Essay on Academic User Policy

The academic setting entails different individuals, such as staff, students, and faculties; thus, policies are necessary to guide the facilities’ operations. In academic settings, policies are the established principles adopted or proposed by the organization. Policies contain rules, directives, and principles that an academic institution has adopted to attain its long-term goals. Thus, academic policies are often formulated to guide actions and operations within an academic setting to ensure that all decisions and actions are aligned with the policy guideline (Granite School District, 2021). Policies are significant in academic settings since they establish rules and procedures to determine quality learning, safety, and accountability standards. They also demonstrate the necessary structures and functions to address the educational needs of students, the professional needs of the staff, and the long-term objectives of the facility. As a result, end-user policies in educational settings guarantee a smooth running of schools and the safety of all the stakeholders within an academic setting. Therefore, this policy document focuses on end-user policies in an academic setting.

End-user policies in academic settings

Policies are crucial in academic facilities since they define the rules, regulations, procedures, and protocols for educational settings to operate smoothly by explaining the do’s and the don’ts. End-user policies refer to directives outlining the actions that academic setting stakeholders, such as students, staff, and faculties, should embrace or desist from (Techtarget Contributor, 2021). The primary role of an end-user policy is to create a conducive environment where all the stakeholders are entitled to uniform codes guiding their operations. These policies can either be formal or informal sets of directives handed out to staff and students. However, in some cases, they can be formal contract terms that the involved parties should respect. Failure to respect the terms can lead to termination of an employment contract or expulsion from an institution.

Any institution requires policies to guide its operations and direct human interactions to create a conducive environment for stakeholders to coexist. End-user policies in academic settings offer the guidelines for routine procedures within separate educational facilities. They also ensure adherence to the laws and regulations guiding how such entities operate (Granite School District, 2021). The policies also guide decision-making in academic settings by establishing the necessary structures used and consulted in decision-making. End-user policies provide a standard framework for undertaking respective academic functions to prevent stakeholders, such as staff and learners, from adopting unilateral behavior and actions. Therefore, schools and learning facilities have policies to outline rules and regulations to direct acceptable behavior to create a safe environment for students, teachers, and staff (Lumen Learning, n.d). Academic facilities impact students with knowledge and skills in different areas; hence, end-user policies create a conducive environment for the staff to discharge their duties without hindrances in a productive learning environment to impact learners.

Educational policies guide how students, teachers, and administrative leaders behave and act since learning is multidimensional. Thus, academic policies affect programs and services to students. They also enhance the academic and professional life of a faculty (Granite School District, 2021). Policy guidelines are integral in academic settings by outlining laws and rules that govern the operations of educational systems to achieve the desired ends. Conflict is inevitable in contemporary institutions like academic settings due to the incompatibility of goals and values. Today’s society is highly diverse due to globalization and technological advancement. As a result, end-user policies in academic settings define the acceptable behavioral codes and actions permitted within the respective academic settings (Techtarget Contributor, 2021). Most end-user policies are standard regulations that all stakeholders within an academic background are expected to comply with irrespective of class, sex, religion, race, or color. Therefore, such policies provide a familiar learning environment for the different groups to coexist by following the policy guidelines in their actions or decisions.

Administrative policies

Administrative units are critical components since they provide leadership and direct activities within an entire organization. Administrators within the academic setting are responsible for the smooth running of activities in an educational environment (Lumen Learning, n.d). They also make routine decisions that enhance successful student learning with such facilities. As a result, administrative policies are used most frequently in academic settings to guide the management structure, assets, financial planning, and capital projects that the facility intends to undertake. The management also uses administrative policies to outline acceptable and unacceptable actions permitted or prohibited by faculties, staff, and students within the facility.

The administrative departments steer the vision, mission, and goals of an academic institution. Therefore, administrative policies aim to create a conducive environment for learners and staff to achieve the predetermined goals. They also ensure that the teaching staff has the necessary equipment and resources to deliver an educationally effective curriculum. In some cases, the administrative policies define the acceptable actions and behavior within an academic setting (Lumen Learning, n.d). Some educational guidelines also outline the working hours for learners to comply with the educational timetables. Finally, the administrative policies within academic settings also spell out the need for intellectual integrity by demanding that teachers not leak exams to students. Similarly, educational integrity policies require students not to cheat in their exams.

Faculty policies: Faculties play significant roles in academic settings by promoting the teaching of the respective courses within the faculty and research. Most learning facilities aim to disseminate and impart knowledge to students and assist them with the learning process and knowledge application. Thus, faculty policies are crucial in achieving the learning goals of the respective courses offered by the learning facility. In most cases, administrative policies are general; hence, faculties tend to break down the general policies to suit staff and student needs. Faculty policies focus on class attendance for students to be allowed to sit for an exam. The policies also require professors to offer student-centered work to understand the concepts (American Association of University Professors, n.d). As a result, when most students fail an exam, the faculty head summons the professor and students to determine the loopholes that made them fail.

In some cases, faculty policies require professors not to miss classes and create additional consultation hours for the students. Faculties also have disciplinary policies for their members, such as students and staff. For example, when either a professor or a student leaks an exam, they will be subjected to the departmental disciplinary committee.

Student policies: Students are essential stakeholders in any academic setting since the facilities exist to serve and address their needs. Educational institutions are established to promote learning activities and establish ways of applying their knowledge to address fundamental issues within their surroundings. Learning has become of the essence in contemporary society since students spend most of their time in schools. As a result, student policies are necessary to guide how learners behave, act, and interact with their colleagues and teachers within the academic setting (American Association of University Professors, 2021). Student conduct policy is an administrative guideline demanding legal compliance to the institution’s policies and holistic mission of academic settings to help students realize and achieve their full potential.

The students’ code of conduct outlines the expected behavioral principles and actions of learners; thus, holding them responsible for the consequence of their actions. In most cases, the student’s code of conduct aims to make learners behave responsibly to avoid punishments. An academic setting allows students to express themselves freely; however, student policies are used to safeguard the values and structures established within the institution. Student policies are also aimed at respecting the rights of all stakeholders within an academic setting by providing standard behavioral and action frameworks to guide all students, teachers, and staff (American Association of University Professors, 2021). As a result, students should not compromise an institution’s educational values, principles, and practices. On the other hand, student policies also allow them to seek justice if they feel that the administrative department or teachers have violated their rights. Thus, these policies create an academic setting equilibrium by guaranteeing respect and fair treatment to all stakeholders.

In conclusion, policies are established principles, rules, regulations, and procedures that guide actions, behaviors, and decision-making in an institution or organization. Policies are essential within a school setting to promote the smooth running of activities, safety, and attainment of the underlying goals within institutions. Academic settings also have policies to guide acceptable behavior to create a conducive environment for diverse stakeholders within such settings. Therefore, an end-user policy in educational setting guides actions that employees and students are required to exhibit to attain the corporate vision, mission, and goals of such entities.

References

American Association of University Professors (2021). What do faculty do? https://www.aaup.org/issues/faculty-work-workload/what-do-faculty-do

Granite School District (2021). Policies and procedures. https://schools.graniteschools.org/plymouth/policies-procedures/

Lumen learning (n.d). Education policy. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-politicalscience/chapter/education-policy/

Techtarget Contributor (2021). End-user policy. https://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/end-user-policy