[CCoE Notice] End of the Semester Issues

[Shattuck, David P]

End of the Semester Issues
Memo to Engineering Faculty
From: Dave Shattuck, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs
Date:  November 23, 2011

With the end of the semester approaching, I thought I would remind the faculty about some issues that tend to arise at this point in the semester.  These are just reminders of existing policies and practices.  Thanks in advance for your attention to these issues.

Incomplete Grades
Students may be approaching you to request that you give them an "I" grade in your course.  Remember that incomplete grades should be given only when a relatively small portion of the course requirements are not complete due to problems beyond their control.  See the web:
http://www.egr.uh.edu/academics/policies/?e=policies5
An "I" grade should not be given to "help out" a student who has earned a low grade.  The students will ask you to do so.  Please do not.  Assign the grade that was earned.

Academic Honesty
This is the time of year when issues of cheating become more common, with the pressure on the students to earn high grades.  Try to take appropriate steps to prevent cheating.  One good suggestion is to have seating charts with randomized (or pseudo-randomized) seat assignments.  There are many others options to consider.  See the web:
http://www.uh.edu/academics/catalog/policies/academ-reg/academic-honesty/index.php
Please follow the Academic Honesty Policy as given here.  Do not punish students who you catch cheating yourself.  Report all such incidents to your department chair.  

Reading Period and Final Exam Days and Rooms
This year, the Reading Period or Reading Days are December 5th and 6th.  See the web:
http://www.uh.edu/academics/catalog/policies/academ-reg/examinations/index.php
It is not uncommon for students or faculty to consider having examinations during the Reading Period.  The rules in the catalog say, "Final examinations, if given, shall be given during the time and date designated in the official university class schedule.  Any exception to this policy must be approved in writing by the dean of the college in which the course is taught and announced by the instructor to the class no later than the last day to drop a course."  Generally, my policy has been to approve exceptions only in those cases where there has been unanimous and anonymous consent of the students enrolled in the course to change the exam day and time.  Pay particular attention to the dates and times for those courses offering Departmental Exams.  See the web:
http://www.uh.edu/academics/courses-enrollment/final-exam-schedules/
If you are giving a Departmental Exam, that is, giving an exam on December 7th, 8th, or 10th, remember that you must reserve a room for your exam with Kenneth Garcia or Lesley Sisk in Room E316-D3.  Your regular classroom is not reserved for you on these dates.

NR Grades
With the advent of online grade assignments through Peoplesoft, the issue of NR grades arose.  We do not want to see NR grades after December 22nd, in any circumstances.  Allow me to quote from the UH Self Service page:
Fall 2011 Grading Timeline:
Mon, December 5:  Generate Grade Rosters. Grading icon will be visible in the Faculty Center. Grades entered/saved will be posted twice daily. 
Wed, December 21:  Grades Due and/or Grade Change function available until 11:59pm. 
Thurs, December 22:  Fall 2011 Fully Graded Date. 
Note: Unreported grades (NR) posted at the Fully Graded date, will prevent academic standing from calculating (will, for example, delay graduation certification, could affect financial aid eligibility, athletic eligibility, and other negative consequences for students). 
This last note is really quite important.  If a student has an NR grade, he/she might be suspended, when he/she should not be suspended.  Similarly, he/she might not be suspended, when he/she should be suspended.  Both can be bad for the student.  We suspend students to force them to improve their academic performance, and we need to provide this mechanism consistently.  Please have all grades entered by Thursday, December 22nd.  
Teaching Evaluations
By now you all should have received your Teaching Evaluation envelopes.  Please have the students complete these evaluations by December 3rd, the last day of classes.  Leave the room while the evaluations are being completed.  Designate one student (Proctor) to collect the forms and turn them in at the Engineering Dean's Office, or Engineering Computing Center.  Do not turn them in yourself.  This is important.  


With any of the issues listed here, or related issues, please contact either me, or Dean Khator.  Thank you very much.

Dr. David P. Shattuck, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs
Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston
Ph: (713) 743-4422;  Email:  Shattuck at uh.edu


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