Ecology of Language and Place

TESC Program Covenant Winter 2009

Faculty: R. Chamberlain & R. McKinnon

Creating Community
As we pursue themes around an “Ecology of Language and Place”, we are also
creating a community to share our discoveries. "Community" doesn't just happen; it is
something we must continue to strive for. Its importance in our program cannot be
underestimated since community forms the context for our conversations, presentations,
and group projects.
Creating "community" involves becoming conscious and self-reflective about
how we speak and act, how we use our time, and how we do our work individually and
collectively.
Community means sustaining individuality and respecting diversity in a spirit of
equality; it does not mean agreement and uniformity. It means appreciating our
differences and working together to create an environment of hospitality, inclusivity,
reciprocity, and respect.
In order to build our understanding within our community, each one of us must
agree to:
1. Respect each other.
2. Attend all classes, workshops, seminars, and meetings regularly and on time.
3. Maintain an open, inquiring attitude toward the material.
4. Be willing to admit ignorance, since that is the beginning of learning.
5. Cultivate sensitivity to and respect for all differences among us, including gender,
ethnic/cultural background, age, sexual orientation, disability, and religion.
6. Treat all individuals with kindness and respect, especially when disagreeing.
7. Encourage all participants in the program to speak, but avoid singling out individuals
as spokespersons for particular groups.
8. Inform the faculty of intended absences.
9. Refrain from use of alcohol or other drugs at official program functions.
10. Address any grievance directly to the person involved, and if still unresolved, bring it
to a meeting first with seminar faculty, then the faculty team, and finally, if necessary,
with a mediator agreed upon by both parties.
11. Allow for humor and relaxation.

Additional Expectations of Students:

1. Maintaining the standards as outlined in the “social contract” that is the foundation of
our work at Evergreen,
2. Meet expectations for credit that are outlined in the course syllabus.
3. Be well prepared to participate in the work of the class, including thinking, listening,
speaking, writing, small group work, and large group discussions.
4. Submit and post writing assignments typed, double-spaced, and on time.
5. Maintain high academic standards in preparing all papers, projects, and classroom
presentations.
6. Acknowledge the use of other people's ideas, research, and words. Developing your
 own ideas and opinions is critical for intellectual and personal development.
Failure to acknowledge and cite the source of another’s ideas or to present the work
of others as our own is plagiarism. Since we value the integrity of each individual’s
work, plagiarism is a serious offence which will be treated in accordance with the
provisions of the social contract.
7. Keep the faculty apprised of any academic problems of difficulties.
8. Submit three signed copies a self-evaluation on official forms at the end of each
quarter.
9. Submit a signed copy of a faculty evaluation at the end of each quarter.
10. Attend a scheduled evaluation conference midterm and at the end of each quarter.

Additional Expectations Of Faculty:

1. Actively planning the program.

2. Be fully prepared for seminars, lectures, and workshops.
3. Comment on students’ papers and return them in a timely fashion.
4. Be available to students for help, advice, and encouragement.
5. Write evaluations of students at the end of each quarter.

Credit Policy:
Faculty will award 8 credits for doing college-level work, for full participation in
all program events, and for completing all assignments. (Attendance is vital to this
program. Anyone missing two or more classes is in danger of loosing credit.) In a eight-
credit class, you should plan to spend 20+ hours/week doing work1. Faculty may award
fewer than 8 credits for work that fails to meet these criteria. A student may be asked to
leave the program during the quarter because of continued behavior which disrupts
others' learning.

Student Copy: Put in Program Portfolio

Signature___________________________________________________Date_________

1
This is based on 40/h for 16 credits; 20/h for 8 credits; 10/h for 4 credits, and so on.