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Faculty Handbooks and PoliciesInformation for Part-time FacultyCONTENTS Mission and Vision Statements I. Introduction
Source for Individual
Empowerment- We will assist students,
faculty, staff, alumni, and community members in their intellectual and social
growth. Penn State Altoona will assist our constituents in
reaching their full personal potential with integrity, so they may be active
citizens and leaders in their families, professions, organizations, and
communities. Source for Economic
Development- We will sustain our
institution as a center for advanced technology and the preeminent
educational force for economic development in Blair and surrounding
counties. Penn State Altoona will produce knowledgeable and
skilled graduates, and will provide a wide array of life-long activities to
maintain and improve the skills of our community
members. Source for Cultural Enrichment- We endeavor to enhance and diversify the culture
of our community by uniting our constituencies and by establishing international
partnerships. Penn State Altoona serves as a center for the
arts and humanities and a major force in the community's cultural
development. We will continue to foster a diverse cultural
environment by hosting nationally and internationally prominent speakers and
performing artists, and by presenting an array of artistic and cultural events
that celebrate local, national, and international cultures.
Penn State Altoona's mission is to engage our students,
the local community, and the Commonwealth in the application and dissemination
of knowledge through our teaching, research and outreach programs supported by a
diverse and intellectually sustaining environment. Learning: We value learning in all its
forms—classroom and individual learning, outside-of-the-classroom learning,
faculty research, and the assessment and improvement of our own academic
and administrative processes. We seek to cultivate a life-long respect for
learning. Innovation: We value continual innovation in all our
processes, including our core processes of teaching, research, scholarship,
creative activity, and outreach. Assessment of these core
processes is integral to achieving innovation and
improvement. Student-Centered Development: We value close rapport with our students
and our community. We serve as role models and foster
collaboration. We value the development of our students and
encourage them to take responsibility for their learning and
actions. This includes developing an appreciation and respect
for people from diverse backgrounds or those who exhibit diverse types of
thinking. Citizenship: We
value active participation in society and its broader culture.
We strive to prepare students to serve as leaders and citizens of their
local and global communities.
INFORMATION FOR PART-TIME FACULTY I. Introduction II. Penn State Altoona
History In 1940, the original citizens committee for the Campus became the Citizens Advisory Board. The Advisory Board raised funds to turn the old Madison grade school into a sophomore science laboratory. World War II almost forced the campus to close. Men went to war, women went to work, and there simply was not enough student support from Altoona alone. The Citizens Advisory Board purchased and operated a women's dormitory from 1944 through 1947 to save the A.U.C. Out-of-town women registered, and the board agreed to finance operating deficits. By 1946 returning veterans overfilled Webster and Madison buildings. The Advisory Board purchased 38 acres of the old Ivyside Amusement Park in Juniata Gap after raising $50,000. The most significant accomplishment of that period was the renovation of a two block long dressing room into what became affectionately known as "Bathhouse U." Nearly all of the amusement buildings were converted to good use. The shooting gallery became a chemistry building, the refreshment stand became a steam plant, and the skating rink a student union center and cafeteria. In 1949, A.U.C. was the focal point for Penn State extension and operations in Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Huntingdon, Fulton, and Somerset counties. Enrollments increased giving from the community. Four hundred thousand dollars were pledged to build the E. Raymond Smith Building, the first of the modern brick structures that would be erected at Ivyside during the next quarter century. In 1958, with the opening of the Smith Building, the Altoona Undergraduate Center was renamed the Altoona Campus of The Pennsylvania State University--as the result of a standardization of all campus names in the University. Incorporation of the associate degree programs in engineering and business of the 1950s brought many more "out-of-town" students to Altoona. The need for resident housing and larger, more adequate student recreational activity areas became urgent. The first residence hall and Slep Student Center opened in 1964 at a cost of $1,250,000. By 1966, 2,000 students were enrolled at the Altoona Campus; 1,000 in resident instruction and another 1,000 in continuing education. The Advisory Board raised $1,100,000 in 1966 to be matched by state and federal funds to build a library-learning center, science buildings, physical education facilities, second residence hall, and food services building. All were completed by 1971 at a total outlay of almost $6,500,000. The Edith Davis Eve Chapel, built entirely with privately subscribed funds, brought to thirteen the number of buildings on the growing Altoona Campus, once described by Eric Walker as, "The Flagship of Penn State's Commonwealth Campus System." An addition to the Steven A. Adler Physical Education Complex opened in the Fall of 1977. The new complex houses an NCAA Competitive swimming pool, handball courts, an all-purpose room, locker and shower rooms, and offices. In 1996, a weight room addition was completed. The Community Arts Center and the Computer and Learning Resources Center opened Fall 1989 and the Maintenance and Operations Building opened Summer 1993. In 2006, the Community Arts Center was renamed the Misciagna Family Center. Since 1995, nearly $30 million in new and renovated building projects has provided the foundation for shift to college status. In July 1997, Penn State Altoona attained the status of a college within the University with the authority to grant baccalaureate degrees. This change in status coincided with the completion of the Ralph and Helen Force Advanced Technology Center, which houses our engineering technology programs, and our College's growth to 4,000 students. The Sheetz Family Health Center opened in Spring 2003, and houses the Health and Wellness Center, the nursing program and faculty, and a private doctor's office. The new classroom building, Hawthorn, was completed in December 2004 and houses the growing baccalaureate programs at Penn State Altoona. We offer Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology, Business, Criminal Justice, Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, Elementary and Kindergarten Education-Elementary Education Teaching option, Human Development and Family Studies-Community Human Services option, Mathematics, Nursing, Psychology, and Science. We also offer Bachelor of Arts degrees in Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Communications, Criminal Justice, English, Environmental Studies, History, Integrative Arts, Mathematics, Psychology and Visual Art Studies. Penn State Altoona also offers associate degrees in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Electrical Engineering Technology, Human Development and Family Studies, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Nursing, and Science. III. Administrative
Organization A. Chancellor B. Academic Affairs Academic Affairs staff includes: the Director of Planning and Program Development, Carl Larsen (W120 Smith, 949-5282, CKL7@psu.edu), who oversees planning, program development, accreditation, and student/faculty complaints; the College Librarian, Timothy Wherry (222 Eiche, 949-5255, tlw6@psu.edu), who manages the library; the Instructional Development Specialist, Drew McGhee (127 Eiche, 949-5082, drm6@psu.edu), who assists in faculty development programs and other instructional services; the Senior DUS Programs Coordinator, Joann Shaffer (C106 Smith, 949-5158, jxs5@psu.edu), who oversees academic advising and FTCAP; the Registrar, Maggie McNulty (E130 Smith, 949-5035, mbm7@psu.edu); and Coordinator of the Learning Resources Center, Paula Ford (203 LRC, 949-5112, pxf3@psu.edu), who oversees tutoring and other academic support services. Providing support to faculty and staff who develop requests for external funding of research, teaching, and service is the responsibility of the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, LA Wilson (W110 Smith, 949-5768, law21@psu.edu) in his role as Director of Research and Sponsored Programs (http://www.altoona.psu.edu/grants/). The Assistant Dean, LA Wilson, is also responsible for planning academic and administrative computing and network services for this campus as the Director of Academic Information Technology (http://www.altoona.psu.edu/spcit/). C. Business Operations D. Continuing Education and Training E. Development F. Finance G. Student Affairs H. Athletics I. Admissions J. University Relations IV. Faculty Organization
1. Division of Arts and
Humanities 2. Division of Business and
Engineering 3. Division of Education, Human
Development, and Social Sciences 4. Division of Mathematics and
Natural Sciences B. Faculty Senate The standing committees of the Senate are as follows: the Executive Committee; the Committee on Committees; the Committee on Academic Affairs; the Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, Student Aid, and Athletic Standards (with a standing Subcommittee on Intercollegiate Athletics); the Committee on Budgets, College Planning, and University Development; the Committee on Curricular Affairs; the Committee on Faculty Affairs; the Committee on Information Technology; the Committee on Student Life; and the Social Committee. V. Instructional ExpectationsA. The Syllabus A written syllabus must be distributed to students in each course within the first ten calendar days of a semester or its equivalent. In addition to course content and expectations, the syllabus must include the course examination policy, basis for grades, and academic integrity policy for the course. Changes to the syllabus shall also be given to the student in writing. (See Senate Policies-43-00, 47-40, 47-60, 48-40, 49-20). The clearer the information that is provided to students (especially in written form), the easier it is for you, Division Heads, or the Associate Dean to resolve student complaints. The syllabus is the primary document (along with grade and attendance records) consulted in grade disputes. During the first class meeting, it is very important to clearly define what is expected of students in performance, behavior, and relevant policy areas and to reinforce this with written statements in your syllabus. Preferably, your policies and expectations should be stated in the most positive terms possible. NOTE: Significant changes to the syllabus and course expectations should be
provided to the students in writing. Only in rare circumstances
(emergencies, etc.) should significant changes be made to the course
requirements after the last action date (late drop) in the semester. Syllabus Basics: The syllabus should include the following basic information: your name, class name and number, campus phone number, voice mailbox number, email address (if you have not opened an account, please contact Kim Auker, 949-5356), and where appropriate, web page address. It should also include your office hours, a list of required books, or other necessary materials which the student must acquire independently. It should also include information on the College class cancellation procedures, as well as any additional means for informing students about the cancellation of classes. The syllabus should also include a calendar with dates of class meetings, as well as the written, oral, and reading assignments due on each date. You may also want to identify holidays and the date and time of the final examination (see the Registrar's office web site for the date and time of your examination). Course Expectations: For each course that you are teaching, you should identify goals and objectives for each student to achieve. The grading in the course should reflect the attainment of these objectives. Students should be called to action in explaining the course expectations. You may explain that the course will be difficult, but that they have the skills to be successful and that you (and other members of the college community) will do everything in your power to assist them to succeed. "The distribution of time between class activities and outside preparation varies from course to course; however, for the average student, a total of at least forty (40) hours of work planned and arranged by the University faculty is required to gain 1 credit (Senate Policy 42-23)." Instructors may also want to use the syllabus (or other handouts) to provide an explanation of major assignments, including lengthy discussions of content, form, and criteria for their evaluation. Clear and specific information on content, form, and criteria for evaluation can assist students in responding to course expectations, and can also assist in resolving student disputes about grades. Course Policies: The syllabus should provide basic policies, and explain to students the basic assumptions about appropriate behavior and actions. You cannot assume that students know your policies prior to attendance in class. The syllabus should also establish the appropriate decorum and rules of classroom meetings and behavior. This may include whether or not you expect students to raise their hands prior to speaking, whether or not you expect them to bring their books to class or to turn off cell phones prior to the start of class, and other aspects of classroom behavior. The syllabus should also include your rules on cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. You should discuss and clarify the application of University and College academic integrity policies in your course. A statement on academic integrity is required by University Senate Rules (see Senate Policy 49-20). A sample academic integrity statement appears in Appendix 3, and Senate Policy can be found at http://www.psu.edu/ufs/policies/. Procedures for handling academic integrity cases can be found later in this handbook. The syllabus should also contain your policies on class
attendance, tardiness, participation, make-up exams and quizzes, extra credit
work and other bonuses, due dates and the like. Especially,
be careful to explain how such factors could "override" the formula or general
grading practice referred to above. Providing clear policy
statements can ease the resolution of any complaints raised by students over
grades, absences, etc. Any changes to your syllabus should be
explained to the students, and provided in writing. Exams: Non-final exams should be scheduled during
the regularly scheduled class time. The holding of evening examinations in
courses not normally scheduled in the evening shall be permitted only when all the
following conditions are fulfilled: consent of the Chancellor of the
college in which the course is taught is obtained; the evening examinations are
scheduled in advance with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and announced
to the students during the first week of the semester; and no more than four
such examinations are scheduled in any one semester in any course. See
Senate Rules and Policies, 44-30, at http://www.psu.edu/ufs/policies/. Attendance: According to University Senate Policy 42-27, "Instructors should provide, within reason, opportunity to make up work for students who miss class for regularly scheduled, University-approved curricular and extracurricular activities." If the instructor believes that a student's legitimate absences are hurting their performance, the instructor should provide a written statement about the impact of absences on the student's performance to their Division Head for review. The Division Head will consult with the Associate Dean about an appropriate course of action. Missing class for varsity athletic contests is an excused absence. Varsity student-athletes are to provide each of their instructors with the regular schedule of competitions and departure times for away contests early in the semester. However, some events (playoffs, re-scheduled competitions, etc.) may not be available at the beginning of the semester, and student-athletes are expected to notify their instructors about these events as soon as possible. These late scheduled events should be treated as legitimate absences by all faculty. Each student-athlete is responsible for making up any missed work. If you have any questions about the dates of athletic events or a student-athlete, please contact Fredina Ingold, Director of Athletics (949-5410, FMI1@psu.edu). B. Grading The syllabus should contain a detailed explanation of your grading practices, especially how the final grade will be determined. If you will compute the final grade on the basis of a formula involving percentages or points, please describe the formula specifically. If you will use some other holistic or impressionistic system, please say so and describe your system as specifically as you can. Some sample grading statements appear in Appendix 2. Again, the clearer the information provided to students, the fewer complaints or other problems are likely to emerge, and those that do are easier to resolve. Any changes in your grading system or assignments should be presented to the class in writing. Remember that it is possible for you to assign an individual or final grade more lenient than required by the standard you have defined in your syllabus if you think that it is appropriate to do so. (You may also decide to accept additional extra credit work that you have described ahead of time.) However, it is not possible to impose a stricter standard than you have defined. Therefore, it is important to think carefully about your policies ahead of time and to express them clearly in the syllabus, and to reinforce them orally and perhaps on individual assignment sheets as well. There are ways to retain flexibility in assignments, grading, and penalties. Please consult with your Division Head, and experienced faculty in your area if you need assistance. It is important that instructors gain a sense of the standard of performance that is the Penn State norm. This is best achieved by discussing with your Division Head, your discipline or program coordinator, and especially senior faculty members in your discipline what their standards are for success and failure in courses. On an individual basis, you may contact colleagues who are senior instructors and ask them to share their tests and their grading to compare with your standards so that you have a better sense of what other faculty members are requiring of students in similar courses. It is not a good situation to have two different students in two identical courses being asked to achieve different standards and receiving different grades for having achieved those standards. Instructors are not asked to be untrue to themselves. However, instructors are encouraged to work out the dilemma of aligning their standards with those of their colleagues after receiving advice from senior members in their discipline. Keep good records of grades, attendance, and other factors used to compute the final grade for at least one year. Grade books are available from your staff assistant for this purpose. C. Deferred Grades, No Grade, Change of
Grade To insure clarity and minimize grade disputes, the instructor who has approved a deferred-grade request should complete the Deferred Grade Form, have the student sign the form, and file a copy with their divisional office. No Grade (NG) is an option that an instructor should use if all grades are ready for submission, with the exception of one or two students. Enter the grade on-line with the NG grade for the student in question. NG grades can be changed electronically until the student has been grade reported (all grades for that student have been submitted) or until the grade reporting deadline (typically, 48 hours after the final exam period). Otherwise, use the grade change authorization to report late grades. The deadline to assign final grades to NG is four weeks beyond the end of the semester, or grade reverts to an F. (Senate Policy 48-50) Please note as per Senate Policy 48-20.3, "when a student registers for a course but ceases to attend class without officially dropping the course, the student is to be given a grade of "F" for the course."Grade changes are appropriate if a final grade has been assigned but a miscalculation or error in recording on the part of the instructor has occurred. Use the grade change form in eLion to report the new grade. Corrected grades must be changed within one year of the end of the semester in question. (Senate Policy 48-30) Grades should not be changed for reasons other than miscalculation or error in recording. D. Grade Mediation and Adjudication"Grades shall be assigned to individual students on the basis of the instructor's judgment of the student's scholastic achievement as set forth in Section 47-60. This specifically includes the instructor's judgment regarding an appropriate academic sanction for academic dishonesty defined in Section 49-20. The instructor should provide written notification of the basis for grades to students within the first ten calendar days of a semester or its equivalent. Any changes in that basis should likewise be presented to students in writing." See Senate Rules and Policies for Students-47-20 Basis for Grades: See AAPPM -- G-10: Grade Mediation and Adjudication 1. Occasionally, a disagreement arises in the assignment of a grade. A student who wishes to question or challenge the grade assigned in a course must first discuss grading practices and assignments with the instructor. It is expected that the student and instructor will try to eliminate any misunderstandings and will attempt to work out any disagreements over grades. Some examples of the basis for a legitimate disagreement could include, but are not limited to the following: • The instructor did not inform the student of the basis for calculation of grades as required in 47-20.2. If the meeting with the instructor fails to resolve the issue, the student contacts the appropriate Division Head to arrange mediation. The Division Head will arrange a meeting with student and instructor to mediate dispute. 3. If the issue is still not resolved, the student is directed to the Associate Dean. The Associate Dean will request that the student put his or her concerns about the grade into writing, and will also request information from the instructor, including a copy of the syllabus, an indication of any changes to the syllabus and whether or not they were made in writing (with copies of written notification), a list of the student's grades for each assignment with indication of their relative weight and the final grade, and a statement about any other factors which impacted on the grade, such as attendance, late assignments, participation, academic integrity, etc. The Associate Dean will also request a statement from the Division Head about efforts to mediate dispute, including an indication of key issues or problems. A meeting will then be arranged with the Associate Dean, student, and instructor to mediate the dispute. 4. If the issue is still not resolved, the student must complete the Grade Adjudication Petition Form and turn this into the office of the Associate Dean. This form must be turned into the Associate Dean's office no later than the Friday of fifth week of the semester following the semester in which the disputed grade was received. The Associate Dean will review the petition to determine if the student's complaint provides evidence that the instructor's assignment of the grade is in violation of Senate Policy 47-20 and may decide that the petition does not meet the criteria for grade adjudication. In such cases, the grade will stand. If the Associate Dean believes that the student's petition does meet the criteria for grade adjudication, the Associate Dean may solicit additional information from the instructor. If upon review of the instructor's response the Associate Dean concludes that the grade assignment does not conform to Senate Policy 47-20, the Associate Dean will determine a course of action that may include a recommendation for an amended grade. The instructor must respond within ten days. The Associate Dean will then provide the student and the instructor with notification of the instructor's response and a brief summary of the reasons for the decision. 5. The student or the instructor may appeal the recommendation of the Associate Dean to the Chancellor of the college within 10 days of receipt. If neither the student nor the instructor wishes to appeal the decision, and the grade assignment was found to conform with Senate Policy 47-20, the grade will stand. If neither the student nor the instructor wishes to appeal the recommendation, and the grade assignment was found to violate Senate Policy 47-20, the Associate Dean will appoint an ad hoc committee of 2-3 faculty with appropriate disciplinary expertise. The ad hoc committee will recommend a grade. The Associate Dean will notify the student and instructor of the recommended grade change and the supporting rationale in accordance with Senate Policy 47-20. The recommended grade change will be provided by the Associate Dean to the Chancellor for transmittal to the University Registrar. 6. If either the student or instructor wishes to appeal the recommendation of the Associate Dean, however, the petition and any relevant findings of the Associate Dean will be forwarded to the Chancellor of the college offering the course. If the Chancellor finds that the grade assignment does conform to Senate Policy 47-20, the original grade assignment will stand. If the Chancellor finds that the grade assignment does not conform with Senate Policy 47-20, the Chancellor will appoint an ad hoc committee of 2-3 faculty with appropriate disciplinary expertise to determine and recommend a grade. The Chancellor will then determine the grade and transmit it to the Registrar. E. Class Lists To use the eLion Faculty Services Class List application, you must have a Penn State Access Account User Id and Password; you must be listed in the employee database and the student records database. If you do not have a PSU access/email ID and password, contact Kim Auker in the Computer Center (949-5356, kaa1@psu.edu). If you can not access the Faculty screen, please check with Shannon Harpster in the Registrar's Office (E130 Smith, 949-5035, SMH38@psu.edu). To get your class list, go to https://elion.oas.psu.edu/. Click on FACULTY, and login with Access Account (email address) and password. On left side menu, Click on CLASS LISTS, and then select the semester. The menu will bring up a list of your classes, using the button to select the course that you want the roster for, then click on CONTINUE. The class list will come up, scroll to the bottom, and click on PRINT CLASS LIST, or the desired download option for an electronic list. The class list will come up without left side menu, click on PRINT button of internet browser. Repeat as necessary for each class. Faculty who teach in the early morning hours may want to ask their staff assistant to print a preliminary roster the day before. F. Final Exams Instructors teaching multiple sections of the same course may decide to combine sections to administer the final exam. The common exam time is 10:10 AM-12:00 PM and varies per semester, please check the Registrar's Office website. Contact your Division Head, who will review your request. If approved, they will pass it on to the Registrar's Office to schedule the room for your common exam. If you should require a change in time for a final exam, you must submit a current class roster and separate sheets with each student's signature indicating that the requested alternate exam time does not conflict with other final exams. This request and supporting documents should be submitted to your Division Head for review. Approved requests will be honored on a space available basis. Faculty are strongly encouraged to offer final exams in the assigned time and making use of appropriate proctors should be considered before applying for a change of exam. Students may request rescheduling of final exams if extenuating circumstances exist. Students need to contact the Registrar's Office by the published deadline and the office will contact instructors regarding their ability to be flexible. Extenuating circumstances involve direct conflicts (exams scheduled at same time on same day) or exam overload (three or more exams within a 15-hour period). (Senate Policy 44-25) G. Informing Students of
Progress Students should receive significant grades or other feedback before the
University's "action dates" to help them to evaluate their progress when options
are still available. "Action dates" are listed on the Registrar's office web
site each semester. Please note that partial semester classes have
different action dates, and the Registrar's Office website should be consulted for
information about those dates. In accordance with
University policy AD19, the PSU ID cannot be used to display students' scores or
grades publicly (neither by the whole number or by just the last 4
digits). H. Required Mid-Semester
Evaluation I. Defining
and Maintaining Academic Integrity Procedures- If the student accepts responsibility for the violation and the proposed academic sanction, the instructor will have the student sign the Academic Integrity Form, which closes the case as to the academic sanction, but not with respect to any disciplinary sanction that may be pursued. The instructor will forward this form and appropriate documentation to the Assistant Dean (W110 Smith) who will forward it to the Office of Judicial Affairs for record keeping. If the student signs that he/she did not accept responsibility, the student can appeal the case to the Academic Integrity Committee. In this case, the Academic Integrity Form and all appropriate documentation should be submitted to the Assistant Dean (W110 Smith) who will forward all relevant case materials to the Academic Integrity Committee. If necessary, a hearing to review the facts of the case and/or the proposed academic sanctions will be scheduled. For academic sanctions, the decision of the Academic Integrity Committee is final. At the close of proceedings, the Academic Integrity Committee will notify all relevant parties of its decision and (if the student is found responsible) forward the outcome to the Office of Judicial Affairs for record keeping. Referring Cases to Judicial Affairs: Cases must be referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs when the Academic Integrity Committee recommends the application of formal University disciplinary sanctions. In these cases, in accordance with University procedure for handling disciplinary incidents, Judicial Affairs will review the facts of the case and assign disciplinary sanctions when appropriate. Under current University policy and practice, Judicial Affairs has the authority to initiate disciplinary sanctions for repeat offenders. The "XF" Grade: An "XF" grade is a formal University disciplinary sanction that indicates on the student's transcript that failure in a course was due to a serious act of academic dishonesty. To record an "XF," the instructor, the Academic Integrity Committee, and Judicial Affairs must concur that this penalty is appropriate. The Academic Integrity Committee may develop conditions that, if met to the Committee's satisfaction, would allow the "XF" grade to be changed to an "F." The instructor must email Sherry Wagner (saw2@psu.edu) to place the "XF" in order to ensure the student cannot drop the course. College Committee on Academic Integrity: The Chancellor shall appoint a Committee on Academic Integrity made up of faculty, students, and academic administrators with faculty being the majority. This committee shall: 1. Promote expectations for academic integrity consistent with the definition
in this policy. J. Disruption of
Classes by Students In order to safeguard the educational process and maintain an atmosphere of civility in the classroom faculty are encouraged to abide by the following guidelines: 1. Set Clear Standards of Behavior. Setting clear standards of behavior at the beginning of a course is a powerful deterrent to inappropriate behavior. In their syllabi, faculty members should state their expectations for classroom behavior and define inappropriate actions. If a faculty member feels that eating in class, using cell phones, spitting smokeless tobacco, or any other such behavior is inappropriate, this should be explained in the syllabus. In addition, if an academic penalty is to be imposed as a result of prohibited actions (e.g., being late or not participating fully in group projects), this should be clearly indicated on the syllabus. 2. Confront Inappropriate Behavior. When students behave
inappropriately, the behavior should be pointed out as quickly as possible while
treating the student with respect and courtesy. Ideally, the correction
should be done in private. However, some problems require immediate
attention, i.e. students talking among themselves and disrupting class.
When confronting the student in public, the faculty member should identify the
inappropriate behavior, request that it should not be repeated, and explain that
it is disruptive to the rest of the class. In doing so, the faculty member
must treat the student with respect to help keep the situation from escalating
and avoiding further disruption. If the student persists in being
disruptive in the class setting, the instructor should discuss the matter with
the Associate Director of Student Affairs, Jay
Burlingame (103 Slep, 949-5065), who will make arrangements to meet with the
student. If unsure as to how to handle a situation, consult with your Division
Head. 3. If the Behavior Continues, Remove the Student from Class. Faculty have the right to request that students leave a class provided that their actions are obviously distracting and not conducive to an educational environment. After doing so, meet with the student privately to explain the inappropriateness of his or her behavior, and ask that it cease immediately. Explain that if the behavior continues, you may file a complaint with the Office of Judicial Affairs (Jay Burlingame, 103 Slep, 949-5065). This may be followed up with a written statement repeating this message. In the case of simple inappropriate behavior, faculty do not have the right to bar the student from additional class meetings without institutional reviews being afforded to the student. In no case can a student be permanently expelled from a class without appropriate institutional reviews. Faculty should also not tell students to drop a course against their will. The University removes a student from the course, not the instructor, and only after appropriate institutional reviews. In the case of a serious disruption of the learning environment (i.e. fighting, unbalanced behavior, threats of violence, harassment), however, Police Services (Willow Building, 949-5222) should be contacted for immediate dispatch to the class. Students engaged in such behavior will not be permitted to return to class until institutional procedures are completed. Police Services will notify the Associate Director of Student Affairs, Jay Burlingame (103 Slep). The faculty member should document the issue, and notify their Division Head and the Associate Dean. 4. If the Behavior Still Is Not Stopped, File a Complaint with the Judicial Affairs Officer. The Division Head as well as the Associate Director of Student Affairs, Jay Burlingame (103 Slep) should be notified when this occurs. Disruptions of this nature are a violation of the University Code of Conduct and should be handled through Judicial Affairs proceedings coordinated by the Associate Director of Student Affairs, Jay Burlingame (103 Slep) who, if the student is found responsible, will determine an appropriate sanction. Sanctions may include moving the student to another section of the course or administrative removal from the course. Should a faculty member wish to discuss how best to respond to a student's behavior in class, he/she is encouraged to contact their Division Head, the college's judicial officer (Jay Burlingame, 103 Slep, 949-5065), and/or the Associate Dean, Patti A. Mills (W110 Smith, 949-5090), who is responsible for mediating faculty/student disagreements. Please note: Students may not be penalized in the course for missed exams, papers due, etc., until a remedy is determined. These matters must be adjudicated with appropriate procedures so that the student's due process rights are preserved. At the same time, the rights of the other students in the class must be preserved. K. Student Complaints 1. Discuss the problem with the instructor first.At each step in this process, the instructor will be kept informed of the disposition of the complaint. Instructors may be asked to provide a copy of their syllabus, assignment weights and grades, and/or other relevant materials. Faculty can ease the complaint process by providing clear statements of grading criteria and assignment due dates, academic integrity, absences and make-up policies, and expectation about classroom behavior. Division Heads will provide a report of student-faculty complaints from their division to the Director of Planning and Program Development at the end of each semester. If a difficulty arises in a course and a number of students have lodged similar complaints, the administration may survey all the students in the course to determine the degree to which there is a common problem. L. Selection of Books M. Office Hours, Offices, and Other
Accessibility Outside the Classroom Advisors need to be reasonably available at all times. Please note that you are expected to be on campus at least three days a week, even if you teach only two days a week. Please convey information to students about how you can be contacted outside of your scheduled office hours. Provide students with the telephone number and office location of your faculty staff assistant so that students can leave messages directly with the staff assistant. Your mailbox will be located in your staff assistant's office area. Inform your students where your mailbox is located, and regularly check your mailbox. Also instruct your students on how to leave you a voice mail message. All students also have access to email accounts, in case you wish to communicate in that medium. Questions concerning voice mail should be directed Jim Sposito or Chrissy Blatt (949-5019), and questions concerning email should be directed to Kim Auker, Computer Center Staff Assistant (949-5356). N. Common Hour O. Cancellation of Classes
Faculty who know in advance that they cannot meet a class because of University responsibilities or another important reason should attempt to schedule a classroom activity profitable for the student that does not require the faculty member's presence—guest lectures, films, or examinations proctored by a substitute faculty member are possibilities. You may also spend the time profitably in other ways. The Division of Undergraduate Studies Office (C112 Smith, 949-5084), the Academic Internship Office (211 Eiche, 949-5789), the Education Abroad Office (Mandy Reinig, W120 Smith, 949-5282), the Learning Resources Center (201 LRC, 949-5212), and the Career Services Office, Rebecca Bruning Maguda (103 Slep, 949-5058), can make presentations related to the course on topics such as study skills, internships, study abroad opportunities, and educational and career planning. Rescheduling a class meeting is difficult, although the 7:00 a.m. time period is usually a good option. A Saturday morning make-up class meeting might also be considered. When arranging a make-up class, be sensitive to the work and family responsibilities of the students. Remember that they cannot be required to attend a make-up meeting. It may be prudent to anticipate this problem by scheduling one or two classes in your syllabus as "catch-up days." If you decide to re-schedule a class meeting, be sure to reserve the classroom through the Registrar's website at http://www.altoona.psu.edu/request/form_room.htm. If you must cancel class, please follow the procedures for changing voice-mail, informing your staff assistant, and entering the information onto the web. 1. Voice Mail Notification To change your outgoing voice-mail message: Notes: Remember to change the outgoing message after the class cancellation has passed. In the voice mail system, this consists of: Dial 949–5800 to access the voice mail system. The system will prompt you to enter your phone extension number. You will then be asked to enter your password. Press 3 to access your personal greeting menu. Press 3 to activate a new greeting. Enter the number of your everyday greeting (probably 1). 2. Be sure to inform your staff assistant of your cancellation! 3. Web notification This will lead you to a screen, where you can enter the appropriate information (course date, time the class begins and ends, course name, number, and section). You may also enter comments, such as assignments to be completed for the next class, reminder about exams, etc. This information will be automatically posted to http://www.altoona.psu.edu/now/cancel.asp which is the screen where the students would receive class cancellation information. Clicking on the class name will present any comments that the instructor entered. The cancellation will automatically be deleted at midnight after the class was held. If you are unable to access a computer to enter a class cancellation, please call your staff assistant, who will do this for you. P. Proctoring Examinations and other Instructional ActivitiesFaculty members are expected to proctor their own in-class examinations. If you cannot be present to proctor your exam, you should make arrangements with another faculty member to proctor the exam. If you are having difficulties in finding another faculty member to proctor the exam, please contact your Division Head, who may be able to assist you in finding an appropriate faculty member to proctor your exam. Faculty staff assistants or other support staff should not be asked to proctor exams. If a student misses an examination and you wish to allow the student to make up the exam, you (the instructor) are responsible for proctoring the make-up exam. If you are unable to proctor the make-up exam, check with faculty in your program/discipline or your division head. The LRC can proctor exams for individual students. Details on this service and the form requesting a proctored make-up exam can be found at http://www.psu.edu/dept/altoonalrc/altlrc.html. It is important to allow sufficient time for scheduling the make-up exam and for delivery of the exam to the LRC. You should not ask your staff assistant to proctor an exam. Faculty staff assistants and other support staff (laboratory technicians, work-study students, etc.) should not be asked to engage in instructional activities. Instructional activities include meeting with your class, taking roll, proctoring exams, running experiments, etc., and these activities are the responsibility of the faculty. If you can not meet with your class, you need to make alternative arrangements or cancel the class. Another faculty member, your program coordinator, or division head may be able to assist you. Staff who also serve as instructors can be asked to assist in meeting with your class, but there is no requirement for them to do so. Q. Submitting Final Grades
For full semester courses, the first day that grades can be entered is the Saturday after the last day of regular classes. For partial semester courses, the first day to enter grades is the day after the last scheduled day of the class. According to University policy, grades must be submitted no later than 48 hours after the final exam (see AAPPM, G-1). Log into the eLion home page (eLion.psu.edu) using your PSU Access/Email userid and password. Select the faculty menu in the left-hand frame. Next select GRADE ENTRY from the left-hand frame. Immediately, users will be asked to again authenticate their identity. Enter your Access/PSU Email ID password in the space provided. Then enter the six-digit code from your SecurID token. Then use the OK button to move to the next screen. Using the ENTER key will not move users to the next screen. The next screen will show the user the list of courses being taught by the instructor for a given semester. Note the comment in the fourth column from the left, Grading Status, reading either "Ready" or "Not Ready." Of the "Ready" sections, select the appropriate section using the radio buttons in the left-most column and then the CONTINUE button at the bottom. The next screen will confirm information about the section selected: instructor, semester, and course information at the top of the screen. The remainder of the screen lists students in the section in alphabetical order, along with the last four digits of the student's ID number, as well as other pertinent information such as a graduation indicator and Grade Option Messages such as "Withdrew," "Late drop," and "Audit." If a message appears in the "Grade Option" field, only the available grades will appear in the pull down menu for that student's grade. Example, a student who has late dropped a class can only be given the appropriate grades of WN, withdrew, no grade; WP, withdrew passing, or WF, withdrew failing. If a section enrolls more than 36 students, users will see an intermediate screen with the beginning and ending names delimiting what records an instructor will be able to see at one time. Likewise, students who were fully registered for the course who have not been attending will only be able to be assigned a final letter grade, A through F. Instructors will not be able to assign a late drop designation based upon the assumption that the student late dropped the course. Note: if a student who has been attending your class does not appear on the
grade roster, the student may not be registered for your course, or the
student's registration may not be complete. Please bring this to the
attention of the student immediately. You will not be able to assign a
final grade to a student who does not appear on your grade roster. Should
the student complete the registration process after grades are initially
submitted, instructors are required to assign a final grade by revising grades
on eLion. Grades can be changed using eLion for up to one year after the
couse end date. After assigning grades to all students in the section, a confirmation message
will appear on your screen. From the left-hand frame, select REVIEW GRADES, and
print a file copy of the grades that you have submitted. On-going support can be obtained by contacting Shannon Harpster in the Registrar's Office (E130 Smith, 949-5035, SMH38@psu.edu). The University does not mail grade reports to students. Students who have an access account can get their grades through e-LION. R. Confidentiality 2. Parents, Guardians, and Other Instructors S. Evaluation of Teaching
Peer evaluation is also a possibility. Peer evaluation by College and discipline peers is required in every promotion and tenure dossier. Evaluation also may be invited by the instructor or prompted by student complaints, but only after the instructor is notified that a visitation will take place. Other forms of teaching evaluation may be explored and considered as well, but not in lieu of either SRTEs or peer evaluation. VI. Resources for Teaching
It is important to schedule the use of A/V equipment with Instructional Services even if you believe that the equipment you plan to use is permanently installed in the classroom or is "always there." To order A/V equipment for classroom use, like an overhead projector, slide projector, or VCR for classroom use, call Instructional Services at 5082. If the call goes to voice mail, please leave your request in the Classroom A/V Request voice mailbox. To access the Classroom A/V Request voice mailbox directly, dial 5300 then when prompted dial 6868 and leave a message. Requests may also be emailed to the Instructional Services staff, Drew McGhee (drm6@psu.edu), Chris Vensesky (cav3@psu.edu), Todd Harshbarger (tah141@psu.edu) and Cathie Stultz (ctm121@psu.edu). With all requests, please be sure to include the building and room number, the date, and the beginning and ending time of the class or event. (For semester-long requests, individual dates are unnecessary; the days of the week will suffice.) If you are unsure of exactly what equipment you need, please describe what you would like to do. You may feel more comfortable using the equipment after someone from Instructional Services has given you a demonstration of how to use it. To schedule an equipment review session, contact Instructional Services with a date, time, and room number for the meeting. Remember to verify with the registrar's office that the room will be available. If possible, choose a room where you plan to use the equipment in the future. Remember that equipment is limited, and requests are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For best response, please request equipment at least one class day in advance. Adobe® Acrobat® Connect™ Professional (Connect) is the latest technology available to Penn State faculty to communicate, collaborate, and/or teach from virtually anywhere to virtually anywhere at any time. Connect, formerly Macromedia Breeze, needs no special software. With Connect, all one needs to conduct a virtual class, either live of asynchronously, is an Internet connection and a browser. Connect allows two-way video and audio conferencing, as well. For more information about Connect, please contact Instructional Services. Videoconferencing, or video teleconferencing, combines the use of video, computing, and communications technologies to allow people in different locations to meet face-to-face and have a live discussion. Penn State faculty members may use videoconferencing as a method of extending their classrooms to students at different locations or to bring a distant guest speaker into a class. Videoconferencing has been called Pic-Tel, Picture-Tel, and Polycom, as well, since these are names of the various videoconferencing equipment used here. The Campus has two videoconferencing rooms. One has seating for five; the other has seats for 20. Please contact Instructional Services for more information about videoconferencing at Penn State Altoona. Drew McGhee can provide assistance with getting your course sections up and running on ANGEL. ANGEL is the course management system (CMS) available for use by instructors, students, and staff at Penn State. Go to https://cms.psu.edu/ for the Help and Information Guide, which is the most current resource for help, news, and information about ANGEL. Films and videos from University Park are now ordered by the faculty themselves on-line. These films and videos are then delivered to the Eiche Library. Films and videos are handled the same way as other inter-library loans are. Faculty will need to pick-up and return their films and videos to the Eiche Library. An on-line catalog can be accessed, which lists the films and videotapes available through the University's extensive collection. Additional audio-visual tapes and other resources are included in the University Libraries collection. These can be accessed on the CAT. See the inter-library loan staff for details and assistance. B. Extra Help For Students 2. Peer Tutoring 3. Study Skills 4. Advising Students may also wish to speak with the Program Coordinator or College Contact Resource Representative for the College in which they are enrolled. Students may also consult with an adviser from the Division of Undergraduate Studies. The DUS Programs Coordinator is Joann Shaffer (C106 Smith, 949-5158), and she is responsible for oversight of the academic advising program. 5. Working with
Students with Disabilities Students must be referred to Disability Services located in the Sheetz Family
Health Center at Penn State Altoona in order to receive requested academic
accommodations. Note to students with disabilities: Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. If you have a disability-related need for modifications or reasonable accommodations in this course, contact Disability Services in the Sheetz Family Health and Wellness Center- 949-5540. For further information regarding Disability services please visit their web site. Instructors should be notified as early in the semester as possible regarding the need for modifications or reasonable accommodations.For more information please contact Dr. Joy Himmel, Director Health and Wellness Center (814-949-5540) and visit the Health and Wellness web site for the Faculty Handbook on Disability Services. You are also encouraged to review the "In Their Shoes" web based training on working with students with disabilities. This program is designed to provide a glimpse of what it is like to walk in the shoes of those with disabilities. 6. Academic Internship
Office 7. Career Services Office
8. Medical Care, Counseling and
Psychological Services, and Health Education The Study Abroad Advisor provides assistance to students who are interested in studying abroad, and to faculty who are interested in developing study abroad programs. For more information, contact Amanda Reinig (W120 Smith, 949-5282) or visit the web page. C. The Library Through the CAT (Penn State's Online Catalog), faculty have access to materials throughout the Penn State Library System. There are over 300 periodical databases and other electronic sources. Go to http://www.lias.psu.edu/ to learn about these and other resources. If you would like individual assistance with any of these resources, contact Reference at 949-5253. If interested in scheduling an instruction session for any classes, please contact Jeff Knapp, Instruction Coordinator, at 949-5493 or jak47@psu.edu. For Course Reserves information, please contact Cindy McCarty at 949-5519 or clm15@psu.edu. For Circulation information including renewals, please contact Peg Tromm, Circulation Supervisor, at 949-5254 or mmf4@psu.edu. For borrowing materials outside the Penn State System, please contact Interlibrary Loan at 949-5519. To suggest titles for purchase, contact Tim Wherry, College Librarian, (202 Eiche Library, 949-5250, tlw6@psu.edu), or any of the reference librarians. To learn more about the Library, visit the Eiche Library homepage www.psu.edu/dept/Eichelibrary/eiche.htm, and click on "Resources for Faculty." D. Computer Resources An Arts Computer lab is located in 115 Misciagna. This lab has 20 MAC computers with various graphics packages, scanner, and printers. To reserve for class use, contact Madelyn Greenberg (222 CLRC, 949-5521, msg4@psu.edu). Faculty and students who need access accounts should contact Kim Auker (949-5356), the Staff Assistant in the Computer Center. Full-time tenure track faculty are given appropriate university support for computer use in their offices as well. Information on computing policy and procedures can be found at the Strategic Planning for Information Technology web page. E. Staff Assistant Services
F. Grading Assistance No teaching or grading assistants or exam proctors are available. Faculty are responsible for grading all of their evaluative instruments and cannot involve students or staff assistants with correcting tests, grading, recording grades, administering exams or quizzes, or proctoring them. G. Admitting Students to
Your Class If you decide to admit a student to your section you must sign the reverse of the "Registration Drop/Add Form" on the line for departmental approval. Prior to signing this form, you must ensure that the classroom will accommodate the additional student. You may need to check with the Registrar's office to ensure that you do not exceed the room's capacity. Many classes are full to room capacity. When this is the case, the student can not be admitted to the class, even with your approval. You should also check with the Bookstore to ensure that there are books available. The drop/add form is available in the Registrar's Office (E130 Smith), or the form can be printed from the web. The student will then take the form to the Registrar's Office, who will override the system. Please note that online scheduling is not available for course adds that require a faculty member's signature. On occasion, students that instructors have approved to be added to their classes are not able to be accommodated. Classes cannot be overloaded beyond the capacity of the classroom, and students with holds on their records or incomplete registration activity are not able to make schedule changes. Every effort will be made to accommodate students that you have signed into your sections. Should you decide not to over-enroll your section, the Registrar's Office will abide by your decision. H. Teaching and Learning
Consortium I. Altoona
College Outstanding Lecturer Award The minimum criteria for nomination include: 1. Minimum of three years service on FT-2 contract. J. The
Barbara Long Beck Endowed Excellence Award VII. Personnel Matters The only benefit part-time faculty become eligible for is retirement. After 750 hours of employment in consecutive semesters, not including summer, part-time faculty members must choose between the SERS or TIAA/CREF plans. If they are already enrolled in one of these plans, they need not open a new account. They may add to their existing account. Participation is mandatory. The Business Office will notify you when it is time to enroll. B. ID Cards |