Examinations:  Hourly and mid-term examinations will be scheduled by instructors at least a week in advance.  Examinations will be taken at the scheduled time.  Only medical excuses, documented personal catastrophes (such as a death in the family), and religious observances (see below) will be accepted as reasons not to take an exam as scheduled.  Having a lot of work to do, several exams in a few days, being generally unprepared, or having conflicting travel arrangements are not acceptable excuses.  If you are, for legitimate reasons, unable to take an exam when it is scheduled, notify the instructor in advance of the exam time.  If you are unable to contact the instructor because you have had to leave campus, notify him or her within 24 hours of your return of your desire to take a make-up exam, and present any documentation at that time.  Final exams must be taken at the scheduled time (as determined by the registrar’s office)

Papers.  Paper deadlines will be announced well in advance.  Late papers may not be accepted and, if accepted, will be subjected to a substantial grade penalty.  If you feel that extenuating circumstances should be considered in your case, you may petition for an extension.  In general, the same policy discussed above for examinations applies to paper deadlines.  The appropriate style for papers is described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th edition.  A copy is on reserve in Miller Library, listed under PS 214.  Instructors generally keep on file original copies of all papers.  Papers with the instructor’s comments will be available for perusal, but they become the property of the department.  If you wish to retain a copy for your files, make and retain a copy on computer disk or a photocopy.

Religious Observances.  Practitioners of a religious tradition requiring time apart from the demands of the normal work schedule on a particular day (or days) may contact their professors in advance to make arrangements for academic events that conflict with a religious observance.

Incompletes.  The grade of incomplete will be assigned only in the case of documented emergencies with departmental approval of a written petition.

Academic Honesty:  The department abides by the following college policy as stated in the Colby College Catalogue.  Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are serious offenses.  For the first offense, the instructor may dismiss the offender from the course with a mark of ‘F’ and will also report the case to the department chair and the dean of students, who may impose other or additional penalties, including suspension or expulsion…A second offense automatically leads to suspension or expulsion.

Class Attendance.  Students taking a course in the Psychology Department are expected to attend all meetings of that course.  Absences in seminars and in courses involving student discussions, group projects, lab exercises and/or class activities are particularly problematic because such absences negatively affect other students in the course and detract from your overall learning experience.  Failure to attend class may lead to grade penalties (as specified by your instructor), and multiple absences may lead to dismissal from the course with a grade of F.  You should review your syllabus carefully at the beginning of the semester to determine whether you will have any scheduling conflicts, and should discuss them with your instructor well in advance.  There may be extenuating circumstances that prevent class attendance, including family emergencies, illness, and observance of religious holidays.  These should be brought to the attention of your instructor.  If your reason for failing to attend a class or lab is not accepted by the instructor, you may petition the department faculty (address petitions to the department chair).

(revised 6/03)