We want a
successful, safe, and fun program. Please read this form carefully. You are
expected to understand and adhere to the expectations noted below. Following
the below expectations is required for your work on the __ College Speech and
Debate Program. Further, you should encourage others on our program to adhere
to these expectations, you should discourage and attempt to stop violations of
these expectations, and you should inform the head coaches about violations of
these expectations so that problems are prevented, addressed, and our team is
the successful, safe, and fun environment we want.
The
philosophy of this program continues to be focused on helping students be the
best that they can be. We're dedicated to high quality research, excellence in
debate argumentation, public speaking presentations, and being competitive with
as well as supportive of other squads.
Coaches
should be concerned with student academic needs (good grades, time to study,
etc.); social needs (time to have fun, spend time with friends, etc.); work and
outside of school needs (jobs, family care, etc.); emotional needs (helping out
students who are having a rough time emotionally, encouraging someone on the
team, etc.); and, of course, the need to improve communication, research, and
analytic skills gained by debating and speaking.
The term “participants” refers to
coaches, students, and judges taking part in the __ College Speech and Debate
Program.
Technology Use: Participants are expected to follow
__ College’s Ethical Use of Information Technology. See: include link to your school’s
technology policy (eg no spamming, no hacking, etc.)
Eligibility: We want a diverse and academically
engaged team. Participants will maintain academic eligibility. Participants
should regularly attend courses, complete class assignments on time and with
high quality work, and maintain at least a __ GPA. Further, participants will
keep professors apprised of speech and debate absences and will makeup work for
their classes in coordination with their professors. See: include link to your school’s
eligibility policy.
Spending Team Money: We want finances spent ethically and
for the purposes of the program. Participants will not seek to charge any
expenditure to __ College except those that are 1) pre-approved by the head
coaches; 2) are explicitly for the educational or business purpose of the
speech and debate program; AND 3) must be receipted and explained. Expenditures
for personal purposes are never reimbursed including for clothing, toiletries,
medicines, personal use of vehicles, etc.
No alcohol, drugs: We want responsible, safe,
professional environments for our participants. Participants will not use
alcohol nor illicit drugs nor drug paraphernalia nor engage in any crime at any
__ College Speech and Debate program events including from beginning of travel
to end of travel for tournaments and off campus events as well as on campus
events and any social events or meetings with recruits. Participants will
remove themselves from any area or room in which alcohol or illicit drugs are
being used or paraphernalia is visible except that participants may remain at
the non-bar portion of an alcohol licensed restaurant. Coaches will not drink
nor use illicit drugs nor view drug paraphernalia nor commit any crime with a
student or judge at any time, including social events and non-__ College
sponsored events. The program sponsors no parties with alcohol or drugs; furthermore,
social events among team members or among coaches and judges shall not be
called debate/speech/forensics events/parties as they are not events/parties
affiliated in any way with the program.
Romantic Relationships: Coaches and judges that are hired by
__ College may not be in any form of a romantic relationship with a student nor
with any recruits interested in __ College.
Comfortable Environment: We want and expect participants to
treat other participants on the program and those from other colleges and
universities with respect and support. Participants will not engage in any
harassment or discrimination. Participants may disagree with the views of
others but they will not verbally or physically attack other persons.
Participants will not disparage nor treat poorly nor interfere with any person
from making a claim of discrimination or harassment. The below are statements
of __ College’s policy concerning assuring a comfortable environment:
Provide a link to your school’s anti-harassment – Title IX policy.
Include school’s definition of sexual harassment/harassment.
No Hazing: Any student can participate on the __
College Speech and Debate Program so long as that student is eligible and
adheres to the program’s and school’s expectations. To that end, participants
will not engage in any hazing or initiation rituals. The below is from __
College’s policy prohibiting hazing.
Provide a link to your school’s anti-hazing policy. Include school’s
definition of hazing.
Treating host facilities and others
right: Participants
will treat hotels, schools, rental vehicles, and restaurants including their
associated staff members with care and courteous behavior. Participants will
avoid loud noise and disruptive behavior at schools, during debates/speeches,
and at hotels. Participants will clean areas where the program congregates at
tournaments, van and rental vehicles we use, and classrooms we use on campus
for practice sessions.
Hotel Rooming Policy: Coaches and judges will be placed
into hotel rooms with other coaches and judges (2 persons per room) based on
their preferences, separate from students. Significant others, friends, etc.
may not stay in our rooms—only our coaches, judges, and students. Coaches and
judges should contact one of the head coaches as soon as possible if an issue
arises requiring a room change or adjustment. Participants will not move from
their assigned room without the permission of a staff member unless there is an
emergency. Participants must be in their room and not leave after the curfew
time established by the head coaches. At curfew, participants understand that
their room may be inspected by a head coach to assure adherence to team
guidelines.
Driving to and from Tournaments,
Events, Practices Off Campus: Drivers will drive safely per __ College’s driving
expectations to avoid any danger and to provide a comfortable and safe ride for
participants. Riders will respect the driver’s need to concentrate on driving
safely by not distracting the driver. Those who ride separately from the team
or stay at a location other than the arranged hotel/location at a tournament,
will inform the College on the travel application form.
Working with students: Participants will be honest in their
dealings with each other on the program. Students and coaches will work to
solve problems including events in which they may have done something wrong.
No Plagiarism: Participants will honestly and
accurately cite specific ideas originated by others when appropriate citation
is expected in debates and speeches. While argumentation can include
embellishment and framing of information for persuasive goals, participants
will not fabricate or lie about facts.
Maintaining Contact: Good communication is important to
our team. Coaches are expected to check the __ College Speech and Debate
Facebook page at least two times a day, and should respond to
emails/texts/e-messages sent by coaches and other team members promptly. Phone
messages should be returned. Such contact and responsiveness is needed to
assure you don’t harm coach and other student educational objectives.
Partnership Decisions: Coaches will partner students based
on student preferences, student skill levels, student ability to travel to
tournaments, student commitment, and team competitiveness as a whole. Students
will never be partnered based on anything other than their and the program’s
educational objectives and shall not be discriminated against based on any
legally protected classification. Partnership decision rationales shall be
documented.
Practices: Coaches will work to offer and
provide equal time for each student who participates in that time offered.
Coaches will give students the opportunity to practice twice a week in the two
weeks leading up to a tournament so long as they provide accurate information
for scheduling practices, arrive at practices at expected times, and
participate in practices in a productive manner to improve. If students wish
more practice, coaches will provide additional practice time equally to those
requesting this additional time with the understanding that coaches may not have
time available for additional practices.
Coaches need
to be at practices on time. If not, they should tell students that they are not
able to attend. Students justifiably become upset and reluctant to practice
when coaches do not show. Keep track of practice sessions. If you cannot attend
because of a serious and important reason, please contact the student well
ahead of time via at least two of these methods: e-mail, Facebook team post,
phone call, and/or text message, and, if possible, post a note near the room
where you were to practice.
Travel Opportunities: Coaches will establish travel
schedules where students who complete their research assignments, engage in
expected practice sessions, and who follow the school’s and program’s
expectations shall be eligible for travel to any tournament that the program
drives to except any tournaments that have qualification requirements. Students
who show greater research and practice effort and who demonstrate more success
shall be considered for any national tournaments that the team travels to with
the reminder that some tournaments have qualification requirements. Available
funds shall, of course, limit travel opportunities for students but such
limitations should be based on the above expectations.
Dress: The program encourages “nice casual”
to “business professional” attire that is attuned to the style that the
participant prefers. Clothing that is wrinkled or dirty, that has messages that
demean others (though it may disagree with others), or that is worn by most
people primarily only at social functions is not appropriate. Participants
should bathe/shower and wear fresh clothes each day.
Program and Student Focus: Coaches should actively seek to
improve the program, working to achieve the goals of the program. Coaches
should not work toward their own agendas not in accord with the program’s
goals. Coaches should work to help all the members of the team with advice,
strategies, research tips, etc. Coaches should treat students with respect.
Even when students act improperly or miss assignments, etc., you are expected
to treat students with respect—provide the constructive criticism they need,
assure a safe environment, and work to solve problems. Coaches should refrain
from talking negatively about each other as well as students behind their backs
especially in front of students. Any team event such as a dinner, picnic, or
get-together must be open to any team member with the reminder that team events
must be approved by the head coach and do not involve any alcohol or other
inebriating substances.
Tournament Coaching and Judging: Coaches shall arrive on time to coach
and judge at tournaments. For coaching in preparation time, work with the head
coach to formulate strategies. Clearly articulate arguments to the students,
keeping a steady pace that maximizes student ability to follow while also
covering the key arguments needed. After rounds, talk with students about what
went well and what could be improved and take action to improve your coaching
for future rounds. For judging, arrive to rounds on time and keep the round on
schedule; be respectful toward the debaters and other coaches; comments should
focus on what the speakers and debaters did well and how they could improve
(rather than what they did ‘wrong’). Always encourage others in their speaking
and debating endeavors.
I _______________________________________ (print your first
and last name), agree on this date of _____________________ that I understand
and will follow and encourage others to follow the above __ College Speech and
Debate Program Expectations. Further, I will
discourage violations of these expectations, and I will inform the head
coaches of any violations of these expectations providing all relevant
information.