Expected Values Of Students At The University Of Phoenix

Expected Values of Students at the University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix is one of the pioneering education institutions that recognized the need for flexible adult learning. Because of this need, the University of Phoenix started offering an online solution. With this, any graduate level endeavor would require its students to adhere to and maintain certain common values and ethical standards. Even though a virtual classroom does not have the same physical restrictions, it does inherently present a few unique challenges.

The Program Handbook for the Masters of Information Systems (MIS) degree addresses most, if not all, of these challenges. Through this documentation, the policies of the University of Phoenix define not only the expectations and expected values of the student attending the institution, but also the consequences and the process that will occur if these expectations are violated. Some of these expected values are common among all students whether they are attending in a traditional classroom or in an online course.

For the purposes of this paper, a traditional method of education will be defined as a student physically attending an actual class. The non-traditional method will be defined as a student attending a virtual class. This COM/526 Managerial Communication course teaches its students using the non-traditional method.

Discussion

Values and ethics are an integral part of any community. An educational community is no exception. At the University of Phoenix, the expected values of students attending classes are documented within the Program Handbook for each discipline. Much of the MIS requirements are references to different sections within the student catalog. The student catalog defines common expectations for those students attending traditional classrooms as well as those students taking advantage of the online method of learning. In the mission statement of the University, students are reminded of them importance that this institution places upon the values of fair-mindedness, the pursuit of academic excellence, and the ability for all students to receive a quality education.

By virtue of membership in the University's academic community, students accept an obligation to abide by this Student Code of Conduct. Conduct, either on or off-campus, that is determined to impair, interfere, or obstruct the opportunities of others to learn or that disrupts the mission, processes, or orderly functions of the University will be deemed misconduct and shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. (Student Code of Conduct, p. 25)

Because of the different methods of education, there are some expectations that I would consider to only apply to those attending traditional classroom setting. Several of the stated policies including "carrying of weapons on campus, at campus-sanctioned events, or when meeting with campus personnel." (policy 7, Code of Conduct, p.25), "using, dealing in, or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while in class, at campus-sanctioned events, or when meeting with campus personnel." (policy 8, Code of Conduct, p.25), and "hazing (any action which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental health or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any University-sanctioned organization)." (policy 16, Code of Conduct, p.25) seem to only apply when a student is physically attending the campus or classroom.

There are some of the expected values that are universal and can be applied to all students. In the class attendance section, the definition is split for traditional and online students. For online students, "a class Ð''session' is defined as 12:00 a.m. (MST) Tuesday to 11:59 p.m. (MST) the following Monday. If a student posts a message to a class newsgroup on any two days during that week, the student is in attendance for that class session." (Class Attendance, p. 20). Three other common values would be cheating, fabrication, and plagiarism. Cheating is "using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise." (policy 9, Code of Conduct, p.25). Fabrication is the "falsification or invention of any information, citation, or document, or lying during a University investigation." (policy 10, Code of Conduct, p.25). Plagiarism is "representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in an academic exercise." (policy 11, Code of Conduct, p.25).

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