COURSE POLICIES

Since there will be constant speaking required of all students, eating and drinking in class are strongly discouraged. Cell and I-phone use is unacceptable. Laptop computers may be allowed for class-work, but we request that you check with your professor for his/her permission. No assignment may be submitted electronically.

Also, please note the attendance policy:
Since second language learning is a function of exposure, the more contact with the language, the better. At Washington University, we place great importance on the communicative aspect of language acquisition, and it is therefore essential that students come to class and experience the back-and-forth element of conversation.  With that in mind, please be aware that more than 3 (three) unexcused absences in each section, or repeated significant tardies, may lower your grade significantly.  
In case of illness or other excusable absences, you are expected to contact your instructor regarding the missing class.  Test make-ups may or may not be given, at the instructor’s discretion.

COURSE AND DEPARTMENT POLICIES

1. Attendance. Since participation and in-class writing are essential components of this course, attendance is required.  Please be sure to book all of your plane reservations for the semester now, as classes prior to Fall and Thanksgiving Break, and prior to exams, are required just like all the others.  We hope that all students have a smooth and productive semester. Should exceptional circumstances arise, however, students should confer with their professor who, upon consultation with the course supervisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies in French, may excuse an absence. Note that medical conditions necessitating absences will require official documentation from a physician who is not a family member.
 2. Hard copy is expected on all assignments.  No written work will be accepted via electronic mail.

3.  The Online Placement Exam (OPLE) IS REQUIRED for all freshmen and transfer students in French/Italian/Spanish 101-308.

4.  Assessment Exam. As part of this class, you will be required to complete an online assessment exam toward the end of the semester. Your instructor will provide details. Completion of the exam will count as a portion of your final participation grade. The actual results of the assessment exam, however, will be utilized for Department evaluation purposes, not for individual course grades.

5. Policy on Pass/Fail Grading Option: According to departmental policy, students who take French, Italian, or Spanish courses under the Pass/Fail option must receive a grade of C (not C- ) or better in order to qualify for the Pass on their final grade. Students who take the Pass/Fail option should be aware that only courses taken for a letter grade may be used toward the major and minor.

6. Grade Requirement for Major and Minor: Students must complete courses taken for the major or minor with a grade of B- or above. They are expected to maintain a B average or better.

7. Academic Integrity:  Students are bound by the University policy on academic integrity in all aspects of this course.  All references to ideas and texts other than the students' own must be so indicated through appropriate footnotes, whether the source is a book, an online site, the professor, etc.  All students are responsible for following the rules outlined in the document regarding the university academic integrity policy:  http://www.wustl.edu/policies/undergraduate-academic-integrity.html.

8. Tutoring Policy in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures:
a. Any student who is experiencing problems doing course work in the target language of a foreign language course at any level (language or literature), and who wishes to seek help learning to use the language correctly, should always consult directly with his/her instructor. The instructor will provide appropriate assistance in office hours, and may refer the student to a tutor. Certain tutors are approved by the department each year to work through the campus tutoring office with students in lower-level language courses, based on their training and language proficiency. If a student needs help learning to write or speak with correct forms at more advanced levels, it is important that the instructor contact an appropriate tutor about the nature of the student’s needs. Students should not refer themselves to persons offering tutoring services.
b. While a student may choose to discuss ideas with others, it is expected that all writing and any assessed work will be the student’s own and has been done without the assistance of tutors (paid or unpaid), native speaker acquaintances, and/or other students. If there is any evidence that work turned in for a grade was not done by the student alone, the material will be referred by the department to appropriate authorities for evaluation.
c. When work turned in for a course grade shows significant evidence of collaboration, the person(s) giving assistance will be subject to appropriate sanctions, as will the student who submitted the work.

9. Capstone: Students with a prime major in French/Italian/Spanish are required to fulfill a capstone experience by either completing Latin honors or by completing a senior undergraduate seminar in their Junior or Senior year with a grade of B+ or better. For more information, please see the Department website. http://rll.wustl.edu/capstone.

10. Support for Students with Disabilities. The Department of Romance Languages supports students with disabilities.  If you have a disability-related need for reasonable accommodations, please contact Disability Resources at 935-5970.  See also http://disability.wustl.edu.  In order to make arrangements for exam accommodations, your professor must receive a hardcopy of your VISA document at least 7 days prior to any exam or quizzes.  Failure to provide your professor with adequate notice may result in you being unable to use your accommodations.

11.  http://rll.wustl.edu/ The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures invites you to check out its website for study abroad opportunities, features about students, departmental visitors, and other pertinent information.