Columbia Southern University has several policies and procedures to ensure high quality education. These include using Remote Proctor Now (RP Now) for virtual proctoring of exams, following the Academic Integrity Policy and violation procedures, and allowing students to resubmit assignments by ignoring the first attempt. Faculty must also encourage students to improve general education competencies and submit faculty absence requests in advance. Part-time faculty may have reduced pay for absences exceeding 14 days.

1. Policies and Procedures
READING 4.1

2. Introduction
Columbia Southern University follows a number of polices and
procedures that ensure students receive a high-quality educational
experience. Many of these are covered in the Student and Faculty
Handbooks found in Unit III, but this reading will highlight many of
the policies and procedures faculty members will encounter in the
classroom. Please read each slide while paying special attention to
how these policies and procedures may affect your teaching.

3. Remote Proctor Now (RP Now)
RP Now is an on-demand, third-party, virtual proctor which allows
students to sit for an examination anytime, anywhere, using video
technology. Students choosing RP Now must have access to a
computer, high-speed Internet connection, a microphone, a
webcam, and appropriate system rights required to download and
install software for examination administration; the university does
not provide this equipment. During examination administration,
RP Now will access the student's webcam, microphone, and
desktop in order to record the examination for academic integrity
review.

4. Remote Proctor Now (continued)
Students utilizing YouCam software must adjust webcam settings
in order to take an exam with RP Now. Technical Support FAQs are
available regarding how to adjust webcam settings. A $19 fee is
required upon each examination taken with RP Now. If students
fail to submit payment, they will not be able to proceed with the
examination. More on this option is available in the Student
Handbook under Final Examination Proctor Policy.

5. Academic Integrity Policy and Violation Procedures
Ethical conduct is foundational to a successful academic career at
Columbia Southern University. Students, faculty, and staff must
commit themselves to the highest standards of honesty, trust,
fairness, respect, and responsibility. Therefore, any deviation from
these standards is a breach of the ethics that ensure the quality of
CSU's academic programs, and thus, is a violation of CSU's
Academic Integrity Policy. Please find this policy on page 23 of the
Faculty Handbook. Please find the faculty procedures below:
Submitting AIVs in the Faculty Portal.pdf

6. AllowingAdditional SubmissionAttempts
Faculty members often encounter submissions that are blank,
garbled, or cannot be read. When this occurs, Faculty will need to
open the "Attempt Details" in the Blackboard Full Grade Center
and then "Ignore" the first attempt, "Allow an Additional
Attempt," and then email the student to request a resubmission
while cc'ing their Faculty Support Specialist. Please read and
download the following tutorial for future reference:
Student Resubmissions Tutorial.pdf

7. General Education Competencies
CSU recognizes the importance of general education and is
committed to providing students with the skills needed to be
successful at work and in advanced courses of study. In many
courses, CSU measures student attainment of one or more of the
five General Education Competencies: Communication, Critical
Thinking, Information Literacy & Technology, Math & Science, and
Social & Cultural Awareness. If any of these five General Education
Competencies are measured in your course, you will use a rubric
item embedded within the assignment rubric to determine the
student's level of attainment.

8. General Education Competencies (continued)
The rubric item used for General Education Competencies is not
calculated in the student's grade; it is used only to provide a
measure of the student's level of attainment. When the students
receive a Level 1, 2, or 3 on any General Education Competency,
CSU provides the students with additional assistance to help them
improve their level of attainment. This is optional for students, but
we ask you to encourage students to access the Student Resources
document found in the blue navigation pane of each course to
assist them with their struggling competency.

9. Faculty Absence Requests
Faculty members who need time away from their courses must
first notify their Academic Director and the Academic Scheduling
Coordinators at least 30 days in advance of the anticipated
absence. Include the purpose for the request via the Faculty
Absence Request Form found below:
Faculty Absence Request Form.docx

10. Faculty Absence Requests (Full-Time Faculty)
• Staffing requirements may prevent Faculty Absence Requests
from being approved.
• Faculty Absence Requests that fall during Week I and Week VIII
of the term may be denied.
• For absence requests including 6 or more business days,
substitute faculty members will be located in accordance with
current procedures.
• Extenuating circumstances/ emergency situations requiring
absence from the online classroom will be handled on a case-
by-case basis.

11. Faculty Absence Requests (Part-Time Faculty)
• Part-time faculty members unable to instruct Term courses
during Week I and Week VIII, or unable to instruct for a period
of time in excess of 14 days during the course section, should
decline any teaching opportunities extended.
• Part-Time faculty absence will result in a reduction of pay.
• Extenuating circumstances/emergency situations requiring
absence from the online classroom will be handled on a case-
by-case basis.

12. Other Pertinent Policies
The following list contains several policies found in the Faculty
Handbook beginning on page 27. Please reference the Faculty
Handbook (Unit III) to review these policies:
• Academic Credit Policy
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Assignment Make Up Policy
• Incomplete Course Policy
• Copyright Policy
• FERPA Holiday Grading Policy
• Student Complaint and Grievance Policy