2015-2016 Texas A&M corps of cadets scholastics sop



STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDUREof theCORPS SCHOLASTICS CHAINTexas A&M University Corps of Cadets“Per Unitatem Vis”29 June 2015Corps Commander: Alyssa MichalkeCorps Chief of Staff: Jacob ZerrCorps Scholastics Officer: Luke SenechalleCorps Scholastics Sergeant: Christopher TruePurposeThe Corps Scholastics chain serves as the governing, implementation, and oversight body that ensures the scholastics policies set in place and approved by the Corps are followed uniformly by all major units and outfits within the Corps of Cadets. Because scholastics policies are static and do not change in nature over the course of the year, the Corps scholastics chain relies heavily on its Major Unit staffs to articulate, monitor, and enforce its policies to all outfit leadership and ensure that they are followed.MissionThe Corps of Cadets Scholastics chain exists solely to ensure the Corps of Cadets is run in such a way that promotes and facilitates academic success among all cadets. We strive to create an environment that encourages academic integrity, diligence, and excellence for all cadets, regardless of major or class. In this, the Corps of Cadets will retain and enhance the prestigious image and reputation that it has long held.Officer’s NoteWhen I first entered my role as the Corps scholastics sergeant last year, I had false expectations. I thought I was entering a job that would require me to motivate and police an academically unmotivated Corps. What I found was quite the opposite; I found myself in a body of almost 2,500 cadets that were all striving to succeed, most using every resource available to them to better their academic portfolio, improve or maintain their grades, and prepare themselves for a fruitful career in either the military or private sector. All across the quad, I was continually humbled by the impeccable effort put forth by the Major Unit staffs and the outfits under them. Working with my peers in the Corps scholastics chain was by the far the best leadership experience I have had in my entire life, and I am honored to be able to do it again this year.That being said, we have some newfound, unique challenges facing our Corps this year. With the Corps’ GPR picking up steam and approaching the prized 3.0 threshold, the Corps has found itself split between the Commons and the Quad. This is exciting for some. However, it also creates a challenging situation for not just the Corps scholastics sergeant and myself, but also for the Major Units that work with us. It is critical that all outfits and major units hold true to the rigorous academic standards, policies and procedures that we put in place for the coming year. If we do this successfully, the temporary relocation will be painless and we will move headstrong into realizing our goals and successes.I am beyond excited to be working with you this year, and I couldn’t ask for a better Corps to be in.Gig ‘em,Luke Senechalle ’162015-2016 Corps Scholastics OfficerGoalsThe goals presented below set by the Corps Scholastics chain follow the SMART format. That means each goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. This eliminates subjectivity and ensures each goal can be evaluated at the end of the semester.Achieve a Corps-wide GPR of 3.0 for the Fall 2015 semester.Achieve 100% Inter-Major Unit Inspection Pass Rate for all academic weeks during the yearEnsure all Corps Units are using and implementing the Real Time Grade Tracking (RTGT) system provided by or have their own approved grade tracking system.All units should meet a 90% Academic Support attendance rate for all weeks during the year that Academic Support is offered. This excludes cadets that are excused.Achieve a 90% match rate for Cadets requesting OR Simpson during the Fall 2015 Semester.Corps Scholastic Policy SummaryFull Corps Academic Policies can be found in Chapter 5 of the Standard.Academic ProbationA Cadet will be placed on academic probation if that cadet:Has a cumulative GPR of below a 2.0Posts a single semester GPR of below a 2.0Falls behind the hours requirement needed to maintain good academic standing within the Corps.A Cadet who is on academic probation must sit EST (no intramural participation) and adhere to the following:Blackbelts: A blackbelt who is on academic probation will have a fish hole. This applies to the entire room, not just the probation cadet’s side.Whitebelts: A whitebelt who is on academic probation will not have TV, Video Game system, or large speakers in their room. This applies to both the probation cadet and their roommate.Each outfit shall have a list of Corps academic probation cadets in the front of their SOD book or on their hallway scholastics board. A cadet found to be in violation of the standards above will be issued five (5) demerits and have 48 hours to be in compliance. If the cadet is found to not be in compliance after 48 hours, they will be issued a restricted weekend and their roommate will be issued five (5) demerits.ESTEST is conducted Sunday—Thursday from 1930 to 0545 the following morning, with the exception of Marathon EST on Wednesdays (1800-0545 Thursday). During these times outfits are subjected to weekly EST inspections as well as must maintain quiet hours in the dorms. Any outfit failing an EST inspection will be disciplined per the policy found on cadets. An outfit requesting to an EST for an approved reason must have it sent up the chain to Corps Staff and have an alternate time planned to make it up.Permitted EST Activities: Academic ActivitiesIn room relaxation/personal hygiene/individual Corps activitiesUniversity Organizational ActivitiesCadet is at an approved EST LocationTaking a Free Night Out (FNO)Free Night Out checks must be maintained by the SODNOT Permitted EST Activities:Playing/Watching/Other Activities related to Video GamesTelevision/Movies/Videos (non-academic)Intramurals (exceptions based on MUC approval)Buddy Sign-Out/Sign-InUnit BusinessNote: Outfit meetings must end at 1930 each Sunday to allow for EST. This is a hard end time. Outfits found to extend their meetings past 1930 will be deemed noncompliant with EST procedures and will be disciplined accordingly.Academic DayThese are the policies that will guide outfit conduct during the academic day. If a Cadet has a Blinn Class starting prior to 0800, that cadet will not attend unit activity. Cadets with 0800 Texas A&M classes will be released early from activity to allow for proper hygiene and to attend chow with unit. Cadets will not be prevented from making it to their 0800 classes on time.Permitted: Room Inspections from 0830-1530 while not interfering with cadet’s study environmentAcademic Support and Morale Visits. Door must be open if upperclassmen in holeSpecial Unit Activity after 1630Not Permitted:Military/Corps Training (ex. Campusologies)Disciplinary Actions/CPTUpperclassmen Details/Blowing CallsWaking Sleeping Cadets (except when cadets are supposed to be in class)Corps Scholastic ProceduresInter-Major Unit InspectionsThe Corps Major Unit scholastics chain conducts weekly inspections across different major units to ensure units are adhering to the EST policies and that a quiet, conducive study environment is being made available to all cadets. Outfits are scored based on their compliance to these policies and these scores are factored into outfit awards at the end of the year. A Major Unit inspection will be conducted as follows:The inspector enters the hallway anywhere between 1930 and lights out (2230). During this time the SOD (junior) must be present, either sitting at the table or walking the hallway checking on cadets. This same standard applies to commons dorms. If the SOD is not readily present in the hallway but it is clear EST is being held, the inspector will:Call for the SOD. If the SOD presents himself/herself in a timely manner acceptable to the inspector, that outfit will receive a 0 for SOD present. However, that outfit may still receive proper points for remaining categories.If it is apparent that NO EST IS BEIND HELD (i.e. no SOD present, no logbook or table out, etc.), the inspector reserves the right to fail the outfit immediately. The inspector will make sure the fire doors are closed, the noise level is appropriately low for an EST environment, and that the hallway is clean and orderly. The inspector will score these categories according to the standards and also based on their opinion of the noise level, cleanliness, etc.Note: Since the Commons dorms have a separate layout and do not have fire doors, points will be weighted heavier on noise level and hallway conditions.Note: Commanders reserve the discretion to implement a boot-in-the-door policy for the cadets in their outfits.After ensuring the SOD is present and on task, the inspector will then ensure the outfit has:Scholastics board with the required documents (Corps SOPs, Major Unit SOPs, Outfit SOPs (if applicable), current tutoring schedule, Military Advisors contact information)Note: The Corps has discontinued the CAM program, so outfits should not have a CAM contact information card on their scholastics board. Outfit SOD log book with the proper paperwork, a list of current Corps Academic Probation cadetsFinally, the inspector will inspect a freshman and sophomore hole to ensure:Cadets are on studying or taking part in an approved EST activity If the selected blackbelt is not in their room, the inspector will check to see if they are signed out and in an approved EST location.Cadets’ doors should remain unlocked until Lights Out (2230). Lights out refers to the Hallway lights.Upon completion of the inspection, the inspector will have a designated outfit representative sign the EST form validating that they are aware and accept the score their outfit has been given. Approved signers are:Outfit scholastic representative (officer or sergeant)Outfit Commander (CO) or Executive Officer (XO)Outfit First Sergeant (1SG)In the case that the outfit fails their EST Inspection, the inspector will notify the Corps Scholastic Sergeant the same night of the inspection and proper discipline will be taken.If the outfit being inspected has cadets on academic probation, the inspector will verify that these cadets’ rooms are in compliance and that the cadets are sitting EST or in an approved EST location. If any violations are found, the inspector will take the appropriate action as outlined above and in the Standard and notify the Corps Scholastics Sergeant in a timely manner.The Major Units will input the inspection scores online as well as turn the forms into Corps Staff by 1200 on Friday. If a Major Unit fails to do this, they will be disciplined as follows:1 demerit for scores not being inputted online, and 1 demerit for forms not being turned in on Friday, assigned to both the MU Scholastic Sergeant and Officer. An additional 1 demerit will be given each day that this is not complete.The weekly Major Unit inspection scores will be kept in a Google Spreadsheet available to all outfits to view and track their scores and dispute any discrepancies.The Corps Scholastics Officer and Sergeant will randomly inspect each Major Unit once per semester to ensure the Major Unit inspectors are conducting the inspections properly. Corps Grade Tracking Procedure/ (CCN) was implemented during the 2014-2015 academic year as a tool for outfits to easily track grades and network with other cadets. CCN will still exist as a useful utility for outfits to use, however they may use their own grade tracking system in lieu of CCN if they demonstrate:The outfit’s own grade tracking system tracks the test and major assignment scores of all freshman and academic probation cadet and reports it to outfit’s leadership on a weekly basisProvide weekly reports of grades to the Major Unit scholastics chainThe outfit’s grade tracking system yields similar or better academic results than CCN or other approved outfit grade tracking systemsCorps and MU Staffs will evaluate outfits based at the end of the semester and determine based on their academic performance if they will be allowed to continue to use their approved plan or if they must go back to using CCN.Any outfit who requests to use their own grade tracking system in lieu of CCN must have a written plan sent up through the Major Unit scholastic chain to Corps Staff for approval. All outfits not on an approved plan will be required to use andRegister all freshmen and academic probation sophomores on the website with their classes and test datesEnsure that ALL freshmen and Academic Probation Sophomores input their test scores on (CCN) within 24 hours of receiving their grades backProvide weekly reports of grade submissions and results to the Major Unit scholastics chain. These results will be monitored and checked by Corps Staff to ensure CCN is being followed correctlyCorps Mandatory Academic SupportThe Office of the Commandant has generously provided academic support for cadets enrolled in certain classes. This academic support has been shown to be extremely beneficial to freshmen and has tremendously helped cadets with their grades. This academic support is required for all freshmen enrolled in these specific classes to attend. The procedures for attendance are as follows:All freshmen enrolled in courses that Corps Academic Support is offered are required to attend weekly sessions.A freshman posting superb grades after the fall semester is not exempt from attending academic support the following semester.It is the outfit’s duty to ensure freshmen required to attend Academic Support are going on a weekly basis and attending all sessions.Cadets required to attend academic support will go to the assigned room where the support is offered and:Swipe their ID card at the door readers to their respective rooms. The door reader should read “DENIED”. The Cadet will then sign in with the OR Simpson representative taking attendance. If a cadet forgets his/her ID card, they can still sign in with the OR Simpson representative for attendance credit.If a Cadet has a recurring approved commitment (class, SI, etc.), they must submit a waiver to the LLC and the will be excused from the conflicting support session.If a Cadet must miss a single support session for an approved reason, they must submit a waiver to the LLC by the end of the week so that their attendance will be waived and they will not be counted as absent.Attendance will be logged and tracked by OR Simpson Honor Society along with Corps Staff and reviewed on a weekly basis. Any cadet not approved to miss a support session will be counted as absent, and this will count against the outfit’s attendance record. Outfits with consistently low attendance records will be disciplined accordingly.In the previous year we experienced issues with tutoring schedules being moved around and cadets unable to make the new times. This year, OR Simpson and the Corps Scholastics Chain will work to ensure times do change sporadically, and cadets and outfits will not be penalized for missing tutoring sessions that have changed without warning. ................
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