Registration
The Composition Program follows the add/drop schedule set by the Registrar’s Office. WR courses also feature waitlists, which usually close at 10AM on the Wednesday of Week 1. Students may add or drop writing classes up until the end of the Saturday of Week One.
Prerequisite
For 121: There are no prerequisites for registration in a WR 121 course. English language learners may, but are not required to, enroll in AEIS courses prior to registering for WR 121.
For 122/123: Successful completion of WR 121 or an equivalent officially approved by UO is required for enrollment in WR 122 or 123. Students who enroll in a course for which they have not met the prerequisites will be notified and dropped by the English Department. Academic advisors can assist students if they have questions about WR122 or 123 placement.
* Students have the option to waive the 121 or 122 requirement by taking a waiver exam. The no-credit waiver exam is offered during Week 1 of Fall, Winter, and Spring terms at the UO Testing Center. Students should test to waive their writing requirement one term in advance of enrollment in a writing course. The WR 122 waiver exam is available only to students who have completed or tested out of WR121. Students may not attempt both the WR121 and WR122 exam during the same quarter. See the UO Testing Center website for further details and scheduling.
Attendance
A student is absent from class when they miss a required class session. The Composition Program’s policy is that a student’s grade will not be impacted by being absent for one week’s worth of class. Please be sure to consult with your instructor’s syllabus for the full attendance policy, including potential penalties to your course grade for excessive absences. Students may fail the course after accruing 3 weeks of absences.
In-class work is central to meeting course learning objectives. WR courses do not have “excused” or “unexcused” absences except—as is the case for all UO classes—in the cases of religious observances, AEC accommodations, required military/National Guard training, and University-sponsored events with signed documentation presented as early in the term as possible but at least a week ahead of the planned absence or need for accommodation.
If you have concerns about your ability to regularly attend class sessions, speak with your instructor as soon as possible.
Academic Honesty
All work submitted in Writing courses must be the student’s original work and be written exclusively for the course, which means students may not submit papers or portions of papers that have been written for any other course. The use of sources (ideas, quotations, paraphrases) must be properly documented. Please refer to the Composition Program’s e-handbook resources as well as the Student Conduct Code on the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards website. In cases where academic misconduct has been clearly established, the award of up to an F for the final course grade is the standard practice of the Composition Program. See your instructor if you have any questions about your use of sources.
Academic Misconduct Procedures
To ensure that the Composition Program maintains a consistent response to academic misconduct, misconduct cases are administered by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS), and not by individual instructors. While misconduct cases are being evaluated, instructors cannot discuss the assignment(s) in question, but may continue to help students with all other course work.
If an assignment is under evaluation for potential academic misconduct , the Composition Program will notify the student by email and OSCCS will contact the student to schedule a meeting. Until a case is resolved through OSCCS, no work from the assignment in question can be included in assignments for the course. Students are encouraged to communicate with instructors about guidelines and requirements for continuing coursework on a case-specific basis.
Incomplete
The Director of Composition must approve requests for the grade “Incomplete” in advance of the end of the quarter. Such approval will be granted only in cases when some minor but essential aspect of the course cannot be completed by students through unforeseen circumstances beyond their control.
Access
The University of Oregon is working to create more inclusive learning environments, including for students who identify as having a disability. At UO, 10% of students use the Accessible Education Center (AEC) and nationally an estimated 20% of undergraduates identify as having a disability. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in disability-related barriers to your participation, please contact me—your success and the success of your peers matters.
You are also encouraged to contact the Accessible Education Center in 164 Oregon Hall at 541-346-1155 or uoaec@uoregon.edu. The AEC offers a wide range of support services including note-taking, testing services, sign language interpretation and adaptive technology.
Observance of Religious Holidays
Students who observe religious holidays at times when academic requirements conflict with those observances must inform instructors in advance of the holiday. Students are responsible for making up missed work according to a schedule determined in advance with the instructor.
Sexual- and Gender-Based Violence
Any student who has experienced sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, coercion, and/or sexual harassment is encouraged to seek help. Please visit https://safe.uoregon.edu for information. You are also strongly encouraged to contact Renae DeSautel, Sexual Violence Response & Support Services Coordinator, desautel@uoregon.edu, who will keep your information confidential. In addition, the UO Ombuds office (541 346-6400 or ombuds@uoregon.edu) can provide confidential support and assistance. Students can also contact any pastor, priest, imam, or another member of the clergy. All of these people, including all UO faculty members, have an obligation not to reveal your name or other specific information without your permission, although faculty members do have to provide “general information” that will help us create a safer campus. Instructors can also reassign work partners and make other necessary accommodations.