In the Classroom – Guidelines for a Successful Semester

The following is a list of requirements and guidelines in support of the best possible learning environment for you and your students.

COURSE OUTLINES

Every course has an official approved outline showing learning outcomes, grading breakdowns, resources, course weight, and other very important information. The course outline is a legal contract between the College and the student and a critical part of our accountability to our student body and to the government bodies that oversee and authorize our programs.

All professors must:

• ensure that Outlines are posted to Blackboard and discuss the Outline in the first class – students should know what they are going to learn (the outcomes for the course) and how and when it is going to be measured (assignments and other activities) by the end of their first class
• follow the Outline and deliver opportunities to meet the listed learning outcomes
• follow the grading breakdown shown on the Outline
• post any amendment to the Outline on Blackboard and discuss in class with the students (once the program co-ordinator has approved the proposed changes)

Please keep notes on the Outline as the semester progresses to support updates or improvements during the course reviews at the end of each academic year. Submit your notes/suggestions to your associate dean and program co-ordinator at the end of the semester.

BLACKBOARD – required for all professors

Blackboard is Humber’s learning management system (LMS). All professors, part and full time, should have a regular and professional presence on Blackboard. Please do not build or use a site outside of this LMS for the purpose of supporting students in a course at Humber. Students should have one system for all of their classes and it should be managed and delivered in a consistent manner across courses in their program.

The minimum requirements are:

• the posting of the Outline
• the posting of a link to our Academic Requirements and a note requesting students review the contents therein with a specific focus on the policies for Academic Misconduct
• the posting of assignments and grading rubrics
• the posting of any changes to the Outline (once approved by the program co-ordinator)
• the posting of a critical path with key dates and events listed
• current, up-to-date, weighted grades (within 1–2 weeks of the receipt of assignment for grading)
• a regular presence to respond to student messages in a reasonable time, or clear direction to students on how to reach their professor in the most efficient way.

MIDTERM AND FINAL GRADES

Every student must receive midterm and final grades through MyHumber by the deadlines posted in our Academic Calendar. The deadlines are very important as many procedures flow from grade postings. If you anticipate a problem meeting the deadline, please let your program co-ordinator or associate dean know as far in advance as possible.

Grades must be allotted in keeping with the information listed on the Course Outline and should reflect the running tally in Grade Book on Blackboard. Note that we do not grant or dock grades for attendance.

Please email your program co-ordinator (and cc your associate dean) a spreadsheet including all student grades, attendance, and detailed notes on students who are not passing at the end of the semester. This allows for clear communication with students around their record of performance.

MEETINGS

Most programs will have a startup meeting, a midterm marks meeting, and a final marks meeting. These meetings are valuable and allow professors to have real impact on the ongoing development of the program and input into student performance. These will be held virtually this term.

If a professor cannot attend a meeting due to a conflict, the following is requested:

• contact the program co-ordinator ahead of time to notify them of the absence
• for marks meetings, submit a spreadsheet prior to the meeting including all student grades, attendance, and detailed notes on students who are not passing so that the co-ordinator can communicate with the student with clarity around their record of performance
• a copy of each assignment sheet and rubric used in the class

STUDENTS WITH ACCOMMODATION

The Humber community includes students with a variety of needs. If you have a student who requires support and you are unsure of how to help, contact Student Services, your program co-ordinator, or your associate dean. Please handle conversations about students and their situations in confidence out of respect for privacy. We take accommodation seriously and need to include every student in our instructional design. Visit Student Life for more information.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

In situations where there is evidence or strong suspicion suggesting that a student(s) has(have) participated in academic misconduct, professors must report the issue to the associate dean and the program co-ordinator using the following procedure:

• individually email each of the students involved via their preferred email from your Humber email. Copy the program co-ordinator and your associate dean. Outline the facts:
  • details of the date/place/work/misconduct involved in the incident
  • notification of the awarding of a grade of “0” for the work
  • direction to contact the cc’d associate dean for a meeting ASAP

Provide the original materials in question to the associate dean along with any other relevant details and a confidential overview of the situation. Please copy the program co-ordinator.

The program co-ordinator will provide any additional information to the associate dean, and the associate dean will meet with the students to follow up on the issue and apply any sanctions as required. Please do not discuss academic misconduct with anyone but the parties involved and do not allow students to make up the grade with other work as this is not permitted in cases of academic misconduct.

It is essential that situations both small and large be shared immediately to protect the integrity of our classrooms, programs and credentials.

RESOURCES FOR GREAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Humber’s Innovative Learning team has a robust offering of workshops, ideas, technological resources and experts to support professors. We encourage all professors to take advantage of this resource, especially those who are new to teaching, and strongly recommend the Teaching Excellence Certificate offered at Innovative Learning.

QUESTIONS?

Contact your associate dean or manager for information about regulations, contracts, professional development or overall procedures. Speak to your program co-ordinator and the full-time professors in your program area for advice regarding teaching in your program area. We are here to help.