The Department of History is committed to teaching excellence. We believe that the study of history is important and deserves respect both from those who teach history and from students who enroll in history courses. We all have an obligation to cultivate an environment for learning that enhances the ability of all of us to pursue our shared interest in history. Respect for one another and for the ideas and values of others are essential for a strong environment for learning history. Respectful professors convey their commitment to the discipline of history and their desire to share its delights and challenges.
Respectful students bring a strong work ethic to the history courses that they select.
They expect to attend the scheduled classes, to be on time, to be prepared for class, and to be attentive during class. A shared respect for the discipline of history and for one another as teachers and students of history is essential to the academic integrity of our program. We must all do our part to maintain an environment of openness and civility that encourages and honors the intellectual achievement represented by the discipline of history. Students have a right to an adequate syllabus in any course and may appeal to the Vice Chair for Undergraduate Education if they think that a course lacks one. These mutual responsibilities in part define the nature of education, and they are binding on students and faculty alike.