Student & Academic Policies

COURSEWORK ACCOMMODATIONS  

Any participant who thinks they need, or may need, an accommodation during their coursework should contact the Johns Hopkins School of Education’s Office of Student Disabilities. We recommend participants begin this process as soon as possible, collecting medical documentation in advance, since the processing and finalization of accommodation(s) can take several weeks and there is no guarantee that these accommodations will be applied retroactively. 

 

OVERALL COURSEWORK EXPECTATIONS  

• Participants must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA to remain in good standing in the master’s degree program and with Urban Teachers. Participants who do not earn a final cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 will not receive approval for graduation and will be dismissed from both the master’s degree and Urban Teachers program.
• Participants may earn one course grade of C+, C or C- over the entirety of the master’s program. A second grade of C+, C or C-, or one F grade, will lead to dismissal from both the master’s degree and Urban Teachers program. 

 

OFFICIAL FORMAT FOR STUDENT WORK

The Urban Teachers master’s degree program at the Johns Hopkins School of Education uses the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) as the official format for participant papers, citations, and bibliographies, and will not accept other publication guidelines, such as that of the Modern Language Association (MLA). The Johns Hopkins University Sheridan Libraries provides resources on APA Style and Resources.

 

GRADING POLICIES 

Course Grading Scale

 

At the conclusion of a course, all final grades will be rounded to the nearest whole number. If the final percentage is less than a whole number, the following rules will be followed to round the score to a whole number:

• When the number is .50 or greater, the score will be rounded to the next highest number (i.e., 79.50 = 80%).
• When the number is .49 or less, the score will be rounded to the next lowest number (i.e., 79.49 = 79%).

Please note: Only one C+, C, or C- final course grade will be allowed for credit.

 

Pass/Fail Courses: For courses designated as Pass/Fail, a minimum overall score of 74% is required for a grade of Pass. In addition, participants must submit every assignment, and each assignment must demonstrate reasonable effort in order to pass the course. 

 

STUDENT CONDUCT POLICY

All Johns Hopkins School of Education students are governed by the university’s Student Conduct Code.

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT  

The Johns Hopkins School of Education places the highest value on intellectual integrity and personal trust within our community. Urban Teachers affirms the Johns Hopkins School of Education’s position that Urban Teachers participants assume an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to the Johns Hopkins University’s mission as an institution of higher education and with accepted standards of ethical and professional conduct. Students must demonstrate personal integrity and honesty at all times in completing classroom assignments and examinations, in carrying out their fieldwork or other applied learning activities, and in their interactions with others. Students are obligated to refrain from acts they know or, under the circumstances, have reason to know will impair their integrity or the integrity of the university. Instructors are required to investigate any suspicion of academic misconduct. Please read the Johns Hopkins School of Education’s Academic Conduct Policies thoroughly, as ignorance of what constitutes an act of academic dishonesty cannot be used as a defense when facing a charge of academic misconduct.  

 

COURSEWORK ATTENDANCE

Participants are expected to attend each class session, arriving on time. Absences and tardiness may result in a lower course grade. It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure they have a full understanding of the course content and information missed during an absence. This includes reviewing materials that the instructor has placed on Blackboard, connecting with peers, and following up with the instructor with any questions/clarifications, ideally within 24-36 hours after the absence. Participants are encouraged to reach out to instructors during posted office hours for additional support. Multiple occurrences of absences and/or tardiness in a course may result in the lowering of the final course grade up to one full letter grade. 

All absences should be communicated to the appropriate clinical faculty member by the participant in advance of the missed class or, if circumstances do not allow for that, as soon as possible and including an explanation of the reason it was not communicated in advance. Absences from coursework for school-related events will not be excused. The Site Team can help reinforce this policy with principals and school staff, if assistance is needed. 

 

CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION

The behaviors listed in the Have a Growth Mindset and Exhibit Professionalism strand of the Teacher Practice Rubric (TPR) explicitly illustrate the professional behaviors that Urban Teachers requires all residents and fellows to exhibit throughout their clinical and coursework experiences. Consistent and thoughtful classroom participation is expected of every Urban Teachers resident and fellow. Classroom participation comprises ten percent (10%) of the overall course grade.

 

Coursework Participation Rubric

 

LATE ASSIGNMENTS

Work submitted late without prior approval will not be accepted without penalty.

Any work submitted late without prior approval will result in a five percent (5%) deduction per day from the total earned score with a maximum deduction of 30%. The assignment must be submitted within two weeks of the original due date and prior to the last course session. After two weeks, late assignments for which extensions were not requested will be accepted only at the discretion of the course instructor and in extraordinary circumstances.

 

REQUEST FOR ASSIGNMENT EXTENSION

Extensions (and extension due dates) are granted at the discretion of the instructor. If participants realize within a reasonable period of time before an assignment is due that they will be unable to complete the assignment on time, they must request an extension in writing through an email to their instructor. Participants may ask for an extension from the course instructor no later than twenty-four (24) hours before an assignment is due. Participants must request this extension from the course instructor in advance and propose a new date to submit the assignment.

In the case of an unforeseen emergency, the instructor may waive the requirement that an extension be requested at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance. However, participants are still required to request an extension in writing (via email) with a proposed deadline to submit the assignment.

Failure to meet any agreed-upon assignment extension due dates will make the penalties for late assignments take effect immediately after the adjusted due date has passed.

 

KEY ASSIGNMENT RE-SUBMISSIONS  

Key assignments are the only assignment that can be resubmitted for a new grade. Course instructors have one week from the published due date to grade and return key assignments to participants. A participant can re-submit a key assignment only in the case when a participant’s overall course grade will fall below a B because of the original grade on the key assignment. In addition, only key assignments that were originally submitted on time and scored above a C- may be re-submitted. Key assignments and their due dates are clearly indicated on the course syllabi.

The deadline for re-submission of a key assignment is one (1) week from the return of the assignment. This re-submission is not mandatory, but participants should note the implications of choosing not to re-submit an assignment that may impact an overall course grade. Participants who exercise this option in their final semester will likely be required to be required to delay their graduation to the following semester.

 

INCOMPLETE COURSEWORK

Participants who have completed a majority of course requirements but are unable to complete

all requirements due to extenuating circumstances may request a temporary grade of “I” (Incomplete) be assigned for the course. This request must be:

• Initiated by the participant before the end of the last class, and
• Agreed to by the instructor and the Director of Clinical Faculty in writing (an email is sufficient).

Incomplete courses grades will only be granted for unforeseen circumstances and/or suspension of obligations as defined in the resident’s or fellow’s contract. Though the coursework instructor is responsible for posting the Incomplete grade in SIS (the Johns Hopkins School of Education’s course records management system) and grading final work, permission to award a temporary Incomplete grade in a course and the setting of the deadline is not granted by coursework instructors alone. Incompletes are only granted through review by the Director of Clinical Faculty. The instructor is also responsible for submitting the grade change form to the Registrar’s Office to change the I grade to a final grade.

Once a student has email confirmation from the instructor and the Director of Clinical Faculty agreeing to an incomplete and a deadline for all work, those emails should be forwarded to the Johns Hopkins Program Director. The email must state the end date of the Incomplete by which all coursework must be submitted. This end date typically will not exceed four (4) weeks after the start of the following semester. In the event that the work is not completed within the agreed timeframe, or if no grade is reported by the final day of classes of the subsequent semester (summer, fall, or spring), a grade of “F” will replace the “I” on the student’s academic transcript. 

Incomplete grades are awarded on a temporary basis only. A student with an Incomplete grade on the transcript is ineligible for graduation. In the event an I grade converts to an F grade, participants will be automatically dismissed from the program. No grade changes are accepted after conferral of the degree. See the School of Education’s Incomplete Grade policy for additional information. 

 

GRADE APPEALS

While participants cannot appeal the decision to place them on academic probation or to dismiss them from the master’s program on the grounds of unsatisfactory academic standing, participants may appeal a final course grade awarded by the Johns Hopkins School of Education. In the event that a participant wishes to appeal a final course grade, the Johns Hopkins School of Education’s Grade Appeals policy and procedures must be followed. 

 

WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE  

The decision to withdraw from courses should never be made lightly and should only be made in consultation with both Urban Teachers and the Johns Hopkins Program Director. Participants should only withdraw from a course under two circumstances: when exiting the Urban Teachers program or if the participant is granted an official leave of absence from the Urban Teachers organization. [Note: The Johns Hopkins School of Education and the Urban Teachers organization have separate leave of absence policies and procedures. Participants cannot be placed on an official SOE leave of absence from the master’s degree program during a semester in which they have matriculated if the course(s) they are enrolled in have already started. Participants who withdraw from courses after the semester has begun will not be placed on an official SOE leave of absence for that semester; the leave of absence status will not take effect until the following semester.] However, in each of these circumstances it is important that participants withdraw from all courses as soon as possible, and students should note that they will be subject to the Withdrawal/Audit calendar and Refund Schedules described below. To withdraw from a course, the participant should first discuss the decision with their Site Executive Director and the Johns Hopkins Program Director, as withdrawing from a course without first making arrangements with both Urban Teachers and the Johns Hopkins School of Education will result in an automatic withdrawal from the Urban Teachers program.

Students may drop/withdraw a course without financial penalty up to the first day of class using the SIS Self-Service website, or by submitting the official Add/Drop Form in person, by fax (410-516-9817), by email (soe.registration@jhu.edu), or by mail (Office of the Registrar, Johns Hopkins School of Education, 6740 Alexander Bell Drive, Suite 180, Columbia, MD 21046-2100).  

Once courses have begun, participants may not withdraw from courses online using the SIS Self-Service website; participants can only withdraw by submitting the official Add/Drop Form (as per the instructions in the previous paragraph). Notice to the instructor of intent to withdraw is not sufficient, nor are telephone withdrawals accepted. The Withdrawal/Audit Calendar lists the last date each semester to withdraw without academic penalty (without receiving the grade of F). Participants who withdraw after the official withdrawal date deadline or who stop attending class at any time without properly submitting an official Add/Drop Form will receive an F (Failure) grade for the course(s). Participants should contact the Office of the Registrar at 410-516-9816 to confirm the last date to withdraw without academic penalty. The award of a WD (withdrawal) grade does not affect a participant’s GPA.

Tuition refunds are calculated from the date the Office of the Registrar receives the Add/Drop Form. Federal financial aid recipients will have their aid award adjusted according to credits registered.  

Please also consult the Johns Hopkins School of Education’s policy and procedures for Dropping/Withdrawing from a Course, and refer to Financial Aid Liability and Tuition Refund for additional information regarding the ramifications of withdrawing from coursework and/or taking a leave of absence. 

 

STUDENT STATUS IN THE EVENT OF EARLY WITHDRAWAL FROM THE MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM

Participants who withdraw in good standing from the master’s degree program before completion will need to apply for and go through the SOE admissions process should they wish to enroll into another of the school’s programs. Participants who decide to withdraw from the master’s degree program should follow the Johns Hopkins School of Education Withdrawal from a Program policy and procedures.

Participants who are academically dismissed from the Urban Teachers program will not be permitted to apply to or matriculate in another Johns Hopkins School of Education course or program.  Dismissal decisions based on academic performance are final and cannot be appealed. Students who have been academically dismissed are permanently barred from registering for any credit-bearing courses or matriculating in another degree/certificate program in the School of Education.

 

PARTICIPANT ACADEMIC GRIEVANCES

Participants are encouraged to address coursework concerns or problems they have with their academic program or services provided by the Johns Hopkins School of Education in a timely manner. There are many channels a participant may use to resolve a problem or conflict. Contacting a faculty member, the Johns Hopkins Program Director or the Urban Teachers Director of Clinical Faculty, for example, is generally the best place to start. Participants may also choose to work with the Office of Student Affairs to resolve or mediate a situation. In addition, for matters that are not covered by other university or school policies and procedures, participants can follow the procedures to file a formal complaint outlined on the Johns Hopkins School of Education’s website related to Grievances and Complaints.

(If a grievance is NOT academic in nature or does not relate to matters under the control of the Johns Hopkins School of Education, please refer to the Urban Teachers Complaint Process.)

 

IN THE CASE OF AN INTERNAL ACADEMIC REVIEW

The Urban Teachers program at the Johns Hopkins School of Education will convene an internal academic review for any participant who will receive a final course grade below a B-. The review is intended to ensure that all grading policies and procedures were followed.

As a result of this review, the following actions may occur:

• The grade may be changed to a passing grade of B- or higher.
• If the grade remains below a B-, the participant will be placed on a Candidate Improvement Plan by the Johns Hopkins School of Education. If the participant’s cumulative, but not yet final, grade-point average (GPA) falls below 3.0, the participant will also be placed on formal academic probation.
• The participant will be academically dismissed from the program if the:
  • participant fails to meet the requirements/goals laid out in the Candidate Improvement Plan within the designated timeframe, as well as any other conditions set for reinstatement to good academic standing while on academic probation.
  • participant earns a “C” grade (C+, C, or C-) and this grade is the second “C” grade received,
  • participant earns an “F” grade, or
  • participant’s final cumulative GPA is below 3.0.

In case of dismissal or resignation, participants remain responsible for any outstanding financial obligation to the University for tuition or other indebtedness. Please see Urban Teachers’ Program Requirements for additional information regarding the criteria for dismissal from the program, appealing dismissals, specifics regarding a formal leave of absence, and/or withdrawing from the program. Also, see Financial Aid Liability and Tuition Refund for specifics regarding the financial ramifications involved in both circumstances. 

 

COURSE EVALUATION SURVEYS

The Johns Hopkins School of Education uses an online tool called EvaluationKit for participant evaluations of its courses. Participants are strongly encouraged to complete the course evaluations, as they are a vital tool in the school’s ongoing efforts to improve instructional quality and strengthen its programs.

Participants will receive an email, sent to their official JHU email address, near the end of a course. Please note that it is the Johns Hopkins School of Education’s policy to send all email communications to a participant’s official JHU email address, rather than to personal or work email addresses. The email will include a link to the online course evaluation survey. Thereafter, participants will be sent periodic email reminders until the course evaluation is completed or the deadline for completing the evaluation has passed. Participants will also see prompts to complete the evaluation when logging into Blackboard.

The results of the course evaluations are anonymous – an instructor will only receive aggregated data and comments for the entire class and will not be able to view individual responses. 

Participants who are having difficulty accessing course evaluations, who have not received an email notification about a course evaluation, or who have any questions in general about the course evaluation process should contact: SOEEvalKit@jhu.edu. 

 

OFFICIAL EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

It is a Johns Hopkins School of Education policy to send all official university-related email communications to a participant’s assigned JHU email address, rather than to personal or work email addresses. Participants are expected to monitor that email address frequently to ensure that they receive all important and timely information from the university or School of Education.