Syllabus Statements

In the event of an announced campus closure or emergency, it may be necessary for the university to suspend normal operations. During this time, the university may opt to continue instruction through online or alternative modes of delivery. Each student is responsible to monitor the USI homepage at www.USI.edu and their USI email for important general information and instructions regarding classes. Please also view the guidance on emergency procedures and information.

Academic integrity is the hallmark of truth and honesty in an engaged university community. Students have the right and responsibility to pursue their educational goals with academic integrity. All members of the university are accountable for their actions in maintaining high standards of academic integrity. Students are responsible for completing academic requirements without action and/or material that violates academic integrity.  Please view the Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools that generate text, images, code, and other content are widely available. If you submit work containing any content generated by AI when not explicitly allowed and not in a way directed the instructor, then this will be considered academic dishonesty and a violation of USI’s academic integrity policy. If you are not sure about what may be academic dishonesty or plagiarism and what is acceptable use in this course and on specific assignments, please contact your instructor to discuss. 

The university is dedicated to a culture of civility among students, faculty, and staff.  The university embraces and celebrates the many differences that exist among the members of a dynamic, intellectual and inclusive community, and strives to maintain an environment that respects differences and provides a sense of belonging and inclusion for everyone. Any form of unlawful discrimination will not be tolerated. Each student has the right to be free from discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy or marital status, parental status, national origin or ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other category protected by law or identified by the University as a protected class.  If you have experienced discrimination, or know someone who has, you may seek help by contacting USI’s Affirmative Action Officer, Chelsea Givens, at 812-464-1703 or at USI.equity@usi.edu.  Find more information in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: Code of Student Behavior and Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination policy.

For on-campus courses: If you have a disability and need academic accommodations for this class, please register with Disability Resources (DR) as soon as possible. Students who receive an accommodation letter from DR are encouraged to meet privately with course faculty to discuss the provisions of those accommodations as early in the semester as possible. To qualify for accommodation assistance, students must first register to use the disability resources in DR, Science Center Rm. 2206, 812-464-1961 http://www.usi.edu/disabilities. To help ensure that accommodations will be available when needed, students are encouraged to meet with course faculty at least 7 days prior to the actual need for the accommodation. However, if you will be  participating in an internship, field, clinical, student teaching, or another off-campus setting this semester, please note that approved academic accommodations may not apply. Please contact Disability Resources as soon as possible to discuss accommodations needed for access while in this setting.

For online learning courses: If you have a disability and need academic accommodations for this class, please contact Disability Resources at 812-464-1961 or email usi1disres@usi.edu as soon as possible. Students who are approved for accommodations by Disability Resources, should request their accommodation letter from the DR office. The student can then forward the letter to the online instructors.  Due to the nature of online courses, some accommodations that are approved for on campus courses may not apply to online courses. Please discuss this with Disability Resources to clarify as needed. However, if you will be participating in an internship, field, clinical, student teaching, or another off-campus setting this semester, please note that approved academic accommodations may not apply. Please contact Disability Resources as soon as possible to discuss accommodations needed for access while in this setting.

Students who receive an accommodation letter from Disability Resources are encouraged to discuss the provisions of those accommodations with their professors before or during the first week of the semester.  

For more information, please visit the Disability Resources website at http://www.usi.edu/disabilities. 

The University of Southern Indiana is dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of its students. Students seek the assistance of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office for a variety of reasons, and whether it is adjusting to college life, depression/anxiety, body-image concerns, trauma, or something else, it is an honor and privilege for CAPS staff to help students during their times of struggle.

If you are experiencing difficulties that are impacting your academic performance or personal life, we strongly encourage you to reach out. CAPS offers several services and delivery methods to USI Students. Services include individual counseling (virtual and in-person), group therapy, crisis intervention, emotional health support on-demand, health coaching, and more. To make an appointment or for more information, please contact CAPS at 812-464-1867 or visit the CAPS website.  These services are available to all students at no additional cost.

Your mental health is a vital part of your success and overall college experience. Seeking help is a sign of strength, and CAPS is here to support your journey.

Online exams and quizzes within this course require online proctoring. Therefore, you will be required to have a webcam (USB or internal) with a microphone when taking an exam or quiz. You will have to use Google Chrome web browser or Microsoft Edge web browser and download Proctorio Extension. Please have your Student ID or Government Issued Photo ID ready to show at the start of the exam.

Students are strictly responsible for ensuring that they take all exams using a reliable computer and high-speed internet connection.

Find a private, quiet, and comfortable location to take your exam. Depending on the settings of your exam, you may be asked to do a room scan; turning your web camera to look at the room. Please note, recordings from any private residence must be done with the permission of all persons residing in the residence. You must ensure that any recordings do not invade any third-party privacy rights and accept all responsibility and liability for violations of any third-party privacy concerns.

If you need more privacy or a stable internet connection, the Library offers space with a computer for taking your proctored tests. There are rooms available during the library’s open hours on a first-come, first-served basis. You can reserve a room online up to 30 days in advance with the booking calendar, which is recommended given the limited availability. For more information about the Rice Library’s Proctorio/Zoom Rooms, please email libcirc@usi.edu.

Setup information will be provided prior to taking the proctored exam. You do not need to schedule exams ahead of time, simply go into Blackboard and take the exam. For additional information about online proctoring, you can visit the Online Proctoring Student FAQ webpage.

For remote proctoring, you must have:

• Webcam w/ Microphone
• Google Chrome OR Microsoft Edge & Download Proctorio Extension
• Student or Government Photo ID
• Reliable Internet Connection
• Quiet, private location
• Be prepared to scan room w/ camera

Proctorio offers 24/7 support is available by email at support@proctorio.com and chat through Proctorio Extension.

• If there is an emergency or hazard, you may need to either evacuate the building or shelter in place.
• Maps for the evacuation or shelter in place may be found next to each elevator in a campus building or in prominent places in others.
• Set up your Rave Alerts and be familiar with the USI Emergency Procedures.
• Contact USI Public Safety emergency at 812-492-7777, https://www.usi.edu/public-safety

Building Evacuation: When an evacuation alarm sounds (for example, a fire alarm) or an immediate emergency notification thru the Rave message system is ordered by Public Safety (for example, a gas leak), EVERYONE shall immediately evacuate the building.

• The quickest evacuation exit from this classroom is (list the nearest stairway or door to exit)
• Do not use the elevators.
• Once you exit the building, proceed to the designated area of refuge away from the building, unless directed otherwise.  Do not congregate near entrance/exit doors or in roadways or parking lots.  This may impede the arrival of first responders (i.e., Public Safety or fire fighters)
• If you are able, assist the disabled, older adults, and pregnant women to safety or on an upper floor, leave on a stairwell landing, and contact USI Public Safety with their location for further assistance and evacuation.
• DO NOT RETURN TO AN EVACUATED BUILDING unless directed to do so by USI Public Safety or other University official.

Shelter-in-Place: In severe weather situations or other presented hazards, you may need to shelter in place, or within the building you are currently in. Read additional Shelter-in-place procedures.

• The emergency maps are shaded green designating shelter in place areas to go.
• If circumstances warrant, lock yourself and class inside the room, and barricade the doorway, if possible, for example a hallway disturbance or active shooter situation.
• Stay sheltered in place until directed otherwise by USI Public Safety or other University Official.

Students who have difficulty affording food on a regular basis or lack a safe place to live and believe this may affect their class performance are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students Office. A list of resources is also available. Confidential resources are available on campus at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the University Health Center (UHC).

The syllabus is a guide to the course and is subject to change with reasonable advanced notice as course needs arise.

The University of Southern Indiana is committed to providing a safe learning, living, and working environment free from discrimination.  Sexual misconduct and incidents of interpersonal violence deeply interrupt the collegiate experience, and USI is dedicated to ensuring a campus that is free of these types of incidents in order to promote community well-being and student success.

USI encourages individuals who believe that they have been sexually harassed, assaulted or subject to sexual misconduct to seek assistance and support. Confidential resources are available on campus at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the University Health Center (UHC).   

As Responsible Employees, all faculty, staff and administrators of the University community (Except those noted above) are not considered confidential resources and are required to report incidents of sexual misconduct to the University Title IX Coordinator. The University will work with complainants to protect their privacy by sharing information with only those who need to know to ensure that USI can respond and assist. For a full list of resources, support opportunities, and reporting options, contact Chelsea Givens, the University Title IX Coordinator, at 812-464-1703.  Additionally, you may email the office at TitleIX@usi.edu or stop by the Institutional Equity Office located in the Wright Administration Building, Forum Wing, Suite 171.