Title

Policy 3.10

Subtitle

Faculty Expectations

Body

Part 1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance regarding management expectations for faculty that are not included in the Minnesota State College Faculty (MSCF) Master Agreement but that are necessary to ensure consistent academic quality and meet federal financial aid obligations. 

Part 2. Definitions

Academic Property: Academic property includes grade books, assignments, assessments, and other academic records that impact a student's grade in a course.

Part 3. Course Syllabus

Subpart A. Written Syllabus

An instructor of a course must provide to students in the first week of class a syllabus that outlines:

  1. Contact information for the instructor and office hours
  2. Course description, learning outcomes, and topical outline from Common Course Outline that has been approved by the College's Academic Affairs and Standards Council 
  3. Standards for classroom participation and attendance
  4. Types of assignments and tests
  5. Due dates of assignments and policies regarding accepting late or inadequate work
  6. Criteria for the evaluation of student work and grade determination
  7. For blended/hybrid classes, the dates and times when classes will meet face-to-face.

Subpart B. Submission to the Office of Academic Affairs

Upon request, faculty members shall provide a copy of syllabi in electronic format to the administration.

Part 4. Retention of Academic Property

Instructors must retain academic property for one semester after the course is completed.​

Part 5. Reporting Last Date of Attendance (LDA)

Subpart A. Requirement to report Last Date of Attendance.

Faculty are required to report to the Financial Aid Office the last date of attendance for each student who stops attending or who never attends a course, according to the guidelines outlined in College Policy 4.16 Last Date of Attendance and Procedure 4.16.01, Last Date of Attendance Procedure.

The Last Date of Attendance (LDA) policy is based on federal financial aid regulations requiring the college to determine the percent of aid earned by a student based on the amount of time spent in attendance.

The purpose of recording an LDA is to appropriately assess the financial liability of students, ensure good stewardship of financial aid funds, and limit the financial liability for the College and academic consequences for the student.

Subpart B. Timeliness of LDA Reporting.

Faculty should complete LDA reports in a timely manner to prevent over-awarding financial aid and/or undue financial obligation for students who stopped attending or who never attended a course, following the timelines outlined in College Policy 4.16 Last Date of Attendance and Procedure 4.16.01, Last Date of Attendance Procedure.

Subpart C. Course-based Academic Attendance Policies.

The LDA policy does not preclude faculty from establishing their own academic attendance policies, which may include assessing an academic consequence when students fail to attend class as required. The academic consequence cannot include administratively withdrawing a student for reasons other than those stipulated by the LDA policy, nor can faculty require a student to withdraw themselves from their course.

Part 6. Grading Deadline

An instructor of a course must submit a grade for every student in their course by the grading deadline for the current semester established in the Academic Calendar.

Part 7. Class Cancellations

Faculty must request leave when canceling one or more class sessions due to illness, family emergencies, etc., as outlined in College Procedure 6.10.01.

Owner(s) Title: Vice President of Academic Affairs

Date of Adoption: 7/1/1999 (Not Verified)

Date of Implementation (if different from adoption date): N/A

Date Last Reviewed: 8/14/2024 (Comprehensive Review)

History and Subject of Revisions: 8/14/2024 (Comprehensive Review. Clarified syllabus expectations regarding inclusion of course description, learning outcomes, and topical outline. Added references to the Last Date of Attendance (LDA) policy and procedure concerning the timeliness of LDAs. Clarified that faculty cannot require a student to withdraw from a course.), 5/15/2019 

Regulatory Authority (e.g. Minnesota State policy, federal or state law): N/A

ID
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