Resources

Campus Compact

BAC Community Standards and Expectations

I. Introduction

  • Principles of Interpersonal Responsibility
  • Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior

II. Expectations of BAC Community Members

  • Obeying the Law and All BAC Policies, Rules, and Regulations
  • Promoting a Learning Environment
  • Respecting the Safety and Well-Being of Community Members

Introduction
The BAC is committed to creating an educational environment that promotes opportunities for learning. Such an environment can only occur when every individual in the BAC community takes an active role in respecting the integrity of others.

This document establishes a code of conduct for all members of the BAC community to follow in enhancing the BAC as a learning environment. The BAC community, as referred to in this document, comprises alumni; members; Overseers; Board members; staff; faculty in the Academic Curriculum, Practice Curriculum, Thesis program, and Continuing Education program; and full-time and Continuing Education students.

The expectations described in this document incorporate certain policies already in use at the BAC and generally described in the "Community Rights, and Responsibilities" chapter of the BAC Handbook and in the "Faculty Benefits/Responsibilities" chapter of the Faculty Handbook. However, this document includes some enhancements in the BAC's existing policies, as follows:

  • clarifying that expectations exist for the behavior of all members of the BAC community, from Overseer, to student, to visiting jury member on a review; and
  • setting out specific guidelines for the conduct of faculty, students, and visitors to BAC classrooms and studios.

This document has been approved by the BAC's Board of Directors and reviewed by the BAC counsel. It is, however, a living document and is subject to change by the BAC at any time. In addition, the BAC reserves the right to rule on any matter not specifically described in this document but which violates the spirit of the expectations described below.

Please contact the Office of Student Affairs at 617-585-0266 with any questions concerning this document or the BAC's policies.

Principles of Interpersonal Responsibility
The BAC expects that, while participating in any activity associated with the BAC, members of its community will adhere to high standards of personal and professional conduct. They will understand that mutual respect, civility, and ethical behavior are core principles and values at the BAC.

This Compact directs each individual to be intentional in considering the spirit of these principles in all interactions with other members of the BAC community. This document is not intended to address comprehensively every aspect of individual behavior. Instead the BAC requests, and expects, that everyone who is a part of the BAC community exercise good judgment, fairness, and logic.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior
If the behavior of a member of the BAC community does not, in the eyes of the BAC, meet the BAC's expectations, the BAC, obeying the law and its own policies, rules, and regulations, will take appropriate action against that member of the community up to and including expulsion.

Expectations of BAC Community Members
The BAC expects members of its community to:

  • Obey the law and all BAC policies, rules, and regulations;
  • Promote a learning environment; and
  • Respect the safety and well-being of themselves and others.

The remainder of this document provides detailed descriptions of these expectations.

I. Obeying the Law and all BAC Policies, Rules, and Regulations
The BAC expects the members of its community to obey all local, state, and federal laws and all BAC policies, rules, and regulations.

II. Promoting a Learning Environment
The BAC expects everyone - students, staff, faculty, observers, or visitors - engaged in the learning environment of its colleges and Continuing Education programs to behave as professionals. They should interact with others in the academic setting of 320 Newbury St. and 100 Mass Ave. exactly as they are expected to do in the Practice Curriculum setting of the professional firms in the region.

General Expectations for Academic Classes and Studios
The BAC expects faculty to:

  • Honor their contract, which incorporates, by reference, faculty responsibilities listed in the Faculty Handbook.
  • Be clear in their expectations for students and grade students in terms of those expectations.

The BAC expects students to:

  • Come to the classroom prepared, focus on course content while there, and contribute to understanding it by participating actively in each session.

Specific Expectations for Academic Studios
Architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and design studies require creativity. The primary place in the BAC's academic setting for learning creativity is the studio. The BAC evaluates students' progress in learning creativity, and that evaluation is, of necessity, subjective. The BAC expects participants in studios, guests at reviews, faculty, and students to:

  • Come to studios prepared; students should have all required work completed, and faculty and guests should be familiar with the purpose and content of the studio beforehand;
  • Comment on others' work by criticizing it in terms of the problem and the solution;
  • Conduct reviews as a learning experience:
    • Faculty should manage the review so that each student is given an opportunity to present and so that faculty and student expectations of the reviewer are clearly expressed.
    • Students should be verbally and graphically proficient; they should prepare an outline of their presentation beforehand and have required materials prepared to be easily seen and understood.
    • All participants should speak directly to the person on whose work they are commenting, respecting the effort made, offering meritorious praise, and suggesting constructive ways for improvement.

III. Respecting the Safety and Well-Being of Community Members
It is the BAC's goal to promote a place of learning that is respectful of every person and his/her work. Specific areas requiring respect include but are not limited to the following:

Intellectual Integrity: The BAC expects intellectual activities to be conducted with honesty and integrity. Work submitted or presented as part of a BAC course:

  • Shall be the original creation of its author;
  • Is allowed to contain the work of others so long as there is appropriate attribution; and
  • Shall not be the result of unauthorized assistance or collaboration.

Physical Safety: The BAC does not tolerate, in any BAC activity or on any premises of the BAC, abusive behavior, including harassment and hazing, whether it is physical, verbal, or otherwise.

Diversity: The BAC does not tolerate, in any BAC activity or on any premises of the BAC, discriminatory behavior based on personal bias about race, gender, ethnic origin, religion, sexual preference, age, or disability.

Sexual Harassment: The conduct that is described as inappropriate in the section of the BAC Catalog entitled "Community Rights and Responsibilities" will not be tolerated.

Substance Abuse: The BAC strictly prohibits the use or possession of illegal drugs and other controlled substances on its premises.

Responsible Alcohol and Tobacco Use at BAC Events: The BAC supports drug, alcohol, and tobacco laws while respecting the privacy of individuals in its community (within the parameters of the law):

Tobacco: There is no smoking at 320 and 100 Mass Ave. The BAC supports and encourages individuals who wish to stop smoking to enter a cessation program.

Alcohol: Alcohol is not to be provided or consumed in an academic or professional setting at the BAC.