By nature of enrolling in a Gender & Women’s Studies course, we will engage in a variety of conversations on topics that you might find controversial, uncomfortable, or flat out difficult.  Each individual enters my classroom with their own individual beliefs, convictions, and ideas, and it is my policy that each individual be treated with respect.

 

You deserve to be treated with courtesy at all times as a member of this class, and I expect you will return that respect to others. A safe and positive environment is essential for learning, and we are all responsible for protecting our community. This means that I protect our community by not tolerating negative student conduct that might infringe on your learning experience.

 

Students who violate the conduct policies or contribute to a hostile or negative environment will receive a warning. Furthermore, I enforce the University of Kentucky’s Code of Student Conduct during all interactions relating to our course (in-person and online) which you may access here.

 

For the duration of our course, I expect you to:

 

• come to class prepared, and bring relevant texts and writing materials to each class. Be prepared to discuss the assigned readings in class.

 

• refrain from eating, sleeping, completing work for another class, participating in side conversations when other class members are speaking, entering the classroom late, and leaving early without permission.

 

• silence and stow your cell phone upon entering the classroom—they may not be used to take notes. Laptops and tablets are not allowed in class unless specified by the instructor.

 

• carefully listen to others, and offer support and encouragement to your classmates. I encourage intellectual freedom so you can benefit from new ideas and even controversial points of view. There may be debates, lively discussions, and even disagreement. Students have a right to share their own opinions in an appropriate manner, but I will not allow anyone to subject you to aggressive language founded in ignorance and hate. I do not tolerate harassment, be it verbal, sexual, or otherwise.

 

• refrain from using alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. Students known to be under the influence will be dismissed from class and counted absent.

 

• refrain from bringing weapons of any kind to our classroom. Armed students will be escorted from our classroom by University Police.

  

Students who pose threats to our classroom learning environment (direct or indirect) will be referred to the Dean of Students. Students who pose a physical threat to our classroom will be immediately escorted from our classroom by University Police.