Resources for Faculty

Faculty services provided by the Academic Programs staff include class scheduling and curriculum processing, teaching assistant appointments, teaching equipment scheduling and maintenance, teaching evaluations, coordination of textbook ordering and grade reporting, and updating online class syllabi.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is the federal law that governs the rights of students and defines institutional responsibilities with respect to student records. OSC faculty and TAs must complete the online FERPA training prior to gaining access to any system or file containing student data. The training takes about 20 minutes.
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Teaching Support Procedures

Classroom Assignments
Class Attendance
Classroom Equipment and Maintenance
Classroom Supplies
Computer Labs
Copy Code
Exam and Homework Distribution
Field Trips

Course Management
UAccess Student Instructor Center
Administrative Drops
Grading
New Course Proposals
Desire2Learn
D2L Access for your TA
Class Syllabus
Textbook Orders
Other Tasks

Teaching Support Procedures

Classroom Assignments Class Attendance
If you cannot attend a class or need to temporarily change the schedule of your class, please contact Kat. She will need to know the course number, meeting time and location. She will e-mail your students and post a sign on the door as soon as she hears from you.

Classroom Equipment and Maintenance
There are permanently mounted LCD projectors in Meinel 408, 410, 422 and 432. If you have problems with this equipment, please notify Anabel Garcia. The office also has an LCD projector available for conference room use; just sign up on the schedule posted on the clipboard on the front counter. Cindy Robertson will take care of the equipment in Meinel 305 and 307. For other equipment needs, please contact Classroom Technology Services by clicking on “Equipment Ordering.”

Classroom Supplies
The Academic Programs staff supplies chalk, erasers and projector bulbs to all the classrooms. Please contact Ruth Corcoran, or any of the office staff, if these items are missing. Other classroom supplies, such as white board markers and transparencies, can be obtained through the Academic Programs office. Please notify Anabel Garcia of your needs as soon as possible. It takes a few days for an order to be filled.

Computer Labs
The Office of Student Computing Resources supports four computer labs on campus. Complete the online form to reserve a lab for a particular day or for the entire semester. To view locations, visit the OSCR webpage.

Copy Code
For copying course-related teaching materials, contact Kat to obtain the copy code.

Exam and Homework Distribution
We will be happy to accept or distribute homework or exams. We will set up a basket for your class and place the homework in your mailbox at the end of the day or hold it until you pick it up in our office. There are also locked collection wall bins in the OSC mailroom. We can set up a sheet for students to sign for the exam and then sign it back in, or date stamp the articles if necessary. You can also leave items for your students to pick up during our normal business hours. Contact Ruth Corcoran to make arrangements.

Field Trips
The university asks that you rent vans for your students for field trips through the UA Motor Pool. You will need to reserve the van and complete and submit the authorization form online. Please note that 15-passenger van drivers must be HOV-certified.

In addition to renting a van, you must also submit a pre-travel order form with Kina or Melissa at OSC’s Accounting Office in Meinel 641.

Course Management

UAccess Student Instructor Center
The Instructor Center is the university’s electronic method for viewing class rosters, dropping students and assigning grades. UITS offers limited training for the Instructor Center (PDF).
  1. On the UAccess Web page, select “Instructor Center” (located under the UAccess Student header) and enter your UA NetID and password.
  2. Once you’ve logged in, you will typically be looking at your own current class schedule on the Instructor Center page. Classes for current term should automatically populate the page. If not, click the green button to change terms.
  3. To view your class roster, click on the people icon () on the far left. You can click on the download icon () to view your roster and student emails in a spreadsheet. Click here for more information.
  4. At the end of the semester you will see the grade icon () next to the people icon. The grade icon will be used to post grades.
The Instructor Center also allows you to send notifications to students and send notifications to the Registrar.

If you would like your teaching assistant to access class rosters and assign grades, please contact Kat.

Administrative Drops
The last day to perform an online administrative drop via UAccess is February 7, 2012. After this date, you have until March 6, 2012 to drop students using the paper administrative drop form (available through a link at the bottom of your class roster). A grade of W or E is to be assigned on this form. Forms must be received in Administration Room 210 by 5:00 pm.
  1. Log in and click the green button to change terms.
  2. Select Spring 2012
  3. Click on the class roster icon () on the left side next to the class.
  4. Check the administrative drop check-box next to the students that will be administratively dropped.
  5. Press the "administrative drop" button located at the bottom of the class roster.
Grading
Final grades are due in UAccess no more than 48 hours after the final examination is held.
  • “K” Grades
    Award "K" grades (continuing, in progress) for 900-level courses (report, thesis and dissertation) under your faculty section number.

    A grade of "P" or "S" is awarded when a student has completed all degree requirements including the M.S. and Ph.D. oral examination. Use the Change of Grade Form from the final exam packet to issue either "P" or "S."

  • Issuing "I" Grades
    An incomplete grade should only be issued when a minor portion of the coursework remains. Incomplete grade policies can be reviewed in the UA Catalog. Instructors are encouraged to use the Incomplete Grade Report (PDF) form as a contract with the student as to what course work must be completed by the student for the I grade to be removed and replaced with a grade.

  • Changing "I" Grades
    You can change last year’s "I" grades in the UAccess Instructor Center. Note that only primary instructors can change "I" grades.
    1. Log in and click the green button to change terms.
    2. Select last year’s term.
    3. Click on the grading icon () on the left side next to the class.
    4. In the grade roster action box, click Request Grade Change.
    5. Change the "I" grade to a final grade and click "Submit."
Feel free to contact Kat if you have problems or questions. You may also call or visit the university's 24/7 IT Support Center or submit a question to reghelp@email.arizona.edu.

Proposing a New Course or Modifying an Existing Course
Effective Fall 2012, course proposal and modification requests must be submitted by the following deadlines: February 1 for fall courses; September 1 for spring courses.

Desire2Learn
Desire2Learn, or D2L, is a learning management system, a relatively easy way to create a course website that allows "anytime, anywhere" access to syllabi, readings, multimedia files, electronic dropboxes, online quizzes, e-mail, grading, student progress reports, project files and more.
  1. To add your class to D2L, go to the D2L Help for Instructors page.
  2. Click Request a D2L Course Site, fill out the online form and submit it. You will be notified via e-mail once the course has been added.
  3. Please e-mail the UA D2L Support Team if you have questions or concerns.
Only primary instructors listed in the schedule of classes may request a D2L site.
D2L for Teaching Assistants
Once a D2L course site exists, those assigned instructor access can add TAs and admins to the D2L course site by clicking edit and Self Registration. Click on Add Participant. You will need to know people's NetIDs to add them. Call Kat if you need assistance navigating through this process.

Class Syllabus
Email Kat to update syllabi online and to maintain hard copies in binders

Textbook Orders
Order your textbooks from the UA Bookstores, or send your textbook info to Kat. We must comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 and meet the expectations of the Arizona Board of Regents by ordering books on time — the deadline for the Fall 2012 semester is April 20, 2012.

NEW Textbook Ordering Instructions:
  1. Go to http://www.uofabookstores.com/. Click on Faculty Center (under UA Banner).
  2. Scroll down to Faculty Resources. Click on the UA Main Campus Link.
  3. Login with your UA Net ID and Password.
  4. First time users will be prompted to update their customer type. Select UA Faculty.
  5. Your page should jump to the MBS Bookstore ordering page. (Example Page)
  6. Click on Guided Adoption & follow the four-step ordering instructions on the page. The circles at the top will guide you.
  7. You should receive an email confirmation. Forward your email confirmation to kat@optics.
Our representative at the bookstore is Chris.

If you would like to print class notes, consider Fast Copy (PDF) or EES Copy Center. Both provide copyright permission assistance.

Other Tasks
  1. To place books on reserve in the Fred A. Hopf Reading Room at the College of Optical Sciences, please e-mail Kat.
  2. To submit your class to iTunesU, you don’t need to teach in Meinel 305 or 307. You can podcast your lectures from any location. The UA Office of Instruction and Assessment will loan out digital recorders for free.
  3. You can also promote your class or research through UA’s YouTube channel. OIA can assist and support your video needs.