Revision as of 21:59, 30 July 2007

IAM COURSE POLICIES

IAM Faculty Handbook

6. Courses, Syllabi & Grading + / - Scale

Note: All Interactive Arts and Media faculty must use this scale

It will be up to the individual instructors to determine how a particular grade will be weighted (i.e. final is 25% of final grade.)

It is important that students are given timely information as to their status in your class. You should be giving the students weekly in-class and homework assignments. These assignments should be returned quickly with a letter grade and appropriate comments. Also, it is helpful to provide students with a summary of their grade-to-date on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Please inform students that are failing the class before the 8th week withdrawal deadline. Please contact your Coordinator if you are having problems with students or if you have questions regarding student performance, behavior, or any language or learning issues, etc.

Semester Grades At the end of the semester, you are required to submit a copy of your final grades and attendance reports to the office. Include the individual homework grades, test and quiz scores, etc. and the total points awarded for each assignment. TRUE???? This list is in addition to the list of grades that is turned into the Records Office via OASIS. Please submit your final grades into OASIS by the deadline given.

Incompletes - AND INSERT new INCOMPLETE POLICY

We strongly discourage instructors from giving incomplete grades. The coordinator must approve any incomplete grade before the grade can be issued. If an instructor chooses to give a student an incomplete for a semester grade, it will be that instructor’s responsibility to oversee the completion of the semester's work. Be sure that the student fully understands what is expected of him, and that he knows the final date that work will be accepted. Several instructors have developed a “contract” that the student, the instructor and the chairperson sign. A copy of the contract is given to the student and one is stored in the department office. The contract spells out exactly what work needs to be completed and provides a timeline for the completion of the assignments. That way there is no confusion on the part of the student as to what he/she needs to do. An incomplete that has not been changed by the end of the following semester automatically converts to an “F”.

Under no circumstances should a student complete work by attending the same class the next term. If a student has missed so much as to need to attend classes, he should not be given an incomplete. They must register again for credit.

After the student has finished the incomplete work, the instructor will need to complete a grade change form. These forms are available in the records office in the 600 S. Michigan building. After completing the form, the instructor should submit the form to the chair for approval. The form will then be sent to the Academic Dean for approval.

Late Work and Makeup Exams Because this has become something of an issue, we feel it is important to have a department wide policy regarding late assignments and makeup exams.

Students will be expected to complete assignments on time! It is important to specify a due date with each assignment. We will leave it to your discretion as to whether you will accept late assignments and downgrade them accordingly, or will not accept late assignments. Whichever policy you set, be sure that it is clearly stated in your syllabus. There are times, however, when consideration must be given. Judge each case on its own merit.

Please apply the same policy to makeup exams. If you elect to give a student a make-up exam, you must be responsible for proctoring the exam.

Student Attendance – INSERT NEW ATTENDANCE POLICY HERE Attendance standards should be made clear to the students at the beginning of each term. The official department policy is that a 3rd absence during the semester will result in a grade of “F”. Individual instructors may institute a different policy for their classrooms. No matter what policy you choose, you must have your policy specifically stated in your syllabus as well as verbally informing the students what rules will apply in your classroom.

Please check oasis to see if any student has withdrawn from your class. At the end of the semester, a final grade of “F” will be assigned to students who do not meet class attendance standards and do not withdraw.

Since attendance is part of the grading criteria, it is important that you take attendance carefully each class session. Extremely important: Any student who is not on your official class list is not enrolled in your section and should not be allowed to stay in your class.

You should keep the students for the entire time during the first class. This is your chance to show the students who you are and how you teach.  And is an opportunity to make sure that the student is enrolled in the appropriate level class.   Do not add students to your class list unless you have been notified that the student is officially enrolled in your class. 

At the end of the semester we require that you turn in a copy of grades and attendance to Sallie Gordon, 624 M., 600 F. TRUE?

Syllabus Information – CHECK ON GUIDELINES-EDIT ACCORDINGLY

Each instructor should prepare a syllabus to be distributed to students in the first class, Or made available online? Include as much information as possible regarding your classroom management policies (i.e. homework assignments, project due dates, dates of tests and quizzes, absenteeism, makeup tests and late assignment policies, etc.) in the syllabus. Please send a digital copy of your syllabus to Sallie Gordon and your Coordinator during the first week of the semester.

The syllabus should serve as a published guide to assist students in selecting a course and in completing the course requirements. Preparation of such a syllabus helps the instructor identify the subject matter and skills for the course, clarify the learning goals, WORDING? and establish a learning system. Whatever the form, a syllabus sufficiently complete to guide student learning must include the following:

CHECK NEW SYLLABUS GUILDELINES.

Document Date (example: FALL 2007) Course number 36-xxxx & title Course location and time Instructor information Required texts and materials Content Introduction Disclaimer sentence: (this syllabus is subject to change)

Course description: The course description for your class must be identical to the course description in the course catalog, which is located online at: iam.colum.edu.

Course objectives/goals: The department dictates Course objectives for multi-section classes. For classes that only have one section please list five specific things the student will learn by taking the class. This can be in bulleted list form. Avoid naming specific software brands or software versions. You will need to get approval from your coordinator on all course objectives.

Course rationale: This indicates what the prerequisite are for the class and what general requirements the class fulfills. The details about the prerequisites for each class in Interactive Arts and Media are located in the individual online course descriptions located at: iam.colum.edu.

Departmental Attendance Policy – The official departmental absentee policy is that the student will fail the class if they miss over three classes. You may choose to follow a different attendance policy, but you must clearly state that policy both in your syllabus and as an in-class announcement the first two weeks of class.

Course Outline or Schedule – The amount of information provided here will vary according to the subject matter. The students should know what to read for the class session, when the assignments are due, and a general idea of what will be happening in class each session or group of sessions.

Grading Policy and evaluation procedures: Supply percentages/point system for: assignments, tests, quizzes, projects, and participation.

Scale – faculty must comply with the grading scale listed below and must be stated on your syllabi.

+/- Grade Points A Excellent 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B Good 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C Fair 73-76 C- 70-72 D Poor/Passing 60-69 F Failing 59 or less

Check this - The link to Columbia College's syllabus format is:

http://www.colum.edu/info/curriculum/syllabusoutline.html – The form will soon be available as a template to use in OASIS.

UPDATE THIS - FOCA instructors should also include a section of information about the General Studies requirements. That includes information about the course NOT a requirement for students entering 2005*

• This information is on file or check with any full-time faculty member and they will be able to download this information for you.