Orientation-Bulletins for new faculty - 2007
Bulletin #1--from Greg Brown

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.
3. Unless other arrangements have been made in writing, and approved by the Dean’s Office, all new faculty start-up funds are to be spent or obligated within two academic years. In your case this deadline is 30 June 2009.

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 #2--from Ilona Reif

Subject: New Faculty Information #2, September 2007
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 their intended courses and sections. They should also check any waitlisted status. As an instructor you should also look at your class roster and check if you have students on the waitlist and check for open spaces in which waitlisted students may be rolled. 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 instructor or department office and subsequently charged for the course but they no longer needed that course. It really is the students’ responsibility to monitor their own waitlisted status, but a reminder to all students to check their class schedule on WyoWeb is preventive and helps the new students to learn the system.


2. Thursday, Sept. 6 is the last day that students can drop or change sections in full-semester courses on WyoWeb. There will be no record of the enrollment in that course on the student’s transcript if it is done by the end of Sept. 6.

3. After Sept. 6 and through Friday, November 2 is the last day students may withdraw from a semester course using the online withdrawal form or paper copy. A “W” will be noted on the student’s transcript.

4. Monday, Sept. 10 is the last day students can add a semester course, change sections, or change grading method in semester courses. Students may be reminded that they should check their WyoWeb schedule to make sure their class schedule is as they intend, including the grading method (A/F or S/U) to save paperwork or online petitions during the semester.

5. After the deadlines to drop, add, or withdraw, students must use the online or printed copy of the Exception Request Form using either the online or printed Exception Request Form. If they need to do this, they must include on/with that form substantial justification/documentation. If a drop is approved by all the required signatures, there will be no record of the course on the student’s transcript. A withdrawal after the deadline will be recorded as a “W.”

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.

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

Bulletin #3--from Greg Brown

Basic Research Grants:

Basic Research Grants (BRGs) are offered by the College of Arts & Sciences to support research projects and creative activities. You should have received a notice about them already. In case you didn't I'm attaching the call for proposals and the application information.

Preference for these awards is given to junior faculty, so you have a good change in this competition. This is especially true if you didn't receive large start-up funds.


Proposals are due to your department head by September 28. Department heads rank applications and forward them to the Deans Office by Oct. 8.

Let me know if you have questions.
Application can be obtained through the Faculty Handbook – A-Z directory under “B”
http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&s/Faculty%20Handbook/FacHandbook.asp

Bulletin #4 -- from Dale Walker

Welcome to Laramie! I’d like to introduce you to the Development Office, which serves the College of Arts and Sciences. Jan Romsa is Development Assistant, and I am Senior Director of Development. Jan and I share a suite of offices on the first floor in the southeast corner of the Arts and Sciences building. Our colleague Sid Walter, the Associate Director of Development, works up on the second floor with a fourth team member, Garrett Danburg, Assistant Director of Development. The four of us seek to build the resources available to the College.

While everyone in development does a little bit of everything, Sid in particular organizes our events and helps make sure we show our donors the thanks they deserve. Jan also keeps us on track with saying thank you to donors and more generally anchors our office. Garrett focuses on increasing annual, unrestricted giving to A&S by talking with alumni and friends. I too try to get out of the office as much as I can to meet alumni and friends and solicit their support. I also work with Dean Walter and 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 nimble and responsive I can be when I talk to donors; nevertheless, my marching orders come from the dean. To be a change agent, you’ll have to push your ideas up through your department head and the deans.

Dean Walter has 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’s development officer.

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.

While raising money is our primary goal, you will see the development team doing things that help A&S more generally. We take the lead in organizing the Morning of Courses and the Keith and Thyra Thomson Honors Convocation each October. I say we, but I should really give credit to Sid and Jan. 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. (And apologies to Sid and Jan if I just said we again.)

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!


Dale Walker
 

Bulletin #5 - Audrey Shalinsky

Grading, Academic Dishonesty and Attendance

I hope you have a good syllabus for each course you are teaching.  (See Section III under General Principles of Unireg 29: http://www.uwyo.edu/legal/Uniregs/ur029.htm). There is a syllabus template on the Registrar’s website.  Click on faculty/staff and then on University Course committee and you will find it.

Attendance:  If you will calculate the final course grade using a grade for attendance, be sure your syllabus is clear.  Repeating the requirement several times during the semester is a good idea.  Student absences including "authorized" absences are covered in Unireg 713:  http://www.uwyo.edu/legal/Uniregs/ur713.htm.  You must give students the opportunity to make up the work missed by authorized absences without penalty. -- Generally, you may not require students to meet or take an exam outside of the times that appeared in the Class Schedule; see Unireg 405 for details: http://www.uwyo.edu/legal/Uniregs/ur405.htm   

Grading:  Be sure to follow the grading method described in your syllabus.  Any changes should be distributed to all and discussed in class.  Not following your stated grading method is capricious evaluation and may lead to grade appeals.  Of course, avoid capricious treatment and prejudice toward the student.  Grade appeal procedures are at  http://www.uwyo.edu/a&s/Appeals_Dishonesty/guidelines_Appeals.htm .

Academic Dishonesty:  Again, the syllabus or a printed assignment should have made clear what you consider to be academic dishonesty.  For example, may students work together, and, if so, what work should they present to you?  If you suspect academic dishonesty, the instructor (you or a TA you supervise) must first meet with the department head before accusing the student.  I always recommend a faculty witness when you make the accusation.  A website and instructor's checklist are provided to help you through the process:  http://www.uwyo.edu/a&s/Appeals_Dishonesty/guidelines_Dishonesty.htm   

Feel free to contact me if you have questions.

--Audrey

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

Bulletin #6 - October College Events

We want to hear about you—your publications, grants, performances, recognitions and awards, etc. Help us build the A&S reputation for high quality. Send information to Diana Hill (dream@uwyo.edu) or Audrey Shalinsky (ashal@uwyo.edu )

October brings two college activities of note.

Morning of Courses, Friday, October 12, at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in West Yellowstone Ballroom with a half-hour coffee break/reception at 10.

This is a good chance to hear excellent faculty from the Department of Mathematics speak about their research. You’ll also have a chance to meet some of the A&S Board of Visitors, a group of alumni and friends who support the college in fund raising, student recruitment, and community relations.

Keith and Thyra Thomson Honors Convocation, Friday, October 12, at 3:00 p.m. in the A&S Auditorium.

This year, Faculty will meet in the Wyoming Union Pre-function room to line up behind a drum-line across campus to the Auditorium. Those who would rather not process across campus will meet in A&S 139, and process to the auditorium (no academic regalia needed). The convocation recognizes students on the Freshman, Dean’s, and President’s Honor Rolls. The program features student speakers and performers and a guest keynote speaker. A reception follows.

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

 

Bulletin #7 Mid-semester grades

Subject:                 New Faculty Information #7

Mid-semester Grades

     Grades for students in your classes must be entered on WyoWeb.  The deadline for entering the mid-term grades is Wednesday, October 24 at NOON.  But what is the purpose of these grades?

     Although mid-semester grades should be assigned to students in all undergraduate classes, they are most important for freshmen, sophomores, and newly transferred students.  The grade serves as a warning of poor performance or as notice that the student is enrolled for a course that s/he is not attending.  In either case, the student has an opportunity to withdraw or to improve performance.  Academic advisors also are informed about their struggling advisees.  The grades do not predict the students' final course grades!!  But the student has more knowledge about your grading that enables informed decisions.

     The only grades permitted at mid-semester are below.  They do not become part of the student's permanent record.

P – Pass For students performing A, B or C level
D -- Poor
F -- Failure (may also be assigned as a grade for failure to attend or to indicate failure to formally withdraw)
S -- Satisfactory (equivalent to a C or better) in cases where the class is offered for S/U or the student has elected the S/U option
U -- Unsatisfactory (equivalent to a D or F) in cases where the class is offered for S/U or the student has elected the S/U option
UK -- Unknown or unknown; unable to compute grade 

      UK may be assigned if you have insufficient performance assessments to make a determination of a grade.  A grade of NR will be recorded if you do not submit  a grade  by the deadline. 

     I urge you to assign mid-semester grades to aid your students.  If you note any discrepancies in numbers of credits or students enrolled, please report them to the Registrar.

Personal assistance can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or call 766-5272 for phone assistance.  Directions for entering grades are also available via the memo sent via e-mail and addenda to this note.

--Audrey Shalinsky

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

 

Office of the Registrar
Dept 3964, 1000 E. University Avenue •  Laramie, WY 82071-3964
(307) 766-5272 • fax (307) 766-3960 • e-mail: registrar@uwyo.edu • www.uwyo.edu/registrar

TO:                 UW Faculty Members

FROM:           Tammy L. Aagard, University Registrar

DATE:                        October 2, 2007

SUBJECT:      Mandatory Mid-Term Grades: Due Noon, October 24,  2007

 

Grade submission for fall 2007 midterm grades is now available through WyoWeb.  The Office of the Registrar no longer prints grade rosters (bubble sheets).  The following memo includes

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

 1.      Midterm Grade Information 

UNIREG 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 

UNIREG 722 indicates that the following grades may be assigned at midterm:

             P      =   Passing (equivalent to a C or better)

            D     =   Poor

            F      =   Failure (may be assigned as a grade for failure to attend, for academic dishonesty, or to indicate failure to formally withdraw)

            S      =   Satisfactory (equivalent to a C or better [B or better in courses numbered 5000 or above]; may be assigned only in courses designated S/U or in courses which the student has requested S/U)

            U     =   Unsatisfactory (equivalent to a D or F [C, D, or F in courses numbered 5000 or above]; may be assigned only in courses designated S/U or in courses which the student has requested S/U)

            UK =    Unable to determine midterm grade

            NONE=Automatically assigned by the registrar’s office when a grade is not reported

 The grade report accessible by students contains the statement “The mid-semester grade received in any particular class reflects the assessment of student performance during the first portion of the semester only.”

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 24th

 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, November 2.

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

 Your cooperation is appreciated!

Bulletin #8 - Withdrawal policy

We are close to the downhill side of the semester with midterm grades due on WyoWeb October 24, loaded by noon. Advising week is Oct. 29 - Nov. 2, 2007, 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, 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 classes is Friday, November 2, 2007. 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. The last day to "drop" a class was September 6 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 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 Programs/Services.

 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 Unireg 238 revision 3,  “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 only sporadically during the semester and now requests a withdrawal or drop after Nov. 2, 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 the last 21 calendar days of the semester (Nov. 16-Dec. 7, 2007).

Ø      Students who wish to terminate their enrollment in the University should initiate the procedure with the Dean of Student’s Office. Withdrawal from the university is not permitted during the last 15 calendar days of the semester (last day to withdraw from the University is Nov. 30, 2007). 

 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
 

Bulletin #9   Subject: New Faculty Information #9

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 professional at UW.

  1. You may refer students to the Center when appropriate. If you have concerns or questions about a student or want additional information, contact the Center at 6-2187. 
  1.  A staff of licensed psychologists and counselors and doctoral students who are completing their training in counseling and psychology in the University Counseling Center in 341 Knight Hall 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

  1. 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 hoursor 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.

  1. 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). Currently, the Center’s web site lists the following groups:

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 

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

v  “Mental health, adjustment, & developmental topics to learn skills and strategies to resolve & cope with stress & life adjustment problems. For faculty and 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 #10

STUDENT EVALUATION OF TEACHING 

Student Teaching Evaluations are conducted during the last three weeks of class each semester.  This semester, they will be administered beginning Nov. 19 and ending Friday, Dec. 7.  They must be administered by a University employee other than the instructor.  That person is given a “read-out” sheet to read to the class when administering the evaluations, explaining the importance of the evaluations.

The A&S evaluations have two parts:  Part I asks students to write their comments on the instructor’s teaching effectiveness, assignments, methods, etc.  Those comments are to be typed before they are given to you.  Part II asks specific questions and uses a 5-point scale for students to indicate  their response to each question.  Part  II responses are averaged and reported to you on a report form. http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&s/Heads_manual_files/Section-II.asp#Teaching_Evaluations

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.  Since the comments all have to be typed, it takes a while to get all the student evaluations ready to give to faculty/APs.

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.

Unireg 800 governs the student evaluations of teaching.  It can be found at  http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/legal/Uniregs/ur800.htm

PEER REVIEW

Unireg 800 also mandates “a documented professional (peer/colleague or department head) review of untenured instructors during their fourth year of teaching at the University, or one year prior to the year of decision on tenure, whichever comes first. This review must utilize such items as course syllabus, tests, texts used, course structure and content, and observed teaching performance as well as student evaluations of teaching.” 

In addition, the College of Arts and Sciences requires peer review of teaching in years 2, 4 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.

 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

Subject: New Faculty Bulletin #11

A&S Commencement

Commencements are special events for Students, and the college proudly hosts both December and May ceremonies; which celebrate the achievements of our students.

Ø       December commencement is geared toward those students who finish their degree program in the fall semester

Ø       May commencement is primarily for those students who finish in May and August.

Each commencement depends on the active involvement of our faculty and staff. Department heads attend the ceremony and carry the department standard behind which the graduates from each department march. We encourage department faculty and academic professionals to participate in the processional and form a reception line to congratulate their students as they exit the stage. A strong turnout of faculty and academic professionals greatly adds to the festivity of the occasion for family and friends of the students. 

 Mark your calendar :

 December Commencement A&S Auditorium 

 Arrive in A&S 139 by 6:00 p.m.

Friday, December 7  

Ceremony begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. 

May Commencement Arena Auditorium

Arrive at UniWyo Sports Complex (http://www.uwyo.edu/tour/east.asp) by 1:00 p.m.

 Saturday, May  10

Ceremony begins promptly at 1:30 p.m .

Sharon Brown

Staff Assistant
University of Wyoming
College of Arts & Sciences
Dept 3254, 1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY  82072
(307) 766-4106
(307) 766-2697 FAX
sbrown@uwyo.edu

Subject: New Faculty Bulletin #12

Grades of Incomplete (I) (formerly known as a grade of X)

             According to Unireg 720 http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/legal/Uniregs/ur720.htm

"...a grade of I is a temporary grade assigned in those rare instances when no other grade will insure justice to the student." The student usually begins the process by requesting this opportunity from the instructor. The student or the instructor may submit the "Authorization of Incomplete" online at http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/registrar/faculty.asp  (click on Faculty tab at the top) or print a hard copy to submit to the Registrar’s office. The form is also available at the Office of the Registrar.   Incomplete grades must be submitted when all other semester grades are due.

             It is up to the instructor to determine if the request is an appropriate, justified need for the student to have more time to finish an assignment, test, final research paper or project due to a circumstance occurring late in the semester and beyond the student's control (such as becoming sick during exam week or during the test or other end-of-the semester emergencies).

            Instructors should not feel pressured to agree to an incomplete if the student would essentially have to repeat most of the assignments in the course. Instructors may also consider the student's attendance and quality of work during the semester as well as the nature of the course making a decision on the request.  

            There is a 120-day limit from the last day of the semester in which the course was taken for the instructor to submit the earned grade to the Office of the Registrar. The deadline you set for the student to finish the assigned work should allow you time to grade it. However, you may determine an earlier deadline date than the 120 days--this is up to you and the nature of the remaining work. Please make sure you include on the form, the due date for the student to complete the work and the date you will submit the new grade to the Registrar. 

            The form for the Removal of a Grade of Incomplete is also on the Registrar’s web page.  If the student has not completed the work after the 120 days and you have not turned in this form, the incomplete will revert to an F. 

If there are extenuating circumstances and the student "has suffered a problem that has precluded timely completion of required work" you may authorize an Extension of Incomplete (also on the Registrar’s web site).

             Check out the Unireg for details.

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 #13

Final grades memo fall 07.doc from Tammy Aagard, Registrar.

Final Exams—Fall 2007 Final Examination Schedule is online on the Registrar’s page at http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/Registrar/Fall2007/fa07final.pdf .  Please make sure that all your exams are listed.  If you have any questions about the scheduled times, contact the Office of the Registrar, Sara Robinson 766-5722 sarar@uwyo.edu .

 Note that students with two exams at the same time or more than two exams in one day are entitled to seek alleviation of this. If they desire an accommodation, they should contact the Registrar’s Office NO LATER than Dec. 3, 2007 for the appropriate form and verification.  

 Please see page two of the Final Examination Booklet, especially the section titled, Conflicts for details relating to the “burdened” instructor who has the responsibility of giving an examination for the student at another time.  

 Final grades for the semester should be posted online no later than noon on Dec. 20.

 Thank you and enjoy the holiday season!

 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 #14

The attached Orientation Bulletin is the last one for the fall 2007 and is sent to you by Greg Brown, Associate Dean.
The very next communiqué will ask you to evaluate the Orientation Bulletin concept, topics, and timeliness.
Thank you