4.1 Responsibilities During Your First Class
Adjunct faculty members should structure their first class to include a careful review the syllabus and course expectations with their students. This orientation will provide both you and your students with an opportunity to discuss goals and objectives and to understand what is expected of them in performance and behavior. Clear and specific information on attendance policies, content, form, and criteria for evaluation can assist the students in responding to course expectations and can also assist in resolving student disputes about grades. Some instructors, depending on the nature of the course and the size of the class, use this first period to begin to get to know their students and their names, which if possible should be one of your goals, as well as to engage them in a discussion of course expectations.
4.2 Reporting Illness and Other Absences
Adjunct faculty who find themselves unable to attend their regularly scheduled classes due to illness should contact their department chair and dean’s office to arrange for appropriate coverage. Please consult with your dean’s office for up-to-date policies and procedures for reporting missed classes and for arranging coverage.
4.3 Disability Resources and Services
Persons with disabilities at Temple University are entitled to reasonable accommodations and academic adjustments under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that states: "...no otherwise qualified individual...shall, solely by reason of disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Temple University strives to offer equal opportunities and access to all programs, activities, and services for students and other persons with disabilities. All Temple faculty are required to provide their students with a disability disclosure statement that invites students to disclose their needs. An announcement regarding the availability of accommodations should be made both publicly in your first class and in all syllabi. Contact Disability Resources and Services at 215-204-1280 in 1755 N. 13th Street Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Or visit http://disabilityresources.temple.edu/
4.4 Class Lists and TUid Photos
Class lists are available online through TUPortal. Link to TUPortal from Temple’s main home page, or go to tuportal.temple.edu, and enter your AccessNet username and password. On the TUPortal screen, click on the “Teaching Tools” tab on the upper right, and choose “Class List.” Once the class list is visible, click on a student’s name to see their TUid photo. If a student’s name does not appear on your class list, they must obtain verification of enrolment in your class. If you do not have an AccessNet username or password, go to https://accounts.temple.edu and follow the instructions and links for activating an account.
4.5 Academic Progress in Lower Division Courses
Faculty teaching courses offered principally for freshman and sophomores are required to include one or more evaluations of student progress in the course to be able to provide students with feedback regarding their performance no later than the end of the fifth week of classes. Evaluations may include quizzes, exams, papers, essays, performances, presentations, laboratory, or studio demonstrations or experiments, or other activities that students have been notified will be subject to evaluation or grading.
If you are teaching one of the designated Lower Division courses, you are required report the name and student identification number of each student who receives an unsatisfactory grade or an unsatisfactory evaluation (where the evaluations are other than standard grades), or an incomplete on the evaluation(s) given through the fifth week of classes. A form will be provided for this purpose which will be returned to a designated location. You should speak with your appointing unit and/or dean’s office to determine if the courses you are teaching require you to provide your students with early warning of academic progress.
4.6 Grading and Grade Changes Grade submission
Faculty access their grade lists through the TUportal and Self-Service Banner on the “Teaching Tools” tab. The deadline for submitting final grades is published in the academic calendar for each semester, usually at 5 PM on that day.
Any grades that are not submitted by the due date and time will be recorded as "MG" (Missing Grade). Each “MG” grade will require an electronic Change of Grade request.
There are several grading resources available should you require assistance:
- Please visit the Information Technology Services website to find your designated Banner student trainer at: https://its.temple.edu/administrative-systems-training
- A quick summary on Grading: https://registrar.temple.edu/grading-for-faculty
- Faculty can find their school/college grading liaison at: https://registrar.temple.edu/grading-liaisons
4.7 Grading Scales
4.7.1 Undergraduate Grading Scale
The work of all undergraduate students is graded and reported at the end of each semester. Students may access their semester grades on Self-Service Banner within 48 hours of the end of examination period for that semester.
For further information, see https://bulletin.temple.edu/undergraduate/academic- policies/grades-grading/
Please note that for some professional schools (such as Dentistry, Law, Medicine, and/or Podiatry) grading practices may vary. In this instance, please consult with your dean’s office for more information.
4.7.2 Graduate Grading Scale
For information on graduate school grading, please see: http://bulletin.temple.edu/graduate/graduate-policies/#graduatecreditstext.
The Graduate School Bulletin is available online at: http://bulletin.temple.edu/graduate/.
4.8 Student Feedback Forms
Temple University is committed to high quality instruction in graduate, undergraduate, and professional programs. Student feedback regarding instruction is an integral part of assuring quality in the University’s educational programs.
You are required to have your teaching evaluated by students every semester using a standard form adopted for such purpose. The sole exceptions to this policy are (a) courses in which student anonymity cannot be guaranteed, including courses with small enrollment (seven students or fewer), (b) independent studies, and (c) courses involving one-on-one instruction.
Student evaluations of faculty occur toward the end of the semester and the majority are conducted online. Instructors are encouraged to take a few minutes during class to speak to their students about the importance of providing course and instructor feedback and to encourage them to complete the Student Feedback Forms online. The content of the online SFF is the same as the paper form. The students included in the administration of online SFFs will be sent an e-mail, asking them to complete their evaluations online. If there are additional items for your course, please provide those items to the students before they are due to receive their e-mail.
For more information about student evaluations of courses and teaching, please refer to Policy #02.78.14 which can be found on the University’s Policy & Procedures website at http://policies.temple.edu.
4.9 Final Examinations
Final examination dates are fixed and cannot be changed. A detailed examination schedule, by day and time, is published in the Directory of Classes for each semester, for all day classes; this information is also circulated at the beginning of each semester. Final examinations for evening classes on Main campus, evening classes on the Ambler campus, for TUCC classes, for Health Science Center classes, and for the Tyler School of Art (day and evening) classes are given at regularly scheduled class time during final examination week. University policy requires that final examinations be given only during the final examination week as noted on the academic calendar printed each year in the Undergraduate Bulletin (http://www.temple.edu/bulletin). For information related to graduate school examinations please refer to the Graduate School’s website at: http://bulletin.temple.edu/graduate/graduate-policies/.
Please note that for professional schools (Dentistry, Law, Medicine, and Podiatry) this examination practice may vary. In this instance, please consult with the dean’s office for more information.
4.10 Reporting Final Grades
The work of undergraduate and graduate students is graded and reported at the end of each semester. If you have course grading responsibilities, you will receive from your department or dean’s office a grade report sheet along with a set of instructions for filling in the report. For more specific information on the deadlines for grade submissions or for general questions, please consult with your dean’s office or appointing unit.
4.10.1 Incomplete Grades
Temple University currently allows for the recording of incomplete “I” grades. An instructor will file an “I” for incomplete only if the student has completed the majority of the work of the course at a passing level, and only for reasons beyond the student’s control. At the time of the assignment of an incomplete grade, you must also assign a ‘default’ grade that will be assigned if the coursework is not completed one year following the assignment of the incomplete grade. You are also required to develop a contract with the student specifying the nature of the work to be completed and a timeline for completion. Incomplete grades may be changed by the instructor to a letter grade if the student completes the coursework within one calendar year. For more detailed information about incomplete grades, you are encouraged to consult the Policy on Incomplete Coursework (policy #02.10.13) which can be found on the University’s Policy and Procedures website at: http://policies.temple.edu
4.10.2 Changing Grades
No change of final grade for a completed course will be made without the approval of your school or college dean. Deans will consider the grade change after receiving your written explanation. No grade will be changed after a student’s degree has been awarded.