Instructional Policies and Resources

New and Adjunct Faculty Checklist

A list of things for new and adjunct faculty to consider before the start of classes.

Syllabus

A syllabus is a learning tool, a contract between you and your students, a permanent record of your course, and one of THE most important documents you create for your class.  The Univeristy of Minnesota syllabus tutorial can aid you as you create your syllabus, but it is important that you contact your department chair, administrative assistant or liaison for departmental syllabus specifications and procedures for filing your syllabus with the department or college.  You may also find it helpful to consult these suggestions for a good syllabus.

Office Hours

Office hours provide important opportunities for instruction and class administration.  Contact your department chair, administrative assistant, or liaison to ensure you meet departmental policies and procedures about where and when to schedule office hours, and consider the suggestions from the Stanford University Teaching Handbook as you consider holding office hours.  For instance, instructors are generally expected to keep at least two or three office hours a week during the semesters in which they teach. You may find it helpful to try to choose a combination of times when your students are likely to be free and including a "by appointment" provision; otherwise, a person who wants to come in but can't make your regular hours may not tell you.

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend all exercises of the courses in which they are registered and to be on time. Any absence, regardless of the reason, will prevent the student from getting the full benefit of the course. Instructors may include class attendance as a measure of academic performance, and inexcusable absences may render a student liable to censure. Contact your department chair, administrative assistant or liaison about your department’s attendance policy.

Course Evaluations

Marquette uses the University of Washington IAS course evaluation system.  Contact your department chair, administrative assistant or liaison about your department’s policies and procedures regarding student evaluation of courses.

Class Library Reserves

Class Reserves functions as an extension of your classroom.  Copies of assigned readings, supplemental readings, previous tests and other materials can be made available for short-term loan (print copies) or they can be scanned and made available as PDFs online. Material brought to the Reserve Desk is processed in the order received.  Getting the material to the Reserve Desk BEFORE the semester starts will usually insure that the material will be available when the semester starts. 

Textbooks  

The Book Marq, located at 818 N. 16th Street (Campus Town), is Marquette University’s official bookstore for purchasing textbooks and other classroom supplies.  Books will need to be ordered from the Bookmarq in one of four ways: a multi-part form will be provided to you to submit to the Bookmarq, your department administrative assistant will order the books for you when you notify him/her of your selections, you will need to call the Bookmarq manager at 288-7317, or your department will select and order books for you.  Please contact your department chair, administrative assistant or liaison about your department’s policies and procedures. 

Audio Visual Equipment

The Instructional Media Center’s Audiovisual Services, located at Johnston Hall Room 102, or by phone at 288-7705, provides Marquette University students, faculty and staff with A/V equipment and related support for classroom instruction, presentations and other university educational endeavors.  Requests for equipment can be made by in person, by phone or online.

Students with Special Needs

Marquette’s Disability Services academic accommodations provides and non-academic accommodations to students with special needs.  It is appropriate in your syllabus to invite students with special needs to contact you at the beginning of the semester to discuss any necessary accommodations.

Copying and Printing

Contact your department chair, administrative assistant or liaison for your department’s copying and printing resources, procedures and policies.  Pay-per-page copying and printing are available at all Printwise locations.  Copying and printing on Printwise can be done using  MarquetteCash on your Marquette Card.

Academic Honesty  

Marquette places great value on the integrity of its faculty, staff and students.  Accordingly, the academic honesty policy is to be observed by faculty and students.  It is appropriate to mention the academic honesty policy and/or include relevant excerpts in your syllabus. 

Examinations

There is midterm assessment of the work of all undergraduate students, but university policy does not require that this assessment include a formal midterm examination.  Final examinations are held in most subjects.  A student’s achievement is based on the combined results of class work and examinations.

Inclement Weather Policy

Occasionally, in the event of hazardous or severe weather conditions, a decision is made to temporarily close the university. The decision is generally based on early morning weather conditions and/or forecasts and may affect both students and employees. The decision to close university business offices is made by the University’s Senior Administration after appropriate consultation and input. In most cases the decision to close the university will affect both students and employees.  Emergency closing announcements are broadcast on numerous local television and radio stations.  You may also call 288-7345 for a recorded message.  Contact your department chair, administrative assistant or liaison for your department’s policies and procedures for both university-originated and instructor-originated class cancellation. 

Instructor Absence

Contact your department chair, administrative assistance or liaison for your department’s policies and procedures regarding instructor absences.

Instructional Support at Marquette

A list of departments and resources at Marquette that provide services and tools to support your instructional activities and your students' learning.

College of Engineering Faculty/Adviser Handbook