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

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 email (check with the class) Check with your department on policies Cheating, missing class, etc.

Example – class schedule – part of syllabus

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, email, 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

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

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

More on a simple syllabus Grading policy (example)

Course add/drop policy From Student Academic Regulations - http://campus.umr.edu/registrar/pdf/acareg04-06.pdf 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.”

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.”

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 email 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

Student standards of conduct From Student Academic Regulations - http://campus.umr.edu/registrar/pdf/acareg04-06.pdf 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.

Students dropped by instructors - other From Student Academic Regulations - http://campus.umr.edu/registrar/pdf/acareg04-06.pdf 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 email 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.”

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 http://campus.umr.edu/acalert click on Academic Alert System. You will be prompted for your userid and password.

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 https://joess.mst.edu (URL updated in 2009)

Blackboard On-line course support Post course support information Syllabus, homework, handouts, notes, powerpoint slides, extra reading Email all students in course Gradebook Automatic grading of quizzes http://blackboard.umr.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp