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Northwest Missouri State University

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The Lifesaver

Departmental Policies

The department policies include:

 

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Academic Advisement

Students are assigned to academic advisors who are knowledgeable of their programs of study. Students must choose an advisor in their major or they will be assigned an advisor in their major based on advisee load among faculty members.

  1. Advisor responsibilities
    1. office hours posted
    2. available for appointments
    3. advise and counsel students in relation to academic programs and related concerns.
  2. Advisee responsibilities
    1. keep appointments
    2. know the regulations and policies of the University and requirements for the degree or certificate they are seeking
    3. maintain cumulative portfolio of their work at Northwest

      The portfolio is a graduation requirement for all FCS students graduating April 2002 and thereafter. (See Portfolio Requirements p.9-14) For information regarding University policy on Academic Advisement see page p. 41 of the 2004-2006 Undergraduate Academic Catalog. See page 59 for information about the Advisement assistance and Resource Office

Andvanced Standing and Graduation Requirements

Students majoring in programs in Family and Consumer Sciences must meet the Family and Consumer Sciences requirement for advanced standing, which requires that every student must complete 15 credit hours including Eng 10-111, Eng 10-112, Com 29-102, a course meeting the Mathematics requirement, and CSIS 44-130 by the end of the sophomore year.  A student must present a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in the courses required for advanced standing in Family and Consumer Sciences.  In addition, all Family and Consumer Sciences majors must complete a 100- or 200-level course required for their major and FCS 15-201 before permitted to take any 300- or 400-level course within the Family and Consumer Sciences Department.

All senior year students seeking the B.S or B.S.Ed. in any major within the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences are required to take the Departmental Senior Mastery of Concepts Examination and present a portfolio. These are graduation requirements.

Attendance

As stated in the general catalog on page 41 in the 2004-06 Undergraduate Catalog students are expected to attend all classes and laboratory sessions. Each teacher in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department will publish the policy for each specific course at the beginning of each semester. Absences accepted as appropriate are described on page 401of the general catalog.

Students have the responsibility of informing each teacher about necessary absences and arranging for possible make-up work

When a student has been absent for two weeks without explanation, the teacher is to send a written report to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Field Trips and Study Tours

Field trips will be partially financed by the department. The remainder of the cost of the field trip will need to be estimated and shared by the students. Faculty are required to secure the appropriate field trip forms from the department secretary.

Students driving their own cars for field trips must file a form, listing their car registration information, insurance policy numbers and names of passengers. It is the responsibility of the faculty member to collect and turn this form in to the department secretary prior to leaving on the field trip.

If a field trip affects other classes:

  1. A list of students will be sent to the faculty one class session prior to the trip. This list is for informational purposes only, and is not a request to excuse students from classes. A copy of this memo must be filed with the FCS Department Chair.
  2. Students will not be penalized in any way for missing a class because of a fild trip (Faculty Handbook, Chap. 4, p. 3)
  3. For students who can't go on a field trip, an optional assignment on campus is to be provided.
  4. In making the decision about exceptions, teachers will use the guideline "what is most valuable to the student at that time." The student will make the choice of which class to miss.

Grading System

The percentage of course points required for grade assignments within the Family and Consumer Sciences Department is determined by each individual teacher. The grading scale for each course is published in every course syllabus distributed at the beginning of each semester.

Late Work

In the Family and Consumer Sciences Department, all assignments are expected to be turned in on the assigned day. If it is necessary for the work to be late, it is the students responsibility to contact the teacher to make other arrangements. Each teacher determines if late work will be accepted during the trimester. NO work will be accepted after 4:00 p.m. on the last scheduled day of classes for the trimester.

Airing Grienvances 

A Student should:

  1. contact the teacher involved; if not resolved-
  2. contact your academic advisor; if not resolved-
  3. contact the department chair; if not resolved-you will be referred to the next appropriate administrative level

For other appeal procedures, see the University 2004-06 Undergraduate Academic Catalog:

  1. Grade Appeal Procedure-pages 47
  2. Financial Assistance Procedure-page 35
  3. University Academic Policies-page 41

Periodic and Final Exams

To promote long-term retention of class material, examinations may be giving over current and past material for the course. Comprehensive material from previous exams may be included on any and all exams.

  1. Examinations will contain questions that require practical application of information: i.e., self-application or situations application.
  2. Final Examinations may be comprehensive. Exceptions are those courses for which examinations do not constitute part of the course grade; i.e., internships, problems, etc. All students enrolled in a course are required to take the final.
  3. All finals must be given at the University scheduled time. Exceptions may be granted according to university policy. Forms to apply for an exception are available in FCS office.
  4. All classes are required to meet during the University scheduled examination time.

Course Test Out

If a student believes they have the required competency to test out of a Family and Consumer Sciences course, they should consult with their advisor, the individual who teaches the course, and the FCS department chair. If the test out is approved the university test out procedures p. 49 of the current undergraduate catalog will be followed. 

Special Problems Courses

Special Problems are available to second semester juniors and seniors who have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 and who have completed courses in the area of study.

Prior to an advisor approving registration for a Special Problem, the student is to have a problem in mind and is to have the approval of the teacher. A form for planning, to be completed in triplicate (one for student, one for teacher and one to be filed in student folder), is available in the office.

The faculty have agreed that all students registered for special Problems will meet at a regularly scheduled time with the teacher.

Written Papers and Projects

  1. To promote the professional development of students, written papers and /or projects will be required in each Family and Consumer Sciences course.
  2. The papers or projects are to significantly influence the student's grade, such that if not completed, the course grade drops.
  3. Papers and/or narratives written as a part of the projects that are a significant part of the grade are to be typed/word processed. All papers in Family and Consumer Sciences should follow the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA style). Copies of this manual are on reserve in Owens Library and available in the Family and Consumer Sciences office. Other specific requirements for all papers/projects will be outlined by the individual instructor. Appropriate presentation is part of professionalism.
  4. Papers and/or written work as part of projects will be evaluated on: accuracy of information, quality of information, reliability of sources, completeness, organization, syntax, and any other criteria specified as appropriate by the course instructor. (If the requirements are not met, the paper may be returned to be rewritten.)

Use of Facilities and Equipment

Use of equipment from room 308 and 310, whether within the department or by others, is to be requested in writing 24 hours before use. See Dr. Ciak for requests for room 308 and Dr. Shipley for 310. See Dr. Shipley to request use of audiovisual equipment. A written list of items being taken out of the department is to be filed with the department secretary. It is the responsibility of the person authorizing the loan to follow up on the return of all loaned items. Items are to be returned 24 hours after their use.

Student organizations wishing to use rooms in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department for meetings and activities are to file their room use request with the department secretary.

 

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For more information contact:

Family and Consumer Sciences
Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468-6001
Phone: 660.562.1168
E-mail: dfravel@nwmissouri.edu