Class Management (Includes Required Syllabi Info)
Contents:
SYLLABI
ENROLLMENT SERVICES AND ROSTERS
STUDENT PRIVACY GUIDLINES
GRADING
STUDENT CONDUCT ISSUES
SYLLABI
Instructors should upload syllabi to their Canvas courses. A syllabus outlines teacher expectations for student performance. Prior to the beginning of class, the instructor should prepare a course syllabus with the class policies, and the course outline in printed form ready to distribute to students and discuss on the first evening of class. The syllabus represents a contract between you and your students. No single format is recommended but a strong syllabus contains the following (not necessarily in this order) (All syllabus needs to be submitted to the Dean’s office prior to the beginning of the quarter):
You can use this syllabus_template_9-14-16.docx Download syllabus_template_9-14-16.docx, or you can create one using the following bullets:
- ⦁ Full name of the course (course number, hours/credits, meeting time, location, prerequisites)
⦁ Faculty name (professional educational background, credentials to teach the course, or your special interest in the course subject)
⦁ Contact information (how and when you are available to talk with them, a phone number, e-mail address, etc)
⦁ Course description: course outcomes (what will be learned)
⦁ Nature of the course (philosophy of the course and how the course will be taught—lecture, discussion, lab, expectations of student participation, homework, etc)
⦁ Course requirements (assignments, written work, tests, projects, labs)
⦁ Resources and References (outside readings, bibliographies, etc.)
⦁ Grading and Evaluation (what work will be graded, level of acceptable work, what percentage each factor contributes to the final grade (tests, quizzes, labs, attendance, participation, special projects, etc.)
⦁ Brief description of assignments
⦁ Attendance and Make-up work policies (be very clear on expectations)
⦁ Additional information that is helpful to the smooth running of the course such as special policies required by the instructor. (Ex. All written work is to be word processed.)
⦁ Course Outline (since you might want to update it each quarter, distribute a calendar separately on another color paper. Print updates, if necessary, on different colors).
⦁ Chronological schedule of topics, reading and assignments
⦁ Dates for tests, mid-term and final exams
⦁ Due dates for homework assignments, special projects, lab sessions
and other activities
⦁ Texts and other required or recommended readings, tools or supplies
⦁ Resources
⦁ Classroom Management Issues (i.e. Attendance, Cheating, Food, Plagiarism)
⦁ Emergency Information for Inclement Weather
⦁ Student Services and ADA/Disabilities information - Title IX and Sexual Misconduct
- Non-Discrimination Policy
Here's a syllabus template that you can use:
syllabus_template_9-14-16.docx Download syllabus_template_9-14-16.docx
ENROLLMENT SERVICES & ROSTERS
Enrollment Services and Counseling & Advising offices are located in Building I on the 2nd floor.
Rosters in Instructor Briefcase – The Instructor Briefcase allows faculty to view their class roster and submit grades. You can read general information about the Briefcase at: http://www.cis.ctc.edu7/pub/wts/ibdemo1.htm.
Check your RTC Instructor Briefcase at: https://www.ctc.edu/--renton/wts/ibc/. Log in with your Employee ID (nine digits) and Employee PIN (four to six digits). For more information about the Employee ID and PIN numbers, please contact Lisa Ziemer (425) 235-7861, lziemer@RTC.edu or Amy Parks (425) 235-2402 aparks@RTC.edu.
Student Attendance – Any student attending class must be registered and therefore display in the course roster on Instructor Briefcase. If a student’s name does not show up on the roster after the second day, the student must provide proof of enrollment from the Enrollment Services office.
Attendance may be included in the grading policy at the instructor’s discretion. If attendance directly affects a student’s participation grade, this policy must be clear, specific, and included in the course syllabus.
Instructors in the Basic Studies department are required to keep student attendance records in the online SATS system. At a minimum, Basic Studies instructors must supply attendance records at the end of every month.
Log in at https://b-sats.rtc.edu/login.aspx. Use your RTC email username and password to log in to SATS.
Students with Disabilities – The College is required to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Although you might suspect that a student has a disability, you cannot treat that person differently from any other student unless the student identifies him or herself as a person with a disability. When a student self-identifies, refer him or her to Karma Forbes, counselor, located in Bldg. J, Room J-218D, (425) 235-2352 ext. 5705.
Certificates of Award – Students who complete certain adjunct classes are eligible to receive a Certificate of Award, which can take the form of a certificate or a wallet card. If your course is one of these, the Enrollment Services Office will send out a request form to be completed and returned by the instructor. The certificates or wallet cards are prepared by Enrollment Services and sent to the instructor to be distributed on the last night of class.
Counseling & Advising – Renton Technical College provides students with a wide variety of programs and services to support student success. Academic, Admissions and Career Counseling are provided in the Counseling and Advising Office, which is located on the second floor of Roberts Campus Center, Building I. Students can schedule an appointment by calling (425) 235-5840. In addition to information about training program and the degree and/or certificate requirements, referrals are also made for supportive services from a variety of community programs.
STUDENT PRIVACY GUIDELINES
FERPA/Privacy Guidelines – The Registrar is the college's official student records officer. No college employee or student may disclose student information, including directory information, to any outside person or agency without the permission of the Registrar. Only designated staff within the office of the Registrar may routinely disclose student information, including directory information, to outside persons or agencies and only within the guidelines permitted by the FERPA and the Registrar. Persons outside the office of the Registrar should not disclose student information, including directory information, to outside persons or agencies without the permission of the Registrar. Permissions must be obtained for special one-time disclosures and for continuing disclosures. In all cases in which an Renton Technical College employee or office requests permission to disclose student information, the Registrar shall first determine if the Enrollment Services staff is better able to provide and safeguard the information. Permission for RTC offices to disclose student information shall be granted on a case by case basis and only as a matter of exception rather than rule. The Vice President of Student Services shall serve as the college's records officer in the absence of the Registrar.
Do not give out information about our students to people who do not work at RTC unless you have been officially designated by the Registrar. Don't give out information about our students to people who work at RTC unless they have a legitimate need to know. Play it safe, if someone wants information about our students have them contact the Enrollment Services Office, ext. 5537. Don't be pressured or tricked into giving out student information - the Registrar can always give out the information later. Information disclosed in error can never be gotten back! Information disclosed in error may result in harm to a student, loss of federal funds for the college, disciplinary action of an employee or a lawsuit.
Electronic information The FERPA does not specifically address electronic media; however the usual rules of privacy must be applied. Never give your passwords to anyone else, including close family and friends. If you even suspect that your password has been compromised change your password immediately. Safeguard your logon and user ID passwords. Employees are responsible for what happens to information that is accessed by use of their password. Insist on having your own user ID and password. Do not share a user ID with others! Protect screen information on your terminal. Do not allow unauthorized people to view your screen when you call up student information. Turn the screen away. Log off or password protect your terminal or PC when you are away from your desk. Any student information printed or copied from the screen must be shredded not just thrown in the trash. Do not accept e-mail or fax consents for disclosure of information. Require original signed and dated releases only! Do not send educational information by phone, fax or e-mail.
GRADING
Grading – Grades are submitted online through your RTC Instructor Briefcase at: https://www.ctc.edu/~renton/wts/ibc/. To submit grades, you must have a PIN number, which you can get by calling Lisa Ziemer at (425) 235-7861. If you have questions about this process, contact Enrollment Services at (425) 235-5978.
Instructors shall maintain a record of scores earned for papers, projects examinations, quizzes, and other assignments submitted by students in fulfillment of course or program requirements. The record shall be submitted to the supervising dean not later than five (5) business days following the end of the quarter.
RTC uses Canvas (rtc.edu/canvas) for the campus-wide grade book and syllabi with outcomes as well as the platform for all online and hybrid courses. You will log in with your EID and the first eight letters of your last name. Questions about how to use Canvas should be addressed to Liz Falconer (ext. 7905), efalconer@rtc.edu.
GRADING POLICY (RTC Procedure 21004): Grading criteria are determined by the instructor. These criteria and how grades are achieved must be shared, in writing, with the student on the first day the student begins class. For courses that are taught within professional-technical programs, grading criteria and policies will be shared in writing with students on the first day that the course is taught. Grading policies must be on file and approved by the instructor's dean.
Grades:
Grades will be submitted as decimals which students can convert as follows:
(Exceptions where required)
Decimal Grade
Letter Equivalent
4.0-3.9 A
3.8-3.5 A-
3.4-3.2 B+
3.1-2.9 B
2.8-2.5 B-
2.4-2.2 C+
2.1-2.0 C
1.9-1.5 C-
1.4-1.2 D+
1.1-1.0 D
0.9-0.7 D-
0.6-0.0 F
The following grades can only be submitted for courses that are designated on the course coding sheet as having that option. The following two options must be assigned to the entire class, not to an individual student:
⦁ S/U (satisfactory or unsatisfactory) An “S” grade is not figured into the grade-point average. A “U” grade is figured as a “0.”
⦁ Y – In-progress- A “Y” grade is given to all the students in a class who are doing passing coursework but need additional instruction and time to complete course requirements or competencies. Students are required to re-register for the course and pay all tuition and any other charges. The Y remains on the transcript for the quarter assigned, while the final grade will be posted to the quarter in which the student re-enrolled in the course. The Y grade earns no credit and does not affect the GPA.
I – Incomplete: When a student is not able to complete a class for reasons beyond his control an instructor may assign an incomplete. It should be given ONLY when there is a reasonable expectation that the student will complete the specified work in the time allowed without additional instructional time. To receive an “I” grade, the student MUST have an “Incomplete Contract” (See Attachment 1) signed by the instructor and the dean and submitted to Enrollment Services prior to the grade being submitted. An “I” grade reverts to the assigned “grade without completion” after one quarter (not including summer) unless otherwise specified on the incomplete contract. The original is sent to the registrar with copies to the student, instructor, dean and counselor.
N – Audit: An audit means the student registers on a space-available basis to attend the class and to listen, but not do graded work. The student pays full tuition and fees, but attends class for information only. The N grade does not earn credit and does not affect the GPA. The audit grade option must be approved by the instructor and submitted to Enrollment Services office by the 10th day of the class. Once registered for an audit, the student cannot change to a graded option.
R –Repeating a Course: The qualifier “R” on a transcript means a course has been repeated, and is excluded from credits and grade point average. All grades will still appear on the transcript whether repeated or not. The most recent grade will be used to compute the GPA. Students may not take a course more than twice without permission from the Vice-president of Student Services. Repeating certain courses may require permission from the instructor or the appropriate administrator.
V – Unofficial Withdrawals: Students who attend briefly, rarely, or not at all, and who fail to officially withdraw from a course or a program with a W grade, may be assigned a grade of ”V” at the discretion of the instructor. The V grade does not earn credit and does not count in the GPA calculation.
W -Withdrawals: A student may officially withdraw from a program or class by completing the appropriate form and submitting it to Enrollment Services by the eighth week of the quarter. After the eighth week, the student cannot receive a “W” and will be graded based on the course requirements as described in the course syllabus. A withdrawal prior to the 10th day of the quarter is not listed on the transcript. After the 10th day of the class, a “W” will appear on the student’s transcript but it is not computed in the GPA. An official withdrawal can only be initiated by a student or a counselor at the request of the student.
HW – Hardship Withdrawals: Under very exceptional circumstances, instructors can request a hardship withdrawal for a student. This can be requested at anytime during the quarter for a student who has attended class regularly and has completed assignments with passing grades but for reasons beyond
his or her control must drop out. A hardship withdrawal must be signed by the instructor, the dean and the Vice-president for Student Services.
Grade Grievances: A student who feels he did not get the grade he earned must first speak to the instructor involved. If the dispute is not resolved, the student may file a grade grievance (See Attachment 2) with the supervising dean. Grade grievances must be based on:
(1) grade entry errors,
(2) the instructor did not follow the grading criteria outlined in the course syllabus, or
(3) grading criteria were not uniformly applied.
A grade grievance MUST be filed within one quarter after the quarter in which the grade was assigned, not including summer quarter.
If you have any questions or need assistance with submitting your grades, please contact the Enrollment Services staff.
STUDENT CONDUCT ISSUES
For any emergency issues, call 9-911 from a campus phone or 911 from a personal device.
For non-emergency issues regarding conduct, call campus security 425-235-7871 (or just 7871 from a campus phone).
Use Couselor Connect for persisting conduct issues that don't require immediate intervention.
Source: Office of Innovative Teaching and Learning
For more info see http://www.rtc.edu/citl