6 - General Program Policies
6.1 Academic Advisors
The CSD Department designates faculty members to act as the Academic Advisor for each student in the AuD program. Students are encouraged to meet with their Academic Advisor regularly to discuss their progress, plan for future semesters in the program (e.g., mentored project, electives) as well as any personal issues that may impact learning and professional development.
The Academic Advisor will:
- Assist the student with their program of study and monitor their academic progress.
- Sign departmental and University forms that require advisor’s approval
- Advise students about relevant University and program policies when petitioning for waivers or other requests
- Assist students in identifying appropriate resources for personal and academic needs.
6.2 Absences
If a student is unable to attend a class, lab, or clinic session, they must notify the instructor PRIOR to the absence. The student must be able to substantiate a valid reason for the absence such as illness or family emergency. Except in extenuating circumstances, failure to notify the instructor in advance will impact the course grade according to the policy set forth in the syllabus. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements to complete missed assignments, if applicable.
6.3 Exam/Assignment Integrity
Course instructors may restrict students access to assignments and/or exams to protect the integrity of these materials from year to year. Students’ completed assignments and exams will be retained, and students may request to review all their graded assignments and exams at any time. Reviews should be scheduled during office hours or at another time convenient to both the student and instructor during the semester. Students are not permitted to take notes, make copies, or photograph any materials without approval from the instructor. Unless the instructor indicates otherwise, students should assume that all assignments and exams are protected in this way.
6.4 Accommodation for Identified Disabilities
Accessibility Resources (AR) partners with students, faculty, and staff to ensure that qualified students with disabilities have equitable access to the same opportunities as non-disabled students to the school’s academic programs, services, and activities. This is done through the interactive accommodations process.
In determining reasonable accommodations, AR considers the individual student's disability-related needs, the program's technical standards, applicable disability laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and current best practices in higher education.
Disabilities may be visible or non-visible, temporary or permanent, and encompass a broad range of conditions. Examples include (but are not limited to), mobility or physical disabilities; sensory disabilities (such as vision or hearing); specific learning disabilities; ADHD; autism; chronic health conditions; mental health conditions; neurological conditions; and disabilities resulting from injury, illness, or other medical conditions. A diagnosis alone does not automatically qualify a student for accommodations. To be considered a disability under applicable law, a condition must substantially limit one or more major life activity.
Through an individualized, interactive process, Accessibility Resources (AR) reviews disability documentation and works collaboratively with students and appropriate institutional partners to determine reasonable accommodations. Because accommodations are not retroactive, they become effective only after they have been approved by AR. Because of this, students seeking accommodations are encouraged to connect with AR as early as possible whenever potential disability-related barriers arise.
Students are expected to actively participate in the accommodation process by providing requested documentation, responding to communications, and notifying AR if disability-related needs or barriers change over time.
Students who have questions or wish to begin the accommodation process are encouraged to contact Accessibility Resources at ihpar@mghihp.edu for a confidential intake. Additional information on the process itself can be found on the Accessibility Resources webpage.
6.5 Course Evaluations
Student participation is requested at the end of each term for evaluation of courses and the course instructor. Students can expect to receive notification regarding an University-wide evaluation near the end of each semester. Students are asked to complete these anonymous evaluations for each course.
The evaluation includes the option to provide written comments for both the course and instructor. The most helpful comments are those that critically and respectfully summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the course and provide supporting evidence and/or suggestions for improvement.
Scores and written comments are reviewed by the Program Director before forwarding them to the course instructor. The course instructor never sees the evaluations before grades are submitted for that term.
6.6 Program-Wide Schedule Adjustments
Students and faculty should recognize the need for last-minute program-wide schedule changes under extreme extenuating circumstances. All efforts will be made to communicate these adjustments in a timely manner.