Community Standards in the Life Sciences
Moravian's mission statement proclaims that we prepare individuals "for a reflective life, fulfilling careers, and transformative leadership in a world of change." Regardless of your future job and where your life takes you, it is important to build a strong set of traits that will serve you well in any situation: responsibility, initiative, and respect. These are not only valuable personal attributes but also some of the things that employers value the most, so it is important to build these habits while you are in college. In short, we want you to leave Moravian prepared to act professionally, regardless of your profession!
Reliability
Show others that you are a responsible person who can be relied on to do what you say you are going to do. It doesn't matter how skilled or smart you are if you aren't reliable. View every class as an opportunity to show that you can do hard things and thrive in different environments.
Community Expectations (apply to all students, faculty, and staff)
- Arrive on time for all scheduled class sessions, labs, and field activities
- Understand that repeated tardiness disrupts the learning environment and shows disrespect for others' time
- Treat class like a job - you are expected to show up and make whatever advance preparations are necessary to allow you to show up (on time)
Student Expectations
- Notify instructors in advance when absence or lateness is unavoidable
- Recognize that your presence contributes to the learning community
Policies (for students)
- If a student misses a quiz/exam/major assignment without advance notice, they are not guaranteed a make-up opportunity - this is up to the instructor.
- If students miss an exam/quiz/major assignment, they must reach out to faculty to request a make-up opportunity, with a clear justification for why it is fair to the other students in the class for them to take the assessment at a later date.
Faculty Expectations
- All classes and labs run as scheduled and start on time
- Notify all students well in advance when absence or lateness is unavoidable
Respect
Be the type of person you would want to work with! Employers and communities want people who can contribute positively to the environment and work well with others.
Community Expectations (apply to all students, faculty, and staff)
- Address faculty, staff, and peers with courtesy in all formats (online, in-person)
- Listen actively when others are speaking; contribute constructively
- Use professional language and tone in all communications
- Respond to email within reasonable timeframes (e.g., 48 business hours) for time-sensitive requests
Student Expectations
- Send professional emails (here is a useful resource); this is good practice for the work environment - even if you are thinking about your self-interest, this type of communication is more likely to result in your desired outcome!
- Seek clarification respectfully when instructions or expectations are unclear
Faculty Expectations
- Exceed the community expectations in every way, to set a positive example
Readiness
Part of being reliable and respectful is being willing to do the work necessary to set yourself up for success. You may be familiar with the phrase "a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part" - don't let your lack of preparation be a burden to others.
Community Expectations (apply to all students, faculty, and staff)
- Come prepared to classes/labs/meetings
- Manage your time to meet deadlines without requiring extensions for routine work
Student Expectations
- Complete assigned readings, problem sets, or pre-class work before arriving
- Bring necessary materials (textbook, safety equipment, etc.) to every session
- Follow assignment instructions carefully; ask questions if requirements are unclear
- Review feedback on previous work and apply it to subsequent assignments
Faculty Expectations
- Provide timely feedback to enable students to learn and grow; subsequent major assessments should not be given until the previous one is graded (e.g., exam 1 must be graded before exam 2).
- Have lab and class materials prepared well in advance to allow students to start class/lab on time and well-prepared.
- Exceed the expectations that are set for students in terms of organization, quality, and on-time preparation