Faculty Responsibilities
TEACHING
The most critical role assumed by faculty is to provide quality, accurate instruction to students. Faculty are expected to serve as role models and promote responsibility and accountability. Teaching-related activities may encompass didactic, clinical and/or laboratory responsibilities. Assignments may involve assignments on campus, at Outreach sites and/or a variety of health care settings. See specific faculty duties related to Theory, Clinical and Outreach activities.
Assignments
Projected teaching responsibilities are developed by the Associate Dean in close collaboration with Program Directors and are carefully reviewed and approved by the Dean prior to distribution. Responsibilities for the coming academic year are projected each spring with the understanding that assignments are subject to change based upon need and enrollment. Assignments are distributed electronically and reflect all fulltime faculty members. Faculty members are expected to check email throughout the summer for any revisions. Detailed information related to teaching responsibilities is distributed prior to each individual semester and includes information related to course times and locations. Faculty are urged to verify any changes in times and locations with the appropriate Program Director. Assignments are made using the approved College Workload policy.
Syllabi
Course coordinators and faculty members of record (for those courses taught by only one faculty member) for each course are responsible for preparing an accurate, current, complete syllabus for each course taught. Syllabi are to adhere to the approved syllabus format using Word. All syllabi are to include a statement indicating that content and/or schedule may be changed at the discretion of the faculty.
A copy of the full syllabus is to be submitted as an attachment to the Undergraduate or Graduate Program Administrative Assistant by the primary theory faculty each semester. Materials are to be submitted no later than August 1 for all fall semester on-campus courses and December 5 for spring semester courses taught on campus. Arrangements and costs for copying and distributing materials not submitted to the Faculty Secretary by these dates will be the responsibility of the faculty of record unless approval for delay is obtained from the Associate Dean.
Faculty assigned to teach a course delivered in Outreach is to send a copy of the syllabus as an attachment to the Undergraduate or Graduate Program Administrative Assistant for copying and distribution. Outreach materials are to be submitted no later than July 15 for fall semester and November 30 for spring Outreach courses. Arrangements and costs for copying and distributing materials not submitted by these dates will be the responsibility of the faculty of record unless approval for delay is obtained from the Associate Dean.
Basic course information is included for all courses on the homepage of the faculty of record. The University has selected Blackboard as the platform for Internet course delivery and communication. Student course syllabi and correspondence are to be available on Blackboard. Faculty are encouraged to participate in orientation workshops to Blackboard that are held each semester. Only University conferred email addresses can be used for course related electronic correspondence.
Text books
Course coordinators and faculty of record are to electronically submit textbook request forms to the Office of the Associate Dean for each course on or before the designated dates. If no textbook is to be used, please indicate such on the form and return to the Office of the Associate Dean. Desk copies are to be sought directly from the vendor with addresses obtained from the Undergraduate or Graduate Administrative Assistant.
Courses identified as Interactive Telecommunicated courses (ITV) must meet on air a minimum of 50% of the class times. Faculty are expected to make a minimum of one visit per semester to each Outreach site to which the course is being delivered. Faculty will be compensated for travel associated with Outreach activities involving distances that exceed the distance between the faculty member’s home and the main campus.
Faculty members have academic freedom to use a variety of teaching and evaluation strategies; however, courses have been developed and approved by the full faculty. No changes in the course description, pre- or corequisites, and objectives can be made without approval of the faculty via the Curriculum Committee.
The baccalaureate program faculty have approved a standard grading scale to be used for all undergraduate nursing courses: 95-100 = A; 93-94 = A-; 91-92 = B+; 87-90 = B; 85-86 = B-; 82- 84 = C+; 76-81 = C; 70-75 = D; below 70 = F. (See Grade Policy)
Call trees are to be obtained at the beginning of each semester to be used to notify students as needed. Information should include telephone numbers for home and work as well as a number where the student might be reached the scheduled class (and/or clinical) day. Email communication is also encouraged using the University conferred email addresses and/or Blackboard. Completed copies are to be shared with the Undergraduate or Graduate Faculty Secretary.
It is reasonable for students to expect papers, projects and other written work to be reviewed and returned in a timely manner (within one to two weeks as appropriate for the course). Efforts are to be made to afford a variety of evaluation opportunities throughout the semester.
A dedicated intensive study day is scheduled immediately prior to final exams. No classes are to be scheduled during this day. The Office of Student Services distributes final exam schedules. Grades are not to be posted.
Speaker Fees
Content experts may be invited to present pertinent information to students. Speakers requiring compensation may only be used in special circumstances. Prior approval by the Dean is necessary for compensation to be provided. The Program Directors should be consulted before engaging outside speakers who request compensation.
Clinical Instruction
Faculty involved in clinical instruction may anticipate meeting on a periodic basis with the theory faculty to ensure effective communication is maintained. Clinical assignments are to be made as outlined by the theory faculty to assure consistency across the course. Clinical conferences are to be used to facilitate clinical application.
Faculty participating in clinical activities that involve client care are expected to provide evidence of current CPR certification and TB skin testing annually. Materials are given to the Clinical Coordinator (156) and forwarded to the University Health Center (See Faculty Health policy). Faculty are required to meet all immunization requirements of the affiliating clinical agency.
Faculty are responsible for meeting all orientation requirements of the clinical agency (ies) in which they are supervising students. Orientations are to be completed as outlined by the respective Program Director and sponsoring agency.
Faculty will be compensated for travel associated with clinical activities that involve distances that exceed the distance between the faculty member’s home and the main campus.
Evaluation
Students are to be provided opportunity for formative evaluation. Students identified as having problems are to receive a written Counseling Form in sufficient time to improve the problem behavior. They are also to be referred to the Early Alert System. Written clinical evaluations are to occur at the end of the course and include formal evaluations of students, and of the experience itself by clinical staff members working closely with the faculty and students on a particular unit or in a clinic or clinical or community-based agency in which clinical experiences occur.
Course/Clinical: Nursing courses are to be evaluated by students prior to the end of each semester. Traditional course/clinical evaluations will be placed in faculty mailboxes at the end of each semester to be completed by students and returned to the designated course coordinator. Results are shared with the designated faculty, appropriate Program Director, Associate Dean and Dean.
Course Summary
Theory faculty members submit a detailed summary of the activities for each course to the appropriate Program Director within one month after conclusion of the semester. The approved format is to be used and is to be accompanied by a copy of the complete syllabus and examinations with keys. The completed materials are maintained in a secured Evaluation Room and are available for faculty review.