Faculty Information

Academic Struggles

Faculty members often talk with students who are concerned about their academic performance. You should be aware, though, that our office has professional staff members who work with students on developing effective study skills, habits, and strategies. Consider referring students who you identify as needing additional academic assistance.

Disruptive Behavior

According to the Student Handbook, disruptive behavior is "conduct which obstructs or disrupts a normal function" of the university. If a student is disrupting your class to the point that you find it difficult to teach or students are finding it difficult to learn, we encourage you to address the student's conduct.

You should be able to handle most inappropriate behaviors at the time of the disruption. However, some may require consultation, a student conduct referral, or immediate emergency response. To learn more please read our recommendations for managing and responding to disruptive behavior in the classroom.

Illnesses/Unusual Circumstances

Class attendance policies are set by individual faculty. Students are responsible for communicating with their faculty about absences and plans for making up missed work. When documented emergency circumstances prevent students from communicating themselves (hospitalization longer than one day, concussion, death of an immediate family member), students can utilize the Student Emergency Notification Request and a notification will be sent on the student's behalf. The Dean of Students Office and Care Support Services will only notify faculty for emergency or special extenuating situations. These letters serve as notification only and are not excuse notes. W&M offices do not give doctor's notes for missing classes nor are excuses required for students.

Instructors are empowered to determine whether they wish to provide their students consideration with respect to missed classes, assignments, or examinations. Please consult the applicable academic Deans office with any questions regarding this policy and your options.

Honor Code Violations

It is the responsibility of each W&M student to uphold the Honor Code. If an honor system is to be effective, students and all university community members must report suspected violations of the Honor Code by students. Please refer to the Resources for Faculty section for more about the Honor Code.

Parental Release (Undergraduate)

You must have permission from the student before you can release any information to their parents or legal guardians. Students may give general permission to release information about academics, financial matters, or honor code/student conduct information.

Please utilize Passphrase or call our office to learn how to navigate working with parents before you discuss information concerning a student's academic performance including grades, notification of academic warning, academic probation, required academic withdrawal, or conduct/honor code related issues.

Rescheduled/Deferred Exams (Undergraduate)

The Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs has an exam rescheduling procedure.

The Dean of Students Office manages the rescheduling or deferring exam process during final exam periods. We reschedule/defer exams for the following reasons:

1. Medical circumstances (physical and psychological) verified by a healthcare professional
2. International student travel complications without alternatives
3. Family emergency, such as death of a close family member
4. Conflict with a religious holiday/service
5. Interview or training for a permanent job that cannot be rescheduled
6. Interview for graduate or professional school
7. Activities at which the student is formally representing the university

Letters

You may receive a letter or email from the Dean of Students Office confirming that a student is dealing with significant issues at the time. Generally, we will not be able to provide you complete information due to the student's desire for privacy, but we invite you to communicate with us if you know of any other circumstances affecting the student's academic success.