Teacher/Student Learning Contract

In terms of a relationship with a professor or teacher, what are a student's rights?

Students have a right to expect . . .

  1. Students have a right to expect that, on the first day of class, I will hand them a course syllabus which clearly states the following:
  2. Students have a right to expect class sessions will start on time and end on time.
  3. Students have a right to expect opportunities to discuss course components (assignments, lectures, presentations, exams) outside of class time
  4. Students have a right to expect constructive feedback on drafts of papers submitted for me to review (if those drafts are submitted well in advance of due dates) [ writing help ]
  5. Students have a right to expect that papers will be graded and returned within two weeks (provided they were turned in on time)
  6. Students have a right to expect re-evaluations of work that they think may have been graded unfairly or improperly.

The teacher's rights: As a professor, I have the right to expect that students will:

  1. I have the right to expect that students will arrive in class on time and prepared
  2. I have the right to expect that students will stay engaged for the entire class period
  3. I have the right to expect that students needing clarification or assistance will ask for it
  4. I have the right to expect that students will turn in assignments on time
  5. I have the right to expect that students will immediately inform me when extenuating circumstances affect his/her attendance [ see syllabi for attendance policies]
  6. I have the right to expect that students will share concerns about the class in time for mid-course adjustments to be made
  7. I have the right to expect that students will follow SNU's code of academic integrity

Human rights and responsibilities of both teacher and student

Classroom etiquette: Our mutual expectations for each other

  1. We will listen respectfully to each other.
  2. We will not speak while others are talking.
  3. When we disagree with someone, we will critique that person's ideas in a respectful and constructive manner
  4. When other people's perspectives are different from ours, we will try to understand them rather than simply criticize them
  5. We will avoid stereotypes and humor that disparage people.
  6. We will intervene politely when class members are being disrespectful or unfair to others

Don't you hate boring lectures?

arrow pointing rightLet's get started improving grades by learning how to listen to lectures . . . even the boring ones. [ more ]

    -- Howard Culbertson.

Afterword

Teacher/student contracts have significant value in educational settings for several reasons. These include:

In short, teacher/student contracts can serve as a valuable tool for fostering a positive and productive learning environment. They are a tool that can promote clarity, accountability, goal-setting, empowerment, and relationship-building.

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