DATE: July2015
TO: UNLVFull-time,Part-timeFacultyandTeachingStaff
FROM:Nancy Rapoport,ExecutiveVicePresidentProvost
RE: UNLV Policiesfor Facultyand allTeaching Staff - Fall 2015
Asyouprepareforthenewterm,Iwouldliketocallyourattentiontosomeofthepoliciesandguidelinesthatyouwillfind important.Asnotedinprevioussemesters,Iwouldliketoremindyouthatitisimperativethatfacultymembersmaintain contact/officehours,meetclassesfortheirfullyscheduledtime,andgivefinalexaminationsasnotedbelow.
Pleasereviewallof theseitemscarefully.Neworupdatedcontentisingreen.This memo is posted on the University Policies webpage in the Executive Vice President and Provost Policies & Forms section , Semester MemosUNLV Policies for Faculty and all Teaching Staff.If you have any questions, please contactGail Griffin, .
ADAAccommodations–Forallfacultyandstaff(professionalandclassified)ADAaccommodation determinations,pleasecontactEEO/AAComplianceOffice,locatedinFloraDunganHumanities(FDH),Room514, (702)895-3656.See
ClassroomGuidelines
Afacultymembermaydetermine,perUNLVGeneralCounsel,whatis andis notacceptablebehaviorinthe classroom,e.g.,latearrival,useof electronicdevices,visitors.Classroomoccupantsareatthediscretionof the instructor.Thefacultymembershouldclearlycommunicateexpectations.
ClassroomProcedures–Facultymembersareexpectedto:
•Holdclassmeetingsthatareconsistentwiththecourseschedule.Whenfacultymembersmustmissan occasionalclass(e.g.,forprofessionalmeetings,duetosickness,orfortheobservanceof areligiousholiday), theyareexpectedtoreschedulethatclassmeetingortoarrangeforareplacement,orprovidealternative instructionorassignments(thecompleteMissedClasses for Teaching Staffproceduresis on theUniversity Policies webpage in the Executive Vice President and Provost Policies & Forms section ;
•Maintainapredictablenumberof officehourswhichshallbepostedandthefacultyshallbeavailableto students,colleagues,andothers;
•Evaluateacademicperformancefairly;
•Counselstudents;
•CarrythroughwiththeirworkloadcommitmentinaccordancewithUNLV,college/school,anddepartment/unit bylaws.Facultymembersshouldhavepriorapprovalfrom theirsupervisorbeforemissing/reschedulingclasses and/ormissingotherscheduledduties,withtheexceptionof emergencies(thecompleteMissedClasses for Teaching Staffproceduresis on theUniversity Policies webpage in the Executive Vice President and Provost Policies & Forms section ;
•Continuetheirprofessionaldevelopment;and
•Meettheirobligationstotheuniversitycommunity.
ConsensualRelationships –UNLVprohibitsromanticorsexualrelationships betweenmembersoftheuniversity communitywhenoneoftheindividualsinvolvedhasdirectprofessionalinfluenceordirectauthorityovertheother.For furtherinformation,see
Disability Resource Center Accommodations- Faculty compliance in collaborating with the Disability Resource Center is critical to upholding the university’s federal mandate in providing equal access to students with disabilities. If faculty believe that accommodations may fundamentally alter course requirements, such concerns must be deliberated with the DRC in a timely manner. Failure to comply with academic accommodation plans given to faculty by students may result in putting the faculty member and university at risk for litigationand may subject a faculty member to discipline under NSHE Code, Title 2, Chapter 6.
FinalExaminations–TheUniversityrequiresthatfinalexamsgivenattheendof acourseoccuratthetimeand onthedayspecifiedinthefinalexamschedule.Seethescheduleat:
Grading–Allsyllabishouldclearlyindicateprocessesforgrading,exams,andgradeposting.InkeepingwiththeFamily EducationalRightsandPrivacy Act(FERPA),gradesshouldnotbepostedunlessyoucanensurecomplete confidentialityforindividualstudents.Thepreferredmethodforpostingcourseworkandexamgradesistouse WebCampus.FinalcoursegradesmustbesubmittedinMyUNLVbyTuesdayDecember 15,4:00p.m.except forthefewcoursesthatendafterDecember 15th.Beyondtheprofessionalresponsibilitytoprovidefinalgradestostudentsina timelymanner,lategradeshaveanegativeimpacton UNLV'sshareoftheNSHEperformancefundingformula.Itis ultimatelythedepartmentandcollege'sresponsibilitytohaveallfinalgradespostedontime.
IncompleteGrades-Thegradeof I–Incomplete–canbegrantedwhenastudenthassatisfactorilycompleted three-fourthsof courseworkforthatsemester/sessionbutforreason(s)beyondthestudent’scontrol,and acceptabletotheinstructor,cannotcompletethelastpartof thecourse,andtheinstructorbelievesthatthestudent canfinishthecoursewithoutrepeatingit.Theincompleteworkmustbemadeupbeforetheendof thefollowing regularsemesterfor undergraduate courses. Graduate students receiving I grades in 500-, 600-, or 700-level courses have up to one calendar year to complete the work, at the discretion of the instructor.If courserequirementsarenotcompletedwithinthetimeindicated,agradeof FwillberecordedandtheGPAwillbeadjustedaccordingly.StudentswhoarefulfillinganIncompletedonotregisterforthecoursebut makeindividualarrangementswiththeinstructorwhoassignedtheIgrade.
InternationalActivities
UNLVfacultyandstaffactivitieswithaninternationalcomponentwhichincludesstudentsoraccompanyingguests mustcontacttheOfficeof InternationalProgramsduringtheinitialplanningstagesforinformationregardingUNLV andNSHEpoliciesforforeignstudy,research,ortravel.UNLVemployeeshaveacontractualobligationtocomply withUNLVpoliciesandtheNSHECode.
TheOfficeof InternationalProgramsis thecentralizedacademicsupportunitwhichassistsUNLVintheplanning anddevelopmentof cooperativeagreements,programsabroad,facultyexchange,fieldstudyprojects,andother initiativeswhichfosterinternationalization.Facultyorstaffconsideringthedevelopmentof newprogramsmust contactInternationalProgramslocatedinCBCB325,phone702-895-3896.
FailuretoworkwithinUNLVandNSHEpoliciesforthedevelopmentandapprovalof internationaltravelmayresult inemployeenoncompliancewithinstitutionalpolicy.Employeesmaynotbeprovidedinstitutionalsupportforany professionalorlegalconsequencesarisingoutof suchactivities,whichmaybethesoleresponsibilityof thefaculty orstaffmember.
RecordingDateofLastAttendanceforIncompleteandFGrades-UnderNSHEandUNLVpolicy,facultyare “notrequiredtotakeattendance”asdefinedunderfederalfinancialaidguidelines.However,bothfederalfinancial aidandNSHEpolicyrequirefacultytorecord,whenassigninganIncompleteorFgrade,thestudent’s“dateof last attendance”todetermineifthestudenthascompletedmorethan60%of theinstructionof acourse.Individual facultymay,attheirdiscretion,recordan“FN”grade(Ffornon-attendance)inthecaseof astudentwhohasnot completedgreaterthan60%of instructionbuthasnotwithdrawnfrom thecourse.
Inallof theseinstances,thepercentof instructionachievedis baseduponthestudent’sdateof lastattendance, whichinturn,baseduponFederalfinancialaidguidelines,is definedasthe“lastdateof attendanceatan academicallyrelatedactivity”associatedwiththecourse.Thiscouldbelaterthanthelastdateof physicalclassroom attendance.
Academicallyrelatedactivityis definedatUNLVasanyof thefollowing,allof whicharedrawnfrom TitleVIfederal financialaidguidelines:
a. physicallyattendingaclasswherethereis anopportunityfordirectinteractionbetweentheinstructorand students;
b. submittinganacademicassignment;
c.takinganexam,aninteractivetutorialorcomputer-assistedinstruction;
d. attendingastudygroupthatis assignedbytheschool;
e. participatinginanonlinediscussionaboutacademicmatters;
f.Initiatingcontactwithafacultymembertoask aquestionabouttheacademicsubjectstudiedinthecourse.
Academicallyrelatedactivitiesdonotincludeactivitieswhereastudentmaybepresent,butnotacademicallyengaged, suchas:
a. livingininstitutionalhousing;
b. participatingintheschool’smealplan;
c.loggingintoanonlineclasswithoutactiveparticipationor d. participatinginacademiccounselingoradvisement.
Note(c)above–loggingintoanonlinecoursewithoutactiveparticipation--isspecifiedasnottheacceptablestandard; insteadthestandardisthataninstitutioncandemonstrate“thatastudentparticipatedinclassorwasotherwiseengaged
inanacademicallyrelatedactivity,suchasby contributingtoanonlinediscussion orinitiatingcontactwithafaculty membertoask acourse-relatedquestion.”
Mid-Term Grades
Mid-term grades and statuses will be reported using MyUNLV for all 09X, 100, and 200 level courses. Fall 2015
mid-term grades should be entered into MyUNLVby5 p.m. on Friday, October 16th, which is the end of the
eighth week of the full semester.This process allows each college’s academic advisors, Academic Success Center
staff, scholarship coordinators, financial aid counselors, and other student support personnel to contact and offer
additional support and resources to students who are struggling in one or more courses. In addition, this timeline
affords students the opportunity to make any needed adjustments before the final drop date and start of the mid-
semester courses. If you do not have a log-in for MyUNLV, please .
For mid-term grade resources for students go here
Mid-Semester Courses
For Fall 2015, instruction of mid-semester courses will beginMonday, November 2ndand endFriday/Saturday, December 4th-5th(end of Study Week). This will allow five weeks of instruction before the full semester final exams begin. As in prior semesters, these classes should include a minimum of 750 minutes of classroom instruction per credit. Mid-semester courses are designed, approved, and built within academic departments and colleges. This process should be completed as soon as possible to allow for proper scheduling and advertising. Please note that these courses are FTE generating courses just as any others that are taught in a department. Thus, each department will need to complete the employment documents for its courses.
To see which mid-semester courses are available, use the MyUNLV search engine > additional search criteria > session > mid-semester.
MissedClass(es)/Student–Asageneralrule,astudentmissingaclassorlaboratoryassignmentbecauseof observanceof areligiousholidayshallhavetheopportunitytomakeupmissedwork.Studentsmustnotifythe instructorof anticipatedabsencesnolaterthantheendof thefirsttwoweeksof classes,September 4,tobeassured of thisopportunity.Facultymaygivestudentsanadditionalweek,butareencouragedtosetacleardeadline.
InaccordancewiththeUNLVfacultysenate-approvedpolicyregardingclasstimeandassignmentsmissed, studentswhorepresentUNLVinanyofficialextracurricularactivityshallalsohavetheopportunitytomakeup assignments,providedthatthestudentprovidesofficialwrittennotificationtotheinstructornolessthanoneweek priortothemissedclass(es).
Thespiritandintentof thepolicyis toofferfairandequitableopportunitiestoallstudents,includingthose representingtheuniversityinextracurricularactivities.Instructorsshouldconsider,forexample,thatincourses whichoffera“dropone”optionforthelowestassignment,quiz,orexam,assigningthestudentagradeof zerofor anexcusedabsenceforextracurricularactivityis bothcontrarytotheintentof thefacultysenate'spolicy,andan infringementonthestudent'srighttocompleteallworkandfairlyearnhisorhergradeinthecourse.
Thispolicyshallnotapplyintheeventthatcompletingtheassignmentoradministeringtheexaminationatan alternatetimewouldimposeanunduehardshipontheinstructorortheuniversitythatcouldreasonablyhavebeen avoided.Thereshouldbeagoodfaitheffortbybothfacultyandstudenttocometoareasonableresolution.When disagreementsregardingthispolicydoarise,theycanbeappealedtothedepartmentchair/unitdirector, college/schooldean,and/ortheFacultySenateAcademicStandardsCommittee.
Forpurposesof definition,extracurricularactivitiesmayinclude,butarenotlimitedto:fineartsactivities,competitive intercollegiateathletics,scienceandengineeringcompetitions,liberalartscompetitions,academicrecruitment activities,andanyothereventoractivitysanctionedbyacollege/schooldean,and/ortheExecutiveVicePresident andProvost.
Rebelmail–Bypolicy,facultyandstaffshoulde-mailstudents’Rebelmailaccountsonly.Rebelmailis UNLV’s officiale-mailsystemforstudents.Itis oneof theprimarywaysstudentsreceiveofficialuniversitycommunication, informationaboutdeadlines,majorcampusevents,andannouncements.AllUNLVstudentsreceiveaRebelmail
accountaftertheyhavebeenadmittedtotheuniversity.Students’e-mailprefixesarelistedonclassrosters.The suffixis lingwithinWebCampusis acceptable.
SaturdayClassesHolidaySchedule–Ingeneral,ifaholidayfallsonaMonday,thenSaturdayclassesmeet.Ifa
holidayfallsonaFriday,thenSaturdayclassesdonotmeet.ToreviewtheFacultySenatepolicydetailingwhen
Saturdayclassesareconsideredholidays,pleaseseeSaturdayClassesHolidaySchedulepolicy on the University Policies webpage in the Executive Vice President and Provost Policies & Forms section , Saturday Classes Holiday schedule.
StudentofConcern–Facultymaycomeincontactwithstudentswhosebehaviormaycauseconcern.Aprocess hasbeendevelopedtodealwithsuchsituationsandtrainingis alsoavailablebycontactingtheOfficeof Student Conductat702-895-2308.Toreportanissue,goto emergencyassistancefrom UNLVPoliceServices,dial911onaUNLVland-linephoneor702-895-3668option2 from acellphone.
TeachingEvaluations–Inordertoevaluatetheeffectivenessof teachingatUNLV,courseevaluationsare requiredtobeadministeredattheendof eachcourse.Teachingevaluationsareaveryimportantaspectof
assessmentdataanditis importantthatthereliability,validity,andlegitimacyoftheseinstrumentsbemaintained. Theminimumstandardsforadministeringtheseevaluations(Anonymity,ObjectivityandPost-Evaluation Procedures)areoutlinedinthedocument“MinimumStandardsforTeachingEvaluationbyStudents.”This documenthasbeenapprovedunanimouslybytheAcademicCouncilof DeansandtheExecutiveVicePresident andProvostasreflectingtheminimumstandardsthatapplytoalldepartments/schools/unitswhenadministering studentevaluationsof teaching.
Toreviewthepolicy,pleaseseeEvaluationsbyStudents-MinimumStandardsforon theUniversity Policies webpage in the Executive Vice President and Provost Policies & Forms section
.
Textbooks/FacultyRequiringOwnTextbook(s)forClass–Inorderforfacultymemberstoassigntheirown textbookforuseinoneof theirclasses,arequestmustbeapprovedbythefacultymember’sdean.These guidelinesweredevelopedtoprotectbothfacultyandstudents.Textbook Selection & Faculty Using Their Own Textbookison theUniversity Policies webpage in the Executive Vice President and Provost Policies & Forms section
.
Approvalis grantedbycompletingtherequestform andobtainingthe requisitesignaturespriortosubmittingbookorderseachsemester.Anapprovalis goodforthree years,soit willnotbenecessarytocompleteaform forthesamebook/classduringthattimeperiod.Theofficesof thedeans maintaintheserecords.
RequirementsspecifiedbytheNSHEattorneysareasfollows:1)publishedbooksmustbeproperlycopyrightedby theauthors;2)publishedbooksareavailableforopensale;3)UNLVfacultydonotmakesalesdirectlytostudents; and4)publishedbooksbeingassignedastextsinacourseareapprovedforsuchusebytheDeanof the College/Schoolconcerned.NOTE:ThisdoesnotapplytocoursepacketsthatgothroughReprographics/Design ServicesandtheUNLVBookstore.Theyarecoveredbyanotherpolicy,see
TitleIXoftheEducationAmendmentsof1972(20U.S.C.§1681)
TitleIXof theEducationAmendmentsof 1972(20U.S.C.§1681)is anall-encompassingfederalmandate prohibitingdiscriminationbasedonthegenderof studentsandemployeesof educationalinstitutionsreceiving federalfinancialassistance.Sexdiscriminationincludessexualharassment,sexualviolence,and/ordiscrimination relatedtopregnancy.IncompliancewithTitleIX,theUniversityof Nevada,LasVegasprohibitsdiscriminationinall
programsandactivities,includingemploymentonthebasisof sexorgender.Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowhasbeen harassedorassaulted,youcanfindtheappropriateresourceshere:
Ifanyoneinasupervisory,managerial,administrativeorexecutiveroleorposition,suchasasupervisor,departmentchair,ordirectorof aunit,receivesacomplaintof allegeddiscriminationorsexualharassment,orobservesor becomesawareof conductthatmayconstitutediscriminationorsexualharassment,thepersonmustimmediatelycontactoneof theidentifiedTitleIXCoordinatorstoforwardthecomplaint,todiscussitand/ortoreporttheactiontaken.TitleIXcomplaintsmustbeimmediatelyprovidedtotheTitleIXCoordinator.
UNLVToday–adailye-newsletterthatdeliversinformationtoUNLVfacultyandstaffviatheirUNLVe-mail
account.InformationsharedinUNLVTodayincludesupcomingevents,training,benefitchanges,
organizationalchanges,andmore.Youcansubmitanitem forconsiderationvia
UNLVOfficial–anelectronicmaillistthatdisseminatesinformationtheentirecampusmustreceive.Subscription totheUNLVOfficiallistis automaticandoccursatthetimeanemployeee-mailaccountis established.Our expectationis thatemployeeswillreadtheseuponreceipt.
Thankyouforyourcompliancewiththeseimportantpolicies.Haveagreatsemester!
Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
Box 451002 • 4505 South Maryland Parkway • Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-1002
(702) 895-3301 • FAX (702) 895-4054 •