As many Stanislaus State classes remain online, new information from the Academic Senate concerning the web camera policy has been issued to students and faculty. An email back in February provided students with a survey form to report an instance of web camera misuse. Since then, a notice has been placed on students’ Canvas dashboard stating that faculty may not require students to turn on their cameras during synchronous class sessions.
The Canvas page, as well as the ASI website, provided a link to the Academic Senate’s forum, further detailing the policy and its relations to the online classroom.
Recently, a change was made in the verbiage; the adjustment made between “ask” and “require.” As Dr. Molly Winter, Chair of the English Department explained, she advocated for the change since there is a significant difference between asking for cameras to be turned on during synchronous classes and requiring students to turn cameras on.
With the policy reminder sent throughout campus, Aneth Rocha (junior, Communications Studies) mentioned that one of her professors went over it with the class. As Rocha described, her professor went over what to do if an instructor requires cameras to be on, who to contact within ASI, and showed that there was available support if needed.
Along with ASI resources, department chairs are a readily available source for students to turn to.
“The Department Chair is a good crossroad between students and faculty,” Winter said.
With the policy reminder, Winter has been asked by students and faculty alike for further clarification and has gone over with her department how instructors should ask students to turn their cameras on while also understanding the students’ rights to privacy.
Despite these reminders, there are still aspects within the policy that need to be further worked out.
An email sent on March 10 from the Division of Academic Affairs stated, “The members of the Academic Technology and Learning Committee (ATLC) were concerned with the instructional class sessions and did not know whether faculty would be able to use proctoring software for examinations.”
The current solution is that “until such time that a permanent policy that specifically addresses exams is enacted, faculty may require students to turn their cameras on during exams.”
It is encouraged that students reach out to their department chair or ASI Student Resources at [email protected] if they have a concern about the practice of the web camera policy.
