Things to Know as You Prepare to Teach at Stetson
Instructors should be aware of the following information as they begin to prepare for and then teach their classes at Stetson:
All instructors must create a detailed syllabus for each class taught, according to the expectations of the department and school or college. Department chairs and deans can provide specific information including sample syllabi, but a good syllabus typically includes:
1. Course Number, Title, Unit/Half-Unit, Meeting Time(s) and Place(s) - Use TBA, if needed.
2. Your Name, Office Location, Office Phone, Stetson E-mail Address, and Instructor Websites (if you have one for students).
3. Office Hours, regularly scheduled and by appointment. If you aren't ready to set hours at this point, use general text assuring students that four hours will be scheduled, spread reasonably through the week: "These hours will be posted on my office door, provided to the department secretary, and forwarded to the Dean's Office for posting to the College website. I welcome appointments at other times, and I am happy to make alternative meeting arrangements, the library for instance, for students who cannot access my office."
4. A Brief Overview of the Course: a brief narrative description of the topics and major learning goals of the course; some important and enticing questions the course will address; what students will be able to learn and how will they will learn it; special features such as community engagement or meetings with visiting experts; the purpose of the course in general and liberal study, to build skills in a major, or to prepare certain understandings and skills for post-BA study or careers etc.
5. A List of Required Texts: note those titles that students should purchase (and available in our bookstore), as well as works found in the library (on reserve) or available on the web; emphasize edition, if important; list prices are helpful if you can provide them.
6. A List of Requirements noting Graded Work, with due dates, and your Grading Scale: the value of each graded assignment (percentage of final grade) and your grading scale. Indicate how homework, attendance, group projects etc. figure into final grades. Note Final Exam day/time (so students who have to fly to Togo for holidays will know that date up front).
7. Attendance Policy: be explicit, even repetitive (see 6 above).
8. A Statement on Academic Honor. Note that students are expected to observe our Academic Honor System.
9. Additional Items: note your commitment to support students who are working with our varying abilities office in Student Success, the availability of tutoring or study groups, and any other point of special interest about your course.
TEXTBOOKS
Textbooks and other required materials to be procured from the Stetson Bookstore must be submitted in time for securing these before the first class session. Check with the department secretary/office for forms and procedures to be followed.
UNIVERSITY HONOR SYSTEM
The University's expectations for academic honesty are outlined in the Stetson University Honor System and can be found online at http://www.stetson.edu/other/honor-system/.
LIBRARY
The duPont-Ball Library provides information for new faculty at http://www2.stetson.edu/library/welcome_faculty.php. Library faculty and staff are eager to help in supporting the specific needs of your course. Books and periodical articles may be placed on reserve at the circulation desk of the library.
AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT
Many classrooms are already equipped with some AV equipment for class use, however if there is something specific required but not already in the classroom, it may be reserved through the Media Center (x8182). The school/department secretary can help with these arrangements.
OFFICE SPACE AND COMPUTER ACCESS
Your chair or dean will provide you with working space on campus and access to Stetson's computer system. Full-time faculty will be provided with office space and a computer for professional use. Adjunct faculty may not have an individual office or computer, but space to meet with students outside of class can be arranged through your chair or dean.
OFFICE HOURS
Stetson University is proud of its tradition of personal attention to student needs. To that end, it is important that all faculty (full or part-time) make themselves available to students outside of class. The methods are different for each faculty member and each class, but time immediately before or after class, scheduled office hours, email or phone contact are some avenues to consider.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
At Stetson, each instructor sets his or her own attendance policy and includes that policy in the syllabus. Instructors are asked to record attendance regularly as poor attendance can be a sign of serious academic or personal problems, and early intervention can help students avoid falling into academic trouble. If a student has missed three consecutive classes without explanation, faculty should report the absences by email to absences@stetson.edu. The Dean of Students will correspond with the student and send an update to the instructor. Continue to email absences@stetson.edu in the same manner if the absences continue.
REGISTRATION/CLASS ROLLS
Class rosters can be obtained through your course on my.stetson.edu. Students not on the official class roll should not be permitted to remain in your class. These students should be referred to the Registrar's Office for proper registration. Reminders about this are sent out by the Registrar's Office.
INSTRUCTOR ABSENCE
If you are unable to meet a scheduled class, notify the department chair or secretary (or the dean's office) as far in advance as possible so that a substitute instructor or assignment can be arranged and so that the students can be notified as appropriate.
CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS - Second floor, Carlton Union Building (CUB)
- TUTORING
Many departments, including Athletics, offer tutoring for students who would like extra help. Tutoring is coordinated through the Center for Student Success in the CUB, and some, but not all, tutoring is held on the second floor of the CUB. Two targetted centers for tutoring include: The Math Clinic located in 209 Elizabeth Hall and The Writing Center, located in 209 Flagler Hall.
Located in the CUB, the offers general academic assistance available for all Stetson students through a variety of workshops for students and individual academic help.
Additionally, the ARC acts as a support center for students with documented learning disabilities and acts as a liaison between these students and their faculty be recommending reasonable accommodations for a successful college experience. Any student who voluntarily self-identifies and provides appropriate documentation verifying a disability may receive services. Disabilities may include hearing and visual impairments, specific learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, speech impairments, mobility impairments, or temporary impairments.
FINAL EXAMS AND PROJECTS
A final exam or final project must be given in each course at the end of the semester. The examination schedule is set by the Registrar's Office and students may not reschedule or miss any final exam without prior approval by the academic dean. Students who miss a final exam without prior approval from the academic dean are liable for failure of the course. Students scheduled to take more than two final exams in one day may request of the academic dean's office that one exam be rescheduled. Final exams and student presentations are not to be held on Reading Days.
GRADES AND INCOMPLETES