Academic and Faculty Affairs

Disruptive Behavior in an Instructional Setting

Membership in Northern Arizona University’s academic community entails a special obligation to maintain class environments that are conductive to learning, whether instruction is taking place in the classroom, a laboratory or clinical setting, during course-related fieldwork, or online. Students have the obligation to engage in the educational process in a manner that does not breach the peace, interfere with normal class activities, or violate the rights of others. Instructors have the authority and responsibility to address Disruptive Behavior that interferes with student learning. Students who exhibit Disruptive Behavior in any Instructional Setting are subject to involuntary withdrawal from the course with a grade of “W”.

Policy Code: TBD
Responsible Executive: Provost
Responsible Office: Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Effective Date: May 5, 2010
Last Revised: December 4, 2018
Contact: Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

View the Policy

View the Flowchart

 

Keywords:

Classroom disruption
Disruptive behavior
Freedom of expression
Freedom of inquiry
Freedom of speech
Involuntary withdrawal

 

Instructors should note that involuntarily withdrawing a student from a course is a significant act. When seeking to apply this policy, instructors and department chairs should first seek procedural guidance from the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.

Disruptive Behavior
Incident Report Form

Involuntary Withdrawal
Notice of Appeal Form

Office of Student Life guidelines for dealing with disruptive behavior in the instructional setting

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