It came to my attention yesterday that the English Department has crafted a document for students regarding etiquette. I don't know the genesis of this work (though I'll be finding out more next week during a discussion on the issue), but it's clear that the department has felt it necessary to instruct students in what is and is not appropriate in and around class.
Alums and students, what do you make of the document? Does PG need something similar? Should there be a single campus-wide policy? Any thoughts? A sample from the document is below.
Do not behave as if the common courtesies, customary guidelines, and the expectations of a course apply to others but not you. In other words, do not behave as if you think you are better than everyone else. Upholding the common courtesies, following customary guidelines, and meeting expectations of a course help insure the quality of teaching and learning.
Do not leave your cell-phone on during class. Never take calls, make calls, text-message, or otherwise use your cell-phone in class. The same principle applies to blackberries and other electronic equipment. For instance, do not privately listen to music in class—with or without headphones. Do not wear headphones in class, ever.
Do not whisper to or otherwise converse with another student while the professor or another student is talking.
Do not pass notes in class, ever.
Do not behave as if you are desperate for attention. The classroom is a shared, collaborative space. Do not monopolize discussion, raise personal issues not relevant to the work of the class, or dominate the discussion time. If you have private questions for the instructor, make an appointment.
Do not leave the room during class unless it is an emergency or at least a matter of genuine urgency. During 50-minute or 80-minute classes, you should almost never need to leave class. If you often find it difficult to sit through 50-minute and 80-minute classes without leaving the room, you are probably not ready for college. Do not leave class to take or make a phone-call or to smoke a cigarette, for example.
Do not ever wear pajamas, slippers, or other sleepwear to class. Doing so signals you are not ready for college. The classroom is a public, professional space; proper attire and grooming signal your preparation for and attitude toward the professor, the course, and other students.
Do not sleep in class, and do not put your head on the table or a desk. If you are ill, see a physician and don’t come to class. If you are too exhausted to participate in class, do not come to class, and get more sleep. If you are in class, stay alert.
Do not eat or drink in class unless the professor has explicitly given you permission to do so. Assume that it is not appropriate to eat or drink in class.
