University of Southern Maine

Faculty Handbook

Staff Support

Faculty are encouraged to review the USM Faculty Handbook for information on course management including: a) class meeting schedules, b) classroom assignments, c) course registration, adds and drops, d) class lists and enrollment caps, e) textbook and other copyrighted materials, f) Blackboard, g) other instructional technology, h) course syllabus, i) course and instructor evaluations, j) academic advising, and k) Project 100. In addition, faculty should review the USM Faculty Handbook for "handling written graded material".

Also review our course information and syllabi page.

The student is responsible for successful completion of a course. Communication of the criteria for satisfactory completion of a course is the responsibility of the faculty. At the beginning of each semester, faculty members shall distribute written material giving:

1. A general description of the course content;
   
2. A clear indication of the work to be assigned and covered, including the nature and extent of reading assignments;
   
3. A clear indication of the extent and type of the evaluative work (e.g., examinations, papers, study assignments, laboratory exercises) to be assigned and, whenever possible, an indication of when this work will be due;
   
4. A clear indication of the basis for final grade in the course including the relative importance of each piece of evaluative work, the relative importance of class participation, etc.;
   
5. A clear indication of the instructor's attendance, make-up, "late assignments" and incomplete policies. The instructor shall not substantially alter these requirements during the course unless unusual circumstances arise. Nothing in this policy shall be construed to dictate to faculty the nature or content of course requirements.
6. 
   The College and the Nursing Department has a number of "required" statements that should be included in College syllabi.

ADA/Non-Discrimination (All College Courses)

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992 mandates the elimination of discrimination against persons with disabilities. If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of disability, please contact the Office for Students with Disabilities, 2 nd floor, Luther Bonney Hall (780-4706; TTY 780-4396).

Academic Support for Students with Disabilities-Students who may need assistance due to a disability are encouraged to contact the Office of Academic Support for Students with Disabilities, located in Luther Bonney 242. Phone number 780-4706; TTY 780-4396.

Harassment (All College Courses)

Harassment is defined as looks, words or actions between unequals in social authority (e.g., professor/student) and/or between students and staff/peers that create a chilling environment for the student resulting in impaired work and/or learning.

Students who feel they have been harassed should report the harassment to the Chairperson/Director of the Department offering the course, or to the Chairperson/Director of the Department where the incident has occurred, as soon as possible. At the Chairperson/Director's request, students who report harassment should be prepared to provide, in writing, examples/incidences of behavior, which would support the perception of harassment. If the perceived harassment involves the Department Chairperson/Director, the students should report the harassment to the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. The Chairperson/Director or Dean will investigate the complaint, including talking to the involved parties separately.

In the case of harassment based on any of the protected classes, see the University's Sexual Harassment Policy in the University's Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. Protected classes include race, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, physical and mental disability, and sexual orientation.

APA Format (Nursing)

Students are expected to follow the format of The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA).

The APA Publication Manual presents explicit style requirements for authors and students in the preparation of manuscripts and papers. The sample paper found in the back of the APA manual may be very helpful. APA tutoring is available through the Learning Center located in Luther Bonney Hall (780- 4228).

Attendance (Nursing)

Clinical attendance is mandatory . In case of inclement weather, students are responsible for ascertaining whether or not clinical is canceled.

Classroom attendance . The expectation is that students will attend class. Content presented in class may be amplification of material read or material not found in the readings. Students are responsible for missed classes. A course syllabus may expand upon this policy.

Cheating (Nursing)

If a student is found cheating on an exam or an assignment, the policies stated under plagiarism (see The Navigator ) will be followed.

Exams (Nursing)

Exams will not be given early. If an exam must be missed due to extraordinary circumstances, the course faculty member(s) must be notified personally prior to the exam. Exam make-up may be arranged with the faculty member(s), who reserves the right to change the examination format or defer the exam. A course syllabus may expand upon this policy.

Papers (Nursing )

Papers are due on the date specified in the syllabus or negotiated with the faculty member. Any paper received after the designated date will be considered late. Exception to the due date will be made only under extraordinary circumstances, and must be negotiated before the paper is due. A paper may have 5 percentage points deducted for every day it is late. Papers are not to be handwritten. The author is to follow APA guidelines. A course syllabus may expand upon this policy.

Students should keep a clean copy of all papers submitted. If a student wishes to contest a grade on a paper, he/she may submit this clean copy to the Chairperson of the Nursing Programs with a request for a second reader. Second reader and student will remain anonymous. The final grade for a paper -- submitted for a second reading will be the average of the original grade and the grade given by the second reader.

Plagiarism (Nursing)

Plagiarism is defined by the faculty, in part, as "the submission of another's work as one's own, without adequate attribution." Should a student be found plagiarizing in a paper, nursing care plan, or log, the student will be reported by the faculty member to the Chairperson of the Nursing Programs. The process described' in the USM Student Academic Integrity Policy will be used. See the current addition of The Navigator for further details. Plagiarism is a serious offense in academia and may result in expulsion from the college and the university.

At any point in the semester, if you encounter difficulty with the course or feel you could be performing at a higher level, consult with course faculty. For problems with writing skills and time management, make an appointment to see a student tutor at the Academic Support Center, 253 Luther Bonney (780-4228). Help is also available through the Counseling Center, 100 Payson Smith (780-4050), the office of your dean, and the Office of Academic Support for Students with Disabilities, 122 Payson Smith (780-4706). 

Student Confidentiality

During Fall 1996 a major change in the USM Confidentiality Policy was approved. The essential change removed all student addresses and telephone information from the list of Public Directory Information (PDI). PDI are those elements that can be released to the public unless a student has requested that no information be released. There are three exceptions to releasing addresses and phone numbers:

1. Within the university on an academic need-to-know basis ( e.g., faculty may ask for and receive the addresses and phone numbers of their students or advisees).
   
2. Information released in connection with receipt of financial aid , all requests should be directed to Steve Rand, Registrar, ext 5107.  The College has a Release of Information form that faculty should use if he/she wants to share student information for the class.  For Student Confidentiality, also see USM Faculty Handbook - Privacy of Student Records.
   
3. Emergencies, all requests should be directed to Police Department, ext. 5211.

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