Landscape Institute
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Additional Policies
The general program policies and procedures of the Arnold Arboretum as stated in this catalog apply to all students. Students are not exempt from them because of failure to read or understand the catalog and/or misinformation received from other sources. Students who seek special consideration for other reasons should appeal in writing to the Landscape Institute administration, being as prompt and detailed as possible.
Academic Integrity
All students in the Landscape Institute are expected to maintain high standards of academic integrity. Papers submitted to meet course requirements must be the students' own work. Students who have questions concerning proper forms of citation in the preparation of written work should consult appropriate reference sources or their instructor. Disregard of basic principles of honesty results in a review by the Landscape Institute administrative board. The student is notified of this review and has the opportunity to present a letter of explanation. The board may dismiss the student from the course or program. Dismissal is recorded on the student's record. Any instructor who has questions concerning the academic integrity of a student's work should bring them to the attention of the director.
Academic Standing
Students who receive three grades (in any combination) of INC, ABS, WD, or lower than B- are considered to be in poor academic standing, and their records are reviewed by the Landscape Institute academic board. Students are notified of this and have the opportunity to present a written explanation of their performance to the board. The board reviews this explanation along with the student's record and determines whether the student will be placed on academic probation.
Student Participation and Attendance
Attendance and participation are essential. It is each student's responsibility to attend all classes, complete all course requirements, and participate fully, regardless of whether a course is graded or not. All courses are taught at the post-baccalaureate level. No auditing is permitted in any course.
Conduct in Classes
Landscape Institute students are expected to conduct themselves responsibly and maturely. The conduct of any student who disregards the rights of others or disrupts the academic process may be reviewed by the Arnold Arboretum administration. The student is notified of this review and has the opportunity to present written explanation.
Confidentiality of Student Records
Both Arnold Arboretum policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, provide students with certain protections concerning the confidentiality of their educational records. No information about Arnold Arboretum landscape students, except that which is defined below as directory information, will be released outside the Arnold Arboretum and Harvard University without the student's prior written consent unless otherwise authorized or required by law. The Arnold Arboretum defines the following student information as directory information: name; dates of attendance; certificate program; prior degrees and schools attended; expected or actual date of graduation from a certificate program. Students have the right to withhold the disclosure of this information by submitting written requests to the Landscape Institute office.
Under FERPA, the Arnold Arboretum is allowed to disclose, without the student's prior written consent, student information that is not considered directory information to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the Arnold Arboretum or Harvard University in an administrative, teaching, research, law enforcement, or health services position; or a person or company with whom the Arnold Arboretum or Harvard University has contracted.
A student may review her or his academic record by requesting an unofficial transcript or by making an appointment with the director.
Grading Policy
Instructors assess student performance on the basis of their attendance, class participation, and completion of assigned papers, presentations, and projects.
- A, A- are honor grades; B+ is commendable; B is average; B- is satisfactory; C+, C, C- are unsatisfactory; and F designates failure. There are no grades of A+ or D. Grades below B- do not count toward the Certificate in Landscape Design, Landscape Design History, or Landscape Preservation.
- ABS (Absent) designates absence from the mid-term or final exam. An ABS may be changed to a letter grade only if a makeup exam is taken before Feb 1, 2007, for a fall semester course, Mar 1, 2007, for a winter semester course, and Jun 1, 2007, for a spring semester course. If the student does not complete the midterm and/or final exam, the grade for these exams becomes an F and the final grade is calculated accordingly.
- INC (Incomplete) is given only if the student does not complete the required coursework before the end of the course, and only if the student and instructor have made an arrangement for its completion. The student must file a Contract for Incomplete Coursework, signed by the instructor, with the Landscape Institute office. To change an Incomplete to a letter grade, coursework must be completed by the agreed-upon date, which must be no later than the deadlines listed below. It is the student's responsibility to send the coursework to the instructor and to see that the final grade is sent by the instructor to the Landscape Institute office. If a change in grade is not received by the deadlines below, the grade will be calculated using the available coursework the instructor has received. Assignments that the student has failed to complete will be included in the grading calculation, using a grade of F for each missed assignment.
Incomplete Deadlines
Fall Semester: Feb 8
Winter Semester: Apr 11
Spring Semester: Jun 20
- WD (Withdrawal) designates that the student has officially withdrawn from a course after the second class and before the withdrawal deadline.
Course Withdrawal Deadlines
Fall Semester: Oct 19
Winter Semester: Dec 7
Spring Semester: Feb 22
Students who wish to withdraw from landscape modules must submit a Course Withdrawal Form to the Landscape Institute office by the designated withdrawal deadline for the module in question (noted in the module's course description in this catalog).
Students who discontinue attendance and do not file the appropriate forms with the Landscape Institute office by the designated deadlines receive the grade of F. The grade WD does not revert to F; it remains permanently on the student's record without affecting the student's GPA (see p. 59 for additional information on withdrawal from a course or module).
Grade Reports and Academic Records
Grade reports for the academic semester are issued once all grades for the semester have been submitted by the faculty. Reports for fall semester courses are generally mailed in February; reports for winter semester courses in March; and reports for spring semester courses in June. Grade reports are not considered official transcripts and are not available to students before the stated mailing times. Grade reports are sent to the address on the student's course application form. Please notify the Landscape Institute office of a change of address immediately. Courses are listed on a student's academic record as letter grades.
Student Papers and Course Materials
Course materials (papers, drawings, landscape projects, and models) submitted for a course in satisfaction of a course requirement become the physical property of the Landscape Institute. The student retains all rights to the intellectual and creative property contained within the material. Submission of coursework represents the student's acceptance of these terms.
The Landscape Institute assumes no safeguarding of any course material and at its own discretion may retain, return, or discard it. A student who wishes to have final papers or drawings returned must submit a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the instructor. Unless returned by the faculty member directly to the student, final papers and projects are held by the Landscape Institute office in a designated space until February 28 for the fall and winter semesters; June 30 for the spring semester; and September 30 for the summer semester. After these dates, all work will be discarded to make room for the next semester's coursework.
Students should include their name, the instructor's name, and the course title on all work submitted. This prevents new course material from being discarded along with older materials from a previous semester.
Course Evaluations
Toward the end of a course or module, students are asked to complete a course evaluation form that includes numerical rating scales and essay questions. Completed evaluations are submitted to the administration of the Landscape Institute and are shared with the instructors at the end of the semester, after they have submitted their final grades.
Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act of 1989
The Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act of 1989 prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of drugs and alcohol by students and employees on Harvard University property or as part of any University-sponsored activity. Information is available about the University's standards of conduct regarding alcohol and drugs, applicable legal sanctions under public laws, health risks associated with the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol, drug and alcohol counseling and treatment resources on campus, and the disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed in instances of misconduct involving alcohol and drugs. This information is available in the Landscape Institute office.
Sexual Harassment Policy
Sexual harassment is discriminatory and unlawful. Federal and state laws define sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or school environment. Such conduct is regarded as a violation of the standards of conduct required of all persons associated with the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. The Arnold Arboretum will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment. Students, instructors, or staff who engage in sexual harassment will face appropriate discipline.
Students with complaints of possible sexual harassment should call the Landscape Institute at 617.495.8632. A full explanation of the Arnold Arboretum's sexual harassment policy is available at the Human Resources office at the Arnold Arboretum.
Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990
In compliance with the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, the Harvard University Police Department publishes an annual security booklet entitled "Playing It Safe." The booklet describes security policies, provides statistical information on the occurrence of crime on campus, and outlines some of the counseling programs the University offers.
Statement of Nondiscrimination
In accordance with Harvard University policy, the Arnold Arboretum does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job or course of study requirements in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.
The Arnold Arboretum is strongly committed to protecting the rights of all individuals with disabilities, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and applicable state regulations. A variety of resources are provided to make all course offerings and programs accessible to all students.
Individuals with disabilities seeking accommodations should contact the Landscape Institute at 617.495.8632, or by email at landscape@arnarb.harvard.edu as far in advance as possible.