Department of Social Sciences

FACULTY MANUAL

Welcome to the faculty of the Department of Social Sciences. This booklet is to provide you with information that you might need during the semester. You will find information for your needs as far as "using the university facilities" (parking, ID cards, xerox machines, mail, offices, telephones, computers, library, etc.), and student needs (syllabi, grading policies, academic honesty policy, basic skills labs, and other student-use facilities). This semester, we will be meeting on a regular basis -- usually the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2:30 pm.. It is our policy to make decisions based on the principles of shared governance and academic freedom. Given that, you will find various policies (linked at the end of this document) for you to use.  Please feel free to discuss your ideas in the university regarding courses, academic standards, evaluation, etc. Thank you, and welcome.

Attendance: The University’s position on attendance is that students are expected to attend all class sessions, but there are no prescribed sanctions if they do not. How you deal with attendance issues is up to you; the department will support any reasonable policy.

Withdrawing from courses: The responsibility for withdrawing from a course lies entirely with the student. Faculty members may not drop a student from a course because of excessive absences or for any other reason. If you feel that a student ought to be withdrawn from your course, discuss the matter with your coordinator. The final decision lies with the dean and requires a written justification from the instructor.

Audiovisual programs: To request audiovisual equipment for your classroom, contact Multimedia Services (S-930, 713-221-8190, or multimediaservices@uhd.edu) at least 24 hours ahead of time. They'll need to know your name, department, equipment needed, date(s) needed, time(s) needed, classroom number, office number, and a telephone number where you can be reached during the day. If you borrow equipment from Multimedia Services, and if your class ends after regular business hours, you will be asked to take the equipment to the Parking Office (N-390) after your class.

The department and the library own a few audiovisual programs. To see the department's holdings, ask in the department office. To see the library's holdings, ask at the circulation desk. The department also owns a VCR that may be reserved ahead of time in Carolyn Waddles’ office. Please do not take the VCR without first checking to see if someone else has reserved it.

Canceling a class meeting: Occasionally it is necessary for a faculty member to cancel a class meeting. If this happens to you, please contact the department office (713-221-8014) and your area coordinator as soon as possible so that arrangements may be made for notifying your students. If your class meets outside of regular department office hours and/or the department office is closed at the time you decide you must cancel a class, then you may call the University Police (713-221-8065) and ask them to post a notice for students in your classroom.

Classrooms: We try to assign classes to the classrooms that are best suited for them in terms of size and equipment. If you have complaints about your classroom, please see your coordinator. In some cases a satisfactory switch will be possible. Please do not change classrooms on your own. This can cause various problems, including our being unable to find you or your students in case of emergency.

Computing Facilities: You may send your print jobs to the department laser printer in 1012-S (the mail room). We also now have a department scanner and color printer in 1009-S (department office). The office staff will be happy to help you use them for your course work needs. In order to access the university’s internet and email, you must apply for a network access account. If you wish to have a UHD email account, you must also apply for an Exchange e-mail account. You may apply for both of these accounts by completing the form entitled Computer Account Access Request Form, which is available from the Office of Information Resources, located in South-700.

For instructional purposes there are two facilities available for faculty and student use. The Social Sciences Computing Lab, located in S-1002, is for the use of Social Sciences faculty and students. It may be reserved for an occasional class meeting if your class is small (there are 10 computers). It is also available for individual use for several hours each week. In addition to standard software, the SAS and SPSS statistics packages are accessible via the machines in this lab. In order to use SAS, you must apply for a user account on the new UNIX system, using the Computer Account Access Request Form mentioned above. No additional account is required to use SPSS.

The Academic Computing Lab (S-800) is also available for all UH-D students and faculty. This lab contains both PCs and Macs that are equipped with standard software as well a variety of other software packages that may be useful to your students or you. The lab also has a few classrooms that you may use for the purpose of providing students with an orientation to hardware or software that they may be required to use in your course. Your faculty ID will be required to use this lab. Reservations for classes can be made by going to the following website: http://www.uhd.edu/computing/acl/classroom_reservation.htm

Course evaluations: Toward the end of each semester you will receive a packet of course evaluation forms along with instructions about how they are to be administered. Please administer them during the time in the semester as stated on the instructions letter.

Each semester you will receive two types of feedback based on the previous semester's evaluations: (1) a numeric summary of the Scantron portion of the evaluation, and (2) xerox copies of the students’ written comments. Both will be placed in your mailbox in a timely manner so you can use these in informative ways to plan for the next semester’s classes.

Course packets: There is a commercial copy center located at the back of the bookstore on the third floor. Before the beginning of a semester, you may supply them with materials that you would otherwise hand out to students throughout the semester. These materials will be copied, collated, and made up into course packets which students may then purchase at the start of the semester. If you are organized enough before the semester begins to gather such materials together, this will save time and effort on your part later in the semester, and it will save photocopying costs for the department. Copyrighted materials will need to be cleared in advance and any royalty fees added to the course packet’s purchase price. The copy center will handle this for you. For more information, you may call the copy center at (713) 221-8155.  You also may email the copy center:  copycenter@uhd.edu

Dropping a course: (See Withdrawal from a course below)

At the end of the semester, please do the following:

• Be sure to turn in your grades on time. You must turn in grades personally at the Office of Records (now on 3rd floor).

• Be sure to give your coordinator a photocopy of the Scantron grade sheets for your sections.

• Keep copies of  the course materials.  Throughout the semester you should retain a copy of each quiz, exam, or other assignment that will be used in determining students’ final course grades. You also should retain copies of grading keys or other information used in final grade calculation. These materials may be necessary if questions arise about a student’s grade after the semester’s end.

• You also should maintain clear records of students’ grades on various assignments, their attendance, and any other variables that could affect their grades, as well as your formulae for calculating course grades.

• Finally, please provide your coordinator with a copy of your final exam and grading key in case it becomes necessary for us to administer the final to a student who missed it. If you will not be teaching in the subsequent semester, please return your keys and parking card to your coordinator.

Coffee Club: Coffee for Social Science faculty is in 1009-S – the Social Science Department Office. If you would like to drink coffee, please bring one large can of coffee at the beginning of the semester.  Surekha will mark your name down as one of the "coffee drinkers."  When we run out, we will make another call for coffee.  Thanks.

Final exams: The date and time for your course’s final exam are listed in the back of the semester’s class schedule booklet. Even if you do not administer a traditional, formal final examination during this time period, you must still meet with your class at that time.

Grade appeals: Students have the right to appeal to the department if they feel they have received a grade that they did not deserve. When this happens, we will contact you in order to discuss the matter. Grade appeal forms are available by going by the department office (see university policy on Grading System: PS 03.A.04 in this packet), or clicking on the form.
Click here for form.

Grades of Incomplete: These should be given rarely, and primarily in cases of medical or other serious emergencies. Assigning a grade of "I" requires that you and the student fill out and sign a form specifying the work that remains to be done, and this form must be filed with the chair in the department office before the grade can be assigned (see again PS 03.A.04). The form requires you to attach all exams, keys, term paper assignments, and course syllabi. The completed file will be placed in a sealed envelope until you and the student need it. Click here for form.

Honesty code: The University’s Honesty Code states We will be honest in all our academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty. If you become aware of instances of academic dishonesty, you may contact the department chair for assistance. There is a set of procedures that must be followed when a student is charged with dishonesty (see Academic Honesty Policy, PS 03.A.19).

Identification cards: You may obtain an identification card at Information: 713-221-8000, on the 3rd floor. Each semester you must obtain a new sticker for your ID card.. Your ID card will be required for you to purchase a parking permit, use the library, and use the Academic Computing Lab.

Keys: Ask about keys in the department office. The department staff will help you complete the key request forms, submit them to the Key Control Office, and you may pick up your keys on the first floor (Key office).

Mailboxes: You have a mailbox in S-1012. Please check it, and the bulletin board in that room, regularly. Students are not allowed to enter this room. Please do not instruct students to place assignments or messages in your mailbox. These items should be given to office personnel, who will place them in your mailbox.

Office hours: Early in the semester you will be given two class time/office hour forms to complete. These should be completed and returned to the department secretary. One of them should be posted outside your office door, and the other will be used by the office staff as contact information for your students when they call. As a general rule, you should schedule one office hour weekly per course.

Office supplies: Ask in the department office.  We are trying to place faculty orders once each semester.

Parking: Faculty members are entitled to purchase a year-long parking permits for $60.00. Each August, the office staff will collect your parking permit requests and your checks, and will get your permit for you. Also, you will receive a set number of parking tokens each semester for guest lecturers.  They may park in visitors parking on the Travis Street entrance to the university.

Pay period: Paychecks are issued at the end of the month. You may make arrangements for your paycheck to be deposited directly to your bank.  Contact the Personnel Office (S-925), or email them at their website  -- Employment Services & Operations :   http://www.dt.uh.edu/hr/

Personnel files: We must have the following items in our files before you are authorized to begin teaching at UH-Downtown (checklist below):

Application
English language form
Curriculum Vitae (current)
Official transcripts from all institutions you have attended
Three letters of recommendation

Photocopying: The department’s photocopy machine is located in S-1012, across the hall from the department office. The machine will be programmed so that you can access your account by punching in the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Please conserve paper. Ways to do this include: copying on both the front and back of the paper you use; using the reduction function in order to fit more material on each page; and copying on the back of previously-used paper. If you need help to figure out how to do any of these things, ask a fellow faculty member, your coordinator, or someone in the department office.

Prerequisites: The course(s) that you teach may require one or more prerequisites. At present, the UH-Downtown administrative computer system is not configured to check for prerequisites before allowing a student to register for a course. You therefore may have students enrolled in your course(s) who have not met the prerequisites. Please ask your students about prerequisites at the beginning of each semester and suggest that students who have not fulfilled them do that now. Course prerequisites also should be listed on your syllabus.

Reserve materials: You may place materials on reserve for your students in the library. Ask at the circulation desk.

Scantron Grading Machine (S-1012): We have a new Scantron machine in room 1012-S (mailroom).  We have ordered Scantron sheets for use in your classes, and we will be ordering Scantron Item Analysis sheets as well.  I will let you know when they arrive.

Senate.  The UHD Faculty Senate meets twice each month during the long semesters on the first and third Tuesdays at 2:30 pm. in the White Oak Room (next to the food courts on the third floor of the Academic Building).  Each department elects one faculty member per 7 full-time faculty members as representative.   All are invited to attend in the audience. Please feel invited to attend meetings and participate.

Student services: From time to time you may wish to refer a student to one of the following student services (partial list). Because of construction/remodeling, the rooms may have changed:

Counseling and Testing (N-390)
Career Services (N-370)
Financial Aid (N-357)
Student Health Services (N-358)
Writing Lab (N-925)
Reading Lab (N-925)
Mathematics Lab (N-925)

Syllabus: At the beginning of the semester, please give your discipline area coordinator a copy of the syllabus you plan to use for each course you are teaching. For the university’s accreditation purposes, your syllabus must contain the following:

Course information: course name, meeting times, credit hours

Course description: including prerequisites. You can get this from the university catalog

Instructor information: name, office location, office hours, telephone number, adjuncts' phone mail number (713-221-8497)

Required materials: a list of the textbook(s) and whatever other materials students are required to have for the course

Educational objectives: listing the skills and knowledge which students are expected to master as a result of completing the course

Grading criteria: descriptions of items that will be used to determine grades (i.e., exams, papers, etc.), including information about frequency, due dates if possible, format (e.g., exams -- multiple choice, essays, etc.; papers – approximate length, style [e.g., APA, MLA, etc.]); weighting of items.

If possible, schedule to-be-graded items in such a way that students begin receiving feedback about their performance early in the semester and continue receiving feedback regularly. Student performance should be assessed in a variety of ways. For example, it would not be good policy for course grades to be based on a single assignment, such as a term paper or a comprehensive final exam. A good mix of grading criteria will include some combination of quizzes, exams, papers, projects, homework and/or other types of graded items.

Consider some sort of make-up policy. Flat tires, sick kids, and last-minute assignments from the boss really do happen sometimes. So it is a good idea to build into your syllabus some mechanism whereby students can make up at least some types of missed exams or other assignments. If your own schedule allows, you could designate a particular time when make-up exams will be administered.

Grading policy: an explanation of how student performance will be evaluated and how final grades will be calculated

Statement on reasonable accommodations: The following statement should be included in your syllabus. You may "cut and paste" the following:

The University of Houston-Downtown adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities should register with Disabled Student Services (S-903, 713-221-8430) and contact their instructor(s) in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.

Writing Lab, Reading Lab, Mathematics Lab (N-925): Students needing assistance with their writing, reading or mathematics in order to be successful in your class may be referred to this facility where they can receive general assistance as well as help with particular assignments. The lab can be asked to send you a report of the student’s progress. Please ask about this feature.

University Policies (soon to be linked):

Rank and Tenure System, PS 10.A.01

Faculty Grievance Procedures, PS 10.A.02

Faculty Teaching Workload, PS 10.A.04

Faculty Performance Evaluations, PS 10.A.05

Faculty Salary Adjustments, PS 10.A.09

Sexual Harassment Policy, PS 02.A.15

Grading System, PS 03.A.04

Academic Honesty, PS 03.A.19

Academic Freedom, PS 03.A.25

Student Course Evaluations, PS 03.A.26

Student Rights and Responsibilities, PS 04.A.01

Academic Appointments, PS 10.A.03

Forms Used:

Incomplete Grade Request

Petition for Closed Section Override

Grade Appeal Request Form

Phone List for Department