WCSU Faculty Handbook : Academic Policy and Procedures

Course Responsibilities

  1. Department Responsibilities

    1. Approval of course outlines bearing their label and assurance that content identified is included in courses taught.
    2. Adoption where department deems appropriate of basic texts for multi-section courses.
    3. Determination of appropriate standards for grading of multi-section courses.
    4. Determination of standards for approval of student enrollment in Student Developed Study and Independent Study
    5. Determination where department deems appropriate of departmental attendance policy (see federal Guidelines for Grading and Privacy of Grades).

  2. Instructor’s Responsibilities:

    The core of the academic program is the student-teacher relationship in the individual classroom. The teacher is free to develop his/her assigned courses as he/she deems best, recognizing that he/she must include the content identified in the official course outline. The individual faculty member:

    1. Meets all assigned classes regularly and in the event of absence arranges coverage through the department chair.
    2. Follows the content of the official department outline.
    3. Selects the methodology and sequence most appropriate to the content.
    4. Selects the textbook for those courses not bound by a department decision.
      Bookstore orders for the upcoming semesters are completed by faculty members and forwarded to the Department Chairperson for approval. The Department Chairperson forwards the order to the Bookstore. In the absence of an instructor, the Department Chairperson completes the book request order.

      1. Faculty assigning their own texts are subject to the following policy:
        Consistent with Section 1-84 of the Connecticut General Statutes and the State of Connecticut Ethics Commission’s requirements in Advisory Opinion 2001-7, WCSU Respires that all faculty utilizing their own published works are required or recommended readings in a course not profit from that use.  See Faculty Authored Textbook form in the Appendices of this handbook.
      2. Per Federal Guidelines (Higher Education Opportunity Act 2010) students should have access to information regarding the cost of textbooks for courses at the point of registration. To the extent possible, faculty should include ISBN numbers with those orders (See US code 1015b here)
    5. Has at least five (5) office hours weekly, “on three teaching days, at times reasonably convenient for students” (CBA 10.9) (Senate Review of this language is pending).
    6. Secures permission through the department chairperson for field trips in conjunction with (Forms for this purpose are available in department offices or from the Deans’ offices).
    7. Establishes individual attendance requirements for courses when department has not established a binding policy for all Regardless of attendance requirements, accurate attendance records must be kept. (See policy on reporting Never Attended or Stopped Attending in the section entitled Administrative Grades on the next page).
    8. Prepares and distributes to students at outset of course a syllabus with a written statement of standards and requirements (including due dates where appropriate). A copy of the syllabus must be turned in to the Department Chair no later than the first day of classes each semester. (Senate review of this language is pending)
    9. Gathers evaluative data systematically throughout the course on which to base midterm and final These data must be recorded and kept for a reasonable length of time in the event of any challenge of grade assigned. (See Policy on Retention of Course Materials).
    10. Files midterm and final grades according to the directions specified by the Registrar’s Office.

  3. Examination and Grading Procedures and Policies

    1. Final Examinations
      1. All final examinations may be given only during the final examination week. (Reaffirmed by the Senate, December 15, 1982, and April 26, 1989.)
      2. The schedule for undergraduate day course examinations is set by the Registrar.
      3. Final examinations should not be the total basis for a student’s grade.
      4. When faculty including final exams in their courses, they must be given during the scheduled final exam period. (Senate review of this language is pending).
    2. Responsibility of Faculty Member
      1. Prepares final examinations.
      2. Proctors own examinations and, when assigned, other faculty members’ examinations.
      3. Briefs proctor assigned to assist him/her.
      4. Arranges for students with conflicts in exam times.
      5. Completes and records grades with Registrar within three (3) calendar days from the date of the last scheduled final examinations (see CSU-AAUP contract).
      6. Graduate and Evening course examinations are given in the last scheduled meeting of the course, which is during exam week. All other regulations noted above apply.
      7. Maintains records of exams, as per the Policy on the Retention of Course Materials.