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. In rare occasions, when extenuating circumstances occur that cause students to miss class, assignments, exams, etc. Students can utilize the Student Emergency Notification Policy.

For absences related to illnesses that do not require hospitalization, the Dean of Students Office does not severity provide faculty official notice. Instructors are empowered to determine whether they wish to provide the student consideration with respect to missed 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

Religious Accommodations

William & Mary urges its administrators, faculty members, and staff to be sensitive to the religious holidays of organized religions. All persons should be able to participate in the essential practices of their faith without conflict with academic requirements, as long as such practices are in accordance with state and federal regulations and consistent with safety regulations of William & Mary. William & Mary offers the following guidelines:

• As soon as possible and no later than the end of the drop/add period, each student has the responsibility to inform his or her instructor of religious observances that are likely to conflict directly with classes and other required academic activities. Each student has the responsibility to arrange his or her course schedule to minimize conflicts. It is understood that when scheduling options exist for religious observances, the student has the responsibility to minimize conflicts.
• Based upon prior agreement between the instructor and student, a student who misses a class meeting because of a scheduling conflict with religious observances should be allowed, whenever possible, to complete without penalty the work missed because of such absences. A student who is absent from a test or presentation because of the observance of a religious holiday should be able to reschedule it without penalty. Absence from a final examination requires that the examination be rescheduled in advance through the established process for rescheduling of final examinations by the Dean of Students Office. Graduate students should contact the Dean of the School or his or her designee.
• Faculty members and administrators in charge of scheduling campus-wide events should avoid conflicts with religious holidays as much as possible.

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.