Faculty Rights

Disruptive conduct is defined in Regulation 4.007, FAU Student Code of Conduct as “any action that impairs, interferes with or obstructs the mission, purposes, order, academic atmosphere, operations, processes and/or functions of Florida Atlantic University”

Students who behave in the classroom such that the educational experiences of other students and/or the instructor’s course objectives are disrupted are subject to disciplinary action.

Such behavior impedes students’ ability to learn or an instructor’s ability to teach. Disruptive conduct may include, but is not limited to: non-approved use of electronic devices (including cellular telephones); cursing or shouting at others in such a way as to be disruptive; or, other violations of an instructor’s expectations for classroom conduct.

Faculty Rights and Responsibilities

Florida Atlantic University respects the right of instructors to teach and students to learn. Maintenance of these rights requires classroom conditions which do not impede their exercise. To ensure these rights, faculty members have the prerogative:

• To establish and implement academic standards
• To establish and enforce reasonable behavior standards in each class
• To refer disciplinary action to those students whose behavior may be judged to be disruptive under the Student Code of Conduct.

If you encounter behavior that makes you feel that you or another member of the class might be endangered from the actions of another student (or, for that matter, another employee of the University), good judgment and swift responses are called for. Do not hesitate to contact the University Police, if you find yourself in such a situation, and certainly contact your department chair/school director. Your first priority should be your own protection and that of the other students. Such situations might include:

• Verbal threats of violence
• Use of weapons of any sort
• Angry and abusive language and actions
• An actual physical attack

Make sure you document the situation, and confer with your department chair/school director. You also need to make sure that any appropriate authority within the University community is informed.