Classroom Management and Emergencies Mary Ellen Cavitt Asst. VP, Academic Services

Topics to Be Covered Classroom Management Safety Emergencies Threat Assessment Tree

Goal Student success in a safe learning environment.

Classroom Management Faculty members are responsible for managing the classroom environment. If a student behaves in a manner that the instructor considers to be discourteous to the instructor or to any member of the class, the instructor may, at his or her discretion, request that the student desist or request that the student leave the classroom. Disruptive behavior in the classroom is prohibited in Section 2.02 of Texas State’s Code of Student Conduct Please review the Conduct of Classes policy and procedure statement AA/PPS No. 02.03.02.

Proactive Classroom Management State positive expectations for behavior in syllabus (along with Honor Code policy). Examples of courteous behavior expectations: When we are having class discussions, only one student at a time will speak, while others listen. During class lectures, take notes, look at the speaker, and listen. Raise your hand to be acknowledged before speaking. Turn off and put away all cell phones during class.

Other ways to be proactive about classroom management: In addition to including positive expectations in the syllabus, you may want to discuss expectations in detail prior to there being any class problems. Proactive classroom environment: Get to know students names quickly. Require students to use name tags, name plates, or assigned seating. Let students know at the beginning of the semester, that you may change seating as you deem necessary or fun. For example, let them know that you often like to flip the classroom so that you get to see new faces up front. In reality, we often do this to clear the peanut gallery. Greet students at the door for the first couple of classes and attempt to learn students’ names and how they prefer their names to be pronounced. Write down phonetic spelling so that they can see that you are trying! This may be more challenging in larger classes. If the class is small, try to arrange an individual meeting with each student at the beginning of the semester so that you can establish positive rapport.

Reactive Classroom Management Because faculty are in charge of the classroom management and environment, it’s a good idea to plan how you will react to discourteous or inappropriate behavior before it happens. Develop a “repertoire of responses” or set of heuristics for classroom management.

Examples of responses to common classroom situations: If this: Then you may say: Please don’t talk while I’m lecturing Please move to another seat so you’re not tempted to talk during the lecture Please put away your cell phone Warning, you will be asked to leave if you can’t be respectful You are going to need to leave now I am going to call university police now 5-2805 I am going to call 911 now Chatty talkers Continued chatty Cell phone use in class Disrespectful talkers, bullies, student who demeans another Student who continues to be disrespectful Refusal to leave Violence in class

Suspending a Student from Class If an instructor seeks to suspend a student from class for more than one class period, (the class period in which the disruption occurred), the instructor must obtain approval of the department chair and dean of the college for an interim class suspension.   An interim class suspension will be for the day of the initial incident and up to two additional class days.   Within one class day of issuing an interim suspension, the faculty member must present the matter to the Assistant Dean of Students for Student Justice.  The office will handle the matter as expeditiously as possible, using the procedures in the Texas State Code of Student Conduct, PPS 4.02.

Honor Code It’s also important to be proactive about honor code violations. Please have a discussion with your students about what constitutes cheating and warn them about plagiarizing, GroupMe, selling their class notes, purchasing papers, using their smart watches, earphones, or other electronic devices for cheating. Explain that letting someone copy your work is also a violation. Review UPPS No. 07.10.01, Honor Code Policy at the beginning of each semester. Consider including consequences to honor code violations in your syllabus.

Academic Freedom Faculty members at Texas State University enjoy full academic freedom to discuss freely the subject matter of their area of specialization in the classroom. At the same time, faculty members must avoid letting their exercise of the freedoms noted above interfere with performance of their academic responsibilities. Faculty should avoid classroom focus on controversial material unrelated to course subject.

Safety in the Classroom It is important to discuss safety with students. Inspire confidence and let them know that you know what to do in case of emergencies. Point out emergency procedure placard in classroom. Ask your students to inform you if there is a university alert or safety concern that you have not noticed. Find out who your building safety coordinator is and ask them where you should go in case of evacuation. Discuss evacuation locations, lock-down procedures and shelter in place locations with students at the beginning of each semester. Make sure accommodations for students with physical disabilities are considered and discussed privately with these students.

Emergency Procedures LOCKDOWN Avoid threat if possible. Deny access — lock and barricade doors. Move out of sight. Turn off light sources. Maintain silence. Prepare to evade or defend. Do not open the door until police give the all clear. Examples: Active Shooter See http://www.police.txstate.edu/campus-safety/emergency-procedures.html for more information

2. LOCKOUT to Secure the Perimeter Bring everyone indoors. Lock the perimeter. Account for occupants. Increase awareness of your surroundings. Continue business as usual.

3. EVACUATE (to a designated location) Follow the instructions provided by authorities. Notify others to evacuate. Take only your phone and essential items. Help those needing assistance. Notify police of missing or injured. Example: fire, gas leaks

4. SHELTER Move to interior of structure. Stay away from windows. Shelter in smaller rooms if able. Sit or kneel next to walls. Do not leave shelter unless instructed to do so. Example: tornado

Learn more Sign up for Texas State alerts: http://www.police.txstate.edu/campus-safety/sign-up-for- txstate-alerts.html Learn about specific emergency procedures: http://www.police.txstate.edu/campus-safety/emergency- procedures.html Example of Department Safety Website from School of Music: http://www.music.txstate.edu/resources/building-safety.html

Children and Minors on Campus http://www.avpas.txstate.edu/moc/ Registration of visiting groups

Email: M.E.Cavitt@txstate.edu Q&A? Email: M.E.Cavitt@txstate.edu