At the college level, students typically are required to inform themselves about classroom rules and procedures. Before they take a seat in their first class, students should have read and understood the rules surrounding student conduct and the potential consequences of disregard for these rules. If students are unaware of school policies, they should seek an adviser or speak to an instructor after class to receive guidance with this issue.
It sometimes comes as a surprise to young people entering college, but no one will stop a student from getting up and walking out of class. Students can and will do this -- to talk on their cellphones, for instance, or go to the bathroom. If these departures become habitual, they will not only impact the student's academic performance but they will distract other students and the instructor will have to intervene.
It is not enough simply to arrive at class on time and stay there. Instructors expect students to stay focused on the subject matter under discussion and to refrain from activities that distract others. Texting, checking phone messages, reading newspapers and sleeping are all quiet activities that might seem acceptable to some, but they contribute to a distracting atmosphere and for this reason are not permitted.
Talking to other students, except when engaged in classroom discussion supervised by the instructor, generally is not permitted in the college environment. Restless behaviors, such as tapping pencils on desks and just shifting around frequently, distract students, and educators will discipline such actions if they are not curtailed.
When classroom discussion is under way, students should express opinions and respond to those of others respectfully. It is up to the student to understand how respectful engagement looks and sounds.
Students should take all tests on time and turn in all work on the given due dates. College instructors may mark down late work or even refuse to accept it.
Illegal items and substances obviously are not permitted in the classroom. However, this bar applies to legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco as well. These disrupt the learning process and are offensive to others. Guns, while legal, are not considered safe and do not contribute to a sense of safety in the learning environment.