Report an Academic Violation
For a complete listing of term regulations, check out Rules and Regulations of the Faculty and Emergency Academic Regulations and Recommendations, put together by the office of the Chair of the Faculty. Below, in our Term Policy Checklist, find a brief overview of term policies.
Students can report a violation of term regulations to UA Committee on Education (CoE) by filling out the form below or e-mailing violations@mit.edu. Please upload a syllabus of the class with your violation report if possible. We will work with the involved students and faculty members or instructors to resolve any issues. Be sure to include the professor's name and e-mail address, the class, the recitation section (if relevant), and some indication as to the urgency of your request.
Term Policy Checklist
At the first class:
The instructor should reiterate the prerequisites and co-requisites and describe acceptable substitutions. A student who does not have the stated prerequisites should obtain the permission of the instructor.
By the end of the first week of the term, the instructor should provide:
A clear and concise description of the required work, including the number and kinds of assignments.
The approximate schedule of tests and due dates for major projects.
Whether or not there will be a final exam.
The grading criteria and procedures to be used.
Written expectations regarding conduct, particularly expectations about the nature and extent of any collaboration or assistance from old materials that is permitted.
Read more in Section 2.53 of the Rules and Regulations of the Faculty.
By the end of the third week of the term, the instructor should provide:
The precise schedule of tests and major assignments.
Read more in Section 2.53 of the Rules and Regulations of the Faculty.
No academic exercises are scheduled:
(1) Monday - Thursday from 5pm - 7pm; and (2) from Friday at 5pm to Monday at 8am.
After the last scheduled class period of the subject.
Read more in Section 2.12 of the Rules and Regulations of the Faculty.
If there are tests or required academic exercises scheduled outside of class times:
No test or required academic exercise should be scheduled on a Monday night.
The test should be scheduled through the Schedules Office.
The test should begin no earlier than 7:30pm.
The test should not exceed two hours in length.
During the calendar week that a test is scheduled, a class should be canceled or no homework should be assigned.
A student who has a scheduled academic or extra-curricular activity that conflicts with the test should be given the test at an alternate time.
Read more in Section 2.53 of the Rules and Regulations of the Faculty.
After may 14th:
No test should be given unless scheduled, through the Schedules Office, for the final exam period (this includes unit tests, which can be scheduled during the final exam period).
No assignment should fall due if there is testing during the final exam period.
If there is no testing during the final exam period, at most one assignment should fall due between May 14th and the end of the last regularly scheduled class, 10pm EDT May 20th. This single assignment may include an oral and a written report if the two derive from the same project.
Optional assignments due between May 14th and the last scheduled class period should be for self-study and should not be used toward part of the grade.
Read more in Section 2.53 of the Rules and Regulations of the Faculty.
File an Academic Violation
Please know:
Term regulations are policies set out in the Rules and Regulations of the Faculty that are designed to keep classes predictable and not excessively stressful. Students should be able to expect their class abide by these rules, though they should also be on the lookout for potential accidental violations. Any issues regarding term regulations can be worked out between students and their instructors with the help and backing of CoE and the Chair of the Faculty.
Please note that it is Institute policy that individuals will not be reprimanded or discriminated against for initiating an inquiry or complaint (MIT Policies and Procedures, Section 9.6), so don't be afraid to speak up. Remember, these regulations were agreed to by a vote of the faculty themselves.
Nevertheless, if you still feel uncomfortable, we can maintain your anonymity throughout the resolution process. Just be sure to check the appropriate box at the bottom of the web form. If you wish to remain anonymous, your name will only be used for UA CoE to contact you about the progress of your report.