PHLT 4318 180: Public Health Policy&Advocacy

I.Course Outline and Expectations

Participation/Attendance

The present course is offered online so attendance will not be taken for this course. However, your participation will be evaluated by assessing your level of engagement with Blackboard resources and materials.  You will receive a participation grade at the conclusion each module. Participation accounts for 6% of your total grade. Your participation grade will be based on your interaction with the module lectures and any other supplementary material.  You will not be double penalized for not completing module quizzes, discussion boards, projects or exams.

As part of our efforts to assist and encourage all students towards graduation, TAMIU provides LOA’s for students, including pregnant/parenting students, in accordance with the Attendance Policy (Section 3.07) and the Student LOA Rule (Section 3.08) which includes the “Leave of Absence Request” form. Both rules are found in the 2019-2020 TAMIU Student Handbook

COVID-19 Protocols/Guidelines

1. All members of the University community including students may be selected randomly and required to test for COVID-19 on campus with consequences for non-compliance. In addition, testing may be required for some TAMIU in-person activities, classes, events, or programs.

2. Students must skip a seat in class during face-to-face class sessions.

3. Classes listed as face-to-face will be delivered face-to-face by course faculty.

4. Making course recordings and providing such recordings and other types of accommodations to students will be at the discretion of course faculty.

Academic Honesty

Academic Conduct:  As members in an academic community, students at TAMIU are expected to act with honesty and integrity in their pursuit of higher education, be mature, be self-directed and be able to manage their own affairs. Students who are unwilling to abide by these basic expectations may find themselves facing academic and disciplinary sanctions. Students are expected to share in the responsibility and authority with faculty and staff to challenge and make known acts that violate the TAMIU Honor Code.  For more information on the Honor Code, please visit the Office of Student Conduct and Community Engagement website at https://www.tamiu.edu/scce/.

TAMIU Faculty has the authority to implement academic policies or impose grade penalties as appropriate.

Section 7.01 Violations of Academic Conduct

Academic dishonesty is any act, or attempt, which gives an unfair advantage to the student. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

1. Plagiarism – The act of passing off some other person’s ideas, words, or works as one’s own. It includes, but is not limited to, the appropriating, buying, receiving as a “gift”, or obtaining, by any other means, another’s work for submission as one’s own academic work. Examples available in the 2019-2020 TAMIU Student Handbook.

2. Cheating – An act of deception in which a student misrepresents that he/she has mastered information related to an academic exercise. Examples available in the 2019-2020 TAMIU Student Handbook.

3. Lying – Deliberate falsification with the intent to deceive in written or verbal form as it applies to an academic submission.

4. Bribery – Providing, offering, or taking rewards in exchange for a grade, an assignment or the aid of academic dishonesty.

5. Collusion – The unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing academic assignments offered for credit and/or grade, collaborating with others on projects where such collaboration is expressly forbidden, or where the syllabus states the default as being one's own work.

6. Flagrant academic misconduct – Repeated or severe violation(s) of the academic rule.

Course Structure

Minimum Technical Skills Expected

Students in distance education should have knowledge of basic computer and Internet skills, as mentioned on the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ webpage.

Required Basic Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Getting online.
• Using an Internet browser. (Recommended browsers: Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. Avoid: Internet Explorer, since this is no longer supported by Blackboard.)
• Downloading, saving, opening, and printing material found online.
• Conducting Internet searches.
• Composing e-mail/course messages and attaching documents. (Blackboard Student Help Link: Course Messages)
• Posting to a discussion forum. (Blackboard Student Help Link: Threads)
• Submitting to a drop box or assignment. (Blackboard Student Help Link: Submit Assignments)
• Writing and editing with a word processor, such as Notepad, MS Word, etc.
• Take online examinations.
• Learning new computer skills.

Accommodations/Accessibility Policy

Texas A&M International University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal education opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with the Director of Student Counseling and to contact the faculty member in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodations. For more information, contact the online at Office of Disability Services for Students (DSS), or via phone at 956.326.2230, or by visiting the staff at the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, room 138. A link to the Disabilities Services for Students site has also been included under the "Resources" tab inside the course.

Student Support Resources

The University wishes to have all students succeed in their courses. To provide support to our students, an array of services in the areas of technology support, academic support, student support, and accessibility support may be found at the University. For more information, visit Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ page on University Resources and Support Services.

Student-Instructor Communication Policy and Response Time

Office Hours

Office hours will be from 8:00am to 5:00pm (Monday – Friday) and 10:00am to 2:00pm (Saturday – Sunday). Student may virtually meet during these hours.  To contact the professor, send a course message to schedule an appointment for a phone conference.

Course Messages/Emails

Instructor will log into the course on at least 4 days during each week and responses to inquiries can be expected between 24-48 hours of receipt by the instructor.

General Communication Policy

Instructor will respond to general courses messages within 24 hours during the week. Messages sent on the weekend will be replied to on the next business day.

Students may text professor in cases of emergency on 510-706-3295. In text message, provide the following information: Class name (number and section), student’s full name, and a brief text message.

Assignments and Assessments

Instructor will respond between 72 - 96 hours for providing feedback to students on their submissions of an assignment or assessment. Please note, I will check my emails once a day and will respond to your emails within 24 hours during weekdays.

Course Communication Guidelines (Netiquette)

Online communication is a very critical component of any online environment. There could be asynchronous communication (which means you are involved in a communication that IS NOT coordinated in time; such as a discussion forums, emails, blogs, wikis, etc.) or synchronous communication (which means you are involved in a communication that IS coordinated in time; such as a LIVE chat sessions, LIVE office hours, web-conferences, etc.) in an online environment.

By definition, etiquette is "the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group." In cyberspace, netiquette is "acceptable way of communicating and behaving on the Internet."

Regardless of the type of communication used, you should always keep in mind the following:

• be respectful
• be considerate of others
• think through before responding
• write clearly and concisely
• respond in a timely manner
• use short paragraphs
• spell-check your responses

Avoid:

• CAPITAL LETTERS may be used to EMPHASIZE, but avoid typing in only capital letters as it may "sound" AS THOUGH YOU'RE SHOUTING!
• rambling writing style; get to the point quickly
• screens full of text

II.Technology Requirements

Computer/Technology Requirements

It is recommended that you meet the technical requirements listed on the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ webpage when using the learning management system (LMS) of the University.

Additional Hardware. For this class, you will need the following additional hardware: a webcam and microphone for VoiceThread discussions. Recently purchased laptops may have these built-in web cameras. If you do not have this equipment, it is recommended to purchase a stand-alone webcam, microphone or a webcam with a built-in microphone from your local electronic store or any online store.

Additional Software. You will need the following additional software: Microsoft PowerPoint for viewing lesson presentations and Microsoft Word for viewing course files and submitting assignments. TAMIU Students may access online versions of this software through their Dusty Office 365 account at https://dusty.tamiu.edu/. This site also provides students access to download the Microsoft suite for educational use. See instructions for downloading the Microsoft Office suite.

Note: Students if you do not own the required hardware, software or do not have access to internet, it will be highly challenging for you to make any progress in this class. However, my goal is to assist you to find solutions and guide you appropriately most of the required materials can either be found free of charge at TAMIU’s library, computer labs, and classrooms.  In addition, you may also purchase any of these items at any electronic store.

Learning Management System (Blackboard)

Students are provided with guides on how to use the Blackboard LMS. Guides may be available at Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services' Student eLearning Tutorial Videos page or by contacting the eLearning team at elearning@tamiu.edu.

Technical Support Services

Because of the nature of distance education courses, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) computing and information services are vital to the success of online students. This webpage covers contact information for Distance Education Services (Blackboard Support), the OIT Help Desk, and E-mail support: Technical Support Services.

Web Conferences/Synchronous sessions

Students are not required to attend synchronous lecture sessions to successfully complete this course; however, students are required to review all recorded lectures. Moreover, students may request one-on-one web conference sessions with the course instructor to address any questions or concerns with the course. If you feel that you may benefit from such support, you are encouraged to attend my virtual office hours. For access to meeting links, please refer to “Virtual Meeting Space” on Blackboard. 

I.Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, each student will:

1. Define key terms and concepts relating to public health policy and management (PLO 1).
2. Explain the role of policy and management in public health interventions/programming (PLO 5, 7).
3. Describe the role of stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental organizations in policymaking and public health management processes. (PLO 1, 5).
4. Describe key pieces of health polity legislation (PLO 1, 5).
5. Gather and analyze information relevant to specific to public health policy issues (PLO 2).
6. Describe and implement techniques and skills needed to advocate for public health policy (PLO 3, 5, 7).

Rubrics

Rubrics for each assignment can be found on Blackboard under “Content” and by then visiting the respective module page. Each rubric provides a breakdown of key features that will be assessed for each assignment. Students are highly encouraged to review the assignment’s rubric before developing and submitting each assignment.

Late Work Policy

Timely submission of course assignments is important and enables timely feedback that is valuable for your progress, improvement, and success in the course. Therefore, it is necessary to manage your time accordingly. If an unexpected or uncontrollable life event presents itself and will impact your ability to meet a submission deadline, it is critical for you to contact the instructor immediately to request an extension, if possible. Note that all approvals for late submissions and whether deductions apply for late submissions are completely at the discretion of the instructor. Standard course requirements and expectations are not eligible for consideration of late submissions (e.g., occupational commitments; lack of preparation through readings and/or other materials; travel; poor time management; lack of awareness of deadlines; failure to obtain necessary course textbooks, materials, and equipment; issues with internet access; etc.). If you have any questions about when an assignment is due, please ask for clarification.

Course content (e.g., assignments, discussions, quizzes, projects, exams) submitted late without prior communication with and approval by the instructor, outside of emergency absences, or in violation of established agreements for late submission, will receive deductions of 10% per day until 3 days beyond the due date at 11:59 pm CST. Any submissions received after this point will not be accepted and receive a score of 0%.

I.Course Evaluation

At the end of this course, students are encouraged to complete a course evaluation that will be distributed to them via email and through a course link.

Additional Resources

Conner, M. & Norman, P. (2017). Health behavior: current issues and challenges. Psychology & Health, 32(8), 895-906, doi: 10.1080/08870446.2017.1336240

Birch, D.A. & Auld, M.E. (2019). Public health and school health education: aligning forces for change. Health Promotion Practice, 20(6),818-823. doi:10.1177/1524839919870184

Center for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (n.d.). Types of Evaluation. https://www.cdc.gov/std/program/pupestd/types%20of%20evaluation.pdf

ASSESSMENTS & VALUE

Quizzes (8): 80 (20%; 2.5% each)

Discussions (6): 50 (9%; 1.5% each). Each discussion post will be worth 10 points. Students must post an initial response to discussion prompt and two responses to their peers’ posts to receive full credit.  

Participation (6): 20 (6%; 1% each). Students’ engagement with Blackboard resources will be evaluated at the conclusion of each module. Students must view and interact with all module lectures to receive full credit. Participation in each module is worth up to 6 pts. 

Module Essay Papers (3): 250 (35%)

Essay 1: 100 (13.5%)

Essay 2: 50 (8%)

Essay 3: 100 (13.5%)

Video Presentations (2): 100 (10%; 5% each)

Final Exam: 100 (20%)

Total Points for Course: 600

Additional Course Information/Other Policies

Syllabus Subject to Change

While information and assurances are provided in this course syllabus, it should be understood that content may change in keeping with new research and literature and that events beyond the control of the instructor could occur. Students will be informed of any substantive occurrences that will produce syllabus changes.

Turnitin Policy

Students agree that by taking this course, all required papers, exams, class projects or other assignments submitted for credit may be submitted to turnitin.com or similar third parties to review and evaluate for originality and intellectual integrity. A description of the services, terms and conditions of use and privacy policy of turnitin.com is available on its website: <http://www.turnitin.com/>. Students understand all work submitted to turnitin.com will be added to its database of papers. Students further understand that if the results of such a review support an allegation of academic dishonesty, the course work in question as well as any supporting materials may be submitted to the Honor Council for investigation and further action.

Proctoring

There are no exams in this course; thus, there will be no need for proctoring.

Accessibility and Privacy Statements on Course Technologies

At Texas A&M International University, we believe that all students should have equal technology opportunities in the classroom. These technologies/sites may also require user data, such as the creation of a username and password. In this class, we will utilize Blackboard, Echo360, and Turnitin. You may find the accessibility and privacy policies of these technologies on the following pages: Accessibility Statements and Privacy Statements.

II.University/College/Department Policies

I. Class Attendance

Except for asynchronous online courses, students are expected to attend every class in person and to complete all assignments. If a student cannot attend class, it is his/her responsibility to communicate absences with professors.  The professor will decide if the student’s excuse is valid.  According to university policy, as listed in the Student Handbook, excused absences, which cannot affect a student’s grade, include:

• Participation in an authorized university activity at the request of university authorities.
• Death or major illness in a student’s immediate family.
• Illness of a dependent family member.
• Participation in legal proceedings or administrative procedures that require a student’s presence.
• Religious Holy days/days of obligation.
• A pregnant/parenting student must be granted a leave of absence (LOA) for as long as the student’s physician deems the absence medically necessary.
• Illness/injury that is too severe or contagious for the student to attend class.
• Required participation in military assignment and duties.
• Mandatory admission interviews for professional or graduate school, which cannot be rescheduled.

Students are responsible for providing satisfactory evidence to professors within seven calendar days of their absence and are expected to return to class. If the absence is excused, the professor will either allow access to lecture recordings (if available), provide students with the opportunity to make up missed work, including exams, or provide a satisfactory alternative to complete the work within 30 calendar days from the date of absence.

Students who miss class due to a university-sponsored activity are responsible for identifying their absences to faculty with as much advance notice as possible. Students are responsible for all work assigned during their absence. Whenever possible, students should complete the work either before the absence or immediately afterward.

If an off-campus licensed physician provides evidence of a student’s illness, the written excuse, orders, or documentation must contain the date and time of the doctor’s appointment, the prognosis of illness, doctor’s opinion, and recommendations for the individual student. In addition, the notice should outline whether or not the student is able to attend class. If a physician determines that the student is not ill, the student will not receive an excused absence. If an absence is not an excused absence, the faculty member will decide whether makeup work will be allowed.

In some courses, attendance and in-class participation are ongoing requirements and an integral part of the coursework. In other courses, occasional in-class assessments may occur, sometimes without advance notice. It is the responsibility of the professor to inform each class at the beginning of the semester of the in-class participation expected and the effect absences will have on the student’s evaluation of work in the course. It is the student's responsibility to abide by the professor’s instructions and rules in the course.

II. Leave of absence (LOA) Rule

The Student Leave of Absence (LOA) Rule assists and encourages students to return and graduate after an absence of two or more consecutive long semesters from TAMIU. Absences during summer sessions are excluded, as continuous enrollment is not affected. Eligible students are encouraged to take advantage of the benefits provided by a LOA, e.g., no need to apply for readmission to university and may participate in their regularly scheduled registration/enrollment period upon return. Please note that re-admission to a college program may be required.

Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for a LOA, a student must be eligible to register for classes and meet the following criteria:

1. Be a degree-seeking student.
2. Be registered during the semester immediately prior to the beginning of the LOA:

1. A student who was admitted as a new first-time freshman, transfer student, or graduate student but did not attend will not be eligible for a LOA. Instead, the student should contact the Office of Admissions. Graduate students should contact the Graduate School.
2. A student who was readmitted but did not attend will not be eligible for a LOA. Instead, the student should contact the Office of Admissions. Graduate students should contact the Graduate School.

1. Be in good academic standing or on academic probation with their college.
2. Have no holds (e.g., disciplinary, business, testing, etc.), which would restrict registration. Note: Students with Business Office holds may be given consideration for a LOA if authorized by the Bursar’s Office.
3. Have submitted any outstanding high school and/or transfer transcripts if prior                  admission/readmission and continued enrollment was contingent upon receipt of  those transcripts.

Rules and specific processes regarding LOA for undergraduate and graduate students can be found in the Student Handbook.

III. Classroom Behavior

TAMIU values academic freedom in the classroom and, thus, classroom discussion and academic debate are encouraged. It is essential that students learn to express and defend their beliefs, but it is also essential that they learn to listen and respond respectfully to others whose beliefs they may not share. The university will accept different or unpopular points of view, but it will not tolerate condescending, insulting, or discriminatory remarks. When students verbally abuse or ridicule and intimidate others whose views they do not agree with, they subvert the free exchange of ideas that should characterize a university classroom. If their actions are deemed by the professor to be disruptive, they will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action (please refer to the Student Handbook for more information) and professors may ask the student to leave the class.

IV. TAMIU Honor Code: Plagiarism and Cheating

The university is committed to strict enforcement of the Honor Code. Students should conduct themselves ethically in all activities, in and out of the classroom. Ethical behavior also includes reporting violations of the Honor Code to the appropriate office. Please read the Student Handbook to review the university’s Honor Code.

There are several violations of the Honor Code that involve plagiarism and cheating.

1. Plagiarism: The act of passing off some other person’s ideas, words, or works as one’s own. It includes, but is not limited to, the appropriating, buying, receiving as a “gift,” or obtaining, by any other means, another’s work for submission as one’s own academic work. Examples include, but are not limited to:
   1. Failing to credit sources used in a work product in an attempt to present the work as one’s own.
   2. Intentionally, knowingly, or carelessly presenting the work of another as one’s own (i.e., without crediting the author or creator).
   3. Copying test answers or the words or phrases of another without crediting the author or claim credit for the ideas of another.
   4. Borrowing or lending a term paper, handing in as your own work a paper purchased from an individual or off the Internet, or submitting, as one's own any papers or work product from the files of any group, club, or organization.
   5. Submitting the same paper in more than one class without the permission of the instructor.

Students must provide citations for facts, ideas, and opinions that are not their own. If students are unsure about providing proper documentation, they are encouraged to seek advice from professors or the Academic Center of Excellence (ACE). It is the professor’s prerogative to ask students to submit work to one of TAMIU’s Plagiarism detection tools: Turnitin or Blackboard’s SafeAssign.

Professors must report incidents of plagiarism to the Honor Council. It is the professor’s prerogative and/or discretion, to issue an “F” in the course should he/she discover that a student has committed plagiarism. The professor, however, may elect to give students, particularly freshmen and sophomore students, a “zero” for the assignment if he/she believes that the student plagiarized out of carelessness and not out of an attempt to deceive the professor to earn an unmerited grade. Serious cases of plagiarism, especially those that involve flagrant incidents of plagiarism by graduate or doctoral students, may lead to suspension or expulsion from the university.

1. Cheating: An act of deception in which a student misrepresents that he/she has mastered information related to an academic exercise. Examples include, but are not limited to:
   1. Copying from another student’s test, lab report, computer file, data listing, logs, or any other type of report or academic exercise.
   2. Using unauthorized materials during a test. Consulting a cell phone, text messages, PDAs, programmable calculators with materials that give an advantage over other students during an exam.
   3. Using crib sheets or other hidden notes in an examination or looking at another student's test paper to copy strategies or answers.
   4. Having another person supply questions or answers from an examination to be given or in progress.
   5. Having a person other than oneself (registered for the class) attempt to take or take an examination or any other graded activity. In these cases, all consenting parties to the attempt to gain unfair advantage may be charged with an Honor Pledge violation.
   6. Deliberately falsifying laboratory results, or submission of samples or findings not legitimately derived in the situation and by the procedures prescribed or allowable.
   7. Revising and resubmitting a quiz or exam for regrading, without the instructor's knowledge and consent.
   8. Giving or receiving unauthorized aid on a take-home examination.
   9. Facilitating academic violation: intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate the Honor Pledge.
   10. Signing in another student's name on attendance sheets, rosters, Scantrons.
   11. Submitting in a paper, thesis, lab report, or other academic exercise falsified, invented, or fictitious data or evidence, or deliberate or knowingly concealing or distorting the true nature, origin, or function of such data or evidence.
   12. Procuring and/or altering without permission from appropriate authority of examinations, papers, lab reports, or other academic exercises, whether discarded or used, and either before or after such materials have been handed in to the appropriate recipient.
   13. Using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, soliciting, copying or possessing, the contents of an un-administered test, a required assignment or a past test which has, by the professor, not been allowed to be kept by their students.
   14. Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT. Unless allowed by each professor, students are expected to complete each assignment without assistance from others, including automated writing tools.

It is important to note that professors may ask students to work in groups. However, if someone in a group commits academic misconduct, the entire group could be held responsible for it as well. Members of groups must clearly document who contributes what parts of the joint project and to know what group members are doing and how they are getting the material they provide. Ignorance is no excuse.

It is also important to be aware of group texts or chats. If another student is attempting to violate the Honor Code, it is your ethical responsibility to report him/her to the Honor Council. Again, membership in a group that attempts or engages in cheating may lead to all members of the group being subject to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion.

Should professors discover that a student has cheated on an exam or quiz or other class project, the student should receive a “zero” for the assignment and not be allowed to make the assignment up. The incident should be reported to the Honor Council. If the cheating is extensive, however, or if the assignment constitutes a major grade for the course (e.g., a final exam), or if the student has cheated in the past, the student should receive an “F” in the course, and the matter should be referred to the Honor Council. Additional penalties, including suspension or expulsion from the university may be imposed. Under no circumstances should a student who deserves an “F” in the course be allowed to withdraw from the course with a “W.” 

Appeals of Academic Dishonesty

Students have the right to appeal a faculty member’s charge of academic dishonesty by notifying the TAMIU Honor Council of their intent to appeal as long as the notification of appeal comes within 10 business days of the faculty member’s e-mail message to the student and/or the Office of Student Conduct and Community Engagement. The Student Handbook provides more details.

Exam Monitoring

For online courses, professors may require students to use a proctoring service such as Respondus Monitor, Proctorio, or Examity. Students are responsible for signing up and paying the required fees. This information will be stated under the “Course Materials” section of your syllabus.

Use of Work in Two or More Courses

Students should not submit work completed in one course for a grade in a second course unless you receive explicit permission to do so by the professor of the second course.  In general, students should get credit for a work product only once.

III.Disputes over Academic Matters

Faculty members are responsible for determining course curricula, for developing appropriate methods of evaluating student learning, for evaluating fairly, for upholding academic standards, and for enforcing procedures concerning academic honesty. Decisions made by faculty members regarding the quality or integrity of student work, including decisions about course grades, are presumed to be fair and final (unless the student files a successful grade appeal). In cases of academic violation students may be subject to both grade sanctions and disciplinary action (see Student Violations of Academic Integrity below).

Students who believe that they have grounds for challenging faculty decisions regarding academic issues--excepting those pertaining to matters of academic freedom--may appeal using the procedure outlined below. Faculty members are required to report acts of academic violation to their chair, their Dean, the Provost, the Honor Council (through the Office of Student Conduct and Community Engagement), and the Vice President for Student Success.

Grade sanctions may be imposed only by faculty members. Academic suspension or expulsion may be imposed only by the Provost. As with disputes about course grades, students may appeal grade sanctions imposed for academic violation only by following the procedure outlined below. Students should not attempt to persuade academic administrators to change a grade; they cannot and will not do it unless a student follows the grade appeal policy below and is successful in persuading either the faculty member for the course or an ad-hoc committee of faculty members that a change is warranted.

Student appeals of faculty academic decisions should be completed within 15 University business days after the student’s first meeting with the faculty member to question the faculty member’s decision.

1. The student must first meet with the faculty member and discuss the faculty member’s decision. This meeting should occur as soon as possible after the decision has been made, normally within one week of the student being notified of the decision. The faculty member is expected to listen to the student, provide an explanation for the decision, and change the grade or decision if the student’s argument is persuasive. To change final course grades, a faculty member must submit a “Grade Change Form” and attach an accompanying memorandum justifying the decision to change the grade. The faculty member’s department chair and Dean must approve the change.

1. If the faculty member declines to change the decision or grade, the student may then discuss the matter with the faculty member’s immediate academic supervisor (hereafter, “chair” will be used to mean either the department chair or the immediate academic supervisor). If the chair believes that the student’s position has merit, the chair will discuss the matter with the faculty member.

1. If the student is not satisfied with the chair’s assessment of the issue or if the faculty member declines to change the decision after discussing it with the chair, the student may then request that an ad hoc committee of faculty members review the matter. This committee consists of three tenured faculty members within the same discipline or department unless circumstances dictate otherwise. If the chair determines that a tenured faculty member cannot be selected from the same discipline or department, then the chair may add a tenured faculty member from a closely related discipline. From the pool of eligible tenured faculty members designated by the chair, the faculty member, the student, and the chair will each nominate one faculty member to serve on the committee.

1. The ad hoc committee will hear from the student, the faculty member, and the chair and examine relevant documents. If the committee sustains the faculty member’s decision, the committee will provide the student with a written statement explaining the reasons for the committee’s decision. The student may request in writing that the committee reconsiders its decision and provides reasons for so doing. If the committee refuses to reconsider or if it reaffirms its original recommendation, the faculty member’s original decision is final. If the committee finds in favor of the student, the committee will provide the faculty member with a written recommendation explaining the committee’s reasons. If the faculty member disagrees with the committee’s recommendation, the faculty member may request that the committee reconsiders its recommendation and provides the committee with a rationale for revisiting the recommendation. If after considering the faculty member’s rationale the ad hoc committee is still persuaded that the faculty member’s original decision should be reversed, the committee will recommend in writing to the chair that the faculty member’s decision be overturned. The committee may also make this recommendation to the chair if the faculty member fails to alter the original decision and also fails to respond to the committee’s original recommendation. The faculty member will receive a copy of the recommendation to the chair, allowing a final opportunity to revise the original decision. If the faculty member fails to comply, the chair may override the faculty member’s original decision, and, as appropriate, revise the student’s course grade. In order to certify that the grade dispute process outlined above has been followed appropriately, the Dean of the College or the School and the Provost will review all decisions by chairs to change grades against the will of a faculty member.

IV.Incomplete Grades

Students who are unable to complete a course should withdraw from the course before the final date for withdrawal and receive a “W.” To qualify for an “incomplete” and thus have the opportunity to complete the course at a later date, a student must meet the following criteria:

• The student must have completed 90% of the course work assigned before the final date for withdrawing from a course with a “W”, and the student must be passing the course; The student cannot complete the course because an accident, an illness, or a traumatic personal or family event occurred after the final date for withdrawal from a course;
• The student must sign an “Incomplete Grade Contract” and secure signatures of approval from the professor and the college dean.
• The student must agree to complete the missing course work before the end of the next long semester; failure to meet this deadline will cause the “I” to automatically be converted to an “F”; extensions to this deadline may be granted by the dean of the college. This is the general policy regarding the circumstances under which an “incomplete” may be granted, but under exceptional circumstances, a student may receive an incomplete who does not meet all of the criteria above if the faculty member, department chair, and dean recommend it.

 WIN Contracts

WIN Contracts are offered only under exceptional circumstances and are limited to seniors. Only courses offered by full-time TAMIU faculty or TAMIU instructors are eligible to be contracted for the WIN requirement. However, a WIN contract for a course taught by an adjunct may be approved, with special permission from the department chair and dean. Students must seek approval before beginning any work for the WIN Contract. No student will contract more than one course per semester. Summer WIN Contracts must continue through both summer sessions.

Student Responsibility for Withdrawing from a Course

It is the responsibility of the student to drop the course before the final date for withdrawal from a course. Faculty members, in fact, may not drop a student from a course without getting the approval of their department chair and dean.

V.Independent Study Course

Independent Study (IS) courses are offered only under exceptional circumstances. Required courses intended to build academic skills may not be taken as IS (e.g., clinical supervision and internships). No student will take more than one IS course per semester. Moreover, IS courses are limited to seniors and graduate students. Summer IS course must continue through both summer sessions.

Grade Changes & Appeals

Faculty are authorized to change final grades only when they have committed a computational error or an error in recording a grade, and they must receive the approval of their department chairs and the dean to change the grade. As part of that approval, they must attach a detailed explanation of the reason for the mistake. Only in rare cases would another reason be entertained as legitimate for a grade change. A student who is unhappy with his or her grade on an assignment must discuss the situation with the faculty member teaching the course. If students believe that they have been graded unfairly, they have the right to appeal the grade using the grade appeal process as described in the Student Handbook and in the Faculty Handbook.

VI.Final Examination

All courses in all colleges must include a comprehensive exam or performance and be given on the date and time specified by the Academic Calendar and the Final Exam schedule published by the Registrar’s Office.

Extra-Credit Work

Professors may not give extra-credit opportunities to individual students. If they choose to give extra credit, professors must make it available to all students in a class. Professors are discouraged from giving extra credit for class attendance and/or attendance at university events. Professors should not give extra-credit opportunities after final grades for the semester are submitted. 

VII.UConnect, TAMIU E-Mail, and Dusty Alert

Personal Announcements sent to students through TAMIU’s Uconnect Portal, TAMIU E-mail, and Blackboard Course Messages, are the official means of communicating course and university business with students and faculty –not the U.S. Mail and no other e-mail addresses. Students and faculty must check UConnect and their TAMIU e-mail accounts regularly, if not daily. Not having seen an important TAMIU e-mail or UConnect message from a faculty member, chair, or dean is not accepted as an excuse for failure to take important action. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to sign-up for Dusty Alert (see https://www.tamiu.edu/oit/students/dusty_alrt.shtml). Dusty Alert is an instant cell phone text-messaging system allowing the university to communicate immediately with you if there is an on-campus emergency, something of immediate danger to you, or a campus closing.

VIII.Copyright Restrictions

The Copyright Act of 1976 grants copyright owners the exclusive right to reproduce their works and distribute copies of their work. Works that receive copyright protection include published works such as a textbook. Copying a textbook without permission from the owner of the copyright may constitute copyright infringement. Civil and criminal penalties may be assessed for copyright infringement. Civil penalties include damages up to $100,000; criminal penalties include a fine up to $250,000 and imprisonment. Copyright laws do not allow students and professors to make photocopies of copyrighted materials, but you may copy a limited portion of a work, such as article from a journal or a chapter from a book for your own personal academic use or, in the case of a professor, for personal, limited classroom use. In general, the extent of your copying should not suggest that the purpose or the effect of your copying is to avoid paying for the materials. And, of course, you may not sell these copies for a profit. Thus, students who copy textbooks to avoid buying them or professors who provide photocopies of textbooks to enable students to save money are violating the law.

IX.Students with Disabilities

Texas A&M International University seeks to provide reasonable accommodation for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal education opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with the Office of Student Counseling and Disability Services.  This office will contact the faculty members to recommend specific, reasonable accommodation. Faculty are prohibited from making accommodations based solely on communications from students.  They may make accommodation only when provided documentation by the Student Counseling and Disability Services office.

X.Pregnant and Parenting Students

Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, harassment based on sex, including harassment because of pregnancy or related conditions, is prohibited. A pregnant/parenting student must be granted an absence for as long as the student’s physician deems the absence medically necessary. It is a violation of Title IX to ask for documentation relative to the pregnant/parenting student’s status beyond what would be required for other medical conditions. If a student would like to file a complaint for discrimination due to his or her pregnant/parenting status, please contact the Office of Title IX & Civil Rights Compliance (Lorissa M. Cortez, TAMIU Director of Title IX & Civil Rights Compliance/Title IX Coordinator; 5201 University Boulevard, KLM 159B, Laredo, TX 78041; TitleIX@tamiu.edu; 956.326.2857) and/or the Office of Civil Rights (Dallas Office, U.S. Department of Education, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, Dallas, TX 75201-6810, 214.661.9600). You can also report it on TAMIU’s anonymous electronic reporting site: www.tamiu.edu/reportit.

TAMIU advises a pregnant/parenting student to notify their professor once the student is aware that accommodations for such will be necessary. It is recommended that the student and professor develop a reasonable plan for the student’s completion of missed coursework or assignments. The Office of Title IX & Civil Rights Compliance (Lorissa M. Cortez, lorissam.cortez@tamiu.edu) can assist the student and professor in working out the reasonable accommodations. For other questions or concerns regarding Title IX compliance related to pregnant/parenting students at the University, contact the Director of Title IX & Civil Rights Compliance/Title IX Coordinator. In the event that a student will need a leave of absence for a substantial period of time, TAMIU urges the student to consider a Leave of Absence (LOA) as outlined in the TAMIU Student Handbook. As part of our efforts to assist and encourage all students towards graduation, TAMIU provides LOA’s for students, including pregnant/parenting students, in accordance with the Attendance Rule and the Student LOA Rule. Both rules can be found in the TAMIU Student Handbook. 

XI.Anti-Discrimination/Title IX

TAMIU does not discriminate or permit harassment against any individual on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity in admissions, educational programs, or employment. If you would like to file a complaint relative to Title IX or any civil rights violation, please contact the Office of Title IX & Civil Rights Compliance (Lorissa M. Cortez, TAMIU Director of Title IX & Civil Rights Compliance/Title IX Coordinator; 5201 University Boulevard, KLM 159B, Laredo, TX 78041; TitleIX@tamiu.edu; 956.326.2857) or via the anonymous electronic reporting website, ReportIt, at www.tamiu.edu/reportit , and/or the Office of Civil Rights (Dallas Office), U.S. Department of Education, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, Dallas, TX 75201-6810, 214.661.9600.