Faculty Handbook

Class Scheduling Class scheduling is the responsibility of the Registrar and the Office of Academic Affairs. Schedules will be distributed to chairpersons, clinic chiefs, students, and faculty prior to the beginning of the term. Schedules will not be changed without written approval by both the Department Chairs and the Dean for Academic Affairs. If it becomes necessary to change a lecture or laboratory schedule (lengthening, shortening, adding, canceling, or rescheduling), the proposed changes must be made at least five working days prior to the lecture or laboratory and cleared by the Registrar to avoid conflicts with other courses. It is the responsibility of the Instructor of Record (IOR) to communicate directly with the students regarding any modifications of class schedule, time, or location. Permanent changes, after being approved by the Office of Academic Affairs, will be communicated by the Registrar. If it becomes necessary to cover course material because of scheduling conflicts, occasional exchanges of scheduled class times between courses may be done with the permission of the relevant department chair. Care must be taken because there are some classes that do not have the full roster of students in attendance. The SUNY College of Optometry respects the rights of individuals to observe their religious beliefs. Faculty, staff, or students will be excused from classes and UEC clinics for religious observances in accordance with New York State Education Law, Article 5 Section 224-a (see below). Excused absence from clinic for religious observances requires advance notice to the appropriate UEC Service Chief at the beginning of the term or four weeks prior to the holiday (whichever comes first) to facilitate coverage and rescheduling. For academic courses, faculty must notify their Department Chair and students must notify the IOR at the beginning of the term so that examinations and other assignments will not be scheduled on religious holidays if possible. Students are always responsible for any missed material, requirements, labs, or clinics and must ensure that any missed examinations or assignments are excused and made up. Faculty and Service Chiefs must make reasonable and equitable accommodations to students when assignments are made up. Faculty must take annual leave for missed days. Elective Courses Optometry students are usually required to complete a minimum of two elective courses. MS-OD, Certificate/MBA-OD students, and microcredential students are exempt from this requirement. However, some microcredential programs require certain electives as part of their curriculum and students should refer to the microcredential program catalog. 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 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

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