Course Syllabus

Updated 10_16_Fall 24 370 Syllabus R1.docx

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PSY 370: Interpersonal Relationships

Syllabus

Fall 2024

(08/22/24-12/14/24)

 

Faculty Information

Instructor: Dr. Haiden A. Perkins

Contact Information: haiden.perkins@asu.edu

Office: Faculty Administration Building (FAB) - S181

Office Hours: Wednesdays 12:30-2:30

Course Information

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Days: Monday/Wednesday

Time: 3:00-4:15 pm

Location: West CLCC 180

Section: 72189

Course Description

Development of personal skills for competent functioning in interpersonal relationships across multiple social contexts and principles of mental health adjustment. The major objectives of this course are to help you:

1) Understand current theories and research in the field of interpersonal relationships. Specifically, this course will help further your understanding of topics such as: our need to belong through relationships, attraction, love, communication issues, relationship initiation and maintenance, the trajectories of relationships, relationship dissolution, jealousy, and infidelity.

2) Apply the findings from current and past relationship research to everyday experiences. This objective will be met through comments on empirical readings and a culminating course project.

3) Most of our daily life is intertwined with relationships from family to friends to work/school. As such relationships are the most salient aspect in our lives. Thus, a major objective of this course is to provide you with a better understanding of not only yourself, but your relationships.       

4) In order to understand the science behind relationships, we will read both classic and current empirical studies and review articles about interpersonal relationships, across various subdisciplines of psychology and other disciplines (e.g., sociology).Course

Course Goals

• Familiarity with multiple areas within interpersonal relationships, including theoretical perspectives, research findings, and their applications to health and social contexts.
• Familiarity with theory, research, and applications in related disciplines, such as sociology, public health, and epidemiology.
• Familiarity with various experimental, laboratory, and field paradigms used in the study of interpersonal relationships.
• Ability to read and critique psychological articles.
• Ability to locate psychological research articles with psychology databases (PsychLit; Google Scholar)
• Acquire/enhance skills in written presentation, including familiarity with the format suggested by the American Psychological Association.
• Acquire/enhance ability to design psychological studies to address research questions in interpersonal relationships.
• Instill a sense of curiosity, critical thinking, and enthusiasm for the field

General Studies Gold

• This course fulfills the ASU Social and Behavioral Sciences General Studies requirement.
• Students completing a Social and Behavioral Sciences course will be able to:
  • Utilize behavioral or social science approaches, qualitative or quantitative, to examine aspects of human experiences or explain social or behavioral phenomena.
  • Describe the strengths and limitations of behavioral or social science methods in predicting or understanding human behavior.
  • Communicate coherent arguments using evidence drawn from qualitative or quantitative sources.

The Basics

Textbooks

Title: Marriages, Families, and Intimate Relationships
Authors: Williams Brian, Sawyer Stacey, Wahlstrom Carl

Edition: 5

Year: 2020
ISBN-13: 9780137497942

 

Course Format and The Learning Community:

This course is taught in person, with reading quizzes and other assignments submitted online using Canvas. This format will incorporate a variety of teaching techniques, including in person lectures, videos, and other supplemental material, which will play a role in challenging you to develop different ways of thinking about various issues and in helping you appreciate opinions different from your own.

To do well in this course, you will need to complete the weekly reading assignments (see the Course Schedule for dates), you will keep up with assigned due dates, and you will regularly check the online course shell.

As we learn together, please remember following: (a) be respectful of your fellow classmates as diverse individuals with diverse perspectives, (b) be open to new ideas, (c) be curious, asking questions if you do not understand, and (d) be responsible for your own learning, getting as much as you can from this course.

All stated due dates and their respective times are due at 11:59 PM in ARIZONA. Make sure if you are out of state you accommodate for differing time zones.

Course Materials to Bring to Every Class

• Writing Paper
• Writing Utensil
• Electronic device with access to internet for things like Kahoot

 

Course Requirements

By enrolling in this course, there are some basic requirements you must meet to be successful:

• You must attend in-person lectures.
• You must have access to a computer with a reliable internet connection.
• You must know how to navigate the internet.
• You must be able to follow written instructions.
• You must make the time to read emails, class materials, and complete all course requirements and quizzes on time.
• You must know how to upload, download, and open files from the internet.

Technology Requirements

• Microsoft Office (Microsoft 365 is freefor all currently enrolled ASU students)
• Reliable broadband internet connection (DSL or cable) to stream videos.
• Web Browsers

Technology Support: https://lx.asu.edu/contact

Student Success

To be successful:

• attend all classes
• check the course frequently
• read announcements
• read and respond to course email messages as needed
• complete assignments by the due dates specified
• communicate regularly with your instructor and peers
• create a study and/or assignment schedule to stay on track
• access ASU Student Resources

Attendance

Attendance at all lectures is expected in order to enable students to obtain a satisfactory understanding of the course material. Reading from the text is required. Students should complete the reading assignments before class. Being successful in this course means students must actively participate in their learning by: reading assigned material, completing assignments, attending class, engaging in discussions, and manipulating the Canvas site. Unwillingness to participate in your learning will result in failure of the course.

*If you are an ASU athlete: Even if you have submitted your sport absence schedule to me, do not assume that I will remember your sport’s schedule. It is still important to let us know when you miss class for a sporting event, or if you need to leave class early for a sporting event, if you want to be able to make up missed work.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAKING UP MISSED WORK/QUIZZES MUST BE MADE PRIOR TO WHEN THE DEADLINE WILL BE MISSED

Please note: If you are dealing with a personal challenge during the semester (e.g., you or a parent is seriously ill), please notify Dr. Perkins ASAP. Asking for exceptions to make up work after deadlines or late in the semester is unfair to the rest of the students, but if you let me know early, I will work with you to the best of my ability to help you keep up. Do take care of yourself. Communication is KEY

 

 

Email Communication:

• I will always attempt to respond to your emails within 48 hours.
• All email communication must be written in a professional manner (e.g., be polite, use proper grammar and correct spelling).
• Emails should be written in the following manner:
• From: ASU email account ONLY (e.g., Sparky@asu.edu).  Emails from personal email accounts (e.g., gmail, yahoo) will not be answered.
• Subject: PSY 370- and a brief description of the question/issue (e.g., PSY 101: Assignment #1 Grade). 
• Greeting: “Hi Dr. Perkins”
• Body: State your question or request. Use correct punctuation and grammar throughout.
• Conclusion: Sign off with a thank you and your full name (as it is on Canvas)

Inclusion Statement

It is my intention that all students from all backgrounds and perspectives will be well served by this course and that the diversity that students bring to this class will be viewed as an asset. I welcome individuals of all ages, beliefs, national origins, cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, gender expressions, religious affiliations, sexual orientations, socioeconomic background, family education level, ability – and other visible and nonvisible differences. All members of this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive environment for every other member of this class. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated throughout our class.

Instructor and Student Expectations

Instructors

• Check email once a day (during weekdays) and respond within 24-72 hours. Questions will be answered, or students will be directed to the answer (i.e., course syllabus).
• Offer appointments to discuss complex questions, review grade issues, and provide clarity, as needed.
• Provide time at the beginning and end of each class session, unless otherwise stated, to field brief questions.
• Ensure that students have been provided with interactive learning activities and opportunities to meet course learning objectives related to the course.

Student

• Attend class and be prepared for discussion of assigned readings.
• Actively participate during lectures and in-class activities and assignments.
• Be attentive and respectful toward your fellow students and the instructor.
• Disruptive classroom behavior such as: texting, online shopping, or playing games on your computer will not be tolerated.
• Frequently check Canvas for updates, grades, assignment instruction/information, etc.
• Check, read, and review course emails (sent via Canvas OR the instructor’s ASU email.
• Compose emails in a professional manner following the guidelines listed above (see Communication).
  • All written communication (e.g., email, papers, in-class assignments) should be written at the college level with proper sentence structure, spelling, and grammar and must be in compliance with the student code of conduct. Check all of your work before submitting.
• Communicate in advance if you have a conflict with an assignment or exam. Modifications can only be made with prior discussion.

Assignments

Variety is the spice of life, to keep the class from getting too monotonous and to expose you to many different learning methods, you will engage in numerous different types of assignments throughout the semester. Application activities, discussions, and quizzes will be intermingled throughout the weeks, so it is important that you review the course schedule frequently to know which activities are due which weeks. There are NO exams in this course. Comprehension of the material is expected to be shown through your work in varying assignments that allow you to explore concepts in depth and make connections to your lived experiences.

Submission Policy

All assignments must be submitted in WORD or PDF format. Pages documents will NOT be accepted. Your instructor does not have a Mac and cannot review those documents. You will receive one warning for submitting a pages document and be given the opportunity to resubmit the assignment within 24 hours for full credit. Additional pages submissions will be given 24 hours to be resubmitted with a point deduction. Failure to submit a word or pdf document after the 24-hour window will receive 0 points.

Application Activities

Most weeks will include application activities based on the current week’s topics.  For these assignments, the type of activity will vary.  Some assignments will be based on personal opinion; however, your responses should always demonstrate an understanding of class concepts and be backed with the “why”, the reasoning/evidence behind your opinion. Meaning reflection and comprehension of the material should be evident. Short responses, such as just giving a term or definition without reasoning as to why you chose it will not receive full credit.

Some questions on application activities ask about sensitive topics, if you feel uncomfortable answering a reflection question, you can replace it a discussion of a topic in the current chapter you found interesting or important, describe the topic, and explain why it was interesting or important to you. It is expected that you will only make this substitution when truly necessary, and that it will only be an occasional occurrence at most throughout the semester.

Quizzes

There will be weekly quizzes over the assigned reading chapters and the associated lectures. Quizzes will be 20 multiple choice/true or false questions worth 1 pt each. Quizzes are open book/open note. However you will only have 45 minutes to take your quiz, meaning if you are not familiar with the text or lecture slides and relying on your ability to look up the questions while the quiz is in progress, you likely will not be able to complete the quiz before time elapses.

Projects

Project 1: Identifying a supportive relationship.

• Complete the relationship analysis worksheets on Canvas
• Select the supportive relationship you would like to analyze further.
• Answer the associated questions.
• See Canvas for the rubric/further details.

Project 2: Improving an important relationship.

• Identify one or more individuals you want to improve your relationship/communication with.
• Over the course of a week, attempt to use healthy communication methods, identify points of contention, and have intentional conversations to work though these points of contention.
• Your interactions should include methods of positive communication as discussed in the text and in class.
• Your interaction should also include at least one of the 3 ways to improve interpersonal effectiveness: DEAR MAN, GIVE, AND/OR FAST (See Canvas for more details)
• See Canvas for rubric/more details.

Project 3 - Final Project: Create Your Own “How To” Guide: For this project, you will need to incorporate the lectures and readings from the course into a fun, informative, practical guide (e.g., brochure pamphlet) covering different concepts/theories. Some possibilities include: How to Trust Again, How to Improve Your Relationship, How to Deal with a Relationship Break-Up, etc. Note that projects can NOT BE a decorative rewrite of concepts already fully detailed in your text. You must create a new concept influencing relationships based upon what you have learned through the course.

In Class Discussions:

Throughout the semester there will be random in class discussions. Being present for these discussions is worth 10 pts per discussion. Points may only be obtained for missed discussions if student is able to present valid documentation for univeristy or professor approved absences.

Sona Extra Credit Opportunity:

This course has an opportunity for extra credit through research participation. You can earn up to six credits by participating in a set of research studies or completing an alternate assignment. To do so, you will need to register on ASU West’s research management system called Sona. Sona is an online platform where researchers can recruit students to take part in their studies. Once you register on Sona, you can sign up for laboratory-based studies, web-based studies, or do online “alternative assignments” that will expose you to new areas of psychological research. For more information, please see the “Research Participation (Sona)” section in our Canvas course.

Grading

Late Assignment Policy:

Late quizzes and projects will NOT be accepted without prior approval from Dr. Perkins or documented extenuating circumstances. If you have a well-articulated unique situation that keeps you from submitting your quiz/exam on time (documented per university policy, such as illness or death in the family), you must email the instructor for approval.

It is recommended that you complete all assignments well in advance. Late application activities can be submitted for half credit. This window closes two weeks before the end of the semester. Note that this means application activity 10 cannot be submitted late with special approval. It is highly recommended that you plan ahead, organize yourself, and give yourself plenty of time to complete assignments before the deadline. Computer crashes or other technical issues are not acceptable reasons for missing a deadline.

Grace Drop: Your lowest quiz grade and lowest in class discussion grade will be dropped from your final grade

Grade Appeals:

You have one week (exactly 7 days, including Saturday and Sunday) after any grade is assigned to appeal your grade. Grades are considered assigned once they have been posted on D2L. For appeals to be considered, they must be submitted to the instructor in writing, via e- mail. You will need to be very explicit in explaining why you merit a higher grade/points.

Please note that if you choose to appeal a grade, the instructor will be looking over your paper or quiz very carefully. It is possible that a grade may be lowered further if more errors are found during the second review.

Final Grade Rounding:

Grade rounding will be considered on a case-by-case scenario. Grades WILL NOT be rounded more than a half a point and must meet strict criteria to be considered for grade rounding. You must have completed all Extra credit opportunities as well as have been present on all required attendance days to be considered for grade rounding (aside from approved absences).

 

 

Point Distribution:

Assessment                                                        Points Possible

Application Activities (10 @ 15)                            150

Quizzes (13 @ 20 – One Drop)                              260

In Class Discussions (7 @ 10 - one drop)             60

Projects                                                                 

        Project 1                                                             50

        Project 2                                                            50

        Project 3                                                            80

Total                                                                        650

 

 

Course Schedule

Note: The instructor reserves the right to make changes as needed throughout the semester.

*THIS SCHEDULE WILL ADJUST THROUGH THE SEMESTER*

Week 1

Monday 08/26 Syllabus Day (Wahoo) Wednesday 08/28: Chapter 1: Seeking Happiness Through Love and Intimacy Due by Sunday 09/01 -    Quiz 1: Syllabus quiz -    Application Activity 1

Week 2

Monday 09/02: Labor Day – Classes Cancelled      Wednesday 09/04: Chapter 1: Seeking Happiness Through Love and Intimacy Due by Sunday 09/08 -    Quiz 2: Chapter 1

Week 3

Monday 09/09: Chapter 2 – Understanding – learning about Human Behavior Wednesday 09/11: Chapter 2 – Understanding – learning about Human Behavior Due by Sunday 09/15 -         Quiz 3: Chapter 24 -         Application Activity 2

Week 4

Monday 09/16:  Chapter 3: Gender – The Meaning of Masculinity and Femininity Wednesday 09/18: Chapter 3: Gender – The Meaning of Masculinity and Femininity Due by Sunday 09/22: -      Project 1 Due

Week 5

Monday 09/23:  Chapter 4: Involvement: Dating, Pairing, and Courtship Wednesday 09/25: Chapter 4: Involvement: Dating, Pairing, and Courtship Due by Sunday 09/29 -          Quiz 4: Chapter 4 -          Application Activity 3

Week 6

Monday 09/30:  Chapter 5: Love – The Many Faces Wednesday 10/02: Chapter 5: Love – The Many Faces Due by Sunday 10/06 -          Quiz 5: Chapter 5 -          Application Activity 4

Week 7

Monday 10/07: Chapter 6: Communication – Realizing Effective Intimacy Wednesday 10/09: Chapter 6: Communication – Realizing Effective Intimacy Due by Sunday 10/13: -          Quiz 6: Chapter 6

Week 8

Monday 10/14: Fall Break – Classes Cancelled Wednesday 10/16: Chapter 6: Communication – Realizing Effective Intimacy   Due by Sunday 10/20: -          Application Activity 5

Week 9

Monday 10/21: Chapter 7: Interpersonal Sexuality, Sexual Values, and Behavior Wednesday 10/23: Romantic Relationships  - Chapter 8 - Marriage Due by Sunday 10/27: -          Quiz 7: Chapter 7 -          Application Activity 6 -          Project 2 Due

Week 10

Monday 10/28: Recorded Lecture – NO CLASS     Chapter 9: Variations – Non-Traditional Families & Households Wednesday 10/30: Chapter 10: Reproduction – Decisions About Having Children Due by Sunday 11/03: -          Quiz 8: Chapters 8 & 9 -          Application Activity 7

Week 11

Monday 11/04: Chapter 10: Reproduction – Decisions About Having Children Wednesday 11/06: Chapter 11: Parenting – Children, Families, and Generations Due by Sunday 11/10 -         Quiz 9: Chapters 10 & 11 -         Application Activity 8

Week 12

Monday 11/11: Veterans Day - No Class Wednesday 11/13: Chapter 12: Work: Economics, Jobs, & Balancing Family Demands   Due by Sunday 11/17: -         Quiz 10: Chapter 12 -         Application Activity 9

Week 13

Monday 11/18: Chapter 13: Crises: Managing Stress, Disaster, Violence, & Abuse   Wednesday 11/20: Chapter 13: Crises: Managing Stress, Disaster, Violence, & Abuse   Due by Sunday 11/24: -         Quiz 11: Chapter 13 -         Application Activity 10

Week 14

Monday 11/25 Recorded Lecture – No In-Person Classes    Chapter 14 - Uncoupling – Separation and Divorce   Wednesday 11/27: Thanksgiving Early Release – No Class   Due by Sunday 12/01 -         Quiz 12: Chapter 14

Week 15

Monday 12/02: Chapter 15 - Remarriage: Reinvented, Renewed, & Blended Families Wednesday 12/04:  Chapter 15 - Remarriage: Reinvented, Renewed, & Blended Families Due by Sunday 12/08: -    Quiz 13: Chapter 15 -    Final Projects Due

Week 16

No Final – No Class

Other Important Stuff (University Policies)

Academic Integrity

Academic honesty is expected of all students in all examinations, papers, laboratory work, academic transactions, and records. Students in this class must adhere to ASU’s academic integrity policy. Students are responsible for reviewing this policy and understanding each of the areas in which academic dishonesty can occur. All academic integrity violations will be reported to the New College Academic Integrity Office (AIO). The possible sanctions include but are not limited to appropriate grade penalties, course failure (indicated on the transcript as a grade of E), course failure due to academic dishonesty (indicated on the transcript as a grade of XE), loss of registration privileges, disqualification, and dismissal The AIO maintains records of all violations and has access to academic integrity violations committed in all other ASU college/schools

Disability Resources

Students who feel they will need disability accommodation in this class but have not registered with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) should contact DRC immediately.

The DRC Tempe office is located on the first floor of the Matthews Center Building.  DRC staff can also be reached at: (480) 965-1234 (V) or (480) 965-9000 (TTY).  For additional information, visit:  www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/ed/drc.

If you have DRC accommodations, it must be submitted to me ASAP. Accommodation will not go into effect until I have your certified accommodation and cannot be used retroactively.

Policy Against Threatening Behavior 

All incidents and allegations of violent or threatening conduct by an ASU student (whether on-or off campus) must be reported to the ASU Police Department (ASU PD) and the Office of the Dean of Students.  If either office determines that the behavior poses or has posed a serious threat to personal safety or to the welfare of the campus, the student will not be permitted to return to campus or reside in any ASU residence hall until an appropriate threat assessment has been completed and, if necessary, conditions for return are imposed. ASU PD, the Office of the Dean of Students, and other appropriate offices will coordinate the assessment in light of the relevant circumstances. For more information please visit https://eoss.asu.edu/dos/srr/PoliciesAndProcedures and  https://eoss.asu.edu/dos/safety/ThreateningBehavior.

Limits to Confidentiality -Reporting Title IX Violations

Materials submitted for this class are generally considered confidential pursuant to the University’s student record policies. However, students should be aware that University employees, including instructors, may not be able to maintain confidentiality when it conflicts with their responsibility to report certain issues based on external legal obligations or that relate to the health and safety of ASU community members and others. As the instructor, I must report the following information to other University offices if you share it with me:

·         Suspected child abuse/neglect, even if this maltreatment happened when you were a child,

·         Allegations of sexual assault or sexual harassment when they involve MSU students, faculty, or staff, and

·         Credible threats of harm to oneself or to others.

These reports may trigger contact from a campus official who will want to talk with you about the incident that you have shared.  In almost all cases, it will be your decision whether you wish to speak with that individual. If you would like to talk about these events in a more confidential setting you are encouraged to make an appointment with the ASU Counseling Center. 

Title IX is a federal law that provides that no person be excluded on the basis of sex from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity.  Both Title IX and university policy make clear that sexual violence and harassment based on sex is prohibited.  An individual who believes they have been subjected to sexual violence or harassed on the basis of sex can seek support, including counseling and academic support, from the university.  If you or someone you know has been harassed on the basis of sex or sexually assaulted, you can find information and resources at https://sexualviolenceprevention.asu.edu/faqs. 

ASU Counseling Services, https://eoss.asu.edu/counseling is available if you wish to discuss any concerns confidentially and privately. ASU online students may access 360 Life Services,https://goto.asuonline.asu.edu/success/online-resources.html.

Policy on Sexual Discrimination 

Arizona State University is committed to providing an environment free of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for the entire university community, including all students, faculty members, staff employees, and guests. ASU expressly prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by employees, students, contractors, or agents of the university based on any protected status: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and genetic information.

As a mandated reporter, I am obligated to report any information I become aware of regarding alleged acts of sexual discrimination, including sexual violence and dating violence.  ASU Counseling Services, https://eoss.asu.edu/counseling, is available if you wish to discuss any concerns confidentially and privately.

Generative AI is not permitted.

The use of AI tools and techniques is not permitted in this course. Use of generative AI in this course is considered a violation of ASU’s Academic Integrity Policy and will result in appropriate sanctions, which include a zero on the assignment, reporting to the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Academic Integrity Officer (AIO), and further as specified by the AIO.

ASU Student Code of Conduct

Students are expected to follow the ASU Student Code of Conduct, especially when communicating with peers, staff, and instructors. Violations of the student code of conduct may result in withdrawal from the class.

Assessments

Please be aware that student scores on exams or other graded work may be used to assess program goals of degrees.

Attendance/Absence Policies

In addition to the instructor’s general policy on absences and missed work, excused absences and conditions for making up work include Accommodation of Religious Practices and Missed Classes Due to University-Sanctioned Activities. Students must notify their instructors of these absences as early as possible in the semester.

Community of Care Guidelines

ASU’s response to COVID-19 for preserving and protecting every community member’s health will continue to be dynamically adjusted to keep our community healthy and well. Please consult the ASU Coronavirus website and Coronavirus FAQ for up-to-date information on status, current risk, and appropriate response.

Copyrighted Materials

Students must refrain from uploading to any course shell, discussion board, or website used by the course instructor or other course forum, material that is not the student's original work, unless the students first comply with all applicable copyright laws; faculty members reserve the right to delete materials on the grounds of suspected copyright infringement.

The contents of this course, including lectures and other instructional materials, are copyrighted materials.  Students may not share outside the class, including uploading, selling or distributing course content or notes taken during the conduct of the course.  Any recording of class sessions is authorized only for the use of students enrolled in this course during their enrollment in this course.  Recordings and excerpts of recordings may not be distributed to others.

Course/Instructor Evaluation

The course/instructor evaluation for this course will typically be conducted online 7-10 days before the last official day of classes of each semester or summer session. Your response(s) to the course/instructor is anonymous and will not be returned to your instructor until after grades have been submitted. The use of a course/instructor evaluation is an important process that allows our college to (1) help faculty improve their instruction, (2) help administrators evaluate instructional quality, (3) ensure high standards of teaching, and (4) ultimately improve instruction and student learning over time. Completing the evaluation is not required for you to pass this class and will not affect your grade, but your cooperation and participation in this process are critical. About two weeks before the class finishes, watch for an e-mail with "NCIAS Course/Instructor Evaluation” in the subject heading. The e-mail will be sent to your official ASU e-mail address.

Emergencies/Campus Power Outage

In the event of a campus power outage or other event affecting the ability of the University to deliver classes, any decision to cancel classes will be announced using the ASU emergency notification system. For this reason, it is imperative that students register with ASU’s emergency notification system LiveSafe. In cases where a limited number of buildings are affected, students should check the University website and/or call the School office at (602) 543-6050.

Evacuation Plan

Students should be aware of the evacuation route posted on the exit door of each classroom. Students who cannot use the stairs should notify the instructor as early in the course as possible so the instructor can provide information regarding the location of the designated meeting area on each upper floor of the building (marked with a blue sign that states Emergency Evacuation Response Area).

 

Final Exam Make-up Policy

ASU’s Final Exam Schedule will be strictly followed. Exceptions to the schedule and requests for make-up examinations can be granted only by the Associate Director of the School of Social and Behavior Sciences for one of the following reasons: 1) religious conflict; 2) the student has more than three exams scheduled on the same day; 3) two finals are scheduled to occur at the same time. Make-up exams will NOT be given for any of the following reasons: non-refundable airline tickets, vacation plans, work schedules, weddings, family reunions, or other such activities. Students should consult the final exam schedule before making end-of-semester travel plans.

If there is a last-minute personal or medical emergency, the student may receive a grade of Incomplete and make up the final within one calendar month. The student must provide written documentation and be passing the class at the time to receive an incomplete. A signed Request for Grade of Incomplete must be submitted by the student and approved by the student’s instructor and the Associate Director of the School of Social and Behavior Sciences.

Incomplete

A grade of incomplete will be awarded only if a documented emergency or illness prevents a student doing acceptable work from completing a small percentage of the course requirements at the end of the semester. The guidelines in the current general ASU catalog regarding a grade of incomplete will be strictly followed. A signed Request for Grade of Incomplete must be submitted by the student and approved by the student’s instructor and the Associate Director of the School of Social and Beahvior Sciences. A grade of incomplete will NOT be awarded unless there is documented evidence of extreme personal or immediate family hardship. Changes in work hours, child-care emergencies, or other similar personal problems will not be approved as reasons for awarding incompletes. The Associate Director of the School of Social and Behavior Sciences must approve any incomplete grade requests.

Grade Grievances

Any student seeking to appeal a grade must follow the following steps. This process does not address academic integrity allegations or faculty misconduct. Student grade appeals must be processed in the regular semester immediately following the issuance of the grade in dispute (by commencement for Fall or Spring semesters), regardless of whether the student is enrolled at the University. There are two stages to the grievance process: the informal process and the formal process. Each process contains a series of steps that must be followed in order. The informal process, outlined below and facilitated by the School of Social and Behavior Sciences, must be followed prior to escalation to the formal process:

1. A one-on-one meeting must be scheduled with the instructor. During this meeting, a student must state the reason for questioning that the grade was not given properly/in good faith. The instructor must review the matter, explain the grading procedure, and explain how the grade was determined. The student and the instructor must work toward resolution, and grade grievances should ideally be resolved at this level.

• If the issue is unresolved, the student can appeal to the School of Social and Behavior Sciences. The student must provide a written rationale and evidence that the grade was not given appropriately as well as a summary of the instructor’s response/the meeting with the instructor.
• If the Grievances policy does not resolve the issue, the student can appeal to the Associate Director and Director of the School of Social and Behavior Sciences.

4. If the issue is not resolved at the level of the School of Social and Behavior Sciences, the student can confer with the Dean’s Representative in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (Executive Director of Academic Services and Strategic Initiatives) who will review the case and explain the formal process to the student.

Withdrawals

Specifically, students should be aware that non-attendance will NOT automatically result in being dropped from the course. Therefore, if a student does not attend class during the first week or for any extended period of time during the semester, they should not presume that they are no longer registered. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of their registration status. Any withdrawal transaction must be completed by the deadline date in accordance to the appropriate session at the registrar’s office. If not, you will still be officially enrolled and receive a grade based on your completed work. For additional information about ASU’s withdrawal policy and the possible consequences of withdrawing from a class, contact Registration Services or your academic counselor.

ASU’s Full Academic Calendar

*As part of a complete session withdrawal, a student must withdraw from all classes in that session. Beginning the first day of classes, undergraduate students are required to work with a Student Retention Coordinator to facilitate the withdrawal process. Please refer to the ASU Registrar’s webpage How to Drop, Add, and Withdrawal.