The faculty member has several major roles, including teacher, scholar-researcher, and citizen in the school, University, and community. The role of faculty carries clear responsibilities to students and the institution.
Students are entitled to an atmosphere conducive to learning and to evenhanded treatment in all aspects of the teacher–student relationship. Faculty members may not refuse enrollment or refuse to teach students on the grounds of students’ beliefs or the possible uses to which they may put the knowledge to be gained in a course. A faculty member may not use the authority inherent in the instructional role to sexually harass, to discriminate against by reason of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, disability or genetic information, or to compel a student to make particular personal choices as to political action or their role in society.
Evaluation of students and awarding of credit must be based on academic performance, professionally judged, and not on matters irrelevant to that performance, such as personality, race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, disability information or genetic information, or personal beliefs.
Tests must be designed to cover only the subject matter and material that the faculty member has assigned. The faculty member should take reasonable steps to prevent student cheating such as plagiarism, copying from other students, or use of other types of unfair aids.
Faculty members have a responsibility to provide instruction during regularly scheduled classes. When illness or other factors necessitate absence from class, the faculty member is responsible for rescheduling the canceled class or providing some type of substitute. When professors cancel a class, an email will be sent to enrolled students whenever possible. Professors also use email to notify students of cancellations and make-ups. When severe weather occurs, some professors may cancel class. Students should check the WUSTL website and their email before traveling to campus when the weather is particularly severe.
It is a faculty member’s position, based on mastery of their subject and scholarship that entitles them to freedom in the presentation of subject matter. Thus, it is improper for a faculty member to include material that has no relation to the subject or to fail to present the subject matter of courses as approved generally by the faculty in its collective responsibility for the curriculum and in adherence to Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation standards. Students enroll in courses on the basis of descriptions provided in course listings. Thus, it is important that faculty members adhere to them in teaching their courses.
Faculty members have a responsibility to make themselves accessible to students at times other than class periods. They should provide regularly scheduled office hours and procedures through which students can schedule appointments as well as timely response to email.
All full-time faculty teaching during a particular semester should post their office hours each semester. In addition, faculty may be available by appointment during the academic year. To meet with an adjunct faculty member, students should speak with the instructor after class or email them to arrange an appointment.
Course descriptions for the Brown School and all other Washington University colleges and schools are available at courses.wustl.edu.
Select course syllabi from previous semesters are available in Syllabi Central, which can be accessed by finding a course and by finding a course, hovering over Action in the Course Information. Syllabi offer the student an opportunity to understand what a course seeks to accomplish; topics, readings, and assignments. The syllabus should be considered a template for the course, as each instructor has discretion over the specific content, format, and assignments for the course during the semester.
Students are expected to complete a confidential, online course evaluation at the middle and/or end of each course. These evaluations are used by the faculty and Associate Deans of Social Work and Public Health to improve course content and quality of instruction. Online course evaluation results for recent semesters can also be viewed at the evaluation website.