Students have the right to a productive and stimulating learning environment. In turn, instructors have a responsibility to nurture and maintain such an environment. Student behavior that is an obstacle to teaching and learning should be addressed.
Steps to Take
- Check with your department to see if they have specific expectations for students enrolled in their programs or certain practices for responding to disruptions
- Meet with the student to discuss their behavior. Explain to them why you believe their behavior is disruptive
- Give the student an opportunity to discuss concerns that may be contributing to their behavior
- Clearly state that behavior that disrupts the class cannot continue. If, in the meeting, they appear unwilling to modify their behavior, let them know that Disruption of the Academic Environment is part of the Student Conduct Code and continued disruptions may be referred to OCS.