Obligations and Expectations of Students and Instructors

As an undergraduate student you are expected to:

• Assume an active role in your learning and education
• Understand and comply with course requirements, expectations, and policies as articulated in the course syllabus
  • Note: Course policies vary from course to course (and from one section of a course to the next), meaning that the individual instructor determines:
    • expectations and grade implications (if any) regarding attendance and participation
    • grading methodology and grading scale
    • policies regarding the possibility for and (if allowed) the terms governing late work or extensions, make-up exams, and re-grading
• Regularly consult course syllabus and Canvas page when seeking information; take initiative in seeking assistance from the instructor to clarify course content and assignments 
• Address any conflicts in syllabus and exam scheduling in a timely manner (e.g., at the start of the semester)
• Adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy and Student Conduct Code
• Attend the full duration of and be actively engaged in all classes; adhere to instructor’s expectations for the use of technology in class; behave in a respectful manner to the instructor and to your fellow students
• Acquire all required course materials in the specified format
• Come prepared to each class having completed the assigned reading, problem sets, etc.
• Complete all assignments by their deadline; be aware that late submission of work may not be permitted
• Request extensions for assignments before the due date; be aware that some courses may not allow extended deadlines at all
• Spend a minimum of 2-3 hours studying outside of class for every hour spent in class (e.g., for a 3-unit class, you can expect to spend approximately 6-9 hours per week on reading, assignments, and review of course content)
• Notify instructors of issues and respond to instructor emails in a timely and responsible manner through Canvas or WashU email account

As an instructor you are expected to:

•  Interact with students in a professional, ethical, equitable, and constructive manner
• Provide information about the course in the form of a course syllabus (available on the Canvas page) on or prior to the first day of class
  • Note: Some of the key elements of a course syllabus are:
    • the course description and learning objectives
    • clear policies regarding attendance and participation
    • course grading methodology, criteria for evaluation of assignments and assessments, and a grading scale
    • information about office hours and means of communicating with the instructor (through Canvas or WashU email account)
    • a detailed schedule of class meetings along with assigned readings, problem sets, etc. to be completed before each class session
    • deadlines for major assignments and/or dates of exams and other course activities
    • university-level guidelines and policies (e.g., regarding academic integrity, disability resources, religious holidays, etc.)
• Inform students in a timely manner of any changes to information in the syllabus
• Provide course materials in a timely manner in Canvas or information about how to access materials and/or technologies
• Provide guidelines for assignments or assessments
• Provide timely grading of and feedback on assignments and regularly communicate with students regarding their progress (e.g., through formal midterm grades, Canvas Gradebook, or graded assignments)
• Adhere to all student-related policies maintained by the Office of the Provost
• Observe scheduled class times and hold regularly scheduled office hours 
• Comply with FERPA
• Provided reasonable accommodations as approved by Disability Resources
• Adhere to the final examination schedule 
• Submit final grades in a timely manner