Class Attendance
- Create a clear attendance policy in your syllabus.
- Students have a right to expect access to faculty in formal class, in scheduled office hours, or by appointment (PPM 6-22, III, B, 8, k).
- Students should inform you of planned absences well in advance (PPM 6-22, IV, D, 6).
Course Syllabus
- All faculty must provide their students with a syllabus and place a copy on file with their department chair (PPM 4-9a).
- Students have a right to expect a course syllabus in the first week of class with an outline course goals, assignments, and contact information (PPM 6-22, III, B, 8, h).
- All course syllabi must contain a statement about ADA accommodations. Include the following statement:
- Any Student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in Room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.
- It is strongly suggested that all course syllabi contain a clear statement concerning plagiarism and its consequences. You may include the following example plagiarism statement:
- The WSU Student Code defines plagiarism as “the unacknowledged (uncited) use of any other person or group's ideas or work” (Section 6-22, part IV, subsection D). Any attempt to claim credit another’s work, in whole or in part, is a violation of this policy and is regarded by the Composition Program as a serious offense. Penalties for plagiarism are at the discretion of each instructor, and may range from, but are not limited to the following: requiring the student to redo the plagiarized assignment, awarding the student a grade of zero on the assignment or awarding the student a failing grade for the course.
Textbooks
- Depending on your department, textbook selection may or may not rest with the faculty member. For common courses, a department may require a specific textbook.
- Should your department allow you to choose your own textbook, consider utility and cost as determining factors (PPM 4-16, II, B, 1, 2).
Grading
- In your syllabus, you should indicate how you plan to evaluate your students' work. To understand WSU's grading system, refer to the Grading Policies (PPM 4-19, A, 1-3).
- At times, students request a change of grade. It is at your discretion, as a faculty member, whether or not to change a student's final grade (PPM 4-19, B, 1-3).
- In rare and extreme situations, students may be given an incomplete. Faculty and students should be aware that an incomplete may only be given if the student has completed 80% of the required work for the course (PPM 4-19, E, 1-6).
- Should students come to you with questions about grades and how they affect their standing in the University, you may refer them to the Academic Rules, Regulations, and Standards (PPM 4-17).
Final Exams
- Final Exams are scheduled by the University and may only be given during the scheduled time. Include final exam times in your syllabus (PPM 4-21).
Class Rolls
- Access your class rolls through the faculty/staff portal. After logging in, find the class rolls link in the purple bar on the left.
Grade and Performance Complaints about Faculty
- WSU provides students with a process for greivances against faculty (PPM 6-23 - 6-33). Students may seek resolution which involves filing written formal complaints and various hearings committees. For academic disputes direct students to the due process officer Dr. Frank Guliuzza, 626-6698 for behavioral disputes direct students to the Dean of Student Life, Dr. Jeffrey Hurst, 626-7897.
- Complaints about student grades should be handled first between the instructor and the student. If the dispute cannot be resolved to the satifcation of both parties, then the student may discuss this issue with the program director or the department chair.
- In an effort to prevent student complaints about grades, faculty are encouraged to announce evaluation criteria to students and to publish grade weights and due dates in their syllabi.
Office Hours and Student Access
- Adjunct faculty are not required to keep scheduled office hours; however, they must provide students with appropriate contact information (phone number or email address) (PPM 6-22, III, B, 8, k).
Additional Course Responsibilities
- Your main responsibilities are to meet your classes, return assignments in a timely manner, and be accessible (by phone or email) to your students. Individual departments may require you to attend professional growth activities or department meetings; check with your department about these requirements.
Procedures for Instructor Evaluation
- Students evaluate instructors and courses typically in the Fall semester (PPM 6-22, III, B, 8, m). Check with your department for additional evaluation procedures