University Policies

Tools and Technical Requirements

●   You will need access to a computer (Windows or Mac) and adequate Internet service to complete this program. 

• You can learn more about how to print on campus here.

●   You will also need an internal or external microphone and camera to complete this program. The minimum requirements needed to use Canvas can be found in this Canvas guide.  

Student Expectations

Please read, watch, or listen to assigned material ahead of time, and come to class ready to discuss, debate, and offer your own critical viewpoints on the subject matter.

If an urgent situation arises that causes you to miss class, please inform the professor beforehand. 

You are expected to remain up-to-date on your Georgetown emails.

Academic Accommodations

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, individuals with disabilities have the right to specific accommodations that do not fundamentally alter the nature of the course. Some accommodations might include note takers, books on tape, extended time on assignments, and interpreter services among others. Students are responsible for communicating their needs to the Academic Resource Center, the office that oversees disability support services,(202-687-8354; arc@georgetown.edu; https://academicsupport.georgetown.edu/disability/) before the start of classes to allow time to review the documentation and make recommendations for appropriate accommodations. The University is not responsible for making special accommodations for students who have not declared their disabilities and have not requested an accommodation in a timely manner. 

Accessibility and Inclusion

One of the central tenets of Georgetown’s educational mission is cura personalis, a Latin phrase meaning “care of the whole person.” Georgetown is committed to showing care and concern for each student by creating an inclusive and accessible learning environment that follows universal design principles to meet the needs of its diverse student body.

I am committed to creating a learning environment for my students that supports a diversity of thoughts, perspectives and experiences, and honors your identities (including race, gender, class, sexuality, religion, ability, etc.). If your name or pronoun needs to be corrected, or if I have not been pronouncing your name correctly, please let me know early in the semester so that I can make the appropriate changes to my records.

Academic Integrity 

Georgetown expects all members of the academic community, students and faculty, to strive for excellence in scholarship and in character. The University spells out the specific minimum standards for academic integrity in its honor system, as well as the procedures to be followed if academic dishonesty is suspected. Over and above the honor system, in this course we will seek to create an engaged and passionate learning environment, characterized by respect and courtesy in both our discourse and our ways of paying attention to one another.

Academic dishonesty in any form is a serious offense, and students found in violation are subject to academic penalties that include, but are not limited to, failure of the course, termination from the program, and revocation of degrees already conferred. All students are expected to fully adhere to the policies and procedures of Georgetown’s Honor System and to take the Honor Code Pledge.

Please also ensure that you understand and adhere to each faculty member's stance on acceptable uses of generative AI (GAI) for their courses. Failure to do so may result in an Honor Code violation.

Honor Code Pledge

In pursuit of the high ideals and rigorous standards of academic life I commit myself to respect and to uphold the Georgetown University honor system; to live out a commitment to integrity in all my words and actions; to be honest in every academic endeavor; and to conduct myself honorably, as a responsible member of the Georgetown community as we live and work together; to live out the ideals of Georgetown University I commit myself to be a person for others in my daily life, respectful of difference and disagreement; To care for this venerable campus and all of those with whom I share it; and to fulfill in all ways the trust placed in me to carry on the Georgetown tradition.

Plagiarism

Stealing someone else’s work is a terminal offense in the workplace, and it will wreck your career in academia, too. Students are expected to work with integrity and honesty in all their assignments. The Georgetown University Honor System defines plagiarism as "the act of passing off as one's own the ideas or writings of another.” Do not, under any circumstances, copy paragraphs, sentences, or even fragments of sentences from another source and put them in your assignments or papers. More guidance is available through the Gervase Programs. If you have any doubts about plagiarism, paraphrasing, and the need to credit, check out Plagiarism.org. GHD has also compiled examples of what is and is not allowable in terms of citation, rephrasing, etc.

All submissions must be your original work. Any submission suspected of plagiarism will be immediately referred to the Honor Council for investigation and possible adjudication. All students are expected to follow Georgetown’s honor code unconditionally. If you have not done so, please read the honor code material located online at the Honor Council website. 

Collaboration

It is the responsibility of the student to consult with the professor concerning what constitutes permissible collaboration. Cheating or assisting another student to cheat in connection with an examination or assignment through unauthorized collaboration is academic fraud. 

Outside of specified group projects, under no circumstances should you ask to see someone else’s assignments, nor should you share your assignments with anyone else. Bear in mind that sharing an assignment with someone that subsequently copies it is a violation of the honor code for both of you.

If you are ever in doubt, err on the side of caution, and please ask your professor.

Support Services:

Georgetown recognizes that students bring a multitude of identities and lived experiences to their academic work, and, as such, we care deeply about who you are outside of the classroom, as this impacts your experience as a student. Georgetown offers a variety of support services for students that can be accessed online and has put together this newsletter  which aims to provide you with information about well-being resources. Below are some additional resources that are available on campus:

• Academic Resource Center (202) 687-8354 | arc@georgetown.edu

• Center for Multicultural Equity and Access (CMEA) (202) 687-4054

• Counseling and Psychiatric Services (202) 687-6985

• Hoya Hub Food Pantry - located in Leavey Center 418

• Institutional Diversity, Equity & Affirmative Action (IDEAA) (202) 687-4798

• LGBTQ Resource Center (202) 687-3546 

• Women’s Center (202) 687-6359

• Office of Student Outreach and Support (SOS) (202)687-4056

Title IX/Sexual Misconduct

Georgetown University and its faculty are committed to supporting survivors and those impacted by sexual misconduct, which includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, relationship violence, and stalking. Georgetown requires faculty members, unless otherwise designated as confidential, to report all disclosures of sexual misconduct to the University Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. If you disclose an incident of sexual misconduct to a professor in or outside of the classroom (with the exception of disclosures in papers), that faculty member must report the incident to the Title IX Coordinator, or Deputy Title IX Coordinator. The coordinator, will, in turn, reach out to the student to provide support, resources, and the option to meet. [Please note that the student is not required to meet with the Title IX coordinator.].

Please note that University policy requires faculty to report any disclosures about sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the University’s response to sexual misconduct. Georgetown has a number of fully confidential professional resources who can provide support and assistance to survivors of sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct. These resources include:

●   Jen Schweer, MA, LPC, Associate Director of Health Education Services for Sexual Assault Response and Prevention (202) 687-0323 | jls242@georgetown.edu

●   Erica Shirley, Trauma Specialist, Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), (202) 687-6985 | els54@georgetown.edu

More information about reporting options and resources can be found on the Sexual Misconduct Website.

Title IX/Pregnancy and Parenting Accommodations

Georgetown University is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students. Students may request adjustments based on general pregnancy needs or accommodations based on a pregnancy-related complication. Specific adjustments will be handled on a case by case basis and will depend on medical needs and academic requirements. Students seeking a pregnancy adjustment or accommodation should follow the process laid out on the Title IX website.

Discrimination based on sex, including sexual misconduct and discrimination based on pregnancy or parenting status, subverts the University's mission and threatens permanent damage to the educational experience, careers, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.

Georgetown Library

If you have a question for a librarian you can go to their “Ask Us” page where you will have the option to chat online, send an email, or schedule a Zoom appointment to discuss a research topic, develop a search strategy, or examine resources for projects and papers. Librarians offer an overview of and in-depth assistance with important resources for senior or master's theses, dissertations, papers and other types of research. This service is available to currently enrolled students who need assistance with Georgetown-assigned projects and papers. Please review the Services & Resources Guide for Online Students for additional information.

The following study areas in Lauinger Library are available 24 hours a day on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. on weekends.

• The stacks on the lower level.

• The main room of the Gelardin New Media Center and the stacks on the first floor.

• The entire second floor.

• The entire third floor (including the computer area).

• The entire fourth floor.

• The stacks on the fifth floor.

You must have a Georgetown University ID to use Lauinger Library between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.

eResources:

Students enrolled in courses have access to the University Library System’s eResources, including 500+ research databases, 1.5+ million ebooks, and thousands of periodicals and other multimedia files (films, webinars, music, and images). You can access these resources through the Library’s Homepage by using your NetID and password.

Learning Resources:

Georgetown offers a host of learning resources to its students. Two that you might find particularly helpful in this course are the Writing Center and Refworks.

●   The Writing Center offers peer tutoring by trained graduate and undergraduate students who can assist you at any point in the writing process. They help at any stage of your writing process, from brainstorming to revision. Tutors can offer advice on thesis development, use of evidence, organization, flow, sentence structure, grammar, and more. The Writing Center will not proofread or edit papers; rather, they will help to improve your proofreading and editing skills to become a better writer. Appointments can be booked online through their website.

●   Refworks is an online research management tool that aids in organizing, storing, and presenting citation sources for papers and projects.

Technical Support

All students have 24/7 access to Canvas technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including live chat and a support hotline at 855-338-2770. Use the 'Help' icon in the lower left of your Canvas window to view all available support and feedback options. If you're looking for help on a specific feature, check out the Canvas Student Guide.

In addition, you can reach University Information Services, which supports technology use across campus, at (202) 687-4949.