Letter to The Faculty Classroom disruption by students is a rarity at College Park. The Office of Judicial Programs offers the following advice to assist faculty members who have never encountered a disruptive student, and may be unsure how to respond.
Faculty members are responsible for management of the classroom environment.
While their ultimate goals may be different, both judges and teachers need to exercise authority with a sense of fairness, and with appreciation for the reality of human fallibility. Classroom disruption should be seen as a disciplinary offense, as defined by the University's Code of Student Conduct. Examples include repeatedly leaving and entering the classroom without authorization, making loud or distracting noises, persisting in speaking without being recognized, or resorting to physical threats or personal insults. Both students and faculty members have some measure of academic freedom. University policies on classroom disruption cannot be used to punish lawful classroom dissent.