Faculty Handbook 2020-2021

SUNY College of Optometry

Faculty Handbook 2020-21

Elective Courses Elective courses will be offered to students from a catalog of courses approved by the Curriculum Committee and maintained by the Office of Academic Affairs and registrar. Courses will be opened for registration prior to the term and filled on a first-come-first-serve basis until limits are reached. Elective courses will be graded on an "honors-pass-fail" basis. The instructor shall provide the student with a statement of the criteria for awarding grades in the course syllabus. If a student withdraws from an elective course within one week of the first meeting, no notice shall appear on the transcript. If a student withdraws after this period, a "W" shall appear on the transcript indicating withdrawal. Guest Lectures IORs may retain the services of guest lecturers with specific expertise on a particular topic. Guest lecturers may not work for or represent industry in the delivery of specific material without permission of the department chairs and dean for academic affairs. Funds for payment for guest lecturers come from departmental budgets and must be requested and approved by the department chair prior to the term the course is taught. Attendance in Courses and Clinic Policies regarding attendance in courses are determined by the IOR. A clear statement of the policy and its use in grading will be articulated to the students in the course syllabus and at the beginning of class. Unless explicitly stated, attendance in classes, seminars or laboratories, is at the discretion of the student, who is responsible for all requirements, including those requiring participation, all materials and assignments covered in the course. Students missing any class, seminar, lab, or clinic may not expect special accommodations without prior specific requests to, and approval by, the IOR, who has full discretion on such matters. Attendance in clinic assignments is always mandatory. Procedures for dealing with anticipated absence or disciplinary action for failure to follow these procedures are established and communicated to the students by the Department of Clinical Education. Student Leave from Courses and Clinic Students wishing to obtain leave from scheduled classes and clinics for EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (See below), must request an excused absence for the activities they will be missing. Students must make the request in writing at least four weeks in advance to the Instructor of Record (IOR) and/or respective Service Chief(s) (for internal clinics), or primary clinic supervisor (for external clinics). Students with excused absences are responsible for any missed material or assignments and may be required to switch sections to make up a missed lab or clinic.

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