Midwestern University
UNIFORM COURSE POLICIES
FOR THE BASIC SCIENCES*
Effective beginning Academic Year 2012-13
DEPARTMENTS OF:
Anatomy
Biochemistry
Microbiology and Immunology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Physiology
*Applies to Basic Science courses in the following colleges:
CCOM
CCP
CHS-IL
AZCOM
CPG
CHS-AZ
As of 7/30/2012
BLACKBOARD WEBSITES
The faculty teaching in each Basic Science course will communicate with the class via the
Blackboard System on Midwestern University’s Intranet, which can be found at
https://online.midwestern.edu/auth/login.cgi. Students should login with your username and
password and follow the Blackboard link. Information relevant to the course will be posted on the
Blackboard website. Students that are registered in Basic Science courses are automatically
enrolled in those courses on Blackboard. Students are expected to check the course site on a daily
basis for important course information. Failure to do so may result in missed crucial information
regarding exams, assignments, etc. The faculty is not responsible for missed assignments, exam
information, etc. that occur as a result of student failure to check e-mail and Blackboard regularly.
Student computers are located in the library, the computer lab and at the computer kiosks located
around campus. Students can also check Blackboard from off-site locations. Students must adhere
to all rules and regulations regarding proper use of MWU computer hardware, software, etc. as
stipulated in the Student Handbook. A copy of this policy should be posted on all Basic Science
Course websites.
AUDIENCE RESPONSE SYSTEM
Certain programs may require students to purchase a response unit (Turning Point Response Card
XR) for use with the Turning Point Audience Response System. The response unit may be used at
certain times either to record attendance or for in-class activities. The response unit can be
purchased at the bookstore.
GENERAL COURSE POLICIES
Attendance
In accordance with institutional policy, attendance at the first lecture of each course is
mandatory. Attendance policy at other lectures will be indicated in the general course syllabi. In
addition, the faculty requires 100% attendance at all case presentations, workshops, and all
assigned laboratories in courses where this is applicable.
Lectures
Students are expected to attend all lectures. Lectures place topics in perspective and emphasize
those aspects that are relevant to medical theory and clinical practice. Lecture may be
accompanied by a set of lecture notes or an outline. These notes and outlines serve as guides for
the material covered in that lecture session. They are not transcripts of the lecture. Most
students find it necessary to take notes during the lecture. Students learn faster by actively
participating in the lecture (e.g., note taking, participating in audience response questions, etc.).
Students are responsible for any assigned material in the textbook, any material given in lecture,
and any additional materials assigned, including corrections that are given in lecture.
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Lecture Handouts (lecture notes or outlines)
If provided, PDF versions of lecture notes, outlines, and PowerPoint presentations will be made
available on Blackboard prior to lecture.
Classroom/Exam Etiquette
Professionalism involves courtesy, respect, and tolerance to faculty, staff, and peers at all times.
It is expected that students behave in a manner that is consistent with conduct for a health
professional in a healthcare setting. The actions of students and their interactions with faculty
members shall be governed by the student conduct code set forth in the Student Handbook, and
violations will be handled in accordance with the Student Handbook.
In order to maintain an appropriate classroom/exam environment that is conducive to teaching,
learning, and performing one’s best on exams, students are expected to behave in a manner that
is not disruptive or disrespectful to any person and that does not adversely affect teaching,
learning, or examination performance of any person. Punctuality for lectures is expected, and
may often be required in order for the student to participate in quizzes, evaluations, etc. In order
to minimize disruption, students who come to class late are requested to enter from the rear
entrance and take a seat at the back of the lecture hall.
All cell phones and pagers need to be silenced during classroom time. All calls and/or text
messages must be made/received outside of the classroom as this type of activity is disruptive to
the teaching/learning environment and is disrespectful to others in the classroom. Reading and
answering emails and any other use of computers not needed for class purposes should be done
outside of class time.
Some Basic Science course lectures will be audiotaped and available on the Midwestern
University iTunes website. For those lectures that are not provided at the iTunes website,
audiorecording (audiotaping), photorecording, videorecording (videotaping) and/or digital
recording in any format of lectures, lecture material, laboratories, or laboratory material, is
prohibited without the permission of the instructor(s) or faculty member(s). All requests for such
recordings (tapings) must be submitted to the instructor(s) or faculty member(s) in writing prior
to the lecture or laboratory. If approved, the student must be present while recording (taping),
unless there are extenuating circumstances. All such recordings (tapings) are for the exclusive
use of the student who has been given permission to record (tape), and cannot be distributed to
other students without the permission of the instructor. Distribution of recorded (taped) lectures
or lecture materials in any format or venue without permission will result in disciplinary action.
Unauthorized recordings (tapings) are unprofessional and will result in disciplinary action as set
forth in the Student Handbook. In Downers Grove, students may also face prosecution under the
State of Illinois Eavesdropping Act. The Illinois Eavesdropping Act makes it a felony for a
person to record others without their consent. The law is that simple. The first offense can result
in one to three years in jail; a second or subsequent offenses, two to five years. In addition, the
person recorded is entitled to monetary damages, punitive damages and an injunction. Also the
person who makes the recording, any person who uses information which he or she knows or
reasonably knows was obtained through the use of an eavesdropping device, faces the same
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penalties. Classroom audio recording of any lecture, laboratory or workshop is not permitted
without consent of the instructor. At no time may students photograph or electronically record
Power Point slides during lecture, laboratories or workshops. Recording of lectures, laboratories,
and workshops for POD-casting or sharing with others in an Internet format is not permitted at
any time.
In general, children are not permitted in the classrooms. Students who have an unforeseen
temporary need to bring a child into the classroom must receive prior approval from the lecturer.
If there is any disruption, the child must be removed immediately.
Students who do not abide by the above policies may be asked to leave the classroom and this
could result in disciplinary action. Continued disregard of these policies will result in
disciplinary action. Violations will be handled in accordance with the Student Handbook.
Individual and Small Group Student Aid
The Basic Science Faculty have an open-door policy. Students are encouraged to seek help from
the faculty in order to further clarify lecture material or to have specific questions answered.
Students may stop by faculty offices during regular business hours or during the office hours
designated by the faculty member. This open door policy, however, should not be abused. Aid
sessions are not intended to be replays of lectures already given or to compensate for poor
attendance of lectures or laboratories. When requesting help, students should come prepared with
clearly defined questions. Appointments must not be scheduled during class time.
Individual faculty members may accept questions via e-mail. At the discretion of the faculty
member, small group sessions for students seeking tutorial assistance with the same or related
subject areas may be held on an impromptu basis or scheduled for a later time.
A student who has a serious personal problem or who is having academic difficulties in a basic
science course may request special aid through the Associate Dean of Student Services. This aid
may involve tutoring by approved student tutors. Questions regarding these tutors or tutorial
sessions should be directed to the Associate Dean of Student Services.
EXAMINATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Exams may be administered in the Testing Center or in assigned classroom locations. If in the
Testing Center, its rules must be followed. If in a classroom, no materials other than pencils and
erasers are to be on or around desks during examinations.
If a student is late for their testing time, they must contact the Course Director immediately!
All electronic devices, (e.g., cell phones, calculators, mp3 players) are strictly prohibited during
examinations. Students who do not abide by this policy may forfeit their right to sit for an
examination.
Only accommodations approved by the Dean of Students will be offered.
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Examination Protocol
1. All personal belongings should be placed in an area designated by the proctor.
2. Students MUST bring their University ID cards to each exam and KNOW their student ID
numbers.
3. During the exam:
a. Brimmed hats, e.g. baseball hats, must be worn backwards or not at all.
b. No sunglasses or mirrored glasses are allowed.
c. Cell phones and computerized handheld organizers must be left with personal belongings
and set to operate in a “silent” mode or turned off.
d. Restroom breaks are generally not permitted.
Calculators will be provided for exams if necessary. Use of personal calculators is prohibited.
Dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating in any form during the exams will be strictly dealt
with as described in the Student Handbook.
All exam materials must be turned in at the end of the exam unless otherwise directed.
Examination Attendance
All examinations have mandatory attendance.
Tardiness to Examinations
Tardiness for an examination may result in the proctor exercising his or her right to deny the
student the opportunity to sit for that examination. The student would then receive a grade of
zero for that examination. If permitted to sit for the examination, a student who is tardy will not
receive additional time beyond the scheduled examination time. Tardiness for a practical
examination may result in a score of zero for all missed questions.
A student that arrives late to an exam will not be permitted to take the exam if other students have
already taken the exam and have left the room. The student shall receive a zero for the exam and a
make-up exam will not be offered unless satisfactory documentation concerning an acceptable
reason(s) for the student's tardiness is provided within 48 hours after returning to class.
Missed Examinations
Missing exams is strongly discouraged. If, for any reason, the student is unable to sit for an
exam, the student must notify the Course Director and Dean or Program Director of the student’s
college immediately, leaving a message if necessary and a phone number where the student can
be contacted. For some courses the student will be required to complete a Make-up Exam
Request Form available on Blackboard (see individual course syllabi).

Make-up exams will be assigned on the Monday following Finals week at the Course
Director’s discretion.
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The Course Director reserves the right to deny any request for make-up exams deemed
invalid or not in compliance with the above rules. The Course Director shall consider
each request on its individual merit, and all decisions for either approval or denial shall be
final. In addition, the Course Director reserves the right to determine the format of the
make-up exam (multiple choice, short answer, essay or oral).
Attendance at professional meetings. Any student who is a member of a student
organization and who is requesting an excused absence from an examination to participate
in an approved professional conference must be in good academic standing to be eligible
for consideration and must have approval from the college/program in which the student is
enrolled. Academic probation shall automatically disqualify a student from such
consideration. All prospective requests for an excused absence must be presented to the
Course Director at least one week in advance of the scheduled exam or quiz session. Some
courses will require completion of a Meeting Attendance Approval Form. A make-up
exam will be assigned on the Monday following Finals week at the Course Director’s
discretion.
Re-examination Policy
Students who have a failing course average at the end of the quarter may be eligible for reexamination of their lowest exam grade if a replacement of their lowest grade with a 70 or less
allows them to pass the course. The maximum grade to be awarded on re-examination is 70, and
the maximum grade for the course is 70. Students may take only one re-examination in a course.
Re-examinations will be scheduled by the Department and all re-examinations must be
completed prior to the start of the next quarter. Any student failing to take the re-examination on
the scheduled date will receive a grade of zero for the re-examination and fail the course.
Faculty members are available to answer specific content questions, but no formal review
sessions will be conducted. Preparation for the re-examination is largely an independent study
endeavor. The maximum number of re-examinations for all Basic Science courses taken in an
academic year is two, which can be taken in a single quarter.
Recourse on Examination Questions and Grade Reporting
Immediately following an examination, the faculty reviews the class responses to each item on the
examination. Decisions concerning grading of the individual test items will be made in a timely
manner. The grades are generally finalized within one week of an exam, and will not be changed
after that time. Student grades are posted on the MWU On-line Grading system. It should be noted
that electronically-posted grades on CARS are official.
It is the student’s responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of their personal CARS password
and student ID number.
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Post-Exam Review Sessions
Within one week from the date of each examination, the faculty will arrange for a review of the
exam in some format.
Some courses will hold post-examination review sessions. During the review session, students
may discuss any question/answer combination on the exam with the faculty. Students are not
allowed to have paper, pencils, or electronic devices while viewing the exam.
Other courses will arrange to review the exam immediately following administration of the
exam, or will have students individually review their exams. Specifics of post-exam reviews will
be provided in the individual course syllabi.
Exception: No post-exam review sessions will be conducted for exams given during Finals
Week.
COURSE GRADING
Grading for each course is addressed in each individual course syllabus.
The final grade will be
recorded as a letter grade
using the following scale:
Grade
To satisfy the minimum academic standards for the course,
students must achieve an overall course grade of 70% or
higher.
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
F
Percentage
93-100%
90-92%
87-89%
83-86%
80-82%
77-79%
70-76%
<70
Grade of Incomplete (I)
A grade of incomplete indicates that the course
requirements have not been met. The incomplete work must be satisfactorily completed within
10-calendar days from the end of the quarter. Otherwise, the grade of (I) will be converted into a
course failure (F).
INDIVIDUAL COURSE SYLLABI
Each course will have its own syllabus which will include lecture schedules, lab and/or
workshop schedules (if applicable), required and optional textbooks, exam schedules, and any
additional policies specific to that course.
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