To: New A&S Faculty

From: Gracie Lawson-Borders, Associate Dean

Re: management of your start-up

 I just have a few reminders concerning your start-up.   

1. Be sure to get your computer ordered so that your new office is fully functional as soon as possible.  If you experience any problems with this, please inform your department head, with a copy to me.
    
2. The person in your departmental office responsible for bookkeeping will provide support for spending from your start-up account, however it is your responsibility to make sure that your start-up funds are used in an appropriate and timely manner.

Please let me know if you have any questions concerning your start-up.  I sincerely hope that your fall semester is productive and enjoyable.  

Bulletin #2A -- September 2009

Subject:  Student Drop/Add Deadlines and Policy 

 1..  Now is a good time to remind students in your classes to check their class schedule on WyoWeb to make sure they are registered for all their intended courses, sections, and the appropriate grading method (A/F or S/U). They should also check to see if they have been enrolled in a class from a waitlist status.

 As an instructor you should also look at your class roster to see if you have students on the waitlist and check for open spaces in which waitlisted students may be added. You may work with your department staff regarding adding waitlisted students. 

Each semester there are a number of students who learn too late in the semester that they have been rolled into a course by the department office and subsequently charged for a course that they no longer planned to take.  

Although it is the responsibility of each student to know her/his final class schedule, a reminder to all students to check it on WyoWeb is preventative and helps new students to learn the system (and saves lot of time later for all concerned).

2.  Thursday, Sept. 4, is the last day a student can drop or change sections in full-      semester courses. The Registrar’s office indicates this deadline is “Strictly Enforced.”

3.   Monday, Sept. 8, is the last day a student can add a semester course, change sections, or change grading method.  

4.  Friday, October 31, is the last day students may withdraw from a semester course.

5. After the deadlines to drop, add, or withdraw, the student must use the Registrar’s online or printed copy of the Exception Request Form. If a student needs to do this because of extraordinary circumstances beyond the student’s control, substantial documentation to support and justify the situation must be included with the request. 

If a drop is approved by the Registrar, there will be no record of the course on the student’s transcript.  An approved withdrawal after the deadline will be recorded as a “W.” Reasons such as Protecting a grade point average, changing majors, not needing a course for a requirement or difficulty in a course are some examples of denied requests to drop or withdraw from a course after the deadline—these are common to many students and not extraordinary.

6.  There are to be no withdrawals or drops during the last 21 days of the semester except in extreme physical, emotional, or personal circumstances beyond the student’s control and these must be documented to justify the request.  The last day to withdraw from the University for fall 2008 is November 25. 

J Do let me know if you have any questions that I may be able to answer.  Hope things are going well for you.

Ilona
A&S Dean's OfficeJ

Bulletin #2B -- September 2009

Adding, modifying, or eliminating courses

Contact: Audrey Shalinsky 

http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&s/Faculty%20Handbook/Section-VIII-F.asp 

Adding, modifying, or eliminating courses is one part of maintaining a curriculum.  The Course Action Request Form (CARF) for initiating a request to add, modify, or eliminate a course is available at University of Wyoming Office of the Registrar: Course Committee Information.  The instructions for the form accompany it. For information about the process and the various committees that must approve courses, link to the A&S web site.

Requests for new courses need to follow the numbering system explained in UW Regulation 6-721. The various course committees will be stringent in applying that numbering system. Requests for new courses need to include a proposed syllabus, and a clear explanation of the availability of resources to offer the course. For example, will other courses be offered less often or is an instructor increasing her/his teaching load?

Changes to courses, including adding a cross-list (courses at the same level in multiple departments) or dual list (courses simultaneously taught at the undergraduate and graduate level) or proposing a change in prerequisites, for example, are handled through the same process. Requests to change the content of a course should be accompanied by both the old and the proposed new syllabus. Requests to change or eliminate a course with a 1000 or 2000 number also requires contacting the Statewide Course Catalog coordinator (consult Janet Timmerman at X6-3152).

Requests for courses to be dual-listed (that is, to have both a 4000 and 5000 number) need to explain what different requirements there will be for graduate students.  The explanation may be included in the accompanying syllabus. 

The completed form must be signed by the head(s) of the department(s)/ program(s) involved in the creation, cross-/dual-listing, modification, or elimination of the course. 

For all requests, e-mail a  complete request (includes CARF, syllabus and pertaining documents) without signatures and send one original hard copy with signatures to the A&S Dean's Office.  The Course Action Review Sub-committee reviews the requests and makes a recommendation to the Central Committee.  Upon approval by the Central Committee, the request is sent to the University Course Committee and/or USP committee if applicable.  If approved by the University Course Committee, the requested action becomes effective.  The process takes a minimum of 60 days. For a change or new course to be included in the next Bulletin, the process should be initiated no later than September.

Bulletin #4   Subject: Orientation Bulletin #4

From Oliver Walter, Dean

Welcome to Laramie!

Gracie Lawson-Borders and I work with department heads to identify and articulate opportunities for support across the College. This is fun, as I get to hear what creative ideas emerge to advance A&S and then tell them to other people across campus and throughout the country.

At some point you no doubt will compile your own list of desiderata. As you formulate your ideas, I would be happy to talk with you about them. The more ideas I have, the more responsive I can be when I talk to donors. To be a change agent, you’ll have to push your ideas up through your department head.

I have some clear priorities at present. The first is to improve the facilities on campus for the visual and performing arts. Next are student research, then increased internationalization, which is to say expanding opportunities for faculty and students to go abroad and for foreign scholars to come to Laramie. More graduate funding and support for the sciences remain priorities each year, as does money to support programs and activities. The desire to secure more unrestricted gifts each year never goes away.

You probably won’t notice it immediately, but there is a lot of activity that surrounds fund raising at UW. Alumni and friends are solicited regularly by mail and telephone for gifts that can assist with day-in day-out needs and opportunities. The Foundation handles the bulk of these efforts. It also keeps our database and gift records, and tracks all of our gift accounts. It provides expertise with estate planning and coordinates attempts to solicit corporations and foundations. The Foundation works closely with the University’s president Tom Buchanan and guides campus wide campaigns. Contact between the Foundation and the colleges typically runs through each college.

The University also has an Alumni Association, which helps UW stay in touch with its graduates. The Alumni Association does engage in some fundraising, but this focuses on scholarships which the Alumni Association itself awards.

The College of Arts and Sciences has its own board of friends who have taken a deep interest in us. This is the A&S Board of Visitors, which has about forty members, half of whom live in Wyoming and half around the country. They convene on campus in October and June to learn about what is going on in the College and across the University, to help us build relationships with other people, and to improve our fund raising. They also serve as advocates for A&S in their communities and the state legislature.

A&S staff organizes the Keith and Thyra Thomson Honors Convocation each October. We also organize the annual Awards Banquet each spring, under the auspices of the Board of Visitors, where outstanding former faculty are recognized for their contributions and outstanding alumni for their accomplishments. The roster of past recipients reveals stellar accomplishments.

While I assume ultimate responsibility for the success of our fund raising efforts, I hope you will help too. First, as you build your own reputation, you also build UW’s. Second, support and promote your department; share good news; celebrate accomplishments. Third, be willing to represent your department when asked. Above all, help your students. There are a number of alumni who donate each year to Zoology / Physiology because one gracious professor decades ago put them on the road to success. Educate your students well. Help them develop the skills they will need to succeed in life. Teach, advise, make introductions, recommend, and open doors. If you do these things, you will lay the groundwork for a large and proud network of alumni who will extend and enlarge the tradition of generosity that we are building here in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Welcome to UW and best wishes for a successful career!

Oliver Walter, Dean

Orientation Bulletin #5
From: Oliver Walter

Welcome to Laramie!

Gracie Lawson-Borders and I work with department heads to identify and articulate opportunities for support across the College. This is fun, as I get to hear what creative ideas emerge to advance A&S and then tell them to other people across campus and throughout the country.

At some point you no doubt will compile your own list of desiderata. As you formulate your ideas, I would be happy to talk with you about them. The more ideas I have, the more responsive I can be when I talk to donors. To be a change agent, you’ll have to push your ideas up through your department head.

I have some clear priorities at present. The first is to improve the facilities on campus for the visual and performing arts. Next are student research, then increased internationalization, which is to say expanding opportunities for faculty and students to go abroad and for foreign scholars to come to Laramie. More graduate funding and support for the sciences remain priorities each year, as does money to support programs and activities. The desire to secure more unrestricted gifts each year never goes away.

You probably won’t notice it immediately, but there is a lot of activity that surrounds fund raising at UW. Alumni and friends are solicited regularly by mail and telephone for gifts that can assist with day-in day-out needs and opportunities. The Foundation handles the bulk of these efforts. It also keeps our database and gift records, and tracks all of our gift accounts. It provides expertise with estate planning and coordinates attempts to solicit corporations and foundations. The Foundation works closely with the University’s president Tom Buchanan and guides campus wide campaigns. Contact between the Foundation and the colleges typically runs through each college.

The University also has an Alumni Association, which helps UW stay in touch with its graduates. The Alumni Association does engage in some fundraising, but this focuses on scholarships which the Alumni Association itself awards.

The College of Arts and Sciences has its own board of friends who have taken a deep interest in us. This is the A&S Board of Visitors, which has about forty members, half of whom live in Wyoming and half around the country. They convene on campus in October and June to learn about what is going on in the College and across the University, to help us build relationships with other people, and to improve our fund raising. They also serve as advocates for A&S in their communities and the state legislature.

A&S staff organizes the Keith and Thyra Thomson Honors Convocation each October. We also organize the annual Awards Banquet each spring, under the auspices of the Board of Visitors, where outstanding former faculty are recognized for their contributions and outstanding alumni for their accomplishments. The roster of past recipients reveals stellar accomplishments.

While I assume ultimate responsibility for the success of our fund raising efforts, I hope you will help too. First, as you build your own reputation, you also build UW’s. Second, support and promote your department; share good news; celebrate accomplishments. Third, be willing to represent your department when asked. Above all, help your students. There are a number of alumni who donate each year to Zoology / Physiology because one gracious professor decades ago put them on the road to success. Educate your students well. Help them develop the skills they will need to succeed in life. Teach, advise, make introductions, recommend, and open doors. If you do these things, you will lay the groundwork for a large and proud network of alumni who will extend and enlarge the tradition of generosity that we are building here in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Welcome to UW and best wishes for a successful career!

Oliver Walter, Dean

September 4, 2009                         January 11, 2010

October 16, 2009                           February 19, 2010

November 13, 2009                       April 16, 2010

#7 Orientation Bulletin
October brings an exciting college event.

Keith and Thyra Thomson Honors Convocation
Friday, October 9, at 2:30 p.m. in the A&S Auditorium.

This year, Faculty will meet in the Wyoming Union Pre-function room so as to process across Prexy’s pasture behind the Western Thunder drum corps to the Auditorium (no academic regalia needed). Those who would rather not process across campus will meet in A&S 139 to join the processional in the lobby and to the reserved seats. The convocation recognizes students on the Freshman, Dean’s, and President’s Honor Rolls. The program features student speakers and performers as well as a guest keynote speaker.

This year’s keynote speaker is none other than Dan Haley, editorial page editor of The Denver Post. A journalist for nearly 20 years, he previously worked as an editorial writer for the paper, covering education and politics. Haley writes a weekly Sunday column for The Post, and launched one of the paper’s first blogs, Haley’s Comment, in 2006.

A reception follows.

Sharon Brown
Staff Assistant
College of Arts and Sciences, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3254, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071.  Non-US Postal Service Packages:  16th Street and Gibbon Street instead of 1000 E. University Avenue.  Tel:  307-766-4106     Fax: 307-766-2697

 TO:                 UW Faculty Members

FROM:           Tammy L. Aagard, University Registrar

DATE:                        October 6, 2009

SUBJECT:      Mandatory Mid-Term Grades: Due Wednesday, October 21,  2009 at noon

 Grade submission for fall 2009 midterm grades is now available through WyoWeb. T he following is included in this memo:

• information about midterm grades
• directions for submitting midterm grades
• information about assistance in grade submission

 1.      Midterm Grade Information

UW Regulation 6-722 mandates the reporting of midterm grades for all courses numbered below 5000. Please note that the reporting of midterm grades in courses numbered 5000 and above is optional.  Midterm grades serve three purposes:

Ø  To alert students to their academic progress

Ø  To provide instructors with up-to-date official class enrollments

Ø  To provide students with their official course enrollments

2.  How to submit Midterm Grades through WyoWeb

• Log in to WyoWeb
• Select the Faculty Tab
• Locate the Faculty Grade Assignment channel (normally first channel on the right-hand side)
• Select Midterm Grades from the drop-down box
• Click Go

 Your courses should appear in the channel.  If you have more than 4 courses, click on the MORE button at the bottom of your courses.

 To begin assigning grades: 

• Click on the green triangle icon to the right of the course.
• Enter the grades by either typing the correct grade in the grade box to the right of the student or by using the drop-down arrow to select the grade
• Click submit at the bottom of the screen

 You may submit numerous times.  Once you have clicked submit the midterm grade will appear in the student grades channel.  

 You may enter grades for your all or a portion of the students in your class.  If the grade roster is started, but not complete, the green triangle icon will change to a yellow triangle.  If a student has withdrawn from your class and a midterm grade of W was not pre-loaded, the yellow triangle may remain, but the rest of the midterm grades you have submitted have been entered. You may verify your submission, but access your class roster in the FACULTY DASHBOARD or by using the BANNER SELF-SERVICE link for those with large classes

 Once the midterm grades for the entire class have been entered, the icon will change to a blue checkmark for those courses that don’t have a student withdrawal.  You may update midterm grades for courses that were previously graded up until the deadline for submission of midterm grades – October 21st. 

 3.      Assistance with Grade Submission

 If you need assistance submitting your grades through WyoWeb, please contact the Office of the Registrar 766-5272 or stop by our office in the west wing of Knight Hall

.Note:  Students may withdraw from individual courses until 5 p.m., Friday, October 30.

 Please do not hesitate to contact our office with any questions.

 Your cooperation is appreciated!

Orientation Bulletin #9

Withdrawal Policy and Deadlines

 We are close to the downhill side of the semester with midterm grades due on WyoWeb Wednesday, October 21, loaded by noon. Advising week is Oct. 26 – 30, 2009, and students will be coming to discuss concerns and select their spring classes.  Students may also be visiting with their course instructors about their progress in a class and how to improve their study skills and performance. Some may come to request a signature from the instructor on a Class Withdrawal form (or via the online process).   

UW has a generous withdrawal policy--the last day for students to withdraw from individual fall semester-length classes is Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. When a student withdraws from a class, the transcript will show a "W" for that class. UW does not consider this punitive and does not indicate on the transcript “withdraw/pass” or “withdraw/fail.” In 99.9 % of the cases, a request to DROP a class will not be approved (unless there is documented information to support an extraordinary circumstance beyond the student’s control). The last day to "drop" a class was September 4 for classes that meet the entire semester. 

 In addition to your advice and assistance about how better to prepare and succeed in a class, you may refer students to websites: http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/LRN/ and http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/bettergrades/  for information about tutoring and other resources. These sites are handy for advisors and instructors as well.  Help is available.

 The Dean of Students Office in 128 Knight Hall, 766-3296, is an entry point for student support services—personal, academic, and/or social issues. The staff in this office will coordinate referrals with other university and community services. Go to www.uwyo.edu/DOS and click on DOS Programs/Services.  In cases of extreme distress, sometimes it may be helpful to the student if the advisor or instructor walks the student to the Dean of Students office to make sure they find their way.

 The University Counseling Center in 341 Knight Hall, 766-3412, provides assistance to students regarding personal issues. For detailed information, see www.uwyo.edu/UCC .

Other items of importance connected with the UW withdrawal policy and deadlines:

Ø  Per University Regulation 8-238,  “after the withdrawal period, a student may withdraw from individual classes only if the student has suffered a severe medical, emotional, or personal problem which does directly impact the student’s ability to fulfill course requirements.”  The A&S Dean’s office and the Registrar require the Exception Request form to be accompanied by documentation that supports/justifies the request. This would have to show that the circumstances were beyond the student’s control. Documentation may be doctor’s diagnosis or a funeral program or notice if for a death in the family. If a student has been attending class only sporadically during the semester and now requests a withdrawal or drop after deadlines, and especially has no documentation that shows a serious situation, the instructor does not have to approve the exception request.  

Ø      No class withdrawals are to be allowed during the last 21 calendar days of the semester (Nov. 2-Dec. 4, 2009).

Ø      Students who wish to terminate their enrollment in the University should initiate the procedure with the Dean of Student’s Office before Nov. 24, 2009. No withdrawal from the University is allowed during the final 15 calendar days of the semester.

Deadlines for “changes in registration” such as withdrawals, drops, change of grading method, etc. are listed in each semester ‘s Class Schedule and the Registrar’s web site (Click on “Students” on the top bar and then on “Calendars and Deadlines.” )

Let me know if I can assist you with student-related questions.

Ilona J. Reif  Coordinator, Student Affairs; ireif@uwyo.edu; (307)766-4106  FAX (307)766-2697 College of Arts & Sciences, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3254; 1000 E. University Ave.; Laramie, WY 82071

#10 Orientation Bulletin
Support Services for Students

 As the semester reaches the midpoint and beyond, you may see an increase in anxiety, worry, frustration, and maybe more serious behaviors in your advisees or students in your classes.  When the student presents personal issues/behaviors that appear to require more than your academic assistance and a friendly ear, it may be necessary to encourage them to seek assistance from the professionals at UW.

1. You may refer students to the University Counseling Center when appropriate. If you have concerns or questions about a student or want additional information, contact the Center at 6-2187; 341 Knight Hall.   
    

2.  The Center includes a staff of licensed psychologists and counselors and doctoral students who are completing their training in counseling and psychology n 341 Knight Hall. They are skilled listeners who help students cope more effectively with the stresses that interfere with academic success.  Through individual, group, or couples counseling, crisis intervention, and brief problem-solving sessions students receive assistance with problems that interfere with

v  academic success

v  daily living

v  adjustment to college

3.  The services are free. Any person taking at least 1 credit hour at UW is considered a student and can be seen by the Center.

    4.   Contacting the Center

v  Appointments by students must be made in person at 341 Knight Hall

v  The Center is open between 8 and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

v  For emergencies, call the UCC at 6-2187 during business hours, or you may walk a student over to the Center. 

v  Crisis Help Line 307-766-8989 for after hours and weekends. Ask for the counselor on call.

v  www.uwyo.edu/UCC  --good information including a link to pamphlets on many topics such as anxiety, depression, attention-deficit disorder, stress, test anxiety, study skills, time management, etc.

5. Group counseling is also available (some focus on social interaction, low self esteem, assertiveness training, social anxiety, test anxiety management, grief support.  The format may be educational sometimes with the use of video or film lessons).  Possible group sessions include:

v  Relationship Rescue to improve relationship communication & satisfaction especially on improving/managing romantic relationships.

v  Women’s self-esteem Group     

v  Men’s Counseling Group

v  Non-Traditional Women’s Group

6. The Center also provides alcohol and drug abuse information, referrals, and seminars (the AWARE program--Alcohol Wellness Alternatives, Research and Education).
    
7. Through their Outreach Programming, the staff can provide information seminars and workshops for student groups or faculty/staff groups (see topics on the Web site.

v  “Mental health, adjustment, & developmental topics to student groups to learn skills and strategies to resolve & cope with stress & life adjustment problems. Workshops can also be presented for faculty/staff groups to help them serve students more effectively. “

Ilona J. Reif  Coordinator, Student Affairs; ireif@uwyo.edu; (307)766-4106  FAX (307)766-2697 College of Arts & Sciences, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3254; 1000 E. University Ave.; Laramie, WY 82071

Subject: New Faculty Bulletin #11

STUDENT EVALUATION OF TEACHING

Student Teaching Evaluations are conducted during the last 20% of the contact hours of the scheduled course period each semester.  This semester, the college is implementing on-line evaluations to be administered beginning Nov. 13 and ending Friday, Dec. 4.  The staff in your department will be sending a link to the student in the class via the students’ uwyo e-mail that will explain the importance of the evaluations.

The A&S evaluations have two parts: Question 1 asks students to type their comments on the instructor’s teaching effectiveness, assignments, methods, etc.  Part II consists of  specific questions and uses a 5-point scale for students to indicate  their response to each question.  

You will receive your student evaluations only after you have turned in your grades for the semester.  Check with the office staff in your department about when you should expect to see them. 

The goal is to have 80% of the students in your class provide an evaluation. Please  use the following talking points in class to encourage student participation:

**** Announce several times IN CLASS and through an e-mail via WyoWeb that students will be receiving an e-mail  with the URL link to an on-line evaluation of the class and encourage students to participate.****

            ****Continue to remind students both in class and via WyoWeb once a week to complete an on-line evaluation. ****

Talking Points regarding electronic evaluations for the instructor

Please participate in the electronic on-line teaching evaluation that students will receive via the UWYO e-mail.  The evaluations are critical for faculty development and are a chance for students to express their thoughts and experiences. 

Reasons for participating in on-line evaluation: 

·         convenient,

·         private,

·         anonymous,

·         students will have more of a chance to develop ideas outside a classroom,

·         if taking only 4 A&S classes, you will only be asked to complete up to 4 evaluations

·         once the evaluation is completed, you will receive no further e-mail messages.

·         once the evaluation is submitted, students cannot access it a second time to make changes.

·         If you don’t receive an e-mail, please contact the department secretary.

It is suggested that a person disassociated with the class could drop into class during the FIRST WEEK to explain the process.

It’s a good idea to read your evaluations with someone in your department who is familiar with the course(s) you teach and with the normal kinds of responses of students in those courses.  That person can help you understand if your student evaluations are in the “normal” range for your department and those courses.  The evaluations, especially, the comments, can be useful to you in helping to improve your teaching.  Your teaching mentor can also help you understand how to read the student evaluations in ways that are helpful to you.

UW Regulation 5-800 governs the student evaluations of teaching. 

Sharon Brown, Staff Assistant, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3254, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071.  Non-US Postal Service Packages:  16th Street and Gibbon Street instead of 1000 E. University Avenue.  Tel:  307-766-4106     Fax: 307-766-2697

PEER REVIEW

UW Regulation 5-800 also mandates that “each college or department shall design a process and timeline for peer evaluation of its academic teaching personnel. The right to challenge peer evaluation results or to make a written statement to accompany the results of the evaluation process as they are distributed, is the prerogative of any teacher, department/division head, dean, or appropriate committee.”

The  College of Arts and Sciences requires peer review of teaching in years 2,  and 6.  Guidelines for conducting these peer reviews can be found as Peer Evaluation Guidelines. The Department Head selects the reviewers, not the person being reviewed.

Additionally in the spring you will received for each set of student evaluations a GDI (Grade Differential Index) report. The GDI indicates how the average grade in a specific course relates to the average grades in other courses taken by the same students in the same semester. During the tenure and promotion process, it is frequently claimed that student evaluations are related to grading practices.  “He receives positive student comments because he is such an easy grader.”   Or, “Students don’t like me because I am such a rigorous grader as compared to my colleagues.”  The GDI allows one to empirically test these statements and look for trends.

Audrey Shalinsky, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3254, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071.  Non-US Postal Service Packages:  16th Street and Gibbon Street instead of 1000 E. University Avenue.  Tel:  307-766-4106     Fax: 307-766-2697