Faculty generally have discretion to allow visitors into their classroom.
Faculty may restrict a visitor’s status to observer-only or may allow a visitor to participate or present to the class.
In determining whether to invite or permit a visitor to the classroom, a faculty member should consider the potential effect on the educational environment, including student expectations regarding the presence of third parties in the classroom.
Visitors should be asked to leave the classroom if their presence causes a disruption or other deleterious effect to the educational environment.
University administrators may visit faculty classrooms for legitimate university purposes.
Examples of legitimate university purposes include, but are not limited to:
Evaluation of teaching as described in the faculty handbook, and regulatory or accreditation-related class visits.
An administrator should consider the potential effect of their visit on the educational environment and take steps to mitigate any potential disruption
Except when impractical, an administrator should pre-plan their visit with the faculty member to avoid any potential disruption
If a faculty member objects to an administrator’s presence in their classroom, both parties should work to resolve the issue in a manner that avoids disruption to the educational environment. If this approach fails, the disagreement should be resolved by the Provost’s Office with a preference for avoiding disruption to the educational environment.
Visitors who do not fall into either of the above categories are generally not permitted into a faculty member’s classroom.
A faculty member may ask an unauthorized visitor to leave their classroom.
If an unauthorized visitor refuses to leave, a faculty member may take appropriate steps based on the circumstances, up to and including calling the Department of Campus Safety and Security or dialing 911.
