| Orientation-Bulletins for new faculty - 2009 | ||
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Orientation Bulletin #1--from Gracie
Lawson-Borders 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.
Please let me know if you have any questions concerning your start-up. I sincerely hope that your fall semester is productive and enjoyable.
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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 |
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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. |
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Bulletin #3 - Basic
Research Grants 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 chance 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 25.
Department heads rank applications and forward them to the Deans Office by
Oct. 3. 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#B
Gracie Lawson-Borders |
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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 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
Welcome to UW and best wishes for a successful career! Oliver Walter, Dean |
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Orientation Bulletin #5 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 |
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Bulletin #6 – Public Relations Fall Deadlines Spring Deadlines September 4, 2009 January 11, 2010 October 16, 2009 February 19, 2010 November 13, 2009 April 16, 2010
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#7 Orientation Bulletin Keith and
Thyra Thomson Honors Convocation 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
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#8 Midterm grades
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:
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 UW Regulation 6-722 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
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:
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! |
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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 |
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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.
v academic success v daily living v adjustment to college
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.
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
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
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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 |
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