Skip to content

Classroom Behavior

Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. Disruptive behavior in the classroom may be classified as anything that disturbs the teacher or other students during the class period. Listed below are a few examples of disruptive behavior that are prohibited in the classroom:
  • Cellular phones and beepers
  • Challenges to the teacher’s authority
  • Demanding special treatment
  • Eating or drinking in the classroom
  • Excessive tardiness
  • Leaving the lecture early without prior permission
  • Making offensive remarks
  • Classroom conversation not relevant to class discussion
  • Reading newspapers during class
  • Sleeping
  • Dominating discussions, interrupting or belittling other students
  • Shuffling backpacks and notebooks or making other disruptive noise
  • Overt inattentiveness
1st Incident- Instructor will immediately point out the inappropriateness of the behavior and will follow up after class or with a scheduled meeting. Instructor will provide a copy of this document with inappropriate behavior indicated. 2nd Incident - Instructor will refer the matter to the Student Conduct and Community Standards Office for disciplinary action in accordance with the Standards of Conduct described in Hilltopics Student Handbook at the University of Tennessee. Student Conduct and Community Standards Office: 409 Student Services, 974-3171, http://studentconduct.utk.edu/. Adapted from: Faculty Guide — Civility in the Classroom:

last updated: June 2015

The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System and partner in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway.