College of Nursing

Undergraduate Program

Theory Teaching Resposibilites

The following details the responsibilities of faculty teaching theory courses in undergraduate courses:

• Plan course material, content, and learning experiences according to the course descriptions and course objectives established through the College of Nursing processes.
• Submit textbook request forms to the Undergraduate Program Administrative Assistant according to the University Bookstore deadlines.
• Prepare course syllabus according to the guidelines set forth by the College of Nursing Curriculum committee.  All syllabi must be submitted to the Undergraduate Program Administrative Assistant by the beginning of each semester.
• Maintain and update course web site.
• Plan, communicate, and implement student learning experiences and subsequent evaluations (e.g., written exams, papers, clinical care plans, etc.).
• Record, maintain, and retain records of student performance (e.g., test results, assignment grades, etc.).
• Counsel/advise students who are at risk of course failure and initiate referrals through the Academic Alert system.  Student concerns, especially those regarding clinical performance, may be alerted via a Counseling Form.  Submission of the Counseling Form should follow the academic policies outlined in the Student Handbook.
• Upon student request, review evaluations and test feedback in a timely manner.
• Provide students an opportunity to complete course evaluations at the conclusion of the semester.
• Submit final course grades electronically according to the deadlines established by the Provost’s office.
• Prepare and submit a course report to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs.

Special Responsibilities related to the Course Leader role

• Ensure course syllabus and/or clinical packet information is provided to all faculty teaching within the course.
• Clearly state clinical faculty expectations and responsibilities in course syllabus and/or clinical packet.
• Meet with all faculty teaching in the course prior to the beginning of the semester to communicate clearly the expectations for student learning, student evaluations, and faculty teaching responsibilities.  Additional clinical faculty meetings should be scheduled as needed throughout the semester.
• Establish and communicate written course-specific clinical processes.
• Ensure clinical faculty access, review and maintain/enforce facility specific clinical processes.
• Ensure that all College of Nursing and UMSL clinical policies and procedures are followed.
• Communicate and provide students with all course-specific clinical paperwork (e.g., clinical evaluations, care plan templates, grading rubrics, etc.)
• Initiate formative clinical faculty evaluations at least twice per semester according to the policy and procedure in the Faculty Handbook.
• Within a timely manner, respond to and follow-up regarding with any student clinical concerns or facility concerns identified by clinical faculty.
• Coordinate clinical facility evaluations through clinical faculty according to current College of Nursing policies and procedures.

• According to course clinical expectations, assign students to appropriate clients or preceptors in clinical setting. 
• Coordinate student orientation to the clinical facility according to current clinical facility expectations and course expectations, including any facility paperwork and course-specific paperwork.
• Represent College of Nursing to students and facility staff in a positive, professional manner.
• Actively participate in course meetings and collaborate with course leader and other clinical faculty to support the accomplishment of course/clinical outcomes.
• Maintain timely communication with students, Course Leader, and clinical facility staff.  Student feedback regarding clinical and paperwork performance should be timely to allow students opportunity to respond and improve performance.
• Counsel/advise students who are at risk of course failure and initiate referrals in coordination with the Course Leader.  Student concerns, especially those regarding clinical performance, may be alerted via a Counseling Form.  Submission of the Counseling Form should follow the academic policies outlined in the Student Handbook.
• Uphold course-specific policies and procedures established by Course Leader.
• Complete all end-of-semester tasks and submit all appropriate paperwork to Course Leader (e.g., student clinical evaluations, facility evaluations, etc.)
• Provide feedback regarding clinical facility concerns and/or facility evaluations to Course Leader, Clinical Coordinator, and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs (when appropriate).

Theory Teaching Responsibilities

Graduate Program

• Prepare syllabus according to the guidelines set forth by the Curriculum Committee (Course title; credits; pre/co-requisites; description; objectives; content outline; instructional methods; evaluation methods; textbooks [required and recommended]; topic outline;
• Submit syllabus to Graduate Program Administrative Assistant for duplication by specified deadlines;
• Submit textbook request forms to Graduate Program Administrative Assistant by specified time;
• Ensure that all faculty members associated with the course receive a copy of the syllabus;
• Maintain current web page for course;
• Establish and distribute to students, Associate Dean for Advanced Nursing Education, or Associate Dean for the PhD Program and Research, and MSN Program Coordinator or DNP Program Coordinator, a communication tree should class meeting(s) need to be changed;
• Determine and implement methods of student evaluations (e.g., written exams, papers, etc.);
• Maintain and retain records of student performance (test results, paper grades, etc.);
• Counsel/advise students who are in jeopardy of failing theory component and refer to the Academic Alert system. Form needs to be signed by the student and faculty. Form needs to describe difficulty, steps to be taken to improve performance, and the consequences should performance not improve. A copy of the Counseling Form is to be given to the student, one to the Associate Dean for Advanced Nursing Education or the Associate Dean for the PhD Program and Research, the MSN Coordinator or DNP Coordinator, one in the student's file in Student Services, and one retained by the faculty member;
• Attend course meetings as scheduled by course coordinators;
• Assure students have the opportunity to complete course evaluations upon conclusion of the semester;
• Administer final examination as determined by the University Final Exam Schedule;
• Consult with clinical faculty to determine final clinical grade status in practicum courses.
• Submit final course grades electronically before due date. The Provost's office sends an electronic mail message to faculty about this; faculty members should check to be certain their courses are listed electronically; and,
• Complete a course summary and submit it to the Associate Dean for Advanced Nursing Education or Associate Dean for the PhD Program and Research as soon as possible at the completion of the semester.

Special Responsibilities related to Outreach Theory Courses

• Ensure that courses scheduled as ITV have a minimum of 50% of the sessions presented on air;
• Coordinate orientation to ITV and Outreach site as scheduled for telecommunicated and Outreach-based courses;
• Plan to telecommunicate from each site when teaching an ITV course;
• Notify Division of Continuing Education of on-air dates for all telecommunicated courses by the specified deadline;
• Notify Division of Continuing Education and site technicians of any changes in the on-air times for ITV courses;
• Provide electronic syllabi and handout materials for the first class session to the Undergraduate or Graduate Program Administrative Assistant three weeks prior to the first class session;
• Be prepared to proctor examinations for on campus sections, as proctors are available at the Outreach sites only. Notify site personnel well in advance of the exam dates that will need a proctor at the Outreach site(s);
• Provide to the Undergraduate or Graduate Administrative Assistant all supplemental materials to be distributed to Outreach students a minimum of three weeks prior to date to be addressed in class;
• Coordinate with the Associate Dean for Advanced Nursing Education or the Associate Dean for the PhD Program and Research; and,
• Inform appropriate associate dean and DNP Program Coordinator or MSN Program Coordinator of all course-related problems (including those with technology) in a timely manner.

Clinical Teaching Responsibilities 

Graduate Program

• Guide student choices for appropriate clients or preceptors in clinical settings;
• Ensure sufficient clinical hours to meet the graduate-faculty designated ratio of 4 clock hours per credit hour per week;
• Ensure appropriate preceptor application packet materials are submitted before the student begins clinical;
• Provide preceptor packets for students as needed;
• Ensure that graduate program administrative assistant has current preceptor credentials and contact information for the database and official files;
• Orient students to the clinical facilities as appropriate;
• Complete agency-specific orientation requirements and return validation of that orientation to clinical facility as appropriate;
• Represent College of Nursing to the affiliating agency in a positive manner;
• When possible, communicate to faculty and students in a timely manner any specific requirements of clinical sites (i.e., special immunizations, parking requirements, restrictions, orientations, etc.);
• Collect verification and preceptor documents as needed for clinical courses;
• Establish and distribute to students, and clinical course coordinator, a communication tree should students need to be contacted. Include student's clinical agency and telephone number;
• Meet with clinical preceptors and students at least twice per semester to guide and evaluate student's achievement of stated objectives. Observe the student completing at least one history and physical exam with a client during the visit and interacting with clients and interprofessional colleagues. Evaluate student's ability to devise appropriate clinical management plans for clients and to assess the outcomes of those plans as appropriate to the objectives of the clinical course;
• Call each preceptor prior to starting clinical. Provide the preceptor with information the course, course objectives, how to contact the faculty member with any questions or concerns, and specify how frequently faculty visits will occur. Ensure that the preceptor has a copy of the student evaluation tool;
• Implement course-specific conferences and discussions with clinical student group(s). These may occur electronically if appropriate;
• Orient all students to the clinical evaluation tool and evaluation process at the beginning of the semester;
• Evaluate students' written work related to clinical assignments and provide feedback in a timely manner;
• Complete a clinical evaluation in collaboration with the preceptor for each student based upon clinical outcomes/objectives.=;
• Keep each clinical student apprised of any clinical outcomes/objectives not being met on an on-going basis. Document such information on a Counseling Form and have student sign the Form that describes clinical difficulty, steps to be taken to improve clinical performance, and the consequences should performance not improve. A copy of the Counseling Form is to be given to the student, one sent to the course coordinator, one given to the Associate Dean for Advanced Nursing Education and DNP or MSN Program Coordinator, one placed in the student's file in Student Services, and one retained by the faculty member;
• Notify the Associate Dean for Advanced Nursing Education and DNP or MSN Program Coordinator and the clinical course coordinator as soon as possible of any student who is at risk for clinical failure;
• Distribute student evaluations of the clinical experience for all students to complete at the conclusion of the semester;
• Schedule appointments with each student to discuss the student's clinical evaluation for the semester;
• Provide copies of the agency clinical evaluation form to clinical staff members before the conclusion of each semester;
• Evaluate the appropriateness of the clinical setting regarding student experiences and make recommendations about future utilization to the Associate Dean for Advanced Nursing Education and DNP or MSN Program Coordinator;
• Submit all completed faculty-initiated student evaluations to the Associate Dean for Advanced Nursing Education and DNP or MSN Program Coordinator at the end of each semester by the designated deadline;
• Actively participate in all course and/or level meetings as scheduled;
• Collaborate with other faculty to support accomplishments of course/clinical outcomes; and,
• Recommend potential new preceptors or agencies based on an evaluation of the appropriateness of the sites for accomplishment of student objectives.