Expectations of classroom behavior are grounded in Hartwick College’s Core Values, which affirm integrity, civility, respect and responsibility. All members of the teaching and learning community at Hartwick are bound by these principles in all interactions.

Students are expected to treat their peers, instructors, and staff with respect at all times. Rude, disrespectful and/or disruptive behavior that materially interferes with other students’ right to learn or with an instructor’s ability to teach will not be tolerated. Any student whose behavior impedes these rights may be subject to disciplinary actions and risks being removed from a class permanently. Any student whose behavior endangers the safety of others in the classroom will be removed immediately and reported to Campus Safety. This policy refers to disruptive behavior by a single individual as well as groups of two or more individuals.

Ultimately, control over the classroom resides with the instructor, and if an instructor determines that a student(s) is interfering with others students’ right to learn and/or the instructor’s ability to teach, the instructor may:

1. Issue a verbal warning to the student;
2. Require the student to leave the classroom;
3. Have the student removed from the classroom by security.

The Policy will be enforced based on instance.

When a student is either warned or asked to leave class for the first time, that student must within 24 hours meet with the instructor outside of class to discuss the incident and proper classroom behavior. (At the discretion of the instructor, an appropriate third party may be present.)

Only after completing this meeting may the student return to class.

This meeting and its outcome must be documented on the Classroom Behavior Report form. A copy of this form will be provided to the faculty member, the student, and to the Office of Academic Affairs who will keep it in the student’s file.

The form will also be shared with the CARE and HEART Teams.

Except in cases where public safety is a concern, a student who is asked to leave a class for the first time will be allowed to return to that class as long as the above process is followed.

When a student is either warned or asked to leave class for the second time, whether during the same semester in the same class, a different class, or a later semester, the case will be referred within 24 hours to the Dean of Academic Affairs.

The Dean will meet with the student and instructor separately and recommend a resolution that outlines behavioral expectations the student must follow for the rest of the term.

This meeting and its outcome will be documented on a Classroom Behavior Report form. A copy of this form will be provided to the faculty member, the student, and to the Office of Academic Affairs who will keep it in the student’s file.

The document will also be shared with the CARE and HEART Teams.

A third instance of disruptive classroom behavior, whether within the class during the same semester or over the course of different semesters and classes, constitutes an egregious pattern of behavior and will be referred to the Office of Student Experience/Conduct.

This instance will be documented as before, and classroom behavior requirements will be reviewed by the Dean of Academic Affairs. The Dean may modify these requirements in light of the most recent incident.

Unless a threat to public safety exists, the student will return to class and be required to follow the expectations documented by the Dean of Academic Affairs as well as any sanctions imposed by Student Experience/Conduct.