1. Things you need to know for your first two weeks Kent Peaslee Professor of Metallurgical Engineering Materials Science and Engineering August 14, 2007

2. Before the first day of class
Set up a class schedule and calendar
Coverage if you must be away
Tests and assignments
Office hours and help sessions
Prepare the Syllabus
Review the class list
Set up class on Blackboard (if you use it)
Post syllabus
Send a test (check with the class)
Check with your department on policies
Cheating, missing class, etc.

3. Example – class schedule – part of syllabus

4. Why a Syllabus? Help students plan their studies (all classes)
Required dates and expectations
Reading, Homework, Projects and Tests
Provides students with how to get help
Your contact information (office, , hours)
Other sources of help
Blackboard, Websites, Reserved Library Books
Other faculty, graduate students, graders, etc.
Important class policies
Spell out attendance, grading, types of tests

5. Examples No perfect format
Some are simple (mine see p.15/17 of book)
I provide course “bites” during the semester
Multiple reminders
Some are longer (see Dr. Bienek’s A11-A19)
Provides more up front information
Pick something that fits your teaching style yet includes all of the essentials

6. Example pieces of a simple syllabus
Basic course location/contacts
What books are recommended or required
Office hour policy and contact outside of class
Attendance policy

7. More on a simple syllabus
Grading policy (example)

8. Course add/drop policy From Student Academic Regulations -
During first few weeks of class, students may want to add or drop or change sections for your course (if there is room)
Add/Drop Form (see page 26 in manual)
Section Change form (see page 27 in manual)
Effect on Grade of Dropping Courses (regulations)
“Courses dropped during the first six weeks of a semester (three weeks of an eight-week summer session) will not be recorded on the transcript. If a student officially drops a course after six weeks of a semester but prior to the last three weeks of classes (fifteen class days), a WD (Withdrawal) will be recorded on his/her permanent record by the Registrar.
A student may not drop a course during the last three weeks of class (fifteen class days) or during final examination week.”

9. Absences policy From Student Academic Regulations - http://campus. umr
“Students are expected to attend class regularly….If the student, in the opinion of the instructor in charge of the class, has missed an amount of work sufficient to seriously impair his/her knowledge of the subject concerned, he/she will be dropped from that class by the Office of the Registrar at the written request of the instructor.
Any work missed for any reason must be made up to the satisfaction of the instructor concerned.
Each department may adopt absence regulations in addition to those that apply to the entire school. These regulations should be either posted on department bulletin boards or announced to each class.”

10. How do I handle absences?
Spell out policy in syllabus – stick to it!!
Some of my ideas
I take roll in creative ways to not take extra class time
assignments/quizzes
I expect students to tell me in writing absences
Student health services will send message to instructors
Always a message to students before dropping
Example: “Based on your 3 absences from class on 9/13, 9/15, and 9/24, I am planning on dropping you from class in accordance with my attendance policy tomorrow at 5 PM.”
I try to be aware of students missing or struggling in class
Instructor drop form p. 27

11. Student standards of conduct From Student Academic Regulations -
The Board of Curators recognizes that academic honesty is essential for the intellectual life of the University. Faculty members have a special obligation to expect high standards of academic honesty in all student work. Students have a special obligation to adhere to such standards. In all cases of academic dishonesty, the instructor shall make an academic judgment about the student's grade on that work and in that course. The instructor shall report the alleged academic dishonesty to the Chancellor.
a. The term cheating includes but is not limited to:
i) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations
ii) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or
iii) acquisition or possession without permission of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the University faculty or staff
iv) knowingly providing any unauthorized assistance to another student on quizzes, tests, or examinations.
The term plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
i) use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without fully and properly crediting the author with footnotes, citations or bibliographical reference;
ii) unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials; or
iii) unacknowledged use of original work/material that has been produced through collaboration with others without release in writing from collaborators.

12. Students dropped by instructors - other From Student Academic Regulations -
Student Academic Regulations
“Students Dropped by Instructors.
A student may be dropped from a course by the instructor because of excessive absences or unsatisfactory work.”
What do I do?
Students failing typically miss class/assignments – dropped for absences
In cases where student is doing unsatisfactory work – I send and before dropping
“I am dropping you tomorrow at 5 PM from Met 204 due to unsatisfactory work in the course. At this point in the course you are failing with an average of 55% based on a 54% and a 43% on the first two tests and a 57% on your homework.”

13. Early Warning System
Warn students before dropping them – use the Early warning system – EARLY
The new Academic Alert System supports communication among instructors, advisors, and students in cases where students are not meeting academic course requirements
Replaces “paper” System.
To initiate an alert, go to click on Academic Alert System.
You will be prompted for your userid and password.

14. Joe Miner Self Service (On-line Registrar)
Download class lists
Enter course grades
Midterm grades
final grades
Advising students
Release students for registration
JOE’SS (URL updated in 2009)

15. Blackboard On-line course support Post course support information
Syllabus, homework, handouts, notes, powerpoint slides, extra reading
all students in course
Gradebook
Automatic grading of quizzes