I'm not sure about college, but in Uni you are supposed to do work on your own accord. Like the lecturer would tell you to read some part of a book (and maybe complete some questions that are given in the book) which would be relevant to the next lecture, but they don't really care if you have done it or not (ie. they wont call your parents if you have not done the work asked.). By the time you reach that stage you should want to learn and not have to be forced. That's what they are thinking. So yes and no, about the homework question.