Attendance

You are expected to attend class everyday. You should familiarize yourself with your professor’s attendance policy. Be aware that some professors take attendance everyday and include attendance in a student’s final grade, while others do not. However, just because attendance is not included in your final grade does mean you do not have to attend class. You should know your faculty’s policy concerning absences because some professors expect you to contact them regarding absences. You should place attendance as a first priority and ensure that your schedule allows you to attend every class you are registered for at KCC. You should be aware that students that attempt to work, attend school full-time, and maintain a family put themselves at a high risk of failing. Also, do not fall into the self defeating attitude that if you do not understand the material, you will not go to class. If you do not understand the material, it is essential that you go to class.

Student Preparedness

You need to realize getting an education is not just attending class. You need to come to class prepared. Being prepared means doing all assigned work for that particular class session, such as reading the textbook or other assignments, and be ready to discuss the readings. You should come to class with any question from the readings or with a list of points that you thought was most important in the chapter or assigned readings. Those of you that do not come to class prepared need to remember college is a "choice", not a requirement. You are expected to complete assignments. Be forewarned that procrastination is probably the worst enemy a college student faces. In high school, you had approximately 23 hours to get assignments completed (from Tuesday’s class until Wednesday’s class). However, often in college you have two or more whole days before class meets again, so it is very easy to procrastinate. You should also be prepared to take notes in a variety of formats. Classroom time will include lectures as well as classroom discussions, which students will be responsible for knowing. Being prepared also means submitting homework in a professional manner. "Professional" means labeled according to the syllabus, stapled, in folders, etc—not loose and not disorganized. Also, bring required materials to each class. (i.e. #2 pencil with eraser for Scan Tron tests, etc.)

Studying

You should expect to study rigorously everyday for class. Being a full time student is a full time job. You cannot expect to do well if you do not study. You need to be prepared to study on average two to three hours outside of class for every one hour in class. That means a student enrolled in fifteen hours should expect to spend thirty to forty-five hours outside of class studying. You should also clearly understand what a professor’s expectations are for exams in order to study effectively. Many professors offer study guides for exams, but some do not. Some professors expect you to know everything discussed and lectured on in class and in the readings. Get a study group together. Find students who study like you do. Outline your chapters or organize your notes and meet with those students regularly, not just before the first exam. These people will become valued classmates, and you'll be valuable to them, too.

Academic Integrity

An academic community is based on the assumption of mutual integrity shared by its students and faculty. The following violations of this assumption weaken the college’s sense of knowledge, skills, and moral standards, tarnish the public image of the college and defraud students who rely upon their abilities, effort, and honesty. Violations will result in disciplinary action by the college against the student.

Cheating:

Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids during any academic exercise or examination.

Plagiarism:

Representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own. Plagiarism includes claiming credit for assignments completed by someone else.

Fabrication:

Falsifying or inventing information or citations in any academic requirement, such as a term paper.

Cooperative Learning Violation:

Claiming credit for group assignments without making a significant contribution.

Team Testing Violation:

Participation in team testing without meeting the specific requirement of an instructor, e.g. failure to participate in the study group for the required amount of time outside of class.

Misuse of Materials:

Abuse or unauthorized possession of academic materials or removing an article that other students are required to read from the Learning Resource Center or any other location.

Misrepresentation:

Presenting false excuses or using deception to receive a higher grade or to avoid fulfilling the requirements of an assignment or course.

Multiple Submission:

Submitting the same assignment to two or more instructors. If he or she believes that he/she can complete an assignment that meets the requirements of two or more instructors during the current term, he/she should obtain prior approval from all instructors involved.

Facilitation of Academic Dishonesty:

Helping or permitting another student to violate any provision of this code.

Seek Help if it’s Needed

First and foremost, ask questions during class. Many students sit in class confused and don't say anything. It is not until test day that professors find out just how confused students were. It’s too late by then. Come and talk to your professor outside of class. Every professor offers office hours that are accessible to students. Also, communicate with the professor. If you have a medical problem or issue that puts your class performance at risk, tell the professor. Professors often have rules, but they also have tools to help, and when they don't know you're having problems, they can't help you. In addition, use the tools your professors give you. You need to be aware other assistance is available such as TRIO and the tutor lab.

Student Demeanor

While in the classroom pay attention at all times and show respect for your fellow students and the professor. Do NOT sleep in class. If you need to sleep, stay home. During class time turn OFF your cell phone and electronic equipment. You should wear appropriate clothing conducive to the educational environment. You need to be aware you are going to be treated like an adult, and thus you need act like an adult.

Personal Responsibility

You need to understand that attending KCC is attending college; it is not an extension of high school. You are now personally responsible for your own learning. Read the syllabus for the class and make sure you understand it. Do not complain about not knowing when something was due; it is in the syllabus. If your professor says your KCC e-mail account is the primary means of correspondence with the class, then use it. It is your responsibility to check your e-mail, not the professor's.