Faculty Handbook 2020-2021

SUNY College of Optometry

Faculty Handbook 2020-21

Leave of Absence Upon petition in writing to the dean for academic affairs, a student in good standing may be granted up to a one-year leave of absence for extenuating circumstances. Course Exemption The requirements for exemption are at the discretion of the IOR. The basis of the determination is typically either (a) evidence of prior satisfactory completion of equivalent coursework or (b) the passing of a prerequisite examination. Upon the granting of an exemption, the instructor should forward a written statement to the registrar indicating the basis of the exemption. Such students will receive the letter "X" on the transcript in place of a grade for the course. Transfer credit is not provided for prior learning experience including service in the armed forces, paid or unpaid employment, or other demonstrated competency or learning. Auditing Courses Permission to audit is on a space-available basis, in compliance with appropriate state statutes, and is at the discretion of the IOR. The auditor shall attend without formal recognition (i.e. transcript credit.) Requests to audit are handled by the Office of Student Affairs, which shall communicate with the appropriate department chair and IOR of the course being requested for audit. Examinations The SUNY College of Optometry Policy on Examinations is designed to minimize conflicts between examinations and other assessments of students during a given semester. For this policy, an examination is defined as a written assessment that requires a full class session for completion. A quiz is considered to be a single short written or oral assessment used to contribute not more than 10% to a final grade and that does not require a full class session for completion. A lab practical/assessment is essentially a non-written assessment of laboratory concepts that takes place during the laboratory portion of the course using materials or procedures taught in the laboratory. Written assessments of laboratory concepts, whether they are in the laboratory or classroom, are considered to be examinations or quizzes, depending on scope, and will be administered according to the following policy statements: • All procedures for student assessment and the determination of the final grade for each course must be clearly defined in the course syllabus. • All course syllabi must be posted on Moodle prior to the beginning of the semester and communicated to the students on the first day of class.

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