When Things Don't Go As Planned
If you're new to Southern California, you'll soon find that there are frequently power outages in different pockets of the Los Angeles area during the fall as a result of both wildfires and brownouts. This can make it more difficult for students to get internet access and complete their work. Try to be understanding and accommodate these circumstances to the best of your ability, perhaps by building in a grace period or making important assignments due during business hours when students are more likely to find public Wi-Fi.
4.10 WHEN THINGS DON'T GO AS PLANNED
Even the most carefully planned course never goes fully as we intend it to. Here, we'll cover some of the disruptions that may occur and CSUN resources for you as you navigate those disruptions.
Teaching Through Disruption
The abrupt shift to online teaching as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the challenges faculty navigate when unexpected events interrupt their carefully planned semester. The reality of teaching in Southern California is that our classes are unfortunately disrupted by natural events (such as fires) from time to time. The Teaching Toolkit has a page on Teaching Through Disruption that offers strategies for maintaining continuity in your course when abruptly moving online.
Navigating Difficult Dialogues
Our current political moment can create some challenging class discussions. Our CSUN students embody some of the most stormy political debates of our time and walk through life every day negotiating heated rhetoric about themselves, their families, and the world about them. These passionate feelings are often shared during class discussions, and it is our responsibility as faculty to steer these moments such that learning and connection can occur. Given that current events specifically speak to the different positionalities of our students, faculty can play a key role by taking active steps to build a culturally relevant and inclusive course, from the syllabus to the class discussions.
Setting guides for class participation in your syllabus can help to lay ground rules for how students enter such discussions, and faculty can also play an active role in ensuring that students feel safe in their learning space. The Faculty Development Teaching Toolkit on Navigating Courageous Conversations offers suggestions for these moments.
Disruptive or Threatening Student Behavior
CSUN students review the Student Conduct Code at orientation, and it is in their student handbook. However, faculty may encounter behavior that does not align with this conduct code. The Division of Student Affairs offers suggestions for your response on their website and has produced “Responding to Disruptive or Threatening Student Behavior: A Guide for Faculty.” Further resources can also be found in CSUN’s Red Folder Links to an external site.. When students do behave in ways that are disruptive, please contact Dr. Zeina Otaky-Ramirez, Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Student Conduct and Ethical Development, at 818-677-2391, for guidance and possible next steps. If students are threatening violence or pose a risk of self-harm, please contact the Department of Police Services at 818-677-2111.
Promoting Academic Honesty
Many faculty include a statement regarding academic honesty (and the penalties for violating it) on their syllabus. For ideas regarding how you can promote academic honesty within your own classroom, you can check out the Faculty Development Teaching Toolkit resources on this topic. The Faculty Technology Center also offers suggestions for promoting academic honesty online when using Canvas for online quizzes and exams. Our Teaching Toolkit has sample statements to include on your syllabus on ethical uses of artificial intelligence in the classroom.
Responding to Instances of Academic Dishonesty
You can read CSUN’s official definition of academic dishonesty and the faculty policy on responding to academic dishonesty. The official penalties for academic dishonesty are found here. When you encounter academic dishonesty, please gather the evidence and meet with the student to discuss the allegations and possible grading penalties. It is important to include grading penalties in your syllabus and hold all students equally accountable. If after meeting with the student, you have sufficient evidence, please complete the Student Misconduct Complaint Form Links to an external site. to report the behavior. While you decide the course-level penalties, the student faces institution-level disciplinary action which is handled by the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs (OVPSA). The misconduct form allows the OVPSA to determine next steps which may include a warning or further disciplinary action. The CSU student conduct process is at its core, developmental. The OVPSA will utilize developmental approaches to hold students accountable and change behavior. If warranted, formal disciplinary action will be applied as needed.