for classroom conduct, discussion, written, and presented work in the syllabus at the beginning of the semester/class.
General Principles for Documenting Disruptive Behaviors
Instructors should document disruptive behavior in a written report to the Chairperson, as discussed below. When keeping notes or writing reports about disruptive behaviors, instructors should confine their comments about the student to describing specific behaviors that were disruptive in the classroom. The comments should not take the form of real or implied statements of psychological diagnosis, speculations on the student’s motives or mental status, or value judgments about the student. It is important to document what the student was doing, not to speculate why they were doing it.
To pursue disciplinary action under the code of conduct, the referral must be accompanied by a detailed description of the behaviors and by any relevant documentation that led to the referral and/or removal from class. In addition, during the Disciplinary Process through Community Standards, the instructor (or designee) serves as the Referring Party when student behavior is referred for disciplinary action.
The instructor is encouraged to consult with the department chair, school or college dean, and the Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education or of Graduate Education, as appropriate, throughout the referral process.
Types of Disruptive Events
I. Single-event Disruptions
When student(s) become disruptive in the classroom, but there is no previous history or pattern of repeated disruptive behaviors.
Examples:
- A student(s) comes to class intoxicated and engages in inappropriate behavior.
- A student(s) becomes angry, and the situation escalates to a disruptive level of confrontation with another student or the instructor.
- A student(s) continuously, untimely, or inappropriately interrupts other students or professor(s) during discussion or lecture during one class meeting.
The scenarios listed above are not exhaustive but are examples of common classroom/office disruptions.
Dealing with Single-event Disruptions
A. The instructor or person in charge may ask the offending student or students to leave if their disruptive behaviors compromise the instructional process. The instructor should state clearly to the student(s) what behaviors are disruptive and allow the student(s) to leave class and return after they regain control. The instructor should also inform the student(s) of the consequences if the disruptive behavior continues.
- If the situation requires an immediate response in class, calmly and courteously ask the student(s) to stop the conduct and to talk to the instructor after class or during office hours. A student(s) should be asked to leave class if the disruptive behavior impedes the instructor’s ability to teach the class productively. If the behavior creates a safety risk or makes it impossible to continue class, dismiss the class for the day.
B. If the student(s) refuses to leave when asked, the instructor may leave the classroom and contact University Police to remove the student(s). The instructor will not try to remove the student(s) physically. If the instructor believes that the class is in danger, class may be canceled, and all students dismissed.
- UAlbany Guardian can be a resource as well. This allows you to discretely communicate via messages to UPD.
- Immediately following the disruption/end of class instructors should issue an alert in EAB Navigate, so that advisors are aware.
C. The instructor should file a written report on all such events with the department Chair within 24 hours. The report will describe the student’s disruptive behaviors, the instructor’s actions in response to the student, the resolution of the conflict, if any, and supply names of any witnesses to the events described. A copy of this report will be kept in the department and sent to the Assistant Dean of Students for Community Standards. The department Chairperson should attempt to meet with the student either alone or with the faculty member to discuss the incident before any other action is taken.
D. The department Chairperson will take appropriate academic disciplinary steps in consultation with the Dean (of the appropriate College or School) and, if necessary, the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Vice President of Student Affairs. As a minimum action, the department Chairperson will warn the student in writing of the consequences of further disruptions.
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) would be an appropriate referral for the student(s) if the department Chair believes they might need support correcting the behavior problem.
II. Multiple-event Disruptions
A student(s) shows a pattern of minor disruptive behavior during several class sessions, which, in the judgment of the instructor, impairs the instructional process. Because of these behaviors, the instructor is less able to teach, and the students are less able to learn.
Examples:
- A student(s) arrives late repeatedly, disrupting classroom activities as they enter the instructional setting.
- A student(s) distracts by talking out of turn or repeatedly refuses to observe normal expectations for classroom etiquette.
- A student(s) repeatedly monopolizes the classroom discussion, refusing to allow other students to speak or repeatedly challenging the instructor’s authority to lead the class.
The scenarios listed above are not exhaustive but are examples of common classroom disruptions.
Dealing with Multiple-event Disruptions
A. The instructor should document all disruptive behaviors by taking personal notes that include date(s), time(s), specific behaviors, and the names of people present. The instructor should state clearly to the student what behaviors are disruptive and inform the student(s) of the consequences if the disruptive behavior continues.
B. As a history of repeated disruptive behaviors by a student(s) develops, the instructor will document the events using written notes and will keep the department Chair informed.
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) may be a helpful resource for a faculty member attempting to deal with a series of disruptive behaviors.
C. If the instructor and the departmental Chair decide that removing the student(s) from class may be necessary, the student(s) must first be informed in writing by the department Chair of the specific objectionable behaviors and asked to refrain from these behaviors. The student(s) will also be informed about the possible consequences of further disruptions. Any discussions between the instructor and the student(s) about the disruptions should be carried out in the presence of the department Chair.
D. If, after receiving written notification, the student(s) refuses to stop creating disruptions in class, the appropriate departmental administrator will report the situation to the Dean and ask that the student(s) be referred to Community Standards to determine if suspension/removal from attending further class meetings of that course is necessary.
E. In the absence of the department Chair, the duties in A through D above will be carried out by the acting Chair or the Chair’s designee.
III. Suspensions, Terminations & Referral to the Student Conduct Process for Reason of Disruptive Behavior
In the case of single-event or multiple-event disruptions, immediate actions at the Dean’s and/or Vice President’s level may be necessary. Referrals may be made to Community Standards should the conduct rise to the level of a potential violation of University Policy, including but not limited to the prohibited behaviors described in the Community Rights and Responsibilities (CR&R). Student conduct referrals to Community Standards will be reviewed and resolved per the student conduct procedures outlined in the CR&R.
A. In the case of significant disruptions, the school or college Dean, in consultation with the Assistant Dean of Students for Community Standards, may authorize immediate interim action to remove a student(s) from the class. If the student(s) is removed from the class, the Dean/Professor may determine the appropriate grade for the course based on work submitted up to the removal date. Students may also be offered the option of withdrawing from the class for a grade of W. The student(s) will be informed via email of the interim action to be taken by Community Standards and of the right to request a prompt review. Instructors are not required to offer make-up for work or assignments missed due to interim action for behavioral misconduct. A student(s) may be referred to Community Standards for additional severe or repeated disruptions.
The student shall, upon request, be afforded a prompt review, reasonable under the circumstances, of the need for and terms of any interim action. The student shall be allowed to submit evidence to support their request. The request for review must be submitted in writing to the Dean of Students, or their designee, within two (2) business days of the imposition of the interim action. If the Dean of Students, or their designee, was involved in the interim action decision, the review will be conducted by a Dean of Students designee who was not involved in the interim action decision.
B. Students may appeal decisions relating to grades by following the procedures outlined in the grievance policy in the applicable school or college (available on their web sites). For more detail on grievances, see the Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletins.
C. If the University Police become involved in a disruptive event, the Assistant Dean of Students (Community Standards) will be consulted, and a referral will be made to Community Standards.
D. Should the conduct rise to the level of a potential violation of University policy, including but not limited to the prohibited conduct described in the Community Rights and Responsibilities (CR&R), referrals may be made to Community Standards. Referrals made to Community Standards will be reviewed and resolved per the student conduct procedures outlined in the CR&R; formal or educational sanctions assigned as an outcome of the student conduct process may be in addition to sanctions imposed by the academic department.