Academic Students Code of Conduct

Academic honesty is a core element of integrity that is essential to effective learning and to a well-functioning academic community based on principles of trust, civility, respect for knowledge, and a search for true excellence. Similarly, active participation in the academic life of the college not only helps students to achieve excellence themselves. It shows respect for faculty efforts and allows students to contribute to the learning of their classmates. From these observations come the fundamentals of the student academic code of conduct:

1. Academic Honesty:   Students will behave honestly in their academic work, as in other areas of their lives. Cheating or helping others to cheat on any aspect of course work including exams and other assessments is a serious offence. Plagiarism, the presentation of another’s ideas, writing, or other work as one’s own, is a serious kind of cheating. Thus, students unsure of how borrowing from another’s work should be properly acknowledged have the responsibility to consult with relevant faculty regarding acknowledgement procedures appropriate to their discipline. Other forms of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to attempting to a) gain unauthorized advance access to exam questions, b) forge documents, or c) bribe college employees, are also very serious offenses.

2.  Class Attendance: Classroom activities are a core part of academic life from which students profit and to which students contribute, especially in an academic environment like RTC’s which stresses continuous assessment. In recognition of the importance of class attendance to individual students and to their classmates, regular classroom attendance is expected of all students, and students not meeting RTC’s attendance requirements will not be allowed to sit for exams. Students missing out on continuous assessments due to classroom absence will not be allowed to make up such assessments, unless documentary evidence of a valid reason for the absence (such as a doctor’s note) is provided.  An overall attendance record of 90%  in each of the modules is required to be able to sit for the semester-end examinations.  Therefore, the students will be allowed to sit for the SE examination only in the module they have 90% attendance and will be debarred from other modules where they fail to achieve 90% attendance. Similarly, the progression to the next semester will be decided on the passing of 3 modules out of the total 5 modules offered in the semester including those debarred from writing because of this attendance shortage. However, students who have been given medical leave (due to hospitalization or referred medical travel), who have been given leave due to family emergencies (such as a death in the family or sickness of a child), or who are absent due to RTC sponsored activities may take final exams with 80% or higher attendance overall. Repeated late arrivals at class and/or early departures from class may be consolidated and counted as an absence since this disrupts learning and class time is lost through such behavior as it is when classes are missed completely.To get a medical leave, students must submit valid medical documents to the Dean’s office within 10 days following the last medical treatment for an illness. Medical leave is only granted in cases of hospitalization or travel outside of Thimphu for treatment as referred by a Doctor. Students are expected to use their 10% attendance buffer to deal with any other incidental sickness or injuries that may require rest but not hospitalization. To get emergency family leave, students must receive prior permission either from the Registrar’s office or the Residence Mentor (residential students only) before missing classes. To get leave for RTC-sponsored activities, the student must also get prior written permission from the Registrar, who will submit a copy of this permission to the Dean. The duration of all leaves will be decided on the basis of the nature of the situation and the evidence provided.

3. Classroom Behavior - Promptness, Preparation and Attentiveness: In order not to disrupt the learning of others or to miss important material themselves, students  are expected to enter  each class on time.   Those missing assessments or having inadequate time to complete assessments due to late arrival in class should not expect extra time to do such work. Also, as indicated above, repeated late arrival to class or early departure from it may be counted as an absence. Students are also expected to come to class prepared, having completed their assignments and bringing any needed materials, such as books, pens and notebooks. Finally, once in class students are expected to attend closely to the learning activities occurring there and to refrain from personal conversations.
4. Electronic Devices: To provide an environment  conducive to focus on academic activities, students should turn off all electronic devices, such as cell phones, when they enter the library, IT labs, their classrooms, and events such as college assemblies. These devices should remain off until students leave these places.