Creating an Optimal Learning
Environment
CAMPUS GUIDELINES
Dr. David Nelson
Assistant Director of CIE
Purdue University
1
CREATING AN OPTIMAL LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT

TO DO IT, YOU HAVE TO:
know the mandates
use the guidelines
2
SPECIFIED MANDATES



DISABILITIES
HARRASSMENT / DISCRIMINATION
PRIVACY
3
DISABILITIES

Mandate: Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of
1973; & Title II of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, 1990:
–
Prohibits discrimination based on
disabilities, i.e., denial of academic
adjustments….
4
DISABILITIES
–
Public entity shall make reasonable
modifications.…. unless it can
demonstrate that the modifications would
fundamentally alter the nature of the
service, program or activity.
5
DISABILITIES

Guidelines
–
–
–
Making reasonable accommodations does not
mean giving unfair advantage to some
Treating all students the same is not necessarily
treating them fairly
Fair means leveling the playing field, so that
students have an equal opportunity to learn.
6
CAMPUS CONNECTIONS

Center for Instructional Excellence Website:
http://www.cie.purdue.edu

Office of Dean of Students [Disability
Resource Center] Website:
http://www.purdue.edu/ODOS
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DISCRIMINATION


Mandates: Title VI: Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title IX: Education Amendments of 1972
–
Prohibit discrimination based on sex, race,
color, national origin, sexual orientation,
marital status, age, parenting status,
pregnancy, campus team membership,
etc.
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DISCRIMINATION

Guidelines
–
Don’t create or condone a sexually,
racially, etc. hostile environment
–
Remember that harassment is a form of
discrimination
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DISCRIMINATION
–
Be knowledgeable with examples:
 [unwanted]
Sexual, etc., gestures,
touches and advances
 Racial, etc., stories and ‘dirty’ jokes
 Sexually, racially, etc., explicit drawings,
posters, written materials
 Allowing age, sexuality, etc., explicit
classroom comments
10
DISCRIMINATION PREVENTION

Know what it is
–



Ask respected colleagues when unsure
Don’t do it
Don’t allow it
Take action against it once it occurs
11
RIGHT TO PRIVACY

Mandate: Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974:
– Protects the privacy of student education
records
– It is the right of students to have restricted,
the disclosure of personally identifiable
educational records.
12
RIGHT TO PRIVACY

Guidelines
–
–
–
Do not use student names, e-mail
addresses, or SSNs when posting
grades.
Do not transmit confidential information
over email.
Do not draw attention to individual
grades.
13
MANDATES SUMMARIZED



DISABILITIES
HARRASSMENT / DISCRIMINATION
PRIVACY
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