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Click on one of the following topics to find answers to frequently asked questions by students.
The university catalog has specific requirements for students to live on
campus until they have completed 90 quarter hours. No matter what your reason for wanting to make
this change, you need to first visit with the folks in the Office of Housing. The approach they take
with such requests is to try to determine the specific problem and attempt solve it. Depending on your
situation, you may have other options available to you. There are various resources on campus ready to
help you find the best solution, which might be a room change or needing employment or an extension to
pay your bill. Your RA, RD or the Office of Business and Residence Services might be able to explore
options with you.
It is rare for students to be released from their contracts in the middle
of the year. With nearly 4000 rooms and 40 buildings, there is a variety of accommodation options to
meet most every need.
If an acceptable alternative is not found, the general process for requesting
a release from the housing contract in the middle of the year (contract termination) or release from the
housing regulation (exemption from having to sign a housing contract) is to file a contract termination
or housing exemption request form and provide appropriate documentation. Medical information and the
completion of additional medical forms are required to support any medically related request. These forms
will be reviewed by the director of Hudson Health Center, who makes a recommendation to the Office of
Business and residence Services. All forms are available at the Office of Business and Residence Services.
A Contract Review Committee will make a decision about your request. This student/staff committee meets
weekly, so it would take about two weeks to hear an answer.
You may want to first call Dining Services at 593-2970 and/or contact the
manager(s) of the dining facilities where you choose to eat to work out a plan to meet your needs. The
Dining Services website http://www.ohiou.edu/food/ has other
information which will help you.
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If you are having trouble with your supervisor, you probably need to talk
about things. You may want to initiate the conversation and try to clarify what your supervisor and your
expectations are for the job you have. Many times writing things down will help to be sure both of you
understand what your responsibilities are. If you feel your personalities are incompatible, you may
request to be moved to another department.
If you feel you would like some ideas on how to approach your supervisor, we
could meet with you to discuss your particular situation. If you feel uncomfortable talking alone with
your supervisor, you may contact us or the Assistant Director of Student Employment Programs (593-4141)
in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to discuss your concerns.
For more information about the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships,
click here to be connected to its
website.
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Since the situation occurred between you and someone who is not affiliated
with OU, we cannot intervene on your behalf. You may want to consult with the lawyers at the
Center for Student Legal Services (594-8093) to determine
if you have grounds for renegotiating your situation. The Center for Student Legal Services is located
at 50 South Court St., Suite D.
You might find that mediation could provide a way for you and the previous
car owner to discuss your situation with a neutral third party. An option to consider may be the
Athens Area Mediation Service at 594-6169.
Because you live off-campus, you may want to seek assistance from the Center
for Student Legal Services (594-8093), located at 50 South Court St., Suite D or from the Student
Senate's Office of Off-Campus Living (593-4073) at 204 Baker Center. They both help to assist with
problems such as this which are outside of OU's jurisdiction.
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First of all, talk with your professor directly. Ask your professor if it would
be possible to have more time because of the language difficulties. Let her/him know if there are any
extenuating circumstances which affect your situation. Not all professors may be able to accommodate you.
You may seek assistance from the Office for
International Students.
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The first thing to do is to talk with someone at the Office of Financial Aid and
Scholarships, 020 Chubb Hall. They will be able explain why your check is delayed. They also have a short-term
loan program through which students may borrow funds against soon-to-appear financial aid. Contact them at
593-4141.
Go to the Alden Library circulation desk on the Fourth Floor (main entrance) and
explain your situation. You may appeal your case and they will look through the stacks to track your books.
You may want to help them out and locate the books on the stacks yourself and bring them to the circulation
desk.
See OU Libraries circulation policies and procedures at
www.ohiou.edu/policy/14-100.html.
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This situation is very serious and if you are involved in it, you have a right
to be concerned. Each professor has the right to determine his or her own grading policy within each course.
Be sure all members of your groups are clear about the expectations written on the course syllabus the first
day of class. Also, review the parameters of what constitutes Academic Misconduct in the Academic Honesty
brochure available through Judiciaries.
Write down exactly what your perceptions are of what happened and go talk with
the professor. Each professor may respond to this situation differently. Some may feel as though individuals
or groups have violated the OU Academic Honesty Code of Conduct. Come visit the Ombuds if you would like
information or guidance during this process.
The OU Student Code of Conduct (2004-2005) states the following regarding Academic
Misconduct:
“All forms of academic misconduct are prohibited by the Student Code of Conduct.
Academic misconduct refers to dishonesty in examinations (cheating), presenting the ideas or the writing of
someone else as one's own (plagiarism), or knowingly furnishing false information to the university by forgery,
alteration, or misuse of university documents, records, or identification. Academic dishonesty includes, but
is not limited to, the following examples: permitting another student to plagiarize or cheat from your work,
submitting an academic exercise (written work, printing, sculpture, computer program) that has been prepared
totally or in part by another, acquiring improper knowledge of the contents of an exam, using unauthorized
material during an exam, submitting the same paper in two different courses without knowledge and consent of
professors, or submitting a forged grade change slip.”
If you are unsure about a question of academic misconduct, consult your instructor
or the director of Judiciaries. If you are found to be involved in academic misconduct, your instructor has
the option of lowering your grade or giving you an F grade on the project or in the course, and/or referring
you to Judiciaries. Possible sanctions through Judiciaries are suspension, expulsion, or any sanction not
less than a reprimand.”
This is an uncomfortable position to be in. If you are able, you might first want
to try contacting your professor to let him/her know how you perceive what is happening. You could either set
up a meeting or write a letter. If you have a lot of strong emotions connected with what happened, you may want
to first write a letter to help you formulate and clarify your thoughts. Use “I” statements,
“I felt uncomfortable when you said... or did...” Try to see if you can both better understand each
other's position.
If you feel as though you are uncomfortable approaching your professor directly, and
would like to explore other options, come to our office.
The grade appeal process is written in the University Student Handbook; click
here if you would like to read the policy on Grade Appeals. You will
need to scroll to that section and hit the “BACK” button to return to this question.
The following is a SUMMARY of the grade appeal process.
Begin by contacting your instructor and following these steps:
1. Introduce yourself and state that you would like a change of grade for which
particular course. Provide the class name, course number, and the time and quarter you were enrolled. Give your
name and personal identification number. Many times it is helpful to put this in writing.
2. Summarize the main points in your argument. The class syllabus should have the
class grading procedure on it. Copy that and show where you and the instructor differ. Account for the differences
and explain your position.
3. Request that the instructor reconsider the grade and change it. Ask for a written
response and give the teacher a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
If you are not satisfied with the written response, you may appeal to the chair/director
of the department/school. Include a letter outlining your situation and your instructor's response. The department
or school may utilize its own internal procedure for reviewing grade appeals.
If the problem is not resolved at the departmental/school level, the chair or director
may bring your appeal to the dean. The dean will make a determination as to whether or not there is sufficient
grounds for the appeal. If it is determined that sufficient grounds exist, the dean will set up a committee to
review your appeal.
The decision of the committee is not subject to further appeal.
Contact the Ombuds if you need assistance in this process.
Balancing the responsibility of being a team member with your academic requirements
is not easy. Professors have the authority to create their own attendance policy. Sometimes professors will
allow a certain number of excused or unexcused absences. Be careful to read your syllabus the first day of class
to learn what your professor’s expectations are. Inform your professor the first week of class of your team game
schedule. Ask if there will be a problem making up tests or quizzes. Call Director of Academic Services (593-1172)
in Intercollegiate Athletics or the Ombuds if you need some assistance in talking with your professor.
Athletics are considered to be “university-sponsored activities.”
Excerpt from the 2005-2006 Student Handbook notification of absences:
“Instructors are urged to assist, without prejudice, students returning to a
class after a legitimate absence, such as illness, death in the immediate family, religious observance, involvement
in university-sponsored activities. Make-up work will be arranged subject to any limitations previously announced
by the instructor. In some occasions the size or nature of the course make it necessary to set limits on the number
of excused absences or the availability of make-up work, particularly for exams or special events such as field trips
or outside speakers. Such limitations will be explained in the instructor's statement of attendance policy at the
beginning of each course. Students with scheduled activities must check with the instructor as early as possible
to clarify that there will be no conflict with the policy.”
For the complete policy on Academic Policies, including Notification of Causes of
Absence, click here.
Professors are responsible for submitting grades on time to the department or Office of
the Registrar. First, contact your professor to find out why the grade wasn’t submitted. If you cannot reach your
instructor, call the department’s secretary. This person should be able to determine if the missing grade is just
yours or if the whole class's grades were not submitted. As long as you appropriately registered for and completed
the course, you will be given a grade. Contact the Ombuds if you need further assistance.
All professors are expected to submit a syllabus on the first day of class. (Click
here to read what is presented in the Faculty
Handbook about course syllabi.)
If you did not receive a syllabus, ask the professor for a copy. If she or he still
does not produce one, contact the professor’s department and ask the chair to help locate one for you.
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Depending on the kind of “trouble” you are having, you may pursue a different
response. Usually talking with someone is the best way to clarify misunderstandings and goals between the two of you.
Asking someone else to “chair a meeting” may give you a different ability to voice your opinion. Working
with your organization’s advisor may give you ideas on how to strengthen your working relationship. Mediation
is an option through the Ombuds Office or through a community agency, the Athens Area Mediation Service (call 592-2608).
You are encouraged to contact the Office of Campus Life at 593-4025 for additional suggestions
on the dynamics within groups and organizations.
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You seem to have a few issues going on here. The first is how you feel about the professor
calling on the men more than the women. Second is this issue of the jokes and the third is the fear of repercussions
if you try to respond to the situation.
Whether or not a professor intends to give different treatment to men and women in the course,
all professors are still responsible for creating a safe and non-hostile environment for learning. If you find the jokes
to be offensive to the point where your learning is inhibited, then this constitutes a hostile environment. Jokes about
women may be discriminatory, promote sexist themes or be ‘in bad taste’. If you would like to discuss ways
of changing the academic climate, make an appointment with the Ombuds or the Office for Institutional Equity at 593-2620.
Your situation may or may not be a case of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is unlawful
and not tolerated on OU’s campus. If you would like to read the Ohio University Policy on Sexual Harassment, click
here.
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One of your rights in being brought before the Judicial Board is to be assisted by an advisor
from within the OU community. The person may be a student, administrative official or faculty member. Schedule an appointment
with the Ombuds if you would like us to assist you in any preparation or to accompany you to a disciplinary hearing. The
Student Handbook outlines the Judicial process (section 5B,
University Hearing Board). You may also contact Students Defending Students, Baker Center 328, 593-4045.
The Office of University Judiciaries is in 205 Baker University Center, 593-2629.
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The Ombuds Office is firmly committed to maintaining the confidentiality of those who use our
services. We keep no official records of client names, affiliations or grievances. The discussions, issues, concerns or
problems you present to the Ombuds remain in strict confidence. If you wish for a problem or complaint to go “on the
record,” the Ombuds will refer you to the appropriate office or person. This confidentiality cannot be "waived" by
users of the office because the privilege of confidentiality belongs to the Ombuds Office, not to the users of the office.
No. Because of the unique, informal, problem-solving role of the Ombuds Office, speaking to the
Ombuds about a concern does not constitute “notice” to the university that the problem exists, nor is speaking
to the Ombuds office a step in any applicable grievance process. Anyone wishing to “put the university on notice”
may contact an administrator or invoke a formal grievance process. The Ombuds Office can provide referral information about
whom to contact for anyone seeking to use administrative or formal grievance processes.
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