Civility on Campus
Jane Tuttle, Ed.D.
Assistant to the Dean of Students
Good manners are another name for civility. P.M. Forni of the Johns Hopkins University Civility Project states "The rules of civility and good manners give us a basic, time-proven, and effective code of relational competence."Civility is about respect for others which in turn is about our relations with others. Civility at KU is not limited to the classroom nor is it limited to social etiquette. Academic civility is about how we treat one another both inside and outside the classroom.
The learning environment can be ruined by disruptive or inappropriate behavior. Indiana University conducted an academic civility survey of its faculty and students in 2000 and some of the behaviors that are labeled as academic incivility might be surprising. Some behaviors labeled as such included:
- Arriving late or leaving early from the classroom
- Cell phones or pagers sounding during class
- Sleeping in class
- Sarcastic remarks or harassing remarks
- Side conversations between students
Disrupting a class is both rude and can be classified as academic misconduct at KU. Despite clear communication of expectations, some students do behave rudely in the classroom. Inappropriate behavior in class takes the focus away from the topic and short-changes students. There are resources available for faculty and staff. You can find a listing at the Dean of Students Web Site: http://www.ku.edu/~stlife/difficult/
Preserving academic civility is part of overall academic integrity. It means reading the course syllabus as well as the assignments, being attentive in class, not reading a newspaper during class, and not eating during class. Civility is more than being merely polite; it is about respecting other's rights and needs.
In the 2005 Ombuds Annual Report, the Ombudsman reported "When reviewing the trends for this year, one theme, civility, stands out from the rest."
KU provides the community with codes of responsibilities and rights. Students and organizations are expected to conduct themselves as responsible members of the University community and minimum standards of behavior have been established in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Similarly, in University Senate Rules and Regulations minimum standards are outlined.
The standards for academic misconduct for both student and instructor are closely linked to civility - the relationships inside the classroom. University Senate Rules and Regulations define academic misconduct while the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities explain non-academic misconduct. Both documents are available in their entirety on the KU Web Site.
For real academic freedom to persist at KU, we need to be able to confront difficult and complex issues without resorting to disrespectful behaviors during the conversation. We need civility: it does not eliminate conflicts, however, it makes them more productive. Each person in the classroom has a role in the learning environment. You can monitor your own behaviors and ask others to do the same. Management expert Peter Drucker has said that "Good manners (civility) are the lubricating oil of organizations." Are you doing your part to keep KU a well oiled machine?
References:
Forni, P.M. "Ethical Action and Relational Competence Why Manners and Civility are Good" http://www.jhu.edu/civility/webarticles.html
Hesselbein, Frances "The Power of Civility" Leader to Leader. 5 (Summer 1997): 6-8.
Whitman, D. and Harmon K. "2005 Annual Report of the Office of the University Ombudsman"http://wwwku.edu/~ombuds/annualreport05.html
Indiana University Center for Survey Research "Preliminary Report: A Survey on Academic Incivility at Indiana University", June 2000. http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/civility.htm
Resources:
Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities http://www.vpss.ku.edu/rights.shtml
University Rules and Regulations http://www.ku.edu/%7Eunigov/usrr.html
Dean of Students Office, 113 Strong Hall Center for Teaching Excellence, 135 Budig Hall
What's new for Students at the Office of the University Registrar?
The Office of the University Registrar Student Records Services is now available for for Students in151 Strong Hall. Please visit our booth at the Academic Success Week Fair, September 19,2005 on the Stauffer-Flint lawn, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.Look for the Big Red Stop Sign.
Need a date? We provide essential Academic Dates for
- On line enrollment
- Credit/No Credit
- Diploma distribution
- Application for degree deadlines
- Fee petition timelines
- Resident for tuition application deadlines
- A complete Academic Calendar is available on line at, www.registrar.ku.edu
The University Registrar's Office services also include:
- Official transcripts
- Degree verification
- Enrollment certifications
- On-line Enrollment Assistance
- Changes to names and addresses
- Resident tuition information
- Fee reassessment application drop off
- Fee waiver and Staff rates application information
- Veterans Benefits application and information
The Office of the University Registrar is dedicated to your Success as a student. Visit the new Student Records Center, 151 Strong Hall, and experience our streamlined services. Please see www.registarku.edu.
Don't forget to visit us September 19 on the Stauffer-Flint lawn from 10 am - 2 pm. -Paid for by your Kansas tax dollars-