Classroom Visitor Policy

PURPOSE
The UC Davis School of Medicine (i.e., the School) is committed to preserving a safe and academically-focused classroom environment while remaining accessible to the community it serves. The School supports safe, supervised campus and classroom visits for the purposes of engaging in School-sanctioned events, exploring educational opportunities, making decisions about their academic future, and legitimate School purposes. 

AUDIENCE
All faculty, residents, preceptor, students, staff, and visitors

LCME STANDARD
Not applicable

POLICY
DEFINITIONS

  • Visitor: a person who attends a portion or complete classroom session that is not enrolled in the course
  • Administrative Visitor: a UC Davis faculty or staff member
  1. A visitor must get permission from the faculty facilitating the in-person classroom session they are requesting to attend before the session. (See Procedure) If the faculty facilitator is not the Course Director, the faculty member must notify the Course Director(s) of the visitor request.
  2. The conduct of the visitor must not interfere with the educational process or learning environment.
  3. Visitors are not allowed to participate in classroom sessions unless invited as part of the educational activity.
  4. The visitor must abide by all health and safety regulations.
  5. By entering the classroom, the visitor accepts the risks of exposure to normal classroom/lab exercises and/or related experiments.
  6. Attendance at the session does not grant the visitor the right to be provided course material or access to course material, including through the course learning management system.
  7. Administrative Visitors:
    1. The administrator should pre-plan their visit with the faculty member to avoid any potential disruption.
    2. Examples of legitimate university purposes include, but are not limited to, evaluation of teaching as described in the Academic Personnel Manual (UC and UC Davis) and regulatory or accreditation-related class visits.
    3. An administrative visitor should consider the potential effect of their visit on the educational environment and take steps to mitigate any potential disruption.
    4. If a faculty member objects to an administrator's presence in their classroom, both parties should work to resolve the issue in a manner that avoids disruption to the educational environment. If this approach fails, the disagreement should be resolved by the Vice Dean for Medical Education with a preference for avoiding disruption to the educational environment.
  8. An unauthorized visitor will be asked to leave the classroom.
  9. If an unauthorized visitor refuses to leave, UC Davis Health Campus Police will be contacted (dial 9-1-1 or 916-731-2555).
  10. Service and support animals in the classroom must comply with the Services and Support Animals Policy.

PROCEDURE

  • All visitors must email their classroom visitation request to the faculty leading the classroom session at least two (2) business days before the requested visit date.
  • If the request is not responded to, the visit is not approved.

RESPONSIBILITY
Course Directors and faculty facilitating classroom sessions

REFERENCES
UC Davis Health International Affiliations, Clinical Observing and Research Opportunities
UC Davis Policy and Procedures Manual - Sections 280-01, 290-31, 290-32
UC Davis Academic Personnel Manual, APM 220
UC Davis Academic Personnel Manual, UCD 220

RELATED POLICY
Service and Support Animals

POLICY OWNER
Committee on Educational Policy

REVIEWED BY
Associate Dean for Students
Committee on Educational Policy*
Curriculum Managers
Curriculum Steering Advisory Committee
Office of Medical Education

REVIEWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE
Created: November 2024; next review, March 2026

* Indicates the Policy Owner