|
COURSE PROCEDURES
SYLLABUS
For each course the instructor should prepare a
course syllabus that provides a day-by-day, or at least topic-by-topic, sequence
for the semester. In core courses, these syllabi may be prepared at the
department level for the use of anyone teaching these courses. The syllabus
might also include required textbooks and/or reserve readings, assignments with
due dates, dates of tests and examinations, grading criteria, and attendance
policy.
The ideal syllabus should serve as a basic
reference document for both the AIs and the students, and as such should include
the following items:
1. Teacher’s name, title, office number,
office telephone, office hours, e-mail address, and where to leave messages.
2. Course number, section, title, meeting
days and times, room and building.
3. Pre-requisite(s) of the course.
4. Description of the course.
5. Course goals or objectives.
6. Required purchases: texts and supplies.
7. Space for names and telephone numbers of
at least two classmates.
8. Grading standards and criteria.
9. Policies regarding:
a. Pass/Fail, Incomplete, and Withdrawal
marks.
b. Academic misconduct.
c. Attendance.
d. Late assignments.
10. A table listing:
a. Topics to be covered in sequence with
dates
b. Reading assignments and dates due.
c. Due dates for major assignments; date and
time of final exam.
While such a detailed syllabus may not be
appropriate for performance study, students should be informed in writing at the
beginning of the semester in very specific terms about the basis for grading. If
a certain amount of repertoire is expected to be learned and/or memorized, these
expectations should be made clear to the student. The syllabus should also make
clear the policy for missed lessons or classes and how attendance will affect
the grade. Putting these things in writing will help to avoid later disputes
over grades.
TEXTBOOKS
Textbooks and required materials for courses
should be ordered through the web site of the Indiana Memorial Union bookstore:
http://iubookstore.com (click on Textbooks/Reservations/ and then Faculty).
The deadline for fall semester orders is April 5, for the spring semester
October 5, and for the summer semester March 5. The IMU bookstore then
coordinates this order with private bookstores in town.
COURSE PACKET AND
DUPLICATION
Many instructors, when planning their courses,
find that the commercially published textbooks do not meet their needs. They
choose to compile course packets of photocopied material instead. Course packets
can be a very useful way to make the best texts available to students. However,
producing these packets raises significant copyright issues. Several commercial
copy stores in town provide this service and help obtain copyright permissions,
if necessary.
All faculty requests for duplication of material
for class (including syllabi and tests) should be processed in the Jacobs School
of Music through Duplicating Services, located in the mailroom (MU 006 lower
level, located between Merrill Hall and the Music Annex). Ten or fifteen copies
of a small number of pages may be duplicated by faculty themselves, using the
departmental charge card. Any larger volume of duplicating should be left for
the staff to process. For supplies and duplication a departmental billing
number is required. Ask Duplicating Services about available formats.
Another option is the e-reserves in the Music
Library. Check with the library staff about putting articles and portions of
books online for the students to access.
TESTS AND
EXAMINATIONS
Tests should be announced at the beginning of
the semester in the syllabus, and consequences of missing tests should be
clearly spelled out. Each fall and spring semester ends with an examination week
during which final exams are scheduled. These assigned times are two-hour
periods, not necessarily at the same time as the class period. The schedule is
always given in the Schedule of Classes (see official Calendars,
www.registrar.indiana.edu). Examinations must be given during this official
time since changing times can lead to schedule conflicts for students.
CLASS ROSTERS AND
GRADE BOOKS
Class rosters, including student e-mail
addresses, are available electronically to authorized individuals from the
Office of the Registrar. For information about obtaining access to rosters, call
the Jacobs School of Music Academic Scheduling Office, 856-4659, PB 140B.
Information about the campus calendar, including
last day to drop and final exam schedules, is included in the electronic
Schedule of Classes each term. (See
http://www.registrar.indiana.edu).
Grade books are available in Duplicating
Services (MU 006). The use of computer grade book programs or speadsheets is
also an efficient way of keeping track of student grades, attendance patterns
and general background information (telephone, address, class schedule, etc.).
STUDENT ABSENCES
In some cases, such as ensemble, attendance is a
very important part of the class requirement. In some other classes, attendance
may not be as strictly controlled. In any case, policies concerning attendance
of students should be clearly defined in the syllabus in advance.
ACCOMMODATING
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
Indiana University students follow many
different religious practices; some of them will need to miss classes for
holidays on which the university remains open. In response to the Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act, Indiana University observes the following practices
regarding student absences due to religious beliefs:
Any student who is unable to attend classes or
participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day
because of his or her religious beliefs is excused from any such activity. The
student will be given the opportunity to make up the work that was missed,
provided that the makeup work does not create an unreasonable burden upon
Indiana University. The university will not levy fees or charges of any kind
when allowing the student to make up missed work. In addition, no adverse or
prejudicial effect will result to students because they have made use of these
provisions.
The Dean of Faculties web site lists all
religious holidays for five years; see
http://www.indiana.edu/~deanfac; Religious Holidays. Try not to schedule
important exams or deadlines to conflict with such days if at all possible. You
should also, early in the semester, tell students that they should inform you in
advance about such absences so that you can accommodate them.
|