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JYU Open University Regulations

The Open University applies the guidelines and regulations set for the degree students of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ where applicable to the Open University students. For more, see: regulations and directives guiding studies.
 

Informing about the regulations

Students are informed about the Open University Regulations when they register themselves for Open University studies. 
 

Open University students’ legal protection in studies

For Open University students, we apply the regulations concerning the assessment procedures of study credits (Universities Act, sections 44 and 82, as well as JYU Degree Regulations, sections 39-44 and 58-59). These stipulations concern a student’s right to be informed about the assessment criteria, right to access an assessed learning outcome as well as right to require rectification for assessment, first from the teacher and then from the University’s Committee for Appeals.

Open University students are entitled to reasonable adaptations, i.e. special teaching arrangements based on a long-term illness or disability in accordance with the guidelines and procedures for JYU degree students. Granting such special arrangements requires that the student has not repeatedly left a granted special arrangement unused without an acceptable reason.
 

Right to a safe learning environment and the requirement of appropriate behaviour 

If an Open University student faces problems with teaching or in interaction with other students on the course, they should primarily contact the teacher of the course. An Open University student can also notify the Open University staff about any inappropriate behaviour they have experienced in teaching or any problems with their legal protection in practice.

Every student (incl. degree students, exchange students, Open University students, and other students) has the right to a safe learning environment and the right to be treated appropriately. Students should be treated without any discrimination. In addition, each student is responsible, in terms of their own action, for keeping the learning environment safe and agreeable. A student should behave appropriately both in physical and in online learning environments. One may not harass or otherwise treat inappropriately any other students, teachers, or staff. A student must comply with study regulations and instructions set by the Open University, an individual teacher and administrative staff.

By following the ethical principles of JYU, we can ensure a safe learning environment both for students and staff. The principles state, for example, that the University and the members of the university community are committed to treat each individual and group with respect and dignity in terms of both language and other behaviour. (For more, see JYU Ethical Principles). The Director of the Open University gives more specific orders for the procedures pertaining to the control and implementation of regulations.

In Open University studies, we apply the Rector’s decision dated 17 January 2019 regarding ethical guidelines for learning and dealing with cheating cases.
 

Consequence from a student’s inappropriate behaviour

Inappropriate behaviour can be manifested in various teaching situations, for example in real-time contact or online teaching, in asynchronous online teaching, in guidance settings, and in terms of different tools and environments, such as online environments, social media, electronic communication /email, and on phone. In online settings, inappropriate behaviour can take the form of unauthorised recording, for instance. 

Open University staff or a teacher can order a student to exit from the setting or University’s event, if the student is disturbing teaching, behaving in a violent or threatening way or endangering another person’s life or health. The measures taken should be written down and reported. In these cases, the student can be issued with a warning. Due to unethical and disturbing behaviour, the Director of Open University can disallow participation in any Open University teaching and activities for at most three working days.

If the student’s inappropriate and disturbing behaviour continues or is repeated, the Director can give the student a written warning. 

If an Open University student has severely or repeatedly broken against the University’s order by behaving in an inappropriate, disturbing, threatening, violent way or committed to cheating, the student can be disqualified from Open University education for a given period, for one year at maximum. In severe or repeated breaches, also an already started course can be interrupted. The student fee for a course interrupted because of the student’s own behaviour will not be returned.

Cases of violent behaviour or threatening with violence are reported to a person in charge of security at the University and can be reported to the police as well. An individual severe or outrageous misbehaviour can directly lead to losing one’s study right.

If a student uses the Open University’s user credentials against the terms of use, e.g. behaving inappropriately on an electronic learning platform, the issue can be dealt with according to the terms of use.
 

Commitment to online course working 

The study guide of JYU Open University defines an online course as a scheduled entity, which means that a course starts and ends on a given date and the schedules for learning assignments are announced at the beginning of the course. From students, an online course calls for commitment and active, regular participation as well as an independent and responsible approach to work. These terms of participation are also described in the study information system. If a student does not participate or work according to the instructions given, the teacher contacts the student and where necessary, can dismiss a passive student from the online course. The student fee for a course interrupted because of the student’s own behaviour will not be returned.